WWE RAW aired from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. The Brand-to-Brand Invitational began with Corbin battling Drew McIntyre, and Bliss & Cross defended their Women’s Team Championships against The IIConics. Edge also answered Orton’s challenge for a traditional wrestling match at Backlash.
RAW Results (5/18)
- Edge accepted Randy Orton’s challenge for a match at Backlash
- Murphy def. Humberto Carrillo
- Charlotte Flair def. Ruby Riott
- Bobby Lashley def. R-Truth
- Bliss & Cross def. The IIconincs via DQ to retain the Women’s Tag Titles
- Shayna Baszler def. Natalya in a Submission Match
- Kevin Owens & Apollo Crews def. Angel Garza & Andrade
- Aleister Black def. Murphy via DQ
- Drew McIntyre def. King Corbin
Here are 6 takeaways from this week’s show:
Edge Will Face Randy Orton At Backlash
Charly Caruso kicked off the show in the ring and introduced Randy Orton. Randy once again stated that Edge was the better man at WrestleMania but he is not the superior wrestler. He intends to prove that at Backlash in a traditional wrestling match. Randy claimed that Edge didn’t accept the challenge last Monday night because he saw doubt in his eyes.
Orton added that Edge’s grit and passion is gone and is now just doubt. Edge interrupted and marched down to the ring. Edge said that Orton spoke a lot of truths last week and gave him a lot to contemplate. Edge added that this was all just a game and a paycheck for Orton because this isn’t the life he wanted. This was his backup plan and was handed this opportunity.
Edge said that Orton doesn’t care about this business like he does and boasted about defeating Randy for the IC Title in the past. He claimed Randy doesn’t love the sport like the rest of the locker room does before Orton interrupted. Orton demanded an answer and Edge accepted the challenge. The two superstars stared at each other before Orton left the ring.
Rollins Showed No Remorse For His Attack On Mysterio
Seth Rollins came down to the ring with Murphy and said that he has now seen the light thanks to Rey Mysterio. Seth stated that Rey Mysterio was a sacrifice for the greater good and that soon enough he will come to understand that what happened was a blessing in disguise.
Rollins made it seem like he was going to apologize to Rey but simply said “you’re welcome”. Humberto Carrillo joined the party and stated Rey is a hero and Seth is a coward. Carrillo hopped in the ring but Murphy got in the way. Rollins told Humberto he appreciated him standing up for his idol. Rollins was wearing a suit and said he was not ready for a fight right now. Seth suggested that Murphy fight Humberto and the match was made official.
Match Recap: Murphy controlled the action early and applied a Headlock as Rollins watched on from ringside. Humberto broke free and Dropkicked Murphy out of the ring. Humberto rolled Murphy back into the ring but got distracted by Rollins. Murphy capitalized with a knee to the face and then Murphy’s Law for the pinfall victory. After the match, Murphy beat Humberto down some more before Aleister Black rushed the ring. Black unloaded several strikes to Murphy as Rollins retreated up the entrance ramp. Murphy will face Aleister Black later on the show.
Nia Jax Interrupted Asuka’s Celebration
RAW Women’s Champion Asuka celebrated with Kairi Sane in the ring. Kairi ran down all of Asuka’s accomplishments and shouted that Asuka was a Grand Slam Champion.
Asuka danced around the ring as Kairi played a flute. Nia Jax interrupted and got into the ring. Jax stated that there was nothing to celebrate because Asuka was handed the title due to Becky Lynch’s pregnancy.
Nia told Asuka that she lucked her way into the greatest temp job ever and vowed to replace her soon. Asuka attacked Nia and knocked her out of the ring with a Hip Attack.
Later on RAW, Nia Jax attacked Kairi Sane from behind as she was playing the flute. Asuka confronted Nia and booted her in the face.
Bliss & Cross Retained Via DQ
Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross defended their Women’s Tag Team Championships against The IIConics tonight on RAW. Billie Kay and Peyton Royce defeated Bliss and Cross last week in a non-title match.
Match Recap: The IIconincs dominated early and isolated Nikki in the ring. Bliss tagged in and connected with a Dropkick to Billie Kay. Alexa followed it up with Double Knees to Billie and went for the cover but Peyton broke it up. Nikki launched Peyton out of the ring but turned around into a big boot from Billie.
