WWE RAW
Episode 1356
#RAW
Original Air Date: May 20, 2019
Event Date: May 20, 2019
(aired live)
City: Albany, NY
Venue: Times Union Center
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Ring Area
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman head to the ring. Lesnar is smiling as he carries the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Heyman talks about the complicated conspiracy theories he’s heard about how Lesnar ended up being in the Money in the Bank ladder match. Lesnar says people are giving them too much credit. Regardless of how it was done, Rollins and Kingston better be worried. They have a contract out on their titles.
Seth Rollins heads to the ring with a smile on his face. Rollins says he should be ecstatic after winning the fight of his life last night against Styles, but he’s not ecstatic. He has to come out here tonight and look at Lesnar holding the Money in the Bank contract. Rollins says he is the champ Lesnar never was, and he suggests Brock Lesnar cash in right now.
Heyman tells Rollins that he has to wait until Lesnar decides he wants to cash in. Rollins should know something about waiting. He had to wait for seven hours after his match at Wrestlemania for his girlfriend to finish main eventing the show Rollins has always dreamed of main eventing. Rollins gets pissed and gets in Lesnar’s face. Heyman stops Rollins and tells Rollins that Lesnar might not even want to cash in on him. Maybe it will be a “new day” for Lesnar.
Kofi Kingston heads to the ring. Kofi says he’s trying to establish his legacy as champ, and he can’t do that unless he beats the best every night. Kofi congratulates Lesnar and says if he’s cashing in tonight, he better cash in on Kofi.
Heyman loves it. Both champs are auditioning to have a main event match with Brock Lesnar. Heyman informs Kofi and Rollins that they are not done tonight, and Lesnar isn’t going anywhere. “The Beast is yet to come.”
Backstage
Mick Foley arrives at the venue, and he’s carrying a title belt. He’s greeted by Curt Hawkins, Zack Ryder, Titus O’Neil, Dana Brooke, and Drake Maverick.
Backstage
Sami Zayn tells Bobby Lashley that he has an opportunity to soften up Braun Strowman during Sami’s match tonight. Lashley refuses to help Zayn.
Backstage
Rollins and Kingston asks Triple H what Heyman was talking about. Triple H informs them that they will face Corbin and Lashley in the main event.
Ring Area
Sami Zayn is in the ring for a match. Braun Strowman comes out next, but before the match can begin, Zayn runs away. Strowman chases Zayn out through the crowd.
Backstage
Strowman searches for Zayn but finds Bobby Lashley. As the two men stare at each other, Zayn attacks Strowman from behind. Strowman swats Zayn away. Strowman tells Lashley that he’ll deal with him later, then he goes back to chasing Zayn.
Ring Area
Strowman carries Zayn down to the ring. Strowman then beat Zayn up around ringside. The beating makes it into the ring where Strowman runs himself into a ring post. With Strowman dazed, the match starts.
Match 1
Sami Zayn vs Braun Strowman
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Braun Strowman wins via pinfall after a running powerslam
Time: 0:47
Match Thoughts
Squash. Can we use the wild card rule to just move Zayn to SmackDown? Get him away from Strowman.
Backstage
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross talk to each other.
Backstage
Lars Sullivan walks.
Ring Area
In the ring, Charly Caruso welcomes Lars Sullivan. Charly asks Lars what his goals are in WWE. Before he can answer, Lucha House Party heads to the ring. LHP surround Sullivan and hit him with a triple team attack. They manage to send Sullivan out to the floor. LHP attempts to continue their attack, but Sullivan takes them all down. Sullivan sets up Lince Dorado for a powerbomb, but Kalisto and Metalik pull Dardao out of the ring. LHP escapes as Sullivan stands in the ring.
Backstage
AJ Styles speaks with a crew member.
Match 2
Ricochet vs Cesaro
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Cesaro wins via pinfall after the Gotch Neutralizer
Time: 3:25 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. It was kind of short, but both men showed some very impressive athleticism. Ricochet went into this match with a heavily taped back after having a big crash landing in the ladder match last night. Cesaro took full advantage of Ricochet’s injury in a spectacular fashion. Ricochet, of course, had a few spectacular moves of his own, but Cesaro is a very smart wrestler. I think Cesaro could quietly accumulate a lot of wins now that he’s solo on RAW. I’d love to see him rise back up and get into singles title contention.
