WWE RAW Review – August 14, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Raw with Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley welcomes fans to the place that Judgment Day runs Raw. She says she knows things haven’t been going in Judgment Day’s favor and Mr Money In The Bank Damian Priest says not only should Finn Balor walk out of SummerSlam but himself, Balor & NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio should’ve won their 6 Man Tag Team Match next week. He says despite the miscommunication Finn Balor will defeat Cody Rhodes later tonight. He points out Balor’s absence and says he should be in the ring but assures fans that Judgment Day will not be breaking up before harping on Balor’s absence some more.
JD McDonagh makes his way down to the ring and Priest warns him to tread lightly. McDonagh says he doesn’t want to disrespect Judgment Day and says he has a message for them from Balor. He says Balor told him to worry about Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn & Cody Rhodes rather than his friendship with McDonagh before Ripley cuts him off and says Judgment Day doesn’t take orders from anyone especially those who aren’t part of the group. Dominik says Judgment Day has things locked down then lists off their accomplishments as boos rain down from the audience. He tells McDonagh to head to the back so they can handle business, and McDonagh assures them that he was simply delivering a message. Ripley tells him to let Balor know that they have a message for him.
Sami Zayn’s music hits and he wastes no time attacking McDonagh as he rains down right hands and knocks him to the floor then stares down Judgment Day. McDonagh turns things around and uses the ring post to target Zayn’s arm. He then sends him crashing into it as we go to a break.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn vs. JD McDonagh
Sami Zayn sends JD McDonagh into the top turnbuckle face first then delivers an elbow off the middle rope then follows it up with a back body drop and sends him crashing into the ropes.
McDonagh rains down right hands and stomps before sending Zayn’s previously injured elbow bouncing off the top rope then begins to target it by sending it bouncing off the mat.
Zayn dumps McDonagh over the top rope and to the outside then joins him out there and levels him with a clothesline. McDonagh sends his elbow bouncing off the barricade near the timekeeper’s area then delivers a knee to it on top of the announce table as we go to a break.
After the break Zayn looks to go flying off the top rope but McDonagh catches him with a dropkick mid air then he delivers a series of kicks to his arm but Zayn fires back with a clothesline and fires off a few right hands and a Michinoku Driver before McDonagh lands a standing Spanish Fly then locks in a crossface.
Zayn escapes the hold by getting his foot on the bottom rope then delivers an exploder as Finn Balor appears on the ramp. He runs down the ramp and acts like he’s about to slide in the ring allowing McDonagh to roll Zayn up.
Zayn kicks out before McDonagh lands a headbutt and ascends to the top rope & looks for a moonsault but Zayn gets his knees up and hits Helluva Kick for the win.
Winner: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn
After the match Finn Balor looks to attack Zayn but Zayn slides out of the ring before he can.
We then head backstage to Adam Pearce & 1/2 of the Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green. Pearce looks to inform Green that she has to relinquish the Women’s Tag Team Titles as a result of Sonya Deville’s torn ACL. Green threatens to call Pearce’s manager and asks Green what he should do. Green suggests she holds auditions before Kayden Carter & Katana Chance walk in looking for a shot at the Women’s Tag Team Titles once Green has a new tag team partner then out of nowhere Piper Niven blindsides them then tells Green she’s her new partner.
Cody Rhodes previews his match tonight against Finn Balor in an interview with Byron Saxton.
Intercontienetal Champion Gunther says he has arrived in Winnipeg on his journey to being the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time. He says as a European he always looks forward to coming to Canada but after walking around Winnipeg he sees why people call it the armpit of Canada. He says he’s here to address Chad Gable then says he was impressed by his victory in the #1 Contender’s match for the Intercontinental Title last week. He says while Gable has worked hard to get where he has he’s accomplished more in a year than Gable has in his whole career.
Gable tells Gunther to shoosh as he appears at ringside alongside Otis & Maxxine Dupri. He reminds Gunther that he defeated him in their 5 Minute Challenge then says Gunther is now on the clock. He says he’s coming for Gunther’s Intercontienetal Title then tells Giovanni Vinci to get in the ring for a few free lessons from him in their upcoming match. Vinci gets in the ring alongside Ludwig Kaiser before Kaiser says Vinci is the crème de la crème of WWE. He tells Gable will beat him then says Dupri will eventually have to understand that she needs to surround herself with some European elegance. He says both of them have A+ aesthetics then says Alpha Academy is a sinking ship and says she can either grab his hand or sink with Gable & Otis then she slaps Kaiser.
Chad Gable vs. Giovanni Vinci
Match starts off with a lock up before Giovanni Vinci lands a shoulder tackle and a drop toe hold then locks in a shoulder submission. Gable escapes and Vinci delivers a right hand to his spine then follows it up with a back suplex then delivers a backbreaker but Gable sets him up for a German suplex but Vinci escapes but Gable lands the maneuver on the 2nd attempt.
