Tag: Candice LeRae

WWE Raw results 12/11/23: CM Punk makes his choice, Seth Rollins isn’t crazy about it

Also tonight on WWE Raw from Cleveland, CM Punk tells the world where he’s signing.

The funny thing about revenge is that it getting it might not make you feel all the way better about what got you upset in the first place. That’s worth keeping in mind for Drew McIntyre as he gets a one-on-one match with Jey Uso tonight on WWE Raw from Cleveland.

If you’ve been watching WWE programming over the past few months, you’re familiar with McIntyre’s grievances. Headed for one of the biggest victories of his career, in front of friends and family at Clash at the Castle in the fall of 2022, the Scottish Warrior instead tasted bitter defeat thanks to The Bloodline.

You may also recall that Jey Uso was a member of said Bloodline.

Jey has made amends with most people since becoming one of the top fan favorites on Raw, but McIntyre — who arguably had the biggest and most understandable gripe of all — couldn’t forgive or forget. That truth has shaped all of his actions as of late.

The question now is whether Drew will feel like that void inside would be filled even if he beats Jey. And the guess here is that no, it probably won’t. But that’s what makes McIntyre so compelling right now.

Oh, and there’s also something big going on with CM Punk tonight: He’s going to tell the world if he’s signing with Raw or SmackDown. Wonder if a certain World Heavyweight Champion might try to influence his decision one way or another …

We’re ready for all of this. We’re even ready to yeet again. Let’s do the thing.

WWE Raw results from Cleveland:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Jey Uso welcomes everyone to Raw, is excited about having yeet back and says get well to Sami Zayn before he takes on Drew McIntyre; The Scottish Warrior says he doesn’t want CM Punk on Raw and offers a semi-apology to Zayn before explaining again why he’s justified in seeking revenge against Jey
  • Drew McIntyre def. Jey Uso by pinfall after using a thumb to the eye to soften up Uso for a Claymore
  • CM Punk’s promo from SmackDown is replayed ahead of his big decision tonight
  • The Shinsuke Nakamura warning for Cody Rhode is played again too
  • There’s finger pointing in The Judgment Day clubhouse, and plenty of blame to go around, but Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley get into it more than anyone
  • Alpha Academy and The Creed Brothers fire up Maxxine Dupri, and Chad Gable warns R-Truth not to keep messing with The Judgment Day as he prepares to put holiday lights in their clubhouse
  • Rhea Ripley def. Maxxine Dupri by submission
  • A video promotes Kayden Carter and Katana Chance
  • Adam Pearce is shown entering CM Punk’s dressing room
  • CM Punk makes the choice to sign with Raw, setting off a passionate confrontation with Seth Rollins
  • Bronson Reed and Ivar talk some asynchronous trash to each other as they get ready to do battle
  • Bronson Reed def. Ivar by pinfall
  • The Judgment Day says hi to Punk, with Priest saying he hopes Punk is the one to finish a story around here, because if he does, Damian will be the one waiting for him
  • The Judgment Day tries to have some fun at the expense of R-Truth
  • McIntyre tells Punk he doesn’t care about anything but finishing his story and that he has that figured out, and he quickly says hi to Kofi Kingston, Chad Gable and Ricochet, who Pearce wants to talk to
  • Kayden Carter and Katana Chance def. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell by pinfall as Chelsea Green and Piper Niven watch on guest commentary
  • #DIY discuss their mystery partner, not revealing his identity to Ludwig Kaiser, and Gunther stops by to wish them luck and express his skepticism over anyone teaming with them
  • Becky Lynch wants to “end” the lie that Nia Jax made her career, but Jax is willing to make her wait
  • Cody Rhodes says he’d be a lot more excited about facing Nakamura if he hadn’t been misted in the face, but agrees with Shinsuke’s assertion that he asked for this
  • #DIY and The Miz def. Imperium by pinfall
  • Gunther berates his flunkies as per usual, then turn arounds and finds Miz demanding an Intercontinental Championship rematch; Gunther grants it, but says the condition is that if he wins, Miz can’t challenge for it again as long as he’s champion, and Miz accepts it
  • Cody Rhodes def. Shinsuke Nakamura by DQ after Nakamura uses the mist on Rhodes, and a post-match attack gets in some more punishment on Cody until The Creed Brothers can make the save … but Nakamura runs down for one more shot as Rhodes is being helped to the back
Image credit: WWE.com

Drew McIntyre continues further into the shadow realm, cheating to defeat Jey Uso

Spinning out of the opening segment, McIntyre doesn’t even get his jacket off before Uso sends him to the floor and the show to commercials. After the break, Jey gets a near fall with a cross body off the top.

McIntyre fires back to pummel Uso near the ropes, dropping right hands repeatedly. A vertical suplex follows, allowing the Scottish Warrior to continue his measured attack.

Jey takes some additional punishment in the corner and while strung through the ropes. Uso finally gets an opening, and he takes full advantage with a suicide dive before ads set in again.

We return to find McIntyre in the Tree of Woe, then quickly out as he sits up and hurls Uso off the top rope. He also used the bottom of the ring as a weapon during the commercials, which made for a pretty cool replay.

Uso fights back with right hands until a Glasgow Kiss halts him in his tracks. Drew goes up top but gets caught with a superkick to the gut when Jey rolls away. A Samoan Drop is next, but McIntyre kicks out at two.

McIntyre reaches back to execute a neckbreaker, then kips up. He heads to the corner opposite Uso but his Claymore attempt is countered with a superkick. An Uso Splash is next, but it catches nothing but knees, and Jey has to dig down to kick out at two following the Future Shock.

With Uso slow to rise, McIntyre removes the turnbuckle cover atop one corner. He rushes in again but no Claymore as a spear catches him first, and Uso earns another near fall.

As the ref looks at the turnbuckle, McIntyre thumbs Uso in the eye, following up with a Claymore to get the three count.

Image credit: WWE.com

Rhea Ripley has little trouble with Maxxine Dupri

This seems like a tough spot for Dupri, though at least she has Ivy Nile out there to support her. She slaps the champ in the face early on, which seems more brave than smart.

Dupri doesn’t really pull off flinging Ripley into the corner with her legs, then gets slammed down afterward. And again. She ends up twisting Dupri like a pretzel with her knee on Maxxine’s neck, and a tapout isn’t long to follow.

Nile confronts Ripley after the bell, which is interesting.

Image credit: WWE.com

CM Punk makes Adam Pearce happy, but Seth Rollins is not so thrilled

Adam Pearce says the man who’s coming out needs no introduction but does need to make a decision. Punk joins him in the ring and says he thought he was a bit sullen until he came out and saw the fans and the signs.

Punk says “we” have a decision to make and notes that Cleveland hasn’t always been kind to him. There are a lot of ghosts in these hallways, as he remembers his debut in this building and his return as world champion. The latter incident involved him getting kicked in the head backstage by Randy Orton and being stripped of his title.

