WWE RAW Results
May 20, 2019
Albany, New York
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Renee Young
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
Brock Lesnar’s music hits, and the holder of the Men’s Money in the Bank briefcase makes his way to the ring alongside Paul Heyman to loud boos. Lesnar poses in the ring with the briefcase.
Video Package: Brock Lesnar wins the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Lesnar is seen smiling at the footage. Lesnar is using the briefcase like an old school boombox next to his head. Heyman says, “Ladies and gentlemen… my name is Paul Heyman and I am the advocate for the Beast in the Bank because my money is in the Beast, the 2019 Mr. Money in the Bank, the purveyor of paranoia Brock Lesnar!” The crowd loudly boos. Heyman says he can hear the paranoia. His client has heard the conspiracy theory that they hatched their plan when Sami Zayn beat Braun Strowman last week. The theory states that Lesnar snuck in, hung Zayn upside down, spoke to someone with the right political contacts, and entered the Money in the Bank match as the 8th man. The crowd is giving them too much credit. They should blame Lesnar for the John F. Kennedy assassination.
Heyman says if he were holding a championship right now, he’d be paranoid. If he were Seth Rollins or Kofi Kingston, he’d never feel safe knowing that Lesnar has a contract to cash in at any time. If he were Seth Rollins, he’d be paranoid. The world is not against Rollins, but Lesnar is against Rollins.
WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring to a big ovation. Rollins quickly gets in Lesnar’s face, who holds up the briefcase. Rollins says he should be in a great mood after winning the fight of his life against AJ Styles, but he is not in a good mood because he has to come out here and see Brock Lesnar with the Money in the Bank contract. Rollins says he’s out here trying to be a champion that inspires people. The kind of champion Lesnar never had the guts to be. Rollins says he can’t do that with Lesnar holding the contract over his head. Rollins says he beat Lesnar at WrestleMania and is sure he can do it again. Rollins challenges him to cash in tonight. The crowd erupts. Heyman tells the crowd not to encourage him.
Heyman says this is Lesnar’s game of anticipation, which means Rollins has to wait until Lesnar feels like cashing in. Rollins should be used to waiting. It’s like waiting around for 7 hours at WrestleMania while his girlfriend main evented the show he always dreamed of main eventing. Rollins immediately gets in Lesnar’s face and demands he cash in. Heyman scrambles to stop Lesnar from doing anything. Heyman asks Rollins how he believes that he’s even worthy of cashing in on. Maybe Lesnar wants a new challenge. Maybe it’s a New Day for Lesnar. Maybe it’ll be Brock Lesnar vs. Kofi Kingston.
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston’s music hits, and he comes out to a loud pop. Kingston gets in the ring and shouts, “Wild Card!” Kingston says he doesn’t meant to steal Rollins’ thunder, but he’s trying to establish his legacy as WWE Champion. When all is said and done, he wants to be considered one of the best WWE Champions of all time. Kingston can’t do that if he doesn’t face the best night in and night out. Kingston congratulates Lesnar on winning the Money in the Bank briefcase, but if he’s cashing in tonight it’ll have to be on him.
Heyman says it’s interesting that both these champions are auditioning to face Lesnar. The Money in the Bank holder didn’t have to go to the champions. They came to him for a main event match. Heyman understands that Rollins and Kingston aren’t done for the evening. As long as they’re around, the Money in the Bank briefcase isn’t going anywhere.
We go into the garage to see a limousine pull up. Mick Foley gets out of the front seat holding the covered up new championship. Foley greets some WWE Superstars upon entering the arena.
Sami Zayn is in the Gorilla Position begging Bobby Lashley to help him against Braun Strowman. Zayn says he’s too hurt to defend himself. Lashley declines and tells Zayn to soften Strowman up for him.
Sami Zayn will face Braun Strowman, next.
-Commercial Break-
Triple H tells Seth Rollins and Kofi Kingston that they’ll be teaming up to take on Baron Corbin and Bobby Lashley in the main event.
Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman
Before the bell rings, Zayn gets out of the ring. Strowman chases after him through the crowd. They run to the back. Strowman can’t find Zayn backstage. Strowman then finds Bobby Lashley, his opponent at WWE Super ShowDown and stares at him. Zayn attacks him from behind, but Strowman quickly takes him down. Strowman stares at Lashley again and says he’ll deal with him later. Strowman grabs Zayn and sends him to the Gorilla Position.
Strowman walks out onto the stage holding Zayn on his shoulder. Zayn eventually slides off and sends Strowman into the ring post a few times. Strowman quickly swats him down and gets him in the ring. Zayn then sidesteps him, which sends Strowman shoulder-first into the ring post.
Zayn demands the bell ring to start the match. Zayn sets up for a Helluva Kick, but Strowman clotheslines him down. Strowman runs over Zayn with a shoulder block outside. Strowman gets Zayn in the ring and hits a Running Powerslam for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Braun Strowman
Later tonight we’ll have A Moment of Bliss with special guest RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch.
