Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of Monday Night Raw.
Tonight marks a new era for Monday Night Raw thanks to new signings from SmackDown; AJ Styles, Naomi, Eric Young, The Uso’s, Samoa Joe, and more. What feuds these stars move into is anyone’s guess but they should start to take shape tonight.
For the second week in a row WWE.com is teasing a new challenger emerging for Seth Rollins’ Universal Championship. We have no idea who that challenger is as of yet but chances are it will be Drew McIntyre.
The only other things to touch upon in the preview for tonight show is continued promo’s from Bray Wyatt’s puppets, Lacey Evans, and possible continuation of the Shane McMahon/Miz feud. Remember to follow us on Instagram and download the Ringside News app, and enjoy the show!
Monday Night Raw
Monday Night Raw opens with The Game, Triple H, making his way to the ring. We learn that tonight there will be two Triple Threat matches, with the winners facing off for a Universal Championship opportunity at Money In The Bank on May 19th. The two matches are AJ Styles Vs. Rey Mysterio Vs. Samoa Joe, as well as Baron Corbin Vs. Drew McIntyre Vs. The Miz.
Before Triple H can speak, Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring. Rollins comes to the ring and shakes Triple H’s hand. The Universal Champion garners a great reaction because he’s in his hometown. Rollins say this is surreal for him to be standing in the middle of this ring in his home state with the championship around his waist. Triple H nods then shakes his hand again. Seth says two weeks ago at WrestleMania he was in the fight of his life, but he slayed the beast and brought the title home. The fans start a “welcome home” chant.
Triple H says Rollins stomped that bucket head of Brock Lesnar into the mat – Rollins corrects him and says he did that three times. He came into WrestleMania as a Kingslayer and left a Beastslayer. Triple H says the landscape has changed. Rollins is the measuring stick as the champion. The whole world is gunning for him. Rollins says he understands that and knows Money in the Bank is right around the corner. If anyone knows a thing or two about the Money in the Bank contract, it’s him. Rollins reminds us that successfully cashed in and changed his career, but he’s also had it cashed in on him. However he will never let that happen again.
Triple H tells Seth to not put the cart before the horse because he has a laundry list of challengers. He needn’t worry about people cashing-in yet, he should be worried about who he’ll be defending the Universal Championship against that night. Rollins asks if Paul Heyman has been blowing up his phone for a rematch. Triple H says he hasn’t head from Heyman. Rollins asks what is next. Triple H says we’ll figure that out tonight. The best of the best have landed on RAW. There will be two triple threat matches with the winners fighting in the main event tonight. The winner of that match will face Rollins for the Universal Championship at Money in the Bank.
WWE United States Champion Samoa Joe makes his entrance and says he has arrived on RAW. Joe gets in the ring and says Becky Lynch has come up with a real interesting concept for two championships. His shoulders are wide and has room for one more. That next title will be Rollins’.
Rey Mysterio’s music hits, and he says Joe isn’t the only former Smackdown superstar looking to make an impact on RAW. Mysterio isn’t on RAW to hang out and drop knowledge. Mysterio has a match in mind. When all is said and done, at Money in the Bank he sees Rollins versus Mysterio.
Drew McIntyre’s music now hits, and he says he doesn’t give a damn what everyone in the ring thinks. McIntyre has spent a year cleaning this place up and had zero title opportunities. It is now his time. McIntyre says the only reason Rollins is Universal Champion is because he got to Brock Lesnar before he did. McIntyre will win the triple threat tonight, go to Money in the Bank, beat Rollins, and finally be Universal Champion.
The Miz makes his entrance and says the A-lister is back on RAW. That gets a good reception. Miz says the more things change, the more they stay the same. Rollins once again has something Miz wants. Miz has a movie reboot of sorts. These past few months have shown him that he can be a certain man. That’s a man worthy of the Universal Championship. There isn’t a more must see match at Money in the Bank than Seth Rollins versus The Miz.
Unsurprisingly, Baron Corbin comes out next and says he is the most deserving champion to face Rollins. Rollins may have slayed a beast at WrestleMania, but he retired a legend. Corbin asks if anyone else in the ring has defeated a Gold Medalist in his farewell match at WrestleMania.
And finally, AJ Styles’ music hits. Styles gets in the ring, and an “AJ Styles” chant picks up – he’s easily the most over challenger. Styles asks if Corbin ever shuts up. Corbin’s face is almost as annoying as his voice. Speaking of annoying, it seems like everyone in this ring has forgotten that AJ Styles is on RAW. AJ says he’ll win his triple threat match tonight. Then he’ll face whoever wins the next triple threat match. Then everyone will find out why Smackdown was the house that AJ Styles built. He’s going to give RAW what they always wanted. At Money in the Bank, it’ll be Seth Rollins versus AJ Styles for the Universal Championship.
