Date: May 22, 2023
Location: GIANT Center in Hershey, PA
Show Recap —
As soon as the show started, Brock Lesnar attacked Cody Rhodes as he arrived at the arena. Lesnar tossed Rhodes around backstage and smashed his arm against a garage door.
Paul Heyman promo
Heyman assured us that he had nothing to do with what we saw backstage but warned Rhodes what was in store for him at Night of Champions against the beast.
Heyman said his special appearance on Raw went over so well last week that he was invited back and he was here to hype us on Night of Champions.
Heyman stated that the Usos would be watching at home when Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa beat Kevin Owens and his rat bastard of a friend Sami Zayn for the tag team championships.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn promo
Heyman was finished but Owens and Zayn entered. Heyman disappeared once Owens and Zayn entered the ring and Zayn thought it was funny how quickly he scurried off.
Zayn said they were feeling good going into their title defence on Saturday. This match was personal to him but he had nothing else to say because he already said his piece straight to Reigns’ face.
Owens did have something to say. He dedicated their upcoming victory to the true pillars of the Bloodline: Jimmy and Jey Uso.
Zayn shifted focus to their match tonight against Imperium and Imperium entered. Imperium surrounded the ring like the Shield when Matt Riddle sprinted out to join Owens and Zayn. Imperium initially backed off but they ran back in the ring only to get tossed aside by the babyfaces.
********
Adam Pearce told Byron Saxton that he didn’t have an update on Rhodes. Saxton asked about a rumour that Rhodes suffered a broken arm but Pearce again wouldn’t comment.
Bronson Reed defeated Ricochet (8:33)
This match stemmed from the battle royal last week where Mustafa Ali eliminated Ricochet and Reed to win. Reed blamed Ricochet for costing him an IC title shot.
Ricochet got some early offence but Reed ran him over with a body block and followed with an elbow drop, steam roller and running shoulder tackle off the apron.
After a break, Ricochet kneed his way out of a delayed vertical suplex but ran into a Samoan drop for two. Ricochet came back with kicks and a lionsault but Reed was barely phased. Reed tried another tackle off the apron but Ricochet caught him with a knee strike.
Ricochet tried a springboard move but Reed tripped him, hit a powerslam and Tsunami for the pinfall win.
The crowd was quiet until the last minute or so but they did pop for the Tsunami.
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Cathy Kelley interviewed Apollo Crews who was pumped to be back. He also wished Rhodes well.
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley interrupted. Dom told Kelley that this was Ripley’s interview time but Kelley said Ripley’s turn was after Apollo Crews. Dom responded, “Apollo who?” Crews said he was everything that Dom wasn’t. Dom didn’t care and invited Ripley to cut her promo.
Ripley looked into the camera to send Natalya a message. Ripley would make an example out of Natalya and make her regret getting drafted to Raw. Ripley planned on ending her legendary career.
Crews informed them that this was still his interview time. Dom warned him not to interrupt Mami. Crews asked what he would do about it and Dom only acted tough once he got behind Ripley. Ripley said they would remind him who runs Raw. Crews was amused by Dom’s cowardice and said he couldn’t wait to see them try something.
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Seth Rollins sit-down interview with Corey Graves
This was the continuation from last week.
Graves asked Rollins about Roman Reigns. Rollins said he loved Roman Reigns — but he didn’t like Roman Reigns. That was brotherhood. Reigns had always been there for him but Rollins doesn’t respect the person or the champion that he’s become.
Reigns has been poisoned by his own ego and was taking opportunities away from everyone else and that was as selfish as you can be. Rollins wanted to become World Champion so we can all forget about Reigns.
Rollins said being the World Champion can help push the industry forward. After he wins the title, he wants people to step up to challenge him and he acknowledged that somebody had to take the torch from him or Reigns one day.
Rollins called AJ Styles one of the greatest of all time and was truly special. They showed footage from a match at NWA No Limits in April of 2004 between Styles and Rollins (Tyler Black). Styles was interviewed about it in 2016 and he said he knew back then that Rollins would be a superstar one day.
Rollins said he was at the top of his game and was feeling invisible. More to come.
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There was footage from last week’s Raw Talk where Damian Priest blamed Shinsuke Nakamura for costing him a shot at the World title. Nakamura asked if he was going to cry about it like he did when he lost to Bad Bunny. Priest wanted to beat him up but Finn Bálor backed him off and said they’d deal with Nakamura next week.
Saxton tried interviewing Bálor but Priest got in his face because Bálor was getting ready for a match. Bálor backed him off again and told Saxton that Nakamura would pay for disrespecting Judgment Day. If Nakamura was lucky, Bálor would leave a little left over for Priest to pick the bones.
