By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,557)
Live from Phoenix, Arizona at Footprint Center
Aired March 27, 2023 on USA Network
[Hour One] Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves were on commentary and welcomed viewers to “WrestleMania Raw.” Mike Rome was the ring announcer… WrestleMania 39 host The Miz made his entrance while the broadcast team ran through the previously advertised matches and segments, plus Intercontinental Champion Gunther in action, and Rey Mysterio vs. Damian Priest…
The Miz welcomed viewers to Miz TV and introduced his guests Trish Stratus and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Becky Lynch and Lita. Miz asked Lynch what it felt like to know that The Man couldn’t beat Damage CTRL on her own and needed to call in reinforcements.
Lynch said she is The Man, while Miz sounds like a very insecure man who has notoriously tiny balls. The crowd responded with the obligatory “tiny balls” chant. Miz scolded the fans and said his wife verified that his balls are massive. Lynch said it must be nice to know that Maryse didn’t get around much before she married Miz.
Lynch conceded that she doesn’t get along with many people, but she respects Trish and Lita as much as anyone in the business. Miz asked Trish and Lita why they returned just to play backup to Lynch. Lita showed off her title belt and said she doesn’t feel like backup, she feels like one half of the tag team champions.
“Damage CTRL” Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky made their entrance and entered the ring. Bayley said she’s sick of her opponents acting like it’s just another match to them. Bayley took a jab at Trish and Lita being relevant twenty years ago. Trish pointed to Lita’s tag title and said that makes her relevant now.
Bayley said this would have been her dream match years ago, but now the dream is to take out the top woman in the division and two Hall of Famers in the same night. “And then what?” Lynch interrupted. Lynch fired up while talking about how Bayley took Kai and Sky and did nothing with them.
“You haven’t done anything,” said Lynch. She spoke about the various times she thought the feud would end and said now it can only end at WrestleMania. Lynch spiked the mic and the teams jawed at one another…
The WrestleMania 39 video aired heading into a commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: Lynch showed great fire in her promo. The match is what it is at this point, but Lynch did her best to give it one final push.
1. Becky Lynch (w/Trish Stratus, Lita) vs. Iyo Sky (w/Bayley, Dakota Kai). Lynch put Sky down with an inverted suplex and got a two count. Lynch fired up the crowd and set up for her finisher, but Sky avoided it and performed a double stomp that resulted in a two count of her own. [C]
Footage aired from during the break of Sky performing a nice springboard missile dropkick and of Lynch executing a superplex. Back live, Sky performed a pair of German suplexes and bridged into a pin for a two count on the second suplex.
Sky knocked Lynch off the ropes with a dropkick. Sky followed up with an Asai moonsault and then rolled Lynch back inside the ring and covered her for a two count. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Sky went to the ropes and played to the crowd before going for her moonsault finisher, which Lynch avoided. Sky avoided Lynch’s Disarmer, but Lynch came right back with the Manhandle Slam and got the clean pin…
Becky Lynch defeated Iyo Sky in 11:30.
Powell’s POV: A hot match to open the show. This was the best match that I can recall Sky having since she was brought up to the main roster. For that matter, it’s the hottest television match that Lynch has had in some time.
Footage aired of last week’s angle involving Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, which also included Rhodes telling Sikoa that he wasn’t ready. Footage also aired from Smackdown of Rhodes once again telling Sikoa that he’s not ready after Paul Heyman announced they would meet on Raw…
Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman, and Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso were shown walking backstage… [C]
Phoenix imagery was shown… A video package spotlighted Asuka and featured comments from Corey Graves, Zelina Vega, Kevin Owens, Lita, Molly Holly, Charlotte Flair, and MVP…
Powell’s POV: A nice video that touched on her time in NXT in addition to the main roster. That said, I wish they would have spent more time establishing her new persona. I really hope there’s more to it than new face paint and spraying mist.
Seth Rollins was interviewed by Cathy Kelley in the backstage area after his angle with Logan Paul from last week was recapped. Before Rollins could speak, Mustafa Ali cut in and tried to speak for him. Ali dubbed himself “Positive Ali.” Rollins said he got the wordplay. Rollins recalled Ali wanting a title shot at him when he was U.S. Champion. Rollins said good things come to those who wait and said they could have that match. Ali tried to back down, but the broadcast team said the match was coming up next… [C]
The broadcast team thanked The Weeknd for the WrestleMania theme song. Seth Rollins made his entrance…
2. Seth Rollins vs. Mustafa Ali. Ali’s entrance was not televised. Ali ended up in the tree of woe position. Rollins Stomped him out of the ropes. Rollins followed up with a traditional Stomp and scored the pin.
