WWE Raw results, recap, grades: Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso to challenge for tag titles at Fastlane, DIY reunites

Johnny Gargano returned to rescue Tommaso Ciampa after Monday's main event

It was a big night for tag team wrestling on WWE Raw. Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes were announced as challengers to Judgement Day for the undisputed tag team titles at Fastlane, plus cult favorite tag team DIY (Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano) reunited on Monday night.

Jey Uso holds the record for longest reigning tag team champion in WWE history alongside his estranged twin brother, Jimmy Uso. Jey Uso transferred from SmackDown to Raw to set out on his own, yet fate has presented him with another opportunity to become a tag team champion. Authority figure Adam Pearce announced on Monday that Damian Priest and Finn Balor will defend their tag team titles against the formidable duo of Uso and Rhodes.

Raw also featured the reunion of DIY, the former WWE NXT tag team championship team consisting of Ciampa and Gargano. Ciampa fell short in an impressive showing against intercontinental champion Gunther but found himself a much-needed friend in his ongoing feud with Imperium.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from SAP Center in San Jose, California.

The Road to Fastlane takes a fantastic detour

Women's world champion Rhea Ripley returned to Raw to set the Judgement Day straight. Ripley accused Priest of failing to lead in her absence. The Judgement Day's matriarch blamed Priest for Balor's injury last week and for abandoning Dominik Mysterio in a failed NXT North American title defense over the weekend. Uso interrupted the Judgement Day, leading to a three-on-one beat down from Mysterio, Priest, and auditioning member JD McDonagh. Rhodes came to Uso's rescue, after which Pearce announced Priest and Balor vs. Uso and Rhodes at Fastlane.

A subsequent meeting took place in the Judgement Day's locker room. McDonagh suggested a plan for dividing Rhodes and Uso as allies. Priest cut him off but Ripley sided with McDonagh. Priest came to see the logic in McDonagh's plan and agreed to think it over.

Later in the evening, Drew McIntyre addressed his recent attitude towards WWE's heroes. McIntyre subtly provoked Rhodes, asking the live crowd, "What do you want to talk about?" McIntyre said he owed nothing to anyone but the fans and that is why he hasn't been helping other superstars in need. McIntyre said that Rhodes forgiving Uso for The Bloodline's past transgressions is a sign of weakness. The Miz interrupted and attacked McIntyre, leading to a one-on-one match.

McIntyre def. The Miz via pinfall after hitting Miz with a Claymore Kick.

Rhodes took part in an interview, during which he revealed that he and Uso would appear on Friday's episode of SmackDown to confront Judgement Day.

Elsewhere on the program, a contract signing was scheduled between intercontinental champion Gunther and No. 1 contender Ciampa. Both superstars spoke with ambition and aggression. Ciampa lured Gunther into agreeing to defend the intercontinental title later the same night. A brawl broke out with Ciampa locking Gunther in the Sicilian Stretch.

Intercontinental Championship -- Gunther (c) def. Ciampa via submission after two powerbombs and a sleeper hold. Gunther and Ciampa put on a thrilling match. Ciampa gave the champion everything he could handle by fighting at a blistering pace. Ciampa nearly submitted Gunther with the Sicilian Stretcher. Ciampa made a tactical error, overestimating his strength by trying to lift the champion. That gave Gunther the necessary space to hit a match-ending sequence. 

Post-match, Imperium members Giovani Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser attacked Ciampa as Gunther walked to the back. Johnny Gargano -- a longtime rival and partner of Ciampa under the tandem DIY -- rescued Ciampa. This marked Gargano's first appearance after months off television. 

There were a lot of interesting developments on this week's Raw. Rhodes and Uso have a legitimate shot at dethroning Judgement Day. It's particularly intriguing that Rhodes and Uso will appear on SmackDown this week, considering where Jey Uso left off with his estranged family members. McIntyre's slow burn heel turn continues to be executed well. The biggest highlight of the night was the intercontinental title match. Both men delivered on the microphone and over-delivered in the ring. Gunther's intercontinental title reign is "a rising tide lifts all boats" situation. WWE's midcard has never looked so strong and these simple, brilliant title defenses are a big reason why. It's especially nice to see Gargano back in the fold after the recent roster cuts. Grade: A

What else happened on WWE Raw?

• A brawl broke out between Ripley, Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler and Raquel Rodriguez to start the show.
• Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinici) def. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) via pinfall after Kaiser kicked Otis in the head with an enziguri.
• Pearce postponed Tegan Nox's NXT women's title match against Becky Lynch following an injury Lynch suffered at NXT No Mercy.
• Bronson Reed def. Cedric Alexander via pinfall after squashing him with a Tsunami splash. 
• Xavier Woods def. Ivar via pinfall with Backwoods, his patented small package. Ivar laid out Woods and Kofi Kinston post-match.
• Shinsuke Nakamura attacked Seth Rollins with a steel chair until Rollins was unable to answer Nakamura's 10-count, a foreshadowing of their Last Man Standing match at Fastlane.
• Nox def. Chelsea Green via pinfall after hitting the Shiniest Wizard. Natalya evened the odds for Nox after Piper Niven interfered on Green's behalf. Earlier backstage, Lynch motivated Nox.
• New NXT North American champion Trick Williams introduced himself to Raw fans ahead of his rematch against Mysterio on Tuesday's episode of NXT. He was confronted by Mysterio, Ripley and McDonagh.