WWE Raw aired live from the ThunderDome in Tampa, Florida. Natalya and Tamina put the Women’s Tag Team Championships on the line against Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax tonight. It was also announced that Rhea Ripley will defend her RAW Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair at WWE Hell in a Cell.
RAW Results (5/24)
- Drew McIntyre vs. Kofi Kingston ended in a no contest
- Nikki Cross def. Rhea Ripley in a Beat the Clock Challenge
- Charlotte Flair def. Asuka
- Cedric Alexander def. Shelton Benjamin
- Riddle def. Xavier Woods
- Jaxson Ryker def. AJ Styles
- Sheamus def. Humberto Carrillo
- Natalya & Tamina def. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler to retain the Women’s Tag Team Championships
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Lashley & MVP Interfered In The #1 Contender’s Match
MVP was in the ring to begin this week’s show and introduced WWE Champion Bobby Lashley. The WWE Champion came to the ring with several models who booed footage of Lashley losing to Kofi Kingston in last week’s main event.
MVP said there was a dark cloud hanging over them and that was Drew McIntyre. He added that they thought they have already moved on from him after beating him at WrestleMania and at WrestleMania Backlash. McIntyre interrupted again and made his way to the entrance ramp.
McIntyre stated that he wanted to get back the WWE Championship and claimed he would have defeated Lashley at WrestleMania if it weren’t for MVP’s distraction. McIntyre suggested that Bobby should want another match so he can prove once and for all that he is the number one superstar on the RAW brand.
New Day joined the party and Kingston bragged about pinning Lashley last week. Kingston said that he and the WWE Universe want Drew to step aside because he beat Lashley and McIntyre hasn’t been able to do that for months. Adam Pearce showed up and announced that Drew McIntyre will face Kofi Kingston tonight. The winner of the match will face Lashley for the WWE Championship at Hell in a Cell. MVP loved the idea and said he was bringing the models to the VIP Lounge to enjoy the match.
The action started off back and forth as Lashley, MVP, and the models watched on. Kingston went for a Crossbody but McIntyre countered into a Powerslam. Kofi connected with a Splash and went for the cover but Drew was able to kick out at two.
Kofi sent Drew out of the ring and leaped off the steal steps but McIntyre caught him. McIntyre connected with a reverse Alabama Slam that sent Kingston’s face into the apron as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, McIntyre was still in control and planted Kingston with a Suplex. McIntyre followed it up with another vertical Suplex and held Kingston up for a long time for a near fall. McIntyre went for a Superplex but Kingston was able to block it. Kingston went for another Crossbody but McIntyre countered into an awesome Michinoku Driver for a near fall.
Kofi and McIntyre traded punches in the middle of the ring. McIntyre connected with a Spinebuster and followed it up with a Powerbomb but Kofi wouldn’t stay down. Kingston sent Drew into the ring post and followed it up with a stomp for a two count. Kofi hit a Splash that sent both superstars onto Lashley outside the ring.
Back in the ring, Kingston hit SOS and went for the cover but McIntyre was able to power out at the last moment. Lashley and MVP then interfered in the match and attacked McIntyre and Kingston. Kingston hit Lashley with Trouble in Paradise and the WWE Champion then stumbled into a Claymore from McIntyre. Lashley and MVP retreated and the match ended in a no contest.
Adam Pearce approached MVP and Lashley later in the show. Pearce said that McIntyre will face Kofi Kingston again next week and that MVP & Lashley will be suspended for 90 days if they interfere.
Nikki Cross Won The Beat The Clock Challenge
Rhea Ripley faced Nikki Cross in a Beat the Clock Challenge tonight. The timer was set at two minutes. Nikki controlled the action early and connected with a Jawbreaker. Nikki followed it up with a Crossbody off the top turnbuckle and went for the cover but the RAW Women’s Champion kicked out at two.
Ripley took control and beat Nikki down in the corner but the timer was at a few seconds left. Ripley continued to stomp on Cross and the timer ran out. Cross rolled out of the ring and celebrated. After the match, Charlotte Flair made her way down the entrance ramp for her match against Asuka. Flair laughed at Rhea Ripley as RAW went to a break.
Charlotte def. Asuka
Charlotte Flair battled Asuka tonight on RAW. Charlotte got Asuka in a head scissors but the Empress of Tomorrow broke free and bounced Charlotte’s face off the turnbuckle. Asuka hit a Hip Attack and went for another one but Charlotte responded with a few chops.
Flair applied an Ankle Lock but Asuka escaped with a kick to the midsection. Asuka sent Flair out of the ring and followed her out there. Charlotte slammed Asuka into the steel steps as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, Flair was still in control and was focusing her attack on Asuka’s knee. Charlotte locked in a Boston Crab in the center of the ring but Asuka fought through the pain and was able to counter into a roll-up for a near fall.
Charlotte quickly applied an Armbar but Asuka reached the ropes to break it up. Asuka went for another Hip Attack but Flair countered into a Kneebreaker. Flair went for a Moonsault but Asuka got out of the way and then hit a German Suplex as RAW went to another commercial break.
