WWE RAW
Episode 1361
#RAW
Original Air Date: June 24, 2019
Event Date: June 24, 2019
(aired live)
City: Everett, WA
Venue: Angel of the Winds Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Ring Area
Seth Rollins heads to the ring and begins to talk about his match againt Corbin at Stomping Grounds. As he speaks, Becky Lynch heads to the ring.
Rollins continues, saying Baron Corbin was smart last night, but he wasn’t smart enough to realize that Rollins has the best backup on the planet. Becky says she and Rollins proved they are the champions of their divisions. Becky talks about Lacey Evans tapping out and getting her head slapped when she tried to help steal someone else’s title.
Baron Corbin’s music plays, but Corbin doesn’t come out. Instead, Lacey Evans attacks Becky Lynch from behind. Rollins pulls Evans off Lynch, then Lynch attacks Evans. Corbin comes out and runs to the ring to attack Rollins. A brawl erupts where Evans and Corbin are sent out to ringside.
At ringside, Corbin says if it wasn’t for Lynch, Corbin would be champ right now. Corbin says Evans is the only woman around here, and he’d have Evans as his mixed tag partner any day. Evans suggests they have a mixed tag match at Extreme Rules. Lynch says that’s fine, but only if Evans and Corbin go away if they lose. Corbin and Evans discuss things. They agree, but only under one more stipulation. Rollins accepts the stipulation no matter what, so Corbin says the match will be for both the Universal and RAW Women’s Title, winners take all.
Match 1
Eight Man Tag Team Elimination Match
Daniel Bryan & Rowan (SD Tag Champs) & The Revival (RAW Tag Champs) vs Big E & Xavier Woods & The Usos
(referee: John Cone)
Result: The Usos survive and win the match for their team
1. Xavier Woods pins Daniel Bryan with a schoolboy (after a European uppercut from Dash Wilder (3:30)
2. Dash Wilder pins Xavier Woods after Shatter Machine (3:50)
3. Jey Uso pins Scott Dawson after a Samoan splash (8:03)*
Time: 8:03 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
There have been a lot of these start and stop matches lately, and I think it’s too much. There wasn’t really much of a point bringing New Day and Bryan & Rowan over from SmackDown since neither team really played a role in the outcome of this match. The action was fine (though the finish seemed overly complicated), but as much as I hate to say it, these elimination matches lately aren’t really doing the stipulation any justice.
Video
Clips of the match between Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre from Stomping Grounds last night.
Backstage
The Miz walks through the backstage area. As he walks, Abby the Witch it watching him from behind.
Outside the Venue
Earlier today, Braun Strowman pulled a truck with a rope (a la Mark Henry).
Ring Area
The Miz is in the ring for Miz TV. Miz welcomes R-Truth and Carmella. Miz tells R-Truth that the 24/7 Title rules have been suspended for Miz TV. As Truth and Carmella sit down, Miz shows video of R-Truth regaining the 24/7 Title at Drake Maverick’s wedding last Friday.
R-Truth says the title is no joke. He hasn’t been able to do anything without looking over his back. Carmella says the 24/7 Title is important to Truth, and that’s why he’s worked so hard to keep it.
Drake Maverick heads to the ring. Maverick says winning the 24/7 Title was the highlight of his career, and his wedding was supposed to be the highlight of his life. Now, his new wife won’t even talk to him. Maverick asks R-Truth for a rematch. Just the two of them with no shenanigans. The Miz gets word that if Truth accepts the challenge, no one else can interfere during the match. R-Truth accepts.
Match 2
24/7 Title Match
Drake Maverick vs R-Truth (24/7 Champ) w/ Carmella
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: R-Truth wins via pinfall after What’s Up
Time: 0:14
Match Thoughts
This was pretty much a one move match.
Ring Area
Immediately after the match, Titus O’Neil, EC3, No Way Jose, Cedric Alexander, and the Lucha House Party come running after R-Truth. Truth and Carmella escape through the crowd.
Back in the ring, Drake Maverick is distraught. Charly Caruso enters the ring and asks Maverick where he goes from here. Maverick just walks away.
Backstage
Roman Reigns walks.
Backstage
Lacey Evans tells Baron Corbin that she wants to be champ. Corbin understands how important their mixed tag match will be. Evans says Becky Lynch is Seth Rollins’ kryptonite.
