Tag: Finn Balor

WWE Fastlane 2023 results: Seth Rollins survives, plus new tag team champs

Seth Rollins and IYO SKY foiled strong title challenges, and WWE Fastlane was a bad night for The Judgment Day and The Bloodline.

Seth Rollins seems like he was made for the World Heavyweight Championship, priding himself on being a workhorse titleholder who defends the belt often and against all comers. But that’s only if his body can stand up to the grind, and Shinsuke Nakamura is going to try to show that it can’t tonight at WWE Fastlane in Indianapolis.

Nakamura has had one shot at the title already and come up short. But he has played Rollins masterfully over the past few weeks, essentially goading him into the stipulation he wanted: And he picked Last Man Standing.

WWE has done a nice job working Rollins’ real life back ailments into the narrative, creating a little doubt that he comes out of this with the championship. That’s perfect for a show like Fastlane, where fans wouldn’t normally expect a big title change.

A lot of attention is also on John Cena and LA Knight teaming up to face The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso (at least Jimmy says he’s in The Bloodline). It’s one of those past meets present moments WWE does so well, and while Knight certainly doesn’t need a rub from anyone right now, it can’t hurt to have a man WWE promotes as “The Greatest of All Time” paired with him for a high profile match like this.

With those bouts plus a men’s tag team title match on the card, the WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat bout could be one that will steal the show. There are only five matches total that are expected for Fastlane, so it wouldn’t be completely shocking if something got added on the fly.

Let’s hit the gas and see where we end up.

WWE Fastlane 2023 results:

(click on any match with a link for full details)

WWE Fastlane 2023 results: Jey Uso, Cody Rhodes win gold as JD McDonagh’s aid backfires

See how Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso overcame the odds and won tag team gold at WWE Fastlane.

The announcers discuss the alliance between The Judgment Day and The Bloodline we saw on SmackDown and whether it will figure into this match at all. Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso look like they’re fine with Jey starting things off against Damian Priest.

They feel each other out for a bit until Uso can back Priest into the corner with body shots, then stun his foe with a hard right hand. Rhodes tags in and hears cheers from the fans, dropping down for the famous Rhodes family right hand.

The faces make quick tags to keep the pressure on, but Priest hits a clothesline on Uso and drags him to the enemy corner. Finn Balor is legal for the first time, hammering Jey repeatedly with shoulders along the turnbuckles.

Rhodes returns and drops Balor into a gutbuster, following with a stalling vertical suplex. Priest is able to wipe out Uso from behind with a kick from the apron, putting him in trouble right after he tags in. Balor lands an ax kick to the back of the neck, covering Uso for a two count.

Jey has to kick out again after a low dropkick. Priest keeps the pressure on him, leaning a knee into the back of Uso’s neck. Balor follows his lead with elbows, but Jey finally gets Finn to miss a corner charge and makes a leaping hot tag to Cody.

A Disaster Kick at the end of a flurry gets Rhodes a near fall on Balor. Cody is stalking him but has to deal with Damian, so Finn rolls him up for two. They battle through counters until Balor can drive Rhodes down with an elbow across the chest for two.

Balor gets Rhodes in position for his finisher but gets crotched on the top turnbuckle. Cody hits a stalling vertical superplex from the middle rope in an impressive show of power.

Both men make tags so Uso and Priest can stand and slug it out. Jey gets in a step-up enzuigiri and fires up the crowd. Uso flies with a high cross body but is answered by a head kick and slammed down for a near fall.

With Priest out on the floor, Uso flies with a suicide dive that hits both of the champs. An Uso Splash follows in the ring, with Balor barely making the save of his partner at two.

Rhodes hits a Cody Cutter on Balor but also takes a hard landing. Uso spears Priest and heads back up top with fans urging him on. But Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio come out and confront Jey at ringside.

That gives the champs time to gather themselves, and Balor connects on the Coup de Grace … but Rhodes hustles over to make the save. All four men start brawling, except Uso has to pause to superkick JD McDonagh. Ripley sneaks in a shot with the MITB briefcase, yet Uso is able to kick out anyway.

Priest hits a chokeslam and clears off the announce table, but McDonagh accidentally nails him with the briefcase and takes a Cross Rhodes atop the table. Rhodes hits another Cross Rhodes on Balor in the ring, and we have new champs.

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WWE Fastlane 2023 predictions: Who walks out of Indianapolis with their hand raised?

WWE Fastlane is about to roll into Indianapolis. Here’s who we think will win every match.

