WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from October 5

With Hell in a Cell approaching, WWE Raw hit the USA Network airwaves Monday night with two blockbuster tag team matches on tap and the latest developments in key storylines.

How would Randy Orton look to further torment Drew McIntyre ahead of their final WWE Championship clash on the October 25 pay-per-view extravaganza?

Would Women's Tag Team champions Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax make a successful return to the squared circle, or would another team look to establish itself as the top competitor in a suddenly competitive division?

Find out the answers to those questions and others with this recap of the October 5 episode.

Match Card

Credit: WWE.com

Announced before Monday's broadcast:

• Six-Man Tag Team match: WWE champion Drew McIntyre and Raw Tag Team champions The Street Profits vs. Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode
• Women's Tag Team Championship match: Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan vs. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler
• Kevin Owens invites Bray Wyatt to "The Kevin Owens Show"

Randy Orton's Stroll Down Memory Lane for the Short Attention Spans

Credit: WWE.com

A sullen Randy Orton kicked off this week's show, recapping his disappointing loss to Drew McIntyre at Clash of Champions, in case those watching this show hadn't already seen it or paid attention to any of that pay-per-view. He followed up with a recap of last week's show, which was much appreciated since no one watches the flagship anymore.

He delivered a play-by-play of his brutal beating of Big Show, Christian, Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair from the closing minutes of last week's broadcast.

Orton officially issued a challenge for a match at the October 25 pay-per-view. McIntyre burst into the room like a bad B-movie action hero and proceeded to whup up on The Viper until security pulled them apart.

Grade

D

Analysis

The creative team at least gets points for taking the tired show-opening promo out of the ring and into a new setting.

With that said, the recap promos have to stop. If it's not the commentary team pretending the audience has the attention span of a puppy, it's the on-screen talent recapping events and matches that the core audience of this show has already seen/had recapped for them nine times since.

It is a tired trope of recent months and one that needs to disappear quicker than Apollo Crews' push evaporated.

Instead of focusing all of that time and energy on recapping a show everyone watched, focus it on crafting a better product that the audience will actually want to tune in to.

Asuka, Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke vs. Zelina Vega, Natalya and Lana

Credit: WWE.com

Raw Women's champion Asuka and flagship newcomers Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke battled Natalya, Lana and Zelina Vega in a huge Six-Woman Tag Team match to kick off the evening's in-ring action.

The babyface team controlled early until Vega pulled Asuka from the ring apron, providing a distraction that allowed the heels to take down Rose and turn the tide in their favor. After wearing The Golden Goddess down with a submission, Vega took another cheap shot at Asuka, just in case you didn't know they really, really don't like each other.

As the action broke down, Rose managed to tag herself into the match and blast Lana with a jumping knee for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Women's Tag Team champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler made their entrance. Vega bailed, leaving Natalya to try to fend off the titleholders. Jax shoved her down and proceeded to deliver a Samoan Drop to Lana through an announce table.

Result

Asuka, Rose and Brooke defeated Natalya, Lana and Vega

Grade

C-

Analysis

Can you guess from who took the pinfall and the Samoan Drop through the table which of these performers is in the WWE doghouse?

The match was rushed, further established the rivalry between Asuka and Vega despite the champion's consecutive and definitive victories over her, and built Mandy some much-needed momentum after WWE Creative killed it following her defining SummerSlam win.

Oh, and in case you didn't know, Baszler and Jax are dominant badasses. They proved it again by beating up two women who just wrestled a match and were clearly exhausted.

Dominik Mysterio and Humberto Carrillo vs. Seth Rollins and Murphy

Credit: WWE.com

Seth Rollins and Murphy made their way to the ring for a big tag team match against Humberto Carrillo and Dominik Mysterio, in case you have not tired of watching these four square off with each other in some form or fashion since *checks calendar* June!

After a video package that made the recent Mysterio family drama centered around Aalyah and Murphy's friendship look more like a Steven Spielberg flick than soap-opera shlock, Murphy demanded an apology from Rollins if he is to remain The Monday Night Messiah's disciple.

Looking to make the most of early tension between the heels, Dominik and Carrillo soared through the air, wiping the opposition out heading into the break.

