WWE Raw Results 6/26 - We Hear From Seth Rollins, Women's Money In The Bank Summit
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results of "WWE Raw" on June 26, 2023, coming to you live from the Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia!
In the opening moments of last week's edition of "Raw", Finn Balor shocked Seth "Freakin" Rollins and the WWE Universe with an attack ahead of Rollins' open challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship. A little over a week later, Balor got the better of Rollins once again during week one of "WWE NXT" Gold Rush following his successful defense against Bron Breakker. Tonight, Rollins will answer any questions heading into his title match against the Judgment Day member at WWE Money In The Bank.
Trish Stratus, Zoey Stark, Becky Lynch, Bayley, IYO SKY, and Zelina Vega will be competing in the Women's Money In The Bank Ladder match on July 1, but before they do, they will meet face-to-face tonight in a Women's Money In The Bank Summit. Bayley is the only former briefcase holder while Lynch and Vega are the only other participants to have previously competed in the match.
Elsewhere in the women's division, one half of the reigning Women's Tag Team Champions, Ronda Rousey, will be competing in her first singles match since December of last year as she goes one-on-one with Raquel Rodriguez. The two women encountered one another last Friday on "WWE SmackDown" after Rodriguez made it clear that she and the returning Liv Morgan were coming after the women's tag title.
Before they collide in London, England, Dominik Mysterio has something on his mind to share regarding his opponent, Cody Rhodes during the go home edition of "Raw" ahead of the upcoming Premium Live Event. Issues between the two men first arose at the beginning of this month after The Miz ambushed Rhodes with a surprise appearance from Dominik and Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley on "Miz TV".
We are live! The show kicks off with a video recapping the events that have led to the upcoming match at Money In The Bank between Cody Rhodes and Dominik Mysterio.
Back at ringside, Dominik and Rhea Ripley are waiting inside.
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley Come Face-To-Face With Cody Rhodes
Dominik tries to welcome fans to "Raw", but boos from the crowd drown him out. Ripley then calls Cody Rhodes a loser and says his momentum has been slowing down as of late. He says Dominik will put him out of his misery in London, England.
Rhodes' music hits and he makes his way down to the ring.
Rhodes says he knows what they're trying to do, and welcomes fans to "Raw". Dominik tries to speak once again, but he's cut off by more boos. He whispers something to Ripley, and Ripley says Dominik told her that will show Rhodes exactly how dangerous he is, and Rhodes thanks her for the education. He says he has proven to be effective, and invites Dominik to share how he feels. He says "those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." He says Dominik is quoting from a children's book because he's just that.
Dominik and Ripley retreat to the back, and Rhodes asks where they're going. He says he'll give him a free shot, and Dominik hops back up on the apron. He dismisses Rhodes and hops down before heading to the back before Rhodes adds that he wants to find out if Dominik is half the man his father is or if he's simply Mami's little boy.
Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick then greet audiences at home as Shinsuke Nakamura makes his way down to the ring. Ricochet follows, and Bronson Reed has taken a seat next to the announce desk.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Ricochet
The bell rings and Nakamura wastes no time. He fires off right hands and knees, then delivers a knee to Ricochet's midsection. Ricochet fires back with a scissor kick and low bridges Nakamura onto the apron, but Nakamura locks in a Sleeper. Ricochet escapes and delivers an enziguri before both men send one another tumbling to the floor with boots. Reed applauds before Ricochet hits him with an enziguri and Nakamura lands a boot. The pair get back inside the ring, and level Reed once again. Reed looks to get in the ring, but the referee ejects him from ringside.
Back from the break, Ricochet delivers a springboard crossbody. He follows it up with a series of forearms and a springboard back elbow, then delivers a standing Shooting Star Press and goes for a pin. Nakamura kicks out and Ricochet looks for a moonsault, but Nakamura gets his knees up and plants him. He sets up for a running knee, but Ricochet catches him with a modified Codebreaker and ascends to the top. Nakamura trips him and delivers a knee to his midsection, but Ricochet manages to land a standing Sliced Bread and ascends back up to the top. He then delivers a moonsault for the win.
Winner: Ricochet
We then head backstage to a confident Matt Riddle talking to Byron Saxton about his challenge to GUNTHER for an Intercontinental Championship match at Money In The Bank. Ludwig Kaiser walks in and attacks Riddle before GUNTHER appears and accepts Riddle's challenge.
Back from the break, we head backstage to Adam Pearce. Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley walk in, and Dominik demands a match tonight to prove how tough he is to Cody Rhodes. He says he has someone in mind, and Pearce asks who. Ripley whispers something to Dominik and tells Pearce that they'll get back to him.
Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler then head down to the ring. Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan follow.
