WWE Raw on Sept 11 2023 provided a very storyline advancing heavy show. While building to the main event, we saw development throughout the show between Jey Uso and Kevin Owens, Jey and Drew McIntyre and Jey and Finn Balor. The story between Chad Gable and Gunther is continuing as well. The intriguing new alliance of Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark was advanced as well. Seth and Shinsuke are doing great work to continue their feud between the video package and Seth’s promo about embracing his true self. Drew McIntyre, while challenging Jey to a match next week, is gaining that edge/chip on his shoulder back. This show flowed really well.
While the matches that got the time delivered and were very solid, the fact is a third of the matches were squash matches. The crowd was very good throughout the entire night and the show structure flowed really well from start to finish. Especially with the developments of Jey Uso being placed throughout the night aside from the opening promo and first match.
WWE Raw on Sept 11 2023 brings the end of an era. With WWE officially about to be bought by Endeavour, this is WWE’s final Raw under Vince McMahon’s ownership. Raquel Rodriguez having a chance at the championship with Dominik Mysterio banned from ringside. With one championship being defended, another is celebrated with Gunther being a historic Intercontinental champion! And What’s next for Raw’s newest superstar, Jey Uso?
MUST WATCH Jey Uso Promo: WWE Raw Sept 11 Opening Promo
The visual of Jey Uso waving his hands up and down like he is a singer at a concert. Uso mentions being free from the bloodline once again and soon Kevin Owens’ comes out. Kevin would then start to talk about a lot of people backstage not wanting Jey Uso on Raw. Saying that he hasn’t forgotten what Jey and the Bloodline did to him. Owens brings up how Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes are the two people that are excited for him to be there. Soon the judgment day show up. Damian, Finn and Dominik come out to the ring and they Judgment Day continue their attempt at getting Jey to join them.
Damian makes it known to the viewer that the Judgment Day was about to have *another* match with Sami and Kevin. Sami not being there with Jey offering to Kevin to earn his trust by teaming with him to face the Judgment Day. Kevin accepts and Jey superkicks Dom. Before Jey and Kevin lay out Judgment Day to start the upcoming match with momentum.
Electric crowd from what everyone was saying. Dominik getting boo’ed before he could speak. The continuity between Kevin’s past with Jey being involved. And Jey with his signature expressions with him staring at Kevin. Kevin being someone that understands Jey’s position. Great flow with nothing being just in the way as well. Solid promo all around to start the show.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.50 Stars
AMAZING Damian Priest and Finn Balor Vs Kevin Owens and Jey Uso: WWE Raw Sept 11 Opening Match
Great first match with the tension from the promo carrying through. Kevin and Jey are slowly working together with Damian and Finn doing great at isolating Kevin during the match. Owens will never be bad at selling, and he does amazing with his leg/knee. The hot crowd that is firmly behind Kevin and Jey Uso and booing Finn and Damian for everything they do to get heat. Damian Priest hit Jey with a forearm/punch that stopped Jey from saying Damian get out of the way with Jey superkicking Kevin. Priest and Jey take each other out of the ring as Kevin gets hit with a coup de grace for the Judgment Day to get the win.
Results: Finn Balor by Pinfall via Coup De Grace on Kevin Owens
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.00 Stars
SQUASH Akira Tozawa Vs The Miz:
Tozawa didn’t get a chance here. Miz has like two wins this year so he needs some momentum into his rematch with LA Knight on Smackdown.
Results: The Miz by Pinfall via Three Skull Crushing Finales.
AMAZING Gunther Intercontinental Championship Celebration:
Everything was done well in this segment. Imperium in suits, having a podium for Gunther to stand up between two pillars. Pillars being a key symbol in his presentation with the titantron. From Gunther tearing down the legends that came before him as he claimed that the championship was elevated because of him. Gunther complains that he has no competition and says he can only compete with himself. The signature Shoosh hits as Chad Gable comes out. Gable cuts a great promo surrounding what happened and especially how the loss made his daughter feel. Gable swears to god twice that he will defeat Gunther once more and puts a smile on his daughter’s face. Gunther would then go on to say that Chad is a disgrace of a father before Gable attacked him. During the brawl, Otis and soon after Tommaso Ciampa run down to save Chad.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
Before the following match, Xavier and Drew are talking backstage in their street clothes. Drew saying that Kofi should bring up the issues himself before Woods takes a shot at Kofi having the bigger Mania moment because Drew’s was in front of nobody. Clearly not taking it, Drew says it didn’t have to be this way.
GREAT Drew McIntyre Vs Xavier Woods:
Just a solidly worked match that had a minor story of Xavier trying to take it to Drew. To prove he can hang with the Scottish Psychopath. The crowd got behind it towards the end, the superkick to counter the claymore was great. Drew’s chops were loud and that’s what I want in matches. McIntyre won after Woods tried for a discus strike and he caught Xavier with the claymore. After the match Drew was mentioning it didn’t have to be like this as he walked up the ramp.
