June 5, 2017
Episode 1254
(aired live)
#RAW
City: Wilkes-Barre, PA
Venue: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Booker T
Ring Announcer: Jojo
Video
Clips and images of the Fatal Five Way from Extreme Rules.
Intro Video
“Enemies” by Shinedown
Ring Area
Bray Wyatt heads to the ring. He says last night was the beginning of the end. He might have lost, but he is still a god. Tonight he is here to cast judgment on all who are guilty. One by one he will punish the other four men from the Fatal Five Way. As he speaks, Roman Reigns’ music interrupts and Reigns heads to the ring. Reigns takes the mic from Wyatt and punches Wyatt for “running his mouth.”
Match 1
Bray Wyatt vs Roman Reigns
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Roman Reigns wins via pinfall after a spear
Time: 12:56 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
Good match. This was surprisingly competitive and hard hitting. Both guys looked really good, and this match could have easily been a RAW main event. It was a straightforward match with no shenanigans which is a refreshing way to start RAW.
Backstage
Charly Caruso welcomes Enzo Amore and Big Cass. Enzo and Cass aren’t happy about the recent anonymous attackers who have been victimizing Enzo. Cass is also upset that people have wondered is Cass is the attacker. He says he’s going to be watching Enzo at all times from now on.
Backstage
Kurt Angle’s phone is driving him nuts. Alexa Bliss then walks up and tells Angle that she’s done with Bayley. She also wants to do “Alexa Bliss This is My Life” tonight. Angle thinks that’s a terrible idea. He also remonds Bliss that she promised Nia Jax a title shot, a title shot Jax will receive tonight.
Ring Area
In the ring, Elias Samson sings a song inspired by a leaf falling on a highway. Dean Ambrose interrupts and comes out for a match. In the ring, Ambrose says he wants to tell something to Samson. He then attacks Samson and throws him over the barricade.
Ambrose gets back in the ring and demands a rematch for the IC Title. Miz appears on the tron and says there will be no rematch tonight. From behind, Samson attacks Ambrose. Ambrose is left laying in the ring as Samson walks away.
Backstage
Ambrose asks Angle where Miz’s dressing room is. Angle wants Ambrose to calm down. He tells Ambrose that he’ll get his rematch, but not tonight. Angle then tells Ambrose to take the rest of the night off.
Ring Area
Samoa Joe heads to the ring. Joe does not fear Brock Lesnar. He does envy Lesnar though. Joe wants everything Lesnar has, and he wants to take it from him. He wants Lesnar’s schedule, Lesnar’s advocate, and Lesnar’s Universal Championship.
Paul Heyman comes out and heads to the ring. On his way, Heyman sings the praises of Samoa Joe. Heyman says that he came out a couple of weeks ago and wanted to see Balor versus Lesnar. That is the best case scenario. Joe versus Lesnar is the worst case scenario because even if Joe doesn’t win, Joe will take a piece of Lesnar with him. As Lesnar’s advocate, Heyman’s job is to make sure that Lesnar is Joe’s worst case scenario.
Heyman and Joe shake hands, but Joe prevents Heyman from leaving the ring. Up close and quietly, Joe tells Heyman that something bad is about to happen to him and that it’s a message for Lesnar. Joe then puts Heyman in the Coquina Clutch.
** I really liked this segment. Joe just upped his fear-factor by a lot with his quiet, calm description of what he was about to do to Heyman. **
Backstage
Angle is angry and asks Joe what’s wrong with him. Joe says he will take out anyone in his way and asks Angle if he’s in Joe’s way. Seth Rollins walks up and says Angle isn’t in Joe’s way, but Seth Rollins is. Rollins has beaten Joe before and is willing to do it again tonight. Angle makes the match.
Match 2
Heath Slater & Rhyno vs Cesaro & Sheamus (RAW Tag Champs)
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Sheamus pins Heath Slater after a Brogue Kick
Time: 1:42
Match Thoughts
This wasn’t much of a match, but it showed Cesaro and Sheamus as an extremely dominant team. They had good teamwork and a lot of power.
Ring Area
After the match, Cesaro and Sheamus wonder who is happy that the Hardy Boyz came back to WWE. Two guys they think aren’t happy about their return are Matt and Jeff themselves.
Backstage
TJP wants to talk to Neville about a title shot. He’s been patient and held up his end of the bargain. Neville says he’s a man of his word. He tells TJP to handle his business tonight and Neville will speak with Angle.
Match 3
Mustafa Ali vs TJP
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: TJP wins via pinfall after a Detonation Kick
Time: 2:42
Match Thoughts
It was short, but it was fun while it lasted. Ali flew around the ring, but TJP was able to keep up and take control throughout.
Ring Area
Neville comes out and tells TJP that he’s spoken to Angle and has some bad news. TJP gets mad and tells him that they’re both going back to speak to Angle right now, so Neville attacks him. Neville then informs TJP that he’ll get his title shot tomorrow on 205 Live.
Backstage
Goldust doesn’t approve of R-Truth’s imitation from last week. This isn’t a game for Goldust.
Backstage
Alexa Bliss approaches Sasha, Mickie, and Dana. Sasha walks away, but Alexa talks to Mickie and Dana and tries to convince them that the entire women’s division has a Nia Jax problem. Mickie and Dana aren’t convinced.
