[intro music playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[Tessitore] Beyond the landscape covered in cacti,
the Valley of the Sun has a modern sports oasis,
Glendale Arizona's Desert Diamond Arena.
It is sold out for Monday Night Raw.
Just five days from Survivor Series: WarGames.
But there's still so much to be determined here.
We're moments away from battles impacting the most anticipated showdown.
Like what we'll see with Bianca Belair.
Flanked by WarGames teammate, Naomi,
The EST with such concern for her severely injured partner, Jade Cargill.
The more pressing issue is facing Nia Jax,
after the vicious attack on Jade on SmackDown.
All the other members of the WarGames teams
have been banned from ringside
for this all-important WarGames Advantage Match coming up.
Also tonight, Ludwig Kaiser.
A week ago, he brutally attacked Sheamus and Bron Breakker
in the middle of their thrilling Intercontinental Title match.
Now, he'll face The Badass straight up.
Bron Breakker's out to punish Kaiser.
The champ, with a Super Spear leading a varied offensive arsenal
and a point to make.
And a big test for the big men.
The War Raiders' comeback story has been sensational.
Can it now be topped with newfound gold for Erik and Ivar?
The Judgment Day is out to defend the World Tag Team Championship.
JD and Finn say they'll remind everyone who runs Raw.
["Greatness" playing]
["Symphony No. 9 in E Minor" playing]
[crowd cheering]
Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett with you here in Arizona.
We start the night with the World Heavyweight Champion.
[Lilian] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
the World Heavyweight Champion,
"The Ring General" Gunther!
[Tessitore] And, Wade, perhaps he hasn't quite been himself in the lead-up
to the Survivor Series match-up with Damian Priest.
[Wade] Yeah, you can say that again. The formerly impenetrable aura
of "The Ring General" Gunther
has suddenly started to look a little like Swiss cheese.
There's weaknesses all over the mindset of this man
and it is something we simply have not been used to seeing historically,
all because one man has got inside of his head.
And let's skip forward a few days to Survivor Series.
This Saturday, Gunther defends his World Heavyweight Championship
against Damian Priest.
[Tessitore] And as for what Gunther's mindset is now,
here's our Jackie Redmond with the champ. Take it away, Jackie.
Gunther, this Saturday, you'll defend your World Heavyweight Championship
against Damian Priest at Survivor Series.
But before we look ahead to that title defense,
I actually want to start this interview by going back
to what happened last week on Monday Night Raw.
Let's take a look.
[Wade] So here we go. Last Monday on Raw,
World Heavyweight Champ, Gunther,
attempted a sneak attack on Damian Priest ahead of their match-up
at Survivor Series.
Things backfired in a big way
with the challenger returned to his street-fighter best.
Gunther.
I get that out in the ring, you're a general.
But on the streets,
I'm a king. [chuckles]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd booing]
[crowd continues booing]
Gunther, listen. Your time in WWE has been nothing if not dominant.
But ever since a rare loss to Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel,
it feels like we've seen a different side of you.
In fact, Damian Priest says you are no longer the confident champion
we saw break records, and whose reputation
is quite literally rooted in almost never losing.
Gunther, what's your response to what Damian had to say?
[crowd booing]
[mouthing] You know what?
["Rise for the Night" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Tessitore] The former World Heavyweight Champ
to face off again with the current.
By all means, don't let me interrupt you.
Tell the world what you're gonna do at Survivor Series.
Let us know how easy it's gonna be for you.
No?
Nothing?
I figured.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, Señora Redmond,
before you go,
pass that microphone to Gunther.
Let the champ talk.
'Cause I want to see if you grew a set this week
and say something to my face.
[crowd exclaiming]
Now, I see your face.
I know you're out here and you want us to believe
that the old Gunther is back.
But you and I both know that, that ain't true.
You used to have this aura, man, like, this killer vibe.
I mean, you would step in this ring
and you would say anything you want to anybody
and they wouldn't dare make a move on you.
I don't know what happened. Maybe…
Maybe the pressure of being champ got to you.
I get… I know something about being champ,
I get something about having that pressure.
Matter of fact, I want it back.
But you…
you've had a lot of accomplishments in your life.
I know
why you're the way you are right now.
Why all of a sudden you can't talk, why you can't act right,
is because in your life, you've never had to deal with a problem like me.
At Survivor Series,
this problem
is taking that championship.
[crowd cheering]
You know what's wild to me?
I wonder what happens to Gunther after Survivor Series?
What happens
to The Ring General
when he loses to a guy from the street?
[crowd exclaiming]
Oh. [chuckles] My bad.
This is your time, this is your interview time.
By all means, the floor is yours.
Talk away.
[crowd booing]
[Gunther breathing heavily]
[Tessitore] Oh, he hits him with the mic.
And now, he clocks him right in the head.
[Wade] Never take your eyes off The Ring General.
Especially when he's cornered.
[Gunther grunting]
[Tessitore] In the buildup to this showdown,
Damian Priest was winning the mental warfare,
but now Gunther getting the best of him.
[imperceptible]
[crowd cheering]
[Tessitore] There's only so much he could take.
[Wade] Gunther's got some street-fighting chops
of his own, it would seem.
Damain Priest now, finds himself in a whole world of trouble.
[Tessitore] Big lariat
from Gunther, the World Heavyweight Champion.
Snapping on Damian Priest, and now he's coming over on our announce desk.
Oh, he's clearing it off.
This is going a step further than anybody anticipated
as the officials are coming out from ringside.
Oh, and Priest, right into the post.
And now, right hand after right hand
from the soon-to-be World Heavyweight challenger.
[Wade] Oh, my God.
[Tessitore] He's setting him up for a Razor's Edge.
Priest…
Right through the announce table goes the World Heavyweight Champion!
[crowd cheering]
[Tessitore] Damian Priest,
a Razor's Edge, smashing Gunther
through the table, and now, standing over him with his own belt.
[crowd cheering]
[Tessitore] And for so long, this man Gunther has
has seemed invincible.
For so long, you wouldn't pick anybody on the roster
you'd favor over him in a spot like Saturday.
As he throws down the title on his chest,
but this version of Gunther we've seen in recent weeks,
and now this version laid out,
and what Priest has been doing to him,
all of a sudden he seems very beatable, he seems primed.
[Wade] Oh, man, Joe. "The Street King" Damian Priest just ransacked the castle
of the World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther.
[Tessitore] Damian Priest looking to regain that championship
for good on Saturday,
at Survivor Series: WarGames from Vancouver.
Wade, let's get to the serious business concerning the women's side of things
because we can provide a medical update on a major star,
based on the scary scene you saw on SmackDown with Jade Cargill.
Here's the update on Jade's injuries.
[Wade] Yeah, so this was this past Friday
as Bianca Belair was competing in-ring.
Jade Cargill attacked, laid out on a car.
Emergency medical personnel, suffered a whole range of injuries
including bone bruises, spinal issues, lacerations,
with no turntable for her return.
[all clamoring]
[crowd cheering]
How's Sis doin'?
She banged up. Like, it's bad.
She not going to be back for a minute.
But once we find out who did it, we gonna get 'em.
Okay.
Well, I know we gotta figure out who took out Jade,
but what's most important right now
and what we got to do before that
is figure out who our fifth member is gonna to be for WarGames.
-Yeah, we do. I don't know-- -[IYO SKY speaking Japanese]
[in English] What about Kairi Sane?
IYO, you is cool, but I don't know about more Damage CTRL.
-Mm-mm. -I'd vote for Bayley.
Yes, I know, I know, I know, I know you don't like the way that sounds,
but truth be told,
Bayley's been going through with Nia, Liv,
and riding it just like the rest of us.
And she's changed.
Naomi, me and Bayley have been through way too much to be tryin' to team together
-for WarGames-- -I know, B, but you gotta put--
[overlapping chatter]
[Rhea Ripley] Enough!
That's enough.
