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.