Raw Deal - Raw recap for August 7, 2023

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes shows up to start tonight's show. Cody Rhodes says he has had both the honor and the misery of not only standing across from Brock as well as surviving him, but admits he did not expect him to shake his hand in a sign of respect. When chatting with his mother this morning, his mother told him that Brock Lesnar acknowledged him, and now, he feels on top of the world and feels like he can beat anybody in the world. All of a sudden, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins shows up. Rollins remembers Cody being the first person to get in his face when he mentioned the future of the World Heavyweight Championship, and states that if Cody feels like he can beat anyone in the world, then they can put that feeling to the test. Suddenly, The Judgment Day - minus Finn Balor - show up, and Priest and Rhea tell Rollins that The Judgment Day run Raw before Priest says that they have been sweeping up championships and that he is the workhorse. He also says that Dominik will be defending his title later this week, then Dom gets booed after one word before Finn Balor runs out from out of nowhere and attacks Rollins from behind. Sami Zayn runs in to even the numbers during the ensuing brawl, and he, Cody and Rollins come out on top. This leads to Cody challenging The Judgment Day to a six-man tag match, but Rollins does not seem to want to be part of this.

In backstage footage from earlier today, WWE official Adam Pearce is talking to Ricochet when Chad Gable, Matt Riddle and Tommaso Ciampa show up. Pearce puts all four men in a Fatal 4-Way Match where the winner faces Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

Chad Gable beats Tommaso Ciampa, Matt Riddle and Ricochet in a Fatal 4-Way Match to face Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. After the match, Chad Gable celebrates with his family and carries his son around the ring.

Backstage, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins shows his dissatisfaction towards "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes for making decisions for him and forcing him to team up. Sami says he does not expect Rollins and Cody to solve their problems overnight, but they have dealt with The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio) for months and they have to deal with them once and for all and Cody and Rollins have to move past this. Cody says "I'm cool," as does Rollins, but Rollins still seems reluctant.

Backstage, The Miz finds out that he has to wait for LA Knight to finish his photoshoot. The Miz is furious.

Shinsuke Nakamura beats "Big" Bronson Reed after Bronson Reed misses with the Tsunami and Nakamura hits the Kinshasa twice, one to the back of the neck and again to the face.

In backstage footage from earlier today, Raquel Rodriguez finds out from WWE official Adam Pearce that she is not yet medically cleared after what Rhea Ripley, and is consoled by Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae.

Backstage, Maxxine Dupri is met by Ludwig Kaiser, who wants to congratulate Chad Gable and let him now that Gunther looks forward to wiping the mat with him, then says he has kept his eye on Maxxine for some time and lets her know that some people are just better and that Alpha Academy (Gable, Otis, Maxxine) is the worst. Maxxine slaps Kaiser when he makes fun of Otis, then Otis confronts Kaiser and challenges him to a match, which Kaiser accepts before saying he will seen Maxxine later.

Becky Lynch heads to the ring. Becky says that she is so close to the end and that she has been fighting, talking, scratching, winning, losing, overcoming obstacles and failing, and while she is becoming tired and weary, she is looking forward to ending this charade when she gets her rematch with Trish Stratus. As she looks forward to having a one-on-one match with Trish with no interference, especially from Zoey Stark, Zoey shows up and says that this has been over for long enough, as she and Trish have both beaten Becky. She claims that Becky is scared of her and left her balls back home, and Becky tells Zoey that she is too good for her good and that she is with Trish because she wants it easy but is too stupid to realize Trish has taken her in the wrong direction. Zoey says she plays second fiddle to no one and that she is very good at what she does, and chalks everything up to Becky being jealous of Trish picking her because she is the fastest-rising star and the baddest woman in the locker room. All of a sudden, "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler shows up and brags about driving "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey out of WWE when Becky tells Shayna that she looks rough, and admits that while she was not invited, she wants to know who the baddest is between her and Zoey. Zoey calls Shayna "the baddest punching bag of all time," then threatens to drive her out of WWE like Shayna did Ronda if she keeps stepping up to her. Becky sees a fight between Shayna and Zoey coming, and asks WWE official Adam Pearce to make the match official. WWE official Adam Pearce shows up and does just that while bringing out a referee.

