WWE RAW
Episode 1357
#RAW
Original Air Date: May 27, 2019
Event Date: May 27, 2019
(aired live)
City: Kansas City, MO
Venue: Sprint Center
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Video
A video in honor of Memorial Day is played.
Backstage
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman smile at each other.
Ring Area
Kofi Kingston heads to the ring. Kofi first says that last week on SMackDown, Kevin Owens reinjured Big E’s knee. Also, Dolph Ziggler tried to injure Kofi, but Kofi is still here. Kofi will address Ziggler later, but he’s here on RAW to confront Brock Lesnar. Kofi can’t think of a better way to solidify his position as WWE Champ than to beat Lesnar, so Kofi wants Lesnar to cash in the Money on the Bank on him tonight.
Seth Rollins heads to the ring. Rollins likes what Kofi is saying. Rollins wants to know who Lesnar is going to cash in on right now, so he calls Lesnar out to the ring. Lesnar and Heyman head to the ring.
Lesnar pretends the Money in the Bank briefcase is a boom box, and that goes on for what feels like minutes. Lesnar dances and laughs, so Rollins just leaves the ring. Heyman is sad. He says Lesnar was going to announce who he was going to cash in on, but Rollins ruined their “Brock party.” Heyman and Lensar leaves without announcing anything.
As Kofi watches Lesnar and Heyman leave, Dolph Ziggler appears and attacks Kofi from behind. Ziggler hits a Zig Zap on the floor, then Ziggler grabs a chair. Before Ziggler can attack Kofi again, Xavier Woods runs out and chases Ziggler away.
After a commercial break, Kofi is being helped to the back. Ziggler runs up the ramp and attacks Woods. Kofi is taken away, but the brawl between Woods and Ziggler heads back down to ringside. The brawl goes back and forth as it makes its way out into the crowd. Back at ringside, Ziggler uses a chair on Woods. In the ring, Ziggler wraps a chair around Woods’s head, but Kofi runs out and chases Ziggler away before Ziggler can finish his attack.
After another commercial break, Kofi is helping Woods in the ring. From the stage, Ziggler tells Kofi that he shouldn’t be worrying about Lesnar, he should worry about Ziggler at Super ShowDown. Ziggler tells Kofi to celebrate as much as he can for the next eleven days. Ziggler thinks Kofi is the best WWE Champ he can remember, but every time he sees the WWE Title around Kofi’s waist, he remembers that it should have been him. At Super SHowDown, it will be him.
Outside the Venue
A bunch of superstars are having a Memorial Day barbecue out in the parking lot. The Usos welcome everyone the Uso Block Party.
Backstage
Charly Caruso asks Shane McMahon wy he is competing tonight. Shane says he has Roman Reigns at Super ShowDown, so why shouldn’t he compete on RAW. He turns and asks Drew McIntyre if he’s ready. He is ready, and they both head to the ring area.
Video
A look at the history between Randy Orton and Triple H in preparation for their match at Super ShowDown.
Ring Area
Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre are in the ring. Shane talks about the Samoan dynasty. He says he grew up knowing Afa and Roman Reigns’ father Sika. Shane says he might know Reigns’ father even better than Reigns himself. Shane was there to see Sika’s mistakes, and Shane’s father Vince McMahon was always there to clean up those mistakes. Tonight, Shane will fight a member of the Samoan dynasty.
Match 1
Shane McMahon w/ Drew McIntyre vs Lance Anoa’i
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Shane McMahon wins via submission with a triangle choke
Time: 1:33
Match Thoughts
McIntyre attacked Anoa’i before the match and repeatedly ran him into the barricade and the side of the ring. Shane had the bell rung, then he squashed Anoa’i. That’s all.
Ring Area
After the match, Shane puts Anoa’i back in the triangle choke. Shane says he would be doing the same thing to Sika if he was here. He also says the worst thing Sika ever did was to spawn Roman Reigns. Reigns heads to the ring and punches McIntyre. Reigns then attacks Shane, McIntyre helps Shane escape before he takes too much damage.
Backstage
Shane and McIntyre run away.
Ring Area
Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar head to the ring. Referee John Cone is is already in the ring as Heyman begins to announce who Lesnar will cash in on. Seth Rollins comes out and interrupts Heyman before he can announce anything.
Rollins isn’t happy that Brock Lesnar is making a mockery of the title Rollins lives for. Rollins says Lesnar is a joke, and Rollins could stomp Lesnar’s head again right now if he wanted to. Lesnar used to be feared, but now he’s a joke. Rollins dares Lesnar to cash in right now.
Heyman calms things down by reading portions of the Money in the Bank contract. Lesnar stops Heyman. Lesnar acts surprised that he has a full year to cash in. Lesnar laughs as he says “screw you” to Rollins and walks away. Lesnar will not be making a decision right now, and he might not for a very long time.
Rollins stands in the ring as Lesnar and Heyman leave. From the crowd, Carmella and R-Truth run through the ring. Truth is being chased by a bunch of guys looking to win the 24/7 Title. Eric Young tries to pin R-Truth, but he fails. Cedric Alexander, Karl Anderson, Like Gallows, Drake Maverick, Mojo Rawley, and EC3 chase Truth and Carmella through the crowd and to the backstage area.
