WWE Monday Night RAW 05 16 2022

WWE Raw Results
May 16, 2022
Norfolk, Virginia (Norfolk Scope Arena)

Commentary: Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.

A video kicks off the show that highlights the feud between Bobby Lashley and Omos.

We go live into the Norfolk Scope Arena to see the Steel Cage set up around the ring. Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton are standing in front of it to welcome us to the show. They talk about Bobby Lashley battling Omos in the Steel Cage.

This Friday, the Raw Tag Team Championship and the SmackDown Tag Team Championship will be unified on SmackDown. Riddle will battle Jimmy Uso. At the 10 o’clock Eastern hour, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes will address the attack by Seth “Freakin” Rollins last week. Finally, we’ll see a 6-Pack Challenge featuring Naomi, Sasha Banks, Nikki A.S.H., Doudrop, Asuka, and Becky Lynch. The winner will receive a Raw Women’s Championship match in the future.

Omos makes his entrance alongside MVP. They get inside the Steel Cage. MVP welcomes the people to Monday Night Raw. Tonight, we’ll see a battle. One man got a little too big for his boots and wanted to claim the WrestleMania spotlight without him. This is the former WWE Champion and so-called “All Mighty,” Bobby Lashley. The other competitor is the future of the WWE. This man is bigger, stronger, and meaner than Bobby Lashley could ever be: Omos. The crowd boos. MVP says he expects Lashley to put up a hell of a fight, but the outcome of this match is a foregone conclusion. Omos can win the match inside the Steel Cage by pinning Bobby Lashley or crushing him until Lashley screams out in painful submission. If Omos chooses, he can leave Lashley’s lifeless body and either climb over the top or exit through the door. Since this is a Steel Cage Match with no disqualifications, MVP is expecting Omos to brutalize Lashley worse than at WrestleMania Backlash. The All Mighty Era ends tonight. They are all blessed to live in the age of the Nigerian Giant Omos.

Bobby Lashley makes his entrance, but he’s attacked from behind by Cedric Alexander. Omos quickly joins in. Lashley gets to his feet and brawls with both men before the referees separate them. Lashley is irate and gets inside the Steel Cage. Lashley demands Omos get in the ring.

-Commercial Break-

Steel Cage Match
Omos w/ MVP vs. Bobby Lashley

The bell rings, and this match begins. Lashley sidesteps Omos and grabs a waistlock, but Omos immediately fights out. Omos knees Lashley and clubs him down. Omos chokes Lashley on the bottom rope. MVP puts his cane through the cage links and pokes Lashley in the face. Omos goes after Lashley, but Lashley fights back and jumps on his back with a sleeper hold. Omos fights out, but Lashley powers him to the corner. Lashley charges, but Omos grabs him by the throat and clubs him in the chest. Omos knocks Lashley against the ropes, and MVP once again pokes Lashley in the throat with his cane. Omos easily scoops Lashley up and hits snake eyes followed by a big boot. Omos stands tall, and the crowd in Norfolk is booing. Omos puts Lashley in the corner and connects with a big avalanche. Omos hits a running back elbow, and MVP talks some trash. MVP climbs the steel steps and reaches through the cage to slap Lashley a few times! Lashley angrily grabs MVP’s arm and releases it to avoid an avalanche from Omos. Lashley connects with a spear for a near fall!

Lashley tries to apply a Hurt Lock, but Omos is fighting it. Lashley hits the ropes and viciously clubs Omos in the back of the head. Lashley tries again for the Hurt Lock and has it applied, but Omos backs him into the corner. Lashley boots Omos back and starts to climb the cage. Omos grabs Lashley, but Lashley boots him in the chest a few times to knock him down. Cedric Alexander scales the cage wall and attacks Lashley to prevent him from going over. Lashley thwarts the attack and slams Alexander off the top of the cage to the canvas!

