Date: July 10, 2023
Location: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY
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Show Recap —
Finn Bálor kicked off Raw. He was pissed about what happened at Money in the Bank and said his issues with Seth Rollins weren’t finished because of Damian Priest.
Judgment Day’s music hit but it was Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio who entered. Ripley knew they had issues to discuss but wanted to do it in the back. Bálor said he had no issue with them, it was Priest who cost him and tried to hijack his moment.
Ripley pushed Bálor’s mic down so the crowd couldn’t hear her tell him to calm down. They had a disagreement and Bálor left.
Ripley took the mic and said Judgment Day still ran Raw and challenged anyone to prove her wrong. Ripley also said that Dom would put down Rollins tonight. Dom grabbed the mic and the crowd loudly booed. (Ripley was getting booed too but it got extra loud for Dom.)
Rollins entered and Dom screamed at them to cut his music. Dom said he didn’t want to be disrespected — all while Rollins was actively eating a plate of chicken wings. Rollins told Dom to shut up because we were here (in Buffalo) to eat buffalo wings and watch Judgment Day implode.
Dom said he would beat Rollins so Rollins laughed. Rollins informed Ripley that he was the only one who would be whipping Dom-Dom’s ass tonight. Rollins’ music played and he danced in place while eating wings.
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Ripley and Dom approached Priest in the back. Priest said he knew things would go that way (in the ring). Ripley told him to grow up, be a man and squash things. Priest said this man already tried but Bálor chose not to listen. For her, Priest would try again. Ripley said, “Good.”
Drew McIntyre & Matt Riddle defeated Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci (w/Intercontinental Champion Gunther) (10:46)
McIntyre got in the ring (for the first time since WrestleMania) and Kaiser quickly bailed. Imperium got the advantage over Riddle moments later ahead of a break and they maintained control for a while until Riddle countered out of an Imperial Bomb.
McIntyre made the hot tag and handed out overhead suplexes and neckbreakers to both opponents. McIntyre looked Gunther in the eye before powerbombing Vinci. He set up for Claymore Kick but Kaiser got in his way. The referee was distracted so Gunther tried to attack but Riddle nailed him with a flying knee.
McIntyre gave Vinci a Claymore while Riddle held Kaiser back with an ankle lock and McIntyre got the pinfall win.
— Gunther issued Vinci a warning after the match and stormed off. Kaiser looked concerned.
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In the back, Bálor again complained to Priest until Ripley cut him off. Priest said he didn’t intend on costing Bálor his match at MITB. In fact, he wanted Bálor to win. Priest said they could “go back to running this place, or…”
Bálor was good with getting off to a fresh start but he wanted Rollins first. Priest was fine with that and asked Bálor if they were cool. Bálor said yes. Priest knew that Bálor could beat Rollins and that he would be champion. Priest raised his MITB briefcase and stated, “Either way, it’s covered.” Bálor looked confused as his mates walked off.
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There was a 4-minute long recap video of the Bloodline segments from Smackdown.
Jackie Redmond interviewed Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. She asked them what’s next. Zayn said they would keep taking on whoever stepped their way. They mentioned Street Profits, Alpha Academy, LWO, and Viking Raiders as potential opponents.
Ripley and Dom approached. Ripley didn’t appreciate that they left out Judgment Day. Owens was pissed at them for disobeying the unwritten interrupting rule.
Ripley said any combination of Judgment Day could take their titles and they planned on taking all the titles. Ripley also warned them that Dom couldn’t be stopped because he worked on his cardio in prison.
After Ripley and Dom left, Zay and Owens debated what she might’ve meant by that.
(It seemed like there was a “We can’t hear you” chant from the live crowd during this segment.)
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There was a video package for Indus Sher and Jinder Mahal.
Non-title match: World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio (w/Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley)
The match didn’t happen. Dom attacked Rollins from behind during his entrance as Rollins was watching Ripley. Rollins fought back and chased Dom around but he was attacked from behind by Bálor and Priest.
Owens and Zayn ran out to make the save and they cleared the ring after Rollins hit Dom with a chair. The crowd sang Rollins’ song as the two sides stared each other down.
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Logan Paul walked through the back. His face-off with Ricochet is next. (Gunther appeared to be lecturing Vinci in the background.)
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(The first hour of Raw included six segments with Judgment Day. Only the McIntyre/Riddle tag match didn’t include the group — but they were in the segment right before that. And If you haven’t had enough Judgment Day, there was a commercial moments after their segment advertising them for tomorrow’s NXT.)
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[SECOND HOUR]
Tonight’s main event will be Rollins, Zayn and Owens against Priest, Bálor and Dominik in a six-man tag.