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There was a good Zoey Stark video package. She plans on picking our heroes apart.
Zoey Stark defeated Candice LeRae (2:27)
Stark entered last and attacked LeRae as soon as she hit the ring. Nikki Cross scampered out to ringside to cheer on LeRae which led to a LeRae comeback. LeRae hit a springboard crossbody to the outside and rolled Stark back in the ring.
Cross (a child in an adult’s body) decided this was a good time to hug LeRae, unintentionally preventing her from getting back in the ring. Stark pushed them both and LeRae fell into the steel steps. Stark followed with Z-360 for the pinfall win.
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[SECOND HOUR]
They congratulated John Cena and Batista on the successes of Fast X and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Saxton interviewed Mustafa Ali in Gorilla. Ali couldn’t do his usual positivity gimmick. Ali said he’s been dreaming about an opportunity like this (against Gunther on Saturday). Ali said his career has been failure after failure but he finally has a chance against Gunther.
Lesnar suddenly walked by and before going through the curtain, he looked at Ali and said, “Get a life, kid.” Incredible.
Ali shook his head and walked off. Lesnar went to the ring.
Brock Lesnar / Cody Rhodes segment
Lesnar said we wouldn’t be getting Rhodes and he wouldn’t be able to compete on Saturday. Lesnar instead issued an open challenge to anyone to step up and face him at Night of Champions.
Rhodes entered (without his music) with his arm iced and in a sling as Pearce and a few officials tried to talk him out of it. Rhodes entered the ring and removed the ice and sling from his arm.
Lesnar ran at Rhodes and put him in the kimura. Lesnar seemed to “snap” Rhodes’ arm before finally letting go. Lesnar also stomped his arm before walking off.
A bunch of officials ran out to tend to Rhodes as Pearce desperately asked for medical personnel.
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Alpha Academy (w/Maxxine Dupri) defeated Viking Raiders (w/Valhalla) (4:53)
The Raiders worked over Gable and there was a modest “We want Otis” chant. Otis made the hot tag, bodyslammed Ivar and gave Erik the caterpillar. Valhalla pulled Ivar out of the way of an Otis charge so Gable tagged himself in. Dupri confronted Valhalla for interfering but ran away once Valhalla started walking toward her.
Back in the ring, Gable fended off a double-team by kicking Ivar off the top and putting Erik in an O’Colnner roll for the pinfall win.
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Saxton was once again outside of Rhodes’ locker room looking for an update. Pearce blew past him into Rhodes’ locker room. Rhodes was pissed and quickly kicked Pearce out of his room and slammed the door (while stating that he had nothing to say).
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There was a quick Indus Sher video.
Finn Bálor (w/Damian Priest) defeated Shinsuke Nakamura (11:19)
This was the first match between these two since Nakamura beat Bálor for the IC title on the Extreme Rules kick-off show in July of 2019.
Bálor took control after Priest clotheslined Nakamura behind the referee’s back ahead of a break. Nakamura fought back after the break after no-selling a few kicks. He hit a sliding German suplex and taunted Priest. He set up for a Kinshasa but Bálor dropped him with a double foot stomp. Nakamura avoided a Coup de Grace and followed with a kick to the head.
Priest pulled Bálor out of the ring so Nakamura attacked Priest and clotheslined him into the timekeeper’s area.
With Nakamura’s back turned, Bálor dropkicked him into the barricade and followed with a Coup de Grace for the pinfall win.
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Raquel Rodriguez defeated Sonya Deville (w/Chelsea Green) (1:53)
Green tossed her shades in the ring so Rodriguez stomped them. Rodriguez turned her back to her opponent so Deville attacked and took control. Deville hit a flying knee strike for two but Rodriguez eventually came back with a twisting senton and Tejana Bomb for the pinfall win.
— The heels attacked Rodriguez after the match so Shotzi made the save and wiped them both out with a dive.
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A referee told Pearce that Rhodes was very angry and refused to let anyone in his locker room. Pearce said he’d address it.
Trish Stratus approached Pearce. She suggested a no-touch policy for tonight’s contract signing. Pearce didn’t think they needed one and said, “Thank you, Trish, but no.”
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[THIRD HOUR]
There was a Riddle video package.
Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus contract signing
Lynch entered first and immediately signed the contract while calling out Stratus. Stratus entered next and had to ask Graves what town they were in (for heat). Stratus noted this was her first contract signing, while Lynch has been in many. Lynch could thank Stratus for putting in the work to get the women’s division in a place where that was a common thing.
Stratus said she was still number one in WWE and was number one the day she walked in and she didn’t need a broken nose to get there. Stratus wondered what would happen to Lynch when Stratus won. Maybe Lynch would disappear again to go through her “stuff.”
