9/18/2023 WWE Raw Recap

Follow along with the Starman as he covers tonight episode of WWE Raw, which takes place live at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

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The theme song for Cody Rhodes kicks off Raw as the American Nightmare makes his way to the ring and the announce team hypes tonight’s matchup between Jey Uso, Drew McIntyre and Ricochet going against Shinsuke Nakamura, and Becky Lynch will be defending the NXT Championship.

Rhodes grabs a microphone and says he was interrupted last week and he really wants to talk about Main Event Jey Uso. He is then immediately cut off by Dominik Mysterio, who says the Judgement Day will continue to be the most dominant faction in WWE once they recruit Jey Uso into the group. Mysterio then says Rhea Ripley isn’t here as she was injured by Nia Jax last week and will be dedicating his victory to Mami once he defeats Rhodes.

Rhodes says he hopes that Ripley defines their relationship soon as it appears he is more interested in her than she is with him, and she has eyes for Jey Uso. Mysterio says they are all family and they have each other’s backs. Judgement Day’s music then hits as Damian Priest and Finn Balor make their way towards the ring and we head into a commercial break.

Match 1: Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio (w/ Damian Priest and Finn Balor)
Dragon Lee is shown in the crowd and he will face Mysterio next Monday night for the NXT North American Championship. The match starts and Rhodes quickly takes Mysterio down and locks in a figure four, but Mysterio is able to break the hold by reaching the ropes. Mysterio then distracts the referee as Balor trips up Rhodes on the apron to turn the match around. Mysterio then tries to hit a series of suplexes, but Rhodes counters and takes Mysterio down with a Cody Cutter and the Cross Rhodes to pick up the pin fall.

Winner: Cody Rhodes defeated Dominik Mysterio by pin fall.

After the match, the Judgement Day gets onto the ring apron, but Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn run out to the ring. The two sides stares at each other until the Judgement Day backs down and retreats through the crowd. Cody then leaves as Owens asks him to come back into the ring as they have to talk about something and we head into a commercial break.

Kevin Owens questions why Cody Rhodes thought it was a good idea to bring Jey Uso into the Raw locker room, as he and many in the back want to hear it. Rhodes says his job is to make the fans happy and asks the crowd if they like Jey Uso, to which the crowd cheers. Rhodes says he deserves a second chance to show that he is changed and the Bloodline is now down a member. Sami Zayn steps in and says he knows Jey Uso and thinks that Owens should give him a second chance, just like the two of them have given each other second chances. Owens says he will pretend why both Zayn and Rhodes didn’t win World Championship matches and screwed himself out of at least five matches. Owens says he trusts both of them, though, so he hopes they are right before dropping the mic and leaving the ring.

The announce team wonders if Owens is paranoid or if what he is saying is true before a video recap of last week’s match between Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez for the WWE Women’s World Championship and the return of Nia Jax is aired. Michael Cole says Ripley suffered bruised ribs and Rodriguez suffered whiplash at the hands of Jax last week. Kofi Kingston then heads to the ring for the next match as we head into a commercial break.

Match 2: Kofi Kingston vs. Ivar (w/ Valhalla)
Michael Cole says there was supposed to be a 2-out-of-3 falls match tonight between the Viking Raiders and the New Day, however, we footage airs with Adam Pearce telling the New Day that Erik is not medically clear to wrestle. The New Day then play Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who gets to take on Ivar. The match starts and Ivar quickly stops Kofi’s offense with a sitdown drop from the corner. Kofi is able to take Ivar down with a spin kick and picks up a near fall, however, Ivar dumps Kofi out to the floor and flattens him with a splash from the apron as we head into a commercial break.

The match continues as we see Ivar taking Kofi down with a seated cross body block. Ivar heads to the top rope and goes for a splash, but Kofi is able to roll out of the way. Kofi then hits a splash to Ivar’s back and picks up another near fall, and yet another near fall after another cross body block. Kofi then hits the SOS, but Ivar kicks out of another pin attempt. Kofi then hits the Boom Drop but Ivan counters an attempt at a Trouble in Paradise with a powerbomb for a near fall. Ivar then levels Kofi with a spin kick for yet another two count. Ivar then goes to the middle rope, but Valhalla motions to him to go to the top. Ivan then goes to the top rope and lands a moonsault, but Kofi is able to kick out of the pin attempt. Ivar then sets up for a superplex and Kofi counters with a flip powerbomb that sends Ivar crashing to the mat. Kofi then connects with the Trouble in Paradise to pick up the pin fall.

