WWE Raw Results
June 26, 2023
Savannah, Georgia (Enmarket Arena)
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 video recaps the growing feud between “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes and Dominik Mysterio. Mysterio called Rhodes a “deadbeat” dad a few weeks ago and slapped him in the face. Mysterio and Rhodes will battle this Saturday at Money in the Bank.
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley is in the ring with Dominik Mysterio. The crowd cheers Ripley’s name and viciously boos Mysterio’s. Mysterio tries to speak, but he’s drowned out by LOUD booing. Mysterio tries again, but the volume of the crowd’s ire just intensifies. Mysterio paces around the ring, and Ripley speaks with him. Mysterio tries a third time, and the boos are wild.
Ripley says she’s got it from here. Ripley says Cody Rhodes’s name and the crowd boos her, which irritates her. Ripley says Rhodes is a loser that is losing momentum. At Money in the Bank, Dom-Dom will end him.
Cody Rhodes’s music hits, and “The American Nightmare” makes his way to the ring in a suit. Mysterio goes to the apron and stays behind Ripley, who is left in the ring with Rhodes. A loud “Cody” chant fires up. Rhodes says he thinks he knows what Mysterio was trying to do. It would have been pretty special, so he’ll just go ahead and do it. Rhodes says, “Savannah, Georgia… welcome to Monday Night Raw!” Mysterio is furious because that was his line. Ripley says he can bully her Dom-Dom all he likes, but Mysterio is a very dangerous man. Mysterio goes to speak, but the crowd boos him down. Mysterio whispers in Ripley’s ear. She tries to say what Mysterio said, but the crowd loudly boos her. Ripley says Mysterio will prove how dangerous he is at Money in the Bank.
Rhodes says Mysterio has lobbed a few cheap shots that were dangerous and effective. Rhodes tells Mysterio to be who he is and say how he feels. Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. Rhodes says, “The Cat in the Hat,” said that. It’s a children’s book. Rhodes is quoting from it because that’s what Mysterio is. Mysterio is a scared little boy. Mysterio is upset and gets off the apron. Ripley joins him, and they begin walking off to loud boos. Rhodes says Damian Priest isn’t running from him. They’re facing for the first time tonight. Rhodes shouts for Mysterio to come back. Rhodes will even give him a free shot. Mysterio turns around and heads to the ring. Mysterio gets on the apron and looks at Rhodes. Mysterio jumps down, wags a finger at him, and backs up the ramp with Ripley.
Rhodes picks up the microphone and says he sees Dom walking and leaving. These cheap shots have proven to be effective and dangerous. At Money in the Bank, Dominik Mysterio is stepping into an entirely different body of water. Rhodes wants to see something from him. Rhodes wants to know if Dominik is half the man his father is or if he is just Mami’s Little Boy.
Replays are shown of Bronson Reed crushing Shinsuke Nakamura and Ricochet last week on Raw.
Shinsuke Nakamura makes his way to the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Bronson Reed is at ringside for this next match.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Ricochet
The bell rings, and Nakamura points up at the Money in the Bank briefcase hanging above the ring. They exchange strikes, with Nakamura coming out on top. Nakamura puts him in the corner and digs his foot into Ricochet’s neck. Nakamura drops a knee for a two-count. Nakamura wrenches the arm and knees him in the midsection. Nakamura blocks a kick and elbows Ricochet. Ricochet avoids a big boot and goes for a handspring head-scissor takeover, but Nakamura holds him up and kicks him. Nakamura misses a kick, and Ricochet connects with an ax kick. Ricochet talks a little trash and picks Nakamura up. Nakamura slides off and applies a sleeper hold. Ricochet pulls him off. Nakamura charges, but Ricochet pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. Nakamura doesn’t exactly clear the ropes and awkwardly gets stuck. They eventually work to the apron and take each other out with stereo big boots. They fall to ringside at the feet of Bronson Reed. Reed derisively claps for them.