Flair unloaded some more chops when RAW returned from a break. Asuka went for the Asuka Lock but couldn’t get it fully locked in. Charlotte broke free and hit a Backbreaker. Asuka rolled out of the way of the Moonsault again but this time Flair was ready and connected with a standing Moonsault for a two count. Asuka applied the Asuka Lock but Charlotte countered into a cover for the victory.
Cedric Alexander def. Shelton Benjamin
Cedric Alexander faced Shelton Benjamin again tonight. Before the match Cedric Alexander said they were kicked out of the Hurt Business because Shelton Benjamin is washed up. Cedric vowed to win the match tonight and claimed that he is going to send Shelton home for good.
Shelton controlled the match early and knocked Cedric out of the ring. Back in the ring, Alexander battled back and connected with a Frankensteiner off the top rope for a two count. Benjamin connected with a German Suplex and went for Chaos Theory but Alexander poked him him in the eye. Cedric followed it up with the Neuralyzer for the pinfall victory.
Riddle Hit An RKO Out Of Nowhere
Riddle faced Xavier Woods tonight on RAW. Riddle spent the beginning of the match trying to bring Woods to the mat but Xavier kept escaping. Riddle hit a Gutwrench slam but Woods battled back with a big Suplex for a two count. Woods and Riddle traded shots in the middle of the ring and wound up knocking each other down with Clotheslines as the same time. Woods hit a Death Valley Driver on the apron and both superstars fell to the floor outside the ring as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Riddle connected with an Exploder Suplex and went for a Broton but Woods got his knees up. Xavier hit a Dropkick off the 2nd turnbuckle for a two count. Riddle connected with the Ripcord Knee and went for the Bro Derek but Woods escaped.
Xavier got Riddle in the Tree of Woe and delivered a Dropkick to the face. Riddle planted Woods with a massive German Suplex and went for the cover but Xavier was able to kick out at two. Riddle went for the Bro Derek but Woods able to block it again. Riddle then hit an RKO out of nowhere for the pinfall victory.
Jaxson Ryker def. AJ Styles
AJ Styles faced Jaxson Ryker this week on RAW. AJ leveled Jaxson with a Dropkick to start off the action. Ryker connected with some punches and then a Suplex for a near fall. Ryker applied a Bear Hug but AJ was able to escape. Styles hit another Dropkick that sent Ryker out of the ring. Elias attacked Styles from behind and then hid in the timekeeper’s area so the referee wouldn’t see him. Ryker capitalized and covered AJ for the victory.
After the match, Omos chased Elias and Ryker down on the entrance ramp. Omos launched Elias into the screens and then helped AJ Styles up to end the segment.
Ricochet Attacked Sheamus
Sheamus squared off against Humberto Carrillo tonight. Sheamus dominated early and threw Humberto out of the ring. Carrillo got back in the ring but Sheamus beat him down. Humberto tried to get back up again but Sheamus knocked him back to the canvas with a shoulder tackle.
Humberto caught Sheamus with a boot to the face and then a Dropkick that sent the Celtic Warrior to the outside. Carrillo followed it up with a Suicide Dive that knocked Sheamus into the announce table. Back in the ring, Carrillo hit an Elbow Drop off the top rope and went for the cover but Sheamus somehow was able to kick out at two. Sheamus then covered Carrillo and used his tights for leverage but the referee didn’t catch it.
After the match, Sheamus attacked Humberto and stomped on him in the corner. Ricochet made the save and connected with a Moonsault followed up by a 450 Splash.
Shayna Challenged Reginald To A Match
Natalya and Tamina defended the Women’s Tag Team Championships against former champs Nia Jax & Tamina in this week’s main event. Before the match, Nia, Shayna, and Reginald were interviewed backstage. Nia said Reginald is having nightmares from the explosion and Shayna didn’t care. Baszler wanted to prove that they were unstoppable by going into the match without Reginald. Reginald insisted that he was only there to help but Shayna warned him that she will give him a real reason for nightmares if he is ringside.
Reginald wound up coming down to the ringside area in the early part of the match and Natalya took control with a German Suplex to Baszler as RAW went to a commercial break. When RAW returned, Baszler was in control and had Natalya in a submission hold in the middle of the ring.
Tamina and Jax tagged in and traded punches. Nia sent Tamina to the corner and took turns beating her down with Shayna Baszler. Tamina battled back with a Powerslam and tagged in Natalya. Natalya hit Shayna with a Superkick and went for the cover but Nia broke it up.
Jax sent Tamina over the barricade outside the ring as Shayna hit Natalya with a Clothesline. Natalya went for the Sharpshooter but Reginald hopped on the apron for a distraction. Shayna countered into a roll-up but the referee was busy dealing with Reginald. Shayna got pissed off and started arguing with Reginald. Shayna told Reginald to leave and flames/pyro went off as Reginald was on the entrance ramp. Everyone was stunned and Natalya capitalized with a roll-up for the win. Natalya and Tamina are still the Women’s Tag Team Champions.
After the match, Shayna called Reginald a SOB and said she was sick of him getting involved in her matches. Baszler then challenged Reginald to a match next week to end this week’s show.