Ups & Downs: WWE Raw Review (May 20)

Our WWE Raw review as Simon Miller recaps Gunther vs. Jey Uso, Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark vs. Damage CTRL, Katana Chance & Kayden Carter and Maxxine Dupri & Ivy Nile, Liv Morgan and Becky Lynch, Awesome Truth vs. The Judgment Day, Lyra Valkyria vs. IYO SKY, Bron Breakker destroying Kale Dixon, Chad Gable vs. Sami Zayn and much more.
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[@aaronhurst4379]

Kale Dixon: *exists* Bron Breakker: So I took that personally

[@brisikog]

Gable got "You Suck" chants like Kurt Angle, that was most amazing moment of the raw this week for me

[@Daniel-jz9oi]

I was going to say the same thing. They’re really turning him into the next Kurt they need to put a world champion on him eventually or at least the money in the bank

[@Ridestereo765]

Same! Always said he's the next Kurt Angle for a very long time. Has better german suplexes than Brock etc

[@joshg9538]

He’s probably winning the Intercontinental Championship either Saturday or later in the year.

[@Gary_Youtube1]

Shorty g will NEVER be as big as angle!

[@AirForce318]

I love it. I hope hhh leans into it

[@charanaudugama5840]

When Chad Gable got "you suck" chants to his music after the match, it should not be taken lightly. He is making big strides with his heel turn. I know he is nowhere near as good as Kurt Angle in the 2000s, but he has the potential.

[@mlevo1011]

I thought the same thing.

[@BlaxkSun]

How would you dictate if he is better or worse?

[@ChewieFinster]

​@@BlaxkSun Has Chad Gable won a gold medal with a broken freaken neck?

[@charanaudugama5840]

@@BlaxkSun have you seen Kurt back in the day? Chad is now only sliding into singles competition. He is yet to prove that he is main event worthy. Kurt is considered one of the best in attitude era. He did so much more in his first 2 years than Chad did in his a decade long WWE run. I'm not saying Chad is bad. I'm just saying Kurt was miles ahead in 2000s. Chad can reach that if he keeps up with his heel turn and deliver with his inevitable Intercontinental Championship run.

[@damonodell9125]

​@@charanaudugama5840literally no one in the history of wrestling is better than 2000-2008 Kurt, is the only necessary argument 😂

[@labbaby189]

That Free Otis sign deserves a Golden Up.

[@kingpinsmoke4207]

So does the Perc Gable sign

[@calvinkevick9152]

Gunther literally does 8,293 different moves during his matches and changes them every week. He is a true wrestling badass

[@kevinleedenman]

Absolutely. He is the first man that comes to my mind when i hear the word "wrestler" nowadays

[@falconarrow]

Could literally see him loading up moves to break Jeys arm, so that he will never be able to Yeet again

[@amythistxue1]

also love that even though he's a heel his main reason for disliking most of the babyfaces they put against him has basically been that they don't give this ring and this business the respect it deserves

[@ElizabethMichalski]

R.I.P Bad Bones

[@rjgoodman4056]

Last week, people got mad that an NXT callup lost to an established star. This week, people got mad that an NXT callup beat an established star. Never change wrestling fans. Never change.

[@khesipresents1885]

Listen to live crowd not the iwc

[@blackearl7891]

​@@khesipresents1885 live crowd is fickle sometimes. I'm happy that Gunther won.

[@br0ken_107]

the point is the established star losing is probably the best women's wrestler on the entire planet and she lost to a green talent, lyra hasn't transitioned well to main roster (good example of great transition is Tiffany Straton), lyra's matches have been mostly boring whereas Iyo puts bangers every week. Same is the case for likes of Finn Balor, Nakamura, Chad Gable, etc but WWE for some reason loves to bury these people.

[@rjgoodman4056]

​@br0ken_107 Ha, if you actually think anyone you mention has been buried, then you don't understand wrestling. Iyo will be fine. She wouldn't be one of the best wrestlers ever like you claim she is if she couldn't bounce back from one roll-up loss.

