WWE Raw Review – May 6, 2024
Kicking off this week’s Raw with a recap of Backlash.
World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest said the fans love Jey Uso but it didn’t matter because he’s still the World Heavyweight Champion. Priest was still upset about Finn Balor & JD McDonagh interfering in his match with Uso. Balor said they’ve been over it a 100 times and they are sorry.
Priest said he lost his cool after the match and apologized to Balor & McDonagh. Priest apologized to them saying he appreciates McDonagh and labeled Balor as his brother then they all hug.
Balor assumed he would get a bye in the 1st round of the tournament due to Drew McIntyre’s injury. He said it was the 1st step in The Prince becoming a king.
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce interrupted and said that Balor would not get a 1st Round bye. Priest told the Judgment Day members to clear the ring. He said Balor’s match was up next and his opponent would be Jey Uso then made his entrance heading into a commercial break.
1st Round Match Of The 2024 King Of The Ring
Jey Uso vs. Finn Balor
Jey Uso hits Finn Balor with a suicide dive then Balor returns to the ring and rolls out the other side.
Jey jumps off the ring steps and was hit by Balor then dumps him over the broadcast table as we go to a break.
After the break Jey hits a top rope crossbody for a near fall.
Balor came back with a clothesline then Jay rallied with a superkick, a clothesline and another superkick.
Balor avoids a top rope move and caught Jey with a dropkick.
Balor went for Coup De Grace but Jey moved & Jey spears Balor for a near fall.
Drew McIntyre walks through the crowd and climbed over the barricade which distracted Jey. Balor rolls up Jey for a two count and then put him back down with a sling blade.
Balor set up for a move but Jey cuts him off with a spear to score the win.
Winner: Jey Uso (13:35)
Rate: 6
After the match McIntyre entered the ring while Jey made his exit.
Separate shots aired of Ivy Nile & Zoey Stark warming up for their match.
Highlights aired of Gunther beating Sheamus to retain the Intercontinental Title at Clash At The Castle back in 2022.
Backstage Drew McIntyre barked at Adam Pearce about having Jey Uso replace him in the King Of The Ring Tournament. Pearce said it wasn’t about Uso, it was about McIntyre’s arm and him not being medically cleared. McIntyre hops in a sports car and drove away while a QR code flashed on the screen.
CM Punk pulls in right behind McIntyre. Pearce told Punk he was late. Punk said he knew and said it had been a weekend. Punk wondered where McIntyre was. You just missed him thank God Pearce responded. Punk asked Pearce if they could hit his music because he had something to say. Punk walks past Chad Gable yelling at Alpha Academy.
CM Punk made his entrance and went out of his way to shake hands with Samantha Irvin before entering the ring. Punk apologized for showing up late. He said he was locked inside of WWE Headquarters until a few short hours ago. He said it dawned on him that Raw was in Hartford so he drove there to be with you maniacs.
Punk said he came to pick a fight but McIntyre left. He said he could stay long enough for McIntyre to come back. He assumed McIntyre was somewhere reading Twitter and encouraged everyone to tweet photos of him to McIntyre.
Punk said he would hold the show hostage. He said he would ask the fans what they wanted to talk about but that’s someone else’s deal. Punk asked if he could tell the fans a story instead.
Punk recalls tearing his tricep during the Royal Rumble match. He said he thought McIntyre ruined his WrestleMania dream. Punk said he had a good cry and a good surgery and then realized that it only delayed his WrestleMania dream.
Punk said he would be called a 5 tool player in baseball whereas McIntyre is just a tool. Punk looked at his watch and said, And we’re waiting. Punk said McIntyre ran his mouth about how he prayed for him to be injured. Punk said McIntyre picks a fight with the pettiest man on the roster maybe even on Earth.
Punk wondered if McIntyre hates him or hates himself. Punk said McIntyre is a choke artist. Punk checked his watch again. Punk said McIntyre prayed for this and now he broke his elbow. Punk said that he would break McIntyre’s face if he shows up and would then break his heart.
Punk looks at his watch and said McIntyre fears him. Punk’s music played. Punk looks into the camera and said he would find McIntyre even if he makes him go to Glasgow, Scotland. Punk took a seat on the top turnbuckle and looked at his watch.
Backstage Speed Champion Ricochet was interviewed by Cathy Kelley and was asked about facing Ilja Dragunov in the 1st Round. Ricochet was interrupted by Braun Strowman & he hugged him and said it was good to be home. Kelley asked Strowman why he got involved in Judgment Day business last week. Strowman said he always stands up for little guys and can’t stand bullies.