Then 10 years ago, Punk had to make the hardest decision of his life, walking out in Cleveland. If you were disappointed when he did that, Punk apologizes.

He muses about how the deal that Pearce put together was better than the other brands, but he says that when he saw Cleveland was the location of tonight’s show, his mind was pretty much made up. Ten years ago he walked out, and tonight he’s walking right back in. Yep, Punk is home on Raw.

Punk signs for a happy Pearce, but someone is not: Seth Rollins. The World Heavyweight Champion heads straight to the ring to stare Punk down, then grabs a microphone. Rollins is offended by Punk calling WWE his home, though the fans chant for CM right after that.

Rollins accuses Punk of abandoning WWE and slandering the talent over the past 10 years. “This is not your home, this is my home!”

The champ calls the other talent and the fans his family and that he’ll do everything possible to protect it from people like Punk. Rollins says he wants to ensure that Punk understands something: “I hate you.” But if he’s going to be in WWE, Rollins wants him on Raw, because this is CM’s last chance, and either Punk will self destruct, or if he has changed and has any gas left in the tank, Seth can expose him as a fraud in a title match.

“I will wrestle circles around you, and I will make you understand in real time what it means to be the best in the world.”

Punk asks if Rollins is done and says this is Seth’s one pass to speak to him disrespectfully. He also confirms he’s entering the Royal Rumble and when he wins, maybe it’s Seth he’s coming after.

Image credit: WWE.com

Bronson Reed wins battle of big men with Ivar

Big E, this one is for you! Reed gets off to a fast start, punishing his foe until a double clothesline puts them both down. They both take each other down on the outside as well, leading to commercials.

There’s more craziness when we return, with Ivar hitting a cannonball off the apron onto Reed. But the retaliation is even more impressive as it takes the form of a massive superplex, allowing Reed to get the three count.

Image credit: WWE.com

The Judgment Day wants to remind everyone who they are, but The Creed Brothers aren’t listening

Trying to get some of their mojo back, the four men in The Judgment Day say they are putting everyone, old, new and returning alike, on notice. They’re about to specifically address The Creed Brothers when R-Truth joins them.

He’s confused about the locks on the clubhouse, getting him a tongue lashing from JD McDonagh. But Damian Priest invites him into the ring, saying he wants to hear what Truth has to say.

Alas, the first thing he has to say is that he thinks McDonagh should be kicked out. Second, Priest needs to quit calling himself the boss because it makes Mami mad.

Damian says everyone likes R-Truth … except him. Priest lays him out and the others join in, but The Creed Brothers come hustling to the rescue. They’re outnumbered, but that hardly matters as they manage to clear the ring anyway.

Image credit: WWE.com

Becky Lynch wants to fight, but Nia Jax is content to make her wait

Wasting no time, Lynch says she’s here to call out Jax. While they’ve never had a singles match, they’re linked forever by the right hand that smashed Lynch’s face five years ago in a Raw vs. SmackDown battle.

After Becky gets in some barbs on Nia, Jax has heard enough and heads down to the ring. Nia says she’s right there in front of her better than ever, and says the punch was just a lucky swing … and it still almost ended Lynch’s career. Just imagine what her full force would do.

Jax claims Lynch owes her career to Nia, which Becky takes offense to as she should. It wasn’t just about a broken face but getting back up and persevering. The Man says she needs to end the lie or end Jax, which amuses Nia since she figures Becky needs to prove it to herself.

Lynch says she came looking for a fight and offers Jax a free shot, but Nia says Becky needs this a lot more than I do and walks away.

Image credit: WWE.com

Cleveland’s finest: The Miz, #DIY join forces to defeat Imperium

Michael Cole reminds us how truly unlikely the team of Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa and The Miz are given the history between them. That feels like a lifetime ago now.

DIY shows off their usual excellent teamwork early, but a big boot from Gunther to Ciampa changes that in a hurry before a commercial break.

It’s Imperium’s turn to show off some teamwork now, even with the issues they’ve been having. Gargano geta a hot tag, however, and his flurry leads to a slingshot spear to Ludwig Kaiser that forces a save from Giovanni Vinci.

The Miz finally enters the fray, much to the delight of his hometown fans, hitting a cross body and some kicks on Gunther. More kicks force the IC champ back into the corner, but only until Gunther can catch one of them and lock in a Boston Crab.

Things break down as multiple men hit the ring, and Gargano and Miz both hit tornado DDTs at nearly the same time. Miz gets the Figure Four on Gunther while Gargano gets the Gargano Escape on Kaiser.

Alas, Gunther tags Vinci, who drops an elbow on Miz. But Miz gets Vinci in position for a Skull Crushing Finale, and he hits it to secure the victory.

Image credit: WWE.com

Shinsuke Nakamura proves it’s not about defeating Cody Rhodes

Is Nakamura more dangerous than he’s ever been? We’ll see here, but it is kind of crazy they’ve never wrestled a singles match before. Shinsuke is a step ahead of Cody early on, sending Rhodes to the floor with a sliding kick.

Rhodes is experiencing Good Vibrations when the broadcast returns, and his attempt to battle back is halted by another stiff kick. Shinsuke grabs a headlock as Cody shows to the ref he’s not fading.

A Cody Cutter is blocked, and Nakamura tries for an armbar, even countering out of a Cross Rhodes attempt to stay at it. Shinsuke hits his sliding release German suplex, smiling before a jumping knee off the top earns him a near fall.

A Kinshasa attempt is cut off by a low dropkick that chops out Nakamura’s legs. Rhodes hits a dragon screw with his foe trapped in the ropes, then drops him face first after lifting him in from the apron.

Rhodes administers a half crab, and Nakamura has to will himself to the ropes for a break. Both men go crashing to the outside as we break for ads one last time.

They’re back inside and slugging it out now. Nakamura wins that exchange, but Rhodes hits a flying forearm shot and a powerslam to regain the momentum. He has to fall backward, however, when Shinsuke hops on his back for a sleeper.

Both have slowed now, but Rhodes is able to catch his opponent with a Disaster Kick that’s good for a two count. Here come punches and a Bionic Elbow, and the Cody Cutter is on the mark too. Rhodes wants Cross Rhodes but gets the red mist to the face.

The ref calls for the bell, but Nakamura doesn’t care continuing his attack. A blinded Rhodes attempts to fight back, but Shinsuke drops him to his knees and hits the Kinshasa to the back of the head.

With Shinsuke wielding a chair, The Creed Brothers head down to prevent any more damage, and Nakamura decides to retreat since his job is done.

Except when Rhodes is being helped to the back, Nakamura comes running down and gets in one more shot. Thanks for nothing, Creeds.

WWE Raw results 10/30/23: No treats for The Judgment Day, especially JD McDonagh

Also on WWE Raw tonight, the Trick or Street Fight was … something.

