‘WWE Raw’ Review (Oct 9th 2023)
Welcome to this review of this past Monday’s episode of WWE Raw, right here on Nerdly… Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!
Match #1: Viking Rules Match – Ivar def. Kofi Kingston
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The New Day’s Kofi Kingston did his best to bring his Power of Positivity to combat all the carnage and mayhem of a Viking Rules Match, but the Viking Rules specialist Ivar came out on top. With Viking shields, flags, tables and more used in the melee, Kingston launched the Viking Raider through the table after he grabbed his beard. With the match breaking down, Valhalla leaped onto Kingston until Xavier Woods came down to make the save. Despite this, Woods got squished by an Ivar splash onto the barricade. Back in the ring, Ivar intercepted a Trouble in Paradise to send Kingston crashing through the table. Ivar’s picture-perfect moonsault then sealed the win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Raquel Rodriguez vs. Nia Jax (No Contest)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Raquel Rodriguez and Nia Jax were supposed to engage in a one-on-one contest, but the bout was soon disrupted by Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and Shayna Baszler. Jax obliterated Rodriguez from the start, but Rodriguez almost shocked Jax, picking her up but collapsing just as quickly. Rodriguez hit a huge powerbomb on Jax that nearly put away the former champion. Suddenly, Ripley came out to attack Rodriguez and Jax, sending the match into disarray with no winner. Baszler then charged the ring, attacking Jax and The Eradicator.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Triple Threat Match – Bronson Reed def. Chad Gable and Ricochet
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
With Ricochet being taken out by Shinsuke Nakamura before the match started, The One and Only started off behind the ball, having to dig deep to attempt to earn an Intercontinental Title Match. This gave Chad Gable and “Big” Bronson Reed a prime opportunity to earn the chance themselves. In a frenetic back-and-forth, destruction was the name of the game, with Reed picking up the pieces to pin Ricochet after a huge Tsunami.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Drew McIntyre def. JD McDonagh
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Drew McIntyre took out all of his frustrations on JD McDonagh, but McDonagh fought with moxie, taking out The Scottish Warrior’s knee. “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio made his way to the ring to provide help for The Judgment Day hopeful. Even with a 2-on-1 disadvantage, McIntyre was still able to dispatch McDonagh with the Claymore.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: NXT Women’s Championship – Becky Lynch def. Tegan Nox
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
One night before the biggest NXT of all time, NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch put her title on the line against Tegan Nox. Nox started the match aggressively, honing in on The Man’s stitched-up arm. Nox kept up the fire, beautifully countering Lynch’s Dis-arm-her attempt by rocking her into the turnbuckle. Nox even had Lynch’s own maneuver scouted, locking in a Dis-arm-her of her own, but The Man struck back with some kicks and a missile dropkick. Eventually, The Man succeeded in applying the Dis-arm-her on Nox, forcing The Girl with the Shiniest Wizard to submit.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #6: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Title Match – Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso def. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Only two nights removed from dethroning The Judgment Day as Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso had their work cut out for them as they faced Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in their first title defense. The match would soon boil over as the tension exploded and a brawl broke out on the outside. The animosity between KO and Uso, as well as Rhodes and Zayn reached a fever point with both sets of adversaries fighting by the announce desk. A Cross Rhodes from The American Nightmare to Zayn almost sealed the deal, but KO came in at the last second to break up the pinfall. This was the norm for the rest of the match, as all four Superstars kept their teams alive with counters, reversal and pinfall breakups. Rhodes and Uso retained their titles after a Cody Cutter/1-D combination that left KO down for the count.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Another rollercoaster episode of Raw, a show with matches that went up and down and back again. Still, this episode did its job well, keeping the audience hooked for three hours whilst teasing this week’s NXT and the forthcoming PPV. I could’ve done without the gimmick match opener or all the shenanigans in the women’s match but the Triple Threat and two title matches more than made up for it.
