Tag: Bronson Reed

WWE Raw results 06/26/23: Dom gets in one last shot on Cody

WWE Raw will also feature Cody Rhodes addressing Dominik Mysterio and a Seth Rollins update.

Let’s say, just for the sake of argument, that there are six of the top women’s wrestlers on Raw all competing for the Money in the Bank briefcase this weekend. Then let’s imagine what might happen if all of them are in the ring together just five days away from their big opportunity.

Well imagine no more, because that’s exactly what’s going to happen on WWE Raw tonight from Savannah. All six women’s MITB competitors will have a summit, which we can only assume is a pun on the fact that they must climb a ladder to emerge victorious in London.

There are two teams of two within the group of six. Trish Stratus has new protégé Zoey Stark with her. Damage CTRL, when they aren’t bickering, has both Bayley and IYO SKY.

That leaves Becky Lynch and Zelina Vega as lone wolves. But seeing as both are fan favorites at the moment, might they find that an alliance, even if it’s temporary, might be just the ticket to survive this impending lion’s den?

Another star who could also use some people to watch his back from time to time is Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare has stumbled into an unexpected feud with Dominik Mysterio, who of course, he should be able to handle with little trouble. The problem is that Dom is part of The Judgment Day, a group who has no problem turning the numbers game to its advantage. Will Rhodes find himself outnumbered when he addresses the younger Mysterio tonight?

There’s also an intriguing match between Ronda Rousey and Raquel Rodriguez, as well as a check on the well being of World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Sounds like a pretty decent three hours in store, and we’ll be chronicling everything that happens.

WWE Raw results from Savannah:

Dominik Mysterio tries to welcome the fans to Raw, which is hard when they are booing you out of the arena, and even Rhea Ripley has trouble getting her insults on Cody Rhodes in.

Speaking of the American Nightmare, he shows up dressed to impress as always and shows Dom how it’s done. Rhodes also quotes The Cat in the Hat to make a point that Dominik is a “scared little boy. Cody tries to goad Dom into a physical confrontation, and says he’ll find out Saturday if he’s just “mami’s little boy.”

Ricochet def. Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall

Bronson Reed watches this on from ringside, talking to himself and clapping sarcastically when they battle to the floor nearby. Nakamura and Ricochet end up teaming for a moment to kick Reed a few times, and Bronson eventually gets ejected by the ref for trying to climb in the ring.

Without having to have their heads on swivels to look for Reed, the two men settle things among themselves, with Ricochet sealing the deal with a Shooting Star Press.

Earlier today, Matt Riddle challenged Gunther to an Intercontinental Championship match at Money in the Bank. While being asked about it by Byron Saxton, Riddle is insulted by Ludwig Kaiser, who ends up helping Gunther stomp on Matt’s ankle again. Oh, and Gunther accepts the challenge.

Dom and Rhea stop by Adam Pearce and demand a match for Dominik, but they tell AP they’ll get back to him on who they want as an opponent.

A video package runs through some cool Money in the Bank stats.

Ronda Rousey def. Raquel Rodriguez by pinfall

Liv Morgan was in the corner of Rodriguez but it ended up not mattering. Momentum for Rousey ahead of the tag team title match this weekend, one supposes.

A pre-recorded promo has Finn Balor saying he’s not the man who beat Seth Rollins seven years ago — he’s much more dangerous. He’s also motivated by Rollins laughing at him when he had to relinquish his title due to injury back then. “You made me bitter.”

Seth Rollins leads his usual singalong as he heads to the ring. He quickly points out NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes in the crowd and thanks Hayes for having his back. “Please, whoop up on that bum ass Corbin.”

Rollins says that despite Balor’s attempts to “turn my ribs to dust,” he’s still standing, and invites Finn to come out and try to finish the job right now. He eventually tries another sneak attack with a steel chair, but Rollins is ready for him this time.

As they battle to the outside, Balor tries again to use a chair but gets it snatched by Hayes, and Finn ends up fleeing into the crowd.

Tommaso Ciampa asserts again that he hasn’t heard “one peep from Mr. Tiny Balls” while he was out for months rehabbing. Ciampa says his time on the shelf gave him clarity and made him question why he was following The Miz. “This time around, I create my own opportunities.”

Tommaso Ciampa vs. The Miz doesn’t happen.

Miz comes sprinting down the ramp and attacks Ciampa, focusing on the left leg. Ciampa also gets suplexed into the barricade before the referee pulls The Miz off of him … for a second. Skull-Crushing finale on the floor and that’s it. No match tonight.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn interrupt Imperium backstage, and after Sami assures KO they are indeed there to support Riddle, Zayn ends up challenging Gunther to a match. He’s cool with that.

Dominik Mysterio def. Akira Tozawa by pinfall

Ripley looks nervous as Tozawa gets in a ton of early offense. But she manages to distract Akira when it matters most, and Mysterio wins this short match with a frog splash.

Valhalla and the Viking Raiders say that to hear the gods again, they need to do terrible things to Alpha Academy. As one does.

