WWE RAW Results Coverage, Reactions & Highlights For May 8, 2023

It’s Monday night, and you know what that means! WWE RAW will go down tonight, and Ringside News has got you covered with live play-by-play results coverage.

WWE RAW will start this week at 8:00 PM EST, as always. Match-by-match highlights and results from the show will take place on this very page. Feel free to leave any reactions in the comment section below.

Tonight is the first RAW that will take place with the newly drafted rosters and with Night of Champions less than a month away, WWE will look to announce the challengers for the new World Heavyweight Championship. With a lot on the line, tonight promises to be one of the most important nights of the year. The updated match card for the show is as follows:

• World Heavyweight Championship Tournament: Seth Rollins vs. Damian Priest vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
• Trish Stratus returns
• World Heavyweight Championship Tournament: The Miz vs. Finn Balor vs. Cody Rhodes

WWE RAW Opener:

The opening package for the show airs. The commentators welcome the audience to the show.

Cody Rhodes’ music plays and he walks to the ring. He gets on the mic and says he appreciates the reception from the crowd and says this was his home during the pandemic and he wants to make another good memory tonight.

He then says he had the daunting task of competing against Brock Lesnar at Backlash. Cody says he discovered what Brock Lesnar was made of because it was over his fist. He says he discovered Brock can be beaten. He also says Lesnar took away his focus but now that he is in the rear view mirror, it is clear what is next for him which is the World Heavyweight Championship.

He gets out of the ring and asks for the tournament bracket to be displayed on the titantron. He says he will fight tooth and nail until he becomes the new World Heavyweight Champion. The crowd chants “You deserve it.” He then says let the tournament begin.

World Heavyweight Championship Tournament: Seth Rollins vs. Damian Priest vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Seth Rollins’ music plays and he walks out and stares down Cody Rhodes before making his way to the ring.

*Commercial break*

Cathy Kelley interviews Damian Priest who says his name is going to live forever after his street fight. He then says he will defeat Nakamura and Rollins by himself and then it will be either himself or Finn Balor that brings the World Heavyweight Championship home to the Judgment Day.

Damian Priest’s theme song plays and he walks to the ring. Shinsuke Nakamura’s music hit and he walks to the ring.

The match begins and Priest attacks Rollins and Nakamura. He then attacks Rollins in the corner. Nakamura fights back and kicks Priest. Rollins sends Priest outside the ring. Nakamura knocks down Rollins and kicks him.

Nakamura with a sliding German suplex on Rollins. Nakamura places Priest on the apron and delivers a knee to the back of his neck.

*Commercial break*

Rollins sends Nakamura into the turnbuckle. He hits a crossbody on Nakamura and Priest. Rollins with a suicide dive on Priest and Nakamura. He goes for another dive but Priest catches him with a right hand. Priest goes for a splash and misses. Nakamura with a knee to the gut of Priest. He then hits a diving knee. Cover! 1…2…kick out.

Rollins goes for a Pedigree but he is sent to the apron. He goes for a dive but Priest catches him and hits a flatliner. Cover! 1….2…kick out. Rollins superkicks Priest and Nakamura kicks him in the head.

All three men attack each other. Rollins with a superkick to Priest. Nakamura with a sleeper hold on Rollins. He escapes and hits a discuss lariat on Nakamura. Rollins climbs the top rope but is stopped by Priest.

He then goes for a razor’s edge but his leg gave out and Rollins hit the stomp. Cover! 1…2….Nakamura breaks it up. Nakamura and Rollins exchange strikes. Rollins with a forearm. He goes for it again and misses it. Nakamura with an inverted exploder. He goes for the kinshasa but Priest takes him out. He goes for the South of Heaven but Nakamura locks in a kneebar.

Rollins breaks it up with a splash and hits the pedigree for the win.

Winner: Seth Rollins

Imperium is walking backstage and they say that Gunther will be on RAW next week. They run into Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens and they say they are here. Sami says they were in the middle of something and asks for 5 minutes. Vinci says they don’t deal with this disrespect. Sami asks them to come back in 5 minutes. They warn them that they are putting themselves in trouble by disrespecting them.

Sami says they will deal with Imperium tonight and challenges them to a match.

Otis vs. Mustafa Ali

The Alpha Academy’s music plays and they come out to the ring.

*Commercial break*

Mustafa Ali’s music plays and he comes out to the ring.

The match begins and Otis knocks down Ali. Ali comes back with a couple of dropkicks but he is knocked down again with a shoulder tackle. Otis with another clothesline. He attacks Ali in the corner. Gable and Maxxine are on the apron and they confuse Otis.

Otis runs himself into the post. Ali climbs the top rope and hits a 450 splash for the win.

