WWE Raw Results
March 27, 2023
Phoenix, Arizona (Footprint 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.
We go live into the Footprint Center. Tonight, we’ll see Cody Rhodes take on Solo Sikoa, Brock Lesnar and Omos have a WrestleMania Weigh-In, WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER in action, and a special Miz TV.
The Miz makes his way to the ring. Miz says he’s feeling the WrestleMania energy. This is the final Raw on the Road to WrestleMania. There you’ll see the most must-see master of ceremonies do his thing. On tonight’s special edition of Miz TV, we’ll get to the bottom of one of the hottest rivalries in WWE. The Miz welcomes WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Becky Lynch and Lita, and WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus to the ring.
Becky Lynch, Lita, and Trish Stratus will battle Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY of Damage CTRL this weekend at WrestleMania.
Miz invites the three women to take a seat. Miz says that Becky Lynch has a match against IYO SKY tonight. Lynch has had such a problem with Damage CTRL, so she called in Trish Stratus and Lita. Lynch is “The Man,” so how does it feel to know she needed backup because she didn’t do it on her own? Lynch says she is The Man. Miz is a man who is insecure and has notoriously tiny balls. A “tiny balls” chant picks up. Miz says they are not tiny; they are massive. This was verified by his wife. Lynch says Maryse must not have gotten around before him.
Damage CTRL has been a thorn in Lynch’s side and put her on the shelf. They made it so she couldn’t look after her child. Those were the longest two months of her life. She thought about ending them for another two months and thought she did at WarGames, but they keep coming back like vermin. She doesn’t get along with too many people, but there are two people she respects more than anyone in the business. The Miz isn’t one of them. When people fight for her, she fights for them.
Miz wants to move along. As for Lita and Trish, why now? Miz tells the crowd to cheer for them. Why make their returns to play backup to Becky Lynch? Lita holds up her title and says she doesn’t feel like a backup. She feels like one-half of the Tag Team Champions.
Damage CTRL’s music hits. Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY come out to the ring. Bayley says she’s heard enough. The crowd loudly boos them. Bayley calls the people in Phoenix “idiots.” Bayley gets in the ring with Kai and Sky. This match at WrestleMania isn’t just another match. This is their lives. Every step they’ve taken since SummerSlam has led them to this match. Trish and Lita are here acting like they mean something when they last meant something 20 years ago. Trish says the title on Lita’s shoulder makes her mean something right now. Bayley says at one point in her life, this would have been the ultimate dream match for them. Going against someone she came up with in this company and two of their heroes at WrestleMania. Now, it’s a different kind of dream. The crowd gives her the “WHAT” treatment. Bayley says the people have accomplished crap. Now their dream is to take out the top woman in this division and two Hall of Famers all in the same night.
Lynch asks what Bayley will do if that happens. Bayley has been doing nothing. Neither have the two women behind her. Kai and Sky went from being great to being lackeys. They haven’t done anything since SummerSlam. Lynch thought this would end at WarGames, then the Steel Cage, and then when they took the titles. Now it can only end at WrestleMania.
Becky Lynch will battle IYO SKY next.
WrestleMania goes Hollywood this Saturday and Sunday.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Becky Lynch w/ Lita and Trish Stratus vs. IYO SKY w/ Damage CTRL
The bell rings, and Lynch immediately shoulder tackles Sky down. Lynch stomps Sky in the corner and hits a springboard kick. Lynch connects with a Bexploder before getting her to her feet and hitting a second. Sky rolls to the apron, but Lynch lights her up with a strike combination. Lynch goes to the second rope for a diving leg drop, but Damage CTRL pulls Sky off the apron. Lita and Trish confront them. Lynch grabs Bayley by the hair, but Sky dropkicks her back.
