Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (5/15/23)
Adrenaline! In Raw’s soul!
The American Nightmare responds to The Beast’s challenge!
Last week on Raw, Brock Lesnar screwed Cody Rhodes out of the World Heavyweight Championship! Lesnar wants to fight, will Cody accept?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Shinsuke Nakamura VS The Miz; Nakamura wins.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Battle Royal: Mustafa Ali wins and will challenge Gunther for the title at Night of Champions.
- Xavier Woods VS Dominik Mysterio w/ Rhea Ripley; Dom wins.
- Indus Sher w/ Jinder Mahal VS ???; Indus Sher wins.
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez VS Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville; postponed because of injury.
- Raquel Rodriguez VS Chelsea Green w/ Sonya Deville; Raquel wins.
- Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn VS Finn Balor & Damian Priest; Finn & Priest win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are here!
Greensboro, North Carolina fires up for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions as they head to the ring. The Bloodline isn’t letting go of the past, and now Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa are coming for the tag titles! Sami gets the mic to say, “Oh, Greensboro! Oh my gosh. Not gonna lie, guys, I’m excited. I am on one tonight, because we found out, just like each and everyone one of you, we found out on Friday… Trust me, we were as surprised as anyone, that at Night of Champions, we will be defending our Undisputed Tag Team Championships against a team of Solo Sikoa & Roman Reigns.”
Fans boo, but Sami says yeah, he gets it. On paper, that’s as big of a threat to these titles as there is. But Sami & Kevin don’t see it as that. It is a GIFT! It is a gift because they are getting something they never thought they’d get: a chance at revenge on Roman Reigns! But to be honest for a second, Kevin Owens should’ve beat Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. Sami knows that at Elimination Chamber, he should’ve beaten Roman for that championship! Fans agree there. But Roman has cheated his way through an entire title reign, unchecked for far too long, and now THEY are going to check Roman!
Sami says this is the problem with Roman. He’s gone unchecked, and he doesn’t know where to stop. They thought the only chance was to make the Bloodline crumble. But these days, Roman is doing that all by himself. Roman is pushing too far and too hard, and he’s pushing the Usos too hard! Now he’s pushing this championship thing too hard. It is never enough for Roman. It is not enough to have the WWE Championship, it is not enough to have the Universal Championship for 1000 days! Now Roman wants the Undisputed Tag Team Championships, too?! “Well, Roman, you psycho, you manipulator, you want these championships? YOU CAN’T HAVE THEM!!”
Fans cheer, but then here comes the Judgment Day! Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio & Rhea Ripley all make their way out to the ring, mics in hand. But Kevin has them stop right there! Kevin is glad someone came out here, because he’s so sick talking about the Bloodline, he doesn’t care about the Bloodline. Kevin doesn’t care what Judgment Day is out here to say, but it’s probably not to hang out later. If they wanna fight, then let’s fight! Let’s go right now! Sami has Kevin hold on, and says yes, this might be his fault starting at a 10. But Kevin’s getting to an 11. They have problems with the Bloodline, not with Judgment Day.
Why are they out here? Maybe it’s not to fight! Let’s hear them out first. Sami tells the gentlemen, and Dom, that the floor is theirs. Damian says Kevin is right, he’d love to fight! But then Finn has everyone tranquilo! They do just wanna talk. Finn says they’re wishing Sami & Kevin the best of luck against Roman & Solo. But it’s just a bit confusing. Last week, Kevin & Sami said they were done, but they’re right back where they started. Damian says they’re right back to getting beat up by Roman! Yeah, maybe, huh? But if by some miracle, Sami & Kevin do win, then when they get back, there will be a whole line of stars waiting for them.
“And guess what? The line starts here.” Rhea says in case no one remembers, the Judgment Day runs Monday Night Raw! Kevin tells Sami they heard the Judgment Day out. Sami says those were all great points. Fans cheer for “MAMI! MAMI!” and Rhea smiles. Sami says it was all well said. But for him personally, what does Dom have to say? The people just love to hear Dom talk. Fans boo because they don’t! Dom says if they want his opinion, but then gets drowned out by boos. Kevin face palms and says he can’t hear anything! It is pointless! Can he just punch someone in the face? Yeah, sure!
But then Rhea defends Dom! Kevin can’t punch her. But Priest DECKS Sami! And Rhea DECKS Kevin! The Judgment Day stomps away on Kevin, but Sami gets a chair! Sami runs the Judgment Day off! The Prizefighter wants to fight, Judgment Day wants to fight, will we see a preview of post Night of Champions tonight?
Shinsuke Nakamura VS The Miz!
The King of Strong Style may not be going to Night of Champions for the World Heavyweight Championship, but right now, he wants to settle things with the Hollywood A-Lister! Will Miz be too soft for Strong Style? Or will Nakamura regret the offer to form #Mizuke?
Raw returns and The Miz makes his entrance. The bell rings and fans taunt Miz with “TINY BALLS!” Miz keeps trying to reason with Nakamura that they could be a super team, and he offers a handshake. Nakamura thinks about it, but he kicks the hand away. Miz frowns but Nakamura says, “C’MON!” Miz runs in but into a knee! Nakamura fires forearms and knees, whips Miz to ropes, and LEG LARIATS Miz down! Nakamura then drops a knee! And then throws knees into Miz’s side and back! Miz crawls, Nakamura stomps him to a corner, then gives him some GOOD VIBRATIONS~! The fans cheer but the ref counts.
Nakamura lets off, goes corner to corner, but Miz BOOTS him! Miz BOOTS again, then puts Nakamura int he ropes. Miz CHOKES Nakamura, the ref counts, and Miz lets off to run and STRADDLE ATTACK! Nakamura falls back and fans boo but Miz scowls. Miz stalks Nakamura, brings Nakamura up, and whips. Nakamura reverses and sends Miz tumbling out! Nakamura then runs to WRECK Miz with a sliding dropkick! Nakamura puts Miz in the ring, on the apron, and then KNEE LIFTS Miz! Then goes up to GUILLOTINE KNEE! Miz flops down and Nakamura brings him up again. Nakamura puts Miz back in the ring and fans rally up.
Nakamura sees Miz go to the apron, Nakamura hurries over but Miz knees him low! Miz brings Nakamura out, DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Nakamura flops to the floor and Miz scowls again. Miz sits Nakamura up, for a BASEMENT BOOT! Fans boo but Miz is in control as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and both men rise up. Fans rally behind Nakamura, and he counters Miz to fire off a strike fest! AX KICK! Nakamura roars, fans fire up, and Nakamura KICKS Miz in the chest! And again! And again, but Miz blocks! But Nakamura ENZIGURIS! Miz staggers to a corner, Nakamura storms up and whips him corner to corner. Miz reverses, runs in, but Nakamura dodges to ENZIGURI again! Nakamura puts Miz on the top rope, then runs for the TOP SHELF KNEE! Cover, TWO! Nakamura keeps cool as Miz stays in this. But Miz throat chops! And full nelson! Nakamura breaks free but Miz O’Conner Rolls! TWO, and into an ARMBAR!!
Miz clasps hands, hurries, but Nakamura beats the fingers apart! Miz stacks Nakamura, TWO!! Miz kicks low, BASEMENT DDT! Cover, TWO!! Miz can’t believe it but Nakamura survives! Miz shakes out his arm, waits on Nakamura, and Miz gives him IT KICKS! Then Miz runs in, but Nakamura ducks to roll him! Miz ducks the buzzsaw but not the WHEEL KICK! Cover, TWO! Miz survives but Nakamura doesn’t let up! Nakamura clinches, INVERTED EXPLODER, but Miz lands on his feet! Miz full nelsons but Nakamura arm-drags free! Miz dodges in the corner, runs back in, but Nakamura dodges the A-List Lariat! SLIDING GERMAN!!
Fans fire up and Nakamura takes aim! “YAO~!” Miz rises, but then he runs away to the apron! Fans boo and Miz grabs the skirt. Nakamura drags Miz back in, the ref is busy with the skirt, and Miz pokes Nakamura in the eyes! SKULL CRUSHING FINALE!! ROPEBREAK!!! Nakamura survives by a literal foot and Miz is shocked! Fans fire up and Miz drags Nakamura to center, but Nakamura cradles him! TWO!! Miz rushes in, into a KINSHASA!! Cover, Nakamura wins!
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura, by pinfall
The King of Strong Style overcomes Miz in a must-see battle! Will Nakamura still find his way to the throne in the near future?
Adam Pearce meets with Raquel Rodriguez, Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green.
The Complaint Department is giving him quite the headache as the argument is that the title match is not happening now that Liv Morgan is hurt from Friday’s title defense against Damage CTRL. As much as Liv wants to defend the titles, she’s not medically cleared. No one wants to hear this, least of all him, but the title match is postponed. Oh, right, Liv is “injured.” How convenient. Yes, Chelsea, she is injured. Right, okay, wink wink. Funny how they keep moving the goal posts. Sonya says it’s funny, because as a former member of management, in a situation like this, the titles would be forfeited!
And as a former member of management, Sonya should know that would not fly! Then Chelsea wants to speak to PEARCE’s manager! Raquel is not going to hear them cry on and on an don. It isn’t happening tonight, but Raquel will gladly defend Liv’s honor against Chelsea! Pearce can make that official right now. And Sonya would love to see it. Right, Chelsea? Uh… Yeah! And Raquel will regret it! She’ll wish she never ever asked for this! You will all regret it! Whatever, Karen. But one way or another, Big Mami Cool and the Hot Mess are facing off, who will be the one to regret it?
Corey Graves interviews Seth Rollins.
We have footage from 2012 as Rollins said he was WWE’s next breakout star. Following highlights of his career so far, Graves says many consider Rollins a generation defining superstar, and he has a chance to add more history to his already impressive resumé at Night of Champions in the World Heavyweight Championship tournament finals. Graves thanks Rollins for his time, Rollins thanks Graves for having him. They go back a long way, but don’t go digging too deep. Graves will do his best.
Going back to 2012, Rollins was in a tournament to crown the very first NXT Champion. What did that moment mean to him? Rollins says at that time, there was a need for change. There was a fire for someone to take the reins of this industry, and Rollins had that vision. Rollins defeated Jinder Mahal in the finals to win the title. Becoming the first NXT Champion, he found a way to push the industry forward. And Graves says Rollins didn’t wait too long before moving up to Raw & SmackDown as part of The Shield. The Shield became one of the most dominant factions in WWE history, they wanted success and change and they wanted it now, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
But as the Shield continued to dominate, Rollins saw a need to change himself. That’s what led to the “Chairshot Heard Around the World.” Rollins betrayed Roman and Ambrose, and Rollins says that to this day, people ask him why he did that. Fans said Rollins sold out. But Rollins says they’d beaten everyone there was to beat. And to reach ultimate success, you gotta take risks. If Rollins hadn’t hit Roman with the chair, what would the now look like?
Then why is this the right time for a new world champion? And why is it the right time for that new world champion to be Rollins? We’ll hear the rest of this interview later tonight.
Imperium heads to the ring!
Der Ring General arrives on Raw, and he is ready to make Monday nights sacred! He even stands on top of the announce desk so everyone can see him while Ludwig Kaiser says, “Ladies and gentlemen… I demand all your gratitude for your Intercontinental Champion…! Der Ring General…! GUUUNTHEEER!” Fans do cheer for the imposing figure of Gunther, and he takes the mic now. “Perhaps an introduction is due. For almost a year, I dominated Friday Night SmackDown as the undefeated and longest reigning Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion of the modern era.”
Fans cheer that, because it is impressive. Gunther says from this day forward, he will continue his mission here on Monday Night Raw. But he wants us to understand: No man here on Raw has yet been identified as the next challenger for his great prize, nor has earned his respect. “But in just a few moments, one man can achieve both. Tonight, this battle royal will determine my next challenger for MY championship, against THIS champion, at the Night of Champions!”
WWE Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Battle Royal!
Ricochet, Baron Corbin, Matt Riddle, Riddick Moss, JD McDonagh, Elias, Akira Tozawa, Apollo Crews, Mustafa Ali, Dolph Ziggler, Bronson Reed, Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin, Johnny Gargano, Dexter Lumis, Xyon Quinn, Von Wagner, The Viking Raiders, Los Lotharios, and The Alpha Academy are all in this to win this, but who will be the one and only #1 contender to Gunther’s title?
Raw returns and Apollo makes his entrance, now back on Raw after refreshing himself in NXT. Matt Riddle follows, and flicks his sandals at Gunther! Imperium has to hold Gunther back and The Bro gets in the ring. The bell rings and the chaos ensues! Fans fire up as the brawling goes on all around the ring. Tozawa fires hands on Corbin, the Vikings mug Bronson, but then Corbin TOSSES Tozawa to ELIMINATE him! Corbin says he’s back, baby! But then Lumis clotheslines and ELIMINATES Corbin! Corbin throws a fit, but then MMM dump and ELIMINATE Lumis! Mace & Mansoor brag, but fans boo.
But then Mace & Mansoor see Lumis glaring at them. They bump into the Alpha Academy, swing on them, but get ROCKED! The Alpha Academy DUMPS and ELIMINATES Mace! And yet, Maxxine loves it? Mace feels betrayed, and Mansoor stands up on the apron. Gargano SUPERKICKS Mansoor, but Mace catches! Only for Lumis to spool him into dropping Mansoor! Uh, someone ELIMINATES Mansoor! Mace runs away, Mansoor follows, it’s like Shaggy & Scooby running from a monster! Meanwhile, JD drags Carrillo out to the apron with him. Carrillo swings, JD ducks and HEADBUTTS! Carrillo follows, the Irish Ace ELIMINATES him!
Ziggler swings on JD, JD ducks and slingshots, but into a SUPERKICK! Ziggler ELIMINATES JD! But then Von grabs Ziggler with both hands and TOSSES him out to ELIMINATE him! The NXT call-ups are making some big impacts! But then JD RAMS Ziggler into steel steps! He’s a sore loser, we know that from NXT, and he just keeps RAMMING Ziggler into the steps! The refs reprimands but JD pulls the steps apart! The refs get him to stop, but will the Necessary Evil take out The Showoff? The battle royal rages on as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Erik stomps away on Cedrick. Ricochet throws hands on Reed, but then Erik turns him around to ROCK him! Erik then KNEES Reed and Ivar CLOBBERS Xyon! Ivar SPLASHES Crews, ROCKS Elias, and then the Vikings mug Alexander. Moss slips away from Benjamin, the VIkings TOSS and ELIMINATE Alexander! Then they mug Xyon! Gargano fights Moss’ scoop while The Vikings TOSS and ELIMINATE Xyon! Benjamin throws hands on the Vikings! Fans fire up as Benjamin ROCKS Erik! But Ivar BOOTS Benjamin, he and Erik mug Benjamin, and fans boo. The Vikings TOSS Benjamin and ELIMINATE him!
