SEScoops

8 Takeaways From WWE RAW (5/28)

RAW feature image

Written by

Robert Lentini

in

The May 28th, 2018 episode of WWE RAW aired live from Richmond, VA. Here are 8 takeaways from this week’s show:

Kevin Owens Interfered In The Rematch Between Balor & Strowman

Photo Credit: @WWE on Twitter

Braun Strowman came down to the ring to kick off this week’s episode of RAW. Strowman got a great reaction from the crowd as he looked up at the briefcase hanging above the ring. Braun stated that the briefcase motivates him because inside of it is a contract that guarantees him a shot at the Universal Champion at any time.

The crowd started chanting “get these hands!” as Strowman vowed to destroy 7 other men at Money in the Bank and capture the MITB contract. He added that he will become known as “Mr. Monster in the Bank” after he wins the match. Strowman said that nobody in the match can stop him from getting the MITB contract and going after Brock Lesnar.

Finn Balor interrupted and told Strowman that he is getting ahead of himself. Balor said that he was the Universal Champion and that he never lost that title. Finn admitted that it eats at him every day and that he is going to take back what is his. Braun said that Balor put up a really good fight last week for a little guy.

Balor didn’t like that and slapped Strowman in the face. Braun got pissed off and thew Finn across the ring as RAW GM Kurt Angle’s music hit. Angle came down to the entrance ramp and said that he sees intensity out here. Kurt went over the rules of the MITB Ladder Match and then asked the crowd if they wanted to see Balor versus Strowman right now. The crowd cheered and a referee ran down to the ring.

Kevin Owens joined commentary for the match. Owens, Balor and Strowman have already qualified for the men’s MITB Ladder Match. The bell rang and Strowman immediately threw Balor around the ring a couple of times. Balor battled back with a forearm to the face. Strowman shrugged it off and launched Balor into the turnbuckle. Owens grabbed a microphone from the announce table and shouted at Strowman to do better than that as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Strowman was still in control of the match. Braun threw Balor out of the ring and hit him with a massive shoulder tackle that sent Finn flying into the crowd. Finn shoved Braun into the ring post and then attacked him as Strowman tried to get back into the ring. Balor connected with a Dropkick that sent Braun flying out of the ring.

Owens got back on the microphone and told Balor to give Strowman his best shot. Finn connected with an Enziguri and then flipped onto Braun outside the ring. Back in the ring, Finn hit a Slingblade, a Dropkick and then made his way to the top rope. Balor hit the Coup de Grace and then climbed up to the top rope once again. Owens hopped up onto the ring apron and punched Balor in the face.

The match ended in a DQ because Owens got involved. Owens grabbed a ladder from under the ring and struck Balor with it. Owens tried to attack Strowman, but Braun grabbed the ladder from him. Strowman threw the ladder at Owens as he ran away up the entrance ramp. Owens was able to avoid the ladder and continued to run backstage as Braun posed in the ring.

Owens was then shown trying to exit the arena, but he was stopped by RAW GM Kurt Angle. Kurt told Owens that he couldn’t leave because he had a match against Bobby Roode tonight.

Elias Hit Seth Rollins With His Guitar

Photo Credit: @WWE on Twitter

Elias performed a song in the ring and insulted the Virginia crowd. Elias asked for the lighting to be changed so he could see less of the disgusting crowd. Seth Rollins eventually interrupted and forced Elias out of the ring.

Rollins then defended his Intercontinental Championship against Jinder Mahal. Jinder controlled the match early and applied the Abdominal Stretch to Rollins. Mahal then stomped on Seth in the corner and taunted him by shouted “this is your champion?!”. Seth battled back and slammed Jinder’s face into the second rope.

Seth connected with a Slingblade and then Clotheslined Mahal out of the ring. Rollins followed it up with a Suicide Dive and then brought Jinder back into the ring. Seth hit a Blockbuster off the second rope for a two count. Jinder planted Seth with a giant Gutbuster for two.

Mahal went for the Khallas, but Rollins escaped and rolled up Jinder for a two count. Seth hit a boot to the face and followed it up with a Falcon Arrow for another two count. Sunil Singh distracted Rollins and Jinder rolled out of the ring. The referee got out of the ring and kicked Sunil out from ringside. Mahal capitalized on the distraction by striking Rollins in the midsection with a steel chair. Jinder went for the cover but Seth was able to kick out at two.

The crowd chanted “lets go Rollins!” as Mahal went for the Khallas once again. Rollins escaped and Sunil Singh got back on the ring apron. Seth brought Sunil into the ring and Powerbombed him on top of Mahal in the corner. Seth grabbed the steel chair and struck Jinder with it. The referee disqualified Rollins, but Seth continued to strike Jinder with a chair. Seth hit Sunil in the back with the chair as Jinder retreated backstage.

