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Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 5.22.17

May 22, 2017 | Posted by Larry Csonka
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Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 5.22.17  

Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 5.22.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Roman Reigns defeated Bray Wyatt @ 4:45 via DQ [**]
– Akira Tozawa defeated Ariya Daivari @ 2:08 via pin [NR]
Non-Title Match: The Drifter defeated IC Champion Dean Ambrose @ 10:10 via DQ [**½]
– Finn Balor defeated Karl Anderson @ 6:10 via pin [***]
– Sasha Banks defeated Alicia Fox @ 2:15 via pin [NR]
– Kalisto defeated Apollo Crews @ 2:48 via pin [NR]
Stipulation Match: Matt Hardy defeated Sheamus @ 12:10 via pin [***]
– Austin Aries defeated Tony Nese @ 4:25 via submission [**½]
Non-Title Match: Champion Alexa Bliss defeated Mickie James @ 2:59 via pin [NR]
– Bray Wyatt & Samoa Joe defeated Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins @ 15:00 via submission []


– Neville will now defend the Cruiserweight Championship against Austin Aries in a Submission Match at Extreme Rules.

Bray Wyatt Talks: Wyatt wanted the people to stand, claiming to be the savior that would free the slaves of the beast. It was then revival time, discussing the dangers of the beast and the fact that he would rip his chest open and devour his black heart. At extreme rules he will take out four others, and then go on his journey to slay the beast. He sacrificed Rollins and Joe last week, because there are no fiends, only followers. The demon will also fall, because only he can slay the beast. But then there’s Roman Reigns. What does a single yard matter to a man that owns the whole world? Roman then makes his way to the ring, and told Wyatt to talk his shit to his face. Wyatt explained that he was the truth and the only one that can beat Lesnar. Reigns said at Extreme Rules, he will defeat four men and then take out Lesnar. Kurt Angle arrives, hypes the fatal five-way, and books Reigns vs. Wyatt next. That was one of Bray’s best promos in a long time, mixing his great delivery with a purpose and an actual strain of thought that was easy to follow. Good opening segment as they are doing a good job of making the fatal five-way a big deal, and more importantly the title match a big deal.

– Jinder Mahal will have a Punjabi celebration tomorrow on Smackdown.

Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt: They worked a basic back and forth early, Reigns was favoring the shoulder but he fought off Sister Abigail and sent Wyatt to the floor. They rolled back in, but Wyatt went right back to attacking the shoulder and hit the uranage. Wyatt looked to pick up the pace, but Reigns cut him off with a clothesline. But just as Reigns fired up Wyatt killed Reigns with a running cross body block. Samoa Joe’s music hits and he arrives and attacks Reigns for the DQ. All three brawled, and we got eth Rollins hitting the ring to make the save for his old pal. Roman Reigns defeated Bray Wyatt @ 4:45 via DQ [**] It was here to play off of last week and set up the tag match. Solid.

– Roman bitches at Rollins about helping him, but Rollins was simply looking for revenge against Joe. Kurt Angle arrives and…

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– THE DRIFTER SAUNTERS IN AND PLAYS A TUNE FOR ANGLE! Angle books him in a match or tonight, against Dean Ambrose.

Akira Tozawa vs. Ariya Daivari: they trade strike back and forth, with Tozawa taking control and hitting the senton for 2. Daivari then fires up and hits a clothesline, and then lays the boots to him. They trade knees and kicks, Tozawa hits the RANA and German suplex. Tozawa up top and hits the big senton and that’s that. Akira Tozawa defeated Ariya Daivari @ 2:08 via pin [NR] After some unneeded token offense for Daivari, Tozawa quickly put him away. It was solid, and the crowd loves Tozawa. This should have been more simple and streamlined, with Tozawa steamrolling Daivari ahead of his big rematch with Kendrick tomorrow; Daivari has nothing going on and was completely expendable here.

– Sasha Banks walks and gets interviewed about her match with Alicia Fox tonight. Fox and Dar arrive, with Dar calling her jealous because Fox has him and she has no one.

– Miz & Maryse are out on commentary.

