WWE Raw results and recap indicate that the aftermath of Money in the Bank started off with the Beast, Brock Lesnar, coming out with Paul Heyman at his side carrying his Money in the Bank contract. “It’s been many moons since I’ve seen a smile that big on the face of the Beast incarnate.” Pretty much set the stage for what we could expect, you know?
Paul Heyman did his best to dissuade any paranoia conspiracy theory about how Lesner got into the MITB match, but he didn’t sound very sincere. Gotta wonder why? As soon as Heyman pointed out Seth Rollins should be paranoid at having to face Lesner any time Lenser wants, Rollins’ music started and he came out smiling.
Rollins challenged Lesnar to fight him right there, but calmer (Heyman’s) heads prevailed by pointing out how Rollins has to wait until Lesnar wants to challenge him. After hinting at it being a “New Day”, Lesner could possibly challenge someone new, like WWE Champion Kofi Kingston. Of course, Kingston came out to answer the challenge.
“If you’re going to cash in that contract tonight, I’m going to need you to cash it in on me,” Kingston said, to which Heyman pointed out both champions were “auditioning” to face Lenser.
Heyman dropped hint that Rollins and Kingston weren’t done for the night, so Lesner would be around.
“Stay tuned, the Beast is yet to come.”
Now that was a fun start to the show.
Sami Zayn Seeks Protection
With Zayn being forced to face Braun Strowman that night, he continued begging for help, this time from Bobby Lashley.
Lashley’s response was, “No, no. I’m not going to help you. But you know what? Why don’t you soften him up a little bit for me, huh? Good luck out there, champ. You got this.”
Poor Zayn. He really put Strowman’s foot in his mouth this time, huh?
Setting the Record Straight
Kingston and Rollins were searching for what Paul Heyman meant when he heard they weren’t done for the night. As luck would have it, they found the man they needed in Triple H.
He wasted no time informing them they would be in a tag match as the main event against Bobby Lashley and Baron Corbin.
Let’s just say, they didn’t look to happy at hearing the news.
Braun Strowman beat Sami Zayn by pinfall
After his offer to Lashley was denied, Zayn looked like a man walking to his execution as he headed for the ring. We should probably feel sorry for him. Or not. Maybe? Nah. He’s just too good at playing the heel.
Zayn wasted no time in jumping out of the ring before the bell even rang. Strowman then chased him back to the locker room and quickly lost him. While searching for him, he crossed paths with Bobby Lashey, his opponent for next months pay-per-view (June 7) Super Showdown.
Zayn took the opportunity to ambush Strowman, getting in a couple of good shots before Strowman gabbed him and tossed him on top of a transport bin.
Eventually, Strowman caught him and carried him to the ring where a powerslam mercifully ended the match for Zayn. Think Zayn learned something?
True to his word, Lashley didn’t interfere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZCtQyPjNN0
Lars Sullivan Speaks?
Charly Caruso introduced Sullivan for his first interview in the center of the ring. What could possibly go wrong?
When Charly asked what his goals are in the WWE, the Lucha House Party music started and they came out, surrounding the ring. Charly was long gone. Smart woman.
After a handful of successful attacks staggered Sullivan, even sending him outside the ring, the trio were soon overwhelmed and had to retreat to safety after pulling Durado out of Sullivan’s grasp as he readied to powerbomb him.
Has Sullivan finally found a rivalry? Could be. It was good to see him face some opposition, so this was a step in the right direction. Should be interesting to see what comes next.
Cesaro beat Ricochet by pinfall
A pretaped promo between the two had Cesaro challenge Ricochet’s toughness and intelligence, which led to Ricochet accepting the challenge. Cesaro’s parting words were to the doctor: “Doc, tape him up.”
Ricochet’s back was indeed taped up, selling his injuries from Money in the Bank, and Cesaro took advantage by targeting it early.
Despite a hearty attempt, Cesaro eventually hit Ricochet with a backbreaker and Gotch Neutralizer for the pin.
AJ Styles Doesn’t Make Friends Easily
AJ admits he’s going back to square one, and while he was saying it wasn’t his night, Baron “Mr. Former” Corbin interrupted him, claiming it was a slap in the face Styles even had the opportunity.
“What is a slap in the face, is this—” Styles then nailed Corbin, who replied, “You’ll pay for that one.”
Guess we have ourselves a new rivalry. Should be a fun one.
