By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,643)
Taped November 11, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan at Van Andel Arena
Aired November 18, 2024 on USA Network
[Hour One] Seth Rollins was shown walking backstage. They cut to a shot of his opponent Bronson Reed. Footage aired of Sheamus walking through the venue, and then Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker was shown in a different shot…
The broadcast team was Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett, and Lilian Garcia was the ring announcer…
Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez made their entrance. Tessitore narrated highlights from the Nia Jax vs. Naomi match for the WWE Women’s Championship match that aired on Friday’s Smackdown.
“Welcome to Monday Night Morgan,” Morgan started. Morgan said she knew Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill were in the building and want to start a fight with her. Morgan said she knew Belair and Cargill didn’t come alone, so neither did she and Rodriguez.
WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax made her entrance with Tiffany Stratton and Candice LeRae. Once in the ring, Jax told Morgan and Rodriguez that she doesn’t like them or dislike them, she doesn’t think about them. Jax said she can’t stop thinking about Belair and Cargill.
Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi made their entrance and spoke from the stage. Belair said they didn’t come alone either, Iyo Sky came out and then all four women headed to the ring. Morgan pointed out that the babyfaces were still outnumbered. Morgan said she didn’t think anyone in the back was dumb enough to be on their team. Morgan asked who would be brave and throw the first punch.
Rhea Ripley’s entrance theme played and she made her entrance wearing a face shield due to her broken orbital bone. Ripley entered the ring and yelled “WarGames” before headbutting Morgan. The two teams fought and the babyfaces cleared the ring…
Powell’s POV: I still don’t think we needed a women’s WarGames match this year, but it’s good to see that Ripley is able to return sooner than anticipated.
A video package recapped The Bloodline and OG Bloodline brawl on Smackdown. It also showed Bronson Reed attacking Roman Reigns from behind and becoming the fifth member of The Bloodline’s team at WarGames…
A tale of the tape was shown for the Seth Rollins and Bronson Reed match…
Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega made their entrance for the mixed tag team match heading into a commercial break… [C]
Footage aired from Paul “Triple H” Levesque appearing onstage with Travis Scott at a Las Vegas show. Tessitore hyped the first Raw on Netflix for January 6 in Los Angeles at Ituit Dome…
Bron Breakker was shown warming up backstage while Tessitore hyped the Intercontinental Title match… Chad Gable and Ivy Nile made their entrance…
1. Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega vs. Chad Gable and Ivy Nile in a mixed tag match. Nile slapped Vega, who responded by tackling Nile. Once they rolled to ringside, the referee called for the bell and the men started the match.
Rey stood on the second rope and threw punches at Gable until Nile distracted him. Gable took advantage of it by pulling Rey off the ropes. A short time later, Rey used a head-scissors to send Gable to the floor before tagging out.
Vega put Nile down and hit her with double knees in the corner, which led to a two count. Nile came back with a big clothesline and then played to the crowd for heat. [C]
Rey hit the West Coast Pop on Gable and then rolled him into a pin for a two count. Gable came back with a slam for a two count of his own. Gable went to the ropes and was cut off by Rey, who then launched Vega into Gable for a head-scissors that pulled him from the ropes.
Rey hit a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Rey hit the 619 and then splashed Gable before scoring the pin…
Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega defeated Chad Gable and Ivy Nile in 10:00 in a mixed tag match.
After the match, Julius Creed and Brutus Creed came to the ring to console Gable, who pushed them away. Gable slapped Julius twice. Brutus laughed at Julius, which led to them shoving one another. Gable said this is what he was looking for and then they all raised their arms…
Powell’s POV: An enjoyable mixed tag match. American Made sure to lose a lot of matches.
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were stressed when they showed up in the Judgment Day clubhouse. Finn Balor said he could take the wheel for her tonight since she had some much going on.
Balor gave Dominik Mysterio and Carlito a pep talk about facing the War Raiders. Balor told them to go for the neck, then said it might just piss them off. Balor said the great Dom will figure it out. JD McDonagh told Balor that he needed to speak to him… [C]
A video aired with The Miz saying it had been an emotional couple of weeks. Footage aired of Miz being held captive by Uncle Howdy, and then turning on them to side with The Final Testament. Miz said he gave the performance of a lifetime.
Karrion Kross stood with Miz and said he showed the world the truth. He said the Wyatts are wounded people who hurt others, but they are not invincible. Kross said he’s not afraid of Uncle Howdy, and said Howdy will continue to play the game that he controls…
Highlights aired from last week’s Gunther and Damian Priest segment, which included Ludwig Kaiser…
Ludwig Kaiser stood backstage when Gunther showed up. Gunther told Kaiser that he doesn’t speak for him. Gunther said he wants Kaiser to make a name for himself and speak for himself. Gunther told Kaiser from now on he should stand on his own.
