This week’s Monday Night Raw kicked off with AJ Styles showing tweets from the WWE Universe on the titantron that were claiming that he and Gallows and Anderson were working together to defeat Roman Reigns. This leads to Reigns coming out to a very negative reaction from the WWE Universe. As soon as Reigns started to speak, the crowd started to chant “we want Rollins!” Reigns told the crowd that they weren’t going to get Rollins, they were going to get AJ Styles versus Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules. This ended with the Usos and Gallows & Anderson coming out. Reigns hit Styles with a big right hand and Styles rolled out of the ring. Styles, Gallows and Anderson retreated as Reigns and the Usos stood tall in the ring.
https://twitter.com/IAmGixx/status/732363153674211328
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs Cesaro & the Miz
This was originally supposed to be a Cesaro and Sami Zayn singles match but all hell broke loose. Owens and the Miz joined the announcer’s table and started taking verbal shots at each other. Eventually, Kevin Owens said that he had no interest in this match and got up to leave. Instead of leaving, he attacked the Miz and the action spilled over into the ring where Cesaro and Sami Zayn got involved. Shane McMahon came out and said that there would be a tag team match and Stephanie came out and made Kevin Owens team with Zayn. This was a very entertaining match with Cesaro hitting the Skull Crushing Finale on the Miz being one of the highlights. Sami Zayn wound up pinning the Miz after hitting with a Helluva Kick, but Kevin Owens immediately attacked him. The Intercontinental Championship match at Extreme Rules surely will be entertaining.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn tagging together in a WWE ring. Maybe in the future they well reunite as a real team again?! One can dream.
— CenamonToast WWE (@CenamonToast) May 17, 2016
Epico and Primo finally make their debut as “the Shining Stars”. They quickly defeated a local tag team.
Primo and Epico are excellent workers, but.. #RAW pic.twitter.com/s3fLZF3dcS
— Riz. (@johncenaAm) May 17, 2016
Dean Ambrose came out to the ring to a thunderous reception. He proceeded to call Jericho out and Y2J demanded an apology from Ambrose for destroying his $15,000 jacket. Ambrose didn’t oblige and instead challenged Jericho to a match at Extreme Rules this Sunday. Jericho accepted and then went on a classic rant about how he is the craziest person in the WWE. I knew the potted plant and the jacket had to be leading to some kind of bizarre match and it was finally revealed what that was. After Jericho accepted the match, a structure lowered to the ring and Ambrose revealed that at Extreme Rules they will have the first ever Asylum match. It pretty much is a cage match with random items at the top of the cage, and of course there was a potted plant amongst the items.
It's official! @TheDeanAmbrose vs. @IAmJericho at #ExtremeRules…in an ASYLUM MATCH?! #RAW #AsylumMatch https://t.co/oySGLzSDYX
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2016
Becky Lynch vs Dana Brooke
Dana Brooke was originally planned to be part of a team with Emma, but unfortunately she has an injury that requires surgery. Thus, we have a singles match between Becky Lynch and Dana Brooke and boy was it a quick one. Dana Brooke got the win via a roll-up.
The Golden Truth finally makes their debut. A montage of all their promos over the past few weeks was shown before there match. Tears were shed. Lives were made complete.
https://twitter.com/SychoVicious/status/732383842045186049
Golden Truth vs Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango)
Surprisingly, there was actually a loud “Golden Truth!” during this match. Unfortunately, R-Truth accidentally kicked Goldust in the face, allowing Tyler Breeze to get the win.
Golden Truth were made to look like bumbling fools & they lost. Still better than Shining Stars. #RAWTonight
— WWE Creative Humor (@WWECreative_ish) May 17, 2016
The New Day came out and had an amusing segment. They unveiled their very own time machine (a gigantic cardboard box with items taped to it) and wanted to travel back in time to the bygone era the Vaudevillians always speak of. Kofi Kingston emerged from the box with a Jamaican accent again but was pulled back into the time machine by Xavier Woods. This time, the three emerged with mustaches taped on their faces in order to mock the Vaudevillians. The box of Booty O’s Big E was carrying had turned into a box of “Derriere Squares”. Eventually, the Vaudevillians interrupted the New Day with their fists and left the New Day scattered outside the ring. The time machine was destroyed and the Vaudevillians celebrated in the ring. This was probably the first time the Vaudevillians actually generated a reaction from the crowd, which is a good thing. The Tag Team Championship match at Extreme Rules desperately needed some momentum and this wacky promo may have finally achieved some.