[@dominikgose2609]

Thats how vocal minorities work

[@lornebuchanan3387]

"This is when Dominic Mysterio and his mustache spoke up" 😂

[@keenonmyers620]

“The least devastating move in sports entertainment” is funny every single time man

[@user-cw3us6nz5u]

I think we need a blue thunder bomb number system like we do with the crime counter to see how many times wrestlers will use the blue thunder bomb till it actually wins a match 😅

[@BlaxkSun]

Why would you do that? The Canadian destroyer is way more devastating and gets kicked out of all the time

[@GLJosh]

Sami's BTB won a match last year in Saudi.

[@br0ken_107]

@@BlaxkSun burning hammer is even more devastating but Super Cody kicks out of it at 1. Finishers are a joke these days, no one should kick out of them except on big stages like Wrestlemania and Summerslam

[@BlaxkSun]

@@br0ken_107 No argument here on that one

[@matrixmessiah6083]

@@br0ken_107 lets just excuse the logic of trying to do a move that isn't your own then being surprised that your opponent kicked out eh?

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

Gunther has chemistry with each & every talents in the ring

[@braxtonthartabrig]

Im definitely foreseeing a Braun vs Bron match coming around Summerslam…Braun doesn’t like bullies right?

[@dereklocke18]

Battle of the Bron's? I like it.

[@GLJosh]

Braun vs Bron needs to be a Lumberjack match or have Bron'son' Reed as Special Ref.

[@kevinstull8552]

​@@GLJoshOr maybe make it a triple threat match instead.

[@rahulmcintyre2553]

This was RAW of the year for me. Chad is being pushed also that Bron Breakker Debut was 🔥

[@khesipresents1885]

This raw was the best raw of 2024 imo

[@amythistxue1]

yeah I really like how they handled the Breakker debut, made him look like a monster in the ring, and then with the whole "I got snubbed for King of the Ring" gives them an angle to say "oh you think you should be booked in the main event and not start from teh bottom like everyone else, ok here you go" and just throw him into the deep end with big matches

[@SuperAwesomeosity]

Adam Pearce threw a “math” reference to Bron Breaker… had a nice chuckle

[@djstevie69]

Was an honour to meet Bad Bones (and yourself) at the Shake it all about event. Many thoughts to his family, colleagues and friends. A sad day. ❤😢❤

[@PoeticPoker262]

RIP John, never heard of him but obviously had a big impact on you and your career Simon, prayers for you as well as his family ❤

[@wstine79]

Simon Miller is back in the UK and in his green screen bubbles. Awesome.

[@tomseville2345]

The less-produced Michael Cole at the beginning, proving he *does* still need *some* direction; "here comes Jey Us...oh, it's IYO Sky!"

[@user-dr6xn7lq4k]

Sonya was in the background talking to Shayna and Zoey during the Gable Creed Brother segment

[@riotd.r.8363]

In reference to the Bron "match," when the ref asks if you can continue and you answer back "Uuuuughhh" or with weezing, I think that counts as a verbal tap out.

[@fit_mariom]

Then suddenly in Saudi Arabia the Blue thunderbomb will work perfectly 😂

[@MrBobbyz24]

I wonder if Michael Cole is ever going to stop calling Zoey Stark "Zoey Starks".

[@rjgoodman4056]

I have to say Lyra is insanely impressive. Like her facial expression and actions are actually believable, she looks like she is in a contest that she is trying to win instead of just doing moves for the sake of doing moves.

[@miked9594]

Simon Miller back in front of a green screen. All is right in the world.

[@stephenmorton6764]

Simon give yourself a Golden Up and keep smashing it.

[@Purple-Prince]

16:00 Kinda surprised Simon didn't mention the Demon Finn image in the background of the segment. Not sure what it could mean, but Creative is really doing a bang up job with these background hints and nods

[@michaelmammay197]

Simon missed something with Sonya Deville. Later in the show, in the background of Gable talking to Otis/The Creeds, you saw Sonya talking to Zoje and Shayna (after their win).

