WWE Raw Review – October 30, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Raw with Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley welcomes fans to Raw then says Judgment Day has proven every week that they run the show because they’ve taken care of everyone who’s in their way. She promotes NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh’s respective matches for tonight then say both World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins & Drew McIntyre have some decisions to make. She says whichever of them decides to make the right choice will determine who walks out of Crown Jewel as the winner and the loser of their World Heavyweight Title match. She adds that her Fatal 5 Way match at Crown Jewel is another chance for her to prove herself.
Sami Zayn’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He says he knows Ripley didn’t invite him out to the ring but he’s sick of hearing them talk about their power on Raw. He says his entire life and career has been spent fighting people that think like Judgment Day but he’s all about rebellion and resistance and will fight them all as long as there’s a breath of air in his body. He says that he will fight them until there is no more of them left and Ripley says it doesn’t matter. She says they don’t need the members when it comes to him then challenges him to a match on Damian Priest’s behalf. Mysterio suggests they teach Zayn a lesson now but before anything happens Ricochet runs down to give Zayn a hand. Judgment Day backs down until McDonagh looks to blindside Ricochet. Ricochet sends him crashing over the top rope and Mysterio looks to take advantage by attacking him but Ricochet sees him coming and Mysterio slides out of the ring.
Non Title Match
NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio vs. Ricochet
Ricochet delivers a dropkick then follows it up with a few right hands to his head and charges at him but Dominik Mysterio dumps him on the apron and dropkicks him onto the floor.
He sends Ricochet’s face bouncing off the announce table then gets him back inside the ring and fires off shoulders to his midsection in the corner.
He follows it up with a series of stomps and looks for a splash in the corner but Ricochet moves out of the way and delivers an enzuigiri then lands a suplex and a brainbuster before he ascends to the top rope and lands a splash.
The action spills to the outside and Ricochet lands a crossbody on Mysterio through the middle rope as we go to a break.
After the break Mysterio lands a boot on Ricochet’s midsection and follows it up with 3 Amigos. He launches him into the middle rope face first and dials it up for 619 but Ricochet ducks out of the way and lands a back elbow.
He hits a hurricanrana and a splash from the top rope then follows it up with a springboard moonsault and gets Mysterio up on his shoulders. Mysterio escapes and hits a swinging neckbreaker then ascends to the top and looks to fly.
Ricochet rolls out of the way and lands a superkick then ascends to the top and looks to fly. Ripley hops up on the apron and grabs the referee’s attention allowing for McDonagh to distract Ricochet. Mysterio takes advantage and rolls up Ricochet with his feet on the ropes for the win.
Winner: NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio
After the match Ricochet blindsides Mysterio & McDonagh. He ascends to the top rope and looks to go flying to take out Mysterio but Ripley drags Mysterio out of the way before he can.
We get a video package from Raquel Rodriguez with her cutting a promo about the Fatal 5 Way match for the Women’s World Title at Crown Jewel.
We get a video package aired on Creed Brothers.
Tag Team Match
Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis) vs. Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus)
Chad Gable & Julius Creed lock up to get this match started then they go back & forth locking each other in submission holds before Julius gets Gable up in a vertical suplex position and tags in Brutus Creed.
Julius hands Gable over to him and Brutus plants him then Otis tags in and sends Brutus crashing into the mat then charges at him in the corner but Brutus slips out of the way and delivers a Brutus Smash off the middle rope.
Julius tags back in and Otis lands a double clothesline on Creed Brothers then Gable follows it up with one of his own from the middle rope before he and Otis plants Creed Brothers with simultaneous suplexes as we go to a break.
After the break Gable cinches in an Ankle Lock on Brutus but Brutus counters into a roll up but Gable kicks out. Brutus then gets him up on his shoulders and plants him with a Samoan Drop but Gable catches him with a German suplex and tags in Otis.
