The Judgment Day once again hold the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship.
Finn Balor & Damian Priest defeated Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso in the main event of Monday’s Raw to win the WWE Tag Team titles following an assist from Jimmy Uso.
Jimmy superkicked his brother Jey while the referee was distracted to allow Balor to hit Jey with a Coup de Grace to score the pinfall victory and reclaim the Tag Team titles.
Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio also interfered in the match, but was thwarted by Sami Zayn. Priest hit Rhodes with a low blow, then hit a Razor’s Edge through the announce table to clear the deck for Jimmy’s interference and Balor’s victory.
Rhodes & Jey had defeated Balor & Priest at Fastlane to capture the Tag titles just nine days ago on October 7.
In the show-closing scene on Raw, each member of The Judgment Day celebrated with a title, as Mysterio holds the NXT North American title, Rhea Ripley the Women’s World Championship, and Balor & Priest the Tag titles.
This reign is the second for Balor & Priest with the Undisputed Tag titles, with their prior reign lasting from Payback on September 2 to Fastlane on October 7.
It was confirmed on Friday’s SmackDown that one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions will face Uso on next week’s Raw.
Two weeks ago on Raw, Uso rejected an offer by Finn Balor and the rest of Judgment Day to join the group by laying them out. On Monday’s Raw, he said he wasn’t interested in joining any more groups following a falling out with the Bloodline.
In the main event of Monday’s show, Priest and Balor successfully retained the Tag Team titles against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn thanks to a flurry of interference from the rest of the Judgment Day and JD McDonagh. After the match, the show ended with Cody Rhodes and Uso coming out to even the odds against The Judgment Day, who continued to attack Zayn and Owens.
Also added to Raw is a match between Ivar and Xavier Woods after Ivar defeated Kofi Kingston on last week’s show. Shayna Baszler, who was laid out on last week’s Raw, will get a chance to face her former tag team partner.
Drew McIntyre will also appear on Miz TV. According to WWE.com, Drew McIntyre will trying “to explain himself again” after he was interrupted on Monday.
The announced card for the Monday, October 2 Raw in San Jose, California:
NXT Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch or Tiffany Stratton defends against Tegan Nox
Damian Priest vs. Jey Uso
Ivar vs. Xavier Woods
Damien Priest to appear on Miz TV
Shayna Baszler vs. Nia Jax
Intercontinental Championship match contract signing with Gunther & Tommaso Ciampa
Following their Undisputed WWE Tag Team title win at Payback, Finn Balor & Damian Priest will be in action on SmackDown tonight.
WWE has announced that Judgment Day (Balor & Priest) will face off against The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Butch) on tonight’s episode of SmackDown. It appears to be a non-title match.
Last Saturday, Balor & Priest defeated Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn in a Steel City Street Fight to become the new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions. Interference by Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh led to Balor & Priest getting the victory.
There was months of tension between Balor and Priest leading into Payback. Much of that tension was due to Balor’s friendship with McDonagh. In an attempt to get on Priest’s good side, McDonagh gifted Priest a custom Money in the Bank briefcase on Raw this Monday.
SmackDown is taking place from TD Garden in Boston tonight. Here’s what’s been announced for the episode:
AJ Styles vs. Jimmy Uso
Charlotte Flair & Shotzi vs. Damage CTRL (IYO SKY & Bayley)
Judgment Day (Finn Balor & Damian Priest) vs. The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Butch)
Damian Priest has a new briefcase to represent his Money in the Bank contract holder status.
Priest was presented with a custom purple Money in the Bank case on Monday’s Raw by JD McDonagh as the storyline with McDonagh looking to join The Judgment Day continues to unfold.
As The Judgment Day were in the ring for a promo segment on Raw to celebrate each member of the group holding a championship in WWE, McDonagh interrupted and continued his quest to join the group. Finn Balor thanked McDonagh for his support over the past 20 years, noting that he had helped Balor become a Grand Slam Champion with Balor & Priest capturing the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship at Saturday’s Payback pay-per-view.
Priest won the Money in the Bank ladder match at the MITB pay-per-view in London on July 1 of this year.