There have probably been factions that have been outright scarier in terms of their presentation than The Judgment Day if you look back over WWE history, but not that many can claim to have the same combination of power and persistence. And now it’s possible they may use tonight’s episode of WWE Raw to grow that even more, so what could be more frightening than that for a Halloween week episode from Greenville?

JD McDonagh is kind of the quintessential wanna-be in that he’s been on a “How can I be down?” kick for weeks, always trying to assist — though sometimes his help has backfired, and there are certainly questions about his motivations.

He’ll try to prove he’s worth a full-fledged spot tonight when he takes on Seth Rollins. Rhea Ripley will no doubt be watching closely, but she may also have hedged her bet since it sure seemed like she was extending an invitation to the World Heavyweight Champion to join the group last week.

And because you should always have a gimmick match for Halloween, Raw has that covered as well. Natalya will take on Chelsea Green in a Trick or Street Fight, a match that only took on more potential entertainment value on social media today.

To wit:

Ahem. Plus we’ll see the latest between DIY and Imperium, and there’s buzz about an NXT call-up that should be very popular among fans who watch that brand regularly.

Sounds like a splendid way to spend the night before Halloween. Let’s see if it turns out that way.

WWE Raw results from Greenville:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Rhea Ripley lays down the law for tonight but gets a rebuttal from Sami Zayn, who is willing to fight The Judgment Day but discovers Ricochet has his back
  • Dominik Mysterio def. Ricochet by pinfall with the help of Rhea Ripley, JD McDonagh and some rule-breaking
  • A short video package promotes the return of #DIY as a tag team
  • Raquel Rodriguez cuts a promo ahead of her participation in the Fatal 5-Way Women’s World Championship match at Crown Jewel
  • We also get a highlight package of The Creed Brothers, introducing the masses to Julius and Brutus
  • The Creed Brothers def. Alpha Academy by pinfall in their first ever WWE match
  • The Judgment Day seems unamused by The New Day trick-or-treating dressed (sort of) like them, and Damian Priest seems a little ticked about Ripley making a match for him until she’s able to convince him that it’s for the good of the group
  • Nia Jax talks about squashing everyone since her return and looks forward to doing it again at Crown Jewel
  • Miz TV welcomes another big guest, Gunther, but the Ring General and Imperium make this particular episode miserable for the host
  • An angry Miz demands an Intercontinental Championship with Gunther, but Adam Pearce says he can earn one, and it appears that may mean defeating Bronson Reed
  • #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) def. Imperium (Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser) by pinfall
  • Shinsuke Nakamura says he’s waiting to be provoked by someone who fancies themself the hero
  • Xia Li def. Candice LeRae by referee stoppage
  • Jey Uso wishes Zayn good luck before suggesting he might team with Cody Rhodes about pursuing the tag team titles and then … um, running up on Rhea?
  • Shayna Baszler makes her vow to win the Fatal 5-Way at Crown Jewel; in the back, LeRae is checked out by doctors as Gargano and her friends look on
  • A lengthy but very good pre-taped video has Drew McIntyre explain why his title shot at Crown Jewel is so meaningful to him, and while he’s willing to break Seth Rollins’ back to win
  • Zoey Stark speaks her piece before the Fatal 5-Way, so we’ve heard from all of the challengers now
  • Seth Rollins scoffs at the idea that McIntyre is feeling sorry for himself and then blaming The Bloodline for all his other failures, but he gets jumped by McDonagh before he can finish his thoughts; the ref checks on him but Rollins says he’s good to go for his match
  • Seth Rollins def. JD McDonagh by pinfall despite the looming threat of a Money in the Bank cash-in by Damian Priest
  • Pearce thanks Ricochet for his efforts tonight and offers him a chance to win an IC title shot, but also has to deal with Chelsea Green and Ivar before saying he needs a drink
  • Becky Lynch reflects on her NXT Championship run and tells Li she’s willing to fight her
  • Chelsea Green def. Natalya by pinfall in a Trick or Street Fight
  • Damian Priest def. Sami Zayn by DQ after Jey Uso ends up superkicking Priest, but …
  • … the show ends with Zayn, Uso and Cody Rhodes teaming to battle The Judgment Day, McDonagh taking two Cross Rhodes on the announce table and Cody delivering a passionate warning to Damian for Saturday

WWE Raw results 10/23/23: The Judgment Day keeps making moves

Rhea Ripley signed a contract but also kept up a seeming recruiting drive on WWE Raw.

OK, so I have no idea if this headline is actually true since The Judgment Day has never invited me or any of the Wrestling Junkie crew to one of their celebrations. That’s also true tonight on WWE Raw from Dallas.

Why are they in such a triumphant mood? Well, it just so happens that despite some infighting over the past few weeks, the group came together in a big way last Monday, with everyone playing their part to ensure Damian Priest and Finn Balor reclaimed the tag team titles from Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso.

Not sure the group can rightfully claim to hold “most of the gold in WWE” like it says in WWE’s official preview for tonight’s show, but everyone but Dominik Mysterio is back in possession of a title, so that seems like plenty of reason to celebrate to me.

Oh, but Priest also has to face Uso tonight, so that only heightens the chances of Main Event Jey coming out to spoil the mood during the show-opening segment. Yeet.

There’s plenty of other stuff to look forward to in Big D. Logan Paul will be on hand, though it’s not readily apparent why since the man he just called out, Rey Mysterio, works on SmackDown. Becky Lynch will once again put her NXT Women’s Championship on the line, this time against Indi Hartwell.

Drew McIntyre will battle Sami Zayn as the two men continue to disagree about whether a person can turn over a new leaf and be forgiven for past misdeeds. And The New Day will take on Alpha Academy as jostling for position for a tag team title shot continues.

So plenty for us to sink our teeth into, which is not a poor Halloween season/vampire joke, promise. If you are otherwise engaged tonight, we got you.