Rollins demeaned Murphy on more than one occasion as he worked over Dominik in the corner, the villains gaining the upper hand during the commercial break.

A hot tag to Carrillo sparked the babyface comeback, but a midair knee from Murphy cold-cocked his opponent and earned the win for the disciple and his Messiah. "You don't need my help?" the Aussie asked before stomping off, leaving Rollins behind.

Result

Rollins and Murphy defeated Carrillo and Mysterio

Grade

C+

Analysis

How many times does Mysterio have to lose to Rollins?

Every week, there is a different incarnation of that match that seemingly serves no other purpose than to put Rollins over the rookie. We get it; one is a celebrated world champion, the other is in his first two months as an active competitor.

We do not need to be reminded every week that Mysterio has yet to truly and effectively defend his family's honor against its greatest tormentor. Because from a storytelling perspective, that's assbackwards, and WWE Creative would never be accused of such a thing.

At least this all seems to be leading to Murphy breaking out on his own. After spending the last three or four years as the best wrestler no one knew about, he is enjoying the spotlight and is poised to go on to bigger and better things. Or until Vince McMahon loses interest and moves on to another former cruiserweight champion.

'The Kevin Owens Show' with Bray Wyatt

Credit: WWE.com

Just days after an encounter with The Fiend that left him motionless in the ring, the victim of the dreaded Mandible Claw, Kevin Owens hosted another edition of his talk show, this time with Bray Wyatt.

Before he was joined by his guest, Owens openly questioned why so many tortured souls (Wyatt, Aleister Black) have issues with him. Wyatt finally appeared, albeit from "The Firefly Funhouse."

Wyatt touted the importance of friends, complete with an original tune.

Owens refused to join in on the song. At Owens' insistence on answers regarding Alexa Bliss and The Fiend, Wyatt turned deathly serious and said the world would know Friday night on SmackDown.

"I said I'm not waiting until Friday night on SmackDown. If you're not coming to me, I'm coming to you." Owens headed up the ramp but walked right into an attack by Black, who flattened him with Black Mass heading into the break.

Grade

C+

Analysis

If you didn't know that Raw is officially the B-show within WWE, look no further than the fact that the writing team just used a promoted interview segment as the setup to an angle on this Friday's show. There was no Fiend. No Alexa Bliss. Instead, there was plenty of chatter about something fans will have to tune in to Fox in four days to watch.

That never would have been the case before, but WWE has clearly accepted the fact that the blue brand is of greater significance to the overall state of the company than Raw, and segments like this prove it.

Black attacking Owens was a nice touch as he took advantage of his distracted foe. It will be interesting to see if it leads to yet another match between the two or is the impetus for one at a later date.

Exhibition Match: Braun Strowman vs. Keith Lee

Credit: WWE.com

After a backstage vignette earlier in the night, Braun Strowman battled Keith Lee in an exhibition match. Yes, the same Strowman who is most definitely a SmackDown Superstar. Yes, against Lee. Yes, this match would make a ton of money with even a hint of backstory or the company's hype machine behind it.

Strowman rocked Lee with a dropkick that sent him to the floor. From there he followed The Limitless One outside, and after the referee counted both men out, an enraged Strowman bowled over and through Lee, crashing through the guardrail.

Lee recovered and launched himself off the steel ring steps and onto his opponent. After a brawl up the ramp, he sent Strowman into the LED board. He followed by tackling The Monster Among Men off the stage and through a table.

Result

Strowman and Lee fought to a double count-out

Grade

 C-

Analysis

At first, this felt like an excuse to put Strowman over as he almost certainly ends up back on Raw as part of the upcoming WWE Draft.

Then, it became a showcase for Lee, who established dominance in the closing moments of the segment.

Regardless of who it was intended to help, all it did was waste a first-time encounter of massive proportions on yet another excuse to destroy LED boards rather than building to a big-money encounter that fans would be genuinely interested in.

Naturally, a pay-per-view main event (if built appropriately) was wasted in the second hour of a throwaway episode of Raw, opposed by Monday Night Football.