Logan Paul and Ricochet face-to-face
Ricochet entered and wanted to tell the fans something from the heart: Every time he stepped in the ring, every risk he took was for the fans so they could go home and say Ricochet was the highlight of their night. But tonight was about Logan Paul. The crowd booed Paul.
Ricochet didn’t appreciate Paul going on his podcast to call him unprofessional when Paul himself admitted he didn’t know what he was doing. Ricochet said he didn’t do things on social media and invited Paul to the ring to do things face to face.
Paul entered. Paul was amused by Ricochet acting tough because looked like a little boy. Paul wanted to make this quick because he didn’t want to be in this crap town much longer. Paul said Ricochet was spectacular and every time they were in the ring together, it was fireworks.
But Paul stood by what he said on his podcast because everyone in the MITB ladder match cared more about him losing than themselves winning — and Ricochet cost them both the match.
Ricochet said none of the fans wanted him near the MITB briefcase. Ricochet spoke about being in the business for 20 years and the crowd chanted, “Logan sucks.” Paul laughed because Ricochet was mid-promo but they were still chanting about him (Paul). Ricochet warned Paul to never run his mouth about him again.
Paul wasn’t intimidated by a guy wearing a shirt that was too small and was 90% forehead. Paul knew Ricochet wanted to fight him so he could go viral but Paul didn’t care about going viral because he was a WWE superstar. Paul said he knocked people out while Ricochet was all about video clips. Paul basically declined.
Ricochet flipped over the top to the outside (like he did in that segment with Velveteen Dream in NXT years ago). Paul was impressed but still declined.
Paul tried a sucker punch but Ricochet countered into a sliced bread off the apron. The crowd chanted for Ricochet.
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Zoey Stark (w/Trish Stratus) defeated Becky Lynch (10:34)
Stark took control thanks to Stratus tripping Lynch with the ref’s back turned but Lynch made a comeback after a break and hit an exploder for two. Stark responded with a clothesline, sliding knee and twisting senton for two. Lynch countered Stark’s finisher and hit a reverse DDT for two. Stark countered a Disarmer a couple of times and hit a spinning kick for a nearfall.
Stark tried a cradle while holding the ropes but the ref caught her. Lynch tried to return the favour by doing the same thing but Stratus informed the ref. Lynch argued with Stratus as her back was turned on Stark so Stark tried her finisher but Lynch countered it again. Lynch dropkicked Stratus off the apron but with her back turned again, Stark rolled her up for the pinfall win.
(The finish was convoluted and this helped no one.)
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Rollins, Zayn and Owens met in the back. Owens wanted them to smash heads and break noses. They were all on the same page.
Maxxine Dupri Alpha Academy Graduation Ceremony
Chad Gable and Otis did some comedy before introducing the first ever female graduate of Alpha Academy — Maxxine Dupri.
Dupri said she used to think Gable was just a hideous, disgusting, little troll but there was so much more to him than that. He was a great mentor, teacher and a wonderful friend. The crowd chanted, “You deserve it” for Dupri. Thanks to Gable’s training, Dupri said she was able to beat that witch Valhalla and win her first match on Raw.
Dupri also wanted to credit the beautiful hunk Otis. Dupri called Otis her muse and her rock and if he hadn’t caught her eye, none of this would have happened. She also thanked the fans for accepting her. She yelled, “Thank you!”
Gable told Dupri to remove her cap and gown (which some fans cheered) because he had something for her — the last jacket she would ever wear. Gable gave her an Alpha Academy letterman jacket.
Viking Raiders interrupted. As Erik and Ivar entered to distract them, Valhalla decked Dupri from behind and stole her new jacket.
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Earlier today, Emma told Shayna Baszler (who was playing with a deck of cards) that she was impressed by what Baszler did to Ronda Rousey and thought they should finish the job together. Baszler said she would show Emma what she planned on doing to Rousey in the ring.
Shayna Baszler defeated Emma (1:29)
Baszler won quickly by submission with the Kirifuda Clutch.
— Rousey marched out post-match and brawled with Baszler. Rousey countered a Kirifuda Clutch and attempted an arm bar but Baszler managed to escape the ring.
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[THIRD HOUR]
Cody Rhodes promo
Rhodes asked the millions of fans watching at home to indulge him because he wanted to turn his back to the camera and see all the fans in the area. Rhodes looked around as the fans cheered him.
Rhodes said there seemed to be an invisible wall between the fans and the ring but he always felt like the fans were in there with him and he appreciated that. Rhodes said this wasn’t performative because everything he’s been telling the fans has been real. He wasn’t just talking about career goals but about life goals.
He recalled a fan in the UK asking him about his momentum. Rhodes answered honestly but the question and his answer has haunted him since. He told the fan that every city they went to was sold out and every crowd was louder than the next. By every metric, he was doing just fine.
