WWE Raw Results
May 22, 2023
The GIANT Center in Hershey, PA.
Commentary: Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
WWE Raw kicks off with a clip of Cody Rhodes arriving to the arena and being attacked by Brock Lesnar. Cody is thrown into equipment as Lesnar yells at him telling him to fight. Cody is leaning on the garage door and Lesnar slams a steel barrel onto Cody’s left hand as Cody screams in pain.
We cut live to the arena and Paul Heyman is standing in the ring. He introduces himself and he says he had nothing to do with the attack that was just shown. He can testify to and say that it is only an example of what Cody is in for at Night of Champions when he attempts to slay the beast. Heyman says he understands how his special appearance on Raw last week was so well received, he has been invited back again this week to enlighten every one.
He says there are three main events at Night of Champions capped off by the historic battle in which Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn will lose the undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships back to the Bloodline. Heyman says with The Usos watching proud at home, the new Tag Team Champions will be Solo and the Tribal Chief, the Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman Reigns.
Heyman says for the final time before Night of Champions, welcome to Monday Night Raw!
Kevin’s music hits and out comes Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Heyman leaves the ring as Owens an Zayn walk down to a pop from the crowd. Zayn asks where Heyman went, he must think they have a score to settle after what he did last week but they feel pretty good. Zayn says they are heading into the biggest title match they could have against Solo and Reigns. Zayn says this is important to him but he already said everything there is to say to Roman’s face.
Owens says a few weeks ago, Roman dedicated the win he thinks they will have against them to the Wild Samoans. He says he would like to dedicate their win at Night of Champions to the true pillars of the Bloodline, Jimmy and Jey Uso. Zayn tells him that is at Night of Champions but they have business tonight.
Imperium’s music hits and out they come. Imperium get on the ring apron and surround the ring as Matt Riddle runs to the ring and joins Zayn and Owens. Imperium back off as Gunther tells them all to leave. Imperium run back down to the ring but Zayn, Owens and Riddle throw Kaiser and Vinci to the outside. It takes all three of them to throw Gunther over the top rope and to the outside of the ring.
-Commercial Break
Byron Saxton is backstage and he says it is not clear if Cody will be able to compete at Night of Champions. Adam Pearce walks in and says he is still being evaluated and is still seen by the doctor. Saxton says there are rumors that Cody has a broken arm as Pearce tells him he is still being evaluated.
Ricochet vs. Bronson Reed
The bell rings and we are under way. Reed chases Ricochet but Ricochet begins hitting him with kicks and right hands. Ricochet with a basement dropkick. Ricochet runs to the ropes and hits Reed with a kick to the side of the head and Reed is down to one knee. Ricochet with right hands but Reed with a big splash followed by an elbow. Ricochet rolls to the outside of the ring and Reed with a shoulder tackle as he jumps off the ring apron.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Reed with a Samoan drop. He goes for the cover but Ricochet kicks out. Ricochet on the ring apron as Reed grabs him but Ricochet hangs him up on the top rope. Ricochet back in the ring and a dropkick onto Reed’s knee. Right hands by Ricochet followed by a knee to the face. A super kick by Ricochet followed by another kick. A standing shooting star by Ricochet. He goes for the cover but Reed kicks out. Ricochet with a moon sault off the second rope. Ricochet with kicks and right hands as Reed gets to his feet. Ricochet goes for a kick but Reed with a big punch onto Ricochet’s leg and Reed clotheslines him to the outside of the ring. Reed on the ring apron, he runs and jumps but Ricochet hits him with a knee to the face. Ricochet throws Reed back into the ring. Ricochet goes to jump off the top rope but Reed trips him up. Reed with a splash in the corner followed by a power slam. Reed climbs the top rope and Reed hits him with the Tsunami. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Bronson Reed
Cathy Kelley is backstage with Apollo Crews. He tells her he hopes Cody is fine but he is excited to be back. In comes Dominik and Rhea Ripley. Dominik tells Cathy that this is Rhea’s interview time as she tells him this is Apollo’s interview time. Dominik asks her who that is, in regards to Apollo Crews. Apollo tells Dominik that he is everything Dominik wishes he was.
Dominik tells Cathy that this is Mommy’s interview time. Rhea begins to talk and tells Natalya that she will retain her title at Night of Champions. Apollo cuts Rhea and apologises as he tells her that this is his interview time. Dominik cuts him off as Apollo asks him what he will do about it. Rhea says Dominik will beat him up as Apollo says he cannot wait to see that and that sets up a match.
-Commercial Break-
In a pre-recorded sit down interview, Seth Rollins tells Corey Graves that he will defeat AJ Styles at Night of Champions to become the Champion.
Finn Balor and Damian Priest are backstage as Finn is preparing for his match against Shinsuke Nakamura tonight. In comes Byron as Priest tells him that he is interrupting Finn’s preparation. Finn tells Byron that Nakamura will pay for what he did last week.
