WWE Raw results, recap, grades: Finn Balor brutally attacks Seth Rollins ahead of Money in the Bank match

Balor softened Rollins up for their world heavyweight title match at Money in the Bank

Judgment Day has been a constant force near the top of the Raw card since the group formed. On Monday, the group caused chaos throughout the show.

Finn Balor delivered two separate beatings to world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins at the top of the show, softening up the champion ahead of their meeting in two weeks at Money in the Bank. Balor would then join Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio in challenging Cody Rhodes to find a pair of partners to clash in the main event.

Judgment Day's top performer, women's world champion Rhea Ripley, also put on a display of dominance, taking out Natalya in brutal fashion.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.

Balor attacks Rollins as Judgment Day looks to cause chaos

Seth Rollins walked out at the top of the show, ready to issue an open challenge for his world heavyweight championship. Before he could even make it to the ring, Rollins was attacked by Finn Balor. Balor hit the Coup de Grace three times in the attack. As Rollins was backstage, Balor again attacked, later explaining that there was no open challenge because he wanted to be the man to take the belt off Rollins at Money in the Bank.

After Balor explained his motivations, his fellow Judgment Day members also spoke, with Damian Priest vowing to win the Money in the Bank ladder match and Dominik Mysterio challenging Cody Rhodes to find two men to team with him against Judgment Day later in the night. Rhodes accepted the challenge from his Money in the Bank opponent later in the evening.

Rhea Ripley beat down Natalya before their planned Night of Champions rematch could even begin. Ripley would use the moment to deliver a message to the camera that she had the women's division "on lock."

Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn def. Judgment Day via pinfall when Rhodes hit Damian Priest with Cross Rhodes. Zayn and Owens offered to team with Rhodes -- with Owens trying to prove to Zayn all night that he does not have an "anger problem." Ripley interfered several times in what was a very entertaining match, but Ripley's involvement was not enough to put Judgment Day over the top, stealing momentum from the group on a night where they'd been very effective in taking out rivals.

Personally, I'd have had Judgment Day win just to pump up a group that has a world title challenger, a Money in the Bank participant and Rhodes' Money in the Bank opponent. Still, the main event was tremendous fun and Ripley remains a compelling and dominant force. The attack on Rollins left him with "injured ribs" which feels a bit unnecessary since Rhodes is still running around with a cast but that's a minor quibble a few weeks before a Money in the Bank match between the two that could well steal the show. Grade: A-

What else happened on WWE Raw?

• Tommaso Ciampa def. The Miz via pinfall with the Fairytale Ending. Miz came out after Balor's attack on Rollins and claimed he was going to accept Rollins' open challenge and win the world heavyweight championship so instead he issued his own open challenge, drawing out the returning Ciampa.
• Katana Chance & Kayden Carter def. Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville via pinfall with The Afterparty.
• Indus Sher def. Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin via pinfall after Veer Mahan hit Benjamin with a crossbody.
• Logan Paul announced he was given a spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match. This brought out the other five men -- who each had to win a match to qualify -- involved in the Money in the Bank match, and an eventual brawl involving everyone.
• Matt Riddle def. Ludwig Kaiser via pinfall after Bro Derek. After the match, Gunther entered the ring to attack Riddle. Riddle managed to fend him off briefly before Gunther got the upper hand and Kaiser joined him in the attack.
• The Viking Raiders def. Alpha Academy via pinfall when Eric hit Chad Gable with a knee to the back of the head. Otis was celebrating with Maxine outside the ring after she'd suplexed Valhalla, allowing Eric to score the win as they were distracted.
• Money in the Bank Qualifying Match – Trish Stratus def. Raquel Rodriguez via disqualification after Becky Lynch ran in. Lynch's run-in targeted Zoey Stark, but she inadvertently hit Stratus, leading to the disqualification.
• Bronson Reed def. Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall after hitting a Tsunami. Ricochet was ringside to watch the match and ultimately got involved, leading to confusion as he collided with Nakamura to set up the finish.