5 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE Raw (20 May - Results & Review)

1. Lyra, Iyo Light Up The Ring

When booked and worked well, tournaments can be incredibly effective at elevating multiple wrestlers, even though only one person actually can win the event.

Case in point, Lyra Valkyria and Iyo Sky had a really, really solid Queen of the Ring semifinal Monday night that showcased both wrestlers’ ability and put over the newcomer as a serious threat while re-establishing Sky as one of the best in the division. The match got plenty of time to spread out and breathe, allowing both women to control decent portions of the match, trade strikes and submission holds, and counter each other’s killshots.

For Iyo, the tournament provided an opportunity to remind fans that she is dangerous in the ring, a former WWE Women’s Champion who beat all challengers for eight months before succumbing to Bayley at WrestleMania 40. Since losing the title though, Sky had done little of note other than get drafted to Raw with the rest of Damage CTRL.

Her three matches in the QOTR tournament were all highly entertaining and well-worked contests, reminding fans not to sleep on her. Losing in the semis also puts a chip on Iyo’s shoulder going forward.

For Lyra, the former NXT Women’s Champion came in with promise and the endorsement of Becky Lynch, but that alone isn’t enough to win over crowds. Turning in repeated good performances and making it to the finals of Queen of the Ring is a pretty clear sign to fans that it’s okay to invest in Valkyria – and let’s face it, having Becky’s approval doesn’t hurt.