WWE Raw Review – June 12, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Raw with Adam Pearce says it’s his pleasure to introduce Ripley as the brand new Women’s World Champion and unveils the new title then he hands it over to Ripley before Dominik Mysterio comes running down the ramp and places it around Ripley’s waist. Ripley then grabs a mic and asks Mysterio to tell everyone how amazing she is as the crowd boos Mysterio as he says their response is disrespectful. He says behind every great woman is a great man and he is glad to be that for Ripley.
Cody Rhodes’ music hits and he makes his way down to the ring.
Rhodes asks Wichita what they want to talk about then says they could talk about Ripley and her new Women’s World Title. He voices his respect for her before throwing it to a video of their confrontation last week. Rhodes says it would be nice if Brock Lesnar came out and accepted his challenge but he thinks Lesnar doesn’t have the guts. He then challenges Mysterio to a match at Money In The Bank and Mysterio says he’s not afraid of anyone in the world. He says he’ll embarrass Rhodes in the middle of the ring like he would do to anyone else. Rhodes says it’s a yes or no answer. Ripley says Mysterio is more of a man than Rhodes, anyone in the arena and anyone at home. She accepts his challenge on Mysterio’s behalf.
The Miz appears out of nowhere and tries blindsiding Rhodes. Rhodes bests him and clotheslines him out of the ring before Mysterio takes a cheap shot at Rhodes from behind.
Cody Rhodes vs. The Miz
Cody Rhodes sends The Miz crashing into the mat before Miz sets up for Skull Crushing Finale but Rhodes escapes and lands an arm drag then sends Miz out of the ring with an enziguri then follows it up with a top suicida. He tosses Miz back in the ring and stomps on his ankle but Miz sends Rhodes crashing into the ring steps and the announce table. He gets him back inside and delivers a pair of right hands to his head.
Rhodes fires back with a couple of his own but Miz delivers a stomp to Rhodes’ midsection. Rhodes plants Miz then charges at him in the corner but Miz ducks out of the way and Rhodes crashes into the ring post then tosses him into the ring steps once more as we go to a break.
After the break Miz delivers a splash to Rhodes in the corner then he ascends to the top rope but Rhodes meets him up there. Miz looks for a double stomp but misses. Rhodes then plants him with a Side Effect before following it up with a clothesline and a powerslam then he lands Disaster Kick and goes for a pin but Miz kicks out.
Miz sets up for a Figure 4 but Rhodes prevents him from doing so then he looks for Cody Cutter but Miz counters and lands the It Kicks. He follows it up with a DDT but Rhodes manages to hit Cody Cutter follow by Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Becky Lynch says The Man has come around to Wichita and is headed to Money In The Bank. She says she has done a lot in her career but one thing that she has yet to do is become the Money In The Bank briefcase holder. She says everyone has become conditioned to think that the #1 woman is the champion but the person that is #1 is the 1 with all the power. She says no one holds more power than the Money In The Bank briefcase holder because they have the power to make the champion scared and throw them off their game. She says when people get scared they do dangerous things and she likes that because it makes her better. She says no one is more scared than Trish Stratus and she got herself an insurance policy in Zoey Stark.
Stark’s music hits and she appears. She says she’s had enough and the one thing Lynch can never do is beat Stratus. Lynch says she’s learned from all of her failures and that makes her great. She says she has a lot to learn about Stark but she knows she’s special in the ring. She says Stark lacks a personality and Stark becomes angered. She asks Lynch if she owns a mirror and says she becomes relevant because Nia Jax broke her face. She says Lynch is trying to hold onto her fame and subsequently Stratus’ fame. She then challenges Lynch to a match at Money In The Bank and Lynch says they don’t have to wait until July 1st.
Chelsea Green’s music then hits. Herself & Sonya Deville appear and Green taunts Stark. Stark gets in her face but backs down. Green then says Lynch attack her unprovoked last week and Deville says she didn’t win because she cares about Green before Lynch cuts them off and tells Green to get in the ring for their match.