He follows it up with a twisting neckbreaker then ascends to the top rope and looks for a moonsault but Vinci rolls out of the way and plants Gable then lands one of his own and goes for the pin but Gable kicks out and Vinci looks to hit him with a powerbomb but Gable avoids it and plants him with Chaos Theory for the win.
Winner: Chad Gable
After the match Gunther grabs a mic and stands back up on the announce table & says this isn’t how things end tonight then calls Otis the armpit of humanity and challenges him to a 1 on 1 match up next & Otis accepts.
Non Title Match
Intercontinental Champion Gunther vs. Otis
Match starts off with a lock up then Gunther lands a shoulder tackle and a boot then delivers several stomps and a few elbows to his head. He lands a couple of chops but Otis fires back with a spinning back elbow. Gunther lands a shoulder tackle but Otis stays standing and they try leveling one another with clotheslines. Otis sets up for The Caterpillar but Gunther puts a stop to his momentum as he delivers a big boot follow by a Powerbomb for the win.
Winner: Intercontienetal Champion Gunther
After the match Gable hits Gunther with a German suplex.
We then head backstage to Judgment Day. Damian Priest chews Finn Balor out for not being with himself, Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio earlier tonight. Ripley diffuses the situation before JD McDonagh walks in. Priest tells him that this is none of his business and Balor sends him away. He then says Cody Rhodes has no idea what’s coming and Judgment Day gets hyped up.
After the break we head to a video of what happened between Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso last Friday on Smackdown.
A video recaps something that took place earlier in the day where Jackie Redmond tried to interview Drew McIntyre but he was interrupted by Matt Riddle. Riddle says he’s been in a funk and wants to team with McIntyre. He says he’s already accepted the open challenge of Viking Raiders. Drew McIntyre seems reluctant but says that if Riddle cannot find a partner he’ll consider being in the match tonight.
Tag Team Match
Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) vs. Matt Riddle & Drew McIntyre
Matt Riddle fires off kicks before Ivar responds with a shoulder tackle then tosses him into the corner and tags in Erik. Viking Raiders fire off kicks before Erik lands a forearm.
Riddle fires back with a kick to his head and an overhead throw before the action spills to the outside. Riddle looks for a kick but Erik catches him and Viking Raiders double team on him as we go to a break.
After the break Erik plants Riddle on the mat then Ivar tags in and wears Riddle down then tags Erik back in & Viking Raiders rain down right hands but Riddle plants Erik with a suplex and tags in Drew McIntyre. Ivar tags in and McIntyre catches him with a clothesline.
He follows it up with a neckbreaker and a Michinoku Driver, then pulls a now legal Erik into the ring. He sets up for the Claymore Kick but levels an interfering Ivar. Riddle then tags in and Viking Raiders plant Riddle with a double team maneuver.
Erik & McIntyre then tag in and Erik levels McIntyre with a suplex. Riddle levels Ivar on the outside with a Floating Bro but Erik clocks him from behind and slides back into the ring where McIntyre is waiting with a Claymore Kick for the win.
Winners: Matt Riddle & Drew McIntyre
There was a recap of what’s happening in recent weeks between Raquel Rodriguez & Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.
New Day challenge Matt Riddle & Drew McIntyre to a match next week. McIntyre didn’t seem too happy about it.
Non Title Match
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Indi Hartwell
Rhea Ripley wastes no time as she fires off right hands on Indi Hartwell then tosses her across the ring and delivers a shoulder to her midsection then she fires off chops and charges at her in the corner but Hartwell ducks out of the way and sends Ripley colliding with the ring post.
She follows it up with a spinebuster and dumps her out of the ring then follows her out there. Ripley sends her colliding with the ring post then gets her back inside the ring and levels LeRae on the outside when she slides back in she lands a headbutt follow by Riptide for the win.
Winner: Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley
After the match LeRae attacks Ripley but Ripley overpowers her. Hartwell levels Ripley with a flapjack and LeRae follows it up with a step up senton.
Michael Cole asks Nakamura why he attacked Seth Rollins last week given their storied history and Nakamura says he wants the World Heavyweight Title. Cole asks Nakamura if kicking Rollins in the head was really necessary and Nakamura says he’ll win the World Heavyweight Title.
Rollins’ music hits and he heads down to the ring. He says while Cole did a great job, he’ll take it from here. He welcomes Winnipeg to Monday Night Rollins then says he has to hand it to Nakamura because he played his role to perfection and knocked him out. He says it’s too obvious for Nakamura to simply want a World Heavyweight Title match and says he’s not hard to find. He says he stands in the ring week after week with his World Heavyweight Title around his waist and the world singing his song. He says all Nakamura had to do was ask for a World Heavyweight Title shot but instead he attacked him. Rollins says he’s concerned with how he can get even now and says he has a surprise for Nakamura. He says the best way for him to get what he wants is to grant Nakamura a crack at the World Heavyweight Title then tells him to name the time and place because he will be there.
