WWE Raw Review – May 20, 2024
Kicking off this week’s Raw with Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn welcomes fans to Raw and says King & Queen Of The Ring is only 5 days away. He addresses his Triple Threat Intercontinental Title match against Chad Gable & Bronson Reed then says he was asked in an interview earlier today why he agreed to the title defense. He says he has 2 different issues he’d rather deal with at the same time in seeking his vengeance on Chad Gable for his attack on him in front of his family and Reed chasing after his title. He says if he’s putting money on mind, body and soul, he’ll bet on soul every time. He says soul is why he’s the reigning Intercontinental Champion and says he will walk out Saturday still holding the title.
Alpha Academy’s music hits and the group makes their way down to the ring. Gable asks Zayn if he heard him call him manipulative then says he didn’t manipulate Zayn into winning the Intercontinental Title at WrestleMania 40 Night 1. He says he coached Zayn selflessly and says he’s been too nice. He cites Maxxine Dupri losing her Queen Of The Ring Tournament 1st Round match against Shayna Baszler, Akira Tozawa’s loss against Bronson Reed last week and Otis being a disappointment as examples of how he’s been too nice to help them with no results.
Zayn asks Dupri, Tozawa & Otis how much longer they’re willing to put up with Gable’s crap and Gable gets defensive. He says the 3 of them have re dedicated themselves to him, and says he’s sick of listening to Zayn talk about his heart and soul. He says he doesn’t have to pin Zayn on Saturday to dethrone him as champion but he will and he will take his soul. Zayn says that’s all well and good but last he checked, King & Queen Of The Ring isn’t for 5 more days. He says they’re scheduled for competition tonight and challenges him to meet him in the ring for their match now.
Non Title Match
Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn vs. Chad Gable
Match starts off with a lock up.
Sami Zayn fires off right hands on Chad Gable then levels him with a clothesline and hits an elbow drop off the middle rope.
Zayn then clotheslines Gable out of the ring and Alpha Academy helps Gable up.
Gable brushes them off as we go to a break.
After the break Gable hits a suplex to Zayn then ascends to the top rope and looks to land a flying headbutt but Zayn moves out of the way.
He hits a clothesline and sets up for a Blue Thunder Bomb but Gable avoids it and lands a 2nd suplex.
Gable distracts the referee and Dupri considers landing an open palm strike on Zayn.
She ultimately decides against it and Gable chews her out.
Zayn lands a boot on Gable then fires off right hands on him in the corner.
Gable rolls out of the ring and Zayn follows but Gable inserts Dupri between himself & Zayn to keep Zayn from attacking him. They get back in the ring and Gable distracts the referee.
Akira Tozawa debates taking a shot at Zayn but can’t bring himself to do it.
Gable chews him out then calls him and Dupri failures.
He ejects them both from ringside to the anger of the crowd.
Zayn lands a Blue Thunder Bomb on Gable and goes for a pin but Gable kicks out and rolls out of the ring in front of Otis as we go to a break.
After the 2nd break Gable hits a pair of German suplexes to Zayn and looks for a 3rd.
Zayn fights him way out with a few back elbows then hits 2 German suplexes of his own.
Gable fires off a few back elbows of his own on Zayn but Zayn connects with a Michinoku Driver.
Gable cinches in an Ankle Lock on Zayn but Zayn makes his way to the bottom rope to escape with a rope break.
Gable dumps Zayn out of the ring and distracts the referee once again and considers landing a right hand on Zayn.
He can’t bring himself to hit it and Gable dumps Zayn back in the ring.
He berates Otis then slaps him and grabs the Intercontinental Title from ringside area.
He gets back in the ring, but before he can use it Zayn lands an Exploder.
He gets up for Helluva Kick but Otis clotheslines him.
This allows for Gable to hit the Chaos Theory for the win.
Winner: Chad Gable
Michael Cole & Pat McAfee spoke at ringside and acknowledged the recent QR codes that have appeared on the screen.
A subtitled Iyo Sky vignette aired. Sky said Lyra Valkyria is flying too close to the sun. Sky said she will soon be Queen Of The Ring.
