Happy Monday everyone!
Raw is being opened tonight by “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, in tonight’s main event he will be teaming with Jey Uso to take on The Judgment Day for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships. He guaranteed victory in that bout and then turned his attention to War Games, he invited his teammates to come join him in the ring.
At Survivor Series, Rhodes will team with Jey Uso, Sami Zayn and the World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins against The Judgement Day in War Games. All four members of the team were now in the ring, Rhodes said the reason they are all here is J-Day. He said it doesn’t matter if he’s got along with you his whole career or if he doesn’t get along with you to this day, a small shot at Rollins his former rival.
Before more could be said, J-Day made their way out and said that a mismatched team would not be able to defeat a family like J-Day. Bálor asked Rollins how it feels to be the world champ, but not be able to beat Rhodes. Priest asked Rhodes what it’s like to never hold any gold, then Zayn why he has never been a world champion. Finally, Priest pointed out that at one point or another Jey screwed one of his teammates when he was a member of The Bloodline.
"I'M THE LEADER!" – @ArcherofInfamy#WWERawpic.twitter.com/6YxB1ZzGW8
— WWE (@WWE) November 14, 2023
Zayn interjected by saying their personal issues can be put aside because all they want is to take all power away from J-Day. Rhodes followed that by asking how J-Day is functioning without their leader, Rhea Ripley, but Priest said J-Day has no leader. However, Rhodes kept poking at them, he asked if Dom, Bálor or JD is the leader. Priest snapped, screaming back at Seth, “I’m the leader!” That statement did not seem to sit well with the other members of J-Day, but before that could implode Rollins challenged JD and Dom to a tag match against himself and Zayn.
Seth Rollins & Sami Zayn vs. The Judgement Day (JD McDonagh & Dominik Mysterio)
Rollins tried to make quick work of McDonagh, but after some interference from Mysterio, McDonagh attacked Rollins’ lower back. Mysterio then attempted a Three Amigos on Rollins, but he could only get two before it was turned into a falcon’s arrow from Rollins. J-Day seemed to have no interest in continuing the match and tried to walk to the back, but they were dragged back to the ring.
Zayn and Rollins now hit simultaneous dives to the outside of the ring onto their opponents to send us to a commercial break. Once we returned Rollins was giving Mysterio a beat down and at the same time, Zayn was beating down McDonagh on the outside. Rollins hit Mysterio with a superkick and Buckle Bomb, but when he went for The Stomp he was attacked from behind by Priest, Bálor and Rhea Ripley causing a disqualification.
Winner: No Contest
With all four members of J-Day out, Uso and Rhodes ran out too and we now had all eight men brawling.
It took dozens of security to break up this brawl, but once it was cleared Adam Pearce grabbed a microphone in the ring. Pearce said he is tired of all these ruined matches and to make sure the main event doesn’t have the same issues, anyone that will be competing in War Games is banned from the arena for the rest of the night!
Ripley was livid, but Pearce did not give a damn and he told Ripley she is not allowed near the ring in the main event either. Zoey Stark then made her way out, she will be facing Ripley for the Women’s World Championship at Survivor Series. Stark is tired of Ripley not giving her all of her attention and she thinks Ripley is not giving her enough respect. Ripley replied by saying not at all, she is very impressed by Stark and she believes she will be a future world champion in the WWE. However, she said the only way Stark can be a champion is if she is on the opposite brand as her.
Women's World Champion @RheaRipley_WWE shouldn't underestimate @ZoeyStarkWWE ahead of #SurvivorSeries!#WWERawpic.twitter.com/UduHq8AZb8
— WWE (@WWE) November 14, 2023
Ripley said she can handle everything, J-Day drama, backstage politics, Dom-Dom and Stark. She then turned her back on Stark to continue talking to Pearce, but Stark said she came so close to beating her at Crown Jewel and at Survivor Series the title is hers. An angry Ripley then tried to attack Stark, but she ducked and sent Ripley flying to the floor. WWE is really trying to build Stark up, but I don’t know if she is a believable challenger for Ripley.
Another Shinsuke Nakamura video now aired and he still has his focus on his next challenger, but we still have no idea who he is talking to.