Fans boo more as the Vikings soak it up. but then they turn around and see the Alpha Academy. Fans rally up, and Otis RAMS Ivar! Gable and Erik throw hands! Gable throat chops, whips, and Erik goes to the apron! Gable runs in but into a shoulder! Erik brings Gable up in a suplex! But Gable fights and gets around! Erik fights off the German Suplex as Sarah Logan shouts. Erik ELBOWS Gable, Ace Ten Maou! But Otis BLASTS and ELIMINATES Erik!! Fans fire up and Gable hugs his number one guy! But then Ivar BLASTS and ELIMINATES Gable! Otis and Ivar fire fists and fans fire up!
But Bronson Reed DUMPS and ELIMINATES both Gable and Ivar! The Colossal is truly a force of nature! Sarah is furious, but Maxxine just comforts “Otise.” But now we have a final eight: Bronson Reed, Mustafa Ali, Ricochet, Matt Riddle, Apollo Crews, Johnny Gargano, Riddick Moss and Elias. Fans rally up as the other seven look at Reed, and attack! Fans fire up as the seven get Reed in a corner. Reed shoves people aside, and they all start brawling with each other., Gargano whips Ali, Ali goes up and over and keeps moving, but Gargano dodges to RANA! Ali ends up in a corner, fans fire up with Gargano!
Gargano runs in, Ali slips out and ROUNDHOUSES! Slingshot, somersault, NECKBREAKER! Ali tosses Gargano out but Gargano holds on! Ricochet runs over, Ali DECKS him! But Gargano SLINGSHOT SPEARS! Ricochet SHOOTING STARS Gargano! Fans fire up, Moss swings on Ricochet but misses! Ricochet springboards, into Moss’s arms! FALL AWAY SLAM! But Reed SAMOAN DROPS Moss! Apollo BOOTS Reed, goes up, FLYING BLOCKBUSTER! Fans fire up but Elias SYMPHO-KNEES Apollo! And SPLASHES Reed! And then he Electric Chair Lifts Apollo, but Apollo RANAS Elias out!
Elias swings on Apollo but Apollo PELES Elias out to ELIMINATE him! But Reed clotheslines Apollo up and out and ELIMINATES him! Ali jumps on Reed’s back, but Reed TOSSES him away! Ricochet runs in, Reed spins him around to a dragon sleeper. Gargano runs in, but Reed catches him, URENAGE REVERSE DDT COMBO! Riddle runs in to fire palm strikes! Reed shoves back, Riddle BOOTS him! But Reed SWATS the roundhouse! Reed shoves Riddle again, runs in, but into an elbow! Reed goes up, WHISP-BRO in the Wind! But Moss CLOBBERS Riddle! Moss keeps moving, but Riddle TOSSES Moss to ELIMINATE him!
Riddle taunts Moss but Gargano rolls Riddle for the SCHOOLBOY KICK! Riddle stands, but he catches Gargano to a headscissors and ELIMINATES him! Now there’s just four! The Bro, The Colossal, #PositiveAli and The King of Flight. But seeing Riddle on the outside, Imperium rushes in! The refs reprimand but Riddle KICKS Vinci! Ludwig trips Riddle! Fans boo, but Reed BLASTS Riddle and ELIMINATES him! Ricochet rushes Reed but Reed shoves him away. Riddle V-TRIGGERS! And DROPKICKS! Reed leans on the ropes, Ricochet lifts him! Ali helps out! They dump Reed to the apron but he holds onto ropes!
Ali and Ricochet mug Reed, but Reed HEADBUTTS Ali. Ricochet DROPKICKS Reed! Reed wobbles, Ricochet triangle jump DROPKICKS!! Reed is still holding on!? Ricochet triangle jumps again, but Reed gets him! Fireman’s carry, but now Ali is up top! Ali SPRINGBOARD MISSILE DROPKICKS them both, and WINS!!
Winner: Mustafa Ali, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the WWE Intercontinental Championship)
The Beacon is all fired up! Ali is heading to Night of Champions, but will he be able to take Gunther’s gold?
Becky Lynch is here!
Greensboro fires up for The Man as she heads to the ring. Fans cheer for Becky as she gets the mic. “The Man has come around to Greensboro! Look, uh, part of being The Man is admitting you’ve been going through some stuff. And lately, I’ve been going through some stuff. We all have our struggles. We have our struggles behind closed doors, we have small struggles, big struggles, medium struggles. And we put on the face that we need to put on so that we can do what we need to do to become the people that we want to be.” Fans cheer that!
Becky continues to say, “And sometimes, when it becomes too overwhelming and we feel like we can’t do it on our own anymore, we have to man up and ask for help. And that’s what I did. I asked for help from two legends in this business, two women who have been through a lot in their own life, Lita and Trish Stratus.” Fans boo Trish but Becky says Lita was great. Fans cheer Lita, and Becky says Lita came back, she and Becky won gold, and Trish came back, hadn’t missed a beat. Becky let Trish get close to her and her family, but she couldn’t see the snake in the grass that maybe everyone else saw coming a mile away.
Trish never came back to help Becky. Trish came back to help herself, “like the backstabbing ego maniac that she is.” But despite that, Becky did wanna come out here and to say, “Thank you, Trish.” But not for the bullock reasons she gave! No, thank you, Trish, because you hitting Becky in the back turned on a light that had been off for many, many months! Becky thanks Trish, because when Trish called Becky’s daughter stupid, Becky was reminded that the only thing that matters in life is standing up for the people that depend on us. And thank you, Trish, for giving all the badness in Becky’s head a face and a name and a target!
Fans cheer, and Becky continues that at one point, Trish was number one in the business. She wants to be there again, but Becky is it! Becky’s done it, she’s been it, she doesn’t need a title to prove it, and will be it until she says it is over! So if Trish wants it, she’s got it! Becky will show Trish how “thankful” she is when she kicks her head in at Night of Champions! Fans fire up as Becky throws down the mic as well as the gauntlet! Will Trish accept this big time challenge?
Backstage interview with Rhea Ripley.
Cathy Kelley knows Rhea’s been keeping a close eye on the Women’s Division. What is her opinion on Natalya coming to Raw and intervening as Rhea was beating up Dana Brooke? Rhea says Natty needs to stay in her lane. Natty has had a pretty impressive career, but- Natty steps in to say there is no but. Yes, Natty’s career is impressive. But everyone already knows that. And this isn’t about lanes, but about beating someone up who was already beat. Rhea is the most dominant woman to ever hold the SmackDown Women’s Championship. And Rhea does deserve respect. But respect is something Rhea is not giving the women she runs through.
Rhea chuckles, and tells Natty not to act like that was for Dana last week. Natty’s had a longer career, but we all know that Natty wanted to be in the ring with Rhea so that everyone would care about her again. So you’re welcome. But if you ever interrupt Rhea again, she won’t boost Natty’s career. She will end it. Dom walks over and tells Mami it’s time to go. Rhea and Dom leave, but will the Eradicator be made to respect the Queen of Harts?
Mustafa Ali runs across Maxxine Durpi and the Alpha Academy.
Maxxine is arguing with Gable and Ali wants them to stop with all the negativity. No wonder they both lost in the battle royal. But can he give them some advice? NO! Well, Ali used to be a loser, just like them. Until he started more positive, and now he’s a winner! YAY! Ali heads out, but then comes across Imperium. Gunther congratulates Ali, he is now the rightful challenger to what is rightfully Gunther’s. But Gunther already feels bad for Ali. Ali is going to travel halfway across the world, to suffer the biggest loss of his career. And the beating that goes with it, Good luck at Night of Champions.
Gunther offers a handshake, Ali accepts it, and Ali says he feels bad for Gunther. Gunther has to go all the way there, and all the way back, just for Ali to beat him, humiliate him, and take that title. Gunther smiles and Ali says that’s the key! Be positive! Ali heads out, but is he being confident? Or foolish?
Xavier Woods VS Dominik Mysterio w/ Rhea Ripley!
The Power of Positivity keeps on going, and wants another go at the Prodigal Son. Will Woods be ready for all the tricks The Judgment Day uses? Or will Dom 2-0 sweep the former tag team champion?
Raw returns as Dom makes his entrance, Rhea right by his side. Dom has the mic to say, “Look, Mami. It’s Xavier Woods.” Fans boo but Dom asks if Woods is here to convince himself that he can beat Dom because it’s a new day? Woods stops Dom right there. Dom’s right, Woods has no one to watch is back. Right now, anyway. But unlike Dom, Woods is a grown man who can stand on his own two feet and fight his own battles! Can Dom say the same? Or does Dom have to ask Mami for permission to speak? Fans chant for “MAMI! MAMI!” but Dom and Rhea just walk to the ring.
The bell rings, Woods and Dom circle, and they tie up. Woods wrenches, wristlocks, but Dom spins and wrenches back. Woods rolls, spins, kips up and wrenches to WRING Dom out! Fans rally, Woods hammerlocks and headlocks. Woods wrenches and headlocks again, fans taunt Dom with “Who’s Your Daddy?” as Woods arm-drags Dom! And then runs him over! And again! Dom sputters to ropes, Woods runs side to side, and he dropkicks Dom in the back! Cover, TWO! Dom is still in this and Rhea is relieved, but Woods drags Dom up. Dom knees low, bumps Woods off buckles and stomps away!
Fans boo but the ref counts and Dom lets off at 4. Rhea applauds and Dom soaks up the heat. But Dom turns around and Woods dropkicks him! Woods knuckle locks but Dom CLUBS away! Dom stomps Woods down then knuckle locks him in return. Dom taunts Woods while putting on the pressure. Woods fights up, pushes Dom down, and then yanks Dom up into a suplex! Cover, TWO! Dom bails out to regroup with Mami but Woods pursues. Rhea stands in Woods’ way and fans boo. Woods says fine, but Dom slips away. Rhea taunts Woods, Dom tells the fans up theirs, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Woods JABS Dom! And JABS! And JABS! Dom shoves, and UPPERCUTS Woods down! Cover, TWO! Rhea is mad at the ref but Dom rains down fists on Woods. Dom lets off to soak up more heat, and he stalks Woods to a corner. Dom puts Woods up top, throws hands, but fans chant “YOU SUCK!” Dom climbs up after Woods, tells the fans that they suck, but Woods throws hands in return! Woods HEADBUTTS Dom off the corner! Dom flounders, Woods stands up, and Woods jumps for the MISSILE DROPKICK! Fans fire up while both men are down again!
Woods and Dom stir as fans rally up. Woods ROCKS and CHOPS and repeat on Dom! Woods whips, Dom reverses but Woods ducks ‘n’ dodges then slides, to ROLLING ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Rhea is relieved again while Dom goes to a corner. Woods runs corner to corner and back elbows! Woods whips corner to corner, runs in again and clotheslines! Snapmare and HONOR- NO, Dom gets around! Woods throws elbows, wrenches and whips, but Dom reverses. Dom runs in but into a BOOT! Woods HONOR ROLLS! Cover, TWO! Rhea almost got in the ring, but she calms back down.
Dom wants mercy but then he YANKS Woods out of the ring! Woods hurries back up, but Dom dodges the shoulder to knee Woods! Dom has Woods for a snap suplex! Uno Amigo! Fans boo as Dom keeps going, Dos Amigos! Rhea is loving this as Dom brings Woods up for THREE AMIGOS! Dom gives us Latino Heat and Rhea applauds. Fans boo as Dom climbs the corner, blows a kiss to Rhea, and FROG SPLASHES onto knees!! Cover, TWO!! Dom survives, Rhea freaks out, but Woods trophy lifts Dom for a GUT BUSTER DROP!! Cover, TWO!! Dom survives again but Rhea is panicking!
Woods drags Dom around, goes to the apron, and he climbs the corner. Woods tightrope walks, for the LIMIT- NO, Rhea drags Dom out of the ring! The ref reprimands, but Woods PLANCHAS Dom down! Woods puts Dom in the ring, Rhea distracts him, and Dom WRECKS Woods with a dropkick! Dom gets in, he argues with the ref, and Rhea hits Woods from behind! Rhea puts Woods in for Dom to GEDO CLUTCH! Dom wins again!!
Winner: Dominik Mysterio, by pinfall
Mami helps Dommy again! It still proves Woods right, but how can Woods win without someone watching his back?
JD McDonagh speaks.
“For the longest time, I really bought into it. I believed, y’know? I believed that if you worked as hard as you could, if you trust the process and you treat the others around you with respect, you’ll get your turn. But then the years tick on, and I see other guys, guys that aren’t fit to lace my boots, get opportunities ahead of me. And I started to realize… I am performing for an audience of fools. And now what you’re left with is this. I am the paracausal force. The plane of suffering. I am the destructor, I dig the graves. The Irish Ace is here to stay.”
Backstage interview with JD McDonagh.
At least, Cathy is hoping to. She hurries after him as he leaves the building, and asks him about why he attacked Ziggler during the battle royal. JD says he came to Raw to make a statement, and who better against than Ziggler? Ziggler’s done it all. Former world champion, Intercontinental, Money in the Bank. But he found out what everyone will find out soon: Never bet against the Ace.
Indus Sher w/ Jinder Mahal VS ???
Veer & Sanga were already powerful forces on their own, but now the Modern Day Maharaja is leading them. Will they soon take over the Raw Tag Division with their size and strength?
The teams sort out and Veer starts against Jobber A, but then he just BLASTS Jobber B at the bell! And he CLOBBERS Jobber A with a big shoulder! Veer stomps Jobber A out, tags Sanga in, and Veer drags Jobber A out onto the ropes for Sanga to BOOT him down! Sanga roars, he drags Jobber A back up and throws him to the corner! Sanga wants Jobber B to tag in, so Jobber B tags in. Only for Sanga to TOSS him across the way! Sanga then runs in to SPLASH Jobber B in the corner! Tag to Veer, Sanga scoops Jobber B, and he SLAMS him down. Veer then jumps for a BIG elbow drop!
Sanga then BOOTS Jobber A off the apron! He almost wipes out a cameraman! Veer RAMS Jobber B into the corner, and shouts “NAMASTE!” before he SPLASHES Jobber B from behind! Jinder is pleased as Sanga tags back in. Sanga drags Jobber B up, Veer goes up, LEG DROP SIDEWALK SLAM COMBO! Cover, Indus Sher wins!
Winners: Indus Sher, by pinfall
Apparently, these two young men are named Lamar and Drake. Those names can be on the hospital room doors here in Greensboro, because Veer & Sanga have their names on the winners’ checks. Jinder gets the mic to say, in Hindi, that Indus Sher are going to dominate. And then he gets on commentary to say that a lot of people talk about running Monday Night Raw. Jinder says that Indus Sher now runs Raw. And their future will be written in gold! Will anyone refute the words of the Modern Day Maharaja?
