WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from May 9

Monday's WWE Raw aimed to be different but fell into familiar traps.

Colin Cassady reserved some surprising spotlight and an unexpected position on the card. The Intercontinental Championship stood on center stage for much of the night. WWE ended the program highlighting Dean Ambrose and Chris Jericho's issues.

And in a moment that may signal the newest NXT call-up, Dana Brooke made an appearance when she attacked Becky Lynch during an interview.

But it seems that the curse of the distraction finish has carried over to the new era. WWE went with that same lazy climax more than once on Monday.

It also failed to portray Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson as beasts and relied too much on sight gags.

That all led to a mixed night as Extreme Rules draws near. Animosity among midcarders was hit-or-miss. There were no classic matches, but there weren't a ton of clunkers, either.

Read on for full results, grades and breakdowns of the action Monday's Raw had to offer.

Chris Jericho Meets Colin Cassady

Chris Jericho bragged about attacking Dean Ambrose, showing off the broken pieces of Mitch, the potted plant. He dismissed Ambrose as uncharismatic.

Colin Cassady interrupted Y2J, staring down the heel. Big Cass said that he has arrived and Jericho was in his way. The two bickered until Jericho sauntered out of the ring.

The big man did manage to land a big boot to Jericho's face.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Jericho: "Vertigo. I gave him whiplash. He suffered a bulging disk in his back because of me."
• Jericho: "I could take these pieces of clay, glue them together, take them to the local flea market and sell them for 12 bucks, and they would be worth more money than Dean Ambrose is to the WWE."
• Crowd chants, "How you doin'?"
• Cassady: "It's not a cry for attention. It's a warning."

Grade

B

Analysis

This feud continues to be so oddly focused on Ambrose's potted plant. Jericho tried to use that object as a jumping-off point, but it didn't work. That rivalry needs a change in direction in a hurry.

It wasn't until Cassady arrived that things got interesting.

That created a fresh combination of personalities and a chance for Cassady to create a memorable moment. It's going to be elevating guys like Big Cass that makes it really feel like a new era is on the way.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin pushed around Dolph Ziggler early on. He battered The Showoff outside the ring and later dominated him on the mat.

Ziggler fired back with the Famouser and used a schoolboy pin to score a pair of near-falls. Corbin, though, steamrolled over his foe, capping off the clash with End of Days.

Result

Corbin wins via pinfall. 

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Corbin: "I am not part of a new era. This is the Baron Corbin era."
• Ziggler drop-kicks Corbin off the barricade.

Grade

C-

Analysis

Corbin's aggression and intensity are compelling. He plays the heel role well.

Getting The Lone Wolf a dominant win here was a good move, but this feud has little spark. Corbin's loss at Payback is a part of that. This victory felt more like a result of 50-50 booking than an advancement of the story.

There needs to be a lasting, violent image at some point to add intrigue here.

Fandango vs. R-Truth

Goldust stood in Fandango's corner. Tyler Breeze accompanied R-Truth.

Fandango controlled much of the action. A distraction from Goldust opened the door for R-Truth to hit Fandango with the What's Up. In the process, R-Truth accidentally knocked Breeze off the ring apron.

Result

R-Truth wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

Fandango pushes R-Truth off the top turnbuckle and out onto the floor.

Grade

D-

Analysis

This story has gone off the rails. The chemistry between Goldust and R-Truth in their first backstage segments was excellent. The narrative has now devolved into a series of dance-offs and hurried matches like this one.

R-Truth bumping into Breeze seemed to be a tease for some friction between them, but Prince Pretty didn't seem too bothered by it.

This is comic relief that isn't funny—a midcard filler that isn't satisfying.

Charlotte vs. Paige

Backstage, Charlotte asked Shane McMahon to reverse his sister's decision to ban Ric Flair from ringside at Extreme Rules. Instead, Shane also banned Flair for Monday night's matchup.

Natalya sat in on commentary, watching Paige chase Charlotte around the ring. The champion took over, dishing out methodical offense.

Paige fought back and seemed to be near victory when Flair came out to the ring. Shane-O-Mac ordered referees to escort him out.

All that distracted Charlotte, allowing Paige to roll her up for a three-count.

Result

Paige wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Natalya: "She will not be able to lie. She will not be able to hide."
• Charlotte mocks Paige's "This is my house" taunt.
• Charlotte takes Paige off her feet with a chop.
• Paige hits a superplex.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Paige and Charlotte made it clear that WWE needs to put them in the ring together more often. This clash was one of Raw's best, a good combination of brawling and storytelling.

Given a few more minutes, the two women would have crafted an even better showing.

Charlotte's loss creates doubt about whether she can retain her title without Flair's help. That's a smart way to make Natalya look like she has a strong shot of winning despite losing to Charlotte so often.

The Miz vs. Sami Zayn

Stephanie and Shane McMahon decided to book a Triple Threat match for the Intercontinental Championship at Extreme Rules. Sami Zayn said he deserved a chance to earn his way into that bout. The McMahons then agreed to make it a Fatal 4-Way match with Zayn if he was able to defeat The Miz.

Zayn had The Miz reeling with arm drags and his usual high-energy offense. Zayn then flung the champ into the security barricade outside.

When the babyface crashed into the ring steps, The Miz pounced on him. Miz tortured Zayn with the Figure-Four Leglock and then battered his leg afterward.

A pained Zayn responded with a flurry that ended with a Helluva Kick.

Result

Zayn wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Zayn hits a moonsault off the barricade.
• Zayn falls face-first onto the ring steps.

Grade

B+

Analysis

The Miz's heel excellence was on display here—from him trying to use the ropes during a pin attempt to zeroing in on Zayn's injured body parts. He and Zayn both added to their collection of strong matches in 2016.

