By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw on the USA Network
Aired live on May 20, 2019 from Albany, New York at Times Union Center
[Hour One] Michael Cole welcomed viewers to the show and was joined on commentary by Corey Graves and Renee Young. Mike Rome was the ring announcer…
Brock Lesnar’s music played and he walked out while holding the Money in the Bank briefcase before passing it off to Paul Heyman. Cole said Lesnar may have pulled off the biggest shocker in the history of MITB. A recap video aired of Lesnar winning the men’s MITB ladder match. Lesnar took the briefcase back and acted like he was listening to a boombox (a/k/a a portable radio for some of you younger readers).
Heyman said that if he were the WWE Champion or WWE Universal Champion, he’d be a very paranoid man right now. Heyman said they are vulnerable to the greatest assassin in WWE history who now has a contract on their title reign. He said Seth Rollins has to be paranoid whenever he enters an arena because Lesnar could strike at any time.
WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins made his entrance while Cole noted that he defeated AJ Styles at MITB. Lesnar and Heyman laughed when Rollins entered the ring. Rollins said he should be ecstatic that he won the fight of his life over Styles. Rollins said he’s not in a good mood because he has to come out and see Lesnar holding the MITB contract. Rollins said he’s trying to be a champion to inspire people and to be the type of champion that Lesnar never had the guts to be.
Rollins said he beat Lesnar at WrestleMania and he’s sure he can beat him again, but he doesn’t want to wait around to find out. Rollins encouraged Lesnar to cash in his contract tonight and face him for the championship on the spot. Lesnar went face to face with Rollins. Heyman said it’s a game of patience and Rollins has to wait until Lesnar feels like cashing in the contract.
Heyman said Rollins should be used to waiting because he waited around seven hours at WrestleMania to see his girlfriend main event the show. Rollins stepped forward and Lesnar cut him off, which led to the two of them jawing at one another. Heyman pulled Lesnar back and asked Rollins who said he’s even worthy to face Lesnar again. Heyman said it might be a new day and perhaps they are envisioning Lesnar vs. Kofi Kingston.
The New Day entrance theme played and WWE Champion Kofi Kingston made his entrance. The broadcast team noted that the wild card rules are in effect. Kingston told Rollins that he wasn’t trying to steal his thunder, he was trying to establish his legacy as WWE Champion. Kingston said he wants to be remembered as the best WWE Champion of all time and he can’t do that unless he faces the best night after night. Kingston told Lesnar that if he cashes in tonight, he needs him to cash in on him.
Heyman said the WWE Universal Champion and the WWE Champion were auditioning to defend their title against the reigning and defending heavyweight champion of the box office. Heyman said the MITB winner didn’t have to come to them, they came to him. Heyman said he had inside word that Rollins and Kingston weren’t finished this evening. Heyman teased that Lesnar and the MITB contract aren’t going anywhere. “Stay tuned, The Beast is yet to come,” Heyman concluded to end the segment…
Powell’s POV: A very strong segment to open the show. I’m not a fan of Lesnar’s surprise MITB win, but they played this perfectly by teasing that he could cash in on either champion tonight. Heyman’s mic work was solid and I like that both babyface champions stepped up and encouraged Lesnar to cash in tonight. My guess is that this leads to nothing more than a tease, but it’s still a nice hook for the remainder of the show.
Mick Foley arrived in the parking lot carrying a title belt in a case. He was greeted by Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Titus O’Neil, Dana Brooke, and Drake Maverick…
Backstage, Sami Zayn asked Bobby Lashley to help him since he knows Lashley is facing Braun Strowman in a couple weeks. Lashley rejected his request and wished him luck. Sami Zayn made his entrance and sold rib pain from the attack at MITB. Braun Strowman was shown staring into a camera backstage. Cole said Strowman vs. Zayn was coming up after the break… [C]
Rollins and Kingston talked as they walked backstage where they ran into Triple H, who booked them in the tag team main event against Bobby Lashley and Baron Corbin…
Powell’s POV: I like the idea of saving Rollins and Kingston’s tag match for the main event, but what will it take for them to realize that viewers are not buy Corbin as a main eventer?