Sami & Kevin talk backstage.
They’re in agreement that they’re going to beat Finn & Priest to roll into Night of Champions, but then Imperium walks over. Kevin asks what they’re doing. Why? Sami also wants to know why. Gunther says he will not tolerate the disrespect Sami & Kevin showed his men last week. Ugh. Disrespect? Really? Is that what Gunther’s saying? Well how about this? Next week, Kevin & Sami will take them all on! Not tonight, they already have a fight for tonight, but next week is wide open! It’ll be all three of them! Sami says they’ll find a partner. But is that good? Imperium accepts and heads out. Sami says Kevin is at a 10 all the time. But will Kevin & Sami #JustKeepFighting until Night of Champions?
Cody Rhodes exits his bus.
The American Nightmare is ready to speak, and he heads to gorilla. What will he say about accepting the challenge to fight Brock Lesnar at Night of Champions?
Cody Rhodes heads to the ring!
Raw returns and fans sing along with the song. Cody gets his pyro and continues into the ring, for more pyro! Cody gets the mic and fans cheer more. “So, Greensboro, North Carolina… Whaddya wanna talk about? I know these grounds, I know this arena. This is the fabled, very first home of Starrcade.” Fans cheer that fact, and Cody says, “A wonderful memory, a great amount of mutual respect, respect that is not shared by Brock Lesnar, who has elected not to be here.” Fans boo that fact, but Cody says this is a fun audience. He’s going to try something you don’t typically hear on a sports entertainment show…
“Ladies and gentlemen, have you heard the one about the scorpion and the frog?” Some fans have, so Cody says it is a simple story. There’s a scorpion on one side of the river and needs to get across to the other side. He asks a frog, who can hop and swim, if he can get a ride. The frog says, “Hell nah,” the scorpion would sting him! The scorpion says no, because if he did, they’d both drown. That logic is airtight for the frog. The frog gives the scorpion a ride, and halfway across the river, what happens? The fans also know, the scorpion still stings the frog. And as the frog is dying, he asks the scorpion, “Why?” The scorpion replies, “It’s my nature.”
So it is Brock Lesnar’s nature to hunt. Brock Lesnar must be hunting. “But make sure, Brock, if you’re the one who’s hunting, let me ask you something: how’s your face?” Cody knows Lesnar looks in the mirror and sees a lion, “the alpha male of our species,” but he should also see a black eye and some staples. When Cody looks in the mirror, he sees the man who put them there! He sees the man who broke Lesnar’s face and spirit and beat the biggest bully in WWE history! So Cody gladly accepts the challenge for Night of Champions! Fans cheer that, and Cody says he won’t go “out of bounds.”
There’s always been talk about Brock’s ego, his manipulation of the roster, his performing dates. You wanna know why Lesnar is on top and has been on top? Because Brock Lesnar is better than 99.9% of the superstars who come into this ring. But at Backlash, Brock Lesnar was NOT better than Cody Rhodes. Fans cheer that, too! Now, Lesnar called that a “cheap win.” It was a wrestling counter to a wrestling hold in a wrestling ring, so how cheap is that? Even if Cody was imbued with the powers of God and won in 20 SECONDS, Lesnar would still have hunted Cody down. This isn’t about a title, this is about something else. This is about who is the Big Thing on Monday Night Raw.
Fans chant for “CODY! CODY!” and Cody says “The Next Big Thing,” that was what they called Lesnar. The Next Big Thing, and they were right. “But eventually, Brock, what happens when they just say… next?” Lesnar has conquered the WWE, he has conquered sports entertainment, he has conquered this sport. But we are at the point where Cody wants Lesnar to take his busted face, step aside, and understand he is NOT the big thing, he is just in Cody’s way! Fans fire up as Cody drops the mic. Will the American Nightmare beat Lesnar at his own game at Night of Champions?
Zoey Stark brags backstage.
She just knew she was gonna win and succeed. Everything is going great for her! Wait, she’s saying this to Nikki Cross, who she beat? And Nikki isn’t even paying attention! Zoey calls her a freak, but then Candice LeRae storms over to tell Zoey not to talk to Nikki like that. Uh, what? Where is Candice’s “little weirdo family?” Uh, excuse you, Zoey! Do not talk about her family like that. In fact, they don’t have to do this here. They can do this in the ring. Zoey says perfect, see you next Monday. Candice coming to Nikki’s defense, is she actually becoming Nikki’s friend?
Raquel Rodriguez VS Chelsea Green w/ Sonya Deville!
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions are still #LivingLarge, but without Liv cleared to compete, there is no tag title defense. Will Big Mami Cool still live it up and clean up the Hot Mess? Or will Karen- Er, Chelsea make Raquel regret underestimating her?
Raw returns as The Complaint Department make their entrance. The bell rings, Sonya gives Chelsea some last minute advice, but then Raquel just BOOTS Chelsea down! Raquel tells Sonya to watch out or she’ll get it, too. Raquel bumps Chelsea off buckles, then bumps her off more buckles. Raquel scoops Chelsea, carries her around, but Sonya distracts! Chelsea slips away while Raquel glares at Sonya, and then Chelsea hits a BACKSTABBER! And a motorcycle stretch STOMP into the buckles! Fans boo but Chelsea says “Too easy!” Chelsea runs in at the corner to clothesline! And clothesline! And elbow!
Fans boo, the ref counts, and Chelsea lets off with one last forearm! Chelsea then pushes Raquel out of the corner to CHOP BLOCK her leg! Fans boo more but Chelsea runs to SLIDING COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, ONE!! Raquel still has lots of power but Sonya says to stay on her. Chelsea throws in elbows then wraps on a chinlock. Chelsea throws crossface forearms but fans rally for Raquel. Chelsea armlocks and chinbars Raquel, but Raquel fights up. Raquel scoops Chelsea and SNAKE EYES! Chelsea staggers, fans fire up, but Chelsea drop toeholds Raquel onto ropes! Chelsea then DROPKICKS Raquel down! Cover, TWO!
Chelsea is surprised but Sonya coaches her. Chelsea chicken wings Raquel, turns her, but Raquel powers up to lift Chelsea! INVERTED ALABAMA SLAM hotshot on the ropes! Chelsea sputters, staggers, Sonya is still confident, but Raquel rallies with LARIAT after LARIAT! Chelsea dodges one but not the SOUTHPAW! Raquel whips, Chelsea reverses and ROCKS Raquel! Chelsea runs and leaps, into Raquel’s arms! FALL AWAY SLAM! Raquel scoops to FALL AWAY SLAM again! Fans fire up with Raquel and she scoops for a third FALL AWAY SLAM! Chelsea is in a drop zone, Raquel runs in, TWISTING VADER!
Raquel isn’t done with Chelsea, she gets her up for the TEXANA BOMB!! Cover, Raquel wins!
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez, by pinfall
Sonya is furious, but she’s the one who put Chelsea in this position. Will this be the same result when the tag titles are finally on the line?
Wait, RONDA ROUSEY AND SHAYNA BASZLER attack Raquel at the stage! Ronda mockingly announces Raquel as the tag team champion, then sits her up. “Hey, champ, got a question for ya. What’re you supposed to do with that title, huh? That was rhetorical, okay? Defend it!” Ronda tells Raquel she’ll defend the title with or without Liv, or else she’ll catch this same beating week after week! Fans boo but Ronda says, “One more thing.” She sets Raquel up for Shayna to PENALTY KICK down! The Baddest Women on the Planet are ready to be champions, when and where will they get their shot?
Imperium meets with someone.
And they shake his hand to accept his offer. It’s PAUL HEYMAN! Heyman then calls Roman Reigns, perhaps to share the good news. Is Imperium going to soften Sami & Kevin up for The Tribal Chief and Solo Sikoa?
Raw shares part two of Graves’ interview with Rollins.
Rollins said if he hadn’t put the chair to Roman’s back, where would we be now? That is a great “What if.” But in the wake of that moment, we’ve since seen many “iterations” of Rollins. The Architect under The Authority, the Monday Night Messiah during ThunderDome Era. He’s been Universal Champion, World Champion, Mr. Money in the Bank and he pulled off The Heist of the Century. Why is the current iteration the best? Yes, The Visionary! Seth Freakin’ Rollins! HAHAHA! But man, this approach, Rollins’ hands are off the wheel.
“That’s the fun part! We’re in this crazy synergistic experience with the WWE Universe, and I get to experience it for the first time in my career, in the most authentic version of myself.” The fans sing “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~” whenever Rollins is on screen, and Graves asks why he thinks that is. Why is it now? Rollins says that it could be the equity, the time, the hard work. Who knows. “But there is some organic relationship. For the first time in my career, I’m not the one forcing the change. The WWE Universe has been the catalyst for the change in me.”
Rollins has made it through the Raw bracket of the World Heavyweight Championship tournament, is going to Night of Champions, so why is now the right time for a new WHC? And why is Rollins the guy to hold it? “I hate to say it, but… We need a change again. I don’t feel like anybody at the top wants to take any risks with the titles they’re holding. I think they’re more about protecting themselves than about pushing the industry forward. And so now is the perfect time for a new World Heavyweight Championship, and we can do it the way it’s supposed to be done.”
With that in mind, Graves then asks, “What are your thoughts on Roman Reigns and his Undisputed Universal Championship reign?” Rollins smirks and knew it’d get there. Rollins takes off his sunglasses to get serious, but this part of the interview will be shared next week.
Apollo Crews speaks.
“People keep asking me, ‘Apollo, are you grateful to be back?’ A second chance at the opporutnity of a lifetime? Of course I am. But let’s be clear. This isn’t a gift. Nothing was handed to me. I’m a former United States Champion, Intercontinental Champion. I’ve fought on every corner of the planet and nobody says my name without putting some respect on it. I earned my way back. Never backed down from adversity no matter what, and I did it all by being the man that my kids can be proud of. I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it. This is my time.”
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn VS Finn Balor & Damian Priest!
The Undisputed Tag Team Champions sure are busy! Night of Champions against Roman & Solo. Next Monday against all of Imperium with a third man they haven’t even found yet. But tonight, they take on the Judgment Day’s Prince and Punisher! Will Kevin & Sami #JustKeepFighting to prove they truly are the best team in WWE? Or will there be speedbump after speedbump on this golden road?
Raw returns as the champions make their entrance. The teams sort out and Sami starts against Finn. Fans rally for Sami but Finn talks trash. They tie up, Finn waistlocks and SLAMS, then he slaps Sami around. Fans boo but Finn soaks up the heat. Sami and Finn reset, circle and tie up, and Finn gets an arm. Finn wrenches the arm to a wristlock, but Sami spins, wrenches, and wristlocks back. Sami brings Finn around, but Finn rolls, hooks a leg, but Sami wrangles him back down. Finn kips up, but Sami wrenches to a hammerlock. Finn puts the hammerlock on Sami but Sami puts it back on Finn.
The fans rally for Sami and sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~!” Finn reaches back, elbows free, and Sami falls over. Finn brings Sami up, headlocks, but Sami powers out. Things speed up, Sami arm-drags Finn, and arm-drags again to have an armlock! Finn fight up, puts Sami in the corner, and Priest tags in. Judgment Day mugs Sami, and Priest CLUBS Sami around. Priest HEADBUTTS Sami, scoops him, but Sami slips off to bump Priest off buckles! Sami then goes up the corner, leaps and AX HANDLES! Cover, ONE!! Kevin says that was three but not even close. Sami puts Priest in the corner and Kevin tags in.
Fans fire up as the champs mug Priest, Kevin CHOPS and ROCKS and ROCKS Priest again! Kevin whips, Priest kicks Kevin away! But Kevin ENZIGURIS! Priest staggers but stays up, and Kevin eggs him on. Priest runs in, Kevin dumps him out! Finn runs in, but Kevin sends him out! Finn wants Priest to hold on, they should think about this. Finn then calls to Dom and Rhea! The rest of the Judgment Day storms out to the ring and fans boo. Kevin and Sami stay cool, they expected this. But even so, the numbers are not in their favor, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Priest keeps Sami from Kevin. Sami fights up but Priest CLUBS him to the Judgment Day corner. Tag to Finn and Finn bumps Sami off buckles. Finn RAMS into Sami, RAMS him again, and again! The ref counts, Finn RAMS Sami until 4. Finn then runs to CHOP Sami! Rhea and Dom are both stinging from that, and Finn whips corner to corner. Finn runs in to CHOP again! Rhea and Dom cheer Finn on as he whips corner to corner again. But Sami comes back to CLOBBER Finn! Fans fire up and Dom is worried. Sami crawls, as does Finn, but Finn grabs Sami’s foot! Sami boots Finn away, hot tags to Kevin and Priest!
Kevin dodges Priest, clotheslines Finn in the corner, then turns around to fire off haymakers on Priest! They end up on the ropes, Kevin stomps away on Priest, but the ref counts. Kevin lets off with a roar and the fans fire up. Priest bails out but Kevin pursues, to CLOBBER Priest! And SENTON! Priest sputters, Kevin roars some more, and Kevin puts Priest in. Rhea rushes Kevin but he dodges! Kevin CLOBBERS Finn, CLOBBERS Dom, escapes Rhea and taunts her! Priest runs in but Kevin dodges, to then SUPERKICK! Priest sits down, Kevin keeps moving, “SUCK IT!” CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO!
Rhea is relieved that Priest survives but Kevin keeps focus. Fans chant “Fight Owens, Fight!” Kevin throws hands, BOOTS Priest, then runs, but Dom trips him up! The ref saw that, but Priest CLOBBERS Kevin from behind! The ref shouts at Dom and Rhea, and EJECTS them!! So much for Finn’s plan! The fans fire up while the Judgment Day is furious! Rhea & Dom reluctantly leave, Priest runs in at Kevin, but into a SUPERKICK! And a BOOT! Both men are down and fans rally back up. Woods goes after Dom!! Fans fire up as Woods fires off fists and chases Dom to the back! Rhea is shocked!
Back to the ring, Kevin and Priest rise, but Priest rolls Kevin up! TWO!! Wait, Heyman walks out now?! Priest CLOBBERS Kevin, and he smiles as he sees The Wise Man. Heyman is on the phone with Roman again as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns once again, and Priest brings Kevin up to ROCK him! Kevin ROCKS Priest! Priest ROCKS Kevin! Kevin SLAPOS Priest! Priest ROCKS Kevin! Kevin ROCKS Priest, DECKS Finn, but Priest KNEES low! Priest ROCKS Kevin, sucker punches Sami, and then Finn hurries to bring Sami up! Finn sends Sami into steel steps! Fans boo but Kevin BOOTS Priest! Kevin DECKS Finn again! But Priest back elbows Kevin in the corner! Tag to Finn, snapmare and slingshot STOMP! Priest tags back in, Finn sends Kevin into a ROUNDHOUSE! Finn scoops Kevin, BACKBREAKER LEG DROP COMBO! Cover, TWO!