Lashley dives off the top rope with a cross-body block on Omos, but Omos catches him! Omos carries Lashley across the ring and throws him into the cage wall. Omos stands over Lashley and gets him to his feet. Lashley punches away at Omos before hitting the ropes, but Omos crushes him with a big boot. Omos angrily pulls Lashley to his feet and grabs his face. Omos puts Lashley on his shoulders and slams him through the cage wall! Lashley lands on the steel cage wall panel at ringside and steps off to win the match! MVP cannot believe it!

Winner by Escaping the Cage: Bobby Lashley

The referee explains what happened to the ring announcer, and Bobby Lashley is announced as the winner to a good reception from the crowd inside the Norfolk Scope Arena. Lashley celebrates big time. Omos is seething with anger in the ring.

Replays are shown of The Miz screwing Mustafa Ali in a match against Ciampa in which Miz was the Special Guest Referee.

WWE United States Champion Theory makes his way to the ring. He’ll face Mustafa Ali next.

-Commercial Break-

Mustafa Ali gets in the ring, but Theory gets out. Theory says he cannot go through with this match unless he has someone in the ring that can be trusted to call it right down the middle. Theory says the Special Guest Referee will be The Miz!

The Miz makes his entrance in a referee’s shirt. The Miz kicks the original referee out. Theory says something is still off. It’s not fair for Ali to face the champion. Theory reminds Ali of a saying Mr. McMahon taught him, which is to expect the unexpected. Ali has to prove himself against Veer Mahaan!

Veer Mahaan w/ Theory vs. Mustafa Ali
Special Guest Referee: The Miz

The Miz calls for the bell to start the match. Ali immediately attacks Veer with a pair of dropkicks. Ali hits the ropes, but Veer absolutely wipes him out with a Lou Thesz avalanche. Veer puts Ali in the corner, but Ali flips over him and chops the chest. Miz steps in front of him for no reason and disciplines him. Veer big boots Ali down. Veer sends Ali into the ropes for a flapjack. Veer stomps him before dropping a big elbow. Veer presses Ali over his head, but Ali slides off and superkicks him twice. Ali hits the ropes, but Theory sweeps the feet. Ali argues with The Miz over the officiating. Ali sidesteps Veer, and Veer flies out of the ring. Ali knocks Veer off the apron, but Veer lands on his feet. Ali hits the ropes for a dive, but The Miz steps in front of him to start slowly counting Veer out. Ali yells at The Miz. Ali then turns into a Million Dollar Clothesline from Veer. Veer jumps on Ali’s back and applies the Cervical Clutch for the submission victory.

Winner by Submission: Veer Mahaan

Theory gets in the ring and takes a selfie with The Miz and Veer while standing over Ali. Miz tells Veer to clear the table. Veer starts to, but The Mysterios make their return. Rey and Dominik Mysterio knock Veer off the apron. Dominik dives onto Veer, but Veer catches him. Rey then finally takes Veer down with a seated senton off the apron! Veer is irate.

WWE Official Adam Pearce is backstage with Becky Lynch.

-Commercial Break-

Replays are shown of Becky Lynch interfering in a Championship Contender’s Match between Bianca Belair and Asuka last week.

Becky Lynch is talking with WWE Official Adam Pearce backstage. Lynch talks about seeing Sasha Banks and Naomi packing their bags and leaving the arena. The 6-Pack Challenge cannot happen so she should get the night off and be the #1 Contender. Pearce says that’s not going to happen. We still need a main event for Raw, so tonight Lynch will battle Asuka with the winner facing Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship. Lynch is not happy.

Footage is shown of RK-Bro challenging The Usos to a Unification Match on SmackDown. Riddle then kneed Roman Reigns in the face.

Riddle will face Jimmy Uso next.