Braun Strowman made his entrance. Zayn ran and Strowman chased him backstage. Strowman approached Lashley backstage, then Zayn sucker punched Strowman. Braun got the better of Zayn immediately, then told Lashley he’d deal with him later. Strowman went after Zayn and ended up carrying him back onto the stage and down to ringside. Zayn slipped away and ran Strowman into the ring post twice. Zayn tried to do it a third time, but Strowman tossed him into the barricade.
1. Braun Strowman vs. Sami Zayn. Strowman charged Zayn, who moved, causing Strowman to crash into the corner of the ring. The referee called for the bell. Zayn set up for his Helluva Kick finisher, but Strowman clotheslined him. Strowman followed up with a running powerslam and pinned Zayn…
Braun Strowman defeated Sami Zayn in 0:45.
Powell’s POV: Zayn is a terrific pest heel, but WWE already has a pest heel who always gets put in his place (see Elias). In other words, I wish they would have stretched this out by giving Zayn another fluke win over Strowman rather than giving Strowman his revenge so quickly.
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross were shown talking backstage while Graves hyped A Moment of Bliss with Becky Lynch as his guest… Lars Sullivan was shown walking backstage. Cole hyped Sullivan speaking in the ring for the first time for after the break… [C]
Charly Caruso stood in the ring and introduced Lars Sullivan for an exclusive interview. Sullivan walked to the ring while Cole referred to him as one of the most destructive forces in the history of WWE. Once Sullivan was in the ring, Caruso set up a video package on his “path of destruction” that was shown on the big screen. Caruso asked Sullivan what his goals are in WWE.
The Lucha House Party entrance theme played before Sullivan could answer. Kalisto, Lince Dorado, and Gran Metalik came to the ring and performed multiple dropkicks. A triple dropkick cleared Sullivan from the ring. Kalisto dove onto Sullivan, who caught him and slammed him on the apron. Dorado and Metalik dove at Sullivan and he stumbled, then regrouped and roughed up both men. Sullivan set up for a powerbomb on Dorado, but Kalisto and Metalik grabbed Dorado and pulled him to ringside. Sullivan’s music played while the LHP trio backed up the ramp…
A video package recapped Rollins defeating AJ Styles to retain the WWE Universal Championship at MITB… AJ Styles was shown talking with a production crew member backstage. Cole said Styles would be featured in an interview coming up shortly…
Ricochet made his entrance for a match against Cesaro… [C] Footage aired of Ricochet crashing through a ladder at MITB. New footage aired of Cesaro approaching Ricochet in the trainer’s area and mocking him for hurting. Ricochet said he would do it again. Cesaro told him to smarten up…
2. Cesaro vs. Ricochet. Cesaro came out to new entrance music. Ricochet had his back heavily taped, and Cesaro tried to exploit the injury. [C] Ricochet rallied and they went to a split screen ad for roughly 10 seconds while he performed a flip dive onto Cesaro. Ricochet went for a top rope move and ended up eating an uppercut. Cesaro followed up with a nice backbreaker and a Neutralizer that led to him scoring the clean pin. Ricochet continued to sell his back injury afterward…
Cesaro pinned Ricochet in 6:50.
Powell’s POV: A good match and a nice win for Cesaro. Meanwhile, Ricochet had the out for losing the match due to the injuries he played up going into the match, and the broadcast team did a good job of framing this as a ballsy outing despite the loss.
