By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,572)
Live from Buffalo, New York at KeyBank Center
Aired July 10, 2023 on USA Network
[Hour One] Kevin Patrick welcomed viewers to the show and was joined on commentary by Corey Graves… Finn Balor made his entrance in non-wrestling attire while he was introduced by ring announcer Samatha Irvin. Patrick set up a video package that recapped the recent issues involving Balor and Damian Priest.
Balor paced in the ring before saying that the way things went down at Money in the Bank don’t sit well with him. Balor said the issues he has with Seth Rollins have not been put to rest due to Damian Priest. Balor was interrupted by his own faction’s entrance theme.
Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio walked out. Ripley said she knew that Balor had unfinished business that he wanted to discuss, but they could talk about it backstage. Balor said his issues are not with Ripley and Dom. Balor claimed that Priest cost him the World Heavyweight Championship at MITB.
Ripley entered the ring and pushed the mic down and spoke to Balor, who eventually dropped the mic and left the ring. Balor stopped and glared at Dom at ringside before heading to the back. Dom joined Ripley inside the ring. Ripley said what happened was their business and said they still run Raw.
Ripley said she’d love to have someone come out and dispute that. She brought up Dom finishing his business with Rollins later in the show. Dom tried to speak and was booed loudly by the crowd.
Seth Rollins’ entrance music interrupted Dom, who immediately barked that he would not be disrespected. Rollins walked out with a plate of buffalo wings. Rollins told Dom to shut his mouth. He said they were there to party, eat Buffalo wings, and to watch the Judgment Day implode. Dom said he would beat Rollins, who then laughed. Rollins told Ripley that he would be the only one whipping Dom-Dom’s ass tonight…
Patrick and Graves checked in from their ringside desk and listed upcoming matches and segments, and also hyped a recap of the Trial of Roman Reigns from Smackdown…
Drew McIntyre made his entrance carrying the stupid sword. Matt Riddle’s entrance followed heading into a commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: A pretty basic opening this week that reestablished the friction within Judgment Day while setting the table for the rest of the show.
Backstage, Priest told Ripley and Dom things went exactly the way he expected things to go. Ripley said it didn’t go the way she planned things, but she said that Priest and Balor better grow up and squash the issues between them. Priest said he would speak to Balor again for her…
“Imperium” Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovanni Vinci made their entrance…
1. Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle vs. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci (w/Gunther). Kaiser backed Riddle into a corner of the ring and then punched him. Riddle fired up and performed a pair of gut-wrench suplex. McIntyre tagged into the match. Kaiser raced to his corner and tagged out. McIntyre got the better of Vinci. Riddle tagged back in and was isolated by the heels. [C]
McIntyre eventually took a hot tag and worked over both opponents. He stopped and motioned for Gunther to watch him and then he performed a wicked powerbomb on Vinci. McIntyre set up for his finisher, but Kaiser grabbed him. McIntyre pulled Kaiser over the ropes.
Gunther tripped McIntyre and pulled him to ringside. Riddle ran and jumped off the ring steps and blasted Gunther with a knee to the face. McIntyre returned to the ring and put Vinci down with a Claymore Kick. Riddle also returned to the ring and put Kaiser in an ankle lock. McIntyre covered Vinci and got the three count…
Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle defeated Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci in roughly 11:00.
After the match, the Imperium trio stood near the stage. Gunther verbally scolded Vinci and then headed to the back. Kaiser looked at Vinci and eventually followed Gunther to the back…
Powell’s POV: A good tag team match that had the live crowd invested. I’m not sure if the post match angle means Gunther is going back to being a taskmaster like he was when he used to chop the hell out of Kaiser or if they have something different in mind for Vinci. I hope it’s the former because I remain really high on Kaiser and Vinci as a team despite how frequently they’ve been booked to lose.
Backstage, Balor spoke to Priest while Ripley and Dom stood by. Balor claimed everyone knew he would be champion if it wasn’t for Priest. Ripley told them to stop acting like children and speak one at a time. Priest said he wanted Balor to win at MITB and never would have cashed in on him.
Priest said they could go back to the way things were. Balor said they could have a fresh start if he gets Rollins first. Priest agreed. Priest said he knows Balor will beat Rollins and will become champion. “Either way, it’s covered,” Priest said while holding up the MITB briefcase. Balor looked annoyed by Priest’s comments after Priest walked away…
Patrick hyped the Smackdown recap video on The Bloodline… [C] Patrick hyped WWE Fastlane for Saturday, October 7 in Indianapolis and said tickets go on sale this Friday… The Bloodline recap video aired…
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were interviewed by Jackie Redmond on the backstage interview set. She asked about future challengers. Zayn listed a variety of teams and spoke about facing whoever steps up.
Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio showed up on the set, which annoyed Owens. Ripley said Judgment Day will take all the titles. She said it starts tonight when Dom smashed Rollins’ head in. She said Dom worked on his cardio in prison and never gets tired.
After Ripley and Dom made their exit, Zayn asked what Ripley meant by that. Owens assumed Dom ran around the yard in prison. Owens wondered what Zayn thought she meant. Zayn whispered into the ear of Zayn, who looked like he considered it a plausible explanation…
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley made their entrance… [C] Jinder Mahal and “Indus Sher” Veer Mahaan and Sanga were featured in a video package…
Powell’s POV: I would have pissed myself had that Indus Sher video package concluded with a “Veer Mahaan is coming to Raw” graphic…
Seth Rollins made his entrance. Ripley distracted Rollins once he was on the steps. Dom attacked Rollins, who then chased him into the crowd. Finn Balor and Damian Priest attacked Rollins in the crowd and then took him to ringside.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn ran out and fought with the Judgment Day trio. Rollins returned to the ring with a chair and got a shot in on Dom after Priest and Balor had already fled to ringside…
Powell’s POV: Call me crazy, but I think we just might get a six-man tag match tonight.
The broadcast team recapped the dangerous spot involving Logan Paul and Ricochet from Money in the Bank…
Logan Paul was shown walking backstage while Graves hyped his segment Ricochet for after the break. In the background, Gunther was chewing out Giovanni Vinci while Ludwig Kaiser stood by… [C] Buffalo sports imagery was shown…
In a shocking twist, the broadcast team announced that the main event would feature Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and Dom Mysterio in a six-man tag match…
Powell’s POV: I’m a modern day Nostradamus (or I’ve just watched too much WWE television over the years).
Ricochet made his entrance dressed in regular clothing. Ricochet played to the Buffalo crowd.
[Hour Two] Ricochet said everyone knew why he was there, but first he wanted to say something from the heart. He said that if you know him, every risk he takes is for the fans so they can go home and say that Ricochet was the highlight of their night. Ricochet said he was there for Logan Paul. The fans booed. Ricochet said he feels the same way.
Ricochet gave Paul credit for what he’s accomplished in WWE. He said they’ve crossed paths on multiple occasions. Ricochet recalled Paul jumping him once because he didn’t get his way. Ricochet said its cool because that happens in WWE, but he’s bothered by Paul going on his podcast and labeling him unprofessional when Paul admitted that he didn’t even know what he was doing in the first place. Ricochet invited Paul to come out and say it to his face.
Logan Paul made his entrance with a mic in hand and laughed at Ricochet while he walked toward the ring. Paul said Ricochet talked about meeting man to man when he looks like a little boy. Paul said he wanted to get things over with quickly so he could get out of “this crap city.”
Paul said Ricochet is one of the most spectacular superstars he’s ever seen, but he stands by what he said on his podcast. Paul said that Ricochet and his cronies cared more about Paul losing than actually winning. Paul labeled Ricochet a reckless amateur.
Ricochet said he’s a man of the people, and none of the people wanted Paul anywhere near the MITB briefcase. Ricochet said Paul was throwing around the word unprofessional. Ricochet said he wouldn’t be standing in the ring after twenty years if he had been unprofessional. A “Logan sucks” chant broke out.
“You’re in the middle of your promo and the chant’s still about me,” Paul said before laughing. Ricochet said he was going to do the professional thing and challenge Paul to a match. Ricochet said now that he saw Paul, all he wanted to do was hurt him. Ricochet said he would, but he told him not to run his mouth about him ever again.
“Or what?” Paul asked. “I certainly will not stand here and be intimidated by a dude in an extra medium button-up who is 90 percent forehead.” Paul said Ricochet wanted a match with him so that he could go viral. Paul said he doesn’t care about going viral and said he’s a WWE Superstar. Paul said he didn’t think things were going to work out between them.
Ricochet flipped over the top rope and landed on his feet in front of Paul. “That was cool for a TikTok,” Paul said. He said he’s not about attention to make moments because he is the moment. Paul dropped the mic and turned around, then spun around and tried to punch Ricochet twice, but Ricochet dropped both punches. Ricochet ran up the apron and performed a variation of Sliced Bread. Ricochet talked smack to Paul, who remained seated and then smiled and started jawing back at him while Ricochet backed up toward the stage…
Powell’s POV: A solid segment that actually had the fans chanting Ricochet’s name by the end. While Ricochet isn’t the most dynamic personality, the fans should have no problem rallying behind him in the expected SummerSlam match with Paul.
