WWE Raw live results: Night of Champions fallout
Date: May 29, 2023
Location: MVP Arena in Albany, NY
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Show Recap —
There was a Night of Champions recap video.
Samantha Irvin introduced the new World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins who entered through the crowd. Rollins slapped hands with fans in the stands and around ringside as they loudly sang his song. Streamers went off when he hit the ring and he was greeted by a loud “You deserve it” chant.
Rollins said it just felt right being the World Champion and he was excited to be a champion who would always be there ready to fight. Fans chanted “Thank you, Seth” as others sang his song.
AJ Styles interrupted. Styles knew he was supposed to be on Smackdown but he couldn’t resist coming to Raw to congratulate Rollins. Styles gave Rollins everything he had but Rollins seemed to see everything coming. Styles said the fans thought Rollins “deserved it” but Styles didn’t think so because “you earned the right to be World Heavyweight Champion.”
Rollins said he gave Styles a beating at Night of Champions and he earned a handshake. They shook hands.
Judgment Day interrupted. Finn Bálor acted sick at this display and said he felt like puking. Damian Priest said he was feeling nauseous and had Rhea Ripley remind them that they run Raw. Priest said they run the entire WWE, especially now that Bloodline exploded. Bálor laughed because they beat the tag champions which even Roman Reigns couldn’t do.
Ripley warned Rollins that someone in Judgment Day would take his title. It could be Priest, it could be Bálor, or it could be Dom-Dom. Dominik’s name drew boos from the crowd while Rollins and Styles laughed at the idea. Dom didn’t think it was funny and reminded Styles that he beat him.
Judgment Day challenged Rollins and Styles to a match and they accepted. Rollins made sure to let Ripley know that Raw was his show.
The crowd was hot for this.
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Backstage, Adam Pearce was on the phone with someone, presumably Triple H. Pearce wanted to approve the tag match despite Styles being a Smackdown wrestler and admitted it flew in the face of their concept of separate brands.
Rollins and Styles were nearby and Rollins told him to make the match. Rollins wondered if Styles was afraid of Dom or Ripley. Styles said he had his gear and told Pearce to make the match.
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Money in the Bank qualifier: Ricochet defeated The Miz (8:45)
After a break, Miz actually did a springboard crossbody and was upset that he only got a two count because, as he put it, “I springboarded!” Miz followed later with a Codebreaker and DDT for two. Ricochet came back with a Black Mass kick and an SSP for the pinfall win. Crowd was happy.
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Trish Stratus / Zoey Stark / Becky Lynch segment
Stratus entered and had a visible bruise on her jaw.
Stratus said it meant nothing to her to hear the fans say, “Thank you, Trish” (which they didn’t appear to be doing). Stratus talked about beating Becky Lynch and called her performance “goat tings.” Stratus said Lynch’s loss would cause her to go through “stuff” again but that didn’t happen to top people like her.
Stratus introduced us to Zoey Stark. Stratus said Stark had her back, not because Stratus needed her help, but because Stark wanted to help.
Stark said she came here to be the best and to make a statement and there was no one better to learn from than the O.G. herself. Stark could have taken the long, hard road as Lynch did — or she could be smart like the great Trish Stratus. Stark called Stratus kind and giving and said, “Thank you, Trish.”
Stark asked Stratus what was on her face, pointing out the bruise. Stratus wasn’t happy about it and warned Lynch not to show up or else Stark would show her what’s up.
Lynch entered. Lynch told Stark that she would ruin her life. Lynch noted that both she and Stratus were both in their gear and suggested they restart their match right now.
Stark went after Lynch but Lynch decked her with a right hand and chucked her into the barricade. Lynch decked Stratus but Stark saved her. Stark gave Lynch a Z-360 and Stratus dropped her with a right hand (in the same spot as Stratus’ bruise). They left Lynch lying and placed a “Thank you, Trish” shirt on her.
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Indus Sher (w/Jinder Mahal) defeated two wrestlers (1:17)
Veer and Sanga easily defeated two guys — one of whom was Javier Bernal. (Bernal was identified by Corey Graves on commentary.)
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[SECOND HOUR]
There was a recap of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens beating Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa and the angle with Jimmy and Jey Uso.
Reigns will be on Friday’s Smackdown to celebrate 1,000 days as champion.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn segment
Owens wore a “We The Ones” t-shirt.
Zayn said they won on Saturday. They didn’t just defend their championships — they won. They did what they set out to do. The Bloodline crumbled. It was the worst night of Reigns’ life and he got exactly what he deserved.
