By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,579)
Live from Memphis, Tennessee at FedExForum
Aired August 28, 2023 on USA Network
[Hour One] Raw opened with memorial graphics for the late Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt…
Sami Zayn’s entrance music played and he was introduced by ring announcer Samantha Irvin. While Zayn headed to the ring, Michael Cole and Wade Barrett checked in on commentary. Cole acknowledged the deaths of Funk and Wyatt. He said they would celebrate their lives on Raw. He said they wanted to entertain the fans and they would try to do the same on Raw.
Damian Priest made his entrance as Zayn’s opponent. Priest brought the Money in the Bank briefcase with him. Cole said Priest demanded the match because Zayn taunted Judgment Day after last week’s main event by telling them better luck next time…
1. Damian Priest vs. Sami Zayn. Both men started without anyone in their corner. A few minutes in, Zayn ran Priest into the ring post. Zayn went for a dive from the ring onto Priest, who caught Zayn and planed him on the broadcast table with a Flatliner heading into a commercial break. [C]
Late in the match, Zayn executed an exploder suplex into the corner. Zayn set up for a Helluva Kick, but JD McDonagh showed up at ringside and grabbed Zayn’s legs while the referee wasn’t looking. Priest recovered and put Zayn down with his South of Heaven chokeslam and scored the pin.
Damian Priest defeated Sami Zayn in 11:40.
After the match, McDonagh entered the ring and raised Priest’s hand. Priest pulled his hand away and shoved McDonagh to the mat. Priest told McDonagh to stay out of his business. McDonagh asked Priest what his problem was while Priest exited the ring.
Kevin Owens showed up and attacked took turns punching McDonagh with Zayn. Owens kicked McDonagh and gave him a Stunner. Priest watched from ringside while Zayn followed up with a Helluva Kick. Priest walked backstage without helping McDonagh…
Powell’s POV: The usual protective finish, but at least this one served the extra purpose of forwarding the story involving McDonagh and Judgment Day.
Cole hyped that Seth Rollins would call out Shinsuke Nakamura later in the show…
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were shown preparing for the match in the backstage area. A separate shot showed their opponents The Viking Raiders hanging out elsewhere… [C]
Drew McIntyre was shown standing backstage looking at a photo. Akira Tozawa showed up and said it looked great before making a quick exit. Matt Riddle showed up and asked McIntyre what he thought. McIntyre turned the photo around to show that it was him dressed in green trunks that read “Bro” on the front.
Riddle said every team has matching gear. Riddle said they could get matching kilts. McIntyre was going to storm off, but Riddle suggested they get ringside seats for the New Day vs. Viking Raiders match. McIntyre said he’d love a front row seat to watch “those idiots” get beaten. Riddle assumed he meant New Day, but McIntyre said he was talking about the Viking Raiders…
Powell’s POV: This has to lead to a McIntyre turn at some point, right? They can’t just be redoing RK-Bro with McIntyre in the Randy Orton role, can they?
A video package featured Raquel Rodriguez talking about her title match against Rhea Ripley. She said Ripley is the most dominant woman in WWE… “except for me.” Rodriguez said that if Ripley wants her to stop getting involved in her business, then she needs to stop taking advantage of her strength and size. She said she wouldn’t let Ripley take out the women’s division after what she did to her and Liv Morgan. Rodriguez said she wants to show Ripley what it’s like to be at the mercy of someone who is bigger and stronger. Rodriguez said she would take Ripley’s title and cut her down to size at WWE Payback…
Becky Lynch was shown warming up backstage while Barrett hyped her Falls Count Anywhere match with Zoey Stark as the show’s main event… [C]
A video promoted John Cena’s return on Friday’s Smackdown, and Cole hyped Cena’s appearance on the September 8 live event in India…
LA Knight’s entrance theme played. The Miz came out dressed up like Knight. “Let me talk to ya,” Miz started. “Yeah.” He continued to impersonate Knight and then went back and forth with “what” and “yeah” calls. While impersonating Knight, Miz said it takes more than a catchphrase to gain the support of the fans.
