WWE Raw Results
August 28, 2023
Memphis, Tennessee (FedExForum)
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.
In memory of Terry Funk: 1944 – 2023.
In memory of Windham “Bray Wyatt” Rotunda: 1987 – 2023.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn makes his way to the ring to a big ovation. Michael Cole talks about losing two beloved members of the WWE family last week, Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt. Tonight, we’ll pay tribute to them. Their lives were dedicated to entertaining the WWE Universe, which is what WWE aims to do tonight.
“Señor Money in the Bank” Damian Priest makes his way to the ring. Replays of the issues within the Judgment Day with Priest, Finn Bálor, and JD McDonagh are shown. Last week, after Zayn, Kevin Owens, and Cody Rhodes defeated the Judgment Day, Zayn said, “Better luck next time, eh?” That infuriated Priest, leading to tonight’s match.
It is announced that Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens will defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against Finn Bálor and Damian Priest this Saturday at WWE Payback.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn vs. Damian Priest
The bell rings, and they lock up. Priest powers Zayn against the ropes and pretends to give a clean break, only to knee him in the midsection. Priest applies a side headlock, but Zayn whips him off. Priest comes back with a shoulder tackle and challenges him to get up. Priest kicks Zayn in the chest before sending him to his knees with a right hand. Priest puts the side headlock back on. Priest cinches it in, but Zayn soon whips him off, drops down, leapfrogs him, and hits a deep arm drag. Priest quickly fights up and backs Zayn to the corner. Zayn ducks a right hand and chops the chest. Priest grabs him by the neck and throws him to the corner. Priest kicks him down in the corner and punches him in the face. Priest whips Zayn to the opposite corner and charges, but Zayn elbows him back. Zayn comes off the second rope with a flying elbow to the head for a one-count. Priest gets out of the ring to recover. Zayn slightly catches him with a baseball slide before kicking him back. Zayn then hits a split-legged moonsault block off the top rope to the floor!
Zayn gets Priest in the ring and gets him in the corner for the ten punches. Priest powers out at five, but Zayn chops him. Zayn scales the ropes for a tornado DDT, but Priest avoids it. Priest turns Zayn inside out with a clothesline. Priest stomps away at him. Priest pulls Zayn up and forearms him in the jaw. Priest has Zayn in the corner and drops him with a right hand. Priest mashes his boot into Zayn’s face. Priest backs up and charges for a running elbow. Priest connects with the Broken Arrow for a two-count. Priest applies a surfboard stretch. Zayn fights up and twists out before kicking him in the face. Zayn sends Priest over the top rope and hits the ropes. Priest gets on the apron and grabs him by the beard. Zayn punches him and drives him into the ring post. Zayn goes for a plancha, but Priest catches him and hits a flatliner on the commentary table!
-Commercial Break-
We return from the break to see Priest attempting a superplex off the second rope. Zayn fights back and hits a sunset flip sit-out powerbomb for a near fall!
Both men slowly get to their feet. Zayn punches away at Priest. Priest reverses a whip, but Zayn springboards off the bottom rope over him. Zayn then sends Priest over the top rope. Zayn hits the ropes and hits a somersault senton! Zayn gets Priest in the ring and comes off the top rope. Priest grabs him for South of Heaven, but Zayn escapes. Zayn avoids an avalanche in the corner, and Priest’s face bounces off the ring post. Zayn connects with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall.
Priest rolls to the apron to recover. Zayn pulls him up, but Priest snaps him off the top rope. Priest kicks Zayn in the face and gets in the ring. Priest kicks him in the midsection and goes for a Razor’s Edge. Zayn wiggles out and hits an exploder suplex into the turnbuckles! Zayn gets fired up for a Helluva Kick, but JD McDonagh runs down and grabs his feet. Priest uses the distraction to hit Zayn with South of Heaven to pick up the victory.