After the break Jackie Redmond spoke with Alpha Academy. Redmond asked about Otis getting involved in Gable’s match. There was a loud banging sound in the background. Redmond ended the interview and followed Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee & Joaquin Wilde as they ran to find Zelina Vega & Adam Pearce checking on an injured Cruz Del Toro. Redmond said there had been some type of altercation and she would work to provide additional details.
Bron Breakker vs. Kale Dixon
Match starts off with Bron Breakker lands a spear on Kale Dixon.
He dumps him out of the ring then lands a running spear and sends his head bouncing off the ring apron.
He drags Dixon back inside and the referee checks on Dixon.
He calls for the bell and declares Breakker as the winner.
Winner By Referee Stoppage: Bron Breakker
After the match Breakker runs the ropes and lands another spear. He picks up one of the ring steps but officials run down to the ring. Breakker puts down the steps but opts to grab a chair from the timekeeper’s area. He then cracks it across Dixon to sandwich him between it and the ring steps.
After the break we see Kale Dixon being stretchered out of the arena into an ambulance. An angry Adam Pearce then asks Bron Breakker what he was thinking and Breakker says it’s on Pearce for not putting him in the King Of The Ring tournament.
We then head over to a video recapping Iyo Sky & Lyra Valkyria’s journey to the Semi Finals of the Queen Of The Ring tournament.
In the Gorilla Position Women’s World Champion Becky Lynch wishes Valkyria luck in her upcoming match and she makes her way down to the ring.
Semi Final Match Of The 2024 Queen Of The Ring Tournament
Iyo Sky vs. Lyra Valkyria
Match starts off with a lock up then they take turns cinching in side headlocks on one another.
They rolling each other out before Lyra Valkyria hits a crossbody out of the corner as we go to a break.
After the break Iyo Sky hits a jawbreaker to Valkyria off the top rope.
She fires off right hands on her then fires off stomps on her in the corner and jams her boots into Valkyria’s chest.
She connects with a double underhook backbreaker and locks in a submission hold then transitions into a series of pinfalls.
Valkyria kicks out of all of them and Sky lands a few kicks on her jaw as she mocks her.
Valkyria catches one of them and hits a German suplex.
Valkyria hits a pair of clotheslines and 3 kicks then lands an enzuigiri and a dropkick through the middle rope to level Sky on the outside.
She tosses Sky back in the ring and ascends to the top then hits a crossbody and a Brainbuster then goes for a pin but Sky kicks out.
Sky lands a running Meteora on Valkyria then locks in a reverse Boston Crab.
Sky then locks in a crossface but Valkyria escapes by reversing into a pin.
Sky kicks out and charges at Valkyria in the corner but Valkyria dumps her onto the apron.
Sky then hits a springboard dropkick and a pair of running knees to the back of Valkyria’s neck then ascends to the top rope but Valkyria pulls her off.
They end up on the outside and Sky hits a springboard moonsault to Valkyria as we go to a 2nd break.
After the 2nd break Valkyria fires off forearms on Sky.
Sky lands a double stomp on Valkyria then looks to land a pair of double knees on Valkyria in the corner.
Valkyria then moves out of the way and hits a tornado DDT then connects with a move.
She then gets Sky up on her shoulders but Sky escapes and connects with a German suplex.
She follows it up with a Meteora and sets up for Over The Moonsault but Valkyria intercepts her and sets up for Night Wing but Sky moves out of the way and lands a powerbomb.
Sky ascends to the top rope and looks to land the Over The Moonsault but Valkyria rolls out of the way.
Valkyria gets Sky up on her shoulders but Sky slips out and looks to roll up Valkyria.
Valkyria sits down into a pin of her own for the win.
Winner: Lyra Valkyria (19:15)
Rate: 7
After the match Jackie Redmond joins Valkyria in the ring to interview her. Sky grabs Redmond’s mic and yells at Valkyria in Japanese then hands it back to Valkyria to chat with her about her win and making it to the Finals.
Backstage World Tag Team Champion R Truth spoke with New Catch Republic before World Tag Team Champion The Miz showed up. Tyler Bate thanks Truth for the chat and said he hopes to see them down the line and maybe for the World Tag Team Titles. Miz spoke with Truth about facing Judgment Day. Truth said his buddy Andre the Giant would have their back. Miz reminded Truth that Andre passed away 30 years ago. Truth told Miz to trust him and walked away. Miz looked up and told Andre they could use some help.
