Monday Night RAW 5/18 with a replay of Becky Lynch relinquishing the RAW Women’s Championship to Asuka and announcing her pregnancy to the WWE Universe.
Randy Orton heads to the ring address to speak with Charly Caruso about his unanswered challenge to Edge. He’s not good with Edge closing the book on their rivalry. He’s adamant that maybe the better man won their polarizing Wrestlemania match but not the better wrestler. No one else can do what he does like he does in the ring. What once was grit and passion in Edge is now just doubt and fear. Edge isn’t going to listen to one more word from the back and comes out. He says that he knows what Randy’s doing. He’s playing chess because this is just a paycheck. This isn’t the life Randy wanted. This is the life handed to him as a backup plan. Edge says that Randy didn’t dream and save and cry like he did. When Randy asks if he’s done, edge tells him to shut his mouth. Randy didn’t have the injury and have to fight to come back. Is Edge going to accept the challenge or not? Yes, he is and it’s on for Backlash.
The announcers take us back to last week and Seth Rollins’ odd behavior. He was in a trance-like state and little use to his disciple and tag team partner, Murphy. Suddenly, he snapped and began to gouge Rey Mysterio’s eye against the corner of steel ring steps. Rey’s partner that night, Aleister Black, has been out for revenge since. Tonight, Seth tells Murphy that he’s had a revelation and asks him to take a walk as Black vs Murphy is announced for later in the show. “The Monday Night Messiah” comes to the ring and says he’s been in a dark place since Money in the Bank but he’s seen the light thanks to Rey. What happened was unfortunate but necessary for Seth’s catharsis. He says that he wants to speak directly to Rey Mysterio when he says that Rey doesn’t understand it now but it was a blessing in disguise. Rey Mysterio… you’re welcome.
Humberto Carillo comes out to stand up for Rey and denounce Seth as a coward! Seth respects it but he’s not dressed to fight. Disciple Murphy is though.
Murphy vs Humberto Carillo
We come back from commercials with the match already underway. Humberto has an answer for Murphy’s moves but not Murphy’s savvy as he’s pulled down off the second turnbuckle. Seth’s presence delays a springboard move by Carillo and he’s caught by Murphy’s kick. Murphy’s Law gets the win.
Winner: Murphy
After the match, Murphy attacks Humberto again but that brings out Aleister Black. They commence to kickboxing but Murph dips out quickly.
Smackdown’s King Corbin angry at a PA for not having his own locker room. Ref is torn down for the finger smudges on his crown and lack of decorum in the PC. Nobody was even there to open the doors for him. Disgraceful.
Liv Morgan talks to us about her mom. She had a match with NXT champion, Charlotte Flair, two weeks ago on RAW. She lost but she learned that she has her mom’s determination because she’s set on becoming the champ.
Charlotte had words for Bayley and Sasha on Smackdown last week. Bayley challenges champ vs champ and The Queen accepted.
In ring on RAW 5/18, she says she’s the hardest working Superstar on all three brands. She calls in Ruby Riott as the next challenge for a fighting champ.
Charlotte Flair vs Ruby Riott
Flair misses a chop early on and gets a handful of ring post. Ruby tries to capitalize but Charlotte recovers to hang her up on the second rope, taking time out to mock Liv Morgan to the camera. Ruby keeps coming, though, and targets the right hand constantly. Throughout the match, we see Ruby Riott outfox The Queen but Charlotte uses her size and power to stop Ruby in her tracks. A Figure Eight is what ends it but we see Charlotte perform it while bridging only on her left hand.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
Lashley is with Charly Caruso but they’re interrupted by MVP. MVP says that he and Lashley aren’t in business because Bobby preoccupied with clowns like R-Truth and trophies like his wife, Lana! The former world champ gets heated from that. MVP doesn’t want to upset Bobby because he doesn’t want the full nelson that he gave R-Truth; a full nelson that could win him a world title… if only Lashley would free Lashley.
Street Profits beat The Viking Raiders in basketball last week. But did they let Ford and Dawkins win? Ivar drained threes at will before taking off from the foul line to prove that they truly may have. Today, they’re axe throwing at some sort of Ren Fair where the modern-day Medievals offer literal smoke at their fire pit.