The fan persisted and Rhodes’ answer bothered him because his momentum in the ring was shaky. There was a mountain in his way named Brock Lesnar. He cannot go over or around the mountain, he must go through it. Rhodes informed Buffalo that Lesnar was not here tonight but will be on Raw next week.
Rhodes said everyone had a Brock Lesnar in their life — that thing that was impeding them from the next step they could take — whether it was a fear of heights or their boss.
Rhodes’ wanted a rubber match against Lesnar at SummerSlam. Rhodes wanted Lesnar to appear on Raw next week and shake his hand. If he didn’t, it would be another night of Rhodes popping him in the head and attacking him with a chair to end the chapter that Lesnar started for no reason.
Rhodes said whoever emerged from the dust would be next in line but the prince didn’t want to be prince any longer — he would be next in line.
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No disqualification match: The Miz defeated Tommaso Ciampa (11:41)
They went to break after Ciampa wrapped Miz’s head in between a steel chair and shoved him into the ring post. Miz came off the top with a trash can lid but Ciampa caught him mid-air with a knee strike. Ciampa used the lid and hit multiple running knee strikes in the corner. Ciampa put Miz through a table with an air raid crash off the middle rope and the crowd went nuts.
Ciampa had it won but Bronson Reed broke up the cover. Reed gave Ciampa a Tsunami. Miz crawled into a cover at least ten seconds later and picked up the pinfall win.
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Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green confronted Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan because they didn’t want them ringside for their match. Rodriguez told them to relax.
Ripley showed up and warned Rodriguez not to get involved in her business again or else it was strike three. Green tried to take Ripley’s side and said, “Strike three, you’re out! Basketball!” Ripley got in Green’s face so Deville settled things down and they left.
Morgan told Ripley they got involved last week because she was a bully who disrespected Natalya. Rodriguez cut off Morgan and told Ripley that they would stop her.
Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green defeated Katana Chase & Kayden Carter (2:22)
Green won when she covered Katana with her feet on the ropes and Deville assisted by holding her feet down. Crowd was pretty dead for this.
(The women’s tag title match is next week.)
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Byron Saxton interviewed McIntyre and Riddle. McIntyre has noticed all of the different groups that have popped up trying using numbers to their advantage. McIntyre has dealt with that before and was tired of it, so he and Riddle planned on eradicating them all starting with Imperium.
Riddle looked forward to beating Gunther next week. McIntyre advised him to delay the match a week because he was off on company business. Riddle was one step ahead of him because he got Vinci and Kaiser banned from ringside. McIntyre was happy with that.
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McIntyre said their night was done so he and Riddle could go out and see what Buffalo had to offer. Saxton seemed like he wanted to join them but McIntyre stopped him and said, “Not you!”
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Next week on Raw in Atlanta:
Brock Lesnar appears Gable & Otis vs. Erik & Ivar in a Viking Rules match Rodriguez & Morgan vs. Green & Deville – Women’s tag title match Riddle vs. Gunther non-title match
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Six-man tag team match: Damian Priest, Finn Bálor & Dominik Mysterio (w/Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley) defeated World Champion Seth Rollins & Tag Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens (12:32)
They went to break after Owens wiped out Judgment Day with a dive off the top. Judgment Day worked over Owens after the break and the crowd chanted “Dom you suck.” Owens dropped Bálor with a DDT and Dom tagged in to try to prevent a tag but Owens simply rolled out of the way and tagged in Rollins.
Rollins was all over Dom and hit a superkick for two. Dom raked Rollins’ eyes and tagged in Priest who dropped him with a lariat for two. Rollins flipped out of a Priest chokeslam attempt and superkicked him into Bálor who fell off the apron. Rollins gave Priest a pedigree but Bálor broke up the cover and tagged in.
Dom tagged himself in as Bálor gave Rollins a headlock elbow drop. Dom hit a frog splash but Rollins kicked out. (Zayn was supposed to break up the cover but he was late. In fact, because Rollins already kicked out, Zayn hit Rollins by mistake while trying to break up the cover.)
Rollins dropped Bálor with a superkick and tagged in Zayn who gave Bálor a Blue Thunder Bomb. Dom broke up the cover so Owens gave him a stunner. Priest chucked Owens from the ring. (They didn’t really show it on camera but Rollins took himself out of the equation by clotheslining Dom and himself over the barricade.)
Zayn gave Bálor an exploder into the turnbuckle but Ripley tripped Zayn as he set up for Helluva Kick. Priest gave Zayn a chokeslam as Ripley distracted the referee and Bálor followed with a Coup de Grace for the pinfall win.
(It’s not a big deal but there were more than a couple mistimed spots during the final few minutes. They didn’t have a ton of time so they may have been rushing.)
— Bálor and Priest shook hands after the match. Ripley was very happy.
As the show ended, Corey Graves reminded us that Judgment Day will be on NXT tomorrow.