11/4 WWE Raw Results: Powell’s review of WWE Champion Brock Lesnar hunting for Rey Mysterio, Seth Rollins addressing the loss of the WWE Universal Championship to Bray Wyatt, NXT invasion?

By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

WWE Raw on the USA Network
Aired live on November 4, 2019 from Uniondale, New York at Nassau Coliseum

[Hour One] The show started with three SUVs pulling into the arena parking area. Triple H emerged from one of the vehicles. He walked to one of the vehicles behind him and said something. “This is not good,” one of the broadcast team members said… The Raw opening video aired and pyro shot off on the stage… The broadcast team was Vic Joseph, Dio Maddin, and Jerry Lawler…

Brock Lesnar’s music played and headed to the ring with the WWE Championship belt around his waist and Paul Heyman by his side. Maddin said he wasn’t sure how Lesnar could just quit Smackdown and come back to Raw. Joseph said it’s because he’s Brock Lesnar. Heyman said he’s the advocate of the conquerer of Cain Velasquez and the ultimate champion in World Wrestling Entertainment.

Heyman said Lesnar quit Smackdown and came to Raw to hunt Rey Mysterio. Heyman recalled that Raw traded Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross to Smackdown for future considerations. Heyman said Lesnar has a no cut contract with WWE because he has a Jew for an advocate. Heyman said Lesnar’s contract has been assigned to Raw. Heyman said that doesn’t mean Roman Reigns or others could do the same things.

Heyman said it’s because Lesnar is different and can do anything he wants to do. “Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Brock Lesnar is better than every single one of you.” Heyman added that Lesnar is better than everyone at home and the wannabe tough guys in the back who think they can take on Lesnar. Heyman said someone knows where Mysterio is. Heyman teased the idea of Lesnar hopping the rail and slapping every man in the building, then mocked the idea of Long Island fans thinking they could slap him back.

Heyman said Mysterio wasn’t man enough to defend his son Dominick. Heyman said someone would stooge out Mysterio and then Lesanr would commit a felony against Mysterio or he would turn the entire Nassau Coliseum inside out and upside down like an F5 touched down in New York. Heyman said this would be the funeral of Mysterio’s career. Lesnar and Heyman left the ring and headed backstage…

The broadcast team checked in from their perch on the stage. Lawler suggested that Mysterio get in his car and go home. They cut to a backstage shot of Lesnar searching for Mysterio. Lesnar grabbed a crew member by the throat, choked him, and tossed him aside heading into a break… [C] An ad for Survivor Series played up Raw vs. Smackdown vs. NXT…

Powell’s POV: Heyman was terrific in that opening monologue by heeling on the fans and the wrestlers, and Lesnar destroying people is a nice hook for the remainder of the show. That said, I hope the comments Heyman made about the wrestlers are being done to set up someone getting the better of Lesnar tonight because the babyfaces would look weak if they just sat back and took it without retaliation. The negative of this is that the WWE Draft looks like even more of a joke with Lesnar apparently returning to Raw so quickly.

Additional footage aired of Lesnar taunting another crew member in the parking area. The man said he thought Mysterio was in a nearby car. Lesnar opened the car door and pulled out a man, then kicked the door, which Lesnar had broken…

The broadcast team agreed that Mysterio ruined Lesnar’s moment at Crown Jewel… The Kabuki Warriors were already in the ring. Charlotte Flair’s entrance was televised and then a video package touted the Natalya vs. Lacey Evans match as the first women’s match to be held in Saudi Arabia. Flair and the Warriors were shown clapping, then Natalya made her entrance…

1. “The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane vs. Charlotte Flair and Natalya in a non-title match. Lawler said it didn’t seem like Flair was very impressed by Natalya becoming a media darling since Crown Jewel. Flair and Natalya were dominant heading into a break a couple minutes into the match. [C]

Asuka caught Natalya with a kick at ringside and then Natalya was isolated by the champions. Charlotte eventually tagged in and worked over Sane with chops and a fallaway slam. Charlotte had Sane pinned, but Asuka interfered from the floor. Flair laid Sane and Asuka side by side and then performed a moonsault onto them. Flair had Sane pinned, but Asuka apparently blocked the referee’s foot with her hand. [C]

Asuka put Natalya in an armbar, but Natalya powered out of it and countered into a Sharpshooter. Sane performed a Codebreaker on Natalya to break it. Flair speared Sane. Asuka went for an Asuka Lock, but Natalya tripped her and applied the Sharpshooter and got the submission win…

Charlotte Flair and Natalya beat The Kabuki Warriors in 18:05 in a non-title match.