"I will wait … for now."#WWERawpic.twitter.com/ZtGUTVAmnX
— WWE (@WWE) November 14, 2023
Cody Rhodes now caught up with Seth Rollins backstage, he said he needs him for one night because the team needs him. Rollins said he doesn’t like Rhodes, but he respects him, and if he needs him to be good for one night at War Games, for that one night they will be good.
Otis vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Nakamura struggled to knock Otis off his feet and Otis battled back with a power slam before hitting Nakamura with his own move, Good Vibrations. As Nakamura attempted to battle back, Otis got him with a powerbomb, a trio of back elbows and a Caterpillar. Otis followed that with a World Strongest Slam, but Nakamura managed to kick out at two. He then tried to leap off the second rope, but Nakamura got his feet up and then hit Otis with three Kinshasa to get the win.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Following his victory, it seemed like Nakamura challenged Chad Gable next.
Rollins was making his way out of the arena when he was approached by Drew McIntyre, the man he beat at Crown Jewel. McIntyre said Rollins said if he beat him he would have nobody to blame but himself, and he then said there is something he has been wanting to give Rollins since last Saturday. He stuck his hand out with a sign of respect, they shook hands and he told Rollins he brings pride to that title. McIntyre said he will continue to battle and get himself a rematch for the title, he then smiled as he watched Rollins leave the arena.
Tegan Nox w/Natalya vs. Piper Niven w/Chelsea Green
Niven was overpowering Nox from the opening bell as she hit a deadlift suplex and running senton. She then attacked Nox’s arm and began to focus on her left elbow. However, Nox began to battle back and kicked Niven directly in the face. Green then got herself involved, so Natalya went after her, but that led to Niven attacking Natalya. With that distraction, Niven turned around into the World’s Shiniest Wizard from Nox, but Niven got her foot on the ropes to break the count. She then caught Niven in a crucifix pin and stole the win.
Winner: Tegan Nox
There was now a very random backstage segment with The Miz, Ivar and Bronson Reed. Miz became the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship last week, but Ivar feels it should be him with that opportunity. Then somehow Reed showed up saying everyone’s lucky that he did not win, but he was the one who got pinned last week so that makes no sense. He got into it with Ivar and Valhalla ended up getting right into Reed’s face.
Tommaso Ciampa w/Johnny Gargano vs. Ludwig Kaiser w/Giovanni Vinci
The Imperium and #DIY feud has been heating up recently and Ciampa wasted no time tonight kneeing Kaiser in the face. Both men were then trading shots, but Kaiser caught Ciampa with a PK and Vinci then got involved allowing Kaiser to hit Ciampa with a discus lariat. The referee realized something was up and sent Vinci to the locker room!
With Kaiser on his own, Ciampa got a second wind and hit Kaiser with an inverted DDT. However, Kaiser continued to fight back, he hit a rolling fireman’s carry and a second PK. He then went for his finisher, but Ciampa got a reversal and began to gain some momentum. He hit a brutal forearm and another knee to Kaiser’s face. It seemed like Ciampa was closing in on the win, but Vinci emerged back at ringside and booted Gargano in the face. That distracted Ciampa, and Kaiser rolled him up from behind to steal a win.
Winner: Ludwig Kaiser
The Judgement Day was now backstage and Priest was being questioned about calling himself the leader. He said he just got hot in the moment and they should know he didn’t mean that. They seemed to agree with him, but Ripley then had the idea that Priest should be in charge of J-Day in War Games. Mysterio and Bálor were on board with that idea.
Ripley then brought up that JD McDonagh is in medical because he took a shot for Priest earlier and she believes it is time to make him a full member of J-Day. Bálor also vouched for JD and Priest finally agreed, he even said he wanted to go deliver JD the news himself.
Later in the show, Priest found JD backstage to let him know the news and presented him with a Judgement Day vest!
Xia Li vs. Indi Hartwell
Xia Li’s striking is on another level, early in the match she hit Hartwell with a spin-kick to the skull. The referee determined that Hartwell could not continue and Li won the match. She continues to use that kick to knock people out whenever she likes.
Winner: Xia Li
Li was celebrating her victory when Becky Lynch made her way out, Li attacked Lynch from behind last week. Lynch said they would now do this on her time and she came looking for a fight tonight. She tried to attack Li, but she retreated from the ring and Lynch then let her know that they will be going one-on-one next week on Raw!
