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WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (May 2, 2016) from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, featuring the fallout show from the Payback pay-per-view (PPV) that went down just last night in Rosemont, Illinois.
Advertised for tonight: Shane and Stephanie McMahon are both running the show now, Roman Reigns is already booked for a rematch with AJ Styles at Extreme Rules, and the Intercontinental title scene is suddenly very crowded. Plus, other stuff!
Come right back here at 8 p.m. ET when the Raw live blog kicks off once the show starts on USA. It will be below this line here. (REMINDER: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED.)
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WWE RAW RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR MAY 2
What's up, folks? Kyle here. Payback was a fun show so let's hope Raw is as well.
Then. Now. Forever.
They play a video recapping the Shane/Steph stuff and the Roman/AJ stuff that contains an extremely corny narration.
The show starts with Stephanie, who is soon interrupted by Shane. Steph gives Shane a peace offering gift. It's the picture of young Vince and a child Shane - the same picture Vince stomped on prior to WrestleMania. She then do a thing where they try to get the other to give the ideas for tonight's show. Shane starts to talk but then he's interrupted by Kevin Owens.
After sucking up for a bit, KO says he has an idea too. And that idea is a rematch for the Intercontinental title. He appeals to Stephanie because he has no faith in Shane to do the right thing. Cesaro then interrupts and makes the point that he had the IC champ tapping out but unfortunately him, Kevin Owens' presence ended up costing him that title.
Shane makes a Cesaro vs. KO match to determine the #1 Contender for the IC title. (Shane's ideas are already in reruns.)
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Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro for the IC title #1 contendership
Miz and Maryse are on commentary.
Cesaro starts hot with a ton of uppercuts and a drop kick. Cesaro has control for awhile until a KO superkick gives him control. He starts gunning for Cesaro's bad shoulder. Cesaro fights back and while KO is on the top rope, the Swiss drop kicks him and gut wrench suplexes him from the top. KO regains control with a frog splash from the apron onto Cesaro who is on the floor as Raw goes to commercial.
After the break this is a real fun back and forth affair that includes a lot of uppercut based offense from the Swiss Superman. When they are outside, KO tries to use Miz's IC title to hit Cesaro. Miz takes exception and takes his title back. Cesaro uppercuts both Miz and KO and goes back in the ring. Miz decides to run into the ring and attack Cesaro, ending the match in DQ.
Cesaro def. Kevin Owens via disqualification
After the match, both heels are beating down Cesaro and then Sami Zayn comes out to make the save. He is standing tall at the end, eyes the IC title, and holds it up to the crowd's excitement.
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Stephanie runs into Dean Ambrose backstage. Dean tells her he doesn't buy her smiling act. He thinks she's the same Stephanie as usual. Steph says Dean can have an ask me anything Ambrose Asylum with her tonight.
Backstage, the Gorgeous Truth (Tyler Breeze and R-Truth) and Truth is coming up with a rap for their entrance. Goldust comes in and calls them the "Average Looking Truth" which upsets Tyler. This sets up a Breeze vs. Goldust match for later on. (I hope this all ends with a Breeze/Fandango team.)
Also backstage, AJ is talking to Gallows and Anderson. They tell AJ there's no way that Roman leaves Extreme Rules as champion. Roman comes back and says "Is that so?" AJ holds his buds back. Roman says he respects AJ, but says the fact that Anderson and Gallows keep interfering means they don't think AJ can do it on his own. They then set up a Roman/Usos vs. AJ/Anderson/Gallows tonight.
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Goldust (with Fandango) vs. Tyler Breeze (w/R-Truth)
Truth's selfie stick that is just a phone duct taped to a twig is the best. Then he does the pose on the ring apron alongside Tyler and it's pretty hilarious.
Fandango and R-Truth have a dance off on the outside. This distracts Goldust and then Tyler rolls him up for the win.
I repeat: Tyler Wins!
Tyler Breeze def. Goldust
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New Day/Vaudevillains/Dudley Boyz/Big Cass segment
Cole announces that the Vaudevillains were awarded the win at Payback last night and will face New Day at Extreme Rules.
