This week’s episode of WWE RAW aired live from the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. It is the first episode of RAW following WWE WrestleMania Backlash. The RAW Tag Team Championships and the United States Championship were defended tonight. Asuka battled RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair in a Championship Contenders match in the main event.
RAW Results (5/9/22)
- RK-Bro def. Street Profits to retain the RAW Tag Team Championships
- Rhea Ripley def. Liv Morgan via submission
- Finn Balor def. Damian Priest via DQ
- Alexa Bliss def. Sonya Deville
- Veer Mahaan def. Frank Loman
- Cody Rhodes def. Theory via DQ (Theory retained the US Title)
- Naomi & Sasha Banks def. Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H.
- Ciampa def. Mustafa Ali (The Miz special guest referee)
- Bianca Belair def. Asuka via DQ in a Championship Contenders match
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
RK-Bro Retained The RAW Tag Titles, Will Appear On SmackDown
RAW Tag Team Champions RK-Bro kicked off the show and made their way to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. Orton welcomed the crowd to the show and noted that they lost to The Bloodline last night at WrestleMania Backlash. Randy added that before this is all said and done, we will win the war.
Orton said that nothing was on the line last night because Roman Reigns tore up the contract for the Unification Tag Title match. Orton challenged The Usos again to a unification match and handed the microphone. Riddle said that they are going to SmackDown this week to demand the match from the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns.
Street Profits (Monez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) interrupted and said that RK-Bro needs to be worrying about them and not The Bloodline. Montez Ford claimed that the Street Profits will be the ones to unify the tag titles. Street Profits then challenged RK-Bro to a title shot right now.
Ford and Riddle started off the action. Montez slammed Riddle to the mat and mocked Orton’s pose as Randy looked on from the apron. Riddle took Ford down and went for an armbar but could not lock it in. Dawkins tagged in and RK-Bro took control the match.
Orton hit Angelo with some uppercuts before bouncing his head off the top turnbuckle. Randy followed it up with some punches as the crowd cheered him on. Riddle tagged back in and hit a Senton for a two count. Ford tagged in and hit a ridiculous flip onto Riddle outside the ring as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Riddle knocked Dawkins to the outside and connected with a running kick to the face. Riddle went for a Floating Bro but Montez pulled Orton in the way. Dawkins hit Riddle with a Spinebuster and Ford followed it up with a Frog Splash. Ford went for the cover but Riddle somehow kicked out. Montez leveled Riddle with an Enziguri and went for another Frog Splash but Riddle countered into an RKO for the pinfall victory. RK-Bro are still the RAW Tag Team Champions.
Theory Isn’t Worried About Cody Rhodes
United States Champion Theory was interviewed before his title defense tonight against Cody Rhodes. Theory claimed he didn’t need to prepare and can do this all day. He added that is he already great while barely scratching the surface of his potential. Theory joked that he was in diapers last time Cody was in WWE and he’s all about the future. Theory closed the promo by saying the future is the United States Champion and took a selfie.
Rhea Ripley Tapped Out Liv Morgan
The Judgement Day (Edge, Damian Priest, and Rhea Ripley) made their way to the ring as RAW went to a break.
Edge scolded the crowd for not caring about him fighting his way back to wrestle after 9 years. He mocked them for leaving asinine comments and also called everyone in the arena ugly. Edge added that anyone who chooses to live in Hartford are morons and nobody in WWE can touch The Judgement Day.
Damian Priest claimed that individually they were capable of destroying each of your favorites, but together they are something more. They’ve added an “instrument of brutality” and demanded that the crowd all rise for the newest member of The Judgement Day, Rhea Ripley.
Rhea said that joining Judgement Day was the easiest decision of her life. Ripley shouted that she was done signing autographs for kids that just wind up on the internet. She vowed to destroy Liv Morgan later tonight. Edge referred to Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley as his “Saints of Fate”.
Edge said he suggested that Rhea leave Liv behind because she is a human LOL doll holding her down. Edge claimed that his movement isn’t done and they are looking for more. Liv Morgan interrupted and came to the ring for her match against Ripley.
Rhea beat Liv Morgan down in the corner of the ring as Edge & Damian Priest were ringside. Ripley went for a Superplex but Liv blocked it and connected with a Hurricanrana. Morgan followed it up with a Dropkick but Ripley shrugged it off with a big boot to the face for a near fall.
