Tag: Trish Stratus

Date: August 14, 2023
Location: Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB 

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Show Recap —

Michael Cole said tonight was a night of massive matches and they proceeded to announce two matches. Cody Rhodes faces Finn Bálor, Becky Lynch faces Trish Stratus (with Zoey Stark banned from ringside), plus an interview with Shinsuke Nakamura.

Opening segment

Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest, and Dominik Mysterio entered without Bálor. Ripley said they ran Raw but admitted things haven’t been going their way lately. Priest said Bálor should have won the world title at SummerSlam and Judgment Day should have won their six-man tag match last week. Priest said Judgment Day would still dictate what happens on Raw as long as he had the briefcase.

Priest said Bálor would beat Rhodes tonight and Bálor should be out there telling us this himself. He assured us that Judgment Day was not breaking up but proceeded to rant about Bálor’s absence (as Ripley tried to calm him down).

JD McDonagh interrupted. Priest warned him to choose his words wisely. McDonagh said he wasn’t there to disrespect the most dominant faction in WWE. McDonagh relayed a message from Bálor — worry about the real targets: Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn. Ripley told him they don’t take orders from anyone.

Dom told McDonagh they had things locked down (while the crowd drowned him out). Dom said he was the NXT North American Champion and added: “I just found out that Canada is a part of North America so I guess I’m the champion of this dump.” Ripley told McDonagh to tell Bálor that they needed to talk.

Zayn interrupted. Fortunately, he was not there to talk. Zayn attacked McDonagh (who took him out last week). However, Zayn took his attention away from McDonagh to look at Judgment Day so McDonagh slammed his injured arm into the ring post. 

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The following match was made official during a commercial break. Zayn’s left arm was taped up and he wore an elbow pad.

Sami Zayn defeated JD McDonagh (11:43)

McDonagh worked over Zayn’s arm and removed the coverings. Zayn tried fighting back but McDonagh went after the arm and hit a knee drop on the arm over the announce desk.

After a break, McDonagh caught Zayn mid-air with a dropkick as Zayn came off the top. Zayn fought back with a clothesline, punches, and a one-armed Michinoku Driver (which looked great) for two.

McDonagh responded with a Spanish Fly for two and transitioned into a crossface (trapping the injured arm) but Zayn got the ropes. McDonagh kicked the bad arm repeatedly but Zayn gave him an exploder into the corner.

Bálor sauntered out and ran down the aisle but stopped short of the ring. The distraction allowed McDonagh to apply a cradle for two. McDonagh hit a headbutt and tried a moonsault but Zayn got his feet up.

Zayn knocked Bálor off the apron before hitting McDonagh with Helluva Kick for the pinfall win.

(Pretty good match thanks in part to Zayn doing a great job selling his arm.)

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Chelsea Green met with Adam Pearce. Pearce was about to announce that he was stripping her of the tag titles but Green cut him off. She called him predictable and threatened to call human resources. Pearce asked what she would do if she were in his position. Green suggested they hold auditions for her new partner.

Kayden Carter and Katana Chance entered and said they wanted the next shot as soon as she found a partner.

Piper Niven busted in and dropped Katana. Niven told Green that she was her new partner. Green tried to explain that she wanted to hold auditions but Niven made it clear that she was her new partner. Niven grabbed one of the title belts and they left together. (Pearce and Carter checked on Katana.)

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Byron Saxton interviewed Cody Rhodes backstage. Saxton asked Rhodes about Bálor being a loose cannon lately. Rhodes said you have to be a bit of a loose cannon to do this gig.

Rhodes admired Bálor to a degree and said he was a leader in Ireland, Japan, and now with Judgment Day. However, Priest and Ripley were both leaders too. Rhodes said Dom was there too and figured he was the submissive one.

Rhodes said the group have taken out Liv Morgan and Kevin Owens but he was excited to wrestle in Winnipeg for the first time in many years and he would be ready for Judgment Day.

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Gunther/Chad Gable segment 

Gunther entered with Imperium and cut a promo standing on the announce table. Gunther said he was building his legacy as the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time. As a European, he looked forward to visiting Canada. But after walking around Winnipeg, he realized why they called it the armpit of Canada.

Gunther spoke about his next opponent, Chad Gable. Gunther was impressed by Gable who has worked hard for years and might be the best athlete in the company but Gunther has already accomplished more in his career than Gable.

Gable interrupted by yelling “shoosh” and entered with Otis and Maxxine Dupri. Gable said he successfully lasted over five minutes with Gunther a few weeks ago but now Gunther was the one on the clock as he got close to the IC title record.

Gable said there was one thing in Gunther’s way: a guy who has been waiting and working for an opportunity for ten years. Gable was chasing him down and was ready to take the IC title. Gable said he would first deal with Giovanni Vinci tonight and told him to bring his beautiful, bald head into the ring.