Kevin hangs tough and fans fire up again! Priest is annoyed, but he drags Kevin up. Priest puts Kevin in a corner, hoists him up top, and ROCKS him with right hands and forearms. Kevin hits back! But Priest HEADBUTTS Kevin, then climbs up. Priest brings Kevin up, but Kevin fights with body shots! And with haymakers! But Priest gives forearms in return! Fans boo but Kevin CHOPS! And HEADBUTTS! And HEADBUTTS! And headbutts and headbutts! Kevin ELBOWS Priest down, adjusts, then SWANTON BOMBS!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! And Sami’s back up!
Fans rally as Kevin and Priest crawl. Hot tags to Finn and Sami! The Great Liberator rallies on The Prince! Then he dodges, and TACKLES Finn to rain down fists! Finn gets away but Sami kicks him. Sami whips, Finn reverses but Sami goes up and over to scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Finn survives, Heyman is worried, and Sami brings Finn to a drop zone. Sami goes up top and fans fire up again. Finn stands up and rushes over but Sami leaps up and over. Finn comes back to SLINGBLADE! Sami staggers, Finn tags aim, SHOT- BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Finn survives again!
Fans rally up, but now Imperium appears at ringside! Gunther, Ludwig & Vinci all distract Sami, Finn rolls Sami up! TWO!! Sami swings, into a dragon sleeper! BLOODY SUNDAY!! Cover, Kevin breaks it!! Priest returns to choke grip! But Kevin slips free to STUN- NO, Priest shoves Kevin! Priest choke grips again, but Kevin kicks free to STUNNER!! But Finn TOSSES Kevin! But Sami gets Finn for a CORNER EXPLODER! And then Sami goes corner to corner, HELLUVA KICK!! But Imperium distracts! Kevin DECKS Vinci, DECKS Ludwig, then goes out after them! Gunther is there, so Kevin shoves him! But Priest APRON CHOKE SLAMS Kevin!!
Sami FLIES out onto Priest!! Fans are thunderous again as Sami goes back in! He reloads and aims from the corner, but Imperium slides in the ring! The ref stops Vinci & Ludwig, but Gunther trips up Sami! Finn SHOTGUNS Sami! Sami ends up in the drop zone and Finn goes up top! COUP DE GRACE!! Cover, Finn & Priest win!!!
Winners: Finn Balor & Damian Priest, by pinfall
Heyman smiles, it seems this was the deal that was struck. Imperium and Judgment Day ended up working together to damage Kevin & Sami, and that only makes things easier for The Bloodline come Night of Champions. But did the Wise Man promise Der Ring General and his men something in return for this assistance? Who will Kevin & Sami find to help them get revenge next week?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw here with so much great build towards Night of Champions. Great promo from Cody as always to call out Lesnar and accept the challenge. I like that he used Pat McAfee’s nickname for Lesnar, but I’m a bit disappointed this match isn’t being made into more than another standard singles match. Lesnar shouted he wants to fight, so why is this not some kind of match that would prevent another quick pinfall win? Becky has a great promo of her own to call out Trish, and of course we’re getting a match between them at Night of Champions. And great interview stuff with Graves and Rollins, with it slightly pulling back the curtain. I like that they’re saving Rollins commenting on Roman for next week and the go-home, but this all surely leads to Rollins winning the new WHC.
Really good match from Nakamura VS Miz, and of course Nakamura wins that. But also, there’s probably a reason “Mizuke” isn’t a team. In Japanese, “mizuke” means moisture or dampness. I don’t think Nakamura wants to be associated with Miz or dampness. Meanwhile, a bit of a shame Liv is hurt (not sure if kayfabe or shoot), but good promo to shift from a tag match to a singles match, and I figured Raquel would win that. But I should’ve expected Ronda & Shayna to attack Raquel while she’s without back-up, and this is of course finally moving things back to Ronda & Shayna challenging for and taking the tag titles.
Indus Sher of course won their Raw debut, but the graphics they used being cybernetic themed does not match their presentation because, uh, they’re not cyborgs! But I do like that Jinder subtly called out Judgment Day, as Judgment Day says they run Raw, but that might change now. And speaking of, really good stuff out of Judgment Day, like Rhea’s interaction with Natty to further nod towards a title match between them, and Dom VS Woods in a rematch that Woods again cheats to win. I do like that Raw is getting full of trios, and I would love to see them all interact and have Six Man Tag matches.
Good vignette promos for JD and Apollo to establish them here on Raw, and great showings from them in the Intercontinental Championship battle royal. And of course Ziggler the gatekeeper is gonna have a feud with JD. That’s gonna be good stuff, and JD of course wins in the end. Mustafa Ali winning the battle royal is great for him, but I don’t see him overcoming Gunther. And great use of Imperium in multiple stories, such as with Ali, but also with Kevin & Sami and the Undisputed Tag Team Championships. Kevin & Sami have their choice for third man, but I feel like it should be Ali so Ali can perhaps build momentum towards Night of Champions.
Kevin & Sami VS Judgment Day was a great stuff, even with having Imperium and Heyman involved. I am thinking Heyman promised Imperium the first title opportunity, should Solo & Roman win at Night of Champions. Kinda hoping that doesn’t happen, so that Kevin & Sami can fight off Indus Sher, Imperium, Judgment Day and a SmackDown tag team that isn’t really involved in anything. I say that also because I want Roman & Solo VS The Usos as a separate feud for the fate of The Bloodline. But I suppose we’ll get more of this on SmackDown, since we’re supposed to have Kevin & Sami meeting face to face with Roman & Solo.
My Score: 8.7/10
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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?
Becky Lynch and Nia Jax want to finally put this to an end, so tonight on Raw, it will be a Big Time Last Woman Standing match! Will the Irresistible Force force the WrestleMania 40 match to change?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers; DIY wins and advances to WrestleMania.
- Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance; Candice & Indi win.
- Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher; The Awesome Truth wins and advances to WrestleMania.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy; The New Day wins and advances to WrestleMania.
- Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax; Becky wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Jey Uso is here!
North Carolina State University fires up and bounces along with Main Event Jey, and Pat McAfee plays a dangerous game standing on the armchairs! From Bret VS Owen to Matt VS Jeff, we’re about to get Jey VS Jimmy in the third-ever Brother VS Brother WrestleMania grudge match! Jey gets the mic as fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey welcomes us to Monday Night Raw, and wants us to check this out. He knows his brothers are somewhere in the building. He knows The Bloodline’s in the building. He knows how the Bloodline rolls! SO Big Brother Jimmy, where you at?! Where you at, Uce!?
Jey waits for someone to show up somewhere, and the crowd spots them first! Fans boo as Jimmy & Solo make their way from the back of the stands. Jimmy gets a mic and goes to the apron while Solo paces around the outside. Fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” again as Jey puts the sunglasses aside. The Usos stare each other down, the fans now chant “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jey wants to say something, hesitates, but then says these two would always get to it but they always knew how to shake right back to this. But now it’s different. Regardless of what happened, the bad blood between them, Jey misses his brother. He does.
Jey knows Jimmy will say what he wants, but Jey doesn’t talk to him no more, doesn’t ride with him no more, doesn’t even see him no more! Jimmy can just come back. Jimmy says he never left! He protected Jey! Jey’s so dumb, he can’t see it! Jimmy is protecting Jey! It was Jey’s idea to leave The Bloodline, but Jimmy helped because he is Jey’s brother. So yeah, Jey leaves, and what happens? Lil’ Bro becomes the BIGGEST star on the Raw roster! Lil’ Bro becomes the top merch seller! Lil’ Bro goes off to become a tag team champion without Jimmy, but with CODY RHODES!? Who left who, Uce?
Jey forgot Jimmy! Everything Jey did that was big was cuz of Big Bro Jimmy! Everything! So listen loud and clear. The biggest moment in Jey’s career, the BIGGEST moment, is because of Jimmy! Jimmy stares Jey down, but Jey says no. Jey’s biggest moment in his career is going to be his dream match at WrestleMania 40: Jey VS Jimmy, and Jey knocks the yeet out Jimmy’s ass! Jey DECKS Jimmy, DECKS Solo off the apron, but then Jimmy SUPERKICKS Jey down! The fans boo but now Solo storms in and looms over Jey. Solo drags Jey up so Jimmy can look him in the face and tell him that Jey needs to get it right! JIMMY made Jey!
But here comes Cody Rhodes! The fans fire up as Cody DECKS Jimmy, then gets in to springboard and CODY CUTTER Solo!! The American Nightmare said he was gonna be a Bloodline Hunter, and he made sure they didn’t take out Jey! Cody tells The Bloodline it is only a matter of time before they lose it all at WrestleMania! Will Jey prove that younger or older doesn’t matter when he is the BETTER brother?
Adam Pearce is on the phone.
He’s telling Nick Aldis to stop being a hypocrite, telling Pearce to keep his roster in check when this is happening. But then Paul Heyman walks over and Pearce says he’ll call Aldis back. Pearce then asks Heyman what was all that, and Heyman says he owes Pearce an apology. He is sorry. That was not authorized by The Final Boss nor The Tribal Chief, and certainly not by Heyman. Jimmy & Solo went into business for themselves so Heyman apologizes. But listen, Pearce knows that there have been flight delays all day. Even private jets like theirs. Heyman is barely even dressed for TV, let alone has his make-up!
Pearce says those two were ready. Yeah, well, they got in on a different flight. But Roman Reigns is a chief of his word. Those two are already gone, out of the arena, and Pearce has Roman’s word. Call his bluff, put out a search party. Pearce knows Heyman is here on official business, which Heyman will handle, and then be gone. That is it. But when Heyman does his official business… everyone will be caught off guard. “And Mr. Pearce, sir, that’s not a prediction. That’s a spoiler.” The Wise Man heads out and calls Roman, but just what is Heyman teasing?
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers!
Unlike SmackDown’s mini-tournament, Raw and Adam Pearce say it’s win and you’re in! Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano want one more shot at Judgment Day, but so do Julius & Brutus! Will the Sicilian Psycho & Johnny Wrestling prove that when it comes to Mania Moments, you gotta do it yourself? Or will the Creeds be bringing golden tickets to the Diamond Mine?
Raw returns as The Creeds make their entrance. The teams fist bump to show respect, then the teams sort out. Julius starts against Ciampa, they circle and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, Ciampa goes for a waistlock but Julius facelocks. Julius wrangles Ciampa to the mat, flips him over, ONE, and Ciampa keeps moving. They trade facelocks, gator roll, and Julius gets another lateral press. ONE, but Julius gator rolls Ciampa around. Ciampa fights up, puts Julius on ropes, and the ref counts. Ciampa lets off, then CHOPS! Julius shoots in for the takedown! Julius has a leg, Ciampa fights but Julius turns him for the ANKLE LOCK!
Ciampa scrambles to the ROPEBREAK, and Julius lets off cleanly. Ciampa bails out, shakes it off, and he gets back in. They go again, Julius hits a fireman’s carry takeover! Tag to Brutus, and Julius feeds Ciampa to another fireman’s carry takeover! Brutus cording holds but Ciampa endures. Ciampa fights up, but Brutus facelocks. The fans rally as Brutus switches and rolls Ciampa. Ciampa fights up, headlocks, then ROCKS Brutus! Brutus DECKS Ciampa, then whips him to ropes. Ciampa ducks ‘n’ dodges, tag to Gargano! Ciampa slides, CHOPS, Gargano LARIATS and Ciampa JAWBREAKERS! Wrench and LARIAT!
Julius runs in, Gargano kicks and Ciampa gives him the boost for SLICED BREAD! The Creeds bail out, but DIY DOUBLE PLANCHA! Down go the Creeds, and DIY applaud and pat themselves on the back. The fans fire up and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Ciampa has Julius in a chinlock. The fans rally, Julius fights up to throw body shots, but Ciampa hits a back suplex! Julius lands out of it, but Ciampa elbows him away. Ciampa drop toeholds Julius, gets legs, but Julius BOOTS Ciampa away! Hot tags to Gargano and Brutus! Brutus rallies on DIY, TOSSES Gargano, then blocks Ciampa’s kick to get under and POWERBOMB him! Brutus sees DIY regroup, then he runs in to SPLASH them both! O’Conner on Ciampa, but Gargano runs up! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Brutus has a DOUBLE BRIDGE, TWO!! Tag to Julius and he gut wrench SLAMS Brutus on Ciampa!
Brutus helps Julius flip up and over to SPLASH onto Ciampa! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Julius drags Ciampa up. Ciampa throat chops! A bit dirty but Ciampa wants that win! Ciampa storms up on Julius, but Julius basement stalling suplexes!! The fans are thunderous, Gargano runs in, but Brutus intercepts! Brutus suplexes Gargano now, stalls, and then the Creeds SLAM and kip up! Then they both STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ciampa stays in this for DIY but the Creeds keep cool. Julius stomps Ciampa, tags Brutus, and they KNEE Ciampa around! Then they DOUBLE GUTBUSTER! Ciampa sputters but Brutus tags Julius in.
Julius drags Ciampa up, tags Brutus back in, and Brutus climbs. Julius Electric Chair Lifts, but Gargano makes the save! Gargano ROCKS Julius, Brutus ROCKS Gargano! Ciampa BOOTS Brutus, Gargano swings on Julius but is sent into Ciampa! Ciampa pushes Gargano back so he can ELBOW Julius! DIY set up again but Brutus stops the Sliced Bread! Julius DECKS Ciampa, KNEE into the WIDOWMAKER! Julius scrapes Gargano out, Brutus POUNCES Ciampa over the desk! Pat fires up with Brutus and so do the fans! The Creeds say they run this now, and then Brutus drags Ciampa up while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Julius has Ciampa in a chinlock. Ciampa fights up, and he JAWBREAKERS free! Ciampa ELBOWS Brutus down, BOOTS Julius, then runs up, only for Julius to catch him and toss him back! But then Ciampa catches Julius for a REVERSE DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down and crawling! Hot tag to Gargano! Gargano slingshots to KICK Julius, then he CLOBBERS Brutus! ENZIGIRI for Julius, then he runs to DOUBLE KNEE Brutus! BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO! The fans fire up with Gargano while Julius ends up in another corner. Gargano runs in but is put on the apron!