Ronda Rousey (w/ Shayna Baszler) vs. Raquel Rodriguez (w/ Liv Morgan)
The bell rings and the two lock up. Rousey delivers a kick to Rodriguez's midsection, but Rodriguez plants her a delayed vertical suplex. Rousey sets up for Piper's Pit, but Rodriguez escapes and lands a shoulder tackle. Rousey then cinches in an Ankle Lock, but Rodriguez fights her way out of it and looks for an Arm submission. Rodriguez counters it into a Fallaway Slam, then lands a second one and looks for a Corkscrew elbow. Baszler pulls Rousey out of the way before Morgan takes her down on the outside. Rousey takes advantage and rolls up Rodriguez for the win.
Winner: Ronda Rousey
We then head over to a video of Finn Balor, who has a message for Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
Back from the break, Rollins heads down to the ring.
We Hear From Seth Rollins
Rollins welcomes Savannah to Monday Night Rollins, then gives a shout out to Carmelo Hayes in the audience. He thanks Hayes for having his back this past Tuesday on "NXT" after Finn Balor attacked him, and says they have more in common than what meets the eye. He says they're both fighting champions and promotes Hayes' "NXT" Championship match tomorrow night before wishing him luck. He then addresses his Money In The Bank match with Finn Balor and says he got his answer about which Balor would be coming to Money In The Bank last week. He calls Balor out to the ring.
Balor doesn't appear, and Rollins says Balor will keep hiding in the shadows. He says Balor has convinced himself that he's supposed to take everything from Rollins like he did seven years ago. He says despite not being 100% tonight or on Saturday night, Balor hasn't accounted for him. Rollins says when it's just him and Balor in the ring, Balor's best version is nowhere near as good as his.
Balor tries blindsiding Rollins with a chair, but Rollins sees him coming and knocks the chair out of his hand. He rains down right hands before Balor grabs the chair. Rollins knocks it out of his hand once again, but Rollins dumps him out of the ring and rains down more right hands. Balor sends him crashing into the ring steps and announce desk, then delivers a kick to his midsection and grabs a chair from the timekeeper's area. Hayes grabs it out of his hand, allowing Rollins to clothesline him into the timekeeper's area. Balor then retreats through the crowd.
We then head over to a video of Tommaso Ciampa and Byron Saxton. Saxton asks Ciampa why he attacked The Miz last week, and Ciampa explains it was out of frustration over the fact that The Miz never checked up on him once after he got injured.
Back from the break, Ciampa heads down to the ring.
The Miz Blindsides Tommaso Ciampa
Miz blindsides Ciampa halfway down the ramp. He tosses him into the barricade and the ring apron, then sends his ankle crashing into the ring apron and delivers a big boot to his face. He then suplexes Ciampa into the barricade and delivers a Skull Crushing Finale to him at the bottom of the ramp before retreating to the back.
We then head backstage and see Imperium strategizing for GUNTHER's Money In The Bank match with Matt Riddle. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens walk in to defend Riddle's honor, leading to an agreement for a one-on-one match between Zayn and GUNTHER later tonight.
Back at ringside, Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley head down. Akira Tozawa follows.
Dominik Mysterio (w/ Rhea Ripley) vs. Akira Tozawa
The bell rings and Dominik wastes no time. He fires off stomps, then gloats and delivers a knee to Tozawa's midsection. Tozawa fires off right hands, then hits a hurricanrana and a running knee. He ascends to the top and delivers a flying shoulder tackle before the action spills to the outside and Tozawa delivers a tope suicida. He tosses Dominik back in the ring and climbs up to the top, but Dominik trips him and ascends to the top before delivering a Frog Splash for the win.
Winner: Dominik Mysterio
Trish Stratus and Zoey Stark then make their way down to the ring. Bayley, IYO SKY, Zelina Vega, and Becky Lynch follow.
The Women's Money In The Bank Summit
Corey Graves welcomes fans to the Women's Money In The Bank Summit and explains how the match works, but Bayley cuts him off and brags about being the only woman in the match to win a Money In The Bank briefcase. She has the biggest chance of winning the ladder match, but corrects herself and says SKY also has a good chance of winning. SKY tells Byley "may the best woman win."
Vega expresses her frustrations with Bayley dismissing everyone else in the match, then says Lynch has accomplished everything except win Money In The Bank. She calls Stratus a legend that has never been in a ladder match, and says everyone is looking at the next Ms. Money In The Bank. Bayley laughs, but Vega tells her that she'll start taking her seriously when she proves her wrong and brings the briefcase back to the LWO.
Bayley says Vega is a "bigger idiot than she looks", and the two start arguing along with SKY. Stark tells them to calm down, and Stratus says she sees a bunch of little girls. She says it's clear to her why she was needed to save the women's division because she is a woman. She says she's the best and greatest woman to ever wrestle, and winning is what she does. She says everyone will be thanking her for letting them be part of a historic moment, then asks Lynch if she'll be man enough to thank her when all is said and done.
