WWE Hershey-As a fan in Section D of the Giant Center said in realization at the end of WWERaw on Monday night, “We never got to do the whoa.”
Those who have watched WWE programming in the past year know that Cody Rhodes’ entrance theme, “Kingdom,” comes right after the line “Out the curtain, lights go up, I’m home.”.
WWE did show Rhodes on screen both before and after the show. The WWE wanted it to appear that he shouldn’t have been in the ring when he made it to the ring one time during the show.
As it happened on Monday night, Brock Lesnar jumped Cody Rhodes while he was entering the arena. Lesnar attacked Cody’s left arm and mocked him for wanting to fight at Night of Champions.
A half-way through Raw, Lesnar announced Rhodes would not be able to attend the live event this weekend, and laid out an open challenge to anyone willing to step up in his place. Lesnar and Rhodes attempted to throw down right there, but Rhodes came out with his arm in a sling.
As a result, Rhodes ended up taking even more damage to his left arm after being locked in a kimura by Lesnar.
After Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Matt Riddle defeated Imperium, the main event ended about four minutes before 11 p.m. ET, but it wasn’t the end of it. There was a sense that something would happen and that something was Triple H visiting Rhodes in the locker room and trying to convince him that Night of Champions was over.
There’s a built-in excuse for WWE to have Cody lose and continue the feud (perhaps to SummerSlam) by having Rhodes refuse and fight Lesnar anyway. We’ll have to wait until Saturday to see if it all plays out in a satisfactory way, as it was an unconventional but not illogical way to end the final live show before a premium live event.
Here’s what happened on Monday night.
Hershey WWE Raw results:
Rhodes’ left arm was smashed between a beer keg and a metal rolldown door when Lesnar attacked him in the back
Paul Heyman took to the microphone to claim no responsibility for what just happened but suggested that was just a taste of what Rhodes would face at Night of Champions
In addition to their upcoming title defense at Night of Champions, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn also have a business to attend to tonight … and that business found them, with Imperium surrounding the ring, but Matt Riddle arrived to help them run off and become their partner.
Pearce refused to confirm or deny Rhodes’ broken arm to Byron Saxton
Ricochet is pinfalled by Bronson Reed
During Apollo Crews’ interview, Dominik Mysterio talked his way into a match, and Rhea Ripley warned Natalya she would end her career at Night of Champions
Rollins said he loves Roman Reigns but doesn’t like Roman Reigns in the third part of Corey Graves’ interview with Seth Rollins.
During tonight’s match, Finn Balor had some words for Shinsuke Nakamura
Despite Nikki Cross’ encouragement, Zoey Stark pins Candice LeRae by pinfall
It seemed that Mustafa Ali was more serious than he has been lately, discussing the opportunity he will have this weekend … until Lesnar walked past him, telling Ali to get a life as he passed.
Rhodes was injured even more when Adam Pearce and other officials barged into the ring to confront Lesnar.
Indus Sher was featured in a promotional video
Viking Raiders were defeated by Alpha Academy by pinfall
Damian Priest assisted Finn Balor in defeating Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall
Shotzi saved Raquel Rodriguez from a two-on-one beating after she defeated Sonya Deville by pinfall
Trish Stratus proposed a “no touch” policy for signing Becky Lynch’s contract, but Pearce declined…
While signing their contracts, Stratus and Lynch mostly traded insults
The Rhodes situation is updated by Pearce over the phone
Shotzi is offered the chance to be her tag team partner so that the women’s tag team titles can be reclaimed
Apollo Crews is defeated by Dominik Mysterio by pinfall, assisted by Rhea Ripley as usual
During the final segment of the Graves-Rollins interview, Seth discussed his desire to win the World Heavyweight Championship.
By pinfall, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Matt Riddle defeat Imperium
Rhodes refused to compete at Night of Champions despite Triple H’s efforts
Ludwig Kaiser ended up going through a table after Imperium attempted to avenge Owens, Zayn, and Riddle after the show went off the air.