Gargano GAMANGIRIS Julius, SUPERKICKS Brutus, then SLINGSHOT SPEARS Julius! Cover, TWO! Julius survives but Gargano puts him in a corner. Gargano CHOPS, then hoists Julius up top. Tag to Ciampa, Ciampa CHOPS Julius while Gargano DIVES onto Brutus! Ciampa CHOPS Julius again, goes up top, and fireman’s carries! Ciampa then tucks Julius in for the SUPER AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, TWO!! Julius survives again and shocks Ciampa! The fans are just as stunned, but Ciampa and Julius sit up. Ciampa stands, and he CHOPS! And CHOPS! Julius sits back up as Ciampa puts some stank on the CHOP!
Julius brings the straps down! Julius fires a forearm, Ciampa hits back, and the fans fire up as the shots keep going! They go faster and faster, harder and harder, meaner and meaner! The fans fire up as this just turns into a brawl of haymakers and SLAPS! Ciampa then gets around, ripcord and HAYMAKER! ROLLING- TACKLE from Julius! And then the ANKLE LOCK!! Ciampa reaches out, moves around, but Gargano runs up! Julius kicks him, then gets him up with one arm to POWERBOMB! Then it’s back to the ANKLE LOCK on Ciampa! Brutus gets in to get Gargano for an ANKLE LOCK of his own!
The fans are thunderous as DIY endures! Ciampa and Gargano fight, turn things over, SICILIAN CROSSFACE and GargaNO Escape!! The fans are thunderous as The Creeds power up and lift both DIY! They fireman’s carry, then TOSS DIY into each other!! The fans are thunderous as Julius goes up to MOONSAULT onto Ciampa! Brutus MOONSAULTS, too! Cover, TWO?!?! Ciampa survives and the fans are loving this! Julius tags back in, Brutus climbs up! “This is Awesome!” as Julius Electric Chair Lifts Ciampa! But Ciampa VICTORY ROLLS to get under the Brutus Ball!! Cover, Brutus tips it! Gargano TOSSES Brutus then SUPERKICKS Julius!! Ciampa has the cover, DIY WINS!!
Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)
Julius can’t believe it! He kicked out at 3.1, but a loss is a loss! And for the first time ever, DIY is going to Mania! Will Philadelphia soon be historic for a DIY championship victory?
Judgment Day meets backstage.
Rhea Ripley is with Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh, but also Andrade. Dom says he’s always liked Andrade’s style, but things have changed since the last time he was in the WWE. The Judgment Day runs Raw now. Rhea says yeah, and they don’t extend invitations to just anyone. Judgment Day is very exclusive. JD says very exclusive. But if Andrade continues to impress them, they’ll see about making things happen. And Finn says he just heard that Andrade has a match next week, so the Judgment Day will be watching him. Sounds good. See you next week. But then in steps Damian Priest.
The Punisher says hello to El Idolo, and El Idolo says hello to Senor Dinero. Andrade heads out, will he quite literally win his way into the club? But as for Priest, Finn asks him what he was up to. Priest was getting a closer look at that DIY VS Creeds match. DIY won, but whatever, they can handle those guys. But JD, they thought he could handle Ricochet last week, and run the gauntlet, and then go to WrestleMania to bring even more gold back to Judgment Day. JD says he did he belonged in there. But also, he battered Ricochet, who got lucky at the end there. Right, Finn? Finn hesitates, and Rhea says Priest is right on this one.
Ricochet made a fool out of JD! A fool? Yes. A fool? Yes. That’s why tonight, Dom will make it right. Right, Dom? Yeah, Mami. Let’s go talk to Pearce to make it official. Dom & JD head out, and the others are confident Dom’s got this. But does he, though? Or will the One and Only have two wins over Judgment Day in as many weeks?
Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance!
The Poison Pixie certainly lived up to that name last week when she bullied Maxxine Dupri as part of beating her and Ivy Nile last week. Will Candice’s toxic tongue strike again? Or will the party not be stopped by her harsh vibes?
The teams sort out and Candice starts against Kayden. Candice rushes up, Kayden gets around and O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Kayden springboards to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Kayden stalks Candice, Candice ELBOWS her away then tags Indi. Kayden dodges Candice to SUPERKICK, but Indi BOOTS Kayden! Cover, TWO! Indi drags Kayden up, tags Candice back in, and they mug Kayden. Candice CLUBS away on Kayden, fires off furious fists, then covers. TWO, and Candice grows frustrated already. The fans rally, Candice steps up but Kayden avoids the senton! Tags to Katana and Indi! Katana blasts past Indi, comes back and BULLDOGS!
Katana keeps moving, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SHOTGUNS Indi to a corner! The fans fire up as Katana stomps away on Indi! Indi shoves Katana, Katana runs corner to corner to A-LIST LARIAT! Katana shoves Indi down, runs up, but into a back suplex! Katana lands out, but her leg jams! The ref and Kayden check, then the ref keeps Indi back. Indi says okay, and she stays by Candice. But Candice tags in to WRECK Kayden! And she SLAMS Katana’s leg into the post!! HALF CRAB and DEEP! Katana taps, Candice & Indi win!
Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission
Candice smiles and celebrates with Indi, but Indi doesn’t want to. Candice says a win is a win, but just what is going on in her toxic mind?
Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.
NC State fires up again as The American Nightmare walks down the ramp, and this time the fans can sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro then gets the mic. “In less than three weeks time, I will stand opposed for the second year in a row, in the main event, with the lights on brightest, I will challenge for the WWE Undisputed Championship, against the greatest champion in all of sports, The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. And this Friday on SmackDown, Roman and I are going to have a little conversation, if you will. But there are… complications. Factors, elements, combustible elements, namely… The Rock.”
Fans boo but Cody says The Rock took to Instagram on Friday, and followed it up with “extremely entertaining” concert. Too bad The Rock didn’t wanna be here tonight. Something Cody took from the Instagram post: The Rock referred to himself as “Our Favorite Heel.” A bit of an inside term, but we’re not dumb, we know that means he’s the “bad guy.” Cody has known Heels. Bobby Heenan, Arn Anderson, Michael Hayes, “Superstar” Billy Graham, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair! Fans “WOO~” and Cody says he doesn’t think The Rock is a Heel. He’s just an assh*le. The fans go nuts hearing that!
Cody doesn’t want Rock getting upset, he doesn’t want the “seven bucks team” to get upset, he doesn’t want anyone getting emotional. Cody knows how Rock feels about emotions, he poked fun at Cody tearing up at discussing “finishing the story” with good friend, Michael Cole. There’s no crying in pro-wrestling, Jimmy Dugan, we get it. But hasn’t The Rock been crying behind the scenes this whole time? Once that hashtag came out, once fans chanted something else, The Rock cried to his buddies on the TKO board and said “Hey, this is gonna be some good PR for The Rock! I need to save WWE!” God knows, look at this house. They sure needed “saving,” huh?
The fans cheer but Cody says Rock wanted great PR. Until it wasn’t. TKO said OMG yes, put on the Gucci shirt, get those muscles looking big. It’s because they are Yes People, they are enablers, they won’t dare tell The Rock like it is, so Cody’s going to. Cody tells The Rock, “You’re a lot of things. You’re a lot of wonderful things. You are the Braham Bull, you are The Great One.” Cody still has shoes with The Rock’s logo on it! The Rock is the only guy Cody honestly feels is a Mount Rushmore wrestler. But he is also a terrible salesman, a carny succubus, and for those who don’t get what that means, The Rock is “a whiny b*tch!”
Fans lose their minds again but Cody says The Rock has been convinced otherwise. But don’t think that for two seconds this locker room needs The Rock more than The Rock needs it! That’s a rule of wrestling, nobody is bigger than the business! And sure, Cody brought up his mom, so it is fair game for The Rock to use that. But Cody knows The Rock’s mom. Here’s what Cody will tell us about The Rock’s mom. She is a wonderful lady, salt of the earth, she helped Cody chop Kevin in a dark match. Cody has nothing but respect for The Rock’s mom, something The Rock should’ve echoed back towards Cody’s mom.
But see, The Rock was talking about whipping Cody, handing a bloody weight belt to Cody’s mom, and normally someone as powerful as The Rock, Mama Rhodes would tremble. But The Rock doesn’t know Cody’s mom. Cody was more scared than she was, because she ain’t scared of nothing. This is the same woman who once jumped out of her chair at a Willie Nelson concert and beat up an undercover cop! She ain’t afraid of The Rock! Cody has been asked, April 6th, biggest tag match of all time, Rock & Roman VS Cody & Seth. Seth Rollins, the World Heavyweight Champion, a man The Rock should respect because that man has carried The Rock’s company!
How will Cody get past that match? How will April 7th look? Will it be a fair fight? Cody can tell us honestly… He doesn’t know. Cody does not know if it will be Bloodline Rules or not. Hell, he might not #FinishTheStory. “But Dwayne… What do you know? How can you be so sure of your own self, right?” The Rock hasn’t been in the ring in real action in years! April 6th, the bell is gonna ring, and what happens then? Is The Rock gonna bring The Great One, the hero we all had growing up? Is he bringing that #BigDwayneEnergy? Or is it gonna be LDS, Little D*ck Syndrome?! The fans chant “L D S! L D S!”
Cody says The Rock has referred to himself as The Final Boss. Kudos for that nickname, maybe he really is that. Maybe Cody is too naive to see it. But at WrestleMania, Cody doesn’t think The Rock will be The Final Boss. At WrestleMania, he’s just Roman’s side chick. But then ladies and gentlemen, his name is Paul Heyman, and he serves as The Wise Man to Your Tribal Chief, the reigning! Defending! Undisputed! WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman… Reigns! And as Special Counsel to the Bloodline, Heyman is here to say to Cody that the ideals that Cody and Heyman share are far greater than the interests on which they conflict.
By example, don’t you hate it when someone comes out to demand an apology? Not that Cody’s done that, but Heyman is still going to do that. Heyman came out here with some “friends” of his, and he apologized. For a Wise Man, that was pretty freakin’ stupid. One: because it didn’t work. Two: because it was just dumb. And for that, Cody, to you and the fans, Heyman humbly apologizes. Cody says whoa, whoa, whoa. He didn’t ask for an apology, and he certainly knows Heyman wants permission to be in the ring. Heyman is a Hall of Famer starting this year, if he wants into the ring, be Cody’s guest.
Heyman thanks Cody for that but he’s fine on the apron. He carries with him a message from The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Talk about Heels… You may think of Heyman anything negative you want, and that might be understanding the obvious. Heyman is not trustworthy, but Roman is a chief of his word. Heyman assures that this Friday on SmackDown, Roman will be face to face with Cody. American Nightmare, Tribal Chief, challenger and champion. And when they are face to face, there will not be a single other member of The Bloodline in sight. Except for Heyman, but he is no physical threat.
Heyman holds the title belt, the beads, whispers things in Roman’s ear, such as his love and respect. But Cody has Roman’s word that if he shows up on SmackDown, Roman will show up alone. Cody says Roman shows up alone, no Bloodline outside of Heyman, it’s a deal. They good? Heyman has some jet lag, he forgot one little point. And don’t boo him, he’s talking to Cody! Cody says yes they’re booing, and he’s about to go full Homelander and rip Heyman’s throat out if he doesn’t get to the point. Fans like the reference. Heyman composes himself and says if Roman Reigns shows up alone this Friday on SmackDown, then Cody must show up to SmackDown alone, too.
Cody steps closer to Heyman and Heyman is a bit nervous. Cody tells Heyman, “Deal!” They shake hands, and Heyman smiles. The Wise Man negotiated a purely one-on-one meeting between his Tribal Chief and American Nightmare, but can we trust Heyman was telling the truth about Roman telling the truth?
Nia Jax speaks.
“You know what I’ve realized? Becky Lynch has never beaten me. And after tonight, she never will. Because after I break her face again, I will be taking her spot at WrestleMania. I will finish business with Rhea Ripley, and not only will I walk out the Last Woman Standing, but I will become Women’s World Champion.” The Irresistible Force is ready for the Big Time, but will she A-Nia-late her?
Cody Rhodes returns backstage.
And Jey says there he go! But real quick, Cody can’t be going to SmackDown alone. Cody says he gave them his word. But The Bloodline isn’t gonna play fair! They’re all gonna be there! If Cody needs Jey, Jeys’ got him. Cody hears that, but he knows what he’s dealing with. They shake hands and Jey heads out. Will Cody be able to have that fair, one-on-one meeting? Or does Jey have a point about The Bloodline?
Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!
It seems Pearce agreed to the idea that Dirty Dom should try and clean up The Irish Ace’s mess. Will Dom be able to get revenge on Ricochet? Or will Ricochet be the One and Only person holding their head high tonight?
Raw returns and Dom has made his entrance. The bell rings, Dom and Ricochet circle, and they tie up. Ricochet waistlocks, Dom fights the lift and grabs ropes. The ref counts, Ricochet lets off, but Dom ELBOWS him away! Dom fires hands, soaks up the heat, then storms up, but into haymakers! Ricochet CHOPS, kicks then flexes on Dom. Ricochet whips, Dom reverses, but Ricochet goes up and over. Ricochet ducks ‘n’ dodges to then handspring back elbow! The fans fire up while Dom bails out! JD is there to coach Dom up, but Ricochet runs in! JD gets Dom to safety, but Ricochet handsprings to hero land!
The fans fire up, Ricochet then goes to ropes to TORNILLO PLANCHA! Direct hit on Dom and Ricochet tells JD to back off. Ricochet puts Dom in, Dom distracts the ref, but JD grabs Ricochet’s leg! Ricochet kicks JD away, but then Dom WRECKS Ricochet with a dropkick! Dom soaks up the heat and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Dom has Ricochet up top. Dom climbs but Ricochet throws body shots! The fans rally behind Ricochet as he sends Dom staggering. Ricochet hops down as Dom comes running back, and Ricochet GAMANGIRIS him away! Ricochet then springboards, but Dom trips him up! Ricochet flops to the mat, then Dom kicks and FACEBUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Ricochet is still in this and JD argues the count. Dom looms over Ricochet, scuffs him around, then mockingly cheers him on. Fans boo but Dom brings Ricochet up. Dom gives some Latino Heat, then suplexes! Uno Amigo, but fans boo.
Dom gets Ricochet up but Ricochet suplexes Dom instead! And then fireman’s carry, DYNAMITE KICK! Cover, TWO! Dom is still in this and JD coaches him but the fans rally for Ricochet. Ricochet stands, storms up on Dom, but Dom shoots around to roll him up! With tights! TWO, Ricochet blocks a kick and KICKS Dom down! Ricochet hurries up top, the fans fire up, but Ricochet has to bail out of the 450 as Dom moves! Dom runs in again, but into a SUPERKICK! JD gets on the apron, so Ricochet triangle jump DROPKICKS! But then Dom DROPKICKS Ricochet onto ropes! Dom dials it up but Ricochet ducks!