Winner by Pinfall: Damian Priest
Priest grabs the Money in the Bank briefcase and raises his arm in the air. McDonagh gets in the ring and raises Priest’s arm again. Priest pulls away and shoves him down. Priest tells McDonagh to stay out of his business. Priest storms off. McDonagh wonders what is wrong with him.
McDonagh turns and sees he is in the ring with the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. Owens is wearing a black armband that says, “WINDHAM,” in honor of Windham Rotunda. They attack McDonagh, and Owens drops him with a Stunner. They send McDonagh to the corner. Owens sits on the top turnbuckle and watches Zayn smash McDonagh with a Helluva Kick. Priest watches on from the aisleway before leaving. Owens raises Zayn’s arm.
Later tonight, World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins will call out Shinsuke Nakamura.
The New Day are shown warming up backstage. Elsewhere backstage, The Viking Raiders are preparing with Valhalla.
-Commercial Break-
During the commercial break: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn brought out Memphis legend and WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler, who is still recovering from a massive stroke he had earlier this year.
Drew McIntyre is backstage looking at a piece of paper. Akira Tozawa says he looks great and runs off. McIntyre turns it around and shows that it’s a picture of him wearing neon green tights that look like Matt Riddle’s. Matt Riddle walks up and asks him what he thinks. Every great team has matching gear. McIntyre says they have to see if this will work out before they make any changes. Riddle thinks he means matching kilts. Riddle wants to get them ringside seats for New Day vs. the Viking Raiders to see their strengths and weaknesses. He’ll eat a hot dog, and McIntyre can have haggis. McIntyre says he’d love to see those idiots get beaten. Riddle thinks the idiots are the New Day, but McIntyre says he means the Vikings. He’ll see Riddle out there. Riddle is pleased.
Video Package: Raquel Rodriguez says she is as big and strong as Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. She will cut her down to size this Saturday at WWE Payback after what she did to her and Liv Morgan.
Becky Lynch is shown stretching backstage. She’ll face Zoey Stark in a Falls Count Anywhere Match later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
John Cena returns to WWE SmackDown this Friday. A week from Friday, he will also appear at the WWE Superstar Spectacle in India, his first appearance in the country.
LA Knight’s music hits to a big ovation, and he makes his way to the ring… only it’s not LA Knight. It’s The Miz dressed as him. The crowd boos loudly as they realize that the Megastar isn’t there. Miz imitates Knight as he says, “Lemme talk to ya, YEAH!” Miz does an excellent impression of Knight. Miz says gaining the crowd’s support takes more than a catchphrase. That’s why he brought out a bag of free LA Knight t-shirts. If you want a free LA Knight shirt, give him a hell ye… oh wait, a YEAH! Miz spikes the t-shirt at ringside and kicks the bag out of the ring.
Miz rips off the LA Knight merchandise he’s wearing. An “LA Knight” chant picks up. Miz says they are pathetic and will cheer for anybody. Anybody can be LA Knight. It’s generic and vanilla. Anyone can pander. Miz says he doesn’t do catchphrases. When he says he’s awesome, it’s not an applause line. It’s reality. When he exposes LA Knight on Saturday, the party is over. They’ll cheer for free t-shirts and catchphrases but won’t cheer losers. That’s what LA Knight will be in five days’ time. Miz will immortalize whose game it really is. M-I-Z… yeah!
The Miz will battle LA Knight this Saturday at WWE Payback.
Replays are shown of Shinsuke Nakamura revealing that he knows about Seth “Freakin” Rollins’ broken back. Nakamura also brought Rollins’ family into the conversation.
An irate World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins is seated backstage. Ricochet looks at him and then walks off when he realizes that Rollins is not in the mood.
The New Day makes their way to the ring. They’ll battle The Viking Raiders next.
-Commercial Break-
Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre, wearing a black armband, make their way to the ring. They’re seated at ringside for this next match.
Replays are shown of The Viking Raiders attacking Drew McIntyre. The New Day capitalized and beat Matt Riddle to win the match against Riddle and McIntyre. The Viking Raiders laid everyone out until Drew McIntyre sent them packing.
