WWE Raw Results
August 14, 2023
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (Canada Life Centre)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Wade Barrett
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
We go live into the Canada Life Centre to see a raucous crowd. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes will battle Finn Bálor of The Judgment Day tonight. We’ll also see Becky Lynch battle WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus, with Zoey Stark banned from ringside. Finally, Michael Cole will have a candid interview with Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura will explain why he attacked World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins last week.
The Judgment Day, consisting of “Señor Money in the Bank” Damian Priest, NXT North American Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, and Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, make their way to the ring. Conspicuous by his absence is Finn Bálor. Replays are shown of Priest inadvertently costing Bálor his World Heavyweight Championship match against Seth “Freakin” Rollins at SummerSlam. The briefcase was used last Monday on Raw in the main event, causing Bálor to take the pin.
Rhea Ripley welcomes everyone to Monday Night Raw, the place the Judgment Day runs. The crowd boos. She knows that lately, things haven’t been going their way. Damian Priest says that Finn Bálor should have walked out as the World Heavyweight Champion at SummerSlam. Together, they should have won their match last week. Clearly, communication has been an issue, but as long as he is Señor Money in the Bank, they’ll always dictate what happens here. Tonight, Finn Bálor will handle Cody Rhodes, as he should because he’s one of the most dominant Superstars of all time. Bálor should be out here to tell you himself, but he’s not here. The Judgment Day isn’t going anywhere. They’re not breaking up. Priest and Bálor are smarter than that, but he should be here. Ripley tells him to calm down. Priest says they can’t pretend there’s nothing wrong with the Judgment Day. Priest tells Mysterio to back him up.
JD McDonagh’s music hits, Finn Bálor’s friend. Priest warns him to be careful with what he wants to say. McDonagh doesn’t want to interrupt or disrespect the most dominant faction in WWE. McDonagh asks to be allowed into the ring. He says he has a message for them from Finn Bálor. Bálor told him to tell them that they don’t need to worry about McDonagh’s friendship with him. Worry about Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn. Ripley says they do not take orders from anyone, especially those not part of the Judgment Day. Mysterio goes to speak, but the crowd loudly boos him. Mysterio says they have this locked down. Ripley is the most dominant champion in WWE, Priest is a future World Champion, and he is the NXT North American Champion. The crowd is so loud that it’s hard to hear Mysterio’s audio! Mysterio says he just found out that Canada is part of North America, so he’s the champion of this dump. Mysterio tells McDonagh to go to the back and let them handle business. McDonagh says he meant no disrespect. He was only delivering a message.
Ripley says they have a message to deliver to Bálor: they need to talk.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn makes his way to the stage. Zayn runs down the ramp and attacks McDonagh. Last week, McDonagh attacked Zayn and took him out of the main event. Zayn punches away at McDonagh. McDonagh knocks him away and looks for Judgment Day’s help, but they stand and look at him coldly. Zayn takes McDonagh out before getting on the apron and staring at the Judgment Day. McDonagh gets in the ring, grabs Zayn’s injured elbow, and drives it into the ring post. McDonagh sends him into the ring post again and holds his jaw in pain.
-Commercial Break-
JD McDonagh vs. Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn
The bell rings, and Zayn punches away at McDonagh. Zayn knocks him back and comes off the second rope with a diving elbow to the head. Zayn holds his injured left arm in pain and punches him. Zayn whips him to the opposite corner and hits a back body drop. McDonagh quickly gets out of the ring. Zayn chases him into the ring. McDonagh hits the ropes, so Zayn drops down and leapfrogs him before hitting a monkey flip.
Replays are shown of McDonagh viciously attacking Zayn last week.