Ludwig Kaiser said Vinci would embarrass Gable just like Kaiser embarrassed Otis last week. Ludwig flirted with Dupri. He said Alpha Academy was a sinking ship and offered his hand to save her before she became what they already were: an absolute embarrassment. Dupri slapped him.

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Chad Gable (w/Otis & Maxxine Dupri) defeated Giovanni Vinci (w/Ludwig Kaiser & IC Champion Gunther) (5:06)

Vinci hit a series of hard chops but Gable came back with a release German suplex. Vinci blocked Gable’s moonsault attempt and hit one of his own for two. Gable responded with a Chaos Theory suplex for the pinfall win.

— Gunther was pissed and said this isn’t how things end tonight. Gunther said if Winnipeg was the armpit of Canada then Otis was the armpit of humanity. Gunther ran down Otis while Otis swivelled his hips. Gunther demanded a match right now.

[SECOND HOUR] 

Non-title match: Intercontinental Champion Gunther (w/Imperium) defeated Otis (w/Chad Gable & Maxxine Dupri) (5:10)

Gunther was in control but Otis fought back with wild fists and dropped him with a back elbow. They traded strikes until Otis hit a fallaway slam. Otis tried a Caterpillar but Gunther stomped him. This didn’t look good so Gunther stomped him again. Gunther powerbombed the big man (which did look good) for the pinfall win.

— Gable hit the ring afterwards and immediately dropped Gunther with a German suplex. Gunther left with Imperium. (Kaiser had a slight look of concern on his face and Gunther yelled at him.)

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Priest confronted Bálor in the back but Ripley cut them off and said they were starting to lose their killer instincts. McDonagh tried to intervene but Priest told him to back off. Bálor told McDonagh he’d speak to him later. Bálor agreed with Ripley and said they should make things right tonight. They were all on the same page and Priest was pumped.

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There was a video package hyping Edge vs. Sheamus for Friday’s Smackdown in Toronto. (I’ll be there.)

There was a video package recapping the Bloodline angle.

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Jackie Redmond interviewed Drew McIntyre (earlier today). Redmond said it was great to have McIntyre back on Raw and asked him what was next. Matt Riddle interrupted before McIntyre could answer.

Riddle offered to be his tag partner and already accepted a match against the Viking Raiders. Riddle ran down potential team names until McIntyre cut him off. McIntyre said he would be Riddle’s partner if he couldn’t find anyone else.

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There was an Indi Hartwell video package. She faces Ripley tonight.

Cole plugged WrestleMania tickets going on sale. Because they’re allergic to saying dates, Cole said, “WrestleMania comes to Philadelphia the first Saturday and Sunday of April. Tickets are available this coming Friday!” You could tell he was doing his best not to screw this up.

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Matt Riddle & Drew McIntyre defeated The Viking Raiders (w/Valhalla) (9:28)

The Raiders beat up Riddle through a break until he suplexed Erik and made the hot tag to McIntyre who hit both opponents with suplexes and neckbreakers before giving Ivar a Michinoku Driver for two. Riddle tagged in but had to fight off a double team before McIntyre tagged back in.

Riddle wiped out Ivar with a dive and McIntyre hit Erik with a Claymore Kick for the pinfall win.

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Raquel Rodriguez approached Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae in the back. Rodriguez was itching to get after Ripley but she still couldn’t get cleared. LeRae told her not to worry and that she just had to be patient. Rodriguez wished Hartwell luck. 

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Riddle was excited about his new team and wanted to go after the tag titles but McIntyre told him to pump the breaks.

New Day approached them and they were offended that Riddle thought he could win the tag titles considering they weren’t a real team. They were also offended that he made these comments on Kofi Kingston’s birthday. Xavier Woods and Kingston challenged them to a tag match next week to see who would be going after the titles next and Riddle accepted.

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Non-title match: Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley (w/NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio) defeated Indi Hartwell (w/Candice LeRae) (3:00)

Hartwell got some offence but Ripley won fairly easily via pinfall after a headbutt and Rip-tide. (Ripley also took out LeRae mid-match for the hell of it.)

— LeRae attacked Ripley after the match but Ripley started beating her up anyway. The babyfaces only got the edge over Ripley when they teamed up on her and they quickly bailed (once Dom hit the ring).

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[THIRD HOUR]

Shinsuke Nakamura/Seth Rollins segment

Cole interviewed Nakamura in the ring. Nakamura wore an all-black suit. Cole said Nakamura has known Seth Rollins his entire career and asked why he attacked him last week.

Nakamura initially responded in Japanese before stating, “I want the world title.” Cole asked if he had to kick Rollins in the head. Nakamura again responded in Japanese before stating, “I win the world title.”

