WWE Raw October 16 2023 for the Season Premiere of Monday Night Raw was a really good and enjoyable show. From the championship matches delivering and no squash matches for the sake of squash matches. The Show had a lot of storytelling surrounding Drew and Seth, the Judgment Day, Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley’s championships pictures. We also got the new direction for a solo Sami Zayn that developed throughout the entire show. The crowd was solid for most of the show, a step up from last week. A very entertaining show from start to finish.
WWE Raw October 16 2023 the season premiere of Monday Night Raw. With Two championship matches in Gunther Vs Bronson Reed. Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes defend against Finn Balor and Damian Priest. Chelsea Green hopes that her partner Piper Niven will successfully defend her honor against Natalya. Rhea Ripley faces Shayna Baszler and Shinsuke Nakamura faces Ricochet under Falls Count Anywhere rules.
AMAZING Sami Zayn Promo: WWE Raw October 16 2023 Opening Promo
This is a really fun promo from Sami Zayn. Really having the chance to reflect on the last year and how the fans have affected his career. He mentions how the trade was official and it ended his partnership with Kevin Owens. Sami continues to mention that Jey Uso was the reason that Kevin Owens isn’t here anymore. Zayn goes on to mention he can focus on proving that he is a World Heavyweight Championship contender. Still struggling to forget that the judgment day are getting a tag team championship rematch. The entire Judgment Day comes out and Finn shares his anger surrounding the “wrong” person kicking off the Season Premiere of Raw. Damian and Rhea talk about how Sami Zayn is now lost. Mentioning that The Judgment Day was meant for lost souls but this time they want to remove Sami Zayn from Raw. As The Judgment Day surrounds the ring, Jey Uso runs down to the ring with two chairs. Finn and the gang retreat as Zayn leaves Jey in the ring as he is still in his head.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
Jey and Sami trade words in the back where Sami Zayn doesn’t accept Jey’s embrace. Right after Sami runs after and does forgive him as he admits to being mentally overwhelmed.
AMAZING Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Ricochet – Falls Count Anywhere Match: WWE Raw October 16 2023 First Match
This match started off as a brawl in the ring. They worked their way up the stage and briefly in the gorilla area (Right where the superstars wait for their theme). Ricochet even said to Shane Helms, “stand back hurricane there’s a Ricochet coming through.” Once back from the commercial, Ricochet and Shinsuke are brawling in the crowd. Ricochet does a shooting star off of a railing onto Shinsuke and other security guys. They brawl back to the ringside area,. Shinsuke throws Ricochet into the barricade and gets a table and nunchucks. Using nunchucks on Ricochet. They brawl into the ring, Ricochet gets a nice springboard 450. Both men are brawling on the corner turnbuckle before Shinsuke gets a roundhouse. Ricochet falls back through the table. Shinsuke lets Ricochet eventually sit up before hitting the kinshasa for the victory.
Results: Shinsuke Nakamura by Pinfall via Seated Kinshasa
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.00 Stars
Tegan Nox, Katana Chance and Kayden Carter are talking about last week. Nikki Cross rocking on a production case above them. Chelsea Green appears and gets into some words with Tegan. Nox ends up threatening to punch Green before she leaves with Niven.
ABOVE AVERAGE Piper Niven with Chelsea Green Vs Natalya:
This was a pretty short match, and had a commercial break within it. Natalya tried to fight out of things but as Chelsea was on the apron. Natalya is pushed into Chelsea before Piper is able to get the victory. Niven and Green were attacking Natalya before Tegan Nox made the safe. Piper took the chance to retreat.
Results: Piper Niven by Pinfall via Running Basement Crossbody
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 2.50 Stars
Dominik, Finn and Damian are in their locker room talking. Priest mentions wanting to see JD get beat up by Drew. Also trying to say tonight should be the night they take out Drew. Dom interjects about Mami’s orders on not too. As Rhea arrives, Damian questions the amount of phone calls she is taking. Rhea shuts his concern down before telling Dom she didn’t need him ringside.
