WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for May 22

Matt Hardy (w/ Jeff Hardy) vs. Sheamus (w/ Cesaro)

Result: Matt Hardy defeated Sheamus via pinfall

Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

I, for one, am shocked that this match wasn’t Matt vs. Cesaro. After Jeff took on Sheamus last week, standard tag team feud build rules require the opposite partners to have am match next. Way to throw us a curve, WWE!

But this match, unlike the other singles matches over the last two cycles, actually had stakes attached to it. Even though it was just choosing the stipulation at Extreme Rules, giving the match significance made it instantly better than the others.

https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/866836758754807809

Part of what made it better was more of a sense of urgency for both superstars. Matt went for the Twist of Fate early and often. Sheamus forewent the Ten Beats of the Bodhrain for a running knee to the back, just so he could send Matt into the barricade.

Regardless of the kind of chemistry Cesaro and Sheamus have developed lately, you can’t beat blood. Jeff’s sneaky dive off the apron onto a sneaking Cesaro shows how in tune with each other the Hardys are.

After Matt secured the victory, he elected to make the match at Extreme Rules a FINAL DELETION MATCH. Haha, I wish. It’s a steel cage match, because the Hardys have used up all their ladder match slots already. A cage match should be interesting, because if Jeff doesn’t do a Swanton from off the top of the cage I’ll eat my hat.