WWE RAW Results
May 28, 2018
Houston, Texas
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves and David Otunga
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
“Ladies and gentlemen… Elias.”
We go into the arena to see Elias sitting on a stool with his guitar. Elias greets the crowd and plays a riff, which wasn’t half-bad. Who wants to walk with Elias? It shouldn’t surprise anyone that his is the first face you see tonight. He is the most valuable asset of the company. At Money in the Bank, he’ll be even more valuable when he becomes the next Intercontinental Champion. The entire world will see what Seth Rollins will learn the hard way: WWE stands for Walk With Elias. Speaking of Rollins, we all saw what he did to him last week. Elias hit him with his guitar and left him lying in a pile of dirt and pain. Elias had to smash one of his favorite guitars. Elias will take that pain and turn it into a song, which he will sing right now. Elias plays a song while replays are shown of his attack on Rollins last week.
Seth Rollins’ music hits, and the WWE Intercontinental Champion makes his way to the ring. Elias is excited for Rollins to get in the ring with him. Elias holds his guitar, ready to attack. Rollins comes to ringside and walks around the ring. A “Let’s go Rollins” chant picks up. Rollins then goes under the ring and grabs a steel chair. Elias looks nervous as Rollins gets on the apron. Rollins calmly gets in the ring, and they’re having a standoff. Elias swings the guitar, but Rollins blocks it with a chair shot. Elias begs Rollins off. Jinder Mahal attacks Rollins from behind, and Elias joins in for a double-team. Sunil Singh comes into the ring as well. Roman Reigns’ music hits, and he makes the save, clearing the ring of Elias, Singh, and Mahal.
WWE RAW General Manager Kurt Angle comes out to the stage. Angle says Elias and Mahal aren’t going anywhere tonight because we’ll have a tag team match right now.
-Commercial Break-
David Otunga is introduced on the commentary team. Jonathan Coachman is on assignment.
Elias and Jinder Mahal vs. Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns
The heels immediately take turns tagging in and out to avoid their Money in the Bank opponents. Rollins and Reigns attack both in frustration. Rollins hits Mahal with a plancha while Reigns sends Elias into the barricade. Rollins gets Mahal in the ring and dropkicks him. Reigns tags in, and the boos fire up. Reigns whips Rollins into Mahal, who hits a running forearm. Rollins then sends Mahal into Reigns, who hits him with a back elbow. Rollins tags in, and they slam Mahal down. Elias tags in and attacks Rollins from behind. Elias hits a snapshot off the top rope. Elias sends him into the ropes for a clothesline. Elias then applies a neck vice. Rollins tries to fight out, so Elias applies a chin lock. Rollins tries to fight up, but Elias quickly takes him down and cinches in the chin lock. Rollins fights out and goes for a suplex, but his neck is too hurt. Elias goes for a knee drop, but Rollins moves. Mahal tags in and tries to stop Rollins, but he’s soon sent over the top rope.
Reigns is tagged in, and he hits a pair of clotheslines followed by a leaping clothesline. Reigns punches Elias off the apron and clubs away at Mahal in the corner. Reigns hits the ropes, but Mahal boots him. Reigns bounces off the ropes and boots Mahal. Elias tags in and eats a big boot from Reigns. Reigns gets set up, but Mahal distracts him, so Reigns punches him. Elias gets out of the ring to recover. Reigns leaves the ring and goes to hit Mahal with a Drive By Dropkick, but Elias comes out of nowhere to clothesline him.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Reigns trapped in a chin lock applied by Elias. Reigns fights out, but Elias peppers him with right hands. Mahal tags in and snaps Reigns off the top rope for a two count. Elias tags in and punches away at Reigns before knocking Rollins off the apron. Reigns makes a comeback, but Elias quickly drops him with a back elbow. Mahal tags back in and kicks Reigns in the ribs. Mahal applies a chin lock, but Reigns fights up. Mahal knees him in the ribs, but Reigns quickly comes back with a Samoan Drop.
