This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Tampa, Florida! Money in the Bank qualifiers continue with two more triple threats. Liv Morgan returns to action against Kairi Sane. Jey Uso and Gunther trade words ahead of their world title rematch, and more.
We break it all down in this week’s WWE Raw recap!
We Hear From Seth Rollins (w/ Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, & Bronson Reed)
Seth Rollins comes down to the ring with Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed. Heyman introduces Breakker, the “attack dog,” then Reed. Heyman says CM Punk is not here tonight due to the Tsunami he took from Reed at WWE SNME. Heyman says Punk and Roman Reigns couldn’t do the damage to Seth Rollins that Reed did to Punk in one night. Heyman tells the crowd to thank Rollins for the sacrifice he makes to ensure the future of WWE is bigger and better. Heyman calls Rollins generous and introduces him as The Visionary.
Rollins says this is his vision and the way forward for the industry. Rollins says they do it through complete domination and power. The crowd chants “you sold out.” Rollins says he told them what he was going to do at WrestleMania, and he did it. Rollins says the crowd is questioning the integrity now, meanwhile they were chanting his song five minutes ago. Rollins says he’s the only person who deserves the power to lead the company. Rollins says Punk found out what happens when one underestimates him. Rollins says Sami Zayn will find that out tonight too. Rollins asserts that he will qualify for Money in the Bank, win it, then successfully cash it in.
MITB Qualifier: Penta vs. Dragon Lee vs Chad Gable
Penta and Lee superkick Gable. They then double team him the corner before tossing him out of the ring. Penta rolls up Lee for a two count. Lee lands a hurricanrana, then kicks him. Lee nails Penta with a dropkick. Gable suplexes Lee across the ring. He does the same to Penta as well. Gable does a bridging pin on Lee. Lee kicks out. Penta drives Gable into the mat, then kicks Lee in the corner. Penta hits a neckbreaker on Gable. Penta drops Gable on his face. Penta dives onto both Lee and Gable on the outside.
Back from break, Gable bounces Penta off the announce table. Lee comes flying into Penta. Gable lands a cheap shot on El Hijo Del Vikingo, who is sitting at ringside. Penta and Gable trade chops. Lee and Penta trade kicks. Lee lands a powerbomb on Gable for two count. Gable connects with a German suplex on both Penta and Lee. Gable lands a moonsault on Penta for a near fall. Gable goes top. Vikingo kicks Gable in the head. Lee stomps Gable. Penta delivers a Mexican Destroyer on Lee, then follows up with a Penta Driver on Gable for the win.
Winner: Penta
Backstage, Roxanne Perez offers Dominik Mysterio more chicken nuggets. She begins rubbing Mysterio’s shoulder when Liv Morgan returns. Morgan says Raquel Rodriguez has been keeping her informed. Morgan looks to get herself a MITB qualifying match next.
Akira Tozawa vs. Rusev
Tozawa lands an elbow. Rusev throws him to the corner. Tozawa connects with a dropkick. Rusev runs him over, then stomps at him. Rusev follows up with a kick and the Accolade for the win.
Winner: Rusev
After the match, Rusev keeps his submission locked in. Sheamus runs down, prompting Rusev to release the hold. Sheamus and Rusev stare off, with the latter then retreating.
Backstage, comedians Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura promote their current projects. Bert then goes off and bonds with the War Raiders, while shirtless.
Elsewhere, Jey Uso says he and Sami Zayn need to be smart when it comes to Seth Rollins and crew. Uso then encourages Zayn to win his MITB qualifier.
WWE World Tag Titles: New Day (c) vs. Creed Brothers vs. War Raiders
Kingston drops Ivar to the floor with a dropkick. On the outside, Kingston and Julius ram Erik into the barricade. Creed Brothers and New Day then ram him into the steel steps. New Day and Creed Brothers then raise each other’s hands in the ring in celebration.
Back from break, Woods tells Erik they are punishing him. Erik connects with a big right hand. Ivar and Julius tag in. Ivar plants Kingston with a side slam on top of Brutus. Ivar follows up with a crossbody. Ivar sends Woods to the outside, as well as Brutus and Kingston. Ivar goes up top. Kingston catches him with a kick. Erik strikes Kingston with a right hand. Brutus lands an elbow on Erik in the corner. Julius hits a superplex on Erik. Woods comes in with an elbow. Ivar lands a splash on Woods. His opponents break up his pinfall attempt.
Julius and Brutus run over Erik. Ivar stuns Julius and Brutus, then rocks Woods with a spinning fist. Kingston and Brutus send Ivar to the outside. Brutus wipes people out with a Brutus Ball. Ivar sends Kingston crashing into the apron. Woods rolls up Julius for the win.
Winners (And Still): New Day
Backstage, Liv Morgan promises to cash in Money in the Bank on WWE Women’s World Champion IYO SKY. Kairi Sane challenges Morgan to a match tonight.
We Hear From Jey Uso & Gunther
Uso begins talking about his upcoming tag match alongside Cody Rhodes when Gunther’s music hits. Gunther congratulates Uso on the 15-year anniversary of his WWE debut. He then congratulates him on his successful title defense against Logan Paul at SNME. Gunther says Uso has his hands full now with not just the title, but also his friends needing help. Gunther says he has great qualities for being a friend, but terrible ones as a champion. Gunther says Usos’ position as world champion doesn’t come natural to him. Gunther says he was able to be champion for a long time because he only cares about himself. Gunther doesn’t think Uso can carry himself as a great champion. Gunther asserts that he will relieve Uso from his position as world champion on June 9.