Kairi Sane welcomes us to the celebration of Asuka’s new championship reign. “The Empress of Tomorrow” is handed a bouquet and reminded that she is a Grand Slam champ. Kairi’s recorder recital is cut short however by the entrance of Nia Jax. Nia says that there’s no celebration with no victory and no victory with no match. Becky is on maternity leave and now Asuka has a temp job. Asuka goes after her and a running butt bump sends Nia out to the floor.
King Corbin crosses over from Smackdown to challenge Drew McIntyre but does he have any doubts, asks Charly Caruso. Of course not. Corbin wasn’t forced into this match. He says Drew is dangerous but Corbin is King.
R-Truth asks us “What’s up?” and then holds up the mic as if he was going to get an answer. He says that Bobby Lashley is a bad man and plays the footage to prove it. He’s ready to face Bobby again but still has eyes on getting his beloved 24/7 Title back from Rob Gronkowski.
R-Truth vs Bobby Lashley
“You wanna D-Bo me?” Man, I’d rather face D-Bo than Bobby. Truth baits him outside with his “Pretty Ricky” persona but it does not go well. Lashley gathers him up in a fireman’s carry and rings his bell against the ring post. Back in the ring, Truth gets two for flinching. When Lashley finally decides to end it, it’s brutal. Full nelson. Slam. Full nelson. Tap out.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
MVP applauds from the ramp way but Lana’s watching on the monitor and loses her stuff.
Kairi Sane and Asuka’s celebration continues in the back but they don’t notice Nia watching Kairi as they part ways.
Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross (c) vs The IIconics
The Aussies (sporting colored contact lenses since their return) roll the footage of last week’s win over the champs. Quick tags by both teams but the difference maker comes when Peyton Royce breaks up a pin attempt and repeatedly rams Nikki Cross into the ring post. The ref tells her to stop but she’s en fuego and that calls for the bell and a DQ finish.
Winners: Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross
Kairi Sane is perfecting Asuka’s theme on the recorder so she doesn’t her Nia sneaking up on her. She gets slammed into a production crate nearly as hard as a second turnbuckle and left on the floor.
Billie is furious with Peyton. She slaps her but apologizes, crying.
Asuka discovers the injured Kairi Sane and storms off in fury as EMTs tend to her. She catches up to Nia Jax who simply ignores her. Asuka is having none of that and drags her down by her pigtails.
Natalya vs Shayna Baszler
Shayna Baszler defeated Natalya last week with a perfectly timed knee strike. This week, they meet in a submission match. Nattie goes for the Sharpshooter immediately but gets caught up in a toehold. Sharpshooter applied but Shayna crawls to the outside. Nat is pissed and swarms Baszler with angry forearm strikes. She goes for a knee bar but Baszler reverses it to tap out Nattie with the Kirifuda Clutch.
Winner: Shayna Baszler
Natalya is frustrated and begins to trash the set for the KO Show as production stff is setting it up. Samoa Joe suggests some time off for “The Queen of Harts.”
Zelina Vega is playing referee as Angel Garza and Austin Theory butt heads with US Champion Andrade enjoying the whole thing. She gets them all to play nice even if they don’t act nice.
The Kevin Owens Show starts with Kevin surveying the damage left by Natalya. He addresses his absence since Wrestlemania to minor injury but he’s back. He brings out Zelina Vega and her stable. Zelina shushes KO and accusing him of looking for a Jerry Springer moment. She hypes her champions, Andrade, Angel Garza, and Austin Theory. She says that Kevin isn’t showing them proper respect by staying on the ring apron but he says it’s because he doesn’t want the ring to be too crowded for his other guest, Apollo Crews! Apollo comes in like a missile and gets after Andrade. They tumble to the outside as Garza and Owens try to pull them apart.
Kevin Owens & Apollo Crews vs Angel Garza vs Andrade
It looks like we’ve ended up with a tag team match, playa! All great performers here and KO and Andrade have good chemistry. Zelina distracts Apollo and the ref but it backfires when Garza tries to run Crews into Austin Theory’s punch but eats the knuckle sandwich himself. Crews beats Garza with the power bomb.
Winners: Kevin Owens & Apollo Crews
After the match, Andrade, Theory and Vega try to get Garza back to his feet but Andrade and Garza turn on Theory and beat him around the ring and to the outside. Vega calls him useless and he’s beaten with chairs and left in a heap.
