Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of Monday Night Raw!
Tonight’s show is set to feature Brock Lesnar announcing whether he will be hunting Kofi Kingston or Seth Rollins with his Money In The Bank boombox. That’s pretty much all we know as of now, but for the love of all things interesting, have it be Kofi and SmackDown Live.
WWE.com is also teasing that there will be an announcement regarding the United States Championship situation, following the controversial finish to Samoa Joe Vs. Rey Mysterio at Money In The Bank. Surely this will lead to both men getting a two-out-of-three-falls match that lasts longer than 5 minutes.
Elsewhere, the new 24/7 Championship belt is set to continue changing hands tonight. Look, the belt is ugly af, there’s no denying that, but it’s a fun concept that can keep the show feeling a little less predictable. The biggest thing WWE has to do though, is to have guys like Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre want it as well. It’s not enough to have R-Truth and Jinder Mahal chasing after it, why not have Roman knock someone out with a Superman punch backstage and take it for himself. It gives the belt some gravitas if it isn’t just for jobbers.
And that’s basically the entire preview for tonight’s show. Honestly, there’s not a lot happening right now, and that fact seems even more magnified followed the extreme hype around AEW’s Double Or Nothing show. However competition is a good thing, and here’s hoping it inspires WWE to get out of this infernal rut it’s been in for a year now. Remember to follow us on Instagram, download the Ringside News app, and enjoy the show!
Monday Night Raw
Monday Night Raw opens with a Memorial Day video package.
We see Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman standing backstage, all smiles. Brock lifts his Money In The Bank briefcase and leaves the room.
The New Day’s music hits and Kofi Kingston makes his way to the ring alone. As the WWE Champion makes his way to the ring, we see a video replay of Dolph Ziggler laying out Kofi on SmackDown Live last week. The fans chant his name and Kofi says he loves everyone. He says last week Kevin Owens took out Big E and re-injured his knee, then he was attacked by Dolph Ziggler. He says Dolph Ziggler tried to end him, but it didn’t work because he’s still here. And when the time is right, he will address Ziggler, but tonight is not that night. He’s here for Mr. Money In The Bank. He says he considers himself a fighting Champion, and wants to be the best of all-time, and he can’t think of a better way to do that than to beat Brock Lesnar. So he wants Brock to come out here right now and cash-in.
Seth Rollins answers the call instead. Rollins says he knows he’s not Brock Lesnar… he’s better. But he likes where Kofi’s head is at, he doesn’t want to wait any longer. He says all we’re missing is Lesnar to come out and make his decision.
The Beast’s music hits and out he comes with Paul Heyman. Although his music changes halfway through to a dancey track and Brock pretends to dance to it with the briefcase. The briefcase has even been redesigned to look like a boombox – he obviously isn’t cashing in, anytime soon. Brock gets into the ring and does a little dance and it’s so weird to see. New Day’s music then comes on and Brock dances to that whle looking at Kofi, then Seth’s music hits as Brock looks at him. Paul Heyman goes crazy with some air guitar and Brock tells him to stop. This is the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen. Rollins drops his mic and walks off.
Kofi holds his title up and talks trash to Lesnar as the music finally stops. Heyman says it’s just like Rollins to pee on everybody’s parade. He says his client was about to choose who he would cash-in on, but Seth Rollins ruined the Brock Party. Heyman says not to blame Brock, but to blame Seth Rollins. Brock and Heyman then leave, but Dolph Ziggler attacks Kofi from behind!
Ziggler knocks Kofi from the ring and hits a Zig-Zag on the ramp. Ziggler grabs a chair and is about to hit Kofi when Xavier Woods comes out and attacks Dolph, sending him scurrying through the crowd.
*Commercial Break*
We return from the break and Woods is helping Kofi up the ramp with some officials. Ziggler comes running back out and attacks Woods. The two brawl on the stage, before Woods drags Dolph down to the ring. Woods unloads shots on Dolph but gets thrown from the ring. Ziggler rakes the eyes of Xavier, then tosses him into the barricade.
Woods fires back and throws Ziggler into the timekeepers area. Woods jumps off the barricade with a double axe handle to Dolph, then throws him over the barricade and into the crowd. They brawl through the crowd, then back to ringside. Dolph slams Woods’ head into the steel steps. Ziggler grabs a steel chair and cracks it over the back of Woods, then again.