Zayn grabs McDonagh’s hair, but McDonagh twists and snaps the injured arm. Zayn’s elbow is really messed up with bursitis. McDonagh stomps away at the arm. McDonagh grabs the injured arm and jumps over the top rope to snap it off the rope. McDonagh rips away the protective elbow pad and hits an arm breaker. Zayn’s elbow looks much better than it did last week. McDonagh slams the arm off the mat. Zayn chops back at him with his good arm and lays in some right hands. McDonagh reverses a whip, but Zayn holds the ropes. McDonagh charges, but Zayn gives him a back body drop out of the ring. Zayn goes outside and clotheslines him down on the floor. Zayn is fired up, and the crowd responds well to him. Zayn continues to hold his injured elbow in pain. McDonagh wrenches the injured arm and jumps over the barricade to snap the arm off it. Zayn screams in pain and rests his arm on the commentary table. McDonagh hits a knee drop to the injured arm, dropping Zayn to the floor.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see McDonagh attempting a superplex. Zayn fights it and punches him down to the canvas. Zayn leaps off the top rope, but McDonagh dropkicks him out of midair for a two-count. McDonagh continues to attack the injured arm and sends him to the ropes. Zayn springboards over McDonagh and hits a big clothesline.
Zayn punches away at McDonagh with his good arm. McDonagh stuns him with a kick to the midsection and hits the ropes, but Zayn counters him with a Michinoku Driver for a two-count. Zayn only used his good arm to execute that maneuver. Zayn pulls McDonagh up and tries for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but his arm is too hurt. McDonagh fights away and hits a Spanish Fly for a two-count. McDonagh quickly transitions into a crossface. Zayn fights through the pain and reverses the pressure before getting his feet on the ropes to break the hold. McDonagh slaps the mat in frustration. McDonagh slaps Zayn in the face and kicks him several times in the injured arm. Zayn quickly fights back with an exploder suplex into the turnbuckles.
Zayn goes to the corner and looks up the ramp to see Finn Bálor walking down the ramp. Bálor runs down but stops in front of the ring. McDonagh rolls Zayn up for a near fall. McDonagh sends Zayn into the ropes and viciously head-butts him down. McDonagh goes to the top rope for a moonsault, but Zayn gets the feet up. Bálor charges the apron, but Zayn punches him down. Zayn follows up with a Helluva Kick on McDonagh for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Sami Zayn
Zayn quickly gets out of the ring before being attacked by Bálor. Bálor is absolutely irate.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Chelsea Green is backstage with WWE Official Adam Pearce. Pearce explains that Green’s tag team partner Sonya Deville tore her ACL. Unfortunately… she stops Pearce from talking. She worked hard for these titles. She’s run this place so much better if she were the manager. Green threatens to call her lawyers before saying she’ll call human resources on him. Pearce asks what he should do. Green suggests he holds auditions for her next tag team partner.
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance walk in and say they heard about what happened to Deville. They want a shot at the titles. All of a sudden, someone attacks Chance and Carter from behind. It’s Piper Niven making her return. Niven says she is Green’s new partner. Green suggests she leave her name and number, and she’ll get back to her. Niven takes one of the Tag Team Titles and reiterates that she is now Green’s partner.
Imperium makes their way to the ring. A highlight reel of Imperium plays.
-Commercial Break-
Byron Saxton is backstage with “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes. Saxton mentions that Finn Bálor is a loose cannon. Rhodes says you have to be a loose cannon to be successful. Rhodes admires Bálor to a degree. Bálor was a leader in Ireland, Japan, and now here with the Judgment Day. Judgment Day is vying for supremacy not just on Raw but in WWE as a whole. Bálor isn’t the only leader in that group. Damian Priest is an alpha dog. Rhea Ripley is a bonafide star. Then there’s “Dirty” Dom, who is… submissive but a champion nonetheless. They tried to take out Sami Zayn. They’ve already taken out Liv Morgan and Kevin Owens. Rhodes hasn’t wrestled in Winnipeg in years. Rhodes has friends in this town. He’ll be ready for Bálor.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther is standing on the commentary table. Gunther is 25 days away from being the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time. His next opponent for the title will be Chad Gable. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci flank Gunther. Gunther says on the journey to being the best Intercontinental Champion of all time, the Ring General has arrived in Winnipeg. As a European, he’s always looking forward to coming to Canada. After walking around the streets and looking at the people’s faces, he understands why this is the armpit of Canada. Gunther is here to address the next #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Championship, Chad Gable. Gunther was impressed with his victory last week. In general, this man has been working hard for years. Gable is a former Olympian and probably the best athlete this company has to offer. Ggunther has achieved more in one year than Gable has in his entire career. Everyone thinks Gable is a threat, but it’s ridiculous to think he’ll dethrone him.
