WWE Raw 22th of May 2023

Backstage, Cody Rhodes arrives at the arena. Brock Lesnar blindsided him and beats him down backstage. Rhodes tries to pull himself up using a the ridges of a garage door. Lesnar picks up what looks like a beer keg and slams it into Rhodes’ arm. Lesnar laughs as Rhodes screams in pain.

In-Ring Segment: Paul Heyman
Heyman immediately says he had nothing to do with just happened. That was just an example of Rhodes is in for when he tries to slay “The Beast” Brock Lesnar. Heyman plugs the Night of Champions card. Heyman notes there are three main events. While the Usos sit at home and watch, Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa will win the Undisputed Tag Team Championships. Heyman welcomes the crowd to the last Raw before Night of Champions. Heyman drops the mic, but Kevin Owens’ music hits.
Owens walks on the stage and Sami Zayn joins him. As Owens and Zayn grab mics in the ring, Heyman disappears from the ring. Zayn laughs about Heyman moving faster than he ever has before. Zayn says there is nothing left for him to say because he said everything he needed to Reigns face. Owens has something to say. Owens says Reigns dedicating his victory to the Wild Samoans last week has inspired him. So he’s dedicating THEIR victory at Night of Champions to the true pillars of the Bloodline, The Usos. Zayn notes they have business to handle tonight.
They have a six-man tag match tonight against IMPERIUM. IMPERIUM’s music hits and they surround the ring. Matt Riddle runs down to the ring and joins Owens and Zayn in the ring. Gunther, Vinci, and Kaiser walk up the ramp. As Owens, Zayn, and Riddle confer in the ring, Gunther and Co. run back down to the ring for a sneak attack. Zayn and Owens clear out Vinci and Kiaser. Riddle blasts Gunther with a knee strike to the face. Riddle, Owens, and Zayn sends Gunther flying over the top rope.

Backstage, Adam Pearce says Rhodes is still being evaluated, so he doesn’t have an update. Byron Saxton asks if Rhodes has a broken arm. Pearce responds he doesn’t have any information on that and walks away.

Ricochet vs. Bronson Reed
Ricochet lands a few strikes. After a few dropkicks to the knee, Ricochet takes Reed down to a knee with an enziguri. Ricochet hits the ropes and runs right into a body block from Reed. Leaping elbow drop by Reed. Reed hits the ropes and lands a basement body block. Ricochet ends up outside the ring. Reed lands a diving shoulder block off the apron. Ricochet is sent flying into the barricade.
After the break, Ricochet fights his way out of a suplex. Reed surprises Ricochet with a popup Samoan drop. Ricochet kicks out. Ricochet dropkicks Reed in the knee again. Basement superkick by Ricochet. Reed doesn’t go down. Spin kick to the face by Ricochet. Reed goes down. Running shooting star by Ricochet. Reed kicks out at one.
Springboard moonsault by Ricochet. Reed clotheslines Ricochet over the top. Reed tries another diving shoulder block off the apron, but Ricochet counters with a leaping knee to the face. Ricochet tries a springboard, but Reed hits the ropes. Ricochet gets hung up on the ropes. Reed hits a short-arm powerslam. Reed pins Ricochet after the Tsunami.
Winner- Bronson Reed

Zoey Stark vs. Candice LeRae
Stark attacks LeRae as soon as the bell rings. Stark sends LeRae flying with a suplex. LeRae kicks out. Stark beats down LeRae. Nikki Cross runs down to ringside and starts cheering for LeRae. LeRae surprises Stark with a dropkick. Corner splash by LeRae. Stepup senton by LeRae. LeRae lands a dive after sending Stark out of the ring. LeRae sends Stark back into the ring. Cross hugs LeRae as she is trying to get in the ring. In the confusion. Stark sends them both into the ring steps. Stark brings LeRae back into the ring and hits the Z360 for the win.
Winner- Zoey Stark

In-Ring Segment: Brock Lesnar
Lesnar asks the crowd what they want to talk about. Lesnar let’s the crowd know that Rhodes will not be out here tonight and he won’t be at Night of Champions either. Even so, Lesnar says he isn’t going to let everyone down. Lesnar issues an open challenge for anyone to fight him at Night of Champions. Cody Rhodes barges out on the stage flanked by referees and Adam Pearce. They are trying to get him to come back to the trainers room. Rhodes isn’t listening.
His arm is in a sling with an ice pack. Rhodes struggle to get in the ring. Lesnar laughs as Rhodes removes his sling. Both men charge at each other. Rhodes lands a few right hands, but Lesnar traps him in a kimura. Rhodes screams in pain as Lesnar tries to rip his arm off his body. Lesnar eventually lets the hold go. Before leaving the ring. Lesnar stomps on Rhodes’ injured arm.