Tag Team Match
The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) w/ Valhalla
Xavier Woods will start against Erik. They lock up, and Erik powers him to the corner. Woods gets out and chops the chest. Woods applies a side headlock. Erik tries to whip him off, but Woods holds on. Woods is eventually whipped off, but Woods shoulder tackles Erik down. Woods attacks the shoulder of Erik before Erik rocks him with a forearm. Woods slingshots over Erik and goes for a twisting DDT, but Erik counters into a sidewalk slam. Ivar tags in. The Viking Raiders double-team Woods with punches. Valhalla lets out a primal scream. Ivar punches Woods down and tags Erik back in. Ivar sends Woods into Erik, who knees him down for a two-count. Erik, Ivar, Woods, and Kingston wear black armbands that honor the late Bray Wyatt. Woods knocks Ivar, who tagged in, back, but Ivar knees him down. Woods starts to fight the Raiders off and tags Kingston in.
Kingston springboards off the top rope with a diving clothesline. Kingston knocks Erik off the apron and lights up Ivar’s chest with chops. Kingston superkicks him, but Ivar soon gets him in the corner. Ivar charges, but Kingston connects with a pendulum kick. Kingston hits a top rope cross-body block for a two-count. Kingston connects with a Boom Drop and gets the crowd going. Erik pulls Ivar out of the ring. Woods hits Erik with a baseball slide. Kingston then wipes out Ivar with a trust dive! The New Day celebrates at ringside.
-Commercial Break-
We return from the break to see Ivar splash Kingston for a two-count. Ivar attacks Kingston with strikes before getting him in the corner for some rapid-fire back elbows. Ivar whips him to the opposite corner, but Kingston springboards out of the corner with a dropkick. Valhalla gets on the apron and points at Woods. Ivar knocks the distracted Woods off the apron and gets Kingston in the corner. Erik tags in. The Viking Raiders double-team Kingston for a near fall. Erik digs a knee into the back and pulls back on Kingston’s neck. Kingston fights out, but Erik keeps Kingston from making a tag. Ivar tags in and forearms Kingston in the face. Erik tags in and boots Kingston on the head. Erik knocks Woods off the apron. Woods storms into the ring, but the referee holds him back. The Viking Raiders take advantage of the referee’s distraction by double-teaming Kingston. Ivar shouts at McIntyre and Riddle, who are watching intently at ringside. Kingston chops back at Ivar and punches Erik. Ivar quickly floors Kingston with a nasty big boot for a near fall. Ivar applies a rest hold, but Kingston quickly fights up. Ivar puts him in the corner and clotheslines him. Ivar clubs the spine, but Kingston fights back with a jawbreaker. Ivar stops Kingston from making a tag. Kingston goes for a sunset flip, but Ivar stays standing. Ivar goes for a cannonball, but Kingston moves.
Woods tags in and runs around Ivar before dropping him with a rolling forearm. Woods attacks Erik and hits a twisting side leg sweep. Woods attacks Ivar, but Ivar sends him to the corner. Woods turns Ivar inside out with the Honor Roll for a near fall. Erik tags in and hits a full nelson into a nasty knee to the neck for a near fall. Ivar tags in. The Viking Raiders go for a double-team back suplex, but Woods flips through. The New Day starts with some double-team offense. Kingston slips on the ropes but still manages to splash Ivar. Kingston goes for Trouble in Paradise, but Ivar avoids it. They clumsily go over the top rope. Ivar catches Kingston diving off the ring steps and drops him on the steps face-first. Ivar then grabs Kingston and drives him into McIntyre and Riddle! Wow!
Ivar gets in the ring. Ivar sidesteps a flying chair from McIntyre. McIntyre goes to throw a chair at Erik, but Erik moves, and it hits Woods instead. Ivar hits McIntyre with a cannonball off the apron! Ivar sends Kingston into the ring. Erik tags in. Kingston chops Ivar, but Ivar responds by turning him inside out with a spinning leg kick. The Viking Raiders hit Kingston with the Ragnarök for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The Viking Raiders
McIntyre and Riddle quickly chase the Viking Raiders out of the ring. They then go to ringside and check on Woods.