[@frankhoward6645]

Welcome back Simon speaking of returning Sonya returning was a surprise wonder what's her plan going forward plus Otis is probably going to turn on Gable which is gonna be awesome I think Gable is doing great as a heel & Lyra defeating Iyo wasn't too surprising & Gunther Winning his match against Jey was predictable but was a exciting match Bron going crazy was incredible he's gonna do great things

[@johnpittsii7524]

Thanks for the review Simon

[@MrTheIgnit1]

Would've liked to see Jey v Tomma in the KOR final to further the bloodline story. But I'm behind a King Gunther run

[@user-mh6mw6jn4h]

Maxxine smiled when she threw Party girl into barry barricade....maybe she turns to the dark side

[@fantashtish]

Im happy i get to hear simon shout at his camera again rather than whisper into it

[@dionshare7103]

I'm going to agree with you Simon. Sonya Deville does deserve a good push. Maybe eventually one of those women's titles.

[@YourDadYoda]

Chad Gable’s IC title reign is going to be legendary

[@contrary]

They made you think tama was gonna interfere after the ref spear. Great false finishing

[@andrewhernandez5332]

it's pretty rad that Gunther doesn't have a straight up finisher and can win multiple ways. one thing I don't know if you caught tho, when they showed jey in the parking lot, they show Liv getting out of a passenger door in the background and from the drivers side you see Finn get out the same car. 👀

[@amythistxue1]

that plus the shot awhile back of her, then Dominic coming out of a dressing room in the background of a backstage interview makes me think that her next step on the revenge tour isn't actually winning the title back, but instead it's breaking up the Judgment day/stealing their loyalty away from Rhea

[@reggiemarshjr5356]

Simon Miller for President.

[@tomseville2345]

Prime Minister...

[@tompatchak8706]

Dom’s got that mustache and it looks like carrying cross has a mustache too

[@andydoughlin7514]

Welcome Home Simon!👊🏿

[@sethkaplan]

I think bron breaker is. Going to feud with Braun stroman

[@user-xo4cc2bk2v]

Lovely tribute to your friend at the start. Simon you're a great bloke.

[@irvinguadarrama374]

Well well well. Loos like we have A Dwayne THE ROCK Johnson fan here.

[@JNFMJCreations]

Good video Simeon we support you always

[@richcohan5133]

Simon Miller is the man, the myth and the legend. Golden up!

[@tomseville2345]

Wonder how many fans have dropped their phone over the top arena sections' guardrails doing the YEET! in the past couple of weeks?

[@loretta5653]

You were so great in the musical!!!

[@BobbyCrosthwaite]

Simon u are the greatest so u always get the GOLDEN UP

[@wethepeoplewolfpack4233]

Thanks Simon, another good Raw! Sorry You lost a Friend, Please bring back AEW Collision ups and downs.

[@mikelsweeten6465]

Raw is really on fire at the moment. Priest is great and getting better every week. Gunter looks to be on the verge of mega monster title reign. Drew is doing his best work ever. Jey should be the champion at this point and oh yeah, your two biggest stars (Seth and Punk) aren’t even here due to injury. Wow, Raw is loaded at the moment.

[@tomseville2345]

Maxxine's reaction faces to Chad's demoralising remind me of Torrie Wilson's acting during her feud with Dawn Marie in 2002-3...

[@wendyg7462]

Welcome back Simon

[@ARTPLAYSGAMES86]

France deserves a thnak you for making jay Usos entrance even more epic 💪

[@leelynch5202]

Good day, Sorry for your loss and prayers for his family 🙏🙏 They definitely need to push Bron to the top and don't stop pushing until he takes out the champion!! You're a great guy, I hope the best for you!! And here's your 👆

[@chrisph9910]

Sorry for your loss Simon RIP John Klinger

[@ronald-xs7sp]

Good morning, Simon!

