10/21 WWE Raw Results: Powell’s review of Seth Rollins explaining why he torched the Firefly Funhouse, The Street Profits vs. Luke Gallows Karl Anderson, Ric Flair revealing the final member of his team, Andrade vs. Sin Cara

By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

WWE Raw on the USA Network
Aired live on October 21, 2019 from Cleveland, Ohio at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

[Hour One] Raw opened with a recap of the Seth Rollins and “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt feud, including Rollins torching the Firefly Funhouse… The Raw opening aired and then pyro shot off on the stage… The broadcast team was Vic Joseph, Dio Maddin, and Jerry Lawler…

Ric Flair’s music played and he made his entrance while ring announcer Mike Rome introduced him as a two-time WWE Hall of Famer. The Crown Jewel logo listed Roman Reigns, Rusev, Ali, Ricochet, and Shorty G vs. Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley, King Corbin, and Shinsuke Nakamura for the Team Hogan vs. Team Flair match at Crown Jewel.

Flair told someone in the crowd that he told them to bring Baker (Mayfield) and wondered where Odell (Beckham Jr.) was. He said LeBron (James) is gone and he’s all they have left. Flair said Hogan’s team has great athletes or they wouldn’t be pro wrestlers. He told a fan to “tell your mother that, buddy, I used to know your mother.” Flair gave the fifth member of his team the big buildup.

Drew McIntyre made his entrance as the final member of Team Flair. Once McIntyre arrived in the ring, Flair told him he wanted to see him put Ricochet in the same column as the Cleveland Browns. Flair made the loser sign with his hand. McIntyre told Flair to get a front row look and warned that things will get uncomfortable as he gives a preview of what will happen at Crown Jewel. Ricochet made his entrance. The broadcast team said McIntyre would face Ricochet after the break… [C]

Powell’s POV: I’m sure Flair gives Vince McMahon fits because he has no idea what Flair will say, but that’s half the fun. Flair with a live mic is the most raw thing about Raw. I wish Raw had more of the spontaneity that Flair brings to the table.

An ad for NXT hyped Finn Balor for Wednesday’s show…

1. Drew McIntyre vs. Ricochet. Flair watched the match from a chair at ringside. McIntyre was the early aggressor, but Ricochet kicked his legs out from under him to knock him off the apron. Ricochet performed a flip dive onto McIntyre heading into a break. [C]

During the match, Sarah Schreiber asked Flair what he wanted to say to Hulk Hogan. A fired up Flair told Hogan to be there on Friday night (for Smackdown) and said McIntyre would put Ricochet into orbit. Ricochet performed a standing moonsault on McIntyre, who then kicked at at the referee’s one count.

Ricochet followed up a short time later with a springboard moonsault for a two count. McIntyre came back with a crucifix buckle bomb and a powerbomb for a near fall. Ricochet came back and hit a Death Valley Driver, then hit a shooting star press for a near fall. Ricochet went for his Recoil finisher, but McIntyre caught him and tossed him over the top rope to ringside. McIntyre threw Ricochet into the post so that he was lying on the apron. When Ricochet stood up, McIntyre blasted him with a Claymore Kick and pinned him clean.

Drew McIntyre defeated Ricochet in 17:40.

After the match, McIntyre picked up Ricochet and headbutted him, threw him into the corner, and then DDT’d him. McIntyre took Ricochet to ringside and catapulted him into the ring steps. McIntyre entered the ring and Flair raised his arm. McIntyre mocked some of Hulk Hogan’s mannerisms and poses…

The broadcast team hyped some previously advertised segments… [C] An ad for Smackdown noted that the show will be on FS1 (due to the World Series) and hyped Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez meeting face to face, and Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair both appearing…

Powell’s POV: A strong match. I’m surprised they didn’t bring McIntyre back with a more dominant win over an inferior opponent, but I’m not complaining. The post match beatdown was heavy enough that it left me wondering if they are writing Ricochet out of the Crown Jewel match for some reason. Here’s hoping that there’s a real creative plan for McIntyre in place this time around.

