Posted on 5/12/126 by Bob Magee
Show Recap —
After a Backlash recap video, wrestlers were shown arriving,
and the announcers ran down tonight’s card.
Adam Pearce approached Roman Reigns as he arrived at the
arena in Knoxville. Pearce wasn’t sure Jacob Fatu deserved
to even be here tonight after what he did at Backlash.
Reigns wanted to know where his title (belt) was and why it
wasn’t in his hand. A random stagehand ran up and handed
Reigns his belt.
Pearce reiterated that he didn’t think Fatu deserved to be
here tonight, or even at all. Reigns said Pearce couldn’t
fire Fatu, at least not tonight. Reigns was the one who
brought him in, and he would be the one to take him out.
*******
The Vision segment
Paul Heyman entered with Bron Breakker, Logan Paul and
Austin Theory. Heyman talked about the devastation Breakker
handed out at Backlash. Heyman said Seth Rollins claimed
Breakker wasn’t ready, but it was Rollins who wasn’t.
Rollins would never get a victory over any of them. Heyman
expunged Rollins from the record of ever being a part of the
Vision and said they would never mention his name again.
They moved on to the Street Profits. Theory said the Street
Profits needed the tag titles because they didn’t have
Bianca Belair to pay the bills.
Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins interrupted. Ford said Theory
was right that Belair was busy with the baby, so somebody
had to come to Raw to beat the Vision’s asses. The Street
Profits wanted the titles. (Dawkins did not say anything,
and Ford has done most, if not all, of the talking since
they returned.)
Paul called the Street Profits a legendary team, but they
were old news, and the only notable thing Ford has done
lately was organize a baby shower. Paul asked if Ford’s
balls were in his red solo cup.
Paul was tired of the talk, but was interrupted by Joe
Hendry, who randomly appeared at ringside and sang his “Fire
Logan Paul” song until they went to break. The opening match
began during the break.
Six-man tag team match: Bron Breakker & Tag Team Champions
Logan Paul & Austin Theory vs. The Street Profits & Joe
Hendry
Hendry made a hot tag and hit Paul with clotheslines and a
fallaway slam before doing his little pose. Theory, not the
legal man, attacked Hendry in front of the referee to give
his team the advantage again. (Ford and Dawkins were out of
the ring while this happened.)
There was a boring heat segment during commercials until
Hendry made a hot tag right in time for them to return from
break. Ford and Dawkins knocked Breakker out of the ring
before Ford wiped him out with a flip dive. Theory avoided a
splash, but Ford gave him a powerslam instead for two.
Dawkins tagged in, and the Profits set up for a double-team
move, but Paul knocked Ford off the top rope. Hendry charged
after Paul outside the ring, but Paul sent him into the
steel steps. (That was it for Hendry in this match and post-
match.)
Breakker set up for a running spear around the ring, but
Seth Rollins appeared and clotheslined Breakker. The referee
somehow did not see this. Theory did see it, and it
distracted him long enough for Dawkins to apply a schoolboy
for the pinfall win.
— Theory attacked Dawkins after the match, but Rollins
dumped Theory out of the ring.
Rollins helped Dawkins to his feet. However, Rollins dodged
as Breakker went for a spear, and Dawkins got speared
instead. Rollins superkicked Breakker out of the ring. Ford
saw Dawkins down on the mat and got into a shoving match
with Rollins.
Match result: Angelo Dawkins, Montez Ford & Joe Hendry
defeated Austin Theory, Logan Paul & Bron Breakker (12:20)
********
Backstage, Pearce met with the Original El Grande Americano,
Bruto Credo and Julio Credo. Pearce was trying to clarify
their new identities, and the Creeds pretended not to speak
English even though it’s already been established that these
are the Creed Brothers.
Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio interrupted. Gable Americano
didn’t appreciate being interrupted. Morgan tried to dismiss
him, but Americano said this was serious lucha business. Dom
said he wasn’t even a real luchador, and Americano was
offended.
Pearce decided to make Dom defend his AAA Mega Championship
against Americano tonight.
As Pearce turned to leave, Angel and Berto approached him to
ask for an opportunity. Pearce was more than happy to
listen.