“SHOOSH!”
Chad Gable walks out to the stage with Otis and Maxxine Dupri. Gable thanks the crowd, and they cheer him. Gable says two weeks ago, Gunther put time on the clock and said he couldn’t last five minutes with him, but he did and beat him at his own game. Now Gunther is on the clock. Gunther is weeks from setting the all-time record of longest reigning Intercontinental Champion. Just one thing is standing in his way, and it’s a guy that’s been waiting for an opportunity for ten years. It’s Chad Gable nipping at his heels and chasing him down for the Intercontinental Championship. Gunther will get to hang on to it for at least twenty-four hours because he’s facing Vinci tonight. Gable tells Vinci to get in the ring and prepare for some free lessons from Master Gable.
Kaiser and Vinci get in the ring. Kaiser says Vinci belongs to the creme de la creme the WWE has to offer. Secondly, Vinci will prove that when he embarrasses Gable, just like Kaiser absolutely embarrassed his freak friend last week. Otis takes exception to that. Eventually, Madame Maxxine will understand that she should surround herself with some European elegance. Take a look at her and them. That is A+ aesthetics. The Alpha Academy is a sinking ship. Maxxine shouldn’t worry because Kaiser is reaching out his hand to her. She can take it and let him save her, or she is going to let that 360-pound anchor drag her all the way down until she becomes what they already are: an absolute embarrassment. Maxxine slaps Kaiser in the face. Gable laughs and gets in his face. Vinci sidesteps Kaiser and gets in Gable’s face.
-Commercial Break-
Giovanni Vinci w/ WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser vs. Chad Gable w/ Otis and Maxxine Dupri
The bell rings, and they lock up. Vinci backs him into the corner and shoves him. They lock up again, and Vinci applies a side headlock. Vinci wrenches the arm, so Gable twists out, kips up, and takes Vinci down with a drop-toe-hold. Gable grabs the arm and applies an armbar. Vinci fights up and lifts Gable, but Gable slides off and sends him into the ropes. Gable goes for a leapfrog, but Vinci catches him and hits a slam. Vinci puts Gable in the corner and chops him. Vinci connects with a back suplex for a two-count. Vinci whips Gable sternum-first into the turnbuckles and clotheslines him in the back of the head for a two-count. Vinci grabs Gable and connects with a backbreaker for a one-count. Vinci punches Gable, but Gable begins to fight back. Vinci pushes him to the corner and viciously chops the chest. Vinci puts Gable on the top rope, but Gable grabs the arm and applies an armbar over the ropes. Gable releases before being disqualified. Gable goes for a German Suplex, but Vinci elbows him. Vinci fights him, but Gable turns him inside out with a German Suplex!
Gable punches away at Vinci, but Vinci fights back with some nasty chops. Gable gets in his face and forearms him. Gable kicks him in the midsection and shooshes him before hitting a flipping neckbreaker. Gable goes to the top rope. Vinci moves as Gable attempts a suplex. Gable lands on his feet, but Vinci quickly drops him with a rolling fireman’s carry, followed by a moonsault off the middle rope for a near fall. Vinci goes for a powerbomb, but Gable gets out and hits Chaos Theory for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Chad Gable
Gunther looks disgusted at ringside. Alpha Academy poses in the ring. Gunther stands on the commentary table and shouts that this is not how this ends tonight. If this is the armpit of Canada, then Otis is the armpit of humanity. If Otis wants to have fun, Gunther will drag him all over the mat. Gunther challenges Otis to a match right now. Otis shouts in agreement.