Dom spins around, into the RECOIL!! Cover, Ricochet wins!
Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall
But then JD runs in! Ricochet dodges, goes up and around, BOOTS JD away, then BOOTS him again! Ricochet even flips up and out of the ring at the same time! Ricochet gets the better of Judgment Day again, just how disappointed is Mami going to be in her Latino Heat this time?
Sami Zayn is backstage.
He finds Chad Gable and wants to talk with him. Last week’s match, that was an honor. Sami hasn’t been pushed like that in a long time, it could’ve gone either way. Gable says yeah, it was great. Thanks. Is Gable alright? Yeah, he’s fine. Kinda feels like not… Gable says he’s fine, so leave it at that. C’mon, man, how many years have they known each other? Sami knows when something’s bothering Gable, so he should just say it. Gable says look, last week, the WrestleMania opportunity, the whole thing, it just meant more to him. Sami says he’s been hearing Gable say that for weeks, and it is really unfair.
Does Gable really think he’s the only one this title opportunity matters to? Sami has a family, too! Sami’s kid cries when Papa loses a match, too. Sami has people he’s let down and is trying to make proud. After all the years put into this, Gable can’t tell Sami what matters more because he doesn’t know Sami like that. Gable has Sami calm down, and says he knows all that. But it isn’t all about that. Then what is all this? Gable says Sami can’t beat Gunther. Gable then leaves, and Sami is at a loss for words. Is this bitter side of Gable only going to get worse as we go down this Road to WrestleMania?
Adam Pearce is in the ring.
Raw returns with the GM by a table, and he welcomes us to a contract signing to make official the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship for WrestleMania! The fans cheer, and Pearce introduces first, the challenger, Sami Zayn! The Great Liberator makes his entrance and the fans sing along with his song. Sami still looks troubled by what Gable said just moments ago, but he still high-fives fans and gets in the ring. Then Pearce introduces the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time, Der Ring General, GUNTHER! The fans boo as Gunther walks in, having reached Day 647!
Gunther smiles as Sami watches him make his way down the ramp and into the ring. Pearce says we know how this works, but Gunther says before we proceed, let us call this what it is: the most important contract signing for the most important match in the history of this championship. And why, why, why is the challenger dressed no better than any of the bums in the audience? Fans boo but Sami just shrugs that off. Sami gets a mic to say that Gunther keeps sitting there all smug, and it’s really starting to piss Sami off. Gunther thinks this is just another day at the office, that he’ll steamroll through Sami like any other contender.
But with all respect to Gunther, he really has. He has beaten everyone that has come his way, and has done it on his own. Gunther doesn’t believe Sami can do it. A lot of people didn’t believe Sami at many points in his career. They didn’t believe he’d even make it to WWE, let alone win championships and main event a WrestleMania. And if you ask The Usos, they didn’t believe Sami would be one of the guys to end the longest tag title reign in WWE history, but he did! And one year later, he will make history again by ending the longest Intercontinental title reign in WWE history! Sami signs his part and pushes the contract over to Gunther.
The fans cheer Sami on but Gunther waits it out. Gunther tells Sami, what Sami should do is listen to his new friend, Gable. Gable doesn’t believe Sami can win. The people here cheer Sami, they probably even love Sami. But even they don’t believe Sami can win. And y’know, when Gunther looks Sami in the eyes, and if Sami was honest with himself, even Sami doesn’t believe he can win. So what Sami is doing right now is standing on Gunther’s doorstep and begging him to get the beating of a lifetime on the Grandest Stage of Them All! So whatever Sami has to do, from training to believing, just keep doing that. Because at WrestleMania, Sami’s dreams will meet reality.
Gunther grins and signs his part, and it is now official! Gunther then stands, title on his shoulder, and takes his leave. The fans boo, but then Sami tells Gunther to wait. Gunther steps back inside to hear Sami as Sami turns around. Gunther looks in Sami’s eyes and believes Sami doesn’t believe? Sami stands to get in Gunther’s face and dares him to look again. Get a good long look, because these are the eyes of the man who will take you down at Mania! The fans fire up, and now Sami leaves first. Gunther still just grins, but will Sami use a Helluva Kick to wipe that smile off his face?
We follow Sami as he storms backstage, right past DIY and The Awesome Truth. Truth asks what’s up with Sami, but The Miz says that is the mindset of WrestleMania right there. That’s what they need. DIY wishes Awesome Truth luck. Awesome Truth knows DIY is into the ladder match, and they are gonna have their own qualifier. Miz & Truth just need to beat… Indus Sher. Jinder Mahal tells Veer & Sanga to warm up for the match. They head out, and Truth says he feels sorry for whoever has to face those guys. Miz stares at Truth, and he has DIY hold off. Miz will explain. The Awesome Truth heads to gorilla, their match is next!
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher w/ Jinder Mahal!
Miz wants a remix of the theme song but Truth says to just follow his lead. NC State knows what’s up, but will the Awesome Truth finally reach the top of the tag division 13 years after they first teamed? We’ll see, after the break!
Raw returns as Indus Sher makes their entrance, the Modern Day Maharaja by their side. The teams sort out and Truth starts against Sanga. The fans echo “WHAT’S UP?!” but Sanga roars! Truth is scared now so he tags Miz. Truth fires Miz up, Miz runs up and dodges Sanga to fire off haymakers! Miz kicks, whips, but Sanga blocks! Sanga whips and CLOBBERS Miz! Jinder nods as Sanga then scoops Miz and brings him over. Veer tags in, Sanga SLAMS Miz, then Veer ELBOW DROPS! Indus Sher say “NAMASTE!” but the fans say “WHAT’S UP!?” with Truth. Veer HIP DROPS Miz, then looms over him.
Veer eggs Miz on, drags him up with shoulder claws, and then steps over Miz for the neck wrench! Miz endures as Veer still digs a claw into his shoulder. The fans rally for Miz, Miz fights up and throws body shots! Miz reaches out but Veer knees low! Veer SHOVES Miz to the corner, runs in, but Miz BOOTS! Miz ELBOWS Sanga, but Veer catches him! Veer puts Miz back int he corner, but Miz ducks the boot to tag Truth! Truth dodges Veer and starts up the shoulder tackles! Truth gets around Veer to SPIN-OUT BOMB! The fans fire up as Truth shouts out Cena with “You Can’t See Me!” Truth runs to Five Knuckle Shuffle!
Jinder is not happy now as Truth fireman’s carries! But Veer slips free! Truth drop toeholds to the STF!! The fans fire up but Sanga stomps Truth! Miz fires off kicks on Sanga, then body shots! Truth joins in, they mug and whip Sanga, to DOUBLE DROPKICK! Sanga staggers around, Veer runs up, but into a full nelson! Truth and Miz combine for a SKULL CRUSHING LIE DETECTOR!! But Sanga whips Miz away! Miz WRECKS Jinder with it, but Sanga runs up! Sanga knocks Miz down, Miz anchors Sanga, Sanga ELBOWS Truth, Truth falls onto Veer for the cover! Awesome Truth wins!!
Winners: The Awesome Truth, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)
The fans fire up, and Truth doesn’t even realize what happened! Miz celebrates with Truth and Truth puts it together! They’re now one of the six in the ladder match! Will this combination of teamwork and luck be just what they need to take those titles from Judgment Day?
Sami confronts Gable now.
Sami tells Gable to tell him why. Why what? Why does Gable think Sami can’t beat Gunther? Well you just saw why! With Gunther, it isn’t just physical, it is mental. Sami made his career out of being the underdog that crawls his way out of any hole he’s in, right? Just like last week! Sami found the window of opportunity to get out of a bad situation any time he can. Gunther’s on a different level! You gonna sit and wait for that window to appear? It doesn’t happen with Gunther! He’s a different beast, a different animal. If Sami doesn’t change his mentality, then he can’t beat Gunther. Gable leaves Sami with a lot to think again. Is there a way Sami can change enough to defeat Der Ring General?
CM Punk speaks.
“Do I plan at being in WrestleMania? WrestleMania is in Philadelphia, what’re the first four letters in Philadelphia? Phil. You can’t have WrestleMania Philadelphia without Phil. Whether I’m invited or uninvited, Punk will be there.” And next week in Chicago, Punk returns to Raw! Will the Second City Saint find a way to be part of the biggest WrestleMania ever?
Drew McIntyre is here!
The Scottish Terminator, or as his new shirt says, “The Savior of WrestleMania,” makes his way to the ring, NC State a bit torn about seeing him. But then Seth Rollins is here, too!? McIntyre is upset but the fans sing along, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” as The Visionary struts his way out. Rollins swaggers right past McIntyre in his green storm pattern suit, and steps into the ring first. McIntyre frowns as he follows Rollins in, and sits in a corner. The fans continue to sing, which Rollins revels in for a moment. Rollins has the mic to then say, “RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA~! Welcome to Monday Night Rollins~!
“And Drew, hah, sorry, I didn’t even see you there. I was too busy, uh, y’know, soaking up the spotlight, right?” McIntyre has a mic to say, “Alright, here we go.” Here goes what, Drew? McIntyre says no, no, get it all out of your system, he knows Rollins has more! McIntyre can stay in the back while Rollins enjoys the spotlight, because after WrestleMania, that spotlight’s all McIntyre’s. Hey, hey, c’mon. Rollins is here with an honest cause. Rollins doesn’t like McIntyre, he thinks he’s stupid, a hypocrite, has said a lot of dumb things lately, but Rollins is here to admit that one thing McIntyre said is absolutely right and he wants to say it to McIntyre’s face, right here in Raleigh, in front of the fine people.
Now, they always say the first step to recovery is the hardest, so bare with Rollins. He has been working on this all week, but… “My name is Seth Freakin’ Rollins, and I’m a spotlight junkie.” The fans chant “Spotlight Junkie!” and also sing, but McIntyre says everything is just a joke to Rollins, isn’t it? Look at Rollins! He’s a parody of himself at this point. But honestly, McIntyre doesn’t care. He tried reasoning, he gave the answers, and now he only cares about their match and the world title. And you wanna know the real punchline, funny man? “What?” McIntyre says they say that because they’re happy McIntyre sidelined Punk, thanks for remembering!
But the punchline is when McIntyre beats Rollins for that title. The fans chant for “C M PUNK!” but McIntyre says don’t be ridiculous. Punk’s waiting until next week to return because he’d never show up in a place like Raleigh. The fans boo but McIntyre says see, they’re booing Punk! Punk is only getting off his couch to be at his local arena. Rollins tells McIntyre to shut up already. Oh, seems McIntyre got Rollins’ attention. Rollins takes off the sunglasses to say yeah, McIntyre has his attention. Because this isn’t a joke! When Rollins says he is a junkie, it isn’t a joke! He’s been doing this for 20 YEARS! Just like McIntyre!
And every time Rollins comes out of the curtain, that’s his fix. And it gets better and better every single time. Rollins comes out here, lays it all on the line, and it just gets better and better! When he hears the fans sing the song so loud, Rollins can barely speak, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” That’s Rollins’ fix! That is the spotlight he craves, and y’know what? Rollins wants the spotlight as bright as it can possibly be. So yeah, McIntyre’s been busy online entertaining people with memes, so he hasn’t been listening to Rollins. So Rollins will get this through McIntyre’s thick skull: Night One, Rollins takes the biggest star in Hollywood and his side chick, and makes them his b*tches!
Then on Night Two, the biggest spotlight possible will be shined down on McIntyre and Rollins and the World Heavyweight Championship! McIntyre says all hail the savior, Seth Rollins! This is what McIntyre wanted! The passion and desire, not the stupid laughing and dancing. Rollins had McIntyre all the way to the finish. Rollins has done this 20 years, just like McIntyre. They’ve given their lives to this industry, and that is what the title is about! The wrestlers’ title, the workhorse championship! Rollins had McIntyre with him until he mentioned the bigger spotlight and how Rollins pins one of the biggest stars in the world.
Why can’t it just be about Rollins’ hard work to make that title, and all of McIntyre’s hard work to get this chance? Why can’t that be the reason they’re getting the biggest spotlight!? Rollins has had his priorities all backwards, McIntyre has been giving him all the answers. McIntyre said he is over the BS, and all he cares about is Rollins making it to the ring on Night Two. And if Rollins can’t walk, then McIntyre will wheel him down. If not, McIntyre will carry Rollins down. At Mania, McIntyre doesn’t get the moment he deserves. He gets the moment he has bloody EARNED. The fans do cheer that!
Rollins smirks and says, “Ah, Drew. There it is. That’s right, you wanna call me a spotlight junkie, but you want the spotlight just as bad as I do, don’t you? You’re an addict, just like I am. And you’ve been begging for spotlight for the past four years, because you won the WrestleMania main event. You did, back in 2020, in an empty warehouse. And all we’ve been hearing from Drew McIntyre for the past four years was how that wasn’t good enough. You’ve been whining and complaining and bitching and moaning that you deserve better, that you deserve more. The problem is, Drew, when everybody came back around, and the lights got bright again, what happened? You fumbled the ball.
“And that’s the difference between you and me. When the lights are the brightest, I shine, baby. I shine bright. And at WrestleMania 40, the lights are gonna be as bright as they have ever been. And you are gonna find out you are not as good as you think you are.” Rollins drops the mic, but this time McIntyre smirks. The verbal battle continues, but who will put their money where their mouth is once this one finally happens?
Becky Lynch speaks.
“I’m a wanted woman, and I don’t even have the title. Yet. But we’re less than three weeks away from WrestleMania, so why would I risk it all? Because I don’t know anything else. All I know is taking risks. All I know is fighting. And all I know is tonight, I’m gonna be the Last Woman Standing.” Becky is fired up to finally do what she hasn’t done in the most extreme way possible. Will she be the immovable object to Nia’s irresistible force?
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy!
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods have been W, W, E, World, Tag, Team, CHAMPIONS~, but they’ve never been a part of a title match as big as this Six Pack Ladder challenge! Will they look to be part of history once again? Or will Akira Tozawa & Otis say “A THANK YEW~!” for this golden opportunity?
Raw returns as the Academy makes their entrance. The teams sort out and Woods starts against the tree trunk, Otis. The fans rally for “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Otis and Woods tie up, but Woods kicks low then headlocks. Otis powers up and out then runs Woods over! Otis storms up on Woods, GUT RAMS him back down, then brings him back up. Otis GUT RAMS Woods again, then runs to CLOBBER Woods! Otis swivels his hips, the fans echo “Oh~ yeah!” Otis tags Tozawa and the Academy mugs Woods. Tozawa brings Woods around but Woods CHOPS! Woods tags Kofi, he and Kofi double whip Tozawa but Tozawa holds ropes!