WWE Raw results from Dallas:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Party up with The Judgment Day? Cody Rhodes learns why it’s a bad idea
  • The New Day def. Alpha Academy by pinfall
  • Becky Lynch acknowledges the multiple people chasing her NXT championship but says she needs to stay focused on Indi Hartwell tonight
  • A hype video is shown for Ivar, which is well deserved after some of his recent performances
  • Seth Rollins seems chipper while walking backstage, but runs into Rhea Ripley, who suggests that he needs the “insurance” of The Judgment Day; Rollins retorts that maybe Rhea is uncertain that Damian Priest won’t successfully cash in his MITB contract, while she maintains that without their help, he won’t ever have a title reign like Roman Reigns — but Rollins says if there’s one thing he doesn’t want, it’s to be anything like Roman
  • Natalya offers her support and advice to Hartwell ahead of her title opportunity
  • Becky Lynch def. Indi Hartwell by submission to retain the NXT Women’s Championship; afterward, Xia Li attacks Candice LeRae in the back
  • Nick Aldis apologizes to Adam Pearce for kicking him out of the building on SmackDown, and Pearce accepts it but also asks for security to be doubled — though maybe for the contract signing coming up next
  • A contract signing with five top women’s wrestlers sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, and naturally, it does indeed turn into a brawl as Ripley stands and watches the whole thing while laughing
  • Bronson Reed tries to stir things up with Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci, but ends up getting challenged to a match by … Akira Tozawa?
  • Johnny Gargano def. Giovanni Vinci by pinfall, as Tommaso Ciampa assists with Ludwig Kaiser on the outside
  • Shinsuke Nakamura cuts another stylish, subtitled promo on Ricochet
  • Logan Paul and Dominik Mysterio do the mutual admiration thing, much to the disgust of the fans — and Ricochet
  • Chelsea Green and Piper Niven def. Natalya and Nikki Cross by pinfall after Cross does literally nothing for her team
  • Drew McIntyre sarcastically tells Jey Uso he can’t imagine what it’s like to have The Bloodline cost him a championship and says whatever happens to Sami Zayn tonight is on his head
  • The Miz drops in on Pearce to air his grievances about not being given anything worthwhile to do on Raw in weeks, and he’s even more upset when Ripley arrives to sign the contract she never got to sign and the camera follows her to check on Dominik
  • Drew McIntyre def. Sami Zayn by pinfall, thanks in part to a distraction from Ripley, obviously still on a recruiting tour
  • Pearce finds Aldis to express his displeasure that the SmackDown GM is talking up some of the Raw talent, and the two men shake hands as Aldis says he’s taking off; also, Cross walks by with the same vacant look in her eyes, causing Pearce to mention that he needs a drink
  • Bronson Reed def. Akira Tozawa by pinfall despite Tozawa’s recent Alpha Academy training
  • Tozawa gets a pep talk from Coach Gable despite his loss, and DIY stops by to announce their return to Alpha Academy and The New Day; also Tozawa does his training dance again
  • Rollins congratulates McIntyre for “your first win as the newest member of The Judgment Day,” though Drew says he say Seth talking to Rhea; both men say they don’t need The Judgment Day to beat the other at Crown Jewel
  • Damian Priest def. Jey Uso by pinfall thanks to help from Balor, but Rhodes, despite suffering an ankle injury earlier, is still up to the challenge of fighting off The Judgment Day (with help from some steel chairs) to end the show

WWE Raw results 08/21/23: KO returns, Gable wins (but not the title) in Quebec City

Also on WWE Raw, Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre took on The New Day, and Shinsuke Nakamura revealed what he said to Seth Rollins.

Shooooooooosh! Shoosh, please! We’re going to need quiet for Chad Gable tonight in Quebec City as he attempts to win a singles championship on WWE Raw.

Not just any title, either, but the Intercontinental Championship that’s been in the iron grasp of Gunther since last summer. The Ring General has used power to beat many opponents, skill to best others, and underhanded tactics when necessary — though that has rarely been the case.

Gable, of course, is a technical wizard who is also exceptionally strong for his size. Plus he has the rest of Alpha Academy to keep an eye on the other members of Imperium, so theoretically, it should be a wash on the outside.

In other words, maybe this won’t be quite a simple as the IC champ thinks it could be.

Another interesting match on tonight’s card in Quebec City will see Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre team to face The New Day. While McIntyre has been somewhat reluctant to make his recent partnership with Riddle an ongoing thing, a victory over one of the most decorated tag teams in WWE history might persuade him to change his stance. Or not, but it can’t hurt Riddle’s efforts.

Last but not least, WWE says Shinsuke Nakamura is going to tell the world exactly what he whispered to Seth Rollins last week that turned the World Heavyweight Champion white as a sheet. It’s got to be pretty good considering the reaction he got.

It would also be strange indeed if Quebec’s favorite son, Sami Zayn, wasn’t involved in tonight’s proceedings in some way, so watch for that as well.

WWE Raw results from Quebec City:

(scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Sami Zayn is in the house, and he’s not alone: Kevin Owens is back
  • The New Day def. Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle by pinfall, but only thanks to some unexpected aid from the Viking Raiders, who attack the winning team after the bell until McIntyre chases them off
  • Finn Balor and JD McDonagh are being interviewed when Rhea Ripley comes to summon Finn to decide who is competing in the main event; JD tries to come with them but Rhea says no
  • Shayna Baszler says she’s out to set the whole world on fire and leave everyone in the women’s division with no chance but to let it burn
  • Gunther says despite what Chad Gable believes, time is on his side, with each passing day building his legacy; Gable is interviewed backstage, and gets a pep talk from Otis and Maxxine Dupri
  • Chad Gable def. Gunther by countout, so Gunther retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship
  • Ripley can’t believe that Balor and Damian Priest can’t decide who is going to be in the main event and says they better figure it out shortly or she’ll make the decision for them
  • An angry Gunther takes out his frustration on the rest of Imperium, and things seem to flow downhill toward poor Giovanni Vinci
  • Cody Rhodes doesn’t want to be interviewed backstage and takes Byron Saxton with him out to the stage and gets the fans pumped up to be in the corner of Owens and Zayn in the main event later tonight
  • In a pre-recorded segment, Shinsuke Nakamura claims he told Rollins “I know about your back,” explaining that Seth’s back has been his weakness for years and that Rollins lives in constant pain because of it; he ominously ends his bit with “watch your back”
  • Rhea Ripley def. Candice LeRae by submission but soon finds herself retreating from Raquel Rodriguez, who says they will meet at Payback
  • Tommaso Ciampa says he needs to be the change he wants to see since he’s tired of being close to big opportunities, and he says his mantra needs to be “do it yourself,” hmm …
  • The Miz continues to insist that LA Knight will be remembered as a flash in the pan or “the Hoobastank of WWE” before introducing his opponent, Akira Tozawa, who tries getting over by saying “yeah” like Knight
  • Akira Tozawa def. The Miz by pinfall as Miz is distracted by LA Knight
  • McIntyre is about to tell Riddle that he thinks they should go their separate ways, but The New Day convinces them to hold on for one more day like Wilson Phillips, or at least Drew will consider it
  • Ripley is ticked that the guys haven’t worked out who will compete in the tag team match, so she stomps away and says they’ll do it her way now
  • Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus exchange verbal jabs again
  • Chelsea Green says she handled having WWE authorize making her and Piper Niven the official tag team champions, but Niven makes it appear she’s the one calling the shots
  • Chelsea Green and Piper Niven def. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance by pinfall
  • Rollins lets the fans sing for a second before responding to questions about his back, admitting that he has been living with a lumbar injury for four years that could shorten his career, but he says it’s part of the gig and says Shinsuke isn’t man enough to face him man to man; Seth gives Shinsuke one more chance to prove he’s an honorable warrior next week
  • Damian Priest and Finn Balor def. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn by DQ when KO is caught using the MITB briefcase as a weapon, but …
  • … Rhodes comes down and chases away The Judgment Day before suggesting a six-man tag to end the show; Adam Pearce agrees, so let’s try this main event again
  • Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn def. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio and Finn Balor) by pinfall
  • Zayn has a bilingual last word for The Judgment Day

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 Raw results: KO, Sami run into unholy alliance

Find out what went down on the May 15 episode of WWE Raw from Greensboro, with Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch and more.

