WWE is coming off a great Money in the Bank premium live event, where Raw superstar Damian Priest won this year’s men’s Money in the Bank contract. He now holds the opportunity to cash in on a World Champion whenever he chooses.
Also at the PLE, Seth Rollins retained his World Heavyweight Championship against Damian Priest’s Judgement Day buddy, Finn Bálor. Rollins kicked off Monday Night Raw this evening, and the Baltimore crowd sang him in.
He gave himself credit for defeating Bálor this past weekend, and he said now he has to turn his attention to Summerslam which is just five weeks away. However, before he could take about the next big event, Cody Rhodes interrupted him! Rhodes and Rollins have quite a history, but just as Rhodes opened his mouth out came the beast incarnate, Brock Lesnar! He has not been seen since he made Cody pass out at Night of Champions.
What a way to kick off #WWERaw!@CodyRhodes picked a fight with @BrockLesnar! pic.twitter.com/uW3b2Uk0ZZ
— WWE (@WWE) July 4, 2023
Rhodes’ attention turned from Rollins and he took a run at Lesnar to ignite the brawl, Rhodes was able to avoid an F5 and hit Lesnar with a Cody Cutter. Lesnar decided to retreat from the ring, and it looks like the inevitable rubber match between Lesnar and Cody is on the horizon.
After a commercial break, Rollins was still in the ring, and he said now he can focus on who is next to step up for a shot at his World Heavyweight Championship. But once again, he was interrupted, this time by the Judgement Day, but Bálor was not with them. Ripley said everyone is waiting for J-Day to take over, and Priest then said the only thing Rollins needs to be worried about now is his Money in the Bank contract.
Priest said he could even cash in his contract tonight if he chooses, and Rollins said it’d be pretty dumb to cash in on a fresh champion like himself. However, Priest assured Rollins that he would make sure he was useless when he took his title. He then said why doesn’t Rollins take on a member of J-Day tonight? Dirty Dom offered a challenge to the World Champ! Rollins said this was a poor excuse for a trap, but Rollins said it would be his pleasure to slap Dom’s moustache off his face, and he accepted the challenge!
Damian Priest w/The Judgement Day vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Priest started the match with a cheap shot to Nakamura’s midsection, but it wasn’t long before Nakamura was laying into Priest with some knees. Nakamura then hung Priest on the top rope and hit him with a running knee sending him to the outside. However, now on the outside Priest was able to suplex Nakamura onto the barricade sending us into a commercial break.
After the break, both men were exchanging strikes until Nakamura was able to hit his signature sliding German suplex. He then leaped off the second rope only to be caught with an uppercut from Priest and he followed that with a spinning kick to Nakamura’s head. Later in the match, Priest hit an arm-trapped suplex on Nakamura before ending the match with the South of Heaven Chokeslam.
Winner: Damian Priest
At Money in the Bank, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were able to regain their Women’s Tag Team Championships after Shayna Baszler turned on Ronda Rousey during their match. So tonight, Rousey made her way to the ring looking angrier than ever. Unfortunately for her, before she could even say anything out came Shayna Baszler.
Baszler said just like everyone else she is sick and tired of trying to hear Rousey talk on a microphone, but Rousey demanded an explanation. Baszler said she doesn’t owe her anything, and she is the only reason Rousey is even in the WWE. She proceeded to apologize to everybody for even bringing her into the business and said Rousey got handed everything while she paid her dues and clawed her way to the WWE.
😲😲😲😲😲😲#WWERawpic.twitter.com/wOF6kKtRhY
— WWE (@WWE) July 4, 2023
She loves the wrestling business, but Rousey is ruining it for her and she is so happy that she can finally shut Rousey up. Rousey responded to that with a stiff kick to Baszler and she then tried to put her to sleep, but instead, Baszler locked Rousey into an ankle lock. After releasing the hold, Baszler kneed the soul out of Rousey and walked out on her former friend once again.
It was now time for the spectacular Alpha Academy and Chad Gable was giving Maxxine Dupri some final pointers ahead of her first match tonight. Gable said he can’t wait to hit The Viking Raiders with the biggest dose of patriotism. THANK YEWWWWWWW!