Finn Bálor is backstage with Damian Priest, telling him they’re always arguing. They need to be on the same page to win the Tag Team Titles on Saturday. Priest says they do need to get it together. They need to focus on Judgment Day business instead of people that don’t matter, like Bálor’s friend JD McDonagh. Bálor says McDonagh is the only reason Priest beat Sami Zayn tonight, and then he left him lying. Priest says he doesn’t care about McDonagh. He cares about this family. Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and NXT North American Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio are in the background. Ripley steps in and says they always talk about the Judgment Day being a dominant faction, only for them to fall apart because of Bálor and Priest. The only ones handling Judgment Day business are her and “Dirty” Dom. Bálor and Priest are going to make it right this Saturday at Payback. They’ll remind everyone that the Judgment Day is a force to be reckoned with and win when it matters. If the Judgment Day don’t all walk out with gold at the end of Payback, there will be changes around here. Ripley orders Mysterio to grab the titles, and they walk off. Priest holds up the Money in the Bank briefcase and says he has no problem winning gold.
Coming up next, we’ll pay tribute to Bray Wyatt.
-Commercial Break-
Video Package: WWE plays a beautiful video tribute to Windham “Bray Wyatt” Rotunda, who passed away at 36 years old last Thursday.
The fireflies in the audience light up the FedExForum. A “Thank you, Bray” chant picks up. Wyatt’s music plays, and a spotlight shines on the rocking chair on the stage.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of Drew McIntyre accidentally hitting Xavier Woods with a chair moments ago.
Kofi Kingston walks out of the trainer’s room. Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle are waiting outside. They ask about Woods. Kingston says he knows that McIntyre didn’t mean that. McIntyre says he and Riddle are going to take care of the Viking Raiders next week. Riddle is excited that McIntyre thinks of them as a team.
Replays are shown of Chad Gable defeating Gunther by count-out last week on Raw. Gable became the first man to defeat Gunther in a singles match since his main roster debut.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther stands on the commentary table with Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci standing at ringside. Gunther says last week, Chad Gable became the first man to defeat “The Ring General” Gunther in more than 500 days… by count-out in a championship match. Chad Gable gained a victory, but in reality, he has won nothing because Gunther is still the Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion. The crowd boos. Gunther says Gable has achieved one thing… pissing him off. Gunther shouts in German. Gable has his focus. If Gable is the last thing between him and his rightful legacy, then so be it. Next week, Chad Gable will challenge him for the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship on Monday Night Raw. Just like Chad Gable will not beat him next week, he will not be beating his best man tonight…
SHOOSH!
Chad Gable makes his way to the ring alongside Otis and Maxxine Dupri of Alpha Academy. Gable says normally he’d give him a big “SHOOSH,” but he won’t do that tonight. Gunther is making some good points. Gunther has been on the main roster for two years, and no one has managed to beat him… that is, until last week. Gable handed him his first loss and found a way to do it in only ten seconds. Next week, the title will be on the line. It won’t take him ten seconds to take the title. He’ll take it away in three. That’s next week. As for tonight, Captain Kaiser can get his carcass in the ring because Master Gable is going to cook him up, Memphis-style. A-thank you!