Charley is now with Drew McIntyre. He’s happy whether he finds a fight or the fight finds him. He’s happy to find out his dream match, King Corbin, is going to be his challenger this week. Corbin’s an awful person but he can do awful things to an opponent. Drew says that The King is not coming to RAW with a chip on his shoulder and leaving with a W.
The ax throwing competition sees Ivar and Erik crushing it. Erik tells Montez Ford that performance anxiety is normal the first time. Tez scoffs at this and then lofts the ax far and wide to Viking laughter. D’Angelo Dawkins winds up but ends up letting go early. His throw damages the mead barrel! The Viking tribe is less than thrilled and Montez is moved to offer his red Solo cup to make amends.
Aleister Black vs Murphy
No theatrics by Black this week as he’s right in the ring and right in the fray. Murphy is getting battered until he manages to duck a kick that connects with the ring post instead. Aleistar is hobbled. Meanwhile, Seth Rollins is preoccupied with Austin Theory who is still reeling at ringside. The Monday Night Messiah pulls Theory to his feet and directs him to the ring. Murphy is being measured for The Black Mass but Theory attacks Aleister from behind, prompting the disqualification.
Winner: Aleister Black
Theory and Murphy beat on Aleister Black. Theory’s ATL on The Dutch Destroyer earns him a place in The Monday Night Messiah’s good graces but a jealous look from Murphy.
Warm ups are over at the ax throwing and The Viking Raiders are nailing bullseye after bullseye. Street Profits wiff hard each time. Montez manages to get one on the very last try. A police cruiser pulls up with one of Street Profits’ errant axes embedded in the windshield. Everybody blames each other until the cops decide to see who can throw straight. D’Angelo Dawkins throws one behind the back and hits it dead center! He taunts a horse and rider as the police confront Erik & Ivar.
Charly catches up with Apollo Crews backstage. He feels like the injury that kept him out of Money in the Bank has to be a source of motivation going forward. Next week, he’s challenging Andrade for the US Title. Zelina Vega tells him that he could cut his loses and walk away with his one good knee. He laughs her off and finishes his interview on an upbeat.
At the renaissance faire, the police are willing to let them go with a warning because the female officer finds Ivar “cute” (but Erik “not so much.”)
Drew McIntyre (c) vs King Corbin
The announcers make mention of Corbin’s attempted murder of Rey Mysterio and Aleister Black at Money in the Bank before Bobby Lashley approaches the ring with representation. MVP addresses the accomplishments of both Corbin and McIntyre but lets them know that his new client has a personal interest in this match. Lashley says that he’s gunning for the title and willing to take off McIntyre’s lifeless body if need be.
Two big hosses, each over 6’5” but this is not a “big man” match. Back and forth action with a solid narrative. Big spots of the match sees Drew clotheslining Corbin ass-over-teakettle over the barricades, a superplex from the turnbuckle and a butter smooth Deep Six counter to a Claymore attempt. The end comes when Corbin misses with a clothesline and turns around into a Claymore.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Drew stares down Bobby and calls for him to bring his best because he wants the killer.
Five Takeaways from RAW 5/18
- I know some are lamenting the loss of Rollins’ original theme but he is working the hell out of this new direction for his character. The single glove. The stained glass pattern on Murphy’s tights. And he definitely has studied the mannerisms of a televangelist or two. Reminds me a lot of CM Punk’s Straight Edge Savior gimmick.
- I’m ready for Liv Morgan to get into the top of the women’s division. Not because she’s blowing me away or because “she deserves it” but because the NXT Horsewomen and Asuka circling each other in every possible configuration has finally gotten a bit stale.
- It’s sanitized and heavily-scripted but the Street Profits are what’s needed on a three hour show to bring that light, party atmosphere. Never would I have guessed that Erik & Ivar would make for great comedic foils, though.
- Austin Theory being dumped by Zelina Vega’s faction makes sense. Getting picked up by Rollins’ ministry does too. But Rollins leaving Murphy out in the cold anytime soon will roughly equate with RAW doing the same until he gets some more wind in his sails.
- Yes, it’s been 13 years since Bobby Lashley challenged for a title on WWE
broadcast. More importantly, it’s been two years since he returned and it looks like they’ve actually put some thought into his direction.
