WWE RAW Review – March 13, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Raw with Edge says he knows why he’s here and so does the WWE Universe. He calls Finn Balor out to the ring so they can put their issues to bed all the sudden we hear Judgment Day’s music hits, and they appear on the ramp.
Balor says he wants to hear what Edge has to say. Edge says he didn’t come to Providence to talk, but to end things. He says he knows Balor will just hide backstage while the rest of Judgment Day attacks him, and the cycle will just repeat itself. He says Balor challenged him to a match at WrestleMania a few weeks ago, and if he wants it, he’s got it. Balor celebrates and brags about how he’ll beat Edge, but Edge cuts him off and says he needs to accomplish what needs to be done before time runs out. He admits Balor makes Judgment Day better and calls the group an emo delight then says whatever he’s doing has worked because the group has gotten the better of him. He says Balor forced him to utter the words I Quit and attacked his wife, then says there’s only one way their issues can be resolved in a Hell In A Cell match.
Balor says he’s been to hell before but hell spit him out because it couldn’t handle his demons. He accepts Edge’s challenge, then orders the rest of Judgment Day to attack him. Damian Priest,Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio attack Edge but Dexter Lumis,Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae run down to the ring to provide Edge with some back up.
Tag Team Match
Judgement Day (Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio) vs. Johnny Gargano & Dexter Lumis
Johnny Gargano rains down right hands on Dominik Mysterio in the corner. Mysterio fires back with a kick and a shoulder tackle, but Gargano delivers an arm drag and lands a kick on Mysterio’s head. Damian Priest & Dexter Lumis tag in. They lock up before Priest gains the upper hand and delivers a shoulder tackle. Lumis kips up, and Priest whips him into the corner. Lumis manages to hit a dropkick and a drop toe hold, then tags Gargano back in.
Priest delivers a right hand, then gets Gargano up on his shoulders and sends him into the top turnbuckle face first. Mysterio tags in and fires off several right hands then whips Gargano into the corner. Gargano hits a hurricanrana but Mysterio rolls out of the ring. Gargano catches him with a kick off the apron then delivers a cannonball that takes us to a break.
After the break Priest sends Gargano into the top turnbuckle face first and tags in Mysterio. Mysterio beats down Gargano, then tags in Priest. Priest hits a Broken Arrow then tags Mysterio back in. Mysterio delivers the 3 Amigos then follows it up with a dropkick that sends Gargano into the ropes then he sets up for the 619 but Gargano ducks it and hits a Spear then Lumis & Priest tag in.
Lumis delivers a few right hands and a spinebuster before Dominik tries interfering and Lumis does the same to him. Lumis then delivers a splash to both men. He delivers a bulldog to Mysterio and a back suplex to Priest. He follows it up with a leg drop, and Mysterio makes the blind tag in. He rolls up Lumis with his feet on the ropes, but Candice LeRae pushes them off then Rhea Ripley attacks LeRae and sends him into the barricade before Lumis stares her down.
Priest comes out of nowhere after making the tag, then gets in the ring and plants him. Mysterio tags in and delivers a Frog Splash then goes for a pin but Gargano breaks the fall. Priest tries attacking him but Gargano levels him. Priest tags in and delivers a spinning heel kick to Lumis’ head, then follows it up with South Of Heaven for the win.
Winner: Judgement Day
We head to a video from earlier today of Cathy Kelley backstage. The Miz arrives at the arena and is immediately approached by Chad Gable. Gable asks The Miz if he’s seen Otis, and Miz says he hasn’t seen his lost pet. Gable then says he’ll make flyers and walks off. Kelley asks Miz a question, but before he can really answer, we hear a loud noise. The camera pans over and we see Damage CTRL attacking Trish Stratus.
MVP says Brock Lesnar is a good athlete, but a terrible tactician. He says Lesnar made the biggest mistake of his career by accepting a WrestleMania match against Omos.
Lesnar’s music hits and he heads to the ring.
Lesnar sizes up Omos before Omos makes a fist to show Lesnar the size of his hand. He then offers his hand to Lesnar, and Lesnar shakes it. Lesnar refuses to release it, which leads to Omos dumping him to the outside. Officials run down to make sure they stay apart from one another.
We then head to a video of Jey Uso turning on Sami Zayn following the main event of last week’s Raw as well as Cody Rhodes confronting The Usos this past Friday on Smackdown and the subsequent brawl between The Usos,Rhodes & Zayn.
2023 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes vs. LA Knight
Match starts off with a lock up then LA Knight delivers a right hand but Cody Rhodes fires back with an arm drag and a back elbow before Knight shoves him into the corner. Rhodes delivers a running knee and goes for a pin, but Knight kicks out. They spill to the outside, where Rhodes sends Knight crashing into the barricade and the ring steps. He gets Knight back in the ring and ascends to the top, but Knight meets him there and hits a superplex that sends us to a break.