Rollins interrupted. He wore a lacy, all-white outfit and glasses (which was certainly in stark contrast to Nakamura’s outfit). Rollins thought it was odd Nakamura would attack him just to get a title shot when he wasn’t a hard man to find.

Rollins called himself a fighting champion who had the utmost respect for Nakamura — until last week. If Nakamura wanted a title shot, all he had to do was ask. Rollins said everyone was asking “why” Nakamura did it but all Rollins was wondering was “how” he could get even.

Rollins said Nakamura got his wish because in order for Rollins to get what he wanted, Nakamura would get what he wanted. Rollins announced a title match between them. Nakamura was happy. Rollins said Nakamura just needed to name the time and place so Rollins could kick his ass. Rollins told Nakamura to shake his hand (to make it official).

Nakamura shook Rollins’ hand before whispering something in his ear. Rollins seemed taken aback by the comment.

As Rollins looked around in confusion, Nakamura dropped him with a Kinshasa.

******* 

Saxton interviewed Miz who claimed he was better than LA Knight in the ring and on the mic. Miz asked Saxton if he thought Knight was a somebody and Saxton said, “Yeah.” Miz yelled at him and said he would beat somebody next week who was better than anyone Knight has faced. Miz also said he might just show up on Smackdown on Friday.

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Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch ended in a double countout (11:38)

Stratus headbutted Lynch with her facemask but Lynch fought her off and hit an exploder. Stratus’ facemask fell off at one point and the referee gave her a moment to put it back on. Stratus tried bringing Lynch down with a handstand headscissors but she stumbled and had to try it again.

Stratus took off the mask and tried using it as a weapon but Lynch yanked it away. Lynch was distracted as the ref wrestled the mask away from her and Stratus knocked her down.

After a break, Lynch fought back with strikes and a leg drop for two. Stratus came back with a spear for two. Stratus tried a tornado DDT but Lynch blocked it and hit a superplex for two.

Stratus tried running away into the crowd so Lynch went after her. The bell suddenly rang and the match was… over. The ref called for a double countout.

— Lynch and Stratus fought up the stairs and into the concourse area where the fans were conveniently parted away from the action.

They fought near a merchandise table until Zoey Stark (in a hood) attacked Lynch. Stratus dropped Lynch with a Chick Kick.

(This was no good at all. The first half of the match was rough and got only slightly better once they got rid of the mask.)

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Gunther told Vinci and Kaiser that tonight was an absolute embarrassment. Gunther wondered what he should do with Vinci who has been disappointing him since they came to Raw, and Kaiser wasn’t taking care of his responsibilities because he was focused on “that girl.”

Kaiser apologized. He offered to go to Pearce and fix this but Gunther told him no. Gunther said he would sort this out himself like usual and said he would defend the IC title against Gable next week.

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Pearce accosted Stratus and Stark in the back. He was pissed and said Stratus and Lynch would have a rematch in a steel cage.

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Next week on Raw:

• Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods vs. Drew McIntyre & Matt Riddle
• Gunther vs. Chad Gable for the Intercontinental title

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Cody Rhodes defeated Finn Bálor (14:05)

With Rhodes outside the ring, Dom ran down in a hilariously cartoonish manner with the intent to attack but Rhodes booted him. The distraction allowed Bálor to hit a baseball slide and take over ahead of a break.

Dom and Ripley were still at ringside after the break despite Dom obviously trying to interfere in front of the referee.

Rhodes fought back with a powerslam and Disaster Kick for two. Priest made his way down as Bálor hit Rhodes with a slingblade and headlock elbow drop for two. Rhodes dodged a Coup de Grace and hit a Cody Cutter.

Priest tripped Rhodes as the ref was distracted but Rhodes fended him off and wiped out both Priest and Bálor with a dive. Ripley distracted the ref as Dom crotched Rhodes on the top. Bálor followed with a superplex for two.

Dom slid a chair into the ring but the ref took it away. As Ripley distracted the ref again, Priest slid the briefcase in the ring but it went right under Bálor’s hands and into the hands of Rhodes.

Rhodes hit Bálor with the briefcase (with the ref’s back still turned), knocked down Priest, and hit Bálor with Cross Rhodes for the pinfall win. (The crowd was quiet for the bulk of the match but popped for the finishing sequence.)

— Dom and Bálor attacked Rhodes after the match but Zayn ran out to make the save with a chair. Zayn also fought off Priest but was decked from behind by McDonagh. Judgment Day worked together to beat up Zayn and Rhodes as McDonagh looked on. Bálor hit Rhodes with a Coup de Grace in the ring and hit Zayn with one outside the ring.

They cleared the table and Priest put Zayn through it with a Razor’s Edge. Bálor gave Rhodes another Coup de Grace.

Judgment Day embraced each other and stood tall as the show ended.