11/7 WWE RAW TV RESULTS: Doucette’s “alt perspective” report on Crown Jewel fallout, U.S. title open challenge, and more

WWE RAW TV REPORT
NOVEMBER 7, 2022
WILKES-BARRE, PA. AT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA
AIRED ON USA
REPORT BY DANNY DOUCETTE, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Commentators: Kevin Patrick, Corey Graves

Ring Announcer: Mike Rome

[HOUR ONE]

-The show opened with the “Then. Now. Forever. Together” signature. The Raw intro then aired followed by a shot of the arena stage with pyro blasting.

-Patrick and Graves welcomed viewers to the show and hyped Seth Rollins’ U.S. title open challenge.

-The Usos’ music hit and the Unified tag champions made their way out to the stage accompanied by Solo Sikoa. Patrick noted that The Usos had not heard from Sami Zayn since last Friday. Solo and The Usos stood in the ring as the fans chanted for Sami. Jey told the crowd that The Bloodline was in their city. Jimmy boasted about how Roman Reigns defeated Logan Paul and how they defeated The Brawling Brutes. Jey brought up how they will face The New Day on Smackdown for the tag title record. As they went to say they are the ones, New Day’s music hit.

Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston made their way down to the ring with microphones. Kofi congratulated The Usos on their win at Crown Jewel. Xavier declared his and Kofi’s intentions to beat The Usos for the titles and keep their record intact. The crowd chanted for Kofi. Kofi smiled and nodded. Jimmy ran down the New Day’s list of accomplishments, but called them the second best. Xavier said that The Usos are chasing their record, so they are the best. Xavier also said that The Usos got opportunities based on their family name. The Usos rebutted saying that they had pressure based on their family name that New Day couldn’t understand. Xavier then said that that they faced pressure not knowing if they were going to get fired and had to make names for themselves. Jey brought up how he and Jimmy forfeited the gauntlet match that allowed Kofi to get a WWE title match at WrestleMania 35. Jey told Kofi to not to show up for the tag match and stay home with his kids. Kofi asked what kind of father he would be if he forfeited the match. Kofi said their record represents how they over came so much and represents the last time New Day was whole.

Matt Riddle’s music then interrupted. Riddle came out with his bongos. Riddle talked about his and Elias’ band and Jey told him to shut up. Riddle said everyone should relax and hit his bong. Xavier and Kofi tapped the bongo. Riddle tried to get Solo to do it. Solo did not and stared at Riddle. Riddle said Solo is the strong and silent type. Riddle went to Jimmy. Riddle tapped out a little rhythm. Jimmy finished the rhythm and stared playing the bongo. Riddle stopped him and said the rule is tap, tap, pass. Riddle tried to get Jey to hit the bongo. Jey pushed Riddle away. Riddle took offense and challenged The Usos and Solo to face him and New Day in a six man tag match. [c]

(Doucette’s Analysis: That was an outstanding segment until Riddle came out to ruin it. I loved the way both teams highlight the adversity they overcame as well as their history in helping Kofi get to WrestleMania. Facing New Day is a perfect way to have them either capture the record or lose the titles. Either outcome is intriguing. The only bad was Riddle making bong jokes during an intense segment to set up the six man tag. Kofi couldn’t at least finish his heartfelt promo?! The same could have been accomplished by having a fight break out because of the heated words. Solo could have joined in to beat down on New Day, but then Riddle runs out for the save to set up the match.)

(1) THE USOS (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso) & SOLO SIKOA vs. THE NEW DAY (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) & MATT RIDDLE 

The match started out with New Day and Riddle in control. This changed when Riddle attempted a Floating Bro onto Jey at ringside, but Solo punched Riddle down to the floor. [c]

Back from the break, Jey and Solo worked on Riddle. Riddle fought back valiantly after being back into The Bloodline corner. Riddle hit Jey with a Fisherman Buster and fought off Solo to make the hot tag to Kofi. Kofi hit Solo with a flurry of offense. Kofi went for Trouble in Paradise, but Jey distracted him. Solo hit Kofi with a belly-to-belly suplex and knocked him outside of the ring. Solo threw Kofi into the announce desk and fought off Xavier as well. [c]

Kofi stopped Solo’s offense after the break with a Tornado DDT. Riddle tagged in and hit Jey with a barrage of kicks. Riddle went for the Bro-ton, but Jey hit him with a back suplex for a near fall. Jey made a tag to Jimmy that Riddle didn’t see. Riddle locked Jey in a triangle choke and Jimmy splashed Riddle for a near fall. Riddle hit Jimmy with a draping DDT and signaled for the R.K.O. As Riddle had his back turned, Solo tagged in and ducked down at ringside. Riddle hit Jimmy with the R.K.O., but Solo came in and hit the Spinning Solo on Riddle for the win.