[crowd cheering]
Whoever we choose
just needs to carry their weight and stay outta my way.
Okay. Well, since you wanna call this Team Rhea,
who do you think our fifth member should be?
-Do you have any suggestions? -[mouthing] Bayley.
As long as they leave me Liv Morgan,
I couldn't care less.
Wow!
Great leadership.
[clicks tongue] You know what?
I don't have time for this,
because I gotta put the whole team on my back tonight
and have this Advantage Match with Nia.
So I'mma go get ready and y'all can figure it out.
Good luck.
[crowd cheering]
["Our World" playing]
[Tessitore] Women's WarGames Advantage Match
coming up later tonight. Bianca Belair, Nia Jax.
But that's the familiar sound of a Hall of Famer.
[bell ringing]
[Lilian] The following is a Tornado Tag Team Match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing LWO,
the team of Dragon Lee and WWE Hall of Famer,
Rey Mysterio!
[Tessitore] Rey and his sensational protégé,
Dragon Lee, against American Made.
That is next on a sold-out Monday Night Raw.
[Tessitore] And we are ready for action here in Glendale, Arizona,
Rey Mysterio, in fact, he had one of his career-high watermarks here,
a WrestleMania win 14 years ago.
Tonight, with Dragon Lee, facing off against American Made.
["American Made" playing]
[Lilian] And their opponent, representing American Made,
the team of Brutus and Julius Creed.
[Tessitore] Ivy Nile, and, of course, the man who forges
The Creeds, Chad Gable.
Recently, The Creeds responding
just the way Chad Gable wanted them to.
Slapped Julius hoping to see it fire up the brothers, Wade.
[Wade] Yeah, that's exactly what Master Chad Gable was trying to do
with the likes of Otis in a previous life.
Clearly didn't work, he's upgraded his family
and got two prime athletes
who are now intent on decimating the LWO.
Now, there's been major issues between American Made and LWO in recent weeks
which really started when Rey and Dragon Lee defeated The Creeds
in the Tag Title Number-One Contenders' Tournament several weeks ago.
Now, The Creeds have a chance to right that wrong
in Tornado Tag rules, Joe.
[Tessitore] Yeah, Tornado Tag rules.
So, all four men are legal at all times, no tags required.
Two-on-two, first pinfall or submission in the ring wins it.
There can be DQs, so we got nonstop action right from the start, Wade.
[Wade] Yeah, this is just an absolute brawl.
Keep your eyes in the back of your head peeled at all times.
Because it's completely legal to team up two-on-one if needs be.
And it looks like The Creeds are gonna utilize that tactic early on here.
[Tessitore] That's what's happening, as they're teaming up against Dragon Lee.
As we saw recently, Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega in mixed tag action
against Chad Gable and Ivy Nile.
[Wade] Creeds are just two in-ring savages once they get going,
and that really has to be what's appealed to Master Chad Gable
when he recruited them into his family.
[Tessitore] What was your instant reaction when you saw the way
Julius Creed reacted after the slap?
[Wade] I loved it. It's exactly what Chad Gable wants.
You have a couple of mentality monsters in there.
I think The Creeds learned a valuable lesson last week.
Sympathy is for losers.
When A-Town Down showed a little sympathy to Chad Gable,
the opposite of what Gable wanted.
[Tessitore] Wade, there's other ways to go around it.
You see the success form Dragon Lee, who benefits from Rey's mentoring style.
[Wade] Sympathy is for losers,
and American Made are a lot of things. What they are not is losers.
Although that could change very quickly because Rey's on a roll.
[Tessitore] Springboard moonsault into the cover, and the kick-out at two
as Dragon was there to try to aid for the win.
Look at this from the Hall of Famer.
[Wade] Just A-plus lucha tag-team teamwork
as Brutus Creed is getting knocked silly in there.
So hard to defend yourself against these kind of stylings.
[Tessitore] Kick after kick on Brutus, and now, here's a double cover.
And Brutus with that sheer power, able to kick-out.
[Wade] You're absolutely right, Brutus, a two-time All-American in freestyle,
undefeated for two years in NCAA competition.
He's gonna need all of that toughness right now
because the tables have turned
and it's two-on-one in favor of the LWO, but just like that…
[Tessitore] The elbow and then the clothesline.
And Brutus now, able to get one-on-one with Dragon Lee.
[Wade] And this is just such a physicality mismatch.
Brutus Creed bravely climbing the ropes
with a luchador, not always the smartest thing to do.
[Tessitore] Now, Dragon Lee, could he be in position for the double stomp? No!
Coming straight up,
cat-like quickness, superplex from Julius.
What a turnaround for The Creeds.
[crowd booing]
[Wade] Two hundred and thirty-five lbs of sheer athleticism
and unbridled rage in the form of Julius Creed.
And Brutus loves everything he's seeing.
[Tessitore] And a big knee delivered from Julius.
As he hooks the leg, and Dragon, resourceful, able to kick out.
How about this athleticism, Wade?
[Wade] It's just crazy. You see, sometimes, the cruiserweights
pulling off something like that and it is jaw-dropping.
When you get a true heavyweight like Julius Creed, it should be illegal.
[Tessitore] And now, quickly getting Rey up.
[crowd cheering]
[Tessitore] Hurricanrana, out to the floor.
[Wade] It just goes to show you, there's simply no way to protect yourself,
and this is just classic Mysterio.
[Tessitore] Oh! From 619 to a turnaround of a clothesline.
American Made in control.
Tornado Tag Team Match to continue.
[Tessitore] Joe and Wade with you here in Glendale, Arizona.
Tornado Tag Team Match.
Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee against American Made.
As Rey's just picked right out of the air. Look at the sheer strength from Julius,
driving him down.
[Wade] One of the most difficult kind of catches you can ever do
with a flying performer like Rey Mysterio.
Just a forearm to the jaw, and old-fashioned styling
clear out in the ring, and this might be good night here.
[Tessitore] How quickly he gets to the top rope, a 450.
And a cover for the win.
And coming in and saving things, Dragon Lee.
[Wade] Julius Creed trying to teach the luchadors
how to do their jobs with his high-flying, jaw-dropping moves.
Wasn't quite enough thanks to Dragon Lee.
[Tessitore] Wade, I am stunned by some of the athleticism we have seen
out of Julius Creed so far tonight.
[Wade] Yeah, it's power, athleticism, intensity.
These two have it all.
[Tessitore] As does this man, Dragon Lee.
The young protégé of Rey Mysterio.
The Hall of Famer has played such a big part in his life.
[Wade] This guy is the future of lucha libre according to the--
[Tessitore] Operation Dragon.
[crowd] One, two, three.
[Tessitore] Whoa! And at the very last second, Brutus Creed.
[Wade] American Made, level timing, 2.99.
After that Operation Dragon wasn't quite enough to get the job done,
but now softening up Brutus Creed for good measure.
[Tessitore] Remember recently, Chad Gable berating The Creed Brothers
declaring that they're not losers in the way they responded,
but now, trying to prove it tonight against Mysterio and Dragon Lee.
[Wade] It's getting rid of that loser mentality
that The Creeds at times have adopted.
Physically, they are absolute specimens,
you have to get over that nonsense and put this one to bed now.
[Tessitore] And now, both on top.
And trying to get Dragon Lee in position,
who fights his way back.
Oh, and Rey comes in with a 619 right across the legs to clear house.
Double stomp to both Creeds.
[Wade] At this point in a match-up, whatever works.
Double 619 to the shins of The Creeds.
[crowd cheering]
[Tessitore] Rey's calling for it.
Sliding out, right onto the floor, the Hall of Famer taking advantage.
[Wade] Big splash to the outside. Brutus Creed looks stunned. Oh!
[Tessitore] Meanwhile, Dragon Lee goes aerial out onto the floor.
[Wade] Well, Julius Creed did his best to duck out of that one.
Perhaps avoiding the worst of it,
immediately turning this one around on Dragon Lee.