Match 3
Tornado Rules Handicap Match
Shane McMahon & Drew McIntyre vs Roman Reigns
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: the match ends in a No Contest when The Undertaker appears in the ring
Time: 3:12
Match Thoughts
This was a one-sided beating, but it was really just a way to build up to the big reveal at the end of the match. So for that, it was pretty good.
Ring Area
After the match, The Undertaker chokeslams Shane McMahon. McIntyre tries to attack Undertaker, but Undertaker fights him off. Shane is then sent out of the ring.
Ring Area
Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley have a tug of war…
Strowman wins. Then they brawl.
Backstage
Charly Caruso welcomes AJ Styles. Styles says he wanted to get back to fighting against the best when he was out with an injury, and Ricochet proved how good he was when he beat Samoa Joe. Styles gets distracted by No Way Jose’s music, and Styles fins Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows dancing with the conga line. Styles seems upset that they’re goofing off, but Anderson and Gallows say they are at the top of their game.
Match 4
Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows vs The Viking Raiders
(referee: Darrick Moore; watching in the back: AJ Styles)
Result: Erik pins Karl Anderson after the Viking Experience
Time: 3:22
Match Thoughts
Anderson and Gallows looked good to start, but the Viking Raiders looked good to finish. This was short, but it was good while it lasted.
Backstage
Nikki Cross apologizes to Alexa Bliss for Sunday. Nikki says there has to be a way to get Alexa a another title match. Alexa agrees and stares at Nikki. Nikki takes the hint and walks away.
Backstage
Natalya and Naomi tell Nikki Cross that Alexa Bliss is not a good person. Nikki starts to defend Alexa, but Alexa walks up and assumes the worst. Words are exchanged, and Naomi and Natalya end up telling Alexa and Nikki to get ready for their match tonight.
Ring Area
Mojo Rawley and Heath Slater are in the ring for a match. Before the bell, R-Truth runs in from the crowd and enters the ring. Eric Young, EC3, Titus O’Neil, Kalisto, Gran Metalik, and Lince Dorado chase Truth.
Heath Slater ends up alone in the ring with Slater. Slater hits R-Truth with a neckbreaker and pins him to become the new 24/7 Champ. Slater tries to escape, but Truth hits Slater with What’s Up and regains the title.
Cedric Alexander runs in and hits R-Truth with the Lumbar Check. Alexander is the new champ.
EC3 hits Alexander with a reverse Russian leg sweep onto the title belt. EC3 is the new champ.
Carmella takes the title belt from EC3. Off the distraction, R-Truth pins EC3 with a schoolboy. R-Truth is the new champ.
Backstage
Sarah Schreiber welcomes Ricochet. Ricochet is still letting his title win sink in. Tonight, he will face someone he’s always looked up to, AJ Styles. Ricochet intends to prove that he is worthy to hold the US Title.
Backstage
Kofi Kingston prepares some pancakes while Mercy the Buzzard hands out in the background.
Ring Area
Kofi Kingston heads to the ring. In the ring, Charly Caruso starts to ask Kofi a question when Sami Zayn interrupts as he and Kevin Owens come out to the stage. Zayn says Caruso’s questions are terrible. Owens says they are about to have an impromptu Kevin Owens Show.
Owens and Zayn ask Kofi a series of questions. Zayn wants to know why Kofi is a paper champion and why he uses his friends as WWE Champ. Kofi says New Day is a brotherhood that no one can break. And as far as not being able to win matches by himself, Kofi reminds everyone that he beat Owens and Ziggler all by himself. Tonight, he’ll beat “Sam Zayn” all by himself.
Zayn says Kofi’s ego is out of control and he needs a dose of reality. Zayn will give him one. Kofi says his title reign isn’t about himself, it’s about everyone. But Kofi is tired of hearing Zayn talk.
Match 5
Kofi Kingston (WWE Champ) vs Sami Zayn w/ Kevin Owens
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Kofi Kingston wins via pinfall with sunset flip
Time: 8:12
Match Thoughts
Good match. Zayn had a lot of offense in the match, but Kofi proved why he keeps winning: he just keeps on trying until he finds the right moment.
