WWE continues to separate itself from Brock Lesnar.
New footage of WWE 2K24 was released on Tuesday and many fans noticed that Lesnar had been removed from promotional materials related to the upcoming video game. Lesnar had appeared on the cover of the “40 Years of WrestleMania” edition but appears to have been replaced with a larger image of John Cena.
Wrestling video game site TheSmackDownHotel posted before and after images of the special edition cover.
Before and after the removal of Brock Lesnar from the cover of the WWE 2K24 "40 Years of WrestleMania" Edition#WWE2K24pic.twitter.com/OCn0pwUH6Y
It’s not clear if Lesnar will be removed from the game itself as well. It is scheduled to be released on March 5 for pre-orders and March 8 after that.
Lesnar’s removal from the cover is the latest in a series of moves by WWE to distance the company from him following allegations related to Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis.
He was completely removed from 2K’s Supercard mobile game and his merchandise at WWEShop.com has been discounted. Lesnar’s bio still appears on WWE.com, however, Vince McMahon’s has been removed.
Brock Lesnar content has been removed from the WWE SuperCard game published by 2K Games.
PWInsider was first to report that Lesnar’s content had been pulled from the digital collectible game published by 2K and available on mobile platforms, adding in their report that they had confirmed the news.
Insider’s report also cites sources stating that Lesnar is expected to be “downplayed as much as possible going forward by 2K and potentially other licensees.” 2K’s WWE 2K24 console game is scheduled for a March 8 release date.
The news comes on the heels of Lesnar’s implication in a lawsuit filed last week against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis.
The lawsuit filed by Janel Grant alleges that McMahon sexually assaulted, abused, degraded, and trafficked her, and alleges that Grant’s sexual services were offered to Lesnar as a bargaining chip in contract negotiations. Grant alleges that McMahon gave Lesnar her personal cellphone number and that Lesnar asked her to send him sexually explicit content.
Lesnar was reportedly slated to return to WWE programming imminently prior to the lawsuit being filed.
Reports indicate that Lesnar was a planned entrant in last Saturday’s Royal Rumble match, but that he was removed from the event and that Bron Breakker was placed in the match in his stead.
Lesnar has yet to issue a public statement since being implicated in the lawsuit.
The 46-year-old was originally scheduled for the men’s Royal Rumble match on Saturday. However, following Lesnar being mentioned in the recent lawsuit filed against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis, the decision was made for him to be withdrawn from the match.
Had Lesnar not been removed from the Rumble, WWE was planning on him wrestling Dominik Mysterio at the Elimination Chamber, as first reported by Post Wrestling and later confirmed by our own Dave Meltzer in Sunday’s Daily Update.
Mysterio had been set to eliminate Lesnar from the Rumble on Saturday, a role which was eventually given to Bron Breakker.
Lesnar was then scheduled to wrestle Gunther at WrestleMania 40.
Meltzer wrote:
The Lesnar creative which at this point he’s not going to be involved with unless they decide they would bring him back, was Lesnar vs. Dominik Mysterio in Australia and Lesnar vs. Gunther (I don’t know factually an IC title match but one would expect) at WrestleMania. Whether Bron Breakker gets those matches is not clear yet.
Breakker fulfilled Lesnar’s planned role in the Rumble match, entering at #20 and lasting just over five minutes. He eliminated those Lesnar was supposed to eliminate (Ivar, Finn Balor, Jimmy Uso, & Omos) and was eliminated by Mysterio in the same way as had been planned for Lesnar.
I think most people know this but Brock Lesnar was scheduled to return at the Rumble and this was a change, obviously, that was made because of the lawsuit. So, the change was made probably Friday, most likely, perhaps Saturday morning.
Bron Breakker, because of that, and the fact that the match was pretty much scripted out already, Bron Breakker essentially fulfilled the Brock Lesnar role. He came in when Brock Lesnar was going to come in, he threw out the guys Brock Lesnar was going to throw out, he got thrown out exactly how Brock Lesnar was going to get thrown out.
Bron Breakker replaced Brock Lesnar in the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match.
Lesnar had been scheduled to return to WWE on Saturday’s show. However, following allegations involving the 46-year-old listed in the recent lawsuit filed against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis, the decision was made to remove him from the Rumble.
I think most people know this but Brock Lesnar was scheduled to return at the Rumble and this was a change, obviously, that was made because of the lawsuit. So, the change was made probably Friday, most likely, perhaps Saturday morning.
Bron Breakker, because of that, and the fact that the match was pretty much scripted out already, Bron Breakker essentially fulfilled the Brock Lesnar role. He came in when Brock Lesnar was going to come in, he threw out the guys Brock Lesnar was going to throw out, he got thrown out exactly how Brock Lesnar was going to get thrown out.
Meltzer later added that Breakker had not originally been planned for the match.
Brock was going to be in their looking impressive so they needed someone to fill those shoes. There weren’t a lot of guys that they would give that spot to.
Breakker entered the match at number twenty and eliminated Omos, Ivar, Finn Balor, and Jimmy Uso. He lasted just over 5 minutes before being eliminated by Dominik Mysterio.
Controversy surrounding Lesnar began on Thursday after the Wall Street Journal broke the story of former WWE employee Janel Grant’s lawsuit accusing McMahon of sexual abuse and exploitation. The lawsuit states McMahon used a sexual encounter with Grant as a bargaining chip during contract negotiations with Lesnar.
The lawsuit reads:
That December, McMahon gave Grant’s personal cellphone number to the WWE star, the lawsuit said. The wrestler asked her to send a video of herself urinating, the suit said, and after she did, he called her a “b—.” That same month, the suit said, the star expressed a desire to “set a play date,” but a snowstorm disrupted his travel plans.
Brock Lesnar is not expected to be at tonight’s WWE Royal Rumble according to PWInsider.
The outlet reported that as of Saturday morning, Lesnar had not traveled to Tampa, Florida, for tonight’s event and that one source said he was withdrawn from the Royal Rumble match itself for an unnamed NXT wrestler slotted for the spot instead.
This comes despite Lesnar reportedly being in WWE’s plans for WrestleMania.
The development follows his mention in a lawsuit filed against Vince McMahon on Thursday where former employee Janel Grant alleged McMahon sexually assaulted, abused, degraded and trafficked her during her three years at WWE.
