Raw: War Games

For the first time in what feels like months, it is not the Judgement Day opening Monday Night Raw. Instead, we have the World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins, who is coming off a successful title defence against Drew McIntyre this past weekend at Crown Jewel.

He was not looking to talk about himself tonight, he wanted to thank McIntyre for their fantastic match on Saturday and for the fact he wasn’t aligned with J-Day. Following the match on Saturday, Damian Priest attempted to cash in his Money in the Bank on Rollins, but Sami Zayn stopped Priest before he could and stole the briefcase. So, Rollins invited Zayn out to the ring so he could thank him face-to-face.

Rollins was expecting Zayn to come out with Priest’s briefcase, but Adam Pearce made Zayn return it to Priest before the show. He then said he may have not been able to handle Priest on Saturday, so he thanked him for stopping him. Zayn appreciated the thank you, but he didn’t do it to help Rollins, he did it to stop J-Day from getting every title on Raw. He believes if J-Day gets all the titles they will just become a Bloodline 2.0, and he will fight J-Day every week to make sure that never happens.

Rollins applauded Zayn’s dedication, but he said people like him don’t always get what they deserve. He also said J-Day doesn’t run Raw, he does, and the briefcase isn’t the only way to get an opportunity at his championship. Rollins then added that he talked to Pearce earlier today, and he said the real reason he called Zayn out here was to let him know he has himself a World Heavyweight Championship match whenever he wants it.

Zayn said one day he will definitely win the World Heavyweight Championship one day, but he does not want to beat a champion who is not 100% like Rollins. However, Rollins cut him off and said he may not be 100%, but he always gives 100% and he repeated to Zayn a title match is his, he just needs to say when. Zayn said he could not think of a better time than right here tonight! So, our main event is set, Seth Rollins will be defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Sami Zayn!

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The New Day vs. The Judgement Day (Damian Priest & Finn Bálor)

New Day got the match going early, they were all over the tag champions and showcasing their tag team experience. Both Kingston and Woods dove to the outside flipping onto Priest and Bálor, and Woods followed that by getting Priest with an Honor Roll. They continued to roll on, Kingston landed a crossbody and Boom Drop on Priest. Bálor was then tagged in to be greeted with a superplex from Kingston and a diving elbow drop from Woods.

While Woods and Bálor were battling, Priest dropped Kingston on the announce table with a flat liner. J-Day was now able to double-team Woods, Priest hit a South of Heaven chokeslam and Bálor landed Coup de Grace for the win.

Winners: The Judgement Day

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When Drew McIntyre arrived at the arena Jackie Redmond attempted to interview him about his loss on Saturday. McIntyre said nothing to Redmond and instead got back into his car and drove off.

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Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Akira Tozawa

Tozawa continues to try and prove himself to the Alpha Academy, but it has not been working out too well for him. Despite Tozawa getting a lot of offence in, Nakamura hit him with a Kinshasa and got the victory.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura was mocking Tozawa after the match, so Otis got into the ring and seemed to challenge Nakamura. However, he wanted no part of Otis and walked to the back.

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The Miz vs. Bronson Reed vs. Ivar vs. Ricochet — Intercontinental Championship Number One Contender Fatal Four-Way Match

The big men were seemingly taken out first, but it was not long before Ivar took Ricochet down with a big kick. The big men were now showcasing their skill, Bronson Reed used his weight to send Ricochet flying off the ropes into Ivar. Later in the match, Ricochet attempted to dive to the outside onto Ivar and Reed, but he was caught in mid-air and slammed to the ground. Ivar and Reed now turned their attention to each other, but they both ended up down after a massive collision between them.

Following a commercial break, Reed was trying to superplex Ivar, but he couldn’t get him up so Miz and Ricochet helped him create a massive Eiffel Tower slamming everyone down. Miz now took the chance to showcase what he could do, landing a springboard crossbody, a tilt-a-whirl DDT and a code breaker. Ivar also showed some of the things he can do that we don’t typically see as he hit Reed with a springboard lariat.

Miz and Ricochet took one another out when they both went for a big boot. With both of them down Ivar and Reed both went to the top rope, Ivar dove onto Ricochet with a moonsault and Reed tried to dive onto Miz with a Tsunami, but Miz rolled out of the way. Miz then rolled up Reed and Ivar pinned Ricochet, the referee counted to three for Miz as Ricochet kicked out at two! The Miz is the number one contender and he now has a championship match against Gunther at Survivor Series!

Winner: The Miz

Following the match, Miz was trying to celebrate when he was attacked from behind by an enraged Ivar. He took Miz down and dove onto him with a moonsault, Ivar is angry, but Ricochet clearly kicked out at two.

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Earlier today The Creed Brothers, Julius and Brutus and Ivy Nile, officially signed contracts with the Raw brand. Once they put pen to paper, they were challenged to a match by #DIY.

#DIY vs. The Creed Brothers

Julius and Tomasso Ciampa got this bout started, but Ciampa quickly tagged in Gargano to get some double-team work started. Both Ciampa and Gargano tried to dive to the outside, but they were both caught in mid-air by Julius and Brutus. Now both teams got some work in, Ciampa hit Brutus with a knee, Julius hit Gargano with a stiff forearm and Brutus balled himself up and dove onto Ciampa.

