WWE Raw Results (5/23): Asuka Vs. Lynch, Rhodes Vs. Miz
Welcome to our WrestlingINC.com live "WWE Raw" viewing party. Tonight's show is broadcasting live from the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
As of early Monday afternoon, one match was being promoted for tonight's show:
- Cody Rhodes vs. The Miz
WWE is also promoting Bobby Lashley's "All Mighty Challenge" for Omos and MVP. Plus, Becky Lynch is expected to respond to her loss last Monday to Asuka.
Our live coverage will begin at 8 PM ET.
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We're on the air!
"Raw" opens with highlights from the main event of this past Friday's "SmackDown".
Byron Saxton, Corey Graves, and Jimmy Smith are on commentary. They announced a 6-man tag team match for later tonight: The new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos & Sami Zayn vs. Riddle & the Street Profits.
Riddle makes his entrance. He grabs a microphone. He says he's here with a heavy heart. He says Randy Orton is his mentor and his bro. The crowd chants "RK-Bro".
Riddle says the last couple of years has been hard for Orton. Riddle says Orton's back has been giving him a hard time lately. He says Orton can barely walk, but he knew how much the title unification match meant to Riddle and their fans.
Riddle says The Usos are tough, but they didn't win the right way. Riddle says Roman Reigns is a tribal piece of trash. Riddle assures us he will get his vengeance on Reigns and The Usos and anyone else who is part of The Bloodline.
Riddle says Orton has done more for him than he's done for anyone else. He knows Orton is watching at home and says, "I love you, Randy". Riddle doesn't know what the future holds for RK-BRo. He doesn't know if it'll ever be a thing again. Riddle asks everyone in the arena to stand up and chant "RK-Bro". The fans do so. Riddle points to the camera and tells Orton that's for him.
We got to a commercial break.
Back from the break, we're reminded about the 6-man tag team match coming up tonight. We're also informed that Cody Rhodes will face The Miz. The Countdown To Cody graphic is back. Cody is on at 10 PM ET. The commentary also pushes Bobby Lashley's "All Mighty Challenge" for Omos and MVP. Plus, Jerry "The King" Lawler will host a King's Court segment with Veer Mahaan. Also, AJ Styles & Liv Morgan vs. Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley.
Back to the ring, Riddle is still there. His ribs are taped up. The Street Profits makes their entrance.
Sami Zayn makes his entrance. He's wearing a Bloodline t-shirt. The Usos show up on the big screen. They're in the Gorilla position and have both pairs of tag team championship belts. They cut a quick promo to remind us they are the 1s.
Back in the arena, the ring announcer gives a proper introduction for The Usos and they make their entrance. The Usos don't even get past the stage and Riddle attacks them with the Profits close behind. Referees run out to try to restore order.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, the bell rings to begin the match.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos & Sami Zayn vs. Riddle & Street Profits
Angelo Dawkins starts off against Zayn. Zayn grabs a headlock. Dawkins pushes him off and takes Zayn down with a shoulder block. Zayn comes off the ropes again and runs into a dropkick. Dawkins hits his twisting splash in the corner and tags in Montez Ford.
Ford works on Zayn's arm. Riddle tags in and runs straight across the ring and knocks The Usos off the apron. Zayn takes advantage and attacks Riddle's ribs. Zayn grounds Riddle with a body scissor around Riddle's injured ribs.
Riddle breaks the hold with some elbows but Zayn quickly retakes control and tags in Jey Uso. Riddle fires up at the sight of one of the Usos and powers Jey into the corner and fires away with kicks. Riddle hits a fisherman suplex for a 2-count. Riddle tags in Ford.
Ford takes down Jey with a clothesline. Ford fires off with more strikes but Jimmy Uso makes a blind tag and sends Ford tumbling out of the ring to the floor where Jimmy lays him out with a superkick.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Zayn has grounded Ford with a chin lock. Ford reaches for a tag but can't make it and Zayn drives him down on the back of his head.
Ford flips out of a suplex attempt and hits his own backdrop suplex. Zayn knocks Dawkins off the apron and Jey pulls Riddle off the apron and drops him across the barricade to take away Ford's options to tag out.
Ford briefly catches Zayn with a small package but Zayn kicks out and tags in Jey. Jey throws Ford toward his corner but Ford knocks both Zayn and Jimmy off the apron and knocks down Jey too and both men are down. Ford tags in Riddle.
