Raw Review 05/15/2017

Tonight on Raw, what is next for Roman Reigns after taking out Braun Strowman? Plus Jeff Hardy does battle with the Celtic Warrior Sheamus. Will Jeff be able to gain an edge for The Hardy Boyz or will Sheamus prove that Hardy’s are a thing in the past and him and Cesaro are the thing now? Samoa Joe says it’s over when he says it’s over. Can Seth Rollins combat Joe and get an edge over him? Alexa Bliss came to Raw and made an immediate impact. She has formed an “alliance” with Nia Jax, but what truly is next for the Raw Women’s Champion? The Miz has done a lot of talking since coming to Raw, but can he actually handle the unpredictable Dean Ambrose as they do battle for the Intercontinental Championship? And what is next for the newly renovated TJP as he looks to make his mark on the Cruiserweight Division?

Raw is live tonight from the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

Raw kicks off with us being welcomed to the show by Michael Cole, Corey Graves & Booker T.

In Ring Segment: Kurt Angle
Kurt reveals that Braun Strowman has suffered a shattered elbow and may be out of action for 6 months. He poses the question of who will challenge Brock Lesnar for the Universal Title. He says that at Extreme Rules there will be a Fatal Five Way match to determine who will face Brock for the title. He revels Seth Rollins, Samoa Joe, Finn Balor, Bray Wyatt, and Roman Reigns as the competitor. Kurt says it will be every man for himself, it will be historical, it will be extreme. It’s true, oh it’s damn true. Out comes Roman Reigns.
Roman tells Kurt that they don’t need a match because he is the Number One Contender. He reminds that this is his yard, he beat The Undertaker, and he put out Braun Strowman. He states that he is the only one who can beat Lesnar and out comes Finn Balor.
Balor states that he was the first Universal Champion and he never lost the title. He tells Roman that the line starts behind him. Roman tells him that he has a lot of heart, but he doesn’t have the killer instinct to beat Lesnar. Balor reminds Roman that on his first night on Raw he beat him. Out comes Samoa Joe.
Joe tells them that it isn’t about heart or anyone’s yard, or club. He says it’s about action and result. He reminds of what he’s done to Rollins and states that he will enter the fatal five way and win. Out comes Bray Wyatt.
Bray says The Beast approaches and everyone puts on their brave faces, but he can feel them trembling. He tells them that will cower, fall, and run. Out comes Seth Rollins.
Rollins says that all five of them will mix it up one way or the other. He tells Joe that he came here to fight him. Joe comes out and him and Rollins go at it. Wyatt gos after Balor and Reigns goes after Wyatt, Joe hobbles out of the fight. Wyatt goes after Rollins. Wyatt is taken out by Reigns. Balor goes after Rollins and turn to Reigns. Reigns goes to the outside and Balor flies through the air to take them all out and stands tall in the middle of the ring.
My Opinion:
I love seeing the Universal Title back in the picture. It sucks that Brock isn’t around and there isn’t more meaning to the title, but this helps. All five men deserve to be in the main event picture. At least for the next couple weeks they all will be. There are a lot of things they can do over the next couple of weeks to hype this. I don’t see Brock being beat just yet, but whoever does face him I hope it’s a good one. To me Brock shouldn’t be the champion. This isn’t UFC where the champ shows up a couple times a year. The title deserves to be defended and on Raw every week. The reality that WWE is facing is that the Intercontinental Title is meaning more than the Universal Title. Brock is awesome and it’s great to see him wrestle, but him as champion doesn’t work.

Backstage Segment:
Rollins, Reigns and Balor argue and are broken up by Kurt. Kurt tells Rollins that he will face Bray Wyatt tonight. Kurt then tells Roman and Finn that they will face each other tonight.