[@Bear_Love_Records]

I really enjoyed raw. I think every show since Mania has been solid with one top notch ppv. I prefer consistency which is what they have and the tv matches have been far better since trips take over

[@Ruben-so7pu]

We already miss CM Punk and Seth Rollins, leaving both Drew and Damien out of the show was just not a very smart move. They have a new champion, show off the guy more, we already making the mistake of not having him defending his title at King of the Ring.

[@CarlosCruz-ox9wc]

Loving this gable/academy story. Last weel they teased ivy joining him. This week the creeds. Something subtle that happened on this raw: during their entrance, when maxxine raises the peace signs for "THANK YOUUUUUUUU" ivy gives her this side eyed look, as if shes considering what gable said about maxxine. Add to that, the fact that maxxine is the one out of the 4 teams to eat the pin for rhe loss and this storyline is going to heat up soon. Otis refusing to help gable in saudi is going to cost gable the win and drive him to recruiting the creed brothers to replace the alpha academy

[@canderia]

I'd rather either of those 2 dudes win than Sammy.

[@SixWinsWrestling]

Are they gonna do a Michael Jordan type gimmick with Bron Breakker?? Have him stand in the corner before each match and just hype himself up with reasons to be pissed off. Then absolutely smash his opponent. I would love that. Golden Up!

[@ynggun84]

Completely agree, I'm also curious who the first established wrestlers are that get fed to him

[@theroguewritersk]

Simon...your finisher in the Last Match should have been the Blue Thunder Bomb!!! :D

[@RaghavanN]

Bron Breakker is literally a combination of the best parts of Scott Steiner and Goldberg!

[@dereklocke18]

That crowd in Greensboro was dead. WWE should take note of what crowds don't really pop and start leaving them off of the schedule.

[@matthewhenningervonada9914]

Does every crowd have to be France to you? Deal with it.

[@PIE50100]

We need Braun Strowman vs Bron Breaker!

[@stites]

Jey Uso isn't great as a singles wrestler. Not doing it for me. Entrance is good, but it's not a versatile package.

[@angelocolonhezi7985]

This guy is great

[@syxxpoppin8830]

O ® just done stole all of John's stuff 😂🎉 attitude adjuster,5 knuckle shuffle 😂

[@stickydoodle8198]

Fun fact: We also sung happy birthday to Michael Cole live during the commercial break. So please give that an up too 😁

[@allsoundmusicentertainment3736]

Us Yanks love you mate!!! 💪🏽

[@samuelmedina9984]

My condolences Simon

[@nightflame69]

The best part of the tag title match was the champions entrance!

[@ryanmclean2000]

My roommates were at raw and the flashlight thing during jey usos entrance is requested before he comes out. They think that the Wyatt family is gonna target jey first

[@Tacsmoker]

i went top see Coldplay in a stadium in UK in 2012... i wasnt even a fan but i got a free ticket ;-) they gave us a bracelet pass ....mine was pink lol... we had to keep them on, everyone was laughing.... then the lights went down and the concert started.... all our bracelets lit up and the whole 60,000 crowd were the light show, it blew my mind.... look for 'stadium of light 2012 coldplay' ... if you want to see it lol

[@Leota-ik1]

WWE Rematch Counter: 79.

[@tompatchak8706]

Sooooo it Otis the 2024 Virgil? That would make Gable the Million Dollar Man

[@tomseville2345]

And Sami would be the Roddy Piper.

[@kennyhall9117]

SIMON IS THE BEST, SIMON NUMBER ONE 👏👏

[@mickeymckibbles613]

I think Howdy attacks Orton. Was one of Brays unfinished revenges

[@EmberMcLain87]

I wonder if otos turns on gabe Saturday or will they keep drawing it out.

[@InfectiousGroovePodcast]

Sorry to hear about John :(

[@killer109536]

HEY the blue thunder bomb worked that ONE time okay... THAT ONE TIME.

[@MrSHADOWANGEL999]

Glorious

[@chrisg3193]

first time ever i watched an ups and downs that was uploaded 6 minutes ago

[@Roktan]

Lyra winning is just a head scratcher. She doesn't even have a fan following on the main shows yet and still needs some experience. I mean, they gave Iyo a video hype segment and she still loses? The twist felt pointless. I also hate how some assholes are saying "cry more Iyo stans." No, this is just a questionable booking call.

