We are live on WWE Raw, and out comes the viper, Randy Orton. The commentators plug the non-title match between WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Randy Orton at Survivor Series on November 22. Orton hits the ring and raises the WWE Title belt as the boos get more powerful.
Orton holds the mic and boasts of becoming a 14-time world champion eight days ago, the best of the best. Orton says the best of the best doesn’t do him any justice. He’s not just the best of the best; he proved that he is the best. Period. Fans boo. Orton says he’s better than Shawn Michaels, Edge, The Undertaker, John Cena, and Drew McIntyre. Orton rejects the idea that he’s been handed anything or guarded throughout his career. He insists that he’s in the position he’s in because he is the best. Orton goes on and says he’s a legend. Fans boo again. Orton says this comes with great responsibility but also a great big bullseye on his back. Orton welcomes that and challenges any WWE Superstar to try and take the title. He names many WWE Superstars and wants anyone to try to come to take it. The music interrupts, and out comes Alexa Bliss.
Bliss stares at the camera and smirks. Orton circles her and sizes her up. Bliss shows her hands, and each glove has a word – Play on one, and Pain on the other. Bliss finally speaks and says, “He” could be here. The scary sounds of The Fiend start-up as we also see some red lighting. Orton yells out, and he’s ready to fight. McIntyre suddenly attacks from out of nowhere and levels Orton with a Claymore Kick. Drew gets down in Orton’s face and challenges him to grant the rematch. Drew says he’s going to make Orton’s life a living hell. Drew’s music hits, and the segment is over.
The Miz and John Morrison abruptly run into the ring from over the barrier. Miz is cashing in his Money In the Bank briefcase. A referee runs down to the ring but before he can ring the bell, Drew comes back in and levels both Miz and Morrison with big boots. Miz gets thrown out of the ring to the floor. Drew grabs Morrison and shoves him over the top rope to the floor onto Miz. Drew stands tall as fans cheer him on. McIntyre takes the title and mocks Orton some more, throwing the title down at him. Drew makes his exit as the music hits. Miz still has his MITB title shot. Orton crawls on the mat as we go to the first commercial.
Jeff Hardy Vs. Elias – Guitar on a Pole Match
Jeff Hardy and Elias have spent weeks looking to hit the right chord, and The Charismatic Enigma delivered the smash hit in a Guitar on a Pole Match. Hardy showed off his vintage high-flying skill to keep the power of Elias grounded throughout the match. The iconic Superstar finally seized control with a Twist of Fate and climbed the turnbuckle. Hardy dropped from the sky with the guitar in hand to take out Elias and walloped him with the six-string to claim the victory.
Winner: Jeff Hardy in around 8 minutes.
Match Review: 2/5. I hate objects on a pole match. It was awkward seeing Jeff Hardy and Elias climbing up and chasing the guitar. The finish was kept simple, with Hardy hitting Elias with a guitar. This rivalry is going nowhere.
Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler Vs. Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke – Women’s Tag Team Title Match
Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke were looking for a championship breakthrough against Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler, but Lana couldn’t let the rest of Team Raw draw all the attention. As the title match raged on, Lana turned heads with her entrance to ringside. Lana created a distraction that appeared to save Brooke from a vicious Baszler hold, but the diversion grabbed the official’s attention during Brooke’s roll-up. The Queen of Spades wouldn’t let victory slide away again, as Baszler locked in the Kirifuda Clutch to get Brooke to tap out.
Winner: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler in just under 4 minutes.
Match Review: 1/5. Bad match with a sloppy finish.
Bobby Lashley Vs. R-Truth
R-Truth dug himself a hole when he inadvertently set a match with United States Champion Bobby Lashley. The 24/7 Champion couldn’t stop a steamroll from The All-Mighty, who secured the tap-out victory with a Full Nelson. Lashley had one more Full Nelson available for the hard-charging Drew Gulak, but he had one act of charity left for The Philadelphia Stretcher. The United States Champion dragged Gulak’s arm over the wounded champion and stripped R-Truth of his baby.
Winner: Bobby Lashley in 50 seconds.
Match Review: 0. Senseless match. WWE should do something meaningful with Bobbly Lashley.
Braun Strowman Vs. Keith Lee Vs. Sheamus – Triple Threat Match for Survivor Series spot
As AJ Styles laid out his plans as the self-proclaimed captain of Team Raw for Survivor Series, The Monster came knocking for his opportunity. It was a clash of titans as Braun Strowman, Keith Lee, and Sheamus locked horns in a Triple Threat Match with Strowman looking to secure a spot at Survivor Series. The three behemoths put on a jaw-dropping display of strength that saw Lee toss The Celtic Warrior, and all three men come crashing in shattering fashion to the center of the ring. Strowman pounced on Sheamus with a thunderous Powerslam to punch his Survivor Series ticket. Will Team Raw pick up the pieces after the larger-than-life collision?
Winner: Braun Strowman in 14 minutes.
Match Review: 3.5/5. Finally, a brilliantly fought match that was evenly paced, filled with innovative moves.
Nia Jax Vs. Lana
After another run-in with Nia Jax earlier in the night, Lana reached a boiling point and stepped into the ring with the imposing Superstar. Lana did her best to persevere through the punishment, but Jax secured the win with a Samoan Drop to her fellow Team Raw member. As Jax made her way up the ramp, she couldn’t help but come back and keep Lana’s announce shattering table streak going.
Winner: Nia Jax in 3 minutes.
Match Review: 1/5. Another squash. Poor Lana is getting buried, that too on the announcer table. I am still not a fan of Nia Jax and waiting to see her break the glass ceiling. She is slow in the ring.
Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin Vs. The New Day – Non-Title Match
The Hurt Business announced their intentions of cashing in on their golden dreams and took a big first step with a victory over The New Day. After Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods threw shade at The Hurt Business, Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin brought the fight to the Raw Tag Team Champions in a non-title matchup. Woods seemed poised to send The New Day toward victory, but Alexander struck with a Neuralyzer, and Shelton Benjamin followed with a Paydirt in a flawless display of teamwork for the win.
Winner: Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin in 12 minutes
Match Review: 3.25/5. It was a good match. This new rivalry can possibly revive WWE Raw’s tag team division. I am optimistic about it
Ricochet Vs. Tucker
The appearance of Mustafa Ali cast a dark shadow over the match before it even began between Ricochet and Tucker. With a sense of urgency, Ricochet hit Tucker with a Recoil to secure a quick victory. The celebration was immediately cut short as the emergence of RETRIBUTION brought destruction to both competitors. T-BAR and MACE landed the most vicious final blows to Ricochet, as the vengeful group laid waste to the high-flyer.
Winner: Ricochet in 30 seconds.
Match Review: 0/5. This was more of an angle and not a match.
Drew McIntyre Vs. The Miz and John Morrison – 1-on-2 Handicap Match
All Drew McIntyre is focused on is reclaiming the WWE Championship from Randy Orton and is prepared to crush anyone who steps in his way. After The Miz tried to cash in his Money in the Bank contract earlier in the night, a Claymore from McIntyre was waiting for him. The Miz & John Morrison played to their numbers advantage throughout the match, but the Scottish Superstar proved up to the challenge. McIntyre delivered one more shattering Claymore to The Miz, but Randy Orton had the final word with an RKO on McIntyre to end the night.
Winner: Drew McIntyre in 15 minutes.
Match Review: 3/5. It went too long, but fine while it lasted. I am not complaining. I enjoy seeing Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre in the ring.
NYK Rating for WWE Raw, November 2, 2020: 6/10.
Three stars of the show
- Braun Strowman/Keith Lee
- Sheamus
- Drew McIntyre