Miz grabbed a bag from the corner that he brought to the ring with him. He said it contained free LA Knight shirts. “If you want a free LA Knight t-shirt, give me a hell, er, I mean let me hear you say yeah.” Miz played to the crowd teased tossing them a shirt, but he spiked it onto the ringside mat instead.
Miz removed his Knight gear and told the fans they are pathetic. He said they will cheer anything and that’s why their support means nothing. He said anyone can pander and called it vanilla. Miz said he doesn’t do catchphrases. He said that when he says he’s awesome, it’s because it’s the truth. Miz said he will expose Knight and then fans won’t cheer him because they don’t cheer losers. Miz closed with an “M-I-Z, yeah”…
Powell’s POV: Miz did a great job and hit really hard while spoofing Knight.
Cole set up a recap of Shinsuke Nakamura’s promo from last week…
Seth Rollins was shown looking angry in the backstage area. He had a “Windham” armband over his jacket. Ricochet approached him and said something. Rollins simply nodded and went back to deep thoughts mode…
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods made their entrance for their match against The Viking Raiders… [C] Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre made their entrance. Riddle brought the silly McIntyre photo with him. McIntyre wore a black armband. The Viking Raiders’ entrance followed…
2. “New Day” Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs. “The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar (w/Valhalla). All four wrestlers wore “Bray” armbands. McIntyre and Riddle were seated next to the broadcast team. Riddle clapped along with a “New Day Rocks” chant. Both New Day members hit dives on the Viking Raiders and celebrated on the broadcast table. [C]
Kingston was isolated for a long stretch. He eventually avoided an Ivar ass splash and made the hot tag. Woods had a nice flurry of offense on both opponents, including turning Ivar inside out with the Honor Roll clothesline. Erik tagged in and put Woods down with a Full Nelson slam onto his knee.
[Hour Two] A short time later, Ivar ducked Kingston’s Trouble in Paradise. Both men ended up at ringside. Kingston dove at Ivar, who caught him and dropped him on the ring steps. Ivar picked up Kingston and then turned around and slammed himself and Kingston onto McIntyre and Riddle.
McIntyre tossed an office chair in the ring. McIntyre grabbed another chair and ended up throwing it toward Ivar, but he moved and it ended up hitting Woods at ringside. In the ring, the Viking Raiders hit Ragnarok on Kingston and then Erik pinned him…
“The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar defeated “New Day” Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods in 17:10.
After the match, McIntyre was apologetic while Kingston checked on Woods…
The Judgement Day members Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, and Dominik Mysterio were shown backstage. Finn Balor said that he and Damian Priest have a tag team title match and need to get on the same page. Balor was upset over what happened with JD McDonagh earlier in the show.
Priest was about to tell Balor off, but Rhea Ripley stepped in. She told Balor and Priest that they need to make things right at Payback. She said that if Judgment Day doesn’t walk out with gold at the end of Payback, there will be changes. After Ripley and Dominik Mysterio excited, Priest held up his briefcase and told Balor that he has no problem getting gold…
Cole said the Bray Wyatt tribute was up next… [C] Cole said they would pay tribute to Wyatt and Terry Funk during the show. He set up a video package on Wyatt… The crowd chanted “Thank you, Bray.” The Wyatt Family theme song played while a spotlight shone on Wyatt’s rocking chair… [C]
Backstage, Kingston exited the trainer’s room and was greeted by Riddle and McIntyre. Kingston indicated that Woods would be okay. McIntyre tried to apologize, but Kingston said he knew McIntyre didn’t do it on purpose. McIntyre spoke of facing The Viking Raiders next week and walked off. Riddle was giddy…
“Imperium” Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovanni Vinci made their entrance. Footage aired of Chad Gable beating Gunther by count-out on last week’s Raw…
Gunther stood on the broadcast table and said that Gable made history last week by becoming the first man to beat him in more than 500 days. Gunther noted that it was by count-out in a championship match. Gunther said Gable gained a victory, but in reality he won nothing, because Gunther remains the Intercontinental Champion.
