WWE Raw Results 04/09/2023: Building Momentum After Payback

WWE RAW Results – 04/09/2023

Saturday’s Payback pay-per-view may have been action-packed, but WWE’s Raw wasted no time in transitioning to the next big event on the horizon: Fastlane on October 7. This week’s episode was not just about dealing with the fallout from the weekend’s showdown but also saw some feuds continue that didn’t get a chance to shine on Payback.

One of the most significant storylines heading into the night was Gunther’s pursuit of breaking The Honky Tonk Man’s record as the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion. Chad Gable aimed to be the roadblock in Gunther’s path.

Another thrilling match featured The Viking Raiders taking on the formidable duo of Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre in a Tornado Tag Team match. Let’s dive into the highlights and take a closer look at the events that unfolded on this week’s Raw.

Jey Uso Promo Followed by The Viking Raiders Defeating Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle

The show kicked off with a bang as Jey Uso made his way to the ring to a thunderous ovation from the crowd. Following his speech about flying solo for a while, Sami Zayn made a surprise appearance in the ring. Zayn offered words of encouragement to Jey, and they shared a heartfelt moment, complete with a crowd-pleasing hug.

As they were exiting the ringside area, they crossed paths with Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle, who made their feelings about Jey known before heading to the ring to face The Viking Raiders, Erik and Ivar.

The Tornado Tag Team match took a little while to get going, but once it did, the action was intense and entertaining. The crowd even got their wish for tables, and the match featured several exciting double-team moves by Erik and Ivar.

Kofi Kingston made an unexpected appearance to help Riddle and McIntyre, but it backfired when he inadvertently hit Riddle with his finisher, allowing Erik and Ivar to secure the victory by putting Riddle through a table.

Ricochet Defeated Shinsuke Nakamura by DQ

Seth Rollins came to the ring to demand a match against Shinsuke Nakamura, despite Nakamura not being medically cleared for action after Payback. Nakamura, speaking in Japanese, initially declined the match, prompting Rollins to press the issue. Eventually, Nakamura agreed, leading to a match against Ricochet.

The contest was an entertaining and competitive one, showcasing Ricochet’s skills against Nakamura, who had just headlined a PPV. Nakamura, however, got himself disqualified by using a chair as a weapon.

After the match, Rollins attempted to attack Nakamura, but Nakamura gained the upper hand. Ricochet then intervened with a chair, while Damian Priest was shown contemplating a potential cash-in backstage.

The Judgment Day Promo

The Judgment Day faction made an appearance with all its members holding titles, and Priest clutching his MITB briefcase. While everything appeared to be going well, tensions rose when Finn Bálor acknowledged JD McDonagh for his assistance. JD then presented Priest with a new purple MITB briefcase.

Sami Zayn interrupted, mocking the group for needing five members to capture the tag titles from him and Kevin Owens. He challenged Dominik Mysterio to a match, but JD McDonagh stepped in to take on Zayn instead. The match, however, did not leave a lasting impression.

Shayna Baszler Defeated Zoey Stark

After a brief backstage confrontation, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark agreed to a match to determine the bigger badass. Both women displayed their athleticism in a competitive bout. Baszler ultimately won with the Kirifuda Clutch, and a show of respect followed as they bumped fists, potentially hinting at a future tag team partnership.

Raquel Rodriguez Defeated Chelsea Green

Raquel Rodriguez faced Chelsea Green in a singles match after it was revealed that Piper Niven was not medically cleared to compete. Rodriguez dominated the match, finishing Green with her signature powerbomb in a short yet impactful bout.

JD McDonagh Defeated Sami Zayn

John Cena appeared on Miz TV with The Miz, in a humorous segment where they joked about Cena’s invisibility. The match between JD McDonagh and Sami Zayn followed, with JD securing the victory via roll-up and a handful of tights. The Miz later attacked Cena, and Zayn assaulted JD McDonagh after the match.

Gunther Defeated Chad Gable

The main event of the evening featured Gunther defending his Intercontinental Championship against Chad Gable. The two competitors showcased incredible chemistry in a hard-fought match. Gunther prevailed, pinning Gable clean to further solidify his historic title reign.