-Commercial Break-

Raw Tag Team Champion Riddle vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champion Jimmy Uso w/ Jey Uso

Jey Uso quickly distracts Riddle, and Jimmy takes him down. Riddle quickly fights back and takes Jimmy down. Riddle hits a gutwrench suplex for a one-count. Jimmy gets to his feet and floors Riddle with an uppercut. Jimmy chokes Riddle on the ropes until the referee backs him up. Jey gets a cheap shot in on Riddle. Jimmy bounces Riddle in the corner, but Riddle counters into a triangle before pulling Jimmy over the top rope. Jey pulls Jimmy out of the way and eats a kick. Riddle goes for a springboard, but Jimmy punches him down to the floor. Jimmy hits a suicide dive and sends Riddle hard into the steel ring steps. The Usos pose with the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Jimmy take Riddle down with an enzuigiri. Jimmy backs up and charges for a running hip attack for a two-count. Jimmy argues the count with the referee. Riddle fights back at Jimmy and hits a snap kick to the head. Jimmy is stumbling on his feet and falls into the corner. Riddle kips up and avalanches Jimmy in the corner and hits an exploder suplex. Riddle goes for a Broton, but Jimmy gets the knees up.

Riddle tries to fight back at Jimmy, but Jimmy sends him up in the air for a Samoan Drop to pick up a near fall. The Usos are both frustrated at the inability to put Riddle away. Jimmy goes to the top rope, but Riddle cuts him off up there. Jimmy fights Riddle and knocks him down to the canvas. Jimmy goes for a splash, but Riddle gets the knees up. Riddle elbows Jimmy in the jaw. The referee checks on Jimmy, allowing Jey to interfere and knock Riddle off the ropes. Jimmy rolls Riddle up, and Jey holds Jimmy down over Riddle. The referee catches Jey and ejects him from ringside!

The Usos are irate. Jey walks off. Jimmy approaches Riddle, but Riddle catches him with an inside cradle for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: Riddle

Replays are shown of The Judgment Day attacking Finn Bálor and AJ Styles last week on Raw.

Earlier today, Los Lotharios were hitting on Liv Morgan, but she denied their advances. AJ Styles and Finn Bálor came up and ran them off. Styles and Bálor asked Morgan to join them to battle The Judgment Day together, but she said she’d think about it.

We’ll hear from The Judgment Day next.

-Commercial Break-

Damian Priest asks if people have been paying attention. They should rise for The Judgment Day. They answer to no one. If any of our heroes step up to them, they’ll face punishment. Rhea Ripley says she’s embraced the movement. She’ll not be the figure of her mistakes. Nothing is holding her back. Now it’s time for complete and utter eradication.

Edge says some people are tired of pretending. Who can blame them? Stop being sheep. Join their movement and put some meaning into their lives. Judgment Day equals power or will they continue living in the purgatory of their existence. Edge has seen how this will play out. More will join them. Their arms are spread to any WWE Superstar that wants to join like AJ Styles. Edge has been where Styles is. Edge thought jumping off ladders would gain their adulation and make him happy. All he was left with was a broken body and a career that ended before it should have. Styles can join them on the mountain. The choice is theirs. This has to end. It can end with them standing by their side or laying at their feet again and again. Edge puts a tiny skull on a scale, tipping it in their favor.

Liv Morgan, Finn Bálor, and AJ Styles make their way to the ring. Bálor and Styles will face Los Lotharios next.

-Commercial Break-

Los Lotharios do their Kiss Cam with a “lucky” female fan.

Tag Team Match
Finn Bálor and AJ Styles w/ Liv Morgan vs. Los Lotharios (Angel and Humberto)

AJ Styles starts against Humberto. Styles chops at Humberto before tagging Finn Bálor in. Styles and Bálor double-team Humberto. Bálor attacks Humberto for a few moments before tagging Styles back in. Humberto gets the better of Styles and stomps him down in the corner. Angel tags in. Los Lotharios beat Styles down. Angel applies an abdominal stretch before clubbing him in the ribs. Humberto tags in and taunts Bálor. Humberto chops Styles and tags Angel in. They go for a double-team back suplex, but Styles flips through. Styles and Bálor team up to send Los Lotharios out of the ring before hitting stereo planchas.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Humberto applying a single leg crab to Styles. During the break, Los Lotharios got the better of Styles. Angel tags in, and Los Lotharios apply a double-team Boston Crab for a few moments. Humberto goes back to the apron, and Angel keeps it on. Styles fights out of it and annihilates Humberto with an enzuigiri.

