Monday Night RAW is taking it back this week, all the way back to the 90s when the show was pre-taped and two hours, and while WWE is currently on a Euro run, this week’s episode originated from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri (again). With Crown Jewel nearing, Cody Rhodes is once again a featured player on RAW as he continues to promote his champion versus champion match against Gunther, which, according to Triple H, will produce a definitive winner.
Something to note: RAW will once again be taped in advance for an early November airing. This is significant because the pre-taping will be for the show following Crown Jewel, thus providing potential spoilers for those who emerge victorious from Crown Jewel.
The Rhodes To Saudi Go Through Gunther
Cody was not technically pulling double duty again, but you must admire his efforts to push what should be a great match against Gunther. Cody did mention the Cody rollercoaster originated in St. Louis ahead of his Mania booking, but it did not take long for Gunther to come out so that the two could have a proper promo against each other.
Gunther, surprisingly, gave Cody props for the upward trend WWE is currently riding before admitting he respects him. Gunther eventually brought up Kevin Owens, but he did so by claiming to ‘want the best version’ of Cody Rhodes in Saudi Arabia, thus urging him to sort out his drama. Cody responded by telling Gunther that he is ‘not swimming in the deep end’ but he is really standing on the tip of his toes. It was not much, but the match is something fans in the know will look forward to.
Rhea Ripley Time?
It was cool to see Rhea Ripley interact with a non-Judgement Day roster member, and tonight, Tiffany Stratton came out to ‘warn’ Rhea not to interfere with Nia Jaxx’s business. Rhea opened RAW alone, at first, but after some quick words reminding us of who she has beef with (like we forgot the months-long feud) when Tiffy figured it was ‘time’ for her to make her presence felt on the red brand. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez eventually came out and stomped out both Rhea and Tiff and when we returned from break, GM Pearce was ready to book a tag match between JD and Rhea with Liv.
The match served as the main event, but it did not get much time before Jaxx came out to interfere by attacking Rhea. Jaxx would eventually attack Liv as well before delivering an Annihilator to her Crown Jewel opponent—the first we have seen between the two. With Liv down, Nia suggested Tiffy cash in on an ‘easy for the picken’ RAW women’s champ, but before she could get the ref on board, Dom came out to make the save.
Women’s Tag-Team Championship
The Champs, Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair took on the team of Kairi Sane and Iyo Sky after the champs successfully defended the titles on SmackDown following the Kevin Owens segment. This was certainly a credible team, but they are not coming off any sort of booking that made them a credible threat. Lash Queen and Jakara Jackson were seated ringside during the match after they outperformed expectations on Friday in their losing effort.
To their credit, Sky and Sane looked great in this match as Sane landed a picture-perfect cross-body dive from the top of the turnbuckle and onto a sitting duck in Cargill. The challengers utilized their speed and technical prowess, but Cargill evened the odds when she absolutely smashed Sane with a backbreaker delivered after Sane was caught midair in the ring. Lash and Jakara eventually got involved by striking Sky—leaving Sane to land the KOD (a paused vertical suplex into a ‘Burning Hammer’ off a torcher rack) for the win. Look for Lash and Jakara to rival Sane and Sky in the coming weeks, which will produce a legit threat to the champs that went life and death with both teams.
Video Vignettes
This episode utilized more video vignettes and pre-packaged content to fill the show’s 120-minute run time, but in a pre-taped show, it made sense—especially considering how well they were executed.
Bron Breakker
Bron Breakker’s entire promo was based on his flip-flop booking the past couple of weeks, and he used his time to explain, sort of, his reasoning for attacking IC champ Jey Uso. He used the word ‘turn’ when referring to what he did to Jey. It would be strange if WWE, internally, saw what happened with Breakker as a full turn, considering he was ‘face’ for a week. Instead, it feels like Breakker is showing us more layers. He never ‘turned’ face, and he is not really a heel. Breakker is an uber-competitive monster capable of sportsmanship but is always on the brink of losing his cool and taking it out on anyone physically.
Breakker spoke about how much Jey leans on his family and how his success is based on them, but then he mentioned how he does not need his famous father and uncle—collectively known as the Steiner Bros. It is wise for Breakker to make his own way, and if Rick and Scott ever do involve themselves in Breakker’s on-camera affairs, then let it happen in a feel-good way down the road when Breakker is an actual face.
It is interesting to see where this goes because the success WWE has found in Jey could be derailed should he immediately drop the title back to Breakker, but the company may keep the Breakker train rolling after the recent criticisms Jey has received following his celebratory promo the week after he won his first single’s title.
Breakker Beats Kofi
Later, Breakker was in action against Kofi Kingston. Breakker would pick up the win, but just as he was going to attack Kofi after the match, Woods came out for the save. Breakker put Woods down, and Jey Uso came out to even the score with Breakker and help out New Day. He got a super kick off followed by a yeet before both Kofi and Woods acknowledged Jey’s helping hand.
Jey And Jimmy Meet
The New Day appeared in a better place this week, but when Jimmy attempted to speak with Jey after returning at Bad Blood, he was met with resistance from the IC champ. The brothers clearly need more time.
Bronson Reed
Reed had a sit-down style interview with… the GM? Yes, Pearce and Reed basically sat down to air out grievances, but everything ended amicably as Reed’s request for a match with Rollins was agreed upon by the RAW GM.
What was even more interesting was seeing Pearce speaking to Rollins in the locker room a segment or two later. Rollins appeared eager to book the Reed match, but that is when Pearce acknowledged the lacking performances from Seth on the biggest cards of 2024, specifically naming WrestleMania among others.
It has been no secret that Rollins, considered one of the best performers in wrestling over the past era, has been dealing with lingering injuries. Pearce mentioning this makes for a better storyline because now Rollins gets to control the narrative of being the guy that ‘works through the injury’ as a competitor delivering for the fans expecting to see him. With how Reed has been booked, the Seth match could be huge.
Alpha Academy
The ‘American Hero’ gimmick is in full swing, and the faction promised they would be the kind of team that fans can look to as role models, but the heels are an impressive collection of athletes.
In-Ring Action
- The Miz and R-Truth were geared up for singles action in a match that felt like a real throwback. Truth attempted to shake Miz’s hands, but even though Miz obliged, he was in serious action mode. Kross and AOP made their way ringside, and Truth used the distraction to score a roll-up pinfall victory over Miz. AOP threw Truth back in the ring, and Miz delivered a scull-crushing finale that keeps this program going, thankfully.
- War Raiders returned to squash Tozawa and Otis.
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