WWE Monday Night RAW Review – April 17, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Raw with Paul Heyman introduces himself and says he has information. He says history is about to unfold. Judgment Day’s music hits and they come down to the ring.
Judgment Day stares down The Bloodline & Damian Priest singles out Solo Sikoa in particular. Heyman then says it’s a very good day to be a very bad guy. He says none of them are getting into Heaven and says Roman Reigns has engineered and approved of a deal between The Bloodline & Judgment Day. Jey Uso says they didn’t know anything about that and Heyman says he knows. He says Reigns didn’t want anyone to know except for Sikoa because they wanted The Usos to be caught off guard by the deal. He says that even though Finn Balor may not be happy about this, he’s going to put his feelings aside for the short term alliance. Heyman says that Sikoa is equipped to help Judgment Day deal with Bad Bunny then asks Jey to switch with Sikoa after he stares down Smackdown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley. Heyman looks to continue but Sikoa continues staring down Ripley. Heyman asks if everything’s okay and Ripley says it is for now. He says Judgment Day needs to take care of Bad Bunny while they need to take care of Sami Zayn,Kevin Owens & Matt Riddle. He then announces that Zayn,Owens & Riddle will be taking on Judgment Day later tonight and Sikoa will be facing Rey Mysterio up next in an effort to take care of Judgment Day’s concerns about him.
Rey Mysterio vs. Solo Sikoa
Rey Mysterio delivers a kick to Solo Sikoa’s thigh. Sikoa fires back with a shoulder tackle and a body slam then delivers a stomp and delivers a series of right hands to Mysterio spine. Mysterio delivers a crossbody off the ropes but Sikoa sends Mysterio face first into the middle turnbuckle. He then delivers another stomp and whips Mysterio into the corner before they spill to the outside as we go to a break.
After the break Sikoa delivers a pair of right hands to Mysterio. He then delivers a hip attack and looks for a leg drop but Mysterio moves out of the way and delivers a kick. He follows it up with a few right hands and looks for a moonsault off the ropes but Sikoa catches him and plants him with a Samoan Drop.
Mysterio sends Sikoa into the ropes and hits the 619 then follows it up with a splash. He goes for a pin but Sikoa kicks out. The Usos appear at ringside and stare down Mysterio but LWO appears out of nowhere and takes out The Usos.
Back in the ring Mysterio sets up for a 2nd 619 but Sikoa catches him and gets him up on his shoulders. Mysterio escapes and delivers a 619 then ascends to the top and looks for a splash. Sikoa ducks out of the way and delivers a Samoan Spike for the win.
Winner: Solo Sikoa
After the match LWO checks on Mysterio. The Bloodline attack LWO before Sikoa delivers Samoan Spikes to Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro & Santos Escobar. The Usos then deliver 1D to Mysterio.
We then head to a video from earlier today featuring Chad Gable & Maxxine Dupri arguing and pleading their cases as to why Otis should go with each of them in the upcoming Draft.
Non Title Match
Raw Women’s Champion Bianca BelAir vs. Dakota Kai
Match starts off with a lock up then Dakota Kai sends Bianca BelAir crashing into the mat but BelAir kips up and tosses Kai across the ring. She looks for a shoulder to her midsection but Kai ducks it. BelAir fires back with a single leg dropkick then hits an arm drag and a moonsault.
She executes a pair of back elbows but Kai manages to deliver a pump kick to her head that sends her crashing to the outside. She then hits a 2nd pump kick that sends us to a break.
After the break BelAir delivers a jawbreaker and looks for a delayed vertical suplex. Kai escapes before BelAir plants her and hits a dropkick. She then delivers a suplex and rolls through to execute a delayed vertical suplex. She goes flying off the ropes and hits a moonsault then goes for a pin but Kai kicks out.
Kai sets up for the Scorpion Kick but BelAir blocks it. Kai manages to hit a running boot and ascends to the top then looks for the double stomp. BelAir rolls out of the way and hits a backbreaker then gets her up on her shoulders and sets her up for the KOD.
Kai escapes and BelAir looks for a facebuster but Kai escapes and sends BelAir into the corner. She looks for a running knee but BelAir ducks it and hits the KOD for the win.
Winner: Raw Women’s Champion Bianca BelAir
After the match BelAir stares down Iyo Sky.
We are back from the break we go backstage to Judgment Day discussing Bad Bunny & Solo Sikoa. Paul Heyman walks by and asks them if they’re satisfied. Balor says it was a meh job and Heyman says he can live with that as long as they do the same later tonight so they don’t fall into debt with Roman Reigns.
Cody Rhodes asks Little Rock what they want to talk about then says he knows what he wants to talk about and who he wants to talk to. He calls out Brock Lesnar but Adam Pearce shows up instead and tells him he can’t let him meet Lesnar tonight. Pearce says he’s not medically cleared and says while everyone respects his spirit he needs to leave the ring.
