WWE Raw Results (05/01) - Brock Lesnar Appears, The Draft Continues And More
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results of "WWE Raw" on May 1, 2023, coming to you live from the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas!
The WWE Draft continues tonight, with Brock Lesnar, Asuka, Austin Theory, Braun Strowman and Ricochet, Charlotte Flair, Bronson Reed, Johnny Gargano, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, Judgment Day, Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, Seth "Freakin" Rollins, The New Day, The Usos, Trish Stratus, The Brawling Brutes, LWO, and select "NXT" talent all being part of the eligible pool.
Before he squares off with Cody Rhodes this coming Saturday at WWE Backlash, Brock Lesnar will be returning to The Red Brand. Lesnar hasn't been seen since confronting "The American Nightmare" two weeks ago, and tensions between the pair have been on the rise since Lesnar turned on Rhodes ahead of their scheduled match against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa during the April 3 episode of "Raw".
Earlier today in a video posted to WWE's Twitter account, Byron Saxton announced that Miz TV will be making its return tonight as The Miz hosts Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura was drafted to "Raw" this past Friday as the fourteenth overall pick. Saxton also disclosed that The Bloodline's Jimmy Uso will be going one-on-one with Matt Riddle before the duo meet in the squared circle on Saturday in a six-man tag team match, wherein Jimmy will be teaming up with Jey Uso and Solo Sikoa face Riddle and his teammates Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
We are live! The show kicks off with a video recapping the events of Night One of the WWE Draft.
Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick then greet audiences at home as Triple H makes his way to the ring.
Triple H Announces The First Round of WWE Draft Picks
Triple H welcomes fans to the WWE Draft before giving them a quick reminder of the rules. He says that whoever holds the World Heavyweight Championship will be exclusive to "Raw". He then notes that Brock Lesnar is not eligible to be drafted tonight, as he has renegotiated his status as a free agent. He says select "NXT" stars are eligible to be drafted and the new draft picks go into effect after WWE Backlash on May 8.
Triple H then reveals the number one draft pick: Rhea Ripley who will remain on "Raw". He announces that "SmackDown" has selected Austin Theory as the number two pick while "Raw" has drafted Seth "Freakin" Rollins as the number three pick. "The Game" announces that Charlotte Flair is the fourth overall pick, who will remain on "SmackDown".
Triple H introduces Paul Heyman, and guides him over to where the World Heavyweight Championship is displayed. Heyman says the title is beautiful, then makes his way down to the ring.
We Hear From Paul Heyman
Heyman introduces himself and says Roman Reigns has sent him out tonight to address a number of business items. He says himself, Reigns, and Solo Sikoa have been drafted to "SmackDown" while the fate of The Usos remains to be seen. He says he will address The Usos in private regarding their loss to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship. He then brings up the six man tag team match at WWE Backlash between The Usos and Sikoa, and Owens, Zayn, and Matt Riddle. He announces that Reigns will be live on "SmackDown" this Friday and beyond that, he will be addressing the World Heavyweight Championship.
Heyman gloats about Reigns' historic run as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, but says he can't compete for the World Heavyweight title and the worst thing about that is the people in the locker room should know better than to run their mouths about Reigns. He calls them jokers and clowns, but before he can continue, Seth "Freakin" Rollins' music hits and he heads to the ring.
Rollins asks Heyman why the long face, then says it must be Christmas for him because Reigns is on "SmackDown" while he's still on "Raw", He says Reigns can stop running and Heyman can stop wasting his time trying to avoid a title match between himself and Reigns. Rollins says Heyman can focus on making sure The Bloodline doesn't fall apart and adds that since Heyman likes spoilers he has one of his own: he will win the World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions.
Heyman then receives a phone call as Rollins gets fans to sing. Heyman says he can't hear Reigns and tells fans to simmer down, but fans refuse. Heyman then gets off the phone and informs Rollins he's angering Reigns. Rollins says if Reigns is upset now, then he won't like what he's about to do. He asks Fort Worth how long it would take to get Heyman onto the canvas so he could hit him with the Curb Stomp.
Solo Sikoa's music hits and he appears. He marches his way down to the ring before Heyman says Reigns pulled some strings to make a match between Rollins and Sikoa tonight official. Rollins says they don't have to wait to make the match official and accepts the challenge.
Back from the break, Bayley and Dakota Kai head down to the ring. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez follow.