Lynch takes a shot at Stratus and begins brawling with her and Stark as SKY and Bayley beat down Vega in the corner. Lynch dumps Stratus and Stark out of the ring before Bayley and SKY target her. Vega helps Lynch and dumps Bayley out of the ring, but SKY jumps her and sends her out to join Vega. SKY levels everyone on the outside after brawling with Lynch, allowing Lynch to climb one of the ladders in the ring and unhook the Women's Money In The Bank briefcase.
GUNTHER and Ludwig Kaiser then head down to the ring. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens follow, and Owens joins Graves and Patrick on commentary.
Sami Zayn (w/ Kevin Owens) vs. GUNTHER (w/ Ludwig Kaiser)
The bell rings and the two lock up. They go back and forth with submission holds before GUNTHER delivers an uppercut in the corner. Zayn responds with a couple of right hands and a back elbow, then sends him into the top turnbuckle face first. Giovanni Vinci makes his way down to ringside on crutches as GUNTHER delivers a German suplex to Zayn.
Back from the break, GUNTHER is wearing down Zayn in the corner. He delivers a chop, then sits Zayn on the top rope and joins him up there. He sets up for a superplex, but Zayn rains down right hands on his spine and delivers a Sunset Flip. He goes for a pin, but GUNTHER kicks out. Zayn delivers a clothesline before GUNTHER locks in a Sleeper. Zayn escapes and lands a Blue Thunder Bomb, then ascends to the top and goes flying, GUNTHER catches him with a chop mid-air, then climbs up to the top himself and delivers a splash.
Kaiser tries interfering, but Owens levels him and beats him down. GUNTHER hits Owens with a big boot before Zayn goes flying over the top to level him. He tosses GUNTHER back in the ring, then delivers an Exploder suplex in the corner. While the referee is distracted, Vinci hits Zayn with his crutch, allowing GUNTHER to deliver a powerbomb for the win.
Winner: GUNTHER
After the match, Imperium beats down Owens, but Matt Riddle runs down and makes the save. He hits Vinci with one of his crutches, then attacks GUNTHER with it. Owens then lands a Stunner on Kaiser.
Finn Balor then heads down to the ring. Carmelo Hayes follows.
Carmelo Hayes vs. Finn Balor
The bell rings and Balor trips Hayes. He rains down right hands, then fires off stomps in the corner and delivers several shoulders to his midsection. Hayes responds with a dropkick, then delivers an enziguri and a double leg drop. The action spills to the outside, and Hayes delivers a crossbody over the top.
Back from the break, Balor delivers several shoulders to Hayes' midsection. He follows it up with a chop, but Hayes fires back with a back elbow and goes flying off the ropes. He delivers a splash in the corner, but Balor responds with a series of stomps and a Sling Blade. Hayes lands a superkick and a springboard DDT, then ascends to the top and goes flying. Balor ducks out of the way before Hayes rolls him up. Balor kicks out and delivers a Gutbuster, then follows it up with a shotgun dropkick and Coup De Grace for the win.
Winner: Finn Balor
Back from the break, we head to a video recapping the beginning of the civil war between The Bloodline last Friday on "SmackDown".
Back at ringside, Cody Rhodes heads down. Damian Priest follows.
Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest
The bell rings and the two lock up. Priest lands a shoulder tackle and a back elbow, but Rhodes fires back with a dropkick and a delayed vertical suplex. Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley saunter down to ringside as Priest looks to send Rhodes' ankle crashing into the ring post. Rhodes manages to send Priest into the ring post face first, then delivers a tope suicida and tosses him back in the ring. He encounters Dominik and Ripley before sliding back into the ring, where Priest is waiting to plant him.
Back from the break, Priest lands a Falcon Arrow. He plants Rhodes face first, then delivers a clothesline that flips Rhodes inside out and ascends to the top. Rhodes joins him up there and plants him before the pair go back and forth with right hands and kicks.
Rhodes lands a powerslam and the Disaster Kick, but Priest plants him face first. Rhodes sets up for Cross Rhodes, but Priest escapes. Rhodes then plants Priest with a Pedigree and looks to pin him. Priest rolls out of the ring and catches him with a kick. While the referee is distracted by Ripley, Dominik trips Rhodes as he looks for the Cody Cutter. This allows Priest to hit him with South Of Heaven and go for the pin, but Rhodes kicks out. Priest then sets up for Razor's Edge as Dominik distracts the referee, but Rhodes sends Priest crashing into Dominik on the apron. He delivers the Cody Cutter before landing Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
After the match, Dominik blindsides Rhodes from behind, but quickly slides out of the ring and heads to the back with Ripley and Priest.