On this week's Monday Night Raw, WWE, in a way, brought fans back to the WWE Performance Center. Including WWE PC hopefuls and NXT Superstars in the audience and separated from the performers via Pexiglass, the show was quite different from other shows that have taken place since fans were removed from the equation.
Apollo Crews got a shot at the United States Championship, and made the most of it.
Here are your winners and losers for Raw, May 25, 2020:
Winner/Loser: Partial Live Crowd Returns
It's hard to argue against having less-than-silence in the arena as socially-distanced WWE Superstars try to do their best to entertain the WWE Universe at home. In that respect, having wrestlers in the crowd and reacting to what they were watching was a nice change. Kudos to WWE for finally bringing in some atmosphere.
That said, more times than not, it was also extremely awkward. The smaller venue and a likely mandate to try and "do what fans do" brought with it a try-too-hard feeling that felt forced and often out of place. It was like watching wrestlers try and "play fan" instead of just enjoy the show. At times, it was weird.
During the matches, the uncomfortable and fabricated noise was less of an interruption and eventually became part of the show. In all honesty, it won't take long to get used to the new development, but it goes to show that a smaller environment definitely makes difference.
Loser: Kevin Owens Show
Owens did the best he could, but this opening segment was awkward in a number of ways. From Owens not being sure how to respond to Asuka's incoherent rants, to too many competitors in the ring, to a rushed segment that didn't do much to establish the importance of the Triple Threat Match that was taking place later, this segment was likely much better on paper than it turned out to be.
Natalya's promo later where she took a phone call from her husband Tyson Kidd was just odd.
Winner: Apollo Crews
Crews got another shot at the U.S. Title after an injury took away his chance to be a participant at Money in the Bank. He capitalized by winning the championship in a singles match over Andrade.
Zelina Vega wrestled with a injury outside the ring and Angel Garza was too busy talking about himself backstage to help Andrade as they often do. In a one-on-one situation, Crews was able to overcome. He then gave a touching speech to the audience and told the whole world he did what no one thought he could do. WWE cameras cut to Andrade losing his cool backstage, hinting at more distension among the trio.
Winner: Seth Rollins Officially Re-Introduces Theory
After Seth Rollins thanked Rey Mysterio for being a martyr and giving Rollins the foresight to do what was needed, Rollins then introduced his newly formed faction, one that now included Auston Theory.
Theory said he thought he had friends but he realized he didn't and thanked Rollins for finding him. Rollins then said they all would show Mysterio first hand what happens when people stand in the way. They would be facing Aleister Black and Humberto Carrillo later on the show.
Winner: Iiconics Make Up, Stand Tall
The Iiconics weren't expected to be on the show according to the announce team but they were there, working things out in public and apologizing to each other. The vowed to work together to take out the Women's Tag Team Champions, which of course, brought out Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss.
Cross tried to explain what real friendship was, only for Peyton Royce and Billie Kay to attack, leave the champs laying and hold the titles high.
As we noted last week, the idea of splitting up The Iiconics isn't one we love but if they're going to do it, at least slow-play the change. This segment did that, with the two heels totally on the same page and showing no signs of friction at all. Perhaps the best part here is, it looks like WWE is actually trying to build a proper women's tag team feud.
Winner: MVP Lounge With Drew McIntyre
We'll call this segment a winner, but there wasn't a lot to look back on and call important. McIntyre was fine, MVP was good, and Lashley refused to hop in the ring and defend his new advocate. It had all the elements to be an effective segment. It just wasn't anything special.
Winner: Garza Beats Owens
Angel Garza sneak-attacked Owens before their scheduled match to get the early advantage and before the official bell. Garza took the early lead and every time Owens seemed to battle back, that knee was bothering him. The injury was too much and Garza got the upset win. He took another cheap shot on Owens after securing the biggest victory of his early WWE career.
Owens did a great job of selling the early onslaught and Garza is quickly becoming one of WWE's better in-ring performers. A number of fans aren't going to love Owens putting Garza over, but this won't hurt Owens long-term and it will be wins like these that really cement future stars like Garza as legitimate threats.
Winner: Street Profits Beat Viking Raiders At Golf
While the basketball and axe throwing segments left a little something to be desired, this edition of the "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better Series" was actually kind of fun. The Street Profits were the clear winners on the real course, sinking shots not even skilled golfers would make. Further to that, everyone in the foursome had a lot of fun together after they got booted and had to take the competition to a mini-golf course.
The Viking Raiders thought they won when they had the high score, only to find out that's not how golf works. Raiders Ivar got into it with an alligator and everyone realized they were better served to head to Raw.
Later in the show it was revealed the next challenge would be bowling.
Winner: Auston Theory Picks Up Win For Disciples
In a shorter match than most fans probably would have liked, Auston Theory picked up a big pinfall on Humberto Carrillo, proving it was a good move to join The Monday Night Messiah. After the win, the group threatened to put Humberto's eye into the same steps that took out Mysterio.
Rollins warned Black not to try and make the save and sacrifice the two of them the way he had to sacrifice Rey. It was a strong promo that actually left the wrestlers in the crowd silent.
Winner: Edge Give Another A-Plus Promo
All those wrestlers in the crowd tonight were hopefully paying attention to what Edge did when he cut his backstage promo on Randy Orton. It was another home run.
Edge talked about watching himself on The Undertaker's "Last Ride" series, while still retired, wondering when it's time to hang up the boots. What he knows is that Orton can't argue Edge's history going toe-to-toe with greats like Taker, Shawn Michaels, Christian, Rey Mysterio, Davey Boy Smith, and others. Unsure if he can still what he used to, he's going to use Backlash as his guide.
Winner: Gronk Delivers Promo
The promo itself was fine, but more importantly, that Rob Gronkowski appeared on WWE Raw to promote the idea he had eyes in the back of his head, it shows that the 24/7 Title isn't completely lost on a star that can't or won't do anything with it.
Winner/Loser : Mysterio Retirement Ceremony
WWE has announced that Rey Mysterio will be on Raw next week to announce his retirement. Something smells a bit fishy here, a la Mark Henry. If so, wrestling fans will know this angle from a mile away. At the same time, there's some uncertainty considering the news of Mysterio's contract, there may be something to this.
It's hard to know which makes this all very interesting.
Winner: Nia Jax
Jax picked up a big win in the Triple Threat No. 1 contenders bout, getting the pin and securing her spot to face Asuka. The outcome seemed a bit predictable considering how much backstage heat the two had been building and Charlotte's appearance on every show needed to be reigned back a bit. Good for Jax though.
Winner: McIntyre / Lashley Chaos
The tag match between the Street Profits vs. MVP and Lashley quickly desceneded into chaos as Drew McIntyre came down to interrupt and exact a measure of revenge on his upcoming opponent for Backlash. The segment did much more for these two than the first VIP segment on the show.
Lashley manhandling Ford to cause the official to stop the match helps the Lashley gimmick since he's on a mission and wouldn't listen to his instructions. McIntyre coming to make the save only makes sense. Getting the WWE PC talents involved was a nice change too as it's typically the referees who try to break things up to no avail.