Riddle runs wild on Zayn. He hits a ripcord knee on Jimmy. Riddle hits running forearms into both corners and lands a double senton onto both Jimmy and Zayn. Dawkins slips in and takes down both Usos. Ford enters the ring and dives over the top rope onto both Usos on the floor.
In the ring, Riddle hits Orton's draping DDT on Zayn. Riddle sets up for an RKO but The Usos distract him and then start walking back toward the stage. Zayn is left alone. Riddle hits the RKO and pins Zayn to get the pin.
Riddle & Street Profits defeated Sami Zayn & The Usos via pinfall
Riddle and the Street Profits celebrate in the ring.
Back to the announce desk, the commentary team sets up a highlight package from last week's steel cage match between Bobby Lashley and Omos.
Bobby Lashley makes his entrance. This is a scaled-down version of the entrance he's been using for his matches recently. No pyro tonight.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Lashley waits in the ring.
We are informed that Lashley and Omos will meet once again at the "Hell In A Cell" event.
Lashley gets on the mic. He says he survived the cage match last week. He says he saw the anger in Omos' face after the match and knew that things were not settled between them. So, they're going to be doing it "one more time" at Hell In A Cell.
However, tonight is Lashley's "All Mighty Challenge". So, he invites Omos and MVP down to the ring. They make their entrance.
MVP is on the mic on the stage. He says they aren't a pair of dogs that come whenever they're called. He says the whole world saw Omos beat Lashley's ass all over the cage and if it wasn't for "faulty equipment" things would've ended differently. MVP implies he's going to file a complaint but Lashley cuts him off.
Lashley says a regular match can not settle things between him and Omos. So, Lashley wants a match tonight and the winner will decide the stipulation for the match at "Hell In A Cell". Lashley says the match tonight will be between himself and MVP.
MVP says he made Lashley. Lashley wants to know the last time MVP won a match around here. Lashley says he's gonna put MVP in The Hurt Lock in front of everyone tonight.
Lashley's music plays, but Omos and MVP start walking to the ring. MVP tries to sneak up on Lashley but Lashley catches him and knocks him off the apron. MVP and Omos decide to retreat and Lashley's music plays again.
We go to highlights of Rhea Ripley beating Liv Morgan 2 weeks ago and Edge and the rest of The Judgment Day beating up AJ Styles and Finn Balor later that same night.
The Judgment Day makes its entrance.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Corey Graves announces WWE will return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for "Crown Jewel" on November 5.
The commentary team tosses to a recap of Asuka's victory over Becky Lynch last week.
Backstage, 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke tells Adam Pearce she's looking for a match against Carmella. Brooke bumps into Becky Lynch as she leaves. Lynch wants Pearce to strike last week's loss from her record. Pearce says she'll get a rematch against Asuka tonight. If Lynch wins, she'll be added to the title match at "Hell In A Cell".
Back to the arena, where The Judgment Day is in the ring with microphones. Damian Priest orders everyone to stand up and show respect to The Judgment Day. Last week, Edge offered an opportunity for anyone to join his group.
Priest rambles on about people not having the courage to be who they actually are, but they're all sheep. He says they can help you, but first you have to help yourselves.
Ripley tells Liv Morgan to stop listening to people on Twitter and fans in the arenas. She says Liv needs to start thinking for herself. She tells her to save herself as she did by joining The Judgment Day.
Edge says The Judgment Day is "truth" and "power". He says anyone in WWE can alter their career by joining him and learning from him. Edge says he wasn't hand-picked to sit at the top of the mountain like John Cena. He did it through hard work and success followed.
Edge says they aren't afraid to grab life by the throat. He says if others do what they do they'll be able to "head butt glass ceilings to bits". The crowd chants "You suck!"
Edge wonders who will be their next member. Edge offers a few suggestions. Will it be Ciampa? Could it be Corey Graves. Alexa Bliss? Drew McIntyre? Liv Morgan? Finn Balor? AJ Styles? Edge makes the hard pitch for Styles and says he should be tired of getting beaten up and Styles' kids can call him "Uncle Edge".
Liv Morgan makes her entrance, followed by AJ Styles.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break. The bell rings.
AJ Styles & Liv Morgan vs. Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley
Priest starts off against Styles and controls him with an armbar. Styles rolls out of it and grand a headlock. Styles catches Priest charging into a back elbow. Priest fires back with kicks but runs into a dropkick. Priest tags in Ripley and that brings Morgan into the match.