Corey Graves hosts the Money in the Bank women’s summit, but is quickly interrupted by Bayley, who reminds everyone she’s the only one to already win one of these matches. Zelina Vega is tired of Damage CTRL being so dismissive and is ready to prove everyone who is overlooking her wrong.

Trish Stratus thinks they’re all little girls and understands why WWE needed her to save the women’s division. Everyone can say thank you to her when she wins. After Stratus starts in on Becky Lynch, things erupt into fisticuffs, with IYO SKY taking out everyone but Becky with a moonsault.

Lynch climbs a ladder in the ring and takes a briefcase, giving people a potential preview of Saturday.

Hayes says it’s an honor to be on Raw by invitation of Rollins, and he won’t miss when he takes his shot at Balor tonight.

Ripley bumps into Lynch backstage and warns her that if she wins MITB, it will be the last thing she ever does. Becky shoots back that she wants the briefcase just to make Rhea squirm.

Gunther def. Sami Zayn by pinfall

Owens joins Graves and KP on commentary for this one. Zayn is able to get in some good offense, including a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. He also proves resilient, kicking out after a top rope splash right before Owens and Ludwig Kaiser start scrapping.

Just when it appears Zayn has it rolling, Giovanni Vinci (remember him?) hits Sami with his crutch, and Gunther powerbombs Zayn for the pin.

After the bell, both Owens and Riddle join the fight, and Kaiser ends up eating a Stunner.

Natalya says the biggest battle she’s facing is not in the ring but in her own head. She says she’s shaken but still standing, and challenges Ripley to ring her championship next week to face her again.

Finn Balor def. Carmelo Hayes by pinfall

Hayes gets a chance to show off some of his offense, but you know how this is going to go. Eventually, Balor gets in a gutbuster/shotgun dropkick combo, and that sets up the figurative and literal Coup de Grace.

Rhodes says he’s anxious for the day we’re not talking about The Judgment Day all the time, and he looks forward to seeing if Dominik has skills other than getting under people’s skin.

A SmackDown video package replays the most recent Bloodline events, setting up the Bloodline Civil War tag team match at Money in the Bank.

Cody Rhodes def. Damian Priest by pinfall

The problem for Rhodes, as we said before, is that he’s not just fighting Priest. Sure enough, a few minutes in, Mysterio and Ripley come down to ringside. Their arrival shifts the momentum immediately to their teammate.

Dominik is able to provide some hands on assistance with the ref distracted, but Rhodes kicks out even after the South of Heaven. A Cody Cutter sets up Cross Rhodes, and that’s it for Priest.

Alas, Dom gets in one last cheap shot right before the show ends.

WWE Raw results 06/19/23: Logan Paul is Money (in the Bank)

Logan Paul revealed his next match, and Finn Balor took our Seth Rollins early during WWE Raw in Cleveland.

With all due respect to Grayson Waller for borrowing his catchphrase, Logan Paul is someone who has quite the effect on the WWE Universe. Some fans can’t stand him. Others grudgingly admire the way he has shown unusual aptitude inside the ropes for someone so relatively inexperienced.

And, yes, we’re sure there are fans who genuinely like him as well. No matter which group you fall into, you have to admit some curiosity as to what’s next for Paul after he turned in another stellar performance at WrestleMania 39. WWE is promoting the idea that we’ll find out during tonight’s show in Cleveland.

Maybe we shouldn’t, but we’re assuming that Paul is not showing up to accept Seth Rollins‘ open challenge to defend his title on Raw. If that assumption is correct, that means a big spotlight on someone else on the roster, and it will be fun to see who might shine under it.

There’s a few things to be settled in the women’s division as well. Fighting Rhea Ripley is a tough task for any competitor who’s at 100%, but Natalya hardly would say that even about herself lately. She’ll have to make one heck of a rally not to get flattened by the Women’s World Heavyweight Champion.

And there’s still one spot up for grabs in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match in London. Raquel Rodriguez will take on Trish Stratus to fill it, and you have to figure one Becky Lynch will have a very vested interest in the outcome.

Let’s see what we’ve got, shall we?

WWE Raw results from Cleveland:

  • The usual singalong greets Seth Rollins as he hits the ring, but he’s quickly attacked from behind by Finn Balor, who gets the best of the champ and even hits the Coup de Grace off the steps and the announce table just as referees and officials look like they have everything settled down; Balor hits a third for good measure just before the show breaks for commercial

  • Rollins rants about Balor backstage as officials try to get him some help, but all that gets is Finn attacking him again
  • The Miz is in the ring, upset because he was going to accept Rollins’ open challenge, so he issues his own open challenge instead … and it’s answered by a returning Tommaso Ciampa

  • Tommaso Ciampa def. The Miz by pinfall
  • The Judgment Day brags about all the winning they’re planning on doing at Money in the Bank, warns Cody Rhodes to keep Dominik Mysterio’s name out of his mouth, and taunts Cody to find “two other guys” to fight a united Judgment Day