Sky stomps Lynch down in the corner and hits a slingshot double knee to the chest for a one-count. Sky applies a chin lock. Lynch fights up and hits Sky with an arm drag. Sky quickly gets to her feet and dropkicks Lynch for a two-count. Sky lightly kicks Lynch in the head and taunts her a few times. They trade forearms in the center of the ring with Lynch coming out on top. Lynch hits the ropes, but Sky follows her in and hits an uppercut. Sky sends her into the ropes, but Lynch takes her out with a diving clothesline. Lynch gets up in the corner and boots Sky back before hitting a pair of clotheslines and an absolutely atrocious dropkick that Sky sells. Sky gets out of the ring, and Lynch hits her with a baseball slide. Lynch leaps off the apron with a flying forearm to Sky. Lynch kicks Sky in the chest and goes to the top rope. Lynch jumps over Sky and goes for a Bexploder, but Sky fights out. Lynch hits a terribly mistimed reverse DDT for a near fall. Lynch waits for Sky to get up. Sky counters a manhandle slam into a roll-up and a double stomp to the midsection for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Lynch hit Sky with a superplex for a near fall. During the commercial break, Sky hit Lynch with a springboard dropkick. Back to live action, Sky fights back and hits a German Suplex but falls through the bridge. Sky gets up and hits a second German Suplex with a complete bridge for a near fall. There is some redness under Sky’s jaw. Lynch gets out of a double-arm suplex and hits a Bexploder. Lynch looks at the WrestleMania sign and heads to the top rope. Lynch boots her, but Sky fights back. Sky goes to the top rope and hits a springboard dropkick to knock Lynch to the floor. Sky then wipes Lynch out with a beautiful Asai Moonsault. Sky gets Lynch in the ring for a near fall.
Sky is cut under her chin. The crowd chants, “This is awesome.” Sky sets Lynch up and goes to the top rope for the Over the Moonsault, but Lynch moves. Lynch goes for a Dis-Arm-Her, but Sky counters into a pin. Lynch gets out, and they trade roll-ups. Lynch then hits the Manhandle Slam for the victory.
Winner by Pinfall: Becky Lynch
Replays are shown of the epic verbal confrontation between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns last week on Raw. Reigns walked off on Rhodes, but Solo Sikoa stayed back. Reigns called Sikoa off. This past Friday on SmackDown, Paul Heyman informed Rhodes that he would be facing Sikoa on Raw. Rhodes reiterated that Sikoa isn’t ready.
Solo Sikoa is walking backstage with Paul Heyman and Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos.
-Commercial Break-
Video Package: Asuka’s career highlight reel ahead of her Raw Women’s Championship match against Bianca Belair at WrestleMania
Replays are shown of Seth “Freakin” Rollins attacking Logan Paul on Impaulsive TV last week on Raw. After a brawl in which Paul’s security force got involved, Paul knocked Rollins out for a second time.
Earlier today, Cathy Kelley caught up with Seth “Freakin” Rollins, but Mustafa Ali quickly interrupted. Ali wants Rollins to see the bright side of being knocked out by Logan Paul twice. Rollins needs to think more “positive-ALI.” Rollins cackles and says that’s a million-dollar phrase. Rollins has a better idea. A few months ago when he was the United States Champion, Ali kept begging him for a match. Tonight, Rollins will grant his wish. Ali says that’s not what he wanted.
Seth “Freakin” Rollins will battle Mustafa Ali next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE thanks The Weeknd for the use of the song, “Less Than Zero,” an official theme song for WrestleMania.
Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Mustafa Ali
The crowd loudly, and I mean LOUDLY, sings Seth “Freaking” Rollins’ theme song.
The bell rings, and they lock up. Rollins backs him to the corner and charges, but Ali flips over him. Ali begs him off and twists away from him. Ali shoulders him and flips into the ring. Ali forearms Rollins in the face. Ali says if he were Logan Paul, he’d have knocked Rollins out. Ali says Rollins is rushing into things. Rollins soon turns Ali inside out with a big clothesline. The crowd begins singing Rollins’ song again. Rollins stomps away at Ali in the corner and shouts. Ali quickly pulls Rollins into the middle turnbuckle before going to the top rope. Rollins sweeps the feet and forearms him in the back of the head. Ali falls into the tree of woe. Ali begs him off, but Rollins hits him with a Stomp while in the tree of woe! Rollins gets the crowd fired up and hits a second stomp, which Ali sells amazingly well, for the victory.