Sometimes when you want to leave something in the past, it just keeps running to keep up with you. And sometimes that thing running at you also finds you, pulls you out of a match, destroys you outside the ring and then challenges you to a match so that the whole world is waiting for you to respond on WWE Raw.

If that sounds like your personal story, my condolences. It definitely applies to Cody Rhodes, who made the logical assumption that once he defeated Brock Lesnar at Backlash, that would be the end of things between them.

Alas.

Now WWE says we will hear from the American Nightmare tonight in Greensboro, giving his answer about whether he will accept Lesnar’s challenge to fight again at Night of Champions. As the Magic 8-Ball might say, signs point to yes.

Someone who hasn’t had to fight anyone in a little bit is WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther since he’s newly arrived on the Raw roster. Tonight’s show will feature a battle royal to find him a No. 1 contender, which should definitely be interesting.

There’s big happenings in the women’s division as well. Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez will defend their titles against the annoying but no less dangerous threat of Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville. And Becky Lynch is scheduled to appear after surprising Trish Stratus last week, and you know she isn’t coming just to talk if Stratus is in Greensboro in person.

Update: Morgan was apparently injured last week so the tag team title match is said to be off. We’ll see how that plays out.

WWE Raw results from Greensboro:

  • Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn see the title challenge from Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa as a gift as it gives them a chance for revenge on Reigns, but a visit from The Judgment Day inevitably turns to fisticuffs

  • Shinsuke Nakamura def. The Miz by pinfall
  • Adam Pearce confirms Liv Morgan was injured on SmackDown so the tag team title match is postponed, but because of the griping from the challengers, Chelsea Green is going to have a singles match with Raquel Rodriguez
  • Corey Graves introduces his previously recorded interview with Seth Rollins, who talks about his desire to effect change all the way back to his NXT days … and of course, the chair shot heard ’round the world that ended The Shield
  • Gunther figures an introduction might be necessary considering he started his impressive Intercontinental Championship reign on SmackDown, and says one man has a chance to both become his next challenger and earn his respect; press ‘X’ to doubt that last part

  • Mustafa Ali wins a Battle Royal to become No. 1 contender for the WWE Intercontinental Championship that includes Ricochet, Apollo Crews, Bronson Reed, Matt Riddle, Chad Gable, Otis, Baron Corbin, Von Wagner, Johnny Gargano, Dexter Lumis, JD McDonagh, Riddick Moss, Elias, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander, Mace, Mansoor, Humberto, Angel, Eri, Ivar, Akira Tozawa and Xyon Quinn; last eliminating Reed and Ricochet

  • Becky Lynch says “Thank you Trish” for hitting her and calling her daughter stupid, because that turned on a light in Becky that had been off for a while … and she’ll show how thankful she is when she kicks in Trish’s head at Night of Champions

  • Rhea Ripley and Natalya have a difference in opinion about respect, and the SmackDown Women’s Champion says she will end Nattie’s career if she ever sticks her nose in the champ’s business again
  • Ali doesn’t want to hear any negativity from Alpha Academy, but Gunther says he feels regret for him for traveling halfway around the world to lose and get the beating that goes with it
  • Dominik Mysterio def. Xavier Woods by pinfall
  • A video promo hypes JD McDonagh, who says the Irish Ace is here to stay; he also says live that he attacked Dolph Ziggler during the battle royal to make a statement
  • Indus Sher deg. Local Talent by pinfall, and Jinder Mahal tells the announce team their future is written in gold
  • Imperium pays a visit to KO and Sami, who tell them they’ll fight next week
  • Cody Rhodes tells the story of the scorpion and the frog, accepts Brock Lesnar’s challenge for Night of Champions and says that Brock isn’t the Next Big Thing any more — he’s simply in Cody’s way
  • Candice LeRae takes exception to the way Zoey Stark is talking about Nikki Cross and Candice’s “family” and the two women agree to settle things in the ring next week
  • Raquel Rodriguez def. Chelsea Green by pinfall … but Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler arrive afterward to beat down Rodriguez on the stage
  • Paul Heyman has been talking to Imperium, that can’t be good

  • The second part of Graves’ interview with Rollins covers the time right up to his pursuit of the World Heavyweight Championship and his motivation for wanting to win it: to push the industry forward
  • The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Damian Priest) def. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn by pinfall thanks to interference from Imperium

WWE Raw results: Brock laughs, Trish confesses, and a bargain breaks down

Find out what happened as The Judgment Day battled Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in the main event.

When you’re a WWE legend, sometimes you just do whatever you want and you don’t have to gives your reasons why until after the fact. That’s an idea that’s relevant to two of the big subplots for tonight’s episode of WWE Raw from North Little Rock.

First, there’s Brock Lesnar. Cody Rhodes actually thought he was going to tag up to face the Bloodline together, and why not? Lesnar certainly has no love for Roman Reigns, and besides, this was Cowboy Brock. The guy with the big hat and the bigger smile. Surely, Cody could trust him.

As it turned out, not so much. Rhodes shifted naturally from disappointment (and pain) to seeking some payback, and challenged Lesnar to a match at Backlash. Tonight should give us an inkling about whether he’s going to accept.

It was ever so slightly less shocking when Trish Stratus assaulted Becky Lynch after they lost the tag team titles together — or rather, Stratus lost the belts that didn’t even belong to her — because, well, Trish has done this before. But whether The Man really thought Stratus was her ride or die or not, what’s done is done, and now Trish is supposedly going to tell the WWE Universe why she did what she did.

Oh, and Becky says she won’t be there, but we shall see.

Also on tap for tonight, Austin Theory takes on Bobby Lashley in a battle of old enemies, and The Miz faces Seth Rollins as he continues to try to wash the memory of losing to Snoop Dogg away. Sorry, Miz, not going to happen as long as video exists.

You can catch all this and more starting at 8 p.m. ET on USA, when we’ll also be watching and updating this post with live WWE Raw results as they happen. See you then.

