WWE RAW
Episode 1362
#RAW
Original Air Date: July 1, 2019
Event Date: July 1, 2019
(aired live)
City: Dallas, TX
Venue: American Airlines Center
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Match 1
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Braun Strowman vs Bobby Lashley
(referee: John Cone)
Result: the match ends in a No Contest when Strowman drives Lashley through the LED board on the stage and both men are injured
Time: 5:08
Match Thoughts
This was all just a buildup to the finish. There was a bunch of punching at each other as the two men exited the ring and headed through the crowd on their way to the stage. The finish was a big deal as it involved explosions and injuries. This ended up being one of those big “real” RAW moments where the whole show stops down as the wrestlers are attended to.
Ring Area
After the match, RAW is put on hold as Lashley and Strowman receive medical attention. The camera eventually goes to a wide shot as we sit in silence until a commercial break. Back from the break, the camera is still wide. Lashley is stretchered away in an ambulance first, then the same is done for Strowman.
Match 2
The Viking Raiders vs Big E & Xavier Woods
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: New Day wins via DQ when Samoa Joe attacks them at ringside
Time: 2:41
Match Thoughts
This was short and really just a way to have action before the commercial break, only to stop the match and restart it after the commercial. I hate the recent decision to not have wrestling during the commercials. It’s good in theory, but it’s terrible in how they’ve decided to handle it.
Match 3
The Viking Raiders & Samoa Joe vs Big E & Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston (WWE Champ)
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Samoa Joe knocks Kofi Kingston out with the Coquina Clutch
Time: 7:13
Match Thoughts
Good match. They should have just made this a six man tag match from the beginning. The Viking Raiders and New Day provided some fun action, but Samoa Joe was focused on Kingston. Joe wrestled a smart match and accomplished everything he set out to tonight. This was a good match for building up to Extreme Rules.
Video
Via YouTube, Drake Maverick lost the 24/7 Title to R-Truth two weeks ago at his wedding.
Backstage
Drake Maverick surprises his wife, Renee Michelle with a trip to RAW on their honeymoon. Drake introduces Renee to Dana Brooke, but they quickly move on. Renee tells Drake that he needs to choose: his marriage or the 24/7 Title. Maverick tells her that nothing is more important than their marriage.
As Drake and Renee hug, R-Truth appears behind them. Drake stares at R-Truth and the 24/7 Title draped over his shoulder. R-Truth says he is a sucker for love, then he walks away.
Backstage
AJ Styles tells Anderson and Gallows that they looked good last week, but they still lost. Anderson and Gallows tells Styles that he came close to losing last week too. Even so, Styles still won and is next in line for a US Title match. Anderson and Gallows have a bet. Anderson doesn’t think Styles will take the title from Ricochet, and Anderson has put his “hot Asian wife” on the line.
Ring Area
No Way Jose heads down the ramp for a match with Cesaro who is already in the ring. Drake Maverick and Renee Michelle are at ringside, and as Jose’s conga line passes them by, it is revealed that R-Truth is at the back of the line. R-Truth stops and taunts Maverick while dancing with his wife.
Jose and Cesaro are ready to start their match, but Cedric Alexander, Titus O’Neil, EC3, Heath Slater, Robert Roode, and Mojo Rawley run out and chase R-Truth to the backstage area. Back in the ring, Cesaro attacks Jose. Cesaro sends Jose out to the floor where he hits Jose with the Neutralizer. Cesaro walks away angrily.
Backstage
Charly Caruso welcomes the Street Profits. Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford are here to bring the swag back to RAW.
Backstage
Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre look serious as they walk.
Backstage
Sarah Schreiber welcomes The Miz. Miz says his mistake by feeding Shane McMahon’s ego has created a monster. Tonight, Miz will take out Elias and force Shane to look for help elsewhere.
Ring Area
Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre head to the ring. Shane talks about Roman Reigns and shows footage of himself and McIntyre beating up Reigns last week in RAW. Shane doesn’t want to focus on Reigns though, he wants to address The Undertaker. Shane says he and McIntyre will put the big dog and the phenom in the ground.
McIntyre talks about the fear The Undertaker instills into ordinary men. McIntyre is not an ordinary man though, and he isn’t afraid. McIntyre doesn’t give a damn about The Undertaker. McIntyre came to fight though, so he calls for Undertaker to magically appear in the ring. The lights in the arena go out, and lightning strikes.
