WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from November 6
WWE rolled into Manchester, England, for Monday's Raw, a show taped earlier in the afternoon.
Anyone expecting a show lacking newsworthy moments was, instead, surprised by the revelation of a major championship switch and two new additions to Team Raw for Survivor Series.
Cesaro and Sheamus reclaimed their Raw Tag Team Championships from Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, while Finn Balor and Samoa Joe found themselves catapulted into the monumental Raw vs. SmackDown Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team match.
With appearances from Asuka, WWE United Kingdom champion Pete Dunne and Braun Strowman, not to mention a Guitar-on-a-Pole match that pitted Jason Jordan against Elias, the show was a substantial one in the build to the November 19 pay-per-view.
Find out everything that went down Monday night on the USA Network with this recap of the November 6 broadcast.
Kurt Angle Joins Miz TV
1 of 9The Miz kicked off this week's show with another edition of Miz TV.
Before he introduced his guest, he unloaded on his Survivor Series opponent, Baron Corbin, whose comments on Twitter regarding his family infuriated the intercontinental champion.
He vowed to beat Corbin and make his United States Championship prestigious for once.
He introduced Raw general manager Kurt Angle, who discussed the Survivor Series pay-per-view. Miz, however, was not so supportive of his boss. He accused Angle of locking SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan in the dressing room with Kane, something SmackDown would not be happy about.
Miz even suggested the blue brand may attack during this show.
He also accused Angle of setting him up to get demolished by Strowman last week.
Angle's response? Scheduling a match between Miz and Strowman tonight.
Miz openly begged Angle to reconsider, but the GM left.
Grade
B+
Analysis
Miz as the loudmouthed, accusatory heel who is a constant thorn in the side of the authority figure is always great. Miz as the conniving, sniveling heel who trys to weasel his way out of punishment for being a pain in the ass is even better.
His interactions with Angle were exactly what you want out of a bad guy in that he talked a big game, all the way into a match with Strowman that is almost certain to end with his being brutally and mercilessly punished.
Perhaps most important was Miz's targeting of Corbin for a match WWE Creative has not done much of anything to build to this point. The personal edge, the fire behind Miz's words, helped add a bit of heat to the ordeal.
Guitar-on-a-Pole Match: Jason Jordan vs. Elias
2 of 9The rivalry between Jason Jordan and Elias would come to a head in the night's opening contest, as they met in a Guitar-on-a-Pole match.
In several instances, a Superstar had his opponent down with nothing left to do but to retrieve the guitar.
Late, Jordan grabbed the guitar but was able to use it for the win. He chased Elias around the ring and was caught coming in.
He fought back, retrieved the guitar and broke it over Elias' back for the win.
Result
Jason Jordan defeated Elias.
Grade
C+
Analysis
This was fine for what it was but hardly the right outcome.
Elias is a more coveted Superstar at this point because he generates legitimate heel heat and can do so with the simple strumming of a guitar.
Jordan is a solid in-ring competitor but continues to lack character growth, making his win more hollow.
Asuka in Action
3 of 9Asuka was in action Monday night, squaring off with local competitor Stacy Coates.
The Empress of Tomorrow beat the ever-loving hell out of her unknown opponent, unleashing a vicious and unforgiving arsenal of kicks and palm strikes on her.
She ended her torture with the Asuka Lock for the tapout victory.
Result
Asuka defeated Stacy Coates.
Grade
A
Analysis
Watching Asuka demolish an opponent will never not be awesome.
The revelation that Asuka will be part of Team Raw at Survivor Series is interesting in that it sets up a scenario in which she almost has to win. That is unless she is taken out early and unable to continue.
Given how little that would do to boost her aura, that seems unlikely, meaning Asuka may fuel Raw to victory.
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Titus O'Neil vs. Samoa Joe
4 of 9A week after Samoa Joe returned and obliterated Apollo Crews, The Samoan Submission Machine was set to battle Titus O'Neil in singles competition.
Before the match could start, Joe attacked the babyfaces during their entrance.
