Monday Night Raw takes place at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia tonight.
A steel cage match is set for the ring, with Bobby Lashley going one-on-one with Omos. Omos laid Lashley several weeks ago after Lashley defeated him in an arm wrestling competition. Lashley failed to get his hands on Omos last week after security guards surrounded the MVP.
Lashley defeated Omos at WrestleMania 38 in April, but Omos evened things out when he netted Lashley at WrestleMania Backlash. Omos won that match with the help of the best player.
We’ll find out how Cody Rhodes responds after Seth Rollins puts him on the curb at the ad table. Plus, we’ll see what’s next for Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, Asuka, and Becky Lynch after Lynch boycotted the Belair vs. Asuka’s main is not the main last week.
View summary –
There has been a long video bundle outdoing Bobby Lashley and Omos. Broadcasters stood by the ringside to deliver the match, play the Tonight Show and deliver the tag team’s unification title match on Friday’s SmackDown. There was also a literal countdown (down to two) for when Cody Rhodes appears tonight, about two hours from now.
Omos hooked up with MVP who cut a promotion on Lashley. The MVP said that we live in the age of Nigerian giant Omos and that he will brutalize Lashley.
Cedric Alexander attacked Lashley from behind as he entered and was joined by Omos. Lashley resisted and had to be fired with a million officials. Fans cheered Lashley as he entered the ring and waited for Omos. Business break.
Steel Cage Match: Defeated Bobby Lashley Omos (w/MVP) (7:33)
The MVP managed to hit Lashley with his crutch through a hole in the cage a few times early in the match. He tried again later but Lashley grabbed his arm through the hole and pulled him into the cage. Lashley immediately fired Omos’ spear to get close to three minutes into the match.
Alexander ran down to the top of the cage but Lashley bumped him from above into the ring. Lashley attempted a high cross but Omos caught him and threw him into the side of the cage.
Omos hit Lashley at the other side of the cage and the board broke (as Paul White/Steve Austin’s spot). Lashley fell through the cage, crawled to his feet and was declared the winner because he technically escaped the cage. Lashley was completely satisfied with winning this way.
The crowd was at Lashley and they finally set off.
********
Mustafa Ali and theory entered the match. Before that could happen, Theory grabbed a microphone. He wondered why Mustafa Ali thought he deserved this match. He said they needed a special referee to call this one in the middle: The Miz.
The theory didn’t think it was fair for Ali to have a match against the United States champion after losing last week, so he got a separate match to prove himself first. His opponent was Veer Mahaan.
Veer Mahaan defeated Mustafa Ali [special referee: The Miz] (2:49)
Ali resisted despite a blatant excursion by Theory from outside the ring. Ali went diving but Miz got in his way. When Miz finally moved in, Maha Ali flipped inside out with a million dollar clothesline. Veer puts him in the Cervical Clutch for a submission win.
Mahan halted control again after the match while Theory and Maze took a selfie with him.
When Mahaan cleared the ad table, Ray and Dominic Mysterio entered their music. They hit Mahaan from the apron but Mahaan caught Dominic who attempted a high cross. Then Ri brings Mahan with a seated guard. The Mysterios appeared in the ring while Mahan looked on in frustration.
********
At the start of the show, they announced a 6-pack challenge to determine Bianca Belair’s next contender for the title (with Asuka, Becky Lynch, Naomi, Sasha Banks, Nikki ASH, and Doudrop).
About 40 minutes into the show, Becky Lynch approaches Adam Pearce. She claimed she saw Naomi and Banks leave the building with their bags, so the six-pack challenge shouldn’t have happened. She wanted to be called the number one contender by default because she hadn’t received a second match for the title.
Pierce tells her that she will face Asuka in the main event and the winner will be the number one contender.
********
Raw Tag Team Champion Riddle defeated Smackdown Tag Team Champion Jimmy Uso (w/ Jey Uso) (10:55)
Jimmy Riddle drove to the steel steps before the break.
[SECOND HOUR]
Riddle resisted with a Pele kick, forearm run, and Suplex bomber but Jimmy got on his knees while diving. Jimmy followed him up with a Samoan Drop popup of a nearby accident. Jimmy blocked the RKO attempt from the top before Riddle came to his knees.
Jimmy distracted the referee allowing Ji to take Riddle off the top. J tried to help Jimmy make the cover but the referee caught him and threw him from ringside. Then Jimmy Riddle folded to win the riveting.
(Think Corey Greaves said Randy Orton was not there tonight due to a family commitment.)