Backstage
Charly Caruso welcomes AJ Styles. Caruso asks Styles what happens now after his loss to Rollins. Styles says he’s back to square one. He has a lot of work to do, but he likes hard work. Baron Corbin walks up clapping. Corbin tells Styles that he failed last night. Styles reminds Corbin that he squandered his Money in the Bank contract and got fired from his position of power.
Corbin says he pinned Rollins (in a tag match), and it was a slap in the face that he didn’t get a title shot. Styles says that wasn’t a slap in the face, this is. Then he slaps Corbin in the face. Corbin tells Styles that he’ll pay for that.
Backstage
Kofi Kingston and Mick Foley talk to each other.
Ring Area
Roman Reigns is in the ring. He looks like he’s about to speak, but Shane McMahon comes out to the stage before Reigns says anything. Shane gloats about his win last night and says he is officially done with The Miz. Shane’s focus is now on Roman Reigns.
Shane asks Reigns what kind of man hits another man’s father. Reigns disgusts Shane. Reigns hates spoiled rich kids. Reigns says he’s done with Elias, so his schedule is open for Shane now. Shane says Reigns is done with Elias when Elias is done with Reigns. Reigns invites Shane to come into the ring. Shane reminds Reigns of the “brutual” steel cage he had last night, but he leaves it up to the crowd. Would the crowd like to see Shane fight Reigns? The crowd says “yes.” Shane says it’s not happening. Shane is the boss, and he does what he wants. What he wants to do right now is to bring out Drew McIntyre.
With Drew by his side, Shane tells Reigns that he accepts Reigns’ challenge. Shane will fight Reigns at Super ShowDown. Shane says he’s going to win, but Reigns says he’s going to win.
Backstage
Becky One Belt sadly looks at her RAW Women’s Title.
Backstage
Paul Heyman polishes the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Backstage
Sarah Schreiber asks Shane McMahon if he was insinuating that he wasn’t headed to Super ShowDown alone. Shane says he wasn’t insinuating anything, but he is interrupted when The Miz walks up. McIntyre makes himself clear. Shane is done with The Miz. If Miz has a problem with Shane, then he has a problem with Drew.
Match 3
The Usos vs The Revival
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Scott Dawson pins Jimmy Uso with a O’Connor Roll (and a handful of tights)
Time: 7:43 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. The Revival went into this match angry, and they attacked The Usos before the opening bell. In fact, there was no opening bell as the referee just gave up trying to separate the wrestlers so the match could officially begin. The ref just starting counting pin attempts and the match was underway. The Revival dominated the early part of the match, but The Usos started to creep back into the match as it went longer. I liked the energy and aggression here, and I’m sure this will lead to another, probably better match in the near future.
Backstage
Alexa Bliss tells Nikki Cross that she did a good job taking her place in the Money in the Bank ladder match last night, but she lost. As she talks down to Nikki, The Revival walks by in celebration. They say they should be a guest on A Moment of Bliss. Alexa seems dubious.
Video
The latest episode of Firefly Fun House gives us an extended opening theme song and a request from Bray Wyatt for us to let him in.
Ring Area
Alexa Bliss comes out to the stage with Nikki Cross for A Moment of Bliss. Alexa welcomes her guest, Becky Lynch.
Alexa asks Becky how it feels to no longer be Becky Two Belts. Before she can answer, The IIconics come out to the stage. Peyton and Billie mock Becky for only having one belt. Becky tells them to shut their faces unless they want Becky to become Becky Three Belts.
Lacey Evans joins the crowd on the stage. Lacey claims credit for costing Becky one of her titles. Becky reminds Lacey that she tapped out last night. Now that Becky no longer has the SmackDown Title, she can smack Lacey around full-time on RAW. Becky suggests that she can take on Lacey and The IIconics right now. Nikki says she’ll join Becky, but Lacey says they’re still one person short. Becky tells Alexa to join them and just stand there and look pretty.
Match 4
Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross & Becky Lynch (RAW Women’s Champ) vs Lacey Evans & The IIconics (Women’s Tag Champs)
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Becky Lynch pins Billie Kay after a diving leg drop
Time: 5:40
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Considering how WWE tends to treat tag champs, the finish to this match was no surprise. Lacey Evans sort of worked with her team, but she took a walk and left The IIconics alone after a while. Becky and Nikki looked good, but this match really seemed to be all about setting the stage for another title match between Becky and Lacey.
Backstage
Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, EC3, No Way Jose, Mojo Rawley, Cedric Alexander, and Naomi greet Mick Foley as he walks around backstage.