AJ Styles was interviewed by Caruso backstage. Styles said he lost, but he feels he can beat him. Baron Corbin clapped as he walked onto the interview set. Corbin taunted Styles for failing. Styles pointed out that Corbin squandered his MITB contract and was fired as general manager. Corbin noted that he pinned Rollins on Raw and was bothered got the title match instead of him. Corbin referred to it as a slap in the face. Styles gave him a real slap in the face. Corbin told Styles he’d pay for it…
Roman Reigns made his entrance… [C]
[Hour Two] Mick Foley was shown talking with Kofi Kingston in the backstage area…
Reigns stood in the ring. Before he could speak, Shane McMahon’s entrance music played. Shane danced onto the stage with a mic. Shane said Reigns was using the wild card rule. Shane boasted that he’s the best in the world. He said he won a brutal cage match and now he’s finished with The Miz. Shane said he’s turning his attention to Reigns because he can’t get out of his mind what Reigns did to Vince McMahon.
Reigns said he hates spoiled rich kids. He said Shane is done with Miz and he’s finished with Elias. Shane said Reigns isn’t finished with Elias. Reigns said that since he didn’t see Elias, he and Shane could meet in the ring. Shane said Reigns was making the challenge because he knows Shane was in the brutal cage match. Shane left it up to the crowd, which cheered the tease of Shane vs. Reigns.
“Well, that’s not happening tonight,” Shane said. He added that he does what all spoiled rich kids do – what he wants and when he wants. Shane said he’s in control and offered to show Reigns what control is. McMahon introduced Drew McIntyre, who came out and stood next to Shane on the stage. Shane announced that he will face Reigns at WWE Super ShowDown…
Powell’s POV: I guess the idea is that Shane has hired McIntyre to be his muscle? It wasn’t made very clear, but I assume this means McIntyre will be in Shane’s corner at Super ShowDown.
A shot aired of Becky Lynch looking at the Raw Women’s Championship belt while Graves hyped her appearance on Alexa Bliss’s talkshow… Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman were shown backstage. Heyman was cleaning the MITB briefcase… The Usos made their entrance for a match against The Revival… [C] A Smackdown ad hyped Big E’s welcome back celebration, and Roman Reigns vs. Elias…
Backstage, Shane was asked about insinuating that McIntyre would be with him at Super ShowDown. Shane said he wasn’t insinuating anything. The Miz showed up and asked Shane if he really thinks he’s done with him. McIntyre said that if Miz had a problem with Shane then has a problem with him. Miz said that once he finished with McIntyre he was coming after Shane again…
3. Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso vs. “The Revival” Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder. Prior to the match, footage aired of the back shaving and Ucey Hot nonsense. The Revival attacked one of the Usos and ran him into the barricade. Cole wasn’t sure if the bell rang, but the ref counted an early pin attempt, so the match was underway. The Usos got took control going into a break. [C]
Dawson tagged himself in. Wilder powerbombed Jey, then Dawson performed a top rope elbow drop that led to a two count. The teams traded more near falls. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. In the end, Dawson rolled up Jimmy and held his tights while getting the win…
The Revival defeated The Usos in 10:40.
Powell’s POV: It’s crazy that Cole kept talking about the back shaving and Ucey Hot bits throughout the match. It’s as if no one in WWE realizes that it made the Usos look like dicks even though they are the babyface characters. The match was entertaining, but I just couldn’t shake the feeling that the first Raw match between these teams could have been so much bigger with a real build rather than the humiliating sports entertainment garbage.
Backstage, Alexa Bliss told Nikki Cross that she did a good job of replacing her in the MITB ladder match, but the problem is that she didn’t win. Bliss said it’s okay because she has her own show. The Revival entered the picture and celebrated their win in an over the top way. Wilder said they should be on A Moment of Bliss…
Cole hyped the FireFly Fun House segment for after the break… [C]
Bray Wyatt’s FireFly Fun House segment aired. The upbeat music and images of children playing was replaced by shots of sad children and the “Let Him In” slogan followed shots of Wyatt in his new mask…
Alexa Bliss hosted her talkshow and was accompanied by Nikki Cross. Alexa had a man bring them coffee. Bliss introduced Becky Lynch as her guest. Bliss had Cross stand up from the guest chair. Cross stood right next to Bliss and smiled when Bliss looked uncomfortable. Bliss asked Lynch how it feels to no longer be Becky Two Belts.
