WWE Raw October 30 2023 was the go home show to Crown Jewel and it absolutely delivered. The match quality was at a higher level with solid tag team wrestling and Seth Rollins doing what he does best in the ring. The crowd was definitely there and was invested in most of the show. We had great storyline advancement for Cody and Damian, For Sami Zayn and the Judgment Day, and for Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins. A number of nuggets were placed as well, including the Miz being a future contender for Gunther and Shinsuke Nakamura clearly waiting for someone to call him out. This was both a holiday episode and a go home show that was very well done for the entirety of the show.
WWE Raw October 30 2023 prepares to have a stacked Halloween Eve show as it is also Raw’s Go Home show for Crown Jewel. Seth Rollins takes on JD McDonagh. Alpha Academy put out an open challenge and NXT’s The Creed Brothers have answered it. Ricochet faces Dominik Mysterio. What does Gunther have to say on his talk show debut on Miz TV? Chelsea Green starts a loaded week as she is scheduled for a trick or street fight with Natalya! And DIY reunite to take on Imperium’s Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser.
AMAZING Rhea Ripley, JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio Promo: WWE Raw October 30 2023 Opening Promo
Rhea Ripley starts the promo by addressing two things. First, her Latino Heats’ scheduled match against Ricochet. And secondly the world heavyweight championship match between Drew and Seth. Rhea claims that if Seth or Drew make the right choice, they could walk out of Crown Jewel as champion. She also mentions that she is ready to prove that she runs the division at Crown Jewel. Sami Zayn comes out and talks about how Judgment Day seems to be motivated by having power. Zayn goes on about if that is true then his “game” is rebellion and resistance. Sami has a lot of passion and says that he is going to fight no matter the odds. Rhea ends up creating a challenge to Sami for a match with Damian Priest later that night. Ricochet evens the odds as Sami was about to engage in a brawl. Ricochet and Sami stand tall before Ricochet and Dom start their match. Sami Zayn really escalated this segment as he expressed his desire to be that thorne in the Judgment Day’s side and truly be passionate about it.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.00 Stars
GOOD Ricochet Vs Dominik Mysterio: WWE Raw October 30 2023 First Match
This is a good match between them both. Ricochet and Dominik both got good offense against each other with Ricochet always looking athletic. Dominik gets the win with the numbers game as Rhea distracts the ref and JD McDonagh distracts Ricochet. Dominik pulled Ricochet into the ring through the ropes before rolling him up. After the match, Ricochet got the recoil codebreaker before Rhea stopped him from getting a diving attack.
Results: Dominik Mysterio by Pinfall via Rope Assisted Roll Up
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
GREAT Alpha Academy, Otis and Chad Gable Vs The Creed Brothers, Julius and Brutus Creed:
Boy, what a debut for the Creed Brothers. From Julius and Chad Gable just grappling with each other, to Brutus and Otis going power for power. We saw great sequences’ like the Julius’ 450 to break up the pin and then Gable hit a moonsault on them all. Ivy and Maxxine even got into it and that resulted in Tozawa getting hit with a german suplex. The emotion from the Creeds was there and this was two teams that literally won each other’s respect in this match. Oh, and the finish was Julius getting Otis up for the Doomsday Brutus Ball and it is a feat of strength.
Results: Creed Brothers by Pinfall via Doomsday Brutus Ball
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
AMAZING Miz TV With Gunther:
Miz mentions that he got this Miz Tv with Gunther because of the historical ple announcement for Bash in Berlin. After Gunther refused to come out when Miz introduced him Ludwig and Giovanni Vinci came out. Miz played a great instigator by mocking Vinci for talking for the first time. Vinci tried to say he speaks when he wants to speak but Ludwig shut him up before Gunther officially came out.
Gunther makes a mockery of The Miz being a sports entertainer and The Miz with ease got the crowd behind him. The Miz talks about how he made the intercontinental championship relevant as well. Gunther tries to say that Miz isn’t the superior wrestler when the bell rings before getting Ludwig to destroy a Pumpkin with the Miz logo carved in it. Gunther pushed The Miz to finally take the first shot as he went for Gunthers’ friends. Before Gunther chopped him. Imperium took control of Miz as Miz engaged in a brawl once again. Miz stormed to the back as DIY make their entrance.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
Miz tries to get a title shot from Adam Pearce before Adam mentions someone else wants a shot at Gunther. Miz makes a promise to Bronson Reed and Adam that he is going to be the one to dethrone Gunther.
