WWE Raw Review – May 1, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Raw with Triple H welcomes fans to the Draft before giving them a quick reminder of the rules. He says that whoever holds the World Heavyweight Title will be exclusive to Raw. He then notes that Brock Lesnar is not eligible to be drafted tonight, as he has renegotiated his status as a free agent. He says select NXT stars are eligible to be drafted and the new draft picks go into effect after Backlash on May 8th.
Triple H then reveals the #1 draft pick Smackdown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley will remain on Raw. He announces that Smackdown has selected United States Champion Austin Theory as the #2 pick while Raw has drafted Seth Rollins as the #3 pick. Triple H announces that Charlotte Flair is 4th overall pick will remain on Smackdown.
Triple H introduces Paul Heyman and guides him over to where the World Heavyweight Title is displayed. Heyman says the World Heavyweight Title is beautiful then makes his way down to the ring.
Heyman introduces himself and says Roman Reigns has sent him out tonight to address a number of business items. He says himself, Reigns, & Solo Sikoa have been drafted to Smackdown while the fate of The Usos remains to be seen. He says he will address The Usos in private regarding their loss to Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles. He then brings up the 6 Man Tag Team match at Backlash between The Bloodline vs. Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Kevin Owens & Zayn & Matt Riddle. He announces that Reigns will be live on Smackdown this Friday and beyond that, he will be addressing the World Heavyweight Title.
Heyman gloats about Reigns’ historic run as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion but says he can’t compete for the World Heavyweight Title and the worst thing about that is the people in the locker room should know better than to run their mouths about Reigns. He calls them jokers and clowns but before he can continue Seth Rollins’ music hits and he heads to the ring.
Rollins asks Heyman why the long face, then says it must be Christmas for him because Reigns is on Smackdown while he’s still on Raw, He says Reigns can stop running and Heyman can stop wasting his time trying to avoid a Undisputed WWE Universal Title match between himself & Reigns. Rollins says Heyman can focus on making sure The Bloodline doesn’t fall apart and adds that since Heyman likes spoilers he has one of his own he will win the World Heavyweight Title at Night Of Champions.
Heyman then receives a phone call as Rollins gets fans to sing. Heyman says he can’t hear Reigns and tells fans to simmer down but fans refuse. Heyman then gets off the phone and informs Rollins he’s angering Reigns. Rollins says if Reigns is upset now, then he won’t like what he’s about to do. He asks Fort Worth how long it would take to get Heyman onto the canvas so he could hit him with the Curb Stomp.
Solo Sikoa’s music hits and he appears. He marches his way down to the ring before Heyman says Reigns pulled some strings to make a match between Rollins & Sikoa tonight official. Rollins says they don’t have to wait to make the match official and accepts the challenge.
Non Title Match
Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Damage CTRL (Bayley & Dakota Kai)
Liv Morgan & Dakota Kai lock up to start this match off then Morgan delivers a dropkick before Kai manages to send her into the middle rope and tags in Bayley. Bayley delivers a body slam and looks for an elbow drop but Morgan ducks it and tags in Raquel Rodriguez. Rodriguez delivers a series of shoulders to Bayley’s midsection then tags in Morgan.
Morgan delivers a running knee and goes for a pin but Bayley kicks out. Kai tags in by touching Bayley’s foot but the referee doesn’t count this as a legal tag & this allows Bayley to rake Morgan’s eye and toss her to the outside where Kai is waiting with a boot as we go to a break.
After the break Kai tags in and delivers a running boot then she fires off several stomps in the corner but Morgan fights her off and looks to tag in Rodriguez. Kai prevents her from doing so but Morgan manages to tag in Rodriguez. Rodriguez delivers a pair of shoulder tackles and a fallaway slam then sets up for a splash. Bayley pushes Kai out of the way and takes the move but this doesn’t stop Rodriguez.
She catches Kai with a fallaway slam and delivers a corkscrew elbow then tags in Morgan. Morgan looks to go flying but Bayley forces Rodriguez to lose her balance but Morgan still goes flying but Kai gets her knees up.
Morgan then delivers the double knees to Kai but Bayley makes the blind tag. Morgan hits Kai with ObLIVion before Bayley takes advantage and rolls her up for the win.
Winners: Damage CTRL
After the break we head to a video of Adam Pearce approaching Brock Lesnar earlier today. Pearce asks Lesnar to keep the peace during his confrontation with Rhodes later tonight. Lesnar chuckles and tells him good luck with that.
We then head to a video of Lesnar attacking Rhodes on Raw a few weeks ago before their scheduled tag team match against Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa.
Booker T announces that Undisputed Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn have been drafted to Raw as the 5th overall pick. Sharmell announces that The Usos have been drafted to Smackdown as the 6th pick before Booker announces that Raw has chosen Judgment Day as the 7th overall pick. Sharmell then reveals that LWO will be remaining on Smackdown as the 8th overall pick.