WINNERS: Usos & Solo in 21:00.

(Doucette’s Analysis: Really good match with the correct result. Solo continues to look bulletproof, but with a slow steady build. I wonder where things go with Riddle from here as he seems a bit directionless since the Rollins feud. He’s still in prominent segments, but is starting to look like a bit of a chump.)

-A highlight package of the Crown Jewel event aired.

-JBL made his entrance as Patrick made a crack about his baggy suit. [c]

-JBL bragged about how he sold out many famous arenas around the world, but wouldn’t include the Mohegan Sun Arena among them. JBL made fun of the Philadelphia Phillies losing the World Series and introduced Baron Corbin.

(2) BARON CORBIN (w/JBL) vs. CEDRIC ALEXANDER

Corbin dominated Alexander to start and hit Alexander with a lariat for a two count. Alexander hit Corbin with a dive on the outside. However, Corbin caught Alexander as he came back into the ring with End of Days for the win.

WINNER: Corbin in 2:00.

(Doucette’s Analysis: At least it was short this week.)

-Rollins was shown backstage dancing his way to the ring for the open challenge segment. [c]

[HOUR TWO]

-Logan’s selfie dive onto Reigns at Crown Jewel was shown to have amassed 40 million views.

-Rollins made his way out to the ring as the crowd sang his theme song. Rollins praised the fans for singing his song and hyped up the return of the U.S. title open challenge. The Judgment Day’s music then interrupted. Finn Balor, Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest, and Dominik Mysterio surrounded the ring. Balor entered the ring with a microphone. Balor said he had a bone to pick with Rollins in regard to losing gold to him. As Balor was about to accepted the challenge, The O.C.’s music hit. Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and A.J. Styles came down to the ring and faced off with Dominik, Priest, and Balor. Rollins scurried off. Styles took issue with the fact that Judgment Day always had the numbers advantage. Styles said that still haven’t found someone to help them, but
“she” found them.

Ripley was then shown out laid out at ringside with someone in a black hoodie standing over her. It was Mia Yim. Yim hit Ripley with a kendo stick and threw her into the timekeeper’s area. Styles and Balor brawled in the ring, but Balor bailed. Anderson attacked Balor from behind. Dominik tried to attack Styles, but Styles caught him and hit Dominik with a Styles Clash. Dominik and Balor retreated as The O.C. and Yim posed in the ring.

(Doucette’s Analysis: I certainly didn’t expect Mia Yim to be the reveal. It’s already better than Retribution, though.) 

-Otis was shown warming up backstage with Chad Gable for his match with Elias. [c]

-Cathy Kelley ran to approach Rollins about the open challenge. Rollins said he made a promise and it will still happen.

(3) OTIS (w/Chad Gable) vs. ELIAS

Otis overpowered Elias to start. Elias tried to slam Otis, but couldn’t and Otis hit him with a headbutt. Elias tried to lift Otis again, but Otis landed on top of him. Elias hit Otis with two jumping knees for a nearfall. Elias went to the top rope, but Gable jumped onto the apron. Elias hit Gable with a flying knee. However, Otis used the distraction to nail Elias with the World’s Strongest Slam for the win.

WINNER: Otis in 3:00.

(Doucette’s Analysis: I was shocked to see Otis actually get a win here. I’m fine with it as I see more upside in American Alpha than Elias at this point.)

-Byron Saxton interviewed Judgment Day backstage. Judgment Day were in a frenzy and said that The O.C. will still fall to them. As the group walked away, Ripley crossed paths with Bianca Belair. Ripley acknowledged Belair, simply saying “champ”.  Belair smirked and walked away as Ripley stared her down.

(Doucette’s Analysis: I was happy with the tease for that match. That’s the one I’m ready for. Ripley has risen to a level to believably dethrone Belair, so it is an exciting matchup.) [c]

-Belair made her entrance accompanied by Alexa Bliss and Asuka.  “Fan video” of a confrontation between Damage CTRL and Bliss, Asuka, and Belair in a parking lot earlier in the day was shown.

-Belair said she was the last woman standing at Crown Jewel and called out Damage CTRL. Damage CTRL walked down to the ring as Dakota Kai spoke for the group. Kai said that Belair hasn’t beaten Bayley, but Bayley has beaten Belair twice. Kai and Iyo Sky bragged about beating Asuka and Bliss. Bliss said Nikki Cross helped them win, so they shouldn’t brag. Asuka began speaking in Japanese. Sky made a rebuttal in Japanese. Sky and Asuka began arguing in Japanese, with Asuka made chicken noises. Sky called Asuka a bitch and the two teams began brawling. Damage CTRL retreated and Belair said that it was war between them and they need to settle it at War Games. Cross attacked Belair from behind and Damage CTRL joined in to dispose of Asuka, Belair, and Bliss.