Stratus said Lynch wanted to find a name and a face for all the badness that went on in her life but it was looking at her in the mirror. Stratus said this would be Lynch’s last contract signing. Stratus signed.
Lynch said Stratus must be scared. She saw what Stratus asked Pearece in the back. Lynch assured her that she wouldn’t hurt her because she wanted her at 100%. Lynch said Stratus was worried that people would forget her. Everyone was getting better around her while the fans realized she wasn’t as good as they remembered.
Stratus didn’t need to worry about why Lynch was gone, she needed to worry that Lynch was back. Lynch thanked her for being everything she hoped she never becomes. Stratus was vapid and trashy and cold. Lynch said she was “it” and Stratus was not. Lynch knew she wasn’t perfect but could carry on regardless and that’s why she’s had a career that Stratus could only dream of.
Lynch said Stratus has done things that would give her nightmares. “If you thought barking like a dog was embarrassing, just wait until I whoop your ass at Night of Champions.” Stratus chucked the table over toward Lynch and backed away up the ramp.
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Pearce was on the phone with somebody and informed them that Rhodes’ arm was mangled but he won’t listen to anyone. Whoever was on the phone seemed to be giving Pearce some direction.
Saxton interviewed Shotzi and Rodriguez. Shotzi said Saxton had no idea how much respect she had for Rodriguez and she’d always have her back. Rodriguez said she found her new tag partner and they’d win the titles next week. Shotzi was pumped.
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Dominik Mysterio (w/Smackdown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley) defeated Apollo Crews (5:00)
Crews ducked a 619 and yanked Dom from the ring. Ripley got in his face and the distraction allowed Dom to yank Crews into the steel steps. Dom distracted the ref as Ripley shoved Crews into the ring post.
Dom was ready to take a count-out win but Crews just barely beat the ten count. As soon as Crews slid into the ring, Dom hit a frog splash (landing on Crews’ back) for the pinfall win.
********
There was an AJ Styles video package.
Seth Rollins sit-down interview with Corey Graves continued
Graves asked why this World Championship was such a big deal for Rollins. Rollins believed it was time for a change. Being in this business was his dream and he wanted it to be the best it could be. The new title was their moment to do something special.
They included clips of Rollins as a child and really played this up like a big deal for him.
*******
The announcers ran down the Night of Champions card. (The women wrestlers are all covered up in the graphics, aside from their faces.)
Next week on Raw:
Fatal four-way to determine new Women's Tag Team Champions: Rodriguez & Shotzi vs. Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler vs. Bayley & IYO SKY vs. Deville & Green Money in the Bank qualifiers
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Six-man tag match: Matt Riddle & Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn defeated Intercontinental Champion Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci (15:17)
Imperium (mainly Gunther) worked over Riddle for a while (through a break) and neutralized his partners so he couldn’t make a tag. Riddle finally gave Gunther a German suplex and tagged in Owens who stomped Vinci, hit a senton, a German suplex and a cannonball for two. Kaiser and Vinci double-teamed Owens which led to a second commercial break.
Owens gave Vinci a frog splash and made the tag to Zayn who hit Kaiser with clotheslines, a back body drop and Michinoku Driver for two. Gunther made a blind tag and chopped Zayn twice. Zayn gave Gunther a Blue Thunder Bomb but Imperium broke up the cover.
Owens gave Vinci a stunner while Zayn chucked Kaiser from the ring. Gunther put Zayn in a sleeper but Riddle broke it up with a floating bro. Vinci tagged in but Zayn gave him an exploder into the buckle. Gunther held Zayn by the leg as he set up a Helluva Kick so Owens superkicked him and Riddle chucked him over the announce table.
Vinci gave Zayn a clothesline but Zayn came right back with a Helluva Kick. Owens tagged in and hit a senton bomb for the pinfall win.
— After the match, Zayn looked into the camera and informed Reigns that the titles were staying with them.
*******
In the closing angle, Triple H approached Rhodes in his locker room. Triple H tried reasoning with him and telling him that he needs medical attention. He said they can both look at his arm and know that it was broken. He said Rhodes was afraid. Rhodes stood up and said he had nothing to be afraid of. Triple H said he’s afraid of what a doctor might tell him.
Triple H wasn’t questioning Rhodes’ toughness. He let Rhodes wrestle with a torn pec against Rollins in Hell in a Cell. But this was different. He wanted Rhodes to remember the year of his career that he lost after that. Rhodes said it would be worse if he came back as a coward. He had to go to Night of Champions and fight. Triple H of all people should know this.
Rhodes looked at Triple H and said, “I’m going to Night of Champions and I’m going to fight Brock Lesnar.”
Rhodes sat down and Triple H patted him on the leg before leaving.
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