WWE Raw Results
May 8, 2023
Report by Lovell Porter for Wrestlezone.com
In-Ring Segment: Cody Rhodes
Rhodes asks the Jacksonville crowd what they want to talk about. He made his home here during the pandemic, and they made a lot of memories. How about they make another one tonight? Rhodes notes that he battled “The Beast” Brock Lesnar. At Backlash, he found out what Lesnar was made of because it was all over his hands. Lesnar was a distraction. It’s clear to Rhodes what’s next for him, and it’s the World Heavyweight Championship.
Rhodes walks up the ramp to the stand that holds the new World Heavyweight Championship. He’s looking forward to hearing Samantha says, “And NEW World Heavyweight Champion, Cody Rhodes!” Rhodes officially starts the tournament. Seth “Freakin” Rollins’ music hits. Rollins and Rhodes have a staredown before Rollins makes his way to the ring.
World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Match: Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Damian Priest
As soon as the bell rings, Priest clocks Nakamura with an elbow. Priest gives Rollins one as well. Priest beats down Nakamura in the corner. Rollins knees Priest in the back, sending him out of the ring. Nakamura and Rollins stare each other down. Rollins hits the ropes and eats a flurry of strikes from Nakamura. Nakamura blasts Rollins with a sliding German suplex. Priest tries to sneak in a boot, but Nakamura avoids it. Nakamura catches Priest with a sliding knee. Before Priest can react, Nakamura follows that with a leaping knee strike off the apron to the back of Priest’s head.
After the break, Rollins flattens Nakamura and Priest with a crossbody off the top. Nakamura and Priest both fall to the outside area. Rollins lands suicide dives on Priest and Nakamura. Rollins tries another on Priest, but Priest clocks him in midair with a punch. Nakamura sets Priest on the top and lands a running knee. Diving knee strike off the second rope by Nakamura. Priest kicks out. Priest drops Nakamura with a nasty right hand.
Check out last week’s coverage: WWE Backlash Results (5/6/23)
Rollins tries a springboard, but Priest counters and lands a leaping flatliner. Rollins kicks out. Everyone lands a kick, which leads to everyone being down. Everyone trades strikes. Rollins back into a sleeper hold by Nakamura. Nakamura tries a reverse exploder, but Rollins lands on his feet. Discus clothesline by Rollins. Rollins goes up top. Priest crotches him on the top rope. Priest tries a Razor’s Edge, but his knee gives out. Rollins lands a Stomp. Nakamura breaks up the pin. Rollins is pissed.
Nakamura tells Rollins to come on. Both men trade strikes. Nakamura ducks Rollins’ knock out shot and lands his reverse exploder. Nakamura calls for the Kinshasa. Priest breaks it up with a lariat. Priest sets up South of Heaven. Nakamura reverses it into a knee bar. Priest is about to tap. Rollins lands a frog splash off the top on Nakamura out of nowhere. Priest writhes in pain, clutching at his knee. Rollins drops Nakamura with a Pedigree for the win!
Winner- Seth “Freakin” Rollins