New Day comes down. Xavier says that if his phone wasn't dead, he'd show everyone all the DMs that Beyonce slide up into last night. Kofi and Big E make him tell the truth and he admits that's not true. However, they do have something real and that's the tweet of Enzo Amore outside the hospital.
The Vaudevillains come out and English said that while last night was tragic a real man would have gotten back up. Real men like them. Gotcha said they made Enzo the realest guy in the Emergency Room. He then asks Enzo "How are you doing?"
The Dudleys then interrupt. They tell the Villians that they didn't do anything last night. And as far as he and D-Von are concerned, the whole tag tournament should be restarted right now. While they're talking trash, the Realest Guys music hits!
Cass comes out solo. He says that Enzo is his family and he's going to finish what they started last night. He makes fun of the Dudley stutter and reminds them they already eliminated them from the tournament. He calsl them SAWFT. He gets in the ring and goes right after the Villians and then all the teams in the ring brawl!
Dudley Boys and the Vaudevillains vs. New Day and Big Cass
As the Villains are getting worked over, Bubba shouts "I thought you guys were good? C'mon!" He's a trash talker extraordinaire. Cass gets some heavy hits against Gotch and and then the New Day delivers the Unicorn Stampede. The heels take charge when Bubba goes to work on Xavier while shouting out to the Villains how to beat someone up.
Woods is the face in peril for awhile. He tags in Kofi, who is hot. However, he is dumped out of the ring and English tosses him into the ring post as Raw goes to commercial.
Kofi is still in trouble when Raw returns. Big Cass is finally tagged in and the crowd pops for it. The big man cleans house! When Cass goes for the cover after hitting the Empire Elbow, the match breaks down. Bubba tags in and gets the advantage on Cass. The Dudleys set up for 3D but Kofi hits a big cross body block on Bubba from the top rope and Big Cass hits the East River Crossing on D-Von for the 1-2-3.
The New Day & Big Cass def. The Dudleys and the Vaudevillains
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Becky Lynch vs. Emma
Becky has control in the early part of the match. Emma grabs her leg and pulls her down from the ropes, which gives her control. Becky tries to fight back multiple times but Emma has her number. She shouts "It's about me!" to the crowd and hits the Emma-mite sandwich (if she still calls it that as a heel.)
Becky finally fights back and suddenly she's all over Emma. Bex goes for the Disarmer but Emma rolls to the ropes. As the Lass Kicker tries to follow up, the ref holds her back since Emma was on the ropes. Emma takes the opportunity to poke Bex in the eye. That allows her to hit a Michinoku Driver for the pinfall win.
Emma def. Becky Lynch via pinfall
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Another Epico and Primo video and apparently there's no fast food or vending machines in Puerto Rico. I'm not sure if I believe that.
The Ambrose Asylum with guest Stephanie McMahon
Dean reiterates that he thinks Steph hasn't changed and that she's likely fuming over having to share Raw with her brother. He then asks about the spear she took from Roman at Mania. She remains calm and takes responsibility for this because she shouldn't have been in the ring arguing with the ref. He brings up Shane returning to a hero's welcome and then running Raw better than the Authority ever did. She remains calm during that, and says the crowd response is due to the loyalty of the WWE Universe.
Ambrose talks about loyalty and brings up how Steph's loyalty to the company has cost her so much time with her daughters. He asks if she thinks Shane has made those sacrifices. While this seems to be starting to anger her, she still keeps calm. But much like Vince changed things last night, she is going to do that now... by canceling the Ambrose Asylum.
Dean doesn't seem too upset though and decides to peace. She then introduces the returning host of the Highlight Reel: Chris Jericho! (I guess he's not leaving given his tweet. Great trolling again, Chris.)
The men brawl on the entry ramp. and into the ring. It ends with Jericho hitting a Code Breaker. He destroys the set and then takes Mitch the plant and cracks it over the head of Dean.
Chris Jericho: The destroyer of inanimate objects with names.
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Battle Royal to decide the #1 Contender for the US championship
Titus O'Neil gets an entrance. As does Sheamus and Baron Corbin. Alberto Del Rio and Rusev were already in the ring. Ziggler is also a wrestler of note in the ring. The Outcasts are there too.