Match 1: Jeff Hardy vs Sheamus
Jeff goes right after Sheamus. Sheamus pushes him off. He looks for the Brogue kick, but misses. Jeff dumps Sheamus over the top rope. He looks to fly, but Sheamus catches him. He slams Jeff as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns Sheamus lands a big knee to Jeff. After a failed pin attempt he gets Jeff in a chin lock. Jeff fights out, but Sheamus quickly slams him. Sheamus has another failed pin attempt and starts toying with Jeff. Jeff hammers away and hits an inverted atomic drop[. Jeff goes for the cover, but Sheamus is out. Jeff looks for a Twist of Fate, but Sheamus fights out and hits a knee to the face. Jeff gets Sheamus into the corner, but is floored. Sheamus goes to the top and jumps, but is caught by Jeff. Matt and cesaro try to get involved. Sheamus hits brogue kick on Matt and he falls onto Cesaro. Jeff hits the Twist of fate. He then hits the Swanton and picks up the win over Sheamus.
Winner: Jeff Hardy.
My Opinion:
Every week I watch the Hardy’s with more attention than I have on any other match or segment. I do this because you just don’t know how long we will be able to witness them on Raw. I love Jeff and every time he is in a singles match he proves that he can still hang on his own. He’s beaten Cesaro and Sheamus. Quietly he is putting together a resume that serves for a singles Championship run. Everytime I see Jeff in there alone all I think is that he deserves a title run again. I love seeing the Hardy’s together, but of Matt can become broken and jeff can be champion I’ll take it anyday. Overall though it was a quick match. Nothing to out of the ordinary, but I think it was the right call to have Jeff win. This way if The Hardy’s retain their titles it is no surprise and if Sheamus and Cesaro pick up a win then it’s a big surprise. Of course it’d be great to keep the rivalry even, but at the same time sometimes it’s better the put one team way over and let it play out. This allows for anything to happen and no matter what you have feelings towards it.

Match 2: Sasha Banks vs Alicia Fox
Sasha quickly tries to take down Alicia. Alicia catches her with a back elbow. Sasha fights back and the ref checks on Alicia. Alicia takes advantage and lands a huge kick. She is able to land a Northern Lights Suplex, but fails on the pin. She gets a chinlock on Sasha, but The Boss fights out and sends her into the corner. Sasha hits a series of clotheslines and follows up with a drop kick. Sasha looks for double knees, but is stopped. Sasha looks for the backstabber, but Alicia sends her to the floor. Sasha comes in and tries to roll up Alicia. She gets a two count. Alicia hits the scissors kick and [picks up the win.
Winner: Alicia Fox
My Opinion:
A very quick match. That lasted all of three minutes. I don’t think Sasha deserves that. I get there are new Women on Raw, but Sasha did a lot for the Women’s division. I feel like the Women aren’t cared about. By that I mean you won’t see someone like Bray Wyatt get beaten in three minutes, why? Well because he is a top player and has done a lot in WWE. Sasha Banks has also done a lot and her credibility deserves to be protected equally as much, but they don’t do that. With what Sasha has done she should have been able to beat Alicia no problem. There is no reason for her to lose that match. If anything Sasha should be on SmackDown in the title picture. I hate how they are slowly but surely burying her.

Match 3: Dean Ambrose (c) vs The Miz:
Intercontinental Championship Match
Ambrose backs Miz into the corner. He hits a number of chops and backs Miz into the ropes. Miz is able to hit a big shot of his own. Miz looks for his finisher, but Ambrose is out of it. Ambrose hits a swinging neckbreaker and Miz rolls out to catch a breather as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns Miz has Ambrose in the corner. He hits a big kick and follows up with a flying clothesline. Miz wrenches on the neck of Ambrose. Miz has trouble keeping it locked in and is driven into the corner. Miz comes right back and hits a neckbreaker. Miz toys with Ambrose and starts the Daniel Bryan kicks. Ambrose looks for Dirty Deeds. He blocks the right hands from Miz and hammers away. Miz goes to the outside and Ambrose flies to take him out. Back in the ring Ambrose builds momentum. He hits a running bulldog and rolls up Miz, but can’t get the three. Ambrose puts Miz up top and looks for a suplex, but Miz fights out. Miz flies from the top, but fails. Ambrose is able to move out of the way of the incoming Miz. Miz is hit with an elbow, but he gets out of the pin. Ambrose grabs Miz, but is countered by Miz. Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale, but Ambrose kicks out. Miz attempts a second, but Ambrose counters. Miz is sent to the outside again and looks to fly, but Maryse gets in the way. Ambrose doesn’t care and flies anyway as Maryse gets out of the way. Back in the ring Maryse distracts the ref. Miz tries a low blow, but Ambrose blocks it. Ambrose makes him pay and the ref calls for the bell.
Winner: The Miz via DQ:
Ambrose is still Champion
My Opinion:
A great back and forth between the two. I’m very happy to see these two on Raw. Both deserve to be in the spotlight. This match though felt very similar to most encounters these guys have had. I wish there was some excitement. Something that aid wow this match was must see. For me a title match needs that. It can’t be the same back and forth. A title match needs something to be remembered by and this didn’t do it for me.