In the lawsuit, Lesnar was mentioned and alleged as being the willing recipient of sexually explicit videos and photos of Grant via McMahon. There was allegedly a McMahon offer to Lesnar for Grant to have sex with him as part of him signing a new contract.
From the lawsuit:
“That December, McMahon gave Grant’s personal cellphone number to the WWE star, the lawsuit said. The wrestler asked her to send a video of herself urinating, the suit said, and after she did, he called her a “b—.” That same month, the suit said, the star expressed a desire to “set a play date,” but a snowstorm disrupted his travel plans.”
McMahon resigned as TKO executive chairman Friday and has denied the allegations in the lawsuit. Lesnar has yet to release any kind of statement publicly.
A new lawsuit has been filed accusing Vince McMahon of abusing and sexually exploiting a former WWE employee, alleging years of alleged sexual misconduct that included the involvement of John Laurinaitis and Brock Lesnar.
The suit was filed against WWE, McMahon, and Laurinaitis in the District of Connecticut on Thursday. The plaintiff — former WWE employee Janel Grant — alleges she “was the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking at WWE.”
Grant is the former WWE employee whose “secret” $3 million settlement with McMahon led to him being investigated by the WWE board of directors in 2022. However, she claimed she was only paid $1 million and is seeking to both void the agreement and get unspecified financial damages.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Grant’s lawsuit on Thursday.
The lawsuit alleges Grant felt pressured into a sexual relationship with McMahon due to threats he would use his legal resources against her if she did not. McMahon’s demands grew increasingly depraved through her employment with the company from 2019 to 2021.
She was also expected to engage in sexual encounters with Laurinaitis during her employment, according to the lawsuit.
It is also alleged that McMahon promised a sexual encounter with Grant to a WWE wrestler, reported by the WSJ to be Lesnar, during contract negotiations in the summer of 2021.
From the report:
In July 2021, the suit said, McMahon instructed Grant to create personalized sexual content for a WWE superstar that he was trying to re-sign. The suit didn’t name the professional wrestler, but described him as both a UFC fighter and WWE talent. People familiar with the matter identified the wrestler as Brock Lesnar, one of WWE’s biggest names.
Lesnar didn’t immediately respond Thursday to requests for comment. The suit said McMahon shared the explicit photos with the star and informed Grant that “he likes what he sees.” After the star agreed to a new WWE contract, McMahon texted Grant in August 2021 to say “that part of the deal was f—ing U.”
That December, McMahon gave Grant’s personal cellphone number to the WWE star, the lawsuit said. The wrestler asked her to send a video of herself urinating, the suit said, and after she did, he called her a “b—.” That same month, the suit said, the star expressed a desire to “set a play date,” but a snowstorm disrupted his travel plans.
The 67-page filing includes several graphic accusations and descriptions.
Through all this trauma, Ms. Grant has endured profound suffering in silence, feeling of exploitation, loss of security, and the fear of facing the wrath of WWE and McMahon’s army of attorneys if she were to come forward and bring to light the egregious acts detailed herein. That time has passed, and Ms. Grant seeks to hold Defendants accountable for their reprehensible and unlawful acts, for her own sake and for others.
The lawsuit states Grant and McMahon met in 2019 while McMahon was living in a penthouse in Grant’s apartment building. At the time, Grant says she was struggling financially due to years of caregiving for her elderly parents.
“McMahon befriended Ms. Grant, giving her hopes of a new life with promises of a yet-to-be-determined role at WWE,” the lawsuit reads.
In the spring of 2019, McMahon allegedly began “demonstrating an increasing lack of boundaries” toward Grant as he continued to promise her employment at WWE.
McMahon would schedule meetings with Grant to speak about possible job opportunities and at one meeting, he greeted her in only his underwear. McMahon allegedly laughed when Grant turned away from him. He then requested she help him put on a shirt. At another meeting, he began massaging her lower back, while continuing to make promises about future employment.
McMahon is alleged to have warned Grant to keep their “closeness” a secret, stating he had “world-class legal resources on speed dial to deal with people who became a problem.”
Grant says she felt trapped between being ruined by McMahon’s legal resources or succumbing to the pressure of a physical relationship.
Grant was given the role of “administrator-coordinator” on June 17, 2019. She was later transferred to Talent Relations on March 9, 2021.
The lawsuit states that beginning in March 2020, McMahon began sharing sexually explicit pictures and videos of Grant with people inside and outside the company. It was also mentioned that one of the people these were shared with was “a former UFC heavyweight champion” (Lesnar) while another was a WWE referee.
The lawsuit stated that McMahon’s sexual demands became increasingly depraved. Grant tried to stop their physical encounters but McMahon refused.
Additionally, this Complaint details encounters during which McMahon caused Ms. Grant to sustain physical injuries, including bleeding and pain, from forceful use of sex toys. Despite Ms. Grant’s plea to cease any further sexual activity, the number of sexual encounters increased, as did McMahon’s physical aggression during them.
Notably, McMahon was most aggressive when using the certain sex toys named after male WWE wrestlers and performers. McMahon named the sex toys so that the color of the toy matched the race of the wrestler.
The lawsuit continues that McMahon sent Grant to a “celebrity doctor” for hour-long appointments that included “deep dives into her personal and work life.”
Her mental and physical health deteriorated so badly that McMahon sent her in November to a celebrity doctor for sessions at an alternative clinic where she never received any receipts or bills. McMahon also paid $20,000 to a surgeon on her behalf, the suit said.
Grant was briefly sent to work at the XFL in March 2020 and applied to work with the organization full-time. However, her request was denied.
In May 2020, McMahon is alleged to have defecated on Grant during a sexual encounter that also included McMahon’s physical therapist. Shortly after, McMahon began telling Grant he loved her.
In November 2020, McMahon is alleged to have given Grant an ultimatum to either have a sexual encounter in his office or inside the parked car.
Soon after, McMahon began directing Grant to have sexual encounters with Laurinaitis before the start of workdays. She was also expected to engage in sexual activity at WWE headquarters during work hours. She was officially reassigned to work under Laurinaitis beginning in January 2021.
McMahon also instructed Grant to “obey” Laurinatis if he requested bringing in more men for their encounters.
During an encounter in June 2021, McMahon allegedly locked Grant inside his private locker at the WWE Offices and “forced himself on her over a massage table.”
In the June 2021 encounter inside the WWE office, the suit said McMahon and Laurinaitis forced themselves on her and took turns restraining her for the other, while saying “No means yes” and “Take it, b—.”