The Miz was preparing for his match when he was approached by Gunther, who was clowning Miz once again. However, Miz was not taking it tonight and he told Gunther that he does not realize who he is dealing with. Miz said he will do whatever it takes to win and at Survivor Series Gunther will learn the difference between longest reigning and greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time.
Gunther said he knows exactly who he is dealing with and he wishes him luck against Ivar tonight, but nothing will compare to the beating of a lifetime he will receive at Survivor Series.
The Miz vs. Ivar
Ivar is still livid after last week and he was trying his best to overpower Miz tonight, but Miz was showcasing his skills we don’t get to see too often. He dove from the second rope catching Ivar with a hurricanrana and he then dove feet first through the ropes to kick Ivar in the chest on the outside. However, on the outside Ivar threw Miz into the LED ring apron and then splashed onto Miz’s who was leaning on that LED board.
Ivar got Miz back into the ring to land a twisting power slam, and Bronson Reed now made his way out to ringside. The fight eventually made its way outside the ring, and Reed sat on a steel chair watching the action. Reed did not interfere and the match got back into the ring where Ivar hit Miz with a Tiger Driver, but Miz kicked out and landed a spike DDT. Miz continued his attack with a plethora of kicks to Ivar’s chest and face, but Valhalla now got involved and sent Miz into a spinning kick from Ivar.
Ivar followed that with an avalanche power slam from the second rope, but Miz somehow kicked out at two. It was now time for Ivar’s moonsault, but Reed distracted Ivar as he was climbing the ropes and Miz came from behind with a powerbomb. Miz then stacked up Ivar with his feet on the rope to steal a victory.
Winner: The Miz
Reed then got in the ring to attack Ivar from behind and he then went to the top rope to leap onto Ivar with a Tsunami!
The problems in Imperium continue as Kaiser brags backstage about his victory, but Gunther does not want to hear anything from him. Gunther believes Vinci is the reason Kaiser won and he said it was Vinci that won that match for Imperium. Gunther then stared Kaiser down before walking off and Vinci followed soon after.
With Kaiser all alone he was approached by Jinder Mahal and Indus Sher, Mahal said they were going to chat with Adam Pearce, but he also told Kaiser he should choose his next move very wisely. I really hope WWE is not splitting up Imperium, just sounds like a terrible idea.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Judgement Day (Damian Priest & Finn Bálor) (c) vs. Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso
Bálor and Uso got the match started tonight, but it was not even 30 seconds into the match when all four men started brawling. The referee quickly got things under control and the challengers began to double-team Bálor. Uso was working, but Bálor tagged Priest in and the champs then hit Uso with a flurry of kicks that ended with an axe kick from Bálor. Following that double-team all four men were brawling once again, Rhodes slammed Priest into the announce table as we went into a commercial break.
After the break, Rhodes was working on Bálor, but Bálor raked Rhodes’ eyes and then tagged in Priest. Sēnor Money in the Bank began laying into Rhodes with some strikes and Bálor then locked him into an abdominal stretch. Rhodes broke the hold, but Priest then hit him with a variation of a tombstone, however, Rhodes then got a lucky reversal and tagged in Uso.
Uso came in with tons of energy, he hit both members of J-Day with a number of kicks, but J-Day then began working together to take down Uso with the number’s game. Bálor now threw Uso over the announce table and J-Day maintained control, but Uso caught Priest with an enzigiri and tagged Rhodes in. Rhodes now had all the momentum he hit Bálor with a Disaster Kick and Priest with a Bionic Elbow. Uso then got up on the top rope to dive onto Priest with a crossbody, he then superkicked both Bálor and Priest.
He then made his way back to the top rope and dove onto Priest with a Uso Splash, but Priest managed to kick out at two. Rhodes now got involved to hit Priest with a Cross Rhodes and Uso hit Bálor with a spear. Uso and Rhodes then worked together to hit Bálor with the Cody-1D, but Priest broke up the pin and choke-slammed Rhodes on the ring apron.
Uso then dove over the top rope onto J-Day, but as Uso got up Drew McIntyre was standing behind him! With Bálor occupying the referee, McIntyre hit Uso with a Claymore and threw Uso back in the ring to be pinned by Bálor.
Winners: Still Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, The Judgement Day
Drew McIntyre now made his way to the top of the stage where Rhea Ripley was waiting for him, they shook hands and stood tall to close out on Raw! Has McIntyre joined The Judgement Day?
