Former WWE star Carlito gave a timeline on his retirement plans.
On the latest edition of the Insight Podcast with Chris Van Vliet, Carlito revealed he plans to continue wrestling for the next five years before retirement.
“I’m not that old yet. My body’s not that beat up yet. Yeah, like I said, I don’t, like the plan is five years but I think, I think I can make it five more years. I’d like to, yeah, But I’d definitely like to retire on my own terms.”
He also revisited his Judgment Day storyline with Raquel Rodriguez where he would be smitten whenever she appeared in the clubhouse. The initial plans were for it to run across a week but the comedic element of it expanded beyond the timeline.
“They were always, you know, Dom and Liv and I think so it’s these ideas they threw apart. But then they would, there would be no follow up. So kind of like Raquel and I would do little things to keep going. So it’s kind of like up to us. So I would just do that because it was another thing I could work off too. Because they’re going back to what I said because this guy that doesn’t get the girl. So this was kind of like the way I could be goofed by her to make it comedic.”
“So, that was yeah, those are just little things that we would do. But originally that they said like one week and then after that it was like bring it up anymore. The original idea was ‘hey, what do you guys think of this?’ And then we did that one, the only one where she showed up when I dropped the apple. And then after that, maybe not only, but it wasn’t, there wasn’t much follow up after it. But yeah, that was the original idea was this to me.”
Following his 2025 WWE exit, Carlito returned to World Wrestling Council (WWC), GMW and other independent promotions. He has not completely ruled out a potential WWE return in the future.
Carlito holds no resentment towards his brief second run with WWE. Additionally, he expressed no regrets about his time in The Judgment Day which garnered mixed reviews from fans.
Carlito told Chris Van Vliet on the latest Insight Podcast episode that his WWE release didn’t come as a surprise because he never approached WWE nor did they ask for a contract extension. He did however state he ‘shot himself in the foot’ with the short period contract of two years instead of three.
“I signed for two years. They wanted me for three and I signed for two because, well, I didn’t think it was going to go as good as it did. That’s why I said I bet against myself and I would have got an extra year and then my, you know, then my contract would expire. But so, you know, ended up losing a year, but that’s all.”
He believes that a potential WWE legends deal might be in his future.
“Pretty sure I’ll pop up again somewhere, you know what I mean. Some kind of legends (deal) thing or something, who knows.”
Carlito stated his addition to The Judgment Day was a random idea with no specific long-term plan after his return. He also addressed the conflicting reactions to his association with the group during his limited time on the WWE roster.
“Yeah, it just happened organically, you know, like I said. So I said I was thinking like ‘Okay, how can I make this stand out, you know, do something here.’ So that was kind of where stuff, a lot of people get on me like, ‘oh, they made you look like a buffoon or whatever.’ I had fun with it. I enjoyed it. I thought it was fun.”
After nearly 13 years away, Carlito made his WWE comeback at Backlash in 2023, aligning with Latino World Order with Rey Mysterio. A year later, he joined The Judgment Day after offering to help Finn Balor and JD McDonagh particularly in multiple high-stakes matches.
He competed in the 2025 Andre The Giant Battle Memorial which ultimately became the last match of his second WWE stint.
JD McDonagh seems to already have his post-retirement plans figured out.
In an interview with German Suplex Talk, McDonagh addressed potential roles he wishes to pursue once done with wrestling for good. He stated that wrestling was a big part of his growing up and hopes to take on a backstage role as a producer, mentoring new talents or even the possibility of opening a wrestling academy in Ireland.
“I can’t really picture my life without wrestling. I’ve been doing wrestling since I was 12 years old. So I feel like when the day comes that I can’t get into the ring anymore, and I’m at the level that I’m happy with, and I have to pack it in, I still want to be involved and around wrestling. Whether that’s as a producer, helping new stars put their matches together, I don’t know, maybe I’ll go back to Ireland and open my own gym. You know, the Irish Academy or something like that. I don’t know, I haven’t really thought that far ahead, to be honest with you, I’m solely focused on right now.”
