WWE Raw Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From Nov. 17

For the final time in his illustrious career, John Cena walked the aisle in the most famous arena in the world, Madison Square Garden, as WWE Raw emanated from New York City.

What did the intercontinental champion have to say one week after completing the WWE Grand Slam by defeating Dominik Mysterio for the gold?

Which Superstars advanced in the Last Time Is Now Tournament to determine Cena's final opponent on December 13 at Saturday Night's Main Event?

Find out the answers to those questions and more with this recap of the November 17 episode of the flagship show, including grades and analysis for each of the night's segments.

Lineup

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Announced in advance of Monday's show were:

• John Cena's Final Raw
• The Last Time is Now Tournament: Solo Sikoa vs. Mystery Opponent
• The Last Time is Now Tournament: Je'Von Evans vs. Gunther
• Women's Intercontinental Championship: Maxxine Dupri vs. Becky Lynch (c)

John Cena Kicks Off Raw

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Last Time in Action: John Cena defeated Dominik Mysterio to win the Intercontinental Championship (Raw, November 10)

The fans packed inside Madison Square Garden erupted as "The Time is Now" played and Cena hit the ring to kick off the show.

After several moments of well-deserved basking, The GOAT prepared to address the fans when Mysterio interrupted to a chorus of boos. Dirty Dom claimed to have worked for everything he has received and challenged Cena to a rematch for the IC title.

Cena offered up the rematch for Monday night, but the heel said he wanted to wait until Survivor Series in his hometown of San Diego.

Mysterio was soon joined by his Judgment Day teammates, JD McDonagh and Finn Bálor. A three-on-one beatdown ensued until Sheamus made the save. Rey Mysterio joined the fray to even the odds and set up a star-studded six-man tag team match.

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

An extraordinary setting for this final Raw appearance from The Greatest of All Time.

The crowds have been so hot for Cena since SummerSlam that it is a shame so much time was wasted with the heel turn in the first half of the year. The people wanted to cheer him and have proved as much. On top of that, we got a Survivor Series match out of the segment, rendering it a fruitful opening promo all around.

John Cena, Rey Mysterio, and Sheamus vs. The Judgment Day

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Last Time in Action: John Cena, Rey Mysterio, and Sheamus have never teamed together; Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and Finn Bálor lost to AJ Styles, Dragon Lee, and Penta (Raw, October 6)

The heels isolated Sheamus early, beating him down and cutting the ring off from his team. The Celtic Warrior finally created some separation, though, and made the tag to Rey Mysterio, who exploded into the contest and took the fight to the opposition. A well-timed trip-up from Dirty Dom to his father, though, allowed the heels to regain control of the bout.

The Master of the 619 fought his way back into the match, sent Bálor into McDonagh, and made the hot tag to Cena. The action broke down, with near-falls from both teams, before the babyfaces teamed up to deliver a three-way 10 Beats of the Bodhran to the heels.

Moments later, Cena earned the win for his team in one last Raw banger.

Result

Cena, Mysterio, and Sheamus defeated The Judgment Day

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

And so Cena's time on Raw ends, with another crowd-pleasing matchup featuring one of the Mount Rushmore competitors in pro wrestling history.

This was a fantastic match, a fun part-style bout featuring hot action, signature moves, finishers, and the right team going over. It was everything it needed to be and served as the perfect exclamation point on Cena's Raw resume.

Backstage, Paul Heyman warned Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis: "If you think my fourth pick of Drew McIntyre pissed you off, wait until you see what I have in store for you next."

Nikki Bella Attacks Stephanie Vaquer

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Last Time in Action: Stephanie Vaquer defeated Raquel Rodriguez (Raw, November 10); Nikki Bella and Vaquer lost to Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez (Raw, November 3)

Jackie Redmond introduced women's world champion Stephanie Vaquer, who was immediately jumped by Nikki Bella.

The Hall of Famer beat down Vaquer and vowed to take the Women's World Championship from her to close out the brief segment.

