WWE RAW
RAW Reunion
Episode 1365
#RawReunion
Original Air Date: July 22, 2019
Event Date: July 22, 2019
(aired live)
City: Tampa, FL
Venue: Amalie Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Ring Area
John Cena heads to the ring. Cena is excited just like everyone else for tonight’s RAW Reunion. Cena talks about some of the people he’s looking forward to seeing tonight. Cena couldn’t miss this. This is home for Cena, and even though he’s not around as much as he used to be, the fans are his family and he’s just as excited to be standing in the ring as he was on day one.
The Usos head to the ring. The Usos heard “day one” and they were summoned. The Usos think the crowd wants to see a battle rap, and the crowd seems to agree. Cena smiles but politely declines. The Usos stop Cena and say they want to see the doctor, not the John Cena that left for the movie business. Cena raps about The Usos’ arrests and tries to leave again, but before he goes, the Usos bring out Rikishi.
Rikishi heads to the ring. Cena hands a mic to Rikishi and leaves, but Rikishi tells Cena to “back that ass up.” Rikishi, the Usos, and Cena get in line for a dance, but The Revival interrupts them. Dawson and Wilder come out to the stage, and D-Von Dudley joins them.
Backstage
Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Hart are excited.
Ring Area
Booker T joins the commentary team on the stage.
Match 1
The Usos w/ Rikishi vs The Revival (RAW Tag Champs) w/ D-Von Dudley
(referee: John Cone; guest commentary: Booker T)
Result: Jey Uso pins Scott Dawson after a Samoan splash
Time: 6:55 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. It seems like the proclamation that there will be no wrestling during commercial breaks might be over. This match lasted through a break with no interruption that I could see, and the match was quite good. Rikishi and D-Von had some words at ringside toward the end of the match, but for the most part this was just a solid match with great teamwork from both teams. I liked it.
Backstage
Alicia Fox tells Dana Brooke and Kaitlyn that she needs a fancy hat for Summer Slam. Torrie Wilson walks up and hugs Fox. Santino Marella also walks up, and he brought the cobra with him. Drew Mcntyre doesn’t think Santino is funny though. Drew shakes his head as he walks past Fox, Torrie, and Santino.
Backstage
Charly Caruso welcomes R-Truth and Carmella. They watch footage of R-Truth nearly getting pinned by The Hurricane and Drake Maverick at Comic-Con. Renee Michelle interrupts R-Truth’s interview to tell him that he’s ruined her marriage. Drake Maverick uses that opportunity to run up, pin R-Truth, and escape with the 24/7 Title.
With everybody else gone, Charly Caruso is approached by The Godfather. The Godfather knows what time it is, but he allows the fans to say the actual words of what type of train everybody should get aboard. Charly Caruso dances.
Ring Area
Drew McIntyre heads to the ring for a match with Cedric Alexander. As Cedric heads to the ring, Drew attacks. Cedric manages to fight off Drew at first, but Drew catches Cedric and pummels him. Drew finishes by hitting Cedric with an inverted Alabama slam onto the side of the ring.
Backstage
The Viking Raiders are again in their dark and smoky red room, and they are again breathing heavily.
Backstage
Drake Maverick grabs his stuff as he tries to leave the arena, but he finds a suitcase full of dirt and worms. The Boogeyman has come to get him. The Boogeyman disappears, and Pat Patterson walks up with a referee. Patterson stomps on Drake Maverick and ends up pinning him. Pat Patterson is the new 24/7 Champ.
Ring Area
Christian joins the commentary team on the stage, and Lilian Garcia is in the ring.
Match 2
Viking Raiders vs Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder
(referee: Shawn Bennett; guest commentary: Christian; ring announcer: Lilian Garcia)
Result: Erik pins Curt Hawkins after the Viking Experience
Time: 2:37
Match Thoughts
This was kind of a squash. I’m not super happy about how Hawkins and Ryder have been portrayed lately, but other than that, this was a fine squash for the Raiders.
Backstage
Torrie Wilson, Jillian Hall, Santino Marella, Kaitlyn, Jimmy Hart, and Alicia Fox are all having a party (or something). Mike Kanellis is talking to someone off screen, but he is interrupts when Maria Kenallis comes in and asks him what he’s doing. Mike says he was just talking to Eve Torres and Eric Bischoff. Maria is furious that Mike isn’t currently applying lotion to her belly so she doesn’t get stretch marks. Maria walks away in a huff.
Ron Simmons walks up and looks like he has something to say. Jimmy Hart hands Ron his megaphone, and while Ron is looking directly at Mike Kanellis, he says “damn.”
Backstage
Samoa Joe walks.
Backstage
The Club thinks they need to have a celebration tonight. They should celebrate the return of the original and only club that matters. Then, now, and forever is the O.C.