Tozawa fires hands, dodges Woods then BOOTS Woods down! Kofi kicks low, whips Tozawa to a corner, but Tozawa BOOTS Kofi away! Tozawa goes up to FLYING RANA! The fans fire up as Tozawa sees New Day regroup outside. Tozawa runs to DIVE! Direct hit on both New Day, and Otis joins in for “A THANK YEW~!” The Academy stands tall as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Tozawa fights a chinlock. Tozawa reaches for Otis but Woods back suplexes. Tozawa lands out to then DROPKICK Woods down! The fans rally as Woods and Tozawa crawl, hot tags to Otis and Kofi! Otis CLOBBERS Kofi, CLOBBERS him again, then whips him to ropes. WRECKER ELBOW! Woods runs in, Otis dodges, to LARIAT! Otis sees Kofi leap off the corner, and catches him for a WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM! Otis rips the shirt off, winds up the hips, and then starts up the CATERPILLAR! ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Kofi survives but Otis hurries to step on him! Tag to Tozawa, and Otis goes up!
Otis VADER BOMBS but FLOPS as Kofi moves! Tozawa hurries up top while Kofi SUPERKICKS Otis! Kofi turns around into the CROSSBODY from Tozawa! Cover, TWO! Tozawa SUPERKICKS Kofi but Woods tags in! Woods GAMANGIRIS Tozawa, then steps in to TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Tozawa toughs it out but Woods grits his teeth as he goes to the corner. Woods climbs, but Tozawa rises! Tozawa throws body shots, Woods CLUBS Tozawa! Tozawa throws more hands and climbs up! The fans rally as they brawl up top! Tozawa brings Woods up but Woods fights the lift! Woods throws body shots in return!
Woods shifts position to get under Tozawa for a fireman’s carry! But then Tozawa pops up to SUPER STEINER!! Tozawa rips off his shirt, climbs back up top, SUPER SENTON!! Cover, Kofi breaks it! The fans fire up but Otis drags Kofi out! Otis whips Kofi at steps, Kofi goes up and jumps off the steps to TORNADO DDT to the floor! Kofi hurries back up to the apron but Tozawa SCREW HIGH KICKS him down! Tozawa dodges Woods, pop-up, but Woods blocks the rana to then SPINNING POWERBOMB! Woods sees the WrestleMania sign, hurries up the corner, and he tightrope walks! LIMIT BREAK ELBOW!! Cover, New Day wins!
Winners: The New Day, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)
The New Day are the ones saying A THANK YEW~ as they put their names down for the Six Pack Ladder Match! Will they once again climb to the top of the WWE Tag Team Division and bring home those championships?
Liv Morgan confronts Becky Lynch.
Becky asks if she’ll have to watch out for Liv as well. Well, you should always #WatchMe, but no, not tonight. Nia is all Becky’s. Liv just wants Becky to kick Nia’s ass. Liv leaves, will Becky kick ass and then some?
Cody walks with his dog, Pharaoh, backstage.
Rollins finds him and brings up Friday. One on one? One on one. Rollins nods and says he loves Pharaoh’s bandanna. The Visionary trusts the American Nightmare can handle himself, but will we be able to trust The Tribal Chief?
Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax!
From the origins of “The Man” in WWE to the aftermath of Elimination Chamber: Perth, these two have battled, but never as brutally as this! They’re able to go anywhere and do anything, but who will be the Last Woman Standing this close to WrestleMania 40?
The bell rings and the two rush in! Becky DROPKICKS Nia and Nia goes to a corner. Becky runs in but Nia puts Becky on the apron. Becky ROCKS Nia, goes up a corner, then leaps to MISSILE DROPKCIK! Nia stumbles and tumbles out of the ring, so Becky WRECKS her with another dropkick! Becky then goes to the apron for a FLYING FOREARM! Nia stays up, Becky tries again, but Nia dodges! Fireman’s carry and Nia POSTS Becky, to then SAMOAN DROP her into barriers! The ref counts as Becky is down, but she stands at 4 of 10. Nia CLOBBERS Becky and wants the count! The count climbs but Nia is impatient.
Nia clears off the desk, Becky stands at 5 of 10, and she leans against barriers. Becky comes back with body shots and haymakers, but Nia ROCKS her with a forearm! Becky staggers away as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns and Becky is bringing out a table! The fans fire up as Becky sets that up ringside. There’s been a lot of chaos during the break according to commentary, from chairs to kendo sticks to even a copy of Becky’s book, The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl! But Nia storms over to stop Becky and SMACK her off the desk! Nia puts Becky in the ring, takes that table for her own and sets it up. The table doesn’t cooperate and fans boo, but Nia goes for chairs instead. She slides those in the ring, Becky manages to stand at 7 of 10, and she grabs at those chairs. Nia ditches the table, it just doesn’t wanna work.
Nia storms in but Becky JAMS her with a chair, SMACKS her with it, then clinches! Nia fights the slam, fireman’s carries Becky, and FULL METAL SAMOAN DROPS!! Becky writhes from hitting chairs but Nia looms over her. Nia soaks up the heat as she counts along. Becky flounders to ropes and drags herself up at 7! Nia sits a chair up, fans want a table, but Nia scoops Becky. Becky slips around to a SLEEPER! Nia RAMS Becky into buckles again and again until Becky lets go. But then Becky BULLDOGS Nia off the chair! Nia is down for the count now, and Becky leans against ropes to stay up herself.
Nia stirs at 5, stands at 8, but Becky is up top! Becky leaps, into a CHAIR SHOT! Nia SMACKS Becky again and again and again! The fans boo but Nia finally stops. Nia puts that chair aside and goes out to get some kendo sticks! Nia puts those in, but Becky grabs one! Nia snatches it from her to SMACK! And SMACK! And SMACK! Becky sputters and staggers, Nia clinches and scoops! Nia SLAMS Becky onto chairs! Then Nia runs to drop the leg, brother! Nia wants the count and the count begins! Becky sputters as we reach 5 of 10. Becky grabs that kendo stick but Nia SMACKS Becky with a chair! And again!
Nia kicks Becky around, then uses the chair to take a seat on Becky’s body!! The fans boo as the count begins, but Becky SMACKS Nia with the kendo stick! And again and again and again, even in the butt! Nia stands up, into more shots! Becky stands and she fires away until Nia scurries out of the ring! Becky pursues but Nia CLOBBERS her! Nia pulls the steel steps apart now, and takes that top half to RAM Becky down! Becky flounders, Nia hauls her up and puts her in the ring. Becky’s on the apron and Nia takes aim! Nia runs up, APRN LEG DROP only gets apron! Becky avoids disaster, then has Nia by the steps! DDT onto the steel!
Nia is down again and the count begins. Nia stirs at 5 of 10, sits up at 6, but Becky SMACKS her off steps! Nia falls over again and the count resets. Becky hurries to go looking for things while Nia rises again. Becky has a new table! The fans fire up as Becky gets that in the ring. Nia stands at 7, staggers after Becky, and Raw goes back to break.
Raw returns once again and Nia mugs Becky against barriers! Nia puts Becky on a table, and surprise! There’s a ladder set up now! Nia climbs the ladder?! She also demands Pat support the ladder. But Becky gets off the table so now Nia has no reason to be up there. Nia storms after Becky, but gets a FIRE EXTINGUISHER BLAST!! The fans fire up as Becky cools Nia off, then JAMS her with the canister! Becky puts Nia in the ring, and there’s a table waiting in a corner! Becky lines up the shot, and runs in, but Nia SAMOAN DROPS Becky through the table!!! Both women are down in the wreckage and the count begins!
Nia flounders away from the wreckage but she still needs to stand. Nia is up at 5, and she isn’t satisfied with this! She drags Becky all the way to another corner and puts her in the drop zone! Nia climbs up, for the A-NIA-LATOR!! Nia shouts for the count, the count begins, and Nia storms around as she points to the Mania sign. Becky is still down at 5 of 10, only starts stirring at 7, and she slumps out of the ring to stand up! Nia is furious, goes out after Becky, and kicks things aside to keep after her. Nia asks if Becky’s vision is blurry. Nia fireman’s carries Becky up the steel steps and along the apron, aiming for that other table!
The fans freak out but Becky fights with elbows! Becky CLUBS away on Nia and the fans are thunderous! Becky then clinches, for a MANHANDLE SLAM through the table!!! Both women are down int he wreckage again, and the count begins! Becky sits up at 4 while fans are still losing their minds! We pass 5 of 10, then 7! Nia sits up at 8 and stands at 9! But then she slumps back over! The count starts again, Nia flounders around and stands at 5. Becky goes up the ladder! Becky sees Nia approaching the desk, and then SUPER MAN’S LEG DROP through the desk!!! The fans lose their minds again while both men are down in more wreckage!
The count is 5 of 10! Becky flounders and crawls, drags herself up at 9, but Nia is still down! BECKY WINS!!
Winner: Becky Lynch
The Man conquers truly one of the most intense challenges in her career! But then here comes one of the most intense champions! The fans fire up as Rhea Ripley makes her way out, Women’s World Championship in hand. She goes right to the ring and looks at Becky. Rhea “congratulates” Becky for winning, but then Becky gets in Rhea’s face! The fans fire up, and now there are no obstacles in the way of Mami VS The Man! Who will be the champion after WrestleMania 40?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw right here, though the in-ring action kinda dipped down until that awesome Last Woman Standing main event. This is one of the times I wish they’d done picture in picture so we as the TV audience could see even more action. Great win for Becky, of course, but I also like that Becky had a moment with Liv just before, and of course she had a moment with Rhea to close out the night. Great promos with Sami and Gable that also blended into the contract signing from tonight. And I suppose Gable has a point that Sami, the comeback kid, can’t do that when Gunther has an arsenal of moves that would be “finishers” given all the different ways Gunther has won over the years.
And speaking of that contract signing segment, I really liked the segue they did in following Sami so that he’d cross paths with Awesome Truth at gorilla and we’d get their segment going into their match. WWE has been doing some really creative stuff in this newest era where Vince is truly out and apparently even Kevin Dunn has moved on. Awesome Truth had a really fun but also really quick tag match with Indus Sher, and then New Day VS Alpha Academy was solid stuff, but DIY VS Creeds was such an awesome match. For a moment, I thought Creeds were gonna take this one but DIY still found a way, and I like that DIY is in. Honestly, I’m liking that the HHH favorites are getting in, because we also have New Catch Republic on the other side that can still win into the match.
Judgment Day had good stuff tonight, too. Good group promo with Andrade to tease El Idolo possibly joining, but who knows if he does. Depends on how things go for Priest. He was watching the qualifiers, he’s not worried, but maybe he should be. Granted, he still has the MITB briefcase, he could go from losing the tag titles to taking the world title, who knows how the Judgment Day’s story is going to go as we move past Mania. Dom VS Ricochet was a really good match, and Ricochet winning was the right move to keep this feud going. I think there’s going to be Ricochet VS McDonagh next week as a rematch from the gauntlet, that’ll be great stuff, too.
Candice’s Heel turn slow burn continues as she takes advantage of the “hurt” leg. Indi also does a good job of being very conflicted about this. There’s a WWE YouTube exclusive where Ivy Nile confronts Candice so that’ll be a match, and then maybe when Candice again goes too far, Indi steps in and we get a match of Candice VS Indi at some point. Good little update promo from CM Punk, he’ll have a great homecoming moment in Chicago, but also probably McIntyre coming after him. McIntyre had a great promo segment with Rollins, and with all these continued moments where the other person gets the mic drop moment, it feels like McIntyre has to win the title.
And of course, great stuff with the Bloodline story even on Raw. Jey and Jimmy have great promos in their confrontation, and of course it turns into a brawl. Good segue from that to Heyman being here, and Heyman confronting Cody during Cody’s great promo segment. Cody really went off on The Rock, that was some wild stuff. But the supposed promise of “one on one and no one else aside from Heyman” might be kept, and we get a strong promo segment on SmackDown in a foreshadowing of the fair-and-square 1v1 match. Or it is a trap and that’s more a foreshadowing of Bloodline Rules where they can do whatever they want. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.
My Score: 8.9/10
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We’re just one step away from the Cup!
Cold Skull faces The Fierce Warrior, and Gene Blast faces The King of Darkness, and when the smoke clears, we will have our New Japan Cup finalists!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Boltin Oleg & Shoma Kato VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Mikey Nicholls; ZSJ & Mikey win.
- Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Tomohiro Ishii & Togi Makabe VS Just5Guys; Just5Guys win.
- Tanga Loa & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman; Loa & Taguchi win.
- Six Man Tag: YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano & Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & YOH VS The House of Torture; Shota, ELP, Leo & Yoh win.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; LIJ wins.
- 2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL; Tsuji wins and advances to the finals.
- 2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto; Goto wins and advances to the finals.
PLAY BY PLAY
2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!
The Gene Blast overcame the tricks Ren Narita tried, but that’s because the House of Torture was saving all the good stuff so they could slay the Rampaging Dragon. Will the deck be even more stacked to make sure Everything is Evil’s? Or will Yota be one step away from LIJ VS LIJ at Sakura Genesis?
Well, Dick is making his way out here, but where is Evil? Oh, there he is. No tricks just yet it seems. But then Yota DIVES onto Evil! The fans fire up but Dick attacks Yota! Dick whips, Yota stops himself, and then scoops Dick for a BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Yota wants the bell. The ref says yes, ring the bell, and this is on the record! Yota stomps and CLUBS Evil, then whips, but Evil reverses! Yota hits railing, and then Evil whips him into more railing! Evil CHOKES Yota against the railing, Yota fights back, but the ref gets knocked aside! Evil puts Yota in so he and Dick can stomp away!
The fans boo but here comes the rest of the House already! Narita, Yujiro, Kanemaru and Jack all stomp away on Yota, but here come Bushi & Hiromu! It’s a replay of yesterday as LIJ fights off the House, but the numbers are still against them! The ref rushes in to tell everyone to stop! Evil shoves the ref out of the ring, Yota fires off on him, but Evil CLAWS Yota’s eyes! The House CHOKES LIJ, but the ref says stop! The bell rings, but what is the decision!? NO CONTEST!?
No Contest
What does this mean!? Someone has to advance, right? The finals aren’t until the 20th, how can there be a no contest? The House started this, where’re the consequences?! Yota gets up but Evil TOSSES him back out! LIJ regroups and Yota asks for a mic. Yota tells Evil that he’s sick and tired of this! They ARE gonna finish this match! The fans like the sound of that! All the refs come out, including Red Shoes, to discuss how this will be handled. For starters, they tell all the extras to get outta here! LIJ is cool with that, and Hiromu tells the House to come along. Evil says fine, and Jack, Kanemaru, Narita, Yujiro and even Dick reluctantly exit.