Winner: Kofi Kingston defeated Ivar by pin fall.

A video package highlighting what happened last week between Ricochet and Shinsuke Nakamura is aired. Jackie Redmond is backstage with Ricochet, who says he thinks Shinsuke is using him to play more mind games with Seth Rollins, and that only fires him up even more. Ricochet says Shinsuke can play games as he is a cheat code and tonight will be game over.

Shinsuke makes his way to the ring for the next match and his music is cut off by the music of Seth Rollins. Adam Pearce, agents, and security come out to stop him, however, Rollins breaks free. Rollins chases Shinsuke out of the ring, but is cut off by security. Shinsuke enters the ring and mocks Rollins as we head to a commercial break.

Match 3: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Ricochet
The match starts as Shinsuke gains the early advantage and toys with Ricochet in the opening moments of the match. Ricochet is able to counter Shinsuke and gets a pin attempt in the process. Shinsuke quickly regains control after connecting with a dropkick while Ricochet was trying a springboard and picks up a couple of near falls in the process. Shinsuke then grounds Ricochet with a submission hold, but Ricochet fights his way out of it and connects with a standing moonsault for a near fall. THe two go back and forth until Ricochet is able to counter the sliding German suplex and connects with a moonsault from the second rope and onto the floor as we head into a commercial break.

The match continues as we see Ricochet take Shinsuke down with a kick to the face after Shinsuke takes a little too much time to go on the offensive. Ricochet then hits a running Shooting Star Press to pick up another near fall. Ricochet then hits a cross body block and picks up a close near fall as Shinsuke barely gets his shoulder up. The fight goes out to the floor as Ricochet hits a series of kicks as Shinsuke grabs a chair and Ricochet takes Shinsuke down with a superkick. Ricochet then grabs the chair and hits Shinsuke with it, causing a disqualification.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Ricochet by disqualification.

Ricochet argues with the referee about the disqualification as Shinsuke comes in and beats Ricochet down. Shinsuke wraps Ricochet’s leg around the ring post and begins smashing it with a chair. Seth Rollins runs out and attacks Shinsuke, but Shinsuke is able to give Rollins a back drop onto a steel chair. Security and agents come out to break it up but Shinsuke sends Rollins into the announce table and gives him a back drop on top of it. Shinsuke then leaves as Rollins is checked upon and we head into a commercial break.

The announce team hypes the Royal Rumble, which will take place January 27, 2024 in St. Petersburg, Florida, at Tropicana Field. We then see footage of what just happened between Shinsuke Nakamura and Seth Rollins. Footage of Rollins being helped to the back is aired. We then see Rollins collapse backstage as a referee helps him into the trainers room.

The announce team then switches gears as we are treated to a video package of what happened last week between Chelsea Green and Shayna Baszler. Byron Saxton is backstage with Piper Niven and Chelsea Green and asks them their thoughts on facing Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark tonight. Chelsea says they are not even a tag team as they are not even friends and says her and Piper are best friends. Piper asks Chelsea if they are such good friends, what country she is from. Chelsea begins to stumble on England or Ireland and settles on Florida, as Piper walks off. Byron informs Chelsea that Piper is actually from Scotland.

Match 4: Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark vs. Piper Niven & Chelsea Green
Stark and Baszler isolate Chelsea to their side of the ring to get the early advantage in the opening moments. Piper assists Chelsea, which allows her to gain control and tag Piper into the match. Piper begins to power Stark around and tags Chelsea back into the ring, but Stark quickly takes her down with a superkick for a near fall that is broken up by Piper. Baszler then runs in and attacks Piper as they begin to fight on the floor. Piper slams Baszler on the floor, but Nia Jax comes out and sends Piper into the ring post and steps before heading into the ring. Jax takes Stark down with a Samoan Drop and a Senton and then crushes Chelsea in the corner. Jax then turns her attention to Baszler and crushes her in the corner with the Annihilator. Jax then says it’s open season and the division is on notice.

Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark fought Piper Niven & Chelsea Green to a no contest.

Adam Pearce is backstage as Chad Gable comes in and asks how he can get one more shot against Gunther. Pearce says he will have to fight his way back into contention as Bronson Reed comes in and tells him to go to the back of the line. The two begin to argue as Pearce says he has had enough and the two can settle it in the ring.

