A stacked Monday Night RAW was laid on with the company coming home to their mecca, Madison Square Garden, for John Cena’s final RAW as an active performer ever.
Let’s get into the results below:
John Cena, Sheamus and Rey Mysterio def. Judgement Day
The Last Time is Now tournament: Solo Sikoa def. Dolph Ziggler
Women’s Intercontinental title: Maxxine Dupri def. Becky Lynch (c)
The Last Time is Now tournament: Gunther def. Je’Von Evans
Notes:
John Cena opens the show to a wild reception. Dom Mysterio interrupts Cena’s emotional speech and manages to get a rematch for the Intercontinental title for Survivor Series.
Finn Balor and JD McDonagh come out to back up Dirty Dom and beat down Cena. Sheamus and Rey Mysterio – to a big pop – make the save and it becomes a six-man tag-team matchup.
During the commercial break, Andrew Schultz and members of the New York Giants got into an altercation at ringside.
Bayley rejected Asuka’s offer to join their War Games team.
The pop for Dolph Ziggler was legitimately huge.
https://x.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1990600880635482537?s=20
Alexa Bliss made a plea to Charlotte Flair only to be interrupted by Asuka, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax and Lash Legend for another beatdown. Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY attempted to make the save, but to no avail. It took Charlotte Flair arriving with a kendo stick to save the day and seemingly confirm she’ll help her friend.
AJ Lee costs Becky Lynch her Intercontinental title after distracting her allowing Maxxine Dupri to win.
Latest on The Last Time is Now tournament: Will be Gunther vs Carmelo Hayes or Bronson Reed and Solo Sikoa vs Finn Balor or Penta
Analysis:
An all-star six-man was a great way for Cena to bow out in Madison Square Garden. The finish had three beats of the bodhran, three five knuckle shuffles, A double 619, a brogue kick and finally an attitude adjustment. Great stuff.
Amazing pop for Ziggler. All those years his talents went underused, I’m sure that moment will stick with him forever. For those that haven’t been watching TNA by the way, he very, very much still has it.
Lash Legend’s footwork during the Charlotte Flair save was really poor. Her timing was all off; she rushed over to Flair and threw a wide closeline before The Queen could really get in, then kept rushing to punch Flair but pulled her punches back awkwardly when Flair was busy with Jax. Not the smoothest watch at all.
Good booking in the Becky Lynch/Maxxine Dupri title match. The way they built up Dupri getting ready and picking her spot for the rematch, she had to deliver a performance and really, for her character to ever be taken serious as a threat, she had to win. She did deliver a great display (aided by a fantastic dance partner in Becky) and got the win. Having AJ Lee further things with Becky to help her do it was perfect.
The fan reaction to Rhea Ripley and AJ Lee coming face-to-face and agreeing to a chat backstage was money.
Gunther looked excellent in his first outing since SummerSlam. He’s since had nose surgery and patiently waited for the right moment to return – this was it. An absolute banger with Je’Von Evans, who continues to show he is one of the major future players in this industry, reminded everyone exactly who Gunther is.
The main event saw both male War Games teams come face to face with Paul Heyman’s vision (and Drew McIntyre) first out.
The babyfaces then arrived and put a beating on the heels until Brock Lesnar’s music shockingly hit.
After The Beast decimated both Punk and Rhodes, Roman Reigns returned to make the save and, eventually, spear Bronson Reed through the barricade to close the show with, for some reason, the NYPD scurrying around ringside trying to keep the peace.
You expect a certain level of RAW when they hold the event at MSG and I feel WWE delivered tonight. They had the star power, they had the memorable moments and no real lulls in the action. A very good show.
