WWE Raw results: Brock Lesnar returns and brawls with Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins feuds with Judgment Day

Lesnar returned to WWE programming for the first time since beating Rhodes at May's Night of Champions

Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar are on another collision course after splitting victories at Backlash and Night of Champions. Lesnar returned to WWE Raw on Monday to continue a feud with Rhodes that has persisted since the night after WrestleMania 39 in April.

Rhodes has been itching for a world championship since falling short to undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. "The American Nightmare" looked primed to answer the challenge of world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins, but Lesnar again intervened in Rhodes' plans. Lesnar's interference cleared the way for Judgment Day to continue their feud with Rollins.

Monday's show also featured a women's world championship match and the emergence of new women's tag team title challengers, plus more.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

All Rhodes lead to Lesnar, Rollins avoids judgment

Rollins kicked off Raw on the heels of his successful world heavyweight title defense against Finn Balor at Money in the Bank. Rollins pondered what was next ahead of SummerSlam in August, but was interrupted by Rhodes before he could divulge further. Rhodes did not have time to utter a single word before Lesnar's music hit. The former UFC champion had been absent since defeating Rhodes in May, tying their series one apiece. A short brawl broke out and concluded with Rhodes hitting a Cody Cutter, sending Lesnar into retreat.

Rollins returned to the ring once the chaos settled down. Mulling who Rollins would defend his title against next, the champion was again interrupted. Queue the Judgment Day, absent Balor. Priest stood with his newly claimed Money in the Bank briefcase in hand. The accessory guarantees Priest a title shot at a time and place of his choosing without warning. A match between Rollins and Dominik Mysterio was agreed upon with Rollins noting it was likely a trap.

Rhodes took part in an interview later that night and said he'd fight Lesnar on sight. Anywhere, anytime.

Rollins def. Mysterio via disqualification after Priest ran in and hit Rollins with South of Heaven. Rollins outclassed Mysterio throughout the match; however, the discrepancy in skill was bridged by Ripley and Priest's ringside shenanigans. 

Priest launched a vicious assault on Rollins post-match, teasing a cash-in of his Money in the Bank briefcase. Moments before Priest could cash in, Balor hit the ring to beat down the champ. An argument ensued between Balor and Priest as Mysterio tried to keep the peace. Rollins used the opportunity to plant Mysterio with a pedigree ringside. Raw closed with Balor and Priest bickering.

A rather pedestrian start to the SummerSlam build. The most compelling part of the show is the bubbling tension between Balor and Priest. Hopefully, WWE doesn't rush their breakup. It feels as if the once-maligned group is hotter than ever. It's a little tough to get invested in the trilogy match between Rhodes and Lesnar; however, it should pave the way to bigger things for Rhodes and that is great! Pairing Rollins and Mysterio, among the most appreciated and disliked superstars, respectively, was a nice touch. Grade: B-

What else happened on WWE Raw?

• Priest def. Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall after planting Nakamura with South of Heaven.
• Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey brawled after an emotionally tense argument between the former friends.
• Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville def. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell, Dana Brooke and Tegan Nox, Emma and Nikki Cross, and Katana Chance and Kayden Carter in a gauntlet match to crown No. 1 contenders for the WWE women's tag team championships. Green and Deville entered third, lastly defeating Chance and Carter.
• Becky Lynch engaged in a war of words with Trish Stratus, who was accompanied by protege Zoey Starks.
• Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis and Maxxine Dupri) def. Viking Raiders (Erik, Ivar and Valhalla) via pinfall after Dupri landed a sunset flip on Valhalla.
• Ricochet challenged Logan Paul to meet him inext week face-to-face in the ring.
• Women's World Championship -- Ripley def. Natalya via pinfall after landing Riptide to retain her title. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez saved Natalya from a post-match beatdown.
• Tomasso Ciampa and The Miz cut dueling promos on each other.
• Matt Riddle def. Giovanni Vinci via pinfall after tying up Vinci in a victory roll. Drew McIntyre saved Riddle from a post-match beatdown at the hands of Imperium.