“The IIconics” Peyton Royce and Billie Kay walked out and made obnoxious noises before Lynch could answer. They said they now refer to Lynch as Becky One Belt. They said it doesn’t have the same ring to it. They boasted that they still have the belts they won at WrestleMania. Lynch said she defended her title more in one night than they have defended the tag titles since WrestleMania.
Lacey Evans made her entrance. “Typical man, never knowing where to give proper credit,” Evans said. Lynch said she’s the reason that Lynch is no longer Becky Two Belts. Lynch said The Lady came around and got tapped out. Lynch said Evans couldn’t get the job done when she only had half her attention. Lynch said she could slap around Evans and The IIconics. The heels laughed at her. Cross said she’d be Lynch’s partner. Evans said Lynch was still one short. Lynch said Bliss would do. Bliss said she didn’t agree to it. Lynch told her to stand there and look pretty while she does the rest. Bliss brought her coffee cup to ringside… [C]
4. Becky Lynch, Nikki Cross, and Alexa Bliss vs. Lacey Evans, Peyton Royce, and Billie Kay. Evans blew off Lynch requesting that she tag into the match. Bliss stood at ringside drinking her coffee. Evans tagged in once Cross was reeling, then worked her over while taunting Lynch. Evans tagged out and ended up walking out on her team while Lynch worked over Royce and Kay. Lynch performed a legdrop from the middle rope on Kay and pinned her…
Becky Lynch, Nikki Cross, and Alexa Bliss beat Lacey Evans, Peyton Royce, and Billie Kay in 5:45.
Powell’s POV: This was fun. Evans taunted Lynch and avoided her wrath by walking out. Bliss was fun as she stood at ringside the entire time and then celebrated the win. I’m enjoying the dynamic between Bliss and Cross and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.
Cole hyped Miz vs. McIntyre for later in the show… Foley was shown walking backstage where he passed Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, EC3, No Way Jose, Mojo Rawley, Naomi, and another wrestler… [C]
Mick Foley made his entrance. He called for his music to be cut while saying he had business to attend to starting with the title on his shoulder. Foley said there’s been something missing from Raw. “We need to start getting raw again,” Foley said. “Let’s make Monday night raw again.” Foley entered the ring. Foley said it takes a lot to be a champion in WWE. He said it’s something you dream about and love and will sacrifice teeth and an ear because that’s how a legend is born. Foley spoke about how you obsess over the title 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Foley unveiled the new “WWE 24/7” title. Fans seemed less than impressed. Foley said the hideously ugly green title belt could be defended anytime, anywhere. He said pinfalls could take place anywhere as long as a referee was present. Foley said the wrestlers may want to wear trunks in the shower because falls truly do count anywhere.
[Hour Three] Foley put the title belt down in the ring. He said the third hour of Raw is about to get downright mean and nasty. Foley said they would crown their first 24/7 Champion by holding a scramble. Foley said the title is open to wrestlers from Raw, Smackdown, 205 Live, NXT, NXT UK, and even WWE legends. Foley said he who retrieves it receives it. Foley went to ringside and called for the bell…
EC3, Mojo Rawley, Cedric Alexander, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, No Way Jose, Titus O’Neil, and Eric Young ran out and fought on the ramp at ringside. Anderson and Gallows were the first wrestlers to touch the belt and they bickered over who should have it. Drake Maverick showed up and entered the ring, but O’Neil cut him off and threw him onto a pile of wrestlers at ringside. Titus grabbed the title belt and was declared the winner. Robert Roode’s mustache ran out and pinned O’Neil on the stage to take the title belt. Roode was chased to the back by various wrestlers…
Powell’s POV: A crappy belt for a crappy concept. I guess now they can have title changes on various television shows and live events that no one will care about.