In January 2022, McMahon informed her that his wife, Linda, had discovered their relationship and Grant would need to leave the company as a result. However, he first wanted her to sign an NDA. Grant signed the NDA in exchange for payments which McMahon later stopped making according to the lawsuit.
In March 2022, although Grant had left the company at the time, McMahon attempted to traffic her to a WWE star who would be in New York for a live event.
Brock Lesnar is returning to WWE television after a five-month absence.
In Monday’s Daily Update, Dave Meltzer reported that Lesnar will be back on WWE TV “very soon.” Meltzer then elaborated on that on Wrestling Observer Radio, noting that Lesnar is expected back at any time. If Lesnar is going to be in the Royal Rumble, he could return to WWE programming next week.
At any time. Yes, maybe next week. I would think that [last night] would not be the week to have Brock Lesnar return, given that this might be one of the lower-rated shows, considering they went against the football game and the Emmy Awards. So if he’s going to return for the Rumble, next week would be the week. If he’s going to return shortly after, then it could be a couple of weeks later. But he’s going to be back. It’ll be interesting to see who he’s back — I mean, I would presume he’s in the Rumble. And I would presume that whatever angle he’s going to do will be shot in the Rumble itself.
The Royal Rumble is taking place from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on Saturday, January 27. Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, and Gunther have declared for the men’s Rumble match so far.
Lesnar hasn’t wrestled since his match against Rhodes at SummerSlam last August. Lesnar and Rhodes worked a three-match program that ended with Rhodes winning at SummerSlam. Rhodes won two matches during the feud while Lesnar won once.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including Seth Rollins’ knee injury on RAW, the return of Brock Lesnar, UFC and Saudi Arabia, Paul Walter Hausen talking wrestling at the Emmy Awards, the RAW report, mailbag and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
The biggest crowds of the year for pro wrestling, boxing, MMA and even college wrestling
What pro wrestlers were drawing the biggest crowds most often
How each promotion did as far as drawing in 2023
The biggest gates of the year
Pro wrestling history–the biggest drawing card every year dating back to 1916
Most years for any wrestler in history as the leading draw
50 Biggest drawing cards of all-time based on annual dominance and longevity
Royal Rumble update
Early notes on AEW Revolution and how the main event was set up
The life and times of Killer Khan, the top drawing actual Japanese native when it comes to major crowds in U.S. history and the feud with Andre the Giant, Choshu’s Army and a look at pro wrestling in the 70s and 80s in the U.S., Japan and Mexico.
New Year Dash, New Japan’s next major shows, and future of several of New Japan’s top guys
The most detailed look at the ratings for the past week, weekly standings, nightly competition, ups and downs compared to last year, segment-by-segment.
Former world champion open to moving to Mexico and working full-time
Unique tournament in Mexico starts next week
Promotion talks about its unique 2024 theme
Movie on life of a current pro wrestling star release date
Key intermediary in WWE/All Japan deal
New Japan major shows for 2024
New international promotional alliance
Business of the Iron Claw movie
Are WWE & AEW stars employees or independent contractors, what the new law says and why wrestling may fall through the cracks
Notes on next season of Dark Side of the Ring
Nic Nemeth in Puerto Rico
Mustafa Ali independent return
Return of TNA
New major AEW & WWE hires
Update on Worlds End PPV numbers
Kota Ibushi injury update
International TV ratings
Lots of new major UFC fights
Joshua vs. Ngannou business thoughts
More on Raw TV deal
Looking at how Raw would be expected to do on Amazon Prime
Bryan and I will be up tonight talking Raw and the rest of the latest wrestling news with Wrestling Observer Radio. We have a show from last night up on the site right now.
Brock Lesnar will be back on WWE television very soon.
Best wishes to Afa Anoa’i, the uncle of the Usos and Roman Reigns, who had two mild heart attacks over the weekend while being hospitalized for pneumonia. He was released from the hospital yesterday.
Cora Jade’s knee injury suffered Saturday night at the house show was believed by those in WWE to be a torn ACL.
Right now no update on whether Carmelo Hayes will be able to wrestle Tuesday. He and Trick Williams were to be a team in the Dusty Rhodes tournament and face Edris Enofe & Malik Blade tomorrow night, and no doubt creative had been worked into the match. Hayes was injured in his match Friday night on Smackdown with Austin Theory which was stopped due to injuries to both men.
Raw tonight is the final major show up against football so the ratings should bounce back next week. It goes up against the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Bucs wildcard playoff game on both ABC & ESPN. The combined audience should be the largest of the season, more than 30 million, so if Raw gets even an 0.42 it should be considered good. The show features Seth Rollins vs. Jinder Mahal for the world title, Damien Priest & Finn Balor vs. The Miz & R-Truth non-title, Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh vs. DIY plus the return of Gunther.
Because today is Martin Luther King Day, the ratings will be delayed with the Friday numbers (Smackdown did a strong number again) delayed until tomorrow. The Saturday and Monday numbers should be out Wednesday, and the Tuesday and Wednesday numbers should be out Thursday.
We’re looking for reports from tonight’s Raw show in North Little Rock, AR, with Main Event matches and anything else off television, as well as last night’s results from the house show in Rio Rancho, NM to [email protected]
We’re also doing weekend polls on NJPW Battle in the Valley and ROH Hard to Kill, thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
For Google searches, the only thing boxing, MMA or wrestling related over the past week was Saturday’s UFC show, which was No. 7 for the day (very high number since we’re in NFL playoffs and the Real Madrid vs. Barcelona game was big) at 200,000. It was UFC’s first show of the year but it was only on ESPN+ and was an Apex arena show and did what a WWE PPV does.
Peacock set its record for viewing with Saturday’s Chiefs vs. Dolphins wildcard playoff game with 23 million viewers. That’s not just on Peacock as it was on TV in the Kansas City and Miami areas and did a 45 rating in KansasCity and a 14.5 in Miami. It is being claimed that this was the largest audience in the history of streaming in the U.S. The key as it pertains to wrestling is that a lot of new people signed up for Peacock for this game and thus it would in theory boost the Royal Rumble viewing number.
Thursday on AXS will air two major matches. Will Ospreay vs. Josh Alexander airs on Impact, and the New Japan TV show will be an hour devoted to Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson from the Tokyo Dome.
Trinity Fatu is expected to finish up with TNA at the tapings this coming weekend in Orlando, FL. She will then return to WWE.
