Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 6/5/2023 edition of Monday Night Raw on the USA Network.
We will bring full results and breakdowns for every match and segment on the show. Follow Fightful on https://Twitter.com/Fightful and http://Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
Here's what is set for the show.
Preview.
WWE Monday Night Raw (6/5/2023).
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Damian Priest.
- Miz TV with Special Guest "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes.
- Women's Money In The Bank Qualifier Match: Natalya vs. Zoey Stark (w/ Trish Stratus).
- Women's Money In The Bank Qualifier Match: Becky Lynch vs. Sonya Deville (w/ Chelsea Green).
Refresh the site for the latest updates as the show happens.
Live Coverage.
- Kevin Patrick & Corey Graves welcomed the audience to the broadcast before transitioning to the opening segment.
- WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth "Freakin" Rollins came to the ring to cut a promo ahead of his first-ever title defense against Damian Priest later in the night. Rollins said that he was hosting an Open Challenge for the title tonight because it had been nearly two years since the last defense, and wanted to change that. Rollins said that he was looking forward to Priest answering the challenge, but said that no one from Judgment Day was as good as him.
Judgment Day's Damian Priest & Finn Balor interrupted the promo, which prompted Rollins to look around to find Dominik Mysterio & Rhea Ripley, but Priest said that Rollins only had to worry about him. Balor said that he looked forward to seeing Priest winning the belt off Rollins, but Priest praised Rollins's accolades and called him a deserving champion; however, Priest said that Rollins making an open challenge was foolish, saying that he did not need anyone to beat Rollins for the belt. Rollins told Priest to put his money with his money and told him to leave his crew backstage. Balor was irate about the conditions, but Priest told Rollins that he was willing and accepted the conditions.
Women's Money In The Bank Qualifier Match.
Becky Lynch vs. Sonya Deville (w/ Chelsea Green).
Green argued with Lynch on ringside to allow Deville to attack Lynch, but Lynch evaded, causing Deville to nearly drop Green off the apron. Lynch booted Green off the apron, but Lynch responded by slamming Lynch onto the mat. Deville gained control by locking in a headlock before catching Lynch with a series of forearm strikes. Lynch hit a lariat, a single-leg kick, a diving forearm into the apron, and an Exploder Suplex before catching Deville with a Twisting Crossbody on Deville. Trish Stratus & Zoey Stark watched the match from the apron to distract Deville, but Lynch hit the Bloody Sunday on Deville before Deville rolled out of the ring ahead of the commercial break.
Back from the break, Deville & Lynch were on the top rope Deville hit a Superplex on Lynch to get the pin, but only got a near fall. The two exchanged forearm strikes before Lynch hit a running forearm on Deville to send her to the outside. Lynch hit a sliding kick on Deville on the outside before getting her back in the ring, but Green caught Lynch with a pump kick. Green tossed Lynch back to the ring into Deville's V-Trigger for a near fall. Deville tried to dominate Lynch, but Lynch caught her with an enziguri kick. Green tried to get involved once again, but Lynch caught her and attacked Green on the ringside area before tossing Deville onto the barricade. Back in the ring, Lynch went for a Uranage, but Deville reversed it with a Schoolboy Pin for a near fall. Lynch went for the Disarmer on Deville, but Deville slammed Lynch into the bottom rope before going for a rope-assisted pin on Lynch, but Lynch kicked out. Deville went for an Ax-Handle off the Middle Turnbuckle, but Lynch caught her and hit the "Man Handle Slam" Uranage for the pinfall win.
Winner: Becky Lynch.
- There was a video package recapping the celebration of the 1,000 Day reign of WWE Undisputed Champion Roman Reigns from the June 2, 2023 edition of SmackDown, which was interrupted by The Usos before Solo Sikoa spiked Jimmy Uso in the throat. You can read more about this here.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens were interviewed about the events from the June 2, 2023 edition of SmackDown, but Zayn said that it was not their problem anymore. IMPERIUM's Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci said that they were right about The Bloodline not being their problem anymore, but IMPERIUM was their problem now. Owens threw a tantrum at Kaiser but was interrupted by Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER. GUNTHER said that Owens had a temper problem, but Owens was enraged and stormed into the ring to challenge GUNTHER to a match immediately.
- There was a video package of former NXT Women's Tag Team Champions Kayden Carter & Katana Chance ahead of their Monday Night Raw debut.
GUNTHER (w/ Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci of IMPERIUM) vs. Kevin Owens (w/ Sami Zayn).