Winner by Pinfall: Seth “Freakin” Rollins
Rollins says in five days on April 1 at WrestleMania, he finally gets his hands on Logan Paul. The crowd boos the mention of Logan Paul. Rollins says Logan Paul has a history of making a joke out of himself. If Rollins can’t beat Logan Paul at WrestleMania, he’s not the joke. Rollins is. Paul threw him out of the Royal Rumble and cost him at Elimination Chamber. Paul cheap shotted him not once but twice. In five days, it all comes back around. A little birdie told him that April 1 happens to be Logan Paul’s birthday. The WWE Universe won’t be serenading Logan Paul with “Happy Birthday” at WrestleMania. They’ll be singing Rollins’ song. The crowd in Phoenix sings Rollins’ song. Rollins listens for a bit before saying, “Logan Paul, I’ll see you at WrestleMania.”
Earlier today, Baron Corbin was complaining to WWE Official Adam Pearce. Chelsea Green comes up and says she wants to break her boot off in Pearce’s behind. She wants to know why she’s not in the WrestleMania Showcase match. Pearce says Piper Niven wants nothing to do with Green, so she has no partner. Green tells him not to man-splain his way out of this. Sonya Deville walks up and says she couldn’t have said it better herself. Pearce says they can be the complaint department. They’ll face Candice LeRae and Michin. The winners will be the final team in the WrestleMania Showcase. They walk off. Corbin cannot believe it was that easy for them.
Coming up next, Brock Lesnar and Omos will have a WrestleMania Weigh-In.
-Commercial Break-
WrestleMania Weigh-In
Corey Graves is in the ring with a referee and WWE Official Adam Pearce. Graves says this is literally one of the biggest match-ups at WrestleMania. Graves first introduces “The Nigerian Giant” Omos with MVP.
Omos makes his way to the ring alongside MVP. Replays are shown from two weeks ago on Raw where Omos shoved Brock Lesnar over the top rope. MVP takes the microphone from Graves. MVP says this is Lesnar’s final time to look at the specimen that is The Nigerian Giant. In the past at WrestleMania, Lesnar entered the ring and imposed his dominance against people like Kurt Angle, Goldberg, and Roman Reigns. Of course, there is Lesnar’s crowning achievement of ending the Undertaker’s streak at WrestleMania. Now he faces someone he cannot suplex, F-5, and defeat.
MVP has Omos step onto the scale. The referee adjusts the weights on the bar and announces that Omos is 410 pounds. MVP says Lesnar is a bad man, but he’s not badder than Omos.
Brock Lesnar’s music hits, and Cowboy Brock walks out looking serious. Lesnar gets in the ring and goes after Omos! Lesnar hits Omos with a few strikes that don’t get him off his feet. Lesnar grabs the scale and goes to swing it, but Omos big boots him down. Omos picks up the scale, but Lesnar retreats from the ring. The crowd chants, “Suplex City,” but no further action happens.
Video Package: SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair highlight reel
Byron Saxton is backstage with the winner of the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble Rhea Ripley. Ripley says Flair’s legacy is unmatched, but her legacy won’t define Ripley’s destiny. Ripley must beat Charlotte Flair. Ripley must prove that she’s the best and must become the biggest star in this industry. Ripley needs Flair’s title to do so. It comes down to Flair’s legacy against her destiny. Flair can’t stop her from becoming the new SmackDown Women’s Champion at WrestleMania.
Charlotte Flair defends the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley this weekend at WrestleMania.
The Street Profits make their way to the ring, followed by Braun Strowman and Ricochet.
