WWE Monday Night Raw: May 19, 2025

Hi, and welcome to your Monday Night Raw recap! It is May 19 – please don’t tell Kane!

For those of you who just come for Raw and skip the other posts that aren’t by Scott, my name is Kat. I’m here to guide the good ship of Raw recappery. I’ve written all kinds of things here outside of weekend evening news updates, all of which you can find by clicking my name above. Thanks to Scott for this opportunity.

First, a shout out to our buddy Thomas. As many of you know, Thomas has resigned as a BOD writer. You can still find his recaps elsewhere and I encourage you to go seek them out. I’m here to step into the rather large footprints he has left behind and recap Raw for Blog of Doom. Will my reviews be the same as Thomas? Not a bit. We have two very different styles. He is big on play-by-play and ratings. I’m bigger on the entertainment aspect. I’m also not big on star ratings because I think they’re very subjective and mine tend to fluctuate every time I watch something, so I’m simply not doing them (it’s also hard to rate matches with huge sections lost to commercials). Besides, it’s unfair to put everything up against the best of all five-star matches.

Now, what to expect with these recaps. I do not promise move-by-move commentary and it’s not usually entertaining when I try. However, I’ll get across what happens in them and have a good time covering the entertainment portion of the broadcast. I also come in with biases towards a few talents and that might shine through. I’m watching as a fan, just as you are. If you aren’t here to enjoy the show, why are you watching it? Go watch things you like, life is short. I promise bad jokes, quirky commentary, pop music references and to do all I can to guide you through however long the show might be this week. I think I also seem to lean towards more of a casual fan than a hardcore (even though I’ve been watching wrestling in crazy amounts since 1991), so I’m more likely to get caught up in Jey Uso being cool and less caught up on matches being five stars. I’m also mostly doing this in one take, so hopefully I won’t miss much.

I’m watching on US Netflix, so I will not have the random segments in between commercial breaks. I’m going to attempt to note the breaks, though this may change as I find my flow over these first few recaps. Feedback is very welcome in the comments or on social media (@misspeacockery on both Twitter and BlueSky). I love a good debate about the show in the comments, but let’s have a friendly debate and not be jerks.

And now that the introductions are out of the way, let’s get into this edition of WWE Raw!

Then, now, forever, together. Dun-dun-dun.

As always, we start with an aerial look at our host city – this week, Greenville, South Carolina, and presented by Snickers on Netflix. We’re at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and head right into a video package on the issues between Jey Uso and Seth Rollins as well as the various faces surrounding their orbit. Tonight: World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso battles Bron Breakker.

We see Seth, Bron and Paul Heyman making their entrance into the building as well as Jey. AJ Styles is here, and he’s teaming with Penta who does his usual Smooth Operator walk. They’re facing Finn Balor and JD McDonough of Judgment Day, who walk up with the rest of their crew.

I have the unfortunate job of telling you that Logan Paul is our first entrance of the night, introduced by the great Alicia Taylor. He gets a hearty set of boos as Michael Cole reminds us that this Saturday on Saturday Night’s Main Event, Logan gets a shot at Jey’s World Championship. Paul takes a sip of a Prime from the nearby Prime Hydration Station before passing it to Pat McAfee.

Logan welcomes us to Monday Night Raw, telling Greenville he will beat Jey this Saturday and will come to Raw next week as World Heavyweight Champion. Paul tells us some facts – Jey Uso is the champion, Jey tapped out Gunther at WrestleMania. The fans yeet and he argues with them that tonight is a “no yeet” night. He mentions he won a singles title twelve years sooner than Jey and Jey has eyes on everyone but Logan. He says he’s knocked out Jey three times and sorry Greenville, but he’s doing it again on Saturday. He will become the new World…

Gunther’s theme hits as our former World Champion comes out in another nice suit. Gunther faces the winner of the match in three weeks on Raw in Phoenix. The fans chant, “you tapped out” to Gunther, which Logan laughs at. Gunther tells Logan that he seems confident that he can beat the guy who beat him for the champion, which leads him to assume Logan thinks he is better than him. Gunther salutes Logan’s confidence and thinks people should show Logan more respect than they do. Gunther says that Logan being World Heavyweight Champion would be great for business, which Logan agrees with. “This guy knows business, I love it!” Gunther tells Logan that while this is business for Logan, it is personal to him. He tells Logan that beating Jey is very personal for him and if Logan takes that away, it will be taken as disrespect and to ask Pat how it feels to be a non-wrestler that disrespects him. Gunther promises to eat Logan alive if he’s the one across the ring from him in three weeks.

