7 Ups & 3 Downs from WWE Raw (26 May - Results & Review)
2. Triple Threat Goodness
WWE’s over-reliance on triple threats and four-way matches is reaching a point where an intervention will need to be staged to get them to stop.
However, it’s hard to criticize this burgeoning epidemic when WWE turns out matches like the Raw opener between Penta, Chad Gable, and Dragon Lee. The three men wrestled like they had a chip on their collective shoulders, tearing into each other and flying around the ring (and outside of it) at high velocity. Dragon Lee, in particular, was a madman, driving to the floor at a speed that rivaled Bron Breakker’s spear and doubling up on a Poison Rana on Penta and a Liger Bomb on Gable.
Penta had some standout moments, including a Gory Special/Tiger Driver ’98 combo that almost went horribly wrong. Despite taking that horrific-looking bump, Gable had another strong performance, showing off his power (lifting both men into a stalling German suplex) and then executing a perfect moonsault on Penta for a close two count.
Ultimately, Gable attacking El Hijo del Vikingo at ringside proved costly when Vikingo got involved and prevented Chad from picking up the win. Penta would get the duke after planting Gable with a Penta Driver, punching the luchador’s ticket to Money in the Bank and opening the door to some really fun ladder spots next month.