Balor & Priest won the Undisputed Tag Team titles at Payback, Rhea Ripley has held the SmackDown Women’s title (later renamed the Women’s World Championship) since night one of WrestleMania 39 this year, and Dominik Mysterio has held the NXT North American Championship since July 18 of this year.
Every member of The Judgment Day now holds championship gold.
After months of dissension, Finn Balor & Damian Priest worked together to win the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles from Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn at Payback. Because the match was a Steel City Street Fight, interference was legal. Dominik Mysterio, Rhea Ripley, and JD McDonagh all got involved.
Balor pinned Zayn to win the titles after Dominik struck Zayn with Priest’s Money in the Bank briefcase. There was a point leading into the finish where Zayn had the match won after giving Priest a Helluva Kick, but McDonagh pulled Zayn out of the ring before the referee could count to three. Ripley then took out Owens with a spear through the barricade.
Balor’s friendship with McDonagh has caused much of the distrust between Balor and Priest in recent weeks. On Raw this past Monday, Priest told McDonagh to stay out of his business. McDonagh isn’t an official member of Judgment Day.
Ripley told Balor & Priest on Raw that changes would be coming to Judgment Day if they didn’t defeat Owens & Zayn.
The Steel City Street Fight included a spot where Owens gave Dominik a Swanton through a table after jumping off of a stairwell.
Following Balor & Priest’s victory, The Judgment Day stood united on the stage with all of their title belts. Ripley currently holds the Women’s World Championship and Dominik holds the NXT North American title. Priest is also still in possession of the Money in the Bank briefcase.
In the new edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer provided a look at where WWE could be going with its Judgment Day storyline.
Meltzer wrote that, while things could change, the long-term plan is currently for Damian Priest to be out of The Judgment Day. Meltzer added that it’s likely JD McDonagh will join the group, but that isn’t 100 percent confirmed.
While this could easily change, the long-term plan is Priest out of Judgment Day. Whether that means McDonagh is in, that’s a probable but not 100 percent
There’s been growing tension between Priest and Finn Balor in recent months. That tension led to Balor losing his title challenges against World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins at both Money in the Bank and SummerSlam.
Priest won the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match this July and still holds the briefcase.
Balor’s friendship with McDonagh has recently contributed to the tension between Balor and the rest of Judgment Day.
Despite the dissension, Judgment Day stood tall over Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn on Raw earlier this week after getting help from McDonagh. McDonagh came to Judgment Day’s aid after Rhodes defeated Balor in the main event of the episode. Priest tried to give Balor the Money in the Bank briefcase to use as a weapon, but he slid it too far and Rhodes hit Balor with the briefcase instead.
Ahead of his WWE World Heavyweight Championship match with Seth Rollins at Saturday’s SummerSlam, Finn Balor opened up about his initial reluctance to lead a faction after having gained notoriety leading the Bullet Club in NJPW.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso, Balor noted how he had to think hard about jumping into the Judgment Day role before fully committing to it. However, knowing he would be working with Damian Priest helped make his decision easier.
“Having success with Bullet Club, I knew there was going to be comparisons made had I been involved in another group, so I was always reluctant to go that direction,” Balor said. “However, when the chance to work with Damian was presented, I didn’t hesitate for a second. Damian and I have always had a very good relationship since we met at NXT, and I felt that this group could be something completely different.”
Another factor that played into Balor’s decision to take the Judgment Day role was his displeasure with where his career stood in WWE at the time the group formed. Feeling like he was in need of a change, Balor explained that the decision came together in the wake of a perfect storm.
“For me personally, I was at a point in my career where I knew that something had to change,” Balor said. “So the time of this was perfect and very similar to my NJPW turn. Finally, I could channel my real frustrations I was feeling into the character, and I had no doubt that this was the right move.”
Balor also noted how he doesn’t feel like Saturday’s match with Rollins will be the end of his story. Instead, he argued, it will be “the beginning of a new chapter.”
Balor came up short in his most recent attempt to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship as he lost to Rollins at Money In The Bank in July. Balor’s stablemate, Damian Priest, currently holds the Money In The Bank briefcase, which promises him a shot a title of his choosing at any time.