WWE Raw results in 90 seconds:

  • The Bloodline has a short team deal with The Judgment Day to take care of each others’ problems, very Acts of Vengeance of them
  •  Solo Sikoa def. Rey Mysterio by pinfall
  • Maxxine Dupri and Chad Gable continue to battle for the time and attention of Otis
  • Bianca Belair def. Dakota Kai by pinfall
  • A replay is shown of Brock Lesnar’s sneak attack on Cody Rhodes two weeks ago
  • A Bronson Reed vignette tries to convince us he’s Mr. Nice Guy
  • The Judgment Day gets a visit from Paul Heyman, who says it’s their turn to take care of business, and they insist they handle theirs
  • Cody Rhodes is dressed for a fight, but the only one he gets tonight is with about 20 security guards as Adam Pearce won’t let him get at Brock Lesnar
  • Seth Rollins def. The Miz by pinfall
  • Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens and Matt Riddle try to get on the same page ahead of their main event match, and a more serious Riddle eventually wins them over … or Sami, anyway
  • A video package takes us back through Trish Stratus’ turn on Becky Lynch
  • Bobby Lashley vs. Austin Theory ends abruptly as Reed attacks Lashley, finishing with a Tusnami
  • Stratus says Lynch didn’t give Trish her flowers, so she had to take out Lita and cost The Man everything
  • Backstage and back in his suit, Rhodes says he’s “ecstatic” to be wrestling Lesnar at Backlash, but he’s also confused about what went down tonight
  • Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville def. Candice LeRae and Michin by pinfall
  • The Usos taunt the LWO for stepping up and getting sat back down
  • Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn def. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio and Finn Balor) by pinfall, and the LWO arrives to neutralize the Bloodline in the show-ending brawl

Please scroll down for full details on every match and major non-match segment.

WWE Raw results: Cody Rhodes is ready for WrestleMania

WWE Raw results for March 27, 2023 from Phoenix, where Cody Rhodes took on Solo Sikoa in the main event.

Can you feel that? It’s WrestleMania 39, coming up quickly now. The final WWE Raw prior to the Show of Shows is tonight in Phoenix, and while it’s probably not wise to expect anything Earth-shaking, there are still some big things happening.

We mean that literally, too. Brock Lesnar and Omos will collide in Los Angeles, providing fans with the rare site of Lesnar being the smaller man in a fight. The WWE Universe will find out how much smaller on Raw, as the two titans will have a pre-WrestleMania weigh-in. And yes, that’s not usually a thing in pro wrestling, but you can’t deny it’s somewhat fascinating in this context.

Want big matches instead? This show will have one of those for sure. Cody Rhodes is less than a week away from his chance to “finish the story,” but he’s got a big test in the form of Solo Sikoa. Will Cody’s attempt to get inside Solo’s head the past few weeks pay off, or will the street champ be able to soften up the American Nightmare to make things easier for the Tribal Chief?

The Miz has certainly been letting us know whenever possible what a big deal it is to be the host of WrestleMania 39, and he’s going to head into Hollywood with one final episode of Miz TV. His guests will be none other than a trio of legendary women’s division champs, and you can probably guess who we mean: Becky Lynch, Lita and Trish Stratus.

WWE Raw results in 90 seconds:

  • Miz TV welcomes three legends, yet Damage CTRL isn’t going to let them go without a confrontation
  • Becky Lynch def. IYO SKY by pinfall
  • A video package plays up the accomplishments of Asuka and looks ahead to her WrestleMania challenge of Bianca Belair
  • We see Logan Paul boasting last Monday before Seth Rollins is interviewed backstage, and he’s not crazy about Mustafa Ali trying to put his positive spin on things, which leads to them facing each other tonight
  • Seth Rollins def. Mustafa Ali by pinfall, then cuts a promo on Paul
  • Baron Corbin complains to Adam Pearce, who has to break away to deal with Chelsea Green, who finally gets into the WrestleMania Showcase match with a partner who is equally disgruntled with AP: Sonya Deville
  • Omos and Brock Lesnar hit the scales … well, one of them does, anyway
  • A video package is shown for Charlotte Flair before Rhea Ripley says Charlotte’s unmatched legacy will not define her destiny — and she needs Charlotte’s championship for that
  • Finn Balor warns Edge there’s nothing more dangerous than a caged demon
  • Street Profits, Braun Strowman and Ricochet def. Alpha Academy and Viking Raiders by pinfall
  • Cody Rhodes is asked if he put himself in a vulnerable position by taking this match against Solo Sikoa, and he insists that he will make Solo realize he’s not ready before going on to beat Roman Reigns this weekend
  • A video package is shown to promote Bianca Belair
  • Austin Theory cuts a promo in an empty arena to prove he doesn’t do it for the fans, he does it for himself, and he’s going to make the fans stop believing in John Cena this Saturday at WrestleMania
  • Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green def. Michin and Candice LeRae by pinfall in a WrestleMania Showcase qualifying match
  • Heyman says flat out that Solo isn’t there to compete, but to ensure Cody isn’t at 100% come Sunday
  • Rey Mysterio def. Damian Priest by DQ thanks to interference by Dominik Mysterio, and Legado Del Fantasma has to save Rey fafter a short post-match beating
  • The contestants for the Andre the Giant Battle Royal are posted on the wall, and Rick Boogs is really excited to be in it while Elias is less thrilled after seeing some of the others who are too
  • Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens talk about how their match against The Usos is extra special because L.A. is where they got their first big break
  • Gunther def. Dolph Ziggler by pinfall
  • Cody Rhodes def. Solo Sikoa by pinfall

Please scroll down for more details on every match and major non-match segment.

WWE Raw results: Becky Lynch, Lita get Stratus-fying title win

Get live WWE Raw results for Feb. 27, 2023, featuring Becky Lynch and Lita vs. Damage CTRL for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.

Did you have Lita, WWE champion, on your 2023 pro wrestling bingo card? Because if so, you should probably hang onto it as there are likely other incredible things on other squares.

Not that it’s happened yet, mind you. Damage CTRL has pretty comfortably been in control (ahem) of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship in this, their second reign. The only real hurdle they’ve hit is that Dakota Kai has been injured.

She’s apparently good to go for tonight, but it really does appear that maybe WWE will have Becky Lynch and Lita win the belts and take them into WrestleMania a little more than a month from now. It’s definitely not outside the realm of possibility, and that’s pretty wild.

There’s plenty of other intrigue on tap for this week’s Raw from Grand Rapids. Will Brock Lesnar appear (probably) and accept the challenge from Omos (no idea) for a match at WrestleMania? What kind of big news is The Miz going to share on Miz TV?

Is Carmella truly ready for the current version of Asuka? Will Jay White make his first WWE appearance on this Raw?

OK, we made that last one up, but you get the idea. This is a potentially very busy episode of Raw that should be exciting to watch live or follow along with on the internet.

