WWE Raw results, recap, grades: Randy Orton gets one over on Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser ahead of Bash in Berlin

Orton beat Kaiser in the main event and put a beating on Gunther as the show went off the air

With less than two weeks until Bash in Berlin, things heated up significantly on Raw this Monday night. That included the issues between world heavyweight champion Gunther and his Bash in Berlin challenger, Randy Orton.

Orton and Gunther came face-to-face early in the show only for Orton to be attacked by Gunther's lackey, Ludwig Kaiser. By the end of the night, Orton had defeated Kaiser and delivered a very physical message to Gunther ahead of their match on Aug. 31.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from FLA Live Arena in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Orton the upper hand on Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser

At the top of the show, Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser left Randy Orton laid out after Kaiser jumped Orton. Orton and Gunther were face-to-face exchanging words ahead of their match at Bash in Berlin before Kaiser attacked from behind, eventually chop blocking Orton's knee to open up an attack for Gunther and set up a match between Kaiser and Orton for the night's main event.

Randy Orton def. Ludwig Kaiser via pinfall with an RKO. Gunther came out to ringside for the match and was forced to watch as the earlier attack didn't prevent Orton from getting the win in the main event. After the match, Orton called Gunther into the ring and the pair brawled -- with Orton getting the upper hand -- as the show went off the air.

A lot happened on the show to build toward Bash at Berlin, between giving Orton and Gunther a bit of heat, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre agreeing to a strap match and Judgment Day escalating things with Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley (more on those below), but nothing dominated the show. Orton has been positioned as an actual threat for Gunther, even if it would be an all-time shock for him to take the world heavyweight championship in Berlin. Either way, Orton is great in his role as an aging gunslinger who is ready for anything the new champion could bring. Grade: B

What else happened on WWE Raw?

Sheamus def. Pete Dunne via pinfall after a Brogue Kick. Dunne targeted Sheamus' injured hand throughout the match before trapping it in the turnbuckle pad and delivering a kick. An enraged Sheamus snapped off the pad and delivered the finishing Brogue Kick.

Ivy Nile vs. Maxxine Dupri ended when the Wyatt Sicks attacked. The lights went out as Nile had the advantage and Nikki Cross appeared in the ring. After Chad Gable and the Creed Brothers tried to back her down, the rest of the Wyatt Sicks attacked, with Uncle Howdy eventually putting Gable down with a Sister Abigail.

CM Punk and Drew McIntyre agreed to a strap match at Bash in Berlin. Punk, having been inspired by whipping McIntyre with a belt the previous Monday, threw down the challenge. McIntyre came out to accept and said Punk must have started drinking if he wants a strap match with him.

New Day & Odyssey Jones def. The Final Testament via pinfall when Jones hit Rezar with a Journey's End.

Bronson Reed def. The Miz via pinfall with a Tsunami in a no disqualification match. Miz was looking for revenge after Reed injured R-Truth and told Adam Pearce he will always defend the few friends he has in the industry. As Reed went to hit more Tsunamis post-match, Braun Strowman's music hit and he charged to the ring. Reed started smiling before laughing and nodding at Strowman.

Bron Breakker announced that a tournament would be held to determine the next challenger for his intercontinental championship.

Judgment Day beat down Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley. Dominik Mysterio challenged Priest to a match, guaranteeing Judgment Day -- including Liv Morgan -- would remain backstage. Priest told Ripley he knew it was a trap but was going to go through with it anyway. It was a trap and Priest initially fought it off until Ripley appeared in the ring to help attack Mysterio. Eventually, the numbers won out and Judgment Day put down both of the group's former members.

Women's Tag Team Championship – Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn (c) def. Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark and Iyo Sky & Kairi Sane via pinfall to retain the titles after a swanton bomb on Baszler.