XFL quarterback Cardale Jones was shown clapping in the crowd… The broadcast team set up footage of The OC beating up The Street Profits last week, which led to Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins agreeing to keep their tag partner a mystery for their six-man tag with The OC…

Charly Caruso interviewed AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson on the backstage interview set. Anderson took issue with the Street Profits being the unofficial hosts of Raw when they could do the job. Styles assumed that “getting that smoke” is illegal in Cleveland. Gallows said Cleveland sucks…

The broadcast team set up a video package of Raw newcomers Andrade, Buddy Murphy, and Aleister Black, who came over from Smackdown via the draft… The Raw roster graphic was shown while Maddin said there’s no better value pick than Samoa Joe…

Aleister Black delivered a promo in front of a backdrop and spoke about having madman rage and being ready to pick a fight… [C] Ads aired for NXT and Total Divas…

2. Aleister Black vs Jason Reynolds. Black’s entrance was televised. In a shocker, Reynolds did not get a televised entrance. Black dominated the match and hit the Black Mass kick and scored the pin…

Aleister Black defeated Jason Reynolds in 1:45.

Powell’s POV: It was good to see Black use the Black Mass kick. He’s been working in a submission finisher lately and that’s great, but I was concerned they were doing away with the Black Mass for some reason. Fortunately, that’s not the case.

Rusev was shown walking backstage. Lawler hyped that he would be interviewing him on The King’s Court talkshow after the break… [C]

The latest AOP sit-down feature aired. They said Raw signed them to keep them from Smackdown. They said they will get violent with every team on Raw and the next chapter of tag team wrestling will be written in blood and it will be written by the AOP…

Jerry Lawler stood in the ring with a King’s Court set. Lawler said a scandalous relationship has everyone talking except for his guest, Rusev.

[Hour Two] Rusev came out dressed in a white t-shirt and slacks. There was a “Rusev Day” chant. Lawler said that what happens in a marriage should stay within a marriage, but with him, Lana, and Bobby Lashley being public figures, Lana and Lashley have made everything public. Lawler said Lana complained that Rusev send too much money back to his family, interfered with her modeling, and felt she spent too much money on herself.

Some fans gave Lawler the “What?” treatment. “Hey, he’s a Hall of Famer, come on,” Rusev said. Lawler got him back on track. Rusev said it was all Lashley’s fault and he will be crushed. Rusev said that he may be a fool, but he still wears his wedding ring and he hopes that somehow they will end up happily every after.

Bobby Lashley and Lana appeared on the big screen from a restaurant. Lashley said he wouldn’t make the same mistakes the Rusev did, he’ll make sure Lana is 100 percent taken care of. Lana said she asked Rusev to take her to the restaurant, but he never took her. Lana, who no longer has an accent, said her new man took her and she loves him. Lashley said out with the old and in with the new. Lashley and Lana both said I love you to one another.

Rusev shook his head. Lawler said he had to respond to what they just witnessed. Rusev said he would like to deliver his message personally because he knows exactly where they are. Rusev left the ring and ran to the back…

Powell’s POV: Lashley took Lana to the Jack in the Box on Euclid, Avenue? What a player. There’s no way to compete with a man who takes a woman to Jack in the Box. It’s over, Rusev. Move on.

Another NXT ad aired… A sponsored Superstars Fact graphic noted that Charlotte Flair is the daughter of Ric Flair, a 10-time champion, and competed in the first women’s Hell in a Cell and Money in the Bank matches…

Andrade and Zelina Vega made their entrance. Zelina spoke as they walked to the ring and said that Andrade’s music is a siren to warn all other wrestlers that their careers are in danger. She said no one knows that better than Sin Cara, and noted that his name means “without a face.” Zelina said Sin Cara would be leaving without a face and without a victory because as good as he is, he will never beat Andrade.

