WWE Raw Results
May 15, 2023
Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, NC.
Commentary: Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
WWE Raw kicks off with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn walking down to the ring. We see clips of last Friday on SmackDown when Paul Heyman announced that Zayn and Owens will defend their Undisputed Tag Team Championships against Solo and Roman Reigns.
Zayn says he is excited because they found out on Friday about their match at Night of Champions. Zayn says as paper, it’s as big of a threat for their titles as there is. But they see it as a gift because they are getting a chance for revenge on Roman Reigns. And to be honest, Owens should have beaten Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. And he knows that at Elimination Chamber, he should have beaten Roman. But Roman has cheated his way throughout his entire reign as champion.
He says Roman is making a good job that the Bloodline crumbles all by himself. He is pushing the Usos so far and he is pushing this Championship thing for him. It’s not enough to have the WWE Championship, to have the Universal Championship, to be Champion for 1000 days and now he wants the Tag Team Championships. Zayn tells Roman he can’t have the titles.
The Judgment Day’s music hits and out come all four members. Owens tells them to cut the music and he is glad they came out because he is sick of talking about the Bloodline, he doesn’t know what the Judgment Day are out here to say but if they want to fight, to fight. Zayn says this might be his fault. He started on a 10 but Owens is higher than that right now but they don’t have a problem with the Judgment Day. Maybe they are not out to fight and to hear them out. Zayn says gentleman and Dom, the floor is all yours.
Damian Priest says Owens was spot on. He would like to fight. Finn tells them to calm down and they are here to fight. They are here to wish them the best of luck on their match but they are confused. Last week, they said they were done with The Bloodline but they are right back to where it started. Priest says back to being beat up by Roman.
Finn says but if by some miracle and they do win, there will be a whole line of superstars waiting for them and the line starts here. Rhea tells them that the Judgment Day, they run Monday Night Raw.
Owens tells Zayn he wanted to hear them out. Zayn says he would like to hear what Dom has to say about it as the fans boo him. As soon as Dom begins to talk, the fans boo him and he is unable to talk. Owens says it is pointless and asks Zayn if he can punch him in the face already. Zayn says why not as Owens goes for a punch but Rhea gets in his way. Priest hits Zayn with a right hand and the Judment Day attack Owens. Zayn grabs a chair and gets in the ring as the Judgment Day leave the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Miz
The bell rings and we are under way. Nakamura with kicks as he throws Miz to the ropes and hits him with a flying kick. A knee to the face by Nakamura and he stomps on The Miz in the corner. Nakamura goes for a kick but Miz kicks him away. Miz chokes Nakamura up on the second rope until the referee breaks it up. A running kick to the back of the head by Miz and Nakamura is down. He grabs Nakamura but Nakamura throws Miz to the outside and Nakamura with a sliding kick on the outside of the ring. Nakamura places Miz on the ring apron and he hits him with a knee to the face. Miz on the ring apron as Nakamura goes for a kick but Miz moves out of the way and Miz hits Nakamura with a neck breaker across the second rope and Nakamura falls to the outside of the ring.
-Commerical Break-
Back from commercial, Nakamura with an arm bar in the middle of the ring. Miz reverses it into a cover but Nakamura kicks out. Miz with a DDT. He goes for the cover but again Nakamura kicks out. Miz with kicks onto Nakamura but Nakamura with a kick to the side of the head. He goes for the cover but Miz kicks out. Nakamura with a sliding release German suplex. Nakamura goes for the Kinshasa but Miz drops to the mat and grabs the ring apron cover which distracts the referee. Miz with a rake to the eyes and he hits him with the Skull Crushing Finale. He goes for the cover but Nakamura gets his foot on the bottom rope. Miz grabs Nakamura but Nakamura rolls him up into a cover but Miz kicks out. Nakamura with the Kinshasa. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green are backstage arguing with Adam Pearce with Raquel Rodriguez there too. Pearce says Liv Morgan is injured and is not medically cleared to compete. Green and Sonya mock Liv. Sonya says as a former member of management, she would have Raquel and Liv forfeit their titles and they would be champions.
Raquel says she would be happy to defend Liv’s honor against Chelsea tonight. Chelsea tells Raquel that she is going to regret it and Adam Pearce makes the match official.
