Tag: Ricochet

WWE Raw preview 11/6/23: Finding the next challenger for Gunther

We’re also looking for the first steps toward WarGames tonight on WWE Raw from Wilkes-Barre.

WWE Crown Jewel is now in the rearview mirror, and it was a pretty good show this year. But one of the champions who didn’t have to defend his title in Saudi Arabia is looking to see who his next challenger will be, which is one of the biggest orders of business for WWE Raw tonight from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Who will be next up to challenge Gunther?

The champ in question is Gunther, who is having the most impressive title run in the company next to Roman Reigns right now (and in terms of quality of matches, perhaps even better than the Tribal Chief). While it looked like three men would battle each other for the right to face the Ring General next, that number is now up to four: Bronson Reed, Ivar, Ricochet and The Miz.

Reed and Ricochet have already tried unsuccessfully to dethrone Gunther, though it’s been a while for the latter. The Miz is someone WWE can always throw at a champion for extra credibility, though Gunther is far beyond needing that.

So that leaves us with Ivar as an intriguing opponent for the Intercontinental Champion, and one who’s deserving thanks to some excellent recent performances. We wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up emerging from the four-man battle tonight.

Can the power of Tozawa possibly hold up against Nakamura?

When Shinsuke Nakamura made it clear that he was waiting for someone to step up to his challenge, it’s safe to say not many fans expected Akira Tozawa to be the one to answer the call. But while Tozawa still resides firmly in comedy gimmick land, he’s definitely no joke once the bell rings.

This could be a nice way to remind everyone of how talented Tozawa is, set the groundwork for Nakamura’s next feud, or both. Don’t sleep on this one.

Will the WarGames hints commence?

We don’t expect all the top Raw stars who participated at Crown Jewel to be back for tonight’s show, but one of the big things announced over the weekend was that WarGames will happen again at Survivor Series. That’s no shock, but since the show is only a few weeks away, WWE needs to get the ball rolling on those matches.

It would be surprising indeed if The Judgment Day wasn’t involved in the men’s match, given how pivotal the group has been to everything happening on Monday nights. It will be interesting to see if tonight’s Raw makes that even clearer.

Adam Pearce announces two more matches

Raw’s GM announced two more matches tonight, one involving The Judgment Day and the other to find a contender for Rhea Ripley.

Raw heads our way from Wilkes-Barre at 8 p.m. ET on USA, and we’ll have our usual live coverage here on Wrestling Junkie beginning at that time.

WWE Raw results 10/30/23: No treats for The Judgment Day, especially JD McDonagh

Also on WWE Raw tonight, the Trick or Street Fight was … something.

There have probably been factions that have been outright scarier in terms of their presentation than The Judgment Day if you look back over WWE history, but not that many can claim to have the same combination of power and persistence. And now it’s possible they may use tonight’s episode of WWE Raw to grow that even more, so what could be more frightening than that for a Halloween week episode from Greenville?

JD McDonagh is kind of the quintessential wanna-be in that he’s been on a “How can I be down?” kick for weeks, always trying to assist — though sometimes his help has backfired, and there are certainly questions about his motivations.

He’ll try to prove he’s worth a full-fledged spot tonight when he takes on Seth Rollins. Rhea Ripley will no doubt be watching closely, but she may also have hedged her bet since it sure seemed like she was extending an invitation to the World Heavyweight Champion to join the group last week.

And because you should always have a gimmick match for Halloween, Raw has that covered as well. Natalya will take on Chelsea Green in a Trick or Street Fight, a match that only took on more potential entertainment value on social media today.

To wit:

Ahem. Plus we’ll see the latest between DIY and Imperium, and there’s buzz about an NXT call-up that should be very popular among fans who watch that brand regularly.

Sounds like a splendid way to spend the night before Halloween. Let’s see if it turns out that way.