After the break Rhodes looks for a delayed vertical suplex but Knight escapes and hits a DDT. Rhodes fires back with a back elbow and a slap then hits a scoop powerslam and gets fired up. He then hits a Disaster Kick and goes for a pin but Knight kicks out. Knight plants Rhodes, but Rhodes manages to deliver the Cody Cutter and Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner: 2023 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes
After the match Rhodes grabs a mic and says he keeps hearing warnings from Paul Heyman to stay out of The Bloodline’s business. He says he doesn’t work for The Bloodline and can fight alongside Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn. He says he’s also heard Heyman say not to make things personal, then says that’s a joke. He says it has been personal since he started appearing at 21 years old and he gets choked up every week. He says he acknowledges Roman Reigns but Reigns needs to acknowledge him. He says his time since coming back to WWE has been perfect and he remains undefeated. He says he has earned nothing for all his hard work thus far but at WrestleMania when the sun goes down in Hollywood, the sun also goes down on Reigns’ title run. He says he will pin Reigns and become the 1st Rhodes to be the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
We head backstage to Byron Saxton is with Seth Rollins. Saxton asks for Rollins’ reaction to being knocked out by Logan Paul last week, and Rollins says while Paul did indeed get the better of him, you can’t keep him down. The Miz walks in and says Rollins is jealous that Paul knocked him out last week. Miz says as host of WrestleMania, he is privileged to certain information and announces that Paul will be hosting an episode of ImPAULsive TV next week with him as guest. Baron Corbin walks in and says his schedule is free if he wants a co host at WrestleMania. Miz declines his offer, and Corbin then offers his knowledge to Rollins. Rollins says his baby daughter could do a better job of teaching him, and Corbin says he’s lucky that the two of them aren’t out there tonight. Rollins then throws out the challenge for a match later tonight before he walks off.
Bronson Reed vs. Elias
Bronson Reed tackles Elias then he hits an elbow drop and a right hand then delivers a headbutt and a splash in the corner. Elias looks for a splash but Reed catches him. Elias escapes and hits a running knee but Reed fires back with a clothesline and a powerslam then he follows it up with Tsunami for the win.
Winner: Bronson Reed
We head backstage to Cathy Kelley outside the doctor’s office. Chad Gable walks in and hands Kelley a missing flier for Otis. Women’s Tag Team Champions Lita & Becky Lynch then storm past him and ignore Kelley’s request for a comment.
We are back from the break we go backstage to Cathy Kelley is with Kevin Owens & she asks Owens about his upcoming match with Solo Sikoa, and Owens says that he wants to compete in the match alone. He says doesn’t want Sami Zayn or Cody Rhodes’ help tonight.
We then head to a video of the confrontation between United States Champion Austin Theory & John Cena last week.
We head backstage to a video of a confrontation between Street Profits & United States Champion Austin Theory from earlier today. Theory brags about how he’s going to beat John Cena at WrestleMania, then asks which one of Street Profits is tougher. He answers his own question and points at Angelo Dawkins, then takes several jabs at Montez Ford. Dawkins then challenges Theory to a match and Theory accepts before making fun of the fact that Street Profits don’t have a match for WrestleMania just yet.
Non Title Match
United States Champion Austin Theory vs. Angelo Dawkins
Austin Theory & Angelo Dawkins lock up to get this match started then Theory delivers a back elbow then sends Dawkins face first into the top turnbuckle. He whips Dawkins into the corner but Dawkins fires back with a dropkick and plants him. Theory delivers a right hand and a snapmare then locks in a chinlock.
Dawkins escapes and Theory lands a right hand, but Dawkins fires back with one of his own. Theory pulls him out of the ring then tosses him into the barricade and rains down right hands that sends us to a break.
After the break Theory delivers a right hand. Dawkins lands a suplex and a pair of clotheslines then follows it up with a back elbow and a splash then he hits an enziguri and a double underhook suplex but Theory fires back with a dropkick and a right hand then follows it up with A Town Down for the win.
Winner: United States Champion Austin Theory
After the match Theory locks in the STF on Dawkins before Montez Ford runs down to make the save.
Rey Mysterio thanks the WWE Universe for their applause, then says it feels good to be back on Raw. He says he celebrated 20 years in WWE last year and now he’s about to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame. He says this award isn’t just for him but for all of the fans.
Dominik Mysterio’s music hits and he heads to the ring. Dominik sarcastically congratulates his father then says he deserves his Hall of Fame induction for putting his entire life into the wrestling business. He says Rey earned the honor at his expense, then says Rey chose the fans over his own children. He asks Rey how it feels to know how many nights he went without a father, and says Rey promised to take him out in the eighth grade, but ditched him once he got an opportunity at WrestleMania. Dominik then says Rey praised to get him a new car at sixteen. He says all of his friends got Mercedes while he got a BMW, then says Rey is afraid because he sees him for what he is a sad, ugly excuse of a father. Dominik says he will let Rey enjoy his Hall Of Fame weekend, then says he will make it better. He challenges his father to a match at WrestleMania.
Rey declines his challenge and says he won’t fight Dominik. He tells Dominik he loves him and always will, then says there won’t be a WrestleMania match. Rey leaves the ring as Dominik berates him. Dominik says Rey ran away from Raw, him, and his entire family. He says the only thing Rey taught him is what not to be.