McDonagh was moved to Raw as a part of the 2023 WWE Draft. Shortly after Finn Balor, who mentored him in the early years of his career, persuaded him to join The Judgment Day. When the group imploded in March, McDonagh also attacked Balor signifying his sentiments towards his former mentor. Balor and McDonagh collided in a singles match on Raw last week. While Balor celebrated his win, Dominik Mysterio ambushed and attacked him.
Dominik Mysterio’s WWE glow-up has drawn praise from The Good Brothers.
Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows were special guests on TMZ’s Inside The Ring. Anderson perceived Mysterio as a World Champion in the initial years of touring in WWE.
Anderson said:
“Dominik is, I’ve said it even back then, you know, when he first started, I wasn’t sure when he was a baby face and he was just getting moving. But then when we worked with him in The Judgment Day, dude, we got on the road with him. We were doing live events with him and it was like immediately then though. That was man, I can’t believe it now, that’s four years ago. I said, ‘Dude, Dom’s a future World Champion, and there’s no way he’s not going to be.’”
Anderson pointed out how the young Mysterio always eagerly listened and put into effect the advice he received backstage to hone his wrestling abilities.
“He’s too good. He’s too smart. He’s too respectful. He listens. He takes advice and actually does it. You know, he doesn’t just take the advice and just have it go one ear (out the other). He actually listens and and changes and does what he’s told and and practice and, puts to practice what he hears.It’s amazing to watch Dom what he’s turned into.”
Gallows added how Mysterio complemented his heel turn with the strong reaction and backlash from fans.
“Dom’s a pro-wrestling sponge. And the beautiful thing about him was watching that heel turn. And you don’t know how people are going to be when they’re young and they’re getting booed, but talk about somebody who learned to bask in the heat, live the heat, get more heat, have unbelievable, can’t talk on the microphone level booing and heat. It’s incredible, man. And kudos to him.”
Anderson added about Finn Balor’s exit from The Judgment Day and wished it was done earlier.
“I wish he (Finn Balor) could’ve left the Judgment Day earlier and I wish we could have had a really fun run together at some point obviously. Finn’s a top, top, tippy top guy, and this is his moment. I hope he gets a chance to be the World Heavyweight Champion, and he gets to be heel Finn Balor at the top, a heel champion Finn Balor at the top.”
The Good Brothers feuded with The Judgment Day in 2022. They aligned with a returning Michin to deal with their Rhea Ripley problem after she slammed Gallows in a viral WWE moment on an edition of Raw in October that year.
Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez are getting a Women’s Tag Team title shot at WWE’s next Saturday Night’s Main Event special.
The January 24 edition of SNME will see Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY defend their newly won belts against Judgment Day’s Morgan & Perez. That was made official on Raw today with Morgan & Perez winning a triple threat match to become the new number one contenders.
The Kabuki Warriors and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria were the two other teams in the number one contender’s match. Asuka & Kairi Sane were looking to get another shot at the belts after dropping them to Ripley & SKY last week, but Morgan ended up pinning Sane for the victory. Sane did not notice that Morgan had tagged in — and Morgan capitalized on that by hitting Oblivion while Sane was focused on Perez.
Montreal’s Bell Centre is hosting the January 24 SNME special just one week before the Royal Rumble takes place in Saudi Arabia. Airing live on Peacock, this is the first SNME since John Cena retired on the show in December.
Finn Balor, JD McDonagh & Raquel Rodriguez of The Judgment Day are heading to Mexico City for a six-person tag match at Triplemania.
WWE posted a Spanish-language promo today setting up that Judgment Day will battle Mr. Iguana, Nino Hamburguesa & Lola Vice at the Saturday, August 16 event. The show is airing live on WWE’s YouTube channel in both English and Spanish.
