WWE Raw Review – November 20, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Raw with a video recapping what happened during last week’s main event.
Boos rain down on Drew McIntyre as he explains that he’s the most upset about himself. He says he’s been the same person he’s been all this time and says if you’re a fan of his then he doesn’t need to explain himself. He says he gave Jey Uso something he never could give him and tells Jey that despite wanting an apology from him he never gave anyone backstage an apology of his own. McIntyre calls Cody Rhodes collateral damage and questions why he should get over The Bloodline costing him the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at Clash of the Castle last year. He talks about all the sacrifices he’s made in the 16 years he’s been away from Scotland then says Jey and his family took that away from him. He says that should be everyone’s focus but instead everyone is focused on whether or not he’s a member of Judgment Day. He formally declares that he is not a member of their group, but says he will be on their team in the WarGames match at Survivor Series. He says Rhea Ripley provided him with an opportunity to meet Jey in a cage.
Jey’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He tells McIntyre he needs to let it go and hops up on the apron as Judgment Day does the same on the other side to provide McIntyre with some backup.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn & Rhodes then make their way down to the ring to even the odds but before anything turns physical Adam Pearce intervenes and says no one is fighting outside of the War Games advantage match. He says that if anyone becomes physical with each other then they lose the advantage for the team. He tells Rollins, Zayn, Rhodes & Jey that they need to pick the 5th member of the team by the end of the night and says by 9:00pm he needs to know which member of each team will be competing in the War Games advantage match. McIntyre exits the ring and Judgment Day follows suit.
After the break we head backstage to Judgment Day’s lounge. Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Mr Money In The Bank Damian Priest expresses his frustrations with not being consulted about Drew McIntyre being added to Judgment Day’s War Games team and Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley apologizes for not letting him know. Priest suggests himself as the member of his team to take part in the War Games advantage match and Ripley tells him to wait until McIntyre arrives so they can all discuss it together.
Raquel Rodriguez vs. Nia Jax
Raquel Rodriguez delivers a boot to Nia Jax’ face then fires off shoulders on her midsection but Jax sends her crashing into the mat with a uranage before Rodriguez fires off strikes but Jax stays on her feet.
Rodriguez then sends her crashing to the outside and delivers a crossbody off the apron then Jax sends her crashing into the barricade spine first and gets her up on her shoulders before tossing her into the barricade as we go to a break.
After the break Jax uses the ring post to target Rodriguez’s spine then locks in a Cobra Clutch but Rodriguez makes her way up to her feet to escape and sends Jax crashing into the mat spine first.
She looks to level Jax with a clothesline but Jax stays standing on her feet and connects with a headbutt then Rodriguez responds with a big boot and a corkscrew elbow then looks to get Jax up on her shoulders.
Jax escapes and lands a running senton then drags Rodriguez over to the corner but Rodriguez gets back on her feet and looks to powerbomb Jax but Jax counters into a Annihilator then follows it up with a 2nd Annihilator to get the win.
Winner: Nia Jax
A Xia Li video package aired.
After the break we head back over to Judgment Day’s lounge & Drew McIntyre shows up and tells Priest he hears that he wants to be the one competing in the advantage match. Ripley points out that Priest is the leader of their War Games team and McIntyre puts his hat in the ring to be the competitor. They get into a verbal exchange but Priest backs down and offers the match to McIntyre. Ripley asks Priest if he’s sure and Priest says he is as it provides McIntyre with an opportunity to show his worth.
We then head over to a video recapping everything that’s led up to the Women’s War Games match thus far.
After the break we see Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso & Cody Rhodes discussing which one of them should compete in the War Games advantage match later tonight. Jey volunteers to step up and although Rollins is reluctant he agrees to let him be the one. Zayn then addresses their 5th teammate and asks Rhodes if Smackdown roster members are off limits. Rhodes says they aren’t and Zayn says he has an idea. Rollins says he has a couple ideas himself and Rhodes says he’ll make a call to someone who he knows would come through.
We see NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria in the crowd to watch the action.
Becky Lynch vs. Xia Li
Match starts off with a lock up then Xia Li lands a shoulder tackle but Becky Lynch trips her and connects with a chop then follows it up with a pair of arm drags and a right hand off the apron then sends her face bouncing off the apron and gets her back in as we go to a break.
After the break Lynch hits a jawbreaker and a pair of right hands before Li fires back with one of her own but Lynch lands several rapid fire ones and a boot on her midsection.