The broadcast team hyped the Alpha Academy graduation ceremony for Maxxine Durpri… Becky Lynch made her entrance for her match against Zoey Stark… [C] Zoey Stark and a face-shield wearing Trish Stratus made their entrance…
2. Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark (w/Trish Stratus). Trish tripped Lynch while she was running the ropes and somehow the referee missed it. Lynch came right back with a series of strikes on Stark, who was on the apron. Stark avoided a middle rope leg drop and then performed a springboard dropkick that sent Lynch to the floor.
Lynch sent Stark to ringside and then dropkicked her under the bottom rope. Lynch went to the floor and ran Stark into the barricade three times before tossing her back inside the ring. After some back and forth action that included near falls for both women, Stark dropped Lynch with a superkick and got another near fall.
Stark rolled Lynch into a pin and held the ropes, but the referee spotted it. Lynch did the same, but Stratus climbed onto the apron and pointed it out to the referee. Lynch kicked Stark through the ropes. Stark rolled up Lynch and got the three count…
Zoey Stark beat Becky Lynch in roughly 10:30.
Powell’s POV: I was prepared to write that Lynch got the win and then praise how the match was laid out to make Stark look strong in defeat. Rather, Stark looked great and actually getting a distraction win. There’s plenty of work to be done with Stark as a character, but she’s already terrific in the ring. By the way, it was nice to see an actual match after only seeing one in the entire first hour. I’m not a “matches, matches, more matches!!!” guy, but I like a better balance than we’ve had so far tonight.
Backstage, Owens fired up while talking to Rollins and Zayn about how they would smash faces, break noses, and do whatever they had to do to make sure that they walk out and their opponents don’t…
“Pomp and Circumstance” played while the broadcast team hyped the Alpha Academy segment. Graves said the only reason he graduated was so that he could walk out to Randy “Macho Man” Savage’s theme song. Funny…
An ad for Smackdown focused on Jey Uso, as well as the Asuka vs. Bianca Belair match for the WWE Women’s Championship… [C]
Chad Gable and Otis were inside the ring dressed in red caps and gowns and stood behind a podium that had the Alpha Academy logo. Gable introduced Maxxine Dupri as his model student. Durpri walked out wearing a pink cap and gown. Gable presented her with a diploma and told her that the floor was hers.
Maxxine thanked Gable. She said she thought he was a troll when they first met, but he’s become a great teacher and a wonder friend. The crowd chanted “you deserve it.” Um, okay. Durpri credited Gable with teaching her so that she was able to win her first match on Raw.
Maxxine thanked Otis and said that none of it would have been possible had his “big, sexy bod” not caught her eye. She also thanked the fans for accepting her and helping her become a star. Durpri said they were just getting started and her star would sparkle.
Gable said they had a tradition and pulled out varsity jackets. Otis removed his cap and gown and was only wearing trunks. He hilariously struggled to put on his jacket. Gable told Maxxine to take off her cap and gown and get ready for the last jacket she will ever war. Gable and Otis presented Maxxine with her varsity jacket.
“The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar came out before Durpri could put the jacket on. Valhalla entered the ring from behind and hit the back of Maxxine’s head. Valhalla took the varsity jacket and joined the Viking Raiders at ringside…
Powell’s POV: The Alpha Academy silliness isn’t nearly as fun as Chase U in NXT. That said, it continues to get really good reactions from the live crowds.
Highlights aired to recap the recent issues involving Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler… Baszler was shown shadow boxing in the backstage area… [C]
Baszler made her entrance while footage aired from earlier in the day of Emma talking with her in the backstage area. Emma praised her for taking it to Rousey. Emma said they should finish the job that they started. Baszler told Emma to meet her in the ring if she wanted to see what she intends to do to Rousey. Baszler handed her a queen of spades card…
3. Shayna Baszler vs. Emma. Emma’s entrance was not televised. Emma threw an early kick and performed the Emma sandwich in the corner. Baszler took offensive control and never looked back. Baszler stomped the arm of Emma and then asked the crowd who wanted a souvenir. Baszler applied the Kirifuda Clutch and got the submission win.
Shayna Baszler defeated Emma in 1:30.
Ronda Rousey’s entrance music played and she walked to the ring. Rousey tagged Baszler with a punch to the face. They wrestled on the mat for a bit and Baszler went for her finisher. Rousey escaped the hold and went for an armbar. Baszler escaped and left the ring…
Powell’s POV: I’m all for the return of the Queen of Spades version of Baszler from NXT. But this feud really needs a babyface. I’m not even sure which wrestler they want fans to cheer for.
