WWE Raw Results 7/31 - Cody Rhodes & Brock Lesnar Face Off, Maxxine Dupri Vs. Valhalla
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE Raw" on July 31, 2023, coming to you live from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas!
With SummerSlam on the horizon this Saturday, Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes will meet face-to-face one ahead of their rubber match at the upcoming Premium Live Event. Rhodes demanded the match with Lesnar on the July 10 episode of "Raw", with both men currently holding a victory over each other in their first two encounters at WWE Backlash and WWE Night of Champions.
Before he defends his World Heavyweight Championship in Detroit against Finn Balor, Seth "Freakin" Rollins will be joining forces with one half of the Undisputed Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn to square off with Balor's teammates Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio. Zayn will certainly be looking for some retribution after Judgment Day injured his tag team partner Kevin Owens following his North American Championship against Dominik last week.
As the ongoing problems between The Viking Raiders and Alpha Academy continue to build up, Valhalla will be going one-on-one with Maxxine Dupri in the latter's first ever singles match. The pair previously met in a six person tag team match on the July 3 edition of "Raw", with Dupri, Chad Gable, and Otis ultimately picking up the win over Valhalla, Erik, and Ivar.
Additionally, Logan Paul has something to share tonight ahead of his SummerSlam match with Ricochet.
We are live! Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick greet audiences at home as Logan Paul makes his way down to the ring.
We Hear From Logan Paul
Paul welcomes fans to "Raw", then says he has a think about not talking in front of "brain dead people for too long." He says he's in Houston for Ricochet after attempting to introduce him to his own audience last week, and says all he was trying to do was showcase Ricochet's athleticism and build hype around this match. He says he was instead blindsided, and because of what Ricochet did, he will beat him at SummerSlam in the most viral match in all of WWE.
Ricochet's music hits, and he makes his way down to the ring. He asks Paul what's going on, and says he's gotten into Paul's head. He says Paul is trying to pretend to be the good guy, and while he can fool his audience, he isn't fooling WWE fans. He says their SummerSlam match will be box office, and tells him he has to say something to him. He says that while he doesn't like Paul on a personal level, he respects that he is an athlete and a showman.
Paul says he appreciates Ricochet saying that, and returns the sentiment. He says Ricochet was one of the greatest to do it until he showed up in WWE, and says he made them go viral during the Men's Royal Rumble match earlier this year when they both leveled one another jumping off the top rope and across the ring. He says they're going to have one hell of a match and offers Ricochet his hand. Ricochet fist bumps it and looks to leave, but Paul stops him. He tells Ricochet that his fiancée, Samantha Irvin, will have to announce Paul as the winner of their match.
Ricochet has had enough. He rains down right hands on Paul, but Paul reverses things and sends Ricochet crashing into the mat. Ricochet levels him with an enziguri and looks for a right hand off the top rope. Paul catches him with a right hand mid-air before showing off the damage he just did to his audience on his phone.
We then head backstage to Jackie Redmond and Imperium. Redmond asks GUNTHER about his upcoming Intercontinental Championship match against GUNTHER at SummerSlam, and GUNTHER says he doesn't live in the past. He says his only concern is disappointment and expresses the disappointment he feels in Ludwig Kaiser after losing to Drew McIntyre last week. He says Kaiser has the chance to redeem himself when he faces Matt Riddle up next, and adds that he will end McIntyre at SummerSlam.
Back at ringside, Riddle heads down to the ring. Imperium follows.
Matt Riddle vs. Ludwig Kaiser (w/ GUNTHER and Giovanni Vinci)
The bell rings and the two lock up. Riddle executes a pair of mat returns before exchanging submission holds with Kaiser. Riddle gains the upper hand and delivers a gut wrench suplex, then lands a chop. Kaiser responds with one of his own, and the two go back and forth. Kaiser sends Riddle crashing into the ring post shoulder first, then dropkicks him to the outside and delivers an uppercut. He tosses him back inside the ring and takes a second to strategize with GUNTHER. Kaiser slides back in the ring, but Riddle sends him to the outside over the top rope. He then delivers Floating Bro.
