A week after a shocking return and attack on Trish Stratus, Becky Lynch took to the WWE Raw stage in response to the Hall of Famer.

The Man's address to the fans was one headlining segment of the May 15 broadcast, which also saw Cody Rhodes' reaction to his brutal beatdown by Brock Lesnar and a Battle Royal to determine the No. 1 contender to Gunther's Intercontinental Championship.

Relive all of the action from Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, with this recap of Monday's broadcast.

Match Card

Announced in advance for Monday's show:

• Cody Rhodes' response to Brock Lesnar
• Becky Lynch's response to Trish Stratus
• Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Miz
• Intercontinental Championship No. 1 Contender's Battle Royal, and the Raw debut of Imperium 

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn Kick Off Raw

Kevin Owens is tired of talking and wants to fight, something that was made abundantly clear during the opening segment of Raw.

Fed up with The Bloodline and almost eager to take on The Judgment Day, he and Sami Zayn engaged Finn Bálor, Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio in a brawl that ended with KO battered but the champions still standing.

The passion and frustration exhibited by Owens and Zayn was reflective of two men fed up with the same old song-and-dance routine.

They have combated the heels so frequently over the last five months that they want to finish this particular chapter of the story and hopefully will do that at Night of Champions on May 27 with a successful title defense over Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa.

Letting their emotions get the best of them and taking on a fight with The Judgment Day may not be the best way to preserve their energy and health, though.

Grade

B+

Top Moments

• "He has cheated his way through an entire title reign and now, Roman, we are going to check you," Zayn warned The Tribal Chief.
• "I'm so happy you guys are out here because I'm so sick of talking about The Bloodline," Owens said, almost gleeful that The Judgment Day interrupted the proceedings.
• "The line starts here," Bálor said, staking his faction's claim to a tag team title opportunity.
• Zayn egged the crowd on in their booing of Dom. Owens said: "I can't hear anything he's saying! Can I just punch him in the face already?" A brawl ensued, and the heels stood tall, albeit chased from the ring by a chair-toting Zayn.  

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Miz

Shinsuke Nakamura certainly feels like a bigger deal now than he has in recent years, but one cannot help but think there were better ways to introduce him to the Raw audience than a feud with a relatively ice-cold Miz.

That is not an insult intended for The A-Lister, but more for the creative team that has allowed the long-tenured competitor to become that way.

Nakamura defeated Miz, surviving a cheap eye rake and Skull Crushing Finale to deliver Kinshasa and keep momentum on his side, but the definitive nature of the win raises the question: Where does The Artist go from here?

If WWE wants to avoid problems similar to those in his booking previously in Nakamura's career, one can only hope Triple H already has a vision. Otherwise, this will feel a lot like a "been there, done that" non-push sooner rather than later.

Result

Nakamura defeated The Miz

Grade

C+

Top Moments

• The Miz raked the eyes of his opponent and delivered his trademark finisher, only for Nakamura to get one of his long legs over the bottom rope and break up the pin.
  
• Backstage, Adam Pearce revealed to Raquel Rodriguez, Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville that the scheduled WWE Women's Tag Team Championship match was off because of an injury suffered by Liv Morgan. Rodriguez vs. Green is the match instead. 

No. 1 Contender Battle Royal For Intercontinental Title

Intercontinental champion Gunther made his Raw debut and introduced the Battle Royal to determine the No. 1 contender to his title at Night of Champions.

Notable competitors in the match included Apollo Crews, Matt Riddle, Bronson Reed, Johnny Gargano, Mustafa Ali, Ricochet and NXT call-ups Von Wagner, JD McDonagh and Xyon Quinn.

A story-heavy match started with Riddle taunting Imperium at ringside and succumbing to interference from Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser before concluding with Ali paying off his months-long journey to positivity by earning his shot at the belt on May 27.

There was a lot to love about this match, including the manner in which Triple H and the creative team used it to introduce and further storylines.

From the genesis of McDonagh vs. Dolph Ziggler to the start of Alpha Academy vs. Viking Raiders, the contest utilized the overarching framework to set the stage for matches and feuds that will define the red brand in the coming weeks.

That is smart booking and a clever way to do so without force-feeding the audience too much in too many segments.

Result

Ali won the Battle Royal and will challenge Gunther for the IC title at Night of Champions

Grade

B+

Top Moments

• McDonagh brutalized Ziggler, repeatedly slamming him face-first into the ring steps and setting off a rivalry that should result in at least one great match.
• An exchange between Alpha Academy and The Viking Raiders ended with both teams eliminated and the red brand tag division having a new rivalry to build on.
• Kaiser and Vinci tripped up Riddle, allowing Reed to eliminate him.
• With Ricochet hoisted on the shoulders of Reed, Ali delivered a big dropkick that sent both Superstars to the floor and earned the biggest win of his career.