And now a groggy Julius Creed gingerly reentering the ring.
[crowd cheering]
[Tessitore] Again, Creed, showing that power
as Rey puts him in position.
[crowd cheering]
Fighting out of it.
The Hall of Famer looking to deliver, but he's finding Brutus…
Turns the tables, but the ref takes it.
The referee takes it.
[Wade] Wait a second, Chad Gable…
[Tessitore] He's up on the apron.
Oh, and he twists the mask of the Hall of Famer.
Rey can't see a thing, he's blinded.
Schoolboy roll-up, victory…
[bell ringing]
…for American Made.
[Lilian] Here are your winners,
The Creed Brothers!
[Wade] Well, morally questionable, but you have to accept
that was pure genius from Master Chad Gable.
Completely blinding the Hall of Famer, Rey Mysterio, with that mask.
And The Creed Brothers and American Made get a huge win
here tonight against the LWO.
[Tessitore] And, Wade, a similar reaction to what we saw a week ago
from The Creed Brothers.
Well, it's just a classic example of exactly why The Creed Brothers
-are growing under the tutelage… -Can we just work here?
-… of Chad Gable. -[Tessitore] Really?
This is a little bit much of a celebration, guys.
-Honestly. -This is the best.
This is not the best.
Let's tell you what's coming up later tonight.
We're gonna give you the full recap… Please, we're trying to work here.
…of what happened on SmackDown with the stunning return of Paul Heyman
and CM Punk, with the original Bloodline
filling out their team for Survivor Series.
But for now, look at the impact it made with fans and on social media.
[Heyman] Ladies and gentlemen…
[exclaiming]
-[Heyman] My name is Paul Heyman. -Paul Heyman!
WarGames is going to be
five versus five.
["Cult of Personality" playing]
[crowd cheering]
Oh, my God! Yes!
Let's go!
Yes!
[Tessitore] This was the moment when CM Punk
was revealed as the fifth member of The OG Bloodline,
starring Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso and Sami Zayn.
And folks, it had over 72 million views on social media.
The most-viewed clip from SmackDown this entire year.
Seventy-two million social views
for that moment of CM Punk and Paul Heyman.
["Breakk and Destroy" playing]
[Tessitore] The air changes a bit, doesn't it, Wade?
[Wade] The dogs are barking here tonight in Arizona.
[Tessitore] That is the level of intensity that Bron Breakker brings.
[bell ringing]
[Lilian] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Atlanta, Georgia,
weighing in at 250 lbs.
He is the Intercontinental Champion,
Bron Breakker!
[Tessitore] And that gold around the waist,
the nostrils flaring, ready for action.
"The Badass" Bron Breakker. He's in against Ludwig Kaiser.
That is next, live, here on Monday Night Raw,
a sold-out Desert Diamond Arena here in Glendale, Arizona.
[barking]
Liv Mor, we need Nia to win this Advantage Match tonight.
I wish we weren't banned from ringside so we could make sure she beats Bianca.
You know, Liv,
you should have a little more faith in your teammates, huh?
In your teammates.
Finn's right.
Finn, you so wise.
Truth, what are you doing here?
I just need a spot to hide out from…
Butch.
Well, you're gonna need a place to hide form me
if you don't get the hell out of my clubhouse.
We ain't even a family no more.
Thanksgiving is off.
[crowd laughing]
-Did he just say, "Thanksgiving is off"? -Hey.
It's not, it's not.
Time for fun and games is over, okay?
Liv, I agree with you, you're right. You do need the advantage.
Because you're getting locked in the cage with Rhea Ripley.
And IYO SKY and Bianca Belair.
And Dom, because you couldn't stop Damian Priest,
he's now back on track for the World Heavyweight Title.
Oh, and not only that.
You and Carlito lost to The War Raiders last week.
But look, I'm gonna look at the positives, okay?
You did a good job softening 'em up for me and JD.
And that's what I call being a good team player.
-Go team. -Exactly.
And it's that teamwork that's gonna keep The Judgment Day
at World Tag Team Champions
-for 154 days and counting. -Whoo-hoo. Two for two, baby.
-Exactly. -Two for two.
And when Liv and Raquel walk out of WarGames, victorious,
oh, it's gonna be a great week for The Judgment Day.
-Yes. -But remember…
Remember… Get in, get in, get in.
-There's no leaders around here, right? -[JD] Right.
-But when everyone listens to Finn-- -We're one big, happy family.
Right?
We're one big, happy, successful family.
All right?
Let's go.
[Tessitore] Finn and JD will have that World Tag Team Championship match
against The War Raiders, coming up.
Bron Breakker, in the midst of this massive crowd
here at Desert Diamond Arena, the Intercontinental Champion.
["Symphony No. 9 in E Minor" playing]
Always got a score to settle, doesn't he, Wade?
[Wade] Not taking his eyes off the entranceway.
It's been a long seven days for Bron Breakker,
waiting for the arrival of this man.
[Lilian] And his opponent, from Hamburg, Germany,
weighing in at 220 lbs,
Ludwig Kaiser.
[Tessitore] Kaiser opposite Bron,
and for Kaiser, his own dynamic
is dealing with the right-hand man with the Heavyweight World Champion,
Gunther, who recently told him to, quote, "Be his own man."
Now, a chance to prove it.
[Wade] Yeah, well, this was last week on Raw.
"Celtic Warrior" Sheamus challenged the IC Champ, Breakker.
This banger of a match seemed to be drawing to a conclusion.
It was ruined by a certain Ludwig Kaiser,
who derailed the whole thing by attacking,
first of all, Bron Breakker, and then, the challenger, Sheamus.
It seems Kaiser signaling his intent
to force his way into bigger and better opportunities here on Raw.
[Tessitore] He's telling him to back off. It's a big moment for Kaiser
to deliver on everything Gunther wants him to.
You can see he's not taking his eyes off of him.
[Wade] You can't quite be as arrogant as you usually are
when you're dealing with somebody
like the Intercontinental Champion, Bron Breakker.
[Tessitore] He's very aware. It's so interesting.
He didn't even do his normal pose he does pre-match,
where he gets up on the rope and flanks his arm right behind him.
He is so aware of the threat that Bron Breakker is to him.
[Wade] Well, I would not take my eyes off Bron Breakker
at the best of times, even more so if I'd sneak-attacked the man
seven days earlier.
That is like throwing fireworks at a keg of gunpowder.
There's gonna be an explosive reaction sooner or later,
and Kaiser needs to be careful it doesn't happen right now.
[Tessitore] Belly-to-belly to open things up
with Bron Breakker and Ludwig Kaiser.
We visited with Bron Breakker earlier today, he says,
"Listen, Ludwig put his hands on me."
"No way. Completely unacceptable, and he's gonna learn that tonight."
[Wade] And that is not the reaction you want
when you throw a chop at a man, stares you back in the face
and hits that 23 mile-per-hour speed check.
[Tessitore] Man, oh, man, when he gets revving that engine,
running the ropes.
[Wade] And you just see the rage etched all over the body and face
of Bron Breakker. His head could have exploded in that moment.
[Tessitore] The velocity and the power that he creates
with the pure speed.
[Wade] It's a man who ran a 4.3 on his pro day in football
ahead of joining the ranks of the Baltimore Ravens,
and right now, Ludwig Kaiser might be starting to regret
his decision-making process. Oh!
[Tessitore] Kaiser, smart to just slip down
and get out of the way of what could've been lined up…
Big time for Breakker,
who turned things around and the knee's right into the gut.
[Wade] It is soul-destroying to see someone like Bron Breakker
you pepper him with shots, you feel like you've found a weakness
and he just bounces back immediately
and throws attacks like this at you with ease.
[Tessitore] And here he comes, revving that engine again.
Oh, man!
-The corner of our announce desk. -[Wade] Oh, my God.
[Tessitore] Right into the sternum of Bron Breakker.
That was incredible. The damage that he just took.