WWE Raw results from Greenville:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Rhea Ripley lays down the law for tonight but gets a rebuttal from Sami Zayn, who is willing to fight The Judgment Day but discovers Ricochet has his back
  • Dominik Mysterio def. Ricochet by pinfall with the help of Rhea Ripley, JD McDonagh and some rule-breaking
  • A short video package promotes the return of #DIY as a tag team
  • Raquel Rodriguez cuts a promo ahead of her participation in the Fatal 5-Way Women’s World Championship match at Crown Jewel
  • We also get a highlight package of The Creed Brothers, introducing the masses to Julius and Brutus
  • The Creed Brothers def. Alpha Academy by pinfall in their first ever WWE match
  • The Judgment Day seems unamused by The New Day trick-or-treating dressed (sort of) like them, and Damian Priest seems a little ticked about Ripley making a match for him until she’s able to convince him that it’s for the good of the group
  • Nia Jax talks about squashing everyone since her return and looks forward to doing it again at Crown Jewel
  • Miz TV welcomes another big guest, Gunther, but the Ring General and Imperium make this particular episode miserable for the host
  • An angry Miz demands an Intercontinental Championship with Gunther, but Adam Pearce says he can earn one, and it appears that may mean defeating Bronson Reed
  • #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) def. Imperium (Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser) by pinfall
  • Shinsuke Nakamura says he’s waiting to be provoked by someone who fancies themself the hero
  • Xia Li def. Candice LeRae by referee stoppage
  • Jey Uso wishes Zayn good luck before suggesting he might team with Cody Rhodes about pursuing the tag team titles and then … um, running up on Rhea?
  • Shayna Baszler makes her vow to win the Fatal 5-Way at Crown Jewel; in the back, LeRae is checked out by doctors as Gargano and her friends look on
  • A lengthy but very good pre-taped video has Drew McIntyre explain why his title shot at Crown Jewel is so meaningful to him, and while he’s willing to break Seth Rollins’ back to win
  • Zoey Stark speaks her piece before the Fatal 5-Way, so we’ve heard from all of the challengers now
  • Seth Rollins scoffs at the idea that McIntyre is feeling sorry for himself and then blaming The Bloodline for all his other failures, but he gets jumped by McDonagh before he can finish his thoughts; the ref checks on him but Rollins says he’s good to go for his match
  • Seth Rollins def. JD McDonagh by pinfall despite the looming threat of a Money in the Bank cash-in by Damian Priest
  • Pearce thanks Ricochet for his efforts tonight and offers him a chance to win an IC title shot, but also has to deal with Chelsea Green and Ivar before saying he needs a drink
  • Becky Lynch reflects on her NXT Championship run and tells Li she’s willing to fight her
  • Chelsea Green def. Natalya by pinfall in a Trick or Street Fight
  • Damian Priest def. Sami Zayn by DQ after Jey Uso ends up superkicking Priest, but …
  • … the show ends with Zayn, Uso and Cody Rhodes teaming to battle The Judgment Day, McDonagh taking two Cross Rhodes on the announce table and Cody delivering a passionate warning to Damian for Saturday

WWE Raw preview 10/30/23: Can JD McDonagh finally prove his worth to The Judgment Day?

Also on WWE Raw from Greenville, get ready for a Trick or Street Fight. No, really.

You know the feeling you get when you have a big job interview, audition or internship and you’re desperate to prove you can play a big role for the company or team? That’s what JD McDonagh has been experiencing for weeks on end, but he may finally get a chance to break through tonight on WWE Raw from Greenville, SC.

The Irish Ace has been on the periphery of The Judgment Day for a while now, and has been valuable on more than one occasion but has also cost the group a win or two. His status has never been fully decided upon either, with Damian Priest, in particular, suspicious of his close friendship with Finn Balor.

In the meantime, Rhea Ripley has been on a recruiting tear for The Judgment Day, even approaching World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Tonight on Raw, McDonagh and Rollins will go one on one, and the outcome might go a long way toward deciding whether JD will finally make the cut or Seth will consider Rhea’s offer more seriously.

Other Judgment Day business will see Dominik Mysterio in a non-title match against Ricochet. Plus DIY will be reunited as Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa take on Imperium’s Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser, and Gargano’s wife, Candice LeRae, is scheduled to battle Xia Li.

Plus, seeing as it’s Halloween eve and all, Raw is promising a Trick or Street Fight between Natalya and Chelsea Green. We don’t know exactly what that will entail, but expect it to have some Halloween trappings used as weapons.

And, seeing as this is the final live show before Crown Jewel this Saturday (since Friday’s SmackDown was taped last Friday), any last minute tweaks to the card should happen tonight. Make plans to tune in at 8 p.m. on USA, or join us back here at Wrestling Junkie for live WWE Raw results and updates later this evening.

WWE Raw results 10/23/23: The Judgment Day keeps making moves

Rhea Ripley signed a contract but also kept up a seeming recruiting drive on WWE Raw.

OK, so I have no idea if this headline is actually true since The Judgment Day has never invited me or any of the Wrestling Junkie crew to one of their celebrations. That’s also true tonight on WWE Raw from Dallas.

