Raw
Jacksonville, Florida
May 8, 2023
Results from wrestleview.com
WWE Raw kicks off with a video package hyping up the World
Heavyweight Championship tournament.
Live in the arena, Cody’s music hits and out comes Cody Rhodes down
to the ring.
Cody gets in the ring as the fans chant his name. He asks them what
they want to talk about. Cody says this was his home during the
pandemic and they made a lot of wonderful memories together. And he
says he wants to make another good memory tonight but before that,
he wants to talk about Backlash.
He says he had the task of competing against Brock Lesnar. And he
discovered what Lesnar was made of because it was all over his fist.
He discovered that Lesnar can be defeated because at Backlash, he
beat Brock Lesnar. The night after WrestleMania, Lesnar took away
his focus. It became a fight for survival, but not that Lesnar is in
the rearview mirror, it is clear what is next for him on Raw and it
is the World Heavyweight Championship.
He leaves the ring and starts walking towards the Championship. He
asks to see the tournament bracket as we see that it will be Finn
against himself and The Miz. Shinsuke Nakamura against Rollins and
Damian Priest on Raw.
He says he got out of a fight for survival and he plans on doing
that until Samantha announces him as the new World Heavyweight
Champion. The fans chant “You deserve it” and he says let the
tournament begin.
-Commercial Break-
Cathy Kelley is backstage with Damian Priest. He tells her Bad Bunny
did his thing but after a brutal San Juan street fight, the name
that will live forever is Damian Priest. Because it took an entire
island to put him down. And he will put down Shinsuke Nakamura and
Seth Rollins, all by himself. And after that, we will see if it’s
Finn Balor or Damian Priest who will bring the World Heavyweight
Championship home to the Judgment Day.
World Heavyweight Championship Tournament – Seth Rollins vs.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Damian Priest
The bell rings and we are under way. Priest with a right hand on
Nakamura and Rollins. He throws Seth in the corner and he stomps on
Nakamura in the opposite corner as Priest sells the injured left
leg. He elbows Seth in the corner as Nakamura attacks Priest and
Seth throws Priest to the outside of the ring. Nakamura and Rollins
are face to face and Nakamura with a knee followed by a kick to the
face.
Nakamura with a release sliding German suplex. Nakamura to the
outside as Priest goes for a high boot but Nakamura moves out of the
way. A kick by Nakamura as he places Priest on the ring apron and
Nakamura jumps on him and hits him with a knee to the head.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Seth with a cross body off the top rope onto
both Priest and Nakamura. Priest and Nakamura to the outside as Seth
hits them with suicide dives. Seth goes for another dive but Priest
hits him with a right hand and Seth falls to the outside of the
ring. Nakamura back in and he starts kicking Priest. Nakamura climbs
the second rope and he hits Priest with a flying knee. He goes for
the cover but Priest kicks out. Seth rolls Nakamura up but Nakamura
kicks out. Seth goes for the pedigree onto Priest but Priest throws
him onto the ring apron. Priest with a right hand onto Nakamura.
Seth jumps off the top rope but Priest with an elevated flatliner.
He goes for the cover but Seth kicks out.
Priest and Nakamura with double kicks. Seth with a kick onto Priest
and Nakamura with a kick onto the side of the head of Seth and all
three men are down. All three men are back up and they exchange
right hands. Priest taken down by both Nakamura and Seth as he falls
to the outside. Seth with a lariat onto Nakamura as Seth climbs the
top rope but Priest trips him up. Priest foes for the Razor’s Edge
but Seth lands on his feet. He kicks Priest and hits him with the
Stomp. He goes for the cover but Nakamura breaks it up. Seth and
Nakamura with right hands and Nakamura slams Seth face first onto
the mat. Nakamura goes for the Kenshasa but Priest with a big
clothesline onto Nakamura. He throws Seth to the outside. Priest
grabs Nakamura but Nakamura with kicks onto the injured left leg.
Nakamura with a knee bar onto Priest but Seth hits him with a frog
splash off the top rope. Seth grabs Nakamura and hits him with the
pedigree. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Seth Rollins
Imperium are walking backstage hyping up Gunther, saying that he
will be on Raw next week. They bump into Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Kaiser tells them they are here and next week, Gunther will be on
Raw as Zayn tells them they were in the middle of something and to
go away.
Vinci says they do not deal with disrespect, they are Imperium. Zayn
says they will still be Imperium in five matches and to come back
later. Kaiser tells them they did not just try to disrespect them by
saying that because with Gunther arriving next week, that would put
Zayn and Owens in a very unfortunate situation. Vinci says if they
keep getting disrespected, they are putting themselves and their tag
titles in danger.