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Damage CTRL
Kai and Morgan begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Morgan delivers a dropkick before Kai manages to send her into the middle rope and tags in Bayley. Bayley delivers a bodyslam and looks for an elbow drop, but Morgan ducks it and tags in Rodriguez. Rodriguez delivers a series of shoulders to Bayley's midsection, then tags in Morgan. Morgan delivers a running knee and goes for a pin, but Bayley kicks out. Kai tags in by touching Bayley's foot, but the referee doesn't count this as a legal tag. This allows Bayley to rake Morgan's eye and toss her to the outside, where Kai is waiting with a boot.
Back from the break, Kai tags in and delivers a running boot. She fires off several stomps in the corner, but Morgan fights her off and looks to tag in Rodriguez. Kai prevents her from doing so, but Morgan manages to tag in Rodriguez. Rodriguez delivers a pair of shoulder tackles and a Fallaway Slam, then sets up for a splash. Bayley pushes Kai out of the way and takes the move, but this doesn't stop Rodriguez. She catches Kai with a Fallaway Slam and delivers a Corkscrew Elbow, then tags in Morgan. Morgan looks to go flying, but Bayley forces Rodriguez to lose her balance. Morgan still goes flying, but Kai gets her knees up. Morgan then delivers the double knees to Kai, but Bayley makes the blind tag. Morgan hits Kai with Oblivion (thinking she's legal) before Bayley takes advantage of the misunderstanding and rolls her up for the win.
Winners: Damage CTRL
Back from the break, we head to a video of Adam Pearce approaching Brock Lesnar earlier today. Pearce asks Lesnar to keep the peace during his confrontation with Rhodes later tonight. Lesnar chuckles and tells him good luck with that.
We then head to a video of Lesnar attacking Rhodes on "Raw" a few weeks ago before their scheduled tag team match against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa.
Back at ringside, Booker T and Queen Sharmell head to the ring.
Booker T and Queen Sharmell Announce The Second Round Picks for the WWE Draft
Booker announces that Undisputed Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn have been drafted to "Raw" as the fifth overall pick. Sharmell announces that The Usos have been drafted to "SmackDown" as the sixth pick before Booker announces that "Raw" has chosen Judgment Day as the seventh overall pick. Sharmell then reveals that LWO will be remaining on "SmackDown" as the eighth overall pick.
Ricochet and Braun Strowman then head to the ring. Alpha Academy and Maxxine Dupri follow.
Braun Strowman and Ricochet vs. Alpha Academy (w/ Maxxine Dupri)
Ricochet and Gable begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. They go back and forth with submission holds before Gable delivers a chop. Ricochet fires back with a hurricanrana and a dropkick before Ricochet delivers an enziguri. Gable fires back with a German suplex before Otis and Strowman tag in. Otis shoves Strowman, then fires off right hands in the corner. He follows it up with a splash, but Strowman returns the favor and follows it up with a crossbody. He then delivers a slam and tags Ricochet back in. Ricochet climbs onto Strowman's shoulders and delivers a Swanton Bomb for the win.
Winners: Braun Strowman and Ricochet
Back from the break, we head to a video recapping the events that have led to the San Jaun Street Fight between Damian Priest and Bad Bunny at WWE Backlash.
Back at ringside, Shawn Michaels and Adam Pearce head to the ring.
Brock Lesnar Takes Over Raw
Michaels looks to announce the ninth overall pick, but Brock Lesnar's music hits and he appears. Pearce tries talking Lesnar out of doing whatever he's about to do, but Lesnar stares him down and Pearce backs off.
Lesnar asks Fort Worth how it feels to be looking at the only cowboy in the state. A bunch of security guards then appear as Pearce begs Lesnar not to take over the show. Pearce tells him he's leaving the ring one way or another, and Lesnar taunts him. He says it's going to take a lot more men than that, and more security guards appear.
Cody Rhodes' music hits, and he clocks Lesnar from behind. Security looks to hold Rhodes back as Lesnar escapes from the ring, but Rhodes breaks free. Security holds Rhodes back as other security guards block Lesnar's path to Rhodes. Lesnar then retreats.
Shawn Michaels Announces The Third Round Picks for the WWE Draft
Back from the break, Shawn Micahels announces that Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan have been moved to "Raw" as the ninth overall pick. He then discloses that "SmackDown" has chosen Asuka as the tenth pick while "Raw" selects New Day as the eleventh pick while "SmackDown has selected The Brawling Brutes as the twelfth overall pick.
We then head backstage to Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn. Riddle says this has been the best week ever and expresses his excitement with being drafted to "Raw" alongside Owens and Zayn before adding that he will put the beats on Jimmy Uso tonight. Owens checks with Zayn to make sure he heard Riddle correct when he said they'd be together all the time, and Zayn calms Owens down.