Let’s be real for a second: Fastlane is typically one of WWE’s premium live events that I am not going out of my way to watch.

It’s placement was usually right before WrestleMania, which also usually meant there wasn’t going to be anything of tremendous consqeuence on the card unless it was setting up something for the much more important event the next month.

This year’s Fastlane has some of those same hallmarks. It’s still not considered to be a major premium live event, it’s taking place before a more consquequential event in Survivor Series, and WWE’s top champion, Roman Reigns, is not even scheduled to appear.

However, there is a different feel about this edition of Fastlane. Maybe it’s because John Cena is on the card. Maybe it’s because there are some unique tag team matches. Maybe it’s because Jimmy and Jey Uso are both on the card in tag team matches, but they are not teaming together.

Either way, the 2023 edition of Fastlane has the potential to be exponentially more fun than the Fastlane events of years past. 

One thing that hasn’t changed is that I’ve got predictions. Here’s what I believe will go down in Indianapolis:

Image credit: WWE.com

John Cena and LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso

When Cena was commonly referred to as “Super Cena,” the prediction for this contest would have easy. However, this is grizzled vet Cena, who has already lost to Austin Theory at WrestleMania this year.

That win has done very little for Theory, but it is not outside the realm of possibility that Cena takes another loss here, especially if Reigns gets involved to ensure a victory for his family. 

Reigns is not currently advertised for Fastlane, but he is advertised for next week’s edition of Smackdown (as is Triple H, for that matter). 

With all of that said, I think the one thing Cena and LA Knight have going for them is all of the momentum the latter currently has. Every week, the pops seem to be getting louder and louder for Knight. The people are clearly behind him, and I see no reason to hand him a loss at Fastlane. 

If anything, Knight needs this win to cement as main-event player. Because of that, I’m going with the babyfaces here. 

Winners: John Cena and LA Knight

Image credit: WWE.com

WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Boy, is there a lot of speculating and theorizing going on around Seth Rollins at the moment. 

For the record, none of it has been confirmed, but that has not stopped fans from throwing them out there.

One thing I know for certain is Rollins is walking out of Fastlane with the world title. What’s next? I can’t wait to find out.

Winner: Seth Rollins

Image credit: WWE.com

WWE Women’s Championship: IYO SKY (c) vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka

IYO SKY being put into a Triple Threat match she did not ask for is a good way to stack the deck against her heading into Fastlane. However, I believe she will overcome the odds of having to face two very accomplished wrestlers and retain her championship:

Winner: IYO SKY

Image credit: WWE.com

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: Finn Balor and Damian Priest (c) vs. Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso

What a unique a fun matchup this has the potential to be. While it should be fun, I believe the outcome is academic: The champs retain.

Winners: Finn Balor and Damian Priest

The LWO (and mystery partner) vs. Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits

Here is another unique match that has the potential to be a lot of fun.

As far as a winner, I have to go with Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits to further establish them as a unit to be reckoned with.

Winners: Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits

WWE SmackDown preview 10/6/23: A Raw invasion of sorts ahead of Fastlane

Another Fastlane preview with see Asuka and Charlotte Flair take on Damage CTRL tonight on WWE SmackDown in St. Louis.

It’s kind of a bad pun to say Fastlane has come up fast, but … hey, it really has. The next WWE premium live event is now just one day away, so tonight’s WWE SmackDown in St. Louis should put the final pieces in place for that event (especially since right now, it only has five matches).

One big attraction for Saturday will be Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso teaming to try to dethrone the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, Damian Priest and Finn Balor of The Judgment Day. Rhodes has been Uso’s biggest backer since he arrived on the Raw roster even as some notable names were unconvinced that he had seen the error of his Bloodline ways.

Meanwhile, the sense of tension within The Judgment Day has ebbed and flowed, with Balor seemingly on the outs for a bit for introducing JD McDonagh to the mix. But after Rhea Ripley put him on notice, it might be Priest who needs to step up now. All four men will journey from Raw to SmackDown tonight ahead of their collision at Fastlane.

Another preview for a match on Saturday will see Asuka and Charlotte Flair together against Damage CTRL. It appears to be a classic “Can they coexist?” situation as both women will be challengers against IYO SKY in a Triple Threat match at Fastlane for her WWE Women’s Championship in Indianapolis.

Also being advertised for tonight:

If this sounds like a good time to you, the place to be is FOX at 8 p.m. ET. Or if you prefer, you can just join us back here at Wrestling Junkie for live WWE SmackDown results and updates throughout the show. Can’t lose either way!

