May 23, 2016
Episode 1200
(aired live)
#RAW
City: Baltimore, MD
Venue: Royal Farms Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, JBL, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia
Video
A recap of the end of the main event at Extreme Rules plus the return of Seth Rollins.
Intro Video
“The Night Remix” by CFO$/KromestatiK
Ring Area
#SethRollins
Seth Rollins heads to the ring. He seems excited to be back. The crowd is excited to see him as well. He talks about firing the first shot at taking back the title he never lost. The crowd chants for him. Rollins finds that interesting.
He recounts how he was booed and called a weak champ by the crowd. He talks about the tweets, flowers, and fan mail that he got while he was injured. He burned all the fan mail. He’s going to win back his title, and he doesn’t care what the fans do.
Roman Reigns heads to the ring. When he enters Rollins leaves. Shane McMahon then comes out and all three men get in the ring. He gets right to the point and gives Rollins a title match at Money in the Bank.
Backstage
Renee Young asks Sheamus about facing Sami Zayn. Sheamus thinks Zayn’s name is funny and his hat is stupid.
Match 1
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Sami Zayn vs Sheamus
(referee: Ryan Tran)
#MITB
Result: Sami Zayn wins via pinfall after a Helluva Kick to qualify for the 2016 Money in the Bank match
Time: 6:32 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This felt like a pretty quick match, but it was good. It felt like Sheamus was too confident and didn’t take Zayn seriously, but Zayn also had a really good showing against his much stronger opponent. They worked well together. Also, I really like how Sami has been using the Helluva Kick lately.
Backstage
Renee Young welcomes Apollo Crews, but Sheamus, clearly upset from losing to Sami Zayn, attacks Crews to make an example of the “New Era.”
Ring Area
New Day wishes RAW a happy birthday, but Big E is concerned about the cake. As he teases throwing the cake in someone’s face, the Social Outcasts attack New Day from behind.
Match 2
New Day (Tag Champs) vs Social Outcasts
(referee: Dan Engler)
Result: Kofi Kingston pins Heath Slater after the Midnight Hour
Time: 1:58 (started in progress)
Match Thoughts
With their attack prior to the match, I thought the Social Outcasts might have a chance in this match, but it was a squash. It was fun, but it was super short and only contained a few moves. Heath Slater never tagged out, and New Day had no problems whatsoever.
Ring Area
After the match New Day points toward the cake at ringside. Big E wants to eat it, but Kofi and Xavier have other ideas. They explode the cake in Heath’s face.
Ring Area
The Miz gloats about retaining his title at Extreme Rules by overcoming the odds just like in Rudy.
Match 3
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
The Miz (IC Champ) w/ Maryse vs Cesaro
(referee: Mike Chioda)
#MITB
Result: Cesaro wins via pinfall after the Neutralizer to qualify for the 2016 Money in the Bank match
Time: 7:56 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Cesaro’s shoulder injury came into play, but otherwise this was a fine Cesaro television match that Miz happened to be in.
Backstage
Renee Young welcomes Seth Rollins. Rollins thinks it would be fitting if he got his title back at Money in the Bank. Stephanie McMahon shows up. She says it’s great to see Rollins, but that their business relationship has changed. Rollins is disappointed, or maybe confused.
Match 4
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Chris Jericho vs Apollo Crews
(referee: Rod Zapata)
#MITB
Result: Chris Jericho wins via pinfall after a Code Breaker to qualify for the 2016 Money in the Bank match
Time: 7:47
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Crews looked a little rough at times though. In one particular spot it looked like he was supposed to kip up to avoid the Lionsault, but he actually got hit when he got to his feet.
Backstage
Renee Young asks Sheamus about his reaction to Apollo Crews losing. Sheamus just laughs and walks away.
Life Lessons with Coach Backlund (video)
Bob Backlund tells Darren Young that notes are for kids in school. He then starts to recite all the presidents in order. He also disapproves of Young’s language.