Riddle, Zayn, and Owens then head to the ring. The Usos follow.
Jimmy Uso vs. Matt Riddle (w/ Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens)
The bell rings and Riddle rains down right hands. He follows it up with a kick, but Jey delivers a kick of his own to Riddle while the referee is distracted. This allows Jimmy to gain the upper hand as Owens gets in Jey's face. He then falls to the mat as Zayn smacks a chair on the ground before tossing it over to Jey. Zayn then calls for the referee, and the referee ejects Jey from ringside, thinking he hit Owens with the chair.
Back from the break, Jimmy delivers a Samoan Drop to Riddle. Riddle and Jimmy then go back and forth with forearms, but Riddle gains the upper hand and delivers a kick to Jimmy's head. He then delivers an Exploder suplex and looks for the Broton, but Jimmy gets his knees up. Jimmy sends Riddle tumbling to the outside, and Owens checks on him. Jimmy levels him with a superkick, then tosses Riddle back in the ring. He lands an enziguri and a superkick, then goes for a pin but Riddle kicks out. Jimmy exposes the top turnbuckle, but Owens sends him into it face first while Zayn distracts the referee. This allows Riddle to deliver a Ripcord Knee and the Floating Bro for the win.
Winner: Matt Riddle
Back from the break, we head backstage to Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman. Heyman hypes up Sikoa before Jey Uso walks in and asks where Sikoa was during Jimmy's match with Riddle. Heyman says Roman Reigns requested that Sikoa stay out of it to get ready for his match, then tells Sikoa to give Jey the room so he has some time for himself.
Back at ringside, Eric Bischoff and Rob Van Dam head down.
Eric Bischoff and Rob Van Dam Announce The Fourth Round Picks for the WWE Draft
Bischoff announces that Trish Stratus is the thirteenth overall pick and will remain on "Raw". RVD then reveals that "SmackDown" has selected Karrion Kross and Scarlett as the fourteenth pick before Bischoff reveals Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler are heading over to "Raw" as the fifteenth pick. RVD then announces that LA Knight is the sixteenth pick and will remain on "SmackDown".
Back in the ring, The Miz is waiting.
The Miz Hosts Shinsuke Nakamura on Miz TV
Miz welcomes fans to Miz TV, then hypes up the draft and introduces Shinsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura heads down and Miz welcomes him to "Raw" before inviting him to take a seat. Miz asks Nakamura if he feels he has a chance at winning the World Heavyweight Championship, and Nakamura says hi. Miz says it's fine that he doesn't want to answer the question because he's the workhorse champion Triple H previously referred to. Miz then says Nakamura would make a great number two, then proposes a partnership. He tells Nakamura he needs someone to watch his back and says they could help each other.
Nakamura says that Miz has more experience than him, then recites a Japanese phrase. Miz says it sounds amazing and asks what it translates to in English, and Nakamura says it means "the guy with tiny b***s". Miz looks to attack Nakamura, but Nakamura ducks out of the way and delivers the Kinshasa.
Back from the break, Omos and MVP head to the ring. Anthony Alanis is already waiting in the ring.
Omos (w/ MVP) vs. Anthony Alanis
The bell rings and Alanis fires off right hands. Omos no-sells them and sends him face first into the top turnbuckle. He follows it up with a big boot and the double chokeslam for the win.
Winner: Omos
Back from the break, Molly Holly and Road Dogg head down to the ring.
Molly Holly and Road Dogg Announce The Fifth Round Picks for the WWE Draft
Molly Holly announces that Braun Strowman and Ricochet are heading over to "Raw" as the seventeenth overall pick. Road Dogg then announces that Shotzi will remain on "SmackDown" as the eighteen pick before Molly Holly reveals that the ninteenth pick is Bronson Reed, who will remain on "Raw". Road Dogg then announces that Pretty Deadly have been called up to "SmackDown" as the twentieth pick.
Judgment Day then heads down to the ring.
We Hear From Judgment Day
Damian Priest demands that fans rise to Judgment Day remaining on "Raw" and the number one draft pick of the night: Rhea Ripley. Ripley then brags about being the number one draft pick, and says Judgment Day runs The Red Brand. She says Zelina Vega will regret everything she's done to her on "SmackDown" when she beats her and reminds everyone why she's the most dominant champion in WWE. Finn Balor then addresses Bad Bunny and says Priest will tear him apart. Priest addresses Bad Bunny directly in Spanish, then says he will receive his punishment at WWE Backlash. Dominik Mysterio goes to speak, but is cut off by the boos that rain down from fans. Dominik eventually manages to say that Ripley and Priest will dominate, then says this is the last night he'll get to embarrass his dad and his loser friends in the upcoming mixed tag team match before they head over to "SmackDown".