Triplemania will be a big night for Judgment Day, who also have Dominik Mysterio competing in the main event. That main event is a four-way bout with El Hijo del Vikingo defending the AAA Mega Championship against Dominik, Dragon Lee, and El Grande Americano.
Vice — former MMA fighter Valerie Loureda — competes in NXT and has also regularly been working AAA dates to gain experience. One of her AAA partners here — Mr. Iguana — has made multiple appearances for WWE since his breakout performance at Worlds Collide.
This is the first Triplemania event since WWE announced its acquisition of AAA. An appearance by Rey Mysterio is set for the show, with him inducting Konnan into the Lucha Libre AAA Hall of Fame. It’s also been confirmed that there will be a street fight with Angel & Berto defending the AAA Tag Team titles against Psycho Clown & Pagano.
Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate are heading to Australia for a clash against The Judgment Day.
Damian Priest & Finn Balor will defend their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles against Dunne & Bate at Elimination Chamber in Perth on Saturday, February 24. Dunne & Bate earned the title shot with a victory over DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) on SmackDown tonight.
WWE began a mini-tournament last week to determine Judgment Day’s Elimination Chamber challengers. Dunne & Bate and DIY both won fatal four-way matches to advance to tonight’s number one contender’s bout.
After Bate took out Ciampa with a dive to the outside, Dunne hit the Bitter End on Gargano and pinned him to get the victory.
The updated Elimination Chamber card is listed below:
Elimination Chamber match to determine World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins’ WrestleMania 40 challenger (Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. four wrestlers to be determined)
Elimination Chamber match to determine Women’s World Championship challenger for WrestleMania 40 (Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. four wrestlers to be determined)
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Nia Jax
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor) defend against Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate
WWE’s Elimination Chamber premium live event will include a Tag Team title defense by The Judgment Day.
On SmackDown tonight, WWE started a mini-tournament to decide Judgment Day’s next challengers. The team that wins the tournament will challenge Damian Priest & Finn Balor for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles at Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia on Saturday, February 24.
Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate advanced in the tournament by defeating Pretty Deadly, Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro, and Angel & Humberto in a fatal four-way match on SmackDown.
Another four-way match will take place on Raw this Monday (February 5). The team that wins that match will advance to face Dunne & Bate on SmackDown next Friday (February 9) to determine Judgment Day’s challengers for Elimination Chamber.
WWE hasn’t announced the teams that will be competing in Monday’s four-way bout.
Priest & Balor have held the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles since October. They retained against Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa on Raw earlier this week.
Optus Stadium in Perth is hosting Elimination Chamber. It will stream live on Peacock/WWE Network starting at 5 a.m. Eastern time/2 a.m. Pacific on February 24.
Date: November 13, 2023 Location: Capital One Arena in Washington, DC
Show Recap —
Cody Rhodes entered (wearing a suit) to start the show as the announcers ran down tonight’s card. Rhodes said he had a lot of wonderful memories in this arena and would give the fans another when he and Jey Uso won the tag team championships tonight. The crowd chanted for Cody.
Rhodes introduced his teammates for War Games. Jey Uso, Sami Zayn and Seth Rollins all entered separately. (Wade Barrett noted how loudly the crowd reacted to each of their entrances and, of course, they sang Rollins’ song.) Rhodes said they were all there because of Judgment Day. Rhodes looked at each man and there was obviously tension between him and Rollins.
Judgment Day interrupted (minus Rhea Ripley). Finn Bálor and Damian Priest said the men in the ring weren’t a real team, while Judgment Day were a family. Priest said they’d finally be done with them after Survivor Series.
Bálor asked Rollins what it felt like being the champion but standing with Rhodes — a man he could never beat. Priest asked Rhodes what it felt like knowing he could beat all of his teammates but the one thing he can’t be is champion. Bálor told Zayn that everyone knew he was just a loser. Priest asked if they thought they could trust Jey Uso after he screwed all of them.