Backstage
Jojo welcomes Baron Corbin. He talks about beating Ziggler, but Ziggler walks up and tells Corbin that he can’t beat him in a technical wrestling match. Corbin says he just beats people up.
Ring Area
Big Cass comes out to the stage and brings out the returning Enzo Amore. They talk about how the Dudley Boyz have been out of line.
Match 5
Big Cass w/ Enzo Amore vs Bubba Ray Dudley w/ D-Von Dudley
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Big Cass wins via pinfall after an Empire Elbow
Time: 3:16
Match Thoughts
A pretty good match. Bubba made Big Cass look good. It was pretty one-sided. D-Von and Enzo had a bit of a confrontation outside the ring that lengthened the match, otherwise it would have been even shorter.
Ring Area
Charlotte, Ric Flair, and Dana Brooke head to the ring. Ric congratulates his daughter for retaining the title. Charlotte thanks herself and tells her she made correct decision by joining her.
Charlotte then recounts her childhood, a childhood where her father was always gone. Now that she’s champ, she understands. She’s the woman. And now that she is the woman she has the courage to tell her father to get out f her ring.
She says that she’s not Ric Flair’s daughter, Ric Flair is Charlotte’s dad. She doesn’t need Ric anymore. He’s dead to her.
Flair leaves.
** That was probably Charlotte’s best promo. Charlotte didn’t go too far overboard and her delivery was pretty spot on. Hopefully this is a sign of better things to come for her, maybe a change from groan-worthy heel tactics to an actual heel that I can dislike. And a stop to her reliance on Ric’s name and persona. **
Match 6
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Dean Ambrose vs Dolph Ziggler
(referee: Darrick Moore)
#MITB
Result: Dean Ambrose wins via pinfall after Dirty Deeds to qualify for the 2016 Money in the Bank match
Time: 8:38 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
A good match (other than Ambrose basically no-selling a superkick by rebounding with his rope-bounce clothesline). It wasn’t the show-stealing match the Ziggler told Corbin it would be, but it was a solid TV match.
Backstage
Arn Anderson tries to comfort Flair as he leaves the arena (with Titus O’Neil and Zack Ryder in the background). Renee Young gives Flair a chance to respond to Charlotte, but he doesn’t.
Promo Video
Primo and Epico sends a special invitation to the WWE Universe. Visit Puerto Rico.
Ring Area
AJ Styles heads to the ring and says that if it wasn’t for the Usos, Gallows, and Anderson he’d be champ right now. But he’s not, so he’s focused on his chance to enter the Money in the Bank match.
Gallows and Anderson interrupt. They are upset that Styles included them in the reasons why he didn’t win at Extreme Rules. They tell Styles he’s changed. Styles just wants to separate professionally. He says they’re still brothers, but he wants to make it in the WWE on his own. Gallows and Anderson don’t like that. Anderson says they are neither brothers nor friends anymore.
** It’s an abrupt way to end The Club, but it makes sense. I prefer Styles going forward on his own. I think it would be cool if Balor gets called up and joins with Anderson and Gallows though. **
Match 7
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
AJ Styles vs Kevin Owens
(referee: Mike Chioda)
#MITB
Result: Kevin Owens wins via pinfall after a pop-up powerbomb to qualify for the 2016 Money in the Bank Match
Time: 13:00 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Great match! There are many great things in this. There was a little bit of one-upsmanship going on with Styles and Owens doing similar moves to each other. Both guys pulled off some spectacular moves (like Styles with a springboard 450 and Owens with a double-jump moonsault). It was very physical. This pairing should be a world title feud.
Show Impressions
A good show. The matches were mostly good and/or fun, and I always like a night of qualifying for something. The Rollins segment wasn’t particularly bombshell-dropping, but I like the result. And Charlotte’s segment was surprisingly good.
Match of the Night
AJ Styles vs Kevin Owens
This was better than most of the matches on Extreme Rules last night. Great match.