Backstage, JD McDonagh is speaking with Finn Balor when Damian Priest shows up wanting to talk. Priest wants to know what is going on with Finn Balor not sticking to the plan, and Finn accuses Priest of sticking to the plan at SummerSlam. Priest says that despite his help, Finn lost, but Finn says he lost because of his help. Priest tells Finn he is crowding him, but Finn says the contract is crowding both of them. Rhea Ripley gets between Finn and Priest and reasons with them, and says they need to be on the same page so they can run Raw. McDonagh thinks the contract is getting between Finn and Priest and that they need to get with it.Priest gets angry, but Rhea tells Priest not to listen to McDonagh.

Becky Lynch watches from the announce table - and drinks lemonade - for the next match.

"The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler beats Zoey Stark.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Shinsuke Nakamura, who says he is tired of people getting in his way, and tonight, he won. He says that from now on, he carves his won path. All of a sudden, JD McDonagh is seen attacking Sami Zayn.

Ludwig Kaiser beats Otis after Giovanni Vinci tries to stop the Caterpillar and Gunther shows up to attack Otis behind the referee's back. After the match, Imperium (Gunther, Kaiser, Vinci) attacks Otis, but they scatter when Chad Gable runs into the ring.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and Seth "Freakin"" Rollins at the trainer's room. Rollins says that even though Sami wants to go, he cannot be cleared. Shinsuke Nakamura shows up and offers to replace Sami on their team tonight, and Rollins accepts.

The Miz heads to the ring. Miz says he came to Raw to find someone whom everyone loves in LA Knight taking priority over him, and says that when he came to WWE a long time ago, he was taught respect for those who came before. He says that LA Knight has neither introduced himself or shook his head, and states that he is sick and tired of the disrespect from the new crop of talent when LA Knight shows up. Knight says they got a great introduction at the SummerSlam battle royal, then has the fans introduce him before offering to shake his hand. Miz says "No," saying Knight does not deserve to shake his hand, for he has seen new people ride his coattails. He says that new arrivals take everything away from him before calling LA Knight a flash in the pan and the flavor of the months, and that the fans will love him and think he is it for the next five months while he is really "an Attitude Era fanboy" cosplaying in his ring. Knight says he has no problem with Miz, but warns Miz not to make this personal. Miz says he takes his career personally like he has been for the last twenty years, and asks what Knight has done in that time. Knight says that for the last twenty years, he has made himself a dangerous man, clawing and scratching and doing all he needs to do from the outside looking in and looking for an opening while the wrong horses - including Miz - have been bet on. He says Miz only had a twenty-year head start only because he was safe while he himself is not a person to be messed with, and yet Miz won every championship he could. He says that if Miz wants to make this personal, he can make Miz a stepping stone on the way to the main event. Miz says he is the main event and that Knight is not on his level, and Knight dares Miz to prove him wrong. Miz takes off his suit jacket, then fakes leaving before throwing the jacket at Knight and hitting a cheap shot. Miz goes for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Knight counters with the Blunt Force Trauma.

In footage from earlier today, The Viking Raiders (Ivar, Erik, Valhalla) declare that the gods have called to them and that they have issued an open challenge.

The Viking Raiders' (Ivar, Erik, Valhalla) open challenge is answered by The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods), who have not been seen in months.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) beat The Viking Raiders' (Ivar and Erik).

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Becky Lynch when "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler shows up and tells Becky she did not need her help tonight or ever and that she has a whole list of scores to settle and that she is coming for her sooner rather than later.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods). Kofi says it feels good to be back and that The Viking Raiders forgot that they are the gods of the tag team division, and Woods says they are back to put some positivity back in the division and become tag team champs.

It is announced that Sonya Deville has suffered a torn ACL and that she will be out indefinitely. As a result, new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions will have to be crowned.

Before the next match, Rhea Ripley is attacked by Raquel Rodriguez, and multiple officials including Adam Pearce as well as Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell have to stop it.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, Seth "Freakin'" Rolins and Shinsuke Nakamura beat The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio) after Sami Zayn attacks Priest for using the Money In The Bank Briefcase as a weapon and Rollins keeps Balor from doing the same before Cody hits Cross Rhodes for the win. After the match, Cody and Rollins shake hands after Sami Zayn plays peacemaker. All of a sudden, Nakamura hits Rollins with a Kinshasa to end the show.

This week on Raw Talk: LA Knight! Ludwig Kaiser! The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)!

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