Seth Rollins beat Mustafa Ali in 2:10.
After the match, Rollins said he would finally get his hands on Logan Paul on night one of WrestleMania. Rollins said Paul had a history of making a joke out of himself. Rollins said that if he can’t beat Paul at WrestleMania, “then he’s not the joke, I am.”
Rollins that everything that Paul has done to him would come back around in five days. He mentioned that Saturday will also be Logan’s birthday. Rollins said the fans would serenade him all night long, but it wouldn’t be with the happy birthday song. Rollins told the fans to give a preview and they all chanted his entrance theme. Rollins closed by saying he would see Paul at WrestleMania…
Powell’s POV: The match was an all out showcase win for Rollins, who was mega over with the live crowd. I hope Ali gets a chance to make this new gimmick work after WrestleMania.
Footage aired from earlier in the day of Baron Corbin complaining to Adam Pearce about not having a match at WrestleMania, yet doing signings and meet and greets all across the country. Chelsea Green interrupted and asked Pearce why she wasn’t in the four-way tag team showcase match. Pearce said Green doesn’t have a partner, and Piper Niven wanted nothing to do with her.
Sonya Deville showed up and told Green that she did Pearce’s job better than he did. Pearce said they would have to earn their way into the four-way by winning a qualifying match during Raw. Corbin returned after the women left. “Seriously?” Corbin asked Pearce, who walked away…
The broadcast team hyped Green and Deville vs. Michin and Candice LeRae as the qualifying match, and said the weigh-in segment was coming up next… [C]
Corey Graves and Adam Pearce stood in the ring with a referee for the weigh-in.
[Hour Two] Omos and MVP made their entrance. Graves tried to introduce Brock Lesnar, but MVP took the mic. MVP spoke about Lesnar’s WrestleMania accomplishments and said he wouldn’t be able to suplex or F5 Omos, who then stepped onto the scale. The referee said Omos weighed in at 410 lbs., but they never did a close-up of the actual weight.
Brock Lesnar made his entrance. Once in the ring, Lesnar charged Omos and was unable to take him off his feet with a pair of shoulder blocks. Lesnar picked up the scale, but Omos put him down with a big boot. Omos picked up the scale. Lesnar scurried to ringside while Omos stood tall in the ring. The crowd chanted “Suplex City.” Patrick indicated that the Lesnar vs. Omos match would be held on Saturday…
Powell’s POV: Lesnar never actually weighed in, but it was a simple and effective angle with Omos standing tall despite Lesnar making a couple of attempts to take him off his feet. Best of all, Paul Wight wasn’t in charge of reading the scale.
A video package aired on Smackdown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair…
Rhea Ripley was interviewed backstage by Byron Saxton. Ripley said there’s no denying how great Charlotte’s legacy is, but she doesn’t need to be reminded that she’s a 14-time women’s champion. Ripley said Flair’s legacy is unmatched, but it won’t define her destiny. Ripley said she must beat Flair and must become the biggest star in the industry. Ripley said it comes down to Charlotte’s legacy compared to her destiny. Ripley said Flair won’t stop her from becoming the new Smackdown Women’s Champion…
“The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins, and their partners Braun Strowman and Ricochet made their entrance for the eight-man tag match…
An ad for “WrestleMania Smackdown” hyped appearances by Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, and the Andre the Giant memorial battle royal… [C]
A video aired with Finn Balor delivering a promo regarding his Hell in a Cell match with Edge. Balor said there’s nothing more dangerous than a caged demon. Balor told Edge to do whatever he has to do to unlock his demon. Balor said he doesn’t summon his demon, it’s always there. Balor said you just have to lose closely. Images of the Demon face paint flashed on Balor’s face and then Balor as The Demon was shown for a second…
Alpha Academy and their partners the Viking Raiders made separate entrances…
3. Braun Strowman and Ricochet and “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. “Alpha Academy” Chad Gable and Otis and “The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar (w/Valhalla) in an eight-man tag match. The broadcast team noted that the four teams would meet in the four-way tag team showcase at WrestleMania. A “we want the smoke” chant broke out early in the match.
