WWE RAW Notes: Jacob Fatu vs. Roman Reigns in Tribal Combat for WWE World Title Set for Clash In Italy, Sol Ruca vs. Becky Lynch and WWE Women’s Tag Titles Matches Set for 5/23 WWE SNME, LA Knight Appears, Brock Lesnar Surprise Return & Sets Challenge to Oba Femi for Clash In Italy

WWE
May 18, 2026

Jacob Fatu vs. Roman Reigns in WWE World Title Tribal Combat Match Set for Clash In Italy

Monday’s WWE RAW show at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina featured one new match announced for the card of Clash in Italy, which takes place on May 31st at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy.

This new match announced was a WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tribal Combat match of Jacob Fatu vs. Roman Reigns (c).

This new match was setup over recent weeks shows over Fatu and Reigns’ bad blood issues with each other that included The Usos getting involved on Reigns’ side. During tonight’s show, an upset Reigns came out of a black SUV in the parking garage and was approached by RAW GM Adam Pearce who told him that last week’s attack by Fatu on him wouldn’t have happened had he just listened to him and done things his way. Pearce told Reigns that he wanted to fire Fatu for his actions of late towards Reigns and others. This led to Fatu’s music playing and he came out to the ring to call out Reigns.

After some words by Fatu, The Usos music played to interrupt and Jimmy & Jey Uso came out to the ring with Jey holding a chair in his hand. After some words by Jimmy trying to defuse the situation, a brawl broke out between Fatu and The Usos that led to Fatu laying both of them out with the Tongan Death Grip.

This then led to Reigns’ music playing to interrupt and made his way to the ring to brawl with Fatu. This brawl ended with Reigns and The Usos laying out Fatu before leaving the ring. As Pearce came out to make an announcement, Reigns told him that he can now fire Fatu. Before Pearce could speak, Fatu grabbed a microphone and issued a challenge to Reigns for a Tribal Combat match, which Reigns accepted.

In a follow-up segment, it was announced that this match was made official for Clash in Italy.

Current card for WWE Clash In Italy:

  • WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tribal Combat match – Jacob Fatu vs. Roman Reigns (c)
  • Undisputed WWE Championship – Gunther vs. Cody Rhodes (c)

Sol Ruca vs. Becky Lynch Set for May 23rd WWE SNME Show

Monday’s WWE RAW show also featured the first of two new matches announced for the card of WWE’s next Saturday Night’s Main Event show on May 23rd in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

This new match announced was a singles match of Sol Ruca vs. Becky Lynch.

This new match was setup over recent weeks shows over Ruca’s bad blood issues with Lynch. During tonight’s show, Lynch interrupted a backstage interview Byron Saxton was holding with Ruca. Lynch proceeded to bad mouth Ruca and told her that she should just leave and go back to NXT for someone who is winless in the main roster. Ruca agreed and left.

Ruca’s music then played as Lynch gave a puzzled look to Saxton over what was happening. Ruca came out to the ring and called out Lynch, which led to Lynch coming out in response. This led to some banter between that ended with Lynch issuing a challenge to Ruca for a match at Saturday Night’s Main Event and Ruca accepting saying she will take the title off of Lynch. Lynch responded back stating that she never agreed to the idea of her title being on the line for it.

Later in the show, it was announced that this match was made official for Saturday Night’s Main Event show.

LA Knight Makes Surprise Return

Monday’s WWE RAW show also featured LA Knight making a surprise return appearance.

During the show, The Usos’ Jimmy & Jey Uso were seen backstage being interviewed by Cathy Kelly for some words about the upcoming Tribal Combat match between Jacob Fatu and Roman Reigns. This led to Knight showing up to interrupt and brought up how he fought with The Usos to deal with The Vision and questioned how is what The Usos and Reigns are doing being any different than what The Vision does. This led to The Usos getting upset at Knight and left.

This was Knight’s first appearance since this past April’s WrestleMania 42 Night 1 event.

Prior to the show, Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that the reason for Knight’s recent abscense was not due to any injury, contract, or recent roster cuts-related issues. Instead, it was reported that WWE officials’ had simply changed their post-WrestleMania 42 creative plans for Knight.

Brock Lesnar Makes Surprise Return & Rematch with Oba Femi Setup for Clash In Italy

Monday’s WWE RAW show also featured Brock Lesnar making his surprise return.

During the show, Oba Femi came out to the ring for his latest Open Challenge match. As Femi was doing his spotlight taunt in the ring, a mystery person ran out and attacked Femi. This mystery person hoisted up Femi on his shoulder and hit a F-5 as the lights came back on revealing himself to be Lesnar. Lesnar proceeded to hit three more F-5s to Femi laying him out in the ring before leaving.

In a follow-up segment, an angry Adam Pearce was seen backstage demanding answers for why Lesnar is back after stating he was retired. This led to Pearce going into his office and seeing Paul Heyman waiting for him. Pearce told Heyman that he had filed retirement paperwork and everything for Lesnar. Heyman responded back told him that Lesnar is retired and he has a contract signed by “Brock Legman” for a rematch with Femi for Clash in Italy.

This was Lesnar’s first appearance since this past April’s WrestleMania 42 Night 2 event which featured Lesnar teasing his retirement from his in-ring wrestling career after his loss to Femi.

The Irrestible Forces vs. Scream Mode for WWE Women’s Tag Titles Set for May 23rd WWE SNME Show

Monday’s WWE RAW show also featured the second of two new matches announced for the card of WWE’s next Saturday Night’s Main Event show on May 23rd at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

This new match announced was a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match of The Irresistible Forces (Lash Legend & Nia Jax) vs. Scream Mode (Paige & Brie Bella) (c).

Current card for May 23rd WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event show:

  • WWE Intercontinental Championship – “All Ego” Ethan Page vs. Penta (c)
  • WWE World Tag Team Championship – Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. The Vision (Austin Theory & Logan Paul) (c)
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – The Irresistible Forces (Lash Legend & Nia Jax) vs. Scream Mode (Paige & Brie Bella) (c)
  • Six-Woman Tag Team match – Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, & Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill, Michin, & B-Fab
  • Sol Ruca vs. Becky Lynch
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