Nakamura and Ricochet get up and exchange punches. Nakamura takes Ricochet down and stares at Reed. Nakamura blocks a kick from Ricochet and swings him to Reed. Ricochet hits Reed with an enzuigiri. Nakamura follows up with a big boot on Reed before putting Ricochet in the ring. Nakamura sizes Ricochet up, but Ricochet elbows him back. Ricochet ducks a clothesline and hits Reed with a baseball slide. Nakamura then hits another baseball slide on Reed before he gets in the ring. The referee holds Reed off and ejects him from ringside! Reed is irate and knocks over the steel ring steps.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, we see Nakamura elbowing away at Ricochet’s skull. Nakamura pulls Ricochet up to his feet and goes for a suplex, but Ricochet slides through. Nakamura quickly stuns him with an enzuigiri. Nakamura charges Ricochet, who is in the corner, but Ricochet knocks him back. Ricochet hits a big boot from the apron and hits a springboard clothesline.
They both get to their feet and exchange strikes. Ricochet takes Nakamura down with a handspring back elbow followed by a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Ricochet goes for a springboard moonsault off the second rope, but Nakamura gets the knees up. Nakamura hits a front suplex and viciously knees him in the ribs a few times, proving why he is called “The King of Strong Style.” Nakamura stomps the ribs, pulls him to his feet, and hits another knee. Nakamura turns him inside out with a back suplex into an exploder. Ricochet somehow avoids the Kinshasa and hits a Recoil for a near fall. Ricochet is stunned. Ricochet sets Nakamura up and gets to the top rope while holding his ribs in pain. Nakamura kicks him in the head and lays him across the top turnbuckle. Nakamura hits a running knee to the ribs and sizes him up. Ricochet hits a backflip dropkick and soon after hits a standing Sliced Bread #2. Ricochet goes to the top rope, points at the Money in the Bank briefcase, and connects with a picture-perfect shooting star press for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Ricochet
Ricochet points at the Money in the Bank briefcase. Nakamura is sitting in the corner with a scowl on his face and shouts that this is not over.
Replays are shown of Matt Riddle defeating Ludwig Kaiser last week on Raw. After the match, WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther viciously attacked Riddle’s leg.
Earlier today, Matt Riddle issued a challenge to Gunther for an Intercontinental Championship match at Money in the Bank.
Byron Saxton is backstage with Matt Riddle. Saxton asks if it is a wise decision to challenge Gunther after what Imperium did to his leg. Ludwig Kaiser comes up and is upset that Riddle is challenging “The Ring General” Gunther. Last week, they issued a measure of revenge for what Riddle did to Giovanni Vinci. Riddle says he beat Kaiser last week, which Kaiser says will never happen again. Riddle attacks Kaiser and applies a Kimura, but Gunther blindsides him with a big boot from out of nowhere. Kaiser holds Riddle down. Gunther shouts, “Riddle… challenge accepted!” Gunther then stomps Riddle’s injured ankle.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Official Adam Pearce is on his phone backstage when Dominik Mysterio and Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley walk in. Mysterio says he was embarrassed by Cody Rhodes tonight and wants to have a match to let out his aggression. Pearce says that’s a good idea. Mysterio says has an idea of who it should be. Ripley whispers in Mysterio’s ear. Mysterio will let him know. They walk off.
Video: Money in the Bank by the Numbers
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler storm down to the ring. Rousey will face Raquel Rodriguez next.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown from SmackDown of “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler defeating Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn via Submission to unify the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship.
After the match, Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan issued a challenge to Rousey and Baszler for the titles that they never lost. They were relinquished after Morgan suffered a shoulder injury.
This Saturday, Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler will defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship against Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan at Money in the Bank.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey w/ Shayna Baszler vs. Raquel Rodriguez w/ Liv Morgan
The bell rings, and they lock up, but Rodriguez immediately shoves Rousey down. Rousey avoids a big boot and kicks her. Rousey goes for a judo throw, but Rodriguez won’t leave her feet. Rousey applies a guillotine, but Rodriguez powers out with a vertical suplex. Rousey avoids an avalanche in the corner and applies an armbar while hanging over the top rope. Rousey lifts Rodriguez, but Rodriguez slides off and shoulder tackles her down. Rodriguez lifts Rousey and charges, but Rousey slides off. Rousey takes Rodriguez down and applies an ankle lock. Rodriguez turns over and kicks Rousey away. Rousey goes for her trademark armbar takedown, but Rodriguez holds her up and hits a slam. Rodriguez avalanches Rousey in the corner and hits a fallaway slam. Rodriguez goes for a slingshot elbow drop, but Baszler rolls Rousey out of the way. Liv Morgan tackles Baszler at ringside and punches away at her. In the ring, Rousey takes Rodriguez down and pins her down for the victory.
