WWE RAW Review – June 5, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Raw with World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins welcomes fans to Monday Night Rollins, then says his 1st week as World Heavyweight Champion has been a non stop party. He says in the midst of it all, he thought about the last time a match for the World Heavyweight Title happened on Raw and it turns out that it’s been nearly 2 years. He says he thought to himself that was too long, which prompted him to put out the Open Challenge last Friday. He says Damian Priest answered the call, and he’s psyched up he was the person to do so because he wants all the fights. He says whether you love or hate Judgment Day, they’re as good as it gets. He says he’s looking forward to show that they aren’t as good as he is.
Judgment Day’s music hits and Priest heads down to the ring along with Finn Balor. Rollins asks where Dominik Mysterio & Smackdown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley are and prepares for them to jump him. Priest tells him to relax because the two of them have business to take care of and all he has to worry about is himself. Rollins questions why Balor is with him them and Balor says Rollins is being a funny man. He says while everyone loves his song, they won’t love it when Priest becomes World Heavyweight Champion later tonight. Priest adds that while he thinks Rollins is a deserving titleholder, he is one too and he doesn’t need the rest of Judgment Day to prove it.
Rollins says he knows if it’s just himself & Priest in the ring tonight, Priest has no chance of beating him. He challenges him to leave Judgment Day in the back,and Priest accepts his terms. He brags about becoming the new World Heavyweight Champion and says Rollins will go down in history as one of the shortest reigning champions. Rollins tells Priest no matter how you slice it, his reign will always be longer than Balor’s was as Universal Champion and heads to the back.
Women’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match
Becky Lynch vs. Sonya Deville
Sonya Deville looks to blindside Becky Lynch while she’s engaged in a verbal exchange with Chelsea Green. Lynch ducks out of the way and takes a couple of shots but Green helps Deville gain the upper hand. Deville fires off several stomps in the corner then lands a pair of right hands.
Lynch responds with a back elbow and a pair of clotheslines then lands a splash in the corner and follows it up with the Bexploder and hits an uppercut off the middle rope and goes for a pin, but Deville kicks out.
Trish Stratus’ music hits. Herself & Zoey Stark appear to watch on from the ramp as Lynch plants Deville as we go to a break.
After the break Deville & Lynch are teetering on the top rope. Deville lands a superplex and goes for a pin, but Lynch kicks out. Deville then lands a right hand, but Lynch fires back with one of her own and the duo go back & forth.
Lynch eventually gains the upper hand and lands a flying forearm, then delivers a dropkick to Deville on the outside from the bottom rope and tosses her back into the ring.
Green kicks Lynch and gets her inside the ring. Deville goes for a pin, but Lynch kicks out. Lynch hits an enziguri, then levels an interfering Green and sends her crashing into the barricade repeatedly.
Deville tries helping Green but Lynch overpowers her and does the same to her then gets Deville back in the ring but Deville gains the upper hand and lands a series of forearms. Lynch then hits the Manhandle Slam for the win.
Winner & Gets Into The Women’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match: Becky Lynch
After the break, we head to a video recapping what happened between the members of The Bloodline this past Friday on Smackdown.
We then head backstage to Byron Saxton is with Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens, & Sami Zayn. Saxton asks for their take on what happened on Smackdown and Zayn says it’s nice to see Jimmy Uso do what he should’ve done months ago. He says while Jey Usos allegiance remains a mystery, it isn’t his problem anymore. Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser walk in and put the two men on notice. Owens says they’re sticking their nose in other people’s business once again before Intercontinental Champion Gunther enters and says since he’s a disciplined man, he needs to teach Owens a lesson in controlling his temper. Owens tells Gunther he’s on, and makes his way to the ring alongside Zayn.
Champion vs. Champion Match
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Kevin Owens vs. Intercontinental Champion Gunther
Match starts off with a lock up then Gunther wears down Kevin Owens with a series of submission holds before landing a shoulder tackle. Owens slaps Gunther and delivers a kick to his midsection, then looks for a shoulder tackle of his own but Gunther blocks it, and Owens rains down right hands on him.
Owens then delivers a chop but Gunther hits a big boot and a German suplex then the action spills to the outside, and Owens delivers a chop. Gunther whips Owens into the barricade, then sends him crashing into the ring apron spine first as we go to a break.
After the break Gunther lands a bodyslam then follows it up with a neck crank and a pair of elbows, then continues targeting Owens’ neck. Gunther then hits a big boot, but Owens delivers a pair of forearms. Gunther responds with a series of chops, then delivers a stomp and locks in a Boston Crab.