Fans boo as Rhodes debates what to do. Rhodes thanks Pearce for the respect and says he’ll leave. He shakes Pearce’s hand and steps out of the ring but decides against heading to the back and grabs a chair from under the ring. Pearce begs Rhodes not to do something stupid and calls security to the ring to escort Rhodes out of the ring.
Security surrounds Rhodes before Lesnar’s music hits and he appears. Pearce says he will give Rhodes his match with Lesnar for Backlash as long as he doesn’t attack Lesnar. Lesnar calls Rhodes to meet him on the ramp and Rhodes debates his next move. He ultimately decides to hit the security guards with the chair and takes them all down. More security arrives but Rhodes beats them all down and goes after Lesnar. Even more security guards appear and prevent Rhodes from getting to Lesnar. Lesnar smiles at Rhodes then heads to the back as Rhodes yells at him. Rhodes then levels all the security guards and grabs a mic. He says Lesnar can wear his cowboy hat all day long. He says he grew up around cowboys and Lesnar will never be a cowboy because he’s a coward.
Seth Rollins vs. The Miz
The Miz blindsides Seth Rollins and attacks him from behind then tosses him into the ring steps then sends his head bouncing off the announce desk and tosses him in the ring. He gets Rollins back in the ring and rains down right hands before the referee calls for the bell.
Miz delivers several knees and shoulders to Rollins’ midsection but Rollins manages to hit a back elbow and clotheslines Miz to the outside. He then hits three tope suicidas and charges at Miz but Miz sends him into the timekeeper’s area that takes us to a break.
After the break Miz ascends to the top and goes flying. Rollins catches him with a knee and sets up for the Pedigree but Miz escapes. Rollins then lands a kick across his head and hits a pair of clotheslines then lands a Sling Blade and goes for a pin. Miz kicks out before Rollins ascends to the top rope.
Miz catches him with a pair of right hands and looks to join him up there but Rollins gets him into a powerbomb. Miz escapes and hits a Codebreaker then goes for a pin. Rollins kicks out and Miz delivers the Yes Kicks to him.
Rollins then delivers a Buckle Bomb and ascends to the top. He looks for a splash but Miz gets his knees up. He looks for the Skull Crushing Finale but Rollins rolls him up. Miz reverses the fall but Rollins kicks out.
Miz manages to lock in the Figure 4 but Rollins grabs the bottom rope to break the hold. Miz looks to lock it in a 2nd time but Rollins rolls him up. Miz kicks out and delivers a pair of DDTs. They end up on the top rope where Rollins manages to hit Miz with a superplex then follows it up with a Falcon Arrow and Curb Stomp for the win.
Winner: Seth Rollins
We head backstage to Sami Zayn,Kevin Owens & Matt Riddle strategizing for their match later tonight. Zayn says Riddle has some ideas but Owens cuts him off and tells him to leave the planning to himself & Zayn. Zayn tells Owens to give Riddle a chance and Riddle outlines his plans for a new move. Owens hates the idea and loses it but Riddle says he was joking and tells them he’s not here to be an idiot because he wants revenge on The Bloodline for taking his partner,best friend & his Raw Tag Team Titles as well as trying to end his career.
Non Title Match
United States Champion Austin Theory vs. Bobby Lashley
Austin Theory & Bobby Lashley lock up to get this match started then Lashley delivers a shoulder tackle then plants Theory. Theory fires off right hands and looks for a suplex but Lashley reverses it and hits a delayed vertical suplex. He then sends Theory crashing to the outside and looks to get him back in but Theory hits a jawbreaker off the top rope.
He then delivers several back elbows and a stomp to Lashley’s midsection but Lashley delivers a shoulder to his midsection. Theory rolls to the outside and Lashley follows him out there. Lashley sends Theory crashing into the ring apron then sends him colliding with the ring post as we go to a break.
After the break Theory sends Lashley into the ring post shoulder first. He rolls him up but Lashley kicks out. Theory rains down right hands and delivers a stomp, then cinches in a chinlock. Lashley escapes and Theory catches him with a right hand, then delivers a series of stomps. He charges at Lashley but Lashley ducks out of the way and Theory collides with the ring post shoulder first.
Lashley then delivers a chokeslam and a splash in the corner before he sets up for the Spear. Theory ducks it and gets Lashley up for A Town Down but Lashley escapes and delivers a powerslam. He cinches in Hurt Lock but Bronson Reed appears out of nowhere and delivers a splash to Lashley to cause the disqualification.