All eight men ended up in the ring. After a skirmish, the big men Otis, Ivar, and Strowman remained. Otis quickly became the last man standing. Ford dove from the top rope at him, but Otis caught him and slammed him to the mat. Gable kissed Otis on the cheek. [C]
Maxxine Dupri was shown watching the match on a backstage monitor. Otis performed a move on Ford and then looked into the camera and said, “Maxxine, I’m here, baby.” A short time later, Ricochet had a nice offensive flurry. Dawkins made a hot tag to Strowman.
Strowman dropped off the apron and hit multiple opponents with shoulder blocks on the floor. Erik hit Strowman with a knee lift once he returned to the ring, but Strowman came right back and powerslammed him. Ricochet performed a Swanton off of Strowman’s shoulders onto Erik. Legal man Ford performed a big frogsplash onto Erik and pinned him.
Braun Strowman and Ricochet and “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins beat “Alpha Academy” Chad Gable and Otis and “The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar in 11:25.
Maxxine Dupri was shown watching on the backstage monitor again. In the ring, the babyface teams played to the crowd…
Powell’s POV: A crowd pleasing match with good action and the babyfaces going over.
Cody Rhodes was interviewed by Cathy Kelley on the backstage ring set. She said Rhodes put himself in a vulnerable position by agreeing to face Solo Sikoa. Rhodes spoke about Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman cackling over his chances and then said he would ask them why he needed to face the enforcer. Rhodes said he’s earned it. Rhodes said Sikoa isn’t ready. He closed by adding that he will defeat Reigns to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania…
A WrestleMania Goes Hollywood video featured The Bloodline doing their take on Goodfellas… [C]
Powell’s POV: They saved the best for last when it came to the WrestleMania Goes Hollywood videos. I love that even though Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, and Jey Uso were all laughing at one point in the video, Sikoa never showed emotion. Sikoa did speak at the end when he said that Reigns really is funny.
A Bianca Belair video package aired with comments from Liv Morgan, Corey Graves, Montez Ford, Beth Phoenix, Molly Holly, Cody Rhodes, and Kevin Owens…
Footage aired from earlier in the day of U.S. Champion Austin Theory delivering an in-ring promo inside the empty arena. Theory said John Cena thought that he exposed him when they were last in the ring, but the truth is that Cena exposed himself for not being able to see the future right in front of his eyes.
Theory said he was in the ring alone was that it was no different than being in a sold out SoFi Stadium. Theory said he doesn’t do it for the WWE Universe or some kid who wants to be the next him, and he doesn’t do it to be the next Cena. Theory said he does it for himself. He said he had a purpose before anyone had an opinion about him.
Theory said it’s sad to know that he would have let Cena go down as the hero, but he had to make it personal. Theory said everyone looks up to Cena, so it’s fitting that Cena will be looking up to him. Theory said he would make Cena believe in him. Theory said he would make the WWE Universe that Cena loves so much believe in him when they meet on Saturday at WrestleMania. Theory looked at the WrestleMania sign once his promo concluded…
Powell’s POV: The promo was fine, though I can’t say it really moved me when it came to the U.S. Title match. I’m surprised they haven’t run a John Cena video package, but perhaps that’s still to come.
Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green made their entrance… [C] Patrick touted Stacy Keibler being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023… The tail end of Michin and Candice LeRae’s entrance was shown…
4. Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green vs. Michin and Candice LeRae in a qualifier for the four-team showcase match at WrestleMania. LeRae performed a crossbody block onto both opponents. LeRae worked over Green and then tagged in Michin. The duo performed a double team move on Green. Deville returned to break up the pin attempt. Moments later, Deville caught Michin with a punch from the apron while the referee was focused on Green, who then hit Michin with the Unprettier and pinned her…
Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green vs. Michin and Candice LeRae in 3:00 to qualify for the four-team showcase at WrestleMania.
Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio made their entrance for Priest’s match against Rey Mysterio. Patrick set up a trailer for the Dungeons & Dragons movie.. [C]
Powell’s POV: It’s a shame that Carmella is apparently unavailable for WrestleMania, but I am happy that the deserving Sonya Deville cracked the lineup.
[Hour Three] A sponsored recap video featured highlights from the original WrestleMania event…
Cathy Kelley stood on the backstage ring set and introduced Paul Heyman and asked for his response to Cody Rhodes. Heyman said Rhodes doesn’t fear the Tribal Chief because he’s not ready. Heyman said Rhodes proved it moments ago when he questioned why it’s so important that he face Solo Sikoa. Heyman said Sikoa is ready to weaken Cody for his match. Heyman said Sikoa wasn’t there to compete, he was there to put a beating on Rhodes so that he wouldn’t be 100 percent at WrestleMania.