-Commercial Break-
Non-Title Match
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther w/ Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci vs. Otis w/ Chad Gable and Maxxine Dupri
The bell rings, and they circle the ring. Otis gyrates to the disgust of Gunther. They lock up, and Gunther turns Otis into the corner. Gunther pushes Otis’s face, so Otis shoves him back. Gunther slaps Otis in the face, but this only upsets the Master of the Caterpillar. Gunther punches him, but Otis gyrates. Otis absorbs a shoulder tackle, so Gunther takes him down with a big boot. Gunther stomps Otis against the ropes. Otis chops back at Gunther, but Gunther drops him to his knees with a single chop. Gunther catches him with a front facelock before clubbing the back. Gunther punches Otis to the corner. Otis reverses a whip to the corner and rocks Gunther with a clothesline. Gunther stumbles around the ring before grabbing Otis and hitting an elbow to the nose. Gunther rips at the face and elbows him in the nose again. Otis looks dazed on the mat. Gunther digs his boot into Otis’s face. Gunther is bleeding from under his left eye.
Gunther knocks Otis to the corner and chops the chest. Otis absorbs the chop and starts to thrust his hips. Otis mauls Gunther with some punches. Gunther uppercuts him back and boots him in the face. Gunther charges, but Otis elbows him in the jaw. Gunther shoulders him back, but Otis stuns him with a stiff club to the chest. Gunther hits the ropes, but Otis catches him with an exploder suplex. Otis rips his shirt off and starts the Caterpillar, but Gunther boots him down. It was mistimed, so Gunther boots him again. Gunther then POWERBOMBS Otis! What?! Gunther picks up the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Gunther
Chad Gable immediately enters the ring and hits the Ring General with a German Suplex! Gunther gets out of the ring and retreats with Imperium. Gunther’s left eye looks messed up.
The Judgment Day is backstage. Damian Priest tells Finn Bálor he should be with his family rather than messing around with JD McDonagh getting punched in the eye. Rhea Ripley says they’re dominant but look weak with all the in-fighting. JD McDonagh walks up, which upsets Priest. Bálor tells McDonagh he’ll catch up with him later. Bálor says they’re going to handle business tonight. Priest gets fired up.
Later tonight, Cody Rhodes will battle Finn Bálor. Coming up next, we’ll take a look at Jey Uso’s actions from SmackDown.
-Commercial Break-
Video Package: Jey Uso announces he is leaving WWE this past Friday on SmackDown
Earlier today, Jackie Redmond caught up with Drew McIntyre. She says it is so great to have McIntyre back on Raw. On behalf of the WWE Universe, she wants to know what’s next for McIntyre. Matt Riddle walks up before McIntyre says anything. Riddle says he’s been feeling a different kind of way. Riddle wants to start a new tag team. The Viking Raiders issued an open challenge, and Riddle accepted. Riddle asks McIntyre if he’ll be his tag team partner. Riddle suggests names, but McIntyre holds a finger up to silence him. McIntyre says he’ll consider it if he can’t find a tag team partner. McIntyre walks off, and Riddle recognizes that he has a chance with him.
Matt Riddle makes his entrance. Will Drew McIntyre join him in the match against the Viking Raiders? We’ll find out next.
-Commercial Break-
Video Package: Indi Hartwell highlight reel
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley will battle Indi Hartwell later tonight.
Matt Riddle is in the ring with no partner. The Viking Raiders make their entrance alongside Valhalla. The Viking Raiders get in the ring and look at Riddle. As Riddle prepares to fight in a handicap match…
Drew McIntyre’s music hits!
Tag Team Match
Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre vs. The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) w/ Valhalla
Matt Riddle will start against Ivar. Ivar quickly takes him down and tags Erik in. The Viking Raiders stomp away at Riddle. Erik pulls Riddle up and punches him in the face. Erik pushes Riddle to his corner, but Riddle fights them off. Riddle hits an overhead kick and kips up. Riddle hits a running forearm in the corner, followed by an exploder. Ivar goes to get in the ring, but Riddle knocks him out. Riddle goes to kick Erik, but Erik blocks it and takes him down. Erik whips him toward Ivar, who hits a seated senton on the floor. The Viking Raiders and Valhalla stand over Riddle.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Riddle punching away at Erik. Erik stops him from making a tag and slams him down hard for a two-count. Ivar tags in and grabs Riddle. Ivar puts him in the corner and connects with some rapid-fire back elbows. Ivar powers Riddle down and covers for a two-count. Erik tags back in, and The Viking Raiders club Riddle down. Erik kicks Riddle in the face for a two-count. Riddle fights back and hits a fisherman’s brainbuster!
