SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…
WWE RAW TV REPORT
MAY 20, 2024
SAVANNAH, GA. AT ENMARKET ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON USA
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
Ring Announcer: Samantha Irvin
Attendance: WrestleTix reported earlier today that 6,308 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 6,505.
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On the episode that will reveal Becky Lynch’s WWE future, Wade Keller is joined by Kevin Duncan from the PWTorch Dailycast’s “Acknowledging WWE” weekly podcast to review Raw LIVE. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Raw. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with a three minute highlight package on the King and Queen of the Ring PLE.
-They showed Liv Morgan strutting backstage with her WWE Women’s Title belt over her shoulder. then they cut to Becky Lynch looking melancholy as she walked backstage.
-Ludwig Kaiser introduced Gunther from mid-ring as “your King of the Ring.” Gunther walked to the ring in a blue suit carring the crowd proudly but with dignity. Michael Cole and Pat McAfee noted that Paul “Triple H” Levesque acknowledged that Randy Orton’s shoulder wasn’t down, but referee decisions are final. (I doubt they’d do that on purpose, but it does set up a match between the down the line since Orton can claim credibly that his win over him was tainted.) Fans chanted, “We want Randy!”
Gunther smiled as he said that on Saturday, he defeated Orton which made him King of the Ring and also earned him a title match at Summerslam. He said that means he should talk about Damien Priest. He said he took on added responsibility when Rhea Ripley suffered an injury. He said he admires that because he also succeeds when he takes on responsibility. He said when he became Intercontinental Champion, the title lacked prestige and he went on to be the greatest IC Champion of all time. He said the World Hvt. Title currently lacks prestige because a current champion took a shortcut.
The Judgment Day’s music played and out walked Priest with Finn Balor and J.D. McDonagh. Priest entered the ring. Cole plugged that Priest must first defend against Drew McIntyre at Clash at the Castle two weeks from Saturday. Priest acknowledged Gunther is King and will get a title match. He said he proved nothing, though, because everyone saw he didn’t beat Randy Orton. He said the credit Gunther should receive is for costing Orton an opportunity. Priest said he cashed in because he earned the briefcase in a ladder match. “That’s how that works,” he said. He said he cashed in like a lot of others did before him. “That’s how it works,” he repeated. “Do you get how business around here works. I could teach you a lesson.”
Gunther said it doesn’t matter to him how he feels about it. He said he focuses on facts, and the fact is he is King of the Ring. He said if he’s still champion at Summerslam, he’ll challenge him for the title. He said since he arrived in WWE, he’s been waiting for anyone to teach him something. He said he can’t teach Priest about business, but he can teach him about “this great sport I love.”
Priest asked Gunther what he can teach him since he is world champion. He said they’ll go to war at Summerslam. “Maybe,” yelled McAfee as Drew McIntyre’s music interrupted. Drew walked to the ring and faced Gunther who smiled back at him. McAfee said Gunther is the only wrestler who has defeated Drew clean in the last four years.
Fans were chanting, “C.M. Punk!” Drew said Punk has been back for six months and the highlight of his return “has been me.” He said if not for him injuring him, he’d have screwed up and been fired by now. He said he has nowhere else to go, so he should be thanking him. He said he will be World Champion in less than three weeks. Gunther stepped out of the ring. Priest said he’s not looking past him, but he knows the outcome of their match. Drew said Priest is spreading himself too thin. He said his cohorts are screwing up left and right. He pointed down at Balor and McDonagh at ringside and said, “No offense.”
Drew said Wade Barrett, Fit Finlay, and William Regal are UK legends, and they’ve won zero World Championships. He said he’s the only wrestler from the U.K. to have won it. He told him to watch the last Clash at the Castle. He said he broke Roman Reigns mentally because the fans were so wildly behind him. When Drew took a dig at the U.S. not teaching geography, he said, “Generally, that’s what I’ve found to be true.” Fans chanted “USA!” Drew rolled his eyes. He described the U.K. on a map and told Priest that he’s walking into a war zone. He he’s about to take his bloody title.