Ripley followed it up with a Clothesline and stomped on Liv’s back. Rhea went for Riptide but Liv escaped. Morgan hit a flurry of punches and an Enziguri. Ripley went for a Clothesline but Liv ducked and countered into a Tornado DDT. Liv hit a Codebreaker and went for the cover but Rhea kicked out at two.
Rhea hopped up and caught Liv with a kick to the face. Ripley dodged a Dropkick and applied a Cloverleaf submission in the middle of the ring. Liv tried to get to the ropes but ultimately had no choice but to tap out. Rhea applied the submission hold again as Edge & Damian Priest mocked Liv Morgan. The Judgement Day then posed in the ring but were interrupted by Finn Balor and AJ Styles. Balor will battle Damian Priest next.
The Judgement Day Sent A Message To AJ Styles & Finn Balor
Damian Priest started off the match in control and stomped Balor down in the corner. Finn connected with a Jawbreaker but Priest shrugged it off and connected with a slam for a two count. Damian then got Balor in a headlock in the middle of the ring. Balor broke free and hit a Russian Leg Sweep.
Balor hit Damian with a Dropkick and a Double Stomp to the midsection. Finn unloaded some chops and rolled Damian up for a near fall. Balor connected with the Slingblade and Clothesline Priest out of the ring. Finn went for a flip but Rhea Ripley stood in the way. Edge then leveled Styles with a Spear to end the match in a DQ. AJ Styles attacked Edge before Rhea Ripley pulled him away.
Edge capitalized on the distraction and bashed Styles into the turnbuckle. Priest hit AJ with a leg sweep as Edge leveled him with a Spear at the same time. The Judgement Day posed once again in the middle of the ring to end the segment.
Lashley Interrupted The VIP Lounge
MVP had Omos as his guest on an episode of the VIP Lounge. Cedric Alexander interrupted and wanted to be a part of their team. Bobby Lashley then interrupted and marched down to the ring. Omos defeated Lashley at WrestleMania Backlash after MVP hit him with his cane.
Lashley took out the security surrounding the ring and launched Cedric into the barricade. Lashley got in a shoving match with Omos and Clotheslined him out of the ring. Bobby was about to attack MVP but Cedric broke it up. Lashley got Cedric in the Hurt Lock as Omos & MVP retreated. Lashley versus Omos in a Steel Cage match was announced for next week’s RAW.
Alexa Bliss Returned, Sonya Deville No Longer A WWE Official
Adam Pearce informed Sonya Deville that she has a match up next against a mystery opponent. Deville came to the ring as RAW went to a commercial break. When RAW returned, Pearce announced that Sonya Deville is no longer in authority and will battle Alexa Bliss tonight on RAW.
Bliss came to the ring with Lilly as Deville was in shock in the ring. The crowd chanted “welcome back!” as Alexa connected with a DDT. Alexa climbed to the top rope and hit Twisted Bliss for the quick pinfall victory.
Kevin Owens & Alpha Academy Attacked Ezekiel
Kevin Owens came to the ring as “Ken Owens” with an absurd wig and grey beard to confront Ezekiel. Owens introduced himself and Ezekiel said “hello Ken”. Kevin told Ezekiel that nobody is actually buying that he is Elias’ younger brother. Owens asked for a raise of hands for who actually believes that this is Ezekiel. The crowd raised their hands and Owens threw another tantrum.
Owens ripped off the wig and demanded that Ezekiel admit that he is Elias. Ezekiel stated that right now would be the perfect time for Elias to come to the ring and sing Owens a lullaby to calm him down. The two superstars started brawling before Alpha Academy rushed the ring. Otis and Gable beat Ezekiel down in the middle of the ring. Otis hit Ezekiel with a Splash and then Owens followed it up with a Stunner.
Veer Mahaan Dominated
Veer Mahaan faced an enhancement talent (Frank Loman) tonight on RAW. Frank was interviewed before the match and dedicated the match to his three children. Mahaan brutally slammed Loman to the mat a couple of times before leveling him with a Crossbody. Mahaan followed it up with a Side Slam and then a Splash in the corner. Veer hit a Clothesline and locked in the Cervical Clutch for the submission victory.
Seth Rollins Attacked Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes was interviewed backstage ahead of his United States Championship match. Rhodes claimed that the chapter with Seth Rollins is closed and nothing sounds better than “the American Nightmare is the new United States Champion”.