  • A video package shows the final segment from SmackDown with the events that set up the Bloodline Civil War
  • Kevin Owens chafes at Sami Zayn being asked about The Bloodline, to which Sami tells Kevin he has an anger problem; Zayn says if Owens can go the whole night without another outburst, he’ll leave the Bloodline situation alone, then apologizes to Byron Saxton for having to see it
  • A selection of TikToks is shown that feature Chelsea Green raging out in a number of different ways
  • Katana Chance and Kayden Carter def. Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville by pinfall
  • Cathy Kelley brings out Cody Rhodes, who accepts the challenge from Dom and says “two guys” shouldn’t be hard to find
  • Indus Sher def. Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin by pinfall
  • Someone bumps into KO backstage and spills cold water on him, and KO manages not to blow up; Matt Riddle almost gets him to explode with some movie suggestions
  • Logan Paul sits atop a ladder in the ring, and says the best people in the world come from Cleveland, but of course he turns it around and runs down its citizens for a bit before announcing that he’s in the Money in the Bank Ladder match; Paul is joined by Ricochet, Shinsuke Nakamura, LA Knight and Santos Escobar, all of whom say they’re going to win MITB, whereas Butch just goes right after Paul, who ends up doing a somersault plancha before climbing the ladder and showing how he plans on grabbing the briefcase in London

  • Matt Riddle def. Ludwig Kaiser by pinfall. but Gunther helps Kaiser get some payback after the bell, stomping on Riddle’s left ankle several times
  • Riddle walks gingerly backstage with help from some officials; meanwhile, Kaiser and Gunther visit Owens and Zayn, and while KO threatens to come unglued at their threats, Sami gets a text message and says they have to leave

  • If you ever wanted to see what an Alpha Academy training session looks like, there’s a peek
  • Viking Raiders def. Alpha Academy by pinfall
  • Balor and Damian Priest promise Rhea Ripley they’re on the same page, and Rhea heads out for her own match
  • Natalya says this is a second chance to prove to Rhea, and more importantly, to herself, that she still belongs
  • Rhea Ripley vs. Natalya never happens as Ripley beats Nattie down before the bell and hits her with a Riptide before referees and officials pull her away
  • Raquel Rodriguez says what Rhea did is not OK, and she doesn’t back down, even when Ripley shows up in the flesh

  • Akira Tozawa volunteers to be Cody’s partner tonight, but he gets a better offer from Owens and Zayn, and KO is especially excited that he gets to punch people in the face
  • Trish Stratus def. Raquel Rodriguez by disqualification in a Money in the Bank qualifying match after Becky Lynch arrives to attack Zoey Stark at ringside, then inadvertently takes out Stratus when she goes out to the floor to intervene
  • Bron Breakker is told Rollins might not be able to compete on NXT, but Breakker says surely Seth won’t use what happened to him tonight as an excuse … and also he’s going to hurt Rollins really “freakin'” bad

  • Lynch tells Saxton says she screwed herself … or did she, because now she gets a shot at Stratus in a match at ladders, and she’s either going to win MITB or go down in a blaze of glory, taking Trish and Zoey with her
  • Bronson Reed def. Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall, with Ricochet also getting involved in the match
  • Speaking from the hospital, apparently, Rollins says he’ll be at NXT tomorrow to face Breakker with his title on the line, and he welcomes back “the guy who beat me seven years ago”

  • Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes def. The Judgment Day by pinfall when Rhodes pins Priest

WWE Raw results 06/12/23: KO, Sami battle Imperium

Also on tap for WWE Raw, the final Men’s MITB qualifier, and Cody Rhodes takes on The Miz.

Try as they might — and to semi-quote Thomas Jefferson in “Hamilton,” believe me, they’ve tried — Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn haven’t quite been able to rid themselves of the pests called Imperium. That’s good for us as fans, however, because it means they’re going to fight again tonight on WWE Raw from Wichita.

Consider Gunther and company one-up on our heroes for now. The Ring General (please hear that in Ludwig Kaiser‘s voice as you read it in your head) was able to defeat KO last week, though not without some hijinks because that’s what you get when you are embroiled in a feud with a heel stable.

So things have progressed in the way that’s most logical, meaning a tag team match. Owens and Zayn will take on Gunther and Kaiser. “Baldy” will no doubt be in their corner, and will the tag team titles be on the line? We’ll have to wait and see.

There’s more important business to settle between the ropes tonight as well. One spot is left for the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match, which is only a few weeks away in London. Matt Riddle and Damian Priest, two men who figure to be big threats to win said match if they get in, will fight for the right to occupy that spot.

And the American Nightmare will take on the A-Lister in one-on-one action too. Cody Rhodes laid out The Miz on his own show, Miz TV, last week. Can “Mike” get some payback, or will Cody continue to rebound from his loss to Brock Lesnar at Night of Champions?

