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WWE RAW Recap & Reaction (5/15)

WWE RAW

Written by

Robert Lentini

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RAW GM Kurt Angle kicked off this week’s episode of RAW and was greeted by cheers and “you suck!” chants from the crowd. Angle stated that Strowman underwent surgery and may be out of action for up to six months. Angle announced an Extreme Rules Fatal 5-Way match at Extreme Rules to determine the #1 contender for the Universal Championship. It will be Seth Rollins vs Samoa Joe vs Finn Balor vs Bray Wyatt vs Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules.

Angle was about to leave the ring but was interrupted by Roman Reigns. Reigns got his usual reaction as he made his way down the entrance ramp. Reigns was still selling his shoulder injury from last months attack by Braun Strowman. Reigns confronted Angle in the ring and said that he should be the #1 contender. Reigns called RAW “his yard” and bragged about defeating The Undertaker at Wrestlemania and taking Strowman out.

Finn Balor joined the party. Balor boasted about defeating Roman Reigns on his way to becoming the first Universal Champion. Reigns told Balor that he doesn’t have the killer instinct to beat Brock Lesnar. Samoa Joe came down to the ring and bragged about applying the Coquina Clutch on Seth Rollins and knocking him out. Joe claimed that he was going to win the Fatal 5-Way and go to face Brock Lesnar. Bray Wyatt then appeared in the middle of the ring before the lights went out. Seth Rollins came down to the ring and attacked Joe.

A brawl then broke out and Rollins took out Joe’s knee. Bray Wyatt then knocked Rollins out of the ring. Reigns hit Wyatt with a Superman Punch and knocked him out of the ring. Balor then hit a Dropkick on Rollins and Wyatt outside the ring. Balor then hit Reigns with a Slingblade and knocked Roman out of the ring. The segment ended with Balor flipping onto Rollins and Reigns and then standing tall in the ring.

Reaction: Extreme Rules already has one hell of a main-event. Braun Strowman’s injury came at the worst possible time for him, as he was about to go into the biggest feud of his life with Brock Lesnar. If I had to pick now, I’d say either Balor or Roman Reigns will win the Fatal 5-Way at Extreme Rules.

Kurt Angle made two matches backstage. Seth Rollins will face Bray Wyatt for the first time ever tonight and Roman Reigns will face Finn Balor. It was also announced that The Hardys will defend the RAW Tag Team Championships against Sheamus & Cesaro at Extreme Rules.

Jeff Hardy vs Sheamus

Sheamus controlled the match early and sent Jeff Hardy into the barricade outside the ring as RAW went to a commercial break. The action returned to the ring and Sheamus planted Hardy with a Powerslam for a two count. Jeff Hardy took control of the match and Cesaro hopped up on the ring apron but Matt Hardy knocked him off. Sheamus went for a Brogue Kick but Jeff got out of the way and Sheamus almost hit Matt. Jeff then hit the Twist of Fate and followed it up with a Swanton Bomb for the victory.

Winner: Jeff Hardy

Reaction: The Hardys and Sheamus & Cesaro work well together. I’m looking forward to seeing them have another match for the tag titles at Extreme Rules.

Sasha Banks vs Alicia Fox

Sasha Banks controlled the match early and connected with Double Knees. Fox connected with a scissors kick for the victory. After the match, Fox celebrated with Noam Dar.

Winner: Alicia Fox

Reaction: I didn’t see this one coming. I feel like Sasha Banks would have benefited from the Superstar Shake-Up. I’ve been waiting for WWE to turn her heel and I don’t understand why that hasn’t happened yet.

Intercontinental Championship Match: Dean Ambrose (c) vs The Miz

Miz went for the Skull Crushing Finale early but Ambrose was able to block it. Ambrose then connected with a Swinging Neckbreaker. Ambrose connected with a Suicide Dive on The Miz who was outside the ring. RAW went to a commercial break with Ambrose in control and the crowd behind him.