Ring Area
Mick Foley heads to the ring. Foley says there has been something missing from Monday Night RAW. We need to start getting “raw” again. It takes a lot to make a mark and be a champ in WWE. A title isn’t just something you defend, it’s something that you live for. It’s an obsession that consumes you every moment of every day. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
With that in mind, Foley unveils the new 24/7 Title. The title will be defended any time, anywhere. As long as a referee is present, the title can change hands. Foley lays the title down in the ring and says that starting right now, the first 24/7 champ will be crowned in a scramble. Who his eligible for the title? Everyone on every roster, including legends.
Match 5
24/7 Title Scramble Match
Karl Anderson vs Luke Gallows vs Cedric Alexander vs Eric Young vs Mojo Rawley vs EC3 vs No way Jose vs Titus O’Neil vs Drake Maverick
(referee: none; at ringside: Mick Foley)
Result: Titus ONeil takes the title and becomes the first 24/7 Champ
Time: 2:14
Match Thoughts
What were the rules for this match? I don’t know. I don’t think anyone really knew. I mean, I suppose this was fun enough for a bunch of guys running around the ring for two minutes.
Match 6
24/7 Title Match
Titus O’Neil (24/7 Champ) vs Robert Roode
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Robert Roode wins via pinfall with a schoolboy
Time: 0:06
Match Thoughts
Roode surprised Titus on the stage and rolled him up. New champ.
Backstage
The 24/7 Champ, Robert Roode, runs for his life. He hides as a bunch of angry men run by. Roode escapes.
Match 7
The Miz vs Drew McIntyre w/ Shane McMahon
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Drew McIntyre wins via pinfall after the Claymore Kick (and an attack from Shane at ringside)
Time: 9:38 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This was fine. I like watching Drew beat people up. I’m just still not caring about Shane versus The Miz. At all.
Ring Area
After the match, Shane tells Miz that he has one last parting gift for him. McIntyre drags Miz to the corner as Shane climbs to the top rope for Coast to Coast. Before Shane can jump , Roman Reigns runs to the ring. Reigns punches McIntyre, but Shane escapes before Reigns can punch him. Shane and McIntyre leave the ring area together.
Backstage
Baron Corbin and Bobby Lashley talk to each other. Bobby Roode runs by with the 24/7 Title, still being chased by a bunch of angry men.
Backstage
Charly Caruso welcomes Kofi Kingston and Seth Rollins. Kofi and Seth know they are constantly in danger from Lesnar, but they have to focus on tonight’s match.
Selfie Promo
Samoa Joe says he was never pinned, yet his US Title is in the hands of Rey Mysterio. But that’s in the past. Joe knows Rey is a good man, so Joe is giving Rey the opportunity to hand Joe back his title. If he doesn’t, Rey knows the example Joe is going to set.
Outside the Venue
Robert Roode asks R-Truth for help. Truth tells Roode to get into the trunk of a car. He does. Truth tells the angry mob to go away. They do.
Truth then offers Roode a ride, but there is a referee in the passenger seat of his car.
Match 8
24/7 Title Match
R-Truth vs Robert Roode (24/7 Champ)
(referee: DA Brewer)
Result: R-Truth wins via pinfall after running Roode into a car
Time: 0:08
Match Thoughts
This was clever. I liked the moment when the referee slowly emerged from the car.
Match 9
No DQ Tag Match
Kofi Kingston (WWE Champ) & Seth Rollins (Universal Champ) vs Baron Corbin & Bobby Lashley
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Kofi Kingston pins Baron Corbin after Trouble in Paradise
Time: 6:59 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This was fine. It felt like they were more concerned with setting up Rollins and Kingston for a possible cash-in from Lesnar than with putting on a really good match.
Ring Area
After the match, Lashley hits Kofi and Rollins a few more times. After a few moments, Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman head to the ring. Kofi and Rollins stand together in the ring as Lesnar gets up on the edge of the ring. Lesnar fakes entering the ring. Instead, Lesnar backs off. Heyman says that the better idea is to wait until next week to reveal Lesnar’s plans.
Show Impressions
This show was wacky. It was definitely up and down in terms of entertainment quality. I think the specter of Lesnar winning the Money in the Bank made the show feel odd to me.
Match of the Night
The Usos vs The Revival
Hopefully this match is the beginning of the end for the dumb “pranks” over the last few weeks.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-05-20