-He is laid out on the floor. -[Wade] Absolutely terrific.
[Tessitore] I have no idea
how Bron Breakker is back in the ring right now against Ludwig Kaiser.
Based on the damage he took before the commercial break. Here, Wade.
[Wade] This is that 4.3 speed of Bron Breakker.
Kaiser wisely moving out of the way at the last second
as Breakker impaled himself on the corner of our desk,
solar plexus-first, and you're right, Joe,
it's a miracle Bron Breakker didn't have to get scraped up
and sent straight to hospital.
But now, of course, Kaiser is all over that midsection of Breakker.
Breakker is too tough for his own good. [Tessitore] As we take you right through
the 13,216 who have made their way here
to Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona,
a sell-out for Monday Night Raw.
Just five days away from Survivor Series: WarGames in Vancouver.
Bron Breakker, Ludwig Kaiser, a match that stems
from what Kaiser did last week, when he interfered
with the Intercontinental Title match between Bron Breakker and Sheamus,
and it was shaping up to be a classic when he did that.
[Wade] Well, I'll tell you what is a classic,
it's the mindset of Ludwig Kaiser, who has baited Bron Breakker
with his rage into making that mistake
and now, Ludwig Kaiser is all over the champ
like a rash, not giving him an inch.
There's physically no weakness with Breakker
except for the obvious injury to that midsection now.
The weakness is the mindset.
Brilliant from Ludwig Kaiser, wow.
[Wade] Another chop of brutality from Kaiser.
He's just pushing his head down
and mocking the Intercontinental Champion right now.
Remember, Gunther telling him, strongly telling him,
"Stand on your own."
And it was recently Kaiser told Byron Saxton
that it was his time to rise to the top of the industry.
Can he come up with a big win here and do it?
But here comes Bron, fighting back, Wade.
[Wade] Suddenly, Bron Breakker looks like a badass reborn.
You do not want to be Ludwig Kaiser at his point.
Everything you've thrown at Breakker seems to have been for naught.
[Tessitore] Breakker, powerslammed down.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] This is just a game-changing athlete before our eyes.
The sky is the limit for this man.
[Tessitore] And consider what you saw at the announce table,
just less than five minutes ago.
[crowd cheering]
[Tessitore] Top rope Frankensteiner from Breakker.
And you know what's coming.
[crowd barking]
[Tessitore] Oh!
[Wade] Enzuigiri right to the face of Bron Breakker
as he was lining up that Spear.
[Tessitore] Kaiser couldn't have timed it any better.
[Wade] What a huge step-up moment this is for Ludwig Kaiser.
Ludwig Kaiser, you're right, he got that dressing-down a few weeks ago
from The Ring General, "You are an under-achiever."
[Tessitore] And now, with Breakker draped on the steel steps.
-Kaiser is gonna prepping… -[crowd booing]
-[Tessitore and Wade exclaim] -[bell ringing]
[Tessitore] Sheamus from out of nowhere.
Sheamus returning the favor.
It was a week ago that his Intercontinental Championship hopes
were dashed by Kaiser interrupting the match.
And now, Sheamus comes out and does it right back to Ludwig Kaiser.
[Wade] Well, The Celtic Warrior was not supposed to be here tonight.
Clearly, Ludwig Kaiser had put Sheamus in the rear-view mirror.
Sheamus having very different thoughts.
[Tessitore] And now, Bron Breakker wants to have a word with him.
As the officials and referees look to break things up and separate these men
that fought for the IC Championship a week ago.
[Wade] There is no talking sense to Sheamus
when he's in this kind of mood. He gets--
[Tessitore] We got an all-out brawl.
[Wade] What a mess.
[crowd cheering]
[Tessitore] It has been a nonstop wild scene
here in Glendale, Arizona,
as Sheamus, Bron Breakker and Ludwig Kaiser
continue to brawl after officials thought they had settled things down.
[Wade] They were fighting in the back,
-they fought off all security-- -[Pearce] Enough, enough, enough!
Enough!
-[Tessitore] General Manager Adam Pearce-- -Everybody wants a fight!
Sheamus wants a fight, Bron wants a fight
Ludwig wants a fight. Fine! Everybody fights!
Triple Threat for the Intercontinental Championship
at Survivor Series!
[Tessitore] Wow!
And they're still fighting now.
[Wade] The last time I saw Sheamus like this,
he just finished up his tenth pint of Guinness.
[Tessitore laughs]
[Wade] But, man, he's gonna get to do it with gold on the line
at Survivor Series this Saturday.
[Tessitore] This is incredible. A week ago,
he was fighting for the Intercontinental Championship,
and it was Ludwig Kaiser who interrupted.
And now, all of a sudden, here we are, and he finds out
that come this Saturday, remember the special start time
of 6:00 p.m., streaming on Peacock,
it will be a Triple Threat for the Intercontinental Championship
As if we weren't excited enough for Survivor Series,
we've just added a banger. Wow.
For the Intercontinental Championship.
And as for the big shocker in recent days, we all watched as Roman Reigns
and The Original Bloodline were trying to find that fifth member
for WarGames.
That was until The Wiseman returned.
We are one week away from WarGames.
And me and my crew is ready to dominate, baby.
But you know who's not ready?
Roman Reigns
Call The Wiseman.
[line beeps]
[automated voice] The number you have reached is not reachable.
We still need to find
a fifth member for WarGames, brothers.
-Yup. -What about Cody Rhodes?
No. That's old news.
I need you to accept my terms of surrendering.
So no Seth Rollins either?
I will not do it.
Ther's nobody else.
This is all we need.
We go out there together…
You and your crew can finally acknowledge me.
But what's the plan?
I don't know.
[Corey] Right now, the OGs are outgunned in a bad way.
Roman, I'm not here to fight ya.
If the four of you join my Bloodline,
we can run this company for decades.
You don't have a fifth man, you don't have a Wiseman…
and you don't have no choice.
So surrender yourself and join my team.
Or the four of you will die where you stand.
[Heyman] Ladies and gentlemen…
[crowd cheering]
My name is Paul Heyman.
There's no way to do WarGames
four versus five.
It's going to be
five versus five.
["Cult of Personality" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Here we go. CM Punk,
number five for The Original Bloodline.
[Corey] The Wiseman came through when The OTC needed him most.
[Cole speaks indistinctly]
Spear! Go To Sleep!
The Second City Saint
may be The Original Bloodline's savior
come WarGames.
[crowd cheering]
I am here with Jimmy and Jey Uso and Sami Zayn.
And this past Friday, you guys got quite the shock.
The Wiseman returning and saying that he had
a fifth member for you for Survivor Series in CM Punk.
Now, Sami, I know you were looking for another teammate for a while.
So how are you guys feeling about this?
-Shocked, relieved, all of the above? -Yeah, no, definitely shocked.
I mean, look, we were ready to go into this match 5-4.
We were ready to die together, the four of us.
-Mm-hmm. -Now we got a fifth man.
And never in a million years did I think it would be CM Punk.
But look, I mean, CM Punk's a complicated guy.
And anyone who's known him has a complicated history with him,
including Roman Reigns.
So as far as what we've been told, Roman and Punk
are gonna sit down and talk one-on-one this Friday.
Now, look, me personally, I want to trust CM Punk,
but that's the million-dollar question. Can we trust him?
Trust him?
Yes, you can, Sami. The Wiseman said it's cool to trust him.
Listen, we got The Wiseman. We got our fifth man.
All we need is Yeet Man to win his Advantage Match against The Werewolf.
Hey, that's easy. This Friday, Men's WarGames Advantage Match.
"Main Event" Jey Uso versus "The Samoan Werewolf" Jacob Fatu.
It's a family reunion in this thing.
But when I catch you on Friday, Jake, I'm whooping that ass.
And on Saturday, we go to war, Uce. Yeet.
Thank you guys so much, and good luck on Friday, Jey.
Thank you. [chuckles]
[Tessitore] And thank you, Cathy Kelley.