Tag Team Match
Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis) vs. Braun Strowman & Ricochet
Match starts off with a lock up then they go back & forth with submission holds before Chad Gable delivers a chop. Ricochet fires back with a hurricanrana and a dropkick before Ricochet delivers an enziguri. Gable fires back with a German suplex before Otis & Braun Strowman tag in.
Otis shoves Strowman then fires off right hands in the corner then follows it up with a splash but Strowman returns the favor and follows it up with a crossbody. He then delivers a slam and tags Ricochet back in. Ricochet climbs onto Strowman’s shoulders and delivers a Swanton Bomb for the win.
Winners: Braun Strowman & Ricochet
After the break we head to a video recapping the events that have led to the San Juan Street Fight between Damian Priest & Bad Bunny at Backlash.
Shawn Michaels looks to announce the 9th overall pick but Brock Lesnar’s music hits and he appears. Pearce tries talking Lesnar out of doing whatever he’s about to do but Lesnar stares him down and Pearce backs off.
Lesnar asks Fort Worth how it feels to be looking at the only cowboy in the state then a bunch of security guards then appear as Pearce begs Lesnar not to take over the show. Pearce tells him he’s leaving the ring one way or another, and Lesnar taunts him. He says it’s going to take a lot more men than that and more security guards appear.
Cody Rhodes’ music hits, and he clocks Lesnar from behind. Security looks to hold Rhodes back as Lesnar escapes from the ring but Rhodes breaks free. Security holds Rhodes back as other security guards block Lesnar’s path to Rhodes as Lesnar retreats.
Shawn Michaels announces that Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan have been moved to Raw as the 9th overall pick. He then discloses that Smackdown has chosen Asuka as the 10th pick while Raw selects New Day as the 11th pick while Smackdown has selected Brawling Brutes as the 12th overall pick.
We then head backstage to Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle. Riddle says this has been the best week ever and expresses his excitement with being drafted to Raw alongside Owens & Zayn before adding that he will put the beats on Jimmy Uso tonight. Owens checks with Zayn to make sure he heard Riddle correct when he said they’d be together all the time, and Zayn calms Owens down.
Matt Riddle vs. Jimmy Uso
Matt Riddle rains down right hands then follows it up with a kick but Jey Uso delivers a kick of his own to Riddle while the referee is distracted & this allows Jimmy to gain the upper hand as Owens gets in Jey’s face then falls to the mat as Zayn smacks a chair on the ground before tossing it over to Jey. Zayn then calls for the referee and the referee ejects Jey from ringside thinking he hit Owens with the chair as we cut to a break.
After the break Jimmy delivers a Samoan Drop to Riddle. Riddle & Jimmy then go back and forth with forearms but Riddle gains the upper hand and delivers a kick to Jimmy’s head. He then delivers an exploder suplex and looks for the Broton but Jimmy gets his knees up.
Jimmy sends Riddle tumbling to the outside and Owens checks on him. Jimmy levels him with a superkick then tosses Riddle back in the ring before he lands an enziguri and a superkick then goes for a pin but Riddle kicks out.
Jimmy exposes the top turnbuckle but Owens sends him into it face first while Zayn distracts the referee & this allows Riddle to deliver a Ripcord Knee then Floating Bro for the win.
Winner: Matt Riddle
We come back from the break we go backstage to Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman. Heyman hypes up Sikoa before Jey Uso walks in and asks where Sikoa was during Jimmy’s match with Riddle. Heyman says Roman Reigns requested that Sikoa stay out of it to get ready for his match then tells Sikoa to give Jey the room so he has some time for himself.
Eric Bischoff announces that Trish Stratus is the 13th overall pick and will remain on Raw. RVD then reveals that Smackdown has selected Karrion Kross & Scarlett as the 14th pick before Bischoff reveals Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler are heading over to Raw as the 15th pick. RVD then announces that LA Knight is the 16th pick and will remain on Smackdown.
The Miz welcomes fans to Miz TV then hypes up the draft and introduces Shinsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura heads down and The Miz welcomes him to Raw before inviting him to take a seat. The Miz asks Nakamura if he feels he has a chance at winning the World Heavyweight Title and Nakamura says hi. The Miz says it’s fine that he doesn’t want to answer the question because he’s the workhorse champion Triple H previously referred to. The Miz then says Nakamura would make a great #2 then proposes a partnership then he tells Nakamura he needs someone to watch his back and says they could help each other.
Nakamura says that The Miz has more experience than him then recites a Japanese phrase. Miz says it sounds amazing and asks what it translates to in English and Nakamura says it means the guy with tiny balls. The Miz looks to attack Nakamura but Nakamura ducks out of the way and delivers the Kinshasa.
Omos vs. Anthony Alanis
Anthony Alanis fires off right hands but Omos no sells them and sends him face first into the top turnbuckle then follows it up with a big boot then Tree Slam for the win.
Winner: Omos
Molly Holly announces that Braun Strowman & Ricochet are heading over to Raw as the 17th overall pick. Road Dogg then announces that Shotzi Blackheart will remain on Smackdown as the 18th pick before Molly Holly reveals that the 19th pick is Bronson Reed will remain on Raw. Road Dogg then announces that Pretty Deadly have been called up to Smackdown as 20th pick.