[@agoodday4pi]

Welcome back Simon 👍

[@SimonMillerYT]

🙏

[@Doom3524]

Am I the only one who noticed Liv getting out of the SUV during damage controls arrival then Finn getting out during Jimmys?

[@erictheredxiii]

I thought the Blue Thunder Bomb was gonna do it here 😥

[@edvinrosenqvist524]

I hope there will be a feud against Adam Pierce and Sonya Deville. A battle of who will be the GM of Raw.

[@tomseville2345]

I think Kiana and Sonya will form a coup to run Raw together, with Shayna and Zoey as enforcers...

[@matthewhostetter8974]

Gable and Sami was a great start as we see the cracks in Apha Acadmedy. We also see Gable embrace the full heel gimmick while getting the "You Suck" chants. Daddy Angle would be proud. Bron Breakker committed murder on live TV and it's all Pearce's fault. I can't wait to see how this ends up. Lyra was a shock win over Iyo, even after that amazing promo package for IYO, but she deserves the push. Now can she overcome Nia or "Super' Cena Blair. Awesome Truth with another win, thanks to Braun Strowman. Shayna and Zoey get a tag title shot in the future. Finally, Gunther was the right choice in a great match again Jey. We are one step closer to KING GUNTHER

[@knytestorme]

Wait, was that Pete Dunne with short hair? How was there not a hair vs hair match before he got the cut?

[@tylerrizzo9339]

Okay so you say you like Sonya deville but you also don’t like that she finally returned. Huh. 2+2=potato

[@palpatinerocks3260]

I think he doesn't like that she returned with 0 fanfare

[@JT7Blu]

He didn't like the randomness of the segment. It felt pointless. Like they could've had Sonya return during the 4-way match and help Zoey and Shayna win and then had a segment afterwards were Zoey thanks Sonya and Shayna brushes her off. A bigger impact/return than that random backstage segment.

[@ecafracs10]

Still no Dijak, Brown Down!!!

[@justyn7]

TRIPLE H WE SAW THEM DOM SIGNS AND HEARD THEM CHEERS AT ONE POINT GIVE US THAT IC TITLE

[@mrbrooklynny]

I wanted Jey and Tama to win that could've planted more seeds in the bloodline story.

[@conradsutton1456]

Looking at the fans I was convinced Greensboro is a "pop wrestling" city. One of those "Rock, Cena" type city. Io Sky and Lyra Valkeria had a banger and they just sat there but thought the Awesome Truth match like it was a five star classic.

[@Scaramanga7]

We went nuts for Revolution a couple months ago, they just weren't into that.

[@st.chinobeats]

Queen Valkyria 🔥 just cause it would remind me of God Of War

[@tomseville2345]

Strange bit of trivia; this was the date of Judgment Day in 2007, where Carlito faced Ric Flair (having turned on him weeks earlier), and with his current appearance, looks *identical* to how he did then...

[@matt8108]

Here's my fantasy booking for Bron Breaker. Adam Pearce keeps trying to hold Bron back, so Bron just gets madded and madder wrecking chumps. Bron finally attacks Pearce, who fires him and then Nick Aldis brings him back to SmackDown to team back up with Baron Corbin and the Wolf Dogs are back and win the tag team belts getting Theory and Waller at Clash at the Castle or another early summer PPV/PLE.

[@quizman5]

I want a Bron vs Braun feud, let them both just run around the ring at ridiculous speed slapping man meat and tear up the arena like Godzilla and Kong

[@haha7651]

bro what if tama tonga smh wins against randy orton [probably via cheap shot] and advances through to final and vacates his position to solo sikoa and thus we get new king tribal chief solo sikoa??

[@T3KDJ]

I think at king of the ring ,when and if Gunter wins ,Braun Breaker will Spear Gunter ,for a feud on Raw

[@isaacreid5580]

Waiting on the Simon Miller heel turn…👀