Now that Rousey and Baszler have officially crumbled, we now had the new Women’s Tag Champs make their way out. Morgan and Rodriguez were sitting ringside to take in this number one contender’s match for their titles.
Number one contender’s tag team turmoil match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
Green eliminated LeRae and Hartwell after hitting LeRae with an Unpretty-Her and bicycle knee.
Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville vs. Emma & Nikki Cross
Cross was unable to help Emma the entire match due to being so concerned about LeRae, so they defeated Emma the same way they knocked out LeRae.
Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville vs. Tegan Nox & Dana Brooke
This entire match happened during a commercial break. Good job WWE, that’ll make me care about this tag division. Green and Deville won again.
Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville vs. Kayden Carter & Katana Chance
This was the first match during this turmoil that had some actual back and forth. Carter had Green in an electric chair position on the top rope when Chance springboarded hitting Green with an avalanche hurricanrana. However, after a failed After Party attempt, Green hit Chance with an Unpretty-Her to get the victory!
Winners: New number one contenders, Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville
Becky Lynch was now given some time to address her shortcomings this past Saturday. However, she said she can move on from her loss easily, but she cannot move on from the thorn in her side, Trish Stratus. She called Trish out and she made her way out alongside Zoey Stark, but Trish was sporting a face mask due to a broken face that Lynch caused.
Trish said she would’ve loved to accept Lynch’s challenge but she cannot since she is not medically cleared. So, Lynch instead asked for Stark, who also declined the offer and then Trish started rambling about being the G.O.A.T. again. Lynch then recalled how Trish claims to be the best but she could not even beat Lynch on her own. She needed the help of Stark, so that makes Lynch the best and Lynch said she knows Trish is only back to get a rub by facing The Man.
Lynch begged for an explanation as to why Trish is still here if she refused to fight her. She responded by saying it is because she is the face of the women’s division, and she said Lynch can have a match against Stark next week on Raw. This whole feud has been one massive yawn.
The newest member of Raw’s announce team, Jackie Redmond, was now joined by Cody Rhodes. He was addressing Brock Lesnar, he said he made a promise after Night of Champions that he wanted another shot at the beast. He believes there is no way they can co-exist on Raw until they have one more match, he said he will fight Lesnar any night or every night.
Alpha Academy (Otis, Chad Gable & Maxxine Dupri) vs. The Viking Raiders (Erik, Ivar & Valhalla)
Gable and Erik started us off, it was Erik quickly getting the advantage by simply overpowering the much smaller Gable. In order for the Academy to stay in the match, Otis was tagged in and he hit Erik with a beautiful caterpillar. Alpha Academy was staying on the attack, Gable hit Ivar with a rolling neck breaker and Erik with an exploder suplex.
Gable was on fire, he hit Ivar with an avalanche bulldog, Erik with a diving senton and then went back at Ivar hitting a diving headbutt. It was now time for the in-ring debut of Maxxine after her weeks of training with Gable! She was all over Valhalla, hitting a perfect suplex Gable taught her and followed that by attempting a caterpillar of her own, but she was caught with a knee from Valhalla.
While that was going on, Gable dove from the top rope to the outside taking out Erik and Ivar with a moonsault. Dupri was then able to shock Valhalla by rolling her up, stealing a win for Alpha Academy.
Alpha Academy is the ultra-high-quality content I want to see!
Winners: Alpha Academy
Jackie Redmond was now joined by Ricochet to talk about Logan Paul, they had a crazy spot in the match and a brawl backstage afterwards. He said Logan decided to make things personal when he attacked him, so he is inviting Logan to Raw next week to go face-to-face in the middle of the ring!
Women’s World Championship Match: Rhea Ripley (C) vs. Natalya
As Ripley was making her way to the ring, she was attacked from behind by Natalya, giving Rhea a taste of her own medicine. This is the third match between these two women, and in the previous two Rhea attacked Natalya before the bell.
Following the attack, Natalya threw Ripley into the ring and the bell was rung. Natalya tried to get herself the quick win by going for the Sharpshooter, but instead, she was hit by a stiff right from Rhea. Ripley was now beating the hell out of Natalya, all her viciousness was coming out. She trapped Natalya in her legs and headbutted her right between the eyes, she followed that with a slap right across the face.