A tag team match has been made official for Raw’s SummerSlam go-home show.
Seth Rollins will team up with Sami Zayn as they take on Judgment Day’s Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio on Raw this Monday night. The match comes after Rollins and Zayn were laid out by Judgment Day on Raw last Monday.
Zayn’s tag team partner Kevin Owens was also attacked by Judgment Day earlier in the episode. Owens has been wrestling with a legitimately fractured rib. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Owens & Zayn won’t be defending their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles at SummerSlam because Owens is getting time off due to his rib.
Judgment Day’s Finn Balor is challenging Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam next Saturday (August 5).
Priest holds the men’s Money in the Bank briefcase and could potentially cash it in for a shot at the World Heavyweight title.
Raw is being held at the Toyota Center in Houston on Monday. Here’s what’s been announced for the episode:
Seth Rollins & Sami Zayn vs. Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio
Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed the final segments from Monday’s Raw.
Both Alvarez and Meltzer had high praise for the Women’s World Championship match between champion Rhea Ripley and Natalya, which saw Ripley retain the title.
“This match was really good,” Alvarez said.
Meltzer called it the best match on the show, though was disappointed it went through a commercial break.
“I know the crowd’s reacting because it’s really good stuff,” he said. “And there’s no sound. And they come back, and there’s a lot of sound, and this is a show where there’s not been a lot of sound during matches.”
The main event had Seth Rollins defeat Dominik Mysterio by disqualification after Damian Priest ran in and attacked Rollins in an attempt to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase.
“You couldn’t [have had] a more lame finish,” Alvarez said.
The end of the show saw Finn Balor interrupt Priest attempting to cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase by attacking Rollins himself. This got Priest mad and the show ended with the two arguing as Rollins escaped.
“So here’s the thing, they’re idiots. You know why?,” Meltzer said. “Because Finn beating on [Rollins] should have been a positive, not a negative…Finn Balor was just helping you.”
Damian Priest is the latest to win the Money in the Bank briefcase.
The men’s Money in the Bank match opened the pay-per-view on Saturday afternoon. The finish had Logan Paul and Ricochet being shoved to the floor by LA Knight, with both eventually springboarding themselves onto a table on the floor. Knight then proceeded to climb up the ladder, but Damian Priest stopped him, laying out Knight with a broken arrow off the ladder. Priest then climbed back up and grabbed the briefcase for the win.
With the briefcase win, Priest is now eligible to cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase for any championship during the course of the next year. Another member of the Judgment Day, Finn Balor, meets Seth Rollins later in the pay-per-view in a match that will be for the World Heavyweight Championship.
After Priest qualified for Money in the Bank last month, Priest and Balor had a confrontation after Balor asked Priest if he would cash in on him. Priest said he wouldn’t, but told Balor to defeat Rollins and win the championship at Money in the Bank.
The field for the men’s WWE Money in the Bank ladder match is finalized.
Damian Priest defeated Matt Riddle on Monday’s Raw to claim the final spot in the men’s ladder match set for Money in the Bank on Saturday, July 1 in London. The match winner will earn a shot at any WWE title of their choosing at any time for up to one year.
Priest joins a six-man lineup that includes Shinsuke Nakamura, Ricochet, LA Knight, Santos Escobar, and Butch.
One spot remains in the women’s Money in the Bank lineup which currently consists of Becky Lynch, Zoey Stark, Bayley, IYO SKY, and Zelina Vega.
Two matches were also added to the Money in the Bank card on Monday’s Raw.
Seth Rollins is set to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor in the first new match added to the July 1 card, while Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio has also been added to the lineup.
The updated card:
WWE Money in the Bank, Saturday, July 1, 3 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock & WWE Network —
Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Ricochet vs. LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar vs. Butch vs. Damian Priest
Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match: Becky Lynch vs. Bayley vs. IYO SKY vs. Zoey Stark vs. Zelina Vega vs. TBD
World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins defends against Finn Balor
After making his first televised defense of the World Heavyweight Championship, Seth Rollins looks to already have his next challenger.
Rollins defeated Damian Priest in the main event of last night’s Raw to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. Rollins and Finn Balor then had a staredown in the ring after the match was over.
