WWE RAW
Episode 1355
#RAW
Original Air Date: May 13, 2019
Event Date: May 13, 2019
(aired live)
City: London, England, UK
Venue: The O2 Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Ring Area
The Miz heads to the ring for Miz TV. Miz talks about the Money in the Bank ladder match. He also briefly talks about his steel cage match with Shane McMahon. Then he welcomes his guest, SmackDown’s Roman Reigns.
After Reigns makes his was to the ring, Miz asks him about his match with Elias. Reigns says Elias hasn’t done anything in WWE. He doesn’t seem too worried. Miz tells Reigns that the two of them have a lot in common and that they should be in a movie together. Reigns tells Miz to stop talking. Reigns likes The Miz who attacked Shane with a chair last week, not Hollywood Miz.
Miz says he’d never previously been on the same page as ROman Reigns or the fans, but he’s learned it all comes down to respect. Shane doesn’t have any respect, so Miz will fight him with everything he has. Shane McMahon comes out to the stage.
Shane reminds Miz and Reigns that he is their boss. As their boss, Miz informs Miz that Miz TV is now over. Elias and Bobby Lashley attack Reigns and Miz from behind.
Match 1
The Miz & Roman Reigns vs Bobby Lashley & Roman Reigns w/ Shane McMahon
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Reigns and Miz win via DQ when Shane attacks Reigns at ringside
Time: 7:37 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This seemed rather pointless. It was just a reason to allow Shane, Lashley, and Elias to triple-team The Miz as the match ended.
Ring Area
After the match, a brawl breaks out. Shane, Lashley, and Elias have an advantage until The Miz starts swinging a chair. Shane escapes before he takes too much damage.
Backstage
Seth Rollins talks with a member of the crew.
Video
A look at the upcoming Universal Title match between Seth Rollins and AJ Styles.
Backstage
Charly Caruso asks Braun Strowman if he regrets what he did to Sami Zayn last week. Strowman only regrets that Sami didn’t die (or rather, he regrets Sami wasn’t turned into a cube, which is another way of saying the same thing).
Strowman goes on to say he will win the Money in the Bank contract again on Sunday, but a crew member interrupts. Strowman is informed that Shane McMahon would like to speak with him.
Backstage
Sami Zayn complains to Shane McMahon about his attempted murder at the hands of Braun Strowman. Strowman walks up. Sami tells Strowman that Shane is going to make things right by taking Strowman out of the ladder match and putting Zayn in his place. Shane says he can’t just replace Strowman, so Sami says he’ll fight Strowman for it. In a falls count anywhere match. Shane agrees, so the match is on.
Match 2
Mojo Rawley vs Apollo Crews
(referee: Apollo Crews)
Result: Mojo Rawley wins via pinfall after an Alabama slam
Time: 1:13
Match Thoughts
This was sort of a squash. Crews flipped out of the corner a few seconds into the match and hurt his leg. Mojo quickly took advantage. This is interesting in that it didn’t really make Mojo look dangerous, it just made him look like a mean jerk.
Backstage
Alexa Bliss talks to someone on the phone, and she isn’t happy. Apparently her luggage has gone missing. Nikki Cross asks Alexa is everything is okay. Everything is not okay for Alexa, but she thanks Nikki for noticing her struggle.
Nikki gets sad. She says she has been on RAW for four weeks but no one has noticed her. Alexa apologizes for not getting to know her, then she unloads all of her problems on Nikki. Basically, Alexa doesn’t want to get laughed at like she was when her shoes fell off in her match against Naomi. Nikki tells Alexa that she could talk to the McMahons about finding her a replacement for her match tonight. Alexa takes that as an offer and thanks Nikki for competing in her place tonight. Nikki smiles.
Backstage
Becky Two Belts walks in the back.
Ring Area
Michael Cole is in the ring to oversee the contract signings for the RAW and SmacDown Women’s Titles. Cole first welcomes Lacey Evans, then Charlotte Flair, then Becky Lynch.
Cole starts by asking Becky if she understands how tough Sunday is going to be for her. Becky knows, she just doesn’t care. She tells Lacey that she is going to regret coming to look for The Man. Lacey should ask her twin sister Charlotte how difficult it is to beat Becky.
Charlotte is tired of Becky’s digs, and Lacey tells Becky that she doesn’t know how to dress. Becky understands that Lacey has never had a contract signing before, and she reminds Charlotte that all the pressure to win is on her. Becky signs the contracts.
Charlotte says Becky can’t live up to the reputation she’s tried to build for herself. It’s about to all come crashing down, and Charlotte thinks that’s hilarious. When it’s all over, Becky will only have her own stubborn pride to blame. Charlotte signs her contract.
Lacey says she’ll put some class back into the RAW’s Women’s Title. Lacey signs her contract.
The talking continues, and a brawl breaks out. Lacey gets thrown out of the ring, and Becky sets up Charlotte for a powerbomb. Lacey attacks Becky from behind, and Becky loses control of the brawl. Lacey helps Charlotte powerbomb Becky through the table in the ring.