Priest laughed and asked if his gameplan is to try to get under his skin. He said he thinks the crowd booing him is going to affect him. He said he has made a living proving people wrong. He asked if his wife will be there. He asked what her name is. Drew told him to choose his words carefully. Priest said he doesn’t care if she’ll be there, he just wanted to see if he could get under her skin and if he’d do anything about it. Braun Strowman’s music played and he walked out.
Drew left the ring and then Braun walked over the top rope and stood in front of Priest. Cole wished McDonagh luck and said he’d need it. They cut to a break.
(Keller’s Analysis: Everyone did a good job here. Gunther is great being a heel who just speaks so much truth. Drew is great being a heel who also speaks so much truth, but in a totally different way. Priest was strong here defending himself and coming across as an alpha. I don’t see him being a long term centerpiece champion, but he’s stepping up in this role in the mean time.) [c]
(1) BRAUN STROWMAN vs. J.D. MCDONAGH
The bell rang 25 minutes into the hour. McAfree went back to his weird obsession with poop. He said McDonagh “has been pooping his trousers.” Braun overpowered McDonagh early. McDonagh rolled to the floor to recover briefly. When he returned to the ring, Strowman headbutted him. Braun turned to look at Balor. McDonagh tried to attack Strowman, but Strowman slapped his chest and sent him hard to the mat. He landed a running clothesline in the corner. They cut to a break at 3:30. [c]
Cole noted as they returned from the break that McDonagh was giving Strowman a fight. Strowman knocked McDonagh diwn seconds later. Both were down and slow to get up. Strowman gave McDonagh a high back bodydrop. Strowman limped at ringside and picked up the pace and charged into McDonagh. Balor distracted Strowman as he set up a running powerslam. Strowman dropped McDonagh and yanked Balor into the ring. Carlito ran to ringside and hit Stroman from behind. Strowman grabbed Carlito and hit him. McDonagh charged, but Strowman headbutted him and then powerslammed him for a three count.
WINNER: Strowman in 9:00.
-Carlito and Balor attacked Strowman, but he knocked them off of him and threw them out of the ring quickly. McDonagh hit Strowman from behind on the back with a chair. Strowman no-sold it. Fans chanted, “You f—ed up!” McDonagh fled. Strowman limped at him.
(Keller’s Analysis: McDonagh lasted longer than I figured he would. Strowman’s limping seemed to go beyond selling. Seriously, what’s up with McAfee’s references to fecal matter on Raw so often.)
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Liv Morgan. She asked if she had any remorse over how she beat Lynch. Liv said no, although she didn’t know that Dominik Mysterio was going to come out and do what he did. She said it’s technically still true that she has never beat Becky one-on-one because of that. She said she will beat Becky straight up tonight, with her title on the line. She said her reign is just getting started. [c]
-They showed headlines from big corporate media covering the King and Queen of the Ring results.
-A winded Carlito held his neck in pain backstage. Balor asked him what took him so long. Carlito said he was waiting for the right time. Priest said that didn’t work out. He told them to find McDonagh so they can regroup. Priest left. Balor and Carlito argued over who would try to find McDonagh first.
-They went to Cole and McAfee at ringside. They threw to Bron Breakker highlights from last week’s Raw.
-They showed footage from earlier of a trainer clearing Ricochet to compete tonight after checking his ribs. Ricochet told Adam Pearce he wanted Breakker tonight. Pearce said he wasn’t there because he suspended him for what he did last week. Ilja Dragunov walked in and thanked him for what he did last week. Ricochet said he’s ready tonight. Dragunuv said he doesn’t fight broken people. Ricochet said he has never been broke, so he asked Pearce to make it happen. Pearce made it official. Ricochet told him to get in his gear.
-Ricochet’s ring entrance aired. [c]
(2) RICOCHET vs. ILJA DRAGUNOV
The bell rang 52 minutes into the hour. Dragunov got in some early offense. Ricochet fought back. McAfee said Ricochet isn’t at 100 percent. Dragunov drove Ricochet out of the ring with a running knee. Dragunov bit the ropes as the cut to a break at 2:00. [c]
After the break, Ricochet dove through the ropes and tackled Dragunov into the ringside barricade. Dragunov drove Ricochet into the ringside barricade seconds later. Ricochet landed a leaping moonsault off the ring apron onto Dragunov seconds after that.