Rollins looks at Triple H and says this is what he was talking about with everyone gunning for him. Rollins says he’s ready. It doesn’t matter which of them he faces at Money in the Bank. In case they forgot, he’s Seth Freakin’ Rollins, and he’s going to burn it down! The first of the two triple threats will be next!
*Commercial Break*
AJ Styles Vs. Rey Mysterio Vs. Samoa Joe
We come back just Joe quickly takes both men down, but Mysterio comes back with an enzuigiri on him. Styles attacks Mysterio from behind and viciously whips him into the corner. Styles hits a running clothesline in the corner. Mysterio runs at AJ who catapults him over his head and Mysterio catches Joe with a hurricanrana! Awesome. Joe rolls out of the ring to recover.
Styles and Mysterio come face to face and the fans get excited. Mysterio punches away at him, but he has a whip reversed. Mysterio slides through the legs, but Styles counters him with a backbreaker. Styles goes to the apron and hits a sliding knee to the face of Samoa Joe. Styles hits a snap suplex on Mysterio before hitting another backbreaker for a near fall. Styles grabs Rey for a Styles Clash but Mysterio escapes and rolls out of the ring.
Styles goes outside and attacks Joe before getting Mysterio back in the ring. Styles goes for a Styles Clash on Mysterio, but Mysterio counters into a hurricanrana. Joe quickly breaks up the pin. Joe attacks both men before eliminating Styles with a nasty back elbow. Joe punches away at Mysterio in the corner before sliding him out of the ring sternum first. Styles fires back but Joe catches him with a huge uranage for a near fall. The match continues after the break.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Samoa Joe catch Rey with a rapid scoop slam for a two count. Styles returns to the fray and hits Joe with a strike combo. Joe comes back with a few strikes but Styles takes him out with a step-up enzuigiri. Mysterio quickly breaks up the pin before kicking AJ in the face. Mysterio connects with a wheelbarrow bulldog on Styles before putting Joe in position. Mysterio goes for a 619, but Joe gets out of the ring.
Mysterio takes him out with a corkscrew plancha over the ropes! Mysterio goes to the top rope, but Styles cuts him off. They tease a superplex to the floor, but neither go. Joe then climbs the ropes and takes them both out with a double superplex! The crowd chants, “This is awesome.” Joe covers both for a near fall.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Joe hit Styles with a huge clothesline for a near fall! Mysterio takes Joe down with a springboard seated senton before hitting a gnarly crucifix slam. Styles breaks up the pin. Styles sends Mysterio into the corner, but Mysterio catches him with a head-scissor that takes Styles out of the ring.
Mysterio then counters a Joe powerslam with a tornado DDT. Mysterio goes for a 619, but Joe counters into a Coquina Clutch. Styles breaks it up, so Joe applies a Coquina Clutch to him. Styles counters into a pin, but Joe kicks out. Styles then hits an Pele kick to Joe. Mysterio hits a hurricanrana on Joe, then Styles that sends them both onto the middles ropes. Mysterio hits Joe with the 619, then goes for a springboard hurricanrana to AJ, but Styles counters into a powerbomb. Styles follows up with another powerbomb onto Joe! Styles then hits Mysterio with a Styles Clash onto Joe before pinning Joe for the win!
Winner: AJ Styles
That was awesome. We see a video of John Cena hosting Ellen last week. Naomi makes her way to the ring, she’ll face Billie Kay after the break.
*Commercial Break*
We return and The IIconics make their entrance. Billie Kay says what Naomi did last week can be summed up in one sentence: “Thank you, next”. They then make some unfunny reference to Ariana Grande. The IIconics ask who has Naomi’s back now that Bayley is on SmackDown Live. The IIconics says they are the future, and that future will be…you get it.
Naomi Vs. Billie Kay W/Peyton Royce
The match begins and Kay quickly kicks her down and covers for a no count. Kay immediately goes to a rest hold. Naomi fights up and clotheslines her down. Naomi hits a back elbow and knocks Royce off the apron. Naomi then catches Kay with a sunset flip for the surprise win.
Winner: Naomi
We get another promo for Bray Wyatt with the dollhouse and the laughing doll.
The Miz makes his way for the second triple threat match.