He sent Crews off the stage, then trapped O'Neil in the Coquina Clutch. Referees were able to convince him to break the hold before the determined, ferocious, vicious competitor made his way to the ring.
A microphone in hand, he issued an open challenge for a fight, which was answered by Finn Balor.
Grade
A
Analysis
Re-establishing Joe as a take-no-prisoners badass is exactly what the Raw creative team needs to do if it wishes to recreate the momentum he had before his untimely injury.
This worked. Two midcarders who will not be hurt in any way were sacrificed, and it set up a marquee match coming out of the break.
Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe
5 of 9Joe controlled the middle of the match against his former NXT foe.
He wore Balor down, using his size advantage to keep the Irishman grounded.
The former universal champion fought his way back into the match, though, and was rolling late when he caught Joe with a boot to the face. As the submission specialist scurried to the floor to regroup, Balor took off across the ring and wiped his opponent out.
A brawl between the two broke out, to the point that security was necessary to pull them apart.
Kurt Angle appeared. He said he liked the fire and fight in the Superstars and named Joe and Balor to Team Raw at Survivor Series.
Balor backed off, seemingly happy with the announcement, then delivered a flying forearm that wiped Joe and the security team out.
Result
No-contest
Grade
A
Analysis
Not only was the match competitive (the best thing on the show to this point), but it also ended with the addition of two Superstars to team Raw and ignited a rivalry that could carry into the new year if Raw is lucky.
Balor and Joe have an established history, as hinted at by the commentary team, and incredible in-ring chemistry. A series of matches between them, while management figures out exactly what it wants to do with the two, would benefit them and the show immensely.
Much more so than an elongated and boring program with Bray Wyatt, as Balor found out the hard way.
Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Alicia Fox and Nia Jax
6 of 9Sasha Banks and Bayley battled Nia Jax and Alicia Fox in tag team action, determined to prove they belong on Team Raw at Survivor Series.
The heels isolated Banks, keeping her grounded and away from the very popular Bayley. She eventually made the tag, but it meant nothing as the heels continued their dominance.
The physically superior Jax tossed her to the ringside area and taunted the audience heading to break.
Back from the commercial, Fox had Bayley grounded in a sleeper. Jax re-entered the ring and worked over her longtime rival, cutting off a comeback attempt.
The elusive Bayley dodged the heels late and finally made the hot tag to Banks.
The Boss exploded into the match and, mere moments later, tapped Fox out to the Bank Statement.
After the match, Fox said she needed Banks on her team, while commentator Michael Cole openly questioned where that leaves Bayley.
Result
Sasha Banks and Bayley defeated Alicia Fox and Nia Jax.
Grade
C
Analysis
This was an OK match that never really got out of first gear.
Why WWE refused the opportunity to put Bayley over, in front of the most receptive crowd to her character in months, is a mystery. Why it opted to have Fox make Banks a member of Team Raw but not Bayley is another mystery, but one that probably plays into the former NXT women's champion overcoming the odds and finding her way into the match.
Thus proving WWE Creative still has no idea why Bayley was rejected earlier this year.
Jax still feels like a competitor spinning her wheels at a time when she should be thriving in championship contention.
Braun Strowman vs. The Miz
7 of 9
The product of the intercontinental champion's big mouth, the match between The Miz and Braun Strowman hit the airwaves next, but not before a recap of The Monster Among Men's last few weeks.
Miz predictably stalled early, wanting nothing to do with his massive opponent. The Miztourage attempted to interfere, but Strowman cut them off. He took off after Miz, who rolled to ringside one more time.
Strowman finally got his hands on Miz and tossed him across the ring. He manhandled Miz repeatedly, tossing him with reckless abandon. He punched Bo Dallas' lights out at ringside, threw Curtis Axel into the guardrail and was left standing tall when Kane's music played and The Big Red Monster made his way to the ring.
The monstrous competitors battled briefly before Strowman flattened Kane with a running powerslam, only for Kane to sit right up. The Miztourage seized an opening and attacked Strowman from behind.