Dominik Mysterio tried to chime in but the crowd booed over him. Zayn said nobody wanted to hear from him. Zayn said they would put their histories aside to take down Judgment Day. Zayn warned Judgment Day that they didn’t know what they were in for and said it would be the most brutal match of their lives. When it was over, the power would lie with the men in the ring.
Rhodes was surprised that Judgment Day found their way to the ring without Rhea Ripley. Rhodes egged them on about not having a leader and Priest interrupted him to proclaim himself as the leader. The crowd buzzed and Bálor gave him a look.
Rollins was sick of the talking and wanted a match with Zayn as his partner. Priest accepted on behalf of Dom and JD McDonagh.
********
Sami Zayn & World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defeated JD McDonagh & NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio via disqualification (10:34)
Dom did the three amigos and Michael Cole referenced Eddie Guerrero and said he was thinking of Eddie today. (Today is the anniversary of Guerrero’s death.)
Zayn and Rollins hit stereo dives ahead of a break but Cole let us know that Judgment Day took over during the break. Rollins made a hot tag and was all over Dom. McDonagh tried to interfere so Zayn took him out. Dom went for a 619 but Rollins hit him off with a superkick and buckle bomb.
Rollins set up for the curb stomp but Priest and Bálor interfered for the DQ. Priest and Bálor attacked as Ripley directed traffic. Jey and Rhodes ran out to make the save. Everyone brawled as officials and a dozen security guards ran down to separate them. Jey went to spear Priest but McDonagh took the bullet.
— Adam Pearce grabbed a mic and was pissed that another match was ruined. Pearce announced that everyone not involved in the tag title match was banned from the arena. Ripley argued with him as they went to break.
********
After a commercial break, they were somehow still arguing. Ripley said Raw needed Judgment Day. Pearce said, “Frankly my dear, I do not give a damn.” (Cole chuckled and referenced Clark Gable.) Pearce said he ran Raw, not Judgment Day. Pearce was about to announce that Ripley was banned too but Zoey Stark interrupted.
Stark said Ripley wasn’t as dumb as she looked and said she must know why she was out there. Ripley wanted to hear this so Pearce let it continue. Stark said Ripley had too much on her plate: War Games, the tag titles, Dom and her own title. Stark warned Ripley about overlooking her.
Ripley said she wasn’t overlooking her. Ripley has been following her since NXT and knew they would end up in the ring together. Ripley said Stark sent Trish Stratus packing and she beat Becky Lynch. Ripley said Stark reminded her of herself but the only way she would win a title is if she was on another brand.
The crowd was quiet for this until they sang along when Ripely said, “Mami is always on top.” Ripley said she was not spreading herself too thin. She could handle it all because she was Rhea bloody Ripley. She told Stark to leave.
Stark said she would win the title at Survivor Series. Ripley tried to attack but Stark ducked and dumped her from the ring. Stark teased a dive but Ripley backed away.
(The crowd liked Ripley so they weren’t into Stark at all.)
********
There was a Shinsuke Nakamura promo video. His promo was directed at someone specific but he didn’t mention who. Cole wondered who it could be. Nakamura started with: “You are blessed with so much privilege so I am taking away your choice. The opportunity is mine now.” He ended the promo with: “I will wait for now because I know it all ends by my hands.”
********
Zayn and Rollins spoke in the back when they were approached by Rhodes. Rhodes asked Zayn if he could speak to Rollins. Zayn let them be.
Rhodes told Rollins that they could hate each other 364 days of the year but at War Games, he needed Rollins and the team needed Rollins. Rollins said he didn’t like Rhodes and probably never would but he did respect him. Rollins promised Rhodes that they’d be all good at Survivor Series. Rollins patted him on the back and told him to win the tag titles. Rhodes was content.
Otis ran over Nakamura outside the ring ahead of a break.
[SECOND HOUR]
Otis continued on offence following the break, hitting a powerbomb, back elbows, a clothesline and Caterpillar elbow drop for two. (The referee checked on Nakamura after the powerbomb.) Nakamura responded with an enziguri but Otis countered a Kinshasa into a World’s Strongest Slam for a nearfall.
