WWE RAW August 21th, 2023 (Quebec- Ontario/ Canada)

This edition of WWE Raw was sold out with a crowd of around 10,800 at Centre Videotron in Quebec, Canada

The Undisputed Tag Team Champions are Reunited

-Quebec celebrated the reunion with a local hero at the start of WWE Raw: Sami Zayn.

It took a few minutes for the fans to let Zayn have his say. Then it didn’t take long – and Judgment Day surrounded the ring.

Sami asked, “Do you really think that I – of all the places in the world – would come here alone right now?”

Appearance: Kevin Owens, who had to take a break since mid-July!

Owens deals against Judgment Day and gave Finn Bálor a Stunner in the middle of the ring. Quebec was upside down.

Owens grabbed the mic – and wanted a tag team match against Judgment Day tonight.

Viking Raiders Provide the Final Result

•The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) defeated Drew McIntyre & Matt Riddle; Kingston pinned Riddle via Trouble in Paradise•

Which team would challenge for the Undisputed Tag Team Titles in the future? At this point, two duos met, both of which recently recorded victories over the Viking Raiders.

When Riddle desperately needed a switch with McIntyre in this match, Erik of the Viking Raiders was suddenly on hand. He pulled Drew from the edge of the ring, so the exchange didn’t happen.

On the opposite side, Kofi Kingston came to the ring and connected with his Trouble in Paradise against Riddle, and earned the victory for The New Day.

The Viking Raiders came into the ring and attacked The New Day. Only Drew McIntyre could beat both Viking Raiders into flight.

-Later that night, Riddle talked McIntyre into continuing as a team. The New Day joined in and had a similar opinion. Their suggestion for the team name: McRiddle. Matt wanted another match with his new partner. Drew left the future together open, but seemed confident.

-In a backstage interview, JD McDonagh was asked alongside Finn Bálor if he would cause internal tension at Judgment Day.

McDonagh: “I’ve known Finn my whole life. And I think I’m going to make things better for Judgment Day.”

Rhea Ripley and “Dirty” Dom now showed up to pick up Bálor for a meeting. McDonagh wanted to go, too. Ripley gave a clear signal that it would be an internal meeting.

The Sensation is Perfect, the Champion loses, for the First Time!

Before the big Intercontinental Title match, Gunther noted that with each passing day, his legacy would grow. Meanwhile, Alpha Academy pointed out that Chad Gable had spent 10 years working towards a chance like today.

•Chad Gable def. Intercontinental-Champion Gunther via Countout•

Chad Gable managed to put the Intercontinental Champion in trouble in this intense duel. Gunther, who celebrated his 36th birthday on Sunday, had to fight against an Ankle Lock and shortly after conceded a dangerous German Suplex for a 2-count.

When Gable wanted to go for a Moonsault, he was promoted by Gunther on the arena floor.

The brawl continued in front of the ring, where Gable was able to send the IC Champion over the barrier by the timekeepers area with a German Suplex.

Now Gable made it back to the ring before the 10-count expired. Gunther, on the other hand, was counted out. So the Austrian lost his first match singles match since appearing on Raw/SmackDown. But the title remained with him, of course.

-Gunther was terribly angry about the defeat and later took his frustration, out loud, backstage on Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci.

When Gunther had walked away, Kaiser told Vinci, “He’s right. What are you going to do now?” Ludwig left Giovanni alone. While the WWE Raw broadcast was still going on, we learned: Kaiser plans to set the record straight by facing Chad Gable in a singles match next week.

-Shayna Baszler raised the prospect of setting everything on fire with a video promo: “I am not your hero. Your only hope is to survive against me!”

The American Nightmare stands by Zayn & Owens

-Actually, Cody Rhodes was supposed to be interviewed backstage. But the “American Nightmare” promptly moved the interview to the arena, where he wanted to meet his friends – the fans.

Cody welcomed new Raw commentators Michael Cole and Wade Barrett, and then talked about Judgment Day and his support for Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens: “We’ve seen the rise of Judgment Day – and we’ll see their fall, too!”

Shinsuke Nakamura knows Seth Rollins’ Weakness

-In Japanese, Shinsuke Nakamura spoke about Seth Rollins. He revealed what he had whispered in the World Heavyweight Champion’s ear the previous week, “I know about your back.”

With that, Nakamura alluded to Rollins’ weak spot. Seth’s damaged back, which would cause the champion pain on a daily basis for years, “He knows I can break it for good.”

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship was announced at this point for “Payback.”

Raquel Rodriguez is back!

•Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defeated Candice LeRae by Submission with the Prism Lock•

Candice LeRae, was supported by Indi Hartwell at ringside, showed her effort to cause problems for Rhea Ripley. But no chance! Candice soon got caught in Ripley’s Prism Lock and tapped out.