Rollins then posed with the steel chair on the announce table. Elias snuck up behind him and struck Seth in the back with his guitar. Rollins crumbled to the floor as Elias stood over him. Seth was then placed in a neck brace and loaded onto a stretcher. Rollins got off the stretcher and hobbled backstage.

Nia Jax Played Mind Games With Ronda Rousey

Photo Credit: @WWEUniverse on Twitter

RAW Women’s Champion Nia Jax made her way down the entrance ramp. Ronda Rousey’s theme hit in the middle of Nia’s entrance. Nia looked pissed off as Rousey made her way to the commentary table. Nia stated that she was glad that Rousey was here so she could get a preview of what she is going to do to her at Money in the Bank.

Nia instructed Michelle Webb (her opponent) to put the Arm Bar on her. Nia countered the Arm Bar into a Powerbomb and then grabbed the microphone again. Jax questioned if Rousey could apply the Arm Bar to her. Nia then planted Webb with a Samoan Drop and told Rousey that she wasn’t done yet. Jax connected with a Leg Drop to Webb and told Ronda that she is not getting up.

Jax added that Rousey has never faced anything like that in UFC and that he leg could crush a women’s chest. Nia followed up the Leg Drop with a rolling Senton and once again grabbed the microphone. Nia asked Ronda to come down to the ring and help Webb out. Ronda took off the headset and made her way down to the entrance ramp. Nia told the crowd to shut up as they were chanting Ronda’s name.

Rousey got in the ring with Nia and Jax said that she wasn’t intimidated by Ronda. Jax laughed in Ronda’s face and called her cute. Jax then turned her back on Rousey and left the ring as Rousey stood in the ring. It was later announced that Nia will face Natalya next week on RAW.

Opinion: Nia Jax is a heel/bully now without any explanation. We just saw her in a feud with Alexa Bliss, in which the entire storyline was based around Alexa being a bully. Nia broke down in tears during the storyline due to her bullying and then overcame them at WrestleMania 34 by capturing the RAW Women’s Championship. Now, she is just a heel because it is convenient in a feud against Rousey. The laziness of WWE still astounds me from time to time.

Strowman Got His Revenge On Kevin Owens, Will Face Bobby Roode Next Week

Bobby Roode faced Kevin Owens tonight on RAW. Roode connected with a shoulder tackle and a couple of chops in the corner to start off the match. Roode followed it up with a Clothesline on the ring apron. Owens then tripped Roode up and threw him into the barricade. Owens hit a Cannonball on Roode against the barricade as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Roode connected with a Blockbuster off the second rope for a two count. Owens rolled out of the ring and Roode chased him up there. Bobby leveled Owens with a Clothesline and then brought Owens back into the ring. Owens hit a Superkick out of nowhere for a two count. Owens was then able to roll-up Roode for the victory.

After the match, Braun Strowman’s music hit and Owens started running around the ring. Roode stopped Owens from getting away and Strowman hit Owens with a shoulder tackle. Braun then planted Owens with a Running Powerslam and Roode climbed up to the second rope. Strowman planted Owens with another Running Powerslam as Roode cheered him on. Braun then grabbed Roode by the throat and dropped him with a Running Powerslam. Later on the show, it was announced that Roode and Strowman will have a match next week on RAW.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1001280970903957505

Zayn & Lashley Will Battle At WWE Money In The Bank

Photo Credit: @WWEUniverse on Twitter

Sami Zayn came down to the ring for a public apology for last week’s segment with Lashley’s sisters. Zayn stated that WWE management has been very gracious to allow him this opportunity for a formal public apology. Sami pulled out a piece of paper and his glasses.

Zayn read a statement that said he heard all the criticism of the cringeworthy segment last week. Sami said that he hired the men to portray Lashley’s sisters as a joke, but not to provoke. Zayn then said he was sorry, but quickly noted that everything he said last week was true.

Sami called himself a brilliant artist and didn’t expect the audience to get it. Zayn added that history will look back on last week’s very favorably and that he is doing the right thing for exposing Lashley for being a bully and a liar. Zayn stated that the crowd should be apologizing to him because he deserves to more. He should be in the MITB Ladder Match or defeating Seth Rollins for the IC Title instead of issuing a public apology.

Bobby Lashley interrupted to no reaction from the crowd. Lashley posed, high-fived and took his sweet time making his way to the ring. Bobby grabbed a microphone and thanked the veterans for their service. Lashley saluted as the crowd chanted “USA!”. Bobby told Sami that his sisters find him entertaining. Lashley stated that they have an issue and that they should settle it in the ring at WWE Money in the Bank.