As Gunther walks away, Logan says he wasn’t even talking to him. Jey appears from behind to a loud ovation of “yeets,” superkicking Logan down and out. Jey grabs the mic. “Fact: Imma see you on Saturday and Gunther, Imma see you in Phoenix.” Yeet.

We head to the announce table proper and greet Michael and Pat. Michael takes us to the Highlight of the Night, delivered by Papa John’s. We go to last week’s main event with Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky defeating Giulia and Roxanne Perez. Roxanne and Giulia have words backstage, with Giulia saying there is no “we.” This goes to earlier tonight, as Adam Pearce welcomes Roxanne officially to Raw. We have a Money in the Bank qualifying match tonight, with Roxanne, Becky Lynch and Natalya. We have a second with Rhea Ripley, Kairi Sane and Zoey Stark. It gets very, very loud when Rhea even appears in a graphic.

The lights go down and Penta appears to his flames and pyro, continuing to be the coolest entrance in the company. Tag action: up next! But first, three minutes of commercials.

(commercial break)

Bianca Belair, Jey and Cody Rhodes recommend that we bring the juice – Minute Maid. They’re all on special edition bottles available now.

Back from break, we look at the June 28, 2014 SmackDown with Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson getting into it, which is now a thing happening in the NBA. “Life is wrestling,” says Pat. Later tonight, Tyrese will join us to talk about that and make a massive announcement.

Jey is walking backstage and finds Paul Heyman, sipping coffee. Paul tells Jey that it was interesting, and gives his own set of facts – betraying someone is doing it in the back, but he is talking to Jey to his face. Paul tells Jey that it’s a non-title match tonight and he usually wouldn’t negotiate a match like that, but Bron is not looking for the title. Bron is looking to slow down Jey’s momentum and whoever is champion short term is just that, as the long term plan is Seth Freakin’ Rollins.

Penta & AJ Styles vs Judgment Day (Finn Balor & JD McDonough)

Back to the ring, AJ has joined Penta as we look back at last week, with Penta defeating Chad Gable and then Penta saving AJ from an attack by the Judgment Day. Judgment Day has appeared at some point without an introduction in the ring and we’re ready to go.

The action starts with AJ and JD, the fans clearly on AJ’s side. As AJ gets the advantage via several nice dropkicks, Penta is tagged in. Penta kicks an interrupting Finn before spinning each man with beautiful spinning backbreakers, sending the Judgment Day outside. AJ and Penta both spring over the top rope and onto Judgment Day as we head to…

(commercial break)

We get a Morgan & Morgan ad with WWE footage spliced in, because I guess John Morgan is the Roman Reigns of lawyers. As someone who has seen Morgan on billboard ads for my entire life, I’m devastated that he’s now on my wrestling show.

Hulk Hogan makes weird noises while advertising his weird beer.

Back from break, we look at Carlito hitting Penta as we come back live to Finn dropping a boot on Penta. Finn tries to demask Penta on the top rope, but Penta shoves him off. JD tags back in and tries to suplex Penta off the second rope, but Penta flips it. Balor tags in and stops the hot tag for Penta, staring at his long-time opponent AJ. Finn drops Penta with a nice suplex but can only get a two count on it, so locks on a headlock. Cole notes that Dominik Mysterio is not out here representing his team and wondering if Dom is upset at his girlfriend Liv because she hasn’t been around, as if he wouldn’t be thrilled as she’s off shooting a movie. Penta gets that hot tag and unloads on Finn, dropping several quick elbows on him. Finn rakes the eyes and tags JD, which isn’t seen by AJ as he locks on the calf crusher. JD jumps from the top rope but lands on Finn, giving AJ a near fall.