Woods rolls into the ring and Dolph follows, hitting him with the chair again. Ziggler puts Woods’ head inside the chair and is about to stomp on it but Kofi comes running back down with a chair and makes the save.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back from the break and Kofi and Woods are in the ring, helping each other stand. Dolph Ziggler strolls out onto the stage. He says he felt like he knew Kofi, but the Champion has been wasting all his time on Brock Lesnar cashing in. He should have been worrying about him, because in 11 days he will be defending the belt against him. He says he needs Kofi to do one thing for him: celebrate. Celebrate like he’s never celebrated before for 11 days, because he’s a phenomenal Champion, but everytime he looks at him with that title he knows it should have been him. And he’s envious of Kofi, because since day one he’s had friends who would watch his back. And when people said Kofi was B-plus, he defended him because he knew he wasn’t. But what happens when he takes that Championship from Kofi? What happens to the millions of fans when he takes the belt from him? It should have been him, but at Super ShowDown, it will be.
Still to come tonight, Becky Lynch and Nikki Cross face The Iiconics. Also, there will be a Fatal 4-Way match to determine the number one contender to Seth Rollins at Super ShowDown.
The camera cut backstage and there’s a big Memorial Day BBQ happening, hosted by The Uso’s. They grab the mic and wish a happy birthday to Natalya, then thank everyone for joining them, minus The Revival.
We see Shane McMahon shadow-boxing backstage. Charly Caruso approaches and says he’s competing tonight but that’s out of the ordinary. Shane says he has Roman Reigns in 11 days, so he’s trying to stay sharp. He turns and Drew McIntyre is with him, they walk off and out to the ring. Shane stops halfway down the ramp though, then instructs McIntyre to follow him to the back again.
*Commercial Break*
The commentators send us to a lengthy video package hyping the Triple H/Randy Orton rivalry. The two will face-off again at Super ShowDown.
Shane and Drew are in the ring when we return. Shane says the McMahon family and the Samoan dynasty have a relationship that goes back a lot longer than himself and Roman Reigns. Shane says he was raised with great respect for that relationship and for all Samoans, but it’s clear that much isn’t true of Roman Reigns. He says if it were true, Roman wouldn’t have attacked Vince McMahon. He names off some great Samoan wrestlers and says he grew up knowing Roman Reigns’ family. He had a front row seat for all their greatest achievements…and faults. He says he won’t disparage the Wild Samoans because that’s not in his DNA. He says Vince was always there to clean-up the mistakes of the Samoan dynasty. With all that being said, there’s someone from the Samoan Dynasty going to face him tonight. Shane sets the mic aside as we head to a break.
*Commercial Break*
Shane’s opponent has arrived: Lance Anoa’I. According to Corey Graves, Lance is Roman’s cousin and a future star from the Samoan dynasty.
Before the bell rings Drew drags Anoa’I out of the ring and slams him into the barricade, then the apron over and over. He slams him into the steel steps, the ring post, then hits a belly-to-belly. Drew leans him over the barricade and chops his chest before sending him into the ring.
Shane McMahon W/Drew McIntyre Vs. Lance Anoa’I
The bell rings and Shane tees off on Lance, punching and kicking him into the corner. The kid starts fighting back but Shane knees and punches him again. The fans start chanting “this is awful”. The kid punches Shane against the ropes, then hits a beautiful dropkick.
Lance lines-up a superkick but Shane grabs the leg and hits a nice spinning elbow that floors him. Shane applies the head triangle and Lance taps out.
Winner: Shane McMahon
Shane grabs a mic and asks Lance “how dare you hit me like that?” He instructs Drew to lift him up, then he attacks him, before applying the triangle again. Shane says if Sika (Reigns’ father) were here right now, the exact same thing would be happening to him. And that the worst thing Sika ever did was spawn Roman.
Speak of the devil, Reigns comes out and floors Drew on the ramp with a Superman punch. He then comes into the ring but McMahon retreats. Roman chases after him and hits a Superman punch off of the steps. Roman gets Shane back in the ring and is about to hit a Spear when Drew pulls Shane from he ring. Shane and Drew leave as Roman tends to his cousin.
*Commercial Break*
Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar make their way to the ring once again. Heyman says the time has come for his client to inform one champion who will be having the Money in the Bank contract cashed in on.
WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins’ music hits, and he comes down to the ring. Rollins says the title is his life. Lesnar points at the Money in the Bank briefcase. Rollins says he sees it and tells him to shut his mouth. Lesnar makes a mockery out of the championship because he is a joke. Lesnar says, “Beat box, bitch!” Rollins says he stomped Lesnar’s head into the mat at WrestleMania and can do it again right now. He says Lesnar used to be the most feared man in combat sports history, but now he’s hiding behind Heyman as a shell of what he used to be. Rollins dares Lesnar to cash in the briefcase.
Heyman pulls out the contract and starts to read the clause that Lesnar has a full year to cash in. Lesnar stops Heyman, takes the contract, and slaps Heyman with it repeatedly. Lesnar was unaware that he had a year to cash in the contract. Lesnar says he’s got a year, then tells Rollins to screw himself. Brock and Heyman walk off.
R-Truth and Carmella come running into the ring, followed by a dozen other Superstars. They try to pin him but he manages to escape and run through the crowd with Carmella.
Charly Caruso is backstage with AJ Styles. She asks about his injury, to which Styles says he felt a pop in his lower back at Money in the Bank. Styles says he wanted to compete tonight for an opportunity at the Universal Championship. That’s not going to happen tonight. She asks how long he’ll be out. Styles starts to explain, but Corbin attacks him from behind. He talks trash to Aj on the ground.
Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring, she’ll be teaming with Nikki Cross after the break.
*Commercial Break*
Becky Lynch & Nikki Cross Vs. The IIconics
The match gets underway with Nikki Cross and Billie Kay. They lock up and Kay takes a headlock. Peyton Royce tags in but Cross takes her down. Royce comes back with an arm wrench and holds Cross.
Kay tags in again but Cross takes her down with a headlock takeover. Cross sends them both out of the ring, then hits a cross-body off the apron onto them – possible hurting Royce’s head.
*Commercial Break*
Back from the break and Kay has Cross down with an armlock. Kay knocks Lynch from the apron, then Cross rolls her up but the referee is distracted. Kay takes a headlock on Cross, then whips her to the corner. She runs at Cross but nobody’s home and she hits the turnbuckles.
Royce and Lynch are tagged in and Becky takes them both down. She hits Peyton with a Bexploder, then follows up with a running forearm. Lynch hits a diving leg drop and looks for the pin, but Kay breaks it up. Cross tries to make the save, but Kay big boots her down.
The IIconics hit Lynch with a double-team face-buster for a two count. Lynch goes for a Dis-Arm-Her on Royce while Cross pulls Kay off the apron. Royce tries to roll Becky up but she kicks out. Lynch then connects with a side slam for the win.
Winners: Becky Lynch & Nikki Cross
Odd finish. As soon as the bell rings Lacey Evans comes out. She walks down to the ring, then turns and walks to the back again.
We’re back at The Uso Block Party. The Usos, Tamina, and Naomi hug. The Revival crash the party. Naomi says she invited The Revival. Naomi tells them to squash their beef. They shake hands, but there is tension.
Ricochet makes his entrance, followed by his opponent, Cesaro.
Ricochet Vs. Cesaro
Cesaro comes out hot and backs Ricochet into the corner. Ricochet fires back and knocks him from the ring, then follows up with a tope that wipes him out.
*Commercial Break*
Back from the break and Cesaro has Ricochet down in a submission on the mat. Ricochet fights to his feet and looks for a sunset flip, but Cesaro grabs him by the neck and hits a belly-to-belly suplex for a two count. Cesaro hits a double stomp for another two count. Cesaro keeps the high-flyer grounded for a few minutes, but Ricochet eventually makes a comeback by flipping through a backslide and superkicking him.
Ricochet goes to the apron and hits a springboard clothesline for a two count. Ricochet immediately follows up with a standing shooting star press for a two count. Ricochet goes to the top rope, but Cesaro uppercuts him. Cesaro takes Ricochet to the top turnbuckle and looks for a superplex but Ricochet knees his way out and takes Cesaro down. Ricochet goes for a 630, but Cesaro moves. Cesaro then connects with a European Uppercut that almost turned Ricochet inside out for a near fall.
Cesaro gets Ricochet up in a torture rack, but Ricochet fights his way out. Ricochet takes him down with Code Red for a two count. Cesaro sends Ricochet out of the ring. Ricochet then does a handstand and gets his feet on Cesaro’s head, pulls himself up, spins, and hits a hurricanrana with a cradle for the win!
