{"id":96927,"date":"2020-05-04T14:38:44","date_gmt":"2020-05-04T19:38:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=96927"},"modified":"2020-05-04T14:55:38","modified_gmt":"2020-05-04T19:55:38","slug":"wwe-raw-primer-5-4-viking-raiders-go-for-the-smoke-drew-takes-on-rollins-disciple-gauntlet-match-to-determine-vacated-money-in-the-bank-ladder-match-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/05\/04\/wwe-raw-primer-5-4-viking-raiders-go-for-the-smoke-drew-takes-on-rollins-disciple-gauntlet-match-to-determine-vacated-money-in-the-bank-ladder-match-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE RAW PRIMER 5\/4: Viking Raiders Go for the Smoke, Drew Takes on Rollins\u2019 Disciple, Gauntlet Match to Determine Vacated Money in the Bank Ladder Match Spot"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-2018898232\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><h3>WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW PRIMER<br \/>\nORLANDO, FL. AT THE PERFORMANCE CENTER<br \/>\nMAY 4, 2020<br \/>\nAIRS ON USA NETWORK, 8:00 p.m. EDT<br \/>\nBY FRANK PETEANI (@FrankPeteani), PWTORCH SPECIALIST<\/h3>\n<p><em>Announcers: Tom Phillips, Jerry \u201cThe King\u201d Lawler, Byron Saxton<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Top 10 Moments from Last Week\u2019s Show<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Top 10 Raw moments: WWE Top 10, April 27, 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vs51QenTeZI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Items Advertised by WWE<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Street Profits and Viking Raiders clash<\/li>\n<li>Drew McIntyre set to battle Murphy ahead of WWE Money in the Bank<\/li>\n<li>Last Chance Gauntlet Match to determine Crews\u2019 replacement at WWE Money in the Bank<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Non-Title Match: Raw Tag Team Champions the Street Profits vs. Viking Raiders<\/h3>\n<p>It is my assumption this is a non-title match. Neither the Street Profits, Viking Raiders, nor WWE themselves indicated that the Raw Tag Team Championship is on the line.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, the Viking Raiders (Erik &amp; Ivar) pointed out that the current Raw Tag Team Champions the Street Profits (Montez Ford &amp; Angelo Dawkins) have followed in their footsteps. They won the NXT Tag Team Championship after the Raiders surrendered in last year, and the Raw titles after they lost them (to Seth Rollins &amp; Murphy earlier in the year). They said the Profits were second best and dared them to prove them wrong because they \u201cwant the smoke,\u201d mocking their signature catchphrase.<\/p>\n<p>Later in the show, the Profits came on and were more than willing to oblige. They made fun of the Raiders chewing on a turkey leg and doing carpool karaoke. They said if they want the smoke, that\u2019s what they\u2019ll get. These two teams go at it tonight.<\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: It was refreshing to see the Profits serious, and a complete reversal from their annoying schtick on commentary the week before. I\u2019m still down on how they\u2019re presenting the Raiders. If it\u2019s me making the call I\u2019d have them lose the costumes, the red light, and the gravelly talk and just be the bad asses they can be.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Non-Title Match: WWE Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Murphy<\/h3>\n<p>Last week, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins signed the contract for their upcoming championship match at Money in the Bank. It will technically be McIntyre\u2019s second title defense as he successfully retained over the Big Show at WrestleMania after he defeated Brock Lesnar for the title.<\/p>\n<p>Rollins once again emphasized that he must win the title since Drew is not a leader. He said he will be a great champion one day, but it\u2019s not his burden to carry. He talked about \u201csuffering\u201d for the title and not wanting to see what happened to him (fans turning on him for acting like a scared little girl in a horror movie with Bray Wyatt) happen to Drew. Drew responded with the line of 2020, saying \u201cSeth, you are completely full of sh*t.\u201d After standing up and a little more dialogue, Drew slammed Rollins\u2019 head onto the table. As he was about to deliver his Claymore Kick, Murphy showed up and attacked Drew. He and Rollins embraced, but Drew still gave him the Claymore. Tonight, Murphy takes on Drew in a non-title match.<\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: Drew continues to be the highlight of Raw, and Rollins did a great job in his role too. It\u2019s villain 101 when you think your actions are for the betterment of all, and that\u2019s what Rollins thinks as he feels he must win the title. Drew shows week in and week out what being a champion means to him, something we haven\u2019t seen in quite some time from a babyface champ and that includes Roman Reigns. Rollins did well last year after beating Lesnar, but he fell off the tracks for numerous reasons. Don\u2019t sleep on Murphy potentially turning babyface, since Rollins got out of the way and allowed him to take the Claymore.<\/em><\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1980475541\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h3>Last Chance Gauntlet Match to Determine Final Money in the Bank Ladder Match Spot<\/h3>\n<p>Until last week, Apollo Crews had qualified for the Money in the Bank ladder match as a result of defeating MVP two weeks ago. He was a guest of the MVP Lounge last week along with fellow participants Aleister Black and Rey Mysterio. Zelina Vega interrupted along with U.S. Champion Andrade, Austin Theory, and Angel Garza. This led to a six-man tag which was won by Black, Crews, and Mysterio. Crews pinned Andrade to score the win.