Apollo Crews and Ricochet vs. Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin

Credit: WWE.com

Because Raw isn't Raw in 2020 without Apollo Crews battling someone, anyone, from The Hurt Business on Monday night.

Crews teamed with Ricochet to battle United States champion Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin, but not before MVP revealed he had offered the babyfaces (and Mustafa Ali) a spot in the heel faction.

After a promo in which Ricochet passed on the offer, clowning with the MVP and Co., the leader of The Hurt Business ordered The One and Only punished. Benjamin tried to make that happen early, but Ricochet and Crews cleared the ring of The Gold Standard and The All Mighty heading into the break.

The heels dominated Ricochet coming out of the commercial, overpowering him until a hot tag to Crews sparked a comeback. Crews dodged a spear from Lashley but fell prey to a spinebuster, followed by the Hurt Lock as the U.S. champ earned the villains the victory.

Result

Lashley and Benjamin defeated Crews and Ricochet

Grade

C

Analysis

"We're gonna keep coming back till you're tired of us," Ricochet threatened from the floor in the scariest dialogue of the night.

The WWE Universe doesn't deserve that punishment. We have had enough of this program already. Crews has not wrestled a single Superstar outside of The Hurt Business since the end of June.

That is not a typo. You read it correctly.

This was a perfectly acceptable match, with a perfectly acceptable outcome, but when you have seen it so frequently over the last four months, it becomes almost impossibly difficult to give a damn about any of it. The repetition stinks of laziness, and while The Hurt Business has been a revelation of sorts here in 2020, it will very quickly outstay its welcome if it remains on this treadmill of booking.

Murphy Strikes Back!

Credit: WWE.com

Earlier in the evening, Seth Rollins issued a 10 p.m. deadline for Murphy to come to the ring and apologize to him. Since WWE can't ever let anything breathe, The Monday Night Messiah made his way to the squared circle and called his disciple out.

Rollins repeatedly implored Murphy to apologize to him. "You have seen firsthand what happens to people who stand in the way of the greater good." He took credit for plucking the Aussie from obscurity and grew more and more agitated as Murphy resisted.

Rollins grabbed hold of his beard and demanded an apology, to which Murphy responded by grounding his tag team partner and mentor and pounding away at him. The fight spilled to the floor, where Murphy retrieved a kendo stick and repeatedly struck Rollins.

"Apologize!" Murphy demanded as he attacked. Rollins did just that, admitting, "I didn't mean to bring her into this."

He bared his back to Murphy and claimed, "You've done enough."

It was a setup, as Rollins thumbed his follower's eyes and attacked with the kendo stick, bashing him with the weapon about the body, breaking it over his knees and shins. As Rollins grabbed a chair, Aalyah Mysterio appeared, begging him to stop.

He did, leaving as Dominik and Rey Mysterio joined the fray.

Grade

A

Analysis

This was the best thing on the show to this point. By far.

We needed to see Murphy stand up for himself and fight back. He has been used and abused for so long that he absolutely needed to strike out against Rollins, and he did. Big time. The use of the kendo stick was almost poetic, and the ass-kicking he unleashed was good stuff.

It would have been even better had he not succumbed to Rollins' manipulation, but it was still a great bit of business that will help Murphy in the long run.

The stuff with Aalyah still feels...weird...but her involvement is helping elevate Murphy's star, so it is beneficial for all involved.

Women's Tag Team Title Match: The Riott Squad vs. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler

Credit: WWE.com

Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan were originally slated to challenge Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler for the Women's Tag Team Championships at Clash of Champions. Like most things in this glorious year of ours, things went awry, and the match, instead, became one of Monday's marquee bouts.

The champions established dominance early as they isolated Riott from her partner. Baszler delivered consecutive, sickening stomps to the arm, jamming her arm into the mat and leaving Riott screaming in agony.

Back from the break, Bazler uncorked stiff kicks to the chest of Riott. Capitalizing on a momentary opening, Riott tagged Morgan into the match. Liv unloaded on both champions before eating a nasty clothesline from Jax.

The heels worked over Morgan until a tag to Riott again sparked a comeback for the challengers.

That momentum came to a sudden and disappointing halt as Baszler applied the Kirifuda Clutch to Riott while Jax overpowered Morgan and forced her to watch the tapout.

