A Room with A Review: Raw 05/25/20

I’m back, six weeks after the massive cuts at WWE sapped the last ounce of strength I had for covering the weekly shows. But I feel refreshed now and you’re stuck with me again. (Note: I hope you weren’t relying on me for your WWE news, because a lot happened in my time away: Becky Lynch announced she is pregnant, Otis won Money in the Bank and is main eventing SmackDown, and Rey Mysterio has been nearly murdered twice.)

• There’s an audience! The crowd is “filled” with NXT Performance Center trainees. According to Tom Phillips, they have all been tested and are practicing social distancing. There is also plexiglass up to separate them from the ring area, so I think this may be the early stages of some sort of “let’s sell tickets to 100 lucky fans” gimmick, until things are back in full swing.

• The first segment is the KO Show. Kevin’s guest is the Raw Women’s Champion (and newest YouTube sensation), Asuka. She’s still chanting for Becky Lynch, and KO plugs Becky’s new shirt. They recap the confrontation Asuka had with Nia Jax last week. Before the champ can comment, she is interrupted by the NXT Women’s Champion, Charlotte Flair, who is then interrupted by Natalya. The two of them, along with Jax, will be facing off in a Triple Threat match tonight to determine Asuka’s opponent at Backlash. As luck would have it, Nia Jax comes to the ring to confront Asuka. The Empress of Tomorrow hits Nia with a spinning back fist and Charlotte jumps Natty.

• After the smoke clears, Kayla Braxton is backstage with Apollo Crews, who is facing Andrade for the United States Championship. And that match… is up next!

• After the commercial break, it’s Andrade w/ Zelina Vega vs. Apollo Crews for the US title. During the match, Andrade accidentally knocks Vega off of the apron and uses the distraction to cheap shot Crews and take control of the match. For some reason, they cut to backstage where Angel Garza is discussing the match with Kayla Braxton, using as much innuendo as possible. While we are all recovering from that, Apollo Crews hits Andrade with a press slam, followed by a standing moonsault, and a standing shooting star press for the win! Charly Caruso hops in the ring and interviews the new champion while Andrade goes on a rampage backstage, destroying whatever equipment he can find within a six-foot radius of the camera.

• Backstage, Seth Rollins is monologing with a Rey Mysterio mask, and he thanks Rey Rey for showing up just win Seth needed somebody to beat up. Rollins then introduces his newest disciple, Plain Vanilla-Ass Austin Theory.

• Charly is interviewing Charlotte backstage when Asuka comes dancing by with her title. Dancing Asuka has easily been the best thing about wrestling in the Coronavirus era.

• After the commercial, the IIconics are in the ring apologizing to each other after what happened last week. They call out Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, saying that their title chances were given to Bliss Cross Applesauce. Nikki cuts a killer promo on them, but the IIconics lay the tag team champions out. 

• Next up is the VIP Lounge, hosted by MVP. This week’s guest? WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. The champ clears the ring of all of the furniture, in preparation of a surprise attack by Bobby Lashley. After some jaw-jacking, Lashley comes to the ring. Drew hits MVP with a Claymore before Lashley gets there and MVP rolls out of the ring, clutching Lashley’s leg to keep him from fighting Drew before Backlash.

• Charly is backstage with Nataly when she gets a call from her husband, Tyson Kidd. They have a short argument and Charly says that they are out of time for the interview. As long as they don’t start making Natty the farting Diva again.

• Kevin Owens is heading to the ring for his match with Angel Garza when Garza comes out and clips KO’s left knee. After a commercial break, the competitors are in the ring, and Garza is still beating on Kevin’s knee. Garza gets the win after KO’s knee gives out on a pop-up powerbomb, allowing Angel to hit the Wing Clipper.

• Next is a recap of the Viking Raiders/Street Profits friendly sports rivalry. This week they are playing golf in order to break the tie. I’ll say, these segments are dumb but entertaining. They end up at a mini-golf course (the one I grew up playing on, in fact). The Street Profits end up with the win and Ivar nearly fights a baby alligator.

• Another commercial and it’s tag team time. Murphy and Plain Vanilla-Ass Austin Theory w/ Seth Rollins against Humberto Carillo and Aleister Black. The Disciples win after Theory hits Humberto with the ATL. Rollins threatens to give Carillo the same treatment he gave Rey Mysterio, but eventually lets him go.

• Edge is in a random storage area talking emotionally at a camera. The guy is a consummate professional as he not only puts over his upcoming match with Randy Orton, but also the “Last Ride” documentary currently airing on the WWE Network. 

• Asuka will be on commentary for the Triple Threat match. This should be fun. At one point Natalya and Charlotte team up to put Nia through the announce table. For some reason, Asuka is openly rooting for Natty. Jax gets the win, though, pinning Natalya after a Samoan drop.

• Next is a video package reminding us that the 24/7 Championship still exists. R-Truth is coming for Gronk and Gronk responds with words that seem to form coherent sentences. 

• For some reason they have a pre-recorded promo from Ric Flair putting over Randy Orton for his match against Edge. At least they didn’t make him leave the house for it. 

• It’s time for the main event as the Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) face Lashley and MVP. The Profits win by DQ after Lashley applies a full nelson to Ford and doesn’t let go. Drew McIntyre heads to the ring to pound on Lashley. The ref asks the trainees in the audience to come and separate them. After Drew shakes a couple of them off, the show ends with the two of them being held in opposite corners by the NXT trainees. 

It was a fun episode of Raw. I like that they continue to have the wrestlers interact with other wrestlers who aren’t necessarily involved in their current feud. It gets so repetitive when “X has just pinned the Intercontinental Champion!” just to set up a title match at the pay-per-view. What did you think of the show? Did you miss my insightful recaps? Please let me know in the comment section below.

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