Non-Title Match: IC Champion Dean Ambrose vs. The Drifter: Ambrose controlled early, but the Drifter stunned him off the ropes and took control hitting a running knee strike. Post break, the Drifter took the heat and scored some near falls. Ambrose finally starts to fire back, and hits the neck breaker for the double down. Ambrose then connects with clotheslines, heads up top but jumps into a high knee strike from the Drifter, who covers for 2 as Ambrose counters with a crucifix. Ambrose hits the jawbreaker lariat and Miz hits the ring and attacks the Drifter to get Ambrose DQ’d. Ambrose then chases Miz away and looks to attack but the Drifter makes the save and hits a neck breaker to lay Ambrose out. The Drifter defeated IC Champion Dean Ambrose @ 10:10 via DQ [**½] Real solid in ring debut for the Drifter here, and the finish made sense to add to the Miz vs. Ambrose stipulation at Extreme Rules. Also, neither guy should have taken a pin here.

– We see that Enzo was laid out backstage; Cass is pissed and demands someone get help.

– Post break, Enzo has no idea who attacked this. Kurt Angle promises to get to the bottom of this, Cass says he better before he does. You could see the Revival sneaking in during a backstage interview, so hopefully it was them as a slow burn way to build their return. Murdering Enzo is always appreciated.

– Balor makes his way out to the ring, and cuts a short promo, commenting on the Extreme Rules fatal five-way. But tonight, Anderson is in his path. PAUL HEYMAN makes his return and says that he’s here to scout potential victims for Lesnar. He then runs down the possible challengers, and then addresses Balor and enters the ring. Heyman says Balor is nobody’s victim, and while some may say Balor is an underdog, but Heyman sees him coming. Heyman puts over Balor big here, and believes that Balor will take the other contenders to the extreme. Heyman says he’s here to say that he’s intrigued in a possible Balor vs. Lesnar match. He offers him luck and they shake hands. Balor wishes Lesnar was here, but tells Heyman to tell Lesnar that he will win at Extreme Rules and will come for his title that he never lost, and that he will beat him. Good segment.

Finn Balor vs. Karl Anderson w/Gallows: BULLET CLUB EXPLODES! JIP with Anderson controlling until Balor hits a seated dropkick; he then stomps away at him. Gallows distracts Balor, allowing Anderson to hit a clothesline and then choke out Balor in the ropes. Gallows got in a cheap shot, and Anderson covers for 2. Balor looks to fire up, only for Anderson to cut him off and ground him with the side headlock. The side back breaker follows as Anderson keeps Balor grounded. Anderson follows with uppercuts, but Balor hits an up kick and both men are down. Balor follows with clotheslines and dropkicks, the chops follow. Anderson to the ropes and Balor kicks him to the floor. Balor takes out Gallows with a PK. He cuts off Anderson, up top and Anderson avoids the double stomp and hits the spinebuster for 2. Balor then counters a powerbomb and hits the jumping double stomp; the tope wipes out Anderson & Gallows. Sling blade and the corner dropkick follow; the top rope double stomp finishes it. Finn Balor defeated Karl Anderson @ 6:10 via pin [***] Good sprint with a great energy, with Balor gaining momentum with a good win, overcoming the odds.

Sasha Banks vs. Alicia Fox w/Noam Dar: Banks trips Fox up right away, goes for the Banks statement but Fox makes the ropes and bails to the floor. Dar distracts Banks, allowing Fox to hit a big boot for 2. They work back and forth, Banks sends Fox to the corner but Fox slams her to the buckles. Banks then sends her to the corner, hits the double knees and win. Post match, Dar argues with Banks and she slaps him. Fox attacks, and hits the scissors kick to stand tall.Sasha Banks defeated Alicia Fox @ 2:15 via pin [NR] It was thankfully short, but it look as if this must continue. MEH. That looks to be another detour for Banks before the rumored heel turn and match with Bayley.

– Kalisto is posed with Apollo Crews for fighting Titus O’Neil’s battles and then questions of he attacked Enzo tonight. O’Neil arrives, and wants to know if Kalisto wants to be in the Titus brand. O’Neil then books Apollo vs. Kalisto for later tonight.