Priest agreed that the rest of Judgment Day would stay backstage for his match against Rollins, but that didn’t end up happening. When Balor tried to interfere near the end of the match, he got dropped with a superkick by Rollins. The distraction led to Priest giving Rollins a South of Heaven chokeslam, but Rollins was able to kick out. Rollins delivered a stomp to Priest soon after to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
It appeared that Priest was disappointed that Balor got involved in the match. He asked Balor why he was there, which allowed Rollins to slip out of a Razor’s Edge before hitting the stomp.
There was a moment in the match where Rollins gave Priest a powerbomb into the barricade — the same move that Rollins injured Balor with in their Universal Championship match at SummerSlam 2016.
Money in the Bank qualifiers also continued on last night’s Raw. Becky Lynch and Zoey Stark both booked their spots in the women’s ladder match.
Date: June 5, 2023 Location: XL Center in Hartford, CT
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Show Recap —
Seth Rollins entered to start the show and the crowd loudly sang his song as usual. Rollins wore a black and gold outfit to match his world title belt.
Rollins said it has been a non-stop party since becoming champion but he wondered when was the last time we had a world title match on Raw. Rollins went into the way back machine to discover that it had been nearly two years and that was too damn long.
Rollins mentioned that he issued an open challenge on social media, which was accepted by Damian Priest (whose name was booed). Rollins was psyched about the match and put over Judgment Day but stated they just weren’t as good as him.
Priest and Finn Bálor interrupted. Rollins wondered if Dominik and Rhea Ripley might attack him from behind but Priest told him to take it easy.
Priest said he was the only one that Rollins had to worry about. Rollins noted that Bálor was with him and wondered if they did everything together. Rollins did some comedy (asking if Bálor assists Priest in the bathroom) until he was cut off by Bálor.
Bálor called him the funny man with the funny clothes who the people love — but they weren’t going to love when Priest took the world title. Priest called Rollins a deserving champion and Bálor gave him a confused look. Priest put over Rollins for beating everyone put in front of him — but the same could be said about Priest.
Priest said he didn’t need Bálor or Dominik or Ripley to beat Rollins. Rollins told him that he didn’t stand a chance alone and challenged him to leave his crew in the back. Rollins emphasized that Bálor should stay in the back because the Prince didn’t fare too well in fights against him.
Bálor was pissed but Priest was fine with it and accepted the stipulation. Priest said he would win and Rollins would have one of the shortest reigns ever. Rollins said that either way, his title reign was already longer than Bálor’s. Rollins laughed and pranced off. Bálor wasn’t happy.
********
Money in the Bank qualifier: Becky Lynch defeated Sonya Deville (w/Chelsea Green) (10:14)
Trish Stratus and Zoey Stark entered a couple of minutes into the match. Lynch was distracted but fought off Deville and regained control ahead of a break. Deville hit a superplex following the break for two. Lynch fought back but was booted by Green outside the ring as Deville distracted the ref. Deville followed with a running knee strike for two.
Green tried to get involved again so Lynch decked her and tossed her repeatedly into the barricade. Deville tried to take advantage but Lynch tossed her into the barricade repeatedly as well.
Back in the ring, Deville countered a Man-handle Slam into a schoolboy for two. Deville tried a cover with an assist from Green but Lynch kicked out anyway. (It felt like one of those spots where the ref would catch the cheater but he didn’t.)
Lynch followed moments later with a Man-handle Slam for the pinfall win. The crowd was into Lynch.
********
There was a recap of the Bloodline angle from Smackdown.
Byron Saxton asked Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens about what happened. Zayn basically said ‘I told you so’ and was glad to see Jimmy Uso do the right thing. That being said, the Bloodline wasn’t his problem anymore.
Imperium approached them. Ludwig Kaiser said Zayn was right — Imperium was their problem now. Owens freaked out on Imperium again for interrupting them without being prompted.
Gunther said Owens couldn’t control his temper. Gunther thought Owens needed discipline and offered to teach him some. Owens told him they could do that in the ring and marched toward the stage.
********
There was a video package for Kayden Carter and Katana Chance.