********
Penta and Ethan Page segment
Penta entered. He called himself a fighting champion, and if
Ethan Page wanted a title match, he should say it to his
face. Page entered.
Page mocked Penta for hiding behind face paint and a mask.
Page did not hide. He was all ego, Ethan Page, and he hailed
from the greatest country on Earth, Canada. He pinned Penta
last week, so that should make him the number one contender
for the Intercontinental Championship, but Penta was
probably afraid to lose to him again.
Penta said he was not afraid and challenged Page to a match
right now. Page gave Penta credit for being willing to
defend the title, but Page wasn’t ready right now.
Page said Penta didn’t understand what his title meant. The
IC title was the token of excellence in WWE. Every mega star
had to hold that title to prove themselves, and Page was the
next mega star. The title deserved the spotlight, so Page
challenged him to a match at Saturday Night’s Main Event
instead.
Penta urged Page to work hard if he wanted the title,
because he was ready for war and would be ready.
Rusev interrupted. Rusev said Page amused him. They both
beat Penta last week, and it was Rusev who bounced Penta’s
head off the announce desk. Page interrupted, but Rusev
intimidated him, so Page let him continue. Rusev wanted a
title match.
Page claimed he talked to Pearce earlier and tried to get
Rusev a title match first, but Je’Von Evans barged in and
questioned why Rusev would get a title match if he couldn’t
even beat him.
Evans immediately interrupted (so he must’ve been waiting
around Gorilla in case someone said his name). Evans said
Page’s ugly-ass was lying because none of that happened.
Evans didn’t talk to Page or Pearce, and didn’t say Rusev
couldn’t beat him, even if that last part was true.
Page shoved Evans into Rusev, which led to a brawl, and the
babyfaces stood tall. During a break, Pearce made a match
between Evans and Rusev (our second impromptu match so far).
The crowd didn’t seem to care too much about any of this.
Je’Von Evans vs. Rusev
Before the match started, Evans flew into the ring and
clobbered Rusev with a running knee. The referee separated
them to start the match, and Evans hit another knee strike.
Rusev got the heat later by shoving Evans into the ring
steps.
Evans came back with a Whisper in the Wind, a hurricanrana,
and a dropkick, but Rusev blocked his suicide dive attempt
and gave him a fallaway slam onto the announce table.
Another boring heat segment led to Evans making his comeback
after a break, hitting a springboard clothesline for two.
Rusev cut him off and hit a Ura-nage and Machka Kick for
two. Rusev was frustrated that Evans kicked out, saying,
“He’s a freaking child!”
Evans came back with kicks, a leaping dive, and an OG Cutter
for the clean pinfall win.
Match result: Je’Von Evans defeated Rusev (12:11)
An ok match, but a nice win for Evans.
********
Two members of the Tennessee Volunteers football team were
at ringside.
There was a video package for the AAA Mega Championship and
the Dom/Americano match tonight.
Asuka and IYO SKY segment
Asuka approached Iyo Sky backstage. Asuka gave her a big
hug. She said he was looking for someone to take over her
position, and finally, Sky was that person. She was glad it
was Sky, and she was proud of her.
Sky said they would always be family, even if they fought.
Sky said, “Goodbye, Asuka-san,” and they hugged. Asuka said
a few words in Japanese before kissing Sky’s forehead. Asuka
left with her luggage.
********
Paige and Brie Bella answer Judgment Day
Brie Bella and Paige entered with their tag team title
belts. They were ready for a fight, but they wondered where
Judgment Day was after they made their challenge last week.
Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez entered. Perez said she
loved watching Paige and Bella on TV back when they were
young and still relevant. Perez asked Brie if she remembered
meeting her. Perez said Brie told her that she could carry
on the Bella legacy, but she set the bar too low.
Brie said it was Morgan who set the bar low. Brie wanted
Perez to make her own legacy, not be a footnote for “the
Judgment’s Day.” Brie said, “There’s someone more
disappointed in you than me: your mom!”
Rodriguez held back Perez from going after her. Rodriguez
turned her attention to Paige—the girl who’s been given a
million chances only to fumble each one. Rodriguez said we
were all waiting for Paige’s next big scandal to hit, but
they could save everyone the time by handing over the title
belts right now.