1st Round Match Of The 2024 Queen Of The Ring
Iyo Sky vs. Natalya
The match spilled over to ringside where Natalya caught Iyo Sky with a kick that sent her into the side of the ring.
Back in the ring Natalya covered Sky for a two count before Sky came back and picks up a two count as we go to a break.
After the break Natalya superplexed Sky and covered her for a near fall.
Sky applied an STF that Natalya escaped then Sky rolls up Natalya then double stomps her.
Sky dropkicked a seated Natalya then got a two count.
Natalya hits a sit out powerbomb for a near fall.
Natalya avoided a standing double stomp as Dakota Kai climbed onto the apron.
Natalya went for a Sharpshooter but Sky twisted and sent Natalya into the ropes.
Sky hits a double knee strike then hits Over The Moonsault for the win.
Winner: Iyo Sky (10:20)
Rate: 7
After the match Kai said they took over 2 years ago and are now putting everyone on notice. Kai said she would stand in for the injured Asuka in her match against Lyra Valkyria. The fans gave her the What? treatment. Kai told Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca BelAir & Jade Cargill to enjoy the titles while they can because they will take everything.
An Ilja Dragunov workout video aired.
Non Title 1st Round Match Of The 2024 King Of The Ring
Ilja Dragunov vs. Speed Champion Ricochet
Ricochet caught Ilja Dragunov with a flying knee strike heading into an break.
After the break Ricochet sends Dragunov to the floor and went for a moonsault that Dragunov avoided. Ricochet landed on his feet and was then suplexed by Dragunov.
Dragunov sent Ricochet back to the ring and then hits him with a top rope missile dropkick for a near fall. Ricochet came back with a hurricanrana from the top rope.
Dragunov rolls to the floor and was hit by back to back suicide dives.
Ricochet followed up with a corkscrew plancha as we go to a 2nd break.
After the 2nd break Dragunov hits a top rope senton splash for a near fall.
Dragunov hits Ricochet with repeated chops in the corner then ran the ropes but Ricochet pops up and kicked him.
Ricochet threw a kick at Dragunov then hits a rolling senton and a springboard moonsault for a two count.
Ricochet went up top then jumps over a charging Dragunov then caught him with a knee strike. Ricochet ducks a spinning backfist and hit him with a poisonrana.
Ricochet went for a springboard move and was caught with a shot from Dragunov then he follows with an H Bomb.
Dragunov went for Torpedo Moscow but Ricochet caught him with Recoil for a near fall.
Ricochet went up top and was cut off by Dragunov as he superplexed him.
Dragunov hits Ricochet with an another H Bomb to put him away.
Winner: Ilja Dragunov (13:58) (He will face Jey Uso in the Quarter Finals)
Rate: 8 (Recommend)
After the match Dragunov pulls Ricochet up then offers him a handshake which Ricochet accepted. They jawed at one another for a moment.
Backstage Sheamus was interviewed by Jackie Redmond. Sheamus spoke about undergoing medical procedures to get back inside the ring. He said it’s no secret that he doesn’t like Gunther and he thinks Gunther likes him even less. He said King Gunther would be unbearable. He said he had bangers with Gunther at Clash At The Castle and at WrestleMania. Sheamus said he would kick Gunther’s ass and go on to become a 2x King Of The Ring.
A brief video aired on WWE’s European tour.
1st Round Match Of The 2024 Queen Of The Ring
Ivy Nile vs. Zoey Stark
Zoey Stark drops down early then Ivy Nile put her in a submission hold which Stark smoothly escaped.
Nile held up Stark before following through with a vertical suplex.
Stark threw a kick and then a step up enzuigiri.
Stark ends up on the apron and then clotheslined Nile over the top rope.
Stark hits a missile dropkick and covered Nile for a two count.
Nile hits a top rope bulldog for a near fall.
Stark threw kicks that missed by a mile and it looked like Stark sold the last one anyway, but then came right back and picked up a two count.
Stark showed frustration over not getting the pin then Stark went up top but was cut off by Nile.
Stark stuffed a superplex and then slips underneath Nile and trips her so that her face landed on the top turnbuckle pad. Stark hits Z360 for the win.
Winner: Zoey Stark (5:20)
Rate: 4
Backstage World Tag Team Champion R Truth was with Adam Pearce introduced U Conn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley. World Tag Team Champions The Miz shows up and shook hands with the coach then said they could not fight the Huskies basketball team. Truth said the Huskies belong to a small independent known as the NCAA. Miz said he needed to talk with Truth and then they all made their exit.