Why are they in such a triumphant mood? Well, it just so happens that despite some infighting over the past few weeks, the group came together in a big way last Monday, with everyone playing their part to ensure Damian Priest and Finn Balor reclaimed the tag team titles from Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso.

Not sure the group can rightfully claim to hold “most of the gold in WWE” like it says in WWE’s official preview for tonight’s show, but everyone but Dominik Mysterio is back in possession of a title, so that seems like plenty of reason to celebrate to me.

Oh, but Priest also has to face Uso tonight, so that only heightens the chances of Main Event Jey coming out to spoil the mood during the show-opening segment. Yeet.

There’s plenty of other stuff to look forward to in Big D. Logan Paul will be on hand, though it’s not readily apparent why since the man he just called out, Rey Mysterio, works on SmackDown. Becky Lynch will once again put her NXT Women’s Championship on the line, this time against Indi Hartwell.

Drew McIntyre will battle Sami Zayn as the two men continue to disagree about whether a person can turn over a new leaf and be forgiven for past misdeeds. And The New Day will take on Alpha Academy as jostling for position for a tag team title shot continues.

So plenty for us to sink our teeth into, which is not a poor Halloween season/vampire joke, promise. If you are otherwise engaged tonight, we got you.

WWE Raw results from Dallas:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Party up with The Judgment Day? Cody Rhodes learns why it’s a bad idea
  • The New Day def. Alpha Academy by pinfall
  • Becky Lynch acknowledges the multiple people chasing her NXT championship but says she needs to stay focused on Indi Hartwell tonight
  • A hype video is shown for Ivar, which is well deserved after some of his recent performances
  • Seth Rollins seems chipper while walking backstage, but runs into Rhea Ripley, who suggests that he needs the “insurance” of The Judgment Day; Rollins retorts that maybe Rhea is uncertain that Damian Priest won’t successfully cash in his MITB contract, while she maintains that without their help, he won’t ever have a title reign like Roman Reigns — but Rollins says if there’s one thing he doesn’t want, it’s to be anything like Roman
  • Natalya offers her support and advice to Hartwell ahead of her title opportunity
  • Becky Lynch def. Indi Hartwell by submission to retain the NXT Women’s Championship; afterward, Xia Li attacks Candice LeRae in the back
  • Nick Aldis apologizes to Adam Pearce for kicking him out of the building on SmackDown, and Pearce accepts it but also asks for security to be doubled — though maybe for the contract signing coming up next
  • A contract signing with five top women’s wrestlers sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, and naturally, it does indeed turn into a brawl as Ripley stands and watches the whole thing while laughing
  • Bronson Reed tries to stir things up with Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci, but ends up getting challenged to a match by … Akira Tozawa?
  • Johnny Gargano def. Giovanni Vinci by pinfall, as Tommaso Ciampa assists with Ludwig Kaiser on the outside
  • Shinsuke Nakamura cuts another stylish, subtitled promo on Ricochet
  • Logan Paul and Dominik Mysterio do the mutual admiration thing, much to the disgust of the fans — and Ricochet
  • Chelsea Green and Piper Niven def. Natalya and Nikki Cross by pinfall after Cross does literally nothing for her team
  • Drew McIntyre sarcastically tells Jey Uso he can’t imagine what it’s like to have The Bloodline cost him a championship and says whatever happens to Sami Zayn tonight is on his head
  • The Miz drops in on Pearce to air his grievances about not being given anything worthwhile to do on Raw in weeks, and he’s even more upset when Ripley arrives to sign the contract she never got to sign and the camera follows her to check on Dominik
  • Drew McIntyre def. Sami Zayn by pinfall, thanks in part to a distraction from Ripley, obviously still on a recruiting tour
  • Pearce finds Aldis to express his displeasure that the SmackDown GM is talking up some of the Raw talent, and the two men shake hands as Aldis says he’s taking off; also, Cross walks by with the same vacant look in her eyes, causing Pearce to mention that he needs a drink
  • Bronson Reed def. Akira Tozawa by pinfall despite Tozawa’s recent Alpha Academy training
  • Tozawa gets a pep talk from Coach Gable despite his loss, and DIY stops by to announce their return to Alpha Academy and The New Day; also Tozawa does his training dance again
  • Rollins congratulates McIntyre for “your first win as the newest member of The Judgment Day,” though Drew says he say Seth talking to Rhea; both men say they don’t need The Judgment Day to beat the other at Crown Jewel
  • Damian Priest def. Jey Uso by pinfall thanks to help from Balor, but Rhodes, despite suffering an ankle injury earlier, is still up to the challenge of fighting off The Judgment Day (with help from some steel chairs) to end the show

WWE Raw preview 10/16/23: Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso run it back vs. Judgment Day

WWE Raw from Oklahoma City will also see Gunther battle to retain his Intercontinental Championship against Bronson Reed.