-Commercial Break-
Finn Bálor is shown in a dark room. Bálor says it was always going to end this way with them dragging each other into the Hell in a Cell structure. Edge says he was baptized in the cell and thrives there. Now, Edge wants to lock himself inside the cell with him. Doesn’t Edge know there is nothing more dangerous than a caged Demon? Edge can go to his dark place, light his candles, and do whatever he needs to do to unlock it and summon it. Bálor doesn’t need to summon his Demons. They’re always there. You just have to look closely. The Demon’s image flashes over his face.
8-Man Tag Team Match
The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford), Braun Strowman, and Ricochet vs. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis), and The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) w/ Valhalla
Chad Gable starts against Angelo Dawkins. Dawkins wrenches the arm, but Gable flips through and hits a headlock takeover. They trade grapevines before getting to their feet. A “We want the smoke” chant picks up. They lock up, and Dawkins hooks a side headlock. Gable whips him off, but Dawkins shoulder tackles him. Dawkins hits the ropes and leapfrogs him. Dawkins hits an arm drag, but Gable takes him out of the ring with an arm drag. Ricochet blind tagged in and goes after Gable, but Gable counters into an ankle lock. Ricochet gets out and dropkicks him down. Braun Strowman tags in and throws Ricochet into Gable in the corner. Strowman avalanches him, and Ricochet dropkicks Gable. Strowman then shoulder tackles Gable. Montez Ford tags in, but Gable hits an arm drag. They trade arm drags before Gable trips him for a one-count. Ford chops the chest, but Gable hits a clothesline before shushing Strowman.
All eight men get in the ring, and a big brawl breaks out! The ring clears except for Otis, Strowman, and Ivar. Otis clears Strowman out of the ring with a shoulder tackle! Ford dives off the top rope, but Otis catches him and slams him down. Alpha Academy celebrates in the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Erik applying a neck vice to Ford. Ivar tags in, and The Viking Raiders club Ford down. Erik tags back in and whips Ford into Ivar’s knee. Erik knees Ford in the face for a two-count. Otis tags in and hits Ford with a short-arm clothesline. Maxxine Dupri is watching backstage and looks excited when Otis rips his shirt off and gyrates. Otis hits a running elbow drop and says to Maxxine that he’s here. Ford fights back with a pair of kicks, but Otis easily clubs him down. Ford then rocks him with an enzuigiri, but Otis doesn’t go down.
Dawkins and Ivar tag in. Dawkins runs over him and clears the apron of his other opponents. Dawkins avalanches him and hits a step-up enzuigiri. Gable runs in, but Dawkins takes him out. The Viking Raiders quickly double-team Dawkins, but Ricochet breaks up the pin with a running shooting star press. Ricochet takes Otis out with a springboard dropkick. Gable runs in, but Dawkins punches him down. Strowman tags in and the crowd gets fired up. Strowman hits Otis, Gable, and Ivar with the Strowman Express at ringside. Erik knees Strowman in the face as he gets in the ring. Strowman soon hits a spinebuster and rips off his shirt. Ricochet gets in. Strowman hits Erik with a Powerslam. Ricochet stands on Strowman’s shoulders and hits a Swanton Bomb. Ford then leaps over Strowman’s head and hits Erik with a Frog Splash for the victory!
Winners by Pinfall: The Street Profits, Braun Strowman, and Ricochet
The Street Profits, Braun Strowman and Ricochet, Alpha Academy, and The Viking Raiders will compete in a WrestleMania Showcase match this weekend. Maxxine Dupri doesn’t look happy backstage.
Cathy Kelley asks Cody Rhodes if he is in a vulnerable position against the undefeated Solo Sikoa. Rhodes likes this position. Does The Bloodline think he has a chance against Solo Sikoa and Roman Reigns? Rhodes is sure they’d cackle. Why is it important that he faces the enforcer six days before WrestleMania? They want to see if Rhodes has earned it. This fire started long before the Royal Rumble. Not only has Rhodes earned it; he’s lived it. Tonight, Solo Sikoa finds out that he’s not ready. At WrestleMania, he’ll defeat Roman Reigns and become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
Later tonight, Cody Rhodes battles Solo Sikoa.
