WWE Monday Night RAW: Live coverage and results - 26th May, 2014

Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio

The smash mouth style wrestling saw Sheamus and Del Rio going head to head to kick off the match. Sheamus dominated the bout in the early going, and drilled Del Rio with clubby blows. Del Rio found an opening and drilled Sheamus’ head, knocking him down to the floor as WWE went into commercial.

Back from commercial and ADR managed to turn things around, and drilled Sheamus once again in the head for a nearfall. Sheamus caught ADR with the Irish curse backbreaker for a nearfall! ADR drilled Sheamus on the back of the head, but Sheamus caught him with the White Noise. Sheamus dropped ADR with a backbreaker and went for the Brogue kick, but ADR once again connected with a boot to the head, and then with a shining wizard for a nearfall! ADR went for the armbar, but Sheamus countered it into the Brogue kick to pick up the victory.

Winner: Sheamus

Rating: ** ½

Post – match, Heyman distracted Sheamus as Cesaro attacked him. Cesaro connected with a big boot, and continued attacking Sheamus as the officials tried to separate the two. Cesaro finished him off with the Neutralizer.

Analysis: That was a decent match, and Cesaro gained the upper hand before this Sunday, and it is being shown that Sheamus might not be 100% going into WWE Payback.

Contract signing for Evolution vs. The Shield

Shield made its way out for the contract signing. They cleared out the ring with the contract, and Evolution made its way out. Triple H talked and warned The Shield, and asked if they really wanted to sign the contract. The trio then signed the paper and threw it out of the ring. Evolution too signed the contract, and teased a fight.

The contract signing #THESHIELD #EVOLUTION #PAYBACK pic.twitter.com/RehirxXU4d

— Brooklyn Brawler (@brawlerreal) May 27, 2014

Finally all men went at it, as The Shield cleared the ring. Rollins took Orton and Triple H out with a top rope plancha. But Batista decked Dean, and Reigns took Batista out with the Superman punch. Triple H then brought the sledge hammer and decked Reigns with it, while Orton took Rollins out with an RKO and Batista speared Ambrose.

Evolution then sent Reigns crashing through the announcer’s table, as Evolution ended RAW standing over Reigns.

Analysis: That was the best way to sign off RAW, heading into a PPV. With Evolution standing tall, one has to believe that The Shield will pick up the victory at Payback. Also, with Batista leaving WWE after the PPV to promote his movies, The Shield will likely take him out come Sunday.

Over-all rating of the show: ** ¾ (Out of 5 stars)

The show fell flat at various points, and WWE’s booking makes very little sense. Why did they debut Rose when it didn’t even matter? Also, Bo Dallas’ debut could’ve been booked better. Anyway, that does it for this week’s live review of RAW, as our next stop is WWE Payback this Sunday, at the All State Arena in Chicago!