Rollins and Elias are tagged in. Rollins hits a Lou Thesz Press and punches away at him before hitting a Sling Blade. Mahal is knocked off the apron. Rollins goes to the second rope for a blockbuster on Elias for a two count. Rollins gets up holding his neck. Elias drops him on the apron. Rollins springboards off the ropes and rolls when Elias moves. Rollins avoids a kick and hits the falcon arrow. Mahal breaks up the pin. Mahal goes for the Khallas, but Reigns comes in and levels him with a Superman Punch. Reigns then hits Elias with a Drive By Dropkick. Rollins superkicks Elias and sets up for the Stomp. Sunil Singh gets on the apron and leaps off before Rollins attacks, but he leaps right into Reigns. Mahal quickly attacks Reigns from behind and sends him into the steel steps. Mahal then sends him into the crowd. Elias rolls Rollins up for a two count. Rollins hits a step-up enzuigiri on Elias before hitting Mahal with a suicide dive. Rollins grabs his neck in pain at ringside. Singh grabs a steel chair, but Rollins turns and scares him. Singh runs into the ring and drops the chair, so Elias DDTs Rollins on the chair in front of the referee. Elias then hits the Drift Away for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Elias and Jinder Mahal
Nia Jax will take on Natalya later tonight. We’ll also see Braun Strowman take on Bobby Roode, as well as a Tag Team Battle Royal where the winners will earn a RAW Tag Team Championship Match.
-Commercial Break-
Bruce Pritchard is at ringside.
Curt Hawkins is in the ring. At ringside, there is a table of tacos. Earlier on Twitter, he made a bold prediction. Hawkins is sitting at 199 losses in a row, but there won’t be a 200th. When he’s victorious tonight, everyone in the arena will get a free taco. Hawkins calls over the jobber, who says his name is James Harden from Houston, Texas.
Curt Hawkins vs. James Harden
They lock up, and Hawkins powers Harden to the corner before punching him. Hawkins whips him hard into the corner before hitting a body slam. Harden avoids a splash in the corner, but he soon eats a kick and is turned inside out with a clothesline. A “We want tacos” chant fires up. Baron Corbin’s music then hits, and he comes out smiling and clapping. Corbin gets in the ring and hits Harden with the End of Days to cost Hawkins the match.
Winner by Disqualification: James Harden
Hawkins is furious over losing his 200th straight match. Corbin hits him in the face with the taco and bounces him off the table. Corbin then dumps the table of tacos onto Hawkins before walking off.
Natalya is warming up with “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey. Natalya faces Nia Jax, next.
-Commercial Break-
Baron Corbin walks up to Kurt Angle. Corbin says he sees what’s going on here. Corbin is overshadowed and not given any opportunities. Corbin spoke directly to Stephanie McMahon, who wanted him to give Angle a message. McMahon says she is establishing a checks and balances system. Corbin is appointed as the new Constable of Monday Night RAW. Corbin is her personal representative. Angle looks upset.
“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey joins the commentary team for this next match.
Non-Title Match
WWE RAW Women’s Champion Nia Jax vs. Natalya
They lock up, but Jax quickly powers her down. Natalya quickly gets to her feet and applies a side headlock, but she can’t take Jax down. Jax shoves her off. Natalya goes for a clothesline, but Jax doesn’t go down. Jax absorbs a dropkick before shoulder blocking her down. Natalya gets up and is run over by another shoulder block. Natalya rolls out of the ring to recover.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Natalya trapped in a chin lock. Natalya fights up and hits a jawbreaker. Natalya kicks her and goes for a body slam, but she can’t gets Jax off her feet. Jax head-butts her down. Natalya fights back and counters a wheelbarrow slam into a modified (or botched) bulldog. Natalya then dropkicks her back. Rousey is doing well on commentary right now. Natalya fights back, but she can’t whip Jax. Natalya avoids an avalanche from Jax and hits a discus clothesline for a two count. Natalya tries to get the quiet crowd fired up. Natalya hits the ropes, but he knee buckles. Jax then hits a Samoan Drop for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Nia Jax
Natalya is struggling to get up, and Jax looks worried. Rousey tells the commentary team to hold her headphones, and she heads down to the ring. Rousey checks on her friend. Rousey keeps Jax away from her. Jax bumps her, so Rousey gets in her face. Rousey tells her to leave the ring. Jax continues to pace around in the background. Rousey and the referee help Natalya to the back.
Finn Balor will take on Kevin Owens later tonight. Bobby Lashley will also respond to the accusations made by Sami Zayn.
Renee Young interviews Bobby Roode backstage. She asks him about his mindset heading into his first ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Roode says he’s ecstatic. Roode is two weeks away from the most life changing match in WWE. Roode is looking forward to making history. When he wins, it’ll be absolutely glorious. She then asks him about facing Braun Strowman. Roode says he doesn’t know. He’s been in the business twenty years, but has never seen a man like Braun Strowman. Roode will have to use all his tricks to beat him. To be honest, Roode’s goal is to survive.
Braun Strowman’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring for his match against Bobby Roode, next.