Backstage Ilja Dragunov was interviewed by Kayla Braxton & she asked who would win the King Of The Ring tournament. Dragunov said there’s no shame in losing to Jey Uso. Dragunov spoke of how Gunther broke him several times. Speed Champion Ricochet showed up and said that just because Dragunov got the best of him once doesn’t mean it’s over. Suddenly Bron Breakker speared Ricochet into some production crates.
After the break trainers tended to Ricochet while Ilja Dragunov & Adam Pearce stood by.
After the break we head over to a video showcasing Jey Uso & Guther’s journey to the Semi Finals of the King Of The Ring tournament.
Footage aired from earlier in the day of Gunther cutting a promo while walking down the steps in the empty arena. He spoke of how the seats would be filled with fans who would be filled with hope and illusion. Gunther said he’s in the business of taking people back down to reality. Gunther said it’s not about who is the more exciting act on their way to the ring, it’s about who is better once the bell rings. Gunther said Jey might be the best showman in WWE but he is superior to him inside the ring.
Inside the Judgment Day clubhouse World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest spoke with Finn Balor & JD McDonagh about their World Tag Team Titles match. Priest approached Carlito as he was standing with Dominik Mysterio. Priest said he heard about what Carlito did to Cruz Del Toro and said he would be out for a while. Priest said the LWO would be coming after Carlito.
Carlito said he decided to strike first and was now lying low with Judgment Day. Priest asked if he missed the APA sign. Priest said they are not Carlito’s personal security. Mysterio spoke up for Carlito reminding Priest that he helped Balor & McDonagh. Priest said that’s why he was welcome this week and then told Carlito to keep earning his keep.
Balor told Priest he wished they were teaming up again but said he gets it because Priest is the champion now. Balor left the room. Carlito said something to Priest & asked what was wrong with him. A nervous Carlito asked if they were cool as Priest left the room.
After the break Footage aired of Baron Corbin rolling the 1st ball at the PBA playoffs he knocked down 9 pins & Pat McAfee used the elastrator to break down Corbin rolling the 1st ball.
Zoey Stark & Shayna Baszler were getting ready backstage when they were approached by Sonya Deville & she introduced herself to Stark. Deville said she wanted to talk to them and asked if they had a moment to talk. Stark was interested but Baszler said they weren’t interested in whatever Deville was trying to sell them.
World Tag Team Titles Match
Awesome Truth (The Miz & R Truth) (c) vs Judgement Day (JD McDonagh & Finn Balor)
Match starts off with The Miz & Finn Balor lock up before JD McDonagh tags in and fires off stomps on Miz before R Truth tags in and hits a leg drop.
He hits a splash in the corner then tags Miz back in.
Miz hits IT Kicks to McDonagh in the corner then lands a clothesline on him and lands a boot on Balor on the apron as we go to a break.
After the break Miz clocks Balor on the apron with a forearm before he & McDonagh level one another. Truth & Balor tag in and Truth hits Balor with a pair of shoulder tackles.
He sends Balor crashing into the mat then looks to pay tribute to John Cena with a 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Balor avoids it but Truth locks in a STF.
Truth relinquishes the hold after Miz & McDonagh get inside the ring.
McDonagh tags in and Truth sends him crashing into the mat with a sidewalk slam.
Miz does the same to Balor and they hit a double 5 Knuckle Shuffle.
Carlito runs down to the ring and hops up on the apron but Miz clocks him with a forearm.
Truth pins McDonagh but Carlito breaks the fall by putting McDonagh’s foot on the bottom rope.
Braun Strowman’s music hits and he hits Carlito.
He chases McDonagh around the ring and back inside as Truth is there waiting with an Attitude Adjustment for the win.
Winners & Still World Tag Team Champions: Awesome Truth (STILL CHAMPIONS!!!!)
After the match Awesome Truth & Strowman hug in the ring.
We then head backstage and see Lyra Valkyria encounter Becky Lynch. They have a friendly exchange before Valkyria runs into Liv Morgan and Morgan punches Valkyria.