-Commercial Break-
A video package hyping up Seth Rollins and his WWE career airs. It’s a pre-taped sit down interview with Corey Graves where they run through his WWE run.
-Commercial Break-
Imperium’s music hits and out comes Gunther, Kaiser and Vinci. Gunther stands on top of the announce table as Kaiser says he demands all their gratitude for the Intercontinental Champion, the ring general, Gunther.
Kaiser hands Gunther the microphone as he stands on the table. He says perhaps an introduction is due. He says he dominated SmackDown for almost a year as the undefeated and longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of the modern era. But from this day forward, he shall continue his mission on Raw. But no man on Raw has yet been identified as being the next challenger for his great prize. Or has earned his respect. But in a few moments, one man can achieve both. The match will determine his next challenger for his Championship at the Night of Champions.
-Commercial Break-
Number 1 Contender for the Intercontinental Championship – Battle Royal
Riddle kicks his flip flops away in front of Imperium before the matceh which angers them. He gets in the ring and the bell rings and we are under way.
Corbin throws Tozawa over the top rope and Dexter Lumis eliminates Corbin from the match. Maximum Male Models eliminate Dexter. Alpha Academy eliminate Maximum Male Models. Lumis walks towards Maximum Male Models as they run to the back. Ziggler eliminates JD McDonagh eliminates and Von Wagner eliminates Ziggler. JD McDonagh throws Ziggler into the ring steps and slams his head into them.
-Commercial Break-
Otis eliminates Erik and Ivar eliminates Gable. Bronson Reed eliminates Otis and Ivar from the match. Apollo Crews eliminates Elias and Reed eliminates Crews. Riddle eliminates Madcap Moss and he eliminates Gargano.
Final four are Matt Riddle, Ricochet, Mustafa Ali and Bronson Reed. Imperium attack Riddle who is on the apron and Reed eliminates Riddle from the match. Final three are Ricochet, Bronson Reed and Mustafa Ali. Ricochet and Ali try to eliminate Reed but he lands on the ring apron. Ricochet with a drop kick onto Reed but Reed still on the ring apron. Ricochet climbs the top rope but Reed catches him. Ali with a dropkick off the top rope and Reed and Ricochet are eliminated.
Winner: Number 1 contender for the Intercontinental Championship, Mustafa Ali
-Commercial Break-
Becky Lynch’s music hits and she comes down to the ring. She says part of being The Man is admitting that you are going through stuff. And you put on the face that you need to put on to become who you need to be. And sometimes, when it becomes too overwhelming, you have to man up and ask for help.
Lynch says she asked for help from two legends. Lita and Trish Stratus. She says Lita was great and Trish had not skipped a beat. She let Trish get close to her family and she was unable to see what was probably obvious. Trish came back to help herself, like the backstabbing egomaniac that she is. But despite all of that, she wanted to come out and thank Trish.
Becky says she wants to thank her because when she hit her in the back of the head, she turned on a light that had been turned off for many months. And when she stood in the ring and called her daughter stupid, she reminded her that the only thing that matters in this life is standing up to those who rely on us.
And at one point, Trish was number one in this business. But she has done it before and she does not need a Championship to prove it. She says she will show Trish how thankful she is when she kicks her head in at night of Champions. She drops the microphone as her music hits.
Cathy Kelly is backstage with Rhea Ripley. She tells Kelly that Natalya needs to stay in her lane. She has had an impressive career but… And in comes Natalya. She tells Rhea this is not about lanes. This is about her beating down a woman that was already beaten. She is the Champion, the most dominant to ever hold it.
She tells Rhea she deserves nothing but respect but she isn’t earning it. Rhea tells her not to pretend she came out to Raw last week for Dana. She came out to make every one care for her again. Rhea tells her she is welcome but if she ever interrupts her again, she will not help boost her career, she is going to end it. Dominik taps Rhea on the shoulder as they walk away.
-Commercial Break-
Ali is backstage and he bumps into the Alpha Academy. He tells them he used to be a loser like them and now he is a winner. He keeps walking and sees Imperium. Gunther congratulates him and says he feels sorry for him. He will travel half way across the world and lose. Gunther extends his arm as Ali shakes it. Ali says he feels bad for Gunther. He has to go all the way there and all the way back, just for him to beat him, humiliate him and take his Intercontinental Championship.