Thanks to Jacob Pepper, Gerard Di Trolio and Michael Yoen for weekend show reports.
The matches not on the NJPW show that we’ve heard the most about this weekend was the NOAH main event with Kenoh vs. Go Shiozaki for the GHC title.
The Tai Tuivasa vs. Marcin Tybura heavyweight fight that was scheduled for 2/17 in Anaheim, CA on PPV, has been moved to 3/16 at the Apex Arena.
All of the matches at The Collecti shows in Philadelphia from 4/4 to 4/6 went on sale today with 20 percent off individual event ticket prices.
A horse named Tatanka won the fifth race Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Florida (thanks to Barry Werner)
Empire State Wrestling Frontier Freeze on Friday in Niagara Falls, NY at the Frontier Fire Hall features 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Channing Decker.
Stan Hansen will be appearing for AIW on 2/3 in Akron, OH at the Tadmore Shrine.
PBS in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area tomorrow will debut “Jesse Ventura Shocks the World,” a documentary about him winning the election as Governor of the state in 1998.
Gable Steveson is once again scheduled for Friday’s Smackdown show, but for a dark match. He’s been doing that the last two weeks.
Matt Riddle says he was once planned to win the 2022 Men’s Royal Rumble.
During a live virtual signing with Signed by Superstars, Riddle said the finish of the match was changed when Brock Lesnar “didn’t want to do business.”
Riddle said:
So, I believe – you know, it’s sports entertainment – But I was told at one point I was going to win the Rumble and everything else. And then what was it? Bobby Lashley beat Brock Lesnar because somebody came in and hit him with the belt or what have you. Then Brock came in, didn’t want to do business with everybody, said he was winning (The Royal Rumble), and then he won. None of the producers, nobody stood up to him and they let him do it. I didn’t either.
Riddle’s comments about winning the Rumble are consistent with a PWInsider report from late January 2022 that stated he was once the planned winner of the match.
I never heard that one before and it doesn’t really make sense for him to win the Rumble because then he would have to be in the main event at Mania and they were never pushing him at that level.
Riddle debuted for MLW over the weekend at Kings of Colosseum. He defeated Jacob Fatu on the show. Riddle also appeared via video at New Year’s Dash last week and challenged the new NJPW World TV Champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi. That match will take place on February 23 at The New Beginning in Sapporo.
Riddle’s statements about the 2022 Royal Rumble begin around the 46:25 mark of the video below.
Date: November 6, 2023 Location: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, PA
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Show Recap —
There was a very long Crown Jewel recap video. Following the recap, Raw intro, fireworks, and Seth Rollins’ entrance, it was 8:08 pm by the time things got started.
Seth Rollins/Sami Zayn segment
Rollins entered wearing a canary yellow jacket, pants and sunglasses. Rollins said he retained his world title and wanted to thank two people. First, he thanked Drew McIntyre. They beat the hell out of each other and Rollins wasn’t 100%, but he was a little bit better today than he was before Saturday. McIntyre was a man of his word and did not align with Judgment Day.
Rollins also wanted to thank Sami Zayn for preventing Damian Priest from cashing in. Zayn entered to a big reaction. Rollins noticed that Zayn didn’t have Priest’s briefcase and assumed that Adam Pearce had taken it from him. Zayn said that’s exactly what happened. Rollins thought he probably could have handled Priest but sincerely thanked Zayn anyway.
Rollins was thinking of a way to repay Zayn. Zayn interrupted him. Zayn said he stepped in because he has been dealing with Judgment Day for months and they hold all titles except for Rollins’. If Priest got the world title, they’d be dealing with Bloodline 2.0. Zayn fired up and said he would make sure Judgment Day did not run Raw.
Rollins loved that Zayn always stood up for what was right. Rollins appreciated Zayn’s conviction but sometimes guys like him don’t get what they deserve. However, Judgment Day didn’t run Raw, Rollins did. Rollins said the Money in the Bank briefcase wasn’t the only way to get a title shot.
Rollins knew that Pearce had the briefcase because he visited him earlier tonight. Rollins announced that Zayn has himself a world title match — he just needed to say when.
Zayn was caught off guard because he learned the hard way how hard it was to get a title shot in WWE. Zayn said that when he wins the world title — “because mark my words one day I will win that World Heavyweight Championship” — he wanted to do it against a champion who was not compromised.
Rollins was pissed at that comment. He said neither of them was 100% because guys like them never are — but they always gave 100%. Rollins told him the match was his — just say when.
Zayn said tonight and the crowd cheered. Rollins shook his hand.
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Judgment Day hung out backstage, minus Priest. Dominik Mysterio boasted about Logan Paul beating Rey Mysterio and Rhea Ripley retaining her title.
Priest busted in, pissed that he had to retrieve his briefcase from Pearce while the guy who stole it was just handed a title shot. JD McDonagh tried to calm him down but Priest told him off. Priest turned to Finn Bálor and they agreed to take out New Day tonight.
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Michael Cole said this match came about because New Day dressed like Judgment Day for Halloween last week. He did not mention that they also beat Alpha Academy two weeks ago but fortunately, Wade Barrett did mention it.
Tag Team Champions Damian Priest & Finn Bálor defeated Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods in a non-title match (9:12)
New Day were in full control for the first few minutes. Barrett said Judgment Day gained control during the break but we never saw any of it. Woods hit Bálor with a missile dropkick and Kingston made the hot tag, hitting Priest with a flying crossbody for two. Kingston fought out of a double team and Priest collided with Bálor by mistake.
Kingston hit Bálor with a superplex and Woods followed with a diving elbow drop but Priest broke up the cover. Priest drove Kingston into the announce table before Woods knocked Priest off the apron.
Priest gave Woods a cheap shot behind the referee’s back. Priest hit Woods with a clothesline and Bálor followed with Coup de Grace for the pinfall win.
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Jackie Redmond caught up with Drew McIntyre as he arrived at the arena earlier tonight. She asked what’s next for him. McIntyre didn’t even look at her before he went back in his SUV and took off.
There was a light “CM Punk” chant early on but it was followed by some light booing and it quickly dissipated.
Tozawa shined early, hitting a snap German suplex and suicide dive. He tried his big diving senton but Nakamura got his knees up. Tozawa managed a couple of cradles but Nakamura kicked out of each and booted him. Nakamura followed with Kinshasa for the pinfall win.
