Raw Deal - Raw recap for June 12, 2023

WWE official Adam Pearce introduces Rhea Ripley to the ring for the introduction of a brand new women's championship in WWE to start tonight's show. Adam Pearce presents Rhea Ripley with the Women's World Championship. It is the same as the World Heavyweight Championship, but with a white leather strap. Dominik Mysterio shows up and puts the championship around Rhea's waist as Adam Pearce leaves with the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship, which is no more and replaced with the Women's World title. Rhea tells Dominik to tell the world how awesome she is, which leads to the fans booing Dominik as he says that there is a great man behind a great woman and that he will always be there to support Rhea. "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes suddenly shows up, then says that Rhea is starting a new legacy that is well-deserved before congratulating her before mentioning his match with The Miz later tonight. Cody then brings up his and Dominik's meeting last week and says that as nice as it would be to hear Brock Lesnar's music to hear him accept his challenge, Lesnar does not have the balls to face him again. He then challenges Dominik to a one-on-one match at Money In The Bank. Dominik says he is not afraid of anyone in the world, especially after he embarrassed Cody in the middle of the ring like he would anyone else. Cody eggs the fans on into chanting "You suck" at Dominik again before asking for a yes or no answer. Rhea says Dominik is more of a man than anyone in the arena and is more of a man than Cody. As Rhea says that Dominik accepts, The Miz suddenly shows up to attack Cody from behind. Cody hits Miz, but as he knocks Miz over the top rope, Dominik hits Cody with a cheap shot from behind.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beats The Miz.

Backstage, Becky Lynch is seen talking with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn before heading to the ring. As she heads there, she also sees Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) giving some pointers to Maxxine Dupri.

Becky Lynch heads to the ring. Becky says she has been lucky enough to do a lot in her career, but the one thing that has eluded her is winning the women's Money In The Bank ladder match. She says that she has a good feeling about this year. She says everyone has been conditioned that the number one person is the one holding the championship, but in reality, the real number one is the one who holds the power and the one who holds the power holds the Money In The Bank briefcase. Becky says the one with the briefcase has the power to make the champion scared and get them off of their game, and she admits she is getting a little tongue-tied because she loves power. She says that the power makes people scared, and that scared people do crazy and dangerous things, which makes her better. Becky goes on to call Trish Stratus "scared," as she was so scared that she was going to be exposed at Night of Champions that she got an insurance policy in Zoey Stark. Suddenly, Zoey Stark shows up. Zoey says she has heard enough, and states that while Becky has accomplished a lot, she will never beat Trish Stratus or her. Becky says she has many failures and that she has learned from all of them, which makes her great, then states that while not a lot has been learned about Zoey Stark, she does know that Zoey Stark is talented in the ring but lacks a personality. Zoey aggressively asks Becky if she has ever owned a mirror, and says Becky had to rely on someone breaking her face to be special and is trying to hold on to that fame, and in effect, Trish Stratus. Zoey says she will break Becky's face again and make her famous at Money In The Bank, but Becky says that they do not have to wait and that they can fight right now. Suddenly, Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville show up. Sonya says it is time to address Becky's blatant disrespect towards her and Chelsea last week, and Chelsea says she did not fight back because she did not want to cost Sonya the Money In The Bank ladder match. As Sonya says she was trying to check up on Chelsea, which caused her to lose, Becky tells Sonya to take a seat at ringside while she makes Chelsea Green famous. This starts the next match.

Becky Lynch beats Chelsea Green with the Dis-Arm-Her as Zoey Stark watches the match from atop a ladder on the stage.

Backstage, The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio) boast about Dominik being ready for "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Meanwhile, Finn is pre-occupied, which worries Rhea. Priest says that he will qualify for Money In The Bank tonight, but tells the rest of The Judgment Day that he is going to do this alone.

Damian Priest beats Matt Riddle with a Razor's Edge off the ropes to qualify for the men's Money In The Bank Ladder Match. After the match, Imperium (Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser) shows up, and they head to the ring as Priest makes his way out. Priest looks at Gunther, then tells him "Pick the bones." Gunther and Kaiser gang up on Riddle for attacking and injuring Giovanni Vinci last week, then Kaiser holds Riddle down so that Gunther can chop Riddle in the chest.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Cody says that The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley) love to gas Dominik Mysterio up and that Dominik Mysterio will get hurt. He says that Brock Lesnar will not show up and Dominik will not go away, but he knows all eyes are on him and that he will finish the story. He says that Lesnar and Dominik will not knock him off the path, and that he wishes Dominik good luck.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Natalya. Natalya says being herself has gotten her nowhere and that she does not know how to be herself anymore. Saxton then catches Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Owens says he came close to beating the seemingly unbeatable, but he and Sami soon get payback. Imperium (Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser) show up, and Kaiser says payback is what happened to Matt Riddle before bringing up Owens' loss with Gunther. Sami says Imperium has no right to brag, especially since it took all three members of Imperium (Gunther, Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) to beat Owens and that Riddle injured Giovanni Vinci. WWE official Adam Pearce shows up, and when Sami says that they will put Imperium in their place tonight, Kaiser notes Sami's confidence and dares Owens and Sami to put their tag team titles on the line tonight. Owens gets fired up and states he is game to do so before he leaves, then Sami tells Gunther that he and Kaiser are looking at the undisputed tag team champions before leaving. Gunther tells Pearce to make tonight's match a title match, but Pearce says he will have to think about that.

