Match Ratings For WWE Raw 5/20/19, Podcast Notes From Sean Ross Sapp

Opening Segment

• Paul Heyman comes out and discusses the conspiracy theories surrounding Brock Lesnar and Money in the Bank.
• He implies Lesnar beat up Sami Zayn and that he personally negotiated with WWE at the last minute to get Lesnar in the match.
• Seth Rollins comes out and dares Brock Lesnar to cash in his contract right there. The crowd goes insane.
• Paul Heyman doesn’t want Lesnar to do it, and says he might not even challenge Rollins.
• Heyman brings up Kofi Kingston, who comes out to a thunderous ovation. We’re reminded of the stupid ass wild card rule.
• Heyman notes that both guys are auditioning for a match against Lesnar, and Lesnar isn’t leaving yet.
• Kofi and Rollins are told by Triple H that they’ll face Baron Corbin and Bobby Lashley tonight.

Braun Strowman defeated Sami Zayn
SQUASH

• Bobby Lashley refuses to help Sami Zayn tonight. I like that they referenced that Lashley doesn’t like Zayn.
• Zayn lures Strowman backstage, where Lashley stares him down. This allows Zayn to land a punch, but that’s it.
• Strowman beats Zayn all through Gorilla and then to the ring.
• Strowman beats Zayn pretty quickly with a powerslam.

LARRRRRRRRRRRRS

• Lars Sullivan comes out for an interview with Charly Caruso.
• There’s a brief video, then Lucha House party come out.
• They triple team Lars, then just sit around when Kalisto gets murdered. HUH?!
• Lars destroys them all. They save Lince from a powerbomb.

Cesaro defeated Ricochet
5.75/10

• Would have maybe left Ricochet off the show tonight to sell the injuries.
• Cesaro trolls Ricochet into a match, and he has a new theme and entrance.
• Ricochet is a great opponent for Cesaro.
• Ricochet eats a huge back body drop and a drop across the apron.
• Cesaro finishes him off with a big backbreaker, European uppercut and the Neutralizer.
• I don’t mind Ricochet losing this one. This was a little short, but was good for what it was

WILD CARD

• Roman Reigns THE WILDCARD comes out.
• Shane McMahon follows and says he’s officially done with the Miz.
• Shane says the match with Roman Reigns will happen again.
• Drew McIntyre and Shane McMahon jump Roman Reigns.
• Backstage, Miz runs into them and says he’s coming for Shane after he takes care of Drew tonight.

The Revival defeated The Usos
6.25/10

• The Revival jump the Usos, and do the Sidewinder while still in their jackets.
• Early on, this is a good way to re-establish The Revival.
• There’s some great, back and forth, hard hitting action.
• Revival do a powerbomb/elbow drop and the crowd is cookin’.
• A bunch of superkicks land and things get wild with Uso dives.
• Dawson and Jimmy Uso have a great strike trade.
• Dawson rolls up Jimmy for the pin.
• “This was awesome” chants. This match ruled.
• The Revival are backstage celebrating and tell Alexa they should be on Moment of Bliss

Moment of Bliss

• Alexa Bliss is seen with Nikki Cross backstage. She reminds Nikki Cross that she didn’t win last night.
• Alexa keeps asking Nikki to move.
• Becky Lynch is brought out, but the IIconics come out to clown her.
• Becky threatens to beat them right now and become Becky Three Belts.
• Lacey Evans shows up and challenges Becky to a six-woman tag. Nikki volunteers to be Becky’s partner.
• Alexa Bliss says she’s not ready for a match — is literally wearing her gear. Lol. She carries a coffee to the ring.

Becky Lynch, Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss defeated The IIconics & Lacey Evans
5/10

• “What do you know about this Nikki Cross?” – five months after she was called up.
• Alexa is drinking coffee at ringside.
• Nikki has a great series of offense, then gets worked over by the IIconics. There are some sloppy pin attempts, too.
• Becky gets tagged in, goes off and ends up winning with a flying leg drop from the second rope.
• I’m okay with that finish. Billie doesn’t need protected, and it gets another move over for Becky Lynch.
• Lacey had walked out before the pin.

24/7

• Mick Foley is shown entering the venue and is greeted by a lot of people who can’t get on TV.
• Foley doing such a bad job covering up the title that production keeps cutting away from it.
• Mick Foley reveals the 24/7 title.
• They made this shit so convoluted. Foley says something about a third hour, I dunno. I asked WWE to clear it up.
• If the Beauty and The Beast were being replayed in the ring right now, Mick Foley would be Belle, because that title is hideous.
• So uhhh is it a Third Hour Of Raw Championship? Why is only the third hour of Raw getting RAWWWW.
• I’d be okay if champions could appear on either show, or if there was just one wild card. They’ve bastardized the brand split to the point where it’s ridiculous.

WWE 24/7 Championship
Titus O’Neil wins the Title
Robert Roode defeated Titus O’Neil (c) to win the 24/7 Championship

• Whoever runs in and gets the title wins it.
• The Club, Titus, Cedric, Eric Young, Jose, EC3, Mojo are out there to get it.
• The Good Brothers both have the title. Everyone gets a turn going at it in the ring.
• WWE has a great idea, but that belt is hideous and they did a real terrible job explaining the real concept of this.
• Titus grabs it and wins.
• Robert Roode rolls up Titus and wins the title.
• Later, he’s seen being chased past Lashley and Corbin.
• R-Truth helps hide Roode in his trunk and hide.
• A referee emerges and Truth wins the title.
• R-Truth is the first person to ever hold the WWF Hardcore Championship and WWE 24/7 Championship.

Drew McIntyre (w/ Shane McMahon) defeated The Miz
5.5/10

• Drew McIntyre cracks Miz pretty good early.
• For all the former criticisms about Miz, he can dish it out and take it.
• The match spills to the outside where Miz goes over the barricade.
• Miz does a damn huracanrana!
• Miz goes for a Figure Four, and Shane distracts him, then attacks.
• This helps Drew set up for the Claymore and the win.
• Shane is gonna Coast to Coast Miz, but Reigns makes the save.

JOE

• WWE references the United States Title pin screw up from last night.
• Rey Mysterio has a separated shoulder.
• Samoa Joe cuts a selfie promo.
• We’ll find out what’s up with the title next week.

Kofi Kingston & Seth Rollins defeated Baron Corbin & Bobby Lashley
5.5/10

• Corbin gets walloped by AJ Styles backstage.
• This was announced as a No DQ match and reacted to as if it is a heel thing to do. Why? Because being in a No-DQ match puts them at a heightened disadvantage if Lesnar cashes in. More beat down, as Noah pointed out. But commentary didn’t point that out.
• Corbin and Lashley attack Rollins before the match.
• Per usual, Corbin does a great Deep Six.
• Rollins takes out the heels with a chair while they’re going for a double suplex.
• Kofi wins with a Trouble in Paradise.
• Both babyfaces get speared.
• Brock Lesnar comes out, then backs off. They’re coming back next week and revealing who he’s going to cash in on.

Rating guide

10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor

Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a “star rating,” which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive “TV match” lands at a 5.The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones. Don’t take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!