Winner: Ricochet
That was a great match that makes me want to see more of those two.
We see highlights of Samoa Joe Vs. Rey Mysterio at Money In The Bank, then Joe makes his way out and walks over to the announce table. Joe says he heard Rey Mysterio is going to do the right thing next week and relinquish the United States Championship. He will be ready to take back what is rightfully his. Joe walks to the back.
Corey Graves will interview Sami Zayn later tonight in a segment called “The Electric Chair”.
*Commercial Break*
We go to The Uso Block Party to see The Usos playing corn hole against The Revival.
We get a promo from The Miz, who says he used to not want to earn a shot at the Universal Championship. Now things have changed, including him having another baby girl with Maryse, and he is ready to earn the right.
We then see Braun Strowman backstage. He says Lashley and Corbin will get these hands. As for Miz, he congratulates him on having another girl. All four men then make their way to the ring.
*Commercial Break*
We see a super short Firefly Fun House clip that just shows glimpses of Bray’s creepy mask.
Fatal 4-Way Match
Braun Strowman Vs. Bobby Lashley Vs. The Miz Vs. Baron Corbin
As soon as the bell rings a brawl breaks out, and Miz and Corbin are quickly cleared from the ring. It’s Strowman and Lashley in the ring but Corbin attacks Strowman from behind. Corbin and Lashley double-team Strowman before sending him shoulder-first into the ring post.
Miz hits Corbin with a Reality Check while big booting Lashley back. Miz hits Lashley and Corbin with IT Kicks. Corbin soon takes Miz down with a back suplex for a two count. Lashley hits Miz with a neckbreaker for a two count. Lashley goes outside and sends Strowman into the barricade. Corbin gets Miz on the top rope, but Miz fights him off. Corbin goes outside and sends Strowman into the barricade.
Inside the ring, Miz fights Lashley off, but he’s still on the top rope. Lashley and Corbin go for a double-team superplex, but Strowman comes from behind to do the Tower of Doom spot. Strowman covers Lashley for a two count. Strowman hits Corbin and Lashley with a double dropkick. Strowman then clubs Corbin down. Corbin and Lashley roll out of the ring.
Strowman chases them outside, but Lashley cuts him off with a shoulder tackle. Miz tries to attack Lashley, but Corbin attacks him. Corbin then sends Miz into the barricade. Corbin and Lashley high five each other. Corbin and Lashley give Strowman a gnarly double-team suplex on the ramp as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Corbin and Lashley double-teaming Miz. The Miz tries to fight back, but Corbin sends him into the corner. Miz hits Corbin with a roll-up for a two count. Miz yoinks the top rope down to get Corbin out of the ring.
Lashley attacks Miz from behind in the ring, and hits a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. Lashley looks for another suplex, but Miz gets out and punches him. Miz kicks Bobby in the corner and hits a pair of running double knees. Miz then hits his running corner clothesline. Corbin runs in, avoids a springboard from Miz, and hits him with a Deep Six for a near fall.
Strowman comes in and goes back and forth with avalanches on Corbin and Lashley. Strowman goes outside and slams Miz on the apron. Strowman then runs over Lashley and Corbin with running shoulder blocks. Lashley quickly jumps to the apron and takes Strowman down. Strowman and Lashley fight at ringside and end up fighting through the crowd.
Back in the ring, Miz catches Corbin with an inside cradle for a two count. Miz gets out of a move and attacks Corbin. Miz hits him with a pair of running double knees, but Corbin catches him with End of Days for the win.
Winner: Baron Corbin
I thought it was an elimination match but I guess not. Baron Corbin has earned himself a number one contender shot against Seth Rollins at Super ShowDown.
Still to come, Sami Zayn’s “electric chair” interview. We’ll be getting a new Firefly Fun House after the break.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back with Bray in the Firefly Fun House. He’s holding up a paper plate with a drawing of his new mask on it. He asks if we liked his secret, and says he calls him the fiend. He says the fiend is here to protect us because sometimes he feels alone and unsure of himself. When he uses the mask though, he feels like he can be anything he wants to be. The Witch then says Bray is crazy. He says he’s not, he’s told her that before. She says he’s not a doctor and Bray suddenly dons a doctor’s outfit. He says he can diagnose the witch as a bully. Bray then gets two kids to hold up a stick for limbo, and he goes underneath with the crab walk.