She follows it up with a flying shoulder tackle and a splash in the corner then hits Bexploder before Li sends her crashing into the middle rope face first and delivers a roundhouse kick to her head but Lynch cinches in an armbar but Li escapes and gets Lynch up on her shoulders then hits an airplane spin.
They find themselves teetering on the top rope where Lynch fires off rapid fire right hands on Li then hits a superplex and sets up for Manhandle Slam but Li escapes and dumps her out of the ring.
She joins her out there and Lynch sends her crashing into the ring post face first then Lynch & Li get back inside the ring and fire off right hands on one another before Lynch plants Li with Manhandle Slam for the win.
Winner: Becky Lynch
After the match Damage CTRL makes their way to the ring through the crowd. Charlotte Flair, Shotzi & Bianca BelAir blindside them and both teams begin to brawl. Security runs down to the ringside area to separate everyone from one another and Lynch, BelAir, Flair, & Shotzi end up standing tall in the ring.
We head backstage and see Ludwig Kaiser tell Giovanni Vinci to stay in the back during his upcoming match against Johnny Gargano.
A Zoey Stark video package aired.
Johnny Gargano vs. Ludwig Kaiser
Match starts off with a lock up then Johnny Gargano delivers a chop but Ludwig Kaiser sends him crashing into the mat and delivers a right hand to his spine then lands a 2nd one on his head but Gargano catches him with a kick.
Kaiser hits an overhand chop but Gargano delivers a step up enzuigiri before Kaiser sits Gargano on the top turnbuckle and hits an enzuigiri of his own but Gargano catches him with an avalanche hurricanrana and delivers a kick that sends him crashing out of the ring.
He looks to go flying but Kaiser catches him with a right hand and follows it up with a running uppercut as we go to a break.
After the break Gargano gets Kaiser up on his shoulders on the apron but Kaiser escapes and slides back into the ring then catches Gargano with a strike and looks to level him.
Gargano catches him with a spear and a tope suicida on the outside then looks for One Final Beat as he gets back in the ring but Kaiser gets him up on his shoulders to counter but Gargano escapes and lands a kick to his head.
He delivers a tornado DDT off the middle rope and sits Kaiser on the top turnbuckle but Kaiser delivers a kick to his face. Kaiser plants Gargano with a running senton as Giovanni Vinci appears at ringside.
Kaiser tells him to go to the back opening the door for Gargano to hit a kick follow by One Final Beat to get the win.
Winner: Johnny Gargano
Footage aired from earlier today of Adam Pearce standing in between Women’s Tag Team Champions Piper Niven & Chelsea Green, Natalya & Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, Kayden Carter & Katana Chance & Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri showed up. Pearce said there would be a Fatal 4 Way for a shot at the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Nile tried to speak to Pearce but Dupri shooshed her. After the other teams exited the area Green told Pearce that she was going to talk to Smackdown general manager Nick Aldis about this. Tell him I said hi said Pearce which caused Green to storm off.
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley & NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio returned to the Judgment Day clubhouse. Ripley got pissed when she spotted Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark sitting on the couch. Stark said they heard so much about the clubhouse that they thought they would check it out.
Baszler stood up and went face to face with Ripley. I’ve seen enough Baszler said before making her exit. Stark told Ripley that she’s so focused on everyone other than the person she should be focused on. Stark pointed at the Women’s World Title that was hanging up and claimed it was coming home with her.
Ripley said most people wouldn’t survive the stunt that Stark pulled but admitted that she kind of respected it. Ripley said Stark would get her beating at Survivor Series.
Women’s Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way Match
Tegan Nox & Natalya vs. Kayden Carter & Katana Chance vs. Maxxine Dupri & Ivy Nile vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
Natalya delivers a boot to Ivy Nile’s midsection then tags in Tegan Nox & Nox lands a kick on her chest. Natalya tags back in and Nile delivers a pair of kicks on her thighs then Maxxine Dupri tags in and rolls Natalya up but Natalya kicks out.
Dupri delivers a drop toe hold before Nile tags back in and gets caught with a side Russian leg sweep by Natalya then Indi Hartwell tags herself in and Nile looks to roll her up but Hartwell stays on her feet and delivers a bodyslam then delivers an uppercut.
Candice LeRae tags in and double teams on Nile with Hartwell but Kayden Carter tags herself in and beats LeRae down then Chance becomes legal and double teams on LeRae with Carter then tags Carter back in.
Nox & Natalya get in the ring and Carter & Chance dump the to the outside then Carter goes flying off the top rope to take them out and everyone starts beating down one another on the outside.