Bron Breakker shows up and confronted Pearce over not being in the King Of The Ring tournament. Pearce invited Breakker to talk about it inside his office.
Highlights aired of Gunther beating Sheamus on the October 7th, 2022 episode of Smackdown after using a shillelagh as a weapon.
Backstage Finn Balor said he feels like he’s apologizing every week. Damian Priest told him not to worry about losing one match. Dominik Mysterio showed up with Carlito. Priest said it was 1 year ago to the day that Carlito cost him his moment in Puerto Rico.
Carlito tried to play it off and said it was in the past. Carlito got serious and said he needed their help with the LWO. Priest told Mysterio to get Carlito out of there. Mysterio told Carlito they would come around. JD McDonagh asked Priest what he was saying about Braun Strowman.
Highlights aired of Gable attacking Sami Zayn after his match with Reed then laid out Gable.
Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed
Bronson Reed hits an Death Valley Driver for a two count.
Chad Gable came back with an German suplex for a two count of his own.
Reed headbutts Gable and then hit him with a senton.
Reed went up top for Tsunami but Gable cut him off then suplexed him.
Sami Zayn ran in and attacked Gable to end the match.
Winner By DQ: Chad Gable
After the match Zayn cleared Reed from the ring with a clothesline. Gable put Zayn down with a German suplex. Gable charged Zayn & hits hits an exploder suplex. Zayn went for a Helluva Kick on Gable, but Reed caught Zayn and hit him with a uranage slam. Reed executed the same move on Gable and then left the ring.
A camera followed Reed to the back where Adam Pearce was waiting to scold him. Reed said he doesn’t care about Gable or Zayn, he cares about the Intercontinental Title. Reed said it’s business to him and he said if Pearce wants control then he knows what he needs to do.
A video package aired on Lyra Valkyria. She said she is ready for the challenge and then questioned whether Raw is ready for her.
After the break Gunther cuts a backstage promo about facing Sheamus in the King Of The Ring tournament. Gunther said Sheamus is very concerned with putting on banger after banger. Gunther said he doesn’t care about bangers, he cares about being the greatest of all time. Gunther said he is the general of the ring and is soon to be King Of The Ring.
Michael Cole stood in the ring in front of two chairs and introduced Women’s World Champion Becky Lynch for an interview. Cole noted that Lynch was at the Kentucky Derby and asked her about the wild outfit that she wore (her photo was shown on the big screen). Lynch said she got her hat on Esty and said she likes it. Cole said she pulled it off.
Cole shifted the focus to her potential challengers. Lynch said there’s newness in the air. She said there are a lot of people who want to slap her in the face and she welcomes it. Lynch said she came up to Raw 9 years ago. She said she wanted to make a difference and be a groundbreaker and she feels that energy from the recent call ups.
Lynch spoke about Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn, Kiana James & Lyra Valkyria. Lynch said she would not trust James, but she would trust Valkyria. Cole noted that Lynch and Valkyria are both Irish and battled for the NXT Women’s Title. Lynch said Valkyria is the most gifted competitor she’s been in the ring with. Cole brought up Zelina Vega and said she’s the 1st Queen Of The Ring. Lynch said she has passion.
Cole brought up Lynch having strep throat when she lost to Rhea Ripley. Lynch cut him off and said she wasn’t using that as an excuse and the better woman won that night. She said the loss will haunt her. She spoke about going through 14 wrestlers to win her championship.
Liv Morgan made her entrance. Morgan took issue with Lynch talking about the Kentucky Derby and the NXT call ups yet not mentioning her. Morgan enters the ring and ran through her credentials and boasted that she took out Ripley. Morgan said it blows her mind that she can’t get respect from Lynch.
Morgan asked Lynch about the title match she was promised last week. Lynch said Morgan didn’t let her finish and said she would get her title match at King and Queen of the Ring. Lynch said that while Morgan ran through her accomplishments, but they do not include beating her.
Morgan conceded that she has yet to beat Lynch but she said things are different now that she has purpose. Morgan said her purpose is getting revenge on Ripley by taking everything she loves.
Damage CTRL theme played and then they walked out. Dakota Kai had a mic and took issue with Morgan getting a Women’s World Title shot that she didn’t earn. Damage CTRL climbed onto the apron while Kai said they were there to remind everyone who runs Raw.
Lynch & Morgan squared off to fight Damage CTRL but Morgan rolls to ringside and laughed. Damage CTRL worked over Lynch. Lyra Valkyria ran out and helped clear Damage CTRL from the ring.