The Bloodline pumped up, with so much still to come on Friday.
["The Other Side" playing]
[Tessitore] It wasn't long ago when Raw GM Adam Pearce told Judgment Day
that they needed to defend their championship.
That these titles need to be actively contested for.
[doorbell ringing]
[Lilian] The following tag-team contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the World Tag Team Championship!
Introducing first, representing The Judgment Day,
they are the World Tag Team Champions,
JD McDonagh and Finn Bálor!
[Tessitore] Hey, Wade.
Finn and JD won the Tag Team Championship on June 24th.
It's the end of November right now.
This is only their second title defense in that span.
[Wade] Yeah, well, that's absolutely genius from what I would call
the leader of The Judgment Day, Finn Bálor, the veteran.
The easiest way to get a long championship reign
is to cut down the number of people
who could potentially take it from you.
-It's maneuvering… -[Tessitore] By not contesting?
[Wade] One hundred percent. Make people earn the opportunity.
And now, their opponents tonight have certainly done that
by winning a Number-One Contenders' Tournament.
So we're getting a match. That's how it works.
[Tessitore] Honestly, so frustrating.
♪ The ritual's begun ♪
♪ You think that heaven's gates Are waiting ♪
♪ But only hell will come ♪
♪ You're insane ♪
♪ Have you gone too far? ♪
♪ Who's to blame for what you are? ♪
["War" playing]
[Tessitore] Wade I know there are few things you like more in a ring entrance
than the undeniable intensity
and signature statement of Erik and Ivar, because…
[Wade] Oh, you're not wrong, Joe, because…
Raw is war!
[Lilian] And their opponent, the team of Erik and Ivar,
The War Raiders!
[Tessitore] Last week, the War Machine put an end to Dirty Dom and Carlito,
but there was much more to that story.
[Wade] Yeah, their job was to get in the ring with The War Raiders
and snuff out that threat.
As you mentioned, they were ping-ponged around the ring
until this War Machine connected.
And the plan of The Judgment Day failed, at least initially,
but there was a plan B, because post-match,
the Tag Champs hit the ring and sent a very painful message to The War Raiders
ahead of tonight's championship defense.
[Tessitore] This match-up, the result of the Number-One Contenders' Tournament
that was put forth by Adam Pearce to provide competition.
They found it in the form of The War Raiders.
[Wade] War Raiders defeating The Alpha Academy in round one
and then New Day and Rey and Dragon Lee
in a Triple Threat final to earn this opportunity.
The War Raiders, two men who have spent a long time on the shelf.
Both have had major neck surgeries.
Both have been written off several times and have told us
they have no time to waste. They want gold.
They want it now, because tomorrow is not promised for these two.
-[bell ringing] -They have to make good on that.
[Tessitore] As Erik will open up the action against Finn.
We had a wonderful conversation with both Erik and Ivar earlier today
as they talked about what you mentioned,
that they've both been through such adversity throughout their career.
To have this opportunity right now… Excellent start.
The double clothesline opens things up for Erik.
[Wade] I'm laughing at the thought of having a wonderful conversation
with these two savages. They were fantastic.
Incredibly eloquent. Nice guys. And then the bell rings.
And you thank your lucky stars you are not in the ring with them.
[Tessitore] You know, they said, "Listen, a week of mental preparation like this,"
and look at this.
I mean, 350 lbs just coming straight down.
[Wade] Well, gravity is the third member of The War Raiders,
and when you're that big, gravity will always win the fight.
[Tessitore] Said, "We don't know when we'll get the opportunity again."
As Ivar, right off the apron, knocking out both Finn and JD.
A very good start in this World Tag Team Title match
for The War Raiders, the big man off the apron.
[Tessitore] Joe and Wade back here.
Sold out in Glendale, Arizona, World Tag Team title match.
And during the entire commercial break, Wade,
The Judgment Day, working on the neck of Erik.
[Wade] Pointed straight on that surgically repaired neck
that Erik recently returned from surgery on.
And he's looking a bad way.
It's been three or four minutes of nonstop abuse that neck has absorbed.
And for all his power,
he is getting taken down by a much smaller Finn Bálor.
[Tessitore] World Tag Team Championship,
the tenth time in 2024 that these titles have been on the line,
but only the second title defense for Judgment Day,
-Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh. -[Wade] Already been a long reign.
And it's smart, and it's Finn Bálor's tactics tonight
that have proved pivotal in this match-up.
Erik desperate for that tag to a fresh Ivar.
[Tessitore] Finn Bálor pulling down on the trunks.
Erik just missing, but he is so desperate to get to Ivar.
As Finn into the cover to retain the title.
[Wade] Well, those hopes of The War Raiders are fading rapidly,
and this has just been a tag-team masterclass
from those two men in The Judgment Day
that you criticized for not defending their championships.
The truth is, nobody's getting close to them when they do defend.
[Tessitore] As did the public at home, as did the General Manager
and the brethren within The Judgment Day telling them
to concentrate on the Tag Team Championship.
Springboard into the cover, and a kick-out at two.
[Wade] They're concentrating right now, Joe,
and look at the effect it has had on poor Erik,
who has been decimated in this ring.
Struggling to get to his feet, struggling to defend himself.
Getting taken down with ease by these two in-ring veterans.
[Tessitore] Erik didn't even know if they'd be able to wrestle again
with all the medical issues they've gone through, the adversity that they face.
And now he comes back with a right hand, toe-to-toe with Finn Bálor.
[Wade] Are these the dying embers, however, for Erik?
-Swing and a miss. -[Tessitore] Oh, again with the neck.
This to retain the Tag Team Championship,
with a kick-out at two.
Somehow, Erik finding the strength, digging deep to continue on,
but so desperate to get to Ivar.
[Wade] One of those situations, you have to find that extra gear
when gold is on the line,
and that dive out of the way by Erik has opened a glimmer of hope
for these two monsters in The War Raiders.
[Tessitore] 350 lbs of pure energy awaits if he can just get there,
but Finn able to intercept that effort.
[Wade] Just championship smarts from Finn Bálor. Perfect time-- Oh, no.
[Tessitore] A chop, a right hand as both men are down.
[Wade] A club to the nose of Finn Bálor that may well have had him out cold.
And if Erik had any movement left in his body,
he could have covered Finn Bálor there.
But the focus now is tantalizingly close to this tag.
There it is.
[Tessitore] The number-one contenders with a chance. Ivar, up and over.
[Wade] Ivar looking to slaughter some victims
in that ring tonight and plunder the gold.
-[Tessitore] Crossbody. -[yells]
[Tessitore] The climb back after all the time away
as JD gets out of the way for the moment.
But then eats that.
[Wade] JD McDonagh, as tenacious as they come.
[Tessitore] Spinning kick, as JD and Finn are both laid out.
[Wade] Just no answer to the kind of movement
a human being this big possesses.
[crowd chanting] War! War! War!
[Tessitore] Big opportunity for The War Raiders now.
Could we have new Tag Team Champions?
[Wade] And a badly hurt Erik tagged back in the ring.
-Pop-up powerslam. -[Tessitore] Wow.
-[crowd] One, two, three. -[Tessitore] For the win!
And just at the last second, Finn finds a way.
[Wade] Got there by a millimeter, but he's knocked out cold in the process.
[Tessitore] Oh, come on.
Dirty Dom and Carlito, really?
Well, they failed in their mission last week.
They look like they failed once again. And perhaps it's time…
[Tessitore] Wait a minute. Is this War Machine, Wade?
[Wade] Yes, it is. Connects with…
-JD McDonagh down. -[Tessitore] To become the champions.
-Could they do it? -[crowd] One, two…
[Tessitore] Dirty Dom, really?
He put the foot on the rope, and that's the only thing that saved that.
[Wade] Well, I don't know if the referee saw that or if the referee suspected
based on Dirty Dom's history that he got involved,
but he's getting thrown out of here. This match is continuing.