Paige and Brie attacked Judgment Day, but Morgan jumped in
from behind to even the odds. Judgment Day laid out the
champs.
(This wasn’t good. This particular crowd does not seem
interested in these talking segments tonight.)
********
Jimmy Uso told Reigns that Jey was outside waiting for Fatu
to talk him out of going to the ring tonight. Reigns wasn’t
sure why he would do that. Jimmy thought Reigns should leave
Fatu alone.
Reigns said they made an agreement, and Fatu put his name on
the contract. They were men of their word, and they were on
top of the business. If Fatu couldn’t respect his own
family, and there wasn’t respect from within, there wouldn’t
be respect from those on the outside. Fatu had to
acknowledge him.
Jimmy still didn’t trust Fatu. Reigns said if Fatu didn’t
acknowledge him, Fatu’s ass was out of here. Jimmy said he’d
find Jey.
*******
There was a Rhea Ripley video package where she put over the
importance of her time in NXT (including plenty of clips of
Triple H showing her the way).
Michael Cole said Asuka’s future was up in the air, and only
time would tell.
IYO SKY vs. Sol Ruca
They wrestled back and forth for the first few minutes until
Ruca hit a springboard corkscrew dive to the outside. Sky
came back with a butterfly backbreaker during a break for
two.
After the break, Sky hit an avalanche Spanish Fly for two.
Ruca ducked a roundhouse kick and hit a spinning sit-out
powerbomb for two. Sky came back with a missile dropkick.
Sky missed a running corner meteora, so Ruca hit one of her
own, but Sky came back and hit a double foot stomp for two.
Sky went to the top, but Ruca shoved her off. Sky wrenched
Ruca’s knee in the ropes, but Ruca booted her moments later.
Ruca went to the top and hit a cartwheel DDT for a nearfall.
That drew a modest “This is awesome” chant. Sky fought back
and hit consecutive meteoras.
Sky went for a moonsault, but Ruca got her legs up to block
it. Ruca went for the Sol Snatcher, but Sky saw it coming
and caught her in a crucifix cover for the pinfall win.
Match result: IYO SKY defeated Sol Ruca (12:25)
This was a pretty good match, and a different pace than most
matches on Raw. It should be fun to see what sort of match
they have in a year or two.
Sol Ruca’s finisher is not having a good run, however. She
hit Morgan with the move in her debut and failed to win,
failed to hit the move smoothly on Becky Lynch last week,
and, within the context of this match, failed to hit the
move at all and lost. She’s now winless in two Raw matches.
********
Jimmy approached Jey outside the arena. Jimmy didn’t feel
good about this and thought Reigns was delusional at times.
Jimmy and Jey both knew Fatu wasn’t going to acknowledge
him. Jimmy said their family was stressful. Jey didn’t like
hearing that and reminded him that their family was the
reason they were there at all. Jimmy understood. He left to
return to Reigns and wished Jey luck with Fatu. They shook
hands.
********
The Street Profits will get a tag title match against the
Vision at SNME.
Dawkins and Ford were about to be interviewed, but they were
interrupted by Rollins. He said if they were serious about
getting the titles off the Vision, they should talk. Ford
was frustrated because he didn’t want Rollins involved.
Dawkins wanted to hear him out, but Ford wasn’t interested.
Rollins admitted he was wrong when he said they should stay
out of each other’s way. Ford didn’t trust Rollins and said
they didn’t need him to win the titles. Ford and Dawkins
left.
********
Backstage, Sky told Ruca that she was the future, and they
would fight again one day. Ruca thanked her.
Becky Lynch showed up, laughed at Ruca for losing to Iyo
Jannetty, and said the lights must be too bright for her.
********
Oba Femi entered and called out his next challenger, but
Pearce came out to say that nobody backstage wanted to
answer, so the open challenge was cancelled. The fans booed.
Femi was pissed, so he marched backstage while calling
everyone a coward. Angel and Berto were near Gorilla
position in their street clothes, so Femi attacked them and
dragged them to the ring. Femi demanded the referee ring the
bell, so he did.
2-on-1 handicap match: Oba Femi vs. Angel & Berto
Femi hit multiple running corner uppercuts, tossed both guys
around (tossing Angel right over the head of a hunched-over
Berto) and gave Berto a Fall from Grace powerbomb for the
pinfall win.