The Bloodline’s parody of “Goodfellas” is shown.
-Commercial Break-
Video Package: Bianca Belair’s career highlight reel.
Bianca Belair will defend the Raw Women’s Championship against Asuka this weekend at WrestleMania.
Earlier today, United States Champion Austin Theory stood in the ring in the empty arena. This Saturday at WrestleMania, Theory will lose everything according to John Cena. Cena is wrong. Cena thinks he exposed him on the microphone, but Cena exposed himself as not being able to see the future right in front of his eyes. Cena wanted to hit him with a reality check that no one believes in him. Theory is in the ring alone because there’s no difference between being in an empty arena or in a sold-out arena in SoFi Stadium. Theory doesn’t do this for the WWE Universe or for a kid growing up wanting to be the next Austin Theory. He certainly doesn’t do it for the kid that wants to be the next John Cena. Theory does this for himself, the person who had a purpose before anyone had an opinion about him.
It’s sad to know that Theory would have let Cena go down the hero, but he made this personal. Everyone looks up to Cena, so it’ll be fitting that Cena will be looking up to him. Theory will make Cena believe in Austin Theory. The WWE Universe that Cena loves so much will stop believing in him. That’ll happy very soon on the Grandest Stage of them All this Saturday at WrestleMania. Theory looks up at the WrestleMania sign.
Austin Theory will defend the United States Championship against John Cena in the opening match this Saturday at WrestleMania.
Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green make their way to the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Stacy Keibler will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023 this Friday immediately following SmackDown.
WrestleMania Showcase Qualifying Match
Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green vs. Candice LeRae and “Michin” Mia Yim
“Michin” Mia Yim and Sonya Deville start the match. Deville gets Michin in the corner and taunts her. Michin fights out and hits a dropkick. Yim boots Deville in the head and scares Chelsea Green away. Deville avoids a cannonball in the corner and tags Green in. Green slaps Michin in the face and chokes her with her boot. Deville tags back in and punches Michin in the midsection. Green tags in, and they go for a double-team suplex, but Yim counters into a double neckbreaker.
Candice LeRae tags in and hits a cross-body block on Green and Deville. LeRae avoids a ripcord clothesline from Green and clotheslines her down. LeRae hits a step-up senton splash before tagging Yim in. LeRae and Yim hit a double-team splash, but Deville breaks up the pin. Deville slams LeRae down before eating a dropkick from Michin. Yim fights Green off, but Deville soon punches her. Green hits Michin with the Unprettier for the victory.
Winners by Pinfall: Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green
Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville join the teams of Natalya and Shotzi, Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan, and Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler in the Women’s WrestleMania Showcase Match.
Damian Priest makes his way to the ring alongside Dominik Mysterio. Priest will face Rey Mysterio next.
-Commercial Break-
Highlights from the very first WrestleMania are shown.
Cathy Kelley is backstage with Paul Heyman. Heyman quotes Scripture (sort of) and says Cody Rhodes fears no Tribal Chief, but Rhodes is not ready. Rhodes asked why it was so important to face Solo Sikoa just six days before WrestleMania. Heyman says it’s relevant. Solo Sikoa is ready to weaken Rhodes before his match against Roman Reigns this Sunday. Sikoa is not here to compete. Sikoa is here to put a beating on Cody Rhodes, so he is not 100% against Roman Reigns this Sunday. People may not think that is dignified of Roman Reigns, but Reigns will stoop to those levels to stay on the Island of Relevancy.
That’s the difference between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes. Reigns came to Heyman and stopped being The Big Dog and became the Tribal Chief. Rhodes has never been ready. Rhodes was never ready to fill the shoes of “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes was never ready to be the man of this generation. Rhodes is not ready to beat Roman Reigns. Rhodes needs to be ready to be beaten by Solo Sikoa. Rhodes then needs to prepare for a verbal beating by Roman Reigns this Friday. Then Rhodes needs to be ready to lose to Reigns this Sunday. Rhodes can be ready for the greatest moment of his existence. In the glory of his own defeat when he disappoints the WWE Universe, he needs to be ready to acknowledge “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns this Sunday at WrestleMania.
Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest are in the ring. Dominik starts to speak, but the crowd loudly boos him. Dominik says it takes a real lowlife to hit your own child. Rey truly is a deadbeat now. Everyone has seen the video of Rey attacking him. After Damian Priest beats Rey tonight and Dominik humiliates him at WrestleMania, everyone will know what a failure of a father Rey Mysterio really is.
Replay: A video is shown from this past Friday’s SmackDown of Rey Mysterio attacking Dominik Mysterio after Dominik disrespected his mother. Rey accepted a match at WrestleMania against his son.
Dominik shouts in Spanish about his mother and sister. Dominik shouts in Spanish that he’s taller and more handsome than his father. What kind of father hits his son? Dominik should have told his mother to shut up a long time ago. The crowd loudly chants “you suck” at Dominik. Dominik says he’s never said this out loud, but he wishes Eddie Guerrero was his father and Rey never existed. His entire family is a disgrace to the Mysterio name. The Mysterio name will belong to him at WrestleMania.
Rey Mysterio, who will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this Friday, makes his way to the ring. He’ll face Damian Priest next.
-Commercial Break-
Damian Priest w/ Dominik Mysterio vs. Rey Mysterio
We join this match in progress, and Rey hits Priest with a wheelbarrow bulldog. Rey goes to the top rope and hits a flying seated senton. Rey kicks Priest in the face and hits a springboard moonsault for a two-count. Rey goes for a springboard cross-body, but Priest catches him and hits a flatliner for a two-count on the soon-to-be Hall of Fame Superstar. Priest sizes Rey up as he slowly gets to his feet. Priest charges, but he gets crotched on the top rope when Rey moves. Rey knocks Priest into the ropes and goes for a 619, but Priest intercepts him with a clothesline for a near fall.
Priest shoves Rey to the corner and puts him on the top rope. Priest clubs him and goes to the second rope. Priest goes for South of Heaven off the top rope, but Rey counters into a super hurricanrana. Rey dropkicks Priest into the ropes and hits a 619! Rey goes to the top rope, but Dominik crotches him up there.
Winner by Disqualification: Rey Mysterio
Dominik punches away at his father to loud boos from the crowd. Priest holds Rey up, and Dominik punches away at him. Legado del Fantasma run down to make the save. Priest and Dominik quickly get out of the ring. Legado del Fantasma check on Rey in the ring. The crowd chants “You Suck” at Dominik and Priest.
Video Package: Andre the Giant’s career highlights
Johnny Gargano, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson are excited to be in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal this Friday on SmackDown. Rick Boogs gets amped up, but Elias mentions that he’s also in it. Elias says he’s a lock to win it before turning to see Dexter Lumis. Elias turns again, and Bronson Reed is there. Finally, Elias turns and sees Bobby Lashley. Elias looks less sure of himself.
WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER makes his way to the ring with Imperium. He’ll be in action next.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of The Usos attacking Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn on this past Friday’s SmackDown.
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are backstage. Zayn says it’s been an emotional year for them. Everyone knows they started from nothing in Montreal, but not many know that Los Angeles is where they got a big opportunity to move to the next level. Now they’re coming back to Los Angeles as a team. Kevin Owens says every fight they’ve had is to elevate each other to the next level. The Usos have been the greatest team in WWE until last week when they teamed up. Now they’ll win the Tag Team Titles together at WrestleMania.