Non-title match: Intercontinental Champion Gunther (w/Imperium) defeated Tag Team Champion Kevin Owens (w/Sami Zayn) (17:13)
This was excellent and the crowd got more and more into it as it went.
They wrestled back and forth early on until Gunther cut off Owens with a boot and an impressive German suplex. Gunther also drove Owens into the barricade and dropped him onto the edge of the ring ahead of a break.
[SECOND HOUR]
Owens tried a senton bomb during the break but Gunther got his knees up. Gunther slammed Owens and wrenched his neck. Gunther booted Owens but Owens kicked out at one. Owens smacked Gunther but Gunther booted him again. Gunther chopped Owens and Corey Graves noted how loud it still was even with Owens wearing a t-shirt.
Gunther applied a Boston Crab and transitioned into a crossface. Owens fought to his feet and hit a chop but Gunther knocked him down with a chop. Owens blocked a suplex but Gunther knocked him down with a clothesline.
Owens battled back with his own clotheslines but Gunther hit another German suplex. Owens ducked a clothesline and hit a German suplex of his own. They traded strikes but a Gunther chop was again too much for Owens.
Gunther mocked Owens who came back with three superkicks and a cannonball for two. Gunther blocked a stunner and hit a dropkick. Owens came back with a fisherman buster for two. Gunther suplexed Owens off the middle rope for two. Gunther tried a splash but Owens got his knees up and hit a senton bomb for a nearfall.
Owens set up for a stunner but was distracted by Giovanni Vinci on the apron. Zayn pulled Vinci off the apron and took him out. Owens went after Kaiser and gave him a stunner after he slid into the ring.
Gunther used the opportunity to put Owens in a schoolboy for the pinfall win.
********
Cathy Kelley interviewed Matt Riddle. Riddle was tired of seeing Gunther cheat every week and didn’t think he would be champion if not for Kaiser and Vinci.
Kaiser approached Riddle and told him to watch his mouth. Riddle asked what he would do about it. Kaiser poked him in the chest and asked what he would do about it. Riddle grabbed him and chucked him over some equipment boxes before putting Vinci in an ankle lock. Officials ran in to break it up.
********
Saxton interviewed Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler. Rousey challenged any team with the figurative balls to fight them.
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance approached and offered to have a match. Carter and Chance were noticeably shorter than the champs and Rousey wondered if they were munchkin land. Rousey also wondered if Carter and Chance were stupid.
Baszler thought they were ignorant. She also called them brave but said their bravery would be gone at the sound of their tendons and ligaments being torn off their bodies.
Non-title match: Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler defeated Kayden Carter & Katana Chance (6:43)
Carter and Chance almost picked up the surprise win with their Afterparty double-team move on Rousey but Baszler just barely broke up the cover. The crowd was dead until that spot but they did want to see Rousey get pinned there.
Chance slipped out of a Rousey ankle lock and hit a Codebreaker. Baszler tagged in and Carter got a nearfall using a rollup but Baszler gave her a German suplex and put her in the Kirifuda Clutch for the submission win. This was good for the time they had.
********
Bronson Reed approached Ricochet. Reed thought it was amusing that Ricochet was in MITB while he wasn’t. Ricochet said he earned his spot by beating two-time grand slam champion the Miz, while Reed had his undefeated streak ended by Shinsuke Nakamura.
Reed was about to say something about Nakamura, but Nakamura showed up to remind him who won. Reed said the result would be different next time. Reed left.
Ricochet said he would give Nakamura a loss tonight and at MITB. Nakamura wanted to see him prove it in the ring.
********
There was a Johnny Gargano video package.
Ricochet vs. Shinsuke Nakamura ended in a disqualification (8:10)
They’ve wrestled before but this appears to have been the first televised singles match between these two.
The match picked up once they got back from break but they didn’t get too much time after that before Bronson Reed interfered for the DQ. (They never announce anything but Nakamura was technically attacked first so he likely gets the DQ win, I guess.)
Ricochet got on the back of Reed but he hit Nakamura with a splash anyway before putting away Ricochet with a Tsunami.