-Commercial Break-
Candice LeRae vs. Zoey Stark
The bell rings and we are under way. Stark with right hands and kicks onto Candice. She throws Candice in the corner and hits her with kicks. Zoey with a suplex followed by a knee to the face. She goes for the cover but Candice kicks out. Right hands by Zoey in the middle of the ring. A head lock by Zoey as Nikki Cross runs down to the ring and tries to encourage Candice. Still in a head lock, Candice with a jaw breaker. A drop kick by Candice and Zoey in the corner. Candice with a snap mare as Zoey rolls onto the ring apron. Candice with a drop kick and Zoey falls to the outside. Candice with a splash off the second rope onto Zoey. She throws Zoey back into the ring. Nikki grabs Candice and hugs her as Zoey pushes them both into the ring steps. Zoey throws Candice back into the ring. She hits her with the Z360. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Zoey Stark
-Commercial Break-
Byron Saxton is backstage with Mustafa Ali. He asks him about his upcoming match for the Intercontinental title against Gunther at Night of Champions. Ali says he can’t do this. This is too real for him. He says he has been dreaming about this since he was a kid. Dreaming about being a champion. But if you look back at his career, he hasn’t come close to that. It has been failure after failure. And no one believes he can defeat Gunther and becoming Champion. As he is talking, Brock Lesnar passes by him and tells him to get a life, kid.
Brock Lesnar walks through the curtain and walks down to the ring as his music plays. Lesnar asks the crowd what they want to talk about as they boo him. He says he would boo Cody too. Unfortunately, Cody will not be out there tonight. He says Cody will not be fighting Brock Lesnar at Night of Champions on Saturday either as he laughs. He tells them not to worry because Brock Lesnar will not let them down.
Brock issues an open challenge for anyone back there to fight him at Night of Champions. Lesnar says all they have to do is walk out and step up to Brock Lesnar as he stands in the middle of the ring. Cody comes out with his arm in a sling. Adam Pearce and WWE officials are speaking with Cody as he walks down. The fans chant “Cody” as he gets in the ring.
Cody removes the sling and the ice. Lesnar takes off his hat and both men fight. Cody fighting with one hand as Lesnar gets Cody’s arm in an arm lock. Lesnar tells Cody to fight him. Lesnar lets go of the hold. He stands on Cody’s arm and stomps on it. Lesnar puts his hat back on as Pearce gets in the ring and calls for more officials.
-Commercial Break-
Alpha Academy with Maxxine Dupri vs. The Viking Raiders with Valhalla
The bell rings and we are under way. Chad Gable and Erik start the match. Gable goes for a leg take down but Erik overpowers him and stays on his feet. Erik with a forearm to the face and he tags Ivar into the match. They double team Gable. Ivar with a right hand as the fans chant “We want Otis”. Erik is tagged back in and he hits Gable with a splash in the corner. Ivar tagged back in and he goes for the cover but Gable kicks out.
Gable with right hands as he tries to fight back. He tries to make the tag but Ivar grabs him but Gable gets out of it and tags Otis into the match. Otis with a shoulder tackle onto Ivar. In comes Erik and Otis hits him with a back elbow. Otis with a bodyslam onto Ivar and a splash onto Erik in the corner. Erik falls to the mat. Otis with the caterpillar. Otis goes for a splash onto Ivar but Valhalla moves him out of the way and Otis hits the turnbuckle. Gable tags himself in. Erik is tagged in and he hits Gable with a knee to the face.
Maxxine and Valhalla argue on the outside as Valhalla chases her away. Ivar is on the top rope. Erik lifts Gablep but Gable kicks Ivar off the top rope and rolls backwards onto Erik and gets the pin.
Winners: Alpha Academy
Saxton is backstage outside of Cody’s locker room. Adam storms into the room as Cody kicks him away telling him to leave.
-Commercial Break-
Jinder Mahal cuts a promo on Indus Sher, saying the storm is here.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Finn Balor with Damian Priest
The bell rings and we are under way. A waist lock take down by Finn and he gets a chin lock on Nakamura but Nakamura gets out of it. Nakamura with a head lock take down but Finn gets out of it as he reverses it into a head scissor. Finn with several kicks. He throws Nakamura into the corner but Nakamura comes running back to him with a knee to the body. Nakamura with kicks in the corner. Nakamura places Finn on the top rope and Nakamura with a knee to the body and Finn falls onto the ring apron. Nakamura with a sliding kick and Finn falls to the outside of the ring. Nakamura throws him back in. Nakamura on the ring apron as he goes for a suplex but Finn gets out of it. Finn distracts the referee as Priest trips Nakamura off the ring apron and clotheslines him on the outside of the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Nakamura places Finn on the second rope and he hits him with a release German suplex. Nakamura face to face with Priest as Priest goes for a clothesline but Nakamura ducks and gets in the ring. Nakamura with a kick onto Finn. He goes for the cover but Finn kicks out. Nakamura with knees onto Finn in the middle of the ring. Nakamura grabs Finn but Finn with elbows. He rolls Nakamura up but Nakamura kicks out. Finn with the slingblade.