Theory and Cody started off back and forth as the crowd got behind Rhodes. Theory took control for a few minutes and got the challenger in a headlock. Cody escaped but walked into a Clothesline from the champion. Theory hit a Suplex for a near fall and went for another one but Rhodes countered into one of his own. Cody then hit a Dropkick and an Enziguri to sent Theory out of the ring.
Rhodes went for a kick but Theory tripped him up on the apron. Theory cleared off the announce table but Cody caught him with a flurry of strikes. Cody went for Cross Rhodes on the table but Theory escaped back into the ring as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, both superstars went for a Crossbody and collided in the middle of the ring. Cody hit a forearm to the face and followed it up with a Powerslam for a near fall. Cody climbed to the top rope and hit a Moonsault for a near fall. Theory hit an Ushigoroshi and went for the cover but Rhodes kicked out at two.
Cody connected with the Disaster Kick and then the Cody Cutter. Rhodes fired up the crowd but Seth Rollins attacked Cody from behind. Seth tacked Cody out of the ring and unloaded a bunch of punches as the crowd booed. Rollins smashed Cody’s head off the announce table as the crowd chanted “you suck!”. Seth then hit Cody Rhodes with the Stomp on top of the announce table.
Naomi & Sasha Banks Picked Up A Win
Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H. battled the Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Naomi in a non-title match. Naomi and Doudrop started off the match and Doudrop sent Naomi tumbling across the ring. Naomi taunted Doudrop by twerking and wound up getting a Senton for her troubles. Doudrop went for the cover but the tag champ kicked out at two.
Naomi battled back and sent Doudrop to the corner. Sasha Banks tagged in and climbed to the top turnbuckle. Banks went for a Crossbody but Doudrop caught her and connected with a slam. Nikki tagged in and went for the cover but Sasha kicked out.
Nikki hit Banks with some punches before applying a submission hold. Nikki hit a Neckbreaker for a two count and set up for her finisher. Doudrop wanted to be tagged in but Nikki waved her off. Banks knocked Doudrop off the apron and hit Nikki with Double Knees. Naomi covered Nikki for the pinfall victory.
The Miz Helped Ciampa def. Mustafa Ali
Mustafa Ali battled Ciampa this week on RAW. The Miz was the special guest referee for the match. Miz claimed that he was going to call the match right down the middle and that Theory asked Vince McMahon to set this up. Ciampa and Ali locked up to start off the match. Ali hit Ciampa with a chop to the chest and Miz got in between them. Ali rolled up Ciampa but Miz took forever to make the cover.
Ciampa leveled Ali from behind and stomped him down in the corner of the ring. Ali battled back but Ciampa caught him with a boot to the face and turned him inside out with a Clothesline outside the ring. Ciampa hopped on the announce table and gave himself a pat on the back before the action returned to the ring. Ali rolled up Ciamp but Miz was slow with the count. Ciampa got Ali in a choke hold before whipping Mustafa into the turnbuckle.
Ciampa went back to the choke hold but Ali broke free. Mustafa hit a Clothesline of his own and then a Crossbody. Mustafa connected with a Dropkick and then a Neckbreaker. Ali climbed to the top rope but Ciampa got out of the way. Ali hit a Superkick and then a Tornado DDT but Ciampa kicked out after another slow count from Miz. Ali argued with Miz and Ciampa capitalized with a reverse DDT. Miz gave a quick count and scampered away.
Becky Lynch Cost Asuka Her Championship Contenders Match
Becky Lynch came down to the ring to join commentary for the main event. RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair battled Asuka in a Championship Contender’s match. The match started with just a few minutes left in the show. Bianca brought Asuka down the canvas as Becky watched on with a heck of a pair of shades on.
Bianca taunted Asuka and the Empress of Tomorrow rolled the champ up for a two count. Asuka hit a Dropkick and went for the cover but Bianca kicked out at two. Belair connected with a Suplex and went for another but Asuka escaped. Asuka rolled Bianca up for a near fall and then transitioned into an Armbar. Belair broke the hold with a massive Powerbomb in the middle of the ring.
Becky Lynch then attacked Bianca Belair and sent her into the steel steps. Bianca Belair won the match via DQ and Asuka lost her title opportunity. This was the third DQ finish of the show. Becky attacked Asuka some more after the match and planted her with the Man-Handle Slam to close the show.