*Commercial Break*
The Miz Vs. Baron Corbin Vs. Drew McIntyre
The match begins with a staredown. Miz tries to roll-up Corbin but gets kicked off and he avoids Drew to get out of the ring. Corbin and McIntyre stalk Miz around the ring, then chase him back inside.
Drew fires a chop into Miz, but the Awesome one fight backs. Corbin punches Miz in the midsection, then abruptly punches McIntyre in the face. Corbin throws Miz out of the ring, follows after, and drives him into the barricade. Miz soon reverses a whip into the barricade. McIntyre quickly attacks Miz from behind. McIntyre gets him in the ring and hits a suplex for a near fall. Corbin gets in the ring, and McIntyre stares him down. McIntyre punches Corbin before turning his focus back to The Miz. Corbin hits McIntyre with an out and in clothesline. Miz quickly rolls Corbin up for a two count. Miz then sidesteps Corbin and tosses him into the ringpost.
Miz punches away at Corbin and kicks away at him. Miz hits Corbin and McIntyre with running double knees before hitting McIntyre with his patented corner clothesline. Miz then drops them both with a springboard axe handle. Miz then starts hitting them both with IT Kicks – as he looks for the last one, Drew ducks and Corbin eats it. McIntyre drops Miz with a Glasgow Kiss, then puts him on the top rope and clubs his back. Miz punches him off but McIntyre sends Corbin into Miz on the top rope. McIntyre goes for a Celtic cross slam off the top rope, but Corbin catches him with a powerbomb and all three men are down!
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see McIntyre and Corbin brawling at ringside. Miz takes them both out with a dive off the top rope to the floor. Miz then puts Corbin into the timekeeper’s area. Back in the ring, McIntyre makes a comeback on the Miz. McIntyre hits Miz with an inverted Alabama Slam for a near fall. McIntyre sizes Miz up, but Miz reverses into a Figure Four Leglock. AJ Styles is seen watching backstage.
McIntyre gets out with a thumb to the eye. Corbin gets in the ring and hits Miz with a Deep Six for a near fall. Corbin cannot believe Miz kicked out. Corbin tries to attack Miz at ringside, but Miz sends him into the ring steps. Miz rolls McIntyre up for a near fall. McIntyre then slams him down and covers for a near fall. McIntyre looks for the Future Shock DDT, but Miz counters into a DDT for a near fall.
Corbin looks for End of Days but Miz counters into a DDT for another near fall. Miz goes for a Skull Crushing Finale on Corbin, but he fights out. Miz clotheslines Corbin out of the ring, then ducks Drew and hits the ropes, only to be caught with a giant Claymore Kick! McIntyre goes for the pin but Corbin comes running back in, tosses Drew from the ring and pins Miz for the win!
Winner: Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin will face AJ Styles in tonight’s main event with the winner facing Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship at WWE Money in the Bank.
We cut backstage, where Charly Caruso interviews AJ Styles about facing Baron Corbin. Styles says it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. Styles says that Corbin always talks about his resume, but he also has a great resume. Styles may not have defeated Kurt Angle in his farewell match, but he beats up John Cena on a regular basis. He’ll do the same to Corbin.
Sami Zayn makes his entrance. We’ll hear from the underdog from the underground, next.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from break and we get a commercial for Make-A-Wish.
The fans are singing his music, but Sami Zayn is in the ring and he tells them to settle down, he’s heard enough from them. People don’t like to hear the truth about themselves. They’re now creating a false narrative about him by saying he’s a bitter person. In actual fact, he’s jubilant!
He reiterates that the last ten months he was away were the happiest times of his life. Zayn shows pictures of himself from his Instagram hiking in Switzerland, in Norway, on a beach in Mexico, and in front of a castle in Scotland. Zayn was enjoying himself. The closer he got to returning to WWE, he was starting to feel anxiety. What was it about WWE that was making him sick? Was it the corporate structure that he doesn’t always agree with? Is it the WWE Superstars that are egomaniacs and delusional? He says he dug and dug until he got to the root of the problem. The problem is the fans. Zayn says it’s easy for them to boo than accept blame for all this. Zayn will make them responsible. He’s holding every single member of the WWE Universe accountable. Mob mentality won’t keep them safe from him. Zayn says he would much rather be back in Norway or Iceland or Sweden. He’d rather be anywhere than depressed Des Moines, Iowa. Zayn says they should take a trip to hell. Zayn dances around and leaves the ring.
AS Zayn is leaving the ring and walking up the ramp, Cedric Alexander’s music hits and he walks out. He’ll face Cesaro after the break – who I guess is on Raw now.