********
Earlier today, Liv Morgan told Kevin Patrick that Rhea Ripley wouldn’t get away with what she did because Morgan never gave in to a fight. Angel and Humberto jumped inside. And they wanted to highlight it on the Qibla camera. AJ Styles and Finn Bálor jumped at the next stage. Styles called them creepy and asked them to leave. Styles and Balor asked Morgan to join them in ringside tonight. She looked unsure and said she would think about it.
********
Doomsday Paragraph
Edge sat on his throne with Rhea Ripley and Damian the Reverend standing beside him. The priest told us that all our favorites would be punished. Ripley said, “I will not be the character of my faults, there is nothing holding me back. Now, it is time for complete and absolute eradication.”
Edge sees fans angry and can understand why they’re thinking about the state of the world. Advise everyone to stop sheep. We’ve already seen what they can do for the likes of Morgan, Styles, and Bálor. He basically said anyone could join them and offered an opening for said trio (with a special focus on Styles).
********
(Greeves reiterated that Banks and Naomi left the arena, calling it unprofessional. He admitted there could be more going on.)
AJ Styles & Finn Bálor (w/ Liv Morgan) defeated Los Lotharios (9:19)
Angel and Humberto dominated a break and Balor made a hot tag after their comeback. Balor went to shoot but Angel caught him with a piercing kick. Humberto tried something at the top, but Balor raised his legs and Humberto took a heavy blow.
Styles grabbed Angel with a formidable forearm while Balor Humberto hit the Cobb de Grace to win the pin. Morgan did the very nice thing with Balor and Styles after the match.
Bálor and Styles obviously work well as a team. The crowd was among them.
********
Chad Gable (and Otis) approached Kevin Owens with the results of a DNA test. They compared the DNA from the Red Ezekiel Cup to the DNA from the ancient Elias guitar. Owens was losing patience when Gable explained the process, so he grabbed the envelope. The test results were inconclusive because the sample was contaminated with barbecue sauce.
Otis hypothesized that Elias must have eaten some pulled pork and smoked ribs. Owens shouted at him. He also yelled at Gabel because he screwed it up because he’s supposed to be the smartest guy in the world. Gabel said he beat the truth out of despair tonight. Owens told him to go do it. (Owens and Gable are still adorable together.)
(Owens was wearing a “Sami Zayn Forever” shirt.)
********
Alexa Bliss defeated Sonya Deville (4:00)
Bliss has new music.
Deville was in control of the match and decided to unhook the turnbuckle. The referee grabbed her and started tying her back up as Deville hit the spine. I made a cover but the referee didn’t pay attention. He finally made the cover but Bliss came out and followed him with DDT to win the install.
Deville slapped the referee after the match.
[THIRD HOUR]
Cody Rhodes Show
Rhodes entered into a strong reaction.
Rhodes said he was told Seth Rollins wasn’t here tonight but was hoping he’d listen. Rhodes tried to move on last week but Rollins threw gasoline on the flames and stomped his head on the table. Rollins told Rhodes he would never take anything from him again.
Rhodes wondered what he had taken from Rollins. Rhodes hit him twice but never crossed any personal limits. Rhodes accused Rollins of being stuck in a disinfectant of his own making and Rollins was trying to drag him into it.
Rhodes called Rollins’ departure for the first time in 2012 with The Shield and Rhodes was among the few bitter boys in the back. Rollins was the tag champion within months and shattered the glass ceiling soon after. Rhodes’ story was much different. He drew a smile on his face as he was dead inside. But he endured.
Rhodes knew it would never be the American dream, “so why not embrace the nightmare.” Rhodes said Rollins was embarrassed by two losses but that it wouldn’t overcome his desire to reach the top. Rhodes wouldn’t be denied his second chance because Rollins would have to kill him. “I will give him a chance.”
Rhodes challenged Rollins to a Hell in a Cell rematch. The crowd cheered.
Rollins’ laugh could be heard through the speakers and he suddenly appeared on the screen. Rollins said it wasn’t enough for Rhodes to steal the show at WrestleMania or cheat at Backlash. Rollins said Rhodes must have been stupid for challenging him to a HIAC match because anyone who walked into the dungeon with him was forever changed.
Rollins threatened to expose Rhodes for the fraud that he had. Rollins accepted. Rhodes replied, “I’ll see you in Hell.”
(The match became official after a break.)
********
Sarah Schreiber gives an interview to Asuka. Asuka once again mocked Becky Lynch by calling her a child and saying that she would give her something to cry about.
(Gaves again mentioned that Banks and Naomi unprofessional left the ring.)
********
Chad Gabel (with Otis) vs. Ezekiel
2022-05-16 23:15:00