Show: RAW
Location: Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, MD
Date: May 23rd, 2016
Airing Live On The USA Network
Welcome to the WWE Raw pre-show, and we are live on the WWE Network. Scott Stanford, Booker T, Corey Graves, and David Otunga hype what we will see tonight, which is a Championship celebration for Charlotte with Ric Flair and Dana Brooke. Also, there will be Money in the Bank qualifying matches on RAW and Thursday’s episode of SmackDown. There is a recap video of Sunday’s Extreme Rules PPV.
Welcome to WWE Monday Night Raw. Seth Rollins walks down to the ring to begin the show. The fans chanted ‘welcome back” as he made his way to the ring. Rollins said that it been 200 days that he has been gone. Rollins said he has been waiting for this moment, and he told the fans that he is back. Rollins said that he is back to get back his title that he never lost and last night he fired the first shot. Rollins said that he felt that the fans missed him. Rollins said that the fans had not always liked him. He said that when he broke up The Shield, they booed him. He said that the fans called him the weakest champion of all-time. He was upset that the fans dishonored his title reign. Rollins brought up his knee injury and how it buckled under the weight of carrying WWE. Rollins said he never read any of the fans letters and instead lite them on fire. Rollins said he didn’t need any of the fans to win the title or defend it. Rollins said that he didn’t need them to get back. He said that he has rebuilt himself, and he will take back his title by himself. This led to Roman Reigns walking down to the ring. Shane McMahon always walked down to the ring. Shane booked Reigns vs. Rollins at MITB.
-Commercial Break-
Sheamus cuts a promo about facing Sami Zayn tonight. He mocked him and vowed to beat him.
MITB Qualifying Match: Sheamus vs. Sami Zayn:
They lock up to begin the match. Zayn hit a hurricanronna that sent Sheamus to the floor. Zayn followed him out there and hit a moonsault. Sheamus hit a big clothesline…
-Commercial Break-
We’re back from break with Sheamus in control of Zayn. Sheamus missed a big boot and Zayn sent him to the floor. Zayn went for a dive, but Sheamus punched him. Zayn hit the big boot out of nowhere for the win.
Winner: Zayn.
-Commercial Break-
Apollo Crews cut a backstage promo but was attacked by Sheamus from behind.
The New Day walks down to the ring, and there is a cake in the ring. Kingston said that the cake is for the 1,200 episode of RAW. Kingston said that it was RAW’s birthday. Big E said that a WWE ring is never safe for a cake. Big E teased throwing the cake on the fans and JBL and Byron Saxton. The Social Outcasts run down and attack New Day.
-Commercial Break-
Six-Man Tag Team Match: New Day vs. Social Outcasts.
The match is already in session when we get back from commercial and New Day is putting the boots to Slater in the corner. They took out Dallas and Axel then hit their finisher on Slater for the win.
Winners: New Day.
Post-match, New Day smashed the cake in the face of Slater.
-Commercial Break-
The Miz cuts a promo in the ring about retaining his IC Title at the Extreme Rules PPV. Miz vowed to win the MITB match and win the WWE Title.
MITB Qualifying Match: Cesaro vs. The Miz.
Cesaro hit a series of clotheslines and then outside dive. Back in the ring, Miz kicked him in the gut and then went for a suplex but it was blocked, and Cesaro hit one of his own.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with Cesaro making his comeback. He hit a big uppercut outside the ring and then back in the ring, Miz kicked him but then ran into Cesaro, who the giant swing. Cesaro followed by hitting the Neutralizer for the win.
Winner: Cesaro.
Seth Rollins is shown talking with Stephanie McMahon backstage. Stephanie told him that things have changed around here and so has their business relationship.
-Commercial Break-
MITB Qualifying Match: Chris Jericho vs. Apollo Crews.
Jericho beat him down early in the match. He locked in a headlock. Crews fought out of it and hit a series of clotheslines. He went for a drop kick, but Jericho caught him and locked in the Walls of Jericho, but Crews got the ropes. Crews kicked him in the head and rolled him up for 2. Crews with a series of right hands but missed a drop kick. Jericho went for a lion sault and hit it for a near fall. Jericho went for the Walls, but it was blocked. Jericho hit the Codebreaker for the win.