How to watch WWE Fastlane 2023: Live stream US, international

Everything you need to know to catch WWE Fastlane this weekend from Indianapolis.

On Saturday, Oct. 7, WWE Fastlane will emanate from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. This “B” show will be the culmination of multiple feuds with important stakes, including the World Heavyweight Championship being defended.

John Cena and AJ Styles looked set to team up to face Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline at one point, but an attack on Styles opened up a spot for LA Knight to team with WWE’s “Greatest of All Time.” It will be the former Max Dupri’s biggest spotlight yet, especially if this match closes Fastlane. Whether he earns the biggest win of his career, though, could impact his role at the remaining premium live events of 2023.

Shinsuke Nakamura will try to break Seth Rollins‘ back and keep him down for 10 seconds in a Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship. Despite taking a few weeks to finalize, Nakamura challenged Rollins on his own terms for the title he failed to take at Payback, and with a win, the King of Strong Style would earn his first world title in WWE.

The unlikely team of Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso will challenge The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and Damian Priest for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship. A win would break recent tension within Balor and Priest’s group, but if Rhodes and Uso claim gold, will Rhea Ripley’s unhappiness with her stablemates boil over?

IYO SKY puts her WWE Women’s Championship on the line against Asuka and Charlotte Flair. In a run that began at SummerSlam, the Genius of the Sky has overcome every obstacle despite some hints at issues with Bayley. Can Damage CTRL remain intact for one more premium live event?

These matches, and more, will grace Fastlane in Indianapolis. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the action this weekend.

WWE Fastlane 2023

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023
  • Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT
  • How to watch: On Peacock in the U.S., and on WWE Network in the rest of the world

WWE Raw preview 09/25/23: Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens try to reclaim titles from The Judgment Day

Also on tap for WWE Raw from California, Cody Rhodes will open the show, and The Miz welcomes Drew McIntyre to Miz TV.

There was a time, not that long ago, that Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions. They won those titles from The Usos in dramatic fashion at WrestleMania but lost them to a different villainous group since — and they’d like to fix that tonight on WWE Raw in California.

After moving past The Bloodline, KO and Sami fought the good fight against The Judgment Day too, but their success ran out when Damian Priest and Finn Balor beat them for the titles. Priest and Balor had plenty of help from the rest of their team, so the question is whether anything will be different during the rematch with the roles of champions and challengers reversed.

We’ll also hear from Shinsuke Nakamura tonight. Though he failed to win the World Heavyweight Championship from Seth Rollins at Payback, he’s done a masterful job living rent-free inside the champion’s head since then. Rollins finally snapped last week and said they could have a rematch with Shinsuke picking the stipulation, which he may do tonight … or not, depending on how far he wants to keep stringing Rollins along.

Other things to watch for tonight on Raw:

  • The Miz will welcome Drew McInyre to Miz TV, where surely nothing will go amiss and no one will try attacking anyone else
  • Otis will take on Bronson Reed in a clash of two very large human beings
  • Cody Rhodes is slated to open the show, and will probably ask us what we want to talk about

WWE had also been promoting an NXT North American Championship match between Dominik Mysterio and Dragon Lee. It wasn’t included in the Raw social media posts sent out Sunday, but that could very still be on the card as well.

As we do every week, we’ll have live WWE Raw results and updates beginning at 8 p.m. ET, so join us back here then if you aren’t able to watch tonight’s show.

WWE needs to book WarGames for Survivor Series — and it needs to feature The Judgment Day

A WarGames match at Survivor Series would be the perfect way to show off The Judgment Day’s growth, and they don’t even need to win.

When WWE Hall of Famer Edge was unceremoniously booted out of The Judgment Day due to a real-life injury in June of 2022, it felt like the rest of the group was suddenly rudderless in the treacherous sea known as WWE creative.

After all, Edge founded the group and was by far its most notable member, as the others — Finn Balor, Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest — had yet to reach the heights of stardom as their former leader.

What a difference a (little more than) a year can make.

Today, Balor, Ripley, Priest and now “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio are arguably the most valuable players in all of WWE.

They have been routinely showcased on all three of WWE’s television programs — Raw, Smackdown and NXT — as essentially the high school bullies who incessantly pick on the other kids, which makes them great opponents for WWE’s good guys to go up against on a weekly basis.

The have had feuds with seemingly everyone on the roster from stars of yesteryear like Edge and Rey Mysterio to current stars such as Cody Rhodes and now Jey Uso.

