WWE Raw Review – May 22, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Raw with Cody Rhodes walking around backstage then Brock Lesnar appears out of nowhere and attacks him by tossing him into road cases, several barrels, and a garage door then he picks up one of the barrels and sandwiches Rhodes’ arm between it and the garage door as Rhodes writhes out in pain.
Paul Heyman introduces himself and says he had nothing to do with Lesnar attacking Rhodes. He says what just happened is an example of what Lesnar will do to Rhodes at Night Of Champions then says since his appearance on last week’s Raw was so well received, he was invited back. He promotes the 3 main events on May 27th and the Undisputed Tag Team Titles match between The Bloodline & Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens then gloats about how Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa will win then welcomes fans to Raw.
Zayn makes fun of Heyman leaving, then mocks him for being afraid. He says he & Owens are feeling pretty good then says the Undisputed Tag Team Title Match is personal to him. He says he has nothing left to say because he said it all to Roman Reigns on this past Friday’s edition of SmackDown.
Owens says Reigns dedicated the Undisputed Tag Team Title match to The Wild Samoans on Friday then says he was inspired to do the same then dedicates the match to The Usos.
Zayn says they have business to take care of tonight and addresses their 6 Man Tag Team Match with Imperium before he can continue Imperium’s music hits & they march their way down to the ring.
Imperium surrounds the ring but Matt Riddle runs down to even the odds and joins Owens & Zayn in the ring which causes Imperium to back down. Riddle begins chatting with Owens & Zayn in the ring before Imperium tries to blindside them. Riddle, Owens & Zayn gain the upper hand and dumps Imperium out of the ring.
After the break Byron Saxton is waiting outside the medical room for an update on Cody Rhodes. Adam Pearce emerges and Saxton asks Pearce for any information. Pearce says he has none at this time and Saxton addresses rumors that Rhodes has a broken arm. Pearce reiterates his point.
Bronson Reed vs. Ricochet
Ricochet fires off several kicks and right hands then Bronson Reed catches one of his kicks but this doesn’t stop Ricochet as he delivers a pair of low dropkicks to Reed’s knee then lands an enziguri. Reed responds with an elbow drop before the action spills to the outside and Reed delivers a running shoulder tackle off the apron as we go to a break.
After the break Reed looks to land a delayed vertical suplex on Ricochet but Ricochet escapes and Reed catches him with a fallaway slam before Ricochet delivers a jawbreaker off the top rope then delivers a knee to Reed’s head then follows it up with a kick to his head and a standing shooting star press then goes for a pin but Reed quickly kicks out.
Ricochet then delivers a springboard moonsault but Reed clotheslines him to the outside and looks to go flying off the apron. Ricochet catches him with a kick mid air then gets him back in the ring and delivers an enziguri then looks to fly back inside but Reed trips him then lands a powerslam follow by Tsunami for the win.
Winner: Bronson Reed
We then head backstage to Cathy Kelley is with Apollo Crews. Crews expresses his excitement for being on Raw but before he can continue Dominik Mysterio & Smackdown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley walk in. Mysterio says this is supposed to be Ripley’s time, and Kelley explains she was supposed to speak with Ripley after Crews. Mysterio & Crews exchange words before Mysterio says Crews’ interview with Kelley is over. Ripley then grabs the microphone and looks to challenge Natalya to a match at Night Of Champions for the Smackdown Women’s Title. Crews cuts her off and says this is his time and asks Mysterio what he’s going to do about it. Ripley says Mysterio will show Crews who runs Raw and Crews says he can’t wait to see him try.
After the break we head to part 3 of Seth Rollins’ sit down interview with Corey Graves & Graves asks Rollins for his thoughts on Roman Reigns’ run as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion and Rollins says while he loves Reigns, he doesn’t like him. He says he will always love Reigns because he was always there for him, but he has no respect for the person and champion he’s become. He says Reigns has taken opportunities away from everyone else and says he wants to become World Heavyweight Champion so everyone forgets about Reigns. He says as title holder he wants to help push the industry forward. Graves then asks Rollins about facing AJ Styles, and Rollins says Styles is one of the greatest in ring performers. He brings up their match in April 2006 and says Night Of Champions will be no different.
Zoey Stark vs. Candice LeRae
Zoey Stark wastes no time as she fires off several stomps on Candice LeRae in the corner then delivers an uppercut and an enziguri then follows it up with a suplex and a dropkick as we see Nikki Cross cheering LeRae on from outside.
LeRae delivers a step up senton and a dropkick then delivers a crossbody off the apron before the action spills to the outside then she tosses Stark back in the ring and looks to follow her but Cross pulls her down and hugs her.
This allows Stark to knock both women to the floor then get LeRae back in the ring and deliver Z360 for the win.
Winner: Zoey Stark
After the break we go to the Gorilla Position where Byron Saxton is with the #1 Contender to the Intercontienetal Title Mustafa Ali & Saxton asks Ali about his upcoming Intercontinental Title match with Gunther at Night Of Champions and Ali says he’s been dreaming about wrestling since he was a kid. He says his career hasn’t been what he’s expected but before he can continue Brock Lesnar shoulder checks him & tells him to get a life kid and heads down to the ring as fans rain down boos on him.