The match began with the two locking up before GUNTHER backed Owens into the corner. GUNTHER got Owens in a headlock takeover before catching him with a wrist lock, but Owens got a rope break before slapping GUNTHER in the face. Owens hit a shoulder block and a series of strikes on GUNTHER before catching GUNTHER with a chop, but GUNTHER responded with a big boot and a German Suplex to send Owens to the outside. GUNTHER went to the outside, but Owens caught him with a Roundhouse Kick. GUNTHER slammed Owens into the barricade before hitting a Back Suplex on Owens into the apron before the commercial break.
Back from the break, GUNTHER got a near fall off Owens after blocking a Swanton Bomb from Owens. Owens laid in the punches on GUNTHER before running the ropes, but GUNTHER hit a body slam and a neck twist on Owens to neutralize him. GUNTHER hit an elbow strike on Owen's neck before locking in a chin lock on Owens, but Owens got off the hold before GUNTHER hit another Big Boot on Owens. GUNTHER continued to push Owens before hitting a pimp slam and two vicious chops on Owens's chest, which hyped up Kaiser on ringside. GUNTHER got Owens and locked in the Lion Tamer into the Boston Crab before transitioning into a Crossface on Owens, assisted with Anvil Elbows on Owens. Owens got back up on his feet and hit a chop on GUNTHER, but GUNTHER responded with an even stiffer chop to Owens. GUNTHER went for a Suplex, but Owens blocked it before GUNTHER caught Owens with a vicious lariat. GUNTHER got Owens back up and hit a Short-Hand Lariat on Owens before going for another, but Owens fired way before GUNTHER hit another German Suplex on Owens, but Owens responded with a German Suplex of his own by sheer muscle memory.
The two exchanged strikes before GUNTHER hit another vicious chop and a stomp onto Owens's neck. GUNTHER taunted Owens with boot kicks, but Owens got back and responded with three Thrust Kicks & a Cannonball into the corner for a near fall. Owens went for. a Stunner, but GUNTHER reversed it with a Sleeper & a Shotgun Dropkick. GUNTHER went for a powerbomb on Owens, but Owens responded with a nasty Fisherman's Brainbuster for a near fall. Owens climbed to the top rope, but GUNTHER caught him with a chop before hitting a Butterfly Superplex on Owens for a near fall. GUNTHER went for a Splash, but Owens blocked it with his knees before hitting a Swanton Bomb on GUNTHER, but GUNTHER kicked out at two. Vinci got on the apron, but Zayn attacked him. Kaiser tried to get involved, but Owens caught him with a Stunner. GUNTHER saw the opening and got Owens in a Deep Schoolboy Roll-Up for the pinfall win.
Winner: GUNTHER.
- Cathy Kelley interviewed Matt Riddle backstage, with Riddle saying that GUNTHER would not be Intercontinental Champion if it wasn't for Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci. Vinci & Kaiser confronted him backstage, but Riddle tossed Kaiser over the production box while locking in an Ankle Lock on Vinci before multiple WWE Producers and referees split them apart.
- Byron Saxton interviewed the newly crowned WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler, with Baszler saying that they manifested this even before entering wrestling. Rousey promised to make the belts relevant before challenging any team to step up to them. Kayden Carter & Katana Chance confronted them backstage. Rousey heard their challenge and called it baptism by fire before telling them that they would talk to Pearce for a match.
Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler vs. Katana Chance & Kayden Carter.
Baszler & Carter locked up before Baszler leaned Carter into the corner. The two locked up again before Carter tripped Baszler in the corner. Carter hit an O'Connor Roll into a kick on Baszler. CHance & Carter hit two leg trips into a Springboard Swanton on Baszler for a near fall. Rousey tagged in before kicking Carter in the abdomen and hitting a Judo Throw on Chance. Rousey hit a knee strike on Chance before locking in a Juji Gatame on Chance on the ropes, but Carter broke the hold with a Thrust Kick on Rousey before Chance & Carter hit Splashes on Rousey & Baszler to the outside. Back in the ring, Rousey & Baszler hit a Judo Throw/ Shinning Wizard Combination on Chance for a near fall. Baszler twisted Chance's wrist before stomping Chance's arm onto her own wrist. Chance got back up and hit a Gamonguri on Rosuey and evaded Baszler before tagging in Carter. Carter hit a dropkick into the corner on Baszler before hitting a Victory Roll into a Thrust Kick, a Basement Helluva Kick into the ropes, and the Heat Seeker Piledriver on Baszler for a near fall. Rousey tagged in and went for Piper's Pit on Carter, but Carter evaded before she & Chance hit a 450 Splash/ Neck Breaker combination on Rousey, but Baszler broke the pin by pulling Chance out of the ring. Chance went for a crossbody on Rousey, but Rousey rolled over into an Ankle Lock. Chance hit a Code Breaker on Rousey before Baszler tagged in. Baszler hit a knee strike on Chance, but Carter did the blind tag and went for a Schoolboy Roll-Up on Baszler for a near fall. Baszler evaded Carter's kick and hit a Saito Suplex into the Kirifuda Clutch for the win.