AJ Styles will take on Baron Corbin in the main event to determine who will face Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship at Money in the Bank. We’ll also see Becky Lynch take on Alicia Fox.
*Commercial Break*
Cesaro Vs. Cedric Alexander
They lock up, and Cesaro immediately powers him down. Cesaro wrenches the arm, but Alexander twists out and applies a side headlock. Alexander flips through a suplex, so Cesaro catches him with an uppercut. Cesaro uppercuts him to the corner and chops the chest. Alexander makes a comeback and dropkicks him out of the ring.
Alexander teases a dive, but Cesaro quickly gets in the ring and scoop slams him. Cesaro then applies a modified chin lock. Alexander fights up and boots him. Alexander dives off the second rope, but Cesaro catches him and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall. Alexander is screaming in pain. Cesaro attacks the small of the back before applying a chin lock.
Alexander starts to fight back to his feet, but Cesaro big boots him down for a near fall. Cesaro powers him up and hits a gutwrench suplex for a near fall. Cesaro stomps the hands and applies a chin lock. Alexander tries to make a comeback, and he rolls Cesaro up for a two count. Alexander chops him a few times before connecting with some forearms. Alexander blocks a big boot and elbows Cesaro, then dropkicks him in the knees before dropkicking him again in the face. Alexander goes for the Flatliner, but Cesaro escapes. Alexander connects with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Cesaro counters a backslide, but Alexander comes back with a handspring kick to the head. Cesaro slides out of the ring to recover.
Alexander takes-out Cesaro out with a summersault senton. Alexander gets him in the ring and does a springboard, but Cesaro uppercuts him out of mid-air for the surprise win!
Winner: Cesaro
Charly Caruso is backstage with The Uso’s. They say they’re happy to be on RAW. They make a joke about drinking and driving but then The Revival walk up to them. Scott Dawson says they’re decent hands in the tag team division, but this is RAW. They were the best tag team on SmackDown, but this is Top Guy Territory. It’s The Revival Reformatory. They’re not locking down anything. The Usos welcome them to the Uso Penitentiary before walking off.
The newly names Viking Raiders make their entrances. They’ll be in action against Lucha House Party, next.
*Commercial Break*
The Viking Raiders Vs. Lucha House Party
The Viking Raiders immediately attack Lucha House Party during their entrance and hit an impressive double slam/powerbomb onto Gran Metallik and Kalisto. They then hit a flapjack into a powerslam, which is now called The Viking Experience. The Viking Raiders then celebrate in the ring. This match never started.
No Contest
RAW Tag Team Champions Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins are backstage, looking nervous after watching The Viking Raiders destroy Lucha House Party. Ryder says they’ve been here for a decade. Hawkins says they earned these titles, just like they did back in 2008. They won’t let these new guys take what they’ve earned.
Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring, where she will face Alicia Fox after the break.
*Commercial Break*
Becky Lynch is standing in the ring as we return. The crowd chants her name, to which Lynch says there’s something in the air in Iowa tonight. The Superstar Shake-up creates new opportunities. Her next challenger is Lacey Evans, who likes to sucker punch The Man. Lynch says she’s made a career out of putting bleached blondes that have curried favor with management in their places. Lynch says she’s out here fighting while Evans is in the back furthering her career.
Lacey Evans’ music hits and she saunters to the ring. Evans says a woman never loses her temper. Maybe it’s because she’s Irish. Evans says she’ll show Lynch a Woman’s Right and wear those two belts around her waist. Lynch says Evans is getting on her last nerve. Her happiness shouldn’t be taken for complacency. Lynch says it is time for The Man to start collecting her debts. Alicia Fox makes her entrance and dances past Evans, who heads to the back.
Becky Lynch Vs. Alicia Fox
They lock up, and Lynch takes her down. Fox fights up and applies a side headlock. Lynch fights out, blocks a dropkick, and kicks Fox in the midsection.
Foxy rolls out of the ring to recover but Lynch hits her with a baseball slide. Fox beats her around ringside and slams her into the barricade. She gets the Champ Champ back into the ring and earns a two count.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Fox still working over Lynch. They nearly botch a head-scissor by spiking Lynch on her head, but luckily they tucked at the end. Lynch goes outside and throws Fox into the barricade. Lynch gets her in the ring and hits a pair of Bexploders. Fox comes back with a roll-up for a two count. Lynch immediately applies the Dis-Arm-Her for the win.
Winner: Becky Lynch
Lacey Evans is in the ring before the bell even rings and hits Lynch with the Woman’s Right. Lynch slowly pulls herself to her feet, and Evans lands a second Woman’s Right.