— Otis confronted Nakamura after the match but Nakamura brushed him off and left.
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Rollins vs. Zayn for the world title was made official for tonight.
There was a Natalya video package that highlighted her long tenure in WWE and career success. (There’s a battle royal to determine Ripley’s next challenger tonight.)
This was followed by another video, this time with Pearce highlighting the wrestlers in tonight’s fatal four-way to determine Gunther’s next challenger.
(They went to break after the Nakamura match, came back with the two videos mentioned above and three entrances for the next match before going to break again.)
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[SECOND HOUR]
Pearce found Rollins backstage and asked if he was sure he wanted to defend the title tonight. Rollins smiled and said, “I’m born to run, boss.”
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Cole sent well wishes to Erik of the Viking Raiders who underwent successful C6-C7 neck fusion surgery.
Fatal 4-Way: The Miz defeated Bronson Reed, Ivar (w/Valhalla) and Ricochet (13:44)
Miz, who was over as a babyface, won the match and earned an Intercontinental title shot against Gunther.
There was a fun spot where Reed bounced Ricochet off the ropes and he (Ricochet) took down Ivar with a hurricanrana. Ricochet seemed to come down hard on his neck but the ref checked on him and he continued. Ricochet tried a flip dive but was caught by Ivar and Reed who chucked him into Miz. Ivar and Reed ran at each other like bulls and collided with crossbodies.
After a break, the crowd buzzed as Reed set up Ivar for a superplex (off the middle rope). Ricochet and Miz jumped in and brought them down together with a double powerbomb. Miz hit Reed with a springboard crossbody and hit Ivar with a tornado DDT. Those two moves by Miz also popped the crowd. Miz hit Ricochet with a Codebreaker and spike DDT for two.
There was a “Let’s go Miz” chant but Ricochet blocked a Skull Crushing Finale and hit a Recoil. Ivar broke up the cover with a splash. Reed got Ivar on his shoulders but Ivar slipped out and hit a springboard forearm for two. Ivar squished Miz in the corner and Ricochet superkicked Ivar. Miz and Ricochet traded kicks and booted each other at the same time.
With Miz and Ricochet down, Ivar and Reed each went to the top. Ivar hit Ricochet with a moonsault but Reed missed the Tsunami. Miz stacked up Reed with a pin while Ivar pinned Ricochet. Ricochet kicked out at two but Miz got the three count on Reed for the win.
Miz celebrated but the announcers acted confused even though it was pretty clear what happened. They didn’t seem to notice that Ricochet kicked out. They showed a replay which showed that Miz clearly won.
— Ivar decked Miz after the match and hit him with a moonsault.
(This was a fun match but they overthought the finish and the confusion didn’t help.)
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Chad Gable and Otis gave Tozawa some words of encouragement ahead of his Heritage Cup match on NXT. Gable said they’d be there to support him. Maxxine Dupri showed up and said she was ready for the battle royal tonight. She wanted to be the next women’s champion. Gable advised her to fight people her own size in the match and not follow Tozawa’s lead.
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Earlier today, the Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile signed contracts to officially join Raw. Pearce was happy they signed with Raw and not Smackdown with Nick Aldis. He also noted that Nile was in the battle royal and could already earn a title shot.
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa welcomed them to Raw. They all thought it was a good idea to have a match and Pearce made it official.
The Creed Brothers defeated Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano (9:40)
DIY were all over the Creeds early on but Brutus and Julius cut them off outside the ring. Ciampa made a hot tag after a break and nailed both men with a double clothesline. DIY double-teamed Brutus but he fought back and gave Gargano a Samoan drop. Brutus hit a standing moonsault and Julius hit a standing SSP but Ciampa broke up the cover.
Gargano hit Julius with a reverse hurricanrana and Ciampa followed with a running knee. Ciampa gave Brutus a Willow’s Bell and hit Julius with a Fairytale Ending for a nearfall. DIY set up for their finisher but Brutus took out Ciampa outside the ring.
Ludwig Kaiser kicked Gargano with the ref’s back turned which allowed the Creed Brothers to hit the electric chair/Brutus Ball finish for the pinfall win.
********
They aired a clip of Zayn losing to Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber. Zayn was shown watching the clip. Jey Uso approached him and said he felt bad about how that went down. Zayn told him to forget about that. Jey hyped him up for tonight and looked forward to seeing him become the new world champion.
Jey also informed Zayn that he and Cody Rhodes were getting a tag title shot against Judgment Day next week and maybe they could both be champions when it was over.
********
Redmond interviewed Becky Lynch about the battle royal. Lynch was ready to fight the entire locker room if that meant getting a title shot against Ripley at Survivor Series.
Nia Jax suddenly appeared behind her. Jax said nobody could throw her over the top and she would win. That would make her happier than she’s been since she broke Lynch’s face. Lynch said that was funny because since that happened, she won the title in the main event at WrestleMania, while Jax got fired. Lynch welcomed her back.
********
Byron Saxton interviewed Chelsea Green and Piper Niven who were also in the battle royal. Green basically said a bunch of women in the match didn’t deserve to be in there. Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark showed up (together).
Baszler threatened to destroy whoever she saw first in the match and she hoped it was Green. Green wanted Niven to stand up for her but Niven said it was every woman for herself. Green laughed uncomfortably and they left.
********
Xia Li attacked Becky Lynch from behind as she entered. Xia laid her out with the same kick that knocked out Candice LeRae last week. As officials checked on Lynch, Pearce told Li she wasn’t allowed to compete and sent her to the back.
[THIRD HOUR]
Medical staff checked on Lynch who acted like she might be concussed. She’s out of the match.
Zoey Stark won the Women’s World Championship Number One Contenders Battle Royal (15:58)
Nikki Cross stood motionless in the middle of the ring as everyone fought around her. Raquel Rodriguez and Nia Jax got face to face before they just picked up Cross and tossed her from the ring. Cross got to her feet and remained motionless at ringside as she stared blankly. This is so stupid. (Cross moved toward the announcers so that she wouldn’t be on camera the entire match and she eventually disappeared after a commercial.)
Dupri didn’t listen to Gable’s earlier advice and she went after the bigger Niven. It worked out, though, because Tegan Nox assisted her in eliminating Niven. However, Jax eliminated Dupri as she celebrated.
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance teamed up on a few women but Ivy Nile managed to eliminate them both by herself. She kicked Carter out of the ring and press-slammed Katana onto her.
