WWE RAW
Episode 1378
#RAW
Original Air Date: October 21, 2019
Event Date: October 21, 2019
(aired live)
City: Cleveland, OH
Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Commentary: Vic Joseph, Dio Maddin, Jerry Lawler
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Video
At Hell in a Cell, Seth Rollins tried to murder The Fiend. Rollins thought he ended his problems with Bray Wyatt, but he didn’t, so Rollins assaulted Bray and burned down his house.
Intro Video
“Legendary” by Skillet
Ring Area
Ric Flair heads to the ring. He talks about the Hogan versus Flair ten-man tag match at Crown Jewel, and he introduces the final member of his team: Drew McIntyre.
McIntyre says things are about to get uncomfortable, because he is about to make an example out of Ricochet and show everyone what will happen to team Hogan.
Match 1
Drew McIntyre vs Ricochet
(referee: John Cone; at ringside: Ric Flair)
Result: Drew McIntyre wins via pinfall after the Claymore Kick
Time: 14:11 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. This match was given plenty of time to develop, and both men took full advantage of that. I’m glad that this wasn’t just a sub-three-minute squash or a match with a pointless DQ ending. Both men looked great, and they were allowed to have a full match with a real finish. I liked it very much.
Ring Area
After the match, McIntyre attacks Ricochet. McIntyre takes Ricochet to ringside and hits him with an inverted Alabama slam onto the ring steps. Ric Flair is happy.
Backstage
Charly Caruso welcomes The OC. Karl Anderson says the Street Profits need to earn their spot on RAW. Styles is confused about what the Street Profits mean when the say they want “the smoke.” Luke Gallows says Cleveland doesn’t rock, it sucks.
Video
A look at the “Instant Impacts” of Andrade, Buddy Murphy, and Aleister Black.
Backstage
From his darkened room, Aleister Black has a hellfire-like rage. It’s clawing at him right now, and it’s ready to pick a fight.
Match 2
Jason Reynolds vs Aleister Black
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Aleister Black wins via pinfall after Black Mass
Time: 1:44
Match Thoughts
Squash.
Backstage
Rusev walks.
Video
The Authors of Pain say they are going to get violent with every tag team on RAW.
Ring Area
In the ring, Jerry Lawler welcomes Rusev to The King’s Court. Lawler talks about Rusev’s personal life becoming public. Rusev says Bob Lashley has poisoned Lana’s brain, and he will be crushed. Rusev still wears his wedding band because he hopes he and Lana will get past these troubles.
Lashley and Lana appear on the tron. Lashley says he will take care of Lana’s needs. Lana says Rusev never took her to her dream restaurant, but Lashley did (which is where they are now). They both say they love each other.
Rusev leaves to deliver a message to Lashley personally.
Backstage
Zelina Vega discusses strategy with Andrade.
Match 3
Andrade w/ Zelina Vega vs Sin Cara
(referee: Rod Zapata; watching in the back: Humberto Carrillo)
Result: Andrade wins via pinfall after a hammerlock DDT
Time: 9:00 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. There was a little miscommunication early in the match, but they recovered and went on to deliver a nicely entertaining match.
Backstage
Charly Caruso welcomes Humberto Carrillo to RAW. Carrillo knows he has a lot to prove on RAW, but he looks forward to beating the best.
Backstage
The Street Profits laugh at what The OC said earlier tonight. They’re also very excited about main-eventing RAW tonight. Their mystery partner for that match will remain a mystery until later though.
Backstage
R-Truth sneaks around with his 24/7 Title. He runs into Samir Singh, and Samir starts singing. That distraction leads to Sunil Singh rolling up R-Truth and becoming the new 24/7 champ.
Backstage
Sarah Schreiber gets some words from Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins. Hawkins and Ryder are excited about their chances against the current RAW Tag Champs.