WWE Raw results from Wichita:

  • Rhea Ripley comes to the ring and gets a shiny new title belt, now renamed the Women’s World Championship, and Dominik Mysterio helps fasten it around her waist; they’re joined in turn by Cody Rhodes, who wants to address Dom showing up on Miz TV last week, and challenges Mysterio to a match at Money in the Bank that is accepted on Ripley’s behalf — also Miz tries to sneak in a cheap shot ahead of their match

  • Cody Rhodes def. The Miz by pinfall
  • Becky Lynch gets fist bumps from Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn and looks like she doesn’t know what to make of Alpha Academy, who appear to be preparing Maxxine Dupri to wrestle backstage
  • Lynch says she’s never won Money in the Bank but feels good about it this year as she’s excited about the chance to have the briefcase and make the champions scared — not unlike how Trish Stratus was so scared she had to get an insurance policy in Zoey Stark; that brings out Stark and the two exchange pleasantries until Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville interrupt and we head right into a match

  • Becky Lynch def. Chelsea Green by submission
  • The Judgment Day seems to not be all on the same page, which is relevant since Damian Priest is up next for his MITB qualifier
  • Damian Priest def. Matt Riddle by pinfall to win a Money in the Bank Qualifying match; Imperium comes out afterward to lay a beating on Riddle

  • Rhodes scoffs at how The Judgment Day is gassing up Mysterio and says “good luck Dom Dom” if their match is made official for Money in the Bank
  • Natalya says being her has gotten her nowhere, and maybe she doesn’t even know how to “be me” any more; Byron Saxton moves on to KO and Zayn, who are looking forward to payback when Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser stop by, worrying Adam Pearce and causing an irritable Owens to agree to put the tag team titles on the line

  • A video package shows the best of The Bloodline saga from this past week’s SmackDown
  • Indus Sher offers Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin a proper match instead of, we guess, the beating they received last week
  • Bronson Reed def. Ricochet by DQ after Shinsuke Nakamura invades the match to attack Reed, but Nakamura and Ricochet end up joining forces for an impressive dual superplex on Reed before they resume arguing with each other
  • Zayn wants to make sure Owens isn’t too worked up, but it’s clear Imperium is under his skin even though he tells Sami he’s great
  • Pearce tells someone, probably Triple H, that the tag team titles will be on the line, but Ricochet comes in and demands a match next week against Reed and is beside himself to learn that Bronson is already booked for a bout against Nakamura, who tells Ricochet he can have Bronson “after I’m done with him”
  • Finn Balor calls out Seth Rollins, who obliges him and hears Balor talk about how the Visionary took everything from him and how he plans to take it all back at Money in the Bank; Rollins seems fine with them fighting in London but challenges Balor to bring the best version of himself and not “the guy who’s been walking around the past seven years acting like a little bitch”

  • Shayna Baszler def. Raquel Rodriguez by pinfall with some assistance from Ronda Rousey
  • Another tribute is aired to The Iron Sheik
  • Chad Gable def. Erik by pinfall
  • Priest and Balor try to talk things out … but also Finn was talking to JD McDonagh before Damian walked up
  • Rollins says he’s as prepared as he can be to beat Balor at MITB and he’s digging the tension between Finn and Damian, but before that, he’s putting his World Heavyweight Championship on the line next week on Raw in an open challenge
  • Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn def. Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser by pinfall to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship

WWE Raw results 06/05/23: Rollins still golden, 2 more women in MITB

Get all the details on WWE Raw from Hartford, with Seth Rollins making his first World Heavyweight title defense and a pair of MITB qualifiers.

The Seth Rollins Era begins in earnest tonight on WWE Raw from Hartford, so have your singing voices ready.

Even before winning the World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions, Seth Rollins promised to be the kind of champion we could look up to, one that would inspire others and push pro wrestling forward. That’s lofty talk, and if we’re being honest, not something over which he has full control.

But he also made it clear that a big part of it was simply being available to defend the title on a regular basis, and that begins with his faceoff with Damian Priest tonight. Why Priest? Good question! It’s because of an open challenge, ostensibly, but it’s not like he’s totally undeserving, and as The Judgment Day was the established, self-declared power on Raw, it does track that one member of the group would step up to try to topple Rollins.

And it wasn’t going to be Prison Dom.

The other big focus for tonight is a pair of Money in the Bank qualifying matches in the women’s division. After Becky Lynch battles Sonya Deville and Natalya goes up against Zoey Stark, we’ll have half the field set for the women’s Ladder match.

There’s also a common thread between these bouts, and it’s that Trish Stratus has a vested interest in both: ensuring Lynch loses and Stark wins. It would be surprising indeed if she didn’t show up and try to affect the outcomes in some way.

