WWE RAW Live Results (May 8, 2023): WHC Tournament semi-finals

THIS CLOSE. #WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/X3qERrjsML
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

Thanks for joining us today! Join us again for WWE NXT tomorrow!

AIR ROLLINS! 🚀#WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/caHu90YzcW
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

ROLLINS ADVANCES!! #WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/ONl32hI4Zp
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

Balor vs Rollins never disappoints.#WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/bDs4JpTybv
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

.@FinnBalor waited seven years to do that!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/uOcxZa1Qc3
— WWE (@WWE) May 9, 2023

Ruthless aggression from The Prince.#WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/rn4f6Qtbyl
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

Seth Rollins went for the stomp but Balor misses it. The Visionary goes for it again and pins his opponent this time.

Seth Rollins defeats Finn Balor.

Rollins suplexed Balor off the top rope, but Balor turned it into a pin. The Visionary kicks out and a frustrated Balor lashes out at his opponent. The Judgment Day member sets up the Coup de Grace, but Rollins dodges it. He counters it into a pedigree and attempts to pin Balor, who kicks out.

While it seems Seth Rollins has the upper hand again, Balor hits him with a pele kick to the head. They stare and trash talk from opposite sides of the ring, smiling and mocking each other.

Balor has Rollins in a submission move in the middle of the ring. The Visionary breaks it up and hits his opponent with the superkick followed by an unsuccessful pin. The two men throw punches as Balor rolls out of the ring. They take turns to bounce each other's heads off the apron.

Seth Rollins hits Finn Balor into the corner followed by a backbreaker. The Visionary climbs on the top rope but The Judgment Day member has his knees up.

Eyes on the prize. #WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/QoaxcOh2Q8
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

PAYBACK! #WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/5WK8LOWocQ
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

The two former champions engage in a back and forth outside the ring before Finn Balor powerbombs Seth Rollins onto the barricade.

Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins

The two men have a stare down as soon as the bell rings. Rollins and Balor attempt to put each other in submission moves as they counter out of it.

The Visionary throws a few punches as Balor dodges and hits him with a dropkick. Rollins rolls out of the ring and gains the upper hand.

MAIN EVENT TIME. #WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/OtETSk8DFi
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

"At #WWENOC, I accept!"@CodyRhodes wants a FIGHT with @BrockLesnar.#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/NZsYG7TFhk
— WWE (@WWE) May 9, 2023

Cody Rhodes apologizes for his inability to win the World Heavyweight Championship tournament. He questions Brock Lesnar's agenda and attacking him on two occasions for no reason at all.

The American Nightmare accepts The Beast's challenge for Night of Champions.

Would you like to see Miz & Nakamura form an alliance? 🤔#WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/AQY1peoVL0
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

The Miz confronts Shinsuke Nakamura backstage, blaming him for not having his back on RAW. The A-lister pitches a new name for a tag team - Mizsuke Nakamura. The Japanese star claims their interaction next week will be "awesome."

.@AustinCreedWins takes flight! 🚀#WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/8yi1mH0mPv
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

As Dominik Mysterio celebrates outside the ring on the apron, Woods swipes him off his feet and beats him with a few hits to the back. He then proceeds to a drop kick from off the top rope, followed by an unsuccessful pin.
A slight interference by Ripley enables Dominik to distract Woods and pin him.

Dominik Mysterio defeats Xavier Woods

Xavier Woods finds himself on the receiving end of the Three Amigos. Woods gets up to his feet and dodges his opponent's hits with a baseball slide followed by a charged-up clothesline.

He attempts to pin The Judgment Day member after a tornado DDT as Ripley looks on with despair.

Tozawa dipped as soon as @RheaRipley_WWE entered the scene. He got flashbacks. 😭#WWE #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/e3ofuLGRTk
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

Xavier Woods hits Mysterio with a series of chops into the corner. Dominik manages to get the get the upper hand and sets his opponent for the 619. The former King of the Ring winner turns it around and mocks his move.