After a break, Green tried to sneakily eliminate Rodriguez but it didn’t work. Green slapped Rodriguez so Rodriguez dumped her from the ring. Indi Hartwell missed a big boot and Natalya eliminated her. Nile then kicked Natalya off the apron for the elimination.
Jax eliminated Nox by shoving her off the top rope. Nile tried to get Jax on her shoulders but Jax blocked it. Rodriguez, Starks and Baszler took turns booting Jax and they all teamed up to eliminate her. Before she left, Jax yanked Nile off the apron and out of the ring which counted as an elimination.
Baszler and Stark were the final two after they teamed up to eliminate Rodriguez. They battled on the apron and Baszler applied the Kirifuda Clutch. Baszler realized that if Stark passed out she (Baszler) would have fallen off first, so she let go. Stark used the opportunity to hit consecutive kicks and a DDT and Baszler fell out of the ring.
Starks won and will face Ripley at Survivor Series for the title.
********
Redmond interviewed Ripley who brushed off Stark. Stark showed up and reminded Ripley that she would be the champion if not for Jax. Ripley reminded Stark that she gave her an avalanche Rip-tide and beat all four women to retain the title. Stark said she would take Ripley’s title from her at Survivor Series.
********
Next week on Raw in Washington, DC:
Finn Bálor & Damian Priest vs. Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso for the tag titles
The Miz vs. Ivar
Tegan Nox vs. Piper Niven
Otis vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
********
Zayn entered a full ten minutes before the match started.
Seth Rollins defeated Sami Zayn to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (20:18)
Zayn had an opportunity to take a shot at Rollins’ injured back early on but instead issued a warning. After a break, Zayn hit Rollins with a moonsault off the barricade. Zayn followed later with chops but Rollins fired up and hammered away at Zayn. Rollins hit a suicide dive but Zayn responded with a flip dive.
Rollins came back with a slingblade and forearms. Zayn tried to cut him off with a Helluva kick but Rollins avoided it and hit a springboard senton and lionsault for two. They battled on the apron and Zayn gave Rollins a back body drop on the apron (on his injured back).
Rollins fought back after a break and hit a buckle bomb but Zayn countered a stomp into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Zayn hit an exploder into the corner but Rollins followed with a superkick and Pedigree for two. The crowd chanted, “This is awesome.”
Rollins went for the stomp again but Zayn countered into a Liontamer (and Cole called it that) before applying a Boston Crab, again targeting his back. However, Rollins reversed that into a rollup for the sudden pinfall win.
— Zayn, who almost had it won, was dejected after the match. Rollins sold his back as Zayn checked with the referee if it was really a three count. Rollins shook Zayn’s hand. Zayn raised Rollins’ hand in victory before leaving.
Priest, Bálor, Dom and McDonagh sprinted out and attacked Zayn. Rollins hit a suicide dive but Judgment Day quickly swarmed him.
Jey Uso ran out (to his music) and superkicked Dom and McDonagh before spearing Bálor. Priest booted Jey so Cody Rhodes came out next (to his music) to even the odds. A ton of officials ran down to try to separate things as the chaos continued.
Pearce grabbed a mic and said he was tired of the games. Pearce announced a war games match in Chicago and the crowd ate it up. The brawl continued and Rhodes wiped out a bunch of security guards and Judgment Day members with a dive.
The crowd chanted for Cody and the good guys stood tall as the show ended.
(NOTE: Some sections of this newsletter are incomplete.)
For the first time in three years, it’s time to tackle what is always the most controversial subject of the year–the Hall of Fame.
Our annual Hall of Fame issue will be coming out in a couple of weeks. A few things to note about this issue. The deadline for ballots has already passed before this comes out, so this can’t have any influence (this is for those people who believe only their opinions should count, and that I should never espouse my opinions because they get mad nobody listens to theirs). Second, I avoided looking at any ballots this year so I’ve got no idea how the votes came in as I’m writing this. After it is completed, I’ll start tabulating the results.
A few notes about the Hall of Fame. We started doing annual Hall of Fame balloting in 1998, when Dos Caras became the first elected member with 72% of the vote from his region. From the start, wrestlers are voted from regions, broken down as U.S./Canada, Japan and Mexico.
Date: October 30, 2023 Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC
Show Recap —
Rhea Ripley entered with Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh. Ripley said Damian Priest shattered Cody Rhodes’ ankle and that was just the beginning. Dom would take out Ricochet, while McDonagh would remind Seth Rollins what it felt like to be an enemy of Judgment Day.
Ripley said Rollins and Drew McIntyre had a decision to make and whoever made the right decision could walk out of Crown Jewel as champion.
Ripley knew the odds were stacked against her at Crown Jewel against four dangerous women but it was another chance to prove why she was the most dominant woman in WWE.
Sami Zayn interrupted as Ripley finished her catchphrase and she responded, “God dammit!” which was censored. The crowd chanted for Zayn. He said he was sick of hearing her talk and talk about how Judgment Day held all the power.
Zayn proceeded to cut a fiery promo. Zayn’s entire life was spent fighting people like Judgment Day, people who thought that power was the only thing that mattered. That power meant you could oppress whoever they wanted but that wasn’t his game. His game was rebellion. His game was resistance.
Zayn would fight Judgment Day even if it was five-on-one as long as there was a breath of air in his body. Zayn would fight until Judgment Day was no more.
Ripley said they didn’t need the numbers when it came to Zayn. Ripley suggested a singles match against Priest. The crowd booed as Dom suggested they take him out right now.
Ricochet ran down to even the odds and Judgment Day bailed. McDonagh tried a cheap shot but Ricochet ducked and McDonagh flew out of the ring. Dom tried a cheap shot next but Ricochet saw it coming so Dom bailed again.
********
NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio (w/JD McDonagh & Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley) defeated Ricochet in a non-title match (11:28)
Ricochet was all over Dom but a distraction by McDonagh allowed Dom to take control during a break. Dom hit three amigos but Ricochet ducked a 619 and hit a handspring back elbow. Ricochet hit a flying crossbody and lionsault for two. Dom raked Ricochet’s eye and hit a neckbreaker.
Ricochet avoided a frog splash and hit a superkick. Ricochet went to the top but distractions by both Ripley and McDonagh allowed Dom to apply a schoolboy, while holding the tights, for the pinfall win.