Baron Corbin is warming up when Charly Caruso interrupts him. Corbin says he’ll make Seth Rollins pay for making his life miserable. Caruso asks if he’s looking past AJ Styles. Corbin says he’s looking right through him.
Ricochet makes his entrance. He’ll take on Bobby Roode next – who is seemingly known as Robert Roode now, and sports a dashing moustache. Also, he isn’t with Chad Gable anymore. OK.
*Commercial Break*
Robert Roode Vs. Ricochet
The bell rings and they lock-up. Roode applies a headlock, then drives a knee into Ricochet to drop him. He suckers Ricochet into falling onto the apron, but then gets flipped over the ropes to the outside. Ricochet runs for a dive but Roode moves and he lands on the apron. Ricochet flips off of the ringpost with a moonsault to Roode.
*Commercial Break*
Roode is in control as we return, holding Ricochet down with a headlock. Ricochet fights to his feet but Robert knees him in the gut, followed by a second, and a suplex for a two count.
Ricochet attempts to fight out of a rear chinlock but Roode knocks him back down. Roode is caught with a front dropkick from Ricochet. The One and Only catches Roode with a hurricanrana, before taking him to the corner and laying in some shoulder. Ricochet hits a springboard clothesline before connecting with a standing shooting star press for a near fall.
Roode elbows him, but Ricochet cuts him off and rolls him up for a two count. Roode connects with a spinebuster for a near fall. Roode looks for a Glorious DDT, but Ricochet counters into a knee to the face for a near fall. Ricochet goes to the top rope and tries for a 630, but Roode moves. Roode sends him face-first into the middle turnbuckle before killing him with a Glorious DDT for the win.
Winner: Robert Roode
We get a new Bray Wyatt promo, which is literally like a kids show called Firefly Fun House. Wyatt is acting like a kids show host, wearing a sweater and wit a short beard and new hair. He welcomes us to his new show, and introduces his puppet and the doll. He says he used to be a very bad man and we hear kids booing. Wyatt says he will never turn into that pathetic slob again, then we see a cardboard cut-out of the old Wyatt, which the new Bray cuts with a chainsaw. He says he’s just getting started and that all the kids have to do is let him in. He laughs while pulling on the chainsaw.
AJ Styles makes his entrance for the main event, where he will face Baron Corbin in a number one contender match.
*Commercial Break*
Baron Corbin makes his entrance, then forces the ring announcer to list all of his accolades during his introduction.
AJ Styles Vs. Baron Corbin
We get the match underway and Styles dodges Corbin to lay in some quick shots. He attacks the leg of Baron, but then he’s caught with a stiff right forearm. Corbin looks for a backdrop but AJ lands on his feet and dropkicks him. Corbin looks to toss AJ from the ring but the Phenomenal One landed on the apron.
Styles kicked him away, then looked for a springboard but Corbin connected wit a right hand in mid-air. Corbin tosses Styles chest-first into the turnbuckles hard, followed by some punches and mocking the fans. Styles throws Corbin out of the ring, then gets onto the apron but Corbin swipes his feet out. Corbin then throws AJ into the timekeepers area. AJ fires back with a punch, then looked for a springboard off of the barricade but Corbin caught him and dropped him gut-first onto the barricade.
*Commercial Break*
Corbin is still in charge as we return from the break. Styles tries to fight up, but Corbin slams him down for a two count. Corbin sets AJ on the top rope, but Styles slides off and takes Corbin down. Styles kicks away at him and hits a big punch. Styles hits a corner clothesline before trying for a slam. Styles can’t keep him up, so Corbin slides off. Styles hits a strike combo, but Corbin grabs him by the throat. Styles gets out and tries for a Styles Clash, but he isn’t tall enough to hit him with it.
Corbin goes for his out-and-in clothesline, but Styles catches him with an Pele kick. Corbin gets back to his feet and connects with the Deep Six for a near fall. He forces Styles to the corner where he clotheslines him, but Styles catches him with the Calf Crusher! Corbin struggles for a few seconds before grabbing the hair of Styles and slamming his head against the mat. They get to their feet, Corbin boots AJ back and jumps at him but Styles moves. Styles get to the apron and connects with the Phenomenal Forearm for the win!
Winner: AJ Styles
Styles poses for the crowd as we see replays off the match.
Seth Rollins then makes his entrance and stands in the ring with Styles. He extends his hand and they share a tense handshake to end the show.
That’s it for this week’s Raw! Let us know what you thought (particularly of Bray Wyatt) and we’ll see you back here tomorrow for more news and results! Until then, safe travels.