Zayn said Reigns might be the greatest of all time, he might be champion for another 1,000 days, he might main event the next five WrestleManias — but whenever he looked in the mirror he would know that Owens and Zayn won.
Imperium interrupted. Ludwig Kaiser said their win wasn’t as impressive as Gunther’s. Owens was confused and asked, “Why are you here?” Owens said their names weren’t mentioned and he freaked out on them for thinking they could come out whenever they want. The crowd chanted for Owens as Zayn told him to chill out.
Zayn did agree with Owens though. There’s an unwritten rule that you don’t come out unless your name is mentioned. Zayn thought Imperium should be getting ready for their match against Alpha Academy and reminded them that they embarrassed them last week with help from Matt Riddle.
Kaiser said Riddle was an embarrassment and Owens and Zayn as the champions were an embarrassment.
Owens said we always hear from slender man (Kaiser) and the guy with the ears (Gunther) but we never hear from the guy with the head (Giovanni Vinci). Owens wanted to hear from him and Zayn also wanted to hear from “baldy” which led to a “baldy” chant.
Chad Gable interrupted Imperium with a long “shoosh.” Maxxine Dupri entered with Alpha Academy in a matching outfit. Gable said the new and improved Alpha Academy would teach Imperium a lesson right now. Owens wanted him to do his other catchphrase so Gable yelled, “Thank you” and Owens popped.
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Owens and Zayn joined commentary.
Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci defeated Alpha Academy (w/Maxxine Dupri) (5:15)
Valhalla suddenly appeared at ringside and stared down Dupri. Dupri kicked her so she chased Dupri to the back. (Owens bolted from commentary for a moment when Valhalla got too close.) The distraction allowed Imperium to take control over Gable until he made the hot tag to Otis.
Otis hit Kaiser with the caterpillar (which he seems to be getting worse at doing). Gable set up Kaiser for a double-team move but Vinci dropped the rope on Otis who fell out of the ring. Imperium gave Gable the Imperial Bomb for the pinfall win.
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Bayley and IYO SKY confronted Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi during their backstage interview. Rodriguez reminded Bayley that she was the only member of Damage CTRL to not hold gold since their group formed and said if they lost tonight, she’d know who to blame.
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There was a video package for Candice LeRae. LeRae believes fairy tales are real and her wings represent the magic that this fairy tale has brought to her life. “Candice LeRae is proof that when you believe, anything is possible.”
(If the mutual respect between Rollins and Styles didn’t make Finn Bálor puke, this should’ve done the trick.)
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Fatal 4-Way Match: Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler defeated Raquel Rodriguez & Shotzi, Bayley & IYO SKY and Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green to become the Women’s Tag Team Champions (11:42)
They saved the showdown between Rodriguez and Rousey until later in the match and Rodriguez dropped her with a clothesline. Rodriguez was about to give her the Tejana Bomb but Baszler saved her. Rodriguez gave Baszler a Tejana Bomb which allowed Rousey to put her in an arm bar. Bayley broke that up with a flying elbow drop.
Green tagged herself in and she double-teamed Rodriguez with Deville and they got a nearfall. SKY wiped them out with a double dropkick. SKY gave Rodriguez a meteora but Shotzi broke up the cover before taking out Bayley with a dive.
Shotzi gave SKY a facebuster and dragon suplex but SKY came back with a flapjack. SKY set up for a moonsault but Rousey tagged herself in. This set up a tower of doom spot with Shotzi bringing down SKY and Rousey with a powerbomb.
Shotzi tried a diving senton but Rousey countered into an arm bar. Shotzi tapped immediately.
Rousey and Baszler are the new tag team champs.
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JD McDonagh vs. Dolph Ziggler ended in a double count-out (1:16)
McDonagh snapped the top rope into Ziggler’s throat to take control. That led to a mistimed suplex spot that resulted in Ziggler landing on his face. McDonagh tossed him around ringside and didn’t seem at all concerned that they were being counted out.
As soon as the referee called for the count-out, McDonagh drove Ziggler’s head into the steel steps. McDonagh stomped his head into the steps before calmly walking away.
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Cody Rhodes was shown walking through the back with his arm in a sling. He’s up next.
[THIRD HOUR]
There was a video recap of Brock Lesnar beating Rhodes on Saturday.
Cody Rhodes promo
Rhodes entered to a strong reaction.
Rhodes mentioned that he lost his match to Lesnar via referee stoppage. His contemporaries told him he was foolish to fight Lesnar with one hand and foolish to not tap out.
Rhodes didn’t tap out for a reason. It was excruciating but that was not the man he wanted to be. Years ago, he would have tapped out but he understood that second chances don’t always come. Rhodes noted the wildly popular wrestler who often said, “Never give up.”