The Undertaker heads to the ring, so Shane and Drew leave and stand at ringside. Undertaker says Roman reigns never asked for his help. Undertaker is the collector of wayward souls, so he is here to collect Shane’s soul. Shane has fallen victim to his own greed and ego, so Undertaker will help him to rest in peace.
Backstage
Baron Corbin watches Lacey Evans put on makeup. He also talks about beating Rollins and Lynch at Extreme Rules. He and Lacey both wonder if Rollins and Lynch should really put their faith and their titles in the hands of their significant other.
Match 4
Natalya vs Lacey Evans w/ Baron Corbin
(referee: Darrick Moore; watching in the back: Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins)
Result: Lacey Evans wins via pinfall after the Woman’s Right (and a trip from Corbin)
Time: 3:33
Match Thoughts
This was okay. It was really just a way for Lacey to get a win since she’s lost a lot lately, and it was a way to show how much of a jerk Corbin is. As if we needed a reminder.
Backstage
Charly Caruso interrupts a conversation between Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, and Ricochet. She asks Ricochet about his thoughts on Styles thinking he’s better than Ricochet. Ricochet says fighting Styles on RAW was an honor, but if they have another match, Ricochet thinks he can beat Styles.
Anderson and Gallows walk up and tell Ricochet that Styles just didn’t want to embarrass him. Ricochet says he is confident in his own skills, an if someone wants a match, then he is always ready to defend the US Title.
Backstage
The Miz walks as Mercy the Buzzard appears in the background.
Backstage
Anderson and Gallows embellish on what Ricochet just said about Styles. They wonder where the old AJ Styles is and why he wouldn’t just go slap Ricochet and accept his challenge. Styles walks over to Ricochet and tells him he’s taking the US Title tonight. Ricochet accepts the match and holds out his hand. Styles slaps Ricochet, and Ricochet slaps Styles back. Styles smiles.
Match 5
Two out of Three Falls Match
Elias vs The Miz
(referee: Dan Engler)
Result: The Miz wins 2 falls to 1
1. The Miz pins Elias after the Skull Crushing Finale (0:11)
2. Elias pins The Miz after Drift Away (0:54)
3. The Miz submits Elias with a figure four leg lock (3:42)
Time: 4:47 (plus 2 rest periods)
Match Thoughts
This was fine. I think the falls in these matches happen way too easily, but Miz was angry and fighting with purpose, so I suppose it made a little bit of sense.
Backstage
Charly Caruso welcomes Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. Caruso wonders if Rollins was impulsive when he accepted Corbin’s match stipulations without even knowing what they were. Rollins says he wasn’t being impulsive. Lynch isn’t so sure.
As Becky and Seth have a moment, Maria Kanellis walks up. Maria thinks she deserves a title for pushing an eight pound baby out of her uterus. She also thinks that the only reason Seth Rollins is the Universal Champ is because Mike Kanellis hasn’t challenged him for it. Maria challenges Becky and Seth to a mixed tag match which Becky eagerly accepts.
Match 6
Mixed Tag Match
Seth Rollins (Universal Champ) & Becky Lynch (RAW Women’s Champ) vs Maria & Mike Kanellis
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Becky Lynch forces Mike Kanellis to submit to Disarm Her
Time: 3:31
Match Thoughts
Okay, so, I like that Mike and Maria are on RAW. They seem to be challenging a bit above their status by taking on Rollins and Lynch, but hey, this could potentially mean good things for the two of them. After watching this match though, I’m not sure what to think.
Mike got beat up by Rollins for a minute or so while Maria yelled at him from the apron. Becky got tagged in, so Maria was supposed to get into the ring. Instead, Maria jumps down to ringside and grabs a mic. She yells at Mike about not protecting her, and when Becky comes over to fight, Maria yells that she’s pregnant. Mike seems confused, and Maria tells him that he’s not man enough to get her pregnant. Having no sympathy for Mike, Becky pulls him into the ring and forces him to submit to Disarm Her.
So, I’m not really a fan of mystery pregnancy angles. Also, my immediate assumption considering the circumstances is that Mara is lying. Also, they’ve been sort of building up to this on 205 Live, but the payoff is apparently happening on RAW with barely a mention of 205 Live. And finally, mixed tag rules weren’t adhered to in this match when they easily could have been.