Winner by Pinfall: “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey
Finn Bálor is shown in an unspecified location. Bálor says Seth “Freakin” Rollins has been looking for the guy that beat him 7 years ago. That guy’s gone. He’s dead. This guy… is much worse. Rollins told him that Bálor got bitter while he got better. Bálor says they need to go back in time. At SummerSlam 2016, Rollins ripped Bálor’s shoulder up, but he still beat Rollins. Bálor could hardly raise his arm to lift the title as he became the first Universal Champion for 22 hours. He was forced to relinquish the championship. That’s not where the problem lies. At his lowest point, Rollins walked out and laughed at him. Rollins rubbed salt in the open wounds. That’s something he’ll never forget. Bálor didn’t get bitter. Rollins made him that way.
That bitterness is all he has, while Rollins has it all. The people worship the ground Rollins walks on. They love his ridiculous outfit and his stupid song. None of that matters to him. All that matters is vengeance and the World Heavyweight Championship. At Money in the Bank, after seven long years and all Rollins took away from him, he’s taking it all back. Bálor will become the new World Heavyweight Champion. That will be a bitter, bitter pill for Rollins to swallow.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins is sauntering around backstage. We’ll hear from him next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Payback is coming to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, September 2.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins makes his way to the ring to a big ovation. The crowd loudly sings his song. Rollins stands in the ring and listens to the crowd singing. Rollins shouts to Savannah, Georgia. Rollins welcomes them to “Monday Night Rollins.” Rollins points out NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes at ringside. An “NXT” chant picks up. Rollins says he doesn’t normally do this, but Hayes had his back on Tuesday, so he thanks him. They’ve got a lot in common other than being the two fliest dudes in the room. They are both fighting champions. Hayes has a title defense tomorrow night on NXT. Rollins tells him to whoop up on that Bum Ass Corbin.
As for Rollins, this Saturday afternoon live in London, England, he goes one-on-one against Finn Bálor. A couple of weeks ago, he posed the question: which Finn Bálor was going to show up at Money in the Bank? Last week, he got his answer in spades. Bálor jumped him not once, but he followed him to NXT to try to turn his ribs to dust. Rollins says he’s still standing. Money in the Bank is this Saturday. Rollins is tired of talking, so he challenges Bálor to come out here to finish this right now. Bálor doesn’t answer the challenge.
The crowd begins to sing as they await the arrival of The Prince. Bálor never shows. Rollins shakes his head. Rollins says Bálor isn’t coming out here right now. The crowd boos. Rollins says he has to hand it to Finn: he is the smartest and most dangerous he’s ever been. Bálor has surrounded himself with the right people. Bálor will hide in the back and trick himself into believing he’s going to get revenge for what happened seven and a half years ago. Is Rollins 100%? No. Will he be 100% this Saturday at Money in the Bank? No. As good as Finn Bálor is, there’s one thing that he has not accounted for, and that’s Rollins. Rollins promises that when it’s just him and Bálor when the bell rings, the best version of Finn Bálor is not as good as the best version of Seth “Freakin” Rollins. That is a bitter pill that Bálor will have to swallow. Rollins is a visionary. Rollins is a revolutionary. He is…
Finn Bálor runs into the ring with a steel chair, but Rollins kicks him and takes him down. Bálor quickly catches him with a shot to the injured ribs and grabs the chair. Rollins tackles him into the corner and dumps him over the top rope. Rollins punches away at him at ringside, but Bálor sends him ribs-first into the steel steps. Bálor then sends him ribs-first into the commentary table. Bálor kicks him in the ribs and grabs a steel chair from the timekeeper’s area, but Carmelo Hayes pulls it away. Rollins clotheslines Bálor over the barricade into the timekeeper’s area. Bálor quickly runs away. Rollins is bleeding from under his left eye.
Replays are shown of Tommaso Ciampa returning to defeat The Miz last week on Raw.