Ring Area
As the commentators are talking about the women’s title match, Angle walks up and has a brief, private conversation with Corey Graves.
Backstage
Mike Rome asks Angle about his conversation with Graves, but Angle says it’s private. As Angle walks out of the arena, Dean Ambrose walks in. Also, The Revival can be seen hanging out in the background of the shot as Ambrose walks by.
Match 4
Kalisto vs Titus O’Neil w/ Apollo Crews
(referee: John Cone; watching in the back; Akira Tozawa)
Result: Kalisto wins via pinfall with a rollup and a handful of tights
Time: 1:23
Match Thoughts
It wasn’t much of a match, but it was a fun (and predictable) answer to O’Neil’s victory in their last match.
Backstage
As Miz and Maryse heads towards the ring area, they find Big Cass nearly unconscious under some ring equipment. Cass has a gold chain in his hand that he gives to Enzo after he arrives.
Ring Area
In the ring, Maryse introduces The Miz for his IC Title celebration. There’s also a guy in a bear suit holding a “Congratulations” sign…
Some people in the crowd chant “you deserve it,” and The Miz (rightfully) points out that it would mean a lot more if they didn’t chant that for every person who wins a new title. Miz then thanks Maryse for the guy in the bear suit, but Maryse says she didn’t get the bear. Miz attacks the bear and hits him with a skull-crushing finale. He unmasks the bear, but it’s not Ambrose.
Then a huge, person-sized gift box is rolled down to the ring. Miz attacks the box with a chair and hits it with a few elbow drops. Maryse freaks out. It was a gift from her, a grandfather clock. Maryse gets upset and leaves the ring area.
Alone, Miz asks where Dean Ambrose is. As he rants, a camerman calmly walks into the ring and removes his hat. It’s Ambrose. Ambrose attacks Miz then drinks Miz’s champagne as he walks away.
Ring Area
Gallows and Anderson are already in the ring and ready or a match. Enzo Amore comes out by himself. He has a new partner for tonight though, and he’s seven feet tall. Big Show comes out and heads to the ring. Enzo remarks that Big Show looks a little thin and wonders if he’s joining the cruiserweight division. Big Show doesn’t seem happy, but it’s just an act. After teasing it, Big Show goes into an Enzo-esque rant and does Big Cass’s “sawft” catchphrase.
Match 5
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs Enzo Amore & Big Show
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Enzo pins Karl Anderson after Big Show press slams Enzo into Anderson
Time: 1:41
Match Thoughts
A pretty fun match, but also pretty short. Enzo got beat up a little, then Big Show beat up Anderson and Gallows.
Video
A special look at Alexa Bliss.
Backstage
Enzo and Show are happy about their win, but Cass insinuates that Show might be the secret attacker. Show says he doesn’t sneak. Enzo wants to celebrate tonight’s win all together, but Show sees Cass isn’t into that so he lets Enzo and Cass go on their way.
Backstage
Presented with a black-and-white film filter, R-Truth says some movie quotes and tells Goldust he’s “gonna’ get got.”
Backstage
Mike Rome welcomes Alexa Bliss. Alexa doesn’t regret promising Jax a title shot, but she does regret coming to a show where the other women don’t respect her.
Match 6
RAW Women’s Title Match
Nia Jax vs Alexa Bliss (RAW Women’s Champ)
(referee: Shawn Bennett; at ringside: Mickie James, Dana Brooke)
Result: Alexa Bliss wins via DQ and retains the title when she is attacked by Dana Brooke and Mickie James at ringside
Time: 2:20
Match Thoughts
Not much of a match. Alexa tried to avoid some attacks. That’s about it.
Ring Area
After the match, Nia Jax goes to attack Alexa Bliss. Alexa gets away, so Nia settles for attacking Dana and Mickie.
Backstage
Paul Heyman is being looked at by one of the trainers when he gets a call from Brock Lesnar. Heyman tells Lesnar that he needs to come to RAW next week and instill some fear in Samoa Joe.
Match 7
Samoa Joe vs Seth Rollins
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Samoa Joe wins when he makes Rollins pass out to the Coquina Clutch
Time: 11:45 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. They’ve had better, but this was entertaining. Joe looked very strong as he should going into a title match with Lesnar.
Show Impressions
This was an alright show. The wrestling was way too light though. The first and last matches were good, but everything else was super short and might as well have just been a story line segment. Seeing so many microwave matches one after the other gets frustrating and little boring after a while.
The best part of the night might have been the segment with Joe and Heyman. I love Heyman’s passive-aggressive “I’m just an advocate” shtick, and I really liked Joe’s calm, menacing words for Heyman. Great job by both guys.
Other than that, I’m not really looking forward to more Bliss versus Jax, but at least it will be a big difference from Bliss versus Bayley. The Miz segment was well done even though it was completely predictable. I also think the Enzo thing is getting interesting. I like that Cass is acting like a douche, making questions about his actions in this whole scenario valid. We could also see The Revival in the background again tonight, so they’re keeping that up as well. I still think Rikishi is the mystery attacker though.
Match of the Night
Samoa Joe vs Seth Rollins
I really think this and the Wyatt/Reigns match were equal, but Joe had a better night than anyone else, so I’m giving the edge to him.