The fans chant for “AJ Styles” as Styles moonsaults into an inverted DDT on the arena mat to JD. AJ’s going for it tonight! Carlito throws AJ into the outside post as we head off to another three minutes…

(commercial break)

Montez Ford pops in to tell us to use Xfinity Wi-Fi to watch SmackDown on USA.

WWE Shop has merchandise! It’s a Fanatics experience, you know. Tonight only, free shipping! Until they do it again in a few weeks.

We’re back for the third segment of this match, being reminded of Carlito running AJ into the ringpost. In the ring, AJ and Finn take each other down with dueling clotheslines. Penta and JD both tag in, Penta springing in from the top as JD slips, Pat blaming it on the humidity. I believe it, the humidity down here is killing me, and it is only May. McDonough tries to do a headstand on the turnbuckle but gets kicked in the face. JD tags Finn who also slips trying to climb up. Penta lands kicks on Finn and hits the Sacrifice on Balor. Finn is able to Slingblade Penta, taking too long to pose in the corner. He runs right into Penta’s boot. Penta goes up top and we see JD distracting the referee, which gives Carlito another chance to interfere. AJ leaps onto Carlito, JD does a suicide dive to the outside on AJ, and Penta hits a Mexican Destroyer off the steps onto JD.

El Grande Americano appears behind the barricade and headbutts Penta as Cole screams about the metal plate. Finn rolls Penta in, lands his finisher and gets the pin as Judgment Day is on top. Absolutely great match.

Unbiased reporter Cathy Kelley is backstage with Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky. Cathay asks Iyo, a former MITB winner, on how she feels about the challenger possibly challenging her. Iyo says she isn’t worried, which brings in Becky Lynch. Becky tells Iyo she is ready for anyone, and Becky tells her she doesn’t have a problem putting down another champion.

We follow Becky from that spot with a camera in a single shot to her entrance on the ramp. We’ll talk about it next, as we go to a commercial with footage of Becky in WWE 2K25.

(commercial break)

A man is having trouble doing laundry, but Jey Uso offers him some Minute Maid and it’s all uphill for the man from there. Nice of him.

We come back from break as Michael lets us know John Cena and others will be at Fanatics Fest in NYC, June 20-22. Secure your tickets now. Or not.

Logan Paul is backstage on the phone, interrupted by Seth Rollins and his denim suit. Seth tells Logan that Jey is going to be hurt tonight and will not be 100% on Saturday, so the odds are in Logan’s favor. Seth tells Logan that if he can get past Jey and Gunther, he’ll be waiting on the other side, and he will know who to thank if he has the title when he gets there. We see New Day and Grayson Waller talking in the background, laughing.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Becky Lynch vs Roxanne Perez vs Natalya

Back to the ring, newest Raw signee Roxanne Perez is in the ring as is Natalya as the briefcases hang above the ring. The fans chant “let’s go Roxy” as Becky tries to talk Rox into teaming with her before throwing her out of the ring. Cole explains the concept of MITB to those that might be new. Becky beats Natalya outside and rejoins Rox in the ring. Rox swings into a Manhandle Slam attempt, but they continue to reverse until Rox has a crossface locked on. The women trade rollups and exchanges, Rox again getting the crossface but being dropkicked by Nattie.

Natalya hooks Becky into a surfboard, then tries for a Sharpshooter which is rolled into a Dis-Armher. Rox hurricanranas Becky but leaps into another Sharpshooter attempt. Lots of good exchanges here. Becky slides outside and away from the action, so Roxanne jumps on both her and Nattie outside as we go to, that’s right…

(commercial break)

Cardi B, Eddie Guerrero tee on, preps us for her shot at hosting SummerSlam. Tickets on sale now!