WWE Raw results from Hartford:

  • Seth Rollins gets his singalong to kick off the show, and says since it’s been nearly two years since there was a world title match on Raw, he wanted one tonight; Rollins says he’s psyched to take on Damian Priest tonight, and he comes out with Finn Balor but says he can take Seth on his own — and Rollins suggests he prove it by leaving The Judgment Day in the back, which Priest accepts though Balor seems unamused by the whole exchange

  • Becky Lynch def. Sonya Deville by pinfall in a Money in the Bank qualifying match, with Trish Stratus and Zoey Stark watching intently from the ramp
  • A video recaps the highlights of the Bloodline drama from this past week’s SmackDown
  • Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens don’t want to say “I told you so” and also say the Bloodline isn’t their problem any more … but their current problem, Imperium arrives, and KO is bothered enough by Gunther vowing to teach him discipline that he wants to fight right now
  • A vignette plays again to promote Kayden Carter and Katana Chance
  • Gunther def. Kevin Owens by pinfall after a wild match that saw KO have to deal with the other members of Imperium and Gunther take advantage by rolling Owens up for the pin
  • Matt Riddle says he’s tired of Gunther cheating week after week, and Ludwig Kaiser gets in his face … but it’s Giovanni Vinci who ends up feeling Riddle’s wrath
  • Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler say it was destiny for them to be tag team champions together and invite anyone to take them on; coincidentally, Carter and Chance step up, and after some ridiculing, the champs accept their challenge

  • Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler def. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance by submission
  • Ricochet and Shinsuke Nakamura trade some trash talk and decide to settle it in the ring; also Bronson Reed says hi
  • A video hypes the return of Johnny Gargano sometime soon

  • Ricochet vs. Shinsuke Nakamura ends in … a no contest, probably? Reed invades and starts beating up both men, including a Tsunami on Ricochet
  • Alpha Academy tries to get Maxxine Dupri ready to take on Valhalla, but she needs to change into something more suitable for training first

  • Cody Rhodes joins The Miz to trade quips, innuendos and other fun stuff, but they’re soon joined by surprise guest Dominik Mysterio and his mami, Rhea Ripley; Dom insults Cody as a deadbeat dad, but the American Nightmare gives better than he takes, and Dom ends up slapping him and hiding behind Rhea, and Rhodes ends up knocking out The Miz as well

  • Zoey Stark def. Natalya by pinfall in a Money in the Bank qualifying match, with some help from a Stratus cheap shot from th floor
  • Paul Heyman invites viewers to SmackDown to see Jey Uso make his historic choice, which Heyman says will be to stand by his brother, Solo

  • Indus Sher vs. Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin never starts as Indus Sher destroys Benjamin before the bell
  • Seth Rollins def. Damian Priest by pinfall to retain the World Heavyweight Championship, despite some attempted assistance for Priest (who didn’t seem to want it) from Balor
  • Rollins and Balor had a staredown as the show went off the air

WWE Raw results 05/29/23: New women’s tag champs, Rollins and Styles join forces

See who emerged as the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions after a Fatal 4-Way on WWE Raw in Albany.

It’s been a tough few weeks for Raquel Rodriguez, but maybe that will change tonight on WWE Raw from Albany.

Not that Raquel has been losing too many races recently, mind you. As one half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions, Rodriguez hadn’t lost a tag team match since WrestleMania 39. Alas, when partner Liv Morgan was injured (during one of those victories), WWE stripped them of the titles.

Rodriguez got to be part of one of the four teams that competed for the championship tonight, but she needed a partner. Enter Shotzi, who has history with Raquel and figures to be someone who can capably fill in for Morgan even if not quite replace her.

Can they win (back) the titles? Perhaps, but a Fatal 4-Way is always a crap shoot, and the other three teams — Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler, Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville, and Bayley and IYO SKY — all figure to be serious contenders.

WWE hasn’t promoted anything else specifically for this show from Albany, but we know Money in the Bank qualifying matches are due to start. We’re expecting at least one apiece on the men’s and women’s sides.

And there will be fallout from Saturday’s Night of Champions show in Saudi Arabia, to be sure. Seth Rollins promised he’d be on hand, World Heavyweight Championship around his waist, for tonight’s Raw. It’s possible we might learn who will be first up to challenge him for the new big gold belt.

If Cody Rhodes is up for it after battling Brock Lesnar with an injured arm, he could be in the house as well. Can he pick himself back up again after experiencing another dose of adversity? And are things done between him and the Beast Incarnate?

WWE Raw results from Albany:

  • New World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins makes a memorable entrance through the crowd, and after repeating his intention to be a fighting champion, he’s joined by a congratulatory AJ Styles; their mutual show of respect is interrupted by The Judgment Day, and after exchanging insults, Rollins and Styles agree to take on any two of them tonight

  • Adam Pearce is on the phone trying to make the match approved, and both Rollins and Styles want it to happen
  • Ricochet def. The Miz by pinfall in a Money in the Bank qualifying match
  • Trish Stratus brags about doing exactly what she said she’d do in beating Becky Lynch, and she’s proud to introduce a superstar who reminds Trish of a young her, Zoey Stark; Lynch of course comes looking for both of them, which proves foolhardy as she is beaten down with a Z-360 from Stark and a big right hand from Stratus, then left crumpled in the corner with a “thank you Trish” shirt over her

  • Indus Sher def. local talent by pinfall
  • A video segment shows the Bloodline drama from Night of Champions once again, though apparently Roman Reigns’ 1000-day title reign celebration is still on for SmackDown
  • Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are feeling pretty good tonight after the “worst night of Roman Reign’s life,” but Imperium comes out to take exception to them representing Raw, and the “new and improved” Alpha Academy (with Maxxine Dupri now part of the team) makes the champs laugh by dissing Imperium