Result

Baszler and Jax defeated The Riott Squad

Grade

C

Analysis

This was not always the prettiest match, but it accomplished what it set out to: establish Jax and Baszler's teamwork.

Wacky partners who hate each other, they are developing legitimate in-ring chemistry and on this night proved that their teamwork was on-par with that of a team that has partnered together for three years now.

While it would have been nice to see Riott and Morgan's reunion culminate in a tag title win, it is clear WWE Creative is far more invested in and enamored with telling Baszler and Jax's story at this point.

Time will tell if it is to the betterment or detriment of the women's tag division.

Ali's Retribution

Credit: WWE.com

Defiant in the face of The Hurt Business' recent domination, Mustafa Ali challenged MVP to a singles contest, looking to make it 2-0 against the former United States champion in recent weeks.

As Ali built momentum for himself, Shelton Benjamin and Lashley hopped in the ring, only for Retribution to appear. Just when it looked like Ali would stand alongside The Hurt Business in a fight against the invaders, Ali rolled out of the ring and ordered T-Bar, Mace, Slapjack and Co. to attack his foes.

Retribution beat MVP, Benjamin and Lashley down before joining Ali in the center of the ring.

"He doesn't look like he's joining Retribution, Mustafa Ali looks like he's running Retribution," Tom Phillips said heading into the commercial.

Result

Ali fought MVP to a no-contest

Grade

A+

Analysis

Earlier this year, we were absolutely convinced that Ali was the SmackDown hacker and that it would lead to a bigger push for one of the most talented wrestlers in the entire company.

That did not come to fruition, nor did any sizeable push upon his move to Raw.

After so many stop-and-start pushes, this was exactly what Ali deserved.

Ali as the voice of a movement aimed at tearing down the foundation of WWE and fighting for the voiceless is a role that suits him well, particularly if you have ever spent a minute or two scrolling through his Twitter account.

"All along, Mustafa Ali has been behind Retribution," Byron Saxton stated, repeatedly, after the break. Such a line absolutely suggests that is the intention with this angle.

Now, with an increased role and a greater opportunity to let his voice be heard, it will be up to Ali to capture the moment and not let it go.

Six-Man Tag Team Main Event

Credit: WWE.com

In a match that could not possibly live up to the enormous reveal that preceded it, WWE champion Drew McIntyre and Raw Tag Team champions The Street Profits battled the team of Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode in the night's main event.

Orton and Co. gained the first sustained advantage of the match after the final break of the night as The Viper dropped Montez Ford of the Profits on the announce table with a sickening side suplex. The third-generation star repeatedly taunted McIntyre, looking for any edge ahead of their date for the top prize in wrestling at Hell in a Cell.

Ford dropped Orton with a DDT and made the tag to McIntyre, who combatted Ziggler. The Scottish Psychopath tossed his former tag team partner across the ring and unloaded on Orton.

The action broke down and The Street Profits appeared to have a win in the bag when Angelo Dawkins downed Orton with the Anointment, followed by Ford's frog splash. Ziggler and Roode broke up the pin.

The chaos continued, each Superstar hit his trademark stuff and Orton capitalized on an opening to deliver the RKO and pick up the pinfall victory over McIntyre as the commentary team put over the win.

Result

Orton, Ziggler and Roode defeated McIntyre and The Street Profits

Grade

C+

Analysis

Anytime a collection of talent like this is in the ring, they are going to tear the house down and deliver, at the very least, an entertaining main event.

Unfortunately, it was marred by the commentary team's obnoxious exclamations regarding Orton's victory over McIntyre. As if that somehow gave him the upper hand on the WWE champion in time for Hell in a Cell.

The same WWE champion who already pinned him clean in the center of the ring at SummerSlam and beat him again at Clash of Champions.

There was nothing about this that did anything to make the audience want to see McIntyre vs. Orton III, nor did it inspire any excitement for The Street Profits vs. Ziggler and Roode, a match you can almost rest assured we're getting.

Why WWE Creative decided this should end the show rather than the awesome revelation that Ali was the leader of Retribution all along is one of modern wrestling's great mysteries.

At least for this week.