Nakamura hit a diving knee strike off the top but Otis didn’t go down. Nakamura kicked his leg out of his leg and hit a Kinshasa to the back of the head. Otis still didn’t go all the way down so Nakamura hit him with another Kinshasa, this time to the face, for the pinfall win.
The crowd liked Otis and was into the nearfalls.
— Nakamura shoved Gable as he checked on Otis. Gable wanted to go after him but Tozawa and Dupri held him back. Nakamura taunted Gable as he backed away.
********
There was a War Games video package and they explained the match rules.
Drew McIntyre approached Rollins in the back. McIntyre said Rollins was right. He lost at Crown Jewel and he had no one to blame but himself. Maybe it’ll be the best thing that could have happened to him.
McIntyre said he’s been wanting to give Rollins something since last week. Rollins got his guard up but McIntyre offered a handshake. Rollins shook his hand. McIntyre congratulated him and told him to represent the title. He planned on working his ass off and getting a rematch. Rollins was sure of it.
(They left the camera on Rollins long enough to show him gingerly walking away. It was long enough to make you think McIntyre might attack, but he didn’t.)
********
There was a Tegan Nox video package.
Tegan Nox (w/Natalya) defeated Tag Team Champion Piper Niven (w/Chelsea Green) (4:48)
Natalya did her best to get the crowd behind Nox but they didn’t bite. Nox started to get some offence until Green jumped on the apron right in front of the ref. The distraction allowed Niven to knock down Nox. Natalya decked Green so Niven decked Natalya. That allowed Nox to hit NIven with the Shiniest Wizard but Niven got her leg on the rope. Niven tried to sit down on Nox but Nox moved and applied a crucifix pin for the win.
********
Jackie Redmond interviewed The Miz. Redmond asked what was driving Miz and he responded, “A bus. Took me a long time, but I finally got myself a bus.” Miz knew she meant the match against Gunther and talked about the Intercontinental title. Miz then mocked Gunther by doing an impression of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Ivar interrupted and called him a clown. Bronson Reed interrupted and got into an argument with Ivar. Miz backed away without them noticing. Ivar took a swipe at Reed who was about to go after him but Valhalla stepped between them.
********
Ludwig Kaiser (w/Giovanni Vinci) defeated Tommaso Ciampa (w/Johnny Gargano) (9:59)
Cole and Barrett got into a discussion about the Louvre after Barrett called Kaiser a work of art. Cole eagerly told him that the Louvre wasn’t all that impressive. (It’s possible he meant the Mona Lisa, not the museum itself, but that’s what he said.)
Vinci tripped Ciampa as he came off the ropes. The ref wasn’t totally sure he did something but Gargano let him know what happened so he tossed Vinci from ringside.
They had a back-and-forth match and Ciampa seemed to be setting up for Fairy Tale Ending but Vinci suddenly reappeared through the crowd and he booted Gargano at ringside. Ciampa was distracted by this so Kaiser rolled him up while holding the tights for the pinfall win. (The ref saw that Vinci was back but still counted the pin anyway.)
********
Judgment Day had a meeting backstage. Ripley and Dom made a remark about Priest calling himself their leader. Priest tried to downplay it and said he was just hot in the moment. Ripley did think that Priest should be the one in charge at Survivor Series as long as the rest of Judgment Day were okay with it. Dom and Bálor were on board.
Bálor said they had something else to take care of too. Ripley grabbed a duffle bag and said it was time to make McDonagh an official member of Judgment Day. Priest wasn’t ready for this but Ripley said JD was in medical right now after taking another bullet for Priest. Bálor said it was time. Priest took the duffle bag and said he would take care of it himself.
********
Xi Li defeated Indi Hartwell (w/Candice LeRae) via ref stoppage (2:33)
Li hit a roundhouse kick (the same one that knocked out LeRae) and Hartwell collapsed — despite the fact that the kick hit her in the shoulder. The ref checked on Hartwell and some fans booed because they could tell how phony this was. The ref quickly determined that Hartwell couldn’t continue and they announced Li as the winner.