  • Imperium (Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser) def. Alpha Academy by pinfall with Owens and Zayn on guest commentary; also, Valhalla chases Dupri to the back
  • Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi are asked if they’ve built up enough chemistry, a question that gets mocked by Bayley and IYO SKY before Raquel fires right back at Bayley
  • Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler def. Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi, Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville and Damage CTRL (Bayley and IYO SKY) in a Fatal 4-Way match when Rousey made Shotzi tap out to an armbar to become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions
  • Dolph Ziggler vs. JD McDonagh goes to a double countout, to the mild displeasure of the fans, with McDonagh continuing to assault Ziggler after the bell and stomping his head on top of the steel steps
  • Left arm still in a sling, Cody Rhodes takes the ring to say he hopes Brock Lesnar isn’t satisfied with their two matches being tied 1-1 and issues an open challenge for a third fight, any time, any place, finishing by saying Lesnar wasn’t “man enough to make me tap out”

  • Gunther tells Matt Riddle he wants him to win the Money in the Bank Ladder match and cash it in on the IC title just so he can have fun beating Riddle
  • Shinsuke Nakamura def. Bronson Reed by pinfall in a Money in the Bank qualifying match
  • Rhea Ripley tells Byron Saxton she destroyed Natalya at Night of Champions, and the Judgment Day won’t tell him which two members will face Rollins and Styles
  • A video package pays tribute to the men and women who have given their lives in defense of the U.S. to commemorate Memorial Day
  • AJ Styles and Seth Rollins def. Damian Priest and Finn Balor by pinfall

WWE Raw results 05/22/23: Cody Rhodes is determined to fight Brock Lesnar

Other big happenings on Raw included Raquel Rodriguez finding a new tag team partner and Matt Riddle aiding Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

HERSHEY, Pa. — As a fan in Section D of the Giant Center said in realization at the end of WWE Raw on Monday night, “We never got to do the whoa.”

He was talking about a certain part of Cody Rhodes‘ entrance theme, “Kingdom,” and if you’ve been watching WWE programming any time over the past year, you know the cue. It comes right after the line “Out the curtain, lights go up I’m home.”

The fans in attendance did get to see Rhodes, who was shown on screen to both open and close the show. He also made it to the ring once in-between, but his music didn’t play because WWE was trying to make it look like he shouldn’t have been out there.

That’s what happens when you get jumped by Brock Lesnar while entering the arena, which is exactly what happened Monday night. Lesnar gave Rhodes a hellacious backstage beating, concentrating on Cody’s left arm and mocking him for wanting to fight at Night of Champions.

Lesnar came to the ring about halfway through Raw, claiming that Rhodes wouldn’t be able to make this weekend’s premium live event and laying out an open challenge to anyone who would step up. Instead, Rhodes came out, arm in a sling, and attempted to thrown down with Lesnar right there.

Let’s call that a tactical error for the American Nightmare, who ended up taking even more damage to his left arm after being locked in a kimura by Lesnar. The idea was that Rhodes’ arm was broken.

But that wasn’t the last word, because the night’s main event, which saw Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Matt Riddle defeat Imperium, ended about four minutes prior to 11 p.m. ET. It felt like something would happen, and that something was Triple H visiting Rhodes in the locker room and trying to convince him that Night of Champions was out.

Rhodes refused and said he’d fight Lesnar anyway. So there’s a built-in excuse for WWE to have Cody lose and continue the feud (to SummerSlam, perhaps). It was an unconventional but not illogical way to end the final live show before a premium live event, but we’ll have to wait until Saturday to see if it all plays out in satisfactory fashion.

Read on for a rundown of everything that happened Monday night.

WWE Raw results from Hershey:

  • As noted above, Lesnar attacked Rhodes in the back, smashing his left arm between a beer keg and a metal rolldown door
  • Paul Heyman took to the microphone to claim no responsibility for what just happened but suggested that was just a taste of what would happen to Rhodes at Night of Champions
  • Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn said they were feeling pretty good about their upcoming title defense at Night of Champions, but there was also business to attend to tonight … and that business found them, with Imperium surrounding the ring, but Matt Riddle arrived to help run them off and become their partner for the main event
  • Adam Pearce refused to confirm or deny to Byron Saxton that Rhodes suffered a broken arm
  • Bronson Reed def. Ricochet by pinfall
  • Apollo Crews got his interview crashed by Dominik Mysterio, who ended up talking his way into a match, and Rhea Ripley, who warned Natalya she would end her career at Night of Champions
  • Part 3 of Corey Graves’ interview with Seth Rollins aired, including Rollins saying he loves Roman Reigns but doesn’t like Roman Reigns
  • Finn Balor had some fighting words for his opponent tonight, Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Zoey Stark def. Candice LeRae by pinfall, despite some ringside encouragement from Nikki Cross
  • Mustafa Ali was more serious than he has been recently, discussing the opportunity he has coming up this weekend … until Lesnar walked by him on his way to the ring, telling Ali to get a life as he passed
  • Barging by Adam Pearce and other officials, Rhodes made his ill-advised attempt to confront Lesnar in the ring, which ended with him in even more pain
  • A promo vignette was aired to promote Indus Sher
  • Alpha Academy def. Viking Raiders by pinfall
  • Finn Balor def. Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall thanks to some assistance from Damian Priest
  • Raquel Rodriguez def. Sonya Deville by pinfall, then got saved from a two-on-one post-match beating by Shotzi
  • Trish Stratus proposed a “no touch policy” for her contract signing with Becky Lynch, but Pearce declined …
  • … but Stratus and Lynch mostly just trade insults during their contract signing anyway
  • Pearce gives someone a phone call to update them on the Rhodes situation
  • Rodriguez offers Shotzi a chance to be her tag team partner to try back the women’s tag team titles
  • Dominik Mysterio def. Apollo Crews by pinfall, with the usual assist from Rhea Ripley
  • The final segment of the Graves-Rollins interview aired, focused largely on Seth discussing why he wants to win the World Heavyweight Championship so badly
  • Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Matt Riddle def. Imperium by pinfall
  • Triple H tried to talk Rhodes out of competing at Night of Champions, but to no avail