We head backstage to Cathy Kelley is with Women’s Tag Team Champions Becky Lynch & Lita & Trish Stratus. Lita says if Damage CTRL is going to divide and conquer, then they should hit harder. Stratus says all Damage CTRL has achieved is pissing her off.
Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin wastes no time as he delivers a series of kicks and right hands then the bell rings and Corbin hits a knee. Seth Rollins fires back with several right hands of his own and a kick to Corbin’s midsection then clotheslines him to the outside and hits a tope suicida that sends him over the announce table. He then sends Corbin crashing on top of Miz, then gets him in the ring and delivers a superkick. Miz tries to interfere but Rollins gets him in the ring and delivers a Curb Stomp to Corbin off Miz’s back for the win.
Winner: Seth Rollins
We go backstage and see Chad Gable still searching for Otis. Mustafa Ali walks in and tells Gable to be positive, but Gable tells him to shoosh. Gable then spots Otis having a photoshoot with Maximum Male Models, and asks them what happened to their match. Mån.sôör tells Gable that he can’t compete due to a broken nail, and Gable pops into the shot. Mån.sôör tells Gable he broke his camera, and Maxxine Dupri tells him they have to go. Gable says that even though they missed their morning session, he thinks they can get back on track. Dupri calls Otis to join them, and Otis obliges as a heartbroken Gable watches on.
Non Title Match
Raw Women’s Champion Bianca BelAir vs. Chelsea Green
Match begins with a lock up then Bianca BelAir sends Chelsea Green crashing into the mat, then hits a shoulder tackle and a backbreaker. She follows it up with a standing moonsault and drags BelAir out of the ring but the referee tells her to get back inside. Carmella takes advantage of the distraction and delivers a kick to BelAir’s head that takes us to a break.
After the break Green whips BelAir into the corner before planting her. BelAir executes a side slam then follows it up with a clothesline and a dropkick. She delivers a shoulder to Green’s midsection, then hits a delayed vertical suplex and kips up. She looks for a moonsault off the ropes, but Green gets her knees up. She beats down BelAir but she manages to hit the KOD for the win.
Winner: Raw Women’s Champion Bianca BelAir
After the match Carmella & Green launch an attack on BelAir but Asuka’s music and she provides BelAir with a helping hand. They level Green & Carmella, then send them out of the ring. Asuka picks up the Raw Women’s Title and parades around the ring with it then smiles and laughs maniacally as blue mist coats her teeth. She drops BelAir’s Raw Women’s Title and retreats to the back.
Street Fight
Kevin Owens vs. Solo Sikoa
Kevin Owens & Solo Sikoa begin brawling on the ramp. Owens tosses Sikoa in the ring before Sikoa delivers a chop. Owens hits a back elbow and a senton but Sikoa rolls to the outside. Owens goes after him, and Sikoa sends him into the barricade spine first. Owens lands a clothesline then steps on Sikoa’s hand and delivers a chop.
Sikoa fires back with one of his own, then sends Owen’s head repeatedly crashing into the announce desk. Owens does the same to Sikoa then tosses him back in the ring. Sikoa catches Owens with a Samoan Drop then delivers a right hand to his head and a stomp to his chest.
He delivers a flying headbutt then sends Owens to the outside and grabs a couple of chairs from under the ring. Owens sends Sikoa crashing into the ring steps and grabs a table from the same location but Sikoa tosses Owens into the timekeeper’s area and puts the table back under the ring that sends us to a break.
After the break Owens tosses chairs into the ring. He picks one up and hits Sikoa’s shoulder with it, then sets up 6 chairs in the ring that face one another. He drapes Sikoa across them and ascends to the top but Sikoa meets him up there. Owens pushes him off before Sikoa sends Owens crashing into the chairs off the top rope.
They spill to the outside once again before Owens sends Sikoa into the ring post and the barricade. They begin brawling through the crowd and Owens sends Sikoa crashing into the Titan Tron. Sikoa heads through Gorilla Position, where The Usos are waiting with a double superkick for Owens.
They drag him back out to ringside as Sikoa follows then toss him into the ring and deliver another double superkick. Sikoa delivers the Samoan Spike for the win.
Winner: Solo Sikoa
Next Week’s Raw
Tag Team Match
Good Brothers (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) vs. Maximum Male Models (Mace & Mansoor)
Non Title Match
United States Champion Austin Theory vs. Montez Ford
Tag Team Match
Raw Women’s Champion Bianca BelAir & Asuka vs. Carmella & Chelsea Green
WrestleMania 39 Card (April 1st & 2nd)
Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match
Roman Reigns (c) vs. 2023 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes
Smackdown Women’s Title Match
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble Winner Rhea Ripley
Raw Women’s Title Match
Bianca BelAir (c) vs. Asuka
Brock Lensar vs. Omos
Intercontienetal Title Match
Gunther (c) vs. Drew McIntyre or Sheamus
United States Title Match
Austin Theory (c) vs. John Cena
Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul
6 Woman Tag Team Match
Women’s Tag Team Champions Becky Lynch & Lita & Trish Stratus vs. Damage CTRL (Bayley,Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai)
Hell In A Cell Match
Edge vs. Finn Balor