Clear stakes made this match feel significant. And this was a nice way to add some drama to Zayn's inclusion, something many assumed was happening anyway.

Since his return from surgery, Zayn has seemed a step slower. He's not quite as explosive. It hasn't really mattered, though, as he's been a fun addition since his arrival.

Rusev vs. Sin Cara

Rusev briefly dominated Sin Cara while Kalisto looked on from ringside. The high-flyer then dizzied Rusev with his offense.

A distraction from Kalisto led to Sin Cara rolling up Rusev for a three-count.

Result

Sin Cara wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

Rusev while staring at Kalisto: "I'm coming for you."

Grade

F

Analysis

Just when WWE had Rusev looking like a monster again, looking ready to challenge for the United States Championship, it went with the tired distraction finish to hurt his momentum.

Had he attacked and injured Sin Cara after the bell, the result wouldn't have mattered as much. The same goes for if Rusev had been allowed to manhandle Sin Cara for far longer. Instead, Rusev was made to look more bumbling than fearsome in a hurried, hollow bout.

The Usos and Roman Reigns vs. Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows and AJ Styles

Backstage, AJ Styles said he shouldn't have hesitated to attack Roman Reigns last week. He promised not to do so in the future.

They then each led three-man teams in an elimination match.

Reigns' and The Usos' great teamwork gave them the early advantage over Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson and Styles. A cheap shot from Gallows, though, helped the heels oust Jey Uso early.

A roll-up saw Jimmy Uso eliminate Anderson. Styles used the Phenomenal Forearm to get rid of Jimmy. Reigns eliminated Gallows soon after.

Styles and Reigns were left to brawl—but only for a few moments. Gallows and Anderson, with chairs in hand, attacked Reigns. A full fight between all six men broke out. Reigns Speared both Gallows and Anderson before Styles knocked him down with a kick.

Champ and No. 1 contender teased going after each other further before Styles retreated.

Result

Reigns and The Usos win via disqualification.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Gallows, Anderson and Styles do the trademark "Too sweet" gesture.
• Reigns throws Styles over the announcers' table.
• Styles attempts a Styles Clash onto a steel chair.
• Styles: "The Club is coming."

Grade

B

Analysis

At least for now, WWE is referring to Gallows, Anderson and Styles as "The Club." That's unimaginative to say the least.

This was an intense, chaotic match that helped hype Styles vs. Reigns. The staredown at the end was the biggest highlight, with electricity crackling at that moment.

WWE hurt the impact of the bout, though, by having an elimination happen during the commercial break. What a way to make the match feel less important. And Gallows and Anderson are coming off too much like cronies rather than a formidable duo.

The company hasn't booked them to be nearly dominant enough.

Zack Ryder vs. Kevin Owens

Shane McMahon told Zack Ryder that he could be a part of the Intercontinental Championship Fatal 4-Way if he could beat Kevin Owens.

Owens pummeled Ryder once the bout began. Long Island Iced-Z rallied back, scoring a near-fall before his momentum faded.

A Pop-Up Powerbomb gave Owens the victory.

Result

Owens wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

Owens mocks Ryder's "Woo, woo, woo!" catchphrase.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Although fans knew that Owens would win here, it was a good move to have him fight to keep his spot. It gave Ryder something to fight for, showcased Owens' dominance and added meaning to this matchup.

This was no thriller, but it was a solid addition to Raw that helped keep the focus on the IC title heading into Extreme Rules.

The New Day vs. The Dudley Boyz

Ian Gavan/Getty Images

Xavier Woods, Big E and Kofi Kingston talked trash about The Vaudevillains before getting to work in the ring.

Bubba Ray Dudley danced as he attacked Kingston. D-Von Dudley pounded on the high-flyer, too. Big E's power shifted momentum back to The New Day.

The Vaudevillains attacked the champs. That provided D-Von enough distraction to score a pinfall. Aiden English and Simon Gotch laid out Kingston after the bell.

Result

The Dudley Boyz win via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Woods: "In this extreme match, we will use the extreme power of the extreme Booty-O."
• Woods sings "A Whole New World" to an oversized Booty-O cereal box.

Grade

C+

Analysis

The New Day is so charismatic and fun that it makes some of the dumbest material entertaining. Big E sticking out his butt and fanning it during the bout took away from the action here, however. The champs found the best balance of comedy and intensity when they clashed with Chris Jericho and AJ Styles earlier this year.

The Vaudevillains will have a chance to play that role. For now, it's hard to buy them as legitimate threats, though.

Colin Cassady vs. Chris Jericho

Credit: WWE.com

Dean Ambrose made sure Colin Cassady vs. Chris Jericho didn't get started.

Colin Cassady dedicated this match to Enzo Amore and flirted with Renee Young a bit in his pre-bout interview.

Dean Ambrose attacked Chris Jericho during his entrance, stealing his jacket and flaunting it in the ring. The Lunatic Fringe then shredded the jacket. Jericho ran into the ring only to suffer right hands from Ambrose.

Cassady attacked Jericho and threw him into Ambrose's reach. After flooring Jericho, Ambrose cut his jacket to bits. 

Result

The match never begins.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Jericho slaps Cassady, telling him, "Get out of my way!"
• Cassady to Jericho: "Are you out of your mind?"

Grade

C

Analysis

Ambrose's attack and jacket destruction fit his character perfectly. It was a creative way to insert him back into the story, but this was by no means a main event segment.

Not only did WWE tease fans with a Cassady matchup that looked like a career-maker for the big man, it ended Raw with a comedy bit of sorts.

Jericho and Ambrose's feud began focused on a potted plant and has now moved on to a jacket. None of that is working to make this rivalry take off.