WWE Raw Results 7/24 - World Heavyweight Title Match Contract Signing, Cody Rhodes Appears
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE Raw" on July 24, 2023, coming to you live from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida!
Last week's edition of "Raw" opened with a bang after Brock Lesnar blindsided Cody Rhodes, which ultimately ended with "The Beast Incarnate" cinching in a Kimura Lock on "The American Nightmare". Rhodes will be appearing on tonight's show in light of the attack with a special message for Lesnar.
Seth "Freakin" Rollins and Finn Balor will be making their World Heavyweight Championship match at SummerSlam official by signing the contract. The pair have had no shortage of issues with one another over the past few weeks, and Balor interrupted Rollins' sit down interview with Byron Saxton to request the title shot last week.
Becky Lynch has been looking for another chance to get her hands on Trish Stratus since coming up short against her at WWE Night of Champions due to outside interference from Zoey Stark. Stratus offered Lynch a rematch with her, but under a few conditions. One such included Lynch taking on Stark in singles competition, and should she win, then the rematch will come to fruition. However, if she loses, then she must get a tattoo in Stratus' honor.
Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER has taken issue with Drew McIntyre since McIntyre stepped up to him following his title match with Matt Riddle at WWE Money In The Bank earlier this month. Since then, the two have encountered one another a handful of times and tonight, they will meet once more as they come face-to-face.
Two other Superstars will be confronting one another as Logan Paul and Ricochet will meet in the squared circle. "The One and Only" called out Paul last week, and has taken issue with him since confronting one another in the Men's Money In The Bank Ladder match in London, England.
Additionally, Tommaso Ciampa will be going one-on-one with Bronson Reed following a physical altercation last week.
We are live! Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick greet audiences at home as Judgment Day is already waiting in the ring.
We Hear From Judgment Day
Damian Priest calls for fans to rise before Rhea Ripley says Judgment Day runs all of WWE. Finn Balor introduces himself and his fellow Judgment Day members before throwing it to a video of Dominik Mysterio winning the North American Championship this past Tuesday on "WWE NXT". Ripley then introduces Dominik, and he makes his way down to the ring to major boos from the audience.
Dominik says he is the new, fighting "NXT" North American Champion, but before he can continue, Kevin Owens' music hits and he appears alongside Sami Zayn.
Owens says the same thing happened last week in regards to fans not wanting to hear Dominik talk. He says it really bothers him when people don't learn from a lesson, and since Dominik didn't learn from last week, he gets blunt, telling Dominik that no one cares what he thinks. He says the best thing he can do for the professional wrestling business is to shut his mouth forever. Dominik says he will not be disrespected now that he's a champion, and Zayn says while that's true, no one in the arena respects him. He says he has an idea for Dominik to earn some respect and challenges him to a one-on-one match. Dominik then accepts, and Zayn reminds Judgment Day about making a big deal about their Undisputed Tag Team Championship not being up for grabs during their tag team match last week. He calls for Dominik to put his North American Championship on the line, and Ripley accepts on Dominik's behalf.
Becky Lynch then makes her way down to the ring. Zoey Stark and Trish Stratus follow.
Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark (w/ Trish Stratus)
The bell rings and Lynch wastes no time. She fires off stomps on Stark in the corner, then delivers a shoulder tackle. Stark slides out of the ring for a breather and looks to get back in once she's recovered, but Lynch knocks her off the apron. The action spills to the outside, and Lynch gets Stark back inside the ring. Stark then delivers a dropkick off the top rope, and sends Lynch face first off the top rope.
Back from the break, Lynch sends Stark repeatedly crashing into the barricade and gets her back in the ring. She ascends to the top and lands a leg drop, then delivers a boot to Stark's jaw. Lynch dropkicks Stark back out of the ring and delivers an elbow drop off the apron and dumps her back inside. Stratus takes a cheap shot at Lynch while the referee is distracted, allowing Stark to deliver a kick and go for a pin. Lynch kicks out and Stark delivers an enziguri, then ascends to the top. Lynch meets her up there and delivers a superplex. She then looks for an Arm Bar, but Stark reverses it into a powerbomb.