Backstage
In the trainer’s room, Charly Caruso asks AJ Styles about his injury. Styles says he felt a pop in his back at Money in the Bank, and he won’t be able to compete tonight. He begins to talk about how long he might be out of action when Baron Corbin appears and knocks Styles down. Corbin smiles and leaves.
Match 2
Becky Lynch (RAW Women’s Champ) & Nikki Cross vs The IIconics (Women’s Tag Champs)
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Becky Lynch pins Peyton Royce with the ManHandle Slam
Time: 6:30 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. The IIconics had some decent teamwork and Nikki Cross did well, but the individual effort of Becky Lynch was the difference maker. I liked the match, I just don’t like how tag champs are often treated in WWE.
Ring Area
After the match, Lacey Evans walks down to ringside then walks right back up the ramp.
Outside the Venue
The Usos’ block party continues. Naomi is approached by Tamina. The situation looks tense at first, but Tamina smiles and hugs everyone. Next, The Revival shows up. The Usos say they didn’t The Revival. Naomi invited them because she wants The Usos and The Revival to put their differences aside. They sort of agree to do what Naomi wants.
Match 3
Ricochet vs Cesaro
(referee: Dan Engler)
Result: Ricochet wins via pinfall with a hurricanrana
Time: 6:17 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. This was about Ricochet getting his win back from Cesaro, and it was quite entertaining. Ricochet and Cesaro both brought out a couple new variations on their moves. They both continue to impress with their technical skills and creative forms of offense. I’d like to see another match between them in a better position on the show so they can get more time.
Ring Area
Samoa Joe comes out and heads over to the commentary table. Joe smiles as he says he’s ready for Rey Mysterio to hand him the US Title when he is forced to relinquish it due to injury.
Outside the Venue
The Usos and The Revival play cornhole.
Backstage
The Miz says it’s time for him to become Universal Champ.
Backstage
Braun Strowman plans to give three men his hands.
Match 4
Fatal Four Way Elimination Universal Title Number One Contender Match
Braun Strowman vs The Miz vs Baron Corbin vs Bobby Lashley
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Baron Corbin wins
1 & 2. Lashley and Strowman eliminate each other when they fight through the crowd and to the backstage area (12:26*)
3. Baron Corbin pins The Miz after End of Days (13:08*)
Time: 13:08 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This felt really long. Also, two of the eliminations didn’t really matter. This didn’t need to be an elimination match. It was underwhelming.
Backstage
Brock Lesnar hangs out with his briefcase and Paul Heyman.
Outside the Venue
The Usos and The Revival continue to play cornhole when R-Truth runs by. A couple of people try to pin R-Truth, but everyone fails. Truth and Carmella run away together while still being chased.
Video
In the latest episode of the Firefly Fun House, Bray Wyatt wants to know if we enjoyed his little secret. He says The Fiend is here to protect us. Abby the Witch says Wyatt is a sicko, but Wyatt denies it. Wyatt diagnoses Abby as a bully, and he says he will never let her rest. Abby wants to be free of the limbo she’s in, and that gives Wyatt the idea to play limbo. Wyatt crab walks under a bar held up by two emotionless children and asks us to let him in.
Ring Area
In The Electric Chair segment hosted by Corey Graves, Sami Zayn is asked questions from the crowd. The first question, as curated by Charly Caruso, is “when is Sami’s retirement date?” Sami can’t understand the question, so he just insults the fan.
The next question from a kid, curated by Kayla Braxton, is if Sami misses the Ginger Snaps from Mixed Match Challenge. Sami says the kid’s parents did a terrible job raising her.
The third question, curated by Sarah Schreiber, is “how does it feel when Braun Strowman destroys him?” Sami would rather punch the guy that asked the question in the face. He won’t do it though, because he’d probably get sued.
Next, “why has Sami not won the Universal Title yet?” Sami thinks these questions are stupid. These people could have asked Sami about anything, even about AEW. Graves starts to ask a question, but Seth Rollins heads to the ring and interrupts the segment. Graves and Zayn leave the ring, and Rollins throws the electric chair out to the floor.
Match 5
Sami Zayn vs Seth Rollins (Universal Champ)
(referee: Dan Engler)
Result: Seth Rollins wins via pinfall after two curb stomps
Time: 16:40 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Rollins jammed his knee at one point in the match, and that became one of the biggest factors tonight. Zayn did a pretty good job of capitalizing on Rollins’ injury, but the biggest effect was really just how much it slowed Rollins down. Zayn had a good showing, but Rollins made sure the finish of the match was definitive.
Show Impressions
This was another rough RAW. The thought of Styles being injured is scary since he is usually one of the bright spots on the show. His absence is already being felt since he missed out on the number one contender match. Had he been in it, it would have been something worth watching. I liked the main event and the Ricochet/Cesaro rematch, but that’s about all the good I can say for the show. The women’s tag match wasn’t bad, but the finish was frustrating.
Match of the Night
Rollins vs Zayn
I think the Ricochet versus Cesaro match had some more spectacular moments, but the main event felt more important and probably had a better story to it.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-05-27