Sin Cara made his entrance. He still has the trampoline, but he doesn’t have mood lighting. Joseph spoke about some of the community work that Sin Cara has done in El Paso and said he has one of the biggest hearts in WWE…

3. Andrade (w/Zelina Vega) vs. Sin Cara. Humberto Carrillo was shown watching the match on a backstage monitor wearing a wild lucha style shirt. Sin Cara performed a moonsault from the top rope and onto Andrade at ringside heading into a break. [C]

Andrade went to the apron and did an Eddie Guerrero shimmy. Sin Cara cut him off on the ropes. They fought for position. Sin Cara fell to the apron, punched Andrade a few times, then climbed back up and performed a sunset bomb for a near fall.

Sin Cara went back to the ropes and was cut off by Andrade, who hit him with double knees in the corner and then got a two count. Sin Cara backdropped Andrade to ringside and then performed a nice huracanrana from the ring to the floor. Zelina provided a distraction, allowing Andrade to clothesline Sin Cara over the ropes. Vega performed a huracanrana from the apron. Andrade hit a Hammerlock DDT and scored the pin…

Andrade defeated Sin Cara in 12:00.

Powell’s POV: A well worked match and all, but Sin Cara has been so damaged over the years that Andrade actually looked weak for needing outside interference and taking 12 minute to beat him.

Backstage, Caruso interviewed Humberto Carrillo and asked him for his reaction to the match. He said when you face Andrade, you have to face him and Zelina at the same time. Carrillo said he has a lot to prove and will be the best champion, not the kind of champion who plays with fire like Seth Rollins…

Powell’s POV: Carrillo’s new lucha shirt makes him look like LA Park minus the mask. His promo was hard to understand, but it came off like he was a fan of Andrade and Zelina and down on Rollins, yet Caruso just smiled afterward and didn’t act like she was thrown off by anything he said.

The broadcast team hyped the Seth Rollins segment and the OC vs. Street Profits and a mystery partner match for later in the show… [C] Another NXT ad aired…

The Street Profits stood backstage and reacted to The OC promo from earlier. They mocked AJ Styles’ soccer mom haircut and the too sweet hand gestures by calling them ’90s symbols. They also spoke about having their first match on Raw. Ford asked Dawkins if he found someone for them to team with. Dawkins said it was a surprise. Ford threw out the names of Ric Flair, Booker T, and Kurt Angle. Dawkins said their partner doesn’t like Styles and he’s just like them…

R-Truth was shown walking out of a production storage area with the 24/7 Title. He was approached by one of the Singh Brothers. The other brother rolled up Truth and pinned him. He said he’s either seeing double or there were two of them…

Powell’s POV: Was it Sunil? Was it Samir? Does it matter?

The broadcast team ran through the WWE Crown Jewel pay-per-view lineup for the Halloween show in SAUDI ARABIA…

The Viking Raiders made their entrance while the broadcast team recapped their Raw Tag Title win… The ad aired for WWE’s work with the breast cancer charity… [C]

Schreiber interviewed Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins at the Gorilla position set. They said they were grateful for the huge opportunity against the Raw Tag Champions. Ryder wondered if they would get pyro. Hawkins said there was only one way to find out. No luck…

4. Raw Tag Champions “The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar vs. Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins in a non-title match. Ryder caught Erik with a missile dropkick, which led to Erik being isolated briefly. The Viking Raiders came back and hit the Viking Experience on Hawkins and then Ivar got the pin…

The Viking Raiders beat Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins in 3:40 in a non-title match.

Powell’s POV: The idea is that Hawkins and Ryder call themselves The Gratitude Era, which is why they are talking about how grateful they are (for the scraps that they are given by WWE creative). Their gimmick is corny, but they did a good job of taking the Viking Raiders’ offense.

The restaurant manager asked Lashley and Lana to leave the restaurant because he heard that Lana’s husband might be showing up. Lashley said Rusev didn’t have the balls to show up…

Rey Mysterio was shown walking backstage and Joseph said he would appear after the break… [C] Another ad for Smackdown aired…

Rusev showed up at the restaurant and as quickly restrained by independent wrestler security or police (it’s hard to know the difference. and escorted out of the venue while Lana yelled at him…

Powell’s POV: Well, that was uneventful. There’s still a massive food fight coming, right?