Becky Lynch vs. Chelsea Green
Becky Lynch wastes no time as she delivers a leg lariat and sends Chelsea Green crashing to the outside as Stark watches on from the ramp as we go to a break.
After the break Lynch & Green exchange right hands. Lynch looks to deliver a kick to Green’s midsection but Green ducks it and sends her crashing into the mat.
She then sends Lynch face first into the middle turnbuckle but Lynch responds with an uppercut and ascends to the top rope but Green meets her up there but Lynch pushes her off and lands a missile dropkick.
Green rolls to the outside but Lynch follows her out there and delivers an elbow to her head. She sends her repeatedly crashing into the barricade then tosses her back in the ring and looks for the Manhandle Slam.
Green moves out of the way and looks to roll Lynch up but Lynch rolls through and locks in the Dis Arm Her for the win.
Winner: Becky Lynch
We head backstage and see Judgment Day walking around and talking amongst themselves. Rhea Ripley asks a silent Finn Balor if he’s fine and Balor says he has a lot on his mind. Damian Priest then asks Ripley, Balor & Dominik Mysterio to let him face Matt Riddle alone before walking off.
Money In The Bank Qualifying Match
Matt Riddle vs. Damian Priest
Match starts off with Damian Priest delivers a right hand to Matt Riddle’s spine then Riddle fires off right hands then lands a running knee and a flying forearm before he sends Priest crashing to the outside and looks for a knee off the apron but Priest trips him and charges at him.
Riddle sends Priest crashing into the announce table face first then tosses him back into the ring and delivers a splash in the corner. Priest plants Riddle with a flatliner then follows it up with a knee to his midsection and a backbreaker.
He locks in a shoulder submission but Riddle escapes and rolls up Priest but Priest kicks out and Riddle catches him with a suplex then the action spills to the outside and Riddle lands a knee off the apron then goes flying before he gets Priest back in the ring.
He executes a German suplex and looks for a kick on Priest’s head but Priest ducks out of the way. Riddle responds with a kick to his head but Priest connects with a Falcon Arrow as we go to a break.
After the break Riddle cinches in an Ankle Lock but Priest escapes by delivering a series of kicks to Riddle’s head but Riddle locks in a Sleeper. Priest escapes but Riddle locks in a Sleeper once again. Priest escapes and lands a clothesline then delivers a jumping elbow in the corner.
He follows it up with a Headlock Driver and sets up for South Of Heaven but Riddle escapes and ascends to the top rope. Priest blindsides him and looks for Razor’s Edge off the middle rope but Riddle escapes and lands a superplex.
Riddle climbs back up and looks for Floating Bro but Priest rolls out of the way and executes Razor’s Edge for the win.
Winner & Gets Into The Money In The Bank Ladder Match: Damian Priest
After the match Imperium saunter down to the ring. Priest exits the ring and stares down Gunther before heading to the back & this leaves Imperium alone with Riddle and they beat down Riddle in the center of the ring. Ludwig Kaiser holds Riddle in place then Gunther lands a chop.
We are back from the break we go backstage to Byron Saxton is with Natalya. Saxton says that there has seemed to be a change in Natalya since losing her Smackdown Women’s Title match to Rhea Ripley at Night Of Champions. Natalya says maybe being her has gotten her nowhere and maybe she doesn’t know how to be herself anymore.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn then pass by, and Saxton asks Owens about his loss to Gunther last week. Owens says he hopes to get payback tonight but Gunther & Ludwig Kaiser appear. Kaiser eggs Owens on but Zayn keeps him calm and says it took 3 men to gain a victory over him. He asks where Giovanni Vinci is before Adam Pearce walks in and asks what the problem is. Zayn says there is no problem and says himself & Owens are confident they’ll win. Kaiser says if they’re so confident then why not put the Undisputed Tag Team Titles on the line and a fired up Owens accepts the terms. Gunther encourages Pearce to make the match official and Pearce says he has to think it over.
Corey Graves & Kevin Patrick then throw it to a video showcasing that happened between Jey Uso and the rest of The Bloodline last week on Smackdown.