The DeLorean has nothing on the #NewDayLorean #TheNewDay #newday #wwe #raw #wweraw pic.twitter.com/o3v7G65INE
— Still Real To Us (@stillreal2us) May 17, 2016
The Usos vs Gallows & Anderson
This was an entertaining match that featured both AJ Styles and Roman Reigns ringside. For most of the match, the Usos dominated and they got the win over Gallows and Anderson. Ever since “The Club” arrived in the WWE they have not faired too well in matches. Maybe that will change during the title match this Sunday? Who knows. After the Usos won, everyone just started beating the hell out of each other again. It looked like Roman Reigns was going to clean house but tonight was not his night. After Reigns hit AJ Styles with a chair, he Superman Punched both Gallows and Anderson. However, this allowed AJ Styles to recover from the chair shot and finally Styles hit Reigns with a chair. It had been teased for the past few weeks and it finally happened. After a few chair shots on Roman Reigns, Styles hit the Styles Clash on top of a the dismantled chair. I can only guess is that the WWE Championship match this Sunday between Reigns and Styles is going to have some kind of interference. There are way too many people involved in this storyline for that not to happen.
Just give the title to AJ Styles, then AJ vs Rollins at SummerSlam. Sounds like it's best for business.
— SportsTalkFeed (@SportsTalkFeed) May 17, 2016
Styles Clash on the chair to Reigns. Aaaaaaaaaand the crowd pops. No surprise. #Raw
— Robby The Brain™ (@RobbyTheBrain) May 17, 2016
Big Cass vs D-Von Dudley
This was a quick victory for Big Cass. The WWE continues to build up Cass during Enzo’s absence and that is not a bad thing at all. It will make the tag team even more popular than they already are when Enzo is able to return from his concussion.
Kalisto vs Alberto Del Rio
During the match, Sin Cara was shown backstage watching it and cheering Kalisto on. Rusev appeared and hit Sin Cara with a kick to the head. He then dragged Sin Cara to the ring and continued beating him down in front of Kalisto. Alberto Del Rio took advantage of Kalisto being distracted and got the victory. After the match, Rusev kicked Kalisto in the back of the head and had the Accolade locked in on Kalisto for a long time. He finally released Kalisto and left the ring shouting that he will become the new United States Champion on Sunday.
Screams Rusev winning U.S. Title & John Cena returning to do another program w/ Rusev…and I'm OK w/ it…as long as Rusev goes over. #RAW
— Justin LaBar (@JustinLaBar) May 17, 2016
Contract Signing for the Women’s Championship Match
Ric Flair and Charlotte came out to a positive reaction since Raw was taking place in North Carolina. However, Charlotte quickly annoyed the crowd and got them to boo her. Stephane and Shane McMahon had Natalya sign the contract, but Charlotte wouldn’t sign because a new stipulation was added. If Ric Flair gets involved in any way in the Women’s Championship match at Extreme Rules, Charlotte forfeits the title. Charlotte eventually signs, but Ric Flair is enraged. He gets in Shane McMahon’s face, and Shane begs Flair to stop. Stephanie McMahon then intervenes and slaps Flair across the face. The show ended with Charlotte once again tapping out to Natalya’s Sharp Shooter.
If THIS happens Sunday at #ExtremeRules, we'll have a NEW #WomensChampion! #RAW @NatbyNature @MsCharlotteWWE https://t.co/E03yqbU24Z
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2016
What did you think of tonight’s Monday Night Raw? Are you looking forward to Extreme Rules this Sunday? Let us know in the comments below.