Morgan hits a running splash in the corner and tries for a sunset flip but Ripley powers out and headbutts Morgan. Ripley throws Morgan into the corner by her hair and pounds away on her. Ripley charges into a boot by Morgan but Morgan's crossbody from the second rope is caught by Ripley. Ripley powers up Morgan vertical suplex but Morgan escapes and takes down Ripley. Ripley retreats outside the ring but Morgan follows with a dive between the ropes. Styles catches Priest with a kick from the ring apron.
Morgan rolls Ripley back into the ring and lands some punches but then charges right into a rising kick from Ripley. Ripley hits a vertical suplex. Morgan kicks out at 2. Morgan gets to her feet and throws a couple of strikes. She hits a hurricanrana from the second rope and tags in Styles. Priest also enters the match.
Priest misses a dive into the corner and Styles follows with a forearm. Priest retreats to the floor. Styles points at Ripley as if he wants her in the match. That allows Priest to blindside him. Styles rolls to the floor and Priest follows him out and drops him onto the edge of the ring apron.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, both Styles and Priest are down. Styles tries to make a tag but runs into a chop to the throat by Priest. Styles finally tags in Morgan and Ripley also enters.
Morgan runs wild kicks and a rising knee strike in the corner. Morgan follows with a dropkick from the second rope and a springboard into a Codebreaker. Edge saves Ripley by putting her foot on the bottom rope. Styles attacks Edge and goes at it with Priest again.
Morgan goes for Oblivion, but Edge was holding the back of Ripley's pants so Morgan ends up slamming herself. Ripley rolls her up and gets the pin.
Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest defeated Liv Morgan & AJ Styles
The Judgment Day beat up on Styles after the match. Edge spears Styles. Ripley hits Morgan with the Riptide. Finn Balor is conspicuously absent for all of this. The commentary doesn't even mention where he might be.
Backstage, The Miz is warming up. Kevin Patrick approaches and asks him about his match tonight against Cody Rhodes. Miz says he knows you can't trust a man with a neck tattoo. Miz says Cody's ego is out of control and he has more pyro than the Fourth of July. Miz starts ranting about all of his own outside projects and then tells Patrick to go away.
Back to the arena, Jerry "The King" Lawler makes his entrance for tonight's King's Court segment.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Lawler welcomes us to this King's Court segment and introduces his guest, Veer Mahaan.
We get some highlights of Veer's recent run-ins with the Mysterio family.
Lawler says people say Veer is a man of few words so he wants to give him a chance to dispel that. He asks for his secret to success. Veer gives him no answers.
Lawler asks why Veer has targeted the Mysterio family. Veer does not answer.
Lawler refers to The Mysterios as "The Dominiks". Lawler says Rey said Veer is so hairy that dogs pets him. He starts to make a joke about what Dominik said but Veer has heard enough.
Veer says, "I'm not here to joke around." He says Rey is a legend but he's too busy worrying about Dominik. He says that made Rey weak so he took both of them out.
Veer slaps the microphone out of Lawler's hand. Then, he goes and picks it up and hands it back to him. He asks Lawler if that's fear he smells. Lawler says it might be his cheap cologne. Veer snatches the microphone away and says he'll stop talking and show Lawler what he's about.
But before Veer can get to Lawler, Rey and Dominik Mysterio enter. Veer manhandles both of them and forces them into the ring but the Mysterios fend him off with some baseball slide dropkicks to prevent him from following them into the ring.
Veer finally gets up onto the ring apron, but thinks better of things and decides to leave.
Backstage, Alexa Bliss is asked about how she feels being back on "Raw". She says it's been great. She says she has a match tonight against Nikki A.S.H. Bliss says they used to be best friends but it's better now because now she's best friends with a doll and Nikki dresses like a superhero.
Alexa Bliss makes her entrance.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Bliss is waiting in the ring.
Nikki A.S.H. makes her entrance, accompanied by Doudrop.
Alexa Bliss vs. Nikki A.S.H. (with Doudrop)
Corey Graves recounts Sasha Banks & Naomi's walkout last Monday and how they "disappointed the WWE Universe" and also cost Nikki and Doudrop a shot at being in the canceled 6-way #1 contender's match.
