The June 15th episode of WWE RAW aired from the Performance Center. It was the first episode of RAW following Backlash. Christian returned to the ring and battled Randy Orton in an Unsanctioned Match in the main event.
WWE RAW Results (6/15)
- Kevin Owens def. Angel Garza
- Street Profits & Viking Raiders def. ninjas
- The IIconics def. Natalya & Liv Morgan
- Apollo Crews def. Shelton Benjamin
- Drew McIntyre & R-Truth def. Lashley & MVP
- Asuka def. Nia Jax to retain the RAW Women’s Championship
- Randy Orton def. Christian in an Unsanctioned Match
Here are 8 takeaways from this week’s RAW:
Andrade & Angel Garza Aren’t On The Same Page
Angel Garza faced Kevin Owens tonight on RAW and Zelina Vega was ringside for the match. Before the match, Andrade and Angel Garza argued backstage.
Match Recap: Angel went for a Dropkick but Owens got out of the way. Andrade’s music and he made his way down the ramp and joined Vega ringside. Owens bounced Garza’s face off the top turnbuckle and knocked him out of the ring. Garza and Andrade started arguing again and Vega shouted that she was sick of this and walked backstage.
When RAW returned from a break, Garza was in control and hit Owens with a Dropkick for a two count. Angel focused his attack on Owens’ injured leg but Kevin battled back with a headbutt. Andrade tripped up Owens but Angel didn’t capitalize on the distraction. Garza shouted at the referee to pay attention and turned around into a Stunner from Owens for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Zelina Vega marched down to the ring with a pissed off look on her face. Andrade and Garza started arguing again and Vega told to stop fighting against each other. Zelina said that they need to start fighting together and the three left the ring.
Lashley Told Lana That He Wanted A Divorce
Bobby Lashley and MVP came down to the ring to explain what happened last night at Backlash. MVP said that Lashley had his night ruined last night by Lana because she has to make everything about herself.
MVP added that if Drew McIntyre had any integrity he would give Lashley a rematch. Lana interrupted and said that she would do anything for Bobby, and that everything went wrong when MVP showed up.
MVP called Lana a “thot” and Lana called MVP a snake. MVP stated that before he showed up Lashley had never gotten a title shot. Lana stated that everything was perfect before MVP showed up because they were on a hot streak.
Lashley interrupted and said Lana ruined everything last night. Bobby added that Lana hasn’t won anything besides likes on social media and uses her sex life to get famous. Lana said if she used her sex life to get famous she probably should have slept with Drew. Lashley told Lana that he wanted a divorce and left the ring.
Big Show Returned To Fight A Ninja
Street Profits & Viking Raiders teamed up against Akira Tozawa and three ninjas.
Match Recap: Erik leveled a ninja and tagged Dawkins in. Angelo hit a Splash and tagged Montez Ford in. Montez hit a massive Dropkick and followed it up with a Frog Splash for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Tozawa asked the giant ninja to get into the ring with him. Big Show joined the party and a brawl broke out. Big Show, Viking Raiders, and Street Profits cleaned house and Tozawa & the big ninja retreated up the entrance ramp.
Opinion: Big Show returned as a heel to fight McIntyre at WrestleMania and returned as a babyface tonight to fight the giant ninja. I just hope WWE doesn’t ask their fans to take the tag team championships seriously any time soon. It is quite clear that they don’t care about the tag team division at all.
Dominik Attacked Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins came down to the ring and said he invited Rey to have a conversation with him. Seth stated that Rey is a hero for sacrificing himself for the greater good and the future of RAW. Rollins claimed that Mysterio took the cowards way out by not showing up tonight but fortunately his son Dominik showed up.
Rey interrupted from the jumbotron and said that he didn’t know that Dominik was on his way to RAW before it is too late. Mysterio warned Seth not to harm his son and Rollins claimed that all he wanted to do was help Dominik. Rollins implored Mysterio to encourage Dominik to join him and fight for the greater good.
Mysterio said that Dominik will never join Rollins, Theory, and Murphy. Rollins told Rey that his son is a part of the problem then and must be sacrificed for the greater good. Dominik showed up behind the Money Night Messiah and attacked him.
Dominik sent Seth into the steel steps and then was chased in the ring by Murphy and Theory. Dominik escaped into the crowd as Rollins, Murphy, and Theory banged on the plexiglass.
Opinion: I’ve enjoyed this storyline and thought this was a good segment tonight. It was announced that Rey will be appearing on RAW next week and I’m looking forward to that as well.
