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WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (May 18, 2020) from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, with all the latest build to the upcoming Backlash pay-per-view (PPV) scheduled for next month.
Advertised for tonight: BlissCrossAppleSauce defend the women’s tag team titles against The IIconics, an axe-throwing contest between The Viking Raiders and The Street Profits, and more!.
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.)
WWE RAW RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR MAY 18
Witchery, weakening, sees the sheep are gathering. Set the trap, hypnotize, now you follow, but me? I’m just here to liveblog this pro wrestling show, folks.
The show opens with a recap of Becky Lynch announcing her pregnancy and presenting the Raw Women’s Championship to Asuka.
Thence to the intro video.
Commentary hypes up tonight’s show,
Charly Caruso is in the ring and she talks about the challenge from Randy Orton to Edge, and introduces the Viper.
She interviews Orton, and he says WWE stands for World Wrestling Entertainment, and wrestling is the basis of everything they do. He talks about Edge winning at WrestleMania and again restates his case for having a vanilla wrestling match as the rematch. He addresses Edge directly, saying he knows why he didn’t accept the challenge last week.
He saw it written all over his face, in his eyes. He saw doubt, the grit and passion faded away, not replaced by doubt and fear.
Edge makes his entrance.
He says Randy gave him a lot to chew on, and he sees the game of chess he’s playing. Orton stands there with that stupid smug smirk and this is just a paycheck to him? Edge says he gets it, Randy is possibly the most talented wrestler he’s ever seen, but this isn’t the life he wanted, it’s the life he was handed, his backup plan.
He says Orton is different than all the other guys in the locker room, because he doesn’t care, he didn’t go to bed dreaming of being WWE Champion. He never had to fight for nine years just to get back here, and he doesn’t love the sport like Edge does. He can say the best wrestler didn’t win—
Randy cuts him off and demands an answer.
Edge accepts.
Commentary recaps Seth Rollins taking Rey Mysterio’s eye out from last week.
Rollins is backstage wearing a suit and hanging out with Buddy Murphy, who is wearing some kind of wetsuit in what I assume was a horrible miscommunication.
Seth says he’s got a revelation he wants to share with the world, and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Seth Rollins makes his entrance with Buddy Murphy at his side.
He gets on the mic and says when he lost to Drew McIntyre, part of him believed that he had lost everything. He fell into a place so dark he wasn’t sure he’d ever escape. But he saw the light brighter than ever before, and it’s all thanks to Rey Mysterio. What happened to Rey has been described by some as heinous and disgusting and unforgivable, and by others as an act of penance paid to him for Mysterio’s disbelief, but he doesn’t see it that way at all.
The way he sees it, it was unfortunate but necessary, a sacrifice for the greater good, the cathartic moment he needed for the clarity he needs to be the leader he’s meant to be. He wants to speak to Rey directly— what happened to him was a blessing in disguise, and he wants to say from the bottom of his heart, you’re welcome.
Enter Humberto Carrillo.
He gets on the mic and talks about how Rey is his idol and Rollins is a coward. He slides into the ring and Buddy gets between him and Seth. Rollins says he appreciates him coming out here and standing up for the honor of his idol, but if he’s out here to fight, he’s clearly not dressed for the occasion. However, his disciple Murphy has a match later tonight and *is* dressed for the occasion, so if it’s a fight he wants, he’s sure Buddy would be happy to oblige.
We go to break before a match can break out.
Buddy Murphy vs. Humberto Carrillo
Carrillo with a kick from the apron, slingshot back in, off the ropes, duck a lariat, passed back to the apron, gamengiri staggers Murphy! Up top, jockeying for position, Buddy trips him up and takes the momentum. Forearm to the back, rear chinlock applied, jawbreaker after the escape, a kick sends Murphy to the apron and a springboard roundhouse puts him on the floor!
Humberto off the ropes... TOPE CON GIRO! Back inside, Carrillo up on the apron but distracted by Seth Rollins and Buddy catches him with a knee! Pumphandle...
Buddy Murphy wins by pinfall with Murphy’s Law.
Post-match, Murphy hammers Carrillo with another knee! ALEISTER BLACK MAKES THE SAVE! They brawl on the ramp, Black throws him in the ring and lights him up with strikes! Buddy barely ducks away from Black Mass and runs away!
King Baron Corbin is shown backstage berating some poor crew member, demanding his own private locker room. Referee Rod Zapata rolls up and Corbin asks him to explain why no one’s bowing down or bringing him food.
Zapata fails to get a word in edgewise as we go to break.
Back from commercial, Liv Morgan cuts a promo.