Rollins offers his hand to Nakamura & Nakamura shakes it then he pulls Rollins in close and whispers something into his ear that shakes him then blindsides Rollins with a Kinshasa.
The Miz tells Byron Saxton that he will fight a bigger name than LA Knight has ever faced next week. He even says he might show up on Smackdown.
Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus
Both women waste no time as they are raining down right hands. Becky Lynch sends Trish Stratus into the top turnbuckle face first but Stratus lands a series of chops and a Bexploder then the action spills to the outside and Lynch delivers a right hand off the apron.
Stratus delivers a clothesline and executes a hair whip but Lynch overpowers her and tosses her back into the ring. She ascends to the top rope but Stratus catches with a hurricanrana that pulls her down then sends her into the ring steps on the outside then gets her back in as we go to a break.
After the break Lynch hits a pair of clotheslines and a right hand in the corner. She follows it up with a kick and a leg drop off the top rope but Stratus fires back with a spear and a right hand then they ended up on top and Lynch lands a superplex.
Stratus slides out of the ring and looks to escape to the crowd but Lynch prevents her from doing so as the referee begins counting to 10 as they end up brawling out through the crowd as the ref counts both women out.
Winner: No One (Double Count Out)
After the match, Stratus and Lynch brawl up the stairs and to the concession area. Lynch sends Stratus crashing into a merchandise stand before Lynch does the same. Zoey Stark in disguise appears and beats down Lynch before Stratus joins in.
After the break we see Imperium backstage. Gunther chews out Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser for consistently losing and the latter for neglecting his responsibilities. Kaiser promises Gunther it won’t happen again and offers to go to Adam Pearce to make his Intercontinental Title match with Chad Gable but Gunther tells him not to do so and says he’ll do it himself.
We then head backstage to Adam Pearce yelling at Trish Stratus & Zoey Stark for what happened. Pearce then makes a Steel Cage match between Stratus & Lynch official.
Cody Rhodes vs. Finn Balor
Cody Rhodes & Finn Balor lock up to get this match started before they go back & forth locking in submission holds before Rhodes executes a side Russian leg sweep and a chop then Balor fires back with a dropkick and a right hand to Rhodes’ midsection then follows it up with a chop and a series of shoulders to his midsection.
He then delivers a snapmare and a second dropkick before delivering an elbow to his head. Rhodes delivers a knee to his midsection as we see Dominik Mysterio & Rhea Ripley run down to ringside. Rhodes goes after Mysterio allowing Balor to blindside him with a kick as we go to a break.
After the break Balor delivers a stomp to Rhodes’ chest and whips him into the corner. Rhodes fires off right hands then follows it up with a back elbow and a scoop powerslam then executes a Disaster Kick as Damian Priest marches down to the ring and sets up for Cross Rhodes.
Balor escapes and delivers a Sling Blade then charges at him then Rhodes catches him with a kick to his face and looks for Cody Cutter but Balor catches him and plants him then dropkicks him into the corner.
Rhodes delivers Cody Cutter but Balor rolls out of the ring. Rhodes runs the ropes but Priest grabs his ankles to stop his momentum. Balor tries blindsiding Rhodes but Rhodes dumps him out of the ring then Rhodes delivers a tope suicida leveling both Balor & Priest.
He gets Balor back in the ring and ascends to the top but Mysterio trips him as Ripley distracts the referee & that opens the door for Balor to deliver a superplex then goes for a pin but Rhodes kicks out.
Mysterio slides Balor a chair as the referee checks on Rhodes but the referee sees the chair and takes it away while Ripley distracts the referee Priest slides Balor his Money In The Bank briefcase but he overthrows it and Rhodes catches it instead so he hits Balor with it and follows it up with Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
After the match Judgment Day attacks Rhodes then Sami Zayn heads down to the ring with a chair in hand to make the save but JD McDonagh blindsides him. Balor beats down Zayn as Priest delivers South Of Heaven to Rhodes. Ripley & Mysterio then deliver a series of stomps to Zayn on the outside before Balor catches him with a Coup De Grace off the ring steps. Priest clears the announce table and hits Razor’s Edge to Zayn through the table. Balor then ascends to the top rope and delivers a Coup De Grace to Rhodes inside the ring to close out this week’s Raw.
Next Week’s Raw
Tag Team Match
New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. Matt Riddle & Drew McIntyre
Intercontinental Title Match
Gunther (c) vs. Chad Gable