Lesnar mocks Cody Rhodes by asking Hershey PA what they want to talk about then says Rhodes will not be out at ringside tonight or at Night Of Champions then says he will not let fans down and issues an open challenge for anyone in the back to face him.
Rhodes appears at ringside with his arm in a sling as Adam Pearce and other officials try to talk him out of facing Lesnar. Rhodes doesn’t listen and gets inside the ring then pulls off his sling. Lesnar then sends him crashing into the corner and cinches in Kimura Lock before relinquishing it. He stomps on Rhodes’ arm then grabs his cowboy hat and heads to the back as other officials run down to check on Rhodes.
Tag Team Match
Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis) vs. Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar)
Chad Gable & Erik lock up to get this match started then Gable looks to trip Erik but Erik stays standing. Gable then manages to send him crashing into the mat before Ivar tags in and continues to wear down Gable.
Erik tags in and delivers a shoulder to Gable’s midsection then tags Ivar back in.
Ivar & Otis tag in & Otis delivers a pair of shoulder tackles and a body slam to Ivar then executes The Caterpillar on an interfering Erik then charges at Ivar but Ivar ducks out of the way. Gable & Erik tag in.
Erik delivers a kick to Gable as Dupri gets in Valhalla’s face. Valhalla scares off Dupri which captures the attention of Viking Raiders & this allows Gable to roll up Erik for the win.
Winners: Alpha Academy
We then head backstage to Byron Saxton waiting outside the medical room for a word with Cody Rhodes. Adam Pearce breezes past him and heads in but Rhodes shouts at him to get out and Pearce does so.
Finn Balor vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Match starts off with a lock up then they go back & forth with submission holds before Finn Balor delivers a right hand to Shinsuke Nakamura’s midsection. Nakamura fires back with a knee and an enziguri then sends him crashing out of the ring. Nakamura tosses him back in but before he can get back inside Damian Priest trips him and sends him crashing to the floor as Balor distracts the referee as we go to a break.
After the break Balor fires off a pair of stomps then Nakamura then delivers a kick to his spine and trips him before landing an enziguri and planting him face first. Balor hits a Sling Blade, but Nakamura catches him with a kick and sets up for the Kinshasa. Balor catches him with a double stomp and ascends to the top rope & looks for the Coup De Grace but Nakamura rolls out of the way and delivers a knee to the back of his neck.
He sets up for the Kinshasa once again but Priest helps Balor out of the ring and checks on him. Nakamura then delivers a running knee off the apron to Priest before clotheslining him into the timekeeper’s area & this allows Balor to deliver a dropkick to Nakamura then tosses him inside the ring and hits Coup De Grace for the win.
Winner: Finn Balor
Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sonya Deville
Chelsea Green tosses Sonya Deville her sunglasses in the ring but Raquel Rodriguez stomps on them and Deville takes advantage then she rains down right hands before landing a kick and ascending to the middle rope.
She hits a jumping knee and fires off right hands but Rodriguez fires back with a boot follow by Texana Bomb for the win.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
After the match Green blindsides Rodriguez and holds her in place. Deville lands a knee before Shotzi Blackheart’s music hits and she runs down to make the save as she returns to Raw.
We then head backstage to an official providing an update to Adam Pearce. The official tells Pearce that Rhodes refuses to let anyone in before Trish Stratus walks in and asks Pearce to make a no touch policy during her contract signing with Becky Lynch. Pearce says he doesn’t see a need for one and walks off.
Becky Lynch says The Man has come around to Hershey then takes a seat and calls Trish Stratus to the ring to take care of business before she signs the contract.
Stratus’ music hits and she heads down then she mocks Lynch for being eager and tells her she wasn’t eager to return to Raw and have her head kicked in. She says this is a big moment for her as it’s her 1st contract signing. She expresses that she wants to savor the moment while Lynch wants to get things over with because she’s had so many contract signings. Stratus says she’s responsible for that and says she’s number one. She says it’s been that way since she walked through the door while it took Lynch a broken nose to get to the top. She continues to gloat and says she’ll sign the contract then points out the irony in her 1st contract signing being Lynch’s last one.
Lynch tells Stratus she’s scared, and says she won’t hurt her tonight because she wants Stratus at full health for Night Of Champions. She says while everyone got better Stratus stayed the same and she’s better than Stratus thinks she is. Lynch says this is all about Stratus wanting her flowers then thanks her for being everything she hopes she never becomes. She says she will punch Stratus in the face every single time and says she can look back on a career while Stratus’ career gives her nightmares. Stratus to the big time which leads to an irate Stratus flipping over the desk and retreating.
We then head backstage and see Adam Pearce on the phone with someone explaining the situation with Cody Rhodes.
After the break we go backstage to Raquel Rodriguez & Shotzi Blackheart & they express their admiration and respect for one another before Rodriguez says she’s found her new tag team partner for next week.