<\/p>\n<p>As Zelina and Andrade were yelling at each other backstage, Crews got involved. He said he could be Andrade twice in one night, and thus challenged him to a U.S. Championship match later in the evening. At the onset of the match, Crews \u201ctweaked\u201d his knee attempting a flip on Andrade. At around the 17-minute mark, when Crews was visibly showing pain in his knee, the referee stopped the match and thus Andrade retained the title.<\/p>\n<p>Later in the week, WWE announced Crews would be unable to participate in the Money in the Bank ladder match, and thus a replacement would be determined via a last chance gauntlet match. As of this article, they haven\u2019t announced the participants.<\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: My guess would be Jinder Mahal, Austin Theory, Angel Garza, Akira Tozawa, and maybe a returning A.J. Styles could be involved in the gauntlet match? Given we\u2019ve had Raw episodes that were taped and live, it\u2019s hard to say if this was the plan all along, or WWE changed their mind on Apollo given how many other babyfaces are in the match (Black, Mysterio, Daniel Bryan, and now Otis). Either way, Apollo being pulled from the match may be a bigger story for him and put more gravitas on his feud with Andrade, although it\u2019s hard to gauge that without a crowd present.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Other Match Results and News Items from Last Week<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Throughout the episode, they showed Triple H\u2019s top 10 moments in his career to celebrate his 25th anniversary.<\/li>\n<li>Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, and Asuka wrestled to a no-contest as a result of a pre-match attacked on Asuka by Baszler. Nia Jax yelled at Charly Caruso later. (I know Wade Keller rolled his eyes at the completely unnecessary and ineffective yelling.)<\/li>\n<li>Bobby Lashley defeated Denzel Dejournette.<\/li>\n<li>Liv Morgan defeated Ruby Riott for the second straight week. After the match she said she is still trying to figure out who she is. Ok then.<\/li>\n<li>Jinder Mahal returned to Raw and defeated Akira Tozawa. Here\u2019s Jinder in a WWE exclusive:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Never forget Jinder Mahal\u2019s name: Raw Exclusive, April 27, 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A_mzpw9aQ2s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ricochet &amp; Cedric Alexander defeated Ever Rise (Matt Martel &amp; Chase Parker). After the match, MVP appeared on screen and \u201cre-introduced\u201d Shane Thorne and Brandon Vink. On behalf of Thorne and Vink, he challenged Ricochet &amp; Alexander to a match next week (tonight). Ricochet &amp; Alexander accepted. Here\u2019s Ricochet and Cedric in a WWE exclusive:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ricochet &amp; Alexander on being \u201clucky\u201d: Raw Exclusive, April 27, 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IWQOSyHRbKI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n<p>As I mentioned Friday, I was a guest of Greg Parks on Wrestling Night in America last night giving a full preview of Money in the Bank. It was a lot of fun talking the show, talking with callers, and taking e-mails. Hopefully, WWE has something good in mind for the gauntlet match. I\u2019m intrigued by the story with Drew, Rollins, and Murphy. It\u2019s enough to make me want to watch the show.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=26671464&#038;theme=light&#038;playlist=false&#038;playlist-continuous=false&#038;autoplay=false&#038;live-autoplay=false&#038;chapters-image=true&#038;episode_image_position=right&#038;hide-logo=false&#038;hide-likes=false&#038;hide-comments=false&#038;hide-sharing=false&#038;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>Follow Frank on Twitter @FrankPeteani. Questions and discussion are welcome! Thank you for reading.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>CATCH UP&#8230;\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/04\/27\/heydorns-wwe-raw-report-4-27-alt-perspective-coverage-of-the-live-show-in-a-crowd-free-environment-including-the-rollins-and-mcintyre-championship-match-contract-signing-asuka-vs-baszler-vs-jax\/\">HEYDORN\u2019S WWE RAW REPORT 4\/27: Alt Perspective coverage of the live show in a crowd free environment including the Rollins and McIntyre championship match contract signing, Asuka vs. Baszler vs. Jax, and more<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-1204073629\"><div id=\"pwtor-3575946339\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW PRIMER ORLANDO, FL. AT THE PERFORMANCE CENTER MAY 4, 2020 AIRS ON USA NETWORK, 8:00 p.m. EDT BY FRANK PETEANI (@FrankPeteani), PWTORCH SPECIALIST Announcers: Tom Phillips, Jerry \u201cThe King\u201d Lawler, Byron <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/05\/04\/wwe-raw-primer-5-4-viking-raiders-go-for-the-smoke-drew-takes-on-rollins-disciple-gauntlet-match-to-determine-vacated-money-in-the-bank-ladder-match-spot\/\" title=\"WWE RAW PRIMER 5\/4: Viking Raiders Go for the Smoke, Drew Takes on Rollins\u2019 Disciple, Gauntlet Match to Determine Vacated Money in the Bank Ladder Match Spot\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":69367,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,52,4354,27,5893,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-96927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prowrestlingnews","category-opnionandanalysis","category-raw-primer","category-specialists","category-tvprimers","category-news_wwe"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2018\/11\/WarRaiders_CharltonMatt_3x2_600.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96927"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":96935,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96927\/revisions\/96935"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}