Bronson Reed vs. Ricochet
Ricochet delivers a dropkick then he rains down right hands in the corner then delivers a few kicks to Reed’s thigh. Reed chucks Ricochet into the corner then lands a right hand then Shinsuke Nakamura saunters down to ringside to watch on as Reed drapes Ricochet across the top rope and sends him flying across the ring before he follows it up with a splash as we go to a break.
After the break Reed has Ricochet up on his shoulders but Ricochet escapes and delivers a springboard elbow off the ropes then lands a boot on Reed’s face and follows it up with an enziguri. He delivers a dropkick from the apron that sends Reed crashing to the outside then delivers a tope suicida that sends Reed crashing into the announce table. Reed gets back in the ring and Ricochet delivers a springboard crossbody.
He follows it up with a springboard Asai Moonsault before the action spills back out of the ring and Reed tosses Ricochet on top of Nakamura. He ascends to the top rope and looks for Tsunami but Nakamura hits him with an enziguri & that gets Ricochet DQ.
Winner By DQ: Bronson Reed
After the match Nakamura continues to beat down Reed then Ricochet gets in his face but Reed attacks both men and drags Nakamura into the corner. He sets up for Tsunami but Ricochet prevents him from hitting it. Nakamura joins Reed on the turnbuckle then calls for Ricochet’s help. Ricochet obliges and they connect with a double superplex.
We head backstage to Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens. Zayn addresses Owens’ recent aggressive attitude and Owens says he’s been under a lot of pressure over the last several months that’s been building. Zayn says he just wants to make sure Owens is good and Owens says he’s great. Zayn says that’s all that matters and tells Owens to hydrate.
After the break we go backstage and see Adam Pearce on the phone. He makes the Undisputed Tag Team Titles match between Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Imperium official before Ricochet approaches him and demands a rematch against Bronson Reed next week. Pearce says he already has a match for next week and Ricochet asks against who. Shinsuke Nakamura walks in and reveals himself to be the man facing Reed. Ricochet asks him why he did what he did. He tells Nakamura if he does something like that again they have an issue. Nakamura tells him he can have Reed once he’s done with him.
Finn Balor says he knows World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins is in the arena and says they need to talk. He demands he come down to the ring for a talk.
Rollins’ music hits and he makes his way down to the ring.
Balor says he’s waited 7 years to tell Rollins something. He says he was the 1st draft pick on Raw beat Roman Reigns, and beat Rollins three weeks after that to become the inaugural Universal Champion. He says what should’ve been the highest of highs became the lowest of lows because Rollins tore his bicep, pectora and labrum. He says he’s not complaining about the injury because it’s the nature of the business, but because he took everything from his ring. He says Rollins took his momentum, title and a year off his career. Balor says it’s time to do the same thing to Rollins and challenges him to a match at Money In The Bank.
Rollins says this is the Finn Balor he’s been waiting to see for the past seven years and says their SummerSlam match in 2016 sent them on completely different career paths because one of them got bitter while the other got better. He says while he’s done some bad things over the last 7 years, he’s made memories and history by adapting and rolling with the punches. He says he’s the greatest version of himself now and says the proof is in the World Heavyweight Title. He says if Balor wants a title shot at the upcoming Premium Live Event, he’s got it and asks which version of Balor is coming to London. He says Balor as himself stands no chance but the Finn Balor that beat him to become the inaugural Universal Champion has a shot. He asks which version of himself Balor’s going to bring before heading to the back.
Women’s Tag Team Champion Shayna Baszler vs. Raquel Rodriguez
Match starts off with a lock up then Raquel Rodriguez executes a pair of fallaway slams and sets up for the Corkscrew Elbow but Shayna Baszler rolls out of the ring. Rodriguez gets her back inside and Baszler lands a few kicks. She goes to work targeting Rodriguez’s ankle and stomps on it. Rodriguez lands a clothesline and a Twisting Senton then sets up for the Texana Bomb but Rousey gets in her face & that allows Baszler to roll her up for the win.