He transitions into a crossface, but Owens escapes his grasp. Gunther delivers a chop and a clothesline, then delivers a short arm lariat. Owens hits a pair of German suplexes but Gunther lands a stomp on the back of Owens’ neck. Owens executes a series of superkicks and a cannonball, but Gunther locks in a Sleeper.
Owens escapes, and Gunther catches him with a shotgun dropkick. Owens then plants Gunther with a fishermans buster before they wind up on the top and Gunther plants Owens with a suplex.
Gunther drags Owens to the corner and ascends to the top rope then looks for a flying headbutt but Owens gets his knees up then climbs up to the top himself and hits a Swanton Bomb. Giovanni tries distracting Owens but Sami Zayn levels him.
Kaiser helps Vinci beat down Zayn which causes Owens to get involved then he drags Kaiser in the ring and delivers a Stunner, which opens the door for Gunther to roll him up for the win.
Winner: Intercontinental Champion Gunther (Recommend)
After the break we head backstage to a physical altercation between Matt Riddle & Imperium.
We then head over to Byron Saxton is with Women’s Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler. Saxton asks them what it means to be the new Women’s Tag Team Champions, and Baszler says they’ve been dreaming of this moment for a decade. Rousey says they’re here to establish the Women’s Tag Team Titles as legitimate, and says they’ll take on any team who wants to challenge them. Kayden Carter & Katana Chance walk in and introduce themselves before answering the call, and Rousey says they’re being ignorant. Baszler says she thinks of it as bravery, and Rousey accepts their challenge.
Non Title Match
Womens Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler vs. Kayden Carter & Katana Chance
Shayna Baszler & Kayden Carter lock up to get this match started then Carter delivers a kick to Baszler’s thigh, then lands a dropkick off the ropes and tags in Katana Chance. Chance delivers a senton from the apron to Baszler before Rousey tags in and delivers a hip toss.
Chance delivers a boot to Rousey’s face, then delivers a knee to her midsection and targets her arm. The action spills to the outside before Rousey gets Chance back in the ring and continues to wear down her arm.
Baszler tags in and delivers a sliding knee to Chance as Rousey holds her in place then manipulates her fingers. She stomps on them, but Chance manages to tag in Carter.
Carter delivers a shoulder tackle and a dropkick then delivers a superkick to Baszler. She pins Baszler, but Baszler kicks out. Chance makes the blind tag before Carter sends her into the ring post and ascends to the top. Herself & Carter nails After Party. Chance goes for a pin, but Rousey kicks out.
Chance then lands a crossbody off the top rope but Rousey manages to cinch in an Ankle Lock. Chance escapes and lands a Codebreaker. Baszler & Carter tag in. Carter rolls up Baszler, but Baszler kicks out and delivers a back suplex then locks in the Kirifuda Clutch, and Carter is forced to tap out.
Winners By Submission: Women’s Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler
We then head to Ricochet, Bronson Reed & Shinsuke Nakamura getting into a heated discussion about the upcoming Money In The Bank Ladder match in Gorilla position then Ricochet heads down to the ring.
Ricochet vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Match starts off with a lock up then Shinsuke Nakamura delivers a shoulder tackle, but Ricochet fires back with an arm drag. Ricochet hits a dropkick before the action spills to the outside and he lands a tope suicida as we go to a break.
After the break Ricochet delivers a kick to Nakamura’s face then he goes flying off the top, then lands a standing Shooting Star Press. He then delivers a crossbody, but Nakamura responds with a knee to his midsection. He hits a kick to his head then follows it up with an exploder and sets up for the Kinshasa.
Ricochet stops him in his tracks with a running knee and a Recoil, then ascends to the top rope. Nakamura follows him up there but Bronson Reed appears out of nowhere and blindsides both men causing the referee to call for the bell.
Winner By DQ: Shinsuke Nakamura
After the match Reed delivers a splash to Ricochet. He follows it up with Tsunami.
After the break The Miz welcomes fans to Miz TV then introduces Cody Rhodes.
Rhodes’ music hits and he makes his way down to the ring.
Miz says Rhodes looks dashing, then asks him about the challenge he threw out to Brock Lesnar last week. He asks Rhodes if he thinks that was as stupid as he does, and Rhodes says he hasn’t heard his challenge been called stupid until now. He says no one will be seeing Lesnar now since he’s on his annual break. Miz says he has a surprise for Rhodes, then introduces a multi generational talent that shares Rhodes’ struggles: Dominik Mysterio.