Match result: Oba Femi defeated Berto & Angel (0:51)
*******
JD McDonagh and Dom walked through the back as Dom made his
way to the ring, but McDonagh was suddenly blinded by Finn
Bálor. Bálor repeatedly shoved McDonagh into some equipment
boxes. Dom was stunned. Bálor told Dom, “Looks like you’re
gonna have to go out there alone, mate.” Dom said he had
gold to defend, something Bálor knew nothing about.
AAA Mega Championship match: Dominik Myserio (c) vs.
Original El Grande Americano
This was the first time this title has been defended on Raw.
There was a fun spot early in the match, where Dom monkey-
flipped Gable Americano high in the air off the apron and
into the top of the ring post. Dom was in control during the
break, but Gable came back after the break with a superplex,
Angle slam, and moonsault for a nearfall. Dom responded with
a Michinoku Driver for two. Gable suplexed Dom into the
corner before hitting a Dragon suplex for two.
Rayo and Bravo Americano ran out to distract the referee and
Gable. El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) hit Gable with a
cheapshot, and Dom followed with a tornado DDT for a
nearfall. Bruto and Julio Credo ran out to chase away Bravo
and Rayo.
Gable put Dom in an ankle lock, but Kaiser Americano leaped
on the apron right in front of the referee (after he was
already distracted earlier). Gable went after him and tried
to rip off his mask, but that distraction allowed Dom to hit
a 619 and a frog splash for the pinfall win.
Match result: Dominik Mysterio defeated Original El Grande
Americano to retain the AAA Mega Championship (9:04)
Gable looked great here, but this Americano feud needed to
end weeks ago, and Gable needs to get out of this mask.
********
Raw next week in Greensboro:
Oba Femi open challenge
Paige & Brie Bella (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez
for the tag team titles
Not sure how they can advertise an open challenge if nobody
even answered it this week.
*******
Jackie Redmond interviewed Paul and Theory backstage. Paul
was still offended by Hendry’s song. Redmond asked if he
meant the ‘Fire Logan Paul’ song. Paul told her to stop,
“unless you want to get fired, too.”
Paul said if he had to hear the song again, he would cut off
his ears like Vincent Van Gogh. Theory told Paul to relax
and told him they should go get dinner.
Redmond tried asking Theory a question. He ignored the
question and asked if she wanted a ride in their car. She
said no. They left. (Maxxine Dupri was already in the back
seat.)
********
Acknowledgement Ceremony
Roman Reigns entered with Jimmy Uso. Reigns told Knoxville
to acknowledge him. They did.
The camera cut to Fatu arriving at the arena, right on time.
Jey tried pleading with him to stop as Fatu marched through
the back. Jey warned him that he would only be creating
problems for himself and his family. Fatu got to Gorilla, so
Jey put his hands on him to stop and told him to be smart.
Fatu headbutted Jey and laid him out.
Fatu looked into the camera and told Reigns that if he
wanted an acknowledgement, Reigns would have to beat it out
of him. Fatu entered through the curtain and was met by
Jimmy, but Fatu attacked him and laid him out, too.
Fatu turned his attention to Reigns. Fatu entered the ring,
and Reigns went right after him. Fatu fought him off and
clotheslined him out of the ring. Fatu tried a dive, but
Reigns hit a Superman punch.
Reigns attacked Fatu repeatedly with a steel chair while
telling Fatu to acknowledge him. Reigns went for a spear,
but Fatu hit a superkick and applied the Tongan Death Grip
(which did get a reaction from the crowd). Reigns fell out
of the ring, so Fatu hit a suicide dive.
Fatu tossed Reigns into the post and steel steps before
clearing the announce table. Reigns tried to fight back, but
Fatu cut him off and powerbombed him through the announce
table.
Fatu put Reigns in the Death Grip as officials swarmed him.
Fatu let go and posed with the world title belt.
They did the thing where they made it seem like the show was
over as Fatu made his way up the ramp, but he instead
sprinted back down to ringside. Jey and Jimmy were checking
on Reigns, so Fatu hit a wild running hip attack, driving
all three men through the barricade.