Dupri delivers a crossbody off the middle rope to take everyone down as we go to a break.
After the break Natalya tags in and delivers shoulder tackles to Chance & Carter then pins Chance but Chance kicks out. Natalya plants her with a Michinoku Driver then sits her on the top turnbuckle and climbs up to join her.
Carter looks to help out Chance but Nox takes her down and joins Natalya on the ropes but Nile pulls Nox & Natalya off the ropes and Carter levels her with a thrust kick.
She gets Natalya & Nox in position and assists Chance in flying off her shoulders then Chance goes for a pin, but everyone on the apron breaks the fall.
Nile takes down Hartwell with a step up enzuigiri but Nox sends her crashing on top of Hartwell then LeRae delivers a kick to Carter after she takes her down and Chance levels LeRae with a kick.
Natalya slides back in the ring and locks in a Sharpshooter on Chance but Nile breaks the hold with a bulldog to Natalya and Dupri tags herself in & she delivers a pair of bodyslams to the now legal Nox and hits The Caterpillar then follows it up with a northern lights suplex and goes for a pin but Nox kicks out and Dupri delivers a splash to her in the corner.
Nile tags in and tags back out to Dupri & they hit a double suplex to Nox and ascend to the top rope but Natalya pulls Nile off but Dupri stays standing and looks to hit a crossbody but Nox rolls her up for the win.
Winners & #1 Contenders To The Women’s Tag Team Titles: Tegan Nox & Natalya
We head backstage and see Intercontienetal Champion Gunther catch up with Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci. Gunther asks Kaiser to explain himself and Kaiser says he told Vinci to stay backstage. Gunther tells Kaiser that he never listens and says he really thought Kaiser could uphold the prestige of Imperium. He applauds Vinci’s efforts then says he thinks he put the wrong person in charge. He tells Kaiser to watch how he handles The Miz in the ring.
Adam Pearce was greeted by New Day, Alpha Academy, DIY, Indus Sher, Imperium & Creed Brothers. The teams were upset about the women having the Fatal 4 Way for a shot at the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Pearce said they couldn’t do it this week but they could have a Tag Team Turmoil match next week for a shot at the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles. Akira Tozawa did his dance while holding a Detroit Lions Title.
Pearce told a crew member to bring something to his office. Nick Aldis emerged and said there was no need because he was right here. Pearce said good and said they should have a conversation which led to a tense look between him & Aldis.
The Miz says he wants to talk about one word he feels the pro wrestling industry is about respect. He says respect for the stars in the ring and respect from the fans but there is someone who lacks respect and that is Gunther.
Gunther’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He tells Miz that it’s not that there’s a lack of respect but rather that he has no respect for him. He tells him that he doesn’t understand the ring is for fighting because he’s an entertainer and Miz says he’s proud of being an entertainer because he gets it done in and out of the ring. He says many Superstars of the past he looks up to have held the Intercontinental Title and he hoped and prayed to hold that same title. He says the reason his heroes are remembered is because they aren’t a one note robot like Gunther and says he’s been knocked down from the top of the mountain time and time again. He says he’s been able to reinvent himself countless times and that’s what makes an entertainer immortal. He says that’s what elevates the legacy of the Intercontinental Title and he will do whatever it takes to win. He says no one knows much about Gunther and that won’t change until he hits the bottom when everyone can find out if he deserves their respect. He tells Gunther that if he doesn’t understand that then he will beat it into him.
Gunther says everyone thinks he will be facing Miz at Survivor Series, but he sees through him and he will be facing Mike Mizanin. He says all his heroes bullied him to make him understand that he doesn’t belong in pro wrestling on top of him already being taunted in high school and says 20 years later nothing has changed. He tells Miz he belongs with the fans and says he hasn’t been bullied enough. He shoves Miz repeatedly and tells him to do something and Miz fires off strikes on him. Gunther connects with a big boot then holds him in place forcing him to look at his title and taunts him. Miz low blows Gunther to escape his grasp then lands a Skull Crushing Finale. He grabs Gunther’s Intercontienetal Title and holds it up as he stands tall.
Backstage Seth Rollins fired up Jey Uso and told him they needed the War Games advantage. Rollins said Jey knows how important it is because he’s been in War Games. Jey told Rollins that he had him.