Rey Mysterio made his entrance with his left arm in a sling and bumped fists with a number of fans, including the latest guy to wear a Minnesota Vikings jersey to Raw outside Minnesota (nice). Mysterio said he’s been training with Cain Velasquez and getting him ready to beat Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at Crown Jewel.

Mysterio thanked the fans on behalf of himself, his son, and his entire family. He spoke of the outpouring of love that he and his family have experienced. A clunky “you deserve it” chant broke out. Mysterio said he is humbled by the love that the fans have shown him and his entire family. Mysterio told the fans that they are his family and said they would all celebrate together when Velasquez beats Lesnar at Crown Jewel and puts another scar on his face.

[Hour Three] Paul Heyman appeared on the big screen and introduced himself. Heyman wondered if Mysterio would say those things if Lesnar were live in Cleveland. Heyman said Mysterio knew Lesnar couldn’t be at Raw because he was drafted to Smackdown. Heyman said he can’t be drafted anywhere because he’s just a humble advocate.

Heyman said that Lesnar has seen the scar that was carved into his face and soul every day for the last nine years. Heyman said Lesnar has been salivating like a beast lusting for revenge and that will happen when Mysterio serves up Velasquez on a silver platter. Heyman started to say that Mysterio better get it through his thick head, but Mysterio cut him off and spoke in Spanish.

Shelton Benjamin walked out with a mic in hand and took issue with Mysterio bringing in Velasquez to defend him and his son because Mysterio couldn’t. Benjamin wondered why Velasquez was getting a title shot. Mysterio said it was a family thing. Benjamin said Lesnar is his buddy and he trained him and roomed with him at the University of Minnesota (home of the 7-0 Golden Gophers football team!).

Benjamin said he was going to find out out what will happen if he pushes Mysterio around. Benjamin shoved Mysterio several times and wondered if that would get him an Intercontinental Title match. Benjamin slapped Mysterio a couple times and asked, “Where’s you’re buddy now?”

Cain Velasquez made his entrance in a t-shirt and jeans. Benjamin went for a takedown, which Velasquez stuffed. Velasquez took Benjamin down and threw some punches at him. Velasquez put Benjamin in a sleeper, and Benjamin quickly tapped out…

Powell’s POV: Mysterio was solid on the mic, but Benjamin was better in his role as the tormentor. I really liked Benjamin in the bully role while it lasted. Velasquez didn’t get the type of reaction you’d want for a guy challenging for a world title.

Caruso interviewed Seth Rollins on the backstage set and said it seems like The Fiend has gotten inside his head. Rollins said that may be true, but maybe he’s also gotten inside the head of The Fiend. Rollins said The Fiend is different and there’s an aura about him that he can’t explain. Rollins said that once you step inside the ring with The Fiend you change forever.

Rollins looked off set and dismissed himself, then found Humberto Carrillo and said he heard what he had to say earlier. Rollins said he burned down the funhouse and would do it again. Rollins said he admired that Carrillo said he wants to be the champion someday and welcomed him to Raw. Rollins challenged Carrillo to meet him on the spot in his first match on Raw…

Powell’s POV: An interesting development. By the way, Carrillo was actually wearing his pre-match attire over a black t-shirt earlier in the show, so I was mistaken. He doesn’t have new LA Park-like gear. Whew. Rollins vs. Carrillo should be really fun.

More NXT and Total Divas advertising aired… The offensive line of the Cleveland Browns football team was shown in the front row… Footage aired of Undertaker appearing at the Riyadh Season Grand Opening Parade on a WWF float in SAUDI ARABIA…

5. WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins vs. Humberto Carrillo in a non-title match. Maddin said it was uncharacteristic of Carrillo to take verbal shots like he did earlier. The crowd was very quiet to start and then a “We Want Wyatt” chant broke out briefly. Carrillo performed some impressive springboard dives. Rollins sent Carrillo to ringside and hit him with a suicide dive, then suplexed him on the floor going into a break. [C]

Rollins talked trash after getting the better of Carrillo coming out of the break. The broadcast team noted that it was uncharacteristic of Rollins and wondered if Wyatt or the pressure of being champion was getting to him. Carrillo came back and performed a nice flip dive and crashed hard into the barricade.