Bálor and Angel are in the ring. Bálor gets the better of Los Lotharios and hits a side leg sweep on Angel. Bálor kicks Humberto out of the ring. Angel quickly rolls Bálor up for a two-count. Angel viciously knees Bálor in the face and knocks Styles off the apron. Bálor gets out of a Wing Clipper and hits a Sling Blade. Bálor sizes Angel up, but he runs into a superkick. Humberto tags in and goes for a moonsault, but Bálor gets the boots up! Bálor waits for Humberto to get up and hits a Woo Dropkick. Angel ran in a moment too late. Styles hits Angel with a Phenomenal Forearm, as Bálor hits a Coup de Grace for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: Finn Bálor and AJ Styles

Kevin Owens is backstage with Alpha Academy. Owens is excited that there are DNA results for Elias and Ezekiel. Chad Gable says they got a DNA sample from a hair off of Elias’s old guitar. The results are in… and they were contaminated by BBQ sauce. Otis is blamed. Owens screams in frustration. Gable says he’ll beat the truth out of Ezekiel tonight.

Replays are shown of WWE Official Adam Pearce telling Sonya Deville that her contract as a WWE Official has been terminated. Alexa Bliss then returned and defeated her in mere moments.

Alexa Bliss comes out with a new punk rock theme song. She’s holding the Lilly doll. She’ll face Sonya Deville in a rematch next.

-Commercial Break-

Alexa Bliss vs. Sonya Deville

The bell rings, and Deville talks trash to the referee and Alexa Bliss. Bliss slaps her and takes her down with a dropkick. Bliss takes it to Deville, but Deville quickly takes her down and applies a rest hold. Bliss fights out, but Deville kicks her in the hamstring and knees her in the face for a two-count. Deville starts to untie the top turnbuckle, but the referee stops her. The referee stops to fix the turnbuckle pad. Deville hits Bliss with a big spinebuster and covers, but the referee is still fixing the pad. By the time he notices, Bliss kicks out at two. Bliss hits a DDT for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Alexa Bliss

Sonya Deville is furious with the referee and gets in his face. Deville then slaps the referee in the face. Jimmy Smith says she’s no longer a WWE Official and will face consequences for that. Is it routine for WWE Officials to slap referees and not face consequences? What kind of working environment is that?

Video Package: Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes

“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring. We’ll hear from him, next.

-Commercial Break-

Cody Rhodes is standing in the ring, and the crowd is going wild for him. Rhodes says he heard that Seth Rollins isn’t here tonight. Though he’s surrounded by lovers in Virginia and millions around the world, he hopes Seth Rollins is listening. Rhodes was ready to close this chapter, but Rollins attacked him last week. Rollins said something peculiar that Rhodes will not steal anything from him again. What did he steal from Rollins? Two matches? A winning bonus? Rhodes didn’t dilute his legacy. Rollins won his way to the top.

Rhodes’ story is a little different. Rhodes didn’t win that much until recently. Rhodes lost, scratched, clawed, and painted his face with a smile while being dead inside and looking at the lights most nights. Still, Rhodes endured. Rhodes will never be The American Dream, so why not embrace The Nightmare? Rhodes lost his way to the top, one could say.

Rollins’ embarrassment over losing two matches outweighs his quest for vindication. If that sounds hyperbolic, Rhodes is talking about his second chance. You don’t take it for granted. If Rollins is set on denying his second chance, you’ll have to kill him. Rhodes will give him the chance. It’s time to lock the angst in here and play for keeps. Rollins versus Rhodes for the third time, but this time it’ll be inside Hell in a Cell! The crowd roars in approval.