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The potential addition of JD McDonagh will only add another dimension to a group that has proven to be a vital and versatile piece of WWE’s weekly storytelling. 

McDonagh’s addition would also get The Judgment Day one step closer to assembling a team for … (in my William Regal voice) … WarGames!

In case you forgot, WWE brought WarGames, which began back in the 1980s in Jim Crockett Promotions, from NXT to the main roster in 2022 at Survivor Series. Survivor Series is WWE’s second-oldest premium live event, but the overall concept of the show, the multi-person Survivor Series elimination match, had grown quite stale over the years.

WarGames, along with the enthralling Bloodline story, helped give the event a much-needed boost last year and reportedly made it the most watched Survivor Series of all time, along with setting new live gate records for the city of Boston. It would make sense for WWE to run it back with another WarGames in 2023.

But as of this writing, WWE has yet to confirm whether it is bringing the two-ring spectacle back for this year. Maybe that has been by design, as WWE didn’t want to promise the match before it even had a proper angle to utilize it with. When watching Raw lately, however, it looks like WWE has the pieces in place to produce another edition. 

One major piece would be a heel faction for a group of good guys to go up against. WWE does not have to look any further than the Judgment Day to fill that role. WWE also has a great group of heroes for the villainous collective to go up against in Drew McIntyre, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes. 

The last name in that group is the most notable because the WarGames match was created by his father, Dusty Rhodes. Despite his father creating the match, Rhodes has never taken part in a proper WarGames match. During his first stint in WWE, WarGames was nothing more than a collection of matches for the promotion to package together for a home video release.

Even when Rhodes helped start up All Elite Wrestling, he never took part in the promotion’s version of the match. With Cody Rhodes being heavily involved in a story involving the Judgment Day, it would make sense to include him as a homage to the American Dream.

If a WarGames match were to come to fruition, there would be the issue of the group needing to add a fifth member. That is, unless WWE goes to a four-on-four or even a three-on-three format, the latter of which it has used before in NXT.

If the group were to add a fifth (assuming that McDonagh would be the fourth), who would that person be? Bronson Reed? What about a heel McIntyre to even the odds?

Speculation aside, The Judgment Day doesn’t even have to win the WarGames match. Outside of Ripley, the group has taken its fair share of losses over the last year and change and has managed to rebound from all of them. 

I personally thought the group was finished when Balor lost to Edge at Extreme Rules in October of 2022. Let’s not forget Priest losing to non-wrestler Bad Bunny at Backlash, albeit after a great match.

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Yet, here they are stronger than ever with championship titles around the waist of every member. Not to mention, Priest is still the holder of the coveted Money in the Bank briefcase, which grants him a world title opportunity whenever he chooses. Whether Priest actually wins the title or not is a different story.

Suffering a loss at WarGames, which if it does come to fruition I would fully expect, won’t hurt The Judgment Day one bit. The group didn’t fall apart after Edge was sidelined due to injury, nor did it dissolve after a slew of losses in big matches. If the group could survive that (no pun intended), it could get through taking a loss inside of WarGames.

Now, all WWE has to do is book it.

WWE SmackDown results 09/15/23: The Rock returns, John Cena left speechless

As if John Cena on WWE SmackDown wasn’t enough, rumors of another legend making an appearance are swirling today.

Tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown from Denver was already slated to have several performers for whom the audience will go nuts to see live. John Cena is one, as he’s going to be a guest on “The Grayson Waller Effect,” where he hopefully will put the obnoxious host in his place and/or set up a match for Fastlane.

Another is the man of the moment in WWE — and a person to whom Cena recently gave his stamp of approval — LA Knight. The Megastar will be in a rematch with The Miz, who just can’t seem to let go of the idea that Knight is bigger than he is right now.

Those two men will get great crowd reactions, to be sure. But you know who would really make the freaking roof blow off Ball Arena (and leave my beloved Denver Nuggets homeless for the start of the upcoming NBA season, but hey)?

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, that’s who.

You might have seen that Mr. Johnson was back in WWE news thanks to his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” where he claimed a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39 was “locked” … until it wasn’t. He also left the door very wide open for having that match next year instead at WrestleMania 40.

But that’s not all. Here’s what Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp posted just before 5 p.m. ET.

So we’re definitely not saying The Rock will be on SmackDown tonight, but it does feel like there’s a better chance of that happening than in any episode i approximately forever.

