WWE RAW (05/15/2023) – Full Coverage and Results!
On Monday night, WWE and the USA Network will air another episode of Monday Night RAW from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The highlight of the night is the Battle Royal for a future shot at the WWE Intercontinental Championship. There will also be an appearance by Becky Lynch and Cody Rhodes answering Brock Lesnar’s Night of Champions challenge.
See all this and much more today, starting at 8 pm, on Wrestling Mania’s live coverage.
Coverage:
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens come to the ring.
Zayn reveals that the upcoming defense of the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, where he and Owens will face Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa, came as a surprise. However, Zayn considers it a golden opportunity rather than a looming threat. He expresses their eagerness to contend with Reigns, especially since both of them were previously unsuccessful in clinching the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship from him. He criticizes Reigns for his unchecked dominance, and for his ambition that seems to stretch beyond being a titleholder for 1,000 days. Zayn labels Reigns a manipulator, sternly informing him that the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship is out of his reach.
The atmospheric music of Judgment Day fills the arena, heralding the entrance of Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, Rhea Ripley, and Damian Priest. Owens, agitated by their presence, demands for the music to be cut, expressing his exhaustion with the continuous talk about The Bloodline. He’s ready for action, but Zayn intervenes, stating they hold no grudges against Judgment Day. He encourages Owens to listen to them, and offers them a chance to speak their minds. Priest endorses Owens’ sentiment.
As Judgment Day seems poised to launch an attack, Balor pacifies his team, stating their intention to discuss matters instead. He warns Zayn and Owens that, should they retain their title, they’ll find themselves facing an eager line of challengers, with Judgment Day at the forefront. Ripley asserts Judgment Day’s control over “Raw”, a point Zayn acknowledges but he shows interest in hearing Dominik’s thoughts. The crowd’s boos drown out Dominik’s attempt to speak, leading Owens to declare that it’s time for action. Priest lands a hit on Zayn, and Judgment Day shifts their focus to Owens. Zayn, armed with a chair, manages to make Judgment Day retreat.
Next, the spotlight turns to Shinsuke Nakamura as he makes his way towards the ring.
Singles Match: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Miz
– Nakamura won with Kinshasa.
We immediately transition backstage where Adam Pearce is caught in a heated exchange with Raquel Rodriguez, Chelsea Green, and Sonya Deville. Green and Deville air their grievances about Liv Morgan’s inability to participate in tonight’s action due to a recent injury. They demand the forfeiture of the Women’s Tag Team Championship. Pearce, however, dismisses their claims. Rodriguez, seemingly unperturbed, offers to face Green in a one-on-one match to uphold Morgan’s honor, a proposition Green readily accepts.
As we return from the commercial break, we are ushered into the first segment of a sit-down interview between Corey Graves and the Architect, Seth “Freakin” Rollins. Rollins, expressing gratitude for the opportunity, delves into his experience of being crowned the inaugural NXT Champion in 2012. He talks about how it represented a moment of much-needed change in the industry. Discussing his tenure with The Shield, Rollins underscores the group’s shared vision for revolutionizing the sport. Asked about his decision to betray his Shield brethren, he explains that it was a strategic move to climb the WWE ladder.
Back at the ring, Imperium makes their entrance.
GUNTHER, flanked by Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci, takes a commanding position atop the announcer’s desk. Kaiser demands acknowledgment from the audience, then passes the microphone to GUNTHER. GUNTHER reflects on his year-long dominance on “SmackDown” and pledges to continue his reign on “Raw”. Despite having no worthy adversary for his Intercontinental Championship, he suggests that a worthy contender could emerge from the impending Battle Royal.
Finally, Ricochet appears on the ramp as the first Battle Royal entrant, closely followed by Bronson Reed.
WWE Intercontinental Title Number One Contender Battle Royal:
– Mustafa Ali won after eliminating Bronson Reed, who had Ricochet on his shoulders.
Becky Lynch come to the ring. Taking up the microphone, she confesses to a period of personal struggle. Emphasizing her resilience, she reveals how she donned a mask of courage to evolve into her desired self. During her time of distress, she sought assistance from the veteran divas, Lita and Trish.