[HOUR TWO]
Back in the ring, Ricochet kicked Dragunov out of mid-air and landed a Recoil for a believable near fall. He followed up with a top rope shooting star press. Breakker then entered the ring and speared Ricochet, who flip-bumped.
WINNER: No contest in 11:00.
-Breakker fended off Dragunov chops and then speared him. Bron yelled as Cole said Breakker is out of control and unmanageable. A red-faced and fuming Pearce asked Breakker what he was doing. Breakker smiled and walked off. Pearce pursued Breakker in the aisle. Pearce stared him down and then kept walking.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good action in the match. I like what they’re doing with Breakker’s intense character. There’s still too many WWE TV matches these days ending without a finish, though.) [c]
-They went backstage to Kelley backstage as Pearce and Breakker argued in the background. She said Pearce might be second-guessing drafting Breaker to Raw. Pearce said he is going to his office because he “needs a drink.”
-They went to Cole and McAfee at ringside. Cole complained that Pearce gets to drink on the job and said that’d be nice. He said Breakker has to follow some rules around there. McAfee said he’s a rule breaker and it’s in his last name.
-A video played from earlier of R-Truth giving Miz an ice cream cone from inside an ice cream truck. Miz asked why he made him wear all white. They did a gag where New Day and Truth made Miz feel guilty for assuming Truth would be chocolate. Karrion Kross approached them. Kingston asked what he wants. Kross said he’s trying to help Xavier Woods because he hasn’t made it to the top yet. He said he believes in him. He told them to watch AOP to see what he has to offer. Xavier laughed and said he’s not going to break up his friendship because Kross asked nicely. Kross suggested he can help Kofi accelerate his retirement plans. Xavier challenged AOP to a tag match to show how much they have left in the tank.
(3) AUTHORS OF PAIN (w/Paul Ellering, Karrion Kross, Scarlett) vs. THE CREED BROTHERS (w/Ivy Nile)
McAfee said it sounds like he’s trying to break up New Day. The bell rang 13 minutes into the hour. This was a battle of power moves. When the Creeds set up the Brutus Ball, they were briefly distracted when Scarlett threw Nile into the steps. Akam slammed Julius. Rezar entered and they finished him with What a Rush, which Cole said Paul Ellering named.
WINNERS: AOP in 3:30.
(Keller’s Analysis: If the Creeds were ever on a fast-track, something happened to take them off that fast track.)
-A clip aired of last week’s angle where Cruz Del Toro was down backstage after Carlito attacked him.
-Rey stood backstage and said Carlito made a big mistake. He said he’ll find out what happens when you cross the LWO and Rey Mysterio.
-They showed Sheamus backstage. Strowman limped by him pursuing McDonagh.
-They showed a nice aerial view of Savannah, Ga.
-A Memorial Day tribute video aired. [c]
-Sheamus made his way to the ring. He asked fans if they liked King of the Ring. He said it was banger after banger after banger. “But sadly, no Sheamus,” he said. He said Ludwig Kaiser took him out and called him Gunther’s “glorified coat rack.” He said he’s back now. Kaiser interrupted from the big screen. He laughed at Sheamus blaming him for not becoming King of the Ring. He called Sheamus a keyboard warrior in recent weeks. Sheamus cut him off and said he’s going to go find him. The camera followed him to the back. Kaiser jumped him. They brawled onto the stage. Referees and officials pulled them apart.
-Becky approached Lyra Valkyria. She said Saturday didn’t go their way. “It’s not about winning all the time, ti’s about getting better every time. You either win or learn, or keep winning or learning until it’s time to walk away.” She said it in an introspective way. She then told Lyra she’s got it. She stood and said as aside, “Consider kneepads.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Becky certainly playing into the idea she might be leaving WWE, which most likely points to her staying.)
-Kairi Sane made her ring entrance, accompanied by Dakota Kai. [c]
-Cole plugged Summerslam in August 2026 in Minneapolis, Minn. as a drone shot aired of Downtown Minneapolis. McAfee asked where it’ll be in 2025. Cole said they’ll find that out another time.