Gunther added that the one thing Gable did was piss him off. Gunther said Gable will challenge him for the title on next week’s Raw. Gunther said Gable wouldn’t beat him next week, nor would he beat his best man Ludwig Kaiser. Gunther was interrupted.
“Alpha Academy” Chad Gable, Otis, and Maxxine Durpi made their entrance. Gable said he’d normally give Gunther a shoosh, but he made some good points. Gable boasted that he handed Gunther his first loss and found a way to do it in only ten seconds. Gable said it take 1-2-3 for him to take away the title next week. Gable called for Kaiser to get in the ring…
3. Chad Gable (w/Otis, Maxxine Dupri) vs. Ludwig Kaiser (w/Giovanni Vinci). Cole noted that Gunther would likely break the record for longest Intercontinental Title reign with a win over Gable next week. Meanwhile, Gable got off to a fast start and tossed Kaiser to ringside. Gable performed a cannonball off the apron and did his “thank you” bit to the crowd. [C]
Gable got plenty of offense coming out of the break. Kaiser ended up putting him down at ringside with a European uppercut heading into a second break. [C] Kaiser put Gable down with a running PK and then covered him for a near fall.
Gable came back with a rolling neckbreaker and did his “thank you” bit. Gable went up top and went for a moonsault and then landed on his feet when Kaiser avoided it. Gable powered up Kaiser and slammed him to the mat, which led to a two count.
Gable executed a moonsault onto Kaiser and Vinci at ringside. Back in the ring, Gable caught Kaiser in the ankle lock. Kaiser rolled out of it and kicked Gable, who came right back with a the Chaos Theory. Gable appeared to have Kaiser pinned, but Vinci ran in and broke it up for the disqualification.
Chad Gable defeated Ludwig Kaiser by DQ in 18:00.
Otis ran in, but the heel duo got the better of him and Gable. Gunther, who wasn’t present for the match, returned to the ring. Gunther went for a powerbomb, but Gable slipped away and put him in the ankle lock. Kaiser and Vinci attacked Gable. Gunther shoved his sidekicks away and then left Gable lying with a powerbomb…
Powell’s POV: The best match of the night in terms of ring work. Unfortunately, Gable continues to play the hambone while using his two comedy lines. I really hoped that Gable would get a chance to take a more serious approach during this feud with Gunther, but it’s been business as usual from a character standpoint.
Seth Rollins was shown walking backstage. He put his shades on and then smiled and started strutting… [C] Memphis imagery was shown, including a shot of Jerry Lawler’s bar and restaurant…
Cole said the company is mourning the loss of one of the greatest guest hosts in Raw history. Footage aired of Bob Barker’s stint as the Raw guest host…
Powell’s POV: My late grandmother loved Bob Barker. My late grandfather was jealous of Bob Barker. I consider Bob Barker to be The GOAT of gameshow hosts. I also admired the wonderful work that he did for animals over the years.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins made his entrance and enjoyed the crowd chanting his song once he was in the ring. Rollins said he was giving Shinsuke Nakamura what he wants by giving him a shot at the title on Saturday.
Rollins said Nakamura should give him what he wants by coming out and saying what he has to say to his face. Rollins waited, but Nakamura didn’t come out. Rollins said that he could go down to Beale Street, pour himself a stiff drink, and let the fans sing his song all night long.
A video aired with Nakamura training. There were subtitles as Nakamura spoke about destroying Rollins. He said he would break him and he won’t even be able to walk his daughter down the aisle. Nakamura said Rollins’ body has betrayed him and he’s going to put him out of his misery. Nakamura said Rollins has no future.
An annoyed Rollins removed his shades and asked if that was it from the legendary Nakamura. “We get a video package, huh?” Rollins said. “You know what I want to know? I want to know what happened to the Shinsuke Nakamura who headlined the Tokyo Dome. I want to know what happened to the Shinsuke Nakamura who lit the world on fire when he came to NXT.”