We zoom out from the briefcases as Roxy hits elbows in each corner on her opponents. Nattie stacks Rox on top of Becky and tries for a double Sharpshooter, but they kick out. Hasn’t she done one before? Pretty sure. Rox springboards with a moonsault on both women, getting a two count on Nattie. Rox misses a Pop Rox which Becky turns into a Manhandle Slam, but Natalya breaks the count and tries for her own. Cole reminds us that the winner will join Alexa Bliss, who qualified on Friday. Nattie and Becky trade blows, Rox jumping from the top and hitting a German suplex for a two. This match is pretty fun, and the crowd is firmly behind Rox.

Becky and Rox trade blows on the top rope, but Becky grabs Becky and lands a sit-down powerbomb for a two count. Nattie goes up to superplex Rox from the top, again landing a two. Nattie locks in the Sharpshooter as we see Becky roll in, bulldogging Nat out. Nat rolls the Sharpshooter on Rox, then grabs Becky’s prone leg and locks it on her as well. Becky rolls out and Rox tries to roll out, Becky coming back in and hitting the Manhandle slam. Lyra Valkyria appears to pull Becky out and the crowd is hot for it, this being a triple threat where the ref can’t disqualify her. Becky fights off Lyra and goes back in, but Lyra pulls her back out. Rox hits the Pop Rox and gets the three, advancing to MITB. Becky and Lyra fight down the aisle. I enjoyed that, especially the second half.

Money in the Bank is presented by Cash App, which is always in your corner.

Jey is backstage with his title when in walks Sami Zayn. “My dawg!” Sami tells him he will take care of Seth Saturday and he has his back if the numbers game hits.

Kairi Sane is backstage and is goooorgeous. Still to come tonight, another qualifying match as we see Zoey taping her wrist and Rhea Ripley getting the loudest noise of the entire show by just putting on her vest.

Pat reminds us that it is fight night as Sheamus glows in his lighting. He’ll face Grayson Waller in a match presented by Cash App, next on Netflix.

(commercial break)

Cole runs us through some WWE trivia – Michael Cole was in the main event of the 6/04/12 Raw in Greenville against John Cena. We even watch some highlights as Cena rips off Cole’s clothes, pours some JR’s barbeque sauce on him and Pat zooms in on Michael Cole’s thigh tattoo. Cena hits Cole with a fire extinguisher and wins with the Attitude Adjustment.

Backstage, Pearce is with Tozawa and Maxxine. Adam gives Tozawa a one-on-one match with Rusev next week as Chad Gable and Ivy Nile appear, saying it’ll be good to see Alpha Academy put down for good. As the Alpha Babes leave, Gable wonders what he has going on next week. New Day enter as they have a match with the Creeds and War Raiders next week. Pearce tells them to take their discussion elsewhere.

Sheamus vs Grayson Waller

Waller is in the ring as we ring the bell, Austin Theory ringside. Waller slaps Sheamus and runs. The fans chant “let’s go Sheamus” as the men trade holds for a bit. It takes one slap from Sheamus to drop Waller. Sheamus slings Waller across the ring, then slings him back across to the other side. Sheamus clotheslines Waller out as Cole tells us Theory is laughing at his partner’s issues. With Sheamus distracted by Theory, Waller slings Sheamus onto the announce table and runs into him with a clothesline before spending another three minutes watching ads for Netflix.

(commercial break)

WWE touches down in Tampa for Saturday Night’s Main Event, Battleground, and Raw. Tickets on sale now!

We come back to Sheamus down in the corner and the fans chanting for Austin Theory, because why not. Waller chops Sheamus in the corner and Sheamus stares back, this probably not ending well for Waller. Sheamus swaps places and slaps the shit out of Waller. Waller finds a way to stomp Sheamus heads out for the rolling flatliner, hitting it for a two count. Waller limps to the corner and goes up to the second rope, walking across the rope and jumping right into a hard knee. You can see the welts on Sheamus as he slams Waller. Sheamus yanks Waller up into a guillotine, tossing him across the ring. Sheamus walks into a discus punch, landing on the apron.

