The November 18th, 2019 episode of WWE RAW aired live from the TD Garden in Boston, MA. In addition to the takeaways below, it was announced that the WWE Championship match between Lesnar and Mysterio will be a No Holds Barred Match at the PPV this Sunday. Heyman broke the news in a backstage promo while wearing a Yankees tie.
Here are 5 takeaways from the show:
Baszler, Duke & Shafir Sent A Message To Team RAW
RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch kicked off the show and said that she doesn’t give a bollocks about brand supremacy. Lynch added that she was ready for a fight and that they didn’t need to wait until Sunday.
The IIConics interrupted and complained about being left off of the RAW women’s Survivor Series team. Becky wanted to fight them both by herself but Charlotte Flair joined the party. Flair told Becky that she didn’t want to tag with Lynch either but the forces want them together.
Charlotte noted that she will leading the women’s team for RAW at Survivor Series and made her way to the open. Samoa Joe came down to the entrance ramp to a great reaction from the crowd as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, he match was underway as Samoa Joe joined commentary. The IIconics dominated the match early and isolated Charlotte Flair in the ring. Flair battled back and locked in the Figure Eight on Billie Kay. Becky hit Peyton with the Exploder Suplex as Billie Kay tapped out.
After the match, Shayna Baszler, Marina Shafir, and Jessamyn Duke attacked The IIconics. Flair and Becky rushed the ring but Shayna, Marina, and Jessamyn beat them down before exiting through the crowd. Becky and Charlotte tried to run after them but security got in the way. Lynch punched one of them in the face and he fell to the ground as RAW went to a break.
Lana Filed For Divorce & A Restraining Order Against Rusev
Bobby Lashley squared off against No Way Jose tonight on RAW. Before the match, Lana announced that she has filed for divorce as the crowd chanted “Rusev Day!”. Lana also gave Rusev a temporary restraining order and that he cannot come within 90 miles of her.
Lashley applied a Headlock but Jose escaped and blew Lana a kiss. Bobby got pissed off and leveled Jose with a shoulder tackle. Bobby then locked in a Full Nelson and Jose passed out to end the match. Lana and Lashley then made out after the match.
Seth Rollins Is Still The Captain Of Team RAW
Seth Rollins battled Andrade tonight on RAW. If Andrade won the match, he would replace Rollins and become the captain of the RAW men’s team at Survivor Series. Andrade controlled the bout early and applied a Headlock.
Rollins escaped and the two superstars locked up in the middle of the ring. Rollins wrestled Andrade to the canvas and applied a Headlock of his own. Seth connected with a Dropkick and went for the cover but Andrade kicked out at one. Vega distracted Rollins on the apron and Andrade capitalized as RAW went to a break.
Rollins connected with a Slingblade and followed it up with a Blockbuster off the second rope. Seth went for the Buckle Bomb but Andrade escaped and hit Double Knees in the corner.
Seth battled back and hit the Buckle Bomb and followed it up with a Superkick for a near fall. Andrade hit three Suplexes in a row and went for the cover but Rollins was able to kick out at the last moment. Seth hit another Superkick and then the Falcon Arrow for a two count. Lucha House Party then attacked Rollins and the match ended in DQ. Rollins and Andrade fought them off and Seth complimented Andrade following the match.
Rollins and Andrade had a solid match tonight and it was desperately needed because RAW did not get off to a good start. Rollins also cut a brief backstage promo tonight in which he placated to the Boston crowd and complimented Tom Brady and the Patriots. He still received a mixed reaction from the crowd and it will be interesting to see how WWE handles this going forward.
Triple H Tried To Recruit Kevin Owens To NXT
Kevin Owens battled Drew McIntyre tonight on RAW. Owens connected with a Cannonball and knocked McIntyre to the outside. Owens chased after him but McIntyre was ready and sent Kevin flying into the barricade as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, McIntyre connected with a Powerslam and went for a cover but Owens kicked out at two. Owens sent McIntyre to the outside and leveled him with a Cannonball off the apron.