Ring Area
After the match, Rollins and Lynch leave. With Mike down on the mat, Maria yells at him some more. Maria says the only man here tonight was The Man Becky Lynch. Maybe next time she’ll ask Becky to impregnate her. Maria drops the mic and walks away, leaving Mike alone in the ring.
Backstage
Charly Caruso doesn’t know what to say. Paul Heyman walks up and says it’s been a weird night for Rollins and a bad night for Kingston, so maybe tonight is a good night for Lesnar to cash in. The Street Profits walk up and compliment Heyman’s bald head. Heyman doesn’t have time for this. He walks away.
Backstage
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross smile as they walk.
Ring Area
Alexa Bliss comes out to the stage for A Moment of Bliss. Her guest this week, Nikki Cross. Alexa congratulates Nikki for winning her match last week and earning Alexa a SmackDown Title match. Nikki says she is grateful to Alexa for her friendship. Carmella interrupts the show. Carmella wonders why Alexa is getting a title match if Nikki is the person who pinned the champ. Carmella explains how friendship works. Alexa thinks Carmella is pathetic.
Match 7
Alexa Bliss w/ Nikki Cross vs Carmella
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Carmella wins via pinfall with a schoolboy
Time: 0:07
Match Thoughts
This was a one-move match. This led directly to a commercial break and a new match.
Match 8
Nikki Cross w/ Alexa Bliss vs Carmella
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Nikki Cross wins via pinfall after a swinging neckbreaker
Time: 2:44
Match Thoughts
This was short, but it was longer than Alexa’s match. It was fine, but I’d like to see these two women have an actual match.
Backstage
AJ Styles prepares for his main event match.
Backstage
Sarah Schreiber asks Nikki Cross what she thinks about people wanting her to face Bayley for the SmackDown’s Women’s Title rather than Alexa. Alexa says Nikki has no comment.
Backstage
Drake Maverick tells Renee Michelle that he’s going to make it up to her. A mob runs by, then R-Truth comes out of hiding. Drake tells R-Truth that he just wants to go on his honeymoon. R-Truth wishes Drake well and walks away. Drake hits R-Truth from behind and pins him for the 24/7 Title. Drake grabs his wife and they run away with the title.
Backstage
Ricochet walks.
Match 9
US Title Match
AJ Styles vs Ricochet (US Champ)
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Ricochet wins via pinfall with a roll-up
Time: 5:59 (plus 1 match restart)
Match Thoughts
The action was good (quite good actually), but there were a fair amount of shenanigans surrounding the match itself. There was a false finish early where one man thought they had won, but the match was restarted (after a commercial break, naturally). That took some momentum away from the match, but it did bring up some questions about how both men would deal with what was effectively a quick victory. The match after the commercial was good, but it was very short. This all seemed to be a buildup for the post match antics.
Ring Area
After the match, Styles shakes hands with Ricochet. Anderson and Gallows get up onto the apron. Thinking they might attack, Ricochet prepares himself. Styles motions for Ricochet to calm down, and Styles stands beside Ricochet. It was all a ruse though. Styles attacks Ricochet, then he stands in the ring with Anderson and Gallows. The Club is back together.
Show Impressions
This was an interesting show. I didn’t like everything they did, but at least they’re trying to push back against some of the stagnation they’ve found themselves in.
The Strowman/Lashley thing was actually pretty fun. The match wasn’t fun, but the aftermath was something we haven’t really seen in a while.
The start and stop of the matches is still a huge problem for me. I hate it, and it undermines any changes for the better they might be trying to make. It needs to stop.
I don’t think I really care for the Maria and Mike Kanellis story, but at least they’re trying to do something with them.
The language on this show was pushing the boundaries of TV-PG (Corey Graves said “holy shit” during the opening match, and “bitch” was used frequently by Maria). Hopefully tonight is the start of a change in the right direction, even if the changes will be slow and littered with missteps.
Match of the Night
Styles vs Ricochet
Despite the false ending, this was probably still the best match of the night. The matches on RAW are often difficult to pick from because most of them are so short. I think the six man tag match was fun as well though.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-07-01