Back from the break, Riddle fires off forearms and chops on Kaiser. He delivers a suplex and a Broton, then follows it up with a German suplex and bridges into a pinfall. Kaiser kicks out and Riddle lands a second Broton. He looks for a third, but Kaiser gets his knees up and delivers a clothesline. Riddle then delivers a kick to Kaiser's head, but Kaiser lands to his face. Riddle hits a ripcord knee and a suplex. Vinci hops up on the apron, allowing Kaiser to roll up Riddle. Riddle transitions into a powerbomb and follows it up with a ripcord knee, then goes for a pin. Kaiser kicks out and slaps Riddle, then delivers an uppercut. Riddle catches Kaiser with a knee, then ascends to the top and looks to fly. Kaiser rolls out of the way and delivers a running enziguri, then delivers a modified DDT for the win.
Winner: Ludwig Kaiser
After the match, GUNTHER shakes Kaiser's hand.
Back from the break, we head over to a video showing everything that has led up to the SummerSlam rubber match between Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes.
Back at ringside, Alpha Academy heads down. The Viking Raiders follow.
Maxxine Dupri (w/ Chad Gable and Otis) vs. Valhalla (w/ Erik and Ivar)
The bell rings and Valhalla wastes no time. She delivers a knee to Dupri, then fires off right hands. Dupri fires back with a pair of arm drags, but Valhalla rocks her with a knee to her jaw. Dupri lands another arm drag and a kick to Valhalla's head, then follows it up with a suplex and a splash in the corner. Otis and Gable hop up on the apron to support Dupri, and Dupri delivers the Caterpillar in honor of Otis. She then ascends to the top and delivers a crossbody, then goes for a pin. Erik hops in the ring, distracting the referee. Otis begins brawling with him before Ivar gets involved. Gable then levels everyone on the outside with a moonsault, allowing Valhalla to sit Dupri on the top rope and look to hit a superplex. Dupri escapes and gets Valhalla in an Electric Chair position, then delivers an Ocean Cyclone Suplex for the win.
Winner: Maxxine Dupri
Back at ringside, Judgment Day heads down.
We Hear From Judgment Day
Damian Priest calls for all to rise for Judgment Day before Rhea Ripley says "Raw" doesn't start until the four of them says it does. She says it's Judgment Day's world and they have no problem putting anyone who doesn't fall in line on the shelf. Priest lists off everyone who has crossed Judgment Day, including Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Seth "Freakin" Rollins, and Liv Morgan. Priest puts Rollins and Zayn on notice ahead of his and Dominik Mysterio's tag team match against them later tonight.
Finn Balor says Rollins acts insane, but real insanity is seeing the scars he inflicted on him. He says Rollins ruined his career seven years ago, and says while he can't erase the scars he has, he will inflict them on Rollins and feel better about himself. Dominik says he'll bring back some pride to the Mysterio name, and Ripley says anyone who tries to get in Judgment Day's way should take a page out of Raquel Rodriguez's book. She tells them to run and hide.
Rodriguez's music hits, and she marches down to the ring with vengeance in her eyes. She wastes no time and rains down right hands on Ripley, then whips her into the corner before she delivers a snapmare and clotheslines her to the outside. Rodriguez then sends her crashing into the barricade and the ring post, then warns Dominik not to get involved. Ripley takes advantage and delivers a chop block to Rodriguez, and officials run down to check on Rodriguez after she clutches her knee. Ripley stomps on Rodriguez's knee, and decides to stand down afterwards.
We then head over to the first part of a two part video series showcasing how the SummerSlam match between Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler came about, as well as their friendship over the past several years.
