WWE Raw live results: Survivor Series build continues
Date: November 2, 2020
Location: Amway Center in Orlando, FL
The Big Takeaway —
Braun Strowman qualified for Team Raw by beating Sheamus and Keith Lee in a triple threat match (by pinning Sheamus). Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander beat Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods in a non-title match.
Asuka and Matt Riddle were not on the show.
Raw was a mixed bag. There was some good stuff but nothing was terribly noteworthy.
Show Recap —
Tom Phillips welcomed us to the “award-winning and critically acclaimed WWE Thunderdome.”
Randy Orton came out to start the show. They’re pushing that Orton has a lot going on between Drew McIntyre, Bray Wyatt and The Miz (ahead of his match against Roman Reigns).
Orton said he won the championship and proved that he was the best period. He’s better than Edge, Undertaker, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels and definitely better than McIntyre.
Orton said he was better than everyone “in the back” (before saying “excuse me” and using the term “locker room” instead, so “the back” may be a banned term).
Orton called himself a legend. Orton knew he had a target on his back as the champion but didn’t care if it was McIntyre, Miz, Reigns, or the Fiend — he challenged them to come and get it.
Alexa Bliss entered instead. Orton asked her where “he” was. Bliss played innocent while holding up her gloves which read “play” and “pain.” She dropped her hand so only the glove with “pain” was showing and said “he” could be here now.
The lights went red but Wyatt didn’t show. McIntyre appeared instead and he laid out Orton with a Claymore Kick.
Miz and Morrison ran down and Miz wanted to cash in his briefcase. A ref called for the match to start, but before it could, McIntyre came back down and laid them both out.
Charly Caruso caught up to Miz and Morrison in the back. Miz was pissed that McIntyre got in the way of him becoming WWE Champion. Morrison kept yelling “fact” after each thing Miz said. Miz said it was time for a new star on Raw (himself). Morrison challenged McIntyre to a handicap match tonight.
Guitar on a pole match: Jeff Hardy defeated Elias (8:22)
Elias cut a pre-match promo and was about to sing one of his songs but Hardy interrupted.
Hardy climbed the pole but Elias chucked a stool at him, which didn’t look like it hurt at all, and they went to break 80 seconds into the match. Elias was in control until he went for the guitar and Hardy stopped him. Hardy mounted a comeback and hit a Twist of Fate.
Hardy grabbed the guitar, jumped off the top and hit Elias with it. (It didn’t break.) Hardy pinned Elias for the win. Hardy smashed the guitar after the match.
This was as straight-forward a finish to this type of match you’re going to get, which is not a complaint.
Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler defeated Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke to retain the Women’s Tag Team Championships (3:37)
Lana entered to watch the match at ringside.
Brooke and Rose took most of the match before losing. Baszler kept distracting herself by looking at Lana. Brooke seemed to get a nearfall on Baszler early on but it was hard to tell because the camera was focused on Rose taking down Jax.
Baszler had Brooke in the Kirifuda Clutch but simply let go because Lana jumped on the apron. Lana was yelling about nothing in particular it seemed. Baszler got in her face so Brooke applied a roll-up but the ref was distracted by Lana. He eventually counted but Baszler kicked out and kicked Brooke into Lana. Baszler then applied the Kirifuda Clutch for the submission win.
Jax and Baszler looked over at Lana but didn’t do anything to her. This was bad.
Orton told Caruso that it might be time to remind McIntyre who the hunter was with an RKO.
US Champion Bobby Lashley (w/MVP) defeated 24/7 Champion R-Truth in a non-title match (0:57)
Truth did a “comedy” interview before the match and they piped in fake laughing.
Truth tried to reason with Lashley and said it was a non-title match so neither of them needed to get hurt. Truth lied down and offered Lashley to pin him. Lashley went to pick him up but Truth kicked him. Truth hit a few strikes before but Lashley speared him. Lashley applied the Hurt Lock and Truth passed out. Lashley wins.
Lashley put him in the Hurt Lock again after the match. Drew Gulak ran down and tried to pin Truth but Lashley gave him a Dominator and put him in the Hurt Lock. Lashley then placed Gulak on top of Truth and the ref counted to three. Gulak is the new 24/7 champ.
