Wrestling Lockup With Brandon 5/16/17: RAW Newark Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

WWE returned to the United States this week in Newark, New Jersey, after their tour in the United Kingdom last week. RAW General Manager Kurt Angle returned this week after missing last week's show and immediately made WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose defend his title against The Miz. All that and a lot more as RAW kicks off another exciting week in wrestling.

** This Weeks Card **

- WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion Jeff Hardy battled Sheamus.
- Sasha Banks battled Alicia Fox.
- WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose defended his title against The Miz.
- WWE Cruiserweight Champion Neville and TJ Perkins battled Austin Aries and Jack Gallagher.
- Finn Balor battled Roman Reigns.
- Golden Truth battled Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson.
- Big Cass battled Titus O'Neil.
- Seth Rollins battled Bray Wyatt.

- Promos By: RAW General Manager Kurt Angle, WWE RAW Women's Champion Alexa Bliss

** RAW **

- Kurt Angle Promo: Angle addresses Braun Strowman's injury and then announces a Fatal Five Way for WWE Extreme Rules between Seth Rollins, Samoa Joe, Finn Balor, Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns, with the winner getting a shot at WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar. Roman Reigns interrupts, says he beat The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 33 and took out Strowman, he should be the #1 Contender. Finn Balor interrupts and says he deserves it because he never lost it and Reigns needs to get in line behind him. Samoa Joe interrupts next and says it's about action and results that win you matches and he's done both, just look at what he's done to Seth Rollins. The lights go out and then pop back on with Bray Wyatt in the ring.

Bray says everyone has their brave faces on, but he can feel their fear. Seth Rollins interrupts next and says he's just here to fight Joe. Rollins and Joe start brawling on the floor as Bray goes after Balor. Reigns takes out Bray as Rollins goes after Joe's knee. Reigns with a Superman Punch on Bray and then Rollins unloads on Bray outside. Balor hits a running drop kick on Rollins and then goes after Reigns. Balor ducks the Superman Punch and hits Slingblade on Reigns. Balor with a suicide dive on Reigns and Rollins outside and the segment ends with Balor standing tall in the ring.

- Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy: The match closes out with Cesaro trying to distract Jeff, but Matt Hardy knocks Cesaro off the apron. Sheamus shoves Jeff off as he went for the Twist of Fate and then misses a Brogue Kick attempt. Jeff connects with the Twist of Fate and then scores the pinfall with the Swanton Bomb.
Winner: Jeff Hardy, by pinfall.

- Sasha Banks vs. Alicia Fox: The match closes out with Alicia getting a near fall sunset flip. Alicia counters the Back Stabber and tosses Sasha outside. Sasha grabs her knee in pain as she lands. Back in the ring, Alicia hits the Scissors Kick and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Alicia Fox, by pinfall.

- "WWE Intercontinental Championship Match": Dean Ambrose (c) vs. The Miz: The match closes out with Ambrose climbing the ropes, but Maryse stands in the way blocking Miz outside. Ambrose leaps anyway, forcing Maryse to move and Ambrose hits an elbow sending Miz into the barricade. Back in the ring, Maryse distracts Ambrose on the apron, but Ambrose counters a Miz low blow and lands a low blow of his own on Miz. The referee catches it and DQ's Ambrose.
Winner: The Miz, by DQ, Dean Ambrose still retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

- Backstage, Finn Balor says Roman Reigns may be the big dog, but Balor has heart. It may be Roman Reigns' yard, but it's Balor's universe.

- Alexa Bliss Promo: Alexa calls the fans of Newark losers, calls herself a goddess, and brags that she's the only WWE RAW and Smackdown Live Women's Champion. Bayley interrupts and announces that she's getting her rematch at WWE Extreme Rules. Alexa mocks Bayley, calls her a kiddie and tells her that her time in the sun is done. Bayley shoves Alexa and a brawl breaks out between the two. Alexa grabs a kendo stick, nails Bayley with it and sends Bayley to the floor to end the segment.

- Backstage, The Miz complains to Kurt Angle about how Dean Ambrose retained his title. Angle announces a rematch at WWE Extreme Rules, but Miz wants more. Angle announces that if Ambrose gets DQ'ed again then he'll lose the title to The Miz. Elias Samson suddenly walks by playing his guitar.

- Neville and TJ Perkins vs. Austin Aries and Jack Gallagher: The match closes out with all four men brawling. Gallagher hits a drop kick on Neville sending him outside. Aries leaps off the top rope and takes out Neville outside. Gallagher lands a head butt on Perkins, but then Neville grabs Gallagher by the leg. Aries hits the Discus Five Arm on Neville on the floor. Perkins hits the Detonation Kick on Gallagher and scores the pinfall.
Winners: Neville and TJ Perkins, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Kurt Angle checks on Bayley. Bayley demands a special match against Alexa Bliss at WWE Extreme Rules. Angle announces a Kendo Stick On A Pole Match.

- Backstage, R-Truth tells Goldust he let him down last week. Goldust cheers up Truth and says they'll get back in the tag team title hunt in no time.

- Finn Balor vs. Roman Reigns: The match closes out with Balor hitting Slingblade, but gets hit with a Superman Punch afterwards for a near fall. Balor counters the spear with a knee on Reigns and then hits another Slingblade. Balor hits the corner drop kick on Reigns, but can't deliver Coup de Grace as Reigns cuts Balor off. Reigns sends Balor off the ropes and then hits a spear to score the pinfall.
Winner: Roman Reigns, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Bray Wyatt interrupts the show and says this is his world. Bray says he's taking out Brock Lesnar, but first he's saving Seth Rollins' soul tonight. Bray says that Rollins doesn't have what it takes to slay The Beast and tells Rollins to run.

- Golden Truth vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson: Before the match can even start, Goldust turns on R-Truth and beats Truth down. Goldust sends Truth over the ropes and into the barricade. Goldust pounds away on Truth and then plants a kick on him. Goldust grabs a microphone and says "That's What's Up!".
Winners: No Contest.

- Titus O'Neil vs. Big Cass: The match closes out with Titus getting quick shots in on Cass while he takes off his jacket and belt. Enzo distracts Titus allowing Cass to grab the quick pinfall. After the match, Apollo Crews attacks Enzo and lays him out with a kick.
Winner: Big Cass, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Neville still promises TJ Perkins at WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match, but he still needs to help Neville with his Austin Aries problem.

- Bray Wyatt vs. Seth Rollins: The match closes out with Rollins hitting a springboard for a near fall. Both men trade offense until Bray hits a clothesline for a near fall and then a Uranage for another near fall. Rollins counters Sister Abigail and both men trade near falls. Bray goes outside, where Rollins leaps out and sends Bray into the barricade. Samoa Joe suddenly comes out of the crowd and attacks Rollins causing a DQ. After the match, Joe unloads on Rollins and drives Rollins into the mat. Joe stops his attack on Rollins and goes nose to nose with Bray. Joe and Bray both turn to Rollins and unload some more on him. Bray then suddenly turns on Joe and lays him out with Sister Abigail. Bray then grabs Rollins and lays him out with Sister Abigail. Bray poses over Joe and Rollins to end the show.
Winner: Seth Rollins, by DQ.