MUST WATCH Seth Rollins Promo:
Seth comes out and does his entrance with the serenading crowd. He then breaks down last weeks’ events surrounding Drew “painting himself as the hero.” Rollins would then ask Drew to come out. They exchange words while taking shots at each other, Drew mentioning he had an old catchy theme song. Seth mentions that he struggled to get back to the top of the mountain for four years. Telling Drew that Drew has to move on from the Bloodline. Seth also showed the footage that showed Rhea and Drew talking from last week. From start to finish this was a great back and forth with Seth walking out.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.50 Stars
GOOD Johnny Gargano Vs Ludwig Kaiser:
This was a fun match for both men. They had a good back and forth. Gargano got a Willow’s bell and connected with the one final beat. Vinci pokes Gargano in the eye. Johnny rolled out of the ring before trying to go after Giovanni. Vinci is thrown into the ring and that gives Ludwig the advantage. Ludwig hits the running enziguri before connecting with a sister Abigail into a DDT, similar to Sanada’s Deadfall.
Results: Ludwig by Pinfall via Sanada’s Deadfall Like DDT. (Kaiser’s Scepter DDT according to WWE Supercard?)
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.00 Stars
Indi Hartwell gets into it with Becky before she says how she will make the match official between them. Rhea and Becky go face to face and don’t say anything.
Drew McIntyre shares his displeasure with SamI Zayn about Sami instantly forgiving Jey Uso. Saying he was about to forgive him until after he saw Sami’s actions earlier in the show. Sami and Drew talk and end up setting up a match for next week.
GOOD Rhea Ripley Promo:
Rhea Ripley comes out and talks about how everyone wants a piece of Monday Night Mami. Saying that even Nia Jax tried to return to take her off the top. The shocking thing is with Judgment Day/Dominik Mysterio she is a pure heel. But as a solo act she is over as a face. She was receiving Mami chants before Shayna’s entrance.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.00 Stars
GOOD Rhea Ripley Vs Shayna Baszler:
This was overall a short match between them. Rhea looked great and got her spots like a diving drop kick. She took good offense from Shayna Baszler, having her arm worked on. There was a solid counter to the riptide into an armbar. Nia Jax comes out before Raquel Rodriguez and a returning Zoey Stark shows up. Zoey ends up being thrown into the ring before hitting Rhea with a dropkick. After a brawl, Zoey Stark stands tall after superkicking Nia out of the ring.
Results: Rhea Ripley by DQ via Zoey Stark’ Interference
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.00 Stars
AMAZING Bronson Reed Vs Gunther – Intercontinental Championship Match:
If there is anyone to make Bronson Reed look like a million bucks in a match its Gunther. Starting off the match the crowd wasn’t as into it. After the commercial break they had the crowd wrapped around their fingers. Reed got great spots with Gunther including a Superplex. Kicking out of a clothesline and the big splash. Gunther got him up for a powerbomb for the win. Big E would be proud because this was a damn good match.
Results: Gunther by Pinfall via Powerbomb
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
Becky Lynch talks to Adam Pearce about getting the match made with Indi. Xia Li proceeds to ask about why Becky won’t face her. Becky then says she will but Xia tells her on her time. Jade Cargill and Becky Lycnh go face to face with Becky telling Jade to get in line.
Gunther gives Ludwig Kaiser orders for next week that he wants Johnny Gargano on a stretcher.
AMAZING Judgment Day Vs Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes – Undisputed Tag Team Championship Match: WWE Raw October 16 2023 Main Event
This was a fun and enjoyable match. Obviously with the gap of the commercial break we only get so much of it. Similar spots and sequences but we saw Dominik try to run down. Finn Balor kicks out of the” Cody 1D.” Sami Zayn came down to help get rid of Dominik. Sami is sent into the steps by Priest. Damian gets to kick Cody in the balls before getting the razor’s edge through the table. Jey and Finn trade near falls before Jey is hit with a superkick by Jimmy Uso. Finn got the win with the coup de grace after.
Results: Finn Balor by Pinfall via Coup De Grace.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
Overall…
WWE Raw October 16 2023 for the Season Premiere of Monday Night Raw was a really good and enjoyable show. From the championship matches delivering and no squash matches for the sake of squash matches. The Show had a lot of storytelling surrounding Drew and Seth, the Judgment Day, Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley’s championships pictures. We also got the new direction for a solo Sami Zayn that developed throughout the entire show. The crowd was solid for most of the show, a step up from last week. A very entertaining show from start to finish.
Matches: 0.75/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere…: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 1/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 4.00/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE Raw October 16 2023For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