Damian Priest demands that fans rise to Judgment Day remaining on Raw and the #1 draft pick of the night Rhea Ripley. Ripley then brags about being the number one draft pick, and says Judgment Day runs The Red Brand. She says Zelina Vega will regret everything she’s done to her on Smackdown when she beats her and reminds everyone why she’s the most dominant champion in WWE. Finn Balor then addresses Bad Bunny and says Priest will tear him apart. Priest addresses Bad Bunny directly in Spanish then says he will receive his punishment at Backlash. Dominik Mysterio goes to speak but is cut off by the boos that rain down from fans. Dominik eventually manages to say that Ripley & Priest will dominate, then says this is the last night he’ll get to embarrass his dad and his loser friends in the upcoming 6 Person Tag Team match before they head over to Smackdown.
Latino World Order’s Rey Mysterio, Zelina Vega & Santos Escobar appear. Rey says no one is running or hiding anywhere, as they were selected to compete on Smackdown. He says he’s glad himself & Dominik won’t be on the same brand because if he thought WrestleMania was bad, he hasn’t seen anything yet. He says he can’t wait to see Vega as the new Smackdown Women’s Champion and Bad Bunny to beat Priest and anyone else who gets in his way.
6 Person Tag Team Match
Judgement Day (Smackdown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio) vs. Latino World Order (Zelina Vega, Santos Escobar & Rey Mysterio)
Rey Mysterio & Dominik Mysterio starts us off but Rhea Ripley immediately tags in. Ripley shoves Rey’s face but Zelina Vega catches her with a hurricanrana. Ripley responds with a boot and sets up for Riptide. Vega escapes before Ripley sets up for a vertical suplex. Vega escapes and Ripley tags in Damian Priest. Santos Escobar tags in on his side and delivers a knee before firing off several chops.
Priest responds with a forearm then knocks Rey off the apron. Escobar gains the upper hand and sends both Priest & Dominik to the outside. Rey tags in and delivers a senton to Priest off the apron as we cut to a break.
After the break Priest delivers a few clotheslines in the corner to Escobar. Escobar fires back with a dropkick to Priest. Rey & Dominik tag in. Rey fires off right hands and delivers a hurricanrana, then rains down more right hands in the corner. He then delivers a crossbody and goes for a pin but Ripley breaks the fall.
Ripley then levels Vega and gets Rey on her shoulders but Vega saves Rey and sends Ripley crashing out of the ring & this allows Dominik to deliver a dropkick and tag in Priest. Priest charges at Rey but Rey ducks out of the way and Priest collides with the ring post shoulder first. Rey sets up for the 619 but Balor distracts the referee as Rey is tripped by Dominik.
Escobar levels Dominik with a tope suicida but Ripley takes him down. Vega then levels Ripley with a Meteora off the apron before Priest sets up for Razor’s Edge. Rey escapes and sets up for the 619 but Balor absorbs the move. Priest then delivers a South Of Heaven to Rey to get him back into the ring for the win.
Winners: Judgement Day
JBL announces that Raw has selected Alpha Academy as the 20th first overall pick. Teddy Long reveals that Rick Boogs has been drafted to Smackdown as the 22nd pick while JBL reveals that Katana Chance & Kayden Carter have been called up to Raw as the 23rd pick. Long then announces that Cameron Grimes is the 24th pick and has been called up to Smackdown.
Seth Rollins vs. Solo Sikoa
Match starts off with a lock up then Seth Rollins rolls to the outside and Solo Sikoa looks to join him but Rollins rolls back in the ring. Sikoa gets back inside before he delivers a headbutt and a series of right hands.
Rollins fires off several chops and right hands then low bridges Sikoa to the outside and delivers a dropkick through the middle ropes. Rollins looks to go flying but Sikoa catches him with a spinning back heel kick as we go to a break.
After the break Sikoa gets Rollins on his shoulders but Rollins escapes and delivers an enziguri then follows it up with a series of chops and right hands then he delivers a jumping clothesline and Sikoa rolls out of the ring for a breather.
Rollins catches Sikoa with 3 tope suicidas then tosses him back in the ring and ascends to the top rope. Sikoa ducks out of the way and delivers a Samoan Drop then goes for a pin but Rollins kicks out. We see Heyman on a phone call on the outside as Sikoa sets up for Spinning Solo.
Rollins ducks it and delivers a superkick but Sikoa responds with Spinning Solo. He goes for a pin, but Rollins kicks out. Sikoa hits a 2nd Spinning Solo then rains down right hands.
Rollins rolls to the outside and Sikoa sends Rollins’ head bouncing off the announce table. Rollins sends Sikoa colliding with the ring post then delivers a rolling elbow but here comes The Usos and they attack Rollins for the DQ.
Winner By DQ: Seth Rollins
After the match Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle then run down and them alongside Rollins begin attacking The Bloodline.