Ludwig Kaiser w/ Giovanni Vinci vs. Chad Gable w/ Otis and Maxxine Dupri
The bell rings, and Gable takes him down. They tussle on the mat for position. Gable applies a front facelock, but Kaiser twists out. Kaiser reverses a whip, but Gable gives him a hip toss over the top rope. Gable then hits him with a cannonball off the apron. Gable rips his shirt off and throws it at Gunther.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, we see Kaiser fighting out of a waistlock. Gable charges him toward the ropes and sends him to ringside. Kaiser’s feet got caught in the ropes, and he nearly landed on his face! Yikes! Kaiser quickly gets up and back in the ring. Gable hits a few arm drags. Kaiser quickly elbows him back and takes Gable down for an arm lock. Gable fights up, but Kaiser powers him down. Gable fights up and twists out before hitting a drop-toe-hold. Gable applies an armbar. Kaiser fights up, but Gable twists the arm. Kaiser tries to whip him off, but Gable takes him down. Kaiser soon clubs away at Gable and shoulder tackles him. Gable connects with a nasty chop and takes him down for an ankle lock. Kaiser gets to the ropes and pulls himself up. Kaiser kicks Gable in the face and hits a stiff clothesline. Kaiser whips him to the opposite corner, but Gable slingshots over him and hits a monkey flip. Gable goes for a second monkey flip, but Kaiser turns him around and puts him on the top rope. Gable quickly hits a hanging armbar. Gable sits up on the top rope, and Kaiser slaps him in the face to knock him to the floor. Kaiser goes to ringside and hits a running uppercut.
-Commercial Break-
We return from the break to see Gable hit a pair of belly-to-belly side suplexes. Kaiser fights out of a third and rocks him with a right hand. Kaiser then sends him shoulder-first into the ring post. Kaiser hits the ropes and dropkicks Gable to drive him back into the ring post. Gable falls to ringside. Kaiser goes outside and puts Gable back in the ring. Kaiser kicks away at Gable and throws him down. Gable fights back with some chops and hits the ropes, but Kaiser turns him inside out with an inverted gutwrench suplex for a near fall.
Kaiser punches and kicks away at Gable in the corner. Gable fights back with some chops and slaps to the face. Gable hits a dragon screw before going for a German Suplex. Kaiser elbows out and hits a rolling Death Valley Driver. Kaiser follows up with a kick to the face for a two-count. A slow-motion replay of that kick shows the nasty impact. Kaiser sends Gable over the top rope, but he skins the cat and uses his feet to drag Kaiser out of the ring. Kaiser quickly gets back in, but Gable attacks him and hits a rolling neckbreaker. Gable heads to the top rope but lands on his feet when Kaiser moves. Gable hits a nice hangman’s DDT for a near fall.
Gable looks like he’s bleeding from the mouth. Gable hits a t-bone suplex and sends them both over the top rope with a wild running cross-body block. Gable goes to the top rope and hits Kaiser and Vinci with a moonsault block to the floor! Gable took a nasty bump there. Gable gets Kaiser in the ring and comes off the top rope. Gable avoids the boots from Kaiser and applies an ankle lock. Kaiser tries to twist out, but Gable keeps it on. Kaiser soon kicks him away and uppercuts him to the corner. Kaiser lifts him, but Gable slides off and hits Chaos Theory. Giovanni Vinci breaks up the pin before the match is called. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner by Disqualification: Chad Gable
Otis hits Vinci with a suplex and mauls him in the corner. Kaiser attacks Otis, and Vinci joins in for a double-team. They send Otis hard into the ring post shoulder first. Gable fights back, but Vinci and Kaiser double-team him. WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther saunters back to ringside and gets in the ring. Gunther goes for a Powerbomb on Gable, but Gable counters out and takes him down with an ankle lock. Vinci and Kaiser quickly double-team Gable. Gunther then demolishes Gable with a Powerbomb. Imperium stands tall in the ring.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins is traipsing backstage. We’ll hear from him next.
-Commercial Break-
Highlights are shown of Bob Barker’s appearance on WWE Raw as a Guest Host in 2023. That was the best Guest Host appearance they ever did.