Earlier today, Byron Saxton caught up with Tommaso Ciampa. Ciampa says people are probably wondering why he attacked The Miz. When he was out for nine months rehabbing from hip surgery, The Miz never reached out to him. For the last nine months, he hasn’t heard one peep from Mr. Tiny Balls. People warned him about The Miz. They said he was a user and a manipulator. This injury was a blessing in disguise. 275 days is a long time for a guy to be left alone with his thoughts. It gives you clarity. Why was Tommaso Ciampa wearing neon green and playing second fiddle to The Miz? This time around, he’ll create his opportunities.
The Miz is angrily walking backstage. He’ll face Tommaso Ciampa in a rematch next.
-Commercial Break-
Later tonight, NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes will take on Finn Bálor.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. The Miz
As Tommaso Ciampa makes his entrance, The Miz attacks him from behind on the ramp. Miz sends him into the barricade twice before whipping him into the LED apron. Miz slings Ciampa’s ankle into the LED apron twice before kicking him in the head. A “Tiny Balls” chant picks up. Miz hits a suplex into the barricade, with Ciampa’s ankles connecting hard. Miz mocks Ciampa’s pat on the back taunt before punching away at him again. Miz looks at Ciampa and hits a Skull Crushing Finale on the floor! Miz says if Ciampa wanted an opportunity, then he’s giving him one. This is it. Miz walks off.
This match never started.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser are backstage talking about Matt Riddle. Unified WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens walk up. Imperium isn’t happy that they’re interrupting them for no reason. Zayn says they’ve done that to them for weeks. Owens isn’t sure why they’re mad at Imperium since he doesn’t care about Riddle. Zayn says Riddle is their friend, and they care. Owens shouts at Imperium on behalf of Riddle. Kaiser says Gunther beat Owens, but Zayn says it took three of them. Zayn says they need to even out the numbers game and challenges Gunther to a match tonight. Gunther agrees. Owens and Zayn walk off.
Dominik Mysterio makes his entrance alongside Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. He’ll be in action next.
-Commercial Break-
Dominik Mysterio will take on “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes this Saturday at Money in the Bank.
Dominik Mysterio w/ Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Akira Tozawa
The bell rings, and Mysterio immediately beats Tozawa down and stomps away at him. Mysterio taunts the crowd, and they loudly boo him. Mysterio punches Tozawa, but Tozawa begins to fight back. Mysterio quickly knees him in the midsection and slams him down. Tozawa reverses a whip and hits a hurricanrana. Tozawa connects with a shining wizard. Rhea Ripley looks nervous at ringside. Tozawa goes to the top rope and hits a flying back elbow. Mysterio rolls out of the ring to recover. Tozawa hits the ropes and sends himself like a missile for an incredible suicide dive.
Tozawa gets Mysterio in the ring, but he’s soon distracted by Rhea Ripley. Tozawa heads to the top rope, but Mysterio knocks him down to the canvas. Mysterio goes to the top rope and crushes Tozawa with a Frog Splash for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Dominik Mysterio
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley celebrate in the ring.
The Viking Raiders and Valhalla are shown backstage. They vow to hurt the Alpha Academy. Valhalla says it will be beautiful.
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus makes her way to the ring alongside Zoey Stark. The Women’s Money in the Bank Summit is next.
-Commercial Break-
Women’s Money in the Bank Summit
Ladders are set up in the ring. Trish Stratus, Zoey Stark, Zelina Vega, Bayley, and IYO SKY are already in the ring. Becky Lynch makes her entrance. Corey Graves starts his introduction to explain the Money in the Bank, but Bayley cuts him off. She says everyone knows how it works. They’re not idiots… well, the people of Savannah are. Bayley already won this match, so she’s taking this over. Sky says, “May the best woman win.” Zelina Vega says she’s tired of Damage CTRL dismissing the other competitors. They have Becky Lynch, someone who Vega respects. Lynch has done it all, except win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Vega says we have Zoey, the groupie, and Trish Stratus, a legend that’s never been in a ladder match. Stratus has no idea what that takes. Whether they like it or not, they have Vega, the future Mrs. Money in the Bank.