-Commercial Break-
Dominik Mysterio with Rhea Ripley vs. Xavier Woods
The bell rings and we are under way. Woods with an arm bar followed by a chop to the chest. Woods with a drop kick as he goes for the cover but Dominik kicks out. Dominik throws Woods in the corner and stomps on him. Dominik gloats but Woods with a drop kick. An arm bar by Woods but Dominik with right hands and kicks. Dominik grabs Woods but Woods with a suplex. He goes for the cover but Dominik kicks out. Dominik rolls to the outside and hides behind Rhea Ripley. Woods tries to get to Dominik but Dominik gets in the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Woods with a drop kick off the top rope. Woods with a chop to the chest and right hands. He goes for the cover but Dominik kicks out. Woods with a clothesline. He goes for the cover but again Dominik kicks out. Woods on the ring apron but Dominik with a right hand. Dominik gets Woods in the ring and hits him with a suplex and he hits with him the three amigos. Dominik climbs the top rope and goes for the frog splash but Woods gets his knees up. Woods goes for the cover but Dominik kicks out.
Dominik rolls to the outside of the ring and Woods hits him with a splash. Rhea distracts Woods as Dominik gets back in the ring. Rhea hits Woods with a right hand and Dominik hits him with a baseball slide. Dominik throws Woods back in the ring, rolls him up and gets the pin.
Winner: Dominik Mysterio
JD McDonagh is leaving the arena and Cathy Kelley stops him. She asks him why he attacked Dolph Ziggler earlier, throwing him into the ring steps. He says he is on Raw to make a statement and who better to start with than with Ziggler.
-Commercial Break-
Indus Sher with Jinder Mahal vs. Two jobbers
The bell rings and we are under way. Veer knocks one of the jobbers off the ring apron and hits the other with a right hand. Sanga is tagged in and he hits him with a massive kick. The other jobber is tagged in and he gets thrown into the ring by Sanga. Veer is tagged in and they double team him. Veer with a big splash and Sanga is tagged back in. They double team him as Sanga goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: Indus Sher
Jinder Mahal gets on the microphone after the match and says they run Monday Night Raw and their future is written in gold.
Owens and Zayn are sitting backstage and in come Imperium. Gunther tells them he will not tolerate the disrespect he shows them last week. Owens says they have a fight tonight, but next week they can fight the three of them. Zayn says they will find a partner for next week.
We cut to the outside of the ring and Cody Rhodes is seen entering the arena.
-Commercial Break-
Cody’s music hits and out comes Cody Rhodes to a loud pop from the crowd. The fans chant his name as he asks them what they want to talk about. He says he knows this arena. This is the very first home of Starrcade. A wonderful memory, a great amount of mutual respect. He says Lesnar is not here tonight but they’re a fun audience and he will try one out.
Rhodes asks them if they have heard the one about the scorpion and the frog. There’s a scorpion on one side of the river and he asks the frog, who can hop and swim, if he can get a ride to the other side of the river. The frog says no because the scorpion will sting him. The scorpion says if he stings him, the frog will die and they will both die. The frog agrees and half way across the river, the scorpion stings him. And as the poison fills up his lungs, the frog asks the scorpion why. And the scorpion says it is his nature.
It is Brock Lesnar’s nature to hunt. He must be hunting but to make sure if he is hunting, how his face is. He knows Lesnar sees a lion but he should also see a black eye and a set of staples. And when he looks in the mirror, he sees the person who did that. Someone who beat the biggest bully in WWE history and he gladly accepts Lesnar’s challenge at Night of Champions.
There has always been this talk about his ego, his dates. The reason Lesnar is on top is because Lesnar is better than 99.9% of the superstars who enter the ring. But at Backlash, Lesnar was not better than him. Lesnar called it a cheap win. A counter to a wrestling move in a wrestling ring. Cody says even if he would have somehow gotten the win in 20 seconds, he would have found excuses.