The announce team celebrate the 103 million views that the Rock’s return to Smackdown got on social media, proclaiming it to be the highest viewed video of the year. We then see highlights of the Rock appearing on Smackdown and interrupting Austin Theory and taking him down with a spinebuster and the People’s Elbow. Chad Gable then comes out with Otis and Maxxine Dupri for his match against Bronson Reed as we head into a commercial break.

Jackie Redmond is backstage with Jey Uso and asks about the cold reception he has gotten backstage. Jey says he knows he has a target on his back, but is interrupted by Damian Priest. Priest relieves Jackie and tells Jey Uso that the Judgement Day wants an Uso in the group and the rest are pushing for Jimmy, but he wants Main Event Jay Uso. Priest says the Judgement Day could be the family he has been looking for and warns Uso not to make him look bad in front of his family. Priest then tells Uso that he wants an answer by the end of the night.

Match 5: Chad Gable vs. “Big” Bronson Reed
The match starts and Gable runs around and hits Reed with a series of strikes and a dropkick. Gable then goes for a belly-to-back suplex, but Reed breaks free and sends Gable crashing to the mat with a overhead slam. Reed powers Gable around and sends Gable into the top of the ropes with a press slam and then knocks Gable out to the floor as we head into a commercial break.

The match continues as Gable is able to work over Reed’s arm before hitting a diving headbutt for a near fall. Reed then fights back and crushes Gable with a Tsunami for the pin fall.

Winner: “Big” Bronson Reed defeated Chad Gable by pin fall.

Tommaso Ciampa says he wanted to be patient when he came to Raw, but he has waited and waited before realizing that patience was a crutch. Ciampa says he is creating his own opportunities and calls out Imperium and says Gunther has what he wants. The announce team talks about Tommaso Ciampa being a former NXT Champion and how a new NXT Women’s Champion was crowned last week as we see footage of Becky Lynch defeated Tiffany Stratton to win the NXT Women’s Championship for the first time in her career last week on NXT. Lynch is seen walking backstage and fist bumps Akira Tozawa as the announce team wonders who she will face tonight.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are backstage arguing as Jey Uso comes in and tells Owens to say what he has to say to his face. Owens thinks Uso is joining the Judgement Day and tells him to do what he has to do. Owens leaves as Zayn tells Uso to give Owens some time and wishes him luck on the big decision he has to make tonight.

Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring with the NXT Women’s Championship over her shoulder. Lynch says she didn’t think she would win the NXT Women’s Championship this year, but she took the opportunity that was presented to her. Now she wants to defend and elevate the title to new heights and she wants to test herself against what the future has to offer and she will be at NXT tomorrow night. However, she’s in Salt Lake City tonight and issues an open challenge to anyone in the locker room as she is interrupted by Natalya’s music. Natalya says no woman has worked their ass off more than her and accepts the challenge. Lynch says she wanted someone new to accept her challenge, not someone who has had many chances. Natalya says she did just that when she went down to NXT and stepped over all of the women who were waiting for their chance and calls her a hypocrite. Lynch then accepts her challenge.

Match 6: Becky Lynch vs. Natalya (NXT Women’s Championship)
The bell rings and Natalya sends Lynch into the ring post, that causes her to fall out to the floor and we head into a commercial break. The match continues after the break as Lynch picks up a near fall after hitting a Becksploder. Natalya then tries to comeback with a Sharpshooter, but Lynch counters with a rollup for a near fall. The two begin to fight on the top rope and Natalya takes Lynch down with a superplex for a near fall of her own. Natalya goes for another Sharpshooter, but Lynch counters by sending Natalya into the turnbuckles. Lynch goes on a flurry of offense, but Natalya stalls her attack with a discus clothesline for another near fall. Natalya then goes for another Sharpshooter, but Lynch counters with a Disarm-her. Natalya counters with a rollup for a near fall. Natalya counters a rollup and Lynch counters her rollup for the pin to retain the NXT Women’s Championship.

Winner: Becky Lynch defeated Natalya by pin fall to retain the NXT Women’s Championship.

Adam Pearce is backstage with Dragon Lee and is interrupted by Dominik Mysterio, who claims he lost the match tonight because Rhea Ripley wasn’t by his side as Pearce wasn’t doing his job last week. He then tells Dragon Lee that he doesn’t like people who wear masks as they remind him of his deadbeat dad. Dragon Lee says he will be leaving Raw next week as the NXT North American Champion.

Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser make their way to the ring for the next match as we head into a commercial break.