Lucha House Party were in the back and they were about to make their way to the ring but they ran into Jordan Omogbehin. AJ Styles asked if there was a problem. They backed off.
[Second hour]
Sarah Schreiber asked Jax about Lana. Jax didn’t even want to hear her name. It seemed like Jax was going to offer her an ultimatum — leave Team Raw or else — but seemed to change her mind and decided to end her career instead.
AJ Styles promo
Styles mentioned Kevin Owens and Jey Uso qualifying for Team Smackdown and said the rest of their team would likely be just as talented. He said Smackdown was missing the intangibles of a leader, the intangibles that he possesses. Styles called himself the captain of Team Raw.
Styles introduced Sheamus and Keith Lee. Styles put them over before saying he didn’t care who they had to go through on team Smackdown, whether it was Rey Mysterio or Dominik Mysterio or even Angie Mysterio.
Lee said he didn’t agree to make Styles the captain and his large associate wasn’t going to intimidate him. Sheamus agreed with Lee. Sheamus said Styles was running around in the minor leagues while Sheamus was on top in WWE and would never take orders from him. Styles talked about this would mean for his legacy.
Braun Strowman interrupted. Strowman said he was all they needed. Lee said they all qualified and Strowman would have to do the same. Strowman talked about his success in previous Survivor Series matches and mentioned beating Lee “clean.” Strowman also thought he should be captain which Styles didn’t appreciate.
Adam Pearce interrupted. He wanted a qualifying match for Strowman but nobody wanted to face him. Lee took exception to Strowman claiming he beat him “clean” and was about to offer a rematch but Sheamus got in his face and said he was too inexperienced to make his own matches. Sheamus wanted to face Strowman instead.
Styles suggested a triple threat match and Strowman qualifies if he wins. Everyone liked the idea and Pearce made it official.
Triple threat match: Braun Strowman defeated Keith Lee and Sheamus to qualify for Team Raw (14:28)
Styles joined commentary. His associate stood behind him.
Lee hit a flip dive on both opponents early in the match. (He came up short and barely caught Strowman. The back of his head and neck grazed the edge of the ring as well.) Strowman ran over both Sheamus and Lee before clearing off the announce table. Strowman tried a double chokeslam but they fought him off and chucked him into the steel steps.
Styles was amusing on commentary here. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt so he exclaimed, “come on guys, not the stairs!” He also hoped someone won with a roll-up.
They hit Strowman with the steps which sent him over the announce table. Sheamus drove Lee into the post. Lee fought back until Sheamus caught him in a headlock near the barricade. Strowman ran them over through the barricade which led to a break.
There was no follow-up to that spot. Sheamus had Lee in a rest hold after the break. Lee began fighting back but Strowman ran them over and tossed Sheamus around the ring. Sheamus fought back and hit an impressive White Noise for two.
Sheamus went to the top but Strowman went after him. Lee then went underneath and brought down both men, which looked great. Styles yelled, “how’s the ring?”
Lee gave Strowman a running body block for two. Sheamus gave Lee a knee strike for a nearfall. Sheamus set up for a Brogue Kick but Storwman clotheslined him out of the ring. Lee gave Strowman a big clothesline for two.
Sheamus gave Lee a Brogue Kick before Strowman gave Sheamus a powerslam for the pinfall win. Strowman qualifies for Team Raw. Styles was excited. Pretty entertaining match.
Styles entered the ring and applauded everyone. Styles wanted them all to shake hands. Lee and Strowman reluctantly shook hands. Sheamus initially refused to shake Strowman’s hand but hugged him instead.
Sheamus suddenly knocked Strowman out of the ring with a Brogue Kick, Lee tackled Sheamus out of the ring, and Styles dropkicked Lee out of the ring. Styles acted upset that they couldn’t get along. The post-match was hokey.
Angel Garza in a suit offered a rose to a special lady out there in the WWE universe.
They aired a clip from Jimmy Fallon’s show where Undertaker tombstoned a scarecrow.
Caruso interviewed McIntyre. He wanted to be the one to beat Orton and told the Fiend to wait in line. He hoped it would be himself against Reigns at Survivor Series and put that over as a big match. He also looked forward to beating up Miz and Morrison tonight.