Grade

C

Top Moments and Takeaways

This was a complete afterthought of a follow-up to last week's betrayal by Bella.

Backstage, Asuka tried to convince Bayley to join her, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax, and Lash Legend for WarGames, only to be turned down by her former Damage CTRL teammate. Lyra Valkyria congratulated her friend and partner for doing what was right, but Bayley called her an "idiot" and told her to "come on," as she continued her multiple-personality story.

Last Time Is Now Tournament: Dolph Ziggler vs. Solo Sikoa

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Last Time in Action: Dolph Ziggler fought JD McDonagh to a double count-out (May 29, 2023); Solo Sikoa lost to Sami Zayn (SmackDown, August 29)

The surprises continued in the Last Time Is Now Tournament as Dolph Ziggler returned to WWE television to battle former United States champion Solo Sikoa, who was accompanied by Talla Tonga.

Sikoa dominated through the commercial break, using his tenacity and strength advantage to punish his smaller opponent.

Ziggler, ever the resilient and persistent competitor, fought his way back into the match and at one point, delivered the Zig-Zag to a thunderous ovation, but was only able to keep the heel down for a count of two.

He rocked Sikoa with a superkick, tried for another of his trademark finish, but the second-generation competitor brushed him off and rocked him with the Samoan Spike for the pinfall victory.

Result

Sikoa defeated Ziggler

Grade

C

Top Moments and Takeaways

There was not much to the match itself as a significant part of it took place during the commercial break.

With that said, the crowd was red-hot for Ziggler, living and breathing with his late-match onslaught and near-falls. Often overlooked and underappreciated during his time in WWE, it was nice to see him get a warm NYC reaction from the fans.

Alexa Bliss Promo

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Last Time in Action: Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair lost to The Kabuki Warriors (Raw, November 10)

Bliss took to the squared circle to implore Flair to join her, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky for WarGames at Survivor Series on November 29. She called The Queen her best friend and took exception to her leaving her hanging Friday, when she suffered a beatdown.

Asuka, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax, and Lash Legend interrupted proceedings and circled the ring, teasing another assault until Rhea Ripley's music played and The Eradicator and Iyo Sky made their way to the squared circle.

After the heels earned the upper hand with the four-on-three numbers advantage, Flair made her presence felt, unloading on the heels with a kendo stick. She stood tall and stared down Legend and Jax before checking on Bliss.

The babyfaces stood tall to close things out.

Grade

C

Top Moments and Takeaways

This felt wholly unnecessary. It was the second part of a segment that could have been completed Friday by having Flair turn back toward the ring and then making the save there instead of waiting for Monday. It was fine for what it was, which was fluff to put over the women's WarGames match without really furthering it.

Women's Intercontinental Championship: Maxxine Dupri vs. Becky Lynch

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Last Time in Action: Maxxine Dupri defeated Becky Lynch via disqualification (Raw, October 20)

An intense and aggressive Dupri attacked Lynch from the bell, rocking her with a pump kick for a near-fall. From there, though, the IC champion dominated throughout the commercial break.

The underdog, as she did countless times throughout this rivalry, fought her way back into the contest and left The Man reeling.

Lynch regained the upper hand with the Disarmer armbar, but Dupri countered out of it. Moments later, the challenger applied the ankle lock, sat down on it, and left The Man screaming in pain as the crowd cheered on the lovable underdog.

With frustration mounting, Lynch trash-talked referee Jessika Carr. She tossed Dupri to the floor and exposed the turnbuckle pad, only for AJ Lee to make her return to the show and provide a distraction.

Dupri launched herself off the top rope, pinned Lynch, and won the title in a major upset.

Result

Dupri defeated Lynch to win the title

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

Lynch further proved why she is the greatest of all time by working this lengthy program with Dupri. When the time came, she put her over for the title. There are several wrestlers on the roster, regardless of division, who would not have been able to look into the future and recognize the potential to create a new star to work with down the line and help carry the division for years to come.

