WWE Raw Review – September 18, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Raw with Cody Rhodes asks Salt Lake City what they want to talk about then says they could talk about Jey Uso after being interrupted last week.
Before he can continue NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio appears and says the only thing fans need to know about Jey Uso is that once he’s joined Judgment Day they will continue being the most dominant faction in WWE. He then says Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley isn’t here after being injured by Nia Jax last week but she will be back sooner and better than ever. He says he will dedicate his victory over Rhodes tonight to Ripley & Rhodes mocks the loud boos raining down on Mysterio as he’s trying to speak. He says maybe his win tonight will be the thing that impresses Ripley enough to define their relationship and Mysterio seems to be far more into Ripley than she is to him. He says Ripley seems to have eyes for Jey & Mysterio gets defensive. He says Judgment Day is a family and Jey will understand once he becomes a member.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Mr Money In The Bank Damian Priest & Finn Balor then appear on cue to be at ringside for Mysterio’s upcoming match with Rhodes.
Non Title Match
NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes
Dominik Mysterio & Cody Rhodes waste no time going after each other. Rhodes plants Mysterio face first from a delayed vertical suplex position then locks in a Figure 4 but Mysterio makes it to the bottom rope to break the hold and Rhodes delivers an overhand chop.
Mysterio regains the upper hand after some help from Priest & Balor. He looks to hit the 3 Amigos but Rhodes escapes his grasp and delivers a Cody Cutter then follows it up with Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
After the match Judgment Day looks to attack Rhodes but Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn run down to the ring to provide him with some backup. They stare down each another until Judgment Day backs down to the disappointment of Rhodes, Zayn & Owens.
Before Rhodes heads to the back Owens calls him back down to the ring to talk about something as we go to a break.
After the break Owens clarifies that Jey Uso is back on Raw because of him & Rhodes confirms that is the case. Owens says Jey did a lot while he was part of The Bloodline then asks Rhodes why he thought bringing Jey to Raw was a good idea seeing as a lot of people in the back need to hear why he did so. Rhodes says that fans probably know where he’s going with this and his job is to make people happy. He says Jey is one of the best in the world and he deserves a second chance. He says that everyone should give him the time to prove that he’s changed and it’s not necessarily a bad thing The Bloodline is down a member.
Zayn chimes in and echoes Rhodes’ sentiment. He tells Owens that they’ve both given each other 2nd chances before and he doesn’t need to trust Jey right away. Owens says he hears them and he’ll pretend that Jey didn’t cost them their Undisputed WWE Universal Title opportunities or close to joining Judgment Day if he wants them to. He says while he doesn’t trust Jey, he trusts both of them and he hopes they’re right before heading to the back.
We then head over to a video recapping the events of the Women’s World Title match between Rhea Ripley & Raquel Rodriguez as well as the return of Nia Jax.
Michael Cole provides injury updates on Ripley & Rodriguez noting that Ripley suffered a rib injury and is on a day 2 day basis while Rodriguez is recovering from whiplash.
Footage aired of Adam Pearce informing New Day that Erik wasn’t medically cleared so they play rock, paper, scissors to determine which one of them would face Ivar with Kofi Kingston winning.
Ivar vs. Kofi Kingston
Match starts off with a lock up then Ivar lands a shoulder tackle but Kofi Kingston fires back with a leaping back elbow. Ivar fires back with a senton as Kingston charges at him then whips him into the corner.
Kingston responds with a series of right hands and ascends to the top rope then goes flying and lands a dropkick then delivers a clothesline and a kick to Ivar’s head.
Ivar dumps him out of the ring and delivers a splash off the apron as we go to a break.
After the break Ivar plants Kingston before landing a sliding crossbody then ascends to the top rope and looks for a Frog Splash but Kingston rolls out of the way and lands a splash to Ivar’s spine off the top rope before he follows it up with Boom Drop but Ivar plants him with a powerbomb and goes for a pin.
Kingston kicks out and lands a back elbow but Ivar catches him with a spinning back heel kick and a senton in the corner. He ascends to the top rope and hits a moonsault then goes for a pin but Kingston kicks out.
They teeter on the ropes before Kingston delivers a sunset flip follow by Trouble In Paradise for the win.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
Footage aired from last week of Shinsuke Nakamura standing over Ricochet in the backstage area while taunting World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins as he was in the ring.
Backstage Jackie Redmond interviews Ricochet & he said he’s nobody’s pawn. Ricochet said that if Nakamura wants to play games then they will. Ricochet said he’s the cheat code and tonight would be game over.
Shinsuke Nakamura then heads down to the ring as World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins follows but Adam Pearce and several officials look to prevent him from getting farther than the ramp. Rollins manages to get past them and chases Nakamura out of the ring but security catches up to him and holds him back.
