Raw Deal - Raw recap for June 26, 2023

Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio are in the ring to start tonight's show. Dominik cannot even welcome everyone in the arena to the show without being booed, so Rhea has to take the microphone. Rhea calls "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes "a wannabe and a loser" and says that Dominik will beat Cody at Money In The Bank. Suddenly Cody shows up and heads to the ring. Cody welcomes everyone to the show to spit Dominik, and Rhea says that while Cody can bully Dominik as much as he likes, Dominik is a dangerous man. She also tells Cody that he will find out how dangerous Dominik is when Dominik gets booed again. Cody says that despite his cheap shot, Dominik is a smart guy, and tells him to be who he is and say how he feels, as those who don't matter mind and those who mind don't matter.He then says that Dominik is scared and calls him "a scared little boy," and Rhea and Dominik leave, with Cody saying that Damian Priest is not scared of him and offering Dominik a free shot. Dominik heads back to the ring and gets on the apron, then jumps back off and leaves with Rhea again. Cody says that while Dominik's cheap shots are dirty and effect, Dominik will be stepping in an entirely different body of water on Saturday. He then tells Dominik to either prove that he is half the man his father is or that he is "Mami's little boy."

Bronson Reed watches from ringside for the next match. He soon gets ejected from ringside after distracting Shinsuke Nakamura and climbing onto the ring apron in full view of the referee.

Ricochet beats Shinsuke Nakamura.

In footage from earlier today, Matt Riddle announces that he will challenge Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship at Money In The Bank.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Matt Riddle. Riddle says his ankle is good and that he is tured of Gunther hiding behind his friends. Ludwig Kaiser shows up and tells Riddle he got what he deserves and asks him what makes him think he has a chance. Riddle reminds Kaiser that he beat him last week, and Kaiser says that will never happen again. Riddle punches him and goes for his arm, but he gets booted by Gunther, who accepts Riddle's challenge before stomping his hurt leg.

Backstage, Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley demand a match tonight from WWE official Adam Pearce. When asked who he wants as his opponent, Dominik says he will get back to him after Rhea whispers in his ear.

We see Money In The Bank, by the numbers.

"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey beats Raquel Rodriguez with an arm bar into a pinfall attempt as Liv Morgan attacks "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler for getting involved in the match.

We hear from Finn Balor. He says that the man who beat Seth "Freakin'" Rollins seven years ago is dead and that the present Finn Balor is much worse. He mentions his injures from that match that forced him to relinquish the Universal Championship, and how Rollins showed up and laughed in his face at his lowest point out of spite and jealousy. He says that Rollins made him bitter and that the bitterness is all he has while Rollins has it all before expressing his jealousy towards Rollins and stating that all that matters is vengeance and Rollins' title. Finn Balor says he will take it all back at Money In The Bank and that all Rollins will hear is ringing in his ears when he becomes a champion.

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins heads to the ring. Rollins introduces Carmelo Hayes, who is seen in the front row, and thanks him for having his back last week on NXT. After mentioning that they are both fighting champions, Rollins tells Carmelo to "whup on that bum-ass Corbin" before mentioning his own title match against Finn Balor. Rollins tells Finn Balor that despite all that has happened, he is still standing, and he calls Finn Balor out and tells him to finish the job right now. Finn fails to show up, and Rollins admits that Finn is now the smartest and most dangerous he has ever been after surrounding himself with all the right people and that he will hide in the shadows while he has convinced himself he will take everything from him. He admits that he will not be 100% at Money In The Bank, but that as good as Finn Balor is, Finn Balor has not accounted for him, for when the bell rings, the best version of Finn Balor is not as good as the best version of Seth "Freakin'" Rollins. Suddenly, Balor shows up, and a brawl starts between both men. Balor grabs a chair, but Carmelo Hayes takes it away from him, and Rollins chases Finn Balor into the crowd.

In backstage footage from earlier today, Tommaso Ciampa says he spent the last nine months of his life recovering from hip surgery and that The Miz never checked on him, and that everyone warned him that The Miz was a user and that they were right. He says the injury was a blessing in disguise and that nine months is a long time for a man to be alone with his thoughts, and that he asked himself why he was playing second fiddle to The Miz. He says that this time around, he creates his own opportunity.

It is announced that Carmelo Hayes will wrestle Finn Balor in his Raw debut tonight.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. The Miz ends before it begins after The Miz assaults Ciampa from behind.

