WWE Raw: Results, Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for May 21

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Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns

Result: Roman Reigns defeated Kevin Owens via disqualification

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

There’s a few great moments early on in this one that have largely been absent from Roman Reigns matches over his career. First, he was basically booked almost like an Undertaker-type character. He was seemingly impervious to pain, and anything Owens threw at him was brushed aside. And his raw power was on display early, too, with a running shoulder tackle that sent KO into a backflip to sell it.

Next, THEY FINALLY PLAYED UP THE CHEST PROTECTOR REIGNS WRESTLES IN. How many times did Owens punch Roman in the gut, or chop his chest, only to be brushed off? Even the look Reigns gave him screamed, “bruh, you for real?” I wish commentary would have focused on that (shockingly, only Coach seemed to allude to the chest protector when he said Owens had a “bad idea”), but at very least the reactions from the competitors sold the fact that Reigns is prepared.

And the match itself was pretty good, which isn’t a big surprise. Owens is on a major roll, and Reigns has been one of the best in-ring talents in WWE for a long time now (despite what some fans would have you believe). The drive-by counter into a superkick was ingenious, and the only bad thing about that was an immediate commercial break.

I don’t particularly care for DQ finishes, especially when a more definitive finish could have accomplished the same thing with the extracurriculars happening after the bell. But Jinder getting revenge here is warranted and a good call, because Reigns deserved some kind of payback for his actions last week.

And Seth Rollins running down to save his buddy and even the odds? OH, YES, BRING IT ON, BABY.