Dominik Mysterio vs. Xavier Woods

The New Day member has Dominik in a side headlock few moments after the bell rings. He focuses on Mysterio's leg as he reaches the bottom rope.

The Judgment Day member plays mind games as Rhea Ripley cheers him on from ringside.

BECKY IS BACK!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/pKJ0s5o1Of
— WWE (@WWE) May 9, 2023

She plays mind games by setting up Becky Lynch's music playing on the titantron to mock fans. She continues her rant against Lynch only to have The Man appear behind her. Becky Lynch assaults Stratus and announces "she is back to kick her a**."

Trish Stratus claims she is concerned about Becky Lynch being missing. She claims fans will thank her when The Man is found.

We'll hear from @trishstratuscom NEXT! #WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/BtvSKSkSPR
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

"Dom Dom accepts."
We're getting Xavier Woods vs Dominik TONIGHT! #WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/wdtetQm2jl
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio are being interviewed backstage and asked about Natalya's return and what it means for the women's champion. Xavier Woods and Akira Tozawa interrupted the duo.

The New Day member challenges the young Mysterio to a match which Ripley agrees to on his behalf.

Making her #WWERaw debut, it's @ZoeyStarkWWE!#WWE pic.twitter.com/Td8JQI1lGE
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

The former women's champion plays a few mind games and Starks hits her face on the middle turnbuckle. A charged-up Nikki Cross attempts a tornado DDT but her opponent counters it into the Z360 and pins her for her win in her first RAW match.

Zoey Starks defeats Nikki Cross.

Zoey Starks vs. Nikki Cross

Zoey Starks slaps Nikki Cross across the face as soon as the bell rings. Cross pounces on Starks, who returns the hits. The newest RAW member hits a recuperating Cross with a vicious clothesline.

The family is back together! #WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/JFtnxTBw4W
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

Ludwig Kaiser takes out a series of vicious hits on Kevin Owens, who hits him with a clothesline. Both are on the mat crawling to make a tag, but Kaiser is successful.

Vinci is now in the ring and witnesses the wrath of a pumped-up Owens. Sami Zayn is tagged in and Vinci receives a Helluva Kick followed by a pin.

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens defeat Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci.

A fired-up Kevin Owens is attacking Imperium left, right and center. He has Kaiser set up in the corner, and punches Vinci out of the way.

Owens hits a Swanton on Kaiser off the top rope. He follows it with a pin which is broken up by Giovanni Vinci.

Back from commercial, Kaiser has the upper hand on Zayn inside the ring. The tag team champion flings Kaiser over the top rope and crawls across the ring to tag Kevin Owens in the match.

Excellent teamwork by @wwe_kaiser & @VinciWWE! #WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/xPS0sNeJAG
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

The Imperium members are working in unison. As Kaiser taunts Kevin Owens and causes a distraction for the referee, Vinci hits Zayn a few cheap shots.

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens vs. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci (Imperium)

Sami Zayn and Ludwig Kaiser are ready to kick off the match. The Imperium member puts Zayn in a headlock in the middle of the ring.

The champion is able to counter it and as Kaiser bounces off the ropes, his tag team partner Giovanni Vinci tags himself in.

Byron Saxton interviews newest RAW addition Zoey Starks. As she responds to his questions, Nikki Cross is spotted nearby and Starks challenges her to a match tonight.

.@NatbyNature IS HERE!! #WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/5VhWU9Vb9p
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

Statement made! ⚖️@RheaRipley_WWE wins. #WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/QZMIzuocFW
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) May 9, 2023

Ripley makes her opponent tap out of the prison lock submission. Ripley celebrates her win but is not satisfied. The Eradicator hits Dana Brooke with another Riptide and sets her up for the prison lock before Natalya makes her way to the ring and confronts the champion.

Dana Brooke vs. Rhea Ripley

A pumped-up Brooke charges after Rhea Ripley but receives a vicious series of punches. The Eradicator displays her strength. The women's champion seems a bit disoriented but catches Brooke as she hits a move off the top rope.