Julius tags in and Otis flattens Creed Brothers with a double clothesline then lands a bodyslam on both of them then delivers a splash to Julius in the corner and hits The Caterpillar.
He goes for a pin but Julius kicks out and lands a jumping knee then Brutus tags in and lands a Brutus Smash off the top rope.
Julius with a standing Shooting Star Press & Brutus lands a moonsault before Brutus goes for a pin but Gable breaks the fall and clotheslines Julius out of the ring.
Brutus looks to go flying off the middle rope but Otis plants him with a slam and goes for a pin. Julius delivers a 450 Splash off the top to break the fall and Gable lands a moonsault on everyone.
Maxine Dupri hops up on the apron but Ivy Nile pulls her down leaving to a verbal exchange so Akira Tozawa inserts himself between them and Nile hits him with a German suplex.
Julius tags in and gets Otis in an electric chair position as Brutus ascends to the top rope & hits Brutus Ball to score the victory.
Winners: Alpha Academy
After the match Creed Brothers & Alpha Academy shake hands as a show of respect for one another.
Highlights aired of Damian Priest slamming a chair on the ankle of Cody Rhodes last week which was followed by Cody saving Jey Uso from a Judgment Day attack in the main event
We then head backstage and see New Day knock on the dressing room door of Judgment Day as they Trick Or Treat. Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh joins Finn Balor & Damian Priest to strategize. Priest questions Ripley’s decision to make a match for him against Sami Zayn without asking him and Ripley says she made the match because he’s the punishment of Judgment Day.
A brief Nia Jax video aired with her talking about the Women’s World Title match at Crown Jewel.
Miz welcomes fans to MizTV and introduces Intercontienetal Champion Gunther & his music hits but he is nowhere to be seen. Miz introduces him again but Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci appear instead and Kaiser say Gunther won’t just show up because Miz says he will. Kaiser says Miz is everything wrong with the WWE Universe today and the embodiment of what Imperium despises. He calls Miz a clown and Miz says while he’s been called a lot of those things he’s never been a sidekick as he addresses Vinci. Vinci asks Miz if he was his wife’s sidekick on Total Divas and Miz corrects him by saying the show he’s thinking of is Miz & Mrs. Miz questions why Vinci is talking and Kaiser makes it clear that Vinci only does so when himself or Gunther tell him to.
Gunther’s music then hits and he appears. Miz invites Gunther to take a seat but Gunther declines to do so and says since Miz didn’t receive the message he was trying to get to him he came out to make 2 things clear to him. He asks why he’s hosting a talk show in 2023 then says everything Miz does in his sacred ring is beneath him. He says he doesn’t respect Miz & Miz says he interviewed an invisible John Cena that was more entertaining than Gunther. He says he is the biggest star WWE has and Gunther says that’s his issue. He says it doesn’t matter how entertaining Miz is because when it gets serious all that matters is how good of a wrestler he is. He says that’s the reason why Miz is a talk show host while he’s the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time.
Miz says he was serious when he beat Randy Orton for the WWE Title, defeated John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania and won his 2nd WWE Title. He says he was serious when he made Gunther’s Intercontienetal Title the most relevant in all of WWE and he has no problem doing it again. Gunther laughs at him and says he is one of the greatest sports entertainers of all time. He orders Kaiser to grab one of the pumpkins from the MizTV set with the talk show’s logo on it and smash it. Kaiser does so and Gunther asks what Miz is going to do about it. Kaiser dumps his chair out of the ring and Miz attacks him. He goes after Vinci and levels him before Gunther takes him down with a chop and tells him he isn’t in his league. Miz gets back up and looks to attack Gunther but Vinci & Kaiser hold him in place and Gunther lands a big boot across his face. Miz storms to the back as #DIY head down.
After the break The Miz storms into Adam Pearce’s office and asks him if he just saw what happened. He asks Pearce if he’s really going to let Imperium get away and demands an Intercontinental Title match. Pearce says he can’t give him a title shot but he can give him a #1 Contenders shot against someone else who wants a title shot Bronson Reed.