McIntyre and Ivar tag in. McIntyre turns Ivar inside out with a shoulder tackle and a pair of clotheslines. McIntyre hits Erik with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. McIntyre hits Ivar with a neckbreaker before hitting Erik with one. McIntyre goes for a Future Shock DDT on Ivar, but Ivar powers him to the corner. Ivar knees him and hits the ropes, but McIntyre catches him with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Ivar gets up and stands against the ropes, so McIntyre clotheslines him over the top rope. Erik tagged in before that. McIntyre brings Erik into the ring the hard way and signals for a Claymore Kick. Ivar distracts McIntyre, and Erik attacks him. Riddle and Ivar tag in. The Viking Raiders hit Riddle with a German Suplex/springboard clothesline combo for a near fall. Erik tags back in, but Riddle knees him. Riddle flips through a back suplex, and McIntyre tags in. McIntyre hits Ivar with a Glasgow Kiss. Erik hits McIntyre with an exploder. Riddle gets Erik out of the ring and kicks Ivar before hitting a springboard Floating Bro. Erik takes Riddle down at ringside. Erik gets in the ring, but McIntyre drops him with a Claymore Kick for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre
Replays of Raquel Rodriguez attacking Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley last week on Raw are shown. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell tried to help Rodriguez escape Ripley, but Ripley pulled them down.
Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell are backstage with Raquel Rodriguez. Rodriguez is frustrated she still hasn’t been cleared to compete. She’s shown to be wearing a knee brace. Rodriguez says tonight is Hartwell’s night. She will show the WWE Universe what she’s all about.
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley makes her way to the ring alongside NXT North American Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio. She’ll battle Indi Hartwell next.
-Commercial Break-
Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle are walking backstage. Riddle says they are unstoppable. McIntyre tells him to pump the brakes. Riddle thinks they can win the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship. The New Day walk up to them. Xavier Woods is unhappy they’re talking about winning the titles on Kofi Kingston’s birthday. Kingston says they won one match and are talking about the titles. Everyone is going crazy since they’ve been gone. The New Day challenge them to a match next week. Riddle accepts on behalf of “The Glas-Bros.”
Non-Title Match
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley w/ NXT North American Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio vs. Indi Hartwell w/ Candice LeRae
The bell rings, and Ripley immediately attacks her before throwing her across the ring. Ripley punches away at Hartwell and puts her in the corner. Ripley punches her in the midsection before whipping her to the opposite corner. Ripley hits a running shoulder thrust and chops her. Ripley sends Hartwell to the opposite corner, but she hits the ring post shoulder-first when Hartwell moves. Hartwell punches away at Ripley and hits a spinebuster for a one-count. Hartwell puts Ripley on the apron and kicks her to ringside. Hartwell lifts Ripley, but Ripley slides off and sends her into the ring post. Ripley picks Hartwell up and drives her spine into the ring post. Ripley tells LeRae to “suck it.”
Ripley puts Hartwell in the ring. Ripley gets in the ring, but she quickly leaves and attacks LeRae. Ripley gets in the ring, and Hartwell catches her with an inside cradle for a two-count. Ripley is furious and head-butts her before hitting the Riptide for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Rhea Ripley
Candice LeRae charges into the ring and attacks Ripley. Hartwell takes Ripley down, and LeRae hits Ripley with a step-up senton splash. LeRae and Hartwell run off. Ripley is furious. Mysterio checks on his Mami.
Video Package: Last week on Raw, Shinsuke Nakamura blindsided World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins with a Kinshasa moments after they won a 6-Man Tag Team Match against the Judgment Day.
Shinsuke Nakamura makes his entrance. He’ll explain his action against Seth “Freakin” Rollins next.
-Commercial Break-
Finn Bálor is warming up backstage for his match against Cody Rhodes later tonight. Damian Priest walks up to him and bumps fists with him.
Shinsuke Nakamura explains his actions
Michael Cole is in the ring with “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura has known Seth Rollins his entire career. They’ve had tremendous respect for each other. Why did Nakamura attack Rollins last week? Nakamura speaks in Japanese. Nakamura then says, “I want the World Title.” Cole asks if he needed to kick Rollins in the head. Nakamura speaks in Japanese again. Nakamura starts to talk in English, but he’s interrupted by…
“BURN IT DOWN!”