(4) KAIRI SANE (w/Dakota Kai) vs. LYRA VALKYRIA
During Lyra’s ring entrance, they replayed Nia Jax sit-splashing her with her Annihilator at Saturday’s PLE. McAfee was amazed she was wrestling two days later. The bell rang 37 minutes into the hour. Kairi got in a long stretch of offense, but Lyra lifted her leg to block an Insane Elbow by Kairi and scored a three count. Cole called it a big bounce-back win.
WINNER: Valkyria in 4:00.
-Backstage Priest asked Carlito what he was doing in their clubhouse. “Don’t you have a match to prepare for?” Priest asked. Priest asked where McDonagh went. When McDonagh walked in, Carlito said, “Found him.” McDonagh said he gave Strowman the slip. Priest asked if he has to take care of this issue because McDonagh was busy chatting with Liv. McDonagh said he didn’t hear what he said. He said he told her she won’t be Women’s Champion for long. Dominik Mysterio walked in. Priest asked to talk to Dom alone. Priest asked Dom what he was doing. Dom said he knows he messed up. He said he talked to Rhea Ripley and told her he was going to fix it. Priest said if he doesn’t, he wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.
-Rey came to the ring with Zelina and Dragon Lee, but the ring announcer said he was with Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde. Hmm. Cole corrected her immediately. [c]
-Dakota and Kairi walked in to a lounge area. Iyo Sky threw a fit and broke a lamp. Cole said she was still upset with losing last week.
-They showed the Savannah Bananas at ringside acting crazy.
(5) REY MYSTERIO (w/Zelina Vega, Dragon Lee) vs. CARLITO
Carlito’s ring entrance aired. Cole said it’s been 20 years since Rey and Carlito have wrestled in a singles match. McAFee said he was a junior in high school. Cole said he actually called that match. McAfee said, “Damn!” The bell rang 50 minutes into the hour. Cole said Carlito is bitter over not getting to team with Rey at WrestleMania because Rey gave that spot to Dragon Lee. Lee and Carlito had heated words at ringside early in the match. Rey went after him. Carlito overpowered Rey in the ring. He methodically beat up Rey, but Rey avoided a Carlito slide in the corner. They cut to a break at 2:00. [c]
Carlito suplexed Rey from the ring apron into the ring and scored a two count. Carlito punched away at Rey in frustration afterward. Rey made a comeback, but Carlito cut it short and delivered an airplane spin into a cutter. Rey slipped out of Carlito’s grip and went for a 619. Carlito blocked it and then dropkicked Rey. Rey blocked a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron and then shoved Carlito into the ringpost. Balor leaped over the ringside barricade and jumped Dragon Lee. He threw him into the announce table. Rey leaped onto Balor with a senton. McAfee got bleeped for saying, “Holy shit!” Carilto gave Rey a back stabber but Rey came back with a quick 619 and then Dropped the Dime for the win.
WINNER: Rey in 10:00.
[HOUR THREE]
-Afterward, Rey went after Balor at ringside. Cole said, “You can’t blame Rey for acting like this.” Dragon Lee then climbed to the top rope. Carlito intervened. Priest then entered and gave Lee a Razor’s Edge off the top rope. Rey dropkicked Priest from behind and then knocked Balor off the ring apron. Priest then kicked Rey. Cole said Priest said it’s time he starts taking care of things himself. He gave Rey a South of Heaven chokeslam. Priest looked down as Balor and Carlito. Cole said Priest wanted to set the example and he wasn’t happy with Balor and Carlito. McAfee said The Judgement Day can’t get anything right.
-Chad Gable told Akira Tozawa he was disappointed he didn’t make the trip this past weekend. Strowman stormed through the scene yelling for McDonagh. Otis and Maxxine Dupri showed up. Gable said she shouldn’t go to the ring tonight because it’s not a fashion show. He said he’s giving Otis a chance to redeem himself against Bronson Reed for some reason. Otis said he’d beat him no matter what, after being urged and intimidated by Gable.
-Reed’s ring entrance took place. [c]
-Cole promoted Clash at the Castle.