Heyman spoke about how Reigns isn’t afraid to go to those measures to maintain his spot as the Tribal Chief on the Island of Relevancy. Heyman said Rhodes has never been ready. He said Cody wasn’t ready to fill the shoes of Dusty Rhodes or to become the man of this generation or to beat Reigns. Heyman also said Cody will have to take the emotional baggage that Reigns will dump on him on Friday’s Smackdown to WrestleMania. Heyman told Cody to be ready to acknowledge his Tribal Chief after the main event of WrestleMania Sunday…
Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest stood in the ring. Dom said it takes a real lowlife to hit your own child. Dom said Rey Mysterio really is a deadbeat. Dom said that after Priest beats Rey and then he humiliates him at WrestleMania, then everyone will know what a failure of a father he is. Dom had footage of Rey punching him on Smackdown air on the big screen.
Dom spoke in Spanish and then asked what kind of father hits his own son and what kind of mother stands by and does nothing. Dom said he should have told his mother to shut up a long time ago. “Dad, I’ve never said this out loud, but I wish Eddie (Guerrero) was my real father and you never existed, because my entire family is a disgrace to the Mysterio name.” Dom said the Mysterio name will be his at WrestleMania.
Rey made his entrance and shook his head in disgust from the stage… [C]
Powell’s POV: A strong promo from Heyman followed by Dom getting tremendous heat from the live crowd. The long build to Rey finally getting physical with Dom was really well done and I’m really looking forward to their match.
An ad aired for Saturday’s NXT Stand & Deliver event…
5. Rey Mysterio vs. Damian Priest (w/Dominik Mysterio). The match was joined in progress. Priest performed a nice Flatliner for a near fall. Priest went for a big boot that Rey avoided, causing Priest to crotch himself on the ropes. Rey put him in position and went for a 619, but Priest cut him off with a big clothesline that led to another near fall.
Priest got Rey on the ropes and set up for a chokeslam, but Rey fought him off and performed a huracanrana from the middle rope. Rey followed up with a 619. Rey went up top, but Dom attacked him for the disqualification finish.
Rey Mysterio defeated Damian Priest by DQ in 3:10 of television time.
After the match, Priest held Rey while Dom threw punches at him. “Legado Del Fantasma” members Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, and Cruz Del Toro ran out, causing Dom and Priest to leave the ring…
Powell’s POV: The DQ finish was actually perfect given the circumstances. I continue to wonder if Dom will end up with Legado Del Fantasma coming out of WrestleMania. And the longer Dom’s hair gets, the more it makes me wonder if we’ll eventually get a father and son mask vs. hair match at some point. I love this feud and I hope they find creative ways to keep it as fun as it’s been thus far.
A video package aired on the Andre the Giant memorial battle royal for Friday’s Smackdown…
Backstage, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson found their names on the battle royal entrants list. “Payday,” Gallows said. Johnny Gargano was there and celebrated with them. Rick Boogs read the list and was over the top giddy about being included. Elias told him Boogs that he better take notes because he’s a lock to win.
Elias turned around and was intimidated by Dexter Lumis. Elias turned away from him and ended up face to face with Bronson Reed. When Elias turned around again, he was greeted by Bobby Lashley, who took issue with Elias claiming he was a lock to win…
“Imperium” Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovanni Vinci made their entrance for Gunther’s match… [C]
Powell’s POV: Lashley got a big reaction from the live crowd when he appeared. It was a cute backstage skit for The Dre battle royal, but it was kind of silly to see the wrestlers acting excited about making the list when they already showed the entrants graphic on Smackdown.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn looked into the camera and delivered a backstage promo. Zayn said everyone knows that he and Owens started from nothing in Montreal, but Los Angeles is where they got their big break and made names for themselves. Owens said that every fight they’ve had together or against one another was about moving forward. Owens said it doesn’t get any bigger than facing the Usos for the tag team titles. Owens got fired up about winning the tag titles in the city where they got their first big break…
Dolph Ziggler made his entrance…
6. Intercontinental Champion Gunther (w/Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) vs. Dolph Ziggler in a non-title match. Gunther fought off an early rush from Ziggler and was in offensive control heading into an early break. [C]
Ziggler hit the Fameasser for a two count. Ziggler went for a Zigzag, but Gunther held onto the ropes. Ziggler leapt at Gunther, who chopped him. Gunther performed a German suplex and then powerbombed Ziglger. Gunther capped it off with the Last Symphony and scored the pin.