[Tessitore] Ivar up top. Oh, but Finn neutralized him.
-Now the roll-up. -[crowd] One, two, three.
-[bell ringing] -[Tessitore] And that is how they defend
-the Tag Team Championship. -[Lilian] Here are your winners,
and still the World Tag Team Champions,
JD McDonagh and Finn Bálor!
[Wade] The greatest tactic in war
has always been divide, conquer and swarm,
and The Judgment Day did exactly that tonight.
You may not like it…
[Tessitore] I don't like it.
[Wade] …but that was sheer genius from Finn Bálor
and his men, who successfully start the week.
As Finn Bálor predicted, a big week for The Judgment Day
that is going to culminate this Saturday in the Women's WarGames Match.
If it wasn't for Dirty Dom, you know what would have happened there.
Let's move on, shall we? Next week, a big anniversary here on Raw.
The New Day has been together now, folks, for ten years.
["Greatness" playing]
-[Kofi] Next Monday… -[Big E] It's a new day, yes, it is.
[Kofi] Don't you dare be sour. Join us as we celebrate a decade
-of positivity with… -[all] Who, who, who?
-[Kofi] …your boys. -[all] The New Day!
Hop in your New Day-Lorean time machine
as we feel the power of your 11-time…
[Woods] WWE Tag Team Champions!
[Kofi] Dust off the trombones and unicorn horns,
-and pour yourself a big bowl of… -[Big E] Booty O's.
[all] They make sure you ain't booty!
-[Kofi] Because it would sure be a… -[all] Shame!
-[Kofi] …if you missed out. -Because…
[crowd chanting] New Day rocks! New Day rocks! New Day rocks!
♪ The time is now The moment is here… ♪
This is crazy, man.
I can't believe this.
I feel dumb, all this stupid fighting
we've been doing the past couple of months, man.
Let's squash it.
-I love you, man. -Yeah, man, you're right.
I love you too.
I really am proud of everything we've accomplished over this past decade.
I mean that, man.
-Yeah, man. -It's been awesome.
-Bro, ten-year anniversary next week? -Bro.
It's gonna be the greatest night in our career, man.
Yeah, no doubt.
But right now, let's go out there and show them what The New Day is all about, baby.
Here we go, here we go, here we go.
Come on, H, hit the clip.
[Tessitore] That's great to see, isn't it?
You consider all the recent tension
and the unrest at times, and now, the long-time partners and friends
reflecting, appreciative of everything the last decade has been.
[bell ringing]
[Lilian] The following tag-team contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, the team of Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston,
The New Day!
[Wade] A looming ten-year anniversary seems to have galvanized this duo,
but, man, what a big moment it will be if they can get back to winning ways next,
as they go head-to-head with The Alpha Academy
right here on Raw, next.
[Tessitore] Monday Night Raw in Glendale, Arizona.
Glendale hosted WrestleMania 26.
It's the first time that Monday Night Raw has been in Glendale.
13,216, a sell-out at the Desert Diamond Arena.
And you know they are loving it.
Oh, wait, it's time for Signs of the Night, my man.
[Wade] I've done a little test.
We're about at a 50% Yeet rate when it comes to the signs here tonight.
Heyman for president. It could be worse, right?
[Tessitore] He's back.
[Wade] Dirty Dom, that's my president right there.
Dirty Dom, indeed. A lot of people here for the first time.
A lot of Bianca Belair signs.
We're going to see her tonight in the main event.
[Tessitore] And we've got a Superstar ringside.
Vanessa Hudgens is here, the actress, the singer,
and a die-hard wrestling fan who attended WrestleMania 40, of course.
High School Musical, Netflix, The Princess Switch,
and she is loving the action ringside here for Monday Night Raw.
Kofi and Xavier taking on Alpha Academy with Maxxine Dupri
making her way out with Otis and Tozawa.
[Lilian] And their opponents being accompanied by Maxxine Dupri,
the team of Otis and Akira Tozawa, Alpha Academy!
[Tessitore] The last match on Raw was the opening round
of the Number-One Contenders' Tournament that we just saw.
The War Raiders were able to get through that.
They just came up short in their Tag Team Title match.
[Wade] This trio of oddballs that are The Alpha Academy
are certainly very dangerous and very entertaining on their day.
But I'll say this, with all due respect to The Alpha Academy,
this is a match The New Day simply have to win.
The résumés of these two teams do not compare.
Lose here tonight, and New Day might as well call it a day.
[Tessitore] Don't you think it's a match that's so odd
as to how it came to be, Wade?
Kofi was just having a genuine, thoughtful conversation.
Alpha Academy there to be helpful.
And Xavier was set off and poking at them. And Kofi seemed perplexed.
[Wade] Whoa. There's some communication issues.
As much as things seem very happy families with The New Day,
there was a bit of a dispute about who started.
[Tessitore] Oh, man. Are they back to this stuff?
[Wade] Wait a second, Woods is the QB here and Kofi Kingston needs to take
a step back and listen to the QB instead of distracting him.
[Tessitore] Yeah, what he's listening to now is the thud of Otis
with his big body and big elbows.
[Wade] Well, how quickly the harmony turned south there
between The New Day, who were back-slapping and telling each other
how thankful they were for each other until the bell rang.
[Tessitore] We're caterpillaring early here.
-[Wade] Yuck! -[Tessitore] And the elbow!
As Maxxine looks on with support, and here comes Tozawa.
-And Tozawa up top. -[Wade] Oh, my God.
[Tessitore] Off the top rope.
-[Wade] Feel the power. -[Tessitore] Senton from up high!
Did you see the height he just put forth?
Hooks the leg. I cannot believe this.
-[bell ringing] -Tozawa with a sky-high senton.
[Lilian] Here are your winners, Alpha Academy!
[Wade] What on earth did we just see?
[Tessitore] The discord with The New Day, and it cost them.
[Wade] Well, Alpha Academy are celebrating like they just won the World Cup
'cause that is a massive scalp to claim.
An 11-time World Tag Championship team that just beat them.
And the truth is this, The New Day have just hit rock bottom.
One of the greatest teams of all time are a shadow of their former selves.
This is going to be an awkward anniversary, isn't it?
-Are we going to get there? -You let me start.
-What are you talking about? -I told you I wanted to start.
I was in there. Listen to this.
[indistinct arguing]
[Tessitore] Listen to this.
-Hey, man. -[Tessitore] The conflict, the friction.
What do you think I'm doing? If I call the play, run the play.
You stand there looking at me like a…
Looking at me like a deer in headlights from a damn…
-Why would you tag in like that? -Because if I'm running the play,
-I'm starting the match. -That's not the play you called.
You cannot listen, Kofi. That's your problem. That's your problem.
You think you're bigger than everybody else.
-[Wade] Two guys who hate each other. -[Tessitore] "You can't listen, Kofi."
[Kofi] Why would you tag right there?
[Woods] Because if I'm the QB, then listen to me.
[Kofi] What are you talking about?
What is this, man?
What the hell was that out there? You're wrestling like garbage.
Are you gonna help me at some point?
If I was garbage, what were you?
You talking about help you? Have I not done everything but help you?
That's all I've ever done.
Did I not give up my Intercontinental Title shot a couple weeks ago for you?
When you were King of the Ring,
I was on bended knee, fluttering your damn cape.
I did that for you.
And what did you do with those opportunities, by the way?
You fumbled the title shot and you fumbled the crown.
There's a reason that E and I never let you call the shots, man.
Because you're too reckless out there, man.
-You take too many unnecessary risks. -Unnecessary risks?
Shut up and let me talk for a second!
Unnecessary risks?
I remember when you were too terrified to take any kind of risk.
And that's exactly why you couldn't get a shot at
the Heavyweight Championship until I came along.
And I took those risks for you, Kof.
I'm the reason you became champion.
-[crowd exclaiming] -You're the reason that I became champion?
Nah, man.