Gunther told Kaiser to look in his eyes and ask if he seems the old ring general. “One hundred percent,” Kaiser said. Gunther and Kaiser bumped fists and then Kaiser walked away. Gunther removed his jacket.
Damian Priest was shown seated at a table. Gunther went at him from behind. Gunther tried to hit Priest with a pipe, but Priest dropped him with a kick. Priest said Gunther is a general in the ring, but Priest declared that he’s the king of the streets.
Raw general manager Adam Pearce showed up and asked what happened. Priest said he was just having a word with the champion, who could use some ice…
Sheamus made his entrance while Tessitore reminded viewers that Sheamus has never won the Intercontinental Championship… [C] The War Raiders were shown backstage… Bron Breakker made his entrance…
2. Bron Breakker vs. Sheamus for the Intercontinental Championship. Sheamus ended up on the apron. Breakker punched him several times and ran him into the ring post. Sheamus ended up in front of the broadcast table. Breakker jumped from the apron and clotheslined Sheamus, leaving both men down. [C]
Breakker dove from the top rope at Sheamus on the floor. Sheamus moved him in midair so that Breakker landed on his back. Back in the ring, Sheamus performed a powerslam.
[Hour Two] Sheamus hit Ten Beats. Breakker came back with a Lumbar Check for a near fall. Sheamus rallied and hit White Noise from the ropes for a near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
Breakker hit a top rope Frankensteiner. Breakker went for a spear, but Sheamus caught him with a knee strike and covered him for a nice near fall. Sheamus went for a Brogue Kick, but Breakker beat him to the punch with a spear.
Sheamus rolled to ringside to avoid being pinned. Breakker went after Sheamus, but Ludwig Kaiser showed up and clotheslined him to end the match.
Bron Breakker fought Sheamus to an apparent no-contest at 13:30 in an Intercontinental Championship match.
Kaiser also attacked Sheamus and left both men lying. The crowd serenaded him with a “you suck” chant…
Powell’s POV: A good match. The crowd was really quiet during Breakker’s entrance, which is understandable given that they also sat through last week’s live show. Breakker and Sheamus deserve a lot of credit for waking them up with their hard work during the match. Just when it seemed like Kaiser was back in henchman mode, the creative team went out of their way to make him his own man. I’m all for it. Kaiser has major upside.
Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, and Sami Zayn made their pitch to Seth Rollins to get him to join their WarGames team. Jey said they could put it all aside for one night. Zayn noted that Rollins put his differences aside and agreed to team with Cody Rhodes.
Rollins told all three men that he would stand side by side with them, but he would never stand side by side with Roman Reigns. Rollins said he would love to get Reed inside a steel cage and tear him apart, but the potential consequence of Reigns being in charge again isn’t worth it. Rollins said he would take out Reed later in the show so that he wouldn’t make it to WarGames. Rollins wished them all luck, but said he’s out…
Dominik Mysterio and Carlito made their entrance for a tag team match… [C]
Footage aired of Cody Rhodes’ appearance on College GameDay…
A Dakota Kai video aired. She spoke about missing four months and worrying that there wouldn’t be a place for her anymore or maybe people don’t care. She said you ask yourself if you’re good enough. She said she’s never wanted it more and she is ready…
The broadcast team said the women’s WarGames match was official. They also announced Bianca Belair vs. Nia Jax in a WarGames advantage match for next Monday’s Raw… The War Raiders made their entrance…
3. “War Raiders” Erik and Ivar vs. Dominik Mysterio and Carlito. Erik bodyslammed Ivar onto Carlito during the opening minute. Dom hit Erik while Carlito distracted the referee. Dom tagged into the match and then hit Erik with a suicide dive. [C]
Erik was isolated by the heels until he eventually made a hot tag. Ivar worked over Dom and then clotheslined Carlito when he ran in. Ivar got the crowd to chant “war” and then hit a splash on a seated Dom in the corner before covering him for a two count. Carlito entered the ring with his apple, but Ivar tossed Dom at him. The War Raiders hit their War Machine finisher on Carlito and then Erik pinned him.
“War Raiders” Erik and Ivar defeated Dominik Mysterio and Carlito in 9:30.
