WWE Raw – May 6, 2019 (Review)

Overall Rating for the Show (From best to worst: RawSome, Cor, AvRAWge, Poor and RawFul)

Vince McMahon referred to himself as “a genius” on multiple occasions last night. It was a strange choice of words for someone who seemed to have steered the ship into the rocks weeks ago, proceeded to set all of the lifeboats on fire and is now running through the passages smashing ornaments with a wrench.

The night started with Vince McMahon issuing a decree that the “Wild Card Rule” was in effect, allowing for three members from either roster to appear on the opposing brand on occasion. We then immediately saw no less than six SmackDown Live wrestlers jump across to Raw, with Vince desperately screaming into the ether that Shane McMahon and Elias “don’t count” against the quota for some reason.

.@AJStylesOrg has one question for @VinceMcMahon…

"WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'?" #RAW pic.twitter.com/3a2FKaz29V

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 7, 2019

This frustrating, incoherent mess was ostensibly a response to ailing ratings. But in typical McMahon fashion, instead of relying on patient, logical storytelling to generate fan interest, Raw decided to pull a slew of “shocking” twists. Once again, surprise was valued above quality. And the unforeseen was mistaken for compelling narrative. In Vince’s world, chaos is a ladder, and he’s shot straight to the top.

The casualties in this debacle were, as usual, the wrestlers. Countless of whom are decidedly less over today than they were a week ago. Robert Roode, The Usos, The Revival, Sami Zayn, Roman Reigns and Lucha House Party all suffered as the long-term vision fell by the wayside. While this may not have been the worst episode of Raw ever, it certainly was one of the most infuriating to watch.

On a night when WWE tried to pull out all the stops to encourage viewers to return to the product, they decided to serve up a steaming bowl of nonsensical, desperate, over-booked nonsense.

This week’s Raw is RawFul. If not worse.

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• RAW
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