– We get discussion & footage of Goldust’s heel turn on R-Truth last week. We then get a Goldust video promo, going old school Goldust in the director’s chair. Truth’s lights are flickering, and he’s barely holding on. He’s back in the director’s chair and controls when his next film will end. The golden age is back. Maybe since they don’t know what to do with her, how about putting Summer Rae with Goldust as a new version of Marlena.

– Alexa Bliss is interviewed. We see footage of last week’s kendo stick attack to hype up the Extreme Rules kendo stick on a pole match. Bliss is happy with herself and can’t wait to do it again at Extreme Rules. She will permanently tattoo Bayley’s body in welts. Bayley can’t get extreme, but tonight, she will do to Mickie James what she will do to Bayley at Extreme Rules.

– We now get footage of Reigns attacking BRAUN and taking him out of action two weeks ago.

Apollo Crews vs. Kalisto: They worked a really fun, fast paced opening stretch. Crews then hit the delayed suplex, covering for 2. Crews then grounds Kalisto, working a front facelock, Kalisto fires back but runs into the dropkick and Crews covers for 2. Kalisto counters the Crews bomb into a cradle for 2. Titus yells at Crews , distracting him, and Kalisto then hits Salida del Sol for the win. Kalisto defeated Apollo Crews @ 2:48 via pin [NR] I hate that they cut off what little momentum that Crews had, but that’s the WWE way, the unexpected loss to start a program. I would have just started it in the backstage segment, with Titus manipulating Crews into beating down his friend. That would have worked easily enough.

Matt Hardy vs. Sheamus: The winner gets to pick the stipulation for the Extreme Rules tag title match. I like that instead of it being just another singles match between the team members to fill time. Jeff & Cesaro are at ringside. Sheamus looks to overpower Matt early, takes him to the ropes and follows with a shoulder block. Matt fights back, hitting a clothesline and sending Sheamus to the floor, he takes a powder and talks with Cesaro, Matt follows, but Sheamus clams him to the apron and then pulls him to the apron and lays in the 10 beats; Sheamus then shoulder blocks Matt off the apron and to the barricade. Sheamus follows with the clothesline off the top, and covers for 2. Matt tries to fire back, but Sheamus lays into him with forearm strikes. Matt sidesteps him, causing Sheamus to post himself and Matt then repeatedly slams him to the buckles. Sheamus had enough of that bullshit and hit a Finlay roll. Post break, Sheamus has Matt grounded, working the heat. Matt slowly starts to land some strikes, but Sheamus cuts him off with white noise for 2. Sheamus sets Matt up top, Jeff distracts Sheamus, allowing Matt to hit the tornado DDT for 2. Sheamus fights off the bulldog, but Matt hits the side effect for 2. Sheamus fights off the twist of fate and hits a knee strike for 2 as Matt gets the ropes. Matt avoids the brogue kick, slides to the floor and Jeff takes out Cesaro. Sheamus kicks Jeff down, allowing Matt to hit the twist of fate for the win. Matt Hardy defeated Sheamus @ 12:10 via pin [***] I really think Sheamus should have won here, as outside of their attack and heel turn, they’ve got nothing in during the feud. Good match and forth match though, so it had that going for them.

– The tag title match at Extreme Rules will be a steel cage match, because Jeff needs shit to jump off of.

Austin Aries vs. Tony Nese: Neville is in the ring, hyping up Nese, hoping that he’ll destroy Aries prior to their PPV match. Neville distracts Aries, allowing Nese to attack. Aries cuts that off, hits the elbow off the ropes and covers for 2. Aries grounds Nese and starts to work submissions, getting in some prep for his rematch with Neville. Nese then escapes the last chancery, but Aries follows with a placha to the floor. Back in and Neville distracts Aries again, and Nese attacks the knee. Aries counters a suplex, favors the knee and they trade strikes. Aries off the ropes, but Nese cuts him off with a jumping elbow. Nese looks for a suplex, but Aries escapes with a guillotine. Nese powers up, but Aries locks in the last chancery for the win. Austin Aries defeated Tony Nese @ 4:25 via submission [**½] They had a chance to and some depth to Aries’ game, and have him win with a different submission, but opted to play it safe with the last chancery. I feel having Aries picking up a win here and say tomorrow with some new holds would have really helped the PPV match, because outside of the last chancery & rings of Saturn, the crowd is unlikely to buy into any other submissions.

