Raw Deal - Raw recap for May 20, 2024

Sami Zayn heads to the ring to start tonight's show. He says that King and Queen of the Ring is five days away and that he finds himself in a match with "Big" Bronson Reed and Chad Gable for the Intercontinental Championship, and he has two issues on his hand that he wants to deal with at the same time. Sami mentions the personal issue that is Chad Gable suplexing him out of his wife's arms in front of his father and how he has an ass kicking coming his way, and an issue with "Big" Bronson Reed wanting his title. He says that he is the soul while Gable is the mind and Bronson is the body, and he is betting on soul over mind and body in this match and would do so every single time, as soul is what got him to beating Gunther to become champion and what will keep him champion. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri, Akira Tozawa) shows up, and Chad Gable says that he coached Zayn - not manipulated him - into becoming champion, then says he has too nice to Sami and way too nice to the rest of Alpha Academy. He calls Maxxine Dupri, Akira Tozawa and Otis failures for not getting anything done last week, with Gable calling Otis "the biggest disappointment on the planet." Sami Zayn asks the rest of Alpha Academy how much longer they will deal with Gable's crap, and Gable accuses Sami of driving a wedge between them when they have rededicating themselves. He also says he is sick and tired of hearing Sami talk about his heart and soul, and while he does not have to pin him to win the Intercontinental Championship, he wants to, as he wants to take his soul. Sami says that is all well and good, but that is in five days, and last he checked, he and Gable are scheduled for one-on-one competition tonight and they are both dressed for competition, so they might as well do it right now.

Chad Gable beats Sami Zayn. During the match, Gable gives Maxxine Dupri and Akira Tozawa opportunties to attack Sami on the outside, but they cannot bring themselves to do it. Otis cannot bring himself to do it at the first opportuinity, and Gable slaps him and takes the Intercontinental Championship into the ring with him to use as a weapon. Sami hits Gable with the Exploder, but Otis clocks Sami in the corner before he can hit the Helluva Kick. Gable then hits Sami with Chaos Theory for the win. Before the mid-match commercial break, we see another QR code, and it is briefly addressed after the match.

We hear from Iyo Sky, who says that she has dominated against everyone since she has arrived and has become a world champion, but now she is ready for her crown. She says that once she is queen, everyone will have no choice but to bow down, especially Lyra Valkyria. She says Lyra is soaring now, but she has flown too close to the sun and that she will fall in her domain for she is "The Genius of the Sky" and soon to be Queen of the Ring.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri, Akira Tozawa). All of a sudden, a loud metallic clang is heard, and it is revealed that Cruz del Toro has been attacked.

Bron Breakker quickly beats Kale Dixon by referee stoppage after Breakker uses being passed over for the King of the Ring Tournament to psych himself up. After the match, Bron Breakker almost hits Dixon with the ring steps after hitting him with another Spear, but he puts the steps down. Dixon ends up leaning against the steps as he is down, and Breakker then takes a metal folding chair and smacks it on Dixon's head as he lays his head on the ring steps.

We see footage of Kale Dixon being taken out on a stretcher and into an ambulance. General Manager Adam Pearce then confronts Bron Breakker, who says that he cannot be controlled and that this is on him for not putting him in the King of the Ring Tournament.

Backstage, Lyra Valkyria is met by Becky Lynch. Becky gets Lyra motivated before her semifinal match.

Lyra Valkyria beats Iyo Sky to advance to the finals of the Queen of the Ring Tournament after Iyo tries to counter Nightwing with a Sunset Flip only for Lyra to win with a sit-down pin. After the match, Jackie Redmond tries to interview Lyra Valkyria, but Iyo Sky says something to Lyra and leaves. Lyra says that she did not imagine getting this far or beating Iyo Sky in a wrestling match, and that one must believe they can get the job done.

Backstage, R-Truth is seen talking with New Catch Republic when The Miz tells him that they are at a disadvantage tonight against The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and JD McDonagh). R-Truth says he has talked to Andre The Giant and that Andre has their back. Miz says that Andre passed away more than 30 years ago, then looks up and says that Andre is needed in spirit tonight. R-Truth asks Miz who he is talking to, then says "And people think that I'm crazy!"

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Ilja Dragunov, who thinks that there is no shame in losing to Jey Uso before bringing up Gunther. Ricochet shows up and says that it is not over because he got the best of him one time. Suddenly, Ricochet is Speared through a road crate by Bron Breakker.

Medical staff checks on Ricochet backstage.

In footage from earlier today, Gunther says that Jey Uso turned himself into the hottest thing going since he made fun of him, and that tonight, the arena will be full of people filling Jey full of hope and delusion. He says he is in the business of stealing that hope and dragging people back into reality, and that tonight will be all about who the better professional wrestler is when the bell rings. He says Jey may be the most exciting showman in this business today, but he is superior to him in the ring, and after the final bell, everyone will embrace him. He says that he is the general of the ring, and soon to be the king.