Ripley was looking for a suplex, but she was kicked off the top rope and Natalya hit a diving crossbody. She was now looking for the Sharpshooter again, but this time Ripley popped up with a spinning kick to Natalya’s head. She then went for a powerbomb, but Natalya reversed into a hurricanrana and then hit a discus lariat. However, Ripley came right back hitting a diving missile dropkick before locking in the Prism Lock.
The hold was broken and Ripley went to the top rope looking for a Frog Splash in honor of Dom-Dom, but Natalya got her boots up. Natalya hit a running power slam and finally locked in the Sharpshooter, but Rhea made it to the ropes and then headbutted Natalya again. Ripley then hit the Riptide and retained her World Championship!
After the match, Ripley continued to beat down Natalya, but the tag champs Morgan and Rodriguez came to make the save. However, Ripley still walks out with her title.
Winner: Still Women’s World Champion, Rhea Ripley
Tommaso Ciampa recorded a message for The Miz earlier today, he said The Miz attacked him from behind like a coward. He said The Miz has all kinds of accomplishments, but he typically always loses nowadays, however last week he saw the old Miz. He wants Miz to bring that ruthless aggression next week, and he will bring his chip on his shoulder.
The Miz responded by saying Ciampa is right, and the best version of himself is back. He said next week he will bring that aggression when he faces Ciampa in a no-disqualification match!
Matt Riddle vs. Giovanni Vinci w/Imperium
Vinci has been out injured for about a month now due to an attack from Riddle, and tonight he was looking for his revenge. He wasted no time attacking Riddle as soon as the bell sounded and he hit a springboard crossbody. Vinci then hit a rolling senton and transitioned into a moonsault from the second rope. But just as Vinci was in control, Riddle rolled him up to steal a victory.
Winner: Matt Riddle
As soon as Riddle stole the win, Kaiser and Vinci started attacking Riddle, but out to make the save came the man that returned at MITB, Drew McIntyre. He came running out hitting Kaiser with a Claymore and then Vinci with a Glasgow Kiss. Riddle hit Vinci with a bicycle knee before McIntyre hit him with a Claymore as well.
The Scottish Psychopath then dared Gunther to get into the ring with him, but Gunther made the decision to retreat and walk to the back.
It was later announced that next week it will be McIntyre and Riddle against Imperium!
“Dirty” Dominik Mysterio w/The Judgement Day vs. Seth Rollins
Our main event of the evening began with some chain wrestling, and to the shock of all Dom-Dom was holding his own. Rollins then threw Dom to the outside and hit him with a running knee off of the apron to send us to a commercial break.
After the break, Rollins hit Dom with the three amigos and he then went to the top for a frog splash, but Rhea distracted the referee so Priest could push Rollins off the top rope. Dirty Dom then hit two frog splashes of his own, but he made the mistake of going for a third and Rollins got his knees up. Rollins then laid into Dom with some forearms and followed that with a back-breaker.
Priest now got involved again, so Rollins knocked him off the apron and then hit both Priest and Dom with a suicide dive. Rollins was now looking for the finish with The Stomp, but Priest jumped in the ring and hit Rollins with the South of Heaven Chokeslam.
Winner: Seth Rollins via disqualification
The beatdown was now on and it seemed like Priest was setting up his cash-in, he was working the ribs of Rollins and then attempted to Razor’s Edge him through the announce table. Rollins was able to slip out, so Dom hit Rollins from behind with Priest’s briefcase.
What a WILD ending to #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/vjOtRcqZMS
— WWE (@WWE) July 4, 2023
Rollins was lying out cold in the middle of the ring and Priest was getting ready to cash in when out of nowhere Finn Bálor emerged from the back. Bálor launched Rollins into Priest and ruined his opportunity just so he could beat down Rollins once again. While Bálor and Priest argued, Rollins was able to hit Dom with a Pedigree on the floor and sneak away to the back.
J-Day is having serious issues, but Rollins is still our champion of the world!