- Richochet & Bronson Reed talked backstage, with Reed being livid that he did not qualify. Shinsuke Nakamura interrupted proceedings and talked trash to Reed ahead of his match against Ricochet.
- There was a video package of Johnny Gargano, detailing his career from NXT to his run on Raw. Gargano dared everyone to underestimate him, saying that his story is just getting started.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Ricochet.
The match began with Nakamura getting a headlock and a shoulder block on Ricochet. Nakamura & Ricochet exchanged headlock takeovers before Ricochet hit the Tijeras on Nakamura. Nakamura hit a back elbow on Ricochet, but Ricochet responded with a dropkick to send him to the outside. Ricochet went for a Tope, but Nakamura caught him with a kick. Nakamura went for a dive on Ricochet back in the ring, but Ricochet kicked him out of the ring before hitting a Fosbury Flop on Nakamura to the outside before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Nakamura went for a Back Suplex on Ricochet, but Ricochet landed on his feet before hitting a back-flip back elbow on Nakamura. Ricochet hit a headbutt on Nakamura's abdomen, a Gamonguri, a Springboard Lariat, and a Running Shooting Star Press on Nakamura for a near fall. The two exchange kicks before Ricochet hit a Corkscrew Kick and a forearm strike on Nakamura into the corner. Ricochet went for a second forearm, but Nakamura evaded and hit a Knee Strike on Ricochet's abdomen before catching him with a Slingshot German SUplex. Nakamura & Ricochet exchanged kicks before Nakamura hit a Reverse Exploder Suplex on Ricochet. Nakamura went for the Kinshasa, but Ricochet evaded and hit the V-Trigger and the Recoil on Nakamura. Nakamura & Ricochet brawled on the top tope, but that was until Bronson Reed attacked the two.
Reed laid out the two in the ring before Reed hit the Tsunami on Ricochet's back.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (via Disqualification).
- Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis) spoke with Maxxine Dupri backstage, with Gable that if Durpi wanted to be in the Academy she had to learn to not run away from others. Gable said that Otis had the solution to deal The Viking Raiders: Some deodorant to the Raiders and having Dupri face Valhalla.
- The Miz hosted a new edition of Miz TV with special guest, Cody Rhodes. Miz asked why Rhodes wanted Brock Lesnar to fight him at any arena possible and asked him if it was stupid for that. Rhodes said that some have told him that it took balls, something "Miz lacked" before saying that he was disappointed Lesnar was in his annual hibernation. Miz then invited Dominik Mysterio & SmackDown Women's Champion Rhea Ripley, of all people, to join him. Dominik was about to speak, was repeatedly interrupted by the crowd booing Dominik intensely. Dominik called Rhodes a bird with a broken wing before saying that Rhodes was a "Bad father" for not taking care of his little daughter before calling him a deadbeat dad. Rhodes said that he had empathy for Dominik for his 15 minutes in prison and said that he had a worse tattoo than him. Rhodes admitted that Rey Mysterio Jr, Dominik's father, made mistakes in the past because he was looking at one. Dominik slapped Rhodes in the face before standing behind Ripley. Miz laughed at the situation, but Rhodes responded by clobbering Miz with his Iron Cast.
Women's Money In The Bank Qualifier Match.
Natalya vs. Zoey Stark (w/ Trish Stratus).
The two locked up before Stark stomped away at Natalya in the corner. Natalya & Stark exchanged holds & pins before Natalya leaped over Stark, but Stark landed on her knee before Stark caught Natalya with a thrust kick. Stark hit a Dragon Screw on Natalya before getting a headlock on Natalya, but Natalya broke the hold before Stark hit a shoulder tackle on Natalya. Stark hit a knee lift on Natalya, but Natalya responded with an arm drag, a back elbow, a gut kick, a German Suplex, a Jack-Knigfe Cover and going for the Sharpshooter on Stark, but Stark got a rope break. Natalya got Stark back in the ring, but Stratus kicked Natalya's knee before sending Natalya back in the ring, allowing Stark to hit the Z360 (Belly-to-Back GTS) for the pinfall win.