After the break Bronson Reed entered Sami Zayn’s dressing room and told him that he doesn’t need to be concerned with Chad Gable’s mind games. Reed told Zayn to look into this eyes. Reed said he only cares about business and violence is how he makes his money. Reed said he will use his body as a weapon and get his biggest payday yet on Saturday. Reed left the room.
Otis approached Zayn & said he thought Otis was better than what he did. Zayn asked Otis if he was proud of himself and told him that he should not be. Otis stops Zayn from leaving and said that he was sorry. Zayn said he knows Otis was sorry because he’s a good guy, but Chad Gable is not a good guy. Gable said he’s been in Otis’s shoes before and said Otis would be better off listening to the fans than Gable.
Becky Lynch says The Man has come around to Greensboro then says in 5 days at King & Queen Of The Ring, she will be defending her Women’s World Title against Liv Morgan. She says they’ve fought many battles against one another but Morgan is now hell bent on revenge.
Before she can continue Morgan’s music hits and she makes her way down to the ring. Morgan asks Lynch how she was the bad guy after want happened last week then says all she cares about is her purpose: the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour. Lynch says Morgan has finally figured out what she’s doing after 10 years while she’s known her purpose as a wrestler since she was 15 years old. She rattles off a few of her accomplishments and says WWE is better than when she found it now.
Morgan says Lynch rattling off her accomplishment and saying she breaks barriers makes her come off as selfish then tells fans Lynch doesn’t care about WWE or the fans. She says all Lynch has ever cared about is herself, then says she will finally sits where she belongs as the new Women’s World Champion. Lynch says fans know Morgan is lying because they can’t be tricked. She says she does everything for fans.
Morgan then heads down to the ring as Lynch looks to fight her but hops down before she gets back in and mocks Lynch. She says she’s going to wait to do the smart thing on Saturday when they battle it out for the Women’s World Title.
Inside the Judgment Day clubhouse Damian Priest asked the others what happened. Priest recalled telling Carlito to earn his keep. Dominik Mysterio spoke up and said he thought JD McDonagh was supposed to handle Braun Strowman.
Priest told McDonagh to ask Adam Pearce for a match against Strowman. Priest said he didn’t recognize this anymore and then left the room. Finn Balor told the others that Priest was right. He told McDonagh to go talk to Pearce.
After the break we go backstage where a trainer examined the knee of Xavier Woods while Kofi Kingston stood by. The trainer told Woods that he was good to go. Kingston celebrated and then exited the room. Karrion Kross & Scarlett entered the room. Kross said Woods has been on a rough stretch but there is always time to turn things around.
Women’s Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way Match
Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & Kairi Sane) vs. Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark vs. Maxxine Dupri & Ivy Nile vs. Kayden Carter & Katana Chance
Everyone then begins brawling with one another and Ivy Nile looks to land a vertical suplex on Kairi Sane.
Katana Chance & Kayden Carter land a double kick on Sane’s midsection before hitting Keg Stand to everyone on the outside as we go to a break.
After the break Dakota Kai hits a forearm to Nile in the center of the ring.
Nile responds with a German suplex then tags in Dupri & Sane tags in and Dupri fires off knees on her midsection.
She then lands a kick on Sane’s head and hits a suplex then whips Sane in the corner.
Dupri lands a bulldog but unbeknownst to her Carter has tagged herself in.
Carter hits a flatliner to Dupri then tags in Chance & they hit The Afterparty but Kai has tagged herself in.
She pins Dupri but Baszler & Stark break the fall.
Damage CTRL sits Baszler on the top rope as Carter brawls with Stark.
Stark & Carter teeter on the top rope but Nile pulls down Kai, Sane & Baszler.
Carter then hits a hurricanrana to Stark off Chance’s shoulders on top of Baszler.
Dupri sends Carter crashing into the barricade then gets back inside the ring and hits the Caterpillar then goes for a pin but Kai kicks out.
Dupri then cinches in an Ankle Lock on Kai but Sane breaks the hold with In Sane Elbow.
Sane then tags in but Baszler locks in the Kirifuda Clutch on Sane.
Stark then tags in and Stark tosses Dupri over to Baszler then lands a knee for the win.
