Rowdy Recap: Week of June 24, 2019
With so much weekly content on WWE TV, it can be difficult to keep track of everything.
That’s where Rowdy Recaps come in, looking back at the week in WWE TV and narrowing down the highlights of the big three shows (and sometimes more). (205 Live and NXT UK will certainly get some more love and appreciation in the future, but baby steps.)
So: Let’s take a look back at the past week in WWE!
Monday Night RAW (June 24, 2019)
Quick & Dirty Results:
- The Usos (Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso) & The New Day (Xavier Woods & Big E) def. The Revival (Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson), Daniel Bryan & Rowan, in an Elimination Eight-Man Tag Team match
- R-Truth (c) def. Drake Maverick, for the WWE 24/7 Championship
- Roman Reigns vs. Shane McMahon & Drew McIntyre… went to a No Contest (?)
- Braun Strowman def. Bobby Lashley, in a Tug of War contest
- The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) def. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
- Mojo Rawley vs. Heath Slater… went to a No Contest (?)
- Heath Slater def. R-Truth (c), for the WWE 24/7 Championship
- R-Truth def. Heath Slater (c), for the WWE 24/7 Championship
- Cedric Alexander def. R-Truth (c), for the WWE 24/7 Championship
- EC3 def. Cedric Alexander (c), for the WWE 24/7 Championship
- R-Truth def EC3 (c), for the WWE 24/7 Championship
- Kofi Kingston def. Sami Zayn
- Kofi Kingston def. Kevin Owens
- Alexa Bliss def. Naomi
- Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross def. Natalya & Naomi
- AJ Styles def. Ricochet
The Highlights:
This CarMax commercial is the most important—most IIconic—moment of this past week’s RAW, and it’s not even close. Yes, there are The IIconics and then there’s everything else.
For example: The Undertaker is back. And he’s teaming with Roman Reigns to take on Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre at Extreme Rules. It’s basically like the Alien vs. Predator tagline of WWE, isn’t it? But seriously: Could you have imagined this match existing a year ago? Would you have imagined this match a year ago? Maybe with literally anyone else but Shane McMahon rounding it out, I suppose.
The Usos, The New Day, The Revival, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn. You just can’t go wrong with these four tag teams. It’s literally impossible at this point, even when it sometimes seems like otherwise. (It’s unfortunate that eliminating one member of the tag team eliminated the whole team, but still: You can’t go wrong with these four tag teams.)
While Good Brothers Gallows and Anderson can’t seem to buy a win, their trusty friend and leader AJ Styles can. And much like Seth Rollins vs. Daniel Bryan the week before, this is one of those matches you just have to let exist and allow the talent to go out there and have a great match. You’ve just got to get through things like a Tug of War contest to get to things like a main event match between AJ Styles and Ricochet. Also, this now means AJ Styles has pinned the United States Champion!
SmackDown! LIVE (June 25, 2019)
Quick & Dirty Results:
- The New Day (Xavier Woods & Big E) def. Daniel Bryan & Rowan
- Heavy Machinery (Tucker & Otis) & The New Day (Xavier Woods & Big E def. Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Daniel Bryan, & Rowan
- Elias def. The Miz, in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match
- Nikki Cross def. Bayley, for Alexa Bliss to get a rematch against Bayley at Extreme Rules
- Sonya Deville def. Ember Moon
- Kofi Kingston def. Dolph Ziggler, in a 2-out-of 3 Falls match
The Highlights:
Sorry, Heavy Machinery, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn, but if I’m going to have to choose one tag team match on this show as a highlight—and I am—I’m going to choose the straight-up two-on-two tag team match between The New Day and Daniel Bryan & Rowan. At least Kevin and Sami waited until after the match to come out and ruin everything; they usually don’t extend that type of courtesy. (Plus, at least the first tag team match doesn’t feature Sami Zayn losing once again.)
No offense to Ember Moon (seriously, I would never), but sometimes the power of friendship—or possibly something more—is the most powerful tool you can have. And Mandy Rose’s interference on Sonya Deville’s behalf proves that. But hey, Carmella has a problem with these two too, so maybe she and Ember Moon should join forces. R-Truth can take care of himself. I think. He really needs to stop hiding in boxes. Just one request: Maybe that match can last longer than two minutes. You know, Women’s Evolution and all.
Let it out, Drake “Hornswoggle” Maverick. Just let it out. Look at this little guy. His life is absolutely in shambles, all while R-Truth continues to shine (and dress to blend in with his 24/7 Championship). Yes, this is kind of a depressing highlight to end the SmackDown section on, but highlights come in all shapes, sizes, and forms.
NXT (June 26, 2019)
Quick & Dirty Results:
- Angel Garza def. Joaquin Wilde, in an NXT Breakout Tournament First-Round match
- Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) def. Forgotten Sons (Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler), via Disqualification
- Keith Lee def. Nykos Rikos
- Shayna Baszler (c) def. Io Shirai, in a Steel Cage match for the NXT Women’s Championship
The Highlights:
You can read about the main event of this episode of NXT—Shayna Baszler defending her NXT Championship against Io Shirai in a Steel Cage match—here.
The Bay Bay Championship Tour is in full swing. I don’t know why I’m surprised he’s doing this: Of course Adam Cole was going to do this as soon as he won the NXT Championship. But I don’t know how good of an idea it is for him to poke the Gargano family (restaurant) bear…
As I promised in the previous week’s Rowdy Recap, the NXT Breakout Tournament was essentially built to succeed. With its talent, there’s no way it would disappoint, and this week’s first first-round match-up—Joaquin Wilde vs. Angel Garza—is absolute proof. Really, the only disappointment is that either competitor had to lose, but he who removes the pants, laughs last. Or something. I didn’t really think this through; all I knew is that I wanted to mention Garza’s pants removal spot. You can’t fault me for that one.
You can watch last week’s RAW and SmackDown on Hulu and NXT on the WWE Network.