We hear from Indus Sher (Jinder Mahal, Veer Mahaan, Sanga). Jinder Mahal says they are not satisfied after last week, and that they offer Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin a proper match and a proper chance of survival, but warns that every one of their fears will be justified.

Bronson Reed beats Ricochet by disqualification. During the match, Shinsuke Nakamura shows up to get a closer look at the match. Later in the match, Bronson throws Ricochet into Nakamura, and as Bronson Reed goes for the Tsunami on Ricochet, Nakamura attacks Bronson Reed on the apron, ending the match. After the match, Ricochet confronts Nakamura, and Bronson lays both men out before going for the Tsunami on Nakamura. Ricochet fights off Bronson, then he and Nakamura work together to hit Bronson with a Superplex.

Backstage, Sami Zayn talks with Kevin Owens about his recent blowups, including tonight's, and Owens admits he has been stressed for the last few months, first with The Bloodline and then with Imperium. Sami asks Owens if he is good, to which Owens replies "Yes."

Backstage, WWE official Adam Pearce makes it official that tonight's tag team match will be for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships. Suddenly, Ricochet meets with Pearce wanting a rematch with Bronson Reed, only to find out Bronson is in a match next week against Shinsuke Nakamura, who is suddenly next to him. Ricochet says tonight was his fight, not Nakamura's, and warns him that if what happened tonight happens again, there will be problems. Nakamura says it is nothing personal and that it is his turn to succeed where Ricochet has failed, and that Ricochet can have Bronson when he is done with him.

Finn Balor heads to the ring. Finn calls out Seth "Freakin'" Rollins, saying that he knows he is here before calling him out for a face-to-face meeting. Rollins shows up, then Finn Balor says he has words that he has been waiting to say for seven years. All the while, everyone keeps singing Rollins' theme song. Finn talks about how he came to Raw seven years ago and beat Rollins to become the first-ever WWE Universal Champion, and after minutes of people still singing Rollins' theme song, Finn says the highest of highs became the lowest of lows thanks to Rollins. Finn mentions the injuries that he received from that match with Rollins and says that while injuries happen, what really bothers him is that Rollins took everything from him, including his title, his momentum and a year from his career. He then says it is his turn to take it all back when he takes Rollins' momentum and title and a year of Rollins' career away at Money In The Bank. Rollins laughs, and explains that this is the Finn Balor he has been waiting to see for the past seven years. He says that match sent them both on different career trajectories when one got bitter and the other got better. He admits he has done some bad things over the past seven years, but he has also made memories, history and moments that the fans will never forget. Rollins says he did that because he changed, adapted, rolled with the punches and got better to the point that he is his best self, and that the proof is in the World Heavyweight Championship. He then says that if Finn Balor wants a crack at it, he is on. He then asks which version of Finn Balor will show up in London, as the bitter shell of Finn Balor will not stand a chance while the Finn Balor that beat him to become champion has a shot. Rollins asks Finn Balor if he will bring the Finn Balor that beat him, or the Finn Balor who has "spent the last seven years acting like a little bitch."

"The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler beats Raquel Rodriguez after "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey gets on the apron and distracts Raquel, allowing Shayna to pin Raquel with a schoolkid pin and also allowing Ronda to put both feet on Shayna to give her leverage.

In memory of The Iron Shiek, 1942 - 2023.

Chad Gable beats Erik with an O'Connor Roll after Maxxine Dupri takes down Valhalla with an arm drag at ringside when Valhalla charges at her.

We see a vignette for Rhea Ripley.

Backstage, Finn Balor is talking with JD McDonagh when Damian Priest shows up. McDonagh leaves, and Finn congratulates Priest on qualifying for Money In The Bank. Priest notes that Finn Balor is in a better mood, then Finn asks Priest if he would cash in on him. Priest says that would not happen, then says he is happy for Finn and his opportunity. He then tells Finn that Rollins has him going up and down and that he needs to end things between them.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Seth "Freakin'" Rollins. Rollins says he is as prepared and confident as one man should be, then asks if Finn Balor is prepared for him, because Finn Balor will not only lose his mind, but Damian Priest will be out for him as well. Rollins then decides to throw a monkey wrench into the proceedings and announces an open challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship next week.

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships Imperium (Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser) after Matt Riddle shows up with officials trying to stop him. Gunther hits Riddle with a big boot, but Owens hits Gunther with a DDT on the ramp. This allows Sami Zayn to hit a distracted Ludwig Kaiser with a Blue Thunder Bomb in the middle of the ring to win the match and retain the tag titles.

This week on Raw Talk: Becky Lynch! Zoey Stark! Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri)!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!