WWE RAW also known as Monday Night RAW was scheduled on July 17, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. As the SummerSlam is on the line, the Beast incarnate returns to accept The American Nightmare challenge. WWE is looking forward to outlining more matches for the upcoming exhilarating event. This RAW was thrilling as the collisions were extremely twisting to predict the win. The women’s tag team title was placed on the line by Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez against Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville. Matt Riddle has an opportunity to beat Gunther. Viking Raiders again will have the match against Alpha Academy. Let us have a RAW recap by watching WWE RAW results, highlights, and grades.
The Beast encounters American Nightmare
The Atlanta audience warmly embraced Rhodes as he entered the ring to kick off the show. After engaging with the audience for a brief moment, he immediately called out Lesnar. However, Lesnar failed to appear, prompting The American Nightmare to shift his attention to his mother seated in the front row. He requested the fans to show their appreciation for her.
As Rhodes was preparing to leave, Lesnar’s music abruptly played, signaling the start of a confrontation. Rhodes promptly made his way backstage, only to return moments later, visibly shaken after being struck by Lesnar with a chair. In a display of dominance, the former world champion proceeded to ruthlessly dismantle Rhodes, even in the presence of his own mother.
This intense encounter culminated in Lesnar accepting Rhodes’ challenge for SummerSlam, ensuring the continuation of their heated rivalry. By commencing the show with this electrifying segment. Undoubtedly, it was a strategic decision to capitalize on Rhodes’ immense popularity in his home state of Georgia. Notably, this sequence effectively generated significant animosity towards Lesnar and successfully maintained the momentum of their feud.
Grade- B+
Matt Riddle (c) vs. Gunther
In their Money in the Bank rematch, Riddle and Gunther faced off without the interference of Kaiser or Vinci. The IC champion found himself on the defensive, countering multiple submissions. Gunther turned the tide by taking Riddle down with a powerful chop and body slam. Despite enduring brutal chest shots, Riddle fought back. However, he ultimately couldn’t kick out after a powerbomb, resulting in his defeat. This banging match showcased the contrasting styles of both men, with the crowd heavily invested and treating Gunther as the villain.
Victor – Gunther
Grade – B+
Promo of Judgment Day
Judgment Day addresses various feuds it is engaged in. It discusses various conquests it is part of. Dirty Dom is discouraged by the crowd from having a conversation. Kevin Owens and Samy Zayn come to talk to Judgment which induces Damien Priest to challenge the undisputed tag team champions.
Women’s Tag Team Championship: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville
During the match, Rhea Ripley attacked Rodriguez, causing her to injure her knee. This injury made Rodriguez a prime target for Green and Deville in their title bout. Despite Morgan and Rodriguez’s efforts, Green and Deville kept them isolated with quick tags. However, the match turned out to be unexpectedly competitive, with the crowd becoming more invested as time went on. Unfortunately, many were upset when Deville scored the pin on Morgan, resulting in a title change. While the women’s tag team division may not be fully developed, the teams WWE has been promoting recently have been successful in making the matches enjoyable.
Victor – Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville
Grade – B
Alpha Academy vs. Viking Raiders
Chad Gable and Otis engaged in a Viking Rules match against Erik and Ivar, aiming to resolve their feud definitively. Prior to the bell, Otis forcefully sent Gable into the Vikings during their entrance, initiating the fight. With minimal rules in place, the match was chaotic from beginning to end. The inclusion of props and a wooden ship may have been excessive, but all four participants approached the match with utmost seriousness. Maxxine Dupri, having finally received her Alpha Academy jacket, had a short-lived celebration as Valhalla promptly drove her through a table. Otis delivered an impressive performance, but ultimately succumbed to a double powerbomb executed by the Vikings. Overall, the match was enjoyable and exemplified the unique qualities that distinguish WWE from other wrestling promotions.
Victor – The Viking Raiders
Grade – B+
Shayna Baszler vs. Nikki Cross
Nikki Cross went after Shayna Baszler trying to dominate. However, the Queen of Spades held her in the Kirifuda Clutch. Shayna Baszler scored the clear win. The segment ended with Ronda Rousey taunting Shayna Baszler and challenging her for the SummerSlam bout.
Victor – Shayna Baszler
Grade – Incomplete
Miz TV featuring Becky Lynch
Next is, Miz hosted an episode of Miz TV featuring Becky Lynch as his special guest. During the interview, Miz questioned if Lynch has lost a step, which greatly upset her. In response, Lynch forcefully removed the chairs from the ring and demanded that Miz stop wasting time and bring out Trish Stratus, as she was familiar with how his show operated. After a heated argument, Trish reluctantly agreed to face Lynch in a match, but only if Lynch could defeat Zoey Stark beforehand. Trish also insisted that Lynch thank her if she were to lose. The segment concluded with Zoey and Trish attacking Lynch in a somewhat clumsy manner, which, while not detrimental to the segment, did create an awkward ending.
Grade – C
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bronson Reed
Bronson Reed and Shinsuke Nakamura had another encounter on this week’s show, adding to their ongoing rivalry. Nakamura relied on his striking ability, but Reed proved resilient, absorbing most of the strikes and finding ways to take him down. The match extended beyond a break and into a second segment, with Reed gaining momentum as time went on, contrary to expectations. Ultimately, Tommaso Ciampa’s interference led to Nakamura’s disqualification, resulting in Nakamura retaliating with a kick to Ciampa’s face. While the match was decent, the finish gave it a filler-like feel.
Victor – Bronson Reed by Disqualification
Grade – B
Undisputed tag team championship: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens vs. Judgment Day
The main event of the night featured the tag title match between Priest and Mysterio from Judgment Day and Zayn and Owens. Before the match began, Rollins unexpectedly attacked Balor, leaving Judgment Day with one less member. Despite Priest’s efforts, the champs were able to dominate once Dom tagged in. While the match was enjoyable, it felt repetitive as KO and Zayn have mainly faced Judgment Day since leaving The Bloodline. The crowd was engaged, and everyone performed well, although the titles never seemed at risk. Morgan intervened by attacking Ripley, allowing Zayn to secure the victory with a Helluva Kick on Dom.
Victor – Undisputed Tag Team Champions
Grade – B
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