Carrillo threw Rollins back inside the ring and then went for a missile dropkick, but Rollins stepped aside and hit a falcon arrow for a two count. Rollins performed a springboard flying knee for another two count and smirked over not getting the three count. Rollins hit a seated Carrillo with a kick to the face. Rollins set up for the Stomp and received some boos while other fans chanted “burn it down.”

Carrillo avoided the Stomp and rolled up Rollins for a two count. Carrillo DDT’d Rollins and then went up top and performed a moonsault for a good near fall. Maddin said Carrillo is something special. Carrillo went for another moonsault, but Rollins put his boots up. Rollins kicked Carrillo in the gut and then Stomped him and scored the pin.

Seth Rollins beat Humberto Carrillo in 12:00 in a non-title match.

Rollins left the ring, but then returned and offered a handshake, which Carrillo accepted…

The OC was shown walking backstage while Joseph said the six-man tag match was up next… [C]

Powell’s POV: A fun and interesting match with Rollins coming across frustrated and perhaps even heelish at times. Carrillo had a strong first showing on Raw even if the live crowd wasn’t all that hot for the match. I wonder if the logic of putting Rollins in this match was to have him in there with a fellow babyface so that if he was booed loudly there would be an excuse for it.

R-Truth led a referee into a backstage area. Truth rolled up one of the Singhs and counted the pin himself, but the referee didn’t count. The ref informed him that he pinned the wrong man. The other Singh showed up and they ran off together. “So there are two of them,” Truth said…

Joseph announced that the Firefly Funhouse will return on Friday’s Smackdown on FS1…

The Street Profits made their entrance. They walked onto the stage and then hopped the barrier and walked through the crowd. Maddin said everywhere the Street Profits go it becomes a block party. They hopped the barrier at ringside and then entered the ring. Their music stopped and they played to the crowd and got a solid response.

The OC came out and Styles questioned where their third person was. Styles wondered if the third man was invisible or imaginary. Styles said they couldn’t find anyone to watch their back after what they did to them last week. Footage aired of The OC attacking the Street Profits last Monday. The OC headed to the ring… [C]

6. “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson (w/AJ Styles). The match started as a tag team match with Styles at ringside for his team. Lawler said it was embarrassing that they couldn’t find a guy to watch their back. Joseph said the show wasn’t over yet. Maddin noted that it was a homecoming for Ohio native Dawkins. The OC duo was in offensive control going into the final break. [C]

Ford was isolated by Anderson and Gallows coming out of the break. Ford made the hot tag at 10:30. Dawkins worked over both opponents. Maddin noted that Dawkins started at the WWE Performance Center seven years ago and said this is his moment. Ford went up top, but Styles pushed him off and Anderson performed a spinebuster for a good near fall.

The referee ejected Styles, who protested. Kevin Owens made his entrance and gave Styles a Stunner at ringside. In the ring, Dawkins hit a Sky High slam on Anderson, then Ford performed a top rope frogsplash and scored the pin.

The Street Profits beat Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson in 13:05.

Owens stood on the stage and applauded. The broadcast team narrated highlights from the match and pointed out the height that Ford gets on his frogsplashes. The Street Profits went into the crowd and celebrated their win. Ford picked up a baby dressed in a Hulkamania t-shirt and danced with the baby in his arms to close the show…

Powell’s POV: A nice debut for the Street Profits. I guess I was mistaken in thinking that they were going to have a six-man tag match or they changed it before the show, as that would explain why Styles kept talking about the Profits not being able to find someone to watch their backs. Despite that confusion, it was a good night for Ford and Dawkins, as well as for Humberto Carrillo. It’s nice to see some fresh faces showcased. I will have more to say about the show coming up in my same night Dot Net Members’ exclusive audio review. Let me know what you thought of the show by giving it a letter grade in our weekly post show poll available in a separate post on the main page.