Bob Barker: 1923 – 2023. What a horrible week for entertainment.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins calls out Shinsuke Nakamura
World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins comes out to a big ovation. Rollins stands in the ring, and the crowd loudly sings his song as he poses. Rollins bows and grabs a microphone. Rollins says, “Memphis, Tennessee… yowie wowie! Welcome to Monday Night Rollins!” He is the visionary, the revolutionary, Seth “Freakin” Rollins. Rollins says it has been a long week, so he’ll keep this short and sweet. Rollins says this Saturday at Payback, he’ll give Shinsuke Nakamura a crack at the World Heavyweight Championship. Right here and now, Nakamura should give him what he wants. If Nakamura has more mind games to play and mean things to say, he can come down the aisle and say them to his face. Nakamura doesn’t come out. Rollins says Nakamura shouldn’t deprive these fine people. They want to sing his song… oh wait, they don’t sing Nakamura’s song anymore. Rollins says maybe he’ll head to Beale Street, have a stiff drink, and have them sing his song all night long. The crowd sings Rollins’ theme song.
A video starts on the titantron. Nakamura says he doesn’t want to simply defeat Seth Rollins. He wants to dismantle the man. Footage is shown of Nakamura practicing MMA. Nakamura wants Rollins’ wife to know that he’s the reason she has to help him out of bed. Nakamura is the reason that Rollins won’t walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day. Rollins’ body has betrayed him. Nakamura will destroy his back and put him out of his misery. Rollins has no honor and no future.
Rollins does not look happy and takes off his sunglasses. Rollins sarcastically says that’s it from the legendary Shinsuke Nakamura… a video package. Rollins wants to know what happened to the Shinsuke Nakamura who headlined the Tokyo Dome. He wants to know what happened to the Shinsuke Nakamura who lit the world on fire when he came to NXT. A month ago, Rollins would have given him the shirt off his back… the same back that is broken in two places. His broken back didn’t stand in the way of him becoming World Heavyweight Champion. It won’t stand in the way of him beating Nakamura’s ass on Saturday. He will pummel Nakamura until someone pulls him off him. When Nakamura is lying there defeated, he will know that he will never take anything from Rollins. Not his title, not his future, and not his family.
Suddenly, Shinsuke Nakamura runs into the ring and viciously kicks Rollins in the back. Nakamura holds Rollins’ head and says he told him to watch his back. Nakamura then lays him out with a straight kick to the face. Nakamura walks off, leaving the World Heavyweight Champion unconscious in the ring.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are backstage. Zayn says he’s tired of doing this. For too long, the Judgment Day keeps coming back, like that cheap win over him tonight. They got a cheap DQ last week, and now a title match. They’ll do this one more time this Saturday. Owens says the rules won’t play in Judgment Day’s favor. They’re sick of this. They went to Adam Pearce and got something made official. What do they call Pittsburgh? The Steel City. They’ll have a Steel City Street Fight for the titles. Owens has been slammed off a steel cage through a table before, but it will be nothing compared to what they do this Saturday.
Back in the arena, Tommaso Ciampa starts to make his entrance, but “Big” Bronson Reed attacks him from behind. Reed then walks to the ring. Reed gets in the ring, but Ciampa attacks him. Ciampa punches him in the ring and sidesteps him to send him to the floor. Reed goes to get in the ring, but Ciampa knees him in the face to send him back to ringside. Ciampa then hits a flying knee to the face off the apron.
-Commercial Break-
Tommaso Ciampa vs. “Big” Bronson Reed
We join this match in progress to see Ciampa chopping the chest. Reed shoves him back, but Ciampa boots him. Ciampa comes off the second rope to take him down and punch away at him. Ciampa hits the ropes, but Reed stops him in his tracks with a cross-body block. Reed drops a massive elbow on Ciampa. Reed goes for a delayed vertical suplex, but Ciampa knees him in the head. Ciampa jumps on the back, but Reed backs him to the corner. Ciampa dropkicks the knee and sends him into the bottom turnbuckle headfirst. Ciampa somehow lifts Reed and hits White Noise for a near fall!
