WWE RAW
Episode 1366
#RAW
Original Air Date: July 29, 2019
Event Date: July 29, 2019
(aired live)
City: Little Rock, AR
Venue: Verizon Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Video
The WWE TItle has set the standard for greatness in sports entertainment, but now the 24/7 Title exists.
Match 1
Mosh Pit Mixed Tag 24/7 Title Match
Renee Michelle & Drake Maverick vs Carmella & R-Truth (24/7 Champ)
(referee: John Cone; mosh pit: EC3, Mojo Rawley, TitusO’Neil, No Way Jose, Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Mike Kanellis, Heath Slater, Gran Metalik, Lince Dorado, Kalisto, Eric Young, Robert Roode)
Result: R-Truth wins via pinfall after a slap from Carmella and a facebuster from R-Truth
Time: 1:55
Match Thoughts
This was barely a match. Also, shouldn’t it be a disqualification if the women attack the men (and vice versa) in a mixed tag match in plain view of the referee?
Ring Area
R-Truth doesn’t have much time to celebrate after winning match. Everyone surrounding the ring quickly enters the ring and dog piles on R-Truth. The referee counts to three, and Mike Kanellis emerges from the bottom of the pile as the new 24/7 Champ. Kanellis runs away before anyone realizes what just happened, then nearly everyone else follows him backstage.
Backstage
Mike Kanellis is chased backstage by a mob. Mike escapes by locking himself behind a door labeled “WWE Officials.” Maria Kanellis walks up and the crowd parts as she (probably) feigns some pain due to her pregnancy. Maria knocks on the door and demands that Mike let her in. Mike isn’t sure it’s really Maria, but when Maria threatens to kick him in his vagina, Mike meekly opens the door and lets her in.
Match 2
United States Title Number One Contender Gauntlet Match
Rey Mysterio vs Cesaro vs Sami Zayn vs Andrade w/ Zelina Vega vs Ricochet
(referee: Dan Engler; watching in the back: AJ Styles)
Result: Ricochet wins and will face AJ Styles for the US Title at Summer Slam
1. Rey Mysterio pins Cesaro after a frog splash (7:39*)
2. Rey Mysterio pins Sami Zayn with a small package (0:38)
3. Andrade pins Rey Mysterio after a hammerlock DDT (5:00)
4. Ricochet wins via pinall after the 630 senton (6:15)
Time: 21:35 (1 break, 2 rest periods)
* = 1 break
Match Thoughts
This was fun. I think it’s silly that they announced there would be no rest periods between falls, yet there were clearly rest periods between two of the falls (for commercial breaks). Regardless of that silliness, the match was good. There wasn’t really an iron man in the match, and I don’t think there needed to be. It was a good buildup to the final two falls, and almost every matchup felt like a good, short match.
Ring Area
After the match, Kayla Braxton enters the ring and congratulates the winner.
Backstage
Mike Kanellis is happy that Maria can finally be proud of him now that he’s won the 24/7 Title. Maria tells Mike to get on his back so she can pin him. He does, and referee Rod Zapata counts. Maria Kanellis is now the 24/7 Champ. She gloats as she walks down the hallway proclaiming herself the first ever pregnant champ.
Backstage
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross walk and talk.
Ring Area
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross come out to the stage for A Moment of Bliss. Alexa congratulates Maria on being a pregnant champ. Nikki is still excited about RAW Reunion last week. Alexa was appalled when Ziggler kicked Shawn Michaels on SmackDown last week, but Ziggler isn’t the only WWE superstar who lacks a moral compass. Alexa shows footage of Becky Lynch attacking Natalya during a training session Natalya was having with Fit Finlay.
Alexa wonders if Becky is setting a good example as the RAW Women’s Champ. Nikki thinks Becky might be trying to take Natalya out before their match. Alexa agrees, and says she’s going to knock Becky down a few pegs. Becky Lynch appears on the screen and warns Alexa not to make any promises she can’t keep or say anything she might regret. Alexa has no response, because The Usos come out and head to the ring for a match, and they’re very loud.
Match 3
Triple Threat RAW Tag Team Title Match
The Usos vs Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows vs The Revival (RAW Tag Champs)
(referee: Rod Zapata; watching in the back: AJ Styles)
Result: Luke Gallows pins Jimmy Uso after the Magic Killer
Time: 14:24 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. This triple threat has good pacing. It started with various one on one matchups, then it progressively got more intense as the action picked up and the rules broke down. By the end of the match there were a lot of exciting moments as everyone was fighting for survival. It really felt like any of these three teams could win at any moment, but the finish still felt quite definitive. I like it a lot.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton tries to get a word with AJ Styles, but Anderson and Gallows interrupt. They want to celebrate.
Video
A recap of last Monday’s RAW Reunion.
Backstage
The Viking Raiders prepare to invade in their red room.
Match 4
Viking Raiders vs Johnny James & Cole Carter
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Erik pins Johnny James after the Viking Experience
Time: 1:26
Match Thoughts
Another squash for the Raiders.