Backstage
Pat Patterson calls Gerald Brisco a stooge, because Gerald has apparently pinned Pat for the 24/7 Title. Kelly Kelly congratulates Gerald, then she knees him in the groin and pins him for the title. Kelly Kelly is the new 24/7 Champ.
Ring Area
Samoa Joe heads to the ring. Joe would like to point out an atrocity. He says we shouldn’t be celebrating tonight because shows like RAW are a plague to the WWE. Allowing the fans to indulge their ridiculous addiction to nostalgia prevents people like Samoa Joe from doing what they do best. As Joe starts to go off on The Usos and Rikishi from earlier in the night, Roman Reigns interrupts and heads to the ring.
Reigns wonders if Joe has anything to say about his family now, but Joe says he already said something about Reigns’ family. Reigns says Joe is from the same island, so he knows what comes next. Joe attacks, but Reigns blocks. Reigns loses control of the brawl though, and Joe beats up Reigns around ringside. Joe pushes his luck too far though, and Reigns catches Joe with a punch as Joe was climbing into the ring. Instead of getting back into the ring, Joe walks away. Reigns gets on the mic and apologizes to the fans. He says not all Samoans are cowards. Joe responds by agreeing to a match.
Match 3
Samoa Joe vs Roman Reigns
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Roman Reigns wins via pinfall after a spear
Time: 5:39
Match Thoughts
Good match. Joe brought some quick and brutal offense to this match. Joe also countered some of Reigns’s usual offense, so that forced Reigns to look better than usual. I really would not mind if this turned into a full feud. I’d like to see a longer PPV match between these two.
Ring Area
The Miz heads to the ring for Miz TV. His guest tonight, Seth Rollins, heads to the ring. Rollins mocks Brock Lesnar before saying that Lesnar is a Seth Rollins wannabe. Paul Heyman interrupts via video from backstage. Heyman thinks Rollins is delusional.
Heyman comes out to the stage and starts to talk, but Rollins interrupts. Rollins gives Heyman five seconds before he’s going to walk up the ramp and stomp Heyman. Heyman runs away as Rollins moves towards leaving the ring. With Heyman gone, Rollins says Lesnar is not a beast. Lesnar is a man, and a man can lose. At Summer Slam, Brock Lesnar will lose. Tonight though, Rollins will prepare for SUmmer Slam by taking on AJ Styles.
Backstage
Charly Caruso is in the RAW Reunion party, and she wants to ask some of the legends what they think about Rollins versus Lesnar. Sami Zayn stops her. He calls the legends “people who happened to be there.” Zayn says the legends should go home and stay home. Rey Mysterio walks up and tells Zayn to show respect for those who paved the road for him. Zayn has zero respect for them. Kurt Angle walks up and tells Zayn and Mysterio that they should settle this in the ring.
Backstage
Kelly Kelly celebrates her 24/7 Title victory with Candice Michelle. Candice seems happy for KK, but she says she’s been talking to Melina. Melina turns away fro talking to Naomi and says that she’s just been telling everyone about how she finally got her license. KK asks what license, so Melina unzips her jacket to reveal a referee’s shirt.
Candice Michelle pins Kelly Kelly and becomes the new 24/7 Champ. Suddenly, Madusa appears and grabs Candice Michelle from behind. Madusa says something about dealing with women like this before forcing Candice to submit. Madusa is the new 24/7 Champ, but she says she won’t be champ for long.
Ring Area
Jonathan Coachman joins the commentary team on the stage.
Match 4
Rey Mysterio vs Sami Zayn
(referee: DA Brewer; guest commentary: Jonathan Coachman)
Result: Rey Mysterio wins via pinfall after a frog splash
Time: 5:00
Match Thoughts
This was good. Rey and Sami were having a very good match, then Sami decided to take a walk. Rob Van Dam, Sgt. Slaughter, The Hurricane, and Kurt Angle came out and prevented Sami from getting away. This was fun.
Backstage
Ric Flair arrives at the venue in a limousine.
Backstage
The Montez Ford sings as he looks for Angelo Dawkins. Ford finds Dawkins coughing and using eye drops. Dawkins says he was just hanging with RVD. Dawkins tells Ford about all the legends he was hanging with. Ford gets excited, but Dawkins has to go. The Godfather is calling him.
Ring Area
Alundra Blayze comes out to the stage. She again says that she won’t be the 24/7 champ for long. Blayze grabs a trash can and is about to drop the 24/7 Title into it when “The Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase comes out. Dibiase offers to buy the 24/7 Title, and Blayze accepts his offer. The Million Dollar Man is now the 24/7 Champ.
Ring Area
Jerry “The King” Lawler joins the commentary table.