After the match, Lensar and Heyman walked out and asked the broadcast team where Mysterio was. “Who the hell are you, anyway?” Heyman asked. Heyman said Lawler knows everything. He told him to tell him where Mysterio was at or he would unleash Lesnar on him and this time no one would resuscitate him when he dies on the air again. Maddin got up and stood between Lesnar and Lawler. Lesnar grabbed Maddin and gave him an F5 through the broadcast table.

Rey Mysterio ran out with a weapon and worked over Lesnar with it. Mysterio picked up the WWE Championship belt and hit Lesnar with it. Several referees came out and talked down Mysterio, who headed backstage while his music played… [C]

Powell’s POV: The tag match was WWE creative repeating its tired formula of having its secondary and tag champions lose non-title matches to set up title matches. It’s fine when done infrequently, but WWE does it so often that it’s become the norm and is harmful for those champions. I like that Maddin stood up for Lawler even if it did result in him being put through a table. The viewers haven’t been properly introduced to Maddin so this makes him look like a good person even though he got his ass handed to him by Lesnar. Finally, I like that Mysterio got the better of Lesnar again.

An NXT ad aired… Highlights aired of the previous angle. New footage aired of Lesnar struggling to get to his feet and selling leg pain from Mysterio’s attack. Lawler wondered how much damage had been done to Lesnar’s knee…

Mysterio delivered a backstage promo. He said Lesnar tried to take everything from him by attacking his family. Mysterio said an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Mysterio said he’s fighting fire with fire. Mysterio said that Lesnar came after what’s most important to him, so he’s coming after what’s most important to Lesnar, the WWE Championship. Mysterio asked if Lesnar will be man enough at Survivor Series to come after him the way he went after Lesnar…

2. Buddy Murphy vs. Cedric Alexander. Neither wrestler’s entrance was televised and the broadcast team quickly hyped the official premiere of WWE Backstage for Tuesday on FS1. Alexander performed a springboard Flatliner for a two count. He also picked up a near fall off a Michinoku Driver. Murphy came back with a knee to the back and hit Murphy’s Law for the win…

Buddy Murphy beat Cedric Alexander in 5:40.

Powell’s POV: A solid match that was just thrown out there and didn’t get much support from the live crowd. I wish they would have taken some time away from the long tag match and given it to this match.

Footage aired of the NXT invasion on Friday Night Smackdown… Seth Rollins was shown walking backstage while Joseph hyped that he would appear after a break… [C]

An ad for Smackdown hyped Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin, and The Revival vs. Big E and Kofi Kingston for the Smackdown Tag Titles…

Powell’s POV: I was hoping they forgot about that Reigns vs. Corbin match that was originally booked for last week’s show.

Seth Rollins made his entrance. There were some boos once he was in the ring. Rollins stood silently and looked at the crowd.

[Hour Two] “So what’s next for Seth Rollins,” Rollins asked. He said it had been a rough week and a rough couple of months. Rollins said he’s not stupid, he hears the fans and he knows some of them are thrilled that he lost to The Fiend at Crown Jewel. “To be honest with you, I don’t give a damn,” Rollins said.

Rollins said the thing that concerns him is that The Fiend took the WWE Universal Title to Smackdown and that Brock Lesnar is back on top of the Raw mountain with the WWE Championship. Rollins said he didn’t know if he had the energy this time and said he doesn’t know what’s next for him for the first time in a long time.

Triple H’s music played and he headed to the ring. The NXT logo appeared on the big screen, and Hunter turned and pointed to the letters. Hunter entered the ring and shook hands with Rollins. A loud “NXT” chant broke out. Hunter said it’s funny how history repeats itself. He said their paths seem to cross whenever Rollins doesn’t know what’s next.

Hunter said the first time Rollins came to him unsure of what was next, he became the first NXT Champion. The next time Rollins wasn’t sure what was next, he came to Triple H and The Shield was born. He said the next time Rollins came to him, he became the WWE Champion.

Rollins asked if the things that Hunter did for him were for his benefit or for Hunter’s benefit. Hunter asked if it really mattered given that Rollins walked away as champion each time. He said Rollins may not know what’s next, but he does. Hunter boasted about firing the first shot on Friday. Rollins pointed out that they marched in while most of the roster was stuck overseas. Hunter said that was smart.