Backstage
The Street Profits comment on what we’ve seen so far tonight. When they get to Maria winning the 24/7 Title, Dawkins smiles as he thinks of Maria. Ford wonders if Dawkins might be the father of Maria’s unborn baby, but Dawkins doesn’t want Ford spreading rumors.
Seth Rollins walks up, and the Street Profits tell him they’re behind him in his match against Ziggler tonight. Then they all say that Rollins is going to burn it down.
Backstage
Becky Lynch walks.
Match 5
Becky Lynch vs Alexa Bliss w/ Nikki Cross
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Becky Lynch wins via referee stoppage (due to an ankle injury for Alexa)
Time: 6:48
Match Thoughts
Good match, but the ending was underwhelming. The finish was meant to lead into the next segment, so it made sense, but it also made this match feel like a missed opportunity. I’m sure Becky and Alexa will face each other again at some point though.
Ring Area
After the match, Nikki Cross yells at Becky Lynch and challenges her to a match.
Match 6
Becky Lynch (RAW Women’s Champ) vs Nikki Cross w/ Alexa Bliss
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Becky Lynch wins via pinfall after the Manhandle Slam
Time: 2:33
Match Thoughts
This was very short and could have been a lot better. This whole thing with Alexa and Nikki felt like a very convoluted and obvious way to stop the action for a commercial and set up an attack that barely did anything that a simple distraction could have done just as well. Also, it further muddies the story of Alexa and Nikki. Did Alexa let Nikki know about her plan? If so, why would she agree to it since it just meant Nikki getting beat up in Alexa’s place? And if Alexa didn’t say anything, how could Nikki not know that she’s being used? It makes little sense to me.
Ring Area
After the match, Alexa Bliss attacks Becky Lynch. Unsurprisingly, Alexa was never hurt. Nikki joins in the attack on Becky. Natalya runs down to the ring, so Alexa and Nikki slide out of the ring. Natalya puts Becky in a sharpshooter for a while, then she leaves the ring.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton asks Natalya about her former friendship with Becky Lynch. Natalya says this isn’t about making friends, it’s about being professional. Also, Natalya would like to challenge Becky to a submission match, but she knows Becky won’t accept.
Backstage
Maria Kanellis has a photo shoot with her 24/7 Title. Braun Strowman appears behind Maria. Maria tells Strowman to show her how big and strong he is.
Match 7
Seth Rollins vs Dolph Ziggler
(referee: Dan Engler)
Result: Seth Rollins wins via DQ when Brock Lesnar attacks him
Time: 6:04 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This was a pretty good match, but ultimately it was about setting Rollins up for the post-match shenanigans.
Ring Area
After the match, Brock Lesnar continues to attack Seth Rollins as Paul Heyman watches. Rollins is defenseless as Lesnar repeatedly F5s him gut first onto the back of a set up chair. No one comes to help Rollins as he spits up blood. Medical staff finally stretchers Rollins away after Heyman and Lesnar leave.
Backstage
Seth Rollins is wheeled out of the arena as Becky Lynch and Roman Reigns look on.
Rollins notices a fight going on behind him. It’s Anderson and Gallows trading blows with The Usos. Reigns helps The Usos, but Samoa Joe attacks Reigns during the scuffle. The OC and Samoa Joe have to be pulled away by referees.
Meanwhile, Seth Rollins is loaded into an ambulance. The ambulance is stopped by Brock Lesnar. Lesnar pulls Rollins out of the ambulance and dumps him off the stretcher. Lesnar then F5s Rollins onto the overturned stretcher. Lesnar walks away as officials check on Rollins.
Ring Area
Samoa Joe heads to the ring for a Samoan Summit. However, Joe announces that the Samoan Summit has been canceled. Instead, Joe just calls Roman Reigns down to the ring for a fight. Reigns comes out, and the two men fight.
The fight makes its way around ringside until Reigns throws the ring steps at Joe’s face. Joe goes down, and Drew McIntyre runs down to take over the fight against Reigns. McIntyre and Reigns fight through the crowd for a short while, then Joe rejoins the fight at ringside. In the ring, Cedric Alexander comes down to help even the odds for Reigns. Alexander quickly gets overwhelmed by Joe and McIntyre.
Up on the stage, McIntyre throws Cedric down to the floor. McIntyre and Joe set up to drive Reigns through the announce table, but The Usos save Reigns. Anderson and Gallows run out to fight The Usos. While everyone else is fighting in a large group, Cedric Alexander climbs to the top of the LED board on the stage and dives onto everyone.
McIntyre leads Cedric into the ring, but Cedric, Reigns, and The Usos end up standing tall as the show comes to an end.
Show Impressions
I liked this episode of RAW. Sure, there were parts of the show that weren’t great, but the good stuff was a lot of fun. I liked the gauntlet match, the tag title match, and both of the final segments of the night.
Match of the Night
Triple Threat RAW Tag Team Title Match
Three good teams, one very good title match.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-07-29