WWE Raw: September 4, 2023 – Results & Videos – Charlotte, North Carolina/ USA
WWE Raw at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, nearly sold out with 8,200 fans!
Two days after “Payback” GUNTHER’s Intercontinental Championship and the 35-year IC all-time record of the Honky Tonk Man should be at stake.
Also, the arrival of WWE’s newest Raw star was expected: Jey Uso. For this reason, among others, the Raw intro has received an update.
Jey Uso is there on Monday Night RAW
A relieved Jey Uso said he had only been gone a few weeks. But it had felt much longer. The fight within his own family had broken him. Then, unexpectedly, came the call from Cody Rhodes – with the news that Jey could start Monday.
Sami Zayn played greeter, “It’s true: There are a lot of people behind the scenes who have a problem with you being here right now. But I’m happy to see you here. You’ve finally managed to break free. Now you are truly ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso.”
Zayn declared that he was proud of Jey and held out his hand. Uso didn’t respond to the handshake at first. “That wasn’t very ucey, was it?” asked Jey – and both men hugged to the delight of the fans.
Seth Rollins attacked after “Payback”!
On WWE “Payback,” Shinsuke Nakamura lost to World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
Shin: “I underestimated how attached you are to the title. But I was the one still standing on my feet at the end of the night.” Nakamura was alluding to an attack he made on Rollins after the match (following the live broadcast).
WWE official Adam Pearce was now wondering about Seth Rollins’ presence on Raw. “You don’t have a doctor’s clearance,” Pearce said backstage.
Ricochet interfered. He continued to look for big opportunities after his SummerSlam match against Logan Paul. Ricochet wanted to help Seth keep the show going, he said.
Viking Raiders win after a mistake by Kofi Kingston
Drew McIntyre was the first WWE Raw star to be critical of Jey Uso’s arrival. As Jey and Drew exchanged glances, Sami pulled his Uso friend out of the line of fire.
Drew had other things to worry about, though: now McIntyre and Matt Riddle were looking to settle a score with the Viking Raiders after the events surrounding The New Day the previous week.
•Tornado Tag Team Match:
The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) defeated Drew McIntyre & Matt Riddle in a tornado tag team match with the Ragnarok against Riddle through a table
Under tornado tag team rules, anything went in the first match on WWE Raw. The four men fought at the same time.
Drew McIntyre – lying on the arena floor – suffered a heavy hit when Ivar landed on him with a Big Splash from the commentary desk.
Now Valhalla interfered against Riddle. That opened up the opportunity for the Viking Raiders to set up their Ragnarok finisher. Riddle was to be attacked through a table with the action.
But Kofi Kingston showed up, whose partner Xavier Woods had suffered an injury the previous week.
Kingston’s help, however, went awry: He accidentally hit Riddle with his Trouble in Paradise. As a result, the Viking Raiders grabbed Kofi and threw him at Drew like a dart.
This cleared the way for the Ragnarok: Matt crashed through the table – and the Viking Raiders took the victory.
A hot-headed Drew McIntyre got into it with Kofi Kingston backstage later in the evening. McIntyre was reluctant to believe that Kofi had just made a mistake. Kingston at the same time questioned whether Drew’s throw with the chair Woods had gotten off the previous week just happened. Drew: “We’ll see if any more ‘accidents’ happen!”
Shinsuke Nakamura doesn’t accept rematch on WWE Raw
The World Heavyweight Champion spoke to the crowd! Seth Rollins was clearly happy to continue holding the title.
Seth: “But that night my wife had to push me out of the arena in a wheelchair.”
Nakamura’s attack wasn’t going to stand Rollins up and give him a rematch later today.
Shinsuke came into the arena, but to a straight rematch he said, “No!”
Seth could not believe this and was annoyed. In the entrance area, both men clashed. Nakamura went for Rollins’ back again.
First Ricochet interfered, then many officials followed. And while WWE decider Adam Pearce made sure Rollins wouldn’t have a match today, Ricochet got a chance to prove himself against Nakamura. Pearce to Rollins: “I’m just trying to help you out!”
Nakamura later clarified in a clip that he would decide for himself when he wanted to face Seth again.
Damage done against the World Heavyweight Champion Rollins
•Singles Match:
Ricochet def. Shinsuke Nakamura by disqualification
This match did not end satisfactorily: as both men were fighting outside the ring, Ricochet kicked his opponent behind the barrier by the timekeeper.
Nakamura grabbed a chair and slammed into Ricochet. Immediately the disqualification was called.
Shinsuke did not care. He now even clamped the chair around Ricochet’s neck and wanted to bring a particularly brutal Kinshasa.
Seth Rollins came running to prevent that. A brawl broke out: The World Champion finally delivered a dive over the ropes on Shinsuke and several security guards.
Nakamura was able to hurl Seth against the ring steps and land more hits against his rival’s head. Ricochet came running in with a chair to dislodge the Japanese superstar, but the damage against Seth was already done.
Money in the Bank holder Damian Priest caught this as well, watching the developments on a backstage monitor with Rhea Ripley.
Sami Zayn doesn’t let Title loss get to him
Judgment Day showed itself as a unit again after the many problems. No wonder, they had reason to be happy after defeating Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens at “Payback”.
Rhea Ripley: “Only one thing bothers me a lot – the talk about Jey Uso. In my opinion, the Bloodline fell a long time ago. Now Judgment Day is the dominant faction in WWE.”
The victory celebration was interrupted by JD McDonagh, which Damian Priest didn’t like at first. But when McDonagh presented “Senor Money in the Bank” with a new MITB case in the Judgment Day look, the joy was great.