Triple H said they made a statement that NXT is real. He said NXT is one fire. Hunter said he clearly didn’t come alone and people wanted to know what NXT would do next, but he wants to know what Rollins was going to do next. Hunter said that what Rollins does next will affect what he does next.

Hunter noted that Survivor Series is Raw vs. Smackdown vs. NXT “and we’ve got something to prove.” Hunter said he knows how to make Rollins great and he always has. Hunter said Rollins knows how it works, he’s either with him in this moment. Hunter left that hanging and then the Undisputed Era members Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish, and Roderick Strong walked to the ring through the crowd and stood on the apron. “You’re either with me or you’re against me,” Hunter said.

The OC’s music played and then AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson headed to the ring. The Undisputed Era hopped the barricade to avoid facing The OC. Dominik Dijakovic and Damian Priest attacked The OC from behind, then Undisputed Era hopped back over the barricade and joined in the beatdown on The OC. Eric Rowan, R-Truth, Zack Ryder, and Curt Hawkins ran out to help The OC. Rollins stood in the ring and watched the entire time…

Powell’s POV: I felt the NXT wrestlers came off heelish on Friday and it felt that way again here. Granted, it was mostly heel wrestlers involved in this attack, but I could have done without seeing them scurry once the Raw undercard (and Rowan) arrived. On the bright side, I enjoyed Triple H’s promo and his stroll down memory lane with Rollins.

Joseph and Lawler recapped the previous angle. Lawler said it looked like a bit setup by NXT…

Triple H was shown walking backstage. Seth Rollins approached Hunter and said if he comes to Wednesday nights, then he’s coming as a top guy. Rollins called for an NXT Title match with Adam Cole. Hunter told him welcome back and said the challenge was accepted. Lawler wondered if they would lose Rollins if he was victorious in the title match…

Andrade and Zelina headed to the ring. Zelina spoke about Catalina being so ugly that she hides her face with a mask. She mocked the idea of Sin Cara ever having a chance to beat Andrade… The broadcast team hyped the After The Bell podcast with guest Tyson Fury…

3. Andrade and Zelina Vega vs. Sin Cara and Catalina. Andrade attacked Sin Cara to start the match. Catalina performed a senton off the apron onto Andrade heading into an early break. [C] Sin Cara performed a sunset bomb from the ropes and then both men tagged out.

Catalina performed a lousy cross body block and landed on the legs of Vega, who held her left knee when she got up. Catalina performed a facebuster on Vega, but Andrade broke up the pin. Vega blocked Sin Cara from going for a suicide dive, but Catalina took her out and then Sin Cara performed the dive. A short time later, Vega performed a huracanrana that drove Catalina’s face into the mat and pinned her…

Andrade and Zelina Vega beat Sin Cara and Catalina in 7:25.

Powell’s POV: What the hell is this? They introduced Catalina last week and Sin Cara lost his match, so I naturally assumed they would win this mixed tag match. Instead, Catalina took the pin for her team. What’s the point? Move on from this lopsided feud.

The broadcast team hyped Cole vs. Rollins for the NXT Title and then set up a video package on the Rusev, Lana, and Bobby Lashley saga… Rusev was shown walking backstage in his gear. Joseph said Rusev was headed to the ring to issue a challenge to Lashley… [C]

Rusev stood in the ring and said he’s sure everyone will agree with him when he says tonight is the night to end all the stupid drama. Rusev said he wasn’t there to bicker with his soon to be ex-wife or to call her names even though he can. Rather, he was there for “Bob” Lashley to tell him man to man that if he wanted Lana then she was all his, “but your ass is mine.”

Bobby Lashley made his entrance on crutches and had Lana by his side as they walked onto the stage. Lashley said that as much as he’d love to beat up Rusev, he’s not medically cleared to fight. He said he tore his groin. He said it didn’t happen at Crown Jewel or training to beat up Rusev, he did it doing things and performing in ways that Rusev could only fantasize about. Lana kissed Lashley and they laughed.

Lana said Rusev isn’t interested in hearing about their life “that is filled with love and sex.” Lana said there was someone who volunteered to fight Rusev and would kick his ass. Drew McIntyre’s music played and he headed to the ring…

4. Drew McIntyre vs. Rusev. Lashley and Lana watched the match from the stage. Rusev performed a fallaway slam heading into a break. [C] Rusev threw a rough kick that sent McIntyre to ringside. Rusev followed and slammed him into the ring post. Lashley attacked Rusev from behind with one of his crutches for the DQ.