World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins makes his entrance. Rollins gets in the ring. Rollins says Cole did a great job, but he’ll take it from here. Rollins welcomes Winnipeg to Monday Night Rollins. Rollins says he has to hand it to Nakamura. Last week, Nakamura played him to perfection. Nakamura set him up and knocked him out, all in the name of the World Heavyweight Championship. That seems too obvious. Nakamura isn’t telling them the entire truth because Rollins isn’t hard to find. Every single week, he stands in the center of the ring, dressed to the nines, World Title around his waist, with the entire world singing his song. The crowd sings Rollins’ theme song. Nakamura looks coldly toward the crowd. If Nakamura wanted a crack at the title, all he had to do was ask. Nakamura didn’t ask. He kicked him in the face. For a week, everyone has been asking why Nakamura did that. Rollins is less concerned with why Nakamura kicked him in the face and more concerned with how he can get even.
Rollins has a surprise for Nakamura: Nakamura wins. The best way for Rollins to get what he wants is to give Nakamura what he wants. If last week’s attack was a challenge, then he accepts the challenge. It’ll be the King of Strong Style, Shinsuke Nakamura, versus The Visionary, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, for the World Heavyweight Championship. Nakamura can name the time and place, and Rollins will be there to kick his ass. They can give the people what they want now that they both have what they want. How about Nakamura grow a set, shake his hand like a man, get out of his ring, and let Winnipeg sing his song? Rollins extends his hand. Nakamura shakes his hand and whispers something into Rollins’ ear. Rollins looks shocked, but we don’t know what he said. Nakamura leaves the ring. Nakamura then runs back into the ring and hits Rollins with a Kinshasa! Rollins slaps the mat in frustration as Nakamura heads up the ramp.
Replays are shown of the verbal confrontation between LA Knight and The Miz, which ended with Knight laying out Miz with Blunt Force Trauma.
Byron Saxton is backstage with The Miz. The Miz says he verbally took down LA Knight, but Saxton disagrees. Miz asks if he’s on the LA Knight bandwagon. Next week on Monday Night Raw, he’ll beat someone bigger and more dominant than LA Knight has ever faced in his entire career. Miz might even show up on SmackDown… or not. Miz asks if Saxton knows what it’s going to be. Saxton enthusiastically says, “Awesome.” Miz says, “Yeah,” and walks off.
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus makes her way to the ring in a protective face mask. She’ll face Becky Lynch in a match where Zoey Stark is banned from ringside. This is next.
-Commercial Break-
Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch
Zoey Stark is banned from ringside for this match.
The bell rings, and they circle the ring. They start throwing punches right away before Lynch powers her to the corner and hits some shoulder thrusts. Lynch punches her down and bounces her off the turnbuckles. Lynch stomps her down, but Stratus begins to fight back before head-butting her with her mask. Stratus chops the chest several times in the corner. Lynch stumbles around the ring, but she soon begins to fight back. Stratus elbows out of a Bexploder. Lynch blocks a kick and hits a Bexploder. Stratus gets out of the ring to recover but has no time to do so as Lynch hits her with a baseball slide to the back. Lynch comes off the apron with a rather weak-looking diving clothesline. Lynch gets her in the ring, but Stratus quickly gets out. Stratus runs off, so Lynch chases her. Stratus puts the brakes on and clotheslines Lynch down. Stratus takes her down at ringside, but Lynch fights back. Lynch gets her in the ring and avoids a shoulder. Lynch kicks the mask off her face, so the referee stops the action to get the mask back on. Lynch sits on the top rope, so Stratus attacks her. Stratus goes for Stratusphere, but Lynch fights it. Stratus fights back and connects with Stratusphere for a two-count.
Stratus gets Lynch out of the ring. Lynch kicks her at ringside. Stratus quickly sends Lynch into the ring steps and puts her in the ring. Stratus takes the mask off and goes to blindside her, but Lynch blocks it. Stratus fights her off and snaps her off the second rope.