Backstage Segment:
Charly asks Finn if he is ready to face Roman. He tells that this might be Roman’s yard, but this is his Universe.

In Ring Segment: Alexa Bliss
Alexa makes fun of Newark. She tells the crowd they are the poster children of failure. She says tonight they experience a winner. She says that she is the one and only goddess of WWE. She says when you are smarter and more dominate than everyone winning comes easy. She tells of her accomplishments since being on WWE. She is interrupted by Bayley.
Bayley gives props to Alexa. She tells Alexa that at Extreme Rules she is invoking her rematch. Alexa tells Bayley that she doesn’t know what extreme means. She tells Bayley that she will never get extreme and her run is over. She tells Bayley to sit at the kiddy table and leave the championships to the adults. Bayley attacks Bayley. Alexa pushes her down and grabs a kendo stick. She hits Bayley in the back and Bayley goes to the floor.
My Opinion:
I definitely think there should have been more of a fight at the end. It was such a quick exchange that it just didn’t feel right. I feel like these two should’ve brawled and they should have shown a different side of Bayley. I get the idea that leading up we want to wonder if Bayley will be able to get extreme, but this really made her look like she can’t hang and I don’t think it’s good for them to try to make Bayley look so weak. As far as the talking both of them were not on tonight. I think this whole thing went to fast and it did not properly showcase the Women’s Title.

Backstage Segment:
Miz questions Kurt if he wants a champion like Ambrose. Kurt says he makes a good point and Miz will get a rematch. Miz says he wants a match where a DQ wins the title. Kurt says he’s got it, but to watch his tone when talking to him.

Match 4: Neville & TJP vs Austin Aries & Jack Gallagher
Aries and Neville start off, but Neville tags Tj. Aries takes it to Tj and takes out Neville. Neville pulls Tj to the outside and Gallagher and aries take them out as Raw goes to break.
Tj is in control of Aries. He tags Neville and Neville sends Aries to the outside. Tj takes it to him and sends him back in ring. Tj gets the tag and takes it to Aries in the corner. He then gets Aries in a chinlock. Aries fights back with punches to the gut, but aries lands a shot of his own. Aries goes to the apron and takes out Neville. He is able to battle back in and tag in Gallagher. Gallagher hits a big slam. He tries to get a move hooked in, but is backed into the corner. Gallagher waits for Tj. Neville and Aries get in the middle and go after each other. Tj goes for Aries bad knee. Gallagher comes back for his team with two dropkicks, Aries gives some fight and Gallagher is able to land two headbutts. Neville grabs Aries. Tj hits the detination kick and picks up the win for his team.
Winners: Neville & TJP
My Opinion:
It wasn’t a bad match. I will never knock the wrestling of The Cruiserweights, but it seems no one cares about them. Maybe I’m wrong, but when a crowd chants everything all the way to Derek Jeter, I’d say they’re not into. I think WWE needs to do more for the Women’s division and other things than to worry about the Cruiserweights. I just don’t think they fit in on Monday nights. I don’t think it is the wrestlers, but it’s the over emphasis on how they are Cruiserweights. I think if they didn’t push that so much then they would be regular superstars and there wouldn’t be a problem. The whole over glorifying with the purple ropes and things like that just antagonizes the crowd to root against it. They need to understand that the Universe does not like the things they push, ex: Roman Reigns.