(6) OTIS vs. BRONSON REED
They put up a Tale of the Tape and said both can bench 600 pounds. The bell rang 11 minutes into the hour. Reed jumped Otis as he was getting tips from Gable at ringside. At 2:00 Otis made a comeback. He bodyslammed Reed and then landed a splash in the corner. He signaled for a Caterpillar and played to the crowd. Gable stood on the ring apron and yelled, “No!” Fans booed. McAfee keeps calling The Worm and Cole doesn’t say anything. Otis toe off his shirt. Gable grabbed Otis’s face and told him to do what he tells him. Reed recovered and attacked Otis and finished him with a Tsunami.
WINNER: Reed in 4:00.
-After the match, Gable called for an emergency meeting. [c]
-Gable asked an Otis, with an assembled Alpha Academy in the ring, what it will take to get through to him. He said he lacks discipline. He said he’s going to show him discipline in front of all the fans. Gable took off his belt said this is what’s happens when you bring shame to the Alpha Academy. When he went to whip Otis, Maxinne blocked him. Gable turned to her angrily, his nose flaring. He asked if this was too much for her and asked if she was going to cry. Sami Zayn’s music played. Gable warned him that this was Alpha Academy business and stay out of it.
Fans chanted “Sami!” as Gable warned him not to take another step. Sami asked Gable what he was going to do. He told Gable that he’s a weak little man. He said Gable manipulated his way into IC Title opportunities, and every time he did, he came up short. He said it’s not anyone’s fault but his because he can’t get the job donoe at the end of the day. Gable said he got the job done against him last week and he would’ve Saturday, but it’s Otis’s fault. He turned to whip Otis. Sami yanked the whip away. McAfee said, “It’s fun when the rabbit has the gun.”
Sami dropped his IC Title belt. Otis stepped up to Sami. Sami asked Otis if he was going to keep listening to Gable’s crap. He said he needs to start listening to the crowd. Fans cheered. Gable jumped Sami. Otis watched. Sami fought back and tackled Gable. Otis pulled Sami off of Gable. Fans booed. Gave stood and gave Sami a German suplex as Sami was yelling at Otis. Gable punched away at Sami. Fans chanted, “Let’s go, Otis!” McAfee yelled, “Now is the time. Freedom!” Gable and Tozawa left the ring. Otis stayed in the ring. Gable yelled at him. Otis finally joined Gable, but he seemed conflicted and even disappointed in himself. Cole called it Stockholm Syndrome.
-They went to Cole and McAfee at ringside to discuss that segment. Cole threw to a video on “The Liv Morgan Revenge Tour.”
-They showed Liv and then Becky warming up backstage. [c]
-Backstage, Kelley interviewed Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark about the possibility of facing Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill. Zoey said they should invite them to Raw. Sonya Deville walked in and said they’re not champions yet. Baszler listed her accomplishments. Sonya said she appreciates her, but the locker room doesn’t. Baszler and Stark turned to leave. Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn had some words for them.
-Cole hyped New Day vs. AOP, Priest vs. Rey . and Sheamus vs. Kaiser for Raw next week.
-Becky made her ring entrance. She was playing up the faraway look someone would have in an emotional moment. Cole needlessly gave away the results of the NBA game that aired tonight, disregarding people who DVR it to watch later and chose to watch Raw live. Liv’s ring entrance then aired.
(7) LIV MORGAN vs. BECKY LYNCH – Women’s Title match
The bell rang 47 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break at 4:00. [c]
Back from the break, Becky met Liv on the top rope as she tried to climb the cage. She superplexed her to the mat. Becky climbed to the top of the cage. Liv powerbombed her off the top rope to the mat for a two count. Dom ran to the ring and opened the cage door. He called for Becky to crawl out of the cage. McDonagh and Balor came to ringside and yelled at Dom. Dom said he’s got to “fix it.” Strowman’s music played and he ran out. Becky held Liv’s boot to keep her from escaping. Strowman knocked Dom into the cage door, which slammed into Becky’s face. Lib crawled to leave rather than cover Becky and she escaped to win.
WINNER: Morgan in 12:00 to retain the Women’s Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Some good action, but with an ending a lot more based around Dom-Liv than the possibility of this being a big last moment for Becky in WWE, which it could be.)
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
On the episode that will reveal Becky Lynch’s WWE future, Wade Keller is joined by Kevin Duncan from the PWTorch Dailycast’s “Acknowledging WWE” weekly podcast to review Raw LIVE. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Raw. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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