— Becky Lynch entered and said she was looking for a fight. She tried to hit Li with the Man-handle Slam but Li escaped. Lynch said Li only had seven more days to run because they had a singles match next week on Raw.
********
Gunther approached Miz in the back and congratulated “Mike” on the surprise win last week. It wasn’t a decisive win but Miz was now the rightful challenger.
Miz fired up and told Gunther to watch his match tonight because he didn’t know who he was dealing with. Miz said he would do whatever it took to win and do what others would not. He’s been doing it for 20 years and that’s why he was an 8-time champion. Miz would show him the difference between the longest-reigning champion and the greatest champion of all time.
Gunther said he knew exactly who he was dealing with. Gunther warned him that he would get the beating of a lifetime at Survivor Series.
********
[THIRD HOUR]
Stark spoke with Shayna Baszler backstage. Baszler thought she could just as easily be champion right now, or at least be in Stark’s position, but also admitted Stark was on a roll and looked forward to seeing her beat Ripley. Stark was happy to hear it.
Raquel Rodriguez approached them. She wasn’t thrilled that they eliminated her last week but wished her luck against Ripley.
Nia Jax appeared next and mocked them for handing out well wishes. Jax said they teamed up to eliminate her but none of them could beat her one-on-one. Rodriguez got in her face and asked her why she wasn’t the champion if she was so tough. Rodriguez knew she could beat her if given the opportunity. Jax left.
********
The Miz defeated Ivar (w/Valhalla) (11:12)
Miz “showed off” with some flashy offence but Ivar cut him off with a spinning powerslam. Ivar became distracted as Bronson Reed marched out so Miz hit him with a bulldog off the ropes. (Cole called it a tornado DDT. Miz did a tornado DDT earlier in the match.) Miz charged at Ivar but Ivar sat down on him. Reed sat down on a steel chair to watch the match at ringside.
After a break, Ivar hit a backbreaker and sitout powerbomb for two. Miz hit a DDT for two and followed with It Kicks and the crowd actually chanted “Yes” as he did them. Ivar distracted the ref as Valhalla gave Miz a cheap shot. Ivar hit with a roundhouse kick for two. Ivar followed with a World’s Strongest Slam off the middle rope for a nearfall.
Ivar set up for a moonsault but became distracted again by Reed who wasn’t doing anything. Miz slipped underneath and stacked him up for a cover with his feet on the ropes for the pinfall win.
— After the match, Reed ran over Ivar and hit a Tsunami.
********
Priest approached McDonagh backstage. Priest admitted he still gets annoyed by McDonagh but also knew that he took one for the team. McDonagh was someone he could stand with and welcomed him to Judgment Day. Priest gave him a new jacket. They shook hands and McDonagh thanked him. Priest said he earned it.
Bálor showed up and was thrilled to see it. Bálor said they’d have to cut the celebration short because McDonagh had to leave before their match started or else Pearce would go nuts. Bálor turned to Priest and said they would show everyone why they were the champs.
********
Gunther met with Vinci and Kaiser. He said, “Good job tonight” and Kaiser arrogantly boasted about the win. Gunther said he wasn’t talking to him. Gunther was happy with Vinci’s effort and Kaiser won thanks to him. (Vinci was very happy to be back in Gunther’s good books.) Gunther shot Kaiser a look before leaving.
Jinder Mahal and Indus Sher approached Kaiser. Mahal told him to choose his next move wisely.
********
Gable told Otis not to worry about the loss and that he would take care of Nakamura next week. The Creed Brothers suggested they needed new training partners. Gable told them, “No thank you” because they wouldn’t abandon the Gable method. Brutus said they were undefeated and maybe they would go after the tag titles. That brought in the New Day and they all talked over each other.