Ciampa backs to the corner and pulls his kneepad down. Ciampa charges, but Reed avalanches him down. Reed sets up for a powerbomb and puts two thumbs down. Reed then hits a running sit-out powerbomb for a near fall! Reed sets Ciampa up and goes to the apron. Ciampa quickly grabs the leg and goes to the apron to attack him. Reed cuts him off and sends him into the ring steps. Reed smiles and hits a flying shoulder off the apron. Reed goes for a powerbomb on the commentary table, but Ciampa gets out. Ciampa gets in the ring and catches Reed with Willow’s Bell as he comes into the ring. Ciampa hits a running knee to the face for a near fall. Ciampa goes for the knee again, but Reed grabs him. They trade chops before Ciampa boots him in the head. Ciampa takes him down with a crucifix, which they kind of botch, and Ciampa gets a really weak-looking pin.
Winner by Pinfall: Tommaso Ciampa
Jackie Redmond is backstage with Becky Lynch. Redmond asks if Lynch has any second thoughts about her match against Zoey Stark. Lynch has only thoughts about beating Zoey Stark all over the arena. Lynch doesn’t want the easy way. She wants chaos.
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley makes her way to the ring alongside NXT North American Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio. We’ll hear from Ripley next.
-Commercial Break-
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley is in the ring with NXT North American Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio.
NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton is shown at ringside.
Rhea Ripley will defend the Women’s World Championship against Raquel Rodriguez this Saturday at WWE Payback.
Ripley says Raquel Rodriguez claims that she will cut her down to size. That’s cute coming from someone who had to play up an injury to pull one over on her. It was a smart trick, but that’s the first and last time that will ever happen. Ripley doesn’t blame her. Her resume speaks for itself. She won’t come out here and tell them about her accomplishments because it will take too damn long. This championship around her waist proves absolutely everything. Rodriguez thinks she’ll take her championship at Payback this Saturday. That’s another reason why she’s an idiot. Ripley won’t take anything away from her. Rodriguez has her own accomplishments as well… she’s big and tough, but she’s not Rhea “Bloody” Ripley. Rodriguez can talk all she likes, but when it comes to Payback, Mami is walking out as champion.
Raquel Rodriguez’s music hits. Rodriguez storms down to the ring. Ripley waits for her. Rodriguez gets in the ring, and they begin to brawl. Rodriguez throws Ripley to the corner and attacks her. Rodriguez whips her to the opposite corner and avalanches her. Rodriguez hits a fallaway slam that sends the Irradicator out of the ring. Dominik Mysterio sneaks up behind her, but he doesn’t do anything. Ripley comes up and head-butts Rodriguez. Ripley goes for the Riptide, but Rodriguez fights out. Rodriguez clotheslines her down, and Ripley retreats.
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus is backstage with Zoey Stark. Stratus says Lynch is an idiot for offering a Falls Count Anywhere Match against WWE’s fastest-rising star. Stratus says Stark will leave a leftover for her on Saturday. Stark promises to leave something for Stratus to beat on Saturday.
Coming up next, Becky Lynch will battle Zoey Stark in a Falls Count Anywhere Match.
-Commercial Break-
WWE and NFL announced a multi-year licensing deal for NFL Legacy Titles for all teams.
The commentators run down the WWE Payback card for this Saturday.
Video Package: A celebration of the life of Terry Funk, 1944 – 2023.
The Memphis crowd, a city where Terry Funk had some wild matches, especially against Jerry “The King” Lawler, chants for the Funker.
Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring. The Falls Count Anywhere Match is next.
-Commercial Break-
Zoey Stark makes her entrance alongside Trish Stratus. Stark is holding a kendo stick, so Lynch goes under the ring and grabs a kendo stick as well.
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark w/ Trish Stratus
They get in the ring, and Lynch attacks Stark with the kendo stick to start the match. Lynch lays in some shots to the back and legs of Stark. Lynch hits a side leg sweep with the kendo stick for a two-count. Lynch applies a crossface using the kendo stick. Stark gets to the ropes and pulls herself out of the ring. Lynch hits a baseball slide and attacks her at ringside. Stratus grabs the kendo stick and attacks Lynch with two shots to the back. Stark goes for a powerbomb on the floor, but Lynch grabs the ropes and goes to the apron. Lynch climbs the turnbuckles. Stratus tries to attack, but Lynch knocks her down. Lynch hits a cross-body block off the top rope to the floor on Stark and Stratus for a near fall.