After the break Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn was interviewed by Jackie Redmond in the backstage area. Zayn spoke about his issues with Gable & Reed. Zayn said the only way it could end is with a Triple Threat match at King & Queen Of The Ring. Zayn said mark his words, he will still be champion coming out of the match.
1st Round Match Of The 2024 Queen Of The Ring
Dakota Kai vs. Lyra Valkyria
Lyra Valkyria went for a suplex but Dakota Kai counters into a pin for a two count.
Valkyria caught a charging Kai with a boot and then went to the ropes.
Kai recovered and trips up Valkyria to knock her off the ropes.
Kai drops to the floor and boots Valkyria as we go to a break.
After the break Valkyria threw a combination of strikes at Kai but she ducked out to ringside.
Valkyria hit Kai with a kick through the ropes.
Valkyria rolls Kai back inside the ring then hits her with a top rope crossbody.
Valkyria hits a fisherman’s suplex for a two count.
Kai rallied and had Valkyria draped over the middle rope when she stomped her then covered her for a two count.
Kai caught Valkyria with a kick in the corner for another two count before Valkyria hits Night Wing to get the win.
Winner: Lyra Valkyria (8:50) (She will face Zoey Stark in the Quarter Finals)
Rate: 6
Kofi Kingston spoke while seated in a locker room stall about how this was supposed to be Xavier Woods becoming a back 2 back King Of The Ring. Kingston said Gunther took that away from Woods and now he’s unsure when Woods will be back.
Kingston said that if Gunther advances, he can’t wait to give him what he deserves. Kingston said he has to get through Rey Mysterio first. Kingston said as much as he respects Rey he has to put him down unapologetically as if his name were Kendrick Lamar or Drake.
Footage aired of the Yeet song being used during a Cleveland Cavaliers playoff game on Sunday.
1st Round Match Of The 2024 King Of The Ring
Gunther vs. Sheamus
Gunther connected with an big boot then Gunther had Sheamus on the apron when he drops him with a clothesline.
Gunther went to the apron and attempted a piledriver but Sheamus backdropped him causing Gunther to fall to the floor.
Sheamus jumped off the apron and hit a clothesline as we go to a break
After the break Sheamus hits Gunther with 17 Beats Of The Bodhran Sheamus set up for Brogue Kick but Gunther sidesteps it.
Sheamus stuffed a suplex attempt and went for another but this time his leg was caught over the top rope after Gunther moved.
Ludwig Kaiser wrenched Sheamus’s knee over the top rope then follows up with a kick.
The referee ejected Kaiser from ringside then checks on Sheamus as he was selling his knee heading into the final break.
After the 2nd break Sheamus continued to sell his knee.
He eventually used the bad leg to hit a knee strike for a near fall.
Sheamus got up and tried to run for Brogue Kick but he fell.
Gunther powerbombs Sheamus and put him in a half crap.
Sheamus reached the bottom rope to break the hold.
Gunther kicks the bad knee before going to the ropes before Sheamus cut him off and hits Celtic Cross. Sheamus covered Gunther for a two count.
Gunther kicks the bad knee then hits a German suplex.
Sheamus fired up and blasted Gunther with a knee strike followed up with another.
Sheamus crawled over and made the cover for two count then Gunther reapplied the half crab.
Sheamus reaches for the ropes but Gunther pulls him back to the middle of the ring & Sheamus taps out.
Winner By Submission: Gunther (21:05)
Rate: 9 (Recommend)
Remanding 1st Round Matches
King Of The Ring
AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton
Baron Corbin vs. Carmelo Hayes
LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar
Bobby Lashley vs. Tama Tonga
Kofi Kingston vs. Rey Mysterio (Live Event May 12th)
Queen Of The Ring
Shayna Baszler vs. Zelina Vega (Live Event May 11th or 12th)
Next Week’s Raw
Quarter Final Match Of The 2024 King Of The Ring Tournament
Gunther vs. Kofi Kingston or Rey Mysterio
Quarter Final Match Of The 2024 King Of The Ring Tournament
Ilja Dragunov vs. Jey Uso
Quarter Final Match Of The 2024 Queen Of The Ring Tournament
Shayna Baszler or Zelina Vega vs. Iyo Sky
Quarter Final Match Of The 2024 Queen Of The Ring Tournament
Lyra Valkyria vs. Zoey Stark
King & Queen Of The Ring Card So Far (May 25th)
Finals Of The 2024 King Of The Ring Tournament
TBD vs. TBD
Finals Of The 2024 Queen Of The Ring Tournament
TBD vs. TBD
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
