WWE Raw Results – August 28, 2023

Written by John Canton • Published 29th August 2023
WWE Raw Stage WWE Raw logo Ari Emanuel

The final WWE Raw before Payback saw Becky Lynch in the Falls Count Anywhere main event against Zoey Stark.

This week’s Raw took place at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee.

There were graphics saying this show was In Memory of Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt. Throughout the show, several wrestlers had armbands honoring Bray Wyatt and some for Terry Funk too.

It was announced that Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens will defend the WWE Tag Team Titles against Damian Priest & Finn Balor this Saturday at Payback.

Match #1: Damian Priest defeated Sami Zayn by pinfall with the South of Heaven Chokeslam. – Priest won because JD McDonagh showed up at ringside to grab Zayn’s foot, which the referee didn’t see. Priest hit his finisher for the win.

After the match, Priest shoved JD away saying he didn’t want his help. Kevin Owens joined Zayn in the ring with Owens hitting JD with a Stunner and Zayn hit JD with a Helluva Kick.

A video package aired about Raquel Rodriguez, who said that she was going to beat Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Title at Payback this Saturday night. Raquel said a bully like Ripley would not be able to measure up to Raquel.

The Miz did an in-ring promo dressed as LA Knight while shouting all of Knight’s catchphrases. After Miz took off the LA Knight gear he ranted about how he was going to beat LA Knight at Payback this Saturday…yeah. Knight was not on the show this week.

Match #2:The Viking Raiders defeated The New Day with the Ragnarok (double Powerbomb) with Erik pinning Kofi Kingston. – Drew McIntyre threw a leather chair at Xavier Woods at ringside by accident because he was trying to hit Erik instead. Viking Raiders capitalized to finish off Kofi.

The Judgment Day had a meeting backstage with Rhea Ripley telling Finn Balor & Damian Priest that if they don’t all walk out with gold at the end of Payback then there will be changes around here.

The Bray Wyatt tribute video aired. They first aired it on Smackdown last Friday. After the video aired, the lights went out in the arena and the fireflies lit up the building with their cell phone light. Bray Wyatt’s theme song played as a rocking chair was shown on the stage.

Prior to Chad Gable’s match with Ludwig Kaiser, GUNTHER did a promo saying he’ll defend the Intercontinental Title against Gable next week on the September 4th episode of Raw.

Match #3: Chad Gable defeated Ludwig Kaiser by disqualification when Giovanni Vinci interfered. – It was a three-segment match with Gable hitting Chaos Theory, but Vinci attacked at that point for the DQ.

After the match, Otis tried to help Gable, but he was overwhelmed by Imperium. GUNTHER gave Gable a Powerbomb and stood tall over Gable to end it.

There was a brief video about the late Bob Barker, who died at 99 years old on Sunday. Bob was the Price is Right host who also had an impact in WWE as a Guest Host in 2009. Cole mentioned that Barker won the Slammy Award in 2009 for being the Best Guest Host.

Seth “Freakin” Rollins, the World Heavyweight Champion, did a promo calling out Shinsuke Nakamura. Instead, a video aired with Nakamura making threats toward Rollins while mentioning Seth’s wife and daughter with Shinsuke saying he was going to hurt Seth. Rollins reacted by staring into the hard camera, so Nakamura attacked Rollins from behind. Nakamura kicked Rollins in the chest and left him lying on the mat.

Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens did a locker promo about their WWE Tag Team Title match against The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest & Finn Balor, who beat the champions by disqualification to earn the title match. Owens said it’s going to be a Steel City Street Fight at Payback in Pittsburgh since Pittsburgh is the Steel City. It was made official later in the show.

Match #4: Tommaso Ciampa defeated Bronson Reed. – Ciampa jumped on Reed’s back with a Crucifix Bomb into a pin. Ciampa didn’t keep the arms hooked, but Reed stayed down to take the pinfall.

Rhea Ripley did an in-ring promo with “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio about her Women’s World Title defense against Raquel Rodriguez at Payback. Raquel interrupted the promo, they got into a fight and when Ripley went for Riptide, Raquel countered it. Raquel clotheslined Ripley, who left the ring. Raquel stood tall in the ring.

A Terry Funk tribute video aired for the WWE Hall of Famer. After the video, the fans chanted “Terry” for the Funker.

Match #5:Becky Lynch defeated Zoey Stark in a Falls Count Anywhere Match. – Trish Stratus interfered throughout the match to try to help Stark. The finish saw the three women fighting on some steel equipment box or something in the crowd. Stark threw a punch, Lynch avoided it and it hit Stratus, who bumped through a table. Lynch gave Stark a Manhandle Slam through a table and Lynch pinned Stark on the floor. Lynch held up her “BRAY” armband and was crying to end the show.

Next Monday On WWE Raw Will Have An Intercontinental Title Match

There are two matches that WWE is promoting for the September 4th Raw in Charlotte, NC so far.

* GUNTHER defends the Intercontinental Title against Chad Gable

* Tornado Tag Team Match: Drew McIntyre & Matt Riddle vs. The Viking Raiders – Erik & Ivar

As for WWE Payback this Saturday, September 2nd in Pittsburgh, PA, here’s the lineup.

* World Heavyweight Championship: Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

* Women’s World Heavyweight Championship: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez

* Steel City Street Fight for the WWE Tag Team Championships: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens vs. Damian Priest & Finn Balo

* LA Knight vs. The Miz

* Steel Cage Match: Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus

* United States Championship: Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory

* Grayson Waller Effect talk show with Cody Rhodes as the guest

That’s all for this week.