-Commercial Break-
Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Roode
They lock up, and Strowman immediately powers him down before flexing. Roode applies a side headlock, but Strowman throws him off. Roode sidesteps an avalanche, but Strowman soon grabs him and throws him across the ring. Roode quickly boots him back and goes to the second rope, but Strowman grabs him by the throat and picks him up. Roode slides off and attacks the knee. Roode goes for a Glorious DDT, but Strowman flapjacks him. Strowman grabs him and hits a massive suplex before posing for the crowd. Strowman licks his lips and charges, but Roode elbows him and boots him. Roode then lets Strowman do his favorite spot: the running shoulder into the ring post. Roode goes under the ring and grabs a ladder. Roode sets up a ladder bridge from the ring apron to the barricade. Roode gets in the ring and goads Strowman into chasing him around the ring. Roode tries to run Strowman into the ladder, but he stops. Roode mocks him. Strowman clubs the ladder and breaks it in half! Roode is stunned! Strowman chases him around the ring and sends him into the barricade. Strowman sends him into the ring and hits a Running Powerslam for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Braun Strowman
Kevin Owens is watching backstage when Dasha Fuentes interviews him about his thoughts. Owens doesn’t care about anyone that stands in his way on the way to the Money in the Bank contract. As for Finn Balor, he’ll prove that he’s nothing more than a made up Irish myth.
Kevin Owens takes on Finn Balor later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Natalya has ice on her knee in the trainer’s room, telling Ronda Rousey she felt a pop. Rousey helps her to her feet. Nia Jax comes in and apologizes about the knee. Rousey says she’s done enough already. Jax says this isn’t ballet and Natalya is as much her friend as Rousey’s. Natalya says she knows Jax didn’t mean to hurt her, but she needs a minuter to herself. Natalya hobbles off on crutches.
Renee Young introduces the RAW Tag Team Champions, Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt, to the ring. The Deleters of Worlds make their entrance. She asks how it feels to watch the entire Tag Team Division fight for a shot at their titles. Wyatt says any team that has the audacity to face off against the Deleters of Worlds should understand they will not be facing men. They’ll be facing Woken Warriors. They will be facing Fireflies. They will be facing gods. Then they will truly understand what it means to be… WOKEN! “WOKEN” Matt Hardy says they are magic. Their essences have traveled and transcended space and time. Now they stand before them all as the RAW Tag Team Champions. They are unparalleled and unstoppable. They’ve woken the entire WWE Universe. Hardy asks if Young considers herself woken. Renee says, “Yeah… yup.” Hardy says that is WONDERFUL and gets the crowd to give her an ovation. It is time for this Battle Royale to commence. Wyatt shouts, “WAIT!” Let it be known that no matter what team wins tonight, first they will suffer, and then be DELETED! The RAW Tag Team Champions pose.
The commentators run down the Money in the Bank card.
Coming up next, we’ll have a #1 Contender’s Tag Team Battle Royal.
-Commercial Break-
#1 Contender’s Tag Team Battle Royal
The Revival vs. The Ascension vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno vs. Breezango vs. Titus Worldwide vs. The B-Team vs. Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre
The brawling starts before JoJo even starts her introductions, so there was some miscommunication there. Zigger and McIntyre go through the middle ropes and watch from the apron for a few. McIntyre then gets in and unloads on Viktor. O’Neal nearly eliminates Ziggler, but he holds on. Konnor nearly gets Slater out of the ring, but Rhyno saves him. Scott Dawson holds McIntyre for Dash Wilder to punch. Tyler Breeze then eliminates Ziggler! Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre have been eliminated. McIntyre unloads on whoever is around him. Ziggler joins in, and they hit Bo Dallas with a Zig-Zag/Claymore combo.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see the brawl still going on. Titus Worldwide were eliminated during the break by The Revival. Fandango attacks Viktor and eliminates him. The Ascension have been eliminated. Dawson then eliminates Fandango. Breezango have been eliminated. The Revival concentrate on Rhyno and pick him apart. They go for Shatter Machine on Slater, but Rhyno grabs Wilder and eliminates him. The Revival have been eliminated. Slater superkicks Dawson for good measure. The B-Team attack them. Dallas boots Rhyno back before Axel DDTs him. They get Rhyno on the apron, but Slater makes the save. Slater picks Dallas up and accidentally hits Rhyno with his legs, knocking him off the apron. The B-Team wins.
Winners of the Battle Royal: The B-Team
The B-Team will face The Deleters of Worlds for the WWE RAW Tag Team Championship.
Bobby Lashley will respond to Sami Zayn, next.