Rusev beat Drew McIntyre by DQ in 9:45.

Lashley rolled Rusev inside the ring. Rusev hit Lashley with several punches and ran him through the ropes and into the ring post. Rusev picked up the crutch, but Randy Orton appeared and performed an RKO out of nowhere on Rusev. Lana was shown laughing. Lawler said it was a setup from the get go. Ricochet ran out and cleared both heels from the ring and then dropkicked Lashley through the ropes, which knocked him and Lana over…

Becky Lynch was shown being mic’d up for an interview… [C] Another NXT ad aired…

Powell’s POV: I guess this sets up a tag team match with two members each from Team Hogan and Team Flair? I’m honestly more concerned about the lack of direction for Drew McIntyre. I can’t believe this guy has been on the main roster for over a year and a half and he’s still spinning his wheels. WWE should be embarrassed that TNA/Impact Wrestling booked him a thousand times better than they have.

The Washington Nationals showing off their WWE Championship belt was spotlighted…

Charly Caruso conducted a sit-down interview with Becky Lynch and noted that she will be facing Smackdown Women’s Champion Bayley and NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler at Survivor Series. Lynch said this year she is the target because she beat Bayley’s best friend Sasha Banks onto the injured list at Hell in a Cell, and beat Baszler’s bestie Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania.

[Hour Three] Shayna Baszler, who had her title belt over her shoulder, excused Caruso and sat down in her chair. Baszler said she’s been waiting a long time to meet her face to face. She said is friends with Rousey and they trained together. Baszler said she wanted to make something very clear. “I’m not Ronda Rousey.” She said she wouldn’t take her eyes off Bayley, but she wanted to tell Lynch that she’s going to pin her or tap her out and the only thing Lynch has to think about between now and Survivor Series is which one of her limbs will belong to her.

Lynch said she doesn’t know Baszler, so she hasn’t decided whether to respect her or to slap her head off. Lynch warned her that going to war with her will change her like it did the rest of them. She said she won’t be taking her eyes off Bayley either, but she’s coming directly for Baszler. Both women stood up and went face to face. Baszler said she’s happy they met and had a chance to talk. Lynch told her to bring her best so that she could show her who the real baddest woman on the planet is…

Powell’s POV: Home run segment. The dialogue was top notch and the performances were strong and believable. Oh, and Bayley is in the match too.

The OC headed to the ring. AJ Styles had a mic and said Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson are the best team in the world and have a trophy to prove it (the stupid trophy was at ringside). Styles also boasted about himself. He said they don’t give a damn about NXT and the next time they see one of “those punks” they will make sure they never step foot outside of Orlando, Florida.

The Street Profits made their entrance and motioned to the stage. They were joined by Humberto Carrillo. Montez Ford said Gallows and Anderson are officially the best tag team in the world (and did the Shane McMahon style introduction). Angelo Dawkins pointed out that he and Ford weren’t in the match. Dawkins reminded them that they beat them two weeks ago. Ford said they couldn’t say that. Dawkins repeated it a couple times.

Ford said he knew someone who could, Carrillo, who twice said the Street Profits beat The OC two weeks ago. Styles told him to shut his mouth or he would shut it for him. Carrillo said it in Spanish. Dawkins said Styles was hating on Carrillo because mothers love swiping right on those dimples. Joseph hyped the six-man tag match for after the break… [C] Steve Austin was featured in an ad for Sunday Night Football…

Powell’s POV: Wow, that was rough. I don’t know who thought it was a good idea to have a babyface impersonate the Shane McMahon “best in the world” introduction, but that sucked and everything about this sucked. The crowd just sat there and it was hard to blame them. Will anyone bother to question where the Profits stand in the NXT feud since they just left the brand?

5. Humberto Carrillo and “The Street Profits” Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford vs. “The OC” AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson. The match was joined in progress. Ford was isolated by The OC heading into a break. [C] Carrillo hit a moonsault on Styles and had him pinned, but Gallows broke it up. Ford took out Anderson and Gallows with a flip dive. Carrillo stuffed a Phenomenal Forearm attempt, but Styles powerbombed him and put his feet on the ropes for leverage while scoring the pin. Joseph said Carrillo was ripped off…

The OC defeated Humberto Carrillo and The Street Profits in roughly 12:00 of television time.

Powell’s POV: If the idea is for Carrillo to get over by losing all of his matches then I guess this is going swell aside from that pesky little getting over part.