The announcement is officially made, and the bell rings! Yota and Evil rush in, Evil kicks low but Yota CLUBS away on Evil! Evil CLAWS the eyes! Evil kicks, runs, RAMS, but Yota rebounds to run Evil over! Then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Yota fires up and the fans are with him! Evil bails out but the fans rally for Yota. Evil wants Yota to stay back, then he slides in, only to slide right out! Yota runs out after Evil, but Evil kicks him! Evil RAMS Yota into the timekeeper! Abe-san and his table go flying! Evil gets the mic to tell Yota that this is what he gets! The fans boo but Evil tells them off, too! Evil stomps Yota then soaks up the heat.
Evil unties the blue buckle pad himself, then waits in the ring. The ref checks Yota and the fans rally up again. The Young Lions help Abe-san while Yota drags himself up. Yota slides in, the fans cheer, but Evil pulls on Yota’s hair! Evil wrenches the hair, then wrenches it again! And again! Evil CLUBS the hair! The ref reprimands but Evil just dusts off his hands. Evil covers, but the ref refuses to count! Evil is furious but he’s the one up to no good! The ref still says no, so Evil stands on Yota’s head. The fans rally up, Yota rises, and he grins as he winds up to ROCK Evil with a forearm! And ROCK him with another!
Yota ROCKS Evil again, but Evil whips him into the bare buckles! Yota falls and the ref reprimands about the missing buckle pad. Evil stomps Yota, covers, TWO! The fans cheer but Evil is annoyed. Evil scuffs Yota, taunts him, and drags him up. Evil CHOPS, Yota drops to his knees, but Evil stands him back up. Evil CHOPS again and Yota grits his teeth as he drops to his knees! Evil stands Yota up again, to fake the chop to CLAW the eyes! The ref reprimands, Evil lets off, and then Evil stands on Yota in a corner. The ref counts, Evil lets go of the ropes but that’s not the problem! Evil steps away, drags Yota up but claims he’s dead weight.
The ref checks, Evil stands Yota up and wrenches an arm. Evil whips Yota into a corner, runs in, but into a BOOT! Evil runs in again, blocks the boot, but Yota brings Evil in for the STOMP! The fans fire up while Yota rests on the mat. The fans rally up and Yota rises again. Evil’s in the corner, runs out, but into the BACKBREAKER! COMPLETE SHOT! STOMP! The fans fire up again as Yota stands back up. Yota runs, to CURB STOMP!! Yota roars and the fans fire up again! Evil flounders while Yota aims. Yota runs in, but the ref is used as a shield! Evil kicks Yota low, then uses the ref in MAGIC KILLER!
All three men are down while the fans rally up again. Evil stands, he brings Yota up, and the ref also rises. Evil whips Yota into the bare buckles, then clotheslines him in! Then FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, but Evil lets off?! Evil wants to torture Yota but it’s hard to say if Yota is still even in this. Yota opens his eyes, rises up, but Evil fireman’s carries! DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives, the fans fire up, but Evil is furious! Evil slashes his throat and vows to end this now! Evil drags Yota up, spins him around, but Yota fights the STO with elbows! Evil kicks low, whips again, but Yota stops from hitting buckles!
Evil runs in, Yota dodges and Evil hits the buckles! SUPERKICK!! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! We’re only ten minutes into this new match but this is on top of the madness from earlier. Evil drags Yota up, but Yota ROCKS Evil! Evil fights Yota’s fireman’s carry and CLUBS him, but both men wobble. Evil LARIATS, but Yota stays up! The fans fire up but Evil swings to LARIAT again! Yota drops to a knee, but he grins through the pain! Evil says alright, and he throws off his elbow pad. Evil runs to LARIAT! Yota grits his teeth to stay up! V-TRIGGER! Yota brings Evil in, suplexes, ORANGE CRUSH! Cover, TWO!!
Evil is still in this but the fans rally behind Yota again. Yota rises, drags Evil up, and then goes to the corner. Yota goes up and up and Evil moves the ref into the way! The ref takes the FLYING CURB STOMP!!! And now the House returns! The fans boo as Kanemaru, Dick, Yujiro, Narita & Jack all stomp away on Yota again! The fans tell them to go home, again, but these guys don’t care! They just put one out on Yota. They whip Yota to a corner, then DIck runs in to ELBOW! Kanemaru ELBOWS! Yujiro BOOTS! Jack SPLASHES! Narita ELBOWS! Then they snapmare and set Yota up! Dick climbs for the DICK CHOP!!
The fans boo but the House applauds their own dirtiness. But here come Bushi & Hiromu again! But they just get mugged again! They set Hiromu up for the DICK CHOP, while Bushi gets a JACK CHOP! The House then slithers away before a replacement ref rushes out here. Evil drags Yota up, winds up and runs, to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!!! Yota survives and the fans are thunderous! Evil is at a loss for words, but he slashes his throat! He vows to end it for real, and he reels Yota in. EVERYTHING IS- Yota flips through!? And HEADBUTTS!! The fans fire up as Yota reels Evil in for a fireman’s carry! 70 CROSS!! Cover, TWO!!
Evil survives the swinging spinebuster and the House cheers! Yota drags himself to a corner, drags himself up with the ropes, and roars as he takes aim! Evil rises, but Yujiro distracts! Dick runs in, but gets a V-TRIGGER! The ref sees Dick, but misses the LOW BLOW! Then Evil RAMS Yota into the ref! That’s the second ref this match! Narita gets his push-up bar! The others set Yota up, but here comes SHINGO TAKAGI! The Rampaging Dragon has seen enough, and he’s still pissed from yesterday as it is! He dodges Narita to PUMPING BOMBER! Kanemaru & Yujiro kick Takagi, double whip, but he DOUBLE PUMPING BOMBERS!!
Jack gets in, but he gets ELBOW, JAB and YUKON LARIAT! Evil runs up but Takagi SWATS Evil’s lariat to JAB! Then feed to Hiromu’s SUPERKICK! Hiromu & Takagi set Evil up for Bushi’s BLACK MIST!! Evil can’t see, the PUMPING BOMBER turns him inside-out!! The fans are thunderous as LIJ helps Yota up! Red Shoes hurries out here, and Yota aims at Evil! GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, Yota wins!!!
Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
The House of Torture ran out of tricks, and now there is light at the end of the tournament! Will Yota do LIJ proud and bring home the Cup?
2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto!
One down, one to go. Yota Tsuji has made it through, now we see who joins him in the finals! Will the Cold Skull or Fierce Warrior be the one that steps closer to former glory?
The bell rings and the fans duel between “GO-TO-O!” and “SA-NA-DA!” Red Shoes measures the levels, and it seems to slightly favor Goto. Goto and Sanada circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Goto gets some leverage to put Sanada against ropes, but he lets off slowly. Goto pats Sanada on the shoulders and the fans cheer. The two reset, circle again, and tie up again. It’s another deadlock, but again Goto finds a way to put Sanada on ropes. Sanada turns things around, lets off slowly, and also pats Goto on the shoulders. The fans applaud and the two reset again. They feel things out, knuckle lock, then move to a clinch.
They fight for control, Sanada starts pushing Goto towards a corner but Goto slips away. They feel things out, knuckle lock again, then break. They tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, Goto waistlocks, but Sanada wrenches to wristlock. Goto rolls, wrenches, wristlocks, but Sanada spins, wrenches, only for Goto to roll! Goto gets a leg to trip Sanada up, and he has a toehold. Sanada fights back with a chinlock but Goto pulls on the leg. Sanada uses his free leg to hook Goto into an ARMBAR, but Goto clasps hands! Goto moves around, pops free, then headlocks. Sanada fights up, Goto grinds the headlock, but Sanada throws body shots.
Sanada powers up and out, but Goto runs him over! The fans rally as things speed up, and Goto counters hip toss with hip toss! Goto runs and he clotheslines Sanada up and out! The fans fire up and Goto slides out after Sanada. Goto stomps Sanada, drags him up, then CLUBS him on the neck! Sanada staggers, Goto CHOPS him, then kicks him, then CLUBS him! Goto whips but Sanada stops himself from hitting railing! Goto runs in but Sanada drop toeholds him into the railing! Goto goes down in a heap, but Sanada opens the gate. Sanada brings Goto through, then to the crowd! PILEDRIVER to the bare floor!
The fans are stunned but Red Shoes reprimands. Sanada leaves Goto behind and slides into the ring. The fans rally for Goto as the ring count begins. Goto crawls at 5 of 20, finds his way to ringside at 10, but still hobbles and crawls. He stands at 17 to slide in! The fans cheer, but Sanada stomps Goto. Sanada drags Goto up, CLUBS him on the neck, then brings him back up to CLUB him again. Goto CHOPS! And CHOPS! Sanada eggs Goto on so Goto CHOPS again! Goto whips, Sanada reverses to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Sanada keeps cool and sits Goto up into a chinlock. Goto endures and the fans rally again.
Goto kicks forward, reaches out, but Sanada cranks on the hold! Goto keeps fighting, and has the ROPEBREAK! Sanada lets go cleanly, but then he stomps Goto while he’s down. Sanada then stands Goto up to CLUB him on the neck. Goto CHOPS in return! And CHOPS, and CHOPS, and has Sanada in a corner! Goto CHOPS again, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, but Sanada BOOTS first! Sanada runs, Goto follows, and Goto LARIATS Sanada down! The fans fire up and Goto rises, clutching his neck. Goto stands Sanada up to fire off forearms, then he whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, MURAMASA!
Sanada wobbles, into the SAIDO! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up while Goto grits his teeth. Goto drags Sanada up, fireman’s carries, but Sanada fights free! Sanada waistlocks, Goto throws elbows, then runs. Sanada hurdles, hurdles, and DROPKICKS! Goto tumbles out of the ring, Sanada PLANCHAS him down! The fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. The fans get louder and Sanada appreciates it. Sanada then goes back for Goto, brings him up and puts him in the ring. Sanada fireman’s carries but Goto throws elbows! Sanada turns around into Goto’s fireman’s carry, but then slips out into the dragon sleeper!
But Goto arm-drags free! Sanada kicks low, runs, but Goto follows! Sanada dodges this time, runs again, but Goto still follows! Sanada sidesteps this time, but Goto holds ropes to avoid the hurdle! Goto runs in, but Sanada fireman’s carries! T K O! Cover, TWO! Goto is still in this and the fans rally up! Sanada goes up the corner, ROUNDING BODY- NO, Sanada has to land out as Goto moves! Sanada runs in, but into the fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! They cheer on “GO-TO-O!” but the “SA-NA-DA!” chants are still there. Red Shoes checks them both, and both men slowly rise.
The two crawl towards each other, and Goto fires a forearm! Sanada shakes his head, eggs Goto on, so Goto throws another! Goto eggs Sanada on, so Sanada fires a forearm! Goto fires a forearm back, and the two stand. Sanada UPPERCUTS! Goto comes back to forearm! Sanada UPPERCUTS again, and Goto drops back to a knee! The fans rally, Goto stands again, and he forearms! UPPERCUT, forearm, repeat! Goto growls, fires a flurry of forearms, and he ROCKS Sanada! Sanada drops to his hand and knees but Goto powers up! Goto KICKS but Sanada blocks! Goto fires more forearms, then waistlocks, but Sandaa fights free!
Sanada runs, but Goto fireman’s carries! And he throws Sanada into the dragon sleeper! But Sanada turns around and suplexes, for MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! Sanada roars as he rises up, and he aims from a corner. Sanada wants Goto to get up, and Goto sits up, into the SHINING WIZARD! Sanada then dragon sleepers, for the SKULL END!! Goto endures, flails, reaches out, but he’s caught in the body scissors! Goto fights around but he’s fading! The fans rally, Goto’s hand drops! Sanada lets him go to then climb! ROUNDING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as Goto survives but Sanada storms around. Sanada drags Goto up, reels him in and clinches, but Goto slips free to shove Sanada away! Sanada forearms, ROLLING- HEADBUTT from Goto! The fans fire up and duel, and Goto drags Sanada up. But Sanada breaks free! Goto HEADBUTTS again! Sanada falls back down and Goto steadies himself. Goto roars, the fans are with him, and Goto sits Sanada up. Goto runs to PENALTY KICK! Shoutout to Shibata and the fans fire up more! Sanada grits his teeth as he sits back up but Goto takes aim! BUZZSAW! And then he hauls Sanada up to dragon sleeper! G T- BACKSLIDE COUNTER! TWO!!!
Sanada and Goto hurry up, Sanada dodges to O’Conner BRIDGE!! TWO?!!? Goto escapes and shocks everyone! Sanada resets, runs in, SHINING WIZARD!! The fans are thunderous as Sanada roars and drags Goto back up! Clinch and DEAD- NO, Goto slips around to ripcord and fireman’s carry! G T W!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Sanada survives but Goto is all fired up! The fans are thunderous as Goto dragon sleepers for G T R!!! Cover, GOTO WINS!!!
Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
Don’t call it a comeback, Goto’s been here for years! Sanada’s hopes of being IWGP World Heavyweight Champion again have been delayed, how long must he wait for another chance?
As for Goto, he’s going back to the New Japan Cup Finals for the first time since 2016, and his seventh overall! But before he can get the mic to speak, Yota makes his way back out here. Yota steps into the ring and he gets the mic first. Yota tells Goto, “In order to open the door to a new era, we must do this.” The fans applaud that, and Yota continues by asking Goto, “Are you ready?!” Yota drops the mic at Goto’s feet, and Goto stands up to speak. “I also have something I want to show you. As a three-time New Japan Cup Champion, I will show you my strength.” The fans like the sound of that!
The Fierce Warrior stares down with Gene Blast, a true generational showdown on the horizon! Will Goto return not juts to former glory, but finally ascend to top of NJPW? Or will Yota make it LIJ VS LIJ for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship?
My Thoughts:
A great semifinal round for this tournament, with quite a surprising main event. Sanada VS Goto was great stuff, and while I felt Sanada wasn’t winning the Cup, I didn’t think he’d be out this round. Yota VS Evil was rather creatively put together, too. I did not think the House would get so involved that at first it was a No Contest but then they restart under a ringside ban. Takagi making sure Yota won was good stuff, too, maybe we can get Takagi VS Evil for the NEVER Openweight Championship if they’re not gonna circle back to more Shota Umino VS House of Torture stuff.
Goto VS Yota is going to be great stuff, and Goto is clearly a top utility guy. He’s had so many New Japan Cup finals appearances, certainly among the most ever, but I don’t think he gets a fourth Cup win against Yota, one of the “new era Musketeers” that NJPW clearly loves. Yota VS Naito is definitely the title match for Sakura Genesis.
My Score: 8.9/10
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