Bayley laughs, but Vega shouts back at her. Vega says she’ll prove them all wrong when she and Santos Escobar climb the ladder and bring the briefcases home to the LWO. Bayley says Vega is an idiot. They start shouting. Zoey Stark tells them to calm down. Stratus says what she sees are a bunch of little girls. A “Becky” chant fires up. Stratus says it’s clear to her why the people needed her to save the Women’s Division. Stratus is not a little girl. She’s a woman and the best to ever do this. This is her first Ladder Match, but winning is what she does. When she makes history on Saturday and wins Money in the Bank, they can all thank her for letting them be part of such a historic moment. As for Lynch (a loud “Becky” chant picks up), Stratus says she can’t call Lynch a little girl or a woman because she’s The Man or whatever, but when it’s all said and done, will she be man enough to say, “Thank you, Trish.”
Becky Lynch walks up to Stratus and punches her. A big brawl breaks out with all the competitors. Stratus and Stark concentrate on Lynch, while Damage CTRL attacks Vega. Lynch gets Stratus and Stark out of the ring. The ring is soon cleared, and Sky hits the competitors with a springboard moonsault to the floor! Lynch is in the ring and climbs the ladder to retrieve the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Cathy Kelley is backstage with NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes. This is his first Monday Night Raw, and he’s going to face Finn Bálor. Hayes says the World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins invited him to this show. Rollins is someone he aspires to be like. Hayes is going to take care of the Bálor problem. If he has to go out in a blaze of glory and still handle his business tomorrow against Baron Corbin, that’s fine. You have to take shots to make shots. Tonight, Hayes won’t miss.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther makes his way to the ring alongside Ludwig Kaiser. He’ll face Sami Zayn next.
-Commercial Break-
Becky Lynch is walking backstage when she sees Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. Ripley says Lynch better hope she doesn’t win the Money in the Bank briefcase. If she tries to cash it in on her, it’ll be the last thing she does in WWE. Lynch says when she had the title, it was defended in every town in the main event. Ripley is only a main event sidepiece. Ripley sneers. Lynch says the title needs her. Lynch just wants to see Ripley squirm.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn will defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against Pretty Deadly.
Kevin Owens will be on commentary for the next match.
Non-Title Match
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther vs. Unified WWE Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn
The bell rings, and they circle the ring. Gunther hits a headlock takeover and cinches it in. Zayn gets to his feet and tries to whip him off, but Gunther holds on and hits another takeover. Zayn fights up and whips him off, but Gunther quickly shoulder tackles him down. Gunther goes back to the headlock takeover. Gunther tightens his grip on the side headlock. An “Ole” chant picks up. Zayn fights up and whips Gunther off. Zayn drops down and hits an arm drag. Gunther quickly gets up and knees Zayn back to the corner. Gunther hits Zayn with an uppercut. Zayn ducks a chop and punches away at Gunther. Gunther reverses a whip to the opposite corner, but Zayn elbows him back. Zayn bounces Gunther off the top turnbuckle and climbs to the second rope. Gunther blocks the punches. Giovanni Vinci comes out to the stage on crutches. Gunther shoves Zayn off. Zayn goes for a springboard maneuver, but Gunther catches him and hits a German Suplex.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Zayn fighting back with chops, but Gunther swats him down with a single frying pan chop to the chest. Gunther slowly approaches Zayn and uppercuts him down into the corner. Gunther backs up and charges, but Zayn catches him with an exploder suplex attempt. Gunther fights it and bends Zayn back before viciously chopping him down. Gunther chops him a few times in the corner. Gunther looks at Owens, which upsets him. Zayn boots Gunther and kicks him in the head a few times. Zayn is on the second rope and tries for a tornado DDT, but Gunther fights it and chops the chest. Gunther climbs to the middle rope and goes for a superplex, but Zayn fights it with some right hands. Zayn clubs away at Gunther and hits a sunset flip powerbomb for a near fall.
Zayn pulls himself up and attacks Gunther. Gunther responds with some stiff attacks, but Zayn shakes it off. Zayn hits a pair of clotheslines that don’t take the Ring General down. Zayn springboards over Gunther and finally takes him down with a clothesline. Zayn tries for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Gunther gets out and applies a rear naked choke. Zayn fights up and counters out with a Blue Thunder Bomb. 1… 2… Gunther barely kicks out!
