WWE Raw Results 8/14 - Major Grudge Match, We Hear From Shinsuke Nakamura

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE Raw" on August 14, 2023, coming to you from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba!

While Trish Stratus defeated Becky Lynch at WWE Night of Champions back in May with some aid from Zoey Stark, Lynch has her shot at redemption tonight as the two collide in a grudge match with Stark banned from ringside. Lynch has had no shortage of issues with Stratus and Stark, with the latter duo even going as far as attempting to outsmart Lynch as a means for Stratus to avoid the rematch with her altogether a couple of weeks ago.

Not only did Shinsuke Nakamura score a win over Bronson Reed last week, but he also stepped in to join forces with Seth "Freakin" Rollins and Cody Rhodes to emerge victorious over Judgment Day after an injured Sami Zayn was unable to compete in the match. However, following the conclusion of the match, Nakamura betrayed his teammates with an attack on Rollins and headed to the back. Tonight, Nakamura will shed some light on his actions and provide an explanation.

Raquel Rodriguez has been vying for the chance to get her hands on her former best friend Rhea Ripley after the Women's World Heavyweight Champion sidelined Rodriguez's tag team partner, Liv Morgan, a few weeks ago. This led to a brawl at ringside between the pair during last week's edition of "Raw", and the next chapter in their rivalry looks to be written tonight.

Additionally, per WWE's event page, Rollins, Rhodes, and Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER are amongst those scheduled to be in town.

We are live! Michael Cole and Wade Barrett greet audiences at home as Judgment Day heads down to the ring.

Rhea Ripley welcomes fans to the place that Judgment Day runs: "Raw". She says she knows things haven't been going in Judgment Day's favor, and Damian Priest says not only should Finn Balor walked out of WWE SummerSlam, but himself, Balor, and Dominik Mysterio should've won their six-man tag team match next week. He says despite the miscommunication, Finn Balor will defeat Cody Rhodes later tonight. He points out Balor's absence and says he should be in the ring, but assures fans that Judgment Day will not be breaking up before harping on Balor's absence some more.

JD McDonagh makes his way down to the ring, and Priest warns him to tread lightly. McDonagh says he doesn't want to disrespect Judgment Day, and says he has a message for them from Balor. He says Balor told him to worry about Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes rather than his friendship with McDonagh before Ripley cuts him off and says Judgment Day doesn't take orders from anyone, especially those who aren't part of the group. Dominik says Judgment Day has things locked down, then lists off their accomplishments as boos rain down from the audience. He tells McDonagh to head to the back so they can handle business, and McDonagh assures them that he was simply delivering a message. Ripley tells him to let Balor know that they have a message for him.

Sami Zayn's music hits, and he wastes no time attacking McDonagh. He rains down right hands and knocks him to the floor, then stares down Judgment Day. McDonagh turns things around and uses the ring post to target Zayn's arm. He then sends him crashing into it.

The bell rings and Zayn sends McDonagh into the top turnbuckle face first. He delivers an elbow off the middle rope, then follows it up with a back body drop and sends him crashing into the ropes. McDonagh rains down right hands and stomps before sending Zayn's previously injured elbow bouncing off the top rope. He then begins to target it by sending it bouncing off the mat.

Zayn dumps McDonagh over the top rope and to the outside, then joins him out there and levels him with a clothesline. McDonagh sends his elbow bouncing off the barricade near the timekeeper's area, then delivers a knee to it on top of the announce desk.

Back from the break, Zayn looks to go flying off the top but McDonagh catches him with a dropkick mid-air. He delivers a series of kicks to his arm, but Zayn fires back with a clothesline and fires off a few right hands and a Michinoku Driver. McDonagh lands a standing Spanish Fly, then locks in a crossface. Zayn escapes the hold by getting his foot on the bottom rope, then delivers an Exploder as Finn Balor appears on the ramp. He runs down the ramp and acts like he's about to slide in the ring, allowing McDonagh to roll Zayn up. Zayn kicks out before McDonagh lands a headbutt and ascends to the top. He looks for a moonsault, but Zayn gets his knees up and executes the Helluva Kick for the win.

Winner: Sami Zayn

After the match, Finn Balor looks to attack Zayn but Zayn slides out of the ring before he can.

We then head backstage to Adam Pearce and Chelsea Green. Pearce looks to inform Green that she has to relinquish the Women's Tag Team Championship as a result of Sonya Deville's torn ACL. Green threatens to call Pearce's manager, and asks Green what he should do. Green suggests she holds auditions before Kayden Carter and Katana Chance walk in, looking for a shot at the title once Green has a new tag team partner. Out of nowhere, Piper Niven blindsides the two of them, then tells Green she's her new partner.

Back at ringside, Imperium heads down.

GUNTHER says he has arrived in Winnipeg on his journey to being the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time. He says as a European, he always looks forward to coming to Canada, but after walking around Winnipeg, he sees why people call it "the armpit of Canada". He says he's here to address Chad Gable, then says he was impressed by his victory in the Number One Contender's match for the Intercontinental Championship last week. He says while Gable has worked hard to get where he has, he's accomplished more in a year than Gable has in his whole career.