Cody says this is about who is the big thing on Monday Night Raw. The fans chant Cody’s name. The next big thing, that’s what they said about Lesnar. And they were right but eventually, what happens when they just say next? He has conquered WWE, this sport but they are at the point where he needs to take his busted face because he is not the big thing anymore, he is simply in his way. Cody drops the microphone and leaves the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Raquel Rodriguez vs. Chelsea Green with Sonya Deville
The bell rings and we are under way. Raquel with a running boot to the face. Raquel slams her face first into the turnbuckle. She lifts Chelsea up but Sonya gets on the ring apron and distracts her. Chelsea hits her with a backstabber and she stomps Raquel face first into the turnbuckle. Chelsea slams Raquel face first onto the mat. She goes for the cover but Raquel kicks out.
Chelsea with a drop kick. She goes for a cover but Raquel kicks out. Chelsea grabs Raquel but Raquel grabs Chelsea by the legs, lifts her up and throws her onto the ropes. Raquel with clotheslines onto Chelsea. Raquel with a fall away slam. She climbs the second rope and hits her with a corkscrew elbow. Raquel hits her with the Tejada Bomb. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
Raquel is celebrating on the ramp as Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler attack her from behind. Ronda tells her to defend her title as Shayna kicks Raquel’s left arm.
-Commercial Break-
Imperium are backstage and Gunther shakes Paul Heyman’s hand and he walks away. Heyman uses his phone and tells it to call Roman Reigns.
-Commercial Break-
Damian Priest and Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens
The bell rings and we are under way. Finn and Zayn start the match. Zayn with an arm bar but Finn with a back elbow. Finn with a head lock as he runs to the ropes and Zayn with a hip toss. Both men back up and Finn gets Zayn in the corner and tags Damian into the match. Damian with a right hand. He lifts Zayn up but Zayn lands on his feet and pushes Priest face first into the turnbuckle. Owens is tagged into the match and he hits Priest with chops to the chest and right hands. Owens with a kick to the side of the head. Owens throws Priest to the outside of the ring. Finn get sin the ring and Owens throws him to the outside. Finn calls for Rhea Ripley and Dominik and both of them walk out.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Finn with a chop to the chest onto Zayn in the corner. Finn backs up and Zayn hits him with a clothesline. Both men are down and they make tags as Owens and Priest are in the match. Owens with right hands and he stomps on Priest as Priest rolls to the outside of the ring. Owens with a clothesline followed by a senton. He throws Priest back into the ring. Rhea goes for a clothesline on Owens but he ducks and he hits Dominik with a clothesline. Owens gets in the ring and he hits Priest with a cannonball. He goes for the cover but Priest kicks out. Owens runs to the ropes but Dominik trips him up and Priest with a right hand. The referee kicks Dominik and Rhea away from ringside.
Woods runs from the back and attacks Dominik as both men fight to the back. Priest rolls Owens up but Owens kicks out.
Paul Heyman walks down to the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Heyman is on the ramp on the phone. Finn throws Zayn into the ring steps. Priest with a snap mare on Owens in the ring. Finn gets in the ring and they double team Owens. Priest goes for the cover but Owens kicks out. Priest places Owens on the top rope as Priest climbs the second rope. Owens knocks Priest off the second rope. Owens with a swanton off the top rope. Zayn gets back on the ring apron. Finn is tagged in and as is Zayn. Both men are in the ring and Zayn with clotheslines. Zayn with a Michinoku driver. He goes for the cover but Finn kicks out. Zayn climbs the top rope and jumps but Finn moves out of the way and Zayn lands on his feet. Finn with the slingblade. Finn runs towards Zayn but Zayn hits him with the Blue Thunder Bomb. He goes for the cover but Finn kicks out.
Imperium walk through the crowd and are at ringside. Finn slams Zayn onto the mat. He goes for the cover but Owens breaks it up. Priest gets in the ring and Owens hits him with a stunner. Priest throws Owens to the outside. Zayn with an exploder onto Finn. Zayn with the Helluva Kick. Imperium get on the ring apron and distract the referee. Owens gets in the ring and knocks Vinci and Kaiser down. Owens to the outside as he goes face to face with Gunther. Priest with a chokeslam onto Owens. Zayn with a splash over the top rope onto Priest. Zayn back in the ring, Kaiser and Vinci distract the referee as Gunther holds Zayn’s leg. Finn with a drop kick. Finn with the Coup de Grace off the top rope. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: Judgment Day
Heyman is shown smiling while speaking on the phone as Raw goes off the air.