Sami Zayn, meanwhile, had heard enough. He told Judgment Day he wasn’t going to let the title loss stand. Zayn wanted to spank “Dirty” Dom Mysterio instead. But JD McDonagh pushed his way to the forefront and said he wanted to fight Zayn instead.
“Nobody deserves to get their ass kicked more,” Zayn told JD, accepting the offer.
Baszler and Stark pay respect to each other after tough fight
Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler clashed during a backstage interview. Stark recalled that there was unfinished business as to which of the two was the “baddest woman” in WWE.
•Singles Match:
Shayna Baszler def. Zoey Stark via TKO after the Kirifuda Clutch
Shayna Baszler prevented Stark’s Z360 in this match.
Baszler was able to apply the Kirifuda Clutch instead. Stark fought the action and even got back to his feet.
But Shayna held on to her grip – and Stark ran out of steam. The victory was awarded to Baszler by technical knockout.
After the match, there was a mutual show of respect. Is a tag team future possibly conceivable?
Raquel Rodriguez has news for Rhea Ripley
WWE official Adam Pearce mentioned to Chelsea Green that her tag team partner Piper Niven was not currently on medical clearance. (This is, by all accounts, only for a short period of downtime.) Green’s loose mouth resulted in her having to work on WWE Raw nonetheless.
•Singles Match:
Raquel Rodriguez def. Chelsea Green via Pinfall after the Tejana Bomb
Raquel Rodriguez tried to make up for her loss to Rhea Ripley on “Payback” with a dominant performance.
As Chelsea Green came bouncing off the ropes, she was intercepted by Rodriguez.
Raquel followed up with a massive Clothesline. This was followed by the Tejana Bomb for the win.
Rodriguez stated she would get a rematch against Rhea Ripley next week on WWE Raw. Then, “Dirty” Dom would not be allowed to be at ringside (according to regulation from WWE official Adam Pearce).
The Miz blames John Cena for his “Payback” defeat
The Miz welcomed “John Cena” as a guest on “MizTV”. However, no viewer could really see this Cena, because Miz was talking to an imaginary guest.
“My loss to LA Knight should be erased from the history books,” Miz said. He claimed that Cena had made common cause with Knight.
That’s why Miz called for another match against Knight – without a guest referee.
And against the imaginary “John Cena” Miz also handed out a Skull-Crushing Finale….
WWE official Adam Pearce told Jey Uso that his transfer to Raw will soon see a Superstar move to SmackDown. “That might upset some people here,” Pearce told Jey. When Uso was gone, Tommaso Ciampa wanted to have a conversation with Pearce.
“Dirty” Dom Dom causes next Sami defeat on WWE Raw
Judgment Day debated the possibility of adding JD McDonagh to the group in an internal conversation. But first they wanted to wait and see how his match against Sami Zayn would go. Rhea Ripley still told “Dirty” Dom to keep an eye on the match.
•Singles Match:
JD McDonagh defeats Sami Zayn via Pinfall with a Roll Up
This Dominik Mysterio now interfered in the match between McDonagh and Zayn. JD was pulled out of the line of fire by “Dirty” Dom when things got dicey for him and Sami’s Helluva Kick threatened.
All the hullabaloo was used to McDonagh’s advantage, who was able to roll Zayn in behind for the win.
Sami wanted to take out his frustration on “Dirty” Dom. As he was about to be administered the Helluva Kick, McDonagh interfered again. Mysterio was able to escape from Zayn. But JD ate the Helluva Kick.
Becky Lynch headed to WWE NXT?
There was a hint of the NXT Women’s Title match between Tiffany Stratton and Kiana James on Tuesday at WWE NXT. In addition, the backstage encounter between Stratton and Becky Lynch at “Payback” was shown.
Further, it is implied that “The Man” could be making an appearance at NXT soon. Possibly even this week after Becky was absent from this WWE Raw.
Dominik Mysterio wants Jey Uso at Judgment Day
Dominik Mysterio tried to talk to Jey Uso in the backstage area. “Dirty” Dom said that they both came from broken families and that he could understand him.
“There is no hierarchy at Judgment Day,” Mysterio said. Dom said Jey would be welcomed with open arms at Judgment Day. He should just think about it in peace, he said.
GUNTHER with the W to Intercontinental all-time RECORD
The WWE Intercontinental Championship match had been built up with promos from both men and historical flashbacks to previous IC champions.
There was a good reason for that. Because with a win, Gunther, who won the title on June 10, 2022, would be set to break the previous all-time record held by the Honky Tonk Man this week. The Honky Tonk Man was able to hold the title for 454 days straight between 1987 and 1988 before being defeated by the Ultimate Warrior at SummerSlam 1988.
•WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: GUNTHER (c) retains his Championship against Chad Gable via Pinfall after a hard Lariat
Chad Gable again came within a whisker of a possible title win against the Austrian. He survived GUNTHER’s first Powerbomb and in turn scored with a Superplex, the Diving Headbutt and an Ankle Lock.
The champion broke free of the hold, however. But Chad kept at it and managed another near-fall with the Chaos Theory. Attempting a Moonsault, Gunther pulled up a leg. But the leg grabbed Gable as he landed and transitioned into the Ankle Lock again.
GUNTHER threatened to give up, but then managed to break free with the last of his strength and take Gable into a sleeper hold.
Gable struggled back to his feet, but was pulled to the mat with a suplex in the sleeper hold position.
GUNTHER followed with a powerbomb and a hard lariat for the win!
The fans were disappointed – and Chad Gable’s daughter, watching in the front row, cried at her dad’s defeat.
RECORD! GUNTHER becomes the longest reigning IC champion of all time this week. He knocks the Honky Tonk Man off his throne after 35 years.
Congratulations to the “Ring General” GUNTHER.
-Lenny Wrestling
*Photo courtesy of WWE on X
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