Gable tells GUNTHER to shoosh as he appears at ringside alongside Otis and Maxxine Dupri. He reminds GUNTHER that he defeated him in their Five Minute Challenge (despite GUNTHER changing it at the last second), then says GUNTHER is now on the clock. He says he's coming for GUNTHER's title, then tells Giovanni Vinci to get in the ring for a few free lessons from him in their upcoming match. Vinci gets in the ring alongside Ludwig Kaiser before Kaiser says Vinci is the crème de la crème of WWE. He tells Gable will beat him, then says Dupri will eventually have to understand that she needs to surround herself with some European elegance. He says both of them have A+ aesthetics, then says Alpha Academy is a sinking ship and says she can either grab his hand or sink with Gable and Otis. Dupri then slaps Kaiser.

The bell rings and the two lock up. Vinci lands a shoulder tackle and a drop toe hold, then locks in a shoulder submission. Gable escapes and Vinci delivers a right hand to his spine, then follows it up with a back suplex. He then delivers a backbreaker, but Gable sets him up for a German suplex. Vinci escapes, but Gable lands the maneuver on the second attempt. He follows it up with a twisting neckbreaker, then ascends to the top and looks for a moonsault. Vinci rolls out of the way and plants Gable, then lands one of his own and goes for the pin. Gable kicks out and Vinc looks to hit him with a powerbomb, but Gable avoids it and plants him with a German suplex for the win.

Winner: Chad Gable

After the match, GUNTHER grabs a mic and stands back up on the announce desk. He says this isn't how things end tonight, then calls Otis "the armpit of humanity" and challenges him to a one-on-one match up next. Otis accepts.

The bell rings and the two lock up. GUNTHER lands a shoulder tackle and a boot, then delivers several stomps and a few elbows to his head. He lands a couple of chops, but Otis fires back with a spinning back elbow. GUNTHER lands a shoulder tackle, but Otis stays standing and the pair try (unsuccessfully) leveling one another with clotheslines. Otis sets up for The Caterpillar, but GUNTHER puts a stop to his momentum. He delivers a big boot and The Last Symphony for the win.

Winner: GUNTHER

After the match, Gable levels GUNTHER with a German suplex. 

We then head backstage to Judgment Day. Damian Priest chews Finn Balor out for not being with himself, Rhea Ripley, and Dominik Mysterio earlier tonight. Ripley diffuses the situation before JD McDonagh walks in. Priest tells him that this is none of his business, and Balor sends him away. He then says Cody Rhodes has no idea what's coming, and Judgment Day gets hyped up.

Back from the break, we head to a video of what happened between Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, and Jey Uso last Friday on "WWE SmackDown".

Back at ringside, Matt Riddle heads down to the ring. The Viking Raiders, Valhalla, and Riddle's tag team partner Drew McIntyre follow.

Riddle and Ivar begin the action. The bell rings and Riddle fires off kicks. Ivar responds with a shoulder tackle, then tosses him into the corner and tags in Erik. The Raiders fire off kicks before Erik lands a forearm. Riddle fires back with a kick to his head and an overhead throw before the action spills to the outside. Riddle looks for a kick, but Erik catches him and The Raiders double team on him.

Back from the break, Erik plants Riddle on the mat. Ivar tags in and wears Riddle down, then tags Erik back in. The Raiders rain down right hands, but Riddle plants Erik with a suplex and tags in McIntyre. Ivar tags in, and McIntyre catches him with a clothesline. He follows it up with a neckbreaker and a Michinoku Driver, then pulls a now legal Erik into the ring. He sets up for the Claymore Kick, but levels an interfering Ivar. Riddle then tags in, and The Raiders plant Riddle with a double team maneuver. Erik and McIntyre then tag in, and Erik levels McIntyre with a suplex. Riddle levels Ivar on the outside with a Floating Bro, but Erik clocks him from behind and slides back into the ring, where McIntyre is waiting with a Claymore Kick for the win.

Winners: Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre

Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio then head down to the ring. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae follow. 

The bell rings and Ripley wastes no time. She fires off right hands on Hartwell, then tosses her across the ring and delivers a shoulder to her midsection. She fires off chops and charges at her in the corner, but Hartwell ducks out of the way and sends Ripley colliding with the ring post. She follows it up with a spinebuster and dumps her out of the ring, then follows her out there. Ripley sends her colliding with the ring post, then gets her back inside the ring and levels LeRae on the outside. When she slides back in, she lands a headbutt and Riptide on Hartwell for the win.

Winner: Rhea Ripley

After the match, LeRae attacks Ripley, but Ripley overpowers her. Hartwell levels Ripley with a flapjack, and LeRae follows it up with a step-up senton.

Back at ringside, Shinsuke Nakamura heads down with a fresh look.

Cole asks Namaura why he attacked Seth "Freakin" Rollins last week given their storied history, and Nakamura says he wants the World Heavyweight Championship. Cole asks Nakamura if kicking Rollins in the head was really necessary, and Nakamura says he'll win the title.