Seth “Freakin” Rollins’ cackle is heard on the arena speakers. He appears on the titantron. Rollins says he wants to get this straight. Rhodes trying to steal his spotlight at WrestleMania wasn’t enough. Cheating to beat him at WrestleMania Backlash wasn’t enough. One stomp and now he’s begging him for one more go-around inside Hell in a Cell. Rhodes must be stupider than he looks. It’s the biggest mistake he’s made. Everyone that has stepped foot inside of Hell in a Cell with him is changed forever. Rhodes already knows his answer. Rollins is going to exploit every one of Rhodes’ insecurities and expose him for the fraud that he is. Rollins versus Rhodes III… he accepts!

Rhodes says there’s nothing left to say other than he’ll see him in hell.

Asuka is warming up backstage when Sarah Schreiber comes up to her. She asks for a reaction to facing Becky Lynch. Asuka says Becky Lynch cries like a big baby. Tonight, she’ll give Lynch a reason to cry because she’s ready for the Raw Women’s Champion. Becky Lynch is not ready for Asuka.

Alpha Academy makes their way to the ring, followed by Kevin Owens.

-Commercial Break-

Kevin Owens will be the guest commentator for this match.

Chad Gable w/ Otis vs. Ezekiel

Kevin Owens is hilarious on commentary throughout this. Gable takes it to Ezekiel early on, but Ezekiel fights back. Ezekiel applies a Gory Special to Gable, but Gable soon counters into a roll-up. Ezekiel rolls through and grabs the legs, but Gable gets the ropes. Gable pulls Ezekiel out of the ring and bounces him off the apron. Ezekiel snaps him off the top rope, and Otis runs him over.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Gable get the better of Ezekiel with a northern lights suplex. Kevin Owens is screaming about the Graphics Department lying about Ezekiel’s true name – Elias. Ezekiel fights back and slams Gable down. Ezekiel puts him on the top rope and goes for a superplex, but Gable fights him off. Gable jumps into a high knee for a two-count. Gable fights back and hits a moonsault for a near fall. Ezekiel eventually comes back with a roll-up for the victory.

Winner by Pinfall: Ezekiel

R-Truth is walking backstage with Tamina and finally gives Akira Tozawa the divorce papers. R-Truth sees Dana Brooke and wants compensation in the form of the WWE 24/7 Championship, but she runs away. She bumps into Carmella. They have a confrontation before Dana runs off. R-Truth says Carmella needs to help him. She says she’ll help him when the time is right, but she wants Dana Brooke.

Lacey Evans makes her way to the ring.

-Commercial Break-

Lacey Evans greets the crowd and thanks the military for what they do. She acknowledges the servicemen and women in the crowd. She wants to show people that you can get up and be an example despite challenges. She’s going to show her two daughters how to keep going. She may not be better than some of the women in the Raw Women’s Locker Room, but they’re not better than her either.

Replays are shown of Riddle defeating Jimmy Uso earlier tonight.

Riddle says nothing is stopping him and Randy Orton from coming to SmackDown and unifying the Tag Team Titles. RK-Bro 420 says they just smoked their ass. The Usos say The Bloodline will have all the gold.

Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair makes her way to the ring to watch the next match.

-Commercial Break-

Bobby Lashley will have an All Mighty Challenge for Omos and MVP next week.

#1 Contender’s Match
Asuka vs. Becky Lynch

The winner will face Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair at WWE Hell in a Cell.

Asuka quickly takes it to Becky Lynch and knees her in the chest on the apron before we go to the commercial.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Asuka taking it to Lynch with a German Suplex and a sliding knee for a two-count. Lynch comes back with a roll-up for a two-count. Asuka fights out of a Manhandle Slam, but she misses a running hip attack. Lynch kicks away at Asuka and comes off the second rope with a diving leg drop for a near fall. Lynch continues to attack Asuka before Asuka catches her with an Asuka Lock. Lynch fights out but gets trapped in an armbar. Lynch fights out of the ring and gets in Bianca Belair’s face. The referee stops Belair, so Lynch grabs Asuka’s umbrella. Asuka hits her with the mist and pins her for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Asuka

Asuka will battle Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship at WWE Hell in a Cell.