Following a commercial break, Brutus and Ciampa were tagged in and Ciampa came in hot taking out both brothers. He then hit Brutus with a reverse DDT and #DIY was now taking Brutus to school with some double-team maneuvers. However, Brutus does not stay down, he drops Gargano with a Samoan drop and Julius follows that with a standing shooting star press.

#DIY then battled back, Ciampa hit both brothers with brutal knees and then got Julius with the Fairytale Ending, but Julius kicked out at two. Brutus now took Ciampa out of the match and with that distraction, Ludwig Kaiser interfered kicking Gargano in the face. With Gargano reeling, The Creed Brothers hit a Brutus Ball to get the win.

Imperium clearly has unfinished business with #DIY.

Winners: The Creed Brothers

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Jey Uso was hyping up Sami Zayn backstage for his World Title match tonight and during that, he announced that next week he and Cody Rhodes will be getting a rematch for the Undisputed Tag Titles against Judgement Day.

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Women’s World Championship Number One Contender Battle Royal

As Becky Lynch was making her way to the ring for the battle royal she was attacked from behind by Xia Li. She knocked Lynch out with one of her deadly spin kicks. As a result of her attack on Lynch, Adam Pearce told Li she would no longer be in the battle royal and Lynch was also unable to compete.

Nikki Cross was a member of this match, but she was frozen in the middle of the ring like she has been for weeks. So, Cross was the first to be thrown out, but she remained at ringside frozen solid and not blinking. Piper Niven was the next to go, she was eliminated by Maxxine Dupri and Tegan Nox. Unfortunately for Dupri, she began celebrating on the apron and was pushed to the floor by Nia Jax.

The team of Katana Chance and Kayden Carter were a part of this match, and they were working really well as a team. However, this match was everyone for themselves and they both ended up being eliminated by Ivy Nile. Chelsea Green tried her best to eliminate both Raquel Rodriguez and Natalya, but she ended up going face-first into the floor. Jax remained in the match and it took three people to get her out, Rodriguez, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark. However, after Jax was eliminated she pulled Nile to the floor from the apron, Nile was having a very impressive showing that got cut short due to Jax.

The final three were Rodriguez, Baszler and Stark, but Baszler and Stark worked together to eliminate Rodriguez first. Baszler and Stark both ended up on the ring apron, they were going back and forth while trying to hang on to the ropes. Stark then hit Baszler with three superkicks and a DDT on the apron sending Baszler to the floor.

Zoey Stark is the number one contender for the Women’s World Championship and she gets her shot at Rhea Ripley at Survivor Series!

Winner: Zoey Stark

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World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Sami Zayn

Our main event began with both competitors feeling each other out, but Zayn had an early chance to attack Rollins’ injured back. However, Zayn chose not to go after the back and just gave him a little pat to remind Rollins of his injury. Both men were now trading chops and the fight spilled to the outside where Zayn leaped off the barricade with a moonsault onto Rollins.

Zayn continued his attack and he dove from the second rope hitting Rollins with an elbow before following that with a lariat. Rollins now battled back with some kicks sending Zayn to the outside and he then dove through the ropes onto Zayn with a suicide dive. However, Rollins’ back felt the effects of that dive and Zayn returned the favor diving over the top rope onto Rollins.

Zayn now went for the Helluva Kick, but Rollins ducked and hit a springboard swanton and springboard moonsault. Rollins then went for a Pedigree on the ring apron, but Zayn instead sent him over his head with a backbody drop onto the apron. With Rollins’ back injury, a spot like that on the “hardest part of the ring” will not do him any good.

Following a commercial break, both men were now in the middle of the ring trading shots and Rollins hit Zayn in the head with a knee. He followed that with a Buckle Bomb and went for The Stomp, but Zayn reversed that into a Blue Thunder Bomb. Zayn stayed on the attack landing an exploder into the corner, he then went for a Helluva Kick again, but this time Rollins met him halfway with a superkick. Rollins went for the stop again, but Zayn picked him out of the air to lock in a Lion Tamer that he transitioned into a full Boston crab. However, from that submission, Rollins was able to reverse into a pinning combination and get the victory to retain his title.

Winner: Still World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins

Following the match, Rollins showed his respect to Zayn and they shook hands, but as Zayn went to leave the ring he was attacked from behind by Judgement Day. Rollins tried to save him, but it was now a four-on-two attack, Jey Uso ran out, but J-Day was still too much.

So, finally, Cody Rhodes made his way out to even the odds and it was now an all-out brawl. Adam Pearce brought out a load of security to break up these eight men. Pearce then grabbed the microphone to say he’s tired of all these games and if they want to keep playing games, they can do that at Survivor Series, in WAR GAMES!

TOP PHOTO: Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn at WWE Monday Night Raw on November 6th, 2023, at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Photo by George Tahinos, https://georgetahinos.smugmug.com

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Monday Night Raw photo gallery Wilkes-Barre, PA, Nov. 6, 2023