Becky Lynch Addresses Trish Stratus

At one point in her promo Monday night, Becky Lynch claimed Trish Stratus had reawakened a fire in her that had been dormant for too long. In more ways than one, it seemed, as she cut a phenomenal promo that ranked right alongside some of her best work.

The Man warned Stratus of what she had done by betraying her before revealing that the biggest star of this generation will square off with the top women's wrestler of the golden era in WWE at Night of Champions.

It is a huge match, and it's almost disappointing that there is not more time to build toward it.

Stratus as the antagonizing heel who infuriates Lynch before attempting to turn her emotions against The Man is a story that writes itself. As it stands, the dream match will take place on a relatively huge stage in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Hopefully, this is just the start of the program, because it feels like a story that can generate months of television before a PPV-worthy ending.

Still, this was Lynch's best in a long time and felt like a return to form for a woman who was once the most attitudinal characters in WWE.

Grade

A+

Top Moments

• Lynch told the story of being overwhelmed and in need of help, so she reached out to Lita and Stratus, only to be betrayed by the latter, "like the backstabbing snake that she is."
• "I have done it, been it, don't need a championship to prove it," The Man said. "I will show you how thankful I am when I kick your head in at Night of Champions."
• SmackDown women's champion Rhea Ripley watched Lynch leave the arena in a possible hint at an eventual showdown between the two before issuing a few words of warning to Natalya. 

Xavier Woods vs. Dominik Mysterio

Dominik Mysterio and Xavier Woods wrote the latest chapter in their young rivalry Monday night, with the hated heel making it 2-0 against the future Hall of Famer thanks to some well-timed interference from Rhea Ripley at ringside.

Mysterio scored the victory, continuing what was an eventful night for The Judgment Day, which set up a main event for Finn Bálor and Damian Priest and saw Ripley intensify her rivalry with Natalya by threatening to retire the third-generation star.

Dominik winning here continued his red-hot run as one of the most detested villains in all of WWE and served as further evidence that the faction and its members are equally valuable to the company.

Mysterio is building momentum as a singles star, and there really is no one more equipped to help him from a learning perspective, not to mention in garnering even more heat, than Woods.

This has been a fun side program for both men and, if there are no immediate plans elsewhere, it's a good use of both.

Result

Mysterio defeated Woods

Grade

C+

Top Moments

• "I don't have anyone watching my back...yet," Woods teased potential returns of Kofi Kingston and Big E.
• Woods and Ripley went face-to-face, with the latter essentially daring the babyface to do something about her interference.
• Mysterio delivered the Three Amigos, drawing a thunderous chorus of boos along the way.
• "X gon' give it to ya," commentator Corey Graves said after a Woods attack on Mysterio, quoting DMX and potentially spawning a new T-shirt for the 2021 King of the Ring winner. 
• Ripley got in a cheap shot on Woods, leading to Mysterio scoring the tainted victory.

Indus Sher Debuted

Graves apologized to the WWE Universe at the top of the segment, admitting he did not learn the names of the young competitors tasked with facing Veer and Sanga.

He didn't need to, though.

The Raw newcomers steamrolled the competition en route to an impressive squash match that motivated former WWE champion Jinder Mahal to proclaim Indus Sher will rule the red brand.

Unlike the uninspired introduction to Veer just over a year ago, this was an effective look at the newcomers, which highlighted their intensity and introduced them to the fans as a threat to any tag teams that stand between them and their ultimate goal.

The question now will be how long WWE officials can get by booking squash matches before moving them on to bigger things against more credible opposition.

Result

Indus Sher defeated two dudes (sans attitudes)

Grade

B

Top Moments

• Mahal picked up a headset and spoke into it, claiming Indus Sher would dominate Raw. He then picked up a microphone and did the same thing, apparently intent on getting his point across for those who did not understand first time. 

Cody Rhodes Responds to Brock Lesnar

Is Cody Rhodes the best promo in wrestling right now?

It's a valid question, particularly when he can show up, drop a few bars and leave fans as excited for an upcoming match as any layered storyline.

The American Nightmare did just that Monday when he cut a promo on Brock Lesnar and accepted his challenge for a fight at Night of Champions. He then wrapped things up by claiming The Beast Incarnate's biggest transgression is simply that he is in his way.

This was short and to the point. More importantly, it was passionate and easy for fans to invest in. Rhodes wants revenge and to get beyond Lesnar to get back to finishing his story.

If he can take a jab at The Beast's ego by refuting the idea of the former world champion as a "big thing" and relegating him to the role of a hurdle to overcome, even better.

This was another fire promo from someone who is as captivating a speaker as there is in the industry today.

Grade

A

Top Moments

• Rhodes recalled the story of the scorpion and the frog, with the purpose being that it was always in the scorpion's nature to sting the frog, whether he intended to or not.
• "It is Brock Lesnar's nature to hunt," The American Nightmare said. He delivered a cheap shot, asking "the hunter" how his face was after he was left bloodied at Backlash.
• "You are simply in my way," Rhodes told The Beast. 