Rollins said he would have given Nakamura the shirt off his back a month ago. Rollins said it’s the same back that is broken in two different places, but it didn’t stand in the way of him becoming the champion, nor would it stand in the way of him beating Nakamura’s ass on Saturday. Rollins said he wouldn’t stop until someone pulls him off Nakamura. Rollins said that when Nakamura is lying there defeated, he will know that he won’t take away his title, his future, or his family.
Nakamura suddenly appeared in the ring and dropped Rollins with a kick to the back of the head.
[Hour Three] Nakamura cradled Rollins’ head in his arms and said he told him to watch his back. Nakamura released Rollins, who was seated on the mat. Nakamura blasted Rollins with another kick…
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens delivered a promo from their locker room. Zayn said he’s tired because no matter how many times they beat Judgment Day, they always find a way to come back and get cheap victories. Zayn said they could do this one more time. He told Owens to explain how it will go down this time.
Owens said they are sick of this. He said they went to Adam Pearce. Owens said it will be a Steel City Street Fight. Owens recalled being thrown off a cage and through a broadcast table in Pittsburgh. He said it’s nothing compared to what will happen to Judgment Day…
Tommaso Ciampa made his entrance. His opponent Bronson Reed ran out and hit him from behind. Reed walked to the ring. Ciampa smirked as he stood up and then he entered the ring and threw punches at Reed. Ciampa tossed Reed to ringside. When Reed tried to enter the ring, Ciampa caught him with a knee. Ciampa hit him with another running knee heading into a break… [C]
4. Bronson Reed vs. Tommaso Ciampa. The match was joined in progress. Reed performed his running crossbody block early. Ciampa came back and put Reed on his shoulders before slamming him to the back and getting a near fall. Reed regained control with a powerbomb.
Reed went to the apron, but Ciampa recovered and joined him on the apron. Reed threw Ciampa off the apron and into the ring steps, then followed up with a shoulder breaker. Reed hoisted up Ciampa, who slipped away and returned to the ring. When Reed followed, Ciampa put him down with the Willow’s Bell DDT. Ciampa blasted Reed with a running knee strike for a near fall.
Both men traded strikes in the middle of the ring. Ciampa got the better of it and performed a crucifix bomb. Reed’s arm came loose, but Ciampa picked up the three count anyway…
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Bronson Reed.
Powell’s POV: A good match. Reed ended up rolling over while taking the finishing move, which caused his arm came free. I’m surprised that the big man continues to lose so frequently.
Jackie Redmond interviewed Becky Lynch on the backstage interview set and asked if she’s had any second thoughts about taking a Falls Count Anywhere match just days before her cage match. Lynch said she has and then spoke about what she would do. She said she was backed into a corner and doesn’t want the easy way. Lynch said The Man has come around to Memphis and is bringing a whole lot of chaos…
Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio made their entrance. Ripley whispered in Dom’s ear, causing him to smile… [C] NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was shown in the crowd coming out of the break…
Ripley and Dom stood in the ring. Ripley recalled Raquel Rodriguez claiming she would chop her down to size. She said that was cute coming from someone who had to play up an injury to pull one over on her. Ripley said she wasn’t going to run through her accomplishments because it would take too long. Ripley said that the championship around her waist proved everything.
Ripley said Rodriguez is an idiot for thinking she would take her title at Payback. Ripley said Rodriguez is big, tough, and strong, but she’s not her. Ripley said Rodriguez can talk all she wants, but Mami will be the one who walks out of Payback as champion.
Raquel Rodriguez made her entrance and headed straight to the ring. Dom took a powder to ringside. Rodriguez and Ripley fought. Rodriguez performed a corner splash and a fallaway slam. Ripley exited the ring. Dom entered the ring behind Rodriguez, but then he begged off when she saw him coming.
Ripley used the distraction to headbutt Rodriguez. Ripley went for her finisher, but Rodriguez blocked it and hip-tossed her. Rodriguez clotheslined Ripley, who rolled out of the ring and joined Dom at ringside. Ripley and Rodriguez jawed at one another…
Powell’s POV: A pretty basic and yet fairly effective segment. Ripley has been so dominant that it means something when someone the size of Rodriguez gets the better of her. That said, I’m still holding out hope for my fantasy booking scenario of Dom turning on Ripley and introducing Rodriguez as his new Mami.