Match 7: Giovanni Vinci (w/ Ludwig Kaiser) vs. Tommaso Ciampa
The bell rings and Vinci gets the early advantage after Kaiser trips up Ciampa and Vinci levels him with a hard clothesline. Vinci picks up a near fall after hitting a backdrop as Gunther is shown watching the match from the back. Ciampa finally drops Vinci with a Lou Thesz Press and follows with a reverse DDT. Kaiser then distracts Ciampa as Vinci rolls him up for a near fall. Ciampa then counters Vinci’s attack with a knee to the jaw and then locks Vinci in the Sicilian Stretch and makes Vinci tap out.

Winner: Tommaso Ciampa defeated Giovanni Vinci by submission.

Ludwig Kaiser then yells at a dazed in the ring entrance. The announce team then hypes the main event between Jey Uso and Drew McIntyre, which is coming up next.

Byron Saxton catches up with Seth Rollins backstage and asks how he is feeling. Rollins says he is tired, in a lot of pain, and is losing his mind. Rollins says Shinsuke Nakamura is pushing him to a place that he doesn’t want to go. Since Shinsuke wants to do things his way, Rollins says the ball is in his court. Rollins says Shinsuke can name the time, place, and stipulation, but ask himself if Shinsuke will define his legacy, or if it will be him.

A video package showing Jey Uso’s arrival to Raw is aired. Drew McIntyre’s issues with Uso and the Bloodline is shown and the two will face right now in the main event. Jey Uso makes his way to the ring as the announce team brings up that not only does he have to face Drew McIntyre, but Uso will have to let the Judgement Day know if he is with them or against them as we head into a commercial break.

We return from the break to see the announce team hype next week’s Ray that will feature Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn challenging Damian Priest & Finn Balor for the Undisputed WWE World Tag Team Championship. Plus, Bronson Reed will face off against Otis and Shinsuke Nakamura responds to the challenge set out by Seth Rollins.

Match 8: Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre
The bell rings as the two share some words in the ring before locking up. McIntyre easily tosses Uso into the corner and asks if that’s all he’s got and that it’s going to be an easy night. McIntyre then connects with a series of chops, punches, and kicks as Uso drops down to the mat in the corner of the ring. McIntyre picks up a near fall after hitting a snap slam, before continuing to methodically picking apart Jey Uso, until Uso sends McIntyre out to the floor and takes him out with a dive through the ropes. Uso then goes back into the ring and hits another dive as the Judgement Day makes their way out to the ringside area and we head into a commercial break.

We return to see McIntyre and Uso fight on the turnbuckle until McIntyre takes Uso down with a superplex from the top rope. The two then begin to trade blows in the middle of the ring until McIntyre hits the Glasgow Kiss. Uso follows with an enziguri and a Samoan Drop for a near fall. The Judgement Day shake their heads in approval before McIntyre counters with a spinebuster for a two count on Uso. McIntyre then drops Uso with a neckbreaker and sets up for the Claymore but Damian Priest grabs McIntyre as Dominik Mysterio distracts the referee, which allows Uso to drop McIntyre with a kick to the face for a near fall. The Judgement Day give Uso words of encouragement as he gives Priest a fist bump. Uso then superkicks all three members of the Judgement Day off of the ring apron, but McIntyre connects with a Claymore to take Uso down for the three count.

Winner: Drew McIntyre defeated Jey Uso by pin fall.

Drew McIntyre leaves Jey Uso alone in the ring as the Judgement Day enters the ring and begin a 3-on-1 attack on Uso. McIntyre turns around and watches what is going on and then turns and walks away as the crowd boos his actions. McIntyre then stops and has second thoughts as Cody Rhodes’ music hits and he runs out to the ring and clears Damian Priest and Finn Balor of the ring before hitting the Cross Rhodes to Dominik Mysterio once again tonight. Rhodes lifts Uso to his feet as Raw comes to a close.

Quick Results
– Cody Rhodes defeated Dominik Mysterio by pin fall.
– Kofi Kingston defeated Ivar by pin fall.
– Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Ricochet by disqualification.
– Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark fought Piper Niven & Chelsea Green to a no contest.
– “Big” Bronson Reed defeated Chad Gable by pin fall.
– Becky Lynch defeated Natalya by pin fall to retain the NXT Women’s Championship.
– Tommaso Ciampa defeated Giovanni Vinci by submission.
– Drew McIntyre defeated Jey Uso by pin fall.