********
Maxxine Dupri, Chad Gable and Otis had a meeting backstage. Gable wanted to make sure they were on the same page and told her that an Alpha doesn’t run from a fight (referring to her running away from Valhalla). Dupri thought she could take on Valhalla until she ran after her like a wild animal. Dupri wondered why the Viking Raiders were targeting them anyway.
Gable said he imparted some knowledge on Otis. Dupri wanted to hear what he learned. Otis said they would take them out with… deodorant. Additionally, Otis said Gable would teach the pretty lady (Dupri) how to take on the Viking lady. Gable said they couldn’t train with Dupri wearing her current outfit. Dupri said she had the perfect outfit and left to change.
********
[THIRD HOUR]
Miz TV with guest Cody Rhodes
Rhodes entered wearing a cast on his arm. Miz told him that he looked dashing.
Miz said Brock Lesnar beat Rhodes at Night of Champions and broke his arm, yet Rhodes challenged him to fight. Miz asked Rhodes if he thought that was stupid.
Rhodes said people told him that it took balls to do what he did — and Miz knew something about that. The crowd chanted “tiny balls.” Rhodes said Lesnar was on his annual hibernation so we wouldn’t be seeing him for a while.
Miz had a surprise for Rhodes. It wasn’t Lesnar. Miz invited another man with the same pressures as Rhodes as a multi-generational talent. Miz introduced us to the hottest superstar in WWE, Dominik Mysterio.
Dom entered with Ripley. Miz was about to ask Dom a question but Ripley told him to be quiet. Ripley handed Dom the mic and the crowd booed. Miz asked the crowd to stop booing. They didn’t. Rhodes sarcastically asked them to stop booing and Ripley told them to shut up. The crowd loudly booed as Dom tried to cut his promo.
Dom said he did hard time, while Rhodes was like a little bird with a broken wing. Dom heard Rhodes challenge Lesnar and called him a bad father because he should be at home taking care of his daughter. Instead, he was here because he was just like Rey — a deadbeat dad.
Rhodes knew the 15 minutes in prison must’ve been hard on Dom and he had an even worse prison tattoo than him. Rhodes called Dom’s match at WrestleMania against Rey a public spanking.
Rhodes said Rey wasn’t a perfect father. Rey has made some terrible mistakes and he knew that because he was looking at one (Dom). The crowd liked that line.
Dom dropped the mic and acted like he was leaving but he slapped an unsuspecting Rhodes instead. Dom immediately hid behind Ripley and dared Rhodes to hit him. Rhodes did not, so Dom and Ripley left.
Miz was amused so Rhodes knocked him out with his cast.
********
Money in the Bank qualifier: Zoey Stark (w/Trish Stratus) defeated Natalya (3:51)
Natalya hit a German suplex and applied a Sharpshooter but Stark got a rope break. Stark rolled to the outside so Natalya shoved her back in the ring while telling Stratus to stay out of it.
As Natalya was on the apron, Stratus kicked her leg out of her leg (while the ref was watching Stark). Stark gave Natalya a Z-360 for the pinfall win.
(There should probably be a Lynch promo to explain why she didn’t bother getting involved here.)
********
Backstage at Raw, Smackdown’s Paul Heyman invited us to join him on Friday to watch Jey Uso make his historic choice. Heyman told us that Jey would choose his brother: Solo Sikoa. Jey shared a womb with Jimmy but he will never be closer to him than he will be to his Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. On Friday, Jey would acknowledge that fact.
********
Indus Sher (w/Jinder Mahal) vs. Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin
The match didn’t happen. Veer and Sanga attacked Alexander and Benjamin before the bell and it was determined Alexander, who took the brunt of it, couldn’t compete so the ref called it off. (Benjamin took one boot and was tossed from the ring.)
(They went to break after the Heyman segment letting us know this match was next and this is what they came back with. It was followed with another break.)
********
Seth Rollins defeated Damian Priest to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (21:58)
Rollins had control through an early break but Priest punched him out of mid-air as he tried a strike off the barricade. Priest had control until Rollins came back with an enziguri, strikes, clotheslines, a thrust kick, clothesline and backbreaker. Priest avoided a frog splash attempt and hit a boot but Rollins came back with a slingblade.