I was a Hall of Famer when you met me.
That's why you asked me to be a part of this group, not the other way around.
Don't you ever forget that.
And you of all people shouldn't be talking about championships and titles,
because last time I checked, you still haven't won
a singles championship by yourself, now have you?
What?
Do you know why you have never been a World Champion like me and like E?
It's because you have not been good enough.
-[crowd exclaiming] -And that is not my fault.
Good enough, huh?
I was good enough to fight for you, wasn't I?
I was good enough to take your beatings for you, wasn't I?
I was good enough to believe in you, wasn't I?
Just like they believed in you. And what did we do with that relief?
We turned it into KofiMania and we handed it to you.
And what did you do with that, Kof?
You pissed it away on a silver platter in six seconds to Brock Lesnar.
[crowd exclaiming]
I swear to God, if you were anybody else--
If I was what, Kof?
If I was somebody else, you'd finally get mad?
[crowd chanting] Fight! Fight! Fight!
I'll see you
at the reunion…
-brother. -Yeah. See you at the anniversary.
[Tessitore] That feels like the cliff's edge of a relationship.
Guys, The Wyatts are here. They're here.
I saw them outside and they're--
But did they see you?
No.
Okay, so if they wanna play games, then we'll play a game.
Scarlett, you heard what Bo said last week.
You're gonna stay here. You're staying out of danger.
-I love you. -Yeah, maybe I should stay here too.
-[huffs] -Okay, so--
[Miz splutters]
[crowd screaming]
[Tessitore] One year ago, when CM Punk returned.
[indistinct chatter]
When you walk out, you'll see the two shark cages.
Just get in front of them. The lighting's better.
Maybe two, three feet in front of them.
Gotcha.
[indistinct chatter]
["Cult of Personality" playing]
-[imperceptible] -[crowd cheering]
[Tessitore] Folks, you can see that never-before-seen or released
backstage footage available on YouTube.
The WWE YouTube channel is live 24 hours a day this week,
leading right into Survivor Series.
Catch all your favorite Survivor Series matches
throughout the day and night on WWE's YouTube page.
["Cult of Personality" playing]
They were out there. I am not lying to you.
-I swear, it's just that-- -What's wrong with you?
-Have you seen Truth?
No, but beat him up on my behalf.
Stop wasting your time with these shadow threats.
We've dropped The Wyatts before.
Next time, we're just going to drop them again.
-Okay. Fine. -Hey.
What?
Knock.
Babe.
What's going on here?
-Hey, hey! -[Scarlett screams]
It's me! It's me! It's me!
Who did this? Who did this? Who did this?
Nikki. Nikki Cross. Nikki Cross.
All right, all right, all right. We'll get 'em back.
We'll get 'em back. We'll get 'em back.
[Scarlett exhales]
Whoa. The Final Testament are meddling with forces none of us fully understand
when it comes to The Wyatt Sicks. Rather them than me.
Turning the page, there has been massive news and changes
in the Women's Division.
Earlier tonight, this was Raw General Manager, Adam Pearce,
with this major announcement as well.
["Greatness" playing]
Ladies and gentlemen, for more than 40 years,
the Intercontinental Championship has been a beacon of opportunity in WWE.
It has been the symbol of excellence for the real workhorses of our sport.
Those that, night in and night out, unquestionably, leave it all in the ring.
Guys, I feel the same way about the Women's Division of Monday Night Raw.
[crowd cheering]
Every week, they pour their heart,
their blood, sweat and tears into their craft.
And every week, they prove to me time and again
that they are the true workhorses in WWE.
[crowd cheering]
Therefore, it is my distinct honor to present their own symbol of excellence
to fight for.
Ladies and gentlemen, I bring to you the brand-new
WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship.
[crowd cheering]
It will not be earned easily, no.
It will be earned with blood, sweat and tears.
And it starts next week, when we begin a tournament to crown
the inaugural Women's Intercontinental Champion.
That is official.
[Tessitore] That is tremendous news. The depth of the division deserves it.
CM Punk, the final member now, with Roman, Jake, Jimmy and Sami.
The Men's WarGames Match is set.
[Wade] And we've got a banger alert because after a riot tonight,
we're going to get ourselves
a Triple Threat Intercontinental Title match at Survivor Series.
Champ Bron Breakker takes on Ludwig Kaiser and The Celtic Warrior at Survivor Series.
[Tessitore] Our night began with Damian Priest
and the Razor's Edge of Gunther through the announce table.
The World Heavyweight Championship match will be at Survivor Series Saturday.
[Wade] And I'm afraid I've got some breaking news!
Yeah! It's The Megastar at Survivor Series,
whose US Title will be on the line versus shinobi assassin,
the sinister Shinsuke Nakamura!
[Tessitore] And we got things still to be determined a bit
with Women's WarGames,
as Jade Cargill, we gave you the injury update.
So Rhea, Bianca, IYO, Naomi still searching for a fifth
for the Women's WarGames Match.
I feel great. We're going to look great. I'm so excited.
All right, guys.
Listen, as far as I'm concerned, WarGames is over.
They're down Jade, thanks to whoever took her out.
And tonight, I don't even care if I beat Bianca Belair.
It's about squashing Bianca Belair.
So we have the advantage 5-3 going in Saturday, okay?
-Love it. -I'm going to go do this.
-Get it. -Good luck.
-Squash her. -It's going to do so good.
Oh, yeah.
[Tessitore] This is a wildly challenging time for The EST.
Bianca Belair, this past Friday, absolutely horrific scene.
She was in mid-match when the breaking news came in
on the Jumbotron of her friend and Tag Team Championship partner,
Jade Cargill, severely injured.
And now, the pressure of this critical Women's WarGames Advantage Match.
[bell ringing]
[Lilian] The following is the Women's WarGames Advantage Match,
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Nashville, Tennessee,
she is one half of the Women's Tag Team Champion,
Bianca Belair!
[Tessitore] Bianca's team still searching for the answer
as to who will replace Jade.
Bianca, Nia Jax is next, right here on Monday Night Raw.
♪ Instead of crying, they hear me roar ♪
♪ And now I see that… ♪
Five days away from WarGames.
Five.
And, man, I gotta give credit to the man himself,
the former Tribal Chief, Mr. Roman Reigns.
[scoffs]
Caught us off guard Friday.
That was a good one. It was.
You got The Wiseman back.
You got CM Punk on your side. Roman, you know what?
That was a good one. This one, this one is dedicated to you.
Guess what? You earned it. Boys, he had a good one, right?
Well, guess what, Roman? That's the only one you're gonna get.
You took your best shot.
Now it's my turn.
This Friday,
Jey Uso versus my Enforcer, Jacob Fatu.
The winner of the match gets the advantage into WarGames.
Now, Roman, I don't care if you have four people by your side.
Hell, you can even have a hundred, but you still won't have the advantage.
Because I'm The Tribal Chief…
and I acknowledge my Bloodline over yours.
See you at WarGames.
[Tessitore] What a showdown on Friday Night SmackDown,
the Men's WarGames Advantage Match.
The Samoan Werewolf is being put forth by Solo against Jey Uso,
and we have an Advantage Match in front of us right now for Women's WarGames.
Remember, with the advantage match,
the winner gives their team the numbers advantage during
the staggered entry portion of the WarGames Match.
You alternate entries at the timed intervals,
so the advantage of always being out front
with the numbers edge until you get to 5-5.
And that's what Bianca Belair is trying to achieve.
And you see right there, when you include tag-team competition,
Bianca's 24 wins makes her the winningest WWE Superstar this year.
[Wade] That's why she's in this match-up
representing the other members of her team,
because this match-up is must-win.
[Lilian] And her opponent, from San Diego, California,
she is the Women's WWE Champion,
Nia Jax!
[Tessitore] Remember, Nia's looking the other way
with recent past bitter rivals
in teaming in WarGames with Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez.
She's got Candice LeRae on her team.