The crowd cheers Zayn on. Zayn goes to the top rope and leaps off, but Gunther chops him out of midair. Gunther picks up a near fall. Gunther is shocked and drops a knee. Gunther goes to the top rope and hits a flying splash for a near fall! Ludwig Kaiser jumps up to the apron, so Owens gets on and attacks him. Owens beats up Kaiser at ringside, but Gunther quickly big boots him down. Zayn takes Gunther out with a somersault senton and gets the Intercontinental Champion in the ring. Zayn hits Gunther with an exploder suplex in the corner. Zayn goes to the corner to set up for a Helluva Kick. Kaiser distracts the referee, and Vinci hits Zayn in the throat with his crutch. Gunther quickly hits Zayn with a Powerbomb for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Gunther
Imperium poses in the ring, but Owens attacks them from behind. Vinci is at ringside still. Matt Riddle’s music hits, and he angrily hobbles down to ringside. Riddle takes Vinci down and hits him in the injured leg with his crutch. Riddle gets in the ring and hits Kaiser with the crutch before beating Gunther out of the ring with it. Owens hits Kaiser with a Stunner to knock him out of the ring. Imperium is sent retreating. Owens, Zayn, and Riddle stand tall in the ring.
Video Package: NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes highlight reel
Finn Bálor makes his way to the ring. He’ll face NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes next.
-Commercial Break-
Alpha Academy is backstage exercising. Chad Gable says the Viking Raiders are savages and idiots for doubting his coaching abilities. Maxxine says she’s taken it to that witch Valhalla twice. Gable asks Otis for the plan. Otis says the plan is “pure carnage.”
Replays are shown from last Monday’s Raw of Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley absolutely annihilating Natalya.
Cathy Kelley is backstage with Natalya. She asks Natalya about her emotions following that brutal attack. Natalya says she signed up for this life, and Rhea Ripley is part of that. The biggest battle is in her head right now. The fear of losing is not as great as the fear of giving up. Natalya has been broken and down, but she’s still standing. She tells Rhea Ripley to bring her title and face her woman-to-woman next week.
Non-Title Match
Finn Bálor vs. NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes
The bell rings, and they circle the ring. Bálor quickly tackles Hayes and punches away at him. Bálor gets to his feet and stomps away at the NXT Champion. Bálor chops the chest and shoulders the midsection in the corner. Bálor punches Hayes and hits a snapmare before hitting a club to the back of the neck. Bálor applies a chin lock, but Hayes fights up. Hayes whips him off, does a leapfrog, and ducks a clothesline. Hayes hits a nice dropkick. Hayes puts Bálor on the ropes and hits the Fade Away! Bálor rolls out of the ring to recover, so Hayes hits him with a plancha. Hayes gets in the ring and poses.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Bálor shouldering away at Hayes in the corner. Bálor whips him to the opposite corner and hits a running chop. Bálor sends Hayes to the opposite corner and hits another running chop. Bálor tries a third time, but Hayes elbows him back. Hayes goes for a springboard cross-body block, but Bálor moves. During the commercial break, Bálor hit Hayes with a falling elbow drop. Hayes fights back and hits a jawbreaker followed by a clothesline. Bálor reverses a whip, but Hayes ducks a clothesline and hits a springboard twisting clothesline for a near fall. Hayes slaps the mat in frustration.
Hayes clotheslines Bálor in the corner and hits the ropes. Bálor comes back by turning Hayes inside out with a clothesline. Bálor stomps away at Hayes. Hayes slowly gets up, but Bálor puts him right back down with a Sling Blade. Bálor sets up for a Woo Dropkick, but Hayes superkicks him. Hayes hits a springboard diving DDT for a near fall! Hayes gets on the top rope and jumps, but Bálor moves. Bálor lifts Hayes, but Hayes slides off and rolls him up for a two-count. Bálor blocks a kick and hits a beautiful gutbuster. Bálor hits a vicious Woo Dropkick. Bálor climbs to the top rope and comes off with a nice Coup de Grâce, absolutely stomping the guts out of Hayes, for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Finn Bálor
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes is backstage with his dog, Pharoah. Cathy Kelley asks about Damian Priest. Rhodes says he hopes to one day not talk about the Judgment Day at all. Rhodes says Priest is walking into Money in the Bank with bruises on his body and to his ego. As for Dominik Mysterio, he wishes he could be in the crowd to boo him. At Money in the Bank, Mysterio won’t have Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, or Rhea Ripley. We’ll see what he has.