Joseph and Lawler set up a video package on Adam Cole… Triple H was shown talking with Cole in a backstage area… [C]

Footage aired of Lesnar attacking crew members while searching for Mysterio earlier in the night. They also showed the footage of Lesnar putting Dio Maddin through the broadcast table and then being attacked by Mysterio. Lawler said he heard that Lesnar didn’t leave the building under his own power. Mysterio was shown challenging Lesnar earlier…

Lesnar vs. Mysterio for the WWE Championship was officially announced for Survivor Series. Raw Tag Champions The Viking Raiders vs. NXT Tag Champions Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reily vs. Smackdown Tag Champions The Revival was also announced for Survivor Series…

6. “The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar vs. The Polo Boys. The Polo Boys were two unnamed independent wrestlers who worked in polo shirts and khakis, and had sweaters around their necks. Ivar splashed one of the locals and pinned him.

The Viking Raiders beat The Polo Boys in 1:00.

After the match, Erik took the mic and said they are men bold enough to admit that they suffered defeat at Crown Jewel. He congratulated The OC for being crowned the best tag team in the world. “Enjoy your trophy, boys,” Erik said. Ivar said victory is often times nothing more than survival. He said Gallows and Anderson should thank the gods because they won one battle. Erik said nothing can stop the raid…

A shot aired of Seth Rollins backstage… A Survivor Series ad aired… [C]

Powell’s POV: Beating guys dressed in silly costumes might get some reaction from a live crowd, but it’s not actually doing anything for the Viking Raiders.

Seth Rollins made his entrance and the broadcast team hyped Shawn Michaels for the WWE Backstage premiere on FS1 on Tuesday. Adam Cole made his entrance for Triple H at his side. The broadcast team hyped Pete Dunne vs. Damian Priest for NXT on USA on Wednesday…

7. Adam Cole (w/Triple H) vs. Seth Rollins for the NXT Championship. Mike Rome delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. The crowd was flat for the introductions. The broadcast team debated whether Triple H was rooting for Cole or hoping Rollins would win and go to NXT. Lawler noted that Joseph spent a lot of time in NXT and wondered if he was going to turn on him. Joseph said no. Triple H sat in a chair at ringside for the match. Cole avoided an early Stomp attempt. Rollins ran Cole into the barricade heading into an early break. [C]

Rollins went for a springboard move and Cole caught him with a superkick and got a near fall. The broadcast team spoke about how bad it would be for Raw if Rollins left for NXT. Rollins came back and performed a buckle bomb on Cole. Rollins followed up with two suicide dives and then rolled Cole back inside the ring. Cole came back with a neckbreaker on his knee and got another two count. Cole performed a flying knee for another two count.

Cole lowered his knee pad and went for the Last shot. Rollins ducked it. They both got up and knocked each other down with simultaneous clotheslines. Rollins performed a superplex into a falcon arrow for a two count of his own. Rollins set up for his Stomp finisher, but Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, and Bobby Fish interfered for the DQ.

Seth Rollins beat Adam Cole by DQ in 12:30 in an NXT Title match.

The Undisputed Era attacked Rollins after the bell. The OC, Rowan, Ryder, Hawkins, Ricochet, and others ran out to help Rollins. NXT wrestlers Matt Riddle, Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, and Dominik Dijakovic, and others ran out. The wrestlers all ended up fighting to ringside. Ricochet returned to the ring and performed a springboard shooting star press onto the pile below. Joseph said that’s what Raw needs. The wrestlers got up and fought again. Keith Lee performed a flip dive from the ring and then the show went off the air…

Powell’s POV: The live crowd just wasn’t responsive for this match and that’s a shame. NXT’s involvement in Survivor Series makes the event a lot more fun and is giving NXT some good exposure on Raw and Smackdown, which can only help its television viewership. Unfortunately, they are also falling victim to the brand loyalty curse caused by Survivor Series. Tommaso Ciampa, Matt Riddle, and Keith Lee are facing Undisputed Era in a WarGames match the night before Survivor Series, yet here they are working together for the good of NXT. I trust that the NXT creative forces will at least try to come up with a good explanation, but it is definitely an awkward situation.

Overall, this show wasn’t as hot as Friday’s Smackdown. It had its moments, but there were also some head scratchers and/or dull moments. I will have more to say about Raw in my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members. Let me know what you think of the show by voting in our weekly post show poll that is available in a separate post on the main page.