Raw Deal - Raw recap for August 14, 2023

The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio) heads to the ring to start tonight's show, with Finn Balor once again not being seen in the group. Damian Priest says that Finn Balor should have won the World Heavyweight Championship and that they should have won their match last week, but as long as he is Mr. Money In The Bank, The Judgment Day still dictates what happens around here. He says Finn Balor will handle Cody Rhodes, then says that The Judgment Day is not going anywhere and that he and Finn are smarter than that, then admits that Finn Balor should be here. As Damian Priest says there are obvious problems in The Judgment Day, JD McDonagh shows up and tells them that they have a message from Finn, telling them not to worry about their friendship and worry about "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn. As he tells them to take care of Cody and Sami, Rhea says they take orders from nobody, especially from outsiders, and Dominik says that they have everything on lockdown as he is booed before calling Canada "a dump." Dominik tells McDonagh to head to the back, and Rhea Ripley tells McDonagh to tell Finn that they need to talk. Sami Zayn shows up, and McDonagh unsuccessfully heads him off at the pass before getting beaten up, and The Judgment Day look on as they leave.

Sami Zayn beats JD McDonagh. During the match, Finn Balor shows up and distracts Sami, but Sami is able to fight on and get the feet up to block a top rope moonsault from McDonagh before fending off Finn and hitting McDonagh with the Helluva Kick for the win.

Backstage, WWE official Adam Pearce meets with Chelsea Green, who says that she has worked too hard for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship and threatens to call Human Resources if he strips her of them. When Pearce asks Chelsea what she would do, Chelsea says she would hold auditions for a new tag team partner. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter show up and propose a challenge for when Chelsea gets a new partner, then Piper Niven shows up and attacks Kacy before declaring herself Chelsea's new partner and taking one of the women's tag belts.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Cody admits he admires Finn Balor after seeing his career in Japan as well as in WWE, then acknowledges the rest of The Judgment Day for stating he will be ready for all four members of the group.

Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) head to the ring. Gunther states that on his journey to becoming the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time, he has arrived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and while he looks forward to coming to Canada, he understands why Winnipeg is called "the armpit of Canada." He then addresses Chad Gable, the next #1 contender to his championship, admitting that he was impressed with his victory last week and stating that he has been working hard as the best athlete WWE has to offer. He then states that he has done more in a year than Gable is to his career, and considers the notion that Gable is a threat "ridiculous" before Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri) shows up and Gable shooshes Gunther. Gable mentions lasting more than five minutes against Gunther two weeks ago, then tells Gunther that he is on the clock for the longest-reigning Intercontinental Championship and that he is standing in the way of that. He says he has been working for an opportunity for ten years and that he is at Gunther's heels, nipping him down and ready to take his title. He then tells Vinci, his opponent for tonight, to get in the ring and catch some free lessons from him. Kaiser says that Vinci belongs to the "creme de la creme" that WWE has to offer and that Vinci will embarrass Gable just like he embarrassed Otis last week, and that eventually, Maxxine Dupri will surround herself with "European elegance" with "A+ aesthetics." Kaiser then calls Alpha Academy "a sinking ship" and tells Maxxine that he is reaching his hand out to her, and she can either let him save her or "let that 360-pound anchor drag her down" until she is "an absolute embarrassment" like them. Maxxine responds by slapping Kaiser again.

Chad Gable beats Giovanni Vinci. After the match, Gunther says this is not how tonight will end before challenging Otis to a match.

Gunther beats Otis. After the match, Chad Gable runs into the ring and hits Gunther with a German suplex.

Backstage, Finn Balor and Damian Priest argue, and Rhea Ripley tells them to stop, as everyone wants to see them crumble. He says that nobody is scared of them and that they are losing their killer instinct, and that they have to get what is theirs. JD McDonagh shows up, and Finn Balor tells him they will talk later after Priest tells McDonagh to step away from their business. Finn tells Priest this is about them, not him and McDonagh, and that he will take care of Cody Rhodes tonight.

In backstage footage from earlier today, Jackie Redmond interviews Drew McIntyre. On the subject of what is next for him, McIntyre is suddenly met by Matt Riddle, who wants to start a new tag team. He has answered The Viking Raiders' (Ivar and Erik) open challenge, and asks McIntyre to be his tag team partner. McIntyre says that if Riddle cannot find a tag team partner, he will consider it.