Following that, Raquel Rodriguez came limping to the ring with a crutch. Rodriguez revealed she didn’t need the walker at all! A brawl ensued with Rhea Ripley. In the ring, the Women’s Champion was tossed around with a Fallaway Slam by Rodriguez.

More bad news for the Women’s World Champion followed promptly: Raquel revealed that she had received medical clearance. Adam Pearce had already signed off on a title match against Ripley at “Payback”!

-Tommaso Ciampa spoke of not having met his own expectations so far. But he held out the prospect of bringing the changes he would expect of himself. In other words, Ciampa wants to hit the reset button to make another run at WWE Raw.

The Miz takes Himself by Surprise

The Miz said in the ring that in 20 years the fans would remember him as someone who made a difference. In contrast, he once again dismissed LA Knight as a flash in the pan.

Miz: “I announced I’m going to face someone better than anyone LA Knight has ever faced in the ring!” It came down to the appearance of: Akira Tozawa!

Tozawa answered Miz’s questions LA Knight-style with “Yeah!” which only provoked the former WWE Champion. Finally, Miz went after Tozawa.

•Akira Tozwa def. The Miz via Pinfall with an Roll Up•

To start the match LA Knight came to the ring!

As a result, The Miz kept turning his attention to LA Knight, which eventually became his undoing.

As Miz was about to deliver his Skull-Crushing Finale against Tozawa, he looked back to Knight.

Tozawa took advantage of the moment to catch Miz off guard and roll in for the 1…2…3!

Miz was terribly annoyed with the defeat.

Knight took the opportunity and knocked Miz down with the BFT.

With that, a messed up evening for The Miz was perfect!

-Finn Bálor and Damian Priest couldn’t agree on who should compete in the Main Event of WWE Raw alongside “Dirty” Dom. Rhea Ripley was annoyed with both colleagues and said she would now take matters into her own hands.

Trish vs. Becky- The Cage Match is set!

Becky Lynch made a fighting statement to Trish Stratus: “I’m unstoppable. Not because I keep winning, but because I keep fighting.”

Trish Stratus came to the ring with Zoey Stark. She vented about Quebec and declared she was about to have the steel cage match of her career. She would definitely be afraid of that.

But in her career, Trish had faced similar situations, all of which she was able to overcome, “When you get in the cage with me, you should be scared. Because you’re going to experience a side of me that you never knew before.”

Becky expressed her fear of Trish – but with a sarcastic undertone.

Then we learned that Lynch will face Zoey Stark in a Falls Count Anywhere match next week.

New Women’s Tag Team Champions Succeed on WWE Raw

Chelsea Green stated in the backstage interview that she forced WWE to declare Piper Niven and her the new champions. She said they already had fantastic chemistry together.

There was no sign of that on Piper Niven’s side. She shooed Chelsea into the arena without many words.

•WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green & Piper Niven defeated Katana Chance & Kayden Carter in a non-title match; Niven pinned Chance via crossbody•

Chelsea Green fell behind in this short match. Katana Chance delivered a handstand to Kayden Carter’s shoulders and landed a splash on Green.

By that point, however, Piper Niven had tagged herself in. Niven pulled Carter to the outside and tossed her over the commentary table. That was followed in the ring by her Running Crossbody on Chance for a win – short and sweet.

Piper carried the damaged Chelsea out of the arena on her shoulders.

-Seth Rollins talked in the backstage interview about his back injury, which would already plague him for four years.

Nakamura had picked his weak spot, which was part of the game. However, Seth showed little understanding that Nakamura would take the conflict to a personal level. A match between the two men on WWE Raw was promised for next week.

The Tag Team Champions Lose

•The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Bálor) defeated Undisputed Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn in a non-title match by disqualification•

Because Finn Bálor and Damian Priest could not agree on who should compete with Dominik Mysterio, Rhea Ripley now sent the disputants into the ring as a team.

However, it didn’t take long for chaos to break out with the Money in the Bank case.

JD McDonagh showed up at ringside. He ended up being the one to deliver the briefcase between the ropes. Stupidly, though, the briefcase landed in Kevin Owens’ hands. KO hammered the case against Finn’s head.

Immediately the referee called a DQ.

As Judgment Day continued the attack, Cody Rhodes came into the arena to support his friends.

WWE official Adam Pearce followed and called a 6-man tag team match.

The Judgement Day loses the Main Event

•Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens best The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio); Owens pinned Mysterio after a Stunner•

Fans were treated to a few minutes of swinging action now with the Main Event of WWE Raw.

In the final phase, Cody Rhodes experienced a hot streak. The “American Nightmare” was able to fire off his familiar moves against all three Judgment Day members.

It finally gave the Cross Rhodes against “Dirty” Dom. Cody now tagged in Sami, who in turn immediately made the tag with Kevin.

Zayn delivered the Helluva Kick against Mysterio, Owens followed with the Stunner for the final decision.

Quebec celebrated their heroes to a happy ending on WWE Raw.

-Lenny Wrestling

*Photo courtesy of Wrestling News