After the show went off the air, Imperium attempted to come back for some revenge on Owens, Zayn and Riddle, but that backfired as Ludwig Kaiser ended up going through a table.

WWE Backlash 2023 results: Austin Theory escapes Bobby Lashley, Bronson Reed with his US title

Austin Theory had two powerful challengers in San Juan but was still able to hold them off — find out how.

Does Austin Theory still have doubters? Corey Graves thinks he shouldn’t but still does. He goes right after Bobby Lashley when the bell rings but is shrugged off more than once. Lashley looks like he has a point to prove, but Theory is able to get him isolated … only to take a hanging vertical suplex.

Bronson Reed splashes Lashley as Theory looks on from the floor, but Bobby fights off their brief alliance and spears the champ. Reed drags him off the pin and superkicks Lashley, then springboards off the middle rope to land hard on Lashley.

Reed wants to go up top but is knocked off his perch by the champ. Theory tries for A-Town Down; Lashley tries to counter with the Hurt Lock, but Theory escapes and Reed Tsunamis Lashley, forcing Theory to break up that pin.

The champ hits an inverted blockbuster and nearly gets Reed lifted onto his shoulders, but Reed powerslams him and goes for a moonsault. No one is home, though, and after a Lashley spear to Reed, Theory shoves Bobby aside and covers Reed to escape, and we mean it, with his United States Championship.

Click here for full WWE Backlash 2023 results.

WWE Backlash 2023 results: Bad Bunny shines, Cody Rhodes sneaks out a W

Get live updates for Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest, Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar, and all the WWE Backlash matches from San Juan.

While WWE Backlash typically deals with the fallout from WrestleMania, the 2023 edition set to take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico seems more like it’s going to be the show that answers a bunch of pressing questions.

The two biggest men’s matches fall into that category. One sees Cody Rhodes facing off with Brock Lesnar after the Beast Incarnate attacked him several weeks ago. Can the American Nightmare pass this very stiff test and get back on the road to finishing his story?

The other is an aptly named San Juan Street Fight between music superstar Bad Bunny and Damian Priest. In this showdown between former friends, can Bad Bunny continue his string of impressive in-ring showings in his first solo match?

Both women’s championships will be on the line at Backlash as well. Neither Bianca Belair nor Rhea Ripley is expected to lose, but if that indeed turns out to be the case, what will happen to their championships — since both women were drafted to the “opposite” shows last week?

As has increasingly been the case as of late, there’s a big question about the Bloodline too. The Usos came up short in their attempt to regain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, and even worse, dedicated their effort to their Tribal Chief. As they team with Solo Sikoa to face Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Matt Riddle, are they all on the same page, and what will happen to Jey and Jimmy if they lose?

There should be answers to all of these questions before the night is over at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, and we’ll be bringing them all to you here at Wrestling Junkie.

WWE Backlash 2023 results:

(click on any match link for full details)

WWE Backlash 2023: Date, start time, match card

We get you set for the first WWE premium live event in Puerto Rico in nearly 20 years.

When WrestleMania is in the rear view mirror, it can only be time for the Backlash.

It makes sense that WWE follows its biggest event of every calendar year with a show that deals with its repercussions, and even though the company has moved away from branding it that way directly in 2023 — the show was actually called WrestleMania Backlash the last few years — there’s no question that the fingerprints of the Show of Shows are on this event as usual.

What’s new and exciting for this year is the locale: San Juan, Puerto Rico, which hasn’t hosted a WWE premium live event in 18 years. Music superstar Bad Bunny, one of Puerto Rico’s favorite sons, had been advertised as the host of the event, but as you’ll see below, he’s since abandoned that position in favor of a more active role, to say the least.

