Ibrahim Oladamola
With Money in the Bank just five days away, WWE used Monday night’s “go-home” episode of Raw to build toward Saturday’s pay-per-view event. That build included adding a new intercontinental championship bout for Money in the Bank with Matt Riddle challenging Gunther, as well as the rivalry between Dominik Mysterio and Cody Rhodes continuing to develop.
Rhodes unsuccessfully tried to bait Mysterio into a physical confrontation at the top of the show only to be struck by another Mysterio cheap shot after the main event. While Rhodes is the better wrestler, it has been Mysterio who has gotten the better of nearly every confrontation ahead of Money in the Bank.
Dominik Mysterio gets one over on Cody Rhodes again
Dominik Mysterio refused to brawl with Cody Rhodes to open the show. After Rhodes interrupted Mysterio and Rhea Ripley, Mysterio stepped out of the ring with Ripley between himself and Rhodes. The Judgment Day duo eventually walked off, leaving Rhodes to beg Mysterio to get in the ring and offering him a “free shot” but Mysterio refused, saying he’d see Rhodes at Money in the Bank.
Monday Night Raw Results:
Dominik Mysterio def. Akira Tozawa via pinfall with a frog splash.
Cody Rhodes def. Damian Priest via pinfall in the main event. Mysterio and Ripley were at ringside, as expected. That was nearly enough for Priest to steal a win late, with Ripley distracting the referee and Mysterio grabbing Rhodes’ leg as he went for a Cody Cutter. Rhodes was able to kick out of South of Heaven, however, and quickly hit the cutter and Cross Rhodes to get the win and build momentum ahead of Saturday’s pay-per-view. Mysterio got in another cheap shot as Rhodes was celebrating, leaving Rhodes frustrated again.
Ricochet def Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall with a shooting star press. Bronson Reed was kicked out of ringside during the match.
Gunther accepted Matt Riddle’s challenge for an intercontinental championship match at Money in the Bank. Gunther only accepted after he and Ludwig Kaiser attacked Riddle, ending with Gunther stomping on Riddle’s injured leg.
Ronda Rousey def Raquel Rodriguez via pinfall with a roll-up. Rodriguez was distracted when Liv Morgan attacked Shayna Baszler at ringside.
Finn Balor attacked Seth Rollins as Rollins cut a promo about their match on Saturday at Money in the Bank. NXT champion Carmelo Hayes, seated in the front row, stopped Balor from using a chair, allowing Rollins to run Balor off.
The Miz attacked Tommaso Ciampa before their planned match, beating Ciampa down and flattening him with a Skull-Crushing Finale.
The six women’s Money in the Bank ladder match participants brawled after a short segment where each woman talked trash to the others.
Gunther def Sami Zayn via pinfall with a powerbomb. The finish came when Giovanni Vinci hit Zayn with a crutch as the referee was distracted. As Imperium continued to attack Zayn and Kevin Owens, Matt Riddle ran in to make the save.
Finn Balor def Carmelo Hayes via pinfall after a Coup de Grace. After Hayes had helped Rollins earlier in the night, he was interviewed backstage and said he now had a match later in the night against Balor. Balor would win clean, taking some of Hayes’ momentum before Hayes defends his NXT championship against Baron Corbin on Tuesday night.