Winner By DQ: Bobby Lashley
After the match Reed then delivers a 2nd splash and goes flying off the ring apron to level Lashley. He follows it up with a splash then tosses Lashley in the ring and looks to continue to beat him down but Lashley manages to cinch in Hurt Lock but Theory delivers a dropkick to Lashley allowing Reed to deliver a Samoan Drop & Tsunami.
Trish Stratus says when she first came to WWE women’s wrestling was a joke until she single handedly changed everything. She says she brought credibility to a non existent women’s division and there was no we with Lita. She says she was the 1st woman to main event Raw and without her there is no women’s revolution or no WrestleMania main event. She says fans should’ve chanted thank you Trish instead of This is awesome at WrestleMania 35 during the main event. Stratus says Becky Lynch claims that the women’s revolution started with the 4 Horsewomen of WWE and says she wanted to see if Lynch believed her own hype. She says Lynch never thanked her for opening the door but she’s convincing. She says Lynch manipulated Lita despite calling her out a year earlier then calls her Lynch’s sidekick. Stratus says she isn’t a sidekick then says she has to take out Lita last week. She says she decided to take Lynch out after the match and says she’s not a nostalgia act then says she’s the greatest of all time and she’s here in WWE to make sure no one forgets it.
Tag Team Match
Candice LeRae & Michin vs. Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville
Michin sends Chelsea Green into the top turnbuckle face first. Candice LeRae tags in and delivers a senton but Green fires back with a knee and tags in Deville. Deville & Green look for a double suplex but LeRae levels them both before she spots Nikki Cross watching on from the crowd as she ascends to the top rope. Deville takes advantage of the distraction and knocks her down.
She tags in Green and they deliver a double suplex. Green looks for an elbow drop but LeRae tags in Michin as Green tags in Deville. Michin delivers a hurricanrana and a dropkick then executes Code Blue. Deville pins Michin but the referee spots her feet on the ropes. Green then tags in and delivers I’m Prettier for the win.
Winners: Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville
After the match Green tosses a drink in Liv Morgan’s face.
We head backstage to Street Profits,Rick Boogs & Elias talking about the upcoming Draft. Baron Corbin walks in and reminds Street Profits that tag teams can be split up in the draft. Elias then informs Boogs that no matter which brand he ends up on he’ll put in a good word for Boogs.
6 Man Tag Team Match
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle vs. Judgement Day (Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio & Finn Balor)
Sami Zayn & Finn Balor lock up to start this match off then Damian Priest & Kevin Owens tag in. Owens looks for a shoulder tackle but Priest blocks it. He manages to deliver a dropkick and a senton but Priest recovers and tags Balor back in. Owens delivers an Air Raid Crash to Balor.
Owens ends up on the outside where Rhea Ripley is waiting with a clothesline. Balor then gets Owens back in the ring and beats him down but Owens manages to fight him off and tags in Riddle.
Riddle delivers a pair of kicks and a fisherman’s suplex then hits the Broton and a 2nd Fisherman’s suplex. Dominik Mysterio tags in and Riddle sends him to the outside then sends up for a moonsault. Priest catches him with a chokeslam onto the apron that sends us to a break.
After the break Priest delivers a forearm to Riddle then they go back & forth with kicks before Priest delivers a forearm and a back elbow. Balor tags in for a moment but tags Priest back in. Balor delivers a backbreaker and Priest follows it up with a leg drop. Mysterio & Zayn tag in. Zayn hits a back body drop then ascends to the top rope.
He hits a powerbomb and goes for a pin but Mysterio kicks out. Zayn ascends to the top rope but Ripley knocks him off. This allows Dominik to hit a Frog Splash and goes for a pin, but Owens breaks the fall.
Zayn runs the ropes to take out Judgement Day on the outside but Ripley catches his foot. The referee catches her and ejects her from ringside, allowing Dominik to roll up Zayn. Zayn kicks out and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb then tags in Owens.
Owens ascends to the top and looks for a Swanton Bomb, but Dominik gets his knees up and tags in Balor. Balor takes a trip up to the top rope and looks for the Coup De Grace but Owens rolls out of the way and tags in Zayn. Owens hits a Stunner before Zayn follows it up with a Helluva Kick and tags in Riddle. Riddle then ascends to the top and hits the Floating Bro for the win.
Winners: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle
After the match The Usos & Solo Sikoa appear and attack Zayn, Riddle & Owens. Rey Mysterio’s music hits, and he appears alongside the rest of LWO. LWO then takes down The Usos, Sikoa & Judgment Day. Rey delivers the 619 to Dominik as Owens sends Priest crashing into the announce table. LWO, Zayn, Owens & Riddle are left standing to close out this week’s Raw.
Backlash Card So Far (May 6th)
6 Man Tag Team Match
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle vs. The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso,Jey Uso & Solo Sikoa)
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