Winner: Women’s Tag Team Champion Shayna Baszler
Chad Gable vs. Erik
Match starts off with Erik gets in Chad Gable’s face then Gable shooshes him before Erik lands a shoulder tackle and delivers a knee to his midsection. Gable ascends to the top rope and hits a diving headbutt as Valhalla charges at Maxine Dupri.
Dupri surprises her with an arm drag and Valhalla looks to go at her but Ivar holds her off. Back inside the ring Gable rolls Erik up out of the corner for the win.
Winner: Chad Gable
We then head backstage and see Finn Balor chatting with JD McDonagh. Damian Priest walks in as McDonagh leaves and Balor congratulates him on qualifying for the Money In The Bank Ladder match. Balor asks Preist if he would cash in the Money In The Bank briefcase on him should he become World Heavyweight Champion and Priest says he would never do that. He wishes Balor good luck in his upcoming World Heavyweight Title match against Seth Rollins.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Match
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (c) vs. Imperium (Intercontienetal Champion Gunther & Ludwig Kaiser)
Match starts off with Sami Zayn & Gunther lock up then Gunther tosses Zayn across the ring before Zayn fires off chops. Gunther lands a boot and a right hand on Zayn but Zayn clotheslines him out of the ring and goes flying over the top rope as we go to a break.
After the break Zayn fires off right hands on Ludwig Kaiser’s head. Kaiser responds with a back elbow but Zayn lands a high arm drag. Kaiser lands a right hand then hits an enziguri. Zayn blocks it and goes flying off the top with an elbow drop. Kevin Owens tags in and lands a senton then follows it up with a moonsault.
Kaiser & Owens go back & forth with right hands before Owens delivers a clothesline that turns Kaiser inside out then follows it up with a senton and tags Zayn back in. Gunther makes the blind tag and delivers a boot to Zayn then hits a splash.
Kaiser tags back in and delivers an open plam strike then delivers a dropkick that sends Zayn crashing to the outside & Gunther plants Zayn on the ring apron while the referee is distracted as we go to a another break.
After the 2nd break Zayn delivers a powerbomb to Kaiser off the top then Owens & Gunther tag in. Owens rains down right hands then delivers a series of clotheslines and a senton. He follows it up with an exploder suplex and a superkick then hits a cannonball in the corner and ascends to the top rope & hits a Swanton Bomb and goes for a pin but Gunther kicks out. Owens looks for a Stunner but Gunther gets out of the way and plants Owens with a big boot.
Zayn & Kaiser tag in. Zayn delivers an exploder suplex then sets up for the Helluva Kick but Gunther pulls Zayn out of the ring but Zayn gets back in the ring then he sets up for Blue Thunder Bomb but Kaiser evades the move and lands an enziguri. Gunther tags in and powerbombs Zayn. Kaiser catches him with an uppercut before Gunther lands a lariat and goes for a pin. Zayn kicks out and Imperium lands the Imperium Bomb.
Owens shoves Gunther into Kaiser & Zayn to break the fall before Owens & Gunther exchange right hands on the outside. Gunther sends Owens crashing into the ring post but Matt Riddle shows up and Gunther becomes distracted. Officials try to prevent him from interfering but Riddle doesn’t listen.
Gunther catches him with a big boot, allowing Owens to land a DDT on the ramp then back in the midst of the chaos Zayn lands a Blue Thunder Bomb on Kaiser for the win.
Winners & Still Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (STILL CHAMPIONS!!!!!)
Matches Of The Night
Money In The Bank Qualifying Match- 7/10
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Match- 7/10
Next Week’s Raw
World Heavyweight Title Match
Seth Rollins (c) vs. TBD
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bronson Reed
Money In The Bank Card So Far (July 1st)
6 Man Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Ricochet vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar vs. Butch vs. Damian Priest
6 Woman Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Zelina Vega vs. Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark vs. Bayley vs. Iyo Sky vs. TBD
Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio
World Heavyweight Title Match
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Finn Balor