If there’s one thing WWE knows how to do well above all other things, it’s getting the most out of whatever is hot at the moment. With The Judgment Day still ruling the roost as the stable that draws the most heat on Monday nights — despite some internal conflict — and tag team champs Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso making their unlikely pairing work, it’s only natural to match them up again tonight on the season premiere of WWE Raw from Oklahoma City.

You may recall that Damian Priest and Finn Balor are who Rhodes and Uso defeated to win their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship in the first place. That loss didn’t go over well with them, with Priest wanting to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase to ensure he was still wearing gold, or their teammates.

That makes it logical to wonder what will happen if Priest and Balor don’t win this rematch. And heaven forbid if JD McDonagh tries and fails again to assist them, because Priest’s head may explode.

Gunther also has a big challenge tonight on Raw, and we mean that literally. Bronson Reed won the right to face the Ring General for his International Championship, providing a very real and very different kind of threat than most of Gunther’s challengers.

Shinsuke Nakamura and Ricochet will have no title on the line when they collide in Oklahoma City, as their feud is driven by pure dislike for each other and slights from weeks past. They’ll look to settle things in a Falls Count Anywhere match that may range all over the Paycom Center.

Last but certainly not least, Rhea Ripley has made it clear she wants to restore some order to “her” division, but while Nia Jax has been the most obvious disruptor, others have been increasingly bold about standing up to her as well. She’ll take on one of them, Shayna Baszler, to try to convince her that it’s a mistake.

And since this is the season premiere, there very well could be a surprise or two in store as well. Tear yourself away from Halloween prep and playoff baseball to take in the action beginning at 8 p.m. ET tonight, or simply join us back here at Wrestling Junkie at that time for live WWE Raw results and updates.

WWE Raw results 10/9/23: Good efforts from Nox, Sami and KO but champs retain

WWE Raw from Omaha saw several championship matches, including the first defense by Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso.

Athletes of all kinds have to play through pain sometimes, but pro wrestlers are a different breed. To wit, Becky Lynch suffered a gash so nasty the last time she defended her NXT Women’s Championship that we don’t want to show it again here, yet she still might defend her title less than two weeks later on tonight’s episode of WWE Raw from Omaha.

Lynch is supposed to take on Tegan Nox, who has waited patiently for her opportunity and has had veterans like Natalya and Lynch herself vouching for her. The question is whether Becky will be cleared to compete tonight, but Fightful Select (subscription required) says that as of a few hours before showtime, it was looking good. If the match proceeds, the thing to watch for is whether Nox might be setting Lynch up for a turn as she seems a little “too” good right now.

One thing that hasn’t been good is the way The New Day has been getting roughed up by the one healthy member of the Viking Raiders, Ivar. Kofi Kingston will try to switch things up for your boys, but it’s fair to wonder if agreeing to a Viking Rules match that falls right into Ivar’s wheelhouse is the best way to do it.

Plus, Fastlane gave us new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, and since Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso are both members of the Raw roster, it would be silly for them not to be featured on tonight’s show. Michael Cole will get some interview time with the new champs, but will an angry Judgment Day come looking for them too?

We’re looking forward to finding out.