WWE Raw results in 90 seconds:

  • Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa (OK, just Jimmy) address the supposed cracks in the Bloodline, which the Street Profits would love to exploit
  • Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa def. Street Profits by pinfall, with a post-match beating prevented by Kevin Owens
  • Brock Lesnar joins the MVP Lounge and accepts the challenge from Omos for WrestleMania, after a few laughs
  • Becky Lynch and Lita say it’s been a bucket list item to win the tag team titles and they plan on walking out with them even if Bayley interferes
  • Cody Rhodes def. Chad Gable by pinfall
  • Baron Corbin has his interview time cut short again for a word with KO, who insists he needs no help to take down the Bloodline
  • The Bianca Belair/Montez Ford Titanic parody airs
  • The Judgment Day gets some promo time so Dominik Mysterio can run down his dad, Rhea Ripley can taunt Charlotte Flair and Finn Balor can tell Edge that their feud is over when he says it is — meaning WrestleMania
  • Maxxine Dupri wants to be in the corner of Otis tonight, and he heads off to ask Adam Pearce for a match
  • Asuka def. Carmella by submission, then calls out Bianca Belair for a brief confrontation
  • Candice LeRae def. Piper Niven by pinfall after a brief, accidental assist from Nikki Cross
  • Johnny Gargano has accepted a match with Otis, and Balor says if Otis doesn’t take care of him tonight, he will next week
  • The big news on Miz TV is that The Miz is hosting WrestleMania, but Seth Rollins crashes the show to do some Logan Paul-related business of his own
  • Bayley talks on behalf of Damage CTRL and says they’ll retain tonight, and Austin Theory arrives to complain that people are talking about John Cena instead of him, saying he plans to see John Cena next week
  • Bobby Lashley def. Elias by submission before seeing a new Bray Wyatt workout video with him as the subject
  • Both Chelsea Green and Carmella want to talk to Adam Pearce, but he’s a busy guy
  • Johnny Gargano def. Otis by pinfall
  • Paul Heyman says Rhodes will confront Roman Reigns on SmackDown … or be confronted
  • Becky Lynch and Lita def. Damage CTRL by pinfall to become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, with an assist from Trish Stratus to neutralize Bayley

Please scroll down for more details on every match and major non-match segment.

Who’s getting one over on the Bloodline?

Is the Bloodline really going through something, or is it just the normal stuff that happens when family members fight? Jimmy Uso would prefer you think it’s the latter, and he suggests that no one who comes for the Bloodline succeeds.

The Street Profits turn that idea on its head, mocking the fact that Jey Uso isn’t there. Montez Ford says that if he had to be the bridge that kept the Bloodline together, he’d get tired too.

Jimmy fires some barbs back, but that’s enough talking, because we’re getting a tag team match here.

Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa circle the wagons against the Street Profits, but KO says no to more

Sikoa learns the hard way early on that going Solo against a well-oiled team like the Profits ain’t easy. We’ll also stop with puns on Sikoa’s name. Maybe.

Angelo Dawkins gets stuck taking the tag team match beating through a commercial break, with Sikoa stalking him and smashing him with a hip attack. He superkicks Montez Ford off the apron, but turns and takes a flying back elbow from Dawkins.

Ford rolls through Jimmy Uso after receiving the obligatory hot tag, earning a two count with a standing moonsault. He also flies from the top rope even after Uso gets up, but Jimmy manages to kick out right before three.

A spinebuster for Ford sets up Dawkins for success, but their attempt at a tandem finisher is ruined by Sikoa, who hits Angelo with a Samoan Spike to win it.

Will the Bloodline do more damage after the bell? They want to, but Kevin Owens arrives to prevent it.

That Brock Lesnar-Omos match for WrestleMania is on

Brock Lesnar beats the host to the MVP Lounge, making himself comfortable while he waits for MVP. This seems to confuse MVP, but Lesnar assures him he’s got no beef and is here on business.

He wants MVP to sell him and the people on his proposed fight, and promises not to send MVP to Suplex City. “Hype the fight,” he says.

MVP compliments Lesnar on his power and athleticism but doesn’t see Brock putting his hands on a giant to the same effect. Lesnar says that was good enough to give him goosebumps.

Lesnar accepts the challenge but says they should shake on it and drink on it. Brock declines champagne, however, saying he brought the “good stuff” in a flask. After taking a big swig, MVP tries to decline the flask, which seems to be a tactical error. He tries to drink the “white lightning” but ends up spitting it out … all over Brock. The crowd lets him have it with an obscene chant.

As you might expect, that earns MVP an F-5. Sorry about that, MVP.

Cody Rhodes stays busy with a victory over Chad Gable, and says he’ll see us (and Roman Reigns) Friday

The announcers frame this as a big opportunity for Gable, who would benefit from a big win over a man headed to the WrestleMania main event. That … makes sense.

An inverted superplex, however, takes some of the wind out of his sails prior to a commercial break. He’s got it back afterward, with Rhodes down and Gable looking to fly. Cody rolls away, however, and Chad hits nothing but mat.

Selling damage to his left knee, Rhodes still hits a powerslam and a Diaster Kick. Cody covers but his foe kicks out at two.

The Figure Four is locked in, and Gable looks appropriately agonized. He struggles and manages to reach the ropes, though. Rhodes goes for a second Disaster Kick, but Gable counters with a German suplex for a two count.

Gable presses his advantage all the way to a moonsault, forcing Rhodes into a last second kickout. Now Cody is fired up, matching Chad’s intensity as they trade chops. Gable takes a hip toss to the outside, and Rhodes takes flight with a suicide dive that knocks the Alpha Academy leader back into the announce table.

Otis is looking into the crowd, and Rhodes does the Bugs Bunny-esque thing talking to him while the Tree Trunk is totally unaware that it’s him. Climbing back in the ring, Cody hits the Cody Cutter and Cross Rhodes to seal the win.

After the bell, Rhodes notes that it’s 33 days to WrestleMania and he’s yet to be in the ring with Roman Reigns … but that changes this Friday on SmackDown.

Carmella turns out to be not quite ready for Asuka after all, but Bianca Belair is

Corey Graves wants to talk about his wife on the way to the ring and sort of gets a chance. He’s still upset about Carmella being overlooked, and not really thrilled about her having to earn her way to WrestleMania by beating Asuka.

She’s doing extremely well in the opening moments, smoking Asuka from corner to corner with strikes and even getting a near fall, though she is soon kicking out at two herself. Carmella manages to trick Asuka into sending herself to the floor, and has something to say about it as commercials arrive.

Though Asuka rallied some during the break, she misses off the top rope when the broadcast returns, and Carmella nails her with a kick to the face for a near fall. Asuka rocks her foe with a back elbow, and the two women set off a chain of counters and pinning predicaments.

Carmella eventually ends up in an armbar, though, and she ends up tapping out. Asuka calls out Bianca Belair after the bell and the Raw Women’s Champion obliges. Carmella bashes Asuka into Belair, laughing on her way out.

Candice LeRae gets a win against Piper Niven with an odd assist from Nikki Cross

Nikki Cross follows LeRae down the ramp at a distance and is ringside for what initially looks like a mauling by Niven. It’s LeRae who earns the first two count, but Niven quickly responds with one of her own.

Niven locks on a choke from behind, then smashes LeRae into the turnbuckles. Candice fights back and climbs to the middle rope only to be sent hard to the floor.

When Cross gets spotted, she gets thrown into the barricade, but it was an effective distraction, because when Niven returns to the ring, Candice rolls her up and holds on for a three count.

Miz is hosting WrestleMania, and Seth Rollins gets Logan Paul to agree to a man-to-man faceoff

Before Miz brings out his guest for tonight, he wants to talk about his beautiful wife Maryse. One of the things she gave him for their anniversary he calls life-changing news: He’s the host of WrestleMania.