Grayson does Sheamus’s ten beats to the chest, or at least three of them before Sheamus grabs him and drops him chest first on his knee. Waller runs from taking the chest pounding himself, which I don’t blame him for. As Waller tries to leave, Austin tells him not to leave. Waller backs into the chest pounding, Theory making great facial expressions as it happens. Sheamus nails a Brogue Kick and gets the three. I wasn’t expecting much and that exceeded it. The crowd is helping as lot as it is a very hot crowd tonight.

Cole and McAfee take the camera to talk about basketball, Cole remembering being at the Garden the last time the Knicks won the title. They make a bet, with Cole wearing a tank top for a Raw or McAfee wearing a suit if their respective teams win. Sure.

We go to earlier tonight as Cole and McAfee interview Tyrese Haliburton, who they announce will be a DLC character for WWE 2K25 later this year. Of course, 2K hasn’t announced the celebrity in the current DLC pack. Tyrese is excited to be in the game. They talk about basketball and Tyrese’s special merch on WWE Shop. Tyrese has a prediction for SNME involving four letters and one word – yeet.

This Saturday on SNME, Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker vs CM Punk & Sami Zayn, plus John Cena vs R-Truth, a steel cage match between Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest, and the aforementioned World Title match.

We head to Cathy Kelley, backstage with Gunther. Kelley asks if his game plan is changing, but Seth appears before he speaks. Seth tells Gunther that the work he did with HIS World Heavyweight Championship was good. Gunther says he heard about the long-term plan, but the Visionary is not the long game.

Rhea’s theme and the screams are LOUD, mostly of the female variety. I think a lot of people underestimate just how gigantic of a star Rhea has become and how she holds the female fanbase firmly in her tattooed hands. And to think she once said my name in a video. Triple threat action is next!

(commercial break)

Tonight, Raw is presented by Snickers.

Kairi gets an entrance! She’s back to the pirate princess look and I adore her. Kairi throws coins to the crowd because she’s a pirate and has collected coins, you see.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Rhea Ripley vs Zoey Stark vs Kairi Sane

Zoey appeared as well during the break as the drone flies us by the briefcases. Zoey goes for an early rollup on Rhea, but that’s not going to work. Rhea suplexes Kairi across the ring and then brawls with Zoey, who Cole tells us has been in two MITB matches before. We get a loud “let’s go Mami” chant as Rhea leapfrogs Zoey and dropkicks her. Kairi leaps on for a sleeper but Mami slings her off.

Zoey goes for a missile dropkick off the top and has wrecked her knee as the doctor runs in and we zoom off of her. You can hear Zoey screaming and it’s clearly not good. Cole recalls Zoey having past knee injuries as we take a sudden trip to commercials. Horrifying.

(commercial break)

Back from break, we have Rhea and Kairi in the ring as Cole tells us we’ve changed to a one-on-one match as Zoey has possibly reinjured her surgically repaired knee. Online footage shows the doctor having to carry Zoey out. Rhea hits Kairi with a fallaway slam but can only get a two. Rhea sets in with a Prism Lock, which Kairi finds a way out of. Kairi goes up and misses a dive on Rhea, almost going head-first into the mat as Rhea nails her with a dropkick on the way down. Vicious. Rhea tries for the RIptide, but Kairi catches Rhea with a backhand. Kairi stomps across the ring and nails Rhea with the elbow in the corner. Kairi goes up and tries for that gorgeous elbow but falls into Rhea’s boot. Rhea headbutts Kairi and gets that Riptide, heading to the Money in the Bank match for the first time in her career.

I’m not sure if that was the plan, but things change when injuries happen. Hoping for the best for Zoey as that looked rough. It’s good to see Kairi back.

Tyrese joins Sam Roberts & Megan Morant on the Raw Recap tomorrow on YouTube. Next week on Raw: Akira Tozawa vs Rusev. Rusev cuts a promo from whatever dark room he might be in, telling Tozawa whe appreciates the courage of helping his friend Otis. He was just trying to fix Tozawa like he fixed himself.

Bron and Paul are on the way to the ring, as is the World Heavyweight Champ. They’re up next after this three-minute trip.