Backstage, Trish Stratus and Zoey Stark spoke about Becky Lynch. Stark said that when she was finished with Lynch in the Falls Count Anywhere match, she’d be sure to leave plenty of her for Stratus on Saturday. Cole hyped the match as coming up… [C]
The broadcast team ran through the WWE Payback lineup. In addition to the previously advertised matches, Cody Rhodes will be the guest on The Grayson Waller Effect…
A Terry Funk memorial video package aired…
Becky Lynch made her entrance for the main event… [C] The broadcast team announced Gunther vs. Chad Gable for the Intercontinental Championship, and Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle vs. “The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar in a tornado tag team match for next week’s Raw in Charlotte, North Carolina…
NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was shown in the crowd again. Zoey Stark and Becky Lynch made their entrance. Stark had a kendo stick with her. Lynch got her own kendo stick…
5. Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark (w/Trish Stratus) in a Falls Count Anywhere match. Lynch immediately hit Stark with her kendo stick once the bell rang. Stark got involved early. Lynch ended up diving from the middle rope onto Stark and Stratus at ringside and picked up a two count.
A short time later, Stratus tossed a chair in the ring that struck Stark. Doh! Stark tried to play it cool, but she felt her forehead a couple times while she piled up the additional chairs that Trish threw in. Stark went to the ropes to superplex Lynch, who knocked her to the apron. Stark got back up. Lynch hit her with a leg drop as she was draped over the apron and then covered her for a two count.
Lynch went for a Disarmer, but Stark shoved her face first onto the pile of chairs. Stark went for her Z360, but Lynch blocked it and performed a Manhandle Slam. Lynch had thew in, but Stratus ran in and broke up the pin. Lynch left the ring and chased Stratus, who picked up a kendo stick. Lynch blocked a kendo stick shot and took it away.
Lynch worked over Stratus with the kendo stick. Stratus fell over on the stage. Lynch beat her with the kendo stick until she rolled to the backstage area. Stark showed up and hit Lynch with a chair and ended up covering her for a two count on the stage. [C]
Lynch took offensive control and was setting up for her finisher on the broadcast table when Stratus returned and tripped her up. Stark booted Lynch in the face and covered her for a two count on the broadcast table. Stark climbed on top of the barricade, but Lynch shoved her down.
Lynch hoisted up Stark for her finisher on another table, but Stratus hit her from behind. Stratus bulldogged Lynch through a table. Stratus dragged Stark over and she covered Lynch for a two count. Stratus and Stark set up for a double team move on Lynch on a platform, but Stratus fought them off.
Stark accidentally hit Stratus, who fell off the platform and through a table. Lynch performed a Manhandle Slam that drove Stark through another table and then pinned her…
Becky Lynch defeated Zoey Stark in roughly 16:00 in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
A graphic listed Raquel Rodriguez, Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle, and Tommaso Ciampa for Raw Talk.
Meanwhile, Lynch sat on top of a production crate and removed her “Bray” armband. Lynch held up the armband and got emotional as the show went off the air…
Powell’s POV: I hope Stark is okay after taking that last bump. It looked like her backside hit the table while the rest of her upper body landed on the floor. They definitely worked hard. And bless Becky Lynch for showing genuine emotion at the end of the show. Everyone handles grief differently, but I’m in awe of the way the wrestlers and the crew are able to get through nights like this and Friday for Smackdown. My condolences and true respect to everyone who went there and did their job with a heavy heart.
I will have more to say in my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Raw by grading it below.
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Kudos to the production team for staying zoomed out for a few seconds as Miz strutted in. Added just a little bit to the doubt.
Also, Liz’s best impersonation work since spoofing Cena.
So it’s pretty obvious that Ripley is the leader of Judgement Day right?
That was the best thing I’ve seen from the Miz in years. Kudos.