Ivy Nile and Maxxine Dupri had a friendly exchange and they walked off together. Tozawa held up a Washington Commanders title belt and said he wanted to be tag team champion and did his little dance.
********
Finn Bálor & Damian Priest defeated Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso to retain the Undisputed Tag Team Championships (22:39)
Drew McIntyre turned.
Rhodes and Jey were mounting offence after a break but Bálor raked Rhodes’ eyes as Priest distracted the ref and Judgment Day took over. Jey eventually made the hot tag and the crowd yelled “Yeet” with each strike he hit. Bálor made a blind tag and knocked down Jey with a clothesline outside the ring. Bálor chucked Jey over the announce table and they went to a second break.
Rhodes made a hot tag after the break and hit Bálor with a powerslam and Disaster Kick. Rhodes jabbed Priest and hit a bionic elbow. Rhodes superkicked Bálor but Bálor blocked a Cody Cutter. Rhodes set up for Cross Rhodes but Bálor blocked that too and tagged Priest.
Jey tagged in and hit Priest with a flying crossbody for two. Jey superkicked Priest and Bálor and hit Priest with an Uso Splash for two. Jey avoided a chokeslam and superkicked Priest (who was not the legal man). Rhodes hit Priest with a Cross Rhodes.
Jey speared Bálor (who was the legal man) and they hit their 1D/Cody Cutter combo but Priest broke up the cover. Rhodes hit Priest with a suicide dive but Priest shoved him into the ring post and a piece of the post’s covering broke off. Priest chokeslammed Rhodes onto the apron. Jey wiped out both opponents with a flip dive and chucked Bálor back into the ring.
Drew McIntyre suddenly appeared at ringside and laid out Jey with a Claymore Kick.
Bálor covered Jey in the ring for the pinfall win. Judgment Day retains.
— As McIntyre stood on the stage, Rhea Ripley appeared. They shook hands.
The men’s WarGames match has been announced for Survivor Series.
Adam Pearce announced it would be The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio) and JD McDonagh vs. Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, and Cody Rhodes in a WarGames match at Survivor Series, which takes place on November 25.
The end of Monday’s Raw saw Seth Rollins defeat Sami Zayn to retain the World Heavyweight title. The two shook hands, but The Judgment Day soon came out and started their attack. Uso and Rhodes then came out for the save. Adam Pearce sent out security and said he had enough of the games, setting up the WarGames match.
Rollins, Zayn, Uso, and Rhodes all have a history with The Judgment Day, with Balor and Priest defeating Uso and Rhodes to win back the WWE Tag Team titles on a recent episode of Raw. A rematch between the two teams is set for next week’s Raw.
Here is the updated lineup for WWE Survivor Series:
Men’s WarGames match: The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio) and JD McDonagh vs. Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, and Cody Rhodes
Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley defends against Zoey Stark
WWE Intercontinental title: Gunther defends against The Miz
The Judgment Day will kick off the Monday, October 23 WWE Raw with a celebration.
WWE.com has announced that after reclaiming the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship on the October 16 Raw, The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, and Dominik Mysterio will begin the following episode celebrating. Ripley holds the Women’s World Championship, plus Mysterio is the NXT North American Champion as all four Judgment Day members once again hold titles.
Also newly announced for Raw, Jey Uso will face The Judgment Day’s Priest in singles action on Monday’s show. Priest & Finn Balor defeated Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso to regain the Tag titles after interference from Jimmy Uso on the October 16 Raw.
Four additional matches are already set for Monday’s Raw, including Becky Lynch defending her NXT Women’s Championship against Indi Hartwell. An appearance by Logan Paul has also been announced for the show.
The updated Raw lineup for Monday, October 23:
NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch defends against Indi Hartwell
Logan Paul appears
Jey Uso vs. Damian Priest
Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn
The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis)
Giovanni Vinci vs. Johnny Gargano
The Judgment Day celebration will kick off the show
The Judgment Day once again hold the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship.
Finn Balor & Damian Priest defeated Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso in the main event of Monday’s Raw to win the WWE Tag Team titles following an assist from Jimmy Uso.