Backstage Segment:
Kurt asks Bayley how she is doing. Bayley says she is fine. Kurt says Bayley has a big heart, and says her match with Alexa will be a regular match. Bayley says that’s not fair and she wants to get extreme. Kurt tells Bayley that she will face Alexa in a kendo stick on a pole match.

Backstage Segment:
R-Truth apologizes to Goldust for last week. Goldust says it doesn’t matter, they’re a team and they fit together. He tells him that they will fight back to the top and it starts tonight.

Match 5: Finn Balor vs Roman Reigns
Reigns backs Balor into the corner. They lock up again and Roman gets the advantage again. He tosses Balor and the two stare off once more. Balor uses his right hands to fight back. Roman comes again and launches Balor. Roman lands a big slap. Balor comes back with a kick and rights. Roman lands a Samoan Drop. Balor goes to the apron and is able to counter Roman with a kick to the face. He comes back in hot with a couple of forearms and a kick to the face. He chops Reigns, but Reigns comes back. Balor is able to send Reigns into the corner. He meets him on the outside and sends Reigns hard to the floor. Balor is in control as Raw goes to break.
Back on Raw Reigns takes it to Balor. Reigns comes back onto the apron and Balor sends him back to the floor. Balor tries to come at him, but Reigns sends him into the ring post. Reigns rolls into the ring to break the count. He comes back to the floor to drive Balor into the barricade. Reigns sets Balor up for the drive by and hits it. In the ring Reigns goes for the cover, but Balor kicks out at 2 and ½. Reigns hits big clotheslines in the corner. Balor use the quickness to come back, but Reigns takes his power and counters with a sit down powerbomb. Reigns looks for his finisher, but balor catches him with a kick. Reigns hits a kick of his own. Balor comes right back and sends him to the mat. He then hits a stomp to the chest. Balor looks to size up Reigns, but is met with a Superman Punch out of nowhere. Balor somehow kicks out of the pin. Reigns looks for another way to end Balor. He measures hom for a spear, but is met with a knee. Balor hits the slingblade and goes to the top. Reigns gets back up and knocks him off the top. Reigns hits the spear and picks up the win.
*** After the match Bray Wyatt comes on the titantron. He says this is his world. He says we all will worship his name and we will watch as he will be the new Universal Champion. He questions if Rollins has what it takes to conquer him.
Winner: Roman Reigns
My Opinion:
A great match between the two. I loved that they really showed the heart of Balor. I agree that Roman needed to go over because he is coming off of taking out Strowman and he needed to stay dominate. Even with a loss this did a lot for Balor. We see his heart and it will be no surprise if he can fight and win the fatal five way.

Backstage Segment:
Chalry asks Rollins about Wyatt. Rollins says that Wyatt won’t be the guy who stands in the way of him getting the Universal Title. He states that if anyone is going to slay the beast, it will be the man who slayed the king.

Match 6: The Golden Truth (R-Truth & Goldust) vs The Club (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows)
*** Before the match Goldust attacks R-Truth. He stomps on Truth in the corner and sends him to the floor. He goes to the outside and sends Truth into the barricade. He continues to punch him and sends him back in the ring. Back in the ring he lands more punches and kicks Truth. Goldust grabs the mic and says that’s what’s up.
My Opinion:
I’m glad this happened for two reasons. One I had no desire to see this match at all. Probably would rather watch a Cruiserweight bout than that match. Second Goldust is getting old, that just life, but if he is ever going to make any kind of run ever again and be the Goldust we once knew then he needed to break away from the tag team. Him and R-Truth are pretty useless nowadays so maybe this is best. And hey Goldust got more over then Roman Reigns did, so he’s got that going for him.