Rollins tried a suicide dive but Priest caught him and hit a flatliner onto the announce table which led to break. When they returned, Rollins tried a sunset flip powerbomb but Priest blocked it.
Rollins ran up the ropes and hit a superplex followed by a falcon arrow for two. (The falcon arrow looked impressive because Priest almost reversed it and Rollins had to counter.) Rollins followed with three straight suicide dives with the last one sending Priest over the announce desk. Rollins hit a superkick and a frog splash for two.
They exchanged strikes until Priest hit a headlock driver for two. Priest followed with a top rope Frankensteiner for two. Rollins followed later with a Pedigree for two.
Rollins powerbombed Priest into the barricade, which did not look fun at all for Priest. The announcers reminded us that it was the same move that took out Bálor years ago. Bálor showed up at ringside but Rollins took him out with a superkick.
Rollins went for a curb stomp but Priest hit a clothesline and a South of Heaven chokeslam for a nearfall. Priest saw Bálor at ringside and earnestly asked him, “Why are you here?” Priest went for a Razor’s Edge but he dropped Rollins because his shoulder was hurt from the barricade bomb.
Rollins hit him with a superkick, forearms and a curb stomp for the pinfall win. Rollins retained.
The match started slow but got pretty good by the end.
Bálor faced off with Rollins but Rollins waved him goodbye and left. Rollins posed with his belt as the show ended.
At Backlash in Puerto Rico, Savio Vega got to take part in a special moment as he returned to WWE.
Vega and Carlito both made cameo appearances during Bad Bunny and Damian Priest’s San Juan street fight at last Saturday’s pay-per-view. While being interviewed by Cultaholic, Vega credited Bad Bunny and Priest for wanting him involved with their match.
“[WWE] got in contact with me because this is the mastermind of Damian Priest and Bad Bunny,” Vega said. “They’re both fans of me and I discovered that when I went to the farewell of The Undertaker. I saw Damian Priest there and I went to him, ‘Hey man, how you doing? I want to take a picture with you.’ He said, ‘No, I want to take a picture with you.’ So I talked to him a little bit there. We don’t talk too much but we keep in touch by phone. This idea was them, more Damian Priest.”
The 58-year-old Vega told Cultaholic that he was “in shock” at the massive reaction he received from the audience when he appeared during a backstage segment at Backlash.
Vega, Carlito, and the LWO fended off interference by the Judgment Day in the Bad Bunny vs. Priest match. That allowed Bad Bunny to get the victory after hitting a Bunny Destroyer.
Vega wrestled for WWE from 1993-1999. He made an appearance for the company in 2020 during The Undertaker’s retirement ceremony at Survivor Series.
With the help of a pair of Puerto Rican wrestling legends, Bad Bunny was victorious at Backlash.
Carlito and Savio Vega both made appearances during Bad Bunny’s street fight against Damian Priest at Saturday night’s pay-per-view in San Juan. Carlito, Vega, and the LWO helped fend off interference by Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio.
As Balor and Dominik were beating down Bad Bunny, Rey Mysterio ran out to make the save. Balor and Dominik were able to fight off Rey, but Carlito’s music then hit. Carlito made his way out to a huge pop from the crowd and then worked with Rey to take out Balor and Dominik.
The roof just blew off for the return of CARLITO in Puerto Rico at #WWEBacklash!!!
Balor and Dominik tried to retreat but were stopped by Vega, who also appeared in a backstage segment earlier in the show. Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, and Cruz Del Toro joined Vega in taking Balor and Dominik out of the equation.
That allowed Bad Bunny to defeat Priest, winning the match with a Bunny Destroyer. There were spots where Bad Bunny used a Figure Four and hit a Sliced Bread #2 leading into the finish.
After his victory, Bad Bunny celebrated in the ring with Carlito, Vega, and the LWO.
What a win for Bad Bunny in the San Juan Street Fight at #WWEBacklash!
This was Bad Bunny’s third time competing for WWE. One of the hottest recording artists in the world, he made his in-ring debut by teaming with Priest against The Miz & John Morrison at WrestleMania 37 in 2021. Bad Bunny’s second match was as a surprise entrant in the 2022 men’s Royal Rumble match.