Rey Mysterio, Zelina Vega, and Santos Escobar appear. Rey says no one is running or hiding anywhere, as they were selected to compete on "SmackDown". He says he's glad himself and Dominik won't be on the same brand because if he thought WrestleMania was bad, he hasn't seen anything yet. He says he can't wait to see Vega as the new "SmackDown" Women's Champion and Bad Bunny to beat Priest and anyone else who gets in his way.
Judgment Day (w/ Finn Balor) vs. LWO
Rey and Dominik begin the action. The bell rings and Ripley immediately tags in. Ripley shoves Rey's face, but Vega catches her with a hurricanrana. Ripley responds with a boot and sets up for Riptide. Vega escapes before Ripley sets up for a vertical suplex. Vega escapes, and Ripley tags in Priest. Escobar tags in on his side and delivers a knee before firing off several chops. Priest responds with a forearm, then knocks Rey off the apron. Escobar gains the upperhand and sends both Priest and an interfering Dominik to the outside. Rey tags in and delivers a senton to Priest off the apron.
Back from the break, Priest delivers a few clotheslines in the corner to Escobar. Escobar fires back with a dropkick to Priest. Rey and Dominik tag in. Rey fires off right hands and delivers a hurricanrana, then rains down more right hands in the corner. He then delivers a crossbody and goes for a pin, but Ripley breaks the fall. Ripley then levels Vega and gets Rey on her shoulders, but Vega saves Rey and sends Ripley crashing out of the ring. This allows Dominik to deliver a dropkick and tag in Priest. Priest charges at Rey, but Rey ducks out of the way and Priest collides with the ring post shoulder first. Rey sets up for the 619, but Balor distracts the referee as Rey is tripped by Dominik. Escobar levels Dominik with a tope suicida, but Ripley takes him down. Vega then levels Ripley with a Meteora off the apron before Priest sets up for Razor's Edge. Rey escapes and sets up for the 619, but Balor absorbs the move. Priest then delivers a South of Heaven to Rey to get him back into the ring for the win.
Winners: Judgment Day
Back from the break, John "Bradshaw Layfield" and Teddy Long head to the ring.
JBL and Teddy Long Announce The Sixth Round Picks for the WWE Draft
JBL announces that "Raw" has selected Alpha Academy as the twenty first overall pick. Long reveals that Rick Boogs has been drafted to "SmackDown" as the twenty second pick while JBL reveals that Katana Chance and Kayden Carter have been called up to "Raw" as the twenty third pick. Long then announces that Cameron Grimes is the twenty fourth pick and has been called up to "SmackDown".
Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman then head down to the ring. Seth "Freakin" Rollins follows.
Seth Rollins vs. Solo Sikoa (w/ Paul Heyman)
The bell rings and the two lock up. Rollins rolls to the outside and Sikoa looks to join him, but Rollins rolls back in the ring. Sikoa gets back inside before he delivers a headbutt and a series of right hands. Rollins fires off several chops and right hands, then low bridges Sikoa to the outside and delivers a dropkick through the middle ropes. Rollins looks to go flying, but Sikoa catches him with a spinning back heel kick.
Back from the break, Sikoa gets Rollins on his shoulders. Rollins escapes and delivers an enziguri, then follows it up with a series of chops and right hands. He then delivers a jumping clothesline, and Sikoa rolls out of the ring for a breather. Rollins catches Sikoa with three tope suicidas, then tosses him back in the ring and ascends to the top. Sikoa ducks out of the way and delivers a Samoan Drop, then goes for a pin but Rollins kicks out. We see Heyman on a phone call on the outside as Sikoa sets up for Spinning Solo. Rollins ducks it and delivers a superkick, but Sikoa responds with Spinning Solo. He goes for a pin, but Rollins kicks out. Sikoa hits a second Spinning Solo, then rains down right hands. Rollins rolls to the outside, and Sikoa sends Rollins' head bouncing off the announce desk. Rollins sends Sikoa colliding with the ring post, then delivers a rolling elbow. The Usos then appear and attack Rollins, causing a disqualification.
Winner: Seth "Freakin" Rollins (via disqualification)
Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Matt Riddle then run down, and the three of them alongside Rollins begin attacking The Usos and Sikoa.