When RAW returned from the break, The Miz was in control. Miz slammed Ambrose into the steel steps during the commercial break. Ambrose fought back and went for the Dirty Deeds but Miz blocked it. The match went back and forth for a minute and Miz once again went for a Skull Crushing Finale but couldn’t connect. Ambrose climbed to the top rope but Maryse stood in front of Miz. Ambrose jumped anyway and Maryse got out of the way. Ambrose struck Miz and he fell over the barricade. Back in the ring, Miz went for a low blow but Ambrose blocked it. Dean then hit a low blow of his own and was disqualified.

Winner via DQ: The Miz

Reaction: This match was decent. I was hoping that tonight would be the end of this feud so that Ambrose and Miz could move onto something new. That will not be the case as it was announced later in the show that Ambrose will once again defend his IC Title against Miz at Extreme Rules.

Alexa Bliss came down to the ring and started insulting the crowd. Alexa bragged about being the only Superstar to become the RAW and SmackDown Women’s Champion. Alexa again referred to herself as a goddess and was interrupted by Bayley. Bayley announced that she has a rematch for the RAW Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules. Bliss told Bayley to leave the titles to the adults and to go sit at the kid’s table. Bayley attacked Bliss and knocked her outside the ring. Bliss grabbed a kendo stick from under the ring and struck Bayley in the back. Alexa then stood over Bayley and taunted her as the segment ended.

Reaction: I’m looking forward to see what stipulation is added to this match at Extreme Rules. On paper, the Extreme Rules card looks good. My only issue with it so far is that it is a lot of the matches we have already seen before. Alexa Bliss will face Bayley again. Neville will face Austin Aries again. The Hardys will face Sheamus & Cesaro again. Dean Ambrose will once again face The Miz. I guess a bunch of stipulations can help make this card more interesting.

RAW GM Kurt Angle was confronted by The Miz and Maryse backstage. The Miz demanded a rematch for the title since Ambrose hit him with a low blow earlier in the night. Angle gave him the rematch at Extreme Rules. The Miz then said that the title should be able to change hands if the match ends with Ambrose getting disqualified. Angle reluctantly agreed and then told Miz to watch his tone next time he tries to speak to him. Maryse then yelled at Angle in French but was interrupted by The Drifter strumming his acoustic guitar nearby.

Jack Gallagher & Austin Aries vs Neville & TJP

Neville immediately tagged in Perkins to avoid Austin Aries in the ring. The match went back and forth for several minutes. Neville distracted the referee as Perkins beatdown Aries outside the ring. TJP and Gallagher battled in the ring while Aries attacked Neville outside the ring. The match ended with TJP hitting the Detonation Kick on Gallagher for the victory.

Winners: Neville & TJP

It was announced that the match between Bayley and Alexa Bliss at Extreme Rules will be a Kendo Stick On A Pole match.

Golden Truth were shown backstage. R-Truth apologized for Goldust and said that he cost them the win in the Tag Team Turmoil Match last week on RAW. Goldust said that was nonsense and that they will begin their journey back to the top tonight in their match against Gallows & Anderson.

Finn Balor vs Roman Reigns

The match started out with Reigns and Balor trading punches in the corner. Reigns got the upper-hand and connected with a Samoan Drop. Balor connected with a series of kicks and then a chop to Reigns in the corner. Roman shook his head as if it had no effect on him and leveled Balor with a right hand. Roman charged at Balor in the corner but Finn dodged it and Reigns rammed his injured shoulder into the ring post. Reigns spilled to the floor outside the ring and Balor exited through the ropes onto the ring apron. Balor connected with a kicked to Reigns’ head and then knocked Reigns to the floor as RAW went to a commercial.