Mysterio’s music hits, and himself & Rhea Ripley make their way down to the ring. Miz looks to ask Mysterio a question, but Ripley cuts him off and says Mysterio has something to say. She hands the mic over to Mysterio, & Mysterio says he was happy when Miz invited him out. He says he heard Rhodes talking like he was the big dog in the yard, but to someone who’s done time like he has, he’s a little birdie with a broken wing. He says he realized last week that Rhodes is a bad father, and says he should be taking care of his daughter. He says he’s a deadbeat father like Rey Mysterio.
Rhodes says he has a ton of empathy for Mysterio, and says the 15 minutes he spent in prison were really rough for him. He says he has a worse prison tattoo than he does, then says his WrestleMania match with Rey was like a public spanking. He says he knows Rey has made terrible mistakes because he’s looking at one.
Mysterio & Ripley tease leaving the ring but they turn around. Mysterio slaps Rhodes, and an angered Rhodes looks to do the same to him. Ripley inserts herself in front of Mysterio and dares Rhodes to go after her, but Rhodes refuses to do so and the pair leave the ring. Rhodes then clocks Miz and sends him crashing to the mat.
Women’s Money In The Bank Qualifying Match
Zoey Stark vs. Natalya
Match starts off with a lock up then Zoey Stark fires off stomps on Natalya in the corner before they go back & forth with submission holds. Stark lands a superkick, then hits a shoulder tackle. Natalya delivers an arm drag and a kick, then follows it up with a German suplex and goes for a pin. Stark kicks out and Natalya locks in a Sharpshooter.
Stark makes it to the bottom rope to break the hold before the action spills to the outside. Natalya tosses Stark back in the ring and looks to follow her but Stratus prevents her from doing so. Natalya manages to escape, and Stark takes advantage by hitting Z360 for the win.
Winner & Gets Into The Women’s Money In The Ladder Match: Zoey Stark
We then head to a video from Paul Heyman, who announces that Jey Uso will make his choice on this coming Friday’s edition of Smackdown as to whether he will stand by Jimmy Uso or Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, & himself.
Tag Team Match
Indus Sher (Veer Mahaan & Sanga) vs. Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin
Indus Sher blindsides Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin then Veer Mahaan lands a clothesline on Alexander before hitting their finisher on him and gloating. The referee calls off the match, and Indus Sher hits their finisher for the 2nd time.
Winners: No Contest (Match Never Got Started)
World Heavyweight Title Match
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Damian Priest
Match starts off with a lock up then Seth Rollins lands a series of right hands and chops before Damian Priest hits a back elbow then Rollins sends Priest crashing to the outside, then delivers a flying knee off the apron that sends us to a break.
After the break, Priest delivers a vicious right hand to Rollins on the outside as he goes flying off the barricade then tosses him back in the ring, then fires off stomps in the corner. Priest lands a kick on Rollins’ spine, then delivers another one to his chest then lands a forearm and begins targeting Rollins’ shoulders.
Rollins delivers an enziguri, then executes a series of chops and right hands. He hits a couple of clotheslines, but Priest remains on his feet. He then hits a superkick and a backbreaker before ascending to the top. He looks for a Frog Splash but Priest rolls out of the way and delivers a back elbow in the corner.
Rollins hits a Sling Blade and Priest rolls to the outside. Rollins then looks for a tope suicida, but Priest ducks out of the way and delivers a flatliner to Rollins on top of the announce table that takes us to a another break.
Back from another break, the two men teeter on the top rope. Rollins lands a superplex, then rolls through and hits a Falcon Arrow then goes for a pin, but Priest kicks out. The action spills to the outside, and Rollins delivers three tope suicidas the final of which sends Priest crashing over the announce table. He gets Priest back in the ring, then delivers a superkick and a Frog Splash off the top.
Priest delivers a series of kicks, but Rollins fires back with a rolling elbow. Priest sets up for South of Heaven but Rollins escapes and Priest eats a boot. They wind up back on the top rope and Priest hits a hurricanrana. He goes for a pin, but Rollins kicks out.
Rollins then lands the Pedigree and crawls over to Priest to pin him but Priest kicks out and they ended up on the apron. Rollins delivers a chop block then powerbombs Priest onto the barricade next to the timekeeper’s area.
Finn Balor appears but Rollins spots him and levels him & this allows Priest to hit South Of Heaven when he gets back inside the ring and he goes for a pin. Rollins kicks out, and Priest asks Balor what he’s doing & this allows Rollins to deliver a superkick before following it up with a right hand and a Curb Stomp for the win.
Winner & Still World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins (STILL CHAMPION!!!) (Recommend)
After the match Balor appears behind Rollins. Rollins takes note and they stare one another down.