Finn goes for a drop kick but Nakamura with a kick to the face. Nakamura goes for the Kinshasa but Finn hits him with a double stomp. Finn climbs the top rope as he goes for the Coup de Grace but Nakamura moves out of the way. Nakamura with a kick to the back of the neck.
Priest drags Finn to the outside of the ring. Nakamura on the ring apron and he hits Priest with a knee to the face. Nakamura with right hands onto Priest. He clotheslines Priest over the barricade. Finn hits Nakamura with a drop kick and he throws Nakamura back into the ring. Finn hits him with the Coup de Grace. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Finn Balor
-Commercial Break-
Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sonya Deville with Chelsea Green
The bell rings and we are under way. Sonya with a knee to the face. She goes for the cover but Raquel kicks out. A forearm to the face by Sonya as she climbs the second rope. She hits Raquel with a knee to the face. She goes for the cover but Raquel kicks out. Right hands by Sonya in the corner but Raquel with a big boot. A twisted senton off the second rope by Raquel. She lifts Sonya up and hits her with the Tejada Bomb. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
Chelsea Green gets in the ring and attacks Raquel from behind. They double team Raquel as Shotzi runs to the ring. She hits Chelsea with a kick and Raquel hits Sonya with a big boot. Shotzi with a suicide dive onto them both on the outside of the ring.
A WWE referee is with Adam backstage and Adam says he will talk about Cody later tonight. In comes Trish Stratus. She tells him tonight it might be a good idea to have a no touch policy for their signing. Pearce says there is a lot going on tonight and there is no need for a no touch policy.
-Commercial Break-
Contract Signing – Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus
Becky gets in the ring first. She says they have business to take care of as she sits on the chair and signs the contract. She puts her feet on the table as Corey Graves stands in the middle. Trish’s music hits and out she comes to the ring.
Trish tells Becky she was eager to sign the contract but she wasn’t eager to come back to Raw when she beat her up. Trish says this is her first contract signing and she wants to enjoy this. Trish tells Becky she is cool and casual because contract signings are no big deal. She has had many of them but Becky has had many of them because of her, Trish. Because of the work she did. She can do her Irish gigs in some Irish restaurant and come back to do her signings because of her.
She tells Becky that she is number one, still is number one and will always be number one. She was number one from the time she walked into WWE and it didn’t take her a broken nose to get there. Trish tells Becky that what will happen when she beats her as Night of Champions? That would make Trish “it” and what will happen to Becky without it? When she will be in a dark place and go through her stuff again.
Trish tells Becky she has her figured out, she sees her weak spots. She is her own worst enemy. Fans tell Trish to sign it as she tells them they don’t have to tell her what she has to do. She tells Corey that this is ironic because it’s her first contract signing but it’s also Becky’s last contract signing. Trish signs the contract as Becky is on the chair looking at her.
Becky tells Trish that Trish is scared. She saw her thing with Adam backstage. She tells Trish she won’t hurt her, she wants her 100% for Night of Champions. Trish is scared that history will forget her. Trish has stayed the same and the fans remember Trish for being better than she actually is. Becky tells her she needs to worry that she is back. But Trish wants her flowers. She tells Trish thank you for being everything she hopes she never becomes. Because Trish is trashy, she is all fashion. Trish is cold, she is hot. She is trash and Becky is not.
Becky says that she will punch Trish in the face every single time and she knows she can look in the mirror and know she is not perfect. Something Trish thinks Trish is. She tells Trish that she has a career that Trish would only dream of while Trish has done things that would give her nightmares. And if she thinks barking like a dog is embarrassing, to wait until she beats her up at Night of Champions.
Trish pushes the table towards Becky and leaves the ring.
Adam Pearce is on the phone backstage and he says Cody’s arm is mangled. And he cannot speak with Cody and this is why he is calling.
-Commercial Break-
Byron is backstage with Raquel and Shotzi. He asks Shotzi why she went out and helped Raquel. Shotzi says she has a lot of respect for Raquel and has her back. Raquel says she found herself a new tag team partner.
Dominik Mysterio with Rhea Ripley vs. Apollo Crews
The bell rings and we are under way. Apollo with a forearm to the face followed by a vertical suplex. Apollo with a gorilla press. He goes for the cover but Dominik kicks out. Apollo climbs the top rope but Dominik trips him up and Apollo falls to the mat. Dominik stomping on Apollo. He grabs Apollo and hits him with a suplex and goes for the cover but Apollo kicks out. Dominik with a head lock in the middle of the ring but Apollo with right hands and he gets out of it. The fans chant “We want mommy”. Dominik runs to the ropes but Apollo catches him and hits him with a fall away slam.
Apollo with a splash in the corner. He climbs the second rope and hits him with a blockbuster. Apollo again on the top rope and he hits Dominik with a cross body. He goes for the cover but Dominik kicks out. Apollo lifts Dominik up but Dominik lands on his feet. Dominik with a drop kick and Apollo falls to the second rope. Dominik goes for the 619 but Apollo rolls to the outside of the ring. He grabs Dominik to the outside and hits him with a clothesline. Rhea gets in Apollo’s face. Apollo goes around Rhea and trips Apollo up into the ring steps. Dominik gets back in the ring and distracts the referee as Rhea throws Apollo into the ring post.
The referee counts to nine but Apollo gets in the ring. Dominik hits Apollo with a frog splash from more than half way across the ring. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Dominik Mysterio
-Commercial Break-
Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Matt Riddle vs. Imperium
The bell rings and we are under way. Kaiser and Zayn start the match. Kaiser with right hands and he stomps on Zayn in the corner. He goes for a right hand but Zayn ducks. Zayn with a chop to the cheseet and a right hand. Riddle is tagged in and they double team Kaiser. Riddle runs towards Kaiser but Kaiser hits him with a European uppercut. Vinci is tagged in and Vinci with several European uppercuts. Vinci runs towards Riddle but Riddle moves out of the way and hits him with a kick. Riddle with a gutwrench suplex. Gunther is tagged in and both men are face to face.
Riddle with kicks to the chest but Gunther with a kick takes Riddle down.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Kaiser with a suplex on Riddle. He goes for the cover but Riddle kicks out. Gunther is tagged back in. He hits Owens with a big boot off the ring apron. Riddle with a kick to the face onto Gunther. Both men are down. Kaiser gets in the ring but Riddle throws him to the outside. Gunther grabs Riddle by the leg but Riddle kicks him away. Riddle goes for the tag but Kaiser trips Zayn up. Gunther with a clothesline. He goes for the cover but Riddle kicks out.
Both men up and Riddle with a German suplex. Owens and Vinci are tagged in. Owens with right hands followed by a senton. A German suplex by Owens. Vinci is in the corner and Owens hits him with a cannonball. He goes for the cover but Vinci kicks out. Owens climbs the top rope but Kaiser gets on the ring apron. Owens with a kick but Vinci hits Owens with a kick. Kaiser is tagged in and they double team Owens.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Zayn and Kaiser are tagged into the match. Zayn with a back body drop. Zayn knocks Gunther off the ring apron and he hits Kaiser with a Michinoku driver. He goes for the cover but Kaiser kicks out. Zayn runs towards Kaiser but Kaiser hits him a kick. Gunther is tagged in. Zayn throws Kaiser to the outside of the ring. Gunther with a chop to the chest. Gunther goes for a clothesline but Zayn with the Blue Thunder Bomb. He goes for the cover but Vinci breaks it up. Riddle gets in the ring and climbs the top rope but Vinci trips him up. Owens hits Vinci with a stunner. Kaiser throws Owens to the outside. Zayn throws Kaiser to the outside. Gunther with a sleeper onto Zayn. Riddle on the top rope and he hits Gunther with the Floating Bro. Vinci is tagged in. Zayn with an exploder into the turnbuckle. Zayn goes for the Helluva Kick but Gunther grabs Zayn’s leg. Owens hits Gunther with a super kick and Riddle throws him over the announce table. Zayn throws Kaiser to the outside. Vinci with a clothesline onto Zayn and Zayn hits him with a Helluva Kick. Owens is tagged in. Owens with a swanton bomb off the top rope. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens and Matt Riddle
Cody is backstage and in comes Triple H. They both sit and he tells Cody he knows how angry he is. Cody tells him he knows what he is trying to do and he understands. Triple H tells him he knows he understands it but he needs to get him medical attention. Cody tells him he doesn’t. Triple H tells him he can look at that arm and tell him it is broken. And he can tell on Cody’s face that he knows it is broken. And he knows he is afraid. Cody gets angry and tells him he has nothing to be afraid of. Triple H says if a doctor sees it and he is not cleared, he will not be able to compete at Night of Champions. Cody gets angry. Triple H says he is not question for a second how tough he is.
Triple H tells him to think about that year when he was injured. Cody tells him he understands but what was worse if he came back to Raw and was a coward and didn’t fight. Of all people, he should know. He tells Triple H he is going to Night of Champions and he is going to fight Brock Lesnar. Triple H pats Cody on his back, stands up and leaves.