-Commercial Break-
We return from the break to see Lynch hit a pair of clotheslines, followed by a jumping calf kick. Lynch clotheslines her in the corner and hits a springboard kick. Lynch puts her on the apron, pulls her between the ropes, and hits a weak-looking diving leg drop for a two-count. Stratus comes back with a desperation roll-up for a two-count. Stratus hits a slow-motion spear for another two-count. Stratus signals for the end, but Lynch fights out. Stratus quickly regains control with a strike and goes for a tornado DDT, but Lynch counters. Lynch puts her back on the top rope. Lynch hooks the head and hits a superplex for a near fall.
Stratus goes to ringside and tries to escape over the barricade, but Lynch pulls her back. Lynch quickly sends Stratus over the barricade. They begin to brawl in the crowd. The referee counts them out.
Double Count-Out
Stratus and Lynch don’t care about the result of the match. They continue to brawl up the stairs. They fight into the concourse and a merchandise stand. Stratus throws merchandise at Lynch before mocking a Seth “Freakin” Rollins shirt. Rollins is Lynch’s husband. Lynch pulls Stratus onto the counter, but a hooded figure pulls her down. It’s revealed to be Zoey Stark. Lynch fights back, but Stratus takes her out with a Chick Kick. Stratus and Stark stand tall.
Cody Rhodes is preparing backstage. The main event is next.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of Chad Gable defeating Giovanni Vinci earlier tonight. A little while later, Gunther defeats Otis with a Powerbomb. Gable would hit Gunther with a German Suplex.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther is backstage with Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci. Gunther has a shiner on his left cheek. Kaiser is talking, but Gunther says he’s heard enough. Tonight was an absolute embarrassment. What should he do with Giovanni Vinci? Ever since they’ve come to Raw, Vinci has been disappointing. As for Kaiser, he neglected all his responsibilities because he was focused on that girl. What’s more important? Kaiser apologizes. It should have never happened, but he guarantees it will never happen again. Kaiser can fix it, but Gunther says he’ll fix it himself. He’ll sort this out by himself. If Chad Gable wants his title, he’ll have to take it off him next week. Gunther walks off.
Replays are shown of Zoey Stark attacking Becky Lynch. Trish Stratus then laid out Lynch with a Chick Kick.
Trish Stratus and Zoey Stark are walking backstage. WWE Official Adam Pearce is irate as he walks up to them. The next time they do this match, they’ll do it in a Steel Cage Match. Stratus and Stark are upset.
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes makes his entrance. He’ll face Finn Bálor next.
-Commercial Break-
Next week on Raw, Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle will take on Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston of The New Day. We’ll also see “The Ring General” Gunther defend his WWE Intercontinental Championship against Chad Gable.
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes vs. Finn Bálor
The bell rings, and they circle the ring. They lock up and tussle into the ropes before giving a hard break. They lock up, and Bálor quickly hooks the head in a side headlock. Rhodes whips him off and drops down before going for a hip toss, but Bálor counters that into a hip toss of his own for a one-count. Bálor wrenches the left arm, but Rhodes cartwheels out with one arm and applies a hammerlock. Bálor quickly elbows out and sets up for a suplex. Rhodes fights it and hits a delayed front suplex. Rhodes hooks a side headlock, but Bálor whips him off and drops down before going for a leapfrog, but Rhodes catches him. Bálor rakes the eyes and sends him over the top rope. Rhodes skins the cat back into the ring and hits a side leg sweep for a one-count.
Rhodes attacks Bálor in the corner and hits a shop. Bálor reverses a whip, but Rhodes counters into a slingshot roll-up. Bálor rolls through the roll-up and hits a basement dropkick. Bálor kicks and punches Rhodes in the midsection before chopping the chest. Rhodes turns him around, but Bálor quickly spins him and chops the chest again. Rhodes stumbles to the next corner, and Bálor hits some shoulder thrusts. Bálor chops the chest and whips him to the corner before hitting a running chop. Bálor hits a snapmare, followed by a basement dropkick for a two-count. Bálor grabs Rhodes and elbows him in the head. Bálor hits another snapmare and forearms him in the neck. Bálor applies a chin lock, but Rhodes manages to fight up. Rhodes whips him off and hits a kitchen sink knee to the midsection. Rhodes hangs Bálor on the ropes and kicks him in the midsection a la Hardcore Holly, Rhodes’ first tag team partner in WWE.