The Alpha Academy w/Maxxine Dupri vs. The Viking Raiders w/Valhalla
Gable sends Erik flying with a head scissors. Erik and Ivar double team Gable. The Viking Raiders take turns beating down Gable. Gable manages to tag in Otis. Otis clears the ring. Otis lands the catapilar. Gable gets the tag. Outside the ring Dupri and Valhalla get into an argument. Valhalla chases Dupri away. In the confusion, Gable escapes Erik and Ivar’s finish. Gable rolls Erik into an O’Connor roll for the win.
Winners- The Alpha Academy

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Finn Bálor w/Damian Priest
Bálor and Nakamaura trade submission attempts right out the gate. Bálor knocks Nakamaura into the corner and lands a few strikes. Nakamura explodes out of the corner with a knee strike. Good vibrations by Nakamura. Bálor tries to block it, but Nakamura lands a head kick. Nakamura lays Bálor on the top rope and hits a running knee strike. Bálor rolls out of the ring. Bálor distracts the referee while Priest floors Nakamura with a clothesline outside the ring. After the break, Nakamura and Bálor trade counters.
Nakamura lands a sliding German suplex. Outside the ring, Nakamura tells Priest to come on. Priest chases Nakamura around the ring. Nakamura rolls back into the ring and lands a goard buster. Bálor surprises Nakamaura with a sling blade. Nakamura dodges and lands a suplex. Nakamura calls for the Kinshasa. Bálor counters with a double stomp. Bálor misses a double stomp off the top.
Nakamura destroys Bálor with a running knee to the back of the head. Nakamura calls for the Kinshasa again. Priest pulls Bálor out of the ring. Nakamura dives off the apron and knees Preist in the face. Nakamura clotheslines Priest over the barricade. Bálor dropkicks Nakamura into the barricade. Bálor sends Nakamura into the ring and lands the Coup de Grace for the win.
Winner- Finn Bálor

Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sonya Deville w/Chelsea Green
Deville land a flurry of strike. Running knee by Deville. Rodriguez kicks out. Rodriguez fires up and lands her powerbomb for the win.
Winner- Raquel Rodriguez
After the match, Green attacks Rodriguez from behind. Shotzi runs down to the ring and makes the save. Rodriguez holds the ropes open while Shotzi lands a tope suicida.

Backstage, a referee tells Pearce that Rhodes wont let anyone in his locker room. Pearce says he’s going to handle it. Trish Stratus walks in and ask Pearce to make a no-touching clause for the contract signing with Becky Lynch tonight. Pearce says nope and walks off.

Contract Signing
Becky Lynch enters first. Trish Stratus second. Stratus says Lynch has had so many contract signings. The reason Lynch has been able to have so many is because of Stratus. Stratus was number one the day she arrived in this company and it didn’t take a broken nose to do it. Stratus signs the contract. This is Stratus’ first contract signing on Raw, but this is gonna be Lynch’s last. Lynch says Stratus is scared. She sees it.
Everyone is better than they were but Stratus is in the same place. Lynch says these people remember her being way better than she actually is. Lynch says she’s it and Stratus is not. If Stratus thinks barking like a dog is embarrassing, what until she whips her ass at Night of Champions. Lynch says, “welcome to the big time, bitch, woof, woof!” Stratus pushes the table int Lynch before storming off.

Dominik Mysterio w/ Rhea Ripley vs. Apollo Crews
After a leapfrog/dropdown spot, Crews lands a back elbow. Delayed vertical suplex by Crews. Mysterio runs right into a gorilla press slam by Crews. Crews goes up top. Mysterio crotches Crews on the top rope. Mysterio works over Crews. Crews fires up. The fight spills out of the ring. Ripley gets in Crews’ face.
Mysterio pushes Crews into the ring steps. Mysterio distracts Crews while Ripley sends him into the ring post. Crews is about to be counted out, but he narrowly makes it in at nine to break the count. Dominink immediately lands a frog splash to Crews’ back as he slides in the ring. Mysterio pins Crews.
Winner- Dominik Mysterio

Undisputed Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, and Matt Riddle vs. IMPERIUM
Riddle tosses Kaiser all over the ring. Gunther tags in. Riddle avoids a chop. Gunther blocks Riddle’s kick. Gunther turns Riddle’s chest into hamburger with a vicious chop. After the break, IMPERIUM is taking turns beating down Riddle manages to tag in Owens. Owens clears the ring. Owens tries to set up a powerbomb on the apron but Kaiser escapes. Vinici and Kaiser high/low Owens on the apron. After the break, Zayn gets the tag and landsa a flurry of offense.
Zayn dumps Kaiser over the top, but he doesn’t realize Gunther got a blind tag. Gunther destroys Zayn with a few chops. Owens drops Vinci with a Stunner. Zayn tries the Helluva Kick but Gunther, but Gunther counters with a sleeper. Gunther drops down but Riddle rolls onto his stomach. Riddle lands a floating bro to Gunther’s back to break the hold. After a series of counters, Zayn surprises Vinci with a Helluva Kick. Owens lands a swanton for the win.
Winners- Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Matt Riddle.