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

Bray Wyatt vs. Roman Reigns

Result: Roman Reigns defeated Bray Wyatt via disqualification

Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

As commentary pointed out, this is the renewal of a “great rivalry.” Considering the Shield/Wyatt Family rivalry, I’ll allow it, because the actual Reigns/Wyatt rivalry was mostly a hot mess.

Again, like last week, Reigns did a great job of presenting himself like a vulnerable superhuman. It’s weird to write that, but that’s how I see it. Reigns is selling the injuries better than he ever did in the past. Any move he does on offense, he makes sure to flex, wince, whatever to show he’s affected and working through pain.

Some may say that’s just “Super Reigns” like it’s always been, but I see it more like a real vulnerability. For the first time in his WWE career, he really needs to step up, and not just have things handed to him. And it makes him ticked off, which is why he’s so much more harsh on the mic right now. There’s no snarky, Jim Halpert wink-wink speeches from Roman – he’s all business for now. And it’s great.

Wyatt does some good work attacking the injuries, but I’m not sure I like his giggly mannerisms. He’s a creepy cultist, why is he tittering like that?

The Samoa Joe appearance was, sadly, expected, but at least he attacked Roman first to make sure Bray lost the match – again. Out comes Seth Rollins to even the odds, and anyone can see a tag team match in the near future.

Well, we don’t have to wait long, as Kurt Angle books it for the main event tonight. Elias Samson drifted in again, and Angle kept rolling in the matchmaking department by setting up Samson vs. Dean Ambrose tonight.