By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,721)
Greensboro, North Carolina, at the Greensboro Coliseum
Streamed live May 18, 2026, on Netflix
[Hour One] Michael Cole opened the show on commentary and set up a recap of last week’s show-closing segment with Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu…
An SUV arrived in the back. Roman Reigns emerged from the vehicle. A crew member handed Reigns the World Heavyweight Championship belt. Raw General Manager Adam Pearce met Reigns, who said he was going to call out Jacob Fatu, but they were both surprised when they heard his entrance theme playing.
Jacob Fatu made his entrance, and there were loud “Fatu” chants from the crowd. Corey Graves checked in on color commentary. Fatu heard Reigns say he wanted to call him out. He told Reigns to come out so he could dogwalk his ass.
Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso made their entrance and joined Fatu inside the ring. Jey held a chair. Jimmy recalled Fatu talking about how he was willing to do anything to make life better for his wife and kids. Jimmy said part of that was acknowledging Reigns.
Jey wound up with the chair, but Fatu cut him off with a punch. Fatu worked over Jey until Jimmy intervened. Jey slammed the chair over the back of Fatu, who no-sold it. Fatu put Jey in the Tongan Death Grip and held the hold until he heard entrance music.
Roman Reigns made his entrance and was serenaded with “OTC” chants once he entered the ring. Reigns got the better of Fatu initially. Reigns went for a Superman Punch, but Fatu applied the Tongan Death Grip. Jey superkicked Fatu twice, but he didn’t release the hold. Jey speared Fatu, and then Jimmy hit Fatu with a top rope splash.
The Usos hit 1D on Fatu. The Usos tied Fatu’s arms in the ropes. Reigns hit Fatu with a Superman Punch, then had the Usos hit him with a double superkick. Reigns followed up with another Superman Punch and then had the Usos fire away with another double superkick. The Usos freed Fatu from the ropes and then whipped him toward Reigns, who speared him. There were loud “OTC” chants.
Adam Pearce walked out as Reigns and the Usos were nearing the stage. Reigns told Pearce he would do whatever he wanted with Fatu. Fatu got a mic and called for Tribal Combat. Pearce tried to tell Reigns now, but Reigns got pissed and accepted the match.
Cole assumed the match would be held at Clash in Italy. He noted that there had been only two Tribal Combat matches. Graves said anything goes and the loser must acknowledge the winner…
Cole narrated backstage/arrival shots of Seth Rollins, Oba Femi, and Judgment Day…
A video package spotlighted the history between Finn Balor and JD McDonagh, and then Balor made his entrance for the opening match before a commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: A strong opening segment that made Fatu look like a badass even when he got his ass kicked due to it being a three-on-one situation. Will Fatu find backup, or will he just win the Tribal Combat match and take control of the family?
A graphic noted that Je’Von Evans was born and raised in Greensboro…
1. Finn Balor vs. JD McDonagh in a Street Fight. McDonagh’s entrance was not televised. Balor was in offensive control when he pulled a table out from underneath the ring. McDonagh hit Balor with a suicide dive. McDonagh took ring announcer Alicia Taylor’s mic and hit Balor with it.
Balor and McDonagh fought into the crowd and were eventually at the back of the main floor. McDonagh slammed Balor into some production crates. McDonagh climbed to the top of the crates and performed a moonsault off onto Balor. [C]
McDonagh dominated the offense and set Balor on top of a table. McDonagh went to the ropes, but Balor cut him off and placed McDonagh on the table. Balor went up top for his finisher, but Dominik Mysterio came out and stopped him.
The heels got the better of Balor until Dom accidentally hit McDonagh with a 619. Balor put a trash can over McDonagh’s head and hit him with a shotgun dropkick and a Coup de Grace for the win.
Finn Balor defeated JD McDonagh in 14:15 in a Street Fight.
Powell’s POV: An enjoyable match in the moment, but I’m not a fan of how quickly Balor has run through McDonagh. I didn’t expect McDonagh to win clean, but Dom turning this into a handicap match seemed to be a good way to give McDonagh a win. Rather, Balor beat him clean what became a glorified handicap match.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Seth Rollins, who said he has no allies and is a marked man, but he has to put an end to The Vision. Balor said he hasn’t had a match on Raw in about nine months. Rollins said that should change tonight. Rollins said Adam Pearce gave him the main event. Rollins issued a challenge to any or all Vision members to face him. Rollins told Kelley that he would like to see Bron Breakker accept the challenge. Rollins questioned whether Breakker is a nepo baby who can’t hack it, an athlete who turns into a wad of wasted potential, or everything Breakker claims to be. Rollins told Breakker to show him in the main event…
Oba Femi was shown backstage while his open challenge was hyped… [C]
Backstage, Byron Saxton interviewed Sol Ruca, who said she’s stoked that she’s had a chance to face some of the best women in the business. Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch interrupted Ruca. Lynch said Ruca hasn’t faced the best. Lynch said Ruca is 0-2 and should go back to NXT.
Ruca said she had to go. Lynch started talking about how young people today give up so easily. Lynch acted surprised when she heard Ruca’s entrance theme. Ruca was shown making her entrance. Ruca got a mic and said there was no point in doing this backstage. Ruca told Lynch to come out and face her like The Man she claims to be.
Lynch made her entrance. Ruca said she’s good at proving people wrong. Ruca called for Lynch to face her on the spot. Lynch got the crowd worked up about seeing the match before saying, “Okay, no.” Lynch said she would love nothing more than to perform for the people of Greensboro because they could use some excitement in their lives.
Lynch said that if Ruca is ready, she would face her at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Lynch told Ruca to remember she’s not just a star maker, she’s a star breaker. Ruca said she saw what Lynch was trying to do, but she wasn’t falling for it. Ruca said she would snatch Lynch’s soul again, and this time she’ll snatch her title. Lynch jawed at Ruca and welcomed her to the big time before making her exit…
Cole set up the John Cena-hosted ad for Club WWE…
Powell’s POV: How long are they going to drag out this bit to gather email information and other data, er, the vetting process for this exclusive club? Anyway, I’m Lynch vs. Ruca is a nice addition to the SNME lineup.
Backstage, World Tag Team Champions Logan Paul and Austin Theory were talking about the Street Profits while Paul Heyman listened. Bron Breakker showed up and told Heyman to make the match with Seth Rollins. Heyman decided it would be Rollins vs. Theory instead. Breakker asked Logan and Theory if he could have the room.
Breakker asked Heyman what he was doing. Breakker said he can beat Rollins. Heyman said he knew that, but now he knows where Rollins will be, what time he will be there, and why his hands will be full. Heyman asked Breakker if he wanted to run this play. Breakker smiled and nodded in approval…
Original El Grande Americano made his entrance with Julio and Bruto… [C] The end of El Grande Americano, Bravo, and Rayo’s entrnace was shown coming out of the break…
2. El Grande Americano, Bravo, and Rayo vs. Original El Grande Americano, Bluto, and Julio in a tornado rules match. Cole explained that no tags were needed in this type of match.
[Hour Two] Ludwig Kaiswer wore his black and gold gear, while Chad Gable wore red, white, and blue. There were some dives from both teams that Gable capped off with a moonsault onto the other wrestlers on the floor. Gable superplexed Bravo and covered him for a near fall. [C]