Winner: Jericho.
-Commercial Break-
There was a segment with Bob Backlund and Darren Young.
Baron Corbin cut a backstage promo about beating Dolph Ziggler at Extreme Rules. Ziggler walked up and mocked Corbin. Ziggler said that Corbin can’t beat him in a wrestling match. Corbin said he’s not a wrestler but a fighter, and if Ziggler wants another match then that’s fine.
Enzo Amore and Big Cass walk down to the ring. Amore said that he forgot to pay his light bill and he suffered a concussion. He said that he likes to call it a hard sneeze. He said that he always gets back up when he gets knocked down. Amore said that The Dudley Boyz are full of it.
-Commercial Break-
Ric Flair, Charlotte and Dana Brooke walked down to the ring. Flair cuts promo about how great Charlotte is. He then said that he is very proud of Charlotte for using Dana Brooke to her advantage. Charlotte thanked herself for beating Natalya at Extreme Rules. Brooke thanked Charlotte for letting her stand in the ring with Flair. Charlotte cut a promo about how Flair was never there for her because he was on the road. The fans chanted during this entire promo. Charlotte said that flair being gone made her who she is today. She said that she is the women of the WWE. Charlotte told Flair to get out of her ring. Charlotte told him that she won the title without him. Flair started to cry and so did she. Charlotte told Flair that he is the second dirtiest player in the game because she is. Charlotte told Flair that she doesn’t need him anymore. Charlotte said that Flair abandoned her. Charlotte said that Flair was dead to her and to get out of the ring. Charlotte told him that he can watch her on TV like she had to do for 30-years. Flair left and walked to the back while she mocked him.
-Commercial Break-
MITB Qualifying Match: Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler.
They lock up. Ziggler caught him with a drop kick and then locked in a headlock. Ambrose hit a powerslam for 2. They exchanged roll ups and then Ambrose sent him to the floor. Ambrose went for a dive but stopped himself.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with Ambrose in control of Ziggler. Ambrose clotheslines Ziggler out of the ring. Ambrose hit an outside dive. Back in the ring, Ziggler hit a DDT. Ambrose and Ziggler hit a double clothesline. They exchange right hands. Ziggler hit a superkick but Ambrose no sold it and hit a clothesline for 2. Ziggler caught him with a drop kick for 2. Ambrose cut him off and hit Dirty Deeds for the win.
Winner: Ambrose.
We see Ric Flair walking through the backstage area. Flair was interviewed, and Flair had nothing to say.
-Commercial Break-
AJ Styles cuts a promo in the ring about his loss to Reigns at Extreme Rules. Styles said that Reigns is every bit of the man he says he is. Styles said that Reigns is not phenomenal. Styles said he had Reigns beat until The Usos, and Gallows and Anderson got involved. Styles said that he has the chance to beat Kevin Owens on his own tonight. Anderson and Gallows walk down to the ring. Anderson was upset that Styles blamed them for him losing at Extreme Rules. Styles said that he wanted to do this on his own. Styles said that this isn’t Japan and things have changed. Anderson agreed and said that Styles has changed. Styles said that he didn’t bring them here to help him. Gallows said that without them then Styles wouldn’t make it to Extreme Rules. Styles said professionally, they need to separate. Styles told them that they’re done. Styles said nothing can separate them from being brothers. Gallows said that there’s not brothers anymore or friends anymore. Styles told them to get out of the ring then. Styles said that this is his ring.
MITB Qualifying Match: AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens.
They lock up, Styles hit a drop kick and then a knee drop for 2.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with both men exchanging right hands. Styles hit a powerslam. Styles hit a face plant slam for a near fall. Owens fought back and hit a cannonball in the corner. Styles hit a neck breaker. Owens cut him off and hit a neck breaker for 2. Owens went for a moonsault, but Styles moved. Styles hit a springboard 450 splash for 2. Styles hit a knee strike. Styles went for a move but was caught, and Owens hit a powerbomb. Back in the ring, Styles caught him with a kick to the head for 2. Styles went for a springboard move but was caught, and Owens hit a powerbomb for the win.
Winner: Owens.
Owens celebrated in the ring to close the show.