We hear from Indi Hartwell, who is struggling to find out who she is. She says that doubt kills dreams and that she is done with doubt, and that she has come from Melbourne, Australia for this moment, right here, right now.

Before the next match, Drew McIntyre heads to the ring to be Matt Riddle's tag team partner.

Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle beat The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik).

Backstage, Raquel Rodriguez meets with Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae and mentions that she still cannot get cleared. Candice tells Raquel to be patient, for she will get her chance, then Raquel tells Indi that this is her night and make it hers.

Backstage, Matt Riddle talks with Drew McIntyre and entertains the idea of being tag team champions together. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) shows up, and Xavier Woods takes offense to Riddle trying to horn in on the tag team titles on Kofi's birthday before Kofi Kingston says Riddle and McIntyre are not a real team and cannot just get a shot at the tag team titles before challenging them to a tag match next week. Riddle accepts on McIntyre's behalf.

Rhea Ripley beats Indi Hartwell. After the match, Candice LeRae fights Rhea Ripley, but Rhea Ripley fights back. Candice and Indi double-team Rhea Ripley, then retreat.

Michael Cole interviews Shinsuke Nakamura in the ring. When asked why he attacked Seth "Freakin'" Rollins last week, Nakamura says he wants the World Heavyweight Championship, then says he will win the title before Seth Rollins shows up. Rollins gives Nakamura credit where credit is due for "playing it to perfection" and knocking him out over the World Heavyweight Championship, then says that Nakamura is not telling the whole story and that he is not hard to find. He also tells Nakamura that he is a fighting champion and that until he had the utmost respect for him until last week, and says all Nakamura had to do was ask. He then says he is less concerned about why Nakamura kicked him in the face and more concerned about how to get even.Rollins then realized that in order to get what he wants, he must give Nakamura what he wants, and if Nakamura wants to challenge him, then he accepts that challenge, and all Nakamura has to do is name the time and place so he can kick his ass. He then says that they should both give the people what they want and shake his hand and leave while the fans sing his song. Nakamura shakes his hand Nakamura whispers something in Rollins' ear, which confounds Rollins. All of a sudden, Nakamura slides back into the ring and hits Rollins with a Kinshasa.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews The Miz, who states that LA Knight did not shake his hand and accuses Saxton of being a LA Knight fan before stating he will beat someone bigger, faster, stronger and more dominant than anyone Knight has faced in his career.

Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch ends in a double count-out as both women fight near the barricade and into the crowd. After the match, Becky and Trish fight their way onto the concourse. All of a sudden, Becky is attacked by a hooded Zoey Stark.

Backstage, Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) talks amongst each other. Gunther says tonight was an absolute embarrassment, and says that ever since they came to Raw, Vinci has been an embarrassment and Kaiser has lost focus. Kaiser says this will never happen again, and Gunther tells him he will sort this out himself. He says that if Gable wants his title, he will have to take it off of him next week.

Backstage, WWE official Adam Pearce confronts Trish Stratus and Zoey Stark for wiggling out of a match with Becky, then makes another rematch, this time in a steel cage.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beats Finn Balor. Rhea Ripley and "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio show up during the match, and Damian Priest shows up later. Later on in the match, Rhea Ripley slides a chair into the ring, and when the referee takes it away, Priest slides the Money In The Bank briefcase to Finn only for it to slide past Finn towards Cody instead. Cody then uses the briefcase as a weapon to get the win. After the match, Priest and Dominik gang up on Cody, then Sami Zayn fights his way to the ring with a chair, where he fends off The Judgment Day. Sami is suddenly attacked from behind by JD McDonagh, and Finn and Priest gang up on Sami before McDonagh warns Priest about Cody. Priest hits Cody with South of Heaven, then Finn hits Cody with the Coup de Grace. Finn then tosses Sami to Rhea and Dominik, who then gang up on Sami before Priest slams Sami through the announce table with the Razor's Edge. Afterwards, Finn hits Cody with another Coup de Grace to end the show.

This week on Raw Talk: Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri)! "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler! Shinsuke Nakamura!

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