Winner: Mustafa Ali

The Miz is backstage and he says he is the first ever two time grand slam champion and he says fans will respect him when he wins the World Heavyweight Championship.

World Heavyweight Championship Tournament: The Miz vs. Finn Balor vs. Cody Rhodes

The Miz’s music plays and he walks to the ring.

*Commercial break*

Finn Balor’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring. Cody Rhodes’ music hit next and walks to the ring.

The match begins and Cody attacks Balor. Cody knocks down Balor and Miz. He attacks Balor in the corner and suplexes him on The Miz. Cover! 1…2…kick out. Cody then dives onto Balor and Miz.

*Commercial break*

Cody Rhodes with a dropkick on Balor and Miz. Cody with a powerslam on Balor and Miz. He then hits a double Cody cutter. Rhodes with a disaster kick on Balor. Cover! 1…2…kick out.

Miz hits a double DDT on Cody and Balor. Balor hits a sling blade on Miz and Cody sends him out of the ring. Balor with a reverse DDT on Cody. He then hits a shotgun dropkick. He goes for the coup de grace and misses. Miz hits the skull crushing finale. Cover! 1…2….Cody breaks it up. He sends Miz out of the ring.

Cody hits the Cross Rhodes. Miz sends Cody out of the ring but he comes back in and hits three Cross Rhodes on Miz. Cover! 1…2…Brock pulls Cody out of the ring and hits the F-5. Balor hits the coup de grace for the win.

Winner: Finn Balor

After the match, Brock F-5s Cody through the announcer’s table. He gets on the mic and asks Cody what he wants to talk about because he wants to talk about himself. He says Cody was lucky on Saturday and he says he wants to fight and challenges Cody to a fight at Night of Champions.

*Commercial break*

Cody is shown limping backstage.

Rhea Ripley vs. Dana Brooke

Rhea Ripley’s music plays and she walks to the ring. Dana Brooke’s music hit next and she makes her way to the ring.

The match begins and Rhea knocks her down. Dana plants Rhea to the mat with a bulldog. Rhea hits a backbreaker and hits the riptide. He then locks her in the prison lock and Dana taps out.

Winner: Rhea Ripley

After the match, Ripley hits another riptide on Dana and locks her in the prison lock submission hold. Natalya’s music plays and she comes out to the ring. She comes face-to-face with Rhea who walks away.

Byron interviews Zoey Stark who says she is amazing at what she does. She approaches Nikki Cross and asks her what she is doing. She says weirdos like Nikki is why she will succeed and challenges her to a match tonight.

Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens vs. Imperium

Kevin Owens’ music hit and he walks out. Sami’s music hit next and he joins Kevin and they walk to the ring.

*Commercial break*

Imperium’s music plays and they walk to the ring.

The match begins with Sami Zayn and Ludwig Kaiser. Sami with an arm drag on Kaiser. Vinci tags in and attacks Sami from behind. Sami fights back with a clothesline. He climbs the top rope but is shoved off by Kaiser.

Kaiser tags in and attacks Sami. Vinci attacks Sami while the referee is distracted. They double-team Sami.

*Commercial break*

Kaiser drives Sami into their corner. Kaiser is sent outside. Sami tags out and Owens attacks Kaiser. Owens attacks Kaiser in the corner and hits a back drop. He then hits a clothesline.

Owens attacks Kaiser in the corner. Vinci gets on the apron and Owens knocks him down. He then hits a neck breaker on Kaiser. Cover! 1..2…kick out. Owens with a Swanton bomb. Cover! 1…2…Vinci breaks it up.

Kaiser tags out and they double-team Owens. Cover! 1…2…kick out. Kaiser tags in and continues to attack Owens. Owens fights back with a clothesline. Kaiser tags out and Vinci takes out Sami.

Owens hits the stunner on Kaiser. He superkicks Vinci. Sami tags in and hits the Helluva kick for the win.

Winner: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens

Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green are backstage and they run into Xia Li. They ask her to sign something. They approach Johnny Gargano, Candace LeRae, and Indi Hartwell. They say it is a petition for a WrestleMania rematch. They refuse to sign it. Gargano says the family is back together.

Nikki Cross vs. Zoey Stark

Nikki Cross’ music plays and he runs down to the ring.

*Commercial break*

Zoey Stark’s music plays and she walks out to the ring.

The match begins and she slaps Nikki. Zoey sends Nikki into the post and attacks her. Stark sent to the apron. She knocks down Nikki. She hits a vicious clothesline. Cover! 1…2..kick out. Zoey goes to work on Nikki.

Stark runs into the turnbuckle. Nikki fights back with a dropkick. She attacks Stark in the corner. Stark with a superkick and follows it with a Z360 for the win.