Roman Reigns has a McMahon-Sized Headache
Reings didn’t get a chance to say anything before Shane came out, proclaiming the yard is “this big” (measured a couple inches with his fingers) “compared to the best in the world.”
Shane said he’s done with The Miz after “walking out with his hand held high in victory” and turned his focus to Reigns. Shane’s unable to forget what Reigns did to his father, so he said Elias wasn’t done with Reigns, then asked the WWE Universe if they wanted to see “The best in the world go one on one with Roman Reigns?” The fans cheered for it and Shane headed for the ring, but he stopped, saying it wasn’t “happening tonight.”
Instead, Shane flexed his control as Reigns’ boss, and brought Drew McIntyre out. To be fair, Shane did accept his challenge, but it will be at Super Showdown.
Backstage, Shane and McIntyre were approached by The Miz, who refuses to go away, setting a match between The Miz and McIntyre later on.
The Revival beat the Usos by pinfall
After being humiliated repeatedly, The Revival wasted no time in going after the Usos.
After exchanging blows and high impact moves, Jey was out outside the ring, allowing Wilder to interfere with Jimmy when he was on the top rope by running at him and forcing Jimmy to leap over him. Wilder absorbed a backdrop for his trouble, but Dawson surprised Jimmy from behind and rolled him up for the pin. A handful of tights helped.
Ladies and gentlemen, this re-valry is going ahead full stream.
Firefly Funhouse
A pleasant little promo showing children playing slowed down as “Let Him In” messages appeared between frames, on a child’s shirt, and a child’s forehead. The screen flickered and Bray Wyatt in his psycho clown suit appear and whispered, “Let me in.”
This was by far the darkest skit yet, and it’s dangling so much potential. Oh, this is going to be so much fun.
A Not-So Moment of Bliss with Nikki Cross and guest Becky Lynch
Throughout the night we saw snippets where a rift between Bliss and Cross seemed to be forming as Bliss wasn’t happy about Cross not winning the Money in the Bank contract. Wonder how Becky Lynch will fit into the equation?
As luck would have it, as soon as Bliss asked, “What it’s like not being Becky Two-Belts,” the Iiconics came out making some god-awful loud squeaks.
In response to the Iicnonics babbling, Becky said, “I’ll drag you into that right and become Becky Three-Belts.”
Or course, Lacey Evans had to come out to take credit for Lynch losing to Flair.
Lynch challenged Evans and the Iiconics to a match. Cross volunteered, and Lynch volunteered Bliss, telling her to “look pretty and the Man will take care of the rest.”
6-Woman Tag Team Match: Becky Lynch, Nikki Cross, and Alexa Bliss beat the Iiconics and Lacey Evans by pinfall
In what was really a handicap match with Bliss remaining outside the ring instead of getting involved (drinking her coffee, of course), Lynch started it off, doing an effective job against the Iiconics. She actually looked disappointed to tag Cross in.
As the match progressed and sensing her team’s looming loss, Evans abandoned her partners to probably avoid Lynch.
A dropkick and legdrop off the ropes later, and Lynch pinned Kay for the win.
This was a fun match that built a bond between Nikki Cross and Becky Lynch, and a possible rivalry with Alexa Bliss.
Mick Foley in the House!
“Monday nights need to be Raw again.” Mick Foley also said how being a champion consumes you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, hence the new 24/7 Championship.
He laid the belt in the ring, stating that starting in the final hour of Raw, it was available to whomever could claim it through a “scramble.”
The fans were lukewarm, and seriously, it’s just a refurbished Hardcore title as it can be won or lost at any time, any place. Why not just bring back the Hardcore title? At least it’d have a history. A couple good things about it is it’s open to WWE, 205 Live, NXT, NXT-UK, and even Legends roster. Another is it’ll help the lower card Superstars to get some spotlight to demonstrate their abilities.
Scramble for First 24/7 Champion:
A group of mid-card Superstars scrambled to the ring, taking each other, fighting, and clawing their way to the championship.
After a few exchanges where Superstars were pulled from the ring, forced out by others, or knocked themselves out, Titus O’Neil earned the championship after tossing Drake Maverick out of the ring and into the arms of the menagerie gathered.
24/7 Championship: Robert Roode beat Titus O’Neil (c) by pinfall to win the title
While O’Neal celebrated on the ramp, Roode hit him from behind, and rolled him up for the pin. The Superstars then chased Roode into the backstage area, where he hid to avoid them. Talk about bringing back memories.
