WWE RAW
Episode 1370
#RAW
Original Air Date: August 26, 2019
Event Date: August 26, 2019
(aired live)
City: New Orleans, LA
Venue: Smoothie King Center
Commentary: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Ring Area
Sasha Banks heads to the ring. Sasha says she’s been gone and minding her own business, but all she heard were people talking about her. People were talking about her crying on the floor at Wrestlemania and going home. She did those things, but it was because she was forced into defending the tag titles (which she doesn’t care about) while Becky Lynch was in the main event.
But now Sasha is back, and she wanted to have a perfect moment for her return. Natalya provided that opportunity, and Becky completed the moment. Now Sasha is the center of attention. She’s the boss, and she’s the center of the women’s division. As she continues, Natalya runs down to the ring.
Sasha and Natalya brawl at ringside until officials separate them.
Backstage
The Street Profits enjoyed seeing Sasha and Natalya brawl. They’re also excited for more King of the Ring matches as well as Strowman versus Styles. Montez Ford is most excited for tag team turmoil, but Angelo Dawkins doesn’t know what that is. Ford explains.
Match 1
King of the Ring First Round Match
Ricochet vs Drew McIntyre
(referee: Dan Engler)
Result: Ricochet wins via pinfall after a 630 senton
Time: 9:35 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. This was another of the tournament matches I wouldn’t have minded seeing late in the tournament, or even in the finals. I was going to be a little disappointed regardless of who lost, but I was very happy with who won. This was a lot of fun to watch, and I hope we get to see McIntyre and Ricochet battle again.
Video
Clips of Rollins and Strowman winning the RAW Tag Titles last week…
Backstage
Sarah Schreiber welcomes the new RAW Tag Champs, Braun Strowman and Seth Rollins. Rollins doesn’t seem too worried about having to defend two titles at Clash of Champions in a few weeks. Strowman still wants a shot at the Universal Title, and he challenges Rollins. Rollins refuses to back down, and he accepts Strowman’s challenge.
Match 2
King of the Ring First Round Match
The Miz vs Baron Corbin
(referee: John Cone; watching in the back: Cedric Alexander)
Result: Baron Corbin wins via pinfall after End of Days
Time: 7:01 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This was okay. I wanted both men to lose, but one man won.
Backstage
Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows tell Kayla Braxton it’s not fair that Rollins and Strowman “earned” a tag title match out of nowhere, but The OC has to go through seven teams to get a rematch for the titles they lost. They’ll do what they have to do though.
Match 3
Bayley (SD Women’s Champ) vs Nikki Cross (Women’s Tag Champ)
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Bayley wins via pinfall after a diving elbow drop
Time: 4:01
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Nikki was aggressive and looked good against the champ, but she couldn’t put Bayley away. That led to Bayley getting some offense late in the match. This was a fine, short, straightforward match, and I liked it.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton welcomes Braun Strowman. Strowman says Clash of Champions will be busy and historic for him. He plans on leaving the show with three titles.
Match 4
RAW Tag Team Title Number One Contender Tag Team Turmoil Match
Viking Raiders vs The B-Team vs Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler vs Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado w/ Kalisto vs The Revival vs Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder vs Heavy Machinery
(referee: Dan Engler)
Result: Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler win and will get a RAW Tag Title match at Clash of Champions
1. Ivar pins Bo Dallas after the Viking Experience (1:18)
2 & 3. The OC and The Viking Raiders are both disqualified when they won’t listen to the referee (1:11)
4. Dolph Ziggler pins Gran Metalik after a superkick (1:25 – joined in progress)
5. Robert Roode pins Scott Dawson after the Glorious DDT (5:10)
6. Dolph Ziggler pins Zack Ryder after a superkick (0:45 – joined in progress)
7. Robert Roode pins Tucker after the Glorious DDT () 16:21 – 21:51
Time: 20:29 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
This was annoying. First, WWE takes the RAW Tag Titles away from The OC, and established team with a good reason to have the titles, and put them on Rollins and Strowman, a team that makes little sense and has had zero to even be given a title shot. It’s WWE’s old habit of throwing the titles on a super-team for no reason just because “oh look, they’re rivals, but they’re also forced into being partners!” It’s stupid and annoying, and it’s unfair to real tag teams. Now, they throw together Ziggler and Roode for no reason and have them beat nothing but established tag teams (including multiple former champs). Like, I’m glad Ziggler finally won a match and Roode is finally doing something other than chasing the 24/7 Title, but this match was stupid. I love tag team turmoil, but this match was stupid. Only two of the matchups were worth watching, and the match was stupid. RAW has been getting better lately, but they’ve taken a few huge steps backward over the last couple of weeks.
Video
A look at the Roman Reigns story and the reveal of who Daniel Bryan says attacked him.
Match 5
Sasha Banks vs Natalya
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Sasha Banks wins via pinfall with a modified Bank Statement
Time: 4:00
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Natalya was angry and started this match as kind of a brawl, but Sasha was able to survive the initial burst from Natalya. Sasha took control and didn’t have much trouble after the first couple of minutes.
Ring Area
After the match, Sasha Banks attacks Natalya for a few seconds before deciding to leave the ring.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton welcomes AJ Styles. Styles is upset that Gallows and Anderson were screwed in the tag team turmoil match. He’s also upset that no one thinks he can successfully defend his US Title against Braun Strowman.
Match 6
Cedric Alexander vs Cesaro
(referee: Darrick Moore; watching in the back: Baron Corbin)
Result: Cedric Alexander wins via pinfall after the Lumbar Check
Time: 7:24 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Even though Cedric is still in the King of the Ring tournament while Cesaro is already out, I wasn’t sure who was going to win this match. There were some good back and forth moments, and it really could have gone either way. I do think Cesaro’s focus on Alexander’s leg might play a role in his next tournament match though.
Backstage
AJ Styles warms up for his match.
Video
This past weekend, R-Truth beat Elias for the 24/7 Title at an event for Fox Sports. Drake Maverick was also there, but he couldn’t catch R-Truth.
Later, R-Truth was pinned by Fox Sports host Rob Stone, but Elias pinned Stone. Elias is now the 24/7 Champ again.
Backstage
Sarah Schreiber welcomes Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode. Ziggler talks about deciding to team with Roode because he liked the look of him. Roode says they’re team didn’t come together on a whim, it’s destiny.
Backstage
Montez Ford talks about how great RAW has been, but Dawkins is focused on other things. Specifically, Dawkins is focused on the after-party on Bourbon Street. Ford asks Dawkins who he’s picking in the US Title main event, but before he can answer Braun Strowman walks by.
Video
A look at the Firefly Fun House and the rise of The Fiend.
Match 7
United States Title Match
Braun Strowman (RAW Tag Champ) vs AJ Styles (US Champ)
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: AJ Styles wins via DQ beacuse the referee thought Strowman used a chair (but he didn’t)
Time: 7:04 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. It made me nervous going into the match because I wasn’t at all sure that they wouldn’t put the US Title on Strowman. That made the match tense for me. On the plus side, Styles did a good job of believably taking Strowman down. Of course the match descended into all-out shenanigans, but it was good up until that point.
Ring Area
After the match, Strowman beats up all three members of The OC.
Show Impressions
The tag title stuff really annoyed me, but I thought the rest of the show was fine. Not great, but not terrible. Just kind of average.
Match of the Night
Ricochet vs Drew McIntyre
Again, it’s too bad either man had to lose.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-08-26