Rhodes had a message for Lesnar that he had to deliver to the camera because Lesnar wasn’t there. Rhodes assumed that he was taking his annual vacation. Rhodes asked Lesnar if he was satisfied that this was done. Rhodes asked if he was satisfied that it was 1-1 between them.
Rhodes hoped that Lesnar had cable or internet or a landline or something in Saskatchewan to relay this message. Rhodes was issuing an open challenge and was willing to send him his full schedule. “If I am standing in a ring, I am standing there ready to fight you, Brock Lesnar.” The crowd chanted for Cody.
Rhodes rattled off Lesnar’s many accomplishments and added that he was a beast — “beast enough to break my arm but not man enough to make me tap out.” If Lesnar didn’t accept his challenge, we would know that Brock Lesnar was afraid of Cody Rhodes.
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Cathy Kelley interviewed Riddle about Money in the Bank. Riddle was excited about the prospect of cashing in MITB against either Reigns or Rollins. Gunther approached him. Gunther wanted Riddle to win MITB and cash in on him. Gunther said beating him and humiliating him would be fun for him. Gunther wished him luck.
Kelley interviewed Rousey and Baszler after a break. Kelley asked what it was like to become tag champions again. Rousey said it was her first time but it was old news for Baszler. (Baszler noted it was her third time.)
Rousey said they were told for ten years that they were not what the fans wanted but they weren’t there to cater to fickle fans because they meant nothing. Baszler said they went through everyone to become champions. Rousey said they were the baddest team on the planet. They demanded to be recognized as the best and their belts prove it.
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Money in the Bank qualifier: Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Bronson Reed (9:34)
Reed was about to try a running shoulder tackle off the apron but Nakamura kicked his leg out of his leg and gave him a knee drop on the apron. Reed regained control after a break but Nakamura came back with kicks and a sliding German suplex. Reed avoided a Kinshasa and hit a Samoan drop and senton.
Reed went to the top but Nakamura again kicked his leg out. Nakamura came off the top but Reed caught him with a thrust kick and followed with a powerslam. Reed went for the Tsunami but Nakamura dodged it and hit consecutive Kinshasas. Reed rolled out of the ring so Nakamura went after him. Nakamura tried a kick or something off the steel steps but appeared to miss.
Reed just barely beat a ten count and rolled into the ring but Nakamura immediately hit another Kinshasa for the pinfall win.
The crowd popped for the win and I think they were probably surprised by the result.
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Byron Saxton interviewed Judgment Day. He congratulated Ripley on defeating Natalya. Ripley said she didn’t just beat Natalya, she destroyed her. Ripley told Saxton they were busy and wanted him to leave. Saxton had one more question. He wanted to know which of them were facing Rollins and Styles. They wouldn’t answer.
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There was a Memorial Day video.
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Next week on Raw in Harford, CT:
- MITB qualifier: Becky Lynch vs. Sonya Deville
- MITB qualifier: Natalya vs. Zoey Stark
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Before the match started, they made it seem like Dominik would be Priest’s partner but Bálor attacked Rollins from behind to take Dom’s place. The ref admonished Bálor for doing this while simultaneously telling the timekeeper to start the match.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins & AJ Styles defeated Finn Bálor & Damian Priest (w/Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio) (13:13)
Everyone traded moves which led to Styles setting up the Phenomenal forearm but Dom yanked him off the apron. Styles threatened to beat him up so Priest ran and tackled Styles over the announce desk.
After a break, Ripley held Styles outside the ring for Dom to attack while the ref was distracted. Rollins attacked Dom and tossed him into the ring and into the referee’s legs. The ref saw Dom and chucked him and Ripley from ringside.
Rollins made a hot tag and hit Bálor with clotheslines, a thrust kick, another clothesline, a springboard knee strike and a superkick for two. Bálor fought back and tagged in Priest who knocked Styles off the apron. Rollins flipped out of a chokeslam attempt but Priest leveled him with a clothesline for two.
Rollins gave Priest a superplex but Priest countered the falcon arrow into a falcon arrow of his own. Bálor had made a blind tag but he missed a Coup de Grace and Rollins hit a superkick.
Styles tagged in and hit Priest with strikes and a fireman’s carry neckbreaker. Rollins wiped out Bálor with a suicide dive.
Priest avoided a Phenomenal forearm and gave Styles a Razor’s Edge but Rollins broke up the cover by stomping Priest. Rollins tagged in and stomped Priest again for the pinfall win. This was a fun match.
The good guys posed and the camera focused mainly on Rollins as the show ended.