Owens says why are they henchmen, like The Usos with Roman Reigns.
Zayn says they dealt with The Usos for months but they will deal
with Imperium in one night and he challenges them to a match
tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Otis with Chad Gable and Maxxine Dupri vs. Mustafa Ali
The bell rings and we are under way. Ali jumps onto the back of Otis
but he throws Ali down. Ali gets back up and runs to the ropes, he
hits Otis with two drop kicks and goes for a third but Otis hits him
with a shoulder tackle. Otis goes for a gorilla press but Ali lands
on his feet. Ali runs towards Otis but Otis hits him with a big
clothesline. Ali in the corner and Otis with a splash s he tries to
do the worm. Maxxine tells him not to do it and Gable tells him to
do it. They all argue. Otis runs towards Ali but Ali moves out of
the way and Otis slams into the turnbuckle. Ali climbs the top rope
and hits him with the 450 splash. He goes for the cover and gets the
pin.
Winner: Mustafa Ali
The Miz cuts a promo backstage about how he will win the World
Heavyweight Championship.
-Commercial Break-
World Heavyweight Championship Tournament – Cody Rhodes vs. Finn
Bálor vs. The Miz
The bell rings and we are under way. Finn is thrown to the outside
and Cody with a dropkick onto Miz. He is thrown to the outside. Cody
runs to the ropes and he is hit with a clothesline by Balor. In
comes Miz and he knocks Finn down. Cody back up as all three men
fight. Cody with a DDT onto Miz and he throws Finn on top of Miz.
Cody goes for the cover but Miz kicks out. Cody with a suicide dive
onto both Miz and Finn on the outside of the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Cody with a dropkick off the top rope onto
Finn and Miz. Cody with a forearm to the face onto the Miz. Finn
runs towards him and Cody with a bodyslam. And a bodyslam onto Miz.
Cody with a double Cody cutter off the second rope. Cody with a
disaster kick off the second rope onto Finn. He goes for the cover
but Finn kicks out. In comes Miz and he hits them with a double DDT.
Miz goes for the cover on Cody but Cody kicks out. Miz goes for the
Skull Crushing Finale but Cody gets out of it and Finn hits Miz with
a slingblade. Cody clothesline Miz to the outside.
Finn with a dagger. He goes for the cover but Cody kicks out. Finn
with a drop kick and he climbs the top rope. Finn goes for the Cop
de Grace but Cody moves out of the way and Cody on the ring apron.
Miz throws Finn onto Cody. Miz with the Skull Crushing Finale onto
Finn. He goes for the cover but Cody breaks it up. Cody throws Miz
to the outside of the ring. Cody grabs Finn but Finn with an inside
cradle but Cody kicks out. Both men are up, Cody hits him with the
Cross Roads. Miz throws Cody to the outside. He goes for the cover
on Finn but Cody gets back in the ring and breaks it up. He hits Miz
with three Cross Roads. Cody slowly makes the cover onto Miz but
Brock Lesnar from out of no where drags Cody to the outside of the
ring. Lesnar hits him with an F5 on the outside of the ring.
Finn with the Coup de Grace onto Miz. He goes for the cover and gets
the pin.
Winner: Finn Balor
Lesnar hits Cody with another F5 but through the table. Lesnar grabs
a microphone and asks Cody what he wants to talk about.
Lesnar is bruised as he grabs the camera and says to look at his
face. Lesnar grabs Cody and asks him what he wants to talk about. If
he wants to talk about himself. Lesnar tells Cody if he wants to
take credit for his face. Lesnar tells him he got lucky on Saturday.
Lesnar says he wants to talk about a fight, he wants a fight. Lesnar
challenges Cody Rhodes to a fight at Night of Champions. He asks
Cody who the coward is.
-Commercial Break-
Rhea Ripley with Dominik Mysterio vs. Dana Brooke
The bell rings and we are under way. Dana with a drop kick onto
Rhea. She runs towards Rhea but Rhea with a headbutt. Right hands by
Rhea as she slams Dana face first onto the mat. Rhea grabs Dana but
Dana with a jaw breaker. Dana with a bulldog in the middle of the
ring. Dana climbs the second rope as she jumps but Rhea catches her
and she slams Dana onto her knee. Rhea with a Riptide. She grabs
Dana and gets her in a leg lock as Dana taps out.