Footage aired from the opening segment of Heyman teasing a possible Lesnar cash-in during the Raw main event… The Miz made his entrance for his match against McIntyre… An ad for WWE Super ShowDown aired…
Roode was chased through the backstage area by a group of wrestlers. He hid and ran the other way…
5. Drew McIntyre (w/Shane McMahon) vs. The Miz. McIntyre went on the offensive to start. Miz showed some signs of life, but McIntyre regained offensive control and suplexed him at ringside going into a break. [C] Miz performed a huracanrana and then went for his finisher, but McIntyre stuffed it. Later, Miz rebounded and applied a figure four, which McIntyre broke with chops. Miz knocked McIntyre down and then chased Shane, who hopped the barricade to avoid him. Miz threw McIntyre back inside the ring. Shane hit Miz from behind and rolled him into the ring where McIntyre performed a Claymore Kick and pinned him.
Drew McIntyre defeated The Miz in 13:10.
After the match, Shane said he had a parting gift for Miz. Shane set up for his Coast to Coast finisher, but Roman Reigns ran out. Reigns cleared McIntyre from the ring with a Superman Punch, and Shane ran away from him. Miz thanked Reigns and shook his hand…
Lashley and Corbin were shown talking backstage when Robert Roode’s mustache ran into them. “You didn’t see me,” Roode said. Roode ran off and then the group from earlier chased after him…
Powell’s POV: I still have a tough time seeing babyface Miz as a realistic threat when he’s in the ring with someone like McIntyre. And that’s coming from someone who loved Miz as a heel. That said, they worked hard and had a solid match. Meanwhile, it says a lot about the 24/7 Title when Lashley and Corbin showed zero interest in going after Roode.
Charly Caruso interviewed Seth Rollins and Kofi Kingston and brought up the tag title match and the threat of Lesnar cashing in his MITB contract. Kingston said you have to multitask. Rollins said no one likes Lashley and Corbin, but it doesn’t make them any less dangerous. He said they have to take care of them first. Kingston said he’s ready to visit and survive Suplex City. Kingston did his WWE World Heavyweight Champion dance. Rollins laughed and walked away… [C]
The broadcast team narrated still shots of Rey Mysterio beating Samoa Joe at MITB. They noted that the referee was out of position and missed that Joe’s shoulder was up during the pinfall. They also stated that Mysterio suffered a dislocated shoulder when Joe attacked him afterward. A Joe promo aired. He said he’s not angry and it’s all water under the bridge. Joe said the honorable Mysterio would never accept the tarnished result of the U.S. Title match. Joe said he was giving Mysterio the opportunity to hand him the title back. He told him to be the man that he hopes Dominick will grow up to be. Joe said that if Mysterio doesn’t, he will set an example for him…
Roode’s mustache was shown leaving the building and climbing into R-Truth’s trunk. Truth closed the trunk and then told the mob of wrestlers that Roode went the other way. Once they left, Truth let Roode out of the trunk and told him to get in the passenger seat. When Roode opened the door, a referee was inside. Truth slammed Roode’s head onto the trunk of the car and then pinned him to become the new 24/7 Champion…
Powell’s POV: Make it stop.
Kofi Kingston made his entrance for the main event… [C] Seth Rollins made his entrance. Baron Corbin attacked him from behind. Kingston ran up to help, but Bobby Lashley came out and attacked him…
6. Seth Rollins and Kofi Kingston vs. Bobby Lashley and Baron Corbin in a No DQ match. The heels were dominant early on and whipped Rollins and Kingston into the ringside barricade heading into a break. [C] Lashley and Corbin continued to dominate the babyface champions coming out of the break. They set up for a double superplex on Kingston when Rollins entered the ring with a chair and attacked them.
