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- Bayley returns, Tiffany replaced & Orton unhappy with McIntyre
Bayley returns, Tiffany replaced & Orton unhappy with McIntyre
Inside: Jerry Lawler health update and more
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Bayley finally made her return to WWE RAW after more than two months away from in-ring action, but she did so with a shocking twist. During the match between Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez, Raquel Rodriguez interfered, ultimately costing Perez the win. Following the bout, Rodriguez attacked Valkyria, prompting Bayley to appear and save her friend. After fending off both Perez and Rodriguez, Bayley surprised everyone by embracing commentators Joe Tessitore and Corey Graves, as well as announcer Alicia Taylor.
The twist was that Bayley reappeared with her beloved "Hugger" gimmick, a character fans hadn’t seen since her early WWE days. However, the return of this persona might not tell the whole story. Given her history of layered character shifts, there could be even more twists ahead, leaving fans curious about whether this marks a full return to her former self or simply the beginning of another evolution in her career.
 Jerry “The King” Lawler has revealed that he recently suffered his third stroke, which left him dealing with some severe health challenges. In an interview with Memphis’ FOX 13, the WWE Hall of Famer explained that he experienced significant vision issues and even struggled to recognize his own home after returning from the hospital. Lawler also shared that while lying in his hospital bed, he couldn’t recognize his family members when they visited, though he otherwise felt physically fine. The 75-year-old legend disclosed that the stroke occurred after he stopped taking his prescribed medication, which contributed to the health scare. Despite the frightening ordeal, Lawler expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support, prayers, and well-wishes he has received from fans and friends alike. He made it clear that their encouragement has meant a great deal to him as he continues on his road to recovery. |  WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton has suffered an injury following her recent SmackDown match, where she took several dangerous bumps, including an unprotected moonsault to the outside. The brutal contest left her unable to compete, and she has since been pulled from upcoming programming to recover. NXT General Manager Ava officially announced that Stratton was not medically cleared after her title defense, effectively writing her off TV for the time being. As a result, Stratton was removed from her scheduled six-woman tag team match at NXT Homecoming. Stepping into her place will be former NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria, who continues to build momentum on the brand. While fans await Stratton’s recovery, this change could give Valkyria another chance to showcase herself in a high-profile spot. |
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On the September 12 episode of SmackDown, Randy Orton faced Drew McIntyre in what was expected to be a hard-hitting contest, but things took an unexpected turn. During the match, The Viper was already selling a knee injury when McIntyre executed a spot where he slammed Orton against the ropes. Unfortunately, Orton’s legs landed awkwardly, making the moment look rougher than intended. While it was an honest mistake and a fairly common wrestling spot, Orton’s reaction made it clear he was not pleased.
According to Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Radio, Orton was visibly upset after the spot. He stepped outside the ring, leaned on the barricade with his head down, and was overheard shouting, “25 goddamn years and nobody has slammed me against the goddamn ropes” to the referee. This outburst highlighted his frustration, suggesting that after such a long career, he did not appreciate the unexpected move, especially while dealing with a storyline knee injury.
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On the final RAW before WWE Wrestlepalooza, CM Punk and AJ Lee had their last showdown with Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch before their blockbuster mixed tag team match. What began as a fiery verbal exchange quickly escalated when AJ Lee slapped Rollins, sparking chaos. Punk and Rollins brawled at ringside while Becky Lynch got the upper hand inside the ring, hitting AJ with a Manhandle Slam before unleashing multiple slaps on Punk. By the end of the segment, Rollins and Lynch stood tall, sending a clear message ahead of the PLE.
However, this outcome may have unintentionally spoiled the Wrestlepalooza result. WWE has a long-running pattern where the stars who dominate in the final episode before a major event often end up losing at the show itself. With Rollins and Lynch gaining the momentum on RAW, it raises speculation that Punk and AJ could be the ones walking out victorious when the mixed tag dream match finally takes place.
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ANALYSIS CORNER
The go-home episode of WWE RAW before Wrestlepalooza wrapped up in dramatic fashion, with LA Knight settling the score against Jey Uso. Despite Jey’s act of stepping in last week to help him and Jimmy Uso against The Vision, Knight showed no hesitation in unleashing payback, reminding fans that grudges in WWE don’t fade so easily. The fiery closing segment added intensity to their ongoing rivalry and set the tone heading into Wrestlepalooza.
Beyond that, the red brand delivered several major story developments throughout the night. Key rivalries were escalated, new momentum shifts were created, and the groundwork for the upcoming PLE was firmly laid out. With emotions running high and battles already breaking out before the official matches, Wrestlepalooza is primed to be an explosive event where these storylines will reach their boiling point.
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