06th Sep2023

‘WWE Raw’ Review (Sept 4th 2023)

by Phil Wheat

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: Tornado Tag Team Match – The Viking Raiders def. Drew McIntyre & Matt Riddle

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Giving their team another chance, Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle combined to take on The Viking Raiders, this time in a Tornado Tag Team Match. With no rules, Riddle ordered McIntyre to get the tables early, but The Viking Raiders did everything in their power to stop McIntyre and Riddle from using the wooded weapon. The Viking Raiders used the Mise en place to their advantage as Ivar went splat on The Scottish Warrior’s torso with a splash from the announce table. Wishing payback of his own, Kofi Kingston made his way down to ringside, but his attempts to help McIntyre and Riddle backfired as he accidentally leveled The Original Bro with Trouble in Paradise. The Viking Raiders then put Riddle away with a Ragnarok through the table.

My Score: 3 out of 5

Match #2: Ricochet def. Shinsuke Nakamura (DQ)

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

After coming to the aid of Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Ricochet took on Shinsuke Nakamura. Sending a message to the World Heavyweight Champion, Nakamura repeatedly targeted Ricochet’s back. Despite missing the 630 Splash, The One and Only connected with the Recoil, but Nakamura was able to kick out. Nakamura ended the match by blasting Ricochet with a steel chair. With the chair wrapped around The One and Only’s neck, Nakamura geared up for a gruesome Kinshasa before Rollins came down to make the save.

My Score: 3 out of 5

Match #3: Shayna Baszler def. Zoey Stark

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Just days after ending her alliance with Trish Stratus, Zoey Stark battled Shayna Baszler in a hard-hitting affair. After Stark went for a superb aerial maneuver, Baszler caught her with the Kirifuda Clutch. Somehow Stark kept fighting but eventually succumbed to the submission. After the match, the two seemed to be on the same page.

My Score: 3 out of 5

Match #4: Raquel Rodriguez def. Chelsea Green

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

WWE Women’s Tag Champion Chelsea Green got rag dolled by Raquel Rodriguez after she made disparaging remarks about her earlier in the evening. Rodriguez finished her off with the Tejana Bomb.

My Score: 0 out of 5

Match #5: JD McDonagh def. Sami Zayn

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Wanting some payback following his team’s loss at WWE Payback, former Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn took on JD McDonagh. Zayn nearly had McDonagh dead to rights after a vicious Michinoku Driver, but McDonagh was somehow able to kick out, trying to prove his way into The Judgment Day. With “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio’s help and a handful of tights, McDonagh scored a huge win over Zayn.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #6: Intercontinental Title Match – Gunther def. Chad Gable

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

With the chance to break The Honky Tonk Man’s 35-year record as longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time, Gunther had to defeat Alpha Academy’s Chad Gable. Gable earned this match after besting The Ring General by countout two weeks prior, becoming the first person to defeat Gunther in singles competition since the Intercontinental Champion arrived on the main roster. Gable employed an effective strategy early, taking out Gunther’s legs, trying to cut the dominant champion out from underneath him. Despite Gable’s strategy, The Ring General tortured the leader of the Alpha Academy, quelling his offense repeatedly. Gable needed to win by pinfall or submission, heaving Gunther into the ring after a German Suplex on the outside of the ring. As Gable got back inside, he was caught with a deadly powerbomb but was able to kick out. Battling through the pain, Gable connected with a superplex and a diving headbutt before locking in the Ankle Lock. Gunther evaded the submission attempt and a Chaos Theory German Suplex, but Gable had The Ring General panicked. With the straps down, the Alpha Academy leader nailed the Chaos Theory Suplex, but Gunther kept fighting. Gable cinched in the Ankle Lock once again, but Gunther managed to catch Gable with a sleeper hold. Gunther clobbered Gable with a sleeper suplex, a powerbomb and finally a lariat to end Gable’s chances of becoming Intercontinental Champion. With the victory, The Ring General ensured he would become the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time.

My Score: 4 out of 5

Final Verdict: 4/5

I’ll be damned if this week’s Raw, apart from the squash match, wasn’t a great show! Top to bottom this was a well put together, well-paced and well performed show. Following Payback with this episode of Raw you’d think that the WWE have decided to up their game. Perhaps in answer to their competition’s hot week? Or just some better writing and planning on a part of the backstage crew? Whatever the reason this was a real step-up for the red brand and gives the rest of WWE’s programming a lot to live up to!

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