-Commercial Break-
Bobby Lashley responds to Sami Zayn
Bobby Lashley comes out to absolutely no reaction from the crowd. Sami Zayn has been talking a lot of trash. Where he comes from, they do things the old fashioned way. If Zayn has something to say to him, he can say it to his face.
Sami Zayn’s music hits, but he doesn’t come out. Lashley looks confused. We then hear Zayn’s voice and see him out in the crowd. Zayn asks if the crowd if they want to see him in the ring with Lashley, and that gets a mediocre applause at best. Last time they were in the ring together, Lashley attacked him when he wasn’t ready. Zayn has been so injured he could cook the organic tofu steaks he has in his refrigerator. Zayn says he’s such a genius performer that his brain never stops scouting his opponent. Zayn has some great insight about Lashley over the past week. Zayn looked to Instagram for inspiration. Lashley posts inspirational quotes on Instagram. Zayn mocks one of them. These posts are too good. Most people would think Lashley is trying to get a positive message out there. Zayn is an intellectual and dug deeper. Zayn created a fake Instagram account to DM Lashley, and Lashley sent him to his paid VIP website. Zayn says he’s too smart for Lashley’s tricks. Lashley asks where he’s going with all of this. Lashley wants to talk to him face-to-face. Zayn doesn’t talk to liars. Lashley doesn’t know if he should laugh at him or feel sorry for him. Zayn is leaving through the crowd. Lashley gets he’s trying to hype their Money in the Bank match, but not at the expense of his reputation.
Zayn says Lashley is nothing but a liar and a phony. Does he even have sisters or has been in the Army? Zayn accuses him of lying about his military service. Lashley is so angered that he removes his jacket. A light “USA” chant picks up. Lashley’s music then plays.
Charly Caruso interviews Jinder Mahal. Mahal says Roman Reigns is bitter and feels threatened by him. Renee Young is with Roman Reigns. Reigns says Mahal has done nothing around here lately, yet wants to be handed everything. Mahal interjects and is furious Reigns is disparaging his name. Reigns would never say it to his face. Reigns tells him to shut his mouth. Reigns tells him to stay put.
Reigns starts making his way toward the RAW interview area. Reigns turns the corner and finds Mahal and Sunil Singh. Mahal sends Singh into Reigns, who is thrown to the side. Reigns sends Mahal into a garage door, absolutely getting the better of him. Agents and referees separate them.
Alexa Bliss makes her entrance. She’s in action, next.
-Commercial Break-
Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks, and Ember Moon vs. The Riott Squad
Ruby Riott starts against Ember Moon. Riott takes her down with an arm drag. Moon wrenches the arm and sends her into the ropes for a hip toss, but Riott counters. Moon lands on her feet. Riott elbows her in the face and shoulder blocks her down. Moon trips her and hits a slingshot splash for a two count. Alexa Bliss tags in and wrenches the arm. Bliss then fakes a knee injury to tag in Banks. Bliss then limps away while her partners look irritated.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Liv Morgan on top of Moon. Sarah Logan tags in and head-butts Moon for a two count. Riott tags in and rag dolls Moon. Moon then runs her face-first into the ropes. Moon goes for a tag, but Riott takes her down. Moon gets away and makes the tag.
Banks and Morgan tag in. Banks cleans house before Morgan drops her on the apron. Morgan flapjacks her and slams her down for a two count. The Riott Squad makes frequent tags to stomp Banks. Morgan applies a full nelson to Banks. Banks gets out and kicks Morgan in the face before hitting a neckbreaker. Logan pulls Moon off the apron, but Moon fights her off, along with Riott. Moon gets on the apron, but Morgan knocks her off. Banks rolls her up for a two count. Morgan attacks and tags Riott in. Banks fights Morgan off and hits Riott and Logan with a Meteora off the ropes. Bayley’s music hits, and she runs down. Bayley tags in and cleans house against Morgan before hitting Bayley-To-Belly for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Ember Moon
Baron Corbin is not happy with what just happened in this match. Kurt Angle says it’s none of his business. Corbin says it is his business. Nowhere does it state that a WWE superstar can enter a match that has already started… or does Kurt want to ask Stephanie? Corbin tells Angle to tell Bayley, Banks, and Moon that their win doesn’t count. Angle walks off.
-Commercial Break-
Bayley, Ember Moon, and Sasha Banks are walking backstage. Banks says that Bayley has had her back. Kurt Angle walks up to them and congratulates them on their performance. Angle tells them that The Riott Squad won the match by disqualification because Bayley wasn’t officially in the match. Bayley’s two “partners” walk off on her.