Intercontinental Champion Gunther beat Dolph Ziggler in 6:00 in a non-title match.
After the match, Gunther delivered an in-ring promo and complained about being forced to defend his title against both Drew McIntyre and Sheamus. Gunther said Ziggler’s fate was the same one that awaited both opponents at WrestleMania…
Powell’s POV: Perhaps Gunther is right, but at least McIntyre and Sheamus won’t have to come out to Dolph’s terrible entrance theme. Anyway, this was just a quick showcase win for Gunther. Granted, it went six minutes, but they spent a good portion of the match in a commercial break.
A 30-second clip aired for the WWE 2K23 video game, and then entrances for the main event took place. Cody Rhodes came out first. Solo Sikoa was accompanied to the ring by Paul Heyman… [C] Patrick hyped Reigns and Cody meeting face-to-face on Smackdown…
7. Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa (w/Paul Heyman). The match spilled over to ringside where Cody slammed Sikoa’s head onto the broadcast team twice. Cody returned to the ring and then performed a suicide dive, but Sikoa blocked it. Sikoa picked up Cody and uranage slammed him onto the broadcast table, but it didn’t break. Sikoa repeated the move and the table still didn’t break. [C]
Rhodes put Sikoa down with a Cody Cutter and then played to the crowd. Cody followed up with CrossRhodes and then covered Sikoa, who put his foot on the bottom rope to break the pin. Cody dragged Sikoa where he wanted him and then put the boots to him.
Cody went up top and jawed at Heyman before going for a moonsault that Sikoa avoided. Heyman laughed at ringside. Sikoa delivered a couple of headbutts and then went for the Samoan Spike, but Rhodes avoided it. Rhodes followed up with another Cody Cutter.
Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso made their entrance, which distracted Cody. Sikoa superkicked Cody and then put him down with a uranage slam for a near fall. Sami Zayn’s music played and then he and Kevin Owens ran out and brawled with the Usos on the stage and dominated them as they fought to the back.
Cody went for another Cody Cutter, but Sikoa stuffed it. Sikoa wound up for his finisher, but Cody avoided it and then hit CrossRhodes and scored the clean pin.
Cody Rhodes defeated Solo Sikoa in 12:50.
After the match, Cody jawed at Heyman, who remained at ringside and spoke on his phone. Cody went to the ropes and celebrated. Graves questioned whether Cody would get the Hollywood ending or end up just another statistic for Reigns. “It was always me,” Cody yelled to Heyman, who was speaking into his phone. A graphic listed Rey Mysterio, The Street Profits, Chelsea Green, and Sonya Deville for Raw Talk as the show went off the air…
Powell’s POV: A momentum building win for Cody heading into WrestleMania. There was no way Cody was going to lose, but I did wonder if they would protect Sikoa. Cody is obviously the priority heading into the WrestleMania main event so I don’t have any issue with him going over clean, though it did feel like the broadcast team could have played it up as a bigger victory over an unbeaten opponent rather than framing it as Cody surviving a roadblock.
Overall, a strong Raw version of a go-home show. They did a good job of spotlighting a number of WrestleMania matches and most of the hype worked. I was a bit underwhelmed by KO and Sami happily playing up their California history rather than coming off as hellbent on gaining revenge on the Usos, but hopefully they’ll get another promo on Friday night. I will be back shortly with my weekly same night audio review of Raw for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons), who will also have access to exclusive same night audio reviews of both nights of WrestleMania and much more this weekend. Let me know what you thought of Raw by grading the show below.
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One of the hardest jobs in the world is the announcers having to try to make it seem like Ziggler has a chance against Gunther lol
I feel like that’s a mistake having Sikoa lose here. They could have done a lot with his unbeaten status coming out of Wrestlemania.
I for one would much rather see Sonya Deville on the Wrestlemania card than Carmella.
I’m sorry – I’m prob in the minority here and will be called an AEW mark for saying this, but WM just doesn’t even seem remotely special this year. Yeah, we’re hoping the belts finally get off Reigns so they are actually defended more than 3x a year and Zayn gets rewarded with a championship for his hard work, but is that it?
I can say that if I had to miss WM this year, I don’t think I’d actually be bummed about it.