Apollo Crews eliminates Stardust furthering that "story."
Sheamus eliminates Apollo Crews.
Ziggler eliminates Baron Corbin. Corbin pulls him under the rope and beats the crap out of him on the outside. He feeds him back in and Rusev eliminates him. (That's what you get for messing with Rusev last summer, Dolph.)
Sheamus eliminates Titus O'Neil.
Final four are Alberto Del Rio, Sheamus, Rusev, and Zack Ryder. The Lads triple team Zack Ryder for a while. They try to eliminate him but he hangs on and the Lads don't realize because the former League start fighting each other. ADR eliminates Sheamus. Rusev tries to eliminate ADR right after but can't... but Zack Ryder does!
It's down to Ryder and Rusev. Ryder is holding his own. He hits the Broski Boot and tries to eliminate Rusev but Rusev shifts momentum and eliminates Ryder instead!
Rusev wins the battle royal to become #1 contender for the US title.
Lana joins him in the ring to celebrate.
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Charlotte, Ric Flair, Charles Robinson, and Natalya segment
Ric and Charlotte come to the ring. They both deny any controversial to the match last night. The Harts are just quitters. But to clarify things, they decide to call Charles Robinson to the ring.
Robinson comes to the ring NOT wearing a Flair robe, so that's disappointing. Charlotte asks Charles if Nattie submitted to the Sharpshooter. Robinson says she did quit, but it was verbal. Ric says "She was begging, Lil' Naitch." Charlotte asks if the fact he idolized Ric Flair (as Ric Flair dances a bit) had anything to do with it. Lil Naitch denies that it did.
After he reaffirms that the decision is finale, they give him some pounds and dismiss him. Nattie isn't happy and she comes to the ring. She says it's not about Charles Robinson or Charlotte but it's about Ric, who paid a referee to screw her out of the women's title. She says that when it comes to the Harts and Flairs, the Harts are the best there is, was, and every will be.
Charlotte attacks her but Nattie blocks and tosses her out of the ring. Then she stares down Ric, who takes off his jacket, watch, and ring for a fight. She smacks him and puts him in the Sharpshooter!!
Charlotte has to drag him out but Nattie keeps Flair's rolex and Hall of Fame ring!
Backstage, Stephanie meets up with Ric and Charlotte. She says that Charlotte will get to prove herself when Charlotte rematches with Natalya at Extreme Rules in a submission match... and Ric Flair is banned from ringside!!
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Roman Reigns & the Usos vs. AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson
The match starts with Styles and Reigns. The crowd has a pretty loud split "AJ Styles" "Roman Reigns" chant. Gallows tags himself in against Reigns. He has an early advantage on the champ, but he turns to AJ and screams "I told you, I've got this" and this allows Reigns to take control.
The Usos work on Gallows for a bit, but it just takes a big boot to a flying Uso to give AJ's team the control. Raw goes to break and when they come back, Jey Uso is the face in peril. However when Styles was having words with his own partners, Uce hit him with a big superkick and Roman Reigns gets the hot tag.
AJ eventually tags himself in but can't get going on Roman. Roman goes for the Superman Punch but AJ hits him with a Pele. Jimmy Uso tags in and gets a good amount of offense on AJ but can't put him away. The match starts to break down. Anderson and Gallows double team Roman against the barricade!
Uce knocks AJ out of the ring and runs to dive on him but Styles is quickly up and hits the Phenomenal Forearm for the win!
AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson def. Roman Reigns and the Usos
After the match, Anderson and Gallows drag Roman into the ring and introduce a steel chair. AJ does not seem happy about this. Anderson goes to hit Roman with a chair but then gives it to AJ instead, insisting he do it! Styles sets up.... but tosses the chair and refuses to do it.
However, then the Usos grab the chair and use that chair on Styles and take out Gallows and Anderson. Well now AJ is fine with using the chair on the Usos. Roman gets up behind him... and delivers a Superman Punch to Styles!
Roman then goes outside the ring and starts tossing AJ around. He sets up the announce table... and POWERBOMBS AJ THROUGH THE TABLE!
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That's the show, folks. Thanks for watching with us!