Lynch sets up for the Man Handle Slam, but Stark reverses it into a roll up. Lynch then locks in the Dis-Arm-Her, but Stratus hops up on the apron to distract her. Lynch relinquishes the hold and Stark rolls her up, but Lynch kicks out. Lynch then delivers the Man Handle Slam for the win.
Winner: Becky Lynch
Back from the break, Cody Rhodes makes his way down to the ring.
We Hear From Cody Rhodes
Rhodes asks Tampa what they want to talk about, then says everyone saw Brock Lesnar's attack on him last Monday in front of his mother. He says he didn't have that on his 2023 bucket list, but he isn't surprised. He says he's rather impressed, but his mother did not share the same feelings as him. Rhodes says his mother has been around wrestlers countless times and Lesnar made a mistake by leaving him breathing. He says that he doesn't want to go to SummerSlam anymore to win their rubber match, but rather to embarrass him. He dares Lesnar to come and get him, then says he wants to beat him at the upcoming Premium Live Event because Lesnar deserves it. He says he wants to look back on their match to see the final chapter he penned and how he ended things once and for all in their upcoming bout.
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens then make their way down to the ring. Judgment Day follows.
Dominik Mysterio (w/ Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Sami Zayn (w/ Kevin Owens) for the NXT North American Championship
The bell rings and the two lock up. They go back and forth with submission holds before Zayn clotheslines Dominik out of the ring and goes flying to level him.
Back from the break, Zayn ascends to the top rope. Damian Priest pushes him off as Rhea Ripley distracts the referee. Kevin Owens levels him, but the referee catches him and ejects him from ringside. Ripley and Priest laugh at him as he makes his way to the back, but they stop abruptly after the referee ejects them from ringside. Zayn then lands a Michinoku Driver and looks to charge at Dominik, but Dominik slides out of the ring. He gets back inside and delivers a dropkick before Zayn responds with a clothesline that turns Dominik inside out. He then climbs back up to the top, but Dominik meets him there. Zayn knocks him off and looks to go flying, but Dominik catches him with a dropkick mid-air. He fires off right hands and delivers a stomp, then lands another dropkick and looks for the Three Amigos. Zayn escapes and looks to plant Dominik, but Dominik delivers a hurricanrana that sends Zayn into the ropes. He dials it up for the 619, but Zayn escapes and executes a Blue Thunder Bomb.
Dominik looks to slide out of the ring, but Zayn pulls him back in. Dominik fights his way out of Zayn's grasp and delivers a dropkick to his spine that sends him into the ropes once again and lands the 619. He goes for a pin, but Zayn manages to kick out. Zayn then fires off right hands on Dominik before Dominik fires back with the Three Amigos. He ascends to the top and looks for a Frog Splash, but Zayn gets his knees up and executes an Exploder. He sets up for the Helluva Kick, but becomes distracted after Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest appear on the ramp with an injured Owens in hand. This provides Dominik with the opportunity to roll up Zayn for the win.
Winner (and still): Dominik Mysterio
Zayn then runs up the ramp to check on Owens, and is joined by medical personnel. In the meantime, Dominik escapes through the crowd.
Back from the break, we see Kevin Owens being checked on in a medical office as Sami Zayn and Adam Pearce stand by.
We then head over to a video recapping the confrontation between Jey Uso and Roman Reigns this past Friday on "WWE SmackDown".
We then head backstage to Shinsuke Nakamura, who encounters both Ricochet and Tommaso Ciampa.