WWE Raw results from Omaha:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Seth Rollins looks OK considering what he went through at Fastlane, and he gets a new challenger, albeit one willing to wait until Crown Jewel
  • Ivar def. Kofi Kingston by pinfall in a Viking Rules match
  • Byron Saxton tries to get some comments from Shinsuke Nakamura, but Riochet comes and finds Nakamura first
  • An angry Priest wants to take his frustration out on JD McDonagh, but Rhea Ripley calms him down by pointing out that he still has the MITB briefcase; The Judgment Day also gives JD the unenviable task of “taking care of” McIntyre
  • Raquel Rodriguez vs. Nia Jax is a no contest as both Ripley and Shayna Baszler both decide to wade into the action
  • Rollins wants an explanation from McIntyre and tells him he doesn’t need to worry about The Judgment Day taking the world title from him
  • Some former tag team champs want a shot at the new ones, as Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn challenge Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso … and the champs say they’re willing to do it tonight
  • Bronson Reed mocks Chad Gable for thinking he’s going to get another crack at the Intercontinental Championship by winning the Triple Threat match tonight …
  • … which Ricochet is also in, but he gets jumped by Nakamura on his way to the ring
  • Bronson Reed def. Chad Gable and Ricochet to earn an Intercontinental Championship shot at Gunther next week on Raw
  • Becky Lynch plugs her book that’s on the way this spring but says she’s ready to give her all against Tegan Nox tonight; she also tells Xia Li she’s not hard to find when Li asks when she may get a title opportunity
  • Drew McIntyre def. JD McDonagh by pinfall
  • Ripley has an idea and tells Priest to trust her
  • Wade Barrett talks to Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa about their DIY reunion, but before they can answer a question about whether they will be a legit tag team on Raw, they get a surprise ambush from Imperium and are left lying on the dressing room floor
  • A video package hypes up Tegan Nox, who also gets a visit from Natalya, who says she meant what she said about her and tells Nox to knock it out of the park
  • Adam Pearce tells Ricochet that next week, he’s got a Falls Count Anywhere match with Shinsuke
  • Becky Lynch def. Tegan Nox by submission to retain the NXT Women’s Championship; afterward, Lynch shows Nox respect for a game effort
  • Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell check with Adam Pearce on the condition of Gargano and Ciampa until Ripley demands they leave so she can demand a match with Baszler next week to “get my division in order”
  • Natalya, Katana Chance and Kayden Carter try to cheer up Nox, and when the tag team champs are less hospitable, Natalya agrees to fight Piper Niven next week on Raw
  • McIntyre tells Jey Uso he knows Jey will show his true colors eventually and he’ll be right there to take him down; Zayn stops by to defuse the situation, and the two men agree even though they are friends, it’s go time tonight
  • A vignette pushes Ludwig Kaiser as European elegance and an A+ specimen … really!
  • Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso def. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn by pinfall to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship; after the match, Owens finally shows Uso he respects Jey with a handshake and bro hug

WWE Raw results 09/25/23: JD McDonagh saves the day for The Judgment Day

If The Judgment Day won’t accept JD McDonagh now after his key role on WWE Raw, they probably never will.

As the late, great philosopher Guru of Gang Starr once said, “Give the credit y’all, where it is due.” And in this case, the credit is due Dominik Mysterio as he prepares to defend his NXT North American Championship on tonight’s episode of WWE Raw in Ontario, California.

No, really. Though Dom is definitely the person you love to hate at the moment, he’s gone from “get this guy off my screen” heat to “we hate you because you’re a big heel” heat. In that respect, strapping him up only helped, which is why WWE did the right thing by doing so even though most people griped at the time.

He’ll have one of his biggest showcases tonight, trying to fend off Dragon Lee. There’s no question Lee reminds Dominik of his famous father in all the ways that get under his skin most, which is why a loss would definitely burn. WWE could potentially help make Lee a star with a win, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out, and if Mysterio needs help from his teammates in The Judgment Day to pull out a victory.

If they can’t help him, it might be because they’re busy too. Damian Priest and Finn Balor won the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship from Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, but now they’ve got to keep the Canadians from getting it back. Plus there’s lots going on around the champs, what with trying to recruit The Usos and that JD McDonagh guy always wondering “How can I be down?”

All that plus Drew McIntyre on Miz TV, Shinsuke Nakamura addressing Seth Rollins’ challenge and Cody Rhodes kicking off the show. Sounds like a night, doesn’t it? Let’s find out.