When RAW returned, Reigns slammed Balor into the ring post outside the ring. Reigns followed it up with a Drive By on the ring apron and brought Balor back to the ring. Reigns went for the pinfall but Balor kicked out at two. Reigns went for a Powerbomb but could not go through with it due to his injured shoulder. Balor hit a Slingblade and Reigns connected with a Superman Punch for a two count. Balor hit another Slingblade and made his way to the top rope. Balor took to long and Reigns knocked him to the mat. Reigns then planted Balor with a Spear for the victory.

Winner: Roman Reigns

Reaction: I enjoyed this match. It was very physical and both Superstars performed well. I also enjoyed Reigns’ work to kick off RAW during the promo. He wasn’t cracking jokes, he just got right to the point and stated that he deserved to be #1 contender.

Bray Wyatt warned Seth Rollins before their match tonight and said that he will become Universal Champion in a video promo.

Golden Truth vs Gallows & Anderson

R-Truth and Goldust came down to the ring. R-Truth was doing his typical promo and was asking the crowd “what’s up?!”. Goldust then attacked R-Truth from behind and grabbed the microphone. Goldust said “that is what’s up” and left R-Truth laying in the ring.  The crowd chanted “yes!” after Goldust attacked R-Truth.

Reaction: This was a great moment simply because it meant the end of Golden Truth.

Titus O’Neil vs Big Cass

Enzo, Cass, Apollo Crews and Titus O’Neil were in the ring. Titus mocked both Enzo and Cass. Titus then mocked Enzo’s dance routine and the crowd booed and chanted “a**hole!”. Titus O’Neil wound up wrestling in his suite and quickly lost to Big Cass. After the match, Apollo Crews kicked Enzo in the head after he tried to take a selfie while O’Neil was on the ground.

Winner: Big Cass

Bray Wyatt vs Seth Rollins

Wyatt started out the match in control and posed in the ring. Rollins battled back and sent Wyatt out of the ring. Rollins followed him and slammed him into the barricade. Rollins hopped up onto the barricade and leaped onto Wyatt but Bray caught him. Wyatt then slammed Rollins into the barricade and RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Bray Wyatt planted Rollins with a massive Superplex. The action spilled outside the ring and Rollins went for a Suicide Dive but Wyatt blocked it. Back in the ring, Rollins hit a Blockbuster for a two count. The match continued back and forth for a couple of minutes and then both Superstars battled outside the ring. Samoa Joe appeared and attacked Rollins and the match ended in a DQ.

After the match, Joe brought Rollins into the ring and continued the beatdown. Bray Wyatt then joined Samoa Joe and stomped on Rollins. Wyatt then hit the Sister Abigail on both Samoa Joe and Seth Rollins. RAW went off the air with Bray Wyatt posing in the ring.

Winner via DQ: Seth Rollins

Reaction: The main-event was decent but the ending was predictable. Samoa Joe has attacked Rollins before and will certainly attack him again. I can’t help but feeling that I’m watching the same show every week while watching RAW and SmackDown. There aren’t any real great storylines here, it is just Superstars fighting. I thought WWE would capitalize more on the Rollins and Joe feud by focusing more on Joe injuring Rollins. The feud doesn’t feel personal enough. I enjoyed the match between Rollins and Joe last week on RAW, but the feud doesn’t seem to be escalating. Like almost all the feuds in WWE, it is just lacking buzz. There are matches on the Extreme Rules card that I’m looking forward to, but there is nothing I’m overly excited about.

As for Bray Wyatt, I’ve lost interest in the character. Wyatt’s feud with Randy Orton left a lot to be desired and his title reign was a disappointment. Since joining RAW, Wyatt hasn’t done anything for me to get back invested in the character. It is the same exact thing. Wyatt cuts an ominous promo and fails to win matches. I don’t understand why nothing new is being tried with a character as different and charismatic as Bray Wyatt. It is frustrating to watch someone with that match talent fritter away on a weekly basis. I thought the best parts of the show were the opening promo, the match between Roman Reigns and Balor, and Goldust attacking R-Truth.

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

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