Match 3
Baron Corbin vs Ricochet
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Baron Corbin wins after End of Days
Time: 6:31 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Understandably, Ricochet did a lot of the work. Ricochet ran around the ring and helped make this match pretty fun to watch. For his part, Corbin did help in a few neat moments, one of which was the finish.
Ring Area
After the match, Corbin brings a ladder into the ring. Corbin climbs towards the briefcase hanging above the ring, but while Corbin is climbing, Ricochet pushes the ladder over. Corbin falls off onto the ropes and leaves the ring.
Backstage
Charly Caruso asks Rey Mysterio about Samoa Joe talking to Dominic last week. Rey says Joe crossed the line. If Joe has something to say, he should say it to Rey’s face.
Cesaro walks up. He doesn’t like Rey talking about Joe since Joe isn’t here to defend himself. Cesaro then wonders, given their size difference, if Dominic is even Rey’s real son. Rey attacks Cesaro. Referees quickly intervene and pull the men apart.
Backstage
AJ Styles talks with Sarah Schreiber.
Video
A look at “the determined” Roman Reigns.
Backstage
Sarah Schreiber welcomes AJ Styles. Styles says this is Monday Night Rollins, or at least it was until Styles showed up. On Sunday, he’s going to become the new Universal Champ.
Match 4
Naomi vs Dana Brooke vs Natalya vs Nikki Cross
(referee: Mike Chioda; guest commentary: Alexa Bliss)
Result: Nikki Cross pins Natalya after a draping spinning neckbreaker
Time: 6:17 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. The addition of Nikki Cross helped make this more interesting, and the performance from Nikki and Dana Brooke made this a lot of fun to watch.
Ring Area
After the match, Alexa Bliss helps Nikki Cross set up a ladder in the ring. Nikki starts to climb, but Alexa moves past Nikki and climbs herself. Alexa takes the briefcase hanging above the ring and site on the top of the ladder.
Backstage
Sami Zayn doesn’t know why he checks social media. Everyone thinks Sami will fail to defeat Strowman tonight, but Sami knows he will win. Sami fights for a cause. What’s better than being big and strong? Being right.
Selfie Promo
Samoa Joe says he didn’t cross the line with Dominic, Rey crossed the line when he brought Dominic into the WWE. Joe says he’ll see Rey on Sunday, and he hopes he sees Dominic as well.
Match 5
Rey Mysterio vs Cesaro
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Rey Mysterio wins via pinfall after a diving frog splash
Time: 7:10 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Rey and Cesaro match up very well. They were stringing together counter after counter, and you really couldn’t tell what what going to happen next. This was a lot of fun. Kind of like Rey and Andrade earlier this year, I’d like to see Cesaro and Rey have a mini feud over the next month or so.
Backstage
The Revival address the Usos. They say that the embarrassments stop right now. If the Usos want to find out who is the better team, they should meet up in the ring.
Backstage
Seth Rollins talks with Sarah Schreiber.
Video
This week on the Firefly Fun House, Bray Wyatt has a secret. He reveals that there is still a lot of darkness within his soul. But this time, he knows how to harness it. Bray begins to reveal his true self. Yowie wowie.
Backstage
Sarah Schreiber welcomes Seth Rollins. Rollins says his match with Styles is personal. Sunday will b a statement match. He’s out to prove something to himself, the fans, and Styles. He’s out to prove that he is the backbone of Monday Night RAW. Rollins used to look up to Styles, but on Sunday, Styles will be looking up to Rollins.
Match 6
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Braun Strowman vs Sami Zayn
(referee: Dan Engler; stipulation: If Zayn defeats Strowman, Zayn will replace Strowman in the Money in the Bank ladder match.)
Result: Sami Zayn wins via pinfall after a Claymore Kick from Drew McIntyre (and a triple pin with Corbin and McIntyre’s help)
Time: 11:07 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This was pretty fun. It seemed obvious from the start that Sami Zayn had some devious plans, and of course he did. Sami had a little help from some friends of convenience, but even that wasn’t always enough to stop Strowman in this match. The fight went all over the arena but eventually made it’s way back to the staging area. I liked it pretty well.
Ring Area
After the match, an enraged Braun Strowman chokeslams Sami Zayn through the announce table.
Show Impressions
This show was so much better than last week’s. It wasn’t a masterpiece or anything, but in comparison to last week it almost felt like it. There were multiple matches that I enjoyed which is always good, and the story segments were mostly pretty good.
I really enjoyed seeing Nikki Cross tonight. I thought her backstage segment felt super strange and out of character, but Nikki’s in-ring stuff felt like her crazy, normal self.
The Sami Zayn story line was done well. It stinks if you’re a Strowman fan, but I’m not, so I enjoyed it.
Cesaro and Mysterio was really good, and I hope this wasn’t a one-off thing.
Match of the Night
Rey Mysterio vs Cesaro
I’d like to see them explore this matchup more.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-05-13