Strowman fought back and left the trio lying while Kane disappeared from the equation.
Result
Braun Strowman defeated The Miz via disqualification.
Grade
B
Analysis
As a display of Strowman's destruction, this worked really well. The Monster Among Men looked like a force that no number of Superstars can actually combat.
His rivalry with Kane may be appealing to those fans who appreciate heavyweight clashes, but this writer is much more interested in the dynamic of Miz and his lackeys as antagonists for the big man.
As it stands, the match between Kane and Strowman should be fun, but the potential for a more engaging program is there if WWE Creative opts to revisit it.
Pete Dunne vs. Enzo Amore
8 of 9
Enzo Amore cut a longwinded promo Monday night as commentator Corey Graves threatened to take a nap. It was obnoxiously long, ending only when Kalisto arrived on the scene, interrupting the promo not a moment too soon.
WWE United Kingdom champion Pete Dunne made his Raw debut, the opponent for Amore, as announced by Kurt Angle.
The fans in Manchester were understandably red-hot for Dunne as he made his way to the squared circle.
Dunne punished Amore, physically decimating and picking apart The Certified G. Amore wrested control, for reasons that make no sense, and nearly scored a tainted pinfall with his feet draped across the ropes.
Dunne recovered quickly and put an end to Amore's night with the Bitter End.
Result
Pete Dunne defeated Enzo Amore.
Grade
C
Analysis
So Pete freaking Dunne needs a distraction from Kalisto to pick up a win?
Sure, let's go with that.
Dunne's winning was the right move and a treat for the Manchester fans.
Otherwise, this match served only to further the ongoing rivalry between Amore and Kalisto. Nothing more.
Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose vs. Sheamus and Cesaro
9 of 9
In the culmination of their epic tag team rivalry that spawned several quality matches on pay-per-view and free television, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose defended the Raw Tag Team Championships against Sheamus and Cesaro Monday night.
Before the match could get started, it was announced on commentary that Roman Reigns will return to action next week.
Ambrose took the fight right to Sheamus, while Rollins wiped Cesaro out at ringside. A double-team Sling Blade by Rollins led to a brief near-fall. The frenetic pace of the champions kept the audience invested in the action, which included suicide dives that wiped the challengers out at ringside.
Sheamus and Cesaro wrested control, working over Ambrose briefly before the babyfaces once again seized the upper hand ahead of the commercial break. It was short-lived, as the heels isolated The Lunatic Fringe and worked him over, much to the chagrin of the fans looking to see a successful title defense.
Rollins received the hot tag and exploded into the match, unleashing on anyone in his path.
A big uppercut from Cesaro stopped his opponent's momentum and nearly earned him the victory.
At ringside, Sheamus and Cesaro laid Ambrose out, while Doomsday Device inside the ring earned the challengers only a two-count.
The action broke down and Ambrose delivered Dirty Deeds. A frog splash by Rollins nearly ended the match were it not for a well-timed breakup by Cesaro.
Suddenly, The New Day's music played, interrupting the proceedings. Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods appeared in the audience and addressed the fans as the Superstars involved in the match looked around, fearing Raw was once again under siege.
The Raw roster poured into the arena, and the distraction allowed Sheamus to deliver the Brogue Kick to Rollins, leading to a stunning championship change.
Result
Sheamus and Cesaro defeated Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose to win the Raw Tag Team Championships.
Grade
A
Analysis
Why take the tag titles off Ambrose and Rollins this close to Survivor Series, when a match between them and The Usos is one of the bright spots on an underwhelming card?
Luckily, a showdown between The Bar and The Usos is likely to be just as good.
And at what point does WWE Creative have to look at The Shield reunion, its use of everyone involved, and question why it bothered in the first place?
The New Day's interference sets up a potential showdown with The Shield, a match that could steal the entire Survivor Series pay-per-view. While not nearly enough build was devoted to that match, it at least creates a sense of unpredictability around the product.
Even if it is a six-man tag team match deserving of better hype.
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