(commercial break)

Los Angeles hosts Worlds Collide and Money in the Bank. Tickets on sale.

We get one last zoom at Greenville as Cole plugs What’s Your Story With Steph McMahon, Steph’s new podcast. Her guest this week is Dominik Mysterio.

Speaking of him, he’s backstage with the majority of Judgment Day… and also Roxanne Perez, who is with Finn. Finn introduces her to the group and tells them maybe they need more numbers in their group and that Liv will appreciate it. Dom thinks they should talk to Liv and Finn says Rox isn’t a member, but just some help. Rox says she is trying to find her place on Raw and brought them presents. Dom gets a box of chicken nuggets and Carlito gets a bag of apples. Both good gifts! Raquel promises to let Liv know about this.

Just announced: people are going to be at Fanatics Fest! You can meet Dominik Mysterio AND Tom Brady. What more do you need?

Cole runs down the weekend and prepares us for next week. We have men’s MITB qualifiers next week, as well as Tozawa vs Rusev and a triple threat for the World Tag Titles with New Day vs the Creeds vs War Raiders. Perhaps I’ll recap that!

Jey Uso vs Bron Breakker

Main Event Jey Uso is now in your city, Greenville. Jey appears in a gigantic crowd of people as they hit his music and he yeets through the crowd. Jey is still very, very over. He yeets with a small girl in his glasses and friends, this is why they’re striking while the Jey Uso iron is hot. It’s all about the next generation of fans. I would have never shut up about that as a little girl. He yeets with another kid down the steps a bit, then yeets with the crowd as Michael Cole reminds us that Raw is brought to you by Papa John’s.

Bron’s out and it’s belltime as Cole reminds us of the road ahead for Jey. We yeet through some early moves, Jey getting the early advantage as the crowd is firmly on his side. Uso clotheslines Breakker outside and leaps right onto him with a suicide dive. We head to one more break as Uso holds his wrist.

(commercial break)

Breakker has control when we come back, shoving Jey to the mat. Cole reminds us that Bron was the first Steiner to hold singles gold in WWE as he suplexes Jey across the ring. Jey yeets back with some punches, taking Bron down with a Pele kick. He rocks Bron with the hip attack in the corner but can only get a two count. Jey kicks Bron outside and leaps out at him again, this time being caught by Bron and slammed into the table, the ringpost, and back to the table. Bron gets on the apron and leaps onto Jey, bulldogging him onto the table (but not through it). And we have another commercial break. Woo.

(commercial break)

Breaker tries to powerbomb Jey as we come back, but Jey punches out and they trade punches to “yeet” and “boo” chants. The fans love some yeeting. Breaker knees Jey and Jey fights back with a pop-up Samoan drop. This only gets a two as the fans chant, “this is awesome.” Jey goes up top, but Breakker follows. Jey headbutts Bron down, but Bron leaps right back up for a Frankensteiner and a near fall. Bron goes for a spear but runs into a superkick for a second near fall.

Jey sees Paul on the apron, which gives Breakker a chance to grab a chair from the timekeeper’s area. Jey intercepts and superkicks him, kicking the chair out. Jey runs to leap, but Paul grabs Jey’s foot. Jey goes out after him and Seth Rollins attacks from behind, queuing up the DQ. Seth’s struggling to keep his jeans up. Rollins and Breakker double-team Jey in the ring until Sami’s music hits. They throw Jey out, focusing on Sami as the fans chant for CM Punk. The static hits and Punk arrives, the crowd loud for it and singing along to “Cult of Personality’ even when the music cuts off. The two teams stare down and go at it, trading blows.

Bron throws Sami over the barricade and into the ringside area; Punk leaps over and evens the odds as we get our executive producers tag and look forward to these four going at it on Saturday night. Meanwhile in the ring, Logan Paul appears to punch and KO Jey, ending the show to boos.

An enjoyable episode. The matches were all good. Rhea/Kairi/Zoey was hurt by the unexpected injury and never fully recovered, but that’s live sports. I’d especially recommend checking out the opening tag match.