The May 8th episode of WWE Raw saw the company arrive in Jacksonville riding a Puerto Rican wave following the incredible success of Backlash two days earlier.
The show was the first night for the revised roster and featured a main roster debut for Zoey Stark.
However, aside from two Triple Threat Matches and the subsequent semi-final of the World Heavyweight Title match, nothing much was announced for the show in advance. Three matches on the show were set up by interactions backstage while the broadcast was in progress.
Speaking on Sportskeeda’s Legion of Raw, Vince Russo slammed WWE and Triple H for this approach to booking. WWE’s former Head Writer described having talents “bump into each other” to set up matches as a “joke.”
“Every match was made on this show. Literally there’s nothing booked for three hours. Thank God, we bump into each other in the back and we challenge each other. That’s a joke. When that is the extent of your creativity, that is a joke. When people want to tell me what a genius Triple H is, you had an entire show booked by people bumping into each other,”
Continuing on, Russo questioned whether this method produces good television.
“The Imperium walks in on Owens and Sami. Then you had Dominik and Xavier Woods. Then you had Nikki Cross. The entire show is booked by people bumping into each other backstage and making matches. You’re gonna tell me that’s good television?”
Seth Rollins Scores Big WWE Raw Win
One man who enjoyed a good night on Raw was Seth Rollins. The Visionary won his Triple Threat Match against Damian Priest and Shinsuke Nakamura before pinning Finn Balor in the main event. Rollins will now face the winner of the SmackDown half of the tournament at Night of Champions to decide the new World Heavyweight Champion.
H/t to Sportskeeda