Backstage, Damian Priest checks on The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh), then says he has heard what Carlito did to Cruz del Toro earlier. When Carlito says he is laying low, Damian says The Judgment Day is not his personal protection, and tells him that he has to earn his keep. After Finn Balor tells Damian Priest that he can't help but think it should be the both of them tonight but understands that Damian is the champion now, Carlito then asks Damian if he saw the New York Knicks game, to which Damian replies "What is wrong with you?"

We see footage of Baron Corbin throwing the first ball of the PBA Playoffs and awarding playoffs championship David Krol an Undisputed WWE Championship belt.

Backstage, "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark are met by Sonya Deville, who has not been seen in months. Sonya wants to speak with them, but Shayna is not interested.

The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) retain the World Tag Team Championships against The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and JD McDonagh) after Braun Strowman throws Carlito, who has shown up earlier in the match to help The Judgment Day cheat to win, into the barricade before chasing McDonagh back into the ring and into an Attitude Adjustment. The Awesome Truth celebrate with Braun Strowman after the match.

Backstage, Becky Lynch congratulates Lyra Valkyria on making it to the finals of the Queen of the Ring Tournament, as does Liv Morgan, who then hits Lyra with a cheap shot.

Backstage, Sami Zayn is met by "Big" Bronson Reed, who tells him that he should not be concerned with Chad Gable and his mind games, as he is soulless and he makes his money through violence. He says he will use his body as a weapon and get his biggest payday yet. Bronson leaves, then Sami runs into Otis, and says he is better than what he did tonight and that he should be ashamed of himself. Otis apologizes, and Sami says he has been in his shoes before and tells him that the sooner he stops listening to Gable and starts listening to the fans, the better.

Becky Lynch heads to the ring. Becky says that she will be facing Liv Morgan in five days and that while they have wrestled before, Liv has never beaten her. She then says she is dealing with a different Liv who is picking fights and wanting revenge, then Liv shows up. Liv accuses Becky of gaslighting the fans and making her look like the bad guy, then says she does not care about the rest of the women's division, much less Becky, and only cares about getting her revenge against Rhea Ripley. Becky says Liv has finally found a purpose after ten years while she has had one since she was fifteen years old and has even written a book about it, and that she wants to leave WWE better than she found it. She then asks Liv what she will do after she gets her revenge, and Liv calls Becky "delusional" and says she is embarrassed for her as she only cares herself and not the fans or breaking barriers or glass ceilings. Liv also says the fans have their heads buried so far up Becky's ass that they cannot hear her, then thanks Becky for asking a question and not making it about herself and says that after she gets revenge, she will sit at the top of the women's division as champion. Becky says the fans know Liv is lying and that the fans cannot be tricked, and that they know that she always gives her best for them. She also says she is looking for a fight, and is Liv thinks she is worthy of being champion, then she can fight her right now. Liv teases getting in the ring with Becky, then says she will do the smart thing and wait until their title match to fight her and become the new Women's World Champion.

Backstage, Damian Priest is disappointed with the rest of The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) and Carlito, then tells JD McDonagh to ask for a match with Braun Strowman next week before saying he does not recognize the group anymore. Damian leaves, then Finn says the wheels have fallen off and that they need to get back on track.

Backstage, Xavier Woods finds out that he is cleared for competition. Kofi Kingston says they are ready for tag team competition, then goes out to look for Geneal Manager Adam Pearce when Karrion Kross and Scarlett show up to give them their support, saying there is always time to turn things around.

"The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark beat the team of Maxxine Dupri and Ivy Nile, Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai and Kairi Sane) and the team of Katana Chance and Kayden Carter in a Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match to become #1 contenders for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Ludwig Kaiser. Kaiser says Gunther has proven several times that he is superior in the ring, and hopes that Jey Uso takes the loss better than Sheamus did. He then says that Sheamus is nothing but "a keyboard warrior" and that he will either stay home to protect his legacy or come back to the ring so that he himself can put him down. Kaiser leaves, then Drew McIntyre shows up and says that he will give the fans Drew McIntyre, then says that Damian Priest is spreading himself thin and tells him to focus on the World Championship before he eventually beats him for it.

Backstage, Chad Gable chats with The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) when Otis shows up. The Creed Brothers leave, and Otis says he has apologized to Sami Zayn. Gable sees this as Otis playing mind games with Sami, then tells him he has everything ready for him for King and Queen of the Ring so that they can win "his" Intercontinental Championship together.

Backstage, "Main Event" Jey Uso says tonight is the night and that there is no tomorrow, as this is the semifinals of the King of the Ring Tournament. He says he almost had Gunther last time, and tonight, he will finish the job.

Gunther beats "Main Event" Jey Uso with a sleeper hold to advance to the finals of the King of the Ring Tournament after Jey nearly takes out referee Chad Patton after knocking Gunther into him with a Spear.

This week on Raw Talk: Lyra Valkyria! Braun Strowman! Ilja Dragunov!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!