Stark soon mounts a comeback and takes Lynch down for a two-count at ringside. Stark gets Lynch in the ring. Lynch attacks her, but Stark takes her down. Stark connects with a springboard missile dropkick for a two-count. Stratus grabs a steel chair from under the ring and throws it into the ring, hitting Stark right in the face! Stark shakes it off and plays that really cool. Lynch rolls Stark up for a one-count. Stark quickly clotheslines her down. Stratus clumsily throws more chairs into the ring. There is a pile of chairs in the ring. Stark attacks Lynch. The crowd doesn’t care and chants, “We want tables.” Stark puts Lynch on the top rope and goes for a superplex into the chair pile, but Lynch fights her off. Stratus grabs Lynch’s ankle, but Lynch kicks her away. Lynch knocks Stark onto the top rope and hits a diving leg drop for a two-count. Lynch goes for a Dis-Arm-Her, but Stark fights it and sweeps the feet to land Lynch on the chairs. Stark goes for Z-360, but Lynch gets out and hits the Manhandle Slam. Stratus breaks up the pin.
An irate Lynch chases the WWE Hall of Famer around ringside. Stratus grabs a kendo stick, so Lynch puts the brakes on. Lynch absorbs a shot and pulls it out of her hands. Lynch beats Stratus around ringside with the kendo stick. Lynch viciously beats Stratus up the ramp and to the back. Lynch turns into a chair shot to the midsection from Stark. Stark takes her down with another chair shot for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the final break of the evening, Lynch and Stark are fighting in the crowd. Lynch sends Stark over the barricade back to ringside. Lynch stands on the barricade and hits a diving clothesline. Lynch hits a Bexploder into the LED barricade for a near fall. Lynch gets Stark in the ring and pulls a table out from under the ring to a big ovation. Stark baseball slides Lynch and shouts that Memphis doesn’t deserve tables.
Stark gets Lynch in the ring and snaps her off the top rope. Stark grabs a steel chair and viciously beats Lynch’s spine with it four times. Stark sets Lynch up with a chair on her chest. Stark hits a slingshot twisting plancha for a near fall. Lynch may have hurt her knee from that. Stark puts another chair on Lynch and goes to the top rope. Lynch gets up and throws the chair into Stark’s head. Lynch hits a superplex onto the pile of chairs! Lynch covers, 1… 2… Stark kicks out!
Lynch clears the commentary table and puts Stark on it. Lynch goes for a Manhandle Slam through the table, but Stark fights it. Trish Stratus returns to ringside and sweeps Lynch’s feet. Stark kicks Lynch in the face for a near fall on the commentary table. Stark is furious. Stark attacks Lynch and climbs the barricade. Lynch knocks her into the timekeeper’s area and beats Stratus down. Lynch climbs a table and goes for a Manhandle Slam on Stark, but Stratus attacks her. Stratus then hits a bulldog through a table in the crowd! Stark covers for a near fall!
Stratus and Stark double-team Lynch through the crowd. They climb some crates for a double-team bulldog, but Lynch fights Stark off. Lynch ducks a Chick Kick. Lynch goes for a Manhandle Slam on Stratus, but Stark attacks her. Stark swings wildly and accidentally hits Stratus, knocking her off the crates and through a table on the concrete floor! Stark and Lynch are both shocked. Lynch then hits Stark with a Manhandle Slam through a table on the concrete for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch will battle Trish Stratus in a Steel Cage Match this Saturday at WWE Payback. Lynch takes off her black armband that says, “Bray,” and sobs over the loss of her friend. Raw comes to an end.
Quick Match Results
— Damian Priest def. Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn
— The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) def. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) in a Tag Team Match
— Chad Gable def. Ludwig Kaiser via DQ
— Tommaso Ciampa def. “Big” Bronson Reed
— Becky Lynch def. Zoey Stark in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
Email – mike@wrestleview.com
X – @MikeTedescoWV
Thanks for reading!