Cody Rhodes was shown walking backstage after the broadcast team recapped his segments from last week’s show… [C]
Cody Rhodes made his entrance. Graves was unimpressed by the pyro that shoots off once Cody is on the ropes, as he said that’s what happens when you hire the local pyro guy. Cody told the television audience to bear with him because he wanted to see everyone in the building.
Cody turned his back to the hard camera and looked to the cheering crowd. He told the fans he saw them and said he hopes they saw him. He said there are times when it feels like there’s an invisible wall between them, but for him it feels like the fans are in the ring with him.
Cody said the reason it feels like that and doesn’t feel performative is that what he has told the fans since he returned is real. Cody said he’s not talking career goals, he’s talking life goals. He recalled being asked at a press event about his momentum. Cody said the question and his answer have haunted him.
Cody said he was a bit cagey and cited the fans and how the buildings are sold out and the fans are louder and louder. He said that he’s doing okay in every metric he can be measured by. Cody said he added that his in-ring momentum is a bit shaky because of Brock Lesnar. Cody said Lesnar wasn’t there because he didn’t think Buffalo was worthy, but he was told he would be on Raw next week.
[Hour Three] Cody spoke about how everyone has their own Lesnar who stands in their way. Cody said he wants Lesnar at SummerSlam. Cody said he has to have another match with Lesnar because “that guy is next in line and the prince doesn’t want to be the prince forever.” Cody said he wants to be and will be the next in line…
Powell’s POV: I guess next week will be Raw’s big night for SummerSlam match announcements.
The broadcast team recapped the The Miz and Tommaso Ciampa feud. Miz made his entrance for their No DQ match… A video package aired to promote the additions to the WWE live events calendar… [C]
Tommaso Ciampa made his entrance. Once he got to ringside, Ciampa reached over the barricade and grabbed a chair. Miz tried to kick him, but Ciampa avoided it and then roughed up Miz on the floor. Graves tried to explain the rules of the match and got tongue tied and asked Patrick for help. Live TV, folks.
4. Tommaso Ciampa vs. The Miz in a No DQ match. The bell once both men were inside the ring. They quickly went back to ringside. Ciampa put Miz in one of the broadcast team’s chairs and ended up knocking him over with a running knee strike.
Back in the ring, Miz took control until he leaped from the ropes and Ciampa jabbed him with the chair. They went back to the floor. Ciampa wrapped the chair around Miz’s neck and then ran him into the ring post. [C]
Miz kicked Ciampa over the broadcast table coming out of the break. Miz rolled Ciampa back inside the ring and then picked up a table that Ciampa was pulling out and got heat by sliding it back under the ring. Ciampa regained control and ended up leaning the top piece of the broadcast table against the actual table and then slammed Miz on top of it.
Ciampa threw various weapons inside the ring and then pulled out a table and slid it inside the ring. Ciampa tossed Miz back in the ring and followed, but Miz kicked the middle rope into his groin. Miz grabbed a trashcan lid and then leaped from the ropes into a knee from Ciampa.
Ciampa put the lid in front of his while hitting Miz with three running knees to the head. Ciampa set up the table inside the ring. Ciampa brought Miz to the ropes and then hooked him behind his back and crashed through the table.
Ciampa had Miz pinned, but Bronson Reed showed up and pulled him to the floor. Graves said Miz has used Reed’s services in the past and questioned if that’s what was happening. Reed roughed up Ciampa and then hit him with a Tsunami before leaving the ring. Miz covered Ciampa for the win…
The Miz beat Tommaso Ciampa in 13:05 in a No DQ match.
After the match, Miz looked at Reed, who was on the stage and appeared to wink before celebrating his win…
Powell’s POV: I’m fine with Miz winning in the manner that he did. Lord knows he needs wins, and Reed vs. Ciampa should be really fun. Miz is definitely working outside of his comfort zone and I hope he’s rewarded for it.
Footage aired of Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green becoming No. 1 contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles…
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were talking backstage when Deville and Green showed up. Deville said it was very interesting that Morgan and Rodriguez would be ringside for their match. Rodriguez said they were trying to get an up close look at next week’s competition.
Rhea Ripley showed up and confronted Rodriguez. Ripley said she’s warned Rodriguez to stay out of her business twice now. Ripley told her that if she gets involved again, it will be strike three. “Three strikes and you’re out, basketball!” Green said.