Winner: Zoey Stark.
- Paul Heyman cut a promo backstage, inviting the crowd to join him for Friday Night SmackDown to witness Jey Uso's decisions. Heyman said that Jey Uso's decision would tear apart the Anoa'i-Fatu Family. Heyman "assured" that Jey Uso would choose to be with the Tribal Chief instead of being with Jimmy Uso.
Sanga & Veer immediately attacked Alexander & Benjamin before the math, allowing Indus Sher to hit a Sideslam/ Elbow Drop combination on Alexander. After the referee canceled the match, Indus Sher hit Alexander again with the Sideslam/ Elbow drop combo.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match.
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Damian Priest.
The main event match began with the two locking up before Priest backed Rollins into the corner. Priest talked trash to Rollins, but Rollins gauged Priest's eyes to back him up into the opposite corner. Priest went for an Irish Whip, but Rollins slid before hitting a Twisting Leg Drop on Priest into the apron followed by a Knee Drop off the apron on Priest before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Rollins hit a toe kick on Priest before lowering the ropes to send Priest flying to the outside. Outside, Priest hit a knee lift on Rollins, but Rollins responded by tossing Priest into the ring post. Priest went for a back-drop on Rollins onto the Timekeeper's area, but Rollins landed on his feet before Rollins went for a move off the barricade, but Priest caught him mid-air with a jab. Back in the ring, Priest had Rollins in the corner and caught him with another jab before hitting an Irish Whip into a Thrust Kick for a near fall. Priest got a headlock on Rollins, but Rollins got out of the hold with a chin breaker, but Priest caught Rollins with a back elbow for a near fall.
Priest got a Bow & Arrow hold on Rollins before hitting an elbow onto Rollins's back. Rollins responded with a Gamonguri Kick on Priest before the two exchanged punches. Rollins hit a series of chops & punches on Priest before catching him with a short-hand clothesline/ Rollins hit a to-kick, a gut kick, and a Discus Lariat on Priest before hitting a forearm, a back-breaker, and went for a Frog Splash, but Priest evaded and hut a Stage Dive on Rollins in the corner. Rollins went for a Pedigree, but Priest tossed Rollins to break the hold before Rollins hit a Sling Blade on Priest. Rollins sent Priest to the outside and went for a Tope Suicida, but Priest caught him and hit a Flatliner on Rollins onto the broadcast table before the commercial break.
Back from the break, Priest was on the top rope when Rollins caught him with a slap before he attempted a Superplex, but Priest headbutted Rollins off the top rope. Rollins got back to the top rope and hit a Superplex before Blocking Priest's broken arrow and hitting his Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Priest rolled out of the ring, but Rollins caught him with three Topes Suicidas on Priest to send him over the broadcast table. Back in the ring, Rollins hit a Thrust Kick on Priest before hitting a Frog Splash on Priest, but Priest kicked out at two. Rollins went for a Rolling Elbow, but Priest caught him with a jab before hitting a chest kick. Rollins did hit a Rolling Elbow on Priest, but Priest responded with a Headlock Driver on Rollins for a near fall.
Priest went for a Chokeslam, but Rollins landed on his feet before Priest caught him with a Discus Elbow on Rollins. Rollins got to the top rope, but Priest caught him with a Tornado Kick before hitting an Avalanche Frankensteiner for a near fall. Priest hit a vicious lariat onto Rollins's chest before hitting a second. Priest went for a Third, but Rollins rolled over and hit the Pedigree on Priest to get the win, but Priest kicked out at two. On the apron, Rollins & Priest brawled before Priest went for a Roundhouse Kick, but Rollins evaded and hit Priest with a Powerbomb onto the Barricade. Rollins sent Priest back into the ring, but Finn Balor came in to attack Rollins. Priest saw the opening and hit a Forearm followed by the Sit-Out Chokeslam on Rollins for a near fall. After Priest argued with Balor, Rollins laid in the forearm strikes before hitting the Curb Stomp for the win.
Rollins & Balor had a staredown in the center of the ring before the end of the broadcast.
Winner AND STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Seth Rollins.
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