Firefly Fun House
Abby the witch didn’t want anything to do with Randy Orton and said he could go **** himself. Bliss said there was no swearing in the funhouse so that would be 10 cents for the swear jar. Abby swore at Bliss so Wyatt made it 25 cents.
Wyatt kept having visions of what Orton did to him in the past. Wyatt said “he” never forgets. Bliss wanted assistance from Wyatt. Wyatt placed his hand on her head. Her eyes turned white and red. Red goo poured out of her mouth. Wyatt said, “oh shit!” That was it.
Tag Team Champion Nia Jax (w/Shayna Baszler) defeated Lana (3:09)
There was a taped promo by Lacey Evans and Peyton Royce. They looked forward to a spot opening up on Team Raw because Lana wouldn’t make it out of this match alive. Lana also did a promo where she said she knew she had to end this.
Jax seemingly had the match won a few times but kept pulling up Lana at the two count. Jax demanded Lana give up but she refused. Jax had enough and gave her a Samoan drop for the pinfall win.
Baszler and Jax went after Lana after the match. Lana tried to fight back but Jax cut her off quickly and put her through the announce table for the seventh time.
Truth limped through the back until he saw Hurt Business. He turned around and went the other way. They laughed.
(During commercials, there was an ad for Survivor Series using the Undertaker’s image, but unless I’ve missed something, they haven’t announced anything involving him on TV.)
MVP’s VIP Lounge
Hurt Business talked about Survivor Series and Lashley threatened to put Sami Zayn to sleep.
MVP said they took out Retribution and it was time for their payment. That payment would come in the form of the tag team titles. Lashley said New Day’s time was up.
New Day interrupted. Xavier Woods thought it was funny that Lashley of all people would say their time was up. Woods was a big fan of Lashley and remembered watching him in grade six. Kofi Kingston laughed and mentioned how long Shelton Benjamin and MVP have been around. He didn’t have much to say about Cedric Alexander.
Kingston called New Day the most decorated tag champs of all time. He didn’t want to toot his own horn but noted that he’s won more titles than the Hurt Business combined. Kingston ran down his title reigns, including one that Lashley has never won, the WWE Championship.
MVP admitted he was proud of Kingston for winning the WWE title but reminded him that he lost it to Brock Lesnar in 8 seconds. MVP thought Lashley could do it even quicker.
Kingston claimed Lana said 8 seconds was all that Lashley could last for. MVP said they were full of jokes. His men were all business and dressed like it, whereas New Day dressed like clowns. MVP said Alexander and Benjamin could beat them for the titles.
Woods was about to call themselves the 10-time champs but Kingston was confused over whether they were 9-time or 10-time champs (because of the recent change in the draft). Either way, they were the champs and would represent Raw at Survivor Series because New Day rocks. Good segment.
Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander defeated Raw Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods in a non-title match
MVP was on commentary and said they wanted the gold of the tag titles. He acknowledged that the belts themselves were not gold but they do represent gold.
Kingston made a hot tag after a break and ran wild on Alexander. He got a couple of two counts until Alexander came back with a Michinoku Driver for two. Benjamin tagged in but Woods tagged himself in too and hit a slingshot DDT for two. Benjamin followed with a spinebuster for two. Woods came off the top with a DDT but Alexander broke up the cover.
Kingston sent Alexander out of the ring but Benjamin stopped him from hitting a dive. Alexander gave Woods a Neuralyzer and Benjamin followed with Paydirt for the pinfall win. The action following the break was good.
Nikki Cross found Bliss in the back. Bliss kept her back turned as Cross tried to plead with her. Cross couldn’t believe she was letting someone else speak for her. Cross forced Bliss to turn around but was shocked upon seeing Bliss’ white and red eyes. The camera zoomed in on Bliss’ face.
(I forgot to mark the beginning of the third hour but I believe it was the VIP Lounge segment.)
Ricochet defeated Tucker (0:37)
Mustafa Ali sauntered out to ringside before the match and watched while standing on the now-repaired announce table.
Ricochet won almost immediately with a Recoil.
(Tucker wore generic black tights with “Knight” on the backside. Before he was introduced, I thought he was just some nameless jobber standing in the ring during Ricochet’s entrance.)
Retribution entered after the match. They chucked Ricochