WWE Monday Night RAW 06 05 2023

WWE Raw Results
June 5, 2023
Hartford, Connecticut (XL Center)
Commentary: Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.

A huge thank you to Mr. Roy Nemer for covering the Raw report for me over the past month. It’s great to be back in my rightful spot recapping this show.

We go live at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Tonight, the World Heavyweight Championship will be defended for the first time on television.

“BURN IT DOWN!”

World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins makes his way to the ring. The crowd loudly sings his theme song as he makes his way to the ring. Rollins will defend the title against Damian Priest later tonight. Rollins listens to the crowd sing for a bit before welcoming them to Monday Night Rollins. Being World Heavyweight Champion has been a nonstop party. Rollins wondered when was the last time we had a World Heavyweight Championship match live on Monday Night Raw. Rollins had to go way back. It has been nearly two years since a World Title was defended on Raw. Rollins thought two years was too damn long. Rollins went into the Twitterverse and put out an Open Challenge for a World Heavyweight Championship right here tonight in Hartford. That Open Challenge was answered by The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest. The crowd boos Priest’s name.

Rollins says he’s kind of psyched to face Damian Priest. Last week, he said he wanted all the fight and wanted to fight the best. Whether you love or hate them, Dominik Mysterio, Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest are as good as it gets. Rollins is looking forward to the opportunity to show that as good as they are, they aren’t him. Rollins is a visionary…

The Judgment Day interrupts him. Damian Priest walks out alongside Finn Bálor. Rollins asks why they’re interrupting him when he’s saying nice things about them. Rollins asks where Dominik and Rhea are. Rollins asks if they’re going to attack him from behind. Priest and Bálor get in the ring. Priest says Rhea and Dom have their own business. Rollins should only worry about Priest. Rollins asks if Priest and Bálor do everything together. Does Bálor hold the door open for him to go to the bathroom? Bálor says Rollins is the funnyman with all the jokes. Everyone loves Rollins and singing his song. As Bálor predicted, they begin singing. Bálor says what the crowd isn’t going to love, as well as Rollins, is when Priest beats Rollins and takes the World Heavyweight Championship tonight.

Priest says he thinks Rollins is a deserving champion. His resume speaks for itself. In Rollins’ career, he’s beaten them all, but so has Priest. Rollins has a set for issuing an Open Challenge. Priest respects that. Priest doesn’t need Dominik, Rhea, or Finn to beat Rollins for the title. Rollins likes the confidence, but if it’s just the two of them out here tonight, Priest won’t stand a chance. Rollins asks Priest to put his money where his mouth is. For the World Heavyweight Championship main event tonight, Priest needs to leave his crew in the back. It’s best to leave The Prince in the back since he doesn’t fare too well in fights with Rollins. Bálor takes exception to this, but Priest says he’s cool with it and accepts. Rollins cackles. Priest says he’ll be the new World Heavyweight Champion at the end of the night. Rollins will go down in history with one of the shortest reigns ever. Rollins cackles and says his title reign was already longer than Bálor’s ever was (referring to the 2016 Universal Championship run that lasted 24 hours). Rollins dances away.

Seth “Freakin” Rollins will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Damian Priest later tonight. We’ll also see Cody Rhodes on Miz TV.

The Money in the Bank briefcases are shown hanging over the ring. Natalya will face Zoey Stark in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match.

Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring. She’ll face Sonya Deville in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match next.

-Commercial Break-

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Becky Lynch vs. Sonya Deville w/ Chelsea Green

A pretaped promo is shown with Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green. They tell Becky Lynch to get ready to lose because big changes are coming.

The bell rings, and Chelsea Green immediately begins distracting Becky Lynch from the apron. Lynch sidesteps a blindside attack from Sonya Deville. Deville puts the brakes on to not hit Green. Lynch takes it to Deville with elbows before Green distracts her again. This time, the distraction works as Deville blindsides Lynch and attacks her. Deville applies a chin lock, but Lynch fights up. Deville knocks her back, but Lynch elbows and boots her back. Lynch connects with a pair of clotheslines, followed by a heel kick. Lynch hits a running forearm in the corner before hitting a Bexploder. Deville sidesteps an avalanche in the corner, but Lynch elbows her and hits a springboard cross-body block for a two-count.

Trish Stratus walks out to the stage alongside Zoey Stark. Lynch looks furious. Deville tries to roll Lynch up, but Lynch connects with a reverse DDT. Deville rolls out of the ring to recover with Chelsea Green. Stratus and Stark stay at the top of the ramp.

-Commercial Break-

We come back to see Deville hit Lynch with a superplex for a near fall. Stratus and Stark are still on the ramp, casually speaking to each other. Lynch and Deville get to their feet, exchanging punches. Lynch hits some forearms and a diving clothesline. Deville rolls out of the ring to recover again. Lynch hits Deville with a baseball slide. Lynch throws Deville back in the ring. As the referee checks on Deville, Green big boots Lynch down at ringside. Green puts Lynch in the ring. Deville levels Lynch with a big kick to the face for a near fall. Deville and Green collectively scream in frustration.

Deville pulls Lynch up to her feet and pushes her. Lynch fights back and hits an enzuigiri. Lynch charges Deville in the corner, but Deville puts her on the apron. Lynch knocks Deville back. Green gets on the apron, but Lynch knocks her down to ringside. Lynch attacks Green and sends her into the barricade a few times. Deville tries to attack Lynch from behind, but Lynch cuts her off and sends her into the barricade a few times. Lynch gets Deville in the ring and goes for a Manhandle Slam, but Deville counters into a roll-up for a two-count. Lynch attempts to apply the Dis-Arm-Her, but Deville fights it and pulls Lynch into the ropes throat-first. Deville rolls her up and puts her feet on the ropes. Despite Green holding Deville’s legs on the ropes, Lynch still kicks out.

Deville peppers Lynch with strikes from the right and left. Deville comes off the rope, but Lynch catches her. After an awkward few moments of mistiming, Deville finally leaves her feet and is planted with a Manhandle Slam for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch joins Zelina Vega in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match, which will happen on July 1 in London, England. Lynch shouts at Stratus and Stark, but they look unphased.

Coming up next, we’ll take a look at the implosion of The Bloodline on this past Friday’s Smackdown.

-Commercial Break-

The implosion of The Bloodline on this past Friday’s Smackdown has amassed over 40,000,000 views across all social media platforms.

Video: Roman Reigns kicks Jimmy Uso out of The Bloodline on this past Friday’s Smackdown.

Byron Saxton is backstage with Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Zayn says he’s not the guy to say, “I told you so,” but it’s nice to see the Usos do what they should have done. Actually, Jimmy Uso did, and it remains to be seen what Jey Uso does. Still, the Bloodline is not their problem. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci of Imperium walk up to them. Owens says they broke the unwritten rule of interrupting when their name wasn’t called. WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther walks up and says Owens has no discipline and he’ll teach it to him. Owens doesn’t care that Gunther has a problem with his temper. Owens says people are waiting to see him kick someone’s ass, and Gunther is it.

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn make their way to the ring. We will see if Gunther will answer his challenge next.

-Commercial Break-

Non-Title Match
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Kevin Owens w/ Sami Zayn vs. WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther w/ Imperium

The bell rings, and they lock up. Gunther shoves Owens off and powers him to the corner. Gunther gives a clean break, but Owens aggressively charges him. Gunther applies a headlock and hits a takeover. Owens fights up and goes to whip Gunther off, but Gunther holds on and brings him down to a knee by cinching in the side headlock. Owens finally whips him off, but Gunther shoulder tackles him down. Gunther wrenches the arm, but Owens gets to the ropes. Owens rocks him with a right hand and applies a side headlock. Gunther whips him off, so Owens goes for a shoulder tackle. Gunther absorbs it. Owens punches him to the corner, but Gunther cuts the momentum off. Owens ducks a chop and chops the chest of the Ring General. Owens hits the ropes, but Gunther crushes him with a big boot and follows up with a German Suplex. Owens rolls out of the ring to recover. Sami Zayn checks on his partner.

Gunther goes outside to retrieve Owens, but Owens kicks and chops him. Gunther quickly boots him and smashes the back of Owens’s head into the LED barricade. Gunther hits a back suplex onto the apron. Owens holds his neck at ringside.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Owens kick out of a pinfall attempt. Moments ago, Owens went for a Swanton Bomb, only for Gunther to get the knees up. Gunther taunts Sami Zayn at ringside. Owens punches back at Gunther and hits the ropes, but Gunther counters with a scoop slam. Gunther then puts his feet around Owens’s head and hits a neck twister. Owens writhes on the mat in pain. Gunther digs his boot into Owens’s face. Gunther applies a neck vice and screams at him. Zayn pounds the mat to try to get Owens back into the match. Owens punches out of the neck vice, but Gunther absolutely crushes Owens with a big boot for a one-count. Owens immediately pops up and punches Gunther. Gunther quickly levels him with a big boot to cut off this desperate comeback attempt.

Gunther peppers Owens with strikes and challenges him. Gunther gets Owens to his feet. Owens stumbles and hits a forearm. Gunther knocks him back and flattens him with a vicious chop to the chest. Gunther applies a Boston Crab, stepping on Owens’s neck before turning him over. Owens tries to claw to the ropes, but Gunther rolls into a crossface. Owens fights up and elbows out. Owens hits a chop, but Gunther, the master of that strike, takes Owens down with a frying pan chop to the chest. Zayn looks concerned at ringside. Gunther goes for a suplex, but Owens fights it. Gunther gets out of a fisherman’s suplex and takes Owens’s head off with a vicious lariat. Gunther pulls Owens up to his feet and hits a brutal short-arm clothesline. Gunther shouts at Zayn once again. Gunther pulls Owens to his feet. Owens absorbs a short-arm clothesline and strikes back at him. Gunther quickly floors Owens with a German Suplex high onto the neck and shoulders. Owens pops up and answers with a German Suplex on the Intercontinental Champion!

Owens and Gunther slowly get to their feet. They exchange stiff forearms before Gunther rocks Owens with a chop and a nasty stomp to the back of the head. Gunther lays in some playful kicks to Owens and gets him to his feet. Owens rocks Gunther with two superkicks that send him to his knees. Owens hits a third superkick that sends Gunther seated into the corner. Owens hits a cannonball in the corner for a near fall! Owens waits for Gunther to get up and goes for a Stunner, but Gunther counters with a Sleeper Hold attempt. Owens rolls out, but Gunther absolutely annihilates him with a front dropkick. Gunther sets up for a Powerbomb, but Owens fights out. They exchange blows before Owens hits a devastating fisherman’s buster for a near fall!

Owens pulls himself up to the top rope, but Gunther cuts him off with a chop. Gunther hits a head-and-arm superplex for a near fall! Gunther positions Owens and goes to the top rope. Gunther goes for a top rope dive, but Owens gets the knees up. Owens goes to the top rope and connects with a Swanton Bomb for a near fall! The crowd (and Owens and Zayn) cannot believe it!

Owens sizes Gunther up. Giovanni Vinci gets on the apron, but Sami Zayn pulls him down. Ludwig Kaiser runs over to help, but Owens gets out of the ring to even the odds. Kaiser and Owens get in the ring. Owens hits Kaiser with a Stunner. Gunther then rolls Owens up for the victory!

Winner by Pinfall: Gunther

Gunther shouts that Kevin Owens needs to respect him. Gunther stands tall with Imperium on the ramp.

Seth “Freakin” Rollins will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Damian Priest later tonight. We’ll also see Cody Rhodes on Miz TV.

Coming up next, we’ll see new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler.

-Commercial Break-

Replays are shown of Gunther defeating Kevin Owens after a distraction from Imperium.

Cathy Kelley is backstage with Matt Riddle. Riddle says he’s tired of seeing Gunther cheat week after week. If he didn’t have Ludwig and Giovanni, he wouldn’t be as successful. Vinci and Kaiser run up to him. Kaiser is furious he’s talking about the Ring General that way. Imperium tries to attack him, but Riddle sends Kaiser over some boxes. Riddle then applies an ankle lock to Vinci. WWE officials and referees pull Riddle away. Kaiser and Vinci lick their wounds as Riddle is pulled away.

Replays are shown from last week’s Raw of Ronda Rousey getting Shotzi to tap out to the armbar to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with Shayna Baszler.

Byron Saxton is backstage with new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler. Saxton asks what it means to be a champion. Baszler says this is destiny. They dreamed this up years ago before they were done with the octagon. Rousey says they’re going to legitimize the titles. Any team with the proverbial stones to step up to them will be destroyed. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter walk up to them. They introduce themselves and say they want their Raw debuts to be against the Baddest Team on the Planet. Rousey wonders if they landed in Munchkin Land. Being in Connecticut is bad enough. Rousey says she admires their stupidity. Baszler says they’re ignorant, but they’ll wake up when their tendons are being twisted. Rousey says this will be a baptism by fire.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler make their way to the ring. They’ll face Katana Chance and Kayden Carter next.

-Commercial Break-

Non-Title Tag Team Match
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler vs. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance

Shayna Baszler will start against Kayden Carter. They lock up, and Baszler powers her to the corner before tripping her. Baszler backs Carter to the corner again. Carter turns her around and trips the Queen of Spades. Carter rolls her up, but Baszler pushes her off. Carter hits a springboard dropkick. Katana Chance tags in and trips Baszler before hitting a slingshot senton for a one-count. Baszler stumbles to her corner, and Ronda Rousey tags in. The crowd loudly boos Rousey. Rousey kicks Carter down and hits Chance with a throw. Rousey lifts Carter, but Chance kicks her. Rousey knocks Carter out of the ring and knees Chance in the corner before applying an armbar over the ropes. Carter superkicks Rousey from ringside. Carter hits a cross-body block off the top rope to the floor on Baszler. Chance then hits Rousey with a corkscrew plancha.

The referee checks on Rousey in the ring. Baszler snaps Chance’s arm off the ropes. Rousey takes her down and tags Baszler in. Baszler hits a sliding knee for a near fall. Baszler stretches the injured arm of Chance before stomping it. Baszler clubs the back and sends her to the corner. Chance boots her back and kicks Rousey off the apron. Chance flips through a back suplex from Baszler and tags Carter in. Carter hits a forearm and a running forearm. Carter hits a dropkick before rolling her up and hitting a superkick. Carter hits a running boot against the ropes. Carter hits a modified piledriver for a near fall. Baszler elbows Carter back and tags Rousey in. Rousey goes for Piper’s Pit, but Chance blind tags in. Carter slides off and sidesteps her to put her into the ring post shoulder-first. Chance tags in. Chance kicks Baszler off the apron. Chance and Carter hit Rousey with the After Party! Baszler pulls Chance off Rousey before the three-count.

Carter hits a missile dropkick off the apron on Baszler. Chance hits Rousey with a cross-body block for a near fall. Rousey quickly blocks a kick and applies an ankle lock. Chance reaches for the ropes, but Rousey pulls her away. Chance rolls out and hits a codebreaker. Baszler tags in, but Chance elbows her back. Carter blind tags in. Baszler knees Chance. Carter rolls Baszler up for a near fall. Baszler quickly crushes Carter with a nasty back suplex. Baszler applies the Kirifuda Clutch for the submission.

Winners by Submission: Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler

Ricochet is warming up backstage. Bronson Reed walks up and says he beat Ricochet two weeks ago, but somehow he’s still in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Ricochet says he won his match last week. Meanwhile, Shinsuke Nakamura ended Reed’s undefeated streak. Shinsuke Nakamura walks up and says he beat Reed even though he thinks he dominated him. Reed angrily walks off. Ricochet says he respects what Nakamura did last week, but he won’t take it easy on him tonight.

Ricochet makes his entrance. He’ll face Shinsuke Nakamura next.

-Commercial Break-

Video Package: Johnny Gargano says his story is just getting started.

Ricochet vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

The bell rings, and Nakamura applies a side headlock. Ricochet whips him off, but Nakamura shoulder tackles him. Nakamura hits the ropes, but Ricochet hits an arm drag. Ricochet grapevines the head, but Nakamura gets out. Nakamura blocks a kick and elbows him in the face. Ricochet responds with a dropkick to the face. Ricochet goes for a suicide dive, but Nakamura cuts him off with a kick to the face. Nakamura goes to the second rope, but Ricochet kicks him in the face and knocks him to the floor. Ricochet then connects with a Fosbury Flop!

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Nakamura knee Ricochet in the ribs and go for an inverted exploder, but Ricochet lands on his feet. Ricochet then takes Nakamura down with a handspring back elbow. Ricochet blocks a punch and shoves Nakamura into the corner. Ricochet hits a running shoulder to the midsection and kicks him in the face. Ricochet hits a springboard clothesline, followed by a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Nakamura ducks a kick, as does Ricochet. Ricochet soon hits a rebound kick that sends Nakamura to the corner. Ricochet hits an avalanche. Ricochet tries again, but Nakamura moves. Nakamura knees Ricochet in the ribs and digs his boot into his face. Nakamura has Ricochet on the ropes and hits a sliding snap German Suplex. Ricochet responds with a backflip dropkick, but Nakamura flattens him with a kick. Nakamura hits an inverted exploder suplex. Ricochet knees him as he attempts a Kinshasa. Ricochet then hits the Recoil!

Ricochet goes to the top rope, but Nakamura cuts him off. Ricochet points at something. Ricochet then jumps over Bronson Reed, who avalanches Nakamura in the corner. The referee calls for the bell.

No Contest

Reed puts Ricochet on his back and hits a senton splash on Nakamura. Reed crushes Ricochet and goes to the top rope for a Tsunami! The crowd chants, “One more time,” but Reed waves them off.

Replays are shown of Maxxine Dupri kicking Valhalla, only to be chased away. It ultimately wound up with Imperium defeating Alpha Academy with an Imperium Bomb.

Chad Gable, Otis, and Maxxine Dupri are talking backstage. Gable says Otis is the reason they’re all together. Maxxine doesn’t understand why the Viking creeps are after them. Gable told his Number One Guy to study up on Viking research. Otis says they’re going to take them out with some deodorant. Otis will teach the pretty lady to take on the Viking lady. Gable says Maxxine can’t fight in what she’s wearing. Maxxine says she has the perfect outfit and walks off.

Cody Rhodes is walking backstage. He’ll be on Miz TV next.

-Commercial Break-

Miz TV w/ Special Guest “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes

The Miz is in the ring and welcomes everyone to the show. Miz says he needed a big guest that was worthy of a night like tonight. Miz introduces “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes to the ring.

“Wrestling has more than one royal family.”

“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, still wearing a cast to protect his broken arm, makes his way to the ring to a big ovation. The crowd sings his song the whole way down the ramp. A “Cody” chant picks up. Miz asks if they should start, and the crowd shouts, “Yes!” Miz says Rhodes looks “dashing” tonight. Miz wants to talk about what Rhodes said last week. Rhodes challenged Brock Lesnar, who beat him at Night of Champions and broke his arm and challenged him to show up at any city he’s in and fight. Doesn’t Rhodes think that’s kind of stupid?

Rhodes says that’s a fast question and calls him, “Mike.” Miz says in this ring, he’s The Miz. First name “The,” last name, “Miz.” A “Mike” chant picks up. Rhodes says he hasn’t heard it called “stupid” yet. It’s been called “crazy” and said it takes balls, something Miz knows a little about. The Beast is on his annual hibernation, so we won’t be seeing him for a while. Miz says that’s too bad. On Miz TV, they love drama and controversy. Miz has a surprise for Rhodes. It’s better than Brock Lesnar. Since Rhodes has a storied family tradition, he wants to bring out another man who shares the same pressures as a multi-generational talent. He’s arguably the hottest superstar in WWE: Dominik Mysterio!

Dominik Mysterio comes out to the ring alongside SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley. Rhodes looks confused. Miz goofily dances to Mysterio’s music. The crowd chants, “You suck” at Mysterio. Miz goes to speak, but Ripley silences him. Dom-Dom has something he would like to say. She hands him the microphone. Mysterio goes to speak, but the crowd vociferously boos him. Miz screams to let Mysterio talk, but they just boo louder. Rhodes sarcastically tells them not to boo Mysterio. Ripley says they need to let her Latino Heat speak. Mysterio speaks, but the boos continue to get louder. Mysterio says he’s done hard time. Rhodes is just a little birdy with a broken wing. Mysterio watched Rhodes rattle off a bunch of crappy towns Lesnar can find him in. It hit Mysterio that Rhodes is a bad father. Rhodes has a baby girl. Rhodes should be home, taking care of her. Instead, he’s here. Rhodes is just like Rey Mysterio: a deadbeat dad.

Rhodes gets to his feet. Rhodes says he has a ton of empathy for Mysterio. That 15 minutes he spent in prison was hard on him. Mysterio has a worse prison tattoo than he does. After prison, he went to a WrestleMania match with his father, but it wasn’t really a match. It was a public spanking. Rhodes is not perfect. Rey Mysterio probably isn’t. Rey made some terrible mistakes because Rhodes is looking at one. Mysterio and Ripley go to leave. Rhodes turns around to put the microphone down. Mysterio sneaks up and slaps Rhodes in the face before hiding behind Ripley. Ripley smiles as Dominik taunts Rhodes. Ripley and Mysterio walk off.

Miz looks like he likes what just happened. Rhodes looks at Mysterio and Ripley and looks angry. Rhodes then turns around and knocks Miz out with the titanium cast.

Replays are shown from earlier tonight of Seth “Freakin” Rollins challenging Damian Priest to leave the Judgment Day in the back for their World Heavyweight Championship match. Bálor wasn’t happy that Priest accepted the stipulation.

Damian Priest is shown warming up backstage.

WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus makes her entrance, followed by Zoey Stark. Stark will face Natalya in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match next.

-Commercial Break-

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Zoey Stark w/ Trish Stratus vs. Natalya

Stark quickly gets Natalya in the corner and attacks her with strikes. Natalya comes back with a roll-up for a one-count. Natalya applies a waistlock and takes her down with a hammerlock. Stark fights up, but Natalya takes her down. Natalya applies a side headlock, but Stark whips her off. Natalya slingshots over her, but she tweaks her knee. Stark takes Natalya down and attacks the knee after Trish Stratus points out that Natalya is injured. Stark hits a leg DDT. Stark continues to attack Natalya and talk trash. Natalya throws her off and elbows her back. Natalya boots her and hits a German Suplex. Natalya connects with a jackknife pin for a two-count. Natalya quickly applies a Sharpshooter. Stark screams in pain, but she makes it to the bottom rope. Stratus pulls Stark out of the ring. Natalya hits a baseball slide and gets Stark in the ring. The referee checks on Stark. As he does, Stratus kicks Natalya in the injured knee. Stark attacks Natalya and hits the Z-360 for the victory.

Winner by Pinfall: Zoey Stark

Zoey Stark joins Becky Lynch and Zelina Vega in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match.

Paul Heyman is backstage. Heyman is cordially inviting everyone to watch Friday Night SmackDown as the family drama plays out. Jey Uso will make his historic choice. As the Wise Man, he’s tasked with sometimes delivering bad news, even if it’s to “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns. The news is not pleasant. Jey Uso will make his choice this Friday… and Jey Uso will choose and stand by his brother… Solo Sikoa. You can share a womb with your twin, Jimmy, but you’ll never be closer to life to him than you are to your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. This Friday, live on SmackDown, Jey Uso WILL acknowledge that fact. Heyman wipes his hands and says, “…or else.”

Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin battle Indus Sher next.

-Commercial Break-

Tag Team Match
Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin vs. Indus Sheer (Veer and Sanga) w/ Jinder Mahal

Before the match begins, Sanga attacks Shelton Benjamin. Veer hits Cedric Alexander with the Million Dollar Arm clothesline. Indus Sher hits Alexander with a sidewalk slam/diving leg drop combo. Indus Sher poses in the ring as Jinder Mahal looks intensely on. Indus Sher then grabs Alexander and hits the tag team combo on him again. They pose. The match never got started.

World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins is warming up.

The World Heavyweight Championship will be defended next.

-Commercial Break-

World Heavyweight Championship
Damian Priest vs. Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c)

The bell rings, and the first televised defense of the World Heavyweight Championship begins. They circle the ring and lock up. Priest quickly powers Rollins to the corner and talks some trash. Priest says that’s why he doesn’t need anybody. Rollins pushes Priest back and punches him. Priest throws Rollins to the corner, but Rollins sidesteps him and punches and chops him. Priest tries to whip him to the opposite corner, but Rollins puts the brakes on. Rollins goes to the apron to avoid an avalanche. Rollins counters a shoulder with a leap and a leg drop to knock Priest out of the ring. Rollins comes off the apron with a flying knee to the head and celebrates.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Priest punch Rollins back. Priest sends him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Rollins challenges Priest. Priest charges so Rollins pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. Priest knees Rollins at ringside and puts him on his shoulder. Rollins slides off and sends Priest into the ring post. Rollins charges, but Priest hits a back body drop into the timekeeper’s area. Rollins lands on his feet. Rollins jumps to the top of the barricade and leaps, but Priest forearms him out of midair.

Priest follows Rollins into the ring and grabs him by the hair. Priest shoves Rollins to the corner and punches and kicks him down. Priest taunts the crowd before choking Rollins on the ropes. Priest puts Rollins in the corner and punches him before whipping him hard into the opposite corner for a two-count. Priest applies a chin lock. Rollins fights up, but Priest powers him down. Rollins fights out and hits the ropes, but Priest connects with a back elbow for a one-count. Priest kicks Rollins in the back and the chest. Priest gets Rollins on his feet and floors him with a forearm to the jaw. Priest applies a surfboard stretch, but Rollins soon fights up. Priest forearms him in the back and smirks at the crowd. Rollins responds with some elbows to the face. Priest shoves him into the ropes and forearms him in the back, but Rollins responds with an overhead kick.

Rollins punches Priest in the head three times before chopping and punching him into the ropes. Rollins hits a clothesline, but Priest stays standing. Rollins tries again, and Priest starts to stagger. Rollins kicks Priest, knees him in the face, and finally takes him down with a clothesline. Rollins avalanches him in the corner before hitting a backbreaker. Rollins goes to the top rope for a frog splash, but Priest moves. Priest goes for a kick, but it’s a glancing blow. Priest avalanches him in the corner. Priest tries again, but Rollins kicks him and goes for a Pedigree. Priest fights it, so Rollins rolls him up for a two-count. Rollins immediately follows up with a Sling Blade. Priest rolls out of the ring to recover. Rollins goes for a suicide dive, but Priest catches him and hits a flatliner on the commentary table!

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Rollins go for a sunset flip powerbomb off the top rope. Priest knocks him back, but Rollins stuns him with a strike. Rollins sets up for a superplex, but Priest fights it. The crowd is singing Rollins’ theme song. Priest punches Rollins away and sets up for a dive. Rollins quickly scales the ropes and hits a superplex. Priest tries to fight the falcon arrow, but Rollins fights it and hits a falcon arrow for a near fall.

The crowd chants, “This is awesome.” Rollins gets fired up and hits Priest with a suicide dive. Rollins immediately gets back in the ring and hits a second suicide dive. Priest is still standing. Rollins gets in the ring and sends Priest over the commentary table with a third suicide dive! Rollins gets Priest in the ring and catches him with a superkick. Rollins goes to the top rope and hits a frog splash for a near fall.

Rollins sets up for a vicious elbow, but Priest cuts him off. Rollins manages to hit a rolling elbow, but Priest quickly responds with a headlock driver for a near fall. Priest sets up for a powerbomb, but Rollins gets out. Priest instead goes for South of Heaven, but Rollins flips through. Rollins punches him, but Priest knocks him back with a vicious punch. Rollins goes to the top rope, but Priest kicks him in the head. Priest hits Rollins with a top rope hurricanrana for a near fall! Priest cannot believe it. Priest gets Rollins on his feet and smashes him with two standing lariats. Rollins flips through a third one and connects with a Pedigree for a near fall! Priest just barely kicked out of that pin.

Rollins and Priest get on the apron. Priest goes for a kick, but Rollins jumps off the apron. Rollins pulls Priest down and hits a Buckle Bomb into the barricade! Priest clutches his shoulder in pain. All of a sudden, Finn Bálor appears at ringside, but Rollins superkicks him down. Rollins gets in the ring and goes for a Stomp, but Priest turns him inside out with a clothesline. Priest hits South of Heaven for a near fall. Priest gets to his feet and looks down at Bálor at ringside. Priest is wondering what Bálor is doing there. Priest holds his shoulder in pain and sets up for a Crucifix Bomb. Rollins slides off and superkicks him before hitting a forearm. Rollins hits an elbow to the back of the neck and follows up with a Stomp for the victory.

Winner by Pinfall and still World Heavyweight Champion: Seth “Freakin” Rollins

Finn Bálor gets in the ring and stares at Rollins. They go face-to-face as the show ends.