Rhodes takes him down for a Figure Four Leglock, but Bálor kicks him out of the ring. NXT North American Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio runs down, but Rhodes attacks him. Bálor quickly hits a baseball slide to save Mysterio. Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley joins them at ringside.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Bálor stomping away at Rhodes. The crowd boos Bálor. Bálor elbows Rhodes in the head again and cinches in a side headlock. Rhodes fights up and twists out, but Bálor knees him in the midsection. Bálor sends him to the corner, but Rhodes boots him back. Rhodes hits a pair of right hands, followed by some stinging left jabs. Bálor kicks Rhodes before he hits a Bionic Elbow. Rhodes soon slingshots over him and hits a powerslam. Rhodes connects with a Disaster Kick for a two-count.
Rhodes sizes Bálor up as Damian Priest makes his way to ringside. Bálor goes for a falling elbow, but Rhodes drops down and kicks him. Bálor rebounds with a Sling Blade. Bálor charges, but Rhodes kicks him back. Rhodes attempts a Cody Cutter, but Bálor counters into a falling elbow drop for a two-count. Bálor and Ripley are both upset with the referee. Bálor signals for the end before hitting a Woo Dropkick into the corner. Bálor goes for a Coup de Grâce, but Rhodes avoids it. Rhodes sets up for Cross Rhodes, but Bálor counters with an inside cradle for a two-count. Rhodes quickly fights back and hits a Cody Cutter. Bálor rolls out of the ring to recover.
Rhodes gets fired up and hits the ropes, but Priest grabs the ankles. Bálor charges, but Rhodes sends him out of the ring and nearly into Priest. Rhodes hits Bálor and Priest with a suicide dive. Rhodes gets Bálor in the ring and goes to the top rope. Ripley distracts the referee, and Mysterio crotches Rhodes on the top rope. Bálor hits Rhodes with a superplex, and Rhodes’s head and neck are the first to hit the mat. That looked scary. Bálor picks up a near fall.
Mysterio slides a chair into the ring. Bálor grabs it, but the referee stands on it before picking it up. Ripley distracts the referee again. Priest slides the briefcase into the ring, but it goes through Bálor’s legs and into Rhodes’ hands! Bálor and Priest cannot believe they botched the briefcase attack again. Rhodes picks it up and hits Bálor in the head before hitting Priest. Rhodes connects with the Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Cody Rhodes
Mysterio immediately attacks Rhodes. Priest soon joins in, and the double-team beating commences. Sami Zayn runs down for the save with a steel chair. Zayn hits Priest in the ribs with the chair before getting in the ring. Zayn hits Mysterio and Bálor with the chair before smacking it off their backs. Zayn goes to hit Priest with the chair, but JD McDonagh attacks him from behind! Priest looks unsure but then starts to double-team Zayn with Bálor. Rhodes grabs Priest, but Priest quickly drops him with South of Heaven. Bálor goes to the top rope and crushes Rhodes with the Coup de Grâce.
They send Zayn out of the ring. Mysterio and Ripley double-team Zayn. Bálor jumps off the steel steps with a Coup de Grâce on Zayn. Bálor then points at the commentary table. Priest clears the table off. McDonagh is watching from the ring. Bálor sends Zayn into Priest. Priest hits Zayn with a Razor’s Edge through the commentary table! Zayn holds his elbow in pain.
Bálor gets in the ring and positions Rhodes. Bálor goes to the top rope and hits him with another Coup de Grâce. Bálor sits on Rhodes and poses. The Judgment Day stands tall in the ring as Raw ends.
Quick Match Results
— Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn def. JD McDonagh
— Chad Gable def. Giovanni Vinci
— WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther def. Otis (non-title)
— Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre def. The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) in a Tag Team Match
— Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley def. Indi Hartwell (non-title)
— Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch went to a Double Count-Out
— “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes def. Finn Bálor
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