Raquel Rodriguez vs. Chelsea Green; Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler Strike

Raquel Rodriguez may have overcome the numbers disadvantage when she defeated Chelsea Green despite Sonya Deville's presence but, without Liv Morgan backing her up, she succumbed to a sneak attack by Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler.

The angle had to have been foreseen, especially given the heels' victory in the WrestleMania Showcase match. In that bout, Rousey and Baszler defeated three other teams, including current women's tag team champions Rodriguez and Morgan.

They are next in line and, with or without Morgan, Rodriguez is fixing to experience the same frustrating outcome she has every time she has shared the ring with The Baddest Woman on the Planet in the past.

Result

Rodriguez defeated Green

Grade

C

Top Moments

• Green capitalized on interference from Deville and delivered a backstabber. She then sent Rodriguez face-first into the turnbuckles.
• Rodriguez delivered a Tejada Bomb, scoring a clean pinfall over Green, much to the dismay of Deville at ringside.
• After the match, Rousey and Baszler attacked Rodriguez, beating her down at the top of the ramp and leaving the champ lying. 

Corey Graves Interview with Seth Rollins

Corey Graves conducted a sitdown interview with Seth Rollins ahead of his World Heavyweight Championship Tournament final against AJ Styles.

The Visionary spoke about the Shield split, the organic nature of his latest run and his connection with fans. Then the topic turned to Roman Reigns and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship before ending with a tease for Part 2 on next week's show.

This was a well-produced video package that served as a change of pace from the usual booking trends heading into a title match the magnitude of the Night of Champions main event.

There was no in-ring promo or tired call-out. There was no ill will shown from Rollins to Styles, with whom he has limited baggage. It was a candid look at one of the competitors in a high-stakes main event and, if all goes according to plan, the Superstar around whom Raw is figuring to be booked for the foreseeable future.

This is the sort of thing we should see more of from WWE's fantastic production staff.

Grade

A

Top Moments

• Rollins questioned what his future would have looked like had he not turned on The Shield in 2014.
• "I think we need a change again," The Visionary said when asked why he should be the man to hold the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. "I don't feel that anybody at the top wants to take any risks with the titles they're holding. I think they're more about protecting themselves than pushing the industry forward." 

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens vs. The Judgment Day

The walls are closing in on Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.

If you did not gather as much from the booking that suggests The Judgment Day, The Bloodline and Imperium all conspire to lead to their demise, Corey Graves told us approximately 10 times on commentary throughout Monday's main event.

The match, a fun one that featured four of the better workers on the Raw roster, provided the action demanded of a main event in today's landscape while creating the impression that the threats to the undisputed WWE tag team champions may be too many to overcome.

The booking is great in that it emphasizes the tag team division while keeping Zayn and Owens as centerpieces of the brand. They are at the heart of the main event program, which just so happens to feature the tag titles, something that has rarely been a norm for WWE TV.

Much of that can be chalked up to the undeniable popularity of the champions, not to mention the strength of their work in every aspect of their performances.

Booking The Judgment Day, The Bloodline and Imperium as threats also highlights the renaissance of factions in wrestling, another hallmark of Triple H's influence right now.

Result

Bálor and Priest defeated Zayn and Owens

Grade

B+

Top Moments

• Owens exploded into the ring off the hot tag, bringing some energy to the crowd.
• Mysterio and Ripley interjected themselves in the action but were booted from ringside, much to the delight of the audience.
• Xavier Woods attacked Mysterio, fighting him to the back and ensuring he would not further involve himself in the match.
• Paul Heyman made his way into the arena, hoping to get a closer look at the potential downfall of Owens and Zayn, who remain a problem for The Bloodline. Imperium joined him there a few minutes later.
• Vinci and Kaiser distracted the official, allowing Gunther to hold Zayn's foot. Bálor rocked Sami with a shotgun dropkick and added the Coup de Grace for the pinfall victory. 

Overall Show

Triple H and his creative team continued to lay the foundation for the foreseeable future of WWE programming with this episode of Raw.

The bigger takeaways were the sudden influx of competition for Owens and Zayn's titles, the ongoing rivalry between Lynch and Stratus, and the build to Night of Champions.

Under that, there was the introduction of storylines by way of the Battle Royal and the use of video packages to explain to viewers who NXT stars such as JD McDonagh are.

It will be interesting to see how Triple H responds to Raw after Night of Champions, where he will have slightly longer to implement the names and stories he wants to focus on, without having to rush together a card for a pay-per-view.

Until then, enjoy the freshness that has suddenly permeated this show as the chief content officer shapes it more in his vision than he had the opportunity to while building toward WrestleMania 39 earlier this year.

Solid action, storyline-heavy matches and segments, and the idea of an increased role for the tag titles as one of the top prizes on Mondays, makes this an easy thumbs up, even if three hours continues to provide headaches for both WWE and the viewers.

Overall Grade: B