Non-Title Match
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther w/ Imperium vs. Dolph Ziggler
The bell rings, and Ziggler quickly dropkicks Gunther and hits a spike DDT. Ziggler punches him and goes for a superkick, but Gunther blocks it and viciously chops him down. Gunther knocks Ziggler to the corner and lays him on the top rope before chopping the chest. Gunther climbs the ropes and digs his boot into Ziggler, knocking him out of the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Ziggler take it to Gunther and hit a famouser for a two-count. Gunther fights off a Zig-Zag and chops him out of midair. Gunther takes him down with a vicious German Suplex and wipes him out with a Powerbomb. Gunther pulls a limp Ziggler to his feet and hits the Last Symphony for the victory.
Winner by Pinfall: Gunther
Gunther gets on the microphone. Despite the disgrace of being forced to defend the Intercontinental Championship against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus, this is the fate that awaits them at WrestleMania. An unconscious Ziggler is shown at his feet. Gunther stands tall with Imperium in the ring.
A video showcasing WWE 2K23 is shown.
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring. He’ll face “The Enforcer of the Bloodline” Solo Sikoa next.
-Commercial Break-
Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa w/ Paul Heyman
They lock up, and Rhodes hooks a side headlock. Sikoa whips him off, so Rhodes hits a shoulder tackle that doesn’t take Sikoa down. Sikoa gets fired up and hits a Samoan Drop. Sikoa talks trash to Rhodes at ringside. Rhodes reverses a whip into the steel steps. Sikoa gets in the ring, but Rhodes grabs him by the leg and drags him to the ring post. Rhodes punches Sikoa in the face and slams the leg off the ring post. Sikoa counters a Disaster Kick with a belly-to-belly suplex. Sikoa slaps feeling into his leg and knocks Rhodes off the apron into the commentary table. Sikoa goes to ringside, but Rhodes bounces him off the table a few times. Rhodes gets in the ring and goes for a suicide dive, but Sikoa counters into a sambo suplex onto the commentary table! Sikoa grabs him and hits a second sambo suplex onto the table!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the final break of the evening to see Sikoa applying a nerve hold. Rhodes fights out, flips through a back suplex, and sets up for a suplex. Sikoa fights out of the suplex and forearms him to the corner. Sikoa avalanches Rhodes down. Sikoa head-butts Rhodes a few times before punching against the ropes. Rhodes soon stomps the bare foot of Sikoa and hits a front suplex. Sikoa quickly answers with a head-butt, but Rhodes fights back with a clothesline. Rhodes slingshots over him and hits a snap powerslam. Rhodes connects with a Disaster Kick before wiping The Enforcer out with a Cody Cutter!
Rhodes gets fired up and sizes Sikoa up. Rhodes gets Sikoa to his feet and hits a deliberate Cross Rhodes, but Sikoa gets a foot on the bottom rope to break up the pin. Rhodes stomps Sikoa and goes to the top rope. Paul Heyman sneers at Rhodes. Rhodes goes for a moonsault, but Sikoa moves. Heyman laughs heartily. Sikoa head-butts Rhodes and goes for a Samoan Spike, but Rhodes hits the ropes and hits a Cody Cutter!
The Usos’ music hits, and the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions make their way to the ring. Sikoa superkicks Rhodes and hits a Spinning Solo for a near fall! Paul Heyman cannot believe it! Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn then come out and brawl with The Usos! Owens and Zayn brawl with The Usos to the back. In the ring, Sikoa goes for a Samoan Spike on Rhodes, but Rhodes counters into Cross Rhodes to end the undefeated streak of Solo Sikoa!
Winner by Pinfall: Cody Rhodes
Rhodes shouts at Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman. The crowd is fired up for Rhodes as the show comes to an end.
Quick Match Results
— WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Becky Lynch def. IYO SKY
— Seth “Freakin” Rollins def. Mustafa Ali
— The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford), Braun Strowman, and Ricochet def. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) and The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar)
— Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green def. Candice LeRae and “Michin” Mia Yim in a WrestleMania Showcase Qualifying Match
— Rey Mysterio def. Damian Priest via DQ
— WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther def. Dolph Ziggler (non-title)
— Cody Rhodes def. Solo Sikoa
E-Mail – mike@wrestleview.com
Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV
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