She talks about how her mom is her hero, and how determined she was. She never quit, and she is her mother’s daughter. A couple weeks ago she had a match against Charlotte Flair, and she didn’t win, but she learned that she’s determined to become Raw Women’s Champion.
Enter Charlotte Flair.
We get a recap of her appearance on SmackDown last week and commentary announces a champion vs. champion match between her and Bayley this week.
Charlotte gets on the mic and says she doesn’t want to bore us with talk about how hard she works or what her credentials are. She calls Ruby Riott out and says she knows she’s got something she’s dying to say, so she invites her out to say it.
Enter Ruby Riott.
She and Charlotte square up and we go to break.
Charlotte Flair vs. Ruby Riott
Flair hammering Riott with chops, dumping her to the floor and following after for more chops. Ruby ducks one and Charlotte chops the post hard! Wrenching away at he hand, trapping it for forearms, but Flair puts her into the post as referee DA Brewer counts. Back inside, choking her over the ropes, but Riott fires back with the headscissors into the turnbuckle and follows it up with an imploding seated senton... NOPE!
Stomping the hand, arm wringer gets a forearm but Ruby catches a forearm and turns it into a reverse STO! Arm trapped while she wrenches the bad hand, she’s got most of an octopus hold but Charlotte counters with a slam. and puts boots to her. Folding press from Riott sets up the Riott Kick but Flair blocks it and stomps her!
Leg picked, spinning toehold into the figure four leglock, bridging back...
Charlotte Flair wins by submission with the Figure Eight.
Bobby Lashley is interviewed backstage.
Montel Vontavious Porter rolls up and says he’s been talking to Bobby and he will not be giving interviews. He’s focused on clowns like R-Truth and also his lovely wife Lana. He asks Lashley what it’d be like if he put his full nelson on the WWE Champion and says it’s been years since he had a chance at it. He’s not trying to cause trouble and he doesn’t want anything, he just wants him to think— when is Lashley gonna free Lashley?
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, we get a recap of the basketball game between the Street Proftis and Viking Raiders.
We get footage of the Street Profits rolling up for their axe throwing competition when a man in a helmet rides by on a horse.
Viking Raiders welcome them as their guests and say they’ve prepared them the smoke they so desire.
Ivar throws an easy bullseye to show them how it’s done and we cut away.
Kari Sane is in the ring (Which is festooned with all manner of balloons and whatnot) and she gives Asuka a big intro.
Enter Asuka.
She gets on the mic and thanks Kairi, accepting flowers from her and hugging. They go back and forth and Kairi runs down her accolades and they celebrate, Sane busting out a flute and playing a few bars.
Enter Nia Jax.
She says Asuka was literally handed the title and soon she’ll be replaced by someone more worthy of the title. Like her, perhaps, and when she becomes Raw Women’s Champion, they’re gonna have a real party. Asuka attacks, lighting her up with strikes and knocking her out of the ring!
King Baron Corbin is interviewed backstage.
He says he doesn’t have any doubts, and Drew McIntyre may be WWE Champion, but he’s a king and he knows Drew better than anybody, and he’s gonna win tonight.
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, commentary hypes up Kevin Owens’ return for later tonight.
R-Truth is in the ring and he gets on the mic, asking what’s up.
He says his cousin Pretty Ricky has told him that Bobby Lashley’s been a bad man these last couple weeks. He talks about never giving up and getting his 24/7 Championship back from Tom Brady, after he’s done with Bobby Lashley tonight.
Bobby Lashley vs. R-Truth
Lashley backs Truth into the corner and says he’s not gonna let him Deebo him before bailing to the floor and turning in Pretty Ricky. He asks Bob what he’s got and Lashley gives chase after only to get lit up with forearms. Duck the kick, fireman’s carry, walking him around the ring... he puts Truth into the ringpost!
Back inside, off the ropes, big lariat sets up half nelson knees, he locks the full nelson in and swings him around a bit before dropping him with the full nelson slam! Lifting him back up and into the hold...
Bobby Lashley wins by submission with the swinging full nelson.
Post-match, MVP comes to the stage to applaud Bob’s dominance.
Backstage, Lana is watching and loses her mind, screaming and throwing a milk crate around.
Kabuki Warriors are shown backstage, still celebrating. They leave, and Nia Jax walks out of the background to send us to break.
Back from commercial, the Iconics make their entrance and cut a promo on the women’s tag champs about how they’re gonna win the titles.
Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross (c) vs. Iconic Duo (Billie Kay & Peyton Royce) (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship)
Bliss and Royce to start, champ with an advantage and they work her over with quick tags. Standard back and forth WWE tag stuff, some wicked rights from Alexa to set up Insault to Injury on Kay, no dice. Twisted Bliss connects... PEYTON BREAKS IT UP! She posts Alexa repeatedly, referee Danilo Anfibio warns her repeatedly and he’s had enough...
Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross win by disqualification due to castigo de excesivo.
Backstage, Kairi Sane is practicing her flute.
Nia Jax comes from behind and throws her into a road case!
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, the Iconics are screaming at each other backstage.
Billie wins the loudness war and tells Peyton she blew their only chance at the titles before slapping her across the face. The enormity of what she’s done dawns on her and she breaks down crying and they hug.
We get some hype for the Undertaker documentary series, and we get a preview of this week’s episode.
Commentary recaps Shayna Baszler’s victory over Natalya from last week and announces a rematch for tonight.
Asuka is shown checking on Kairi Sane.
The medic says she’ll be okay and the champion lets out a primal scream and storms off, presumably to find Nia Jax.
Back from commercial, we see Nia Jax walking backstage.
Asuka rushes up to her and screams at her in Japanese but she just walks off. Asuka’s not having it so she grabs her and kicks her in the head!
Natalya vs. Shayna Baszler (Submission Match)
Circling, collar and elbow, Baszler with a side headlock and into the takeover. Wrenching it in, off the ropes, drop down, Shayna has it scouted but Nattie grabs a leg pick and nearly gets the Sharpshooter! Reversed into an ankle lock, Natalya crawls for the ropes but ends up rolling over and kicking her in the face.
Wristlock applied, mat slam as Nattie nearly gets out of the hold, stomps to the midsection, looking for a Sharpshooter of her own but Neidhart blocks and gets the Sharpshooter on in the middle of the ring! Baszler crawls, Nattie drags her back into the middle of the ring but Shanya eventually gets to the apron for leverage and breaks the hold!
Baseball slide, Natalya follows out after, jawing at her, kicking her square in the back and taking her back inside. Ground and pound, kneebar applied but Baszler pivots herself around and rolls through into the Kirifuda Clutch! Nowhere to go, arm hooked...
Shayna Baszler wins by submission with the Kirifuda Clutch.
Post-match, Nattie remains in the ring, dejected, as crew come to the ring to set it up for the Kevin Owens show.
She kicks at the ropes, taking her frustration out on the crew, breaking the set up.
Backstage, Zelina Vega’s boys are bickering when she rolls up to lay down the law. She’s sick of the fighting and they’re gonna be on the same page tonight. She secures “Yes, ma’am”s from Andrade and Theory and we go to break.
Back from commercial we get some social media hype for Becky Lynch’s pregnancy.
Kevin Owens makes his entrance.
He gets on the mic and says folks have been wondering where he’s been, and the answer is he got hurt at WrestleMania. The good news is he’s good to go, he’s back, and the Kevin Owens show has returned.
He introduces his guests, Zelina Vega, Andrade “Cien” Almas, Angel Garza, and Austin Theory.
Zelina gets on the mic and takes charge, saying she’s sick of people like KO who see one little argument and think her empire is crumbling. She puts her boys over and says they survived on the streets before berating Owens for staying on the apron and being disrespectful. He says he’d argue it’s actually more respectful to keep his distance, but the main reason he’s here is he doesn’t want the ring to be too crowded, because he’s got another guest— Apollo Crews!
Crews hits the ring and tags Andrade down into mounted blows! KO gets in on it, they all brawl, and we go to break.
Andrade “Cien” Almas & Angel Garza vs. Apollo Crews & Kevin Owens
Crews in control in the early goings, delayed vertical, tag to Owens, but soon enough Almas tags in and cuts him off. Working him over, eventually we get some tags and Apollo comes in hot with lariats! Manhattan Drop to Angel, fireman’s carry, Austin Theory causes an inadvertent malfunction at the junction, Crews gets it...
Apollo Crews & Kevin Owens win by pinfall with the standing Blue Thunder Driver from Crews on Angel Garza.
Post-match, Andrade attacks Theory! Garza joins in the attack, Vega directs traffic, they whip him into a barricade with some chairs leaned against it.
Drew McIntyre is interviewed backstage.
He says he’s having a great time and every Monday night is a good time for a Claymore party. He talks up the brand-to-brand invitations and his match tonight, He says Corbin is genuinely a terrible human being but he’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done in the ring.
We get more footage of the Viking Raiders and Street Profits getting to business with the axe throwing. The Profits want to set some ground rules but can’t quite get it done, and Montez throws at axe way far deep into the woods to send us to break.