Nikki suckers Bliss into a handshake and hits her with a forearm but Bliss quickly responds and sends Nikki out of the ring. Bliss pulls Nikki back into the ring by her hair but Nikki fires up and grounds Bliss with some punches and a variation on a cobra clutch.
Bliss escapes and hits a dropkick to take down Nikki. Nikki pushes Bliss into the corner and lifts her up onto the top rope. Nikki goes up and tries for a superplex but Bliss fights her off. Nikki falls back to the mat. Bliss goes all the way to the top rope and hits Twisted Bliss for the pin.
Alexa Bliss defeated Nikki A.S.H. via pinfall
Bliss grabs Lilly and makes her exit back up the aisle.
Backstage, Kevin Patrick introduces Seth Rollins. Rollins laments that fans used to sing his song but now all he hears is fans chanting for Cody. Rollins mentions the countdown clock for Cody and wants to know where it ends. Rollins says there's a clock ticking down in his head and wonders what will happen when it goes down to zero.
Back in the arena, Cody Rhodes makes his entrance. He hands off his weight belt to a young fan at ringside.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, we're reminded that "Hell In A Cell" is a week from Sunday. The commentary team tosses to a highlight video of all of Asuka's career accomplishments.
Backstage, Asuka is interviewed about beating Becky Lynch last week. Asuka mocks Lynch and says she was too busy crying about her title and she'll beat Lynch again tonight.
Back in the arena, Rhodes is waiting in the ring.
The Miz makes his entrance.
The bell rings and we're underway. The crowd chants for Cody. Rhodes goes for a takedown but Miz blocks it and they struggle into the corner. Miz misses a chop. Rhodes does not.
Miz grabs a headlock and takes down Rhodes. Rhodes escapes and puts Miz into a headlock of his own. Miz pushes off Rhodes. Rhodes finds his way into his dropdown uppercut from the mat.
Miz misses a clothesline and Rhodes sends him outside the ring with a dropkick. Rhodes winds up for a dive but Miz cuts him off. Miz goes to the top rope but misses a double ax handle from the top rope.
Rhodes lifts up Miz for a delayed vertical suplex but drops Miz facefirst. Rhodes puts Miz in a bow and arrow. Miz manages to escape. Miz comes off the second rope with a sunset flip but can't hold Rhodes down.
Rhodes drives a knee into Miz's gut and gets a 2-count. Rhodes charges at Miz in the corner but Miz lifts up Rhodes and crotches him on the top rope. Miz knocks Rhodes off and he tumbles all the way down to the floor.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Miz misses a charge into the corner. Rhodes hits a flying forearm and a powerslam. He mixes it up with a kick from the mat and then hits the Cody cutter for a 2-count. Rhodes locks on the Figure-Four Leglock. Miz manages to reach the ropes and rolls to the floor.
Rhodes climbs to the top rope but Seth Rollins runs in out of nowhere and pushes Rhodes off the top rope to the floor, causing the disqualification.
Cody Rhodes defeated The Miz via disqualification
Rollins and Miz beat up on Rhodes after the match. They send Rhodes knee first into the ring steps.
Rollins goes to leave but stops and grabs Rhodes' weight belt off of the kid he gave it to at ringside. Rollins goes back to Rhodes and smacks him on the back with the belt.
Rollins decides that's enough and leaves. Rhodes fights back to his feet and carries the weight belt back over the same kid and gives it to him again as he limps away.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Ezekiel is making his entrance. Kevin Owens is at ringside.
Ezekiel vs. Chad Gable (with Otis)
Ezekiel grabs an armbar but Gable escapes and takes him down with a drop toehold. Ezekiel pushes Gable into the corner and lands a big chop.
Ezekiel hits Gable with another chop but Gable reverses a Tilt-A-Whirl. Ezekiel catches Gable coming off the ropes but Gable escapes.
Ezekiel comes off the ropes but Otis grabs his foot and Gable goes to work on Ezekiel's leg.
A suplex by Gable gets a 2-count. Gable climbs to the top rope but his moonsault hits a pair of boots by Ezekiel. Ezekiel hits a spinebuster and lands more chops in the corner.
Ezekiel hits a running splash into the corner but Otis gets involved again. This time the referee catches him and throws him out.
Kevin Owens tries to sneak into the ring, but the referee catches him too and throws him out.
Ezekiel catches Gable in a rollup and gets the pin.
Ezekiel defeated Chad Gable via pinfall
Ezekiel flees through the crowd to celebrate his victory.