-Patrick and Graves hyped the redo of Rollins’ U.S. title open challenge. [c]

-Austin Theory came out to the ring as Patrick noted that Theory has held the Money in the Bank briefcase for 127 days. Shelton Benjamin came to the ring as a picture-in-picture promo was shown of how the match came to be. Benjamin confronted Theory backstage earlier and Benjamin said that Theory has gone down to Bobby Lashley’s Hurt Lock and Brock Lesnar’s F5. Theory called Benjamin “Mr. Irrelevant” and asked when was the last time he beat anybody. Benjamin said it would be Theory later in the night.

(4) AUSTIN THEORY vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

Benjamin went toe-to-toe with Theory to start. Theory went to the top rope and Benjamin tried to suplex him off. Theory raked Benjamin’s eyes and hit A-Town Down for the win.

WINNER: Theory in 3:00.

(Doucette’s Analysis: Benjamin can still go I wonder why he gets used so rarely on Raw. Weird coincidence that Benjamin and Alexander pop up on Raw at the same time after Lashley appeared to turn heel.) 

-Theory took selfies after the match.

-The Miz was shown walking backstage as a graphic for his match with Johnny Gargano was shown. [c]

-Miz came down to the ring for a pre-match interview. Miz said he wanted to talk to the fans with honesty. Miz said Gargano’s interview from last week was false. Miz called it a deepfake and said that even his father believes Gargano. Miz said that the silver lining is that a big-time movie producer wants to tell the real story. Miz said his lawyers will file a defamation suit. Gargano’s music interrupted.

Gargano came out with a microphone and said he lives Miz’s dad. The fans chanted for Gargano. Gargano said that because of the fans chanting for him, he needs to blow the whistle on himself. Gargano said that he did something deceitful. Gargano said that the producer Miz met with was a private investigator wearing a camera. Gargano said he brought a universal remote from home and it works on the TitanTron. The video played of Miz meeting with the “producer”. Miz said on the video that everything Gargano is true and confirmed that he stopped paying Dexter Lumis. Miz looked bewildered as Gargano seemed proud of himself. [c]

(Doucette’s Analysis: I’m happy that things are cleared up now that Gargano is indeed exposing Miz. )

[HOUR THREE]

(5) THE MIZ vs. JOHNNY GARGANO

Graves called Gargano “Johnny Blackmail” as he criticized his actions. Gargano hit Miz with a rolling senton on the outside of the ring. Gargano got in some offense while he made playful gestures to the crowd. Miz took control with a kick to Gargano’s chest. Miz took control for a bit, but Gargano fought back. Gargano superkicked Miz off the apron and pounced onto him with a dive at ringside. However, Miz dropped Gargano onto the barricade and hit him with a superkick in return. [c]

Gargano made a comeback by hitting a Backstabber and a Tornado Facebuster for a two count. Gargano hit Miz coming off the ropes with a spear through the ropes for another nearfall. Miz surprised Gargano with a Spike DDT for a two count. Gargano and Miz traded several nearfalls including one from a big superkick by Gargano. Miz rolled out of the ring and Gargano hit him with a dive. The momentum sent Miz into the announce desk. Miz looked to the pulled under the ring, but Miz then emerged with a turnbuckle rod. Miz told the referee to look under the ring and hit Gargano with the rod. Miz pinned Gargano for the win.

WINNER: Miz in 15:00.

(Doucette’s Analysis: That finish was pretty genius and this was a much better match than I was expecting. Gargano brought out a better match than usual in Miz. Gargano’s character, while showing charm in certain parts, gets annoying in heavy doses. They need to scale back on how much he talks to keep him likable as a babyface.)

-Miz was talking trash to the camera, but Lumis ran out and hit Miz in the back with a chair. Lumis retreated as he was chased by security.

-Damage CTRL and Cross were backstage. Cross was pacing back and forth and Kai praised her for helping them. Sky told Cross that they wanted her to destroy Dana Brooke. Bayley told Cross not to hold back. Cross laughed maniacally. Patrick and Graves announced that Cross would face Dana for the 24/7 championship. [c]

(6) NIKKI CROSS (w/Bayley, Iyo Sky, & Dakota Kai) vs. DANA BROOKE – 24/7 title match

Bayley was on commentary. Graves tried to ask her why Damage CTRL recruited Cross. As Cross beat down Dana, Bayley said that was the reason. Bayley then refused to answer other questions and told Graves to watch the match. Cross completely dominated Dana and hit a corkscrew neckbreaker for the win and the title.

WINNER: Cross in 3:00.