Drew hit Owens with a headbutt but Kevin battled back with a Superkick. McIntyre planted Owens with an awesome Death Valley Driver on the apron and Kevin crashed to the floor outside the ring.
Owens got back into the ring at the last second and walked into a Powerbomb for a near fall. Owens connected with a Frog Splash and went for the cover but McIntyre was able to kick out. Kevin followed it up with a Pop-Up Powerbomb but McIntyre somehow kicked out once again.
Kevin climbed to the top rope and went for a Swanton Bomb but Drew got his knees. McIntyre geared up in the corner and went for the Claymore but Owens countered into a Superkick. Owens went for a Stunner but Drew countered into the Claymore Kick.
McIntyre went for the cover but Owens got his foot on the bottom rope to break it up. Owens then hit the Stunner and both superstars fell to the canvas. Owens crawled over and went for the cover but McIntyre was able to get his foot on the ropes.
Drew planted Owens with a DDT and went for the cover but once again Kevin was able to kick out at the last moment as the crowd chanted “this is awesome!”. Owens connected with another Stunner and was about to go for the cover but Triple H interrupted and RAW went to a commercial break.
Triple H stated that magic happens in this building in Boston. Triple H brought up how Owens brought the NXT Championship to RAW and defeated John Cena. He pointed out that Owens legitimized NXT. Triple H pointed out that Kurt Angle and Shane McMahon fired Owens in the past and that Kevin belongs in NXT.
Triple H pointed out that NXT superstars on the entrance ramp are just here to ensure that they can have this conversation. He added that none of Owens’ teammates have come out from backstage to help him is because they don’t give a damn about him and that NXT is the A-brand now.
The RAW locker room rushed the ring and a brawl broke out. Undisputed Era attakced Owens until more RAW superstars rushed the ring. The NXT locker room retreated through the crowd to end the segment.
While I enjoyed the Triple H promo and the brawl, I was absolutely furious that this match didn’t have a conclusion. McIntyre and Owens had a PPV worthy match tonight that just ended because Triple H came down to the ring. There had to a better way to handle this segment than getting everyone invested in a match, only to end because Triple H decided to come to the ring. I just enjoyed this segment but wanted a conclusion to the match because it was that good.
RAW Ended In A Massive Brawl
The Viking Raiders defended their RAW Tag Team Championships tonight on RAW. Randy Orton cut a backstage promo earlier in the show and said he was going to pick a partner for a match against the Viking Raiders in the main event.
Ricochet was revealed to be Orton’s partner and started out the match with Erik. Ricochet connected with a Dropkick that sent Erik to the outside. Ricochet tried to flip onto Erick but he got caught. Randy made the save and slammed Erik onto the apron.
Team SmackDown was shown attacking the RAW locker room backstage as the show went to a commercial break. When RAW returned, Orton had Erik in a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Ivar and Ricochet tagged in and Ricochet hit an Enziguri. Orton tagged back in and planted Ivar with a DDT.
Orton set up for the RKO but Team SmackDown interrupted and rushed the ring. A brawl broke out and another match ended in a DQ. Team SmackDown beat Orton and Ricochet down and then did the same to the Viking Raiders. Orton, Ricochet, and the Viking Raiders battled back and knocked Team SmackDown to the outside.
Team NXT then rushed the ring and attacked Team SmackDown. Several more members of Team NXT then surrounded Team RAW in the ring. Orton hit an RKO but Undisputed Era beat him down in the corner. Seth Rollins and the rest of Team RAW rushed the ring and a massive brawl broke out.
Triple H then showed up on the jumbotron and stated that NXT will show the world that the best brand in WWE at Survivor Series. Triple H added that he is going to leave the doors wide open for any superstar from RAW and SmackDown to show up this Wednesday night on NXT.
This week’s episode of RAW was a fun show that had some entertaining matches. It was a bit ridiculous how many of them ended with either Team NXT or Team SmackDown invading. Having said that, Survivor Series is still shaping up to be a must-watch PPV. Also, Samoa Joe was excellent tonight on commentary.