Back at ringside, Bronson Reed heads down. Ciampa follows.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Bronson Reed
The bell rings and the pair waste no time going after one another. Reed tosses Ciampa out of the ring, then follows him out. The pair exchange right hands on the apron before they get back inside the ring. Ciampa fires off stomps on Reed in the corner, then delivers a running knee. Reed responds with a powerslam and stomps on Ciampa's chest before he lands an elbow drop. The action then spills to the outside, and Reed looks to go flying off the apron. Ciampa catches him with a knee mid-air.
Back from the break, Reed delivers a powerslam to Ciampa. Ciampa delivers a boot to Reed and plants him with an inverted DDT. He then delivers a series of forearms and right hands before landing several splashes. He hits a rolling elbow and a modified Famouser, then looks for a Sunset Flip on Reed. Reed sits on Ciampa, then drags him over to the corner. He delivers a senton, but Ciampa fires off several chops and a boot. He exposes his knee and runs the ropes, but Reed catches him with a clothesline.
The pair stare one another down and go back and forth with forearms. Ciampa lands a knee strike and follows it up with an Air Raid Crash, then goes for a pin but Reed kicks out. Shinsuke Nakamura then saunters down to ringside, and Ciampa stares him down. This allows Reed to deliver a running shoulder block off the apron and dump him back in the ring. He then executes the Tsunami for the win.
Winner: Bronson Reed
Back from the break, Liv Morgan heads down to the ring.
Rhea Ripley Blindsides Liv Morgan
Ripley blindsides Morgan on the outside ahead of their scheduled match. She sends her crashing into the barricade and the ring post, then sends her arm bounding off of it and grabs a chair. Morgan slides inside the ring, and Ripley follows hot on her heels. She slides Morgan's arm into the chair and stomps on it. Medical officials run down to the ring to check on Morgan as Ripley laughs at her and grabs her title. She reminds Morgan who she is before sliding Morgan's arm into the chair once again and stomping on it. She then slides out of the ring and makes her way to the back.
Back from the break, we see Liv Morgan being checked on by a medical official as she sobs. Adam Pearce flanks her.
Back at ringside, Ricochet heads down.
Ricochet and Logan Paul Come Face-To-Face
Ricochet asks where Paul is and calls him out to the ring. He says there is a locker room and an arena full of people who know Paul doesn't belong in WWE, and calls himself special every time he gets in the ring. He says people think he doesn't belong in WWE not because of his talent, but because of his arrogance. Ricochet says he's given his life to professional wrestling, but Paul doesn't understand all the sacrifices that have to be made and he never will. He says wherever Paul is in the arena, he'll hear what he has to say. He then challenges Paul to a one-on-one match at SummerSlam.
Paul then blindsides Ricochet from behind and accepts his challenge. He says he will show everyone why he is the best in WWE and gloats, allowing Ricochet to superkick him before delivering a standing Shooting Star Press and taking a selfie on Paul's phone.
Damian Priest then makes his way down to the ring. Apollo Crews follows.
Damian Priest vs. Apollo Crews
The bell rings and Priest wastes no time. He delivers a boot and a right hand, then follows it up with a knee to Crews' midsection. Crews dumps Priest out of the ring and delivers a moonsault off the apron, then dumps him back inside and ascends to the top. He delivers a crossbody, but Priest fires back with an elbow in the corner and a Broken Arrow. He looks for South of Heaven, but Crews escapes and delivers a knee. He runs the ropes, but Priest sends him crashing to the mat before he delivers a vicious clothesline and South of Heaven for the win.
Winner: Damian Priest
Imperium then makes their way down to the ring. Drew McIntyre follows.
Drew McIntyre and Imperium Come Face-To-Face
McIntyre says he heard what GUNTHER had to say last week and calls for him to put the Intercontinental Championship on the line seeing as they're both dressed for the occasion. GUNTHER makes sure he heard McIntyre clearly and says he raised his title to a whole new level, and says he sees why fans connect with McIntyre. He says like them, he gets nothing done in life and reminds him of his previous shortcomings against him. He tells McIntyre he can ride his coattails, and he will humiliate him once more during their SummerSlam match.