(Also worth noting: McAfee’s show was on location today in Boulder, so the logistics for getting the two of them on SmackDown are about as easy as they could be other than already being in the show’s host city.)

There are also some other intriguing matches on the card, including Asuka vs. Bayley and AJ Styles vs. Finn Balor. But let’s be real: You want to see if Cena and The Rock are going to be on the same show and bask in the nostalgia if they are.

We’ll find out together starting now.

WWE SmackDown results from Denver:

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

  • Pat McAfee kicks off the show, but it’s The Rock who is the big attraction

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  • Finn Balor def. AJ Styles by pinfall, thanks to assistance from The Judgment Day … and Jimmy Uso
  • McAfee and The Rock laugh about what they did to Theory, before The Rock turns and finds himself face to face with John Cena, who welcomes him home and hugs him
  • Jimmy Uso tells Balor they’re even now, but Finn tries to recruit him to join The Judgment Day, reminding him there are no leaders in the group; Paul Heyman shows up at the end with a questioning look on his face
  • The LWO is in the ring together, and when Santos Escobar asks Rey Mysterio for a title opportunity, he quickly accepts; Bobby Lashley comes out with the Street Profits to mock the LWO “lovefest,” and pretty soon we have ourselves a tag team match
  • Street Profits def. Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro by pinfall in what is basically a squash
  • Match Flo takes us back through the beef between The Miz and LA Knight, which leads us to …
  • LA Knight def. The Miz by pinfall, insisting he’s coming for gold …
  • … but backstage, Paul Heyman has to talk Solo Sikoa out of going after Knight and remind him that he needs to focus on the trouble Jimmy is stirring up; Sikoa says he already knows what he has to do and will end it tonight, leaving Heyman flabbergasted and calling Roman Reigns
  • Elton Prince of Pretty Deadly says he’s a shell of the man he was before Ridge Holland injured him, and Adam Pearce wants to know why he’s in a wheelchair if his shoulder is hurt; Kit Wilson inspires Prince to do a big “YES BOY” and the duo insists they’ll be back soon
  • Bayley hopes IYO SKY is ready for Asuka, but Dakota Kai asks her if she’s ready for Asuka
  • Asuka def. Bayley by pinfall after another scare from Shotzi
  • The Grayson Waller Effect welcomes John Cena, but things escalate when Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, and eventually, AJ Styles get involved

WWE SmackDown preview 09/15/23: John Cena to get the, ahem, Grayson Waller rub

WWE SmackDown from Denver will also see The Miz try to avenge his Payback loss to LA Knight. Yeah!

Say this about Grayson Waller: He’s definitely not short on confidence. The loud-mouthed Aussie may not have accomplished all that much in the ring since joining WWE SmackDown from NXT, but he’s already proven to have few equals when it comes to antagonizing people, and he’s likely to show off that skill again on tonight’s show from Denver.

It just so happens that his guest on “The Grayson Waller Effect” this week is the man who was the only three-time No. 1 on the PWI 500 until yesterday, John Cena. The Greatest of All Time, as WWE is fond of billing him these days, certainly doesn’t need any help from a SmackDown talk show segment to be relevant.

Or does he?

Waller believes that all kinds of people who used to be huge stars get the benefit of being his guest, and Cena should prove no exception. Watch for Waller to mock Cena’s acting career in his own passive aggressive way, and let’s see if their interaction might be leading to a match between them soon.

Another WWE superstar who is extremely popular right this moment is definitely having a match in Denver, and by that we mean LA Knight. The Megastar already defeated The Miz when they met at Payback, but to hear the A-Lister tell it, that’s only because Cena was the special guest referee.

That won’t be the case tonight in Denver, so Miz will have only himself to blame if he goes down to defeat again. That’s not to say he’ll actually accept said blame, mind you.

Update: WWE has added a pair of matches to tonight’s show. Bayley will take on Asuka, while AJ Styles will go one on one with Finn Balor of The Judgment Day.

Update 2: Well this show just potentially a lot more interesting. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, while careful to note that Fightful can’t confirm this, says The Rock (and Pat McAfee) could be at tonight’s SmackDown.

The action graces out screens as it almost always does, live on FOX beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Please consider joining us back here on Wrestling Junkie for live WWE SmackDown results and other goodness if it’s not in your plans to catch the show live.

WWE Raw results 09/11/23: Stunning return helps Rhea hold off Raquel

Dominik Mysterio couldn’t help Rhea Ripley on WWE Raw, but a returning star provided an unexpected hand.