We’ll take a look at the Bloodline Civil War next.
-Commercial Break-
Video Package: The first shots are fired in the Bloodline Civil War this past Friday on SmackDown
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa will battle The Usos in a Bloodline Civil War this Saturday at Money in the Bank. The commentators run down the rest of the card that will take place this Saturday in London, England, with a special start time of 3 p.m. Eastern/12 Pacific.
“Wrestling has more than one royal family.”
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring. He’ll face Damian Priest next.
-Commercial Break-
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest
Cody Rhodes is still wearing a brace on his left arm. They lock up and tussle for position. Priest soon hooks a side headlock. Rhodes whips him off, but Priest shoulder tackles him down. Rhodes gets to his feet and looks upset. Priest taunts Rhodes to loud boos. Rhodes applies a waistlock before going to a side headlock. Priest whips him off, so Rhodes hits a shoulder tackle that knocks him into the ropes. Priest rebounds with a shoulder tackle. Priest hits the ropes, but Rhodes attempts a backslide. Rhodes fights it, drops down, and hits an uppercut. Rhodes hits the ropes, but Priest hits a back elbow. Rhodes responds with a dropkick. Rhodes grabs the arm and hits a snapper. Rhodes gets Priest in the corner, but Priest fights out and punches him. Priest gets Rhodes in the corner and punches him down. Priest sends Rhodes to the opposite corner and hits an avalanche. Priest sets up for a suplex, but Rhodes counters with a delayed vertical front suplex.
Dominik Mysterio and Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley make their way to ringside. Priest takes Rhodes down and drags him to the ring post. Rhodes pulls him into the ring post and hits a suicide dive. Rhodes gets Priest in the ring and turns to Dominik Mysterio. Mysterio quickly retreats and hides behind Mami. Rhodes gets in the ring, and Priest hits a flatliner.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the final break of the evening to see Priest fight Rhodes off and hit a Broken Arrow for a two-count. Ripley and Mysterio pace at ringside. Priest applies a surfboard stretch, but Rhodes fights up and head-butts out. Rhodes hits the ropes, but Priest takes him out with a flapjack. Priest hits the ropes and turns Rhodes inside out with a clothesline for a near fall. Priest goes to the top rope, but Rhodes scales the ropes and hits an arm drag off the top rope!
A “Cody” chant picks up. Rhodes punches Priest. Priest responds with a kick. They go back and forth with Rhodes coming out on top and hitting some jabs a la “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes hits a snap powerslam after Priest mounts a brief comeback. Rhodes waits for Priest to get up and hits a Disaster Kick. Rhodes jabs away at Priest and hits his father’s Bionic Elbow for a near fall. Dusty had many fine moments in Georgia. Rhodes sets up for a Figure Four Leglock, but Priest kicks him away. Priest avoids an avalanche and plants him with a headlock driver for a near fall.
A “Dommy sucks” chant fires up. Priest fights out of a Cross Rhodes attempt, so Rhodes connects with a Pedigree. Rhodes crawls over to Priest, but Priest rolls out of the ring. Rhodes goes to the top rope and jumps over Priest as he gets in the ring. Priest hits a big superkick for a near fall. Priest chops Rhodes and charges him, but Rhodes superkicks him. Ripley distracts the referee, and Mysterio thwarts a Cody Cutter attempt. Priest hits Rhodes with South of Heaven for a near fall. Ripley and Mysterio flip out in frustration at ringside. Mysterio gets on the apron and yells. Rhodes gets out of a Crucifix Powerbomb attempt and sends Priest into Mysterio. Rhodes hits Priest with a Cody Cutter. Rhodes follows up with Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes
As Cody Rhodes celebrates in the ring, Dominik Mysterio attacks him from behind with a forearm to the back of the head. Mysterio shouts, “I’ll see you at Money in the Bank.” Rhodes is irate as the show comes to an end.
Quick Match Results
— Ricochet def. Shinsuke Nakamura
— WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey def. Raquel Rodriguez
— Dominik Mysterio def. Akira Tozawa
— WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther def. Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn (non-title)
— Finn Bálor def. NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes (non-title)
— “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes def. Damian Priest
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Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV
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