A short time later, Rollins performed a suicide dive on both opponents. Kingston followed up with a trust fall onto them. In the ring, Kingston hit Trouble in Paradise on Corbin and pinned him clean…
Seth Rollins and Kofi Kingston beat Bobby Lashley and Baron Corbin in 10:30.
After the match, Lashley attacked Kingston. Lashley picked up a chair, but Rollins superkicked it at his face. Brock Lesnar’s music played. Lesnar and Heyman walked out with the MITB briefcase. Lesnar took a lap around the ring while Rollins and Kingston stood in the ring. Lesnar teased entering the ring and then dropped back to the floor. At ringside, Heyman told Lesnar they should come back next week and let the world know which man he’d be going after. Cole acted bothered by Lesnar making viewers wait three hours for that…
Powell’s POV: A solid main event. I was surprised to see Corbin lose if only because he’s advertised for a pay-per-view title match with Rollins, but I guess they are more concerned with making Lashley look strong heading into his match with Strowman at Super ShowDown. The Lesnar tease was predictable, yet it is a decent card they can play during his appearances. The 24/7 Title does absolutely nothing for me. I’ll have a lot more to say in my members’ exclusive audio review coming up later tonight.
Check below for the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and guest Conrad Thompson discussing Starrcast II, Undertaker pulling out of the event, hosting AEW rallies and his friendship with Tony Khan, thoughts on how WWE podcasts could work, and more.
WiLd CaRd RuLeS aRe In EfFeCt!!1!11!!
I enjoyed seeing Strowman his revenge so quickly. a lot better then Zayn getting another fluke win.
“Cole referred to him as one of the most destructive forces in the history of WWE.”
oh give me a brake that’s said with every Heel that comes to WWE Strong up untill they lose their first big match.
Kind of reminds me of the old Intercontinental title that Greg Valentine held. I liked that belt. This one not so much.
I don’t agree with the 24/7 title being a “crappy” concept. It was exciting during the Attitude era and if handled right it could be so again. If there’s some skepticism over booking it then fair enough but let’s see what happens before judging it.
It’s crappy. It’ll also devalue wrestling in general because one move here or there will suddenly be enough to finish someone off. At least with hardcore 24/7, there were weapon shots. This is going to get old quick.
You say it’ll devalue wrestler but with the weapon shots no one got up and arms about the Rock vs Triple H in a hard-core match going 25 minutes because Spike Dudley won the Hardcore title with one trashcan shot to the head.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Goldberg vs The Undertaker for the WWE 24/7 title! (dripping with sarcasm)
Anyone anxiously awaiting seeing Goldberg eat a Tombstone, and being pinned for the three count? There’s no way Undertaker is making a trip to Saudi Arabia to lose in the hundred plus degree heat.
I pretty much stopped watching raw in general and I’m not regretting it in the least. New title sounds cheap and meaningless already
” it says a lot about the 24/7 Title when Lashley and Corbin showed zero interest in going after Roode.”
Because the belt is more important to the mid and upper card wrestlers then guys at the main event level.
just like the Hardcore Title was during the 24/7 Rule.
We all know if Aew came up with the 24/7 idea, everyone would be praising it.
I think Vince Russo is just feeding Jeff Jarrett ideas to bring to Vince McMahon at this point.
I buy Baron Corbin as a main eventer.
That makes two of us!!!!
I’m trying to think positively on this WWE 24/7 title in that a few weeks time, after building up a substantial, albeit pointless title history, They will rename it the ‘WWE Main Event TV Title’ and have it exclusively defended on that program.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that I’m the only one who’s going to get any kind of enjoyment out of the 24/7 title. Maybe I’m just nostalgic but I used to love the madness of the Hardcore championship. It’s not like they’re pushing this as a main event level thing, it’s just a bit of fun to keep the mid-to-lower card wrestlers busy, rather than leaving them off TV completely.
Belt design sucks though. At least the old hardcore title was intentionally trashy
The problem with the 24/7 title is that it looks like a low level boxing belt. Just cheap and poorly designed.