Dominik Mysterio vs. Apollo Crews
Match starts off with a lock up then Apollo Crews delivers a shoulder tackle then lands a back elbow and a delayed vertical suplex. Dominik Mysterio fires back with a boot but Crews gets him over his head and plants him then ascends to the top rope but Mysterio pulls him down and fires off several stomps.
He delivers a knee to Crews’ midsection then looks for a crossbody. Crews catches him and plants him then ascends to the top and lands a blockbuster. He climbs back up to the top and delivers a crossbody but Mysterio delivers a dropkick to his spine.
The action spills to the outside and Crews delivers a shoulder block then he looks to continue wearing down Mysterio but Rhea Ripley inserts herself between them.
Mysterio takes advantage and plants him face first before Ripley sends him crashing into the ring post while the referee is distracted then the referee then begins a 10 count but Crews beats it and gets back inside where Mysterio waits with a Frog Splash for the win.
Winner: Dominik Mysterio
We then head to a video hyping up AJ Styles ahead of his final match in the World Heavyweight Title Tournament against Seth Rollins.
We are back from the break we head to part 4 of the sit down interview between Rollins & Corey Graves. Graves asks why winning the World Heavyweight Title is so special for him, and Rollins says it’s time for change. Rollins says he worked hard to become the guy and wrestling is his first love. He says he has been given a life beyond his wildest dreams and says he wants to be the best he can be. He says the World Heavyweight Title is his moment to do something special and says he’s going all in then says he’s putting everything he has into the finals to create something legendary then says he wants to be someone the future can look to as the guy.
6 Man Tag Team Match
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle vs. Imperium (Intercontienetal Champion Gunther, Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser)
Sami Zayn & Ludwig Kaiser lock up to start this match off then Kaiser fires off several stomps before Matt Riddle tags in. Kaiser lands an uppercut then tags in Giovanni Vinci & Vinci lands several uppercuts but Riddle catches him with a kick to his chest and a gut wrench suplex. Gunther tags in and Riddle fires off kicks but Gunther catches one of them and trips him then lands a chop as we go to a break.
After the break Kaiser plants Riddle with a suplex then Gunther tags in and delivers a right hand to Riddle’s spine but Riddle plants him and looks to tag in Zayn. Kaiser pulls Zayn off the apron before Riddle can make the tag. Riddle then lands a German suplex and tags in Kevin Owens as Gunther tags in Vinci.
Owens fires off a series of stomps and a senton, then executes a German suplex and follows it up with a cannonball. He looks to ascend to the top rope but Kaiser prevents him from doing so which allows Vinci to blindside him as we go to a another break.
We come back from a another break Owens ascends to the top and lands a frog splash then Zayn & Kaiser then tag in. Zayn delivers a back body drop and a Michinoku Driver then sets up for the Helluva Kick but Kaiser ducks out of the way, and Zayn clotheslines him to the outside.
Gunther tags in and fires off chops but Zayn levels him with a Blue Thunder Bomb then goes for a pin but Vinci breaks the fall. Owens takes him down with a Stunner before Kaiser sends Owens crashing to the outside. Zayn clotheslines Kaiser out of the ring, then sets up for the Helluva Kick on Gunther but he manages to lock in a sleeper but Riddle breaks the hold with a Floating Bro.
Zayn then lands an Exploder and looks for the Helluva Kick on Vinci but Gunther grabs his ankle. Riddle then sends him crashing over the announce table as Zayn lands a Helluva Kick and tags in Owens & he delivers a Swanton Bomb for the win.
Winners: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle
We then head backstage to Cody Rhodes in his dressing room then someone knocks on the door and he tells them to go away. They don’t listen and Triple H appears. He sits down with Rhodes and tells him he knows he’s angry but he needs medical attention. Rhodes refuses to get help for his arm, and Triple H says they both know that his arm is broken. He says he knows Rhodes is afraid and Rhodes questions what he has to be afraid of. Triple H explains that Rhodes is afraid of not being cleared and says he doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. He says he’s seen Rhodes wrestle with a torn pec but this is different. He reminds Rhodes of the year he spent on the shelf but Rhodes cuts him off. Rhodes asks Triple H what he would do and what he’s done. He says he fought and he will go to Night Of Champions to fight Brock Lesnar.
Matches Of The Night
Bronson Reed vs. Ricochet- 7/10
Finn Balor vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – 7/10
6 Man Tag Team Match- 7/10
Next Week’s Raw
Women’s Tag Team Titles Fatal 4 Way Match
Damage CTRL (Bayley & Iyo Sky) vs. Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler vs. Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Shotzi Blackheart
Money In The Bank Qualifying Matches Start
Night Of Champions Card (May 27th)
Finals Of The World Heavyweight Title Tournament
Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lensar
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Match
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (c) vs. The Bloodline (Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa)
Intercontienetal Title Match
Gunther (c) vs. Mustafa Ali
Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus
Raw Women’s Title Match
Bianca BelAir (c) vs. Asuka
Smackdown Women’s Title Match
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Natalya