A video aired with Ivar & Valhalla talking about Ivar’s match with Bronson Reed next week.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Chad Gable
Match starts off with a lock up before they go back and forth exchanging submission holds with one another before Chad Gable delivers a dragon screw to Shinsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura fires back with an enzuigiri as Gable sits on the top turnbuckle but Gable dumps Nakamura out of the ring and delivers a cannonball off the apron.
After the break Nakamura delivers a knee to Gable’s midsection as he’s draped over the top turnbuckle then follows it up with a flying knee off the middle turnbuckle but Gable manages to cinch in an Ankle Lock.
Nakamura escapes and Gable plants him on the mat face first then ascends to the top rope and hits a flying headbutt then goes for a pin but Nakamura kicks out and exposes the top turnbuckle then sets up for a Kinshasa.
Gable reverses into a German suplex and ascends to the top then looks for a moonsault but Nakamura gets his knees up and looks for a Kinshasa but Gable avoids it and cinches in an Ankle Lock.
Nakamura escapes and looks to send Gable crashing into the exposed turnbuckle as Gable puts a stop to his momentum but this opens the door for Nakamura to roll him up for the win.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Drew McIntyre was shown walking backstage before Judgment Day approached him. McIntyre & Damian Priest went face 2 face. McIntyre said he didn’t need any help. Great we weren’t offering Priest said. McIntyre said cool and started to walk away. Rhea Ripley stopped him and told him to get the advantage. McIntyre said he would take Jey out for good. Priest said McIntyre better do it.
Backstage Bronson Reed cuts promo and said that Ivar is not a true warrior, he’s a cosplayer. Reed accepted Ivar’s challenge to a match for next week.
After the break we head backstage and see Sami Zayn chatting with Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes. Zayn & Rollins say that their ideas didn’t pan out but Rhodes reveals that his did and the person he called is in.
War Games Advantage Match
Drew McIntyre vs. Jey Uso
Drew McIntyre & Jey Uso stare one another down before exchanging right hands with one another before McIntyre lands a stomp then delivers a right hand to the side of Jey’s jaw and follows it up with a back elbow.
Jey then sends McIntyre crashing out of the ring and goes flying to level him before sending him crashing into the ring post face first as we go to a break.
After the break McIntyre delivers a chop to Jey but Jey responds with several right hands and an enzuigiri then follows it up with a crossbody off the top rope and looks to go flying to level McIntyre on the outside.
McIntyre catches him with a right hand then sends him crashing into the barricade and the ring apron then gets Jey back inside the ring, and Jey catches him with an enzuigiri.
He lands a shoulder on his midsection but McIntyre knocks him back out of the ring and follows him. He sends him crashing over the announce table as we go to a another break.
After the 2nd break Jey fires off strikes on McIntyre then follows it up with a superkick and a Samoan Drop then McIntyre ascends to the top rope but Jey moves out of the way.
McIntyre manages to hit a neckbreaker and kips up then sets up for the Claymore Kick but Jey catches him with a superkick and ascends to the top rope but McIntyre trips him and hits Future Shock DDT for the win.
Winner & Gets Advantage For War Games: Drew McIntyre
After the match McIntyre drags Jey out of the ring and clears the announce table then looks to send Jey crashing through it as Ripley appears at ringside but Jey fights his way out and grabs a chair but the rest of Judgment Day blindsides him and attacks him. Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn & Seth Rollins then run down to the ring with chairs in hand to help Jey out and send Judgment Day tumbling to the outside. Rhodes grabs a mic and says he’s glad Judgment Day has the advantage. He says they found a 5th member of their team someone that he has a legacy with and is an A Pex Predator. The crowd started cheering for Randy Orton & Rhodes tells Judgment Day they aren’t hearing voices in their head because the crowd is right.
Updated Survivor Series Card (Nov 25th)
War Games Match
Judgement Day (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Mr Money In The Bank Damian Priest & Finn Balor, NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh) & Drew McIntyre vs. World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso & Randy Orton
Intercontienetal Title Match
Gunther (c) vs. The Miz
Women’s World Title Match
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Zoey Stark
Women’s War Games Match
Damage CTRL (Women’s Champion Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane, Bayley & Asuka) vs. Bianca BelAir, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch & Shotzi
Santos Escobar vs. Carlito
Next Week’s Raw
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Tag Team Turmoil Match
Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis) vs. Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus) vs. New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. Imperium (Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser) vs. Indus Sher (Veer & Sanga) vs. DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa)
Bronson Reed vs. Ivar
Women’s Tag Team Titles Match
Chelsea Green & Piper Niven (c) vs. Tegan Nox & Natalya