Jimmy superkicked his brother Jey while the referee was distracted to allow Balor to hit Jey with a Coup de Grace to score the pinfall victory and reclaim the Tag Team titles.
Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio also interfered in the match, but was thwarted by Sami Zayn. Priest hit Rhodes with a low blow, then hit a Razor’s Edge through the announce table to clear the deck for Jimmy’s interference and Balor’s victory.
Rhodes & Jey had defeated Balor & Priest at Fastlane to capture the Tag titles just nine days ago on October 7.
In the show-closing scene on Raw, each member of The Judgment Day celebrated with a title, as Mysterio holds the NXT North American title, Rhea Ripley the Women’s World Championship, and Balor & Priest the Tag titles.
This reign is the second for Balor & Priest with the Undisputed Tag titles, with their prior reign lasting from Payback on September 2 to Fastlane on October 7.
Dragon Lee’s tour of all three WWE brands will continue on the Friday, October 6 SmackDown show.
After challenging for the NXT North American Championship on this week’s Raw, then competing in a number one contender’s match for the same title on this week’s NXT show, Dragon Lee appeared in the crowd on Friday’s SmackDown show and was announced for a match on next week’s episode. Lee will be in action against former United States Champion Austin Theory.
Also announced for next week’s SmackDown, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Finn Balor & Damian Priest of The Judgment Day will make an appearance on the show. Balor & Priest retained their titles on Raw this week with a victory over former champs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn.
The Friday, October 6 SmackDown is WWE’s final stop before the Fastlane pay-per-view on Saturday, October 7.
Next week’s announced SmackDown lineup:
Dragon Lee vs. Austin Theory
The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor & Damian Priest will appear
With help from JD McDonagh, Judgment Day retained their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles on Raw last night.
Finn Balor & Damian Priest defeated Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn to remain champions. McDonagh, Dominik Mysterio, Cody Rhodes, and Jey Uso all got involved in the match. The show went off the air with a chaotic brawl between the two sides after Judgment Day retained.
Jey and Cody were initially able to fend off Dominik and McDonagh’s interference. Zayn almost had the match won after a Helluva Kick to Priest, but McDonagh then struck Zayn with a title belt. Priest covered Zayn to win the match.
McDonagh needed to redeem himself after once again drawing the ire of Priest earlier in the show. Judgment Day were about to attack Rhodes in the opening segment but were quickly outnumbered when Jey, Owens, and Zayn came to his defense. Judgment Day retreated, but McDonagh ran down with two steel chairs to help them even the odds. Priest didn’t want anything to do with the situation — and he took a beatdown when the babyfaces got the advantage.
Priest was fed up with McDonagh and told him that he’s not in Judgment Day and will never be in Judgment Day. We’ll see if McDonagh helping Balor & Priest retain their titles has done anything to change that.
In the new edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer provided a look at where WWE could be going with its Judgment Day storyline.
Meltzer wrote that, while things could change, the long-term plan is currently for Damian Priest to be out of The Judgment Day. Meltzer added that it’s likely JD McDonagh will join the group, but that isn’t 100 percent confirmed.
While this could easily change, the long-term plan is Priest out of Judgment Day. Whether that means McDonagh is in, that’s a probable but not 100 percent
There’s been growing tension between Priest and Finn Balor in recent months. That tension led to Balor losing his title challenges against World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins at both Money in the Bank and SummerSlam.
Priest won the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match this July and still holds the briefcase.
Balor’s friendship with McDonagh has recently contributed to the tension between Balor and the rest of Judgment Day.
Despite the dissension, Judgment Day stood tall over Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn on Raw earlier this week after getting help from McDonagh. McDonagh came to Judgment Day’s aid after Rhodes defeated Balor in the main event of the episode. Priest tried to give Balor the Money in the Bank briefcase to use as a weapon, but he slid it too far and Rhodes hit Balor with the briefcase instead.