Baron Corbin is talking to John Cone backstage and isn’t happy with him.
Big Show is on the stage. It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen him. Big Show is surrounded by some Special Olympics athletes. The crowd gives them a nice hand. Big Show is proud to be up here with them. Big Show tells the crowd to get on their feet for the joy of sport and inclusion. The crowd gives them a standing ovation.
Finn Balor makes his entrance, and the Special Olympics athletes are overjoyed, doing his entrance with him. Balor will face Kevin Owens, next.
-Commercial Break-
Next week, we’ll have a Fatal 4-Way Match with Sasha Banks taking on Ember Moon, Alexa Bliss, and Natalya. We’ll have a second Fatal 4-Way Match with Finn Balor taking on Braun Strowman, Bobby Roode, and Kevin Owens. Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax will also come face to face.
Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens
They lock up, and Owens powers Balor into the corner. Balor ducks a right hand and chops him. Owens quickly puts himself through the ropes to keep Balor back. Owens applies a waistlock and takes him down before slapping him in the back of the head. Balor gets to his feet and kicks away at Owens’ legs. Owens quickly rolls out of the ring to recover. Owens takes his time getting back into the ring. Balor stalks him around the ring. Owens quickly kicks and clubs him down before applying a chin lock. Balor tries to whip him off, but Owens hangs on. Owens connects with a headlock takeover and cinches in the side headlock. Balor fights up and whips him off, but Owens shoulder blocks him down for a two count. Owens immediately goes back to a chin lock. Balor fights up and gives Owens an arm drag. Owens fights up and backs Balor to the corner before punching him in the midsection and stomping him. Owens shouts that this is his show. Owens goes for a sunset flip, but Balor rolls through and dropkicks him. Balor applies an arm bar and backs him to the corner. Owens elbows Balor in the face and stomps him. Owens whips him hard into the corner, and Balor collapses. Owens picks up a two count. Balor sidesteps an avalanche, goes to the apron, and hits a slingshot kick. Balor goes to the top rope, but Owens rolls out of the ring to recover.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Owens taking Balor down with another chin lock. Balor fights up and takes him down with a diving forearm. Owens fights back and goes to the top rope, but Balor comes right back with a step-up enzuigiri. Balor goes to the top rope, so Owens leaves the ring. Balor then hits a summersault dive over the top rope. Balor gets him in the ring, but Owens rolls right back out. Balor pulls him up to the apron, so Owens snaps his arm off the top rope. Owens attacks the arm and stomps it. Owens works over the arm, slamming it on the mat before applying an arm bar. Owens keeps him grounded with a hammerlock. The crowd is turning on this match with the overuse of rest holds. Balor fights up, but Owens slams him down. Owens goes for a senton splash, but Balor moves. Balor shakes his arm and gets to his feet, but Owens soon kicks him and takes him down. Owens tries for a powerbomb, but Balor takes him down and hits a double stomp to the midsection.
Both men are down now. They slowly get up and Balor takes him down with a Sling Blade for a two count. Balor goes for another Sling Blade, but Owens counters into a roll-up for a two count. Owens superkicks him in the face for another two count. Balor soon gets to his feet and hits a Sling Blade. Owens struggles to get to his feet, and Balor dropkicks him hard into the corner. Balor goes to the top rope, but Owens crotches him up there. Owens ties him up in the tree of woe and stomps away at him. Owens continues stomping at him against the referee’s wishes, so he’s disqualified.
Winner by Disqualification: Finn Balor
Owens rolls him to the center of the ring and hits a frog splash. Owens goes under the ring and grabs a ladder. Owens sets it up under the Money in the Bank briefcase hanging over the ring. Owens climbs the ladder and looks at the briefcase, but then he turns and looks at Balor. Owens signals for a frog splash, but he’s afraid of heights. Owens goes down a few rungs, but he’s still too nervous. Balor gets to his feet and pulls Owens off before dropkicking him into the corner. Balor climbs to the top of the ladder and hits a Coup de Grace off the ladder! Balor then climbs the ladder and grabs the briefcase. Balor holds the Money in the Bank briefcase to close the show.
Quick Match Results
* Elias and Jinder Mahal def. Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns
* James Harden def. Curt Hawkins via DQ
* Nia Jax def. Natalya (non-title)
* Braun Strowman def. Bobby Roode
* The B-Team won a #1 Contender’s Tag Team Battle Royal
* The Riott Squad def. Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks, and Ember Moon via DQ
* Finn Balor def. Kevin Owens via DQ