Winner: Rhea Ripley
Rhea with another RIptide and Natalya’s music hits. Both women are
face to face as Dominik pulls Rhea back and whispers in her hear.
Rhea smiles and walks away.
Byron Saxton is backstage with Zoey Stark. He asks her about the
added expectations since joining Raw. She says she has complete
confidence in her ability. She tells him to come with her s she
walks up to Nikki Cross who is drawing circles in the air. Zoey says
she is going to succeed because there are nothing but weirdos. Stark
challenges Nikki to a match tonight and Nikki accepts.
-Commercial Break-
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs. Imperium
The bell rings and we are under way. Zayn and Kaiser start the
match. A head lock by Kaiser as Zayn throws him to the ropes and
Zayn with a hip toss. Zayn grabs Kaiser and throws him to the ropes
as Vinci is tagged in and Zayn throws Kaiser to the outside. Zayn
with a clothesline. Zayn climbs the top rope and Vinci distracts the
referee as Kaiser throws Zayn off the top rope and Vinci with a
right hand. Kaiser is tagged in and he stomps on Zayn in the corner.
Kaiser with a right hand on Owens and that distracts the referee.
Imperium double team Zayn.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Kevin Owens is tagged in and he hits Kaiser
with an atomic drop and a right hand. Owens with a chop to the chest
and he knocks Vinci off the ring apron. Owens goes for the cover on
Kaiser but Kaiser kicks out. Owens climbs the top rope and hits
Kaiser with a swanton. He goes for the cover but Vinci breaks it up.
Owens throws Vinci to the outside of the ring. Kaiser with a right
hand on Owens and Vinci is tagged in and they double team Owens.
Vinci goes for the cover but Owens kicks out.
Kaiser is tagged back in and he hits Owens with an uppercut. Kaiser
runs to the ropes but Owens with a big clothesline. Vinci is tagged
in and he runs and knocks Zayn off the ring apron. Owens with a back
body drop onto Vinci and a stunner onto Kaiser. Vinci rolls Owens up
but Owens kicks out. Owens with a super kick and Zayn is tagged in.
Zayn with a Helluva Kick. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens
Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville are backstage getting signatures for
a rematch for the Women’s Tag Team Championships.
-Commercial Break-
Zoey Stark vs. Nikki Cross
The bell rings and we are under way. Zoey with right hands and she
stomps on Nikki Cross. Zoey on the ring apron and she jumps over the
top rope and a splash onto Nikki. She gets back up and Zoey with a
big clothesline. She goes for the cover but Nikki kicks out. A chin
lock by Zoey in the middle of the ring but Nikki with right hands as
she gets out of it. Nikki with a jaw breaker.
Nikki with a right hand. Nikki runs to the ropes and Nikki with a
drop kick. A splash in the corner by Nikki and she climbs the second
rope. She goes for a tornado DDT but Zoey throws her away. Zoey hits
her with the Z360 as she goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Zoey Stark
Byron Saxton is backstage with Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio. He
asks her if she is feeling extra pressure. She says she welcomes it
and it comes with running a division. Woods and Tozawa come in
laughing. Dominik tells them to show some respect. Woods says he is
looking for a fight and in comes Rhea as Tozawa walks away. Rhea
says DomDom accepts.
-Commercial Break-
Trish Stratus walks down to the ring wearing a Becky Lynch missing
person’s tshirt. She tells Kevin Patrick that she knows his
compatriot is missing but they will find her. She says she has used
all of her platforms and tools to find her. She asks Corey to tweet
about it. And when they find Becky, every one will be thanking Trish
for that.
She says Becky will probably be found in a small corner in Iowa,
crying with her dumb daughter. She says Becky’s daughter is two
years old, she doesn’t know her colors. She says Becky will not be
coming to Raw because this is her show, her spotlight and no one is
going to steal her spot light.
Trish says she does not care if you are Becky Lynch as Becky’s music
hits. Trish pretends to look for Becky and she says they are all
gullible. Trish says Becky is never coming back. She says this one
time her daughter wanted a doll and they bought it and brought it
over.
Trish says her daughter wanted to call the doll Becky Lynch and
Trish asked her why. And her daughter said because she is pretty.
Becky’s music hits as Trish says that joke is done. Becky is
standing behind Trish as the fans chant her name. Becky with a right
hand followed by an uppercut. Becky with the Becksploder and Trish
rolls to the outside of the ring. Becky grabs a microphone and says
she is back.