-Bayley cautiously presented Cross with the 24/7 title.

-Graves hyped Rollins’ open challenge. [c]

-Still photo highlights from Crown Jewel were shown.

-Cross was shown walking backstage staring and the ceiling and smiling followed by Damage CTRL. Cross dumped the 24/7 in a title in, or actually near, a trash can.

(Doucette’s Analysis: I guess that’s the end of the 24/7 title era? Or will R-Truth retrieve it from the trashcan and start defending it again?)

-The O.C. and Yim were interviewed backstage by Saxton. Styles, Gallows, and Anderson were excited to have Yim. Yim said she wanted to see what Ripley is about when someone can actually hit her back. Gallows wanted to go out and celebrate and Yim said it was on her.

-Rollins came down to the ring and asked the fans if they were ready for the open challenge. Rollins said this month marks his tenth year in the WWE. The fans chanted “thank you, Seth” and sang his theme song. Rollins said the fans have been with him through everything. Rollins pulled out the U.S. title as the fans chanted thanks at him again. Rollins said the U.S. title means a lot to him because it’s been too long since he’s held gold. Rollins called out his potential challenger. Mustafa Ali popped up on the big screen to accept the challenge. Suddenly, Ali was thrown off the screen and beaten up. It was revealed to be Lashley. Lashley started to accept the challenge after blaming Rollins and Lesnar for losing it. Ali attacked Lashley, but after a brief fight, Lashley tossed Ali into some production cases. Lashley continued and accepted the challenge. [c]

(Doucette’s Analysis: Thank you, Lashley. I didn’t want to see Ali challenge for the title as he’s getting kind of annoying. He was beat down sort of comedically, though, so maybe they’re going back to the drawing board with his push.)

Rollins was still in the ring as some highlights of the Lesnar-Lashley match from Crown Jewel were shown. Lashley came down to the ring. Lashley stopped his entrance short to clothesline Rollins over the top rope before the bell could ring. Lashley threw Rollins around the outside of the ring. Lashley went to spear Rollins, but Rollins superkicked him and threw him into the ring stairs. Rollins went for a Pedigree, but Lashley backdropped him. Lashley punched Rollins in the face until some referees officials came to break things up. Lashley hit Rollins with a Flatliner and rammed him into the ringpost. Lashley cleared the announce table and put him through it with a spinebuster. The match was never started.  Adam Pearce even came out to get Lashley to the back. Theory walked out and passed Lashley on the stage with a mischievous look on his face. [c]

Rollins was still down and Theory cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase. It was official as announced by Rome.

(Doucette’s Analysis: I thought Money in the Bank was specifically for the world title? Also, why would you waste Money in the Bank when Rollins is giving open challenges?) 

(7) AUSTIN THEORY vs. SETH ROLLINS – U.S. title match

Theory punched Rollins for pinned him for a nearfall. Theory also hit a backbreaker for another nearfall.  Theory tried A-Town Down, but Rollins reversed and tried a Pedigree. Theory reversed that into a successful Pedigree of his own for another two count. Rollins dumped Theory over the top rope to buy himself some time. Theory tried a somersault Blockbuster, but Rollins powerbombed him. Rollins nailed Theory with a superkick, a punch to the face, and a punch to the back of the neck. Rollins set up the stomp, but Theory hit A-Town Down. Theory went for the pin, but Lashley pulled out the referee. Theory yelled at Lashley, but Lashley pulled him out of the ring and beat him down. Lashley rammed Theory into the ringpost and then into the barricade. Lashley rammed Theory into the ringpost again and put him in the Hurt Lock. Theory was left passed out on the ringside floor as Lashley exited. The referee began the ten count, but Theory barely beat the count. Rollins hit Theory with a stomp as he got back into the ring for the win.

WINNER: Rollins in 5:00.

-Rollins was exhausted and in disbelief as the show ended.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I enjoyed this show much more than the ones in the past several weeks. The pacing was good and nothing overstayed it’s welcome unlike past shows. The JBL/Corbin stuff only got a few minutes this week which is a win. The main event segment was entertaining chaos. I didn’t know what to expect and I haven’t had that feeling watching WWE much recently. Is Rollins a full-fledged babyface now? He was the centerpiece of the show, praised the fans, and looked like a world-beater in the end. Hopefully so, because even as a heel he’s probably the most over face on the show. Theory looks kind of dumb for wasting his Money in the Bank contract, but I’m sure they just wanted it off of him. I don’t know if that means they’ve soured on him completely or want to take their time wish his push, but it’s probably for the best. Lashley certainly looks like a heel again, so we’ll see how that plays out as well. I wouldn’t mind seeing The Hurt Business reform. If things continue down this path, I’m excited for Raw going forward.