Match 7: Big Cass vs Titus O’Neil
Titus goes after Cass. He unloads on Cass in the corner. Enzo distracts Titus and Cass hits him with a huge boot to pick up the win.
Winner: Big Cass
My Opinion:
It’s too bad that Enzo and Cass have nothing going for them and this is what they’re given. I wish all four of these men would have gone/ stayed in Apollo’s case on SmackDown because maybe then they’d get some tv time worth watching. One thing that has been bothering me is that Raw struggles to find good segments to lead into it’s main event. It like we get one good match that goes to 10:15 and from then until about 10:50 we get pointless things. I would think at this point of Raw they would want something good so if someone tunes in they see what raw is all about. Segments/matches like this just don’t do it. They’re time fillers and honestly this is why I wish there was competition for WWE so everything would be good for the whole three hours. Also this is the reason they lose viewers because a casual fan has no interest in this.

Backstage Segment:
Neville tells TJ that he did good. TJ says it’s all great, but he still hasn’t gotten what he is looking for. Neville reminds him that Aries is still hanging around and that tomorrow they will end it once and for all.

Match 8: Bray Wyatt vs Seth Rollins
Seth gets Bray in a headlock. Bray fights out and sends Rollins to the ground. Rollins comes back with a knee and kicks Bray. Bray is in the corner as Rollins lands another shot. Off the ropes Rollins sides under Bray and Bray goes to the floor. On the outside Rollins and Bray go at it. Bray gets the advantage as he slams Rollins up against the barricade.
As Raw returns Rollins lands a dropkick to the side of bray’s face. Rollins goes to the top, but Bray catches him with a right hand. He then sends Rollins to the mat and gets a two count on the pin. He puts Rollins on the top and lands big punches, but Rollins battles back. Bray comes back and hits a suplex from the second rope. Rollins again kicks out of the pin attempt. Bray drives his knee into the back of Rollins. Rollins throws Bray to the apron and he falls to the floor. He looks for the suicide dive, but is met with a right hand. Rollins comes back with a kick and hits a blockbuster. Rollins lands big right hands and hits the slingblade. Rollins sends Bray into the second turnbuckle. Wyatt is sent to the outside again. Rollins is able to hit the suicide dive and send Wyatt to the floor. Back in the ring Rollins hits a clothesline from the ropes. Wyatt comes back and tries for a suplex, Rollins fights out. Rollins hits an enzuigiri. Wyatt comes back with a huge clothesline and goes for the pin, but Rollins is up. Rollins slaps Wyatt and repeats with open hand strikes. Wyatt comes back again and drops Rollins to the mat. Wyatt looks for his finisher, but Rollins rolls him up. Wyatt kicks out. Here comes the Falcon Arrow. Wyatt doesn’t stay down though. Rollins comes off the top rope and drives Wyatt into the barricade.
Out of nowhere Samoa Joe comes and takes it to Rollins. Wyatt and Joe team up on Rollins. Wyatt then hits Sister Abigail on Joe. Wyatt then turns to Rollins and hits the move on him.
Winner: Seth Rollins via DQ
My Opinion:
A great main event. Rollins and Wyatt really went at tonight. This was unique and a reason that the Superstar Shake up was so good. I can’t wait to see the next couple weeks building up to Extreme Rules. There are so many elements to this match and each guy brings his own unique style. I love the way Raw ended and to be honest I love all five guys, but I would love to see Wyatt win and face Lesnar.

Final Thoughts:
Overall I really loved the pace of this Raw. I think somethings we too quick, but overall they did well. I love the idea of the Fatal Five Way match. It’s great to see the Universal Title back into the picture. The big part of being is wrestling, what everyone does it for is to be the world champ. The title needs to be back into the picture. Raw is to dull without the title. At that point they really have to emphasize the storylines and they haven’t been doing well with that. One thing I really want is for the Women’s title to mean more again. They were doing so well and now it’s slowly declined. Raw just use to have so much passion and I really wish they could find that again. I think now that WrestleMania is all over and that’s a year away again, Extreme Rules may be the turning point to more passion again.
Overall Rating: 6.8/10