Tag Team Match
#DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) vs. Imperium (Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser)
Johnny Gargano lands a chop on Giovanni Vinci then Tommaso Ciampa tags in and wears down Vinci then tags Gargano back in. Gargano follows suit and tags Ciampa back in and Vinci sends him crashing into the mat before he tags in Ludwig Kaiser.
Kaiser lands an open palm strike but Ciampa fires back with a jawbreaker and Gargano sends Vinci crashing into a clothesline at the hands of Ciampa then the action spills to the outside and Kaiser levels Gargano with a running uppercut. Vinci plants him on the apron as we go to a break.
After the break Gargano looks to tag out to Ciampa but Vinci prevents him from doing so but he lands an enzuigiri and looks to do so again but Kaiser pulls Ciampa off the apron and Vinci catches him with a backbreaker.
Gargano lands a DDT and tags in Ciampa as Vinci tags out to Kaiser & Ciampa levels Kaiser and an interfering Vinci then lands a flying clothesline on them both and fires off right hands on Kaiser then lands a forearm strike and a reverse DDT then goes for a pin.
Kaiser kicks out and plants Ciampa with a Death Valley Driver then he follows it up with a clothesline and tags in Vinci & Imperium looks for Imperium Bomb but Gargano catches Kaiser with a superkick as he flies while Ciampa takes down Vinci.
Vinci looks for a moonsault but Ciampa moves out of the way and rocks him with a running knee then Gargano tags in and #DIY hits Meeting In The Middle for the win.
Winners: #DIY
A subtitled Shinsuke Nakamura promo aired. He said he is still looking for his sacrifice. He asked if the person wanted him to choose him or if they wanted to step up. Go ahead. Step forward. Awaken me. What are you afraid of? Nakamura said. He encouraged the person to show themselves.
We get a Candice LeRae video package.
A Xia Li video package aired and had subtitles then she referred to herself as the storm.
A video package recapped Li attacking LeRae last week.
Candice LeRae vs. Xia Li
Xia Li looks for a boot but Candice LeRae moves out of the way and fires off right hands in the corner then lands a running back elbow and a step up senton.
Li delivers a chop to LeRae’s chest and charges at her in the corner but LeRae levels her with a boot and rolls her up but Li kicks out and lands a jumping knee then follows it up with a spinning kick.
The referee checks on LeRae and tells Li to back off and LeRae gets up to her feet before falling back down so the referee calls off the match and declares Li as the winner.
Winner By Referee Stoppage: Xia Li
After the match medical staff runs down and checks on LeRae.
We then head backstage and see Jey Uso wish Sami Zayn luck in his upcoming match against Damian Priest. Jackie Redmond appears for a word with Jey and asks him about Judgment Day. Jey ponders himself & Cody Rhodes regaining the Undisputed Tag Team Titles from Finn Balor & Damian Priest before walking away.
A Shayna Baszler video package aired while she spoke about the Fatal 5 Way at Crown Jewel.
Candice LeRae was shown seated while a trainer spoke with her. #DIY, Indi Hartwell, Kayden Carter & Katana Chance were all in the room.
We get a video package on Drew McIntyre sitting in the stands of an empty WWE Performance Center. He spoke about winning the title in an empty venue. It included shows of a young McIntyre and he spoke about eventually stepping up and winning the Royal Rumble. McIntyre said he had the fans behind him and there was going to be a stadium full of people chanting his name.
McIntyre said everything changed overnight. Mainstream pandemic headlines were shown. McIntyre was shown saying he couldn’t believe that WrestleMania wouldn’t be held in front of fans. Footage aired of McIntyre hitting Brock Lesnar with Claymore. McIntyre said it was the biggest moment of his career and no one was there to celebrate. McIntyre said he did what he’s always done his job.