Winner: Zoey Stark

Rhea and Dominik are interviewed backstage. Rhea says she welcomes pressure. She is interrupted by Xavier Woods and Tozawa. Dominik gets in his face. Woods mocks him. Dominik threatens him and Woods says he is looking for a fight. Rhea accepts the challenge on Dominik’s behalf.

Trish Stratus is shown walking backstage.

*Commercial break*

Trish Stratus’ music hit and she walks to the ring. She gets on the mic and asks if anyone has seen Becky Lynch. She says she is worried because Becky is missing. She then says Becky will be found and then the fans can thank her.

Trish insults Lynch’s daughter. She says Lynch won’t be coming back to RAW because it is her show and her spotlight. She says no one will steel her spotlight.

Becky Lynch’s music plays but no one comes out. Trish starts laughing and she insults the crowd for being gullible. Trish tells a story of her daughter wanting a doll and she wanted to name the doll Becky Lynch. Becky Lynch’s music plays and she appears from behind Trish and attacks her. She hits a Becksploder suplex on Trish who retreats.

Becky gets on the mic and says she is right here if Trish wants her.

Cody is backstage and he is icing his ribs in the trainer’s room.

Xavier Woods vs. Dominik Mysterio

Xavier Woods’ music hit and he walks to the ring.

*Commercial break*

Dominik Mysterio’s theme song plays and he walks to the ring.

The match starts and Dominik knocks Woods down. Woods comes back with a dropkick. He attacks Dominik in the corner. Dominik trips Woods into the turnbuckle and attacks him.

Woods attacks Dominik against the ropes and hits a crossbody. Woods is sent outside.

*Commercial break*

Dominik hits the three amigos on Woods. Cover! 1…2…kick out. Dominik goes to work on Woods. Woods knocks down Dominik. He then attacks him in the corner. Woods with the clothesline. Woods sent to the apron. He comes back with a DDT. Cover! 1..2….kick out.

Dominik with a spinning back elbow. Cover! 1..2…kick out. Dominik stomps Woods. Dominik is tripped on the apron. Woods hangs him on the top rope and his jumps onto him with a dropkick. Cover! 1…2….kick out.

Woods climbs the top rope and he goes for an elbow drop but Rhea pulls Dominik out of the ring. Dominik then rolls up Woods for the win.

Winner: Dominik Mysterio

Finn Balor is getting ready for his match tonight. Seth is also shown backstage before his match against Balor.

*Commercial break*

Indus Sher are backstage and Jinder Mahal says they are ready to dominate RAW.

Miz is backstage with Shinsuke Nakamura and he says they need to have each other’s backs. He says he is willing to forget the disrespect if Nakamura teams with him. Nakamura says he will face Nakamura next week on RAW.

Sonya and Chelsea are backstage and Liv says they will sign their petition. Raquel says all they had to do was ask for a rematch. She says they will see them next week after they beat Damage CTRL. Sonya says they planned on Damage CTRL beating them and then the will face Damage CTRL.

Cody is backstage with Cathy Kelley. He says he doesn’t feel good since he doesn’t good to be the first World Heavyweight Champion. He says he doesn’t have anything else to say. He then says this is the second time that Brock Lesnar has attacked him for no reason. He says Brock attacked him since he has been the man around here. Rhodes accepts Brock’s challenge for a fight at Night of Champions.

World Heavyweight Championship semi-final: Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor

Finn Balor’s music plays and he walks to the ring.

*Commercial break*

Seth Rollins’ music plays and he walks to the ring.

The match begins and Balor knocks down Seth and sends him out of the ring. He then goes after him but Rollins hits a sling blade. Balor attacks Rollins when he gets back in the ring. Balor powerbombs Rollins into the barricade.

*Commercial break*

Rollins fights back with a superkick and a clothesline. He then attacks Balor in the corner and hits a backbreaker. He goes for a dive but Balor gets his knee up and transitions into the arm bar. Balor hits a sling blade. Rollins hits a superkick. Cover! 1…2…kick out.

Balor sent outside the ring. Rollins goes after him and both men slam each other into the ring apron. Rollins sends Balor into the ring. Seth hits the enzuigiri and Balor returns with a Pele kick.

Balor with a stomp to Seth Rollins. He climbs the top rope but Seth stops him and hits the superplex. He goes for the falcon arrow but Balor reverses it into the reverse DDT. Cover! 1..2…kick out.

Balor stomps Seth in the corner. He then hits the referee. Balor with a shotgun dropkick. Balor goes for the coup de grace and misses. Rollins hits the pedigree. Cover! 1…..2…..kick out.

Rollins goes for the stomp but he misses and catches him with the inverted stomp. He hits the stomp again for the win.

Winner: Seth Rollins

This ends our live coverage of WWE RAW!