— As Judgment Day celebrated, Ricochet superkicked McDonagh and gave Dom a Recoil. Ricochet went to the top but Ripley pulled Dom out of harm’s way.
********
There was a video package for Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano.
Michael Cole really put over Julius and Brutus Creed as the match got going.
Gable and Julius had an early grappling exchange before the Creeds did their hand-off suplex spot. Otis tagged in and hit both men with a double clothesline. Gable tagged in and hit a flying double clothesline before he and Otis suplexed the Creeds out of the ring.
After a break, Gable caught Brutus in an ankle lock but Brutus slipped out and hit a Samoan drop for two. Gable gave Brutus a back suplex and both men tagged out. Otis did a forward roll before dropping both men with a double clothesline. He slammed both and hit Julius with a Caterpillar elbow drop for two.
Julius hit Otis with a knee strike and a standing SSP. Brutus followed with a standing moonsault but Gable broke up the cover. Brutus tried clotheslines but Otis no-sold them and hit a World’s Strongest Slam. Julius broke up the cover with a 450 splash and Gable hit the pile of men with a moonsault.
Nile jumped on the apron so Dupri yanked her off. Tozawa tried to separate their argument so Nile gave him a German suplex.
Julius got Otis on his shoulders and Brutus hit the Brutus Ball for the pinfall win.
This was a really good debut for the Creed Brothers. They all shook hands after the match and the crowd cheered.
********
Finn Bálor met with Priest backstage. Someone knocked on the door and said, “Trick or treat.” It was New Day dressed as Judgment Day. Bálor took candy from Xavier Woods’ bowl instead of giving him some. Kofi Kingston wanted to go to the next ‘house’ because Bálor and Priest weren’t playing along.
Ripley, Dom and McDonagh showed up. Bálor wondered if Dom was doing okay but also wasn’t thrilled about what happened after his match. Priest said Ricochet would have paid if the entire Judgment Day was out there. Ripley said they needed to take care of business tonight.
Priest said he had a lot to take care of himself. He had a match against Rhodes at Crown Jewel. He also said he could cash in on Rollins, McIntyre, Roman Reigns, or LA Knight at the show. Priest said Judgment Day wasn’t supposed to have leaders and wondered why Ripley was able to put him in a match tonight. Ripley said she made the match because he was the punishment of Judgment Day.
Everyone was on board with this so Priest was too. He said tonight would be about Judgment Day and they would show the world.
********
There was a Nia Jax video package.
[SECOND HOUR]
Miz TV with guest Gunther
Miz introduced Gunther but he didn’t show. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci entered instead. Kaiser said Miz represented everything that was wrong with the “WWE Universe.” Miz was everything they hated and was nothing but a clown.
Miz said he’s been called a lot of things but at least he’s never been somebody’s sidekick. He also called Vinci the third wheel. Vinci said Miz was his wife’s sidekick on Total Divas. Miz was impressed that Vinci could actually speak and had the fans give him a round of applause. Miz reminded him that their show was “Miz & Mrs.” Miz asked Kaiser why he was allowing Vinci to speak. Vinci said he could speak when he wanted but Kaiser basically told him to shut it.
Gunther entered. Gunther said Miz must not have gotten his message. Gunther was confused that Miz was still doing a talk show in 2023. The ring was sacred and everything Miz did was beneath him. Gunther said, “Miz, I do not respect you.” Miz said that wasn’t the first time he’s heard that.
Miz said he interviewed an invisible John Cena that was more entertaining than Gunther. Miz called himself the biggest star in WWE.
Gunther said Miz could talk but all that mattered was what you did when you entered the ring. That’s why Miz was a talk show host and he (Gunther) was the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time.
Miz said he could be serious when he wanted to be. He was serious when he beat Randy Orton to win the title, when he beat Cena at WrestleMania, and when he won the world title again a decade later. Miz said he made the IC title the most prestigious title in WWE (and some people actually cheered) and he could do it again.
Gunther was amused by all of this. He called Miz a great sports entertainer. Kaiser grabbed a pumpkin with Miz’s logo carved into it and smashed it.
Gunther mocked Miz so Miz attacked Kaiser and Vinci. Gunther dropped Miz and said he was not in his league. Miz attacked Gunther but was held back by Kaiser and Vinci so Gunther booted him. Miz realized the numbers were against him so he left.
DIY entered for their match.
********
Miz confronted Adam Pearce and said that was the most disrespected he’s ever been in his career. Pearce wasn’t sure about that. Miz wanted a title shot. Pearce said he couldn’t just give Miz an opportunity but he could earn one. Pearce said there were other contenders too which brought Bronson Reed into the frame. Miz said he would be the one to beat Gunther.
********
Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano defeated Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci (10:44)
Gargano and Ciampa had matching DIY gear.
Gargano tried to make a tag after a break but Kaiser dropped Ciampa from the apron. Gargano hit Vinci with a DDT and made the tag to Ciampa who hit both opponents with clotheslines and a leaping double clothesline. Ciampa gave Kaiser a reverse DDT for two.
Everyone traded moves until Kaiser dropped Ciampa with a clothesline. Kaiser tried something off the top but Gargano superkicked him (sort of) mid-air. Ciampa ducked a Vinci moonsault and hit a knee strike. DIY followed with Meet in the Middle for the pinfall win.
********
There was a Shinsuke Nakamura video package.
There was a Candice LeRae video package.
(Cole mistakenly referred to her as Candice Michelle and Wade Barrett called him on it. Cole made fun of himself and said getting old was a terrible thing.)
There was a Xia Li video package.
Xia Li defeated Candice LeRae (w/Indi Hartwell) via referee stoppage (2:04)
Li hit LeRae with a knee strike and roundhouse kick. LeRae sold it like she was knocked out but Li didn’t go for a cover. Li tried to continue fighting but the ref held her back. The ref eventually called for the bell and announced Li as the winner because LeRae couldn’t continue.
Medical staff ran down to check on LeRae.
********
Jey Uso approached Sami Zayn and said his promo got him all fired up. Jey wished him luck against Priest.
Jackie Redmond interviewed Jey about Judgment Day. Jey said Zayn would handle business tonight and Rhodes would handle business at Crown Jewel. Jey thought he and Rhodes should regain the tag titles and maybe he would see how Ripley felt about that.
********
There was a Shayna Baszler video package.