Backstage, Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser are met by Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. Kaiser tells them to keep walking, but they confront them for their actions against Matt Riddle earlier tonight. Kaiser tells them to be careful with their words or else Gunther will teach them the same lesson he taught Owens a few weeks ago. Owens says he learned nothing, then Sami says it took all three members of Imperium (Gunther, Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) before challenging Gunther to a match tonight. Gunther says he is fully aware that Sami wants to ride on his coattails, then tells him to be his guest.

Dominik Mysterio's opponent is revealed to be Akira Tozawa.

Dominik Mysterio beats Akira Tozawa following the distraction from Rhea Ripley.

We hear from The Viking Raiders (Ivar, Erik, Valhalla). Valhalla says the gods have not spoken to her in weeks, and to do so, they must do terrible things. Ivar says they must destroy Alpha Academy, and Valhalla says she will hear the gods again and it will be beautiful.

Trish Stratus and Zoey Stark head to the ring. After the match, Becky Lynch, Iyo Sky, Bayley and Zelina Vega are also in the ring along with Corey Graves, who oversees a women's Money In The Bank Ladder Match summit. Bayley boasts about having being the only one in the ring who has won the briefcase before, and Iyo Sky says "May the best woman win" when Bayley says Iyo's chances of winning are as good as hers. Zelina says she is tried of the two of them dismissing everyone else in the match, Zelina says she is tried of the two of them dismissing everyone else in the match, but when she says she will become the next Ms. Money In The Bank, Bayley laughs, but Zelina says nobody asked her. Bayley and Zelina argue, then Trish Stratus says she sees nothing but "little girls" and that she was needed to save the women's division because she is a woman, not a little girl, and the best and the greatest woman to ever do this. She says that this may be her first ladder match, but winning is what she does, and when she wins the contract, everyone can thank her for being part of such a historic moment. Trish then asks Becky Lynch if she will be man enough to thank her when all is said and done, and Becky punches her in the face, starting a brawl. The brawl ends with Becky Lynch holding the women's Money In The Bank briefcase.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Carmelo Hayes. Carmelo says Seth Rollins invited him here and calls it an honor to be here, as he is a Superstar and champion he aspires to be, and that he will solve the Seth Rollins problem by beating Finn Balor. If he says he has to go out in a blaze of glory, he will do it, as one has to take shots to make shots and he will not miss.

Backstage, Becky Lynch meets Rhea Ripley. Rhea tells Becky to hope she does not win on Saturday, because if she cashes in on her, it will be the last thing she ever does. Becky says she would defend the title in every town in the main event, then calls Rhea "a main event sidepiece" and says that the title needs her, and that she plans to win the briefcase and make her squirm.

Kevin Owens guests on commentary for the next match.

Gunther beats Sami Zayn after Giovanni Vinci - who shows up in the middle of the match on crutches - hits Sami Zayn with a crutch as Ludwig Kaiser distracts the referee. After the match, Imperium (Gunther, Kaiser, Vinci) goes on the attack, but Matt Riddle runs into the ring and attacks all three members of Imperium with one of Vinci's crutches. Owens then hits Kaiser with a Stunner.

We see a video package of Carmelo Hayes in NXT.

Backstage, Omen and Maxxine Dupri are training when Chad Gable shows up and questions The Viking Raiders' (Ivar, Erik, Valhalla) words about them. Maxxine Dupri says she may have not had a match, she has destroyed Valhalla as of late and she is ready for anything she will throw at her. Gable says they will be here next week so The Viking Raiders can say what they want to say to their faces and that they are sticking to their plan. Otis says the plan is sheer carnage.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Natalya. Natalya says she signed up for this life and that Rhea Ripley is part of it as the top of the mountain., but her biggest battle is in her mind and that the fear of losing is not as bad as the fear of giving up. She says she has been broken, down and shaken, but she is still here and she wants Rhea Ripley to bring her championship and face her woman-to-woman, as there is not one woman who can erase or defeat what she has done in this company.

Finn Balor beats Carmelo Hayes.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Cody Rhodes (and Pharaoh). Cody says Damian Priest is walking into Money In The Bank with bruises not on his body, but on his ego, and he wishes he could boo Dominik Mysterio while part of the crowd. He says that at Money In The Bank, Dominik will not have The Judgment Day (Finn Blaor, Damian Priet, Rhea Ripley), and while he has not laid a finger on "Dirty Dom," he will soon see what Dominik does have.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beats Damian Priest despite the interference from Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio. After the match, Dominik hits Cody with another cheap shot.

This week on Raw Talk: Ricochet! The Miz! Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan!

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