Ricochet vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Ricochet & Shinsuke Nakamura lock up to get this match started then Nakamura sends Ricochet into the middle turnbuckle face first then fires off stomps and lands a kick on his chest. Ricochet responds with a hurricanrana and a dropkick then gets him on his shoulders.
Nakamura escapes and delivers a sliding dropkick then drapes him on the top turnbuckle and delivers a running knee then follows it up with a knee to his midsection.
Ricochet lands a standing moonsault but Nakamura delivers a chop then the action spills to the outside and Ricochet delivers a moonsault out of the corner as we go to a break.
After the break Ricochet catches Nakamura with a Shining Wizard as he charges at him then he fires off right and left hands on his midsection then lands a springboard back elbow and a standing Shooting Star Press.
Nakamura delivers a knee to Ricochet’s midsection before Ricochet lands a crossbody off the top rope and goes for a pin but Nakamura kicks out at the last second and delivers a kick to his leg.
The action spills back out of the ring and Ricochet delivers a step up enzuigiri. Nakamura grabs a chair but Ricochet takes it from him and cracks it across his spine & the ref calls for the bell.
Winner By DQ: Shinsuke Nakamura
After the match Nakamura delivers a Kinshasa to the back of Ricochet’s head. He wraps Ricochet’s around the ring post and repeatedly hits it using the chair but Seth Rollins appears to give Ricochet a hand and wastes no time beating down Nakamura. He looks to plant him on the chair but Nakamura delivers a back body drop and sends Rollins crashing on the chair spine first. Officials run down to separate them but Nakamura sends him into the announce table spine first before planting him on top of it.
After the break we see Rollins struggling to walk into the trainer’s room eventually accepting help from a referee.
We see footage of Shayna Baszler defeating Chelsea Green last week followed by the post match angle involving Zoey Stark & Piper Niven.
Backstage Byron Saxton interviewed Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green & Piper Niven and asked them about Baszler & Stark. Green said Baszler & Stark are not even a real team. Green said the key to being a team is friendship. Green said that she & Niven are best friends. Niven disagreed and asked Green if she even knew what country she’s from. Green guessed Florida. Niven walks off. Saxton told Green that Niven is from Scotland. Green calls him Brian and storms away.
Non Title Match
Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green & Piper Niven vs. Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark
Chelsea Green delivers a boot to Zoey Stark’s midsection before firing off right hands then Stark comes back with an uppercut and tags in Shayna Baszler. Baszler delivers a variation on a backbreaker and tags Stark back in.
Stark delivers a kick to her knee and looks for a splash in the corner, but Green moves out of the way and delivers a missile dropkick off the top rope then Piper Niven tags in and delivers a shoulder breaker. Green tags back in and gets caught with a thrust kick.
She goes for a pin but Niven breaks the fall then Baszler gets in the ring and goes after her before they tumble out of the ring and continue to brawl then Nia Jax appears out of nowhere and tosses Niven into the ring steps & the ref calls for the bell.
Winners By DQ: Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green & Piper Niven
After the match Jax then delivers a Samoan Drop and a senton to Stark. Green tries running once she spots her but Jax chucks her across the ring then delivers a splash to Baszler before following it up with Annihilator.
We then head backstage to Chad Gable & Adam Pearce. Gable asks what he has to do to get another shot at the Intercontinental Title and Pearce says he has to work his way back there. Bronson Reed walks in and tells Gable to go to the back of the line and they begin yelling at one another. Pearce then makes a match between them official.
Michael Cole did a Did You Know? and say that The Rock’s return on Smackdown generated over 103 million views on social media.
A video package recaps The Rock’s appearance on Smackdown
After the break we head backstage to Jackie Redmond is with Jey Uso before Damian Priest walks in and asks for a moment alone with Jey. He explains that Judgment Day wants Jimmy Uso in the group but he really wants him. He says that if Jey is willing they can be the family he’s been looking for his whole life as long as he doesn’t make him look bad. He demands an answer by the end of the night.
Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed
Match starts off with a lock up then Chad Gable delivers a right hand and a dropkick off the top rope but Bronson Reed catches him with a splash and a powerslam then follows it up with a chop and whips Gable into the corner then hits a double ax handle.
Gable fires back with a boot to his face but Reed delivers a Military Press onto the top turnbuckle and sends him crashing out of the ring as we go to a break.
After the break Gable delivers a series of offensive strikes to Reed before Reed catches him with a clothesline and sits him on the top rope before Gable sends him face first into the top turnbuckle and fires off forearms then ascends to the top rope and lands a diving headbutt but Reed flattens him with a splash.
He looks for a senton but Gable gets his knees up and looks for a German suplex but can’t quite get him up and over. Reed then drags him into the corner and ascends to the top before landing Tsunami for the win.
Winner: Bronson Reed
We go backstage where Tommaso Ciampa delivered a promo while seated. He said he decided to play the long game and be patient once he arrived on Raw. He said he waited and waited and he learned that patience is a crutch. Ciampa said you have to create your own opportunities. Ciampa said Gunther has what he wants. Ciampa stood up and knocks his chair over while walking away.