Results: Drew McIntyre by Pinfall via Claymore
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
ABOVE AVERAGE Cody Rhodes Promo:
This promo screams that some time got cut, or this was put in for something that was meant to be this short. Cody barely says anything about Jey before Dominik Mysterio comes out with JD McDonagh. This is intriguing since they came together. Dominik barely gets any words out, I think I heard something about Cody going to be upset when Jey does join the Judgment Day. Dominik and JD get into a brawl with Cody and Cody completely tools them both. Cody laid both out with Cross Rhodes.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 2.50 Stars
SQUASH Shayna Baszler Vs Chelsea Green:
Short match. Shayna dominated throughout the match. There was a moment of Chelsea being behind Piper Niven as Piper had returned earlier. Chelsea got a victory roll up but no victory and nearly got an unpretty-her. Shayna got the win with Ronda’s former move the pipers pit and is now calling it the Exterminatus.
Piper attacked Shayna as she and Chelsea beat her up after the match. Zoey Stark ran down to the ring and saved Shayna. Baszler hitting a big knee to Chelsea as Niven retreated by rolling out of the ring.
Results: Shayna Baszler by Pinfall via Exterminatus (formerly pipers pit)
Before Seth Rollins came out, Shinsuke Nakamura had a promo video. Clearing last weeks’ interesting note of Shinsuke not taking the challenge. Nakamura promises to challenge Seth when he feels like it. Including to expose Seth Rollins as a liar when he beats him for the championship.
AMAZING Seth Rollins Promo:
Seth Rollins does his thing, before admitting to Shinsuke being right about being a manipulator, a liar, a user. Rollins does well with bringing back the past and talking about what Shinsuke spoke about in the subtitled video. He then attempts to challenge Shinsuke Nakamura to a match again but Shinsuke is shown attacking Ricochet. Nakamura says he didn’t think Seth was cleared so he got into his own fight. Shinsuke promises to beat Seth for the title just not tonight.
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.00 Stars
AMAZING Imperium Vs Alpha Academy and Tommaso Ciampa:
This was just a really fun six man tag. That builds really well to the Otis hot tag. Great tag team psychology from the heel team in this match. I really love the fact that this felt similar to the brawling brutes vs Imperium of last year. Seeing such a pop for Gable and Gunther being legal at the same time. The finish was brilliant as well with Vinci in an ankle lock from Gable, Ciampa had Gunther in a stretch so Gunther had to watch Vinci tap out. The caterpillar is still as over as it always is as well.
Results: Chad Gable by TapOut Submission via Ankle Lock on Vinci
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
Tiffany Stratton and Becky Lynch have a short contract signing with Adam Pearce. This was really fun. I wish it would have gotten more time because both have good chemistry on the mic.
GREAT Rhea Ripley Vs Raquel Rodriguez – Dominik Mysterio Banned From Ringside, WWE World Women’s Championship Match: WWE Raw Sept 11 2023 Main Event
This match definitely had more juice unlike the Payback match. More intensity from both women as well. With less of a methodical focus on working Raquel’s knee. This had that feeling of two badass women who could beat the heck out of each other. Raquel catching Rhea’s somersault dive off of the steps into a powerbomb on the apron was great. Now the problem is Nia Jax coming out and interfering in this match. Nia hit a Samoan drop on Rodriguez before letting Rhea get the win.
Raquel and Rhea did not get the proper blow off match in this scenario. The match that was much better than the first main roster one… is being used as a vehicle to push another story.
Results: Rhea Ripley by Pinfall via Riptide
Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
After the match once Nia Jax got in the ring. She headbutted Rhea Ripley. She gave an apron leg drop to a draping Rhea. Nia then stood tall after a Bonsai Drop to Rhea. The crowd booing Nia as she stood tall.
Overall…
WWE Raw on Sept 11 2023 provided a very storyline advancing heavy show. While building to the main event, we saw development throughout the show between Jey Uso and Kevin Owens, Jey and Drew McIntyre and Jey and Finn Balor. The story between Chad Gable and Gunther is continuing as well. The intriguing new alliance of Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark was advanced as well. Seth and Shinsuke are doing great work to continue their feud between the video package and Seth’s promo about embracing his true self. Drew McIntyre, while challenging Jey to a match next week, is gaining that edge/chip on his shoulder back. This show flowed really well.
While the matches that got the time delivered and were very solid, the fact is a third of the matches were squash matches. The crowd was very good throughout the entire night and the show structure flowed really well from start to finish. Especially with the developments of Jey Uso being placed throughout the night aside from the opening promo and first match.
Matches: 0.50/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere…: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 1/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3.75/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE – Sept 11 2023For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