Kevin Owens gets the microphone and challenges Ezekiel to a match at "Hell In A Cell".
We get a replay of the end of the match between Cody Rhodes and The Miz.
Backstage, Rhodes exits the "Doctor/Trainer" room. Kevin Patrick asks for an update on his health. Rhodes says his knee got a little dinged up. He's still breathing and that's bad news for Seth Rollins. Rhodes says it's dawning on him that he's about to go 0-3 against him.
Back in the arena, Bobby Lashley makes his entrance. This time it's the full entrance complete with the pyro.
We got to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Lashley is waiting in the ring.
MVP makes his entrance. He whispers something into Omos' ear before the bell rings.
Bobby Lashley vs. MVP (with Omos)
The winner of this match will get to choose the stipulation for the match between Lashley and Omos at "Hell In A Cell".
MVP immediately rolls out of the ring. Lashley decides to stay in the ring.
MVP re-enters the ring and ducks into the ropes instead of locking up with Lashley.
Again, MVP slides to the outside. This time, Lashley gives chase. MVP tries to catch him coming back in but misses a stomp. Lashley gets clotheslined by Omos on the floor while MVP has the referee's attention.
MVP rolls Lashley into the ring and hits a running boot into the corner. MVP jaws at Lashley. Lashley grabs him by the throat. MVP breaks out of it and connects with some punches but Lashley catches him with a Flatliner.
Lashley clotheslines MVP out of the ring to the floor. Lashley follows him out, hoists MVP on his shoulders, and rams MVP into the ring post.
Lashley rolls MVP back into the ring. Omos goes for another clothesline. Lashley ducks it and goes after Omos but he has lost track of the referee's count and is counted out.
MVP defeated Bobby Lashley via count-out
Lashley puts MVP in the Hurt Lock after the match.
Commentary informs us that Lacey Evans returns to action on "Raw" next week.
"Raw" Women's Champion Bianca Belair makes her entrance.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Belair has settled in at ringside.
Asuka makes her entrance. Becky Lynch makes her entrance.
Asuka vs. Becky Lynch
If Lynch wins, she is added to the "Raw" Women's Championship match at "Hell In A Cell".
Some shoving and gamesmanship to start before Asuka knocks down Lynch. They trade some more strikes before Asuka pushes Lynch into the corner.
Lynch goes for a kick but Asuka catches it. Asuka goes for Lynch's Disarmer but Lynch reaches the ropes. A kick from Asuka sends Lynch retreating to the floor.
Asuka misses a kick from the ring apron. Lynch quickly hops up to the apron and shoves Asuka down the ring apron into the ring post. Asuka tumbles to the floor.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Asuka is down on the floor. Lynch is in the ring. The referee is administrating the count. Asuka beats it back into the ring.
Lynch goes outside and slams Asuka into the barricade. The referee starts the count again. Again, Asuka beats it back into the ring and Lynch sends her back outside to the floor.
Lynch throws Asuka into the ring steps and then back into the ring. Lynch climbs to the second rope and drops a leg on Asuka for a 2-count.
Asuka reverses a whip and sends Lynch outside the ring. Lynch comes back in and runs right into a double clothesline that puts both women down on the mat.
Lynch runs into a back elbow by Asuka. Asuka follows with a German suplex and a running hip attack in the corner. Asuka fires off a flurry of kicks. She covers for a 2-count.
Asuka charges but Lynch avoids and Asuka runs into the second turnbuckle. Lynch tries to pin Asuka with her feet on the ropes but it doesn't work. Lynch goes for something from the second rope but Asuka catches her with a Codebreaker.
Lynch climbs to the top rope. Asuka goes up to meet her and brings her down with a superplex for a 2-count.
Asuka misses a running hip attack and gets tied up in the ropes. Lynch tries to tie up Asuka's arm but Asuka escapes and connects with a hip attack that sends Lynch to the floor.
Asuka hits her pop-up knee strike on Lynch. Lynch slumps into Belair's lap at ringside. Asuka goes for a kick. Lynch ducks and Asuka hits Belair.
Asuka has to race to get back into the ring to beat the count-out. Lynch catches her in a rollup and gets the pin.
Becky Lynch defeated Asuka via pinfall
The "Raw" Women's Championship Match at "Hell In A Cell" is now a 3-way. It'll be Bianca Belair defending against Asuka and Becky Lynch.
That's our show!