Uso says he is done with people saying his days as champ are numbered. Uso is done with people using the title as an excuse to turn on people. Uso tells Gunther he can judge him. Uso says he is not overlooking Gunther, but at the end of the day, Uso is fighting for the people’s support. Uso vows to make Gunther tap out again.
Kairi Sane vs. Liv Morgan (w/ Raquel Rodriguez)
Morgan and Sane lock up. Morgan shoves Sane and drops her to the mat. Morgan then fires off stomps in the corner. She follows up with right hands. Sane responds with a series of chops. Sane whips Morgan into the corner. Sane sends her flying across the ring with a hurricanrana. She follows up with a sliding elbow. Sane misses a big kick. Morgan slams her onto the outside floor.
Back from break, Morgan hits two suplexes. Sane spears her in return. Sane knocks her down with a crossbody and a basement blockbuster. Sane follows up with a running forearm. Sane goes up top and hits a flying forearm. She covers Morgan, but Morgan kicks out. Sane locks in a leg submission and bridges. Morgan escapes, but runs into a big right hand. Morgan takes Sane down with double boots. Morgan connects with a Codebreaker off the second rope for a near fall. Morgan kicks Sane and looks for Oblivion, but Sane blocks. Sane lands a running forearm for another near fall. Morgan rolls up Sane for a two count. Morgan hits a backstabber. Sane rolls up Morgan. Morgan kicks out again. Sane goes up top. As Raquel distracts the referee, Roxanne Perez pushes Sane off the top. Still, Sane rolls up Morgan for the win.
Winner: Kairi Sane
Backstage, Liv Morgan says Raquel should have known better as the veteran in that case.
We Hear From Lyra Valkyria
Valkyria says she wishes she was out here to talk about new competition, but Becky Lynch again talked herself into a title rematch at Money in the Bank. Valkyria says she didn’t feel any satisfaction when she defeated Lynch at Backlash because Lynch had no shame. Valkyria calls Lynch delusional and a rat. Valkyria calls out Lynch for trying to break her arm and getting in front of her fiancé. Valkyria says this is no personal. Valkyria vows to break Lynch at MITB. Lynch’s music hits.
Lynch says she went home to her hot husband after Backlash. Valkyria says Lynch’s husband is the only talented thing about her. Lynch says Valkyria is making it personal again. Lynch asserts that she is the best thing that has ever happened to Valkyria, and the Women’s Intercontinental championship. Valkyria, however, asserts that people are talking because Valkyria beat Lynch. Lynch says if Valkyria beats her again at MITB, she will never challenge for the title again. Lynch recalls raising Valkyria’s hand when she beat her for the NXT Women’s Championship. Lynch adds that if she defeats Valkyria at MITB, then Valkyria will raise her hand in return. Valkyria says she never has a problem with raising the hand of someone who defeats her, unlike Lynch.
Backstage, Sami Zayn tells Karrion Kross he doesn’t have time for his mind games. Kross says Zayn will never win the world title. Zayn says he’ll deal with Kross later.
MITB Qualifier: Seth Rollins (w/ Paul Heyman) vs. Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor
Zayn sends Rollins to the outside. Balor chops Zayn against the ropes. Zayn dives through the ropes and lands on Rollins. Balor rolls Zayn back into the ring and fires off more chops. Zayn turns things around with right hands in the corner. Rollins rips Zayn off of Balor and takes him down with a clothesline. Rollins lays in a flurry of hands on him next. Balor chops Rollins and Zayn. Balor then spikes both of them with a DDT. He attempts pinfalls on them next, but they both kick out.
Back from break, Zayn drops Balor with a suplex. Zayn fires off strikes on Rollins in the corner. Zayn knocks Balor off the apron, then sends Rollins through he ropes. Zayn takes them both out with a springboard moonsault. Zayn rolls Rollins back into the ring. Rollins lays him out with a Falcon Arrow. Rollins chops Zayn in the corner. They go up top, with Zayn laying in elbow strikes. Zayn then knocks Balor off the top too. Zayn hits a sunset flip powerbomb on Rollins. Balor tosses Zayn to the outside. Rollins rocks Zayn with an elbow. Balor hits Rollins with a sling blade. Balor climbs the turnbuckle. Zayn sweeps him off his feet and lands a superplex. Rollins then leaps off with a frog splash onto Zayn.
Back from another break, Rollins plants Balor with a Pedigree. Zayn rolls up Rollins for a near fall. Rollins kicks out and Pedigrees Zayn for a near fall of his own. Zayn dodges a stomp from Rollins and lays him out with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Zayn and Rollins reach their feet and trade strikes. Zayn delivers an exploder into the corner. Zayn looks for a Helluva Kick, but Balor blocks it with a sling blade. Balor then drives Zayn into Rollins. Rollins stomps Balor. Zayn kicks Balor out of the ring. Bron Breakker pulls Rollins out of Zayn’s pinfall attempt. Jey Uso leaps off the barricade and onto Bronson Reed. He then superkicks Reed and Breakker. Uso strikes Rollins. Breakker spears Uso. Reed then takes down Zayn. Dominik Mysterio slides a chair into the ring. Rollins stomps Balor onto the chair for the win.
Winner: Seth Rollins
After the match, CM Punk sneaks up behind Rollins and lays him out with a GTS. Breakker and Reed storm back into the ring as Punk retreats through the crowd.