And her close friend, of course, Tiffany Stratton.
♪ Irresistible force, that's my destiny ♪
♪ I'm not like most girls ♪
♪ Come on ♪
♪ Hey, hey ♪
♪ Yeah, I'm not like most girls There's only one of me ♪
[Wade] The mission to get to WarGames at Survivor Series
for these two women comes to a head right now.
Gain the advantage for your team,
-the crucial advantage. -[bell ringing]
This is an attempt to kill two birds with one stone for Nia Jax,
who's not only looking to win this match and get the WarGames advantage,
she's looking to take out Bianca Belair, squash Bianca Belair,
and make this essentially a 5-3 match-up
now that Cargill has been taken out.
[Tessitore] Very fast start for Nia Jax, and these two out here all alone.
Listen, I just riffed off all those names of the Superstars you're gonna see,
but because of what happened on SmackDown, the vicious attack…
-One, two, three, four, five. -…as Bianca takes advantage here,
on Jade Cargill.
All the other members of the WarGames teams,
they have been banned from ringside for this match, Wade.
[Wade] Incredibly smart.
It's inevitable there would be some involvement had they not been banned.
It's rare that I applaud our general managers,
but that is a brilliant call.
[Tessitore] Bianca with a big boot, sending Nia Jax out onto the floor.
[crowd cheering]
This match-up, Wade, it's strength and skill
and strength and size.
[Wade] Bianca Belair showing up and showing out in the early-going,
but it is not easy to take down this mountainous woman that is Nia Jax.
[Tessitore] Nia just running that spine of Bianca right into the post.
[Wade] Our majestic queen.
This is part of the process for Nia Jax to injure Belair.
She's got the upper hand here.
Can she grab the WarGames advantage tonight?
[Tessitore] Joe and Wade with you here at Monday Night Raw
as we take you down the center entryway at the Desert Diamond Arena,
sold-out crowd here in Glendale, Arizona.
Nia Jax, the WWE Women's Champion, against one half
of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions, Bianca Belair.
This is a Women's WarGames Advantage Match.
And Wade, as much as there is a huge advantage on the line
of having the numbers game for WarGames,
you get the sense in just watching Nia Jax that she's thinking
it's worth damaging Bianca, maybe even more so.
[Wade] You're not lying, Joe.
Look, the gloves came off a long time ago when it came
to the two Women's WarGames teams.
Liv and Raquel, of course, broke Rhea Ripley's face,
and we don't know who attacked Jade Cargill,
but I would suggest it's probably someone from Nia Jax's team
because they are the beneficiaries.
So, things are getting downright nasty between these women,
and that is gonna continue here.
And as Nia Jax said earlier, she is looking to hurt, maim,
squash Bianca Belair tonight.
[Tessitore] Now, just able to get out of the way as Nia's shoulder
running right into that post.
[Wade] We know the brilliance of Bianca Belair.
You can go in with a mission to take her down for good.
Pulling that off is quite something else.
[Tessitore] Crossbody over the top rope onto the floor.
[Wade] No one quite has the same grit and drive as Bianca Belair.
That is a woman who has been ignited by the fact that her tag partner,
her Tag Champion partner, was taken out recently.
Must be an emotional wreck, but channeling that against Nia Jax.
[Tessitore] Gave you the medical update on Jade Cargill earlier.
She's got deep lumbar muscle contusions, bruised kidneys, a sprained MCL.
She is in bad shape and out of action.
[Wade] Sounds absolutely horrible, but looking at Belair right now…
[Tessitore] The leg drop and the cover. And the kick-out by The EST.
[Wade] You may be able to add some bruised kidneys and spinal damage
to The EST to go along with Jade Cargill's after this level of abuse
that has been thrown at her by Queen Nia Jax.
[Tessitore] She could be lining her up here.
Remember we talked about the desire to do damage prior to women's WarGames.
This, the Advantage Match. Oh, my!
Look at that.
-How in the world did she kick out? -[Wade] Well, it was a kick-out,
but how much damage has been done
not only in this match-up, but looking ahead to Women's WarGames
at Survivor Series.
Belair gamely kicking out,
but I don't know how much is left in the tank of The EST.
[Tessitore] To think she has to turn around in five days
after this level of brutality, as Nia Jax is going back up.
Bianca able to get to her feet and push her out to the apron.
[Wade] Desperation move there from Belair, who was about to get squashed by Nia Jax.
-There's no way. -[Tessitore] No way.
[Wade] You don't even try it, Bianca.
[Tessitore] With that size, and here goes Nia, climbing back up.
[Wade] Jax just too powerful for The EST.
It's rare you can say that, but Jax is just built different.
-[Tessitore] Look at Bianca Belair. -[Wade] What are you thinking?
[Tessitore] Can she? How in the world?!
The pure strength, the dynamic force able to slam Nia Jax.
[Wade] In your wildest dreams, you'd never attempt that,
-but Bianca Belair did it. -[Tessitore] For the win.
As Nia Jax survives. Again, Women's WarGames Advantage Match.
Look at this.
[Wade] Take another look at the sheer power,
timing, balance, body control
and drive of Belair that culminated in still
not being able to put away Nia Jax
and win the Women's WarGames advantage for her team.
[Tessitore] Big head-butt by Jax.
The winner here will give their team the numbers advantage
during the staggered entry portion of Women's WarGames
coming up this Saturday in Vancouver.
-Opportunity for Nia Jax. -[Wade] Huge Samoan drop.
Could have gone for the pin there, but this is about damage.
This is about maiming Belair.
[Tessitore] And again, Belair able to get to her feet
before Jax could come crashing home.
[Wade] Jax, face-first into that steel ring post.
And now The EST looking to capitalize with a modified side suplex.
Looks like the turnbuckle pad came off in the process.
-Again, Belair with that sheer power. -[Tessitore] Into the cover for the win.
[crowd exclaiming]
[Wade] Just a late, late kick-out from Nia Jax, absolutely astounding, Joe.
[Tessitore] 13,216 taking advantage of watching this pressure cooker
between Bianca Belair and Nia Jax.
Five days away from Survivor Series. Who will have the advantage?
Could she? She's thinking KOD!
And Nia Jax able to get free.
[Wade] Use that hair to her advantage.
[Tessitore] And the big splash into the corner.
[Wade] And the exposed turnbuckle snapped the neck of Bianca Belair,
who is now getting destroyed.
-Uh-oh. -[Tessitore] Oh, man, watch out.
[Wade] Looks like someone else is getting destroyed here.
[Tessitore] Man, oh, man.
[Wade] If we're not careful, it's going to be us.
[Tessitore] Nia Jax puts her up top.
Samoan drop onto the desk.
[Wade] Just like we saw Gunther eating it right at the top of the show
at the hands of Damian Priest.
This time, it's Jax slamming Bianca Belair
hard on our table.
And the count has started here.
Bianca Belair needs to attempt to get back in the ring.
But cutting her off at the pass is Nia Jax.
-Straight back on the attack. -[Tessitore] Into the steel steps.
Nia Jax in control here.
But remember, not just the fact that she could get the win
in the WarGames Advantage Match here.
The damage being done may be more significant.
[Wade] Well, it's the neck, it's the spine, it's the ribs,
and it's now the left shoulder of Bianca Belair.
[Tessitore] What in the world? That's Bayley!
Bayley just ripped Nia Jax down and did damage of her own.
[Wade] Straight into the exposed turnbuckle.
I think Nia Jax is out.
[Tessitore] And now, Bianca Belair going up top.
[Wade] What the hell is Bayley doing out here?
[Tessitore] Belair up top.
-A 450 to win the Advantage Match. -[crowd] One, two, three.
-She does it. -[bell ringing]
["Watch Me Shine" playing]
[Lilian] Here is your winner, Bianca Belair!
[Tessitore] Bayley coming in, proving herself to Bianca.
Did they just find the fifth member for WarGames that they desperately need?
A little bit of trust established.