Drew McIntyre beat The Miz by pinfall
A fun match between power and speed, The Miz chopped away at McIntyre’s legs to slow him, but was regularly overpowered, often times while he tried a move.
After McIntyre chopped his way out of a figure-4 leglock (never thought of that before) and the referee was distracted by McIntyre, Shane nailed The Miz from behind while outside the ring, then threw him into the ring for a Claymore and pin by McIntyre.
Afterwards, McIntyre placed The Miz in the corner for Shane’s Coast to Coast, but Roman Reigns came out. He knocked McIntyre out of the ring, and Shane ducked out seconds before getting hit with a Superman Punch.
Rollins and Kingston see eye to eye, not hip to hip
Kofi Kingston and Seth Rollins interviewed with Charly Caruso and the two seem to have a good rapport when it comes to understanding the threats facing them. As Kingston said, “You have to be able to multitask,” and Rollins pointed out, “We know nobody likes Lashley, and nobody likes Corbin — not one person.”
They did agree that taking care of Lashley and Corbin first were the priority. They’d worry about Lesner when the time came.
Kingston has some work to do in getting Rollins to gyrate like he does, as Rollins walked away chuckling when Kingston asked, “Where those hips at, Seth?”
Wonder how long before Kingston wears him down and Rollins starts swaying the hips? Is Rollins a fan of pancakes? They need to stay teamed up for a while. They’re too much fun together.
The Scripted Screwjob: Samoa Joe
After losing the United States Championship through a bad call by the referee, Samoa Joe did a pre-taped promo citing how his shoulder wasn’t down, and called on Rey Mysterio to do the right and honorable thing by giving him back his championship. And what if Mysterio refuses? Samoa Joe has that covered, offering, “Just imagine the insanity I will set forth.”
(In a singsong voice) Someone’s gonna get it
24/7 Championship: R-Truth beat Robert Roode (c) by pinfall for the title.
Attempting to get away, Roode eventually made his way to the parking garage and sked R-Truth for help.
Thinking fast, R-Truth had him hide in his trunk and then sent the other Superstars away. When the coast was clear, he let a grateful Roode out. But when Roode opened the passenger side door, a referee was waiting.
R-Truth then kicked and slammed him against the car before pinning him for the title. R-Truth then did the smart thing and took off before the others could find him.
No Disqualification Tag Team Match: Kofi Kingston and Seth Rollins beat Baron Corbin and Bobby Lashley by pinfall
During his entrance, Rollins was attacked by Corbin, and when Kingston ran back to help, Lashley picked him up and slammed him into the wall.
Corbin escorted Rollins to the ring, where he hit a Deep Six after the bell rang. Kingston made it back in time to save the pin.
Kingston made presence felt with a slingshot clothsline and double leg drop on Lashley. A crossbody block almost got the win, but Corbin saved the pin, then tagged in.
Rollins hit Corbin with a Slingblade, then did a suicide dive through the ropes, but Corbin caught him and chokeslammed him into the apron. After burying Rollins outside the ring, Corbin and Lashley double teamed Kingston in the ring, and Rollins saved Kingston from a double suplex off the turnbuckle with a steel chair.
Kingston countered an End of Days with a Trouble in Paradise for the pin.
In response, Lashley laid out both champions, but as Rollins superkicked him, Brock Lenser came to the ring.
Kingston and Rollins stood in the ring, each with a steel chair, waiting for Lesner to makes his choice.
Heyman talked Lesner down as he was about to enter the ring, saying they’ll let the world know next week who he chose.
A pretty good match considering its sole purpose was to set up Lesner for next week. Who will be his choice?
Final Thoughts
After a few slow weeks following WrestleMania, the WWE looks to be hitting their stride in large thanks to the Wild Card Rule allowing them to mix and match proven rivalries on the different shows. The only clunker seemed to be the new 24/7 Championship, but who knows? If it’s used properly, it could add some spice to the various shows and bring in other talented Superstars from the developmental ranks.
And, of course, we can’t forget about Brock Lesner’s return. While the storyline is solid and promises some great matchups to come, it had been mentioned at Money in the Bank that the contract was for the Raw title, but honestly, it makes sense in the reformatted storyline that it’d be for either title since wrestlers from both brands were involved. If nothing else, it would add some randomness to the brands and keep the fans on their toes.
My money’s on Lesner picking Kingston or both in a threeway match. It feels right given the new unpredictable nature and new rivalries the WWE seems to be going for.