Winners & #1 Contenders To The Women’s Tag Team Titles: Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark
Backstage Ludwig Kaiser was interviewed by Kayla Braxton. Kaiser sang the praises of Gunther and then said Sheamus is nothing more than a keyboard warrior. Kaiser said Sheamus could stay home and protect his legacy or Sheamus could come back so that he could put him down.
Drew McIntyre showed up after Kaiser made his exit. McIntyre said Adam Pearce decided not to use one of his biggest stars on Raw. McIntyre said the people want him and he would give himself to them. McIntyre calls Damian Priest a paper champion and said he is spreading himself too thin like Seth Rollins did. McIntyre said he would beat Priest soon.
After the break we go backstage where Chad Gable is talking with Creed Brothers while Sonya Deville could be seen chatting with Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark in the background. Otis showed up and then Gable told Creed Brothers to think about what he said. Gable asked Otis where he had been.
Otis said he apologized to Sami Zayn. Gable said Otis was tugging at Sami’s heartstrings and softening him up for when they win the Intercontinental Title together on Saturday. Gable made Otis say he would win no matter what. Gable smiled and told Otis he would see him on the flight.
Jey Uso cuts a backstage promo while the crowd said yeet whenever he would pause. Jey said Gunther would check a Yeetdown while he would catch a crown. Jey said it was main event time then put on his Yeet glasses. The camera followed Jey as he walked through the backstage area and pumped up the crowd before he made his entrance.
Semi Final Match Of The 2024 King Of The Ring Tournament
Gunther vs. Jey Uso
Match starts off with a lock up before Gunther lands a few chops on Jey Uso in the corner but Jey responds with an open palm strike and rains down right hands on him in the corner.
He then fires off more right hands and lands a tope suicida to level Gunther on the outside.
He gets Gunther back inside the ring and ascends to the top rope then looks to fly.
Gunther moves out of the way and sends Jey crashing into the ring post shoulder first.
He then sends his arm bouncing off the ring post and sends him crashing into the ring steps before sending him colliding with the barricade arm first.
He then sends Jey crashing into the ring post once again and sends him crashing into the barricade arm first.
He dumps him into the timekeeper’s area and gets back inside the ring as we go to a break.
After the break Jey lands a forearm on Gunther then follows it up with a right hand but Gunther lands an European uppercut and connects with a kick on his head.
He continues wearing down Jey’s injured arm then ascends to the top rope.
Jey lands an open palm strike on Gunther before they teeter on the top rope and Gunther continues targeting Jey’s arm.
Jey gets Gunther up on his shoulders and hits a Samoan Drop off the top rope.
Jey hits a crossbody off the top rope before he hits a superkick.
Jey then lands a 2nd superkick and a stomp on Gunther’s face in the corner and fires off several more stomps on him.
He lands a powerbomb and locks in a Fujiwara Armbar but Jey escapes and sets up for a spear.
Gunther catches him with a boot to his midsection and a chop, then locks in a Sleeper.
Jey counters into a pin forcing Gunther to release the hold to kick out.
Gunther lands a release German suplex and a splash off the top rope then follows it up with a clothesline. Gunther hits another pair of chops but Jey connects with an open palm strike.
Gunther fires off several more chops on Jey in the corner but Jey catches him with a spear accidentally knocking down the referee in the process and ascends to the top rope.
He hits Uso Splash then goes for a pin but Gunther has just enough time to kick out.
Gunther fires off chops on Jey then locks in a Sleeper & the referee calls for the bell.
Winner By Submission: Gunther (17:40)
Rate: 7
Remanding Semi Final Matches
King Of The Ring
May 24th
Randy Orton vs. Tama Tonga
Queen Of The Ring
May 24th
Nia Jax vs. Women’s Tag Team Champion Bianca BelAir
Updated King & Queen Of The Ring Card (May 25th)
Finals Of The 2024 King Of The Ring Tournament
Gunther vs. Randy Orton or Tama Tonga
Finals Of The 2024 Queen Of The Ring Tournament
Lyra Valkyria vs. Nia Jax or Women’s Tag Team Champion Bianca BelAir
Women’s World Title Match
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan
Intercontinental Title Triple Threat Match
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Bronson Reed vs. Chad Gable
Undisputed WWE Title Match
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. United States Champion Logan Paul
Next Week’s Raw
Braun Strowman vs. JD McDonagh