Back at ringside, Shinsuke Nakamura heads down. Tommaso Ciampa follows.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
The bell rings and the two lock up. Nakamura delivers a shoulder tackle as we see Bronson Reed watching the action from backstage. Ciampa delivers a chop and a backbreaker, then follows it up with a dropkick to Nakamura's head and fires off stomps. He delivers a right hand and a chop, but Nakamura responds with a knee and a kick to his spine. The action spills to the outside, and Ciampa sets Nakamura up on the apron. He then delivers a knee that sends him crashing into the timekeepers area.
Back from the break, Nakamura delivers an enziguri to Ciampa. Ciampa fires back with a DDT off the ropes, then lands a chop and looks to go flying off the middle rope. Ciampa moves out of the way and lands a knee, then follows it up with a forearm. Nakamura responds with a kick to Ciampa's midsection and rolls him up for the win.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Back from the break, Brock Lesnar heads down to the ring.
Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes Meet Face-To-Face
Lesnar introduces himself a la Paul Heyman and lists off his accomplishments. He says it's fight week now because the wait is over for SummerSlam. He says he will be getting paid to fight Cody Rhodes at the upcoming PLE while Rhodes will be getting paid to take a beating. He then calls Rhodes out to the ring.
Rhodes' music hits and he circles the ring before getting inside. He offers his hand to Lesnar, and Lesnar shakes it. The two then stare one another down, and Rhodes looks to hug Lesnar, but Lesnar pushes him away and looks to leave. Rhodes stops Lesnar with a tope suicida, but Lesnar sends him into the ring post spine first and hits him with one of the ring steps twice. Rhodes begins to get up, but Lesnar hits him with a right hand across his spine. He then picks up the ring step again and hits Rhodes with it, but Rhodes refuses to lay down. Lesnar delivers a knee to his head, then tosses him into the ring and delivers an F-5.
Back from the break, GUNTHER makes his way down to the ring. Chad Gable is already waiting inside.
Chad Gable vs. GUNTHER In A Five Minute Challenge
The bell rings and the two lock up. They go back and forth with submission holds before GUNTHER stomps on Gable's neck and follows it up with a snapmare. He then delivers a neck crank and a bodyslam before attempting a couple of pinfalls. Gable kicks out and fires off a pair of chops, but GUNTHER delivers a series of uppercuts. Gable fires off a few right hands and looks for a German suplex, but is unable to get GUNTHER over his head. GUNTHER levels Gable with a chop and looks for The Last Symphony, but Gable counters into an Ankle Lock. GUNTHER escapes and lands a chop, then locks in a Sleeper. With 10 seconds on the lock, GUNTHER looks for The Last Symphony but Gable escapes and sends GUNTHER crashing to the outside. The clock runs out.
GUNTHER demands more time be added to the clock, and Samantha Irvin announces the match will continue. Gable then delivers a dropkick to GUNTHER.
Back from the break, GUNTHER delivers a massive chop to Gable. He follows it up with a second one and sits Gable on the top rope, but Gable fights off GUNTHER and delivers a knee. He then lands a pair of dropkicks and locks in an arm and shoulder submission, but GUNTHER escapes and delivers a high German suplex. Gable delivers a series of forearms and a German suplex, then goes for the pin. GUNTHER kicks out and lands a big boot, then delivers a series of chops and The Last Symphony for the win.
Winner: GUNTHER
After the match, GUNTHER tells fans to get used to him picking up wins and celebrating his success. He puts Drew McIntyre on notice and tells him to take a look at what he did to Gable. He says the same fate awaits McIntyre at SummerSlam and he will end him once and for all.
Becky Lynch then makes her way down to the ring.
Becky Lynch Calls Out Trish Stratus And Demands Her Rematch
Lynch says "The Man" has come around to Houston, then says she's said and done everything to get her rematch with Trish Stratus. She says now there's nothing left but to do it, and says there's no better time for the two to square off than now.
Stratus' music hits, and she appears alongside Zoey Stark. Stratus says she thought about facing Lynch here and now, but she realized she fights on her own time. She says she will name the time and place she wants to fight Lynch, then assures her that she won't cheat Lynch out of her match. Adam Pearce interrupts Stratus and announces the rematch will be happening now.