Sami Zayn makes his way down to the ring for an interview with Corey Graves for “the first ever electric chair”.
*Commercial Break*
Tomorrow night on SmackDown, Kofi Kingston will face Kevin Owens.
Corey Graves is in the ring with Sami Zayn. Graves says there’s nothing more important than the truth, and people tell the truth when they’re in the electric chair. When in the chair, fans will get to ask Sami anything they want. As such, he’s excited to introduce his first guest: Sami Zayn.
Charly Caruso is with a fan in the audience, who asks Sami “when is your retirement date?” Sami says he has a question for the man, “are your mother and father related? I mean, it’s Kansas after all.”
Kayla Braxton is then with a little girl, who asks Sami if he misses the Ginger Snaps from Mixed Match Challenge? Sami asks her if she’s asking about Becky Lynch. Or perhaps she would rather know about Seth Rollins. Graves quickly changes the topic from Becky’s love life and sends us to the crowd again.
A guy asks Sami what it feels like when Braun Strowman destroys him. Zayn says the guy is an idiot that he’d like to punch. But he can’t punch the guy because he’s American, which means he wouldn’t have the balls to fight back, he’d just try and sue him.
The final fan question is from a guy who asks Sami why he hasn’t got a title shot since he came back from injury. Zayn says he can’t believe how terrible the questions are. He says they could have asked him anything, “like what I think of AEW.” Graves changes the topic but then out comes Seth Rollins. The Kingslayer looks in a bad mood and Sami leaves the ring. Rollins grabs the electric chair and throws it over the ropes and it smashes on the ramp. They’ll be having a match after the break.
*Commercial Break*
Sami Zayn Vs. Seth Rollins
Zayn is reluctant to get in the ring but eventually does. Then he runs right back out. Rollins chases after him and they get back into the ring, where Sami grabs a headlock.
Rollins escapes then clotheslines Zayn. Then gets him out of the ring and punches him at ringside. Zayn still tries to escape from Rollins. Zayn begs him off, and Rollins bends his hand back. Zayn fights out and takes Rollins down. Zayn applies a chin lock.
Rollins fights up, but Zayn shoulder blocks him down for a two count. Zayn kicks Rollins’ face before punching him. Rollins fights back and connects with a huge clothesline. Rollins knees him in the back, sending Zayn out of the ring. Rollins goes outside to get him, but Zayn pushes him into the ring post and we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Zayn holding Seth and elbowing him in the face. Rollins fights back, but Zayn takes him down with a suplex for a one count. Rollins connects with a big superkick and both men are down.
Rollins gets to his feet first and Graves mentions that Lesnar could cash-in tonight. Rollins and Zayn tee-off, until Rollins hits the ropes and connects with a slingblade. Rollins follows-up with a kick to the face, then a blockbuster but Zayn rolls out of the ring.
Rollins lands a suicide dive, followed by a second. Rollins starts selling his right knee after the second suicide dive. He gets Zayn back in the ring and looks for a buckle bomb but can’t stay upright. Zayn capitalises with a snap DDT for a neat-fall. The official tries to talk to Seth but Sami starts attacking the injured leg.
Rollins is able to snap Sami’s head into the turnbuckles, before hitting a superkick. Rollins looks for The Stomp but Zayn moves, then grabs Rollins with a Figure Four leglock. Seth fights and fights until he’s able to reverse the pressure. Sami reaches the bottom rope and forces the break. Both men are down again.
Zayn stalks Rollins and looks for the Blue Thunder Bomb but Rollins gets out and hits an enziguiri. Rollins looks for the Revolution Knee but Zayn countered with the Blue Thunder Bomb for a near-fall. Zayn sets Seth in the corner and slaps him. Zayn climbs the ropes and looks for a superplex but Rollins headbutts him down. Rollins, on one knee, hits a frog splash but Sami got the knees up! Sami scores another near-fall.
Seth starts firing back but Sami grabs his leg. Rollins knocks Zayn out of the ring. As he’s sliding back in, Rollins hits The Stomp. He doesn’t make the pin though, he yells at Sami, “this is my life!” He hits a second Stomp and gets the win.
Winner: Seth Rollins
That’s it for tonight’s Raw. Let us know what you thought and be sure to come back tomorrow for more wrestling news and results. Until then, safe travels!