WWE Raw results from Ontario:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Cody Rhodes gets interrupted again, but he finds plenty of allies rally to his side against The Judgment Day
  • Bronson Reed def. Otis by pinfall
  • Becky Lynch asks Tegan Nox why she didn’t take the open challenge last week and says she’s next in line once she wins at No Mercy
  • Nox and Natalya get into an argument in front of Adam Pearce over who deserves a shot at Lynch next, so he proposes they battle it out in the ring
  • Tommaso Ciampa def. Ludwig Kaiser by pinfall despite, and indeed perhaps thanks to, Giovanni Vinci’s attempt to help his Imperium mate
  • A hype video puts over the skill and athleticism of Dragon Lee
  • Tegan Nox def. Natalya by pinfall
  • A furious Priest kicks McDonagh out of The Judgment Day’s dimly lit dressing room
  • Seth Rollins gets his answer from Shinsuke Nakamura, and he is undeterred in agreeing to a Last Man Standing match at Fastlane
  • Even on crutches, Ricochet says he has unfinished business with Nakamura no matter who wins at Fastlane
  • Dominik Mysterio def. Dragon Lee by pinfall to retain the NXT North American Championship
  • KO and Sami say their actions earlier weren’t about helping Jey Uso but about getting their hands on The Judgment Day and winning the titles back together
  • Michael Cole has the unenviable task of interviewing Nia Jax, who brags about squashing Rhea Ripley, Shayna Baszler and everyone, really; Zoey Stark heads to the ring and gets in Jax’s face, seemingly unafraid of being squashed, and they brawl into a commercial break while referees try to pull them apart
  • Nia Jax def. Zoey Stark by pinfall
  • Jey Uso tells Byron Saxton that he’s not joining any groups of any kind and will be keeping a close eye on The Judgment Day the rest of the night, especially during the tag team title match
  • Finn Balor celebrates with Mysterio and tells him Priest needed to cool off, but they’d all be celebrating by the end of the night
  • Miz TV welcomes Drew McIntyre for a bit of a morality discussion involving The New Day, and Miz ends up on the receiving end of some well deserved violence
  • Chad Gable tries to console Otis, then tells Kaiser, who is creeping on Maxxine again, to deliver a message to Gunther: Master Gable still has his eyes on him
  • Drew McIntyre def. Kofi Kingston by pinfall, undeterred by Ivar beating up on Xavier Woods during the match and doing the same to Kingston afterward
  • Gunther lays into Kaiser, making Vinci his responsibility while he takes care of his responsibility as IC champ, saying he’ll beat Ciampa himself
  • Asked about beating up The New Day, Ivar says it’s for taking out Erik, and Valhalla says “an eye for an eye”
  • Damian Priest and Finn Balor def. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn by pinfall to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, with a huge assist from McDonagh
  • After the main event, KO, Zayn, Uso and Rhodes continue to take part in a massive brawl with The Judgment Day and McDonagh

WWE Raw results 09/18/23: Jey Uso makes his choice but not everyone is sold

Who stood by Jey Uso on WWE Raw from Salt Lake City, and who still isn’t convinced he’s changed his ways?

Pro wrestling logic is a funny thing sometimes. Run with a pack and try to beat me up using the numbers game, partly to keep a ruthless heel champion in power? We’re mortal enemies. But come at me straight up and fight me one-on-one and maybe we can be allies if not necessarily friends.

That second path may work in the favor of Jey Uso tonight on WWE Raw in Salt Lake City. Outside of Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn, Jey has found precious few willing to fight beside him since joining the Monday night scene. And who can blame the rest of the roster?

Drew McIntyre is one who remembers all too well that Jey was trying everything possible to keep Roman Reigns atop the WWE mountaintop not that long ago, and naturally distrusts him as a result. The thing is, if Uso fights him honorably tonight, it could go a long way toward at least convincing the Scottish Warrior that they could fight together if need be.

Speaking of Rhodes, he’s got a match too, and it might be one that sees these two plot threads intertwine. The American Nightmare will face Dominik Mysterio, and that means the rest of The Judgment Day could get involved. That would be the same group currently trying to recruit Jey Uso to their side, so it will be intriguing to see if these bouts end up part of the same overall stew of wrestler interactions.

There’s also a battle between Ricochet and Shinsuke Nakamura to look forward to, which should be a fun affair and could draw World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins into the mix as well. Let’s dive into the action.

WWE Raw results from Salt Lake City:

(scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Cody Rhodes is greeted warmly by the Salt Lake City crowd and says since he was interrupted last week, he’d like to talk about Main Event Jey Uso; he’s interrupted again by Dominik Mysterio, however, who brags about The Judgment Day recruiting Jey and dedicating his victory over Cody to Rhea Ripley, which Rhodes rightfully mocks
  • Cody Rhodes def. Dominik Mysterio by pinfall, then gets reinforcements in the form of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to chase off The Judgment Day
  • KO hangs in the ring and calls Rhodes back to “talk about something,” which turns out to be a discussion about whether they can trust Jey Uso
  • A replay of the return of Nia Jax and her attack on Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez is shown
  • Kofi Kingston def. Ivar by pinfall
  • Ricochet is asked for final comments and says Shinsuke Nakamura will find out he’s nobody’s pawn, and that Shinsuke playing games only fires him up
  • Shinsuke Nakamura def. Ricochet by disqualification when Ricochet uses a steel chair; afterward, Nakamura manages to get some punishment in on both Ricochet and Seth Rollins before officials and referees can finally pull him away
  • Rollins angrily tells a ref he doesn’t need help, but it appears he does to get to the trainer’s room
  • Chelsea Green tells Byron Saxton that she and Piper Niven are best friends, but Chelsea clearly doesn’t know what country Piper is from
  • Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark vs. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven is a no contest (we think) after Nia Jax shows up and assaults everyone
  • Chad Gable asks Pearce what he can do to work himself back into another title shot against Gunther; conveniently, Bronson Reed drops by and ends up talking himself into a match against Gable
  • The Rock’s surprise return on SmackDown is shown again
  • Jey Uso is asked about Owens’ remarks and how Drew McIntyre feels about him too, but Damian Priest arrives to tell Jey he wants Main Event Jey for The Judgment Day and says their group can be the family he’s looking for … but they want an answer by the end of the night
  • Bronson Reed def. Chad Gable by pinfall
  • Tommaso Ciampa says being patient didn’t work for him, so he’s creating his own opportunity by going through Imperium to get to Gunther
  • A highlight package shows the best moments from Becky Lynch’s victory over Tiffany Stratton to win the NXT Women’s Championship, and The Man is shown accepting a fist bump from Akira Tozawa backstage
  • Owens runs into Jey Uso and has to be calmed down by Zayn, once again playing peacemaker; Sami also tells Jey that he doesn’t know what The Judgment Day business is all about but it appears Jey has a decision to make tonight
  • Lynch explains why she went after the NXT title, saying it wasn’t just to become Grand Slam Becks but also to test herself against the best the future has to offer; she wants to face someone tonight, however, and her challenge is answered by Natalya, who emphatically won’t take no for an answer when Lynch points out her challenge was intended for someone “newer”
  • Becky Lynch def. Natalya by pinfall to retain the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Dominik accuses Pearce of not doing his job and punishing Nia for attacking Rhea, and he exchanges words with Dragon Lee, who he’ll face next week
  • Tommaso Ciampa def. Giovanni Vinci by submission
  • Rollins tells Saxton he’s trying to keep it together but is so upset that he’s willing to do anything to get Shinsuke in the ring, so much so that he says the ball is in Nakamura’s court: time, place, even stipulation, but he warns that it could mean Seth defining Shinsuke’s legacy

  • A hype video is shown for the main event, detailing the history between Uso and McIntyre
  • Drew McIntyre def. Jey Uso by pinfall after Uso gives superkicks to every member of The Judgment Day
  • The Judgment Day beats up on Uso after his defeat, and while McIntyre stands on the stage and decides not to help, Rhodes runs down and chases the heels away

WWE Raw preview 09/18/23: Drew McIntyre not forgiving, forgetting with Jey Uso

Salt Lake City will also see Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio and The New Day vs. Viking Raiders in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match on WWE Raw.

Jey Uso wants to turn over a new leaf, but he’s finding that a lot of people he’s wronged during his time in The Bloodline are keeping receipts. One of the more powerful men still holding a grudge will meet him in the ring tonight on WWE Raw in Salt Lake City.

Drew McIntyre was one of the more notable superstars to unsuccessfully try to put a stop to The Bloodline’s reign of terror, and the Scottish Warrior hasn’t forgotten the role Jey played throughout. Perhaps Jey can earn Drew’s respect the old fashioned way by proving his mettle between the ropes, but there’s also the specter of The Judgment Day hanging over everything since they’ve been trying to recruit Uso to join their group.

Speaking of The Judgment Day, one of their own, Dominik Mysterio, will take on Cody Rhodes tonight. Dirty Dom tried to get the jump on the America Nightmare last week, and even with the aid of wanna-be teammate JD McDonagh, it didn’t go well. Does he have something up his sleeve to make things different in an actual match?

Shinsuke Nakamura has made it clear he’s not finished pursuing Seth Rollins, but he’s also set his sights on Ricochet in the meantime. The question is whether that may prove to be a tactical error — and if the World Heavyweight Champion might show up to play some mind games of his own on Nakamura.

Finally, a normal match between two of Raw’s top tag teams (though there aren’t that many overall, to be honest) probably isn’t going to settle their differences. So The New Day and Viking Raiders will battle in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match to finally put an end to their beef. Maybe.

All of this and more is coming to a flatscreen near you at 8 p.m. ET tonight. Tune in on USA or join us back here at Wrestling Junkie for live results and updates.

WWE Raw results 09/11/23: Stunning return helps Rhea hold off Raquel

Dominik Mysterio couldn’t help Rhea Ripley on WWE Raw, but a returning star provided an unexpected hand.