Match 5
AJ Styles (US Champ) w/ Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows vs Seth Rollins
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Seth Rollins wins via DQ after an attack from Anderson and Gallows
Time: 4:35 (1 match stoppage)
Match Thoughts
This was fun, but it was cut short twice. The first match stoppage happened when Anderson and Gallows started to approach Rollins. When they did that, the music for D-Generation X played, and Triple H and Shawn Michaels came down to the ring. After a commercial break, the match restarted with DX in Rollins’ corner. There wasn’t much more match after that, because Anderson and Gallows did lay hands on Rollins pretty quickly after the commercial.
Ring Area
Anderson and Gallows join Styles in beating up Rollins after the match. Shawn Michaels and Triple H quickly enter the ring and the fighting stops. The OC (Styles, Anderson, and Gallows) hold up some “too sweets” for DX. DX raises their hands, but they bring their hands down in a pair of crotch chops. DX steps towards The OC, so The OC leaves the ring.
The OC grab some chairs and climb up to the apron. Before they enter the ring, The Road Dogg comes out. Behind him are X-Pac, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash. Road Dogg warns The OC and tells them they better leave if they know what’s good for them. Styles, Anderson, and Gallows decide to leave. As they go, Seth Rollins gets to do the honors and leads the arena in saying two words.
Backstage
Mark Henry and Mick Foley talk about stuff.
Backstage
Ted Dibiase laughs as he enters his limo. We can hear banging and yelling, and moments later Drake Maverick emerges from the limo with referee Darryl Sharma and the 24/7 Title. Renee Michelle is there, and Drake is excited that he finally gets to consummate their marriage now. His joy is short-lived, because Drake is quickly chased by No Way Jose, EC3, Lince Dorado, Titus O’Neil, Kalisto, Mojo Rawley, Gran Metalik, and Heath Slater.
Ring Area
Mick Foley is already in the ring. As he talks, Maverick is chased through the ring and up the ramp to the backstage area.
After everyone else is gone, Foley shares his personal favorite RAW moment. He begins to show a clip of when he won the WWE Title on RAW when the lights in the arena go out. When the lights come back on, The Fiend, Bray Wyatt, is in the ring. The Fiend attacks Foley with the Mandible Claw. The lights flash as Foley is put down to the mat. The Fiend laughs as the lights go back out.
Ring Area
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross come out to the stage for A Moment of Bliss. Nikki and Alexa welcome their gust, “The Man” Becky Lynch. Alexa starts to ask Becky about defending her title against Natalya at Summer Slam when Natalya comes out to the stage. Natalya says if Becky has something to say, she can say it to her face.
It blows Natalya’s mind how little respect Becky is showing her. Becky tells Natalya that Natalya showed her no respect when Natalya backed Ronda Rousey in her feud with Becky. The two women come to blows and have to be separated by referees.
Backstage
Charly Caruso asks Natalya if she’s surprised that things have gotten so personal with Becky. Natalya isn’t surprised. Natalya also says that she’s going to take the RAW Title from her at Summer Slam.
Backstage
Drake Maverick attempts to escape the arena with his title and his wife. R-Truth shows up and rolls up Drake with some help from Carmella. R-Truth becomes the new 24/7 Champ, and he dives into the car that Drake was about to get into. The car drives off with R-Truth, the 24/7 Title, and Renee Michelle inside. Carmella looks down at Drake as it slowly dawns on him that hit title and his wife are gone.
Match 6
Randy Rowe vs Braun Strowman
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Braun Strowman wins via pinfall after a chokeslam
Time: 0:43
Match Thoughts
Squash. Why?
Ring Area
Ric Flair comes out to the stage as the legends we’ve seen throughout the night line up behind him. Hulk Hogan comes out next. Hogan is happy to be in his hometown while celebrating RAW. He thanks the fans and asks them what they’re going to do when the RAW Reunion runs wild on them.
After playing Hogan’s music for a while, glass shatters and Stone Cold Steve Austin heads to the ring. Austin asks for a “hell yeah.” He gets one. Austin isn’t going to get sentimental about RAW though, but he does talk about how everyone currently on the stage and the crew working on tonight’s show is his family. Everyone in the crowd is his family, and so is everyone at home.
Austin talks about hanging out with Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair because of RAW Reunion. Austin expresses his happiness being able to see Ron Simmons, Mark Henry, The Godfather, and everyone else. He then invites everyone down to the ring so they can have a toast. The legends enter and surround the ring, and beers are passed out.
Show Impressions
This was a fun show. The wrestling definitely took a backseat tonight, but that was fine. Tonight was all about nostalgia and packing in as many familiar faces as they possibly could. The stuff with the 24/7 Title was a highlight for sure. The 24/7 Title might have peaked tonight. Also, Austin’s speech at the end was great. Even though he was in character, you could could still see how joyful he was being there and being around all of his fellow legends (and the WWE crew members). His toast and impromptu sendoff as the show was going off the air was the best part of the night.
Match of the Night
The Usos vs The Revival
In a night that was light on wrestling, this was a solid match.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-07-22