Green added that “we” are going to run the division. Ripley turned and asked who said we. Green and Deville made their exit. Ripley went back to her staring contest with Rodriguez. Morgan said they’re not afraid of Ripley. She said they got involved her business because of what she did to Natalya. Morgan and Rodriguez said they would keep stopping Ripley if she continued to act like a bully…
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez made their entrance and took seats next to the broadcast table. Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green made their entrance for their match against Kayden Carter and Katana Chance… [C] Carter and Chance made their entrance coming out of the break…
5. Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green vs. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance. Carter and Chance jumped out to a quick start. There were a couple of rough spots that included Carter awkwardly taking a shoulder block and then Green diving over the top rope and performing a clunky sunset flip.
Carter and Chance performed a double team splash on Green and had her beat, but Deville broke it up. Moments later, Green hooked Chance into a pin and then Deville held her partner’s legs for leverage while she got the three count…
Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green beat Kayden Carter and Katana Chance in 2:20.
Powell’s POV: A rough match. The crowd was also as flat as they’ve been all night.
The broadcast team hyped Morgan and Rodriguez vs. Green and Deville for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles for next week’s Raw…
Backstage, Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle were interviewed by Byron Saxton. McIntyre said he’s tired of groups popping up and using the numbers advantage, so he and Riddle decided to do something about it. Riddle said he’s sick of Imperium and said it would feel good when he beats Gunther next week. McIntyre encouraged Riddle to hold off on the match because he will be away on company business next week. Riddle said he talked to Adam Pearce and was able to get Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci barred from ringside…
Seth Rollins made his entrance for the six-man tag main event… [C]
The broadcast team hyped the following for next week’s Raw in Atlanta: Brock Lesnar appears, Alpha Academy vs. The Viking Raiders in a Viking Rules match, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, and Intercontinental Champion Gunther vs. Matt Riddle in a non-title match with Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci barred from ringside…
The remainder of the entrances took place. Graves noted that Judgment Day will appear on Tuesday’s NXT. He also played up the idea that Priest could cash in his MITB contract on NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes…
6. Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn vs. Damian Priest, Finn Balor, and Dominik Mysterio (w/Rhea Ripley). A couple minutes in, Balor took a cheap shot at Owens from the apron. Rollins took Balor to ringside and then Dom and Zayn fought along side of them. Priest joined the fight. Owens went up top and performed a cannonball onto the Judgment Day trio. [C]
Late in the match, Priest blasted Rollins with a clothesline and covered him for a near fall. The crowd chanted Seth’s entrance theme. Rollins went for his finisher, but Rollins flipped onto his feet. Rollins superkicked Rollins into Balor, who fell off the apron. Rollins put Priest down with a Pedigree and had the win, but Balor broke it up.
Balor and Rollins had conflicting ideas and botched a sling blade clothesline spot. Dom made a blind tag. Balor put Rollins down and then Dom splashed him. Zayn tried to break up the pin and ended up hitting Rollins after Dom moved.
Zayn tagged in and performed a clunky Blue Thunder Bomb on Balor, who came right back with a sling blade and then a shotgun dropkick. Zayn avoided Balor’s finisher and then put him down with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Zayn had the pin, but Dom broke it up. Owens put Dom down with a Stunner.
Zayn put Balor in the corner with an exploder suplex. Zayn set up for his finisher, but Ripley grabbed his foot. Priest hit the South of Heaven chokeslam. Balor followed up with a Coup De Grace on Zayn and then pinned him…
Damian Priest, Finn Balor, and Dominik Mysterio beat Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn in 12:40.
After the match, Balor and Priest glared at one another, then shook hands a hugged while Ripley cheered from ringside. Graves warned NXT to be prepared because Judgment Day is coming…
Powell’s POV: A good win for the heels. I’m not sure if this was meant to end the friction between Balor and Priest because they are going in a different direction with the storyline or if they’ll end up back at each other’s throats next week. The match had some surprisingly rough moments considering some of the talent involved, but they pulled it together by the end.
Overall, this was a middle of the road episode. I’m surprised they didn’t make some of the SummerSlam matches official tonight. I guess that means next week’s show should be a little more newsworthy from that standpoint. I will have a lot more to say about Raw in my same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Raw by grading it below.
Carter and Chance aren’t even indy level wrestlers.
What exactly makes you such an expert on talent greatestturd? What I wouldn’t give to see your old decrepit ass get into the ring. You’re the walking definition of a keyboard warrior
Both Brian and TheGreatestOne are pumpkin-headed bitches.
Zayn whispered into the ear of Zayn, who looked like he considered it a plausible explanation…
I am interested in this development!