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: Rhea Ripley certainly doesn’t need help from Dominik Mysterio to win her matches. She’s proven that numerous times on her way to becoming Women’s World Championship. That said, it’s fair to wonder if it’ll get in her head looking ringside tonight during WWE Raw in Norfolk and not seeing Dirty Dom there to support her.

Ripley can use any edge she can get because Raquel Rodriguez has been a determined challenger who is a legit threat to dethrone her. Rodriguez is powerful enough to stand her ground against Ripley, and she’s motivated by what the champ did to both her and tag team partner Liv Morgan, so she’s not going to stop.

All we’re saying is that with Dom barred from ringside tonight for the title rematch, Ripley might not have the same comfort level she usually does. And given the way she’s put the rest of The Judgment Day on notice if they didn’t win gold, it would be ironic indeed if she loses hers first.

Cody Rhodes is going to talk about something on Raw this evening as well, and while we fully expect that he’ll ask us what we want to talk about, we feel just as sure that he already has something in mind. We’re just not exactly sure what that might be, and if it still has to do with recently arrived Jey Uso.

Plus, Imperium is going to throw a championship celebration for Gunther, which he deserves as the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time. But has he truly beaten everyone worth beating, or will someone new choose this occasion to declare themselves next in line to try to topple the Ring General?

These are the reasons we watch.

WWE Raw results from Norfolk:

(scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Jey Uso is caught between Kevin Owens saying do the work and The Judgment Day trying to recruit him, but offers to team with KO tonight
  • The Judgment Day (Damian Priest and Finn Balor) def. Jey Uso and Kevin Owens by pinfall, after an Uso superkick accidentally hits Owens and sets up their opponents’ victory
  • Uso attempts to apologize to Owens, but KO angrily tells him to go join “your new Bloodline” and accept the Judgment Day’s offer to join
  • A highlight package is shown of Gunther’s victory over Chad Gable last week that helped make him a record-holder; afterward, a car pulls up and Imperium gets out, dressed to the nines
  • The Miz def. Akira Tozawa by pinfall
  • Raquel Rodriguez tells Byron Saxton that Rhea Ripley might be the most dominant women’s champ ever, but she’s not like most challengers and Dom won’t be there to help Rhea tonight
  • Chelsea Green makes the mistake of calling Shayna Baszler a peer, and besides, she doesn’t need a partner because Piper Niven is back
  • Gunther is ready to celebrate his historic Intercontinental Championship reign, but Chad Gable isn’t done with him yet
  • Xavier Woods wants to know why Drew McIntyre was trash talking Kofi Kingston and isn’t happy with the answer he gets, then goads the Scottish Warrior into a match
  • Backstage, Ciampa explains why he came to Alpha Academy’s aid, and Otis suggests the three of them challenge Imperium tonight
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Xavier Woods by pinfall
  • Cody Rhodes wants to talk about Jey Uso but has to fight off Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh instead
  • McIntyre tells Jey he doesn’t trust him, saying he doubts Uso can stand on his own two feet; Jey says he’ll prove he can by facing McIntyre next week, and Drew quickly accepts
  • Shayna Baszler def. Chelsea Green by pinfall, then gets some help from Zoey Stark to avoid a post-match beating from Piper Niven
  • Shinsuke Nakamura is still focused on taking Seth Rollins’ title and says he will challenge for it again when he feels like it
  • Rollins comes to the ring and admits that he is all the bad things Nakamura claims he is, but he’s also some good things, and it simply took a long time to realize he just needed to be himself; he also offers the chance for Shinsuke to come get the World Heavyweight Championship right now, but Nak is busy beating up Ricochet backstage instead
  • Balor approaches Jey and says The Judgment Day are his only fans on Raw, and the door is always open for him
  • Alpha Academy and Tommaso Ciampa def. Imperium by submission
  • The Judgment Day says the more Jey feels isolated, the better the chance that he joins them; Rhea tells Dom not to worry, as she always comes out on top
  • Tiffany Stratton is upset that she’s been waiting for Becky Lynch, but The Man arrives to sign a contract for their title match on NXT; Lynch also says her problem with Stratton is that she only wants to be famous, while Tiffany says she doesn’t need Becky to be a big deal since she’s been doing that for herself
  • Rhea Ripley def. Raquel Rodriguez by pinfall to retain the Women’s World Championship, thanks to a dramatic return by Nia Jax, who then assaults Ripley after the bell