GREAT Imperium, Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser Vs DIY, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa:
For a return match this was solid. Ciampa and Gargano feel like they have stayed active. There was a number of solid moves and combos and this lose for Imperium continue to tell a story surrounding their tension. I really liked the finish of Vinci missing a moonsault and then being caught with a knee and then the Meet in the middle finisher. And the new theme is fine.
Results: DIY by Pinfall via Meet In The Middle on Giovanni Vinci
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
SQUASH Xia Li Vs Candice LeRae:
Two things: 1 – This was a fairly short match although it might have been cut short or built to be this short. It ended abruptly with Xia Li hitting a spinning roundhouse. 2 – I am uncertain on if it was built to be this way or if it was a genuine stoppage. After the break they showed Candice being checked on and with a ice bag on her neck.
Results: Xia Li by Referee Stoppage via Candice LeRae
MUST WATCH Seth Rollins Promo:
Seth came out and cut a promo about the video package Drew had about having a mania main event win with no fans. For the first time Seth seemed like a true babyface with this promo as he spoke from the heart mentioning how Covid affected a lot more than just Drew McIntyre. Seth stood up for the people like Sami and Cody that the bloodline screwed over and said that they aren’t asking for pity. Rollins goes on to talk about how Drew beat the old Seth and not this one before McDonagh attacked him. What a promo from Seth Rollins.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.75 Stars
AMAZING Seth Rollins Vs JD McDonagh:
For their first time in the ring together, JD and Seth had a lot of chemistry with each other. Both men are that talented in the ring. This match had excellent selling and excellent sequences and combos and the finish was very unique with Seth getting the pedigree from a great counter. And the stomp looked great. Damian Priest continues to taunt Seth Rollins with the briefcase and the storytelling was solid here.
Results: Seth Rollins by Pinfall via The Stomp
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.00 Stars
AVERAGE Chelsea Green with Piper Niven Vs Natalya – Trick Or Street Fight:
The typical trick or street fight with kendos, pumpkins and tables. Natalya dunked Chelsea’s head for her to bob for apples. I will give props to Chelsea and Piper dressing as Bret and Jim. And there was a strange moment of Chelsea lifting Pumpkin heads and discovering the head of Nikki Cross.
Results: Chelsea Green by Pinfall via Unpretty-Her
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 2.25 Stars
GREAT Sami Zayn Vs Damian Priest: WWE Raw October 30 2023 Main Event
This match was a solid match for what these guys can do. I really liked having Priest use the reckoning which is Cody’s Cross Rhodes. This had a very solid crowd like they typically do for Sami Zayn and the Judgment Day. But this was cut short with the Judgment Day tried to interfere, but Jey Uso came down and was the reason the match ended. Typical brawl to end the show but Judgment Day got away sans JD McDonagh. McDonagh ends up taking two cross rhodes on the announce table. Sami got Cody to do a second one.
Results: Damien Priest by DQ via Jey Uso’s Superkick
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
AMAZING Cody Rhodes Post Brawl Promo: WWE Raw October 30 2023 Closing Shots
Cody grabbed the mic and cut a very passionately ticked off promo. Despite it being very short, it was still impactful. Cody says that his story is being the guy that always gets back up since Damian failed to take him out. Saying Damian’s story is a 20 year vet, six foot six inches and has a golden ticket. Claiming that Damian should be the leader of the Judgment day with his briefcase but isn’t. He is a follower who walks behind Rhea, Finn and Dominik Mysterio. Cody says he is back on his path and it goes straight through Damian Priest.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
Overall…
WWE Raw October 30 2023 was the go home show to Crown Jewel and it absolutely delivered. The match quality was at a higher level with solid tag team wrestling and Seth Rollins doing what he does best in the ring. The crowd was definitely there and was invested in most of the show. We had great storyline advancement for Cody and Damian, For Sami Zayn and the Judgment Day, and for Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins. A number of nuggets were placed as well, including the Miz being a future contender for Gunther and Shinsuke Nakamura clearly waiting for someone to call him out. This was both a holiday episode and a go home show that was very well done for the entirety of the show.
Matches: 0.75/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere…: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3.75/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE – October 30 2023
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