– Neville then laid out Nese and locked him in the rings of Saturn.

Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James: James makes her way out to a scary lack of reaction. They work standing switches, with Bliss getting the ropes. They lock up, wok to the corner and Bliss lays the boots to James. She celebrates, but James fires up with strikes, a series of kicks and then the neck beaker for 2. James then lays in cross face strikes, hits the running kick but Bliss counters the head scissors and drops James with a straight right; the DDT finishes it. Champion Alexa Bliss defeated Mickie James @ 2:59 via pin [**] This was ok for the most part, but never got locked in, part of it was that they were rushed, but the right person won heading into the PPV. These two just don’t seem to work together all that well.

– Post match, Bliss gets a kendo stick and lays out James with it. Bayley looks to make the save, gets the kendo and Bliss begs off and bails. Bayley couldn’t pull the trigger, which seems to be a big part of the story heading into their match, can she go extreme, can she play Bliss’ game and can she do what needs to be done to win the title back?

– Tomorrow on 205 Live, Kendrick vs. Tozawa in a street fight.

Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt & Samoa Joe: Rollins and Wyatt start things off, Rollins sends him to the floor and reigns doe not look impressed as Rollins works over Wyatt & Joe. Joe distracts Rollins, allowing Wyatt to shove him off the apron and send him to the barricade. Post break, Wyatt is working over Rollins, they do a double down and Reigns gets the hot tag. He works over Wyatt, hitting the Samoan drop, but Wyatt does his wacky spider walk. Joe distracts Reigns, allowing Wyatt to attack and send him to the floor. Joe then beats him down, sends him to the barricade, and then works him over with jabs. Back in the ring and we see Kurt Angle watching on. Joe looks to keep reigns grounded, but then sends reigns to the corner and hits the enziguri, covering for 2. Wyatt tags in, and slowly continues the beat down on Reigns. Wyatt sends Reigns to the floor, but he posts Joe and start to make a comeback. The drive by kick to Joe connects, Wyatt is sent to the floor but Joe rolls him back in and then Rollins gets the hot tag, he runs wild, hitting the blockbuster on Joe and then a dive onto Wyatt. Sling blade to Joe, and then kicks Wyatt back to the floor and then sends Joe out with him, Rollins hits the suicide dive to both. Rollins back in, heads up top, Joe cuts him off and follows him up alongside Wyatt. Rollins fights them off and hits the high cross onto both. Wyatt then cuts him off. but Reigns returns to make the save. It breaks down, Joe sidesteps reigns and Reigns takes out Rollins with a superman punch. Wyatt pulled reigns to the floor, Joe locks in the clutch on Rollins and the ref calls for the bell. Bray Wyatt & Samoa Joe defeated Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins @ 15:00 via submission [***] Good main event, with it really picking up in the second half and doing good work in continuing to set up the Extreme Rules Fatal Five- Way. It also played as set up for next week’ main matches.

– Balor meets with Angle and wants a match against one of the four in the main event. Angle books Balor vs. Joe vs. Wyatt for next week. He also books Rollins vs. Reigns, and proclaims that he’s a great GM.

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~GLORIOUS~

7.0
The final score: review Good
The 411
Raw has been a stronger show the last few weeks, dropping a lot of the filler and keeping a great focus on the Extreme Rules PPV and in particular the big Fatal Five- Way. They also continued building to Miz vs. Ambrose, Bayley vs. Bliss, Neville vs. Aries & The Hardys vs. Sheamus & Cesaro. You even have kickoff match potential with Kalisto vs. Crews & Goldust vs. Truth being built. Raw is still far from a great show or must see TV, but this week’s was a good, focused effort.
legend

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RAW, WWE, Larry Csonka