After the match, World Tag Team Champions Finn Balor and JD McDonagh attacked the War Raiders from behind. Balor hit Erik with a Coup de Grace. Balor and McDonagh stood tall and left the War Raiders lying…
Powell’s POV: A solid win for the War Raiders given that they will be getting the next shot at the World Tag Team Titles. The post match attack by Balor and McDonagh was also logical for the same reason, but it was a pretty forgettable beatdown angle.
A Wyatt Sicks video aired. Bo Dallas spoke about how the trust of the innocent is a liar’s most useful tool. Dallas said he tried to warn you, but you damned yourself. Dallas said he’s sorry for what happens next. Dallas said you will lose what matters most… [C]
A Lyra Valkyria video aired. She said she was thrown straight in the fire when she was drafted to Raw, but the didn’t burn. Valkyria said she hit the ground running. She said she used to think she was like a Phoenix, but is so much more. She said she doesn’t burn, she rises, and she’s coming for everyone…
“Alpha Academy” Otis, Maxxine Durpri, and Akira Tozawa were walking backstage when they encountered Kofi Kingston. Dupri said they are excited about the New Day anniversary. Xavier Woods showed up and said they had to talk because they’ve been yelling at each other.
Woods recalled Karrion Kross saying New Day is dead and that they were the only people who didn’t know it. Kingston told him that he needs to remember what New Day is all about. Woods took offense over Kingston saying he needed to remember.
Otis interrupted. Woods told him to mind his own business. Woods asked what advice Otis could give to the greatest tag team of all-time. Woods set up a New Day vs. Alpha Academy match for next week. Kingston didn’t look happy about it…
Bronson Reed made his entrance for the main event, and then the entrance of Seth Rollins followed…
4. Bronson Reed vs. Seth Rollins. Both men had an intense staredown before the referee called for the bell. Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa showed up at ringside. Sami Zayn and the Usos came out and fought the Bloodline members. The babyfaces dominated the fight and chased the Bloodline members after they were over the barricade until both teams were out of the arena bowl.
Meanwhile, Rollins tossed Reed to the floor and then hit him with a suicide dive. [C] Rollins and Reed fought to ringside. Reed chopped Rollins and then sent him into the timekeepers area. Reed returned to the ring and then Rollins followed.
Reed headbutted Rollins, who came back with a jaw jacker. Reed came right back and clotheslined Rollins to ringside. Reed went to the apron and then jumped off and shoulder blocked Rollins. Reed ran Rollins into the ring steps.
Rollins fought back and slammed Reed’s head on the bottom half of the ring steps a few times. Rollins went for the Stomp, but Reed avoided it and returned to the ring. Rollins went to the apron and hit a springboard flying knee. Rollins hit Reed with a big boot.
Rollins put Reed down and ran the ropes for his finisher, but Reed shot up and ended up powerbombing him heading into the final break. [C] Rollins and Reed fought on the ropes. Rollins got the better of it and powerbombed Reed. Barrett recalled that Rollins once blew his knee out while performing the same spot against Kane.
Rollins picked up a near fall and then set up for a Pedigree, but Reed stuffed it. Reed tried to sit down on Rollins, who moved. Rollins kicked Reed and then hit him with a top rope frog splash for a near fall.
Rollins ran the ropes for his finisher, but Reed stood up and clotheslined him. Reed hit a brainbuster for a near fall. Reed went up top for his finisher, but Rollins rolled away from him. Reed dropped down and went for a senton that Rollins avoided.
Rollins set up for a Pedigree, but Reed stuffed it. Rollins superkicked Reed and then hit him with the Pedigree for a near fall. Rollins showed frustration over not getting the pin. The crowd sang Rollins’ song.
Rollins fired up and then hit Reed with his Stomp finisher. Rollins went up top for a move, but he was distracted by Solo Sikoa standing on the broadcast table. Reed pulled Rollins down and hit a Death Valley Driver and two sentons before hitting a Tsunami and getting the pin…
Bronson Reed defeated Seth Rollins in 17:45.
After the match, Sikoa entered the ring and raised the arm of Reed while Tessitore recalled that Sikoa attempted to recruit Rollins to his WarGames team. Tessitore noted that Rollins said now and Reed said yes…
Powell’s POV: A good match, but I preferred their premium live event match more despite the fact that I felt Reed should have won their first match. The distraction finish wasn’t great, but it played into the storyline. I’m happy they didn’t officially announce the final man for OG Bloodline’s team on this episode. I assume it will be Rollins, but I like that they are waiting for a live show to make it official.
Overall, the Raw crowd deserves a lot of credit for having as much energy as they did despite sitting through two shows, but the show still lacked the energy of a live broadcast. I will have more to say about Raw in my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
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