McIntyre said he put his body through hell so that he could be a champion that people could be proud of. He said he fought and clawed to get back in position to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Title again at Clash At The Castle only for The Bloodline to ruin it. McIntyre said he can make it right at Crown Jewel. McIntyre said it’s just another title defense for Seth Rollins whereas it’s everything for him. McIntyre said Rollins was his 1st WWE Title defense in 2020 and at Crown Jewel he will be Rollins’ last.
A Zoey Stark video aired to push the Fatal 5 Way match at Crown Jewel.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins welcomes fans to Monday Night Rollins and introduces himself, then says he’s graciously agreed to beat JD McDonagh tonight as he prepares for his Crown Jewel title defense. He says everyone saw the video from Drew McIntyre and tells him to cry him a river. He says everyone was fighting battles during the Covid19 and many others had it a lot worse than him. He tells McIntyre to get in line with performers such as Sami Zayn & Cody Rhodes who ask for no pity and tells McIntyre if he can pry his World Heavyweight Title away from him he’ll be the 1st to shake his hand and call him champ. He says he’s not the same person he was in 2020 but before he can continue McDonagh blindsides him from behind.
Non Title Match
World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins vs. JD McDonagh
Seth Rollins fires off right hands on JD McDonagh on the outside then sends McDonagh’s face bouncing off the apron before tossing him into the barricade spine first and gets him back in the ring.
He then fires off more chops and follows it up with a back body drop but McDonagh lands a corkscrew from the apron and jams his boot into his jaw in the corner.
He connects with a jawbreaker but Rollins sends him crashing out of the ring and lands a tope suicida that sends McDonagh crashing over the announce table as we go to a break.
After the break Rollins lands a right hand on McDonagh’s head then follows it up with a series of chops to his chest and a clothesline then lands a superkick and 2 more clotheslines. He connects with a Sling Blade and a running knee then goes for a pin but McDonagh kicks out.
McDonagh executes a headbutt and ascends to the top rope but Rollins moves out of the way and lands a jumping knee. McDonagh hits a standing Spanish Fly as Rollins charges at him but Rollins responds with a Buckle Bomb and ascends to the top rope.
Damian Priest heads down with his Money In The Bank briefcase in hand and grabs Rollins’ attention & this allows for McDonagh to get his knees up.
They end up teetering on the top rope and Rollins lands a back superplex then follows it up with a Pedigree & Curb Stomp for the win.
Winner: World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins
After the match Rollins stares down Priest as Priest holds up his briefcase.
Backstage Ricochet complained to Adam Pearce about the interference in the opening match. Pearce said Ricochet made a hell of a showing and offered him a chance to earn a shot at the Intercontinental Title. Ricochet said it sounded good but he had a bone to pick with Dominik Mysterio and then made his exit.
Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green & Piper Niven enters the picture and were dressed as The Hart Foundation for Halloween but Pearce blew them off. Green yells cute costume to someone off camera. Niven did the Jim Neidhart laugh. They walked away while Ivar & Valhalla shows up. Valhalla said the gods demanded that they speak to him about the Intercontinental Title. Pearce said okay then adds that he needs a drink.
Backstage Becky Lynch was interviewed by Jackie Redmond & Lynch wasn’t happy about losing the NXT Women’s Title but she said if she had to lose then she’s happy that it was to someone hungry like Lyra Valkyria and put her over as someone who eats, sleeps and drinks this.
Lynch said she defended the NXT Women’s Title more during her 42 day reign than Rhea Ripley & Roman Reigns have defended their titles all year. Lynch said she doesn’t need the title, the title needs her. Xia Li shows up and accused Lynch of ducking her. Lynch said they could fight on the spot. Li said they would fight but it would be on her time.
Trick Or Treat Street Fight
Women’s Tag Team Champion Chelsea Green vs. Natalya
Chelsea Green delivers a boot to Natalya then grabs a pumpkin pie and sends her careening into Natalya’s face then tosses a bunch of candy and a candy corn kendo stick in the ring.
