The Wrestling Roundup is here to bring you all the news and rumors you need to know in one place.
WWE Raw Results
This week Raw promised a pretty stacked card. The United States Championship was on the line between Andrade & Apollo Crews, plus a number one contender for Asuka’a title was determined in a triple threat match. Who was able to get the one up, and how did WWE build to Backlash. Takeaways are down below, but first the results from Monday’s Raw:
- Apollo Crews def. Andrade (c) to win the United States Championship
- Angel Garza def. Kevin Owens
- Austin Theory & Buddy Murphy def. Humberto Carrillo & Aleister Black
- Nia Jax def. Charlotte Flair and Natalya to become #1 Contender for the Raw Women’s Championship
- Street Profits def. Bobby Lashley and MVP by disqualification
WWE Raw Takeaways
Drew McIntyre & Bobby Lashley have done a great job getting heat quickly into their feud. MVP has become an excellent mouthpiece for Lashley and has tapped into his aggressive side. Lashley was over-aggressive in the main event, failing to break a hold and getting disqualified. Afterwards, McIntyre appeared and the two had a pull apart brawl. Within a few segments, McIntyre-Lashley has become a legitimate world title feud.
It's a wild BRAWL between @fightbobby & #WWEChampion @DMcIntyreWWE on #WWERaw!
It's one-on-one for the #WWEChampionship at #WWEBacklash! pic.twitter.com/WtgKAyUGkY
— WWE (@WWE) May 26, 2020
Nia Jax will be the first challenger for Asuka. Jax had been powerbombed through the table at ringside, but Asuka threw her back into the match. Eventually Jax pinned Natalya, and a big clash of styles is the next feud. It feels too early to have Asuka lose the belt, so WWE may get creative in having Asuka go over.
We're OFFICIALLY ready for this one.@NiaJaxWWE will challenge @WWEAsuka for the #WWERaw #WomensTitle at #WWEBacklash! pic.twitter.com/ZbfpzWFydL
— WWE (@WWE) May 26, 2020
In a somewhat surprising move, WWE has pulled the trigger on Apollo Crews as a champion. Crews was red hot before being pulled from the Money in the Bank match and has come back swinging. It shows faith from WWE that Crews can be a big player on Raw. He has the physical talent, and now it’s about building character around that.
Rollins and his minions continue to wreak havoc on the Raw roster. Humberto Carrillo almost lost an eye this week, but was released once Aleister Black backed off. This appears to be building towards Black-Rollins, a match that should be incredible. These two are world-title level competitors, so keeping them hot against one another is smart.
.@WWERollins went TOO FAR!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/yDZN0jDTZi
— WWE (@WWE) May 26, 2020
WWE also announced that next week will be Rey Mysterio’s retirement ceremony. Let’s hope it goes like this:
Rey Mysterio next week hopefully pic.twitter.com/0Eq3mmmc4A
— Ryan Satin (@ryansatin) May 26, 2020
ROH Re-signs Flip Gordon
Ring of Honor has announced they’re re-signed Flip Gordon, holding on to the talented grappler on a multi-year deal. The company announced the deal on their latest episode of ROH Week to Week (h/t WrestlingInc). Gordon, still only 28, is someone who has been featured in Being the Elite in the past. As a free agent he was someone AEW may have been interested in scooping up. For now, Gordon remains part of Villain Enterprises and Ring of Honor.
WWE Using NXT Wrestlers As Crowd
In a move similar to what AEW has been doing, WWE will now air Raw and SmackDown with crowds made up of wrestlers. The wrestlers will be developmental talent, as reported by Fightful. There are social distancing measures in place as well, such as plexiglass around the entryway and barricade and wrestlers staying six feet apart. It did definitely add to the show, and the plexiglass could be a way for WWE to allow fans back in earlier during the pandemic.
No one's ever looked 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 V.I.P. entering the #VIPLounge.#WWERaw @DMcIntyreWWE pic.twitter.com/imGS7Etzzh
— WWE (@WWE) May 26, 2020
This plan is apparently in place for the next few WWE tapings.
One for the Road:
The non-wrestling competitions between the Street Profits and Viking Raiders are still dumb, but also still fun. This week was golf, and the Raiders were not good.
Which team can do it better on the golf course: @AngeloDawkins & @MontezFordWWE or @Erik_WWE & @Ivar_WWE? ⛳️#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/YVMo4zHuOx
— WWE (@WWE) May 26, 2020