Match 6
Kofi Kingston (WWE Champ) vs Kevin Owens w/ Sami Zayn
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Kofi Kingston wins via Count Out
Time: 1:38
Match Thoughts
Owens started strong, but there wasn’t much to this match after the initial thirty seconds or so.
Ring Area
After the match, Zayn tries to attack Kingston. Kingston throws Zayn out to the floor, then he dives onto Owens and Zayn.
As Kingston celebrates on the ramp, Samoa Joe attacks him. Joe slams Kingston into the LED board on the stage before slamming him down with a side slam. Kofi is attended to by referees as Joe leaves the stage.
As Kofi gets to his feet, Joe returns and puts Kofi in the Coquina Clutch.
Match 7
Naomi vs Alexa Bliss w/ Nikki Cross
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Alexa Bliss pins Naomi after a DDT
Time: 1:15
Match Thoughts
This was very short and ended suddenly. It was really just a way to continue the tension between Nikki and Alexa.
Ring Area
After the match, Alexa holds Naomi and tells Nikki to attack her. Nikki hesitates and eventually just shoves both of them. In the confusion, Natalya runs down to the ring right before a commercial break.
Match 8
Naomi & Natalya vs Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Alexa Bliss pins Natalya after a swinging neckbreaker
Time: 4:40
Match Thoughts
This was fun. It was heavily story-based. Nikki Cross did most of the work, then Alexa took the glory. The finishes to these matches with Nikki and Alexa are played strangely though. Alexa tagged herself in at the end of the match, then Nikki hit a finisher. Nikki rolled out of the ring like she knew Alexa was legal, but immediately afterward she acted like she didn’t know Alexa was legal. It feels like signals are being crossed somewhere between the writing and the performances.
Backstage
In a split-screen, Ricochet and AJ Styles both walk.
Match 9
AJ Styles vs Ricochet (US Champ)
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: AJ Styles wins via pinfall after the Phenomenal Forearm
Time: 13:48 (1 match restart)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. There was a brief interruption when Gallows and Anderson came down to ringside, but that was just so the match could stop while the show went to a commercial break. Other than that, this was a very fun match between two great wrestlers. They can definitely have longer and better matches, but as a RAW main event, this was quite enjoyable.
Show Impressions
I think I’m already starting to extremely dislike the idea of not having wrestling during commercial breaks. In principle, I love the idea of not missing any action, but in practice, it stinks. It stinks because of the convoluted ways in which they’re trying to incorporate breaks into matches. The matches are either extremely short (which isn’t new for RAW), they’re elimination style with rest periods (which are only sometimes adhered to), they have some sort of interruption (which is going to get real old real fast), or they’re two separate matches featuring some of the same people for no real reason. And that’s just tonight.
I don’t like missing action, but I had gotten used to it. I prefer knowing that we’re only missing rest holds and letting the match continue through a commercial break rather than having so many convoluted scenarios just to make matches start and stop all night. Even the ring announcer got confused tonight a couple times. He announced Kofi as “still the WWE Champ” even though neither of his matches were for the title, and his explanation of the handicap match was unclear at best. The commentators had to explain what he meant because it sounded like he just said what we already knew, that Reigns was in a handicap match. He meant to say that there would be no tags, but he didn’t.
Anyway.
I liked seeing The Undertaker. That was a nice surprise. I don’t know that I really want to see him wrestle much anymore, but his presence is still fun. Especially when his presence is unannounced.
The Alexa/Nikki story line is doing anything for me. I prefer Nikki’s NXT character to the hybrid they’re doing now, and the altercations in the ring the past couple of night’s have just seemed strange. It feels like they’re not sure of how they want to continue the story. Kind of like how they weren’t sure of how they wanted to portray Alexa and Nia’s story for a long time.
I’m looking forward to Samoa Joe versus Kofi Kingston, but I think my excitement for that entails the last of my efforts to hold on to the dying brand extension. Another RAW versus SmackDown superstar title match? The brand extension is dead. I lost track of how many SmackDown superstars were on tonight’s show, but I know there were a lot. I lost track because I really can’t remember all of who are on each show anymore.
Match of the Night
Ricochet vs AJ Styles
No surprise that this is the match of the night. It was fun, and since it had the main event spot it was given more time without a break than any of the other matches.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-06-24