Lee interfering suggests the second chapter of that rivalry is coming. It popped the crowd and did so in a way that paid off Dupri's underdog story.

Last Time Is Now Tournament Match: Je'Von Evans vs. Gunther

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Last Time in Action: Je'Von Evans defeated Saquon Shugars (NXT, November 4); Gunther lost to CM Punk (SummerSlam, August 2)

The Ring General returned to the squared circle Monday night for the first time since SummerSlam, battling NXT's Evans in a Last Time is Now Tournament match, with the right to face John Cena in his final contest within reach.

The Young OG did not hesitate, fearlessly engaging Gunther early. The former world champion punished him with a chop and controlled the match entering the break. When he teased a comeback, he caught him mid-flight and delivered a Boston Crab, then transitioned into a backbreaker.

Evans recovered and rocked Gunther with a kick for a two-count.

Back from the break, both men were down. They struggled to their feet and exchanged strikes until Evans tried for a springboard. Gunther countered with a big boot, only for the NXT export to counter a suplex into a stunner.

He launched himself over the top rope and onto Gunther, but found himself driven to the mat moments later with the powerbomb. He kicked out but the former world champion applied his trademark sleeper and scored the submission victory.

Result

Gunther defeated Evans

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

Gunther is back to using his original entrance music: "IV Allegro Con Fuoco" from Dvořák's Symphony No. 9.

This was an extraordinary match featuring two guys whose styles meshed remarkably well. It had the crowd living on every near-fall and high spot, especially when it appeared Evans may pull off the upset. Even though Gunther advanced, The Young OG delivered a breakout performance that should earn him increased screen time on NXT...and on the main roster.

WarGames Face-to-Face

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Before the main event segment, Rhea Ripley approached AJ Lee backstage and asked to speak with her for a moment, teasing the latter's involvement in the women's WarGames match.

Back in the arena, Paul Heyman introduced four of the men who will make up The Vision's WarGames team: Logan Paul, Drew McIntyre, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed.

CM Punk interrupted, stalking to the ring and never taking his eyes off the heels inside of it. The Usos soon joined him to a thunderous ovation, making their way through the crowd. Cody Rhodes rounded out the babyface side of things, and the two teams brawled in and around the ringside area.

Brock Lesnar arrived on the scene, clearly Heyman's secret weapon and the fifth member of the heel team for Survivor Series. Punk went after him and endured consecutive suplexes. Rhodes came face-to-face with The Beast Incarnate and quickly found himself sent flying in the same fashion as Punk.

Just as credits rolled, Roman Reigns made his return, taking his time as he hit the ring, staring a hole through Lesnar along the way. The longtime rivals came face-to-face, Lesnar's dominance halted with a single Superman Punch.

Security momentarily distracted The OTC, allowing Reed to get the jump on him. He teased a Tsunami but Reigns delivered another Superman Punch, this one knocking Auszilla off the top rope.

Chaos ensued and the show went off the air with Reigns delivering a spear that sent Reed and NYPD through the timekeeper barricade.

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

If you don't have a hot story to tell, but you have as many major stars as the Survivor Series main event is fixing to have, this is how you create anticipation.

Ideally, WarGames is not used just for the sake of utilizing it each November, but the star power involved in the men's match should be enough to hold some of the criticism at bay because if nothing else, the main event of the November 29 premium live event is set to be hellishly fun.

Overall Grade

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A farewell to The GOAT, a deafening pop for the returning Dolph Ziggler, a major championship change that paid off Maxxine Dupri's underdog journey, the returns of AJ Lee, Brock Lesnar, and Roman Reigns, and an Attitude Era pull-apart brawl in the most famous arena in the world?

If that's not enough to whet your appetite, nothing is.

Oh, and throw in a TV Match of the Year candidate in Evans vs. Gunther for good measure.

Maybe it was the aura of Madison Square Garden, but this was the most inspired broadcast WWE has produced in months and the result was a fun, entertaining show with a great match and a strong close.

A huge thumbs-up for this show.

Grade: A