A video package recaps Becky Lynch beating Tiffany Stratton to win the NXT Women’s Title.
Lynch was shown walking backstage before Akira Tozawa entered the picture and nervously held out his fist. Lynch bumped fists with him.
After the break we head backstage to Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn arguing about Jey Uso. Jey walks in and confronts Owens telling him that if he has something to say then he should say it to his face. They get into a verbal exchange and Owens storms off. Zayn explains to Jey that Owens needs some time to come around and tells him to chill. He says Jey has a decision to make tonight in regards to Judgment Day.
Becky Lynch says The Man has come around to Salt Lake City and is the new NXT Women’s Champion. She says while she didn’t expect to win the NXT Women’s Title she’s learned to take opportunities when she can get them. She says she wants to elevate the NXT Women’s Title she holds and says NXT is the future before issuing an open challenge for the NXT Women’s Title.
Natalya’s music hits and she looks to answer the call. Lynch says while she has the utmost respect for her she meant for someone newer to answer. Natalya pleads her case and says Lynch took opportunities away from the younger talent. She shoves Lynch & Lynch accepts Natalya’s challenge.
NXT Women’s Title Match
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Natalya
Natalya sends Becky Lynch crashing into the ring post shoulder first as we go to a break.
After the break Lynch sends Natalya crashing into the mat and delivers a forearm in the corner. She follows it up with the Bexploder but Natalya fires back with a German suplex and looks to lock in a Sharpshooter. Lynch rolls her up to evade the hold, and Natalya kicks out.
Lynch ascends to the top rope but Natalya meets her up there and executes a superplex before Lynch lands a dropkick and a baseball kick under the bottom rope then tosses Natalya back in the ring and looks to go flying.
Natalya moves out of the way and delivers a discus lariat. Lynch looks to lock in Dis Arm Her but Natalya escapes by rolling her up. Lynch kicks out and rolls Natalya up. Natalya reverses the fall but Lynch rolls Natalya up once again for the win.
Winner & Still NXT Women’s Champion: Becky Lynch (STILL CHAMPION!!!!)
Backstage Adam Pearce was talking with Dragon Lee before NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio enters the room and said he lost to Cody Rhodes because Rhea Ripley wasn’t by his side. Mysterio said Pearce wasn’t doing his job and let Ripley get hurt. Mysterio told Lee that he doesn’t like guys in masks because they remind him of his deadbeat dad. Lee spoke of taking the NXT North American Title from Mysterio when they meet next week.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Giovanni Vinci
Match starts off with a lock up before Giovanni Vinci beats down Tommaso Ciampa right out of the gate then Ciampa plants Vinci but Vinci rolls him up after Ludwig Kaiser causes a distraction. Ciampa kicks out and delivers a boot to Vinci’s face then locks in Sicilian Stretch & Vinci has no choice to tap out.
Winner By Submission: Tommaso Ciampa
After the break we go backstage to Byron Saxton is with World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins & he tells Shinsuke Nakamura to name the time, the place and the stipulation for the World Heavyweight Title for their rematch.
Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre
Jey Uso & Drew McIntyre stare one another down before locking up then McIntyre fires off stomps and right hands in the corner before Jey delivers a pair of open palm strikes then McIntyre whips him into the corner and delivers a boot to his midsection before hitting a suplex.
Jey lands a headbutt and fires off right hands before McIntyre lands a massive right hand and a chop. Jey dumps McIntyre out of the ring and delivers a pair of tope suicidas as Judgment Day saunters down to ringside as we go to a break.
After the break McIntyre & Jey teeter on the top rope. McIntyre delivers a superplex before they go back & forth with right hands. Jey lands a kick and a Samoan Drop then goes for a pin but McIntyre kicks out and ascends to the top rope as he looks to go flying but Jey ducks out of the way.
McIntyre then plants him with a spinebuster and a neckbreaker then kips up and looks for Claymore but Jey catches him with a running kick.
Judgment Day hops up on the apron looking to give Jey some advice and although it looks like Jey might listen for a second but he superkicks Damian Priest, Finn Balor & Dominik Mysterio then turns around into a Claymore from McIntyre for the win.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
After the match Judgment Day then hops in the ring and circles around Jey as McIntyre watches from the ramp as they attack him and Balor fires off right hands as Priest & Mysterio hold him in place. McIntyre is torn and looks to head to the back but he stops. Before he can make a decision Cody Rhodes runs down and provides Jey with some backup. He delivers Cross Rhodes to Mysterio and shakes Jey’s hand to close out this week’s Raw.
Next Week’s Raw
NXT North American Title Match
Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Dragon Lee
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Match
Judgement Day (Mr Money In The Bank Damian Priest & Finn Balor) (c) vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Bronson Reed vs. Otis
