WWE Raw 5/25/20 Results – WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL – Airing live on USA Network

Broadcast Notes: Commentators were Byron Saxton, Samoa Joe, Tom Phillips. NXT wrestlers were in the crowd as WWE finally decided to borrow AEW’s idea for Wednesday Night Dynamite. Oddly enough, there were hockey arena-like walls near the ramp (kind of like the Elimination Chamber “glass”) and no seats whatsoever. That must have been fun for talent standing through five to six hours of Raw tapings.

NXT talent in crowd included Shotzi Blackheart, Simone Johnson (The Rock’s daughter), Jessamyn Duke, Cal Bloom, Kayden Carter, Daniel Vidot, Rik Bugez.

Kevin Owens welcomed WWE Raw Women’s Champion Asuka to the Kevin Owens Show that quickly turned chaotic with WWE NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, and Natalya.

Apollo Crews defeated Andrade (with Zelina Vega) to become the new WWE United States Champion. It took Crews five long years of creative ups and downs, but he can finally call himself a main roster titleholder and WWE U.S. Champion. Good match, but we had a very bizarre cut to backstage where Angel Garza hit on Kayla Braxton. I’m assuming Andrade and Garza will remain a tag team for now, but Garza not being at ringside plants the seeds for an eventual breakup.

Charly Caruso attempted to interview Natalya, who in full wrestling gear, was interrupted by a phone call from her husband TJ Wilson aka Tyson Kidd. Natalya asked Caruso if they could still chat, but time was up. WWE needs to stop giving wrestlers awkward dialogue. We don’t need a Temper Tantrum Nattie gimmick.

The IIconics attacked WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. Last week, Peyton Royce and Billie Kay teased major drama and a breakup. This week, they’re gearing up for a rematch, likely at WWE Backlash.

WWE Champion Drew McIntyre appeared as a guest on Montel Vontavious Porter’s MVP Lounge. Really good mic work from both men, who hyped the Drew McIntyre vs. Bobby Lashley title match at Backlash. Segment ended with McIntyre hitting MVP with a Claymore Kick much to Lashley’s dismay. Backstage, Lana tried to make peace with MVP only to get talked down to again.

Angel Garza scored a huge win over Kevin Owens. Garza’s win does have an *asterisk due to attacking KO’s knee before the match started.

Edge cut a fantastic backstage promo saying he doubted himself and Randy Orton took advantage of that with his Backlash challenge. Edge said since he retired in 2011, Orton had over a thousand matches. But Edge watch The Undertaker’s “Last Ride” documentary on WWE Network and was reminded of who he was and still can be.

Edge hung with the best of the best — The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, Owen Hart, British Bulldog — and he will beat Orton at Backlash. While it makes little sense to hype Edge vs. Orton as THE GREATEST MATCH EVER, I do have high hopes that this will be the match they should’ve had at WrestleMania 36. Edge is still one of the best talkers of the modern era.

WWE Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defeated Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar)… in golf. This was another comedy segment in this feud, this time parodying “The Match” on Sunday with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson.

Seth Rollins officially introduces Austin Theory as part of his Monday Night Messiah fellowship with Murphy, which lead to…

Buddy Murphy and Austin Theory defeated Aleister Black and Humberto Carrillo. Theory pinned Carrillo with the ATL. Remember when Carrillo would win matches? After the match, Rollins and friends beat up Carrillo and nearly gave him the same fate as Rey Mysterio. Speaking of Mysterio, he will be “announcing his retirement” next week on Raw 6/1. Something tells me that’s not likely to actually happen… Also for next week: Aleister Black vs. Seth Rollins.

Nia Jax defeated WWE NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and Natalya in a triple threat match to earn a Raw Women’s Title match with Asuka. Jax pinned Natalya in a good match that saw her get powerbombed through the announcers’ table and the ol’ Tower of Doom spot. Asuka vs. Nia Jax is official for Backlash. Asuka was hilarious on commentary and continues to be one of the most entertaining wrestlers on Planet Earth.

Liv Morgan cut a promo about doubting herself until getting to WWE and now she’s living the best life. I’m not really sure what her character is supposed to be, but I like that they’re at least trying with a fellow Elmwood Park, NJ native who has real potential.

WWE 24/7 Champion and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski dares R-Truth to challenge him for his title. Gronk might want to watch his back…

Main Event: The Street Profits – Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford defeat Bobby Lashley and MVP by disqualification. Match was fine. Finish was lame as Lashley was disqualified for interfering without a tag. You know, what we see in every tag match? That being said, no need for either team to lose clean right now. After the match, McIntyre ran in to brawl with Lashley. Both wrestlers were pulled apart by NXT talent and WWE Performance Center students as Raw went off the air!

Overall, a solid show with strong promo work, good wrestling, a happy moment for Apollo Crews during these rough times, and lots of hype for WWE Backlash!