The card will also be boosted by some returning talent. Matt Riddle has been back on TV after missing several months due to a reported suspension (and entering rehab), and got thrown right into the fire. He’ll join tag team champs/best buddies Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to even the odds against the Bloodline side of The Usos and Solo Sikoa.

Speaking of the Bloodline, Roman Reigns looks to be sitting Backlash out, but that’s because he has someone else handling his top challenger. Cody Rhodes wanted a rematch for Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship but instead got ambushed by Brock Lesnar on Raw. Those two men will now do battle in San Juan in an encounter that could serve as the main event.

The crowd is almost guaranteed to be super hot after not hosting an event of this magnitude for so long. Here’s everything you need to know to prepare for Backlash.

WWE Backlash 2023

  • Date: May 6, 2023
  • Location: Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Start time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
  • How to watch: On Peacock in the U.S., and on WWE Network in the rest of the world
  • Matches announced: 7

Please scroll down for more on the back story and a look at what might happen in each match.

WWE Raw results: Bad Bunny talks softly, carries a big (kendo) stick

A new World Heavyweight Championship was also unveiled tonight.

When you’re Bad Bunny, you can do pretty much whatever you want. Try your hand at WWE? Of course. Get involved in a dramatic WrestleMania match between father and son? Sure, if you want. It’s just that there might be consequences even for the biggest music star in the world if you do that, some of which might still be playing out on this week’s episode of WWE Raw from the greater Chicago area.

See, The Judgment Day wasn’t too crazy about Bunny ensuring Dominik Mysterio didn’t cheat to beat his dad in L.A., and was even less enthused about him smacking the taste out of Dom’s mouth a few weeks later. That led to Damian Priest putting the music megastar through an announce table, which naturally kept him out of commission for a bit.

He’s back tonight, however, and probably looking for some payback against old “friend” Priest. And he, meanwhile, has a match against Rey Mysterio. That, friends, is what we call synergy. Could all these elements break out into a big Judgment Day vs. LWO scuffle with Bad Bunny on the side of the LWO? That seems likely.

Also of interest for tonight, Triple H is scheduled to make some sort of announcement. The buzz is that it’s about a title — either a new physical belt of some sort or an honest to goodness change to a championship of some sort. Or it could be something else altogether, but it’s something to keep an eye on.

WWE Raw results from Chicago:

(click on any match or segment with a link for more details)

  • Cody Rhodes reflects on the “humiliating” beatdown he got from Brock Lesnar and the time he wrestled with a torn pec, but he’s not down with Finn Balor and his invitation to join The Judgment Day … but he’s medically cleared to face Finn tonight
  • The Bloodline (The Usos and Solo Sikoa) def. The LWO (Santos Escobar, Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde) by pinfall
  • Damage CTRL tells Bianca Belair she can pick any two partners she wants to take them on tonight, and she’s down with that
  • “You made your choice … and like it or not, I made my choice too.” Sami Zayn drops in on Jey Uso and questions what will happen to Jey if The Usos fail to get the tag team titles back after dedicating the match to the Tribal Chief, but Jey tells Sami not to worry about him any more
  • A video replays the recent words and actions of Trish Stratus, who then insists that Becky Lynch is absent because she can’t handle the pressure of being a top star and a mom at the same time
  • Street Profits def. Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin by pinfall
  • Triple H announces that wherever Roman Reigns is drafted to, he will take the Universal Championship with him, but there will also be a new World Heavyweight Championship, with the inaugural titleholder crowned at Night of Champions
  • Priest and Dominik Mysterio say Bad Bunny can watch Damian take out Rey Mysterio later tonight
  • “You can’t talk to Sami, Uce.” Jey expresses some self-doubts to Jimmy Uso, who blows up when he hears it’s because Jey talked to Sami
  • Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Damage CTRL
  • “Are you lazy and don’t want to work, or are you scared?” Austin Theory mocks the idea of the new title going to someone besides him while he has two powerful challengers at Backlash; Bobby Lashley joins him in the ring and wonders why Theory doesn’t welcome every opportunity to fight for the U.S. title …
  • … but Bronson Reed joins them as well when they start to brawl, and he’s the one left standing at the end
  • Chad Gable tries to explain the WWE Draft to Rick Boogs, but Maxxine Dupri is ready to fight for Otis, and Mustafa Ali thinks everyone needs to have a more positive attitude and is willing to back it up in the ring
  • Mustafa Ali def. Chad Gable by pinfall
  • Jimmy Uso confronts Zayn and tries to make him feel doubts about Kevin Owens
  • Cody Rhodes def. Finn Balor by pinfall
  • “This is an opportunity to have a World Heavyweight Championship that’s about more than politics and part-timers.” Seth Rollins says something bigger than Omos has caught his eye, but he’s not looking past the Nigerian Giant either
  • Matt Riddle is wearing out KO’s patience, and Owens is flabbergasted that his friend still cares about The Usos, and Riddle surprises Zayn with some actually helpful perspective
  • Rey Mysterio def. Damian Priest by DQ when Priest uses a chair on him, and Bad Bunny arrives to attack Priest with a kendo stick … and reveal that they’ll be facing off in a Street Fight at Backlash