open-menu

Trish Stratus Returns, Bayley Wins First TV Match Since 2021, Balor Beats Ziggler | RAW Fight Size

Wrestling
Colin Tessier Aug 22, 2022 11:19PM

Here is your post-Monday Night Raw fight size update for August 23, 2022:

- WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus returned to Raw and stated that it was good to be home. Bayley, accompanied by Dakota Kai and IYO SKY, interrupted her and told her that she was part of the past. Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, and Asuka all came to the ring to give Stratus some backup, and the legend teased getting physical with Bayley.

MIT Expulsion Set For ROH Boxing Day Brawl

- Speaking of Bayley, she competed in her first match on WWE TV since 2021. Prior to her return at WWE SummerSlam, Bayley had been sidelined with a torn ACL for over a year. On Monday, she defeated Aliyah in a singles match. She competed at two non-televised events over the weekend, but this was her first match since her return that aired on TV.

- Finn Balor faced Dolph Ziggler in a singles match on Monday. Before the bout, Balor compared Ziggler to Edge for the way he attached himself to younger talent. He told Ziggler that there was nothing he could learn from him. Ziggler dropped him with a shot to the face and called him a bitch. In the ring, the two former champions had a hard-fought match, and a late assist from Rhea Ripley helped Balor score the win.

- Alpha Academy held its first-ever open challenge because Chad Gable was dissatisfied with what he had seen of Canada prior to the show. He told Toronto to give him their best, and Kevin Owens answered the call. Wearing his classic duct tape logo shirt, Owens defeated Gable in a competitive match and left both members of Alpha Academy lying when they tried to attack him after the bell.

- The sudden arrival of Dexter Lumis helped Bobby Lashley pick up a moral victory over The Miz and Ciampa when the former NXT star abducted "The A-Lister" mid-match. The bout ended in a no contest, but Lashley dropped Ciampa with a Spear to end the night standing tall.

- Johnny Gargano made his shocking return and announced that he was back in WWE. Theory interrupted and disrespectfully told the veteran that he could carry his Money in the Bank briefcase and stand behind him. Gargano dropped his former stablemate with a superkick to make it clear where he stood on the matter.

- Dakota Kai and IYO SKY scored a major victory over Asuka and Alexa Bliss. With the win, they advanced to the finals of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Tournament.

- The show opened with a chaotic brawl between Seth Rollins and Riddle. The two foes fought around the arena until they were separated by officials.

- In the buzzworthy main event, Edge defeated Damian Priest in his first match in Toronto in 12 years. After the match, Beth Phoenix saved her husband from a beatdown at the hands of The Judgment Day.

- Check out the lineup for next week's episode of WWE Raw by clicking here.

- In a WWE Digital Exclusive, Trish Stratus discussed her return and said that it was good to dip her toes back into the world of WWE. She teased that she could come back if the situation was right.

- In a WWE Digital Exclusive, Aliyah said that competing in front of her hometown was a dream come true.

- On Raw Talk, Kevin Owen shared his belief that he's long overdue for a title run. He noted that with all of the changes that have been happening, the only option was to go back to who he used to be. Owens noted that his retro shirt was the one he wore when he debuted in NXT. He said that the Kevin Owens Show is back and better than ever.

- On Raw Talk, Bianca Belair said that she had to have Stratus' back when Bayley disrespected her. Ahead of WWE Clash at the Castle, she noted that Bliss and Asuka's defeat was a lesson, and they'll head into the show as a unified front.

- Elsehere on Raw Talk, Dakota Kai said she and IYO SKY are unstoppable. She said they are unstoppable, and they can do everything better than everyone else. SKY vowed to win again at WWE Clash at the Castle, and Kai guaranteed that they will win the tag team titles.

- In a WWE Digital Exclusive, Johnny Gargano discussed his return. He made it clear that he's really excited to be back, and WWE is the place where he can make his dreams come true.

Catch up with Fightful's coverage of WWE Raw by clicking here. After the show, check out the Raw podcast with Sean Ross Sapp and Denise Salcedo on our YouTube channel.

Get exclusive pro wrestling content on Fightful Select, our premium news service! Click here to learn more.