Sami and Lashley shook hands in the ring. Zayn said that he is going to Helluva Kick Lashley’s smile off his face at Money in the Bank. Lashley didn’t let go of Zayn’s hand and squeezed tighter. Bobby then apologized to Sami for everything that he is going to do to Zayn at Money in the Bank.

Opinion: This feud has been terrible. Lashley is painfully boring and Sami Zayn is stuck in the place he has always been in WWE. I just don’t think the fans will ever really care about Lashley enough to get behind him. I’m certainly not counting on WWE to come up with a storyline that gets fans invested in Lashley.

Drew McIntyre Defeated Chad Gable

Photo Credit: @WWE on Twitter

Drew McIntyre faced Chad Gable tonight on RAW while Dolph Ziggler was ringside. Drew controlled the first couple of minutes of the match and shouted at Gable that he wasn’t on his level. Gable battled back and connected with a Moonsault for a two count. McIntyre Clotheslined Gable out of the ring and then chased him out there.

Gable connected with an overhead kick and then went for a Crossbody off the second rope. McIntyre caught him and threw Gable into the ring post. McIntyre brought Gable back into the ring and connected with the Claymore for the pinfall victory.

There Was A Food Fight

Photo Credit: @WWEUniverse on Twitter

The B Team (Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas) held a BBQ for the RAW Tag Team division. They misunderstood RAW GM Kurt Angle and thought they had to win over the the division to get a shot at the RAW Tag Team Championships.

Titus O’Neil got pissed off that food wasn’t seasoned and said that they weren’t going to just cut in front of everyone else for a title shot. Everyone agreed and the B Team started to take their food back. Titus dumped baked beans on Bo Dallas and then Axel got potato salad dumped on him.

A food fight broke out until it was just Rhyno in the ring with sandwiches. Rhyno threw a couple of sandwiches in the crowd but was attacked from behind by the B Team. Axel and Dallas then slammed Rhyno threw a table to end the segment.

Kurt Angle announced that there will be a Tag Team Battle Royal next week on RAW. The winner of the Battle Royal will face Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt for the tag titles at WWE Money in the Bank.

Sasha Banks Qualified For The Women’s MITB Ladder Match

Photo Credit: @WWE on Twitter

Bayley was the first entrant in the Last Chance Gauntlet Match. The winner of the match will be the last Superstar to qualify for the women’s MITB Ladder Match. Her first opponent was Liv Morgan and that match lasted about 5 seconds. Bayley connected with the Bayley to Belly right away. Sarah Logan was up next and Bayley connected with a Hurricanrana outside the ring. Bayley brought her back into the ring for the cover, but Logan kicked out at two.

Sarah Logan then took control of the match as Ember Moon was shown watching backstage. Bayley rolled up Sarah Logan to eliminate her. Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan attacked Bayley after they were eliminated. Ruby Riott was the next Superstar in the Gauntlet Match.

Alexa Bliss was shown backstage watching the match as Ruby eliminated Bayley with the Riott Kick. Dana Brooke was the next Superstar in the match and was eliminated quickly by Ruby Riott. Mickie James got a great reaction from her hometown crowd as she was the next Superstar in the Gauntlet Match.

Mickie connected with a Dropkick for a two count. Ruby rolled out of the ring as RAW went to a commercial break. When RAW returned, Mickie slammed Riott face-first into the canvas. Mickie climbed to the top rope and jumped onto Riott for a two count. Riott rolled up Mickie James and grabbed her tights for leverage to eliminate her.

Sasha Banks was the final Superstar in the Gauntlet Match. Banks connected with a Crossbody on Riott off the second rope for a two count. Sasha went for the Bank Statement, but Riott escaped and slammed Sasha to the mat. Riott stomped on Sasha in the corner several times and then started smacking her in the face. Ruby then slammed Sasha’s head into the canvas for a two count as Natalya was shown watching the match backstage.

Banks battled back hit Double Knees off the top rope for a two count. Riott responded with a Tornado DDT and went for the cover but Banks kicked out. Ruby followed it up with a boot to the face for another two count. Banks and Riott battled in the corner. Sasha Powerbombed Riott off the second rope for a two count. Sasha went for the Bank Statement but Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan rushed the ring. Sasha fought them off and applied the Bank Statement to Ruby Riott for the submission victory.

Sasha Banks, Natalya, Charlotte, Ember Moon, Alexa Bliss, Becky Lynch Naomi and Lana will be the Superstars competing in the women’s MITB Ladder Match.

Opinion: Tonight’s RAW was just as boring as last week’s episode. The build towards WWE Money in the Bank 2018 has felt phoned in, especially on RAW.  There are not any interesting storylines on the show right now. Elias versus Rollins has the potential to be an interesting feud, but that is about it.

What did you think of this week’s RAW? Let us know in the comments below.

Comments

7 responses to “8 Takeaways From WWE RAW (5/28)”

More posts