Coming up next, we’ll have an in-ring interview with Lars Sullivan.
-Commercial Break-
In-ring interview with Lars Sullivan
Charly Caruso introduces Lars Sullivan to the ring. She has a video package shown of the destruction he’s caused in WWE. She asks Sullivan what his goals are in WWE. Before Sullivan can answer, Lucha House Party cuts him off.
Lucha House Party surrounds the ring and hits him with individual dropkicks. Sullivan shakes them off, but he’s knocked from the ring after a triple dropkick. Kalisto goes for a plancha, but Sullivan catches him and slams him face-first off the apron. Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik hit him with a double suicide dive, but he fights them off. Sullivan goes for a Running Powerbomb on Dorado, but Kalisto and Metalik pull him away. They retreat up the ramp, leaving Sullivan in the ring furious.
Video Package: Seth Rollins def. AJ Styles to retain the WWE Universal Championship
We’ll hear from AJ Styles and his future plans, next.
Ricochet makes his entrance. He’ll be in action against Cesaro, next.
-Commercial Break-
Footage is shown of Cesaro mocking Ricochet for being in the trainer’s room after his war in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match last night. That led to this match.
Cesaro comes out to a brand new entrance theme and lighting.
Ricochet vs. Cesaro
The bell rings, and Cesaro immediately throws Ricochet into the corner. Ricochet fights back, but Cesaro takes him down with a big back body drop. Ricochet writhes in pain and rolls out of the ring. Ricochet’s back is all taped up. Cesaro goes for a slam on the floor, but Ricochet slides off and sends him headfirst into the ring post. Ricochet then takes him down with a moonsault block off the second rope to the floor. Ricochet goes for a plancha, but Cesaro catches him and slams him on the apron.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Cesaro stretching Ricochet’s back. Ricochet fights up and hits a jawbreaker. Cesaro shoves him before sending him into the ropes. Ricochet stands on Cesaro’s shoulders, backflips off, and hits him with a wild head-scissor takeover to get him out of the ring. While they’re showing a trailer for The Secret Life of Pets, Ricochet hits Cesaro with a Foxbury Flop. Ricochet gets Cesaro in the ring and goes to the top rope. Ricochet leaps, but he eats an uppercut. Cesaro hits a torture rack backbreaker followed by the Gotch Neutralizer for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Cesaro
Charly Caruso is backstage with AJ Styles. She asks where the loss to Seth Rollins leaves him on RAW. Styles says he’s back at square one. Styles likes hard work. Styles can beat Rollins, but not last night. There’s no shame in losing. There’s a reason why Rollins is the Universal Champion. Baron Corbin walks up and mocks Styles. Styles says Corbin is the guy that squandered his Money in the Bank opportunity and got fired as the RAW General Manager. Corbin says it’s a slap in the face that Styles got a title shot over him. Styles says he’ll give him a slap in the face and literally slaps Corbin in the face. Corbin stares at him and says, “You’ll pay for that one.”
Roman Reigns makes his entrance. We’ll hear from him, next.
-Commercial Break-
Mick Foley is talking with WWE Champion Kofi Kingston backstage. Kingston sneaks a peek at the new championship.
Roman Reigns is in the ring, but before he can speak Shane McMahon’s music hits. McMahon says Reigns is using the Wild Card Rule. McMahon tells him to remember the yard is small compared to the Best in the World. McMahon says he proved his point last night in a brutal Steel Cage Match, but he walked out with his hand held high in victory. Just for everyone’s edification, he’s officially done with The Miz. McMahon’s focus is going somewhere else. That focal point is Reigns. McMahon can’t get out of his head when Reigns did to his father Vince McMahon. The fact Reigns cowardly struck his father to the ground makes him wonder what kind of man Reigns is. Reigns disgusts him.
Reigns says he hates spoiled rich kids. McMahon said a whole bunch of crap and all he said is he’s done with The Miz. Reigns says he’s done with Elias, so his schedule is wide open. McMahon says Elias isn’t done with Reigns. Reigns challenges McMahon to a fight tonight. McMahon sarcastically calls Reigns brave for challenging a person who went through a brutal Steel Cage Match. McMahon asks the crowd if the people want to see him fight Roman Reigns. They cheer in the affirmative. McMahon takes off his jacket, but then says it’s not happening. McMahon says he controls his destiny and does what he wants when he wants. McMahon says he’s Reigns’ boss and will demonstrate control. Drew McIntyre’s music hits, and The Scottish Psychopath comes out to the stage.
McMahon says he’ll accept Reigns challenge at Super ShowDown. When Reigns regains consciousness, he’ll hear McMahon being announced as the winner. Reigns says after Super ShowDown, McMahon will say what everyone else does: “I just got my ass kicked by Roman Reigns.”