Stratus makes her way into the ring, and Lynch gets ready to fight her. The bell rings, but Stark quickly gets involved and causes the disqualification.
Winner: Becky Lynch (via disqualification)
Lynch then sends Stratus face first into the announce desk and does the same to Stark on the ring apron. She tosses Stratus into the timekeepers area and looks to suplex her back into the ringside area, but Stark intervenes and beats Lynch down. Lynch sends Stark into the ring post, and Stratus hits her with the chair.
Back from the break, we see Stratus and Stark walking around backstage. Pearce runs into them and says what just happened was unacceptable, and Stratus says that was a rematch where she had no time to prepare. Pearce then announces that Stratus will be facing Lynch in two weeks, and Stark will be barred from ringside.
We then head over to the second part of a two part video series showcasing how the SummerSlam match between Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler came about, as well as their friendship over the past several years.
Back at ringside, Sami Zayn heads down. Seth "Freakin" Rollins and Judgment Day follow.
Judgment Day (w/ Rhea Ripley and Finn Balor) vs. Sami Zayn and Seth Rollins
Rollins and Zayn waste no time and go after Judgment Day on the ramp. Judgment Day overpowers them, and Priest tosses Zayn inside the ring. Zayn goes flying over the top to level Priest before Balor beats him down. Rollins levels him with a tope suicida and sends him to the back, then meets Zayn inside the ring.
Back from the break, the bell has rung and Dominik slides out of the ring. Rollins chases him back inside, and Dominik fires off right hands on him in the corner. Rollins gets him in an Electric Chair position and sends him into the top turnbuckle face first, then delivers a running knee and tags in Zayn. Zayn delivers a double ax handle off the middle rope, but Dominik shoves him into the corner and tags in Priest. Priest whips Zayn into the corner before Zayn fires off chops and delivers an elbow off the middle rope. He tags in Rollins, and Rollins delivers a double stomp off the top rope as Zayn holds Priest in place.
Rollins fires off chops in the corner, then delivers a boot to Priest's face and looks to go flying. Priest catches him with a right hand and tags in Dominik. Dominik fires off right hands on Rollins, and tags in Priest. Priest delivers a boot and tags Dominik back in. Dominik delivers a pair of right hands to Rollins' head and midsection, then tags out to Priest. Rollins delivers a knee to Priest's face, but Balor trips him after he lands on the apron and sends him crashing into the ring post face first.
Back from another break, Rollins delivers a rolling elbow to Dominik. Priest and Zayn tag in, and Zayn fires off right hands on Priest's head. He follows it up with a clothesline, but Priest fires back with a boot. Zayn dumps him out of the ring, then goes flying over the top to level him. He tosses him back inside the ring and delivers a Tornado DDT, then goes for the pin. Dominik breaks the fall up and tags in. He dials it up for the 619, but Zayn takes him down with a clothesline before he can complete the maneuver.
Rollins and Priest then tag in, and Rollins executes a Sling Blade. He delivers three tope suicidas to Priest on the outside, the last of which sends him tumbling over the announce desk. He then gets Priest back inside the ring and looks to go flying. Priest catches him and looks for South Of Heaven, but Rollins escapes and lands a pair of superkicks. Ripley hops up on the apron to distract the referee, allowing Dominik to deliver a jaw breaker to Rollins off the top rope. Zayn levels Dominik, but Ripley gets in his face. Balor then blindsides Zayn with a dropkick while the referee is distracted.
Priest takes advantage and hits Razor's Edge, then looks to pin Rollins. He spots his Money In The Bank briefcase and calls for Balor to pass it to him. Priest looks to cash it in, but Rollins superkicks him before he can using the briefcase. Dominik tries to interfere, but Rollins hits him with the briefcase. Balor then tries attacking Rollins, but Zayn levels him with a Helluva Kick. Rollins delivers a Curb Stomp to Priest and pins him for the win.
Winners: Sami Zayn and Seth "Freakin" Rollins