Miz starts the show with Miz TV, but Randy Orton comes out, and he is seemingly pissed. He says he accepted tonight’s match tonight so that he could beat Drew. This is a setup. He celebrated when they tossed Miz out of the locker room, and Orton never wanted them to get back in. Morrison took his ball, went home, and wrestled for the minor leagues. Ouch! If Miz wants this title, he can come and take it. Orton turns and stands and waits for the attack.
Miz says he won’t waste his power, but Orton doesn’t accept him for a second.
Morrison says he is a legend, and Miz says to quit making it about Orton. Miz wants New Day as guests because if things go according to plan and win tonight, they may be in order for the tag team titles.
New Day is out, and Xavier Woods hears those arguing about a briefcase and possibly knocking New Day for their titles. Woods find this funny.
They are here to laugh at Orton, Morrison, and Miz in person.
Randy Orton has had enough. He RKOs Kofi outta nowhere, and Morrison and Miz attack Woods.
Drew’s music hits, and Randy clears the ring of all debris. Miz, from behind, smacks Drew across the back with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Morrison and Miz toss Drew into an RKO by Orton.
Elias tries to play a song for us before Jeff comes out.
Riddle Vs. Jeff Hardy Vs. Elias – Triple Threat Match
The final spot on Team Raw was on the line when Riddle, Jeff Hardy, and Elias appeared in the ring. Elias tried to take his “Universal Truth” in a pre-match concert but dished out the punishment early. After the musically gifted Superstar took out The Charismatic Enigma, Matt Riddle punched his ticket with a shattering Bro Derek to set up Elias’s pin. The Raw newcomer now has the opportunity for Survivor Series glory as the last member of the WWE Raw’s Survivor Series squad.
Winner: Riddle in 10 minutes.
Match Review: 3.25/5. Good match with everyone trying to outsmart their opponents. It was an evenly paced match with an expected outcome. I am happy for Matt. Don’t bury him, Vince.
R-Truth pins Drew Gulak to win the 24/7 Title.
Drew Gulak felt positive after his 24/7 Title win last week and a stylish new outfit for Monday Night Raw. After Gulak’s bid to enter The Hurt Business failed badly, R-Truth swooped in to pick up the pieces and reclaim the 24/7 Title for the 43rd time.
Segment Review: Lame.
Shayna Baszler Vs. Lana
Lana continues to search for a red brand breakthrough, and Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax keep finding new ways to crush those dreams. Lana tried to go on the offensive early, but The Queen of Spades overpowered the quick effort. After a string of attacks, Baszler locked in the Kirifuda Clutch to force Lana to tap out. As Baszler teed up her teammate Nia Jax for another slam of Lana through the announce table, Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke came to Lana’s aid to create more friction on Team Raw.
Winner: Shayna Baszler in 2 minutes.
Match Review: 0.5/5. A basic squash with poor Lana going through the announce table yet again.
Riddle & Keith Lee Vs. Braun Strowman & Sheamus
A mix of bad blood and explosive personalities have made Team Raw a combustible combination of Superstars. As the self-proclaimed captain, AJ Styles has tried his best to pull the squad together, and a tag team clash was the latest effort to do so. The Phenomenal One may have regretted his decision when Styles was sandwiched between Braun Strowman and Keith Lee. It was all about individual agendas as each Superstar took turns delivering punishment. Still, The Celtic Warrior’s Brogue Kick of The Monster set him up for a roll-up by Riddle. Riddle & Lee walked out victorious, but Team Raw is now as fractured as ever.
Winner: Keith Lee and Riddle in 12 minutes.
Match Review: 3.25/5. It was a decent match with an unsatisfactory ending. They wanted to protect all four talented competetors with the roll-up finish, but they do it far too often, and it doesn’t seem decisive. However, I am impressed by Keith Lee. Riddle, Sheamus, and Braun are good as ever.
Bobby Lashley Vs. Titus O’Neil – United States Championship Match
While MVP was singing the applause of The Hurt Business, Titus O’Neil stormed out to the ring to voice his disapproval with Bobby Lashley’s United States Title reign. O’Neil brought the fight to the champ and came out swinging from the opening bell. The All-Mighty flipped the script with a spear locked in a Full Nelson to force a tap out and silent O’Neil for good.
Winner: Bobby Lashley in one minute.
Match Review: 0.5/5. Another squash featuring Bobby Lashley! Yawn.
Asuka Vs. Nia Jax – Non-Title Match
Nia Jax was confident to reassert her strength over the red brand in a non-title battle against Asuka. The Irresistible Force tried to carry the early part of the clash while her fellow Team Raw members watched from ringside. After a silly distraction from Dana Brooke, gorgeous Mandy Rose, and Lana on the apron, the Raw Women’s Champion pulled Jax into a perfect Asuka Lock. With Asuka’s hold clutched in, Baszler entered to aid her fellow Women’s Tag Team Champion to force another false disqualification finish. After the bell, Jax took out her anger and kept the streak going with another smash of Lana through the announce table.
Winner: Asuka in seven minutes.
Match Review: 1/5. Nia Jax is not improving in the ring. It was missable.
R-Truth emerges from a 7-Way match with a 24/7 Title.
After getting his title back earlier in the night, R-Truth was caught off guard with a turbulent 7-Way 24/7 Title Match. The opening bell set off a tornado of title changes as Erik, Akira Tozawa, Tucker, Drew Gulak, Lince Dorado, and Gran Metalik all held the title at one point during the match. After Dorado pinned his Lucha House Party teammate, R-Truth took advantage of the confusion to win the 24/7 Title for a record 44th time. He ran away after that.
Mustafa Ali Vs. Ricochet
Following last week’s brutal assault at RETRIBUTION’s hands, Ricochet set out to get payback against Ali. Ricochet went flying to take out the ringside RETRIBUTION members, but he came up empty when he turned his sights back on Mustafa. The leader of RETRIBUTION was set on showing Ricochet the light and grounded the high-flyer with a Koji Clutch for the victory in the best match of the night.
Winner: Mustafa Ali in 14 minutes.
Match Review: 3.5/5. This was the best match of the night. They both were given ample time, and both Ai and Ricochet delivered brilliantly. Finally, the show became interesting.
Drew McIntyre & The New Day Vs. Randy Orton, The Miz & John Morrison
Drew McIntyre entered the ring smiling ear to ear after learning he’d face Randy Orton for the WWE Championship on RAW next week. With their title clash looming, Drew, and the WWE Champion, Randy Orton predictably remained on the sidelines for the match’s early part. The Scottish Superstar shoved Morrison & Miz when he entered the fray and stared down Randy during the display. As McIntyre called him in the ring, Randy decided against it and headed up the ramp holding on to his title. With Drew’s attention turned, Morrison tried to snatch the victory, but McIntyre sprang into action for a disastrous Claymore Kick to The Friday Night Delight to clinch the win.
Winner: Drew McIntyre, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods in 13 minutes.
Match Review: 3.25/5. It felt like a house-show main event with an ending that can send the fans home happy.
NYK Rating of WWE Raw, November 9th: 6.5/10
Three Stars of the Show
- Riddle
- Ricochet
- Mustafa Ali