Oh and Miz is also his own guest tonight. He scoffs at the idea that anyone else would be as good a host as him, particularly the likes of Logan Paul. Miz hypes up the announced matches so far, but he’s interrupted by the ever sing-able Seth Rollins entrance theme.

Miz is livid, of course, accusing Rollins of raining on his parade for three straight weeks. Seth tricks him into calling himself an a–hole, which doesn’t calm him down any.

But Rollins simply wants Miz to call Paul for him. The A-Lister refuses, saying Logan is Seth’s problem, not his. He presses on, calling Rollins a goofball in a stupid jacket, which earns him a thrust kick for his troubles.

Rollins looks down and spies Miz’s phone, even opening the unconscious Miz’s eyelid to unlock it.

“Miz, stop calling!” is the greeting, but Paul gets an unpleasant surprise when Seth answers and also taunts Jake Paul about his boxing loss. Rollins wants Paul to face him in person next week, with Logan saying he doesn’t think Seth will run his mouth when he takes him up on it.

“Bye bye, bitch,” Seth says before dropping the phone, then returning to hit Miz with the Stomp.

Bobby Lashley blazes through Elias, warns Bray Wyatt and gets a new workout video back

Rick Boogs is literally taking notes while watching backstage. He might not have many of them, as Elias very quickly eats a spear and taps out to the Hurt Lock.

Lashley grabs a mic afterward and expresses his displeasure at getting Bray Wyatt’s kid games instead of another chance to dominate. He tells Wyatt to keep his name out of his mouth, but he gets a new Wyatt workout video instead … that ends with “you should run.”

Johnny Gargano spoils Otis’ MMM assessment

Inspired by the Maximum Male Models crew watching from ringside, Otis opens up with some punishment on Gargano. Johnny steps aside and sends Otis into the post, then tries to floor him with left hands.

That goes for naught, but a series of kicks does the job. The Models try to lend a hand but end up getting choked out by Dexter Lumis from the crowd.

Meanwhile, Otis is jealous that Gargano is talking to Maxxine Dupri, and he walks right into his doom in the form of a high-flying DDT.

Becky Lynch and Lita check off their bucket list item with some assistance from Trish Stratus

All four women get to work in the opening minutes, with Lita taking down Dakota Kai and the fans urging her on. Kai escapes a Twist of Fate attempt and tags out to IYO SKY, who quickly falls victim to some tandem offense and a near fall.

The challengers keep making quick tags and have the champs separated in opposite corners. Then they end up in the same corner, where Lita hits them with her version of Poetry in Motion.

Lita looks for a moonsault but sees SKY roll out to the floor. Lynch tags in and takes out both members of the Damage CTRL, and the challengers are indeed rolling as Kevin Patrick claims as a commercial break descends.

The Man hits Diamond Dust on Kai after the break, covering for two and then switching to a submission hold until SKY break it up. The champs finally get some momentum by fighting out on the floor, including a springboard moonsault from IYO.

SKY hits Lynch with a nasty dropkick that sets off a string of moves from both champs before Kai covers for two. Lita is begging to be tagged in, but Lynch can’t get to her.

Bayley lends an active hand, first trying to slide a title belt into the ring and then yanking Lita off the apron. Lynch nearly gets pinned but kicks off at the last moment.

If only someone would come neutralize Bayley … and someone does, in the form of Trish Stratus. Lita finally tags in, firing off moves against SKY, who does manage to kick out from the ensuing cover.

SKY goes for her signature moonsault but misses as Lita rolls away, then gets planted by the Twist of Fate. Stratus hits Bayley with a Chick Kick, and Lita connects on a moonsault to give us new women’s tag team champions.

Opening Bell: Pre-Revolution AEW shows, Roman Reigns scheduled for SmackDown

Get set for the week in WWE and AEW with Opening Bell: quick previews of Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage.

Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week we’ve just begun.

WWE Raw preview – Monday, Feb. 27, Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Mich.

WWE has blessed us with a lot more insight into what to expect this Monday than some weeks, when it’s like three hours before the show and there’s been one match and one other segment promoted. For Grand Rapids, there’s much more starting with a tag team title match pitting Becky Lynch and Lita against Damage CTRL. Lita with WWE gold in the Year of Our Lord 2023 would be pretty wild, but we’re close enough that it feels quite possible.

Speaking of things no one saw coming, Omos‘ challenge to Brock Lesnar falls into that same category. The Nigerian Giant is awaiting a response, so we’ll see if the Beast Incarnate shows up to give him one this week.

Who’s ready for Asuka? Carmella claims she is, but that might not actually be the case since the Empress of Tomorrow is acting spookier and more unpredictable than ever. We’ll see what’s what when they compete on Raw.

Also on tap for Grand Rapids:

  • The Miz will host a WrestleMania edition of Miz TV and perhaps discuss his own plans for the Showcase of the Immortals
  • Candice LeRae will attempt to not become the latest victim of Piper Niven

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, March 1, Cow Palace, San Francisco

Though there are no actual cows at the Cow Palace, it’s certainly a historic venue and a fitting one for the final Dynamite before Revolution. As such, it’s a loaded show that will answer who will be the Face of the Revolution with the ladder match of the same name. A bunch of big and intriguing names are in it, with Samoa Joe on commentary, so it should be fun.

Another bout that could be high on entertainment value is the Casino Tag Team Battle Royale. This one will have a direct effect on the Revolution card, as the winning team will be entered into the four-way dance for the AEW World Tag Team Championship.

And if you want a final dose of dueling microphones before the PPV, you’ll get it for the biggest match on the card as MJF and Bryan Danielson will get their final say. The champ, as he is wont to do, took things too far last week, which led to punches being thrown. We’d be shocked if there wasn’t a high chance of that happening again this Wednesday.

Here’s what else AEW is promoting for Dynamite:

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, March 3, Capital One Arena, Washington D.C.

The nation’s capital plays host to SmackDown this week, and the big news is that Roman Reigns is scheduled to appear. The Tribal Chief has been sitting in the background watching drama continue to swirl around the Bloodline even after he defeated Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber. What will the champ have to say?

A pair of women’s matches have also been announced for the show. Rhea Ripley, who is pursuing the SmackDown title at WrestleMania, will battle Liv Morgan in a match that Charlotte Flair will no doubt be watching closely. Plus Ronda Rousey, who didn’t appear to know who Tegan Nox was last week, will tag with BFF Shayna Baszler to face Nox and Natalya.

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, March 1, Cow Palace, San Francisco

Two nights before Revolution, AEW Rampage is live from the Cow Palace. Live editions of the show are always that little bit better than the recorded ones, and this should be no different.

No matches have been announced yet, but that could change even prior to Dynamite this week, so keep an eye on AEW’s social media accounts for some hints on what will be offered up this Friday.