26th May2020

WWE Raw – May 25th 2020: Results & Review

by Nathan Favel

Welcome to this week’s Monday Night Raw review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have the NXT people sitting in the crowd like AEW has done. Andrade defends the US Title against Apollo Crews and Michael Cimino is a crazy mother-f—–. I like pussy-cats and elbows, which is what graduate school is all about. I’m excited to jump off a bridge and Raw starts…whenever it starts.

Match #1: Apollo Crews def. Andrade – WWE United States Championship Match

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The prospect of winning his first championship in WWE had Apollo Crews fired up, but the match turned when Andrade accidentally collided with Zelina Vega at ringside. Despite Andrade targeting his previously injured knee, Crews persevered and put Andrade down for the three-count with a standing moonsault/shooting star press combination to win the title.

My Opinion: 3.2 out of 5 – There was so little time dedicated to this, but what these guys got to do was still quality wrestling. Hell, Crews actually won the damn strap. I guess Paul Heyman does have some influence over this show after all. I’m curious to see what the plan is for Crews now that he has actually won the big one. Actually, I wouldn’t mind this pairing getting a series over the summer, since these two matched-up so well. Over-all, this was about as much fun as watching an iceberg sink The Love Boat (no humping on the high seas).

Match #2: Angel Garza def. Kevin Owens

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Angel Garza got the upper hand on Kevin Owens before the bell, taking out KO’s knee from behind on the entrance ramp. Despite Owens’ best efforts, Garza pounced on the injury and put away the former Universal Champion with the Wing Clipper, then put an exclamation point on the win by once again kicking Owens in the knee.

My Opinion: 2.4 out of 5 – This was way too short for a match with such a big upset in Garza conquering KO. This could be said to have hardly occurred at all. It’s a shame that one of the most inspired pairings in months was about as long as my marriage to the green chick from Return Of The Jedi (f—— Rancor). All in all, who needs a longer wrestling match on a three hour show when you can have promos?

Match #3: (Buddy) Murphy & Austin Theory def. Aleister Black & Humberto Carrillo

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Despite being new to the fold, Austin Theory proved himself to be an impressive addition to Seth Rollins’ crew. Theory picked up the win for his team after hitting Humberto Carrillo with the ATL. After the bell, Theory & Murphy continued to attack both of their opponents, then threatened Carrillo with the same fate as Rey Mysterio until they convinced Aleister Black to stop trying to fight back.

My Opinion: 2.7 out of 5 – There’s a lot of nice movement in here that was fun to watch, but it never came together as a match (short run-time is to blame). If you blink, you might just miss this whole thing.

Match #4: Nia Jax def. Natalya and Charlotte Flair – Raw Women’s Title Match at WWE Backlash

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

This Triple Threat Match turned chaotic quickly, as The Queen and Natalya teamed up to take out Jax, eventually driving her through the announcers’ table at ringside. However, Nia proved that she truly is an irresistible force, crushing Flair with a leg drop, then planting Natalya into the mat with a Samoan Drop to win the match and earn the right to face Asuka at WWE Backlash.

My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – This got really good near the end. Nia was out for much of this, so it was good stuff. That being said, Nattie and Charlotte carried Nia through the hard parts and made the whole thing really fun for fifteen minutes. Nia is still pretty lousy, but I think that her switching to sumo-style would help her out a lot, because she wouldn’t have to sell like normal or move very fast (neither of which she can do right now). Maybe using chops and belly thrusts combined with elbows/forearms (to the chest), squeezes and headlocks would give her more that she can do without these constant strikes she accidentally lands on her peers heads. Anyway, this may have had a lame winner, but it made that winner look better than she has a right to at this point in her career. Nia, the ball’s in your court again, so do something good with it.

Match #5: (Main Event) The Street Profits def. Bobby Lashley & MVP (Disqualification)

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The Street Profits were out to show that they’re no clowns after MVP slighted them prior to this match. Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins were doing exactly that until Bobby Lashley lost control. Just after Ford connected with his Frog Splash on MVP, Lashley rushed the ring and locked on the Full Nelson, causing a disqualification.

My Opinion: 2.8 out of 5 – This was decent, but not much here to marvel over, besides Lashley swallowing an entire city block for fun and Ford with his great Frog Splash. Having a DQ sucked, but at least it sold Lashley as a monster.

News Of The Night:

  1. Drew McIntyre knocked-out MVP during the VIP Lounge and brawled with Bobby Lashley to sell their prize fight for Backlash.
  2. The IIconics are teased to split, but they are trying to put the incident from a previous show behind them.
  3. MVP continues to navigate Bobby Lashley away from Lana (and her bad acting…she needs better directing)
  4. Nia Jax fights Asuka for the Raw Women’s Title at Backlash.
  5. Edge cut a very quiet promo that was too silent to sell The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever against Randy Orton (speak-up damn it…you’re not Jake Roberts).
  6. Angel Garza was booked to cut a promo to about sex and wrestling during the Apollo Crews/Andrade prize fight.
  7. Liv Morgan cut another nice, natural promo about overcoming adversity that is still very annoying (get mean damn it).
  8. Seth Rollins tried to take out Humberto Carrillo’s eye to screw with Aleister Black.
  9. Rey Mysterio is advertised as retiring next week, with Seth Rollins as the host.
  10. Seth Rollins fights Aleister Black, next week.

Final Verdict: 2.6/5

Five matches in a three hour show only reached about a half hour of in-ring action…or some-thing like that. I’m glad Apollo Crews won the US Title, but one result is not enough to make a three hour show great (as deserved as that victory was).

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