Back from commercial we get more axe shenanigans.
Angelo Dawkins accuses a horse of clowning him... and throws the axe backward into a cask of some kind of fluid. The assorted renaissance fair types advance on our tag champs and Dawkins observes this ain’t like Thor.
Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy
Black takes it right to him, strikes in the corner, Murphy gives it back as good as he got and they go Frye/Takayama! Aleister lays a huge chest kick in, off the ropes, to the floor, another chest kick against the barricade! Back inside, Rollins checking on Austin Theory, who’s still down and out at ringside.
Action to the floor again, Black inadvertently kicks the ringpost when Buddy moves! Murphy up top, Aleister catches him with a pump kick on the dive! Seth extends a hand to Austin and draws him to his feet, sizing him up. Black boots Buddy off the ropes, catches him with a knee strike, drawing him up with his foot.
Rollins signals, Theory hits the ring and attacks Black! Referee John Cone has no choice...
Aleister Black wins by disqualification, presumably.
Post-match, Seth directs traffic and Black eats a hell of a beatdown. Theory drops him with the ATL!
Rollins sizes Austin up and hugs him!
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial we get a hype reel for Bianca Belair.
Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. Viking Raiders (Axe Throwing)
Viking Raiders start strong, all their axes hitting the bullseye, while all of the Profits axes miss.
Round one goes 5-0 Viking Raiders.
Round two is much the same story...
Round two takes us to 10-0 Viking Raiders.
Round three... Montez gets one! But oh no, the cops roll up! There’s an axe in their windshield and they want to find the culprit! Somehow they get run off and Dawkins off-handed throws an axe backwards into the bullseye!
No finish nor final score is announced, but one assumes the Viking Raiders won.
Backstage, Apollo Crews is interviewed.
He says he doesn’t know whether getting hurt or having to give up his spot in Money in the Bank hurt more, and these last few weeks have been the longest of his life. He knows now he can’t waste any time, and he has to make something happen. He challenges Andrade “Cien” Almas for the United States Championship next week.
Zelina Vega rolls up and offers him a choice— he could cut his losses and walk away with one good knee, or he can get in the ring with Andrade next week and never walk again. Crews says Almas better be ready next week, and asks where he is. Next week, Apollo says, he’ll put the final piece into place and walk out as United States champion.
Drew McIntyre makes his entrance and we go to break.
Back from commercial we get more footage from the axe throwing camp.
The cops give everybody a talking to but they let everybody go because the lead cop thinks Ivar is cute.
Bobby Lashley makes his entrance before the main event can begin, with MVP right behind him.
Porter gets on the mic and asks we pardon the intrusion. He and Lashley have taken a personal interest in this match and Bob would like to say a few words. He’s putting him on notice and coming for the title, and we go to break.
King Baron Corbin vs. Drew McIntyre
Collar and elbow, back and forth, neither man able to get a strong advantage but eventually McIntyre puts him in the corner and breaks clean. A shoving match breaks out, back to the lockup, trading chops, Corbin off the ropes with a shoulder block, whip across, up and over, Drew blasts him with a shoulder block of his own and clotheslines him to the floor!
Following out after, putting him over the barricade! Back inside, Claymore time but Baron bails to the floor. Back in, shoulder block blasts McIntyre off the apron and into the barricade! Back inside, Corbin clubbing away, elbow to the kidney, leg kicks, punch to the face, out and back in and Baron gets a lariat for a nearfall!
Drew laying chops in, off the ropes with a boot, Corbin passes him to the apron and hangs him neck-first across the top rope! Up in the turnbuckles, jockeying for position, Baron hits a superplex! Cover... OUT AT ONE! Jawing at Drew, calling him a follower, off the ropes and the champ catches him with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex!
Big boot, McIntyre up top, diving lariat into a kip-up! Fired up, fireman’s carry, Corbin slips out and hits a back elbow only to get caught by a spinebuster moments later! Jackknife cover gets two, Drew rises to his feet and goes for Future Shock but Baron posts him and hits a back suplex after for another one count.
Corbin off the top, Drew intercepts him and hits Future Shock! Lying in wait, counting down... CORBIN COUNTERS THE CLAYMORE WITH DEEP SIX! Only a nearfall, McIntyre ducks End of Days, hits the headbutt, out and back in...
Drew McIntyre wins by pinfall with the Claymore.
MVP applauds from the stage and points at his watch. Lashley advances as Drew says he wants to fight him, but MVP holds him back.
That’s the show, folks.