McIntyre & R-Truth Picked Up A Win
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre & 24/7 Champion R-Truth faced Bobby Lashley & MVP. The WWE Championship was on the line in the match.
Match Recap: McIntyre and Lashley started the match off by locking up in the middle of the ring. Drew sent Lashley to the corner and then leveled him with a Clothesline. McIntyre planted Lashley with a Clothesline and then sent him out of the ring.
Drew hit MVP with a Neckbreaker and set up for the Claymore but R-Truth tagged himself in. Lashley launched R-Truth into the barricade outside the ring as Raw went to a break. When RAW returned, R-Truth was still isolated in the corner of the ring and Lashley was beating him down.
McIntyre tagged in and hit MVP with the Future Shock DDT. Drew went for the cover but Lashley broke it up. R-Truth and Lashley battled outside the ring. R-Truth sent Lashley into the steel steps as McIntyre hit MVP with the Claymore. McIntyre then tagged in R-Truth and he hit a Frog Splash for the pinfall victory. Drew McIntyre is still the WWE Champion.
Opinion: There was an absurd amount of MVP on the show tonight. He was in about 10 backstage segments throughout the show. He was trying to recruit Apollo Crews and had a couple segments with R-Truth as well. MVP and Lashley also approached McIntyre and R-Truth and duped Truth into putting the title on the line. He was also in the Lashley and Lana promo and then competed in this match. I was glad he got Claymored because I was sick of seeing him every five minutes.
This was a fun little storyline on a throwaway episode of RAW. I want to know what is next for McIntyre and for him to be in a real feud that is the main event.
Bayley & Banks Will Defend The Titles Against The IIconics Next Week
Women’s Tag Team Champions Bayley and Sasha Banks came down to the ring in the third hour of RAW. Bayley stated that they are going to go to NXT and whoop Nox and Blackheart.
Sasha Banks addressed The IIConics challenging them earlier in the night and Peyton & Billie Kay interrupted. The IIConics demanded an answer to their challenge and once again boasted about defeating Bayley and Banks at WrestleMania.
The IIconics for having separate meltdowns following their loss at WrestleMania. Peyton slapped Banks in the face and Bayley accepted the challenge for the match. The IIconics will challenge Bayley & Banks for the Women’s Tag Team Championships next week on RAW.
Asuka Retained In Controversial Fashion
Asuka once again defended her RAW Women’s Championship against Nia Jax tonight on RAW.
Match Recap: Jax dominated early and leveled Asuka with a couple Clothesline. Asuka went for an Arm Bar but Jax escaped and rolled to the apron. Asuka went for the Hip Attack but Nia caught her. Asuka escaped and unloaded some kicks to Nia’s legs.
Jax dropped Asuka with a big right hand and followed it up with a Powerbomb on the floor outside the ring as RAW went to a break. Asuka hit a Dropkick and hit some more kicks to Nia’s midesction.
Nia hit Asuka with a Headbutt and followed it up with a Samoan Drop. Jax went for the cover but Asuka’s foot was under the rope. Nia shoved the referee to the ground and he threatened to disqualify her. Asuka capitalized and rolled up Jax for the victory. The commentary team said that it was a fast count from John Cone.
Christian Left On A Stretcher
Randy Orton opened tonight’s show and boasted about his win over Edge last night at Backlash. Orton bragged about injuring Edge (torn triceps) and said that Edge can now go home and be a dad again. Randy thanked Edge for reminding him of what it is like to be the legend killer.
Christian interrupted and joined Orton in the ring. Christian told Orton that Edge will be back and called Orton a son of a bitch. Randy challenged Christian to an Unsanctioned Match tonight and gave him to the end of the night to respond. Christian ultimately accepted despite Ric Flair warning him not to.
Before the match started, Ric Flair came down to the ring and said he just talked to Edge. Flair said Christian has nothing to prove and shouldn’t do this. Christian said he has to this and Flair walked to the ropes. Ric then turned around and hit Christian with a low blow.
Orton hit Christian with the Punt and pinned Christian for the victory. After the match, Orton leaned over Christian and blamed him for everything. Orton said he didn’t want to this and didn’t want any of this to happen. WWE’s medical staff put Christian on a stretcher as Orton shouted at them to take care of him. Orton told Christian that this was his fault for interrupting him and he couldn’t let him destroy his livelihood.
Opinion: The Orton & Christian segments and Dominik attacking Rollins were the highlights of the show. Overall, this was a decent episode of RAW. The tag team division remains a joke, there was a ridiculous amount of backstage segments, and the Big Show returned again. I didn’t see anything tonight that gives me hope that RAW is heading in a better direction.