Cody is backstage with Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Adam Pearce and a
medic. Zayn asks what will happen as we cut to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
Dominik Mysterio with Rhea Ripley vs. Xavier Woods
The bell rings and we are under way. Woods with a head lock take
down and Dominik reaches the ropes. Woods with a drop kick followed
by a chop to the chest followed by right hands. Dominik in the
corner and he throws Woods face first into the turnbuckle. Dominik
with a drop kick and Woods on the second rope. Dominik goes for a
619 but Woods trips him up. Woods climbs the top rope and he hits
Dominik with a cross body. Woods runs towards Dominik but Dominik
throws him over the top rope and Woods hits face first on the ring
steps.
Back from commercial, Dominik with the three amigos suplex. He goes
for the cover but Woods kicks out. A head lock by Dominik but Woods
with right hands. Woods to the ropes and Woods with a spinning right
hand. Woods on the ring apron and he jumps into the ring and hits
Dominik with a DDT. He goes for the cover but Dominik kicks out.
Woods runs towards Dominik but Dominik with a back elbow. He goes
for the cover but Woods kicks out. Dominik on the ring apron but
Woods trips him up. Dominik back on the ring apron and Woods climbs
the second turnbuckle and lands a kick onto Dominik. He goes for the
cover but Dominik kicks out. Woods climbs the top rope and goes for
an elbow but Rhea moves Dominik out of the way. Dominik rolls Woods
up and gets the pin.
Winner: Dominik Mysterio
-Commercial Break-
Shinsuke Nakamura is backstage and he is unhappy. Miz tells him that
he told him last week, Raw is more difficult than SmackDown. And he
should have had his back. Miz tells him he is willing to forget all
of the disrespect he gave him last week if he sides with him. Miz
says they will be chanting Mizuke Nakamura as Nakamura challenges
him to a match next week.
We cut to Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville backstage. Raquel and Liv
walk up to them and tell them if they wanted a rematch, all they had
to do was ask. Liv and Raquel sign their petition and tell them that
after they defeat Damage CTRL, they will defeat them last week.
Sonya says the petition was to get a match against Damage CTRL after
Damage CTRL defeats Raquel and Liv Morgan.
-Commercial Break-
Cathy Kelley is backstage with Cody Rhodes. He says he doesn’t feel
good. He doesn’t get to be the first World Heavyweight Champion on
Raw. A tournament that was his to win. He doesn’t know what else he
has to say. He turns back and says he knows that this is the second
time that Brock Lesnar has attacked him for no reason and from
behind. The only reason he can think of is that Lesnar’s long
reigning grip over the main event scene has been releasing. And he
has been the man around here. But he doesn’t think that Brock can
handle it. Cody says if Lesnar wants a fight, against all of his
better judgement, let’s fight. Cody accepts Lesnar’s challenge at
Night of Champions.
-Commercial Break-
World Heavyweight Championship Tournament – Seth Rollins vs. Finn
Balor
The bell rings and we are under way. A head lock take down by Finn
as Seth gets out of it. A drop kick by Finn and he clotheslines Seth
to the outside of the ring. Seth with a slingblade onto Finn on the
outside of the ring. A chop to the chest by Rollins as he throws
Finn back into the ring. Finn with a kick onto Seth and Seth falls
to the outside of the ring. Finn lifts Seth up and throws him into
the barricade.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial and Seth with a clothesline. A splash in the
corner by Seth followed by a back breaker. Rollins climbs the top
rope as he goes for a frog splash but Finn gets his knees up and
reverses it into a cover but Seth kicks out. Finn with an arm bar in
the middle of the ring but Seth rolls out of it. Finn with a sling
blade. Finn goes for a drop kick but Seth with a super kick. He goes
for the cover but Finn kicks out. Seth with a kick and Finn falls to
the outside. Seth slams Finn’s face into the ring apron and he
throws Finn back into the ring. Seth with a kick to the side of the
head but Finn with an overhead kick and both men are down. Both men
to their feet and Finn rolls Seth up and hits him with a double
stomp. Finn climbs the top rope but Seth jumps and he hits Finn with
a superplex. Seth lifts Finn up but Finn lands on his feet and he
slams Seth onto the mat. He goes for the cover but Seth kicks out.
Finn dropkicks Seth and he climbs the top rope. Finn goes for the
Coup de Grace but Seth moves out of the way. Seth with a pedigree.
He goes for the cover but Finn kicks out. Seth goes for the stomp,
Finn moves out of the way and rolls but Seth hits him with a stomp.
He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Advancing to the World Heavyweight Championship Final, Seth
Rollins