McIntyre says when he first met Sheamus, they dreamed of having a singles match at WWE WrestleMania. He says they got to do that in their Triple Threat Intercontinental Championship with GUNTHER, but SummerSlam will just be the two of them and he'll show GUNTHER why he is the chosen one.
Ludwig Kaiser tells McIntyre how dare he speak to GUNTHER in that manner, and McIntyre says he likes him. He says he has charisma and should be the leader of Imperium, and Kaiser says he won't let McIntyre disrespect Imperium. McIntyre then challenges Kaiser to a one-on-one match and calls for a referee to get down to the ring.
Drew McIntyre vs. Ludwig Kaiser
The bell rings and the two lock up. Kaiser delivers a right hand to McIntyre's spine, but McIntyre fires back with a shoulder block and a bodyslam. He clotheslines Kaiser out of the ring, then delivers a pair of chops and sends him crashing into the barricade. He follows it up with a chop and dumps Kaiser back in the ring. Giovanni Vinci hops up on the apron, allowing Kaiser to send McIntyre into the ring post. Kaiser then drapes him by his feet and dropkicks him out of the ring.
Back from the break, Kaiser and McIntyre teeter on the ropes. McIntyre plants Kaiser with an Air Raid Crash off the middle rope, then delivers a pair of suplexes and a neckbreaker. He kips up and sets up for the Claymore Kick, but Kaiser rocks him with an enziguri and an uppercut. He lands a second enziguri and runs the ropes, but McIntyre catches him with a Claymore Kick for the win.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
After the match, GUNTHER and Vinci attack McIntyre but Matt Riddle runs down to the ring to make the save. GUNTHER levels him and plants him with The Last Symphony, then delivers a kick to McIntyre on the outside and delivers a right hand. He clears the announce desk and looks for The Last Symphony, but McIntyre counters with a back body drop and powerbombs GUNTHER through the announce desk before grabbing the Intercontinental Championship and holding it high above his head.
Finn Balor then makes his way down to the ring.
Seth Rollins and Finn Balor Makes Their World Heavyweight Championship Match at SummerSlam Official
Balor says Adam Pearce was supposed to be here, but he is currently preoccupied dealing with the havoc Judgment Day wreaked earlier. He says he thinks Seth "Freakin" Rollins and himself can handle things like gentleman and calls him out to the ring.
Rollins' music hits and he makes his way down. He signs the contract and hands it over to Balor. Balor hesitates before he signs, and Rollins says it's because Balor has figured out he has no chance of winning the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. Rollins says miracles do happen, and should he win the title, his reign will be even shorter than his Universal Championship run because Damian Priest will cash in his Money In The Bank briefcase on him. He says he would do the same thing and so would Balor, then adds that SummerSlam will be the end of Judgment Day.
Balor laughs and signs the contract, then tells Rollins he thinks he has everything figured out. He says although Rollins thinks he runs "Raw", he's wrong because Judgment Day.
Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, and Rhea Ripley then surround the ring as Balor tells Rollins he's been losing for seven years. He says it's been driving him insane and asks Rollins if he knows what that feels like. Balor explains that it's like an itch you can't quite scratch, but that all ends at SummerSlam.
Rollins flips the desk and hits Priest with it. Dominik tries attacking him, but Rollins fights him off. Priest then hits Rollins with his Money In The Bank briefcase and stares down Balor before Sami Zayn runs down to the ring with a chair in hand to fight off Judgment Day. Ripley grabs the chair from him, allowing Balor to rain down right hands. Ripley dumps all the furniture out of the ring while Priest plants Zayn with South of Heaven. Balor is left alone with Rollins in the ring until Judgment Day joins him. Rollins looks to fight them all off, but is overpowered by them. Priest plants him with Razor's Edge, and Dominik follows it up with a Frog Splash. Balor then executes a Coup De Grace and Judgment Day stands tall as the show goes off the air.