She praises Lita’s invaluable support and marvels at Trish’s seamless transition back into the wrestling world. However, she admits her discernment was obscured, failing to realize that Trish’s return was self-serving.
Lynch expresses gratitude to Trish for a crucial revelation. She credits Trish for reigniting a dormant flame within her, a realization that came about when Trish made derogatory comments about her daughter. This incident, she notes, reminded her of the importance of safeguarding her loved ones, a priority that had taken a backseat in her life.
Lynch ends her heartfelt address with a warning to Trish. She assures her that in their upcoming clash at Night of Champions, she will not hesitate to retaliate fiercely for the insult against her daughter.
Singles Match: Xavier Woods vs. Dominik Mysterio
– Dominik rolls Woods up for the win.
Cathy Kelley interviews JD McDonagh, who states that he came to RAW to make a statement and chose Ziggler as the best person to do so.
Indus Sher is seen walking backstage.
Tag Team Match: Indus Sher vs. local talents
– Veer Mahaan and Sanga hit a double-team combo for the win.
Jinder Mahal grabs the microphone and declares that they are here to dominate. He proclaims that this is their show and their destiny will be etched in gold.
In the backstage area, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn find themselves interrupted by GUNTHER, who issues a stern warning against any sign of disrespect. Unfazed, Owens retorts with a bold declaration of his intent to take on all of Imperium next week. With a silent nod, Imperium takes their leave.
We then catch a glimpse of Cody Rhodes backstage, making his way towards the ring.
Following a brief commercial break, the sound of Cody Rhodes’ entrance theme fills the arena. Entering the ring, he takes the microphone and expresses a sense of familiarity with the arena. He notes the conspicuous absence of Brock Lesnar and segues into recounting the tale of the scorpion and the frog, implying Lesnar’s innate predatory nature.
He asks Lesnar about his physical condition, remarking on the staples he now bears as a result of their last encounter. Upon reflecting on his own image, he sees the man responsible for Lesnar’s current state. With this, he gladly accepts Lesnar’s challenge.
Rhodes goes on to acknowledge Lesnar’s dominant status, crediting him for being superior to most superstars who step into the ring. However, he challenges this notion, asserting that Lesnar is not superior to him. He emphasizes that the real issue at hand is determining who is the top draw on RAW.
While recognizing Lesnar’s past accomplishments in WWE, Rhodes urges him to step aside, claiming that Lesnar’s time as the premier attraction is over.
Elsewhere, Zoey attempts to engage Nikki Cross in conversation, but her efforts are met with indifference. Their interaction is cut short by Candace, who steps in and throws down a challenge for a match.
Singles Match: Raquel Rodriguez vs. Chelsea Green
– Raquel hits Tehana bomb for the win.
After the match, Rousey and Shayna attacks Raquel on the entrance ramp. Rousey issues a stern ultimatum, vowing to defend her title or relentlessly batter Rodriguez until she does. The segment ends with Baszler executing a knee strike to Rodriguez’s face.
Post-commercial break, we find Imperium backstage, exchanging handshakes with Paul Heyman. After this brief interaction, Heyman proceeds to place a call to Roman Reigns.
We then return to the ongoing interview with Seth Rollins. He contemplates his journey with WWE, remarking that he’s navigating this wild ride with the WWE Universe with no hands on the steering wheel. He asserts that this phase of his career captures the most genuine version of himself. He acknowledges an organic relationship with the WWE Universe, attributing his transformation to their influence.
In his candid reflections, Rollins voices the need for another shift in the landscape of WWE. He criticizes the reluctance of top-tier superstars to take risks, suggesting that it’s the opportune moment to introduce a new World Heavyweight Championship belt.
Tag Team Match: The Judgment Day vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
– After interference from Imperium under the command of Paul Heyman, Balor delivered a ‘Coup de Grace’ to Zayn to secure the victory.
After the match, Heyman appears satisfied at the entrance ramp, celebrating the interference and the defeat of Zayn and Owens. The show concludes with the music of Judgement Day playing in the arena.
End of show!
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