Alexa hit Billie with a right hand and followed it up with Twisted Bliss. Peyton Royce broke up the cover and repeatedly launched Bliss into the ring post which caused the match to end in DQ. Bliss and Cross retained the Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Billie Kay and Peyton Royce started arguing backstage. Billie slapped Peyton in the face and Royce started crying. The two shared a hug to end the segment.
Kevin Owens & Apollo Crews Picked Up A Win, Austin Theory Joined Seth Rollins
Angel Garza, Andrade, Austin Theory, and Zelina Vega were guests on the Kevin Owens show tonight. Natalya destroyed the set after yet another loss to Shayna Baszler.
Owens said that he hasn’t been around for a while due to getting injured at WrestleMania. Kevin said that he is good to go now and tonight is a major edition of the Kevin Owens Show.
Vega claimed there was no dysfunction in her group and referred to United States Champion Andrade as a “god amongst insects”. She complimented Theory and Garza before saying that she is the best this business has seen in a long time. Vega asked why Kevin Owens was standing on the ring apron and he said that he doesn’t want the ring to be too crowded. Owens introduced Apollo Crews as another guest and Crews rushed the ring. Crews leveled Andrade and a brawl broke out as RAW went to a break.
Match Recap: Crews and Owens teamed up to face Andrade and Angel Garza as Austin Theory and Zelina Vega were ringside. Crews planted Garza with a Suplex and tagged in Owens. Kevin hit Garza with a Senton but Angel escaped to the corner to tag in Andrade.
The United States Champion booted Owens in the face and stomped on him in the corner. Owens battled back with a massive Clothesline and a couple chops to the chest. Crews and Garza tagged back in and Apollo hit a Clothesline. Crews booted Andrade off the apron and planted Garza with a Spinebuster. Vega hopped up on the apron for a distraction but it backfired as Theory accidentally hit Garza. Crews planted Garza with a Powerbomb for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Andrade attacked Theory from behind. Angel hit Theory with a Dropkick and the two sent Austin out of the ring. Vega shouted that she should have never believed in Theory and slapped him in the face. Andrade then hit Theory with a steel chair across the back.
During the match between Black and Murphy, Seth Rollins approached Austin Theory ringside. Rollins and Theory shook hands and Seth instructed him to get in the ring. Theory attacked Black to end the match in DQ. After the match, Theory planted Aleister with the ATL and shared a hug with Rollins.
McIntyre Defeated King Corbin
King Corbin faced Drew McIntyre in the main event of this week’s show. Before the match began, Bobby Lashley and MVP showed up on the entrance ramp. MVP said that he can probably spend ten minutes talking about all the impressive things King Corbin has done and McIntyre is the WWE Champion. Lashley stated that he is coming after McIntyre and the WWE Championship.
Match Recap: Corbin leveled McIntyre with a shoulder tackle but the WWE Champion responded with a shoulder tackle of his own. McIntyre Clotheslined Corbin out of the ring and then delivered another Clothesline over the barricade. Corbin battled back and launched Drew into the ring post.
Back in the ring, Corbin hit a Clothesline for a one count. King Corbin sent McIntyre to the apron and slammed his head into the ring post once again. Corbin connected with a Superplex for another one count. McIntyre hit a Belly to Belly Suplex and made his way to the top rope.
McIntyre hit a Flying Clothesline and demanded that Corbin get back up. Drew shouted that Lashley was next and planted Corbin with a Spinebuster for a near fall. Corbin sent McIntyre into the ring post and followed it up with a slam but McIntyre kicked out at one again. Drew hit the Future Shock DDT and geared up in the corner. McIntyre went for the Claymore but Corbin countered into Deep Six for a two count. Drew leveled Corbin with the Claymore Kick for the pinfall victory.
Opinion: The opening promo between Edge & Orton, Kairi Sane playing the flute, and Austin Theory becoming a disciple of Rollins were the only parts of this show I found entertaining. It is going to take a lot for me to become invested in a title program between Drew McIntyre and Lashley.
Bobby Lashley is a great athlete, but has never been remotely charismatic or interesting as a character. Lana was shown flipping out that MVP was with Lashley, so I’m assuming she is going to play a part in this feud. I just cannot imagine that being an interesting feud for the WWE Championship but hopefully I am wrong. It was also announced tonight that Apollo Crews will get another shot at the US Title next week.