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: Rhea Ripley certainly doesn’t need help from Dominik Mysterio to win her matches. She’s proven that numerous times on her way to becoming Women’s World Championship. That said, it’s fair to wonder if it’ll get in her head looking ringside tonight during WWE Raw in Norfolk and not seeing Dirty Dom there to support her.

Ripley can use any edge she can get because Raquel Rodriguez has been a determined challenger who is a legit threat to dethrone her. Rodriguez is powerful enough to stand her ground against Ripley, and she’s motivated by what the champ did to both her and tag team partner Liv Morgan, so she’s not going to stop.

All we’re saying is that with Dom barred from ringside tonight for the title rematch, Ripley might not have the same comfort level she usually does. And given the way she’s put the rest of The Judgment Day on notice if they didn’t win gold, it would be ironic indeed if she loses hers first.

Cody Rhodes is going to talk about something on Raw this evening as well, and while we fully expect that he’ll ask us what we want to talk about, we feel just as sure that he already has something in mind. We’re just not exactly sure what that might be, and if it still has to do with recently arrived Jey Uso.

Plus, Imperium is going to throw a championship celebration for Gunther, which he deserves as the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time. But has he truly beaten everyone worth beating, or will someone new choose this occasion to declare themselves next in line to try to topple the Ring General?

These are the reasons we watch.

WWE Raw results from Norfolk:

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

  • Jey Uso is caught between Kevin Owens saying do the work and The Judgment Day trying to recruit him, but offers to team with KO tonight
  • The Judgment Day (Damian Priest and Finn Balor) def. Jey Uso and Kevin Owens by pinfall, after an Uso superkick accidentally hits Owens and sets up their opponents’ victory
  • Uso attempts to apologize to Owens, but KO angrily tells him to go join “your new Bloodline” and accept the Judgment Day’s offer to join
  • A highlight package is shown of Gunther’s victory over Chad Gable last week that helped make him a record-holder; afterward, a car pulls up and Imperium gets out, dressed to the nines
  • The Miz def. Akira Tozawa by pinfall
  • Raquel Rodriguez tells Byron Saxton that Rhea Ripley might be the most dominant women’s champ ever, but she’s not like most challengers and Dom won’t be there to help Rhea tonight
  • Chelsea Green makes the mistake of calling Shayna Baszler a peer, and besides, she doesn’t need a partner because Piper Niven is back
  • Gunther is ready to celebrate his historic Intercontinental Championship reign, but Chad Gable isn’t done with him yet
  • Xavier Woods wants to know why Drew McIntyre was trash talking Kofi Kingston and isn’t happy with the answer he gets, then goads the Scottish Warrior into a match
  • Backstage, Ciampa explains why he came to Alpha Academy’s aid, and Otis suggests the three of them challenge Imperium tonight
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Xavier Woods by pinfall
  • Cody Rhodes wants to talk about Jey Uso but has to fight off Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh instead
  • McIntyre tells Jey he doesn’t trust him, saying he doubts Uso can stand on his own two feet; Jey says he’ll prove he can by facing McIntyre next week, and Drew quickly accepts
  • Shayna Baszler def. Chelsea Green by pinfall, then gets some help from Zoey Stark to avoid a post-match beating from Piper Niven
  • Shinsuke Nakamura is still focused on taking Seth Rollins’ title and says he will challenge for it again when he feels like it
  • Rollins comes to the ring and admits that he is all the bad things Nakamura claims he is, but he’s also some good things, and it simply took a long time to realize he just needed to be himself; he also offers the chance for Shinsuke to come get the World Heavyweight Championship right now, but Nak is busy beating up Ricochet backstage instead
  • Balor approaches Jey and says The Judgment Day are his only fans on Raw, and the door is always open for him
  • Alpha Academy and Tommaso Ciampa def. Imperium by submission
  • The Judgment Day says the more Jey feels isolated, the better the chance that he joins them; Rhea tells Dom not to worry, as she always comes out on top
  • Tiffany Stratton is upset that she’s been waiting for Becky Lynch, but The Man arrives to sign a contract for their title match on NXT; Lynch also says her problem with Stratton is that she only wants to be famous, while Tiffany says she doesn’t need Becky to be a big deal since she’s been doing that for herself
  • Rhea Ripley def. Raquel Rodriguez by pinfall to retain the Women’s World Championship, thanks to a dramatic return by Nia Jax, who then assaults Ripley after the bell