Rollins' music hits and he heads down to the ring. He says while Cole did a great job, he'll take it from here. He welcomes Winnipeg to Monday Night Rollins, then says he has to hand it to Nakamura because he played his role to perfection and knocked him out. He says it's too obvious fot Nakamura to simply want a World Heavyweight Championship match, and says he's not hard to find. He says he stands in the ring week after week with his title around his waist and the world singing his song. He says all Nakamura had to do was ask for a title shot, but instead he attacked him. Rollins says he's concerned with how he can get even now, and says he has a surprise for Nakamura. He says the best way for him to get what he wants is to grant Nakamura a crack at the World Heavyweight Championship, then tells him to name the time and place because he will be there.

Rollins offers his hand to Nakamura, and Nakamura shakes it. He pulls Rollins in close and whispers something into his ear that shakes him. He then blindsides Rollins with a Kinshasa. 

 Trish Stratus then makes her way down to the ring. Becky Lynch follows. 

The bell rings and the two waste no time raining down right hands. Lynch sends Stratus into the top turnbuckle face first, but Stratus lands a series of chops and a Bex-ploder. The action spills to the outside, and Lynch delivers a right hand off the apron. Stratus delivers a clothesline and executes a hair whip, but Lynch overpowers her and tosses her back into the ring. She ascends to the top, but Stratus catches with a hurricanrana that pulls her down. She then sends her into the ring steps on the outside, then gets her back in.

Back from the break, Lynch hits a pair of clotheslines and a right hand in the corner. She follows it up with a kick and a leg drop off the top, but Stratus fires back with a spear and a right hand. The two then end up on top, and Lynch lands a superplex. Stratus slides out of the ring and looks to escape to the crowd, but Lynch prevents her from doing so as the referee begins counting to ten. The two end up brawling out through the crowd, but the referee completes his ten count.

Winner: N/A (double count out)

After the match, Stratus and Lynch brawl up the stairs and to the concession area. Lynch sends Stratus crashing into a merchandise stand before Lynch does the same. Zoey Stark, in disguise, appears and beats down Lynch before Stratus joins in.

Back from the break, we see Imperium backstage. GUNTHER chews out Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser, the former for consistently losing and the latter for neglecting his responsibilities. Kaiser promises GUNTHER it won't happen again and offers to go to Adam Pearce to make his Intercontinental Championship match with Chad Gable. GUNTHER tells him not to do so, and says he'll do it himself.

We then head backstage to Adam Pearce yelling at Trish Stratus and Zoey Stark for what happened. Pearce then makes a Steel Cage match between Stratus and Lynch official.

Back at ringside, Cody Rhodes heads down. Finn Balor follows.

The bell rings and the two lock up. They go back and forth locking in submission holds before Rhodes executes a Side Russian Leg Sweep and a chop. Balor fires back with a dropkick and a right hand to Rhodes' midsection, then follows it up with a chop and a series of shoulders to his midsection. He then delivers a snapmare and a second dropkick before delivering an elbow to his head. Rhodes delivers a knee to his midsection.

Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley run down to ringside. Rhodes goes after Dominik, allowing Balor to blindside him with a kick.

Back from the break, Balor delivers a stomp to Rhodes' chest and whips him into the corner. Rhodes fires off right hands, then follows it up with a back elbow and a scoop powerslam. He then executes a Disaster Kick as Damian Priest marches down to the ring, and sets up for Cross Rhodes. Balor escapes and delivers a Sling Blade, then charges at him. Rhodes catches him with a kick to his face and looks for the Cody Cutter, but Balor catches him and plants him. He dropkicks him into the corner.

Rhodes delivers the Cody Cutter, but Balor rolls out of the ring. Rhodes runs the ropes, but Priest grabs his ankles to stop his momentum. Balor tries blindsiding Rhodes, but Rhodes dumps him out of the ring. Rhodes then delivers a tope suicida, leveling both Balor and Priest. He gets Balor back in the ring and ascends to the top. Dominik trips him as Ripley distracts the referee, opening the door for Balor to deliver a superplex. He goes for a pin, but Rhodes stays alive.

Dominik slides Balor a chair as the referee checks on Rhodes, but the referee sees the chair and takes it away. While Ripley distracts the referee, Priest slides Balor his Money In The Bank briefcase. However, he overshoots it and Rhodes catches it instead. He hits Balor with it and follows it up with Cross Rhodes for the win.

Winner: Cody Rhodes

After the match, Judgment Day attacks Rhodes. Sami Zayn heads down to the ring with a chair in hand to make the save, but JD McDonagh blindsides him. Balor beats down Zayn as Priest delivers South of Heaven to Rhodes. Ripley and Dominik then deliver a series of stomps to Zayn on the outside before Balor catches him with a Coup De Grace off the ring steps. Priest clears the announce desk and delivers Razor's Edge to Zayn through the table. Balor then ascends to the top and delivers a Coup De Grace to Rhodes inside the ring.