Medical staff checked on LeRae in the back as she held an ice pack on her neck. Gargano, Ciampa, Hartwell, Kayden Carter and Katana Chance were all with her.
********
There was a Drew McIntyre video package. This was good. It outlined his rise to the top which was marred by the pandemic and ended by the Bloodline. He said he can’t forgive the Bloodline, but beating Seth Rollins would make things right.
********
Seth Rollins entered for his match.
There was a Zoey Stark video package.
[THIRD HOUR]
Rollins cut a promo before his match. Rollins said he would beat up Judgment Day’s bag boy tonight in preparation for his match on Saturday against McIntyre.
Rollins heard what McIntyre said earlier and said, “Boo-freakin-hoo.” Rollins called him a big Scottish baby. He said all of us were fighting battles in 2020 and many had it much worse than McIntyre. Some people didn’t know when their next paycheck would come or see their family members again. Some didn’t.
Rollins didn’t have sympathy for McIntyre because he didn’t get to win the title the way he dreamt it. He didn’t have sympathy for McIntyre losing thanks to the Bloodline. You didn’t hear Sami Zayn or Cody Rhodes asking for pity.
Rollins said McIntyre was a hell of a champion. If McIntyre beat him, Rollins would shake his hand. But Rollins wasn’t the same guy McIntyre beat years ago. As Rollins continued, McDonagh decked him from behind.
The ref checked on Rollins before starting the match.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defeated JD McDonagh in a non-title match (14:00)
Rollins was all over McDonagh early on despite the attack. After a break, McDonagh was suddenly in control with a rest hold. Rollins fought back with chops, a clothesline, a thrust kick, a clothesline, and another clothesline later.
Rollins hit a slingblade and a running knee for two. McDonagh avoided a curb stomp and blocked a Pedigree before hitting a headbutt. They traded counters until McDonagh hit a Spanish Fly for two.
Rollins followed with a buckle bomb and went to the top but was distracted by Priest walking down with a referee and the briefcase. Rollins tried a frog splash but McDonagh got his knees up and applied a cradle for two.
Rollins hit a super back suplex, Pedigree and curb stomp for the decisive pinfall win.
— Rollins left the ring and got in Priest’s face. Rollins invited him to make a move. Priest told him to be careful what he wished for.
********
Ricochet complained to Pearce about what happened with Dom. Pearce said he could make up for it by giving him a chance to fight for an IC title shot. Ricochet liked that idea but still wasn’t done with Dom.
Chelsea Green and Piper Niven showed up dressed as Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart. Green complained about having to have a street fight but Pearce told her to leave because her match was next.
Ivar and Valhalla showed up next. Valhalla wanted Ivar to get a shot at the IC title.
********
Zayn vs. McDonagh was made official for Crown Jewel.
Redmond interviewed Becky Lynch and asked her about losing the NXT Women’s title. Lynch said she was lighter around the waist and heavier in the heart. Lynch was glad that if she lost the title, at least it was to someone who was hungry and passionate like Lyra Valkeria. Lynch said that in a span of 42 days, she defended her title more times than Ripley or Reigns have all year.
Xia Li showed up. Li said Lynch was scared of her and lost the belt before she could fight for it. Lynch challenged her to fight right now but Li said, “We will, but on my time.” Xia left. Lynch told Redmond that Li has been asking to fight for three weeks.
********
Trick or Street Fight: Tag Team Champion Chelsea Green (w/Piper Niven) defeated Natalya (5:33)
This was exactly what you’d expect and one of those matches where the announcers were basically making fun of it.
Green pulled a pumpkin off a table to reveal that a motionless Nikki Cross was just sitting there. Green went through a table at one point and Natalya powerbombed her onto candy corn. Niven tried to interfere but Green pied her in the face by mistake. Natalya knocked Niven off the apron and Green hit Natalya with Unpreitter for the pinfall win.
(Green and Niven entered to Bret Hart’s music and they played it again when she won.)
********
There was a Rhea Ripley video package.
The announcers ran down Saturday’s card.
Next week on Raw:
Ricochet vs. The Miz vs. Bronson Reed vs. Ivar — winner faces Gunther for the IC title
Akira Tozawa vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
********
Damian Priest defeated Sami Zayn via disqualification (9:07)
After a break, Zayn hit a clothesline but was distracted by Dom and Bálor running out to ringside. Zayn countered a move by Priest to apply a cradle for two. Dom went on the apron so Zayn knocked him off. The ref was fine with all of this.
Priest used the distraction and hit the Reckoning. Cole noted that the move is basically a Cross Rhodes and called it a message to Rhodes.
After Dom interfered, Jey ran down (to his music) to attack him and Bálor. Priest tried to go after Jey so Jey superkicked him for the DQ.
— Judgment Day put the boots to Zayn and Jey until Rhodes ran out to make the save. Rhodes took out Priest while Jey and Zayn wiped out Bálor and Dom with dives.
Rhodes set up the announce table but Priest was saved by McDonagh. Zayn gave McDonagh the Helluva Kick and handed him over to Rhodes who gave McDonagh a Cross Rhodes on the table (which didn’t break). Zayn was pumped up.
They both heard the crowd chanting “One more time” so Zayn encouraged Rhodes to do it again. Rhodes hit McDonagh with another Cross Rhodes and he bounced off the table.
Rhodes cut a fiery promo on Priest. He said Priest had the briefcase and was on the cusp of greatness but wouldn’t cash in because he was a walk-behinder. He walked behind Ripley, walked behind Bálor, and even walked behind Dominik.
Rhodes said he was back on his path and his path goes straight through Priest on Saturday.
There will be a press conference taking place after this issue goes to press, in Toronto on 7/19, where it will be announced that, in Canada, Raw is moving from TSN to The Score, with the final Raw broadcast on TSN taking place on 7/31.
Both are sports channels, with TSN being by far the more popular of the two. However, TSN acquired the rights to the upcoming season of Monday Night Football, which means Raw would have to be moved in the fall to Tuesdays on tape.
WWE and TSN had been talking, and apparently WWE didn’t like the arrangement and tried to force TSN to choose between 52 weeks of Raw on Monday’s vs. one season of football, and quite frankly, the choice was obvious, since picking up Monday Night Football was considered a gigantic coup for TSN. Plus, there has been a decline in Raw Canadian ratings, although they are still well ahead of U.S. ratings. The official story is TSN decided to cancel the show based on declining ratings and unhappiness with some of the recent content.