Natalya grabs it and hits Green with it then sends her crashing into the timekeeper’s area.
Green grabs the lid of a garbage can and hits Natalya with it then pulls a table close to the timekeeper’s barricade with Niven’s help and looks to land a senton off it but Natalya rolls off it and Green is sent crashing through the table.
Green tries running up the ramp but Natalya chases her back to ringside and sends her bobbing for apples. Niven tries to help Green but Natalya levels her and looks to lock in a Sharpshooter. Green tries preventing her from doing so but Natalya stacks her on top of Niven.
Natalya is sent crashing into the ring post and the skeleton hanging from it then grabs a pumpkin off the table to reveal Nikki Cross’ head & this opens the door for Natalya to send Green’s head bouncing off the table but Green sends her crashing into the ring steps and gets her back inside the ring.
Green sits Natalya on the top rope and dumps out a bag of candy corn handed to her by Niven. Natalya escapes and powerbombs Green through the candy corn.
Niven causes a distraction and holds Natalya in place as Green charges at her with a pumpkin pie but Natalya ducks out of the way and Niven receives a face full of pie before Green manages to take advantage and lands Unprettier for the win.
Winner: Women’s Tag Team Champion Chelsea Green
Rhea Ripley’s video aired to promote the Fatal 5 Way at Crown Jewel.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Mr Money In The Bank Damian Priest vs. Sami Zayn
Match starts off with a lock up then Sami Zayn fires off strikes and an elbow drop off the middle rope then looks to send him crashing into the barricade on the outside.
Zayn lands on top of the barricade and hits a moonsault then tosses Damian Priest back in the ring and follows but Priest catches him with a kick and a variation of a suplex as we go to a break.
After the break Zayn connects with a clothesline on Priest then Dominik Mysterio & Finn Balor run down to the ring capturing Zayn’s attention for a moment as Priest looks to land South Of Heaven but Zayn manages to roll him up.
Priest kicks out and lands The Reckoning then looks for Razor’s Edge. Zayn escapes before Mysterio clocks him as Balor captures the referee’s attention.
Jey Uso’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring to level Mysterio & Balor then he hops inside the ring and superkicks Priest causing the disqualification.
Winner By DQ: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Mr Money In The Bank Damian Priest
After the match Judgment Day continues beating down Zayn and goes after Jey. Cody Rhodes’ music hits and he runs down to the ring to even the odds. Jey lands a superkick on Mysterio in the ring and Zayn clotheslines him to the outside before him and Jey goes flying to level Dominik & Balor. Rhodes clears the announce table and looks to send Priest crashing through it but JD McDonagh helps Priest. McDonagh gets caught with a Helluva Kick from Zayn & Rhodes asks for Zayn to hand him over to him. Zayn does so and Rhodes delivers a pair of Cross Rhodes to him on top of the announce table. He then grabs a mic and says Priest tried taking him out last week with a chair but was unsuccessful. He says he’s the guy who gets back up every time he’s down because that’s his story then asks Priest what his is. He says Priest isn’t the leader of Judgment Day because he walks behind Balor, Mysterio & Rhea Ripley. He says he’s back on his path and his path will go straight through him at Crown Jewel to close out this week’s Raw.
Crown Jewel Card (Nov 4th)
World Heavyweight Title Match
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
Women’s World Title Fatal 5 Way Match
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Zoey Stark vs. Nia Jax
Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match
Roman Reigns (c) vs. LA Knight
United States Title Match
Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Logan Paul
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Mr Money In The Bank Damian Priest vs. Cody Rhodes
John Cena vs. Solo Sikoa
Women’s Title Match
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bianca BelAir
Sami Zayn vs. JD McDonagh (Pre Show)
Next Week’s Raw
Intercontienetal Title #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way Match
Bronson Reed vs. The Miz vs. Ricochet vs. Ivar
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Akira Tozawa
