WWE Raw: SummerSlam go-home edition

The 2021 edition of WWE SummerSlam is set for Saturday in Las Vegas. This week, the go-home show of Monday Night Raw was meant to build the energy of that major event. With Bill Goldberg and Bobby Lashley set to go face-to-face, there was a lot to look forward to during another episode of WWE Raw.

Randy Orton started out the night and he wanted to prove to everyone that Monday Night Raw and the WWE was still her territory. It did not take long before Matt Riddle was out to accompany his “friend.” Their back and forth led to AJ Styles and Omos coming out for Styles to talk his junk before the big match between Orton and Omos. That led to an impromptu match between Riddle and Styles.

Styles pounced on Riddle early who was distracted by Orton leaving ringside. Styles went for a quick pin off a snap suplex but Riddle kicked out at one. Riddle was able to fight back, including hitting a gut wrench suplex for a one-count of his own. Both men ended up outside the ring where it looked like Styles would get the upper hand, but Riddle was able to take back control after a penalty kick to Styles’s chest.

Back in the ring, Riddle picked up the pace and hit a bridging German Suplex but Styles was able to kick out at two. Styles answered right back with a series of strikes into a neck breaker but could not get the pinfall. The focus on Riddle’s legs paid off as Styles locked in the Calf Crusher. Riddle crawled to the bottom rope to break the hold. Styles attempted to attack the leg again but Riddle turned it around into a jumping knee and exploder suplex into the corner. Riddle went to the top but Omos’s presence distracted Riddle, allowing Styles to capitalize, and hit the Styles Clash for the win.

AJ Styles defeated Matt Riddle via pinfall.

Nikki A.S.H and Rhea Ripley were booked for another singles match next.

Before the match could even begin, Charlotte Flair came out to ringside and joined the commentary team. Once again, it was power against quickness with the two women exchanging offense to begin. Ripley locked on a tight body lock and dropped Nikki to the mat. Ripley tried to follow up with a shoulder charge and missed.

Nikki took that opportunity to hit a head scissors and rolled Ripley up for a two-count. Ripley was close to winning on her own after hitting a Northern Lights Suplex. She delivered a big boot then hit the Riptide to pin Nikki A.S.H clean in the middle of the ring.

Rhea Ripley defeated Nikki A.S.H. via pinfall.

Drew McIntyre was up for a two-on-one match against Veer and Shanky.

Veer started off against McIntyre and he quickly had his way with the opponent. Veer was able to snatch himself away and get to Shanky. McIntyre had his moments but Shanky was able to drop the former champion, tagging in Veer to continue the assault.

Veer was not able to stay in control, knocking him down with multiple shoulder blocks and an elbow before tossing him over with a suplex. He even hit a Michinoku Driver on Shanky, before dropping Veer with the Claymore to pick up the victory.

Drew McIntyre defeated Veer and Shanky via pinfall.

Damian Priest and The Miz ended up in a singles match after the Moist TV segment but Sheamus wanted to get a closer view of the contest.

Miz was at the disadvantage of not having his gear, but that did not stop him from having some bright spots in this match. Miz was distracted by John Morrison not helping him, only to eat a hard shot from Priest. Priest then finished the match with a Brogue Kick, pinning The Miz.

Damian Priest defeated The Miz via pinfall.

Mansoor found himself in a singles match against Mace, with both T-Bar and Mustafa Ali on the outside.

Mace immediately starts manhandling Mansoor, tossing him around the ring like a child. Mansoor was being dominated throughout much of the match, but Ali was able to cause enough of an assistance to swing the momentum of the pin attempt in Mansoor’s favor.

Mansoor defeated Mace via pinfall.

Randy Orton and Omos were up next for the first-time matchup between the two men.

Orton was tasked with dealing with Omos’s strength and it did not work out well for him early in the match. It is rare that Orton needs to use quickness but that was the story of this match, using that and his experience. But that did not stop Omos from picking him up and planting him on the mat.

Orton fought back to his feet, only to be flattened by a shot to the back. Orton went for the RKO for a second time and was tossed aside, pushed completely outside the ring. Styles got involved outside the ring but he got caught attacking Orton, causing the disqualification defeat.

Randy Orton defeated Omos via disqualification.

Karrion Kross attacked Jeff Hardy backstage before their rubber match.

Hardy attacks Kross right out of the gate, dropping him and going right for the Twist of Fate. Kross countered out of that into the Kross Jacket and forced the former champion to go to sleep, giving Kross the win.

Karrion Kross defeated Jeff Hardy via submission.

Charlotte Flair needed to find a partner to take on Nikki and Rhea Ripley. Nia Jax answered the call.

Jax went right to the bully game to overpower Nikki early in the match. Jax knocked Nikki from the ring, giving Flair the opportunity to plant a big boot right in her face. Nikki was isolated on the wrong side of the ring and she was taking a lot of damage. She landed a bulldog that gave her the space to tag in Ripley, and she took it too Flair with multiple clotheslines before knocking Jax off the apron.

Jax was able to get things rolling in her favor, but before she could finish off Ripley, Flair tagged herself in. She had hit the Natural Selection on Ripley and picked up the pinfall.

Nia Jax and Charlotte Flair defeated Nikki A.S.H and Rhea Ripley via pinfall.

Bobby Lashley and Bill Goldberg were the final segment of the night with the two men exchanging words leading into SummerSlam on Saturday.