Match 4
The Viking Raiders (RAW Tag Champs) vs Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Erik pins Curt Hawkins after the Viking Experience
Time: 3:43
Match Thoughts
Squash. Pretty much.
A Restaurant
Someone warns Bobby Lashley and Lana that Rusev is on his way there.
Backstage
Rey Mysterio has his arm in a sling, and he is walking.
A Restaurant
Rusev barges in without a reservation and punches Bobby Lashley. Lana stands on a seat and yells. Rusev is taken away by police or something.
Ring Area
Rey Mysterio heads to the ring. He talks about getting Cain Velasquez ready to fight Brock Lesnar. Tonight though, Rey would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love recently. He is honored for the love shown to himself and his family. Rey says the WWE Universe is his family, and we will all celebrate together when Velasquez wins the WWE Title and puts another scar on the face of Brock Lesnar.
Paul Heyman appears on the tron. Heyman wonders if Rey would be saying the same thing if Lesnar was in Cleveland tonight. Of course he wouldn’t, but Rey knows Lesnar can’t be on RAW because he was drafted to SmackDown. Heyman can’t be drafted though, so he is here to send a message. He says Rey is delusional if he thinks Velasquez is going to beat Lesnar again. Lesnar has been thinking about his MMA loss of Velasquez for nine years. Lesnar has lusted for revenge, and revenge will come at Crown Jewel.
Rey interrupts Heyman and insults him in Spanish. Shelton Benjamin interrupts Rey and heads to the ring. Benjamin is confused about how Velasquez got a WWE Title opportunity. Rey says this isn’t about that. This is a family thing. Benjamin tells Rey that Lesnar is his buddy. He trained Brock Lesnar in college. Lesnar is Benjamin’s family. Benjamin wonders if he pushes Rey around that he can get a title opportunity as well. Benjamin pushes Rey around, and Cain Velasquez comes out.
Velasquez confronts Benjamin. Benjamin strikes first, but Velasquez fights back. After covering up, Benjamin escapes and rolls out of the ring.
Backstage
Charly Caruso welcomes Seth Rollins. Rollins thinks maybe he’s gotten into Bray Wyatt’s head. Rollins gets distracted, and he walks over to speak with Humberto Carrillo. Rollins talks down to Carrillo and explains what it means to be a champ. He then welcomes Carrillo to RAW and offers him a match. Tonight. Right now.
Match 5
Seth Rollins (Universal Champ) vs Humberto Carrillo
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Seth Rollins wins via pinfall after a curb stomp
Time: 8:33 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This was fun. Carrillo looked great. He showed a lot of what he can do, and what he does is often exciting. He also showed his resilience against the champ, so it was a nice match for him despite the inevitable outcome.
Backstage
The OC walks.
Backstage
R-Truth tries to sneak up and pin Samir Singh, but he rolls up Sunil instead.
Match 6
Street Profits vs Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson w/ AJ Styles (US Champ)
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Montez Ford pins Karl Anderson after a frog splash (and a Sky High from Dawkins, as well as some outside assistance from Kevin Owens)
Time: 9:31 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Part of the intrigue in the match, besides it being the Street Profits first match on RAW and their first RAW main event, was that Dawkins and Ford were teasing that they had enlisted someone as backup tonight. The OC mocked the Street Profits when they came out alone, but someone did show up late in the match to counteract the repeated interference from AJ Styles.
The match was fun, and it was great seeing the Street Profits on a big stage like this. I think they can thrive on RAW if given the chance. The action was good, and The OC did a great job of helping the Street Profit excel tonight.
Show Impressions
There were a couple of squash matches tonight, but the other matches were all fun. I liked the returns tonight, and I liked that the final two matches featured newer talent against established talent.
Match of the Night
Drew McIntyre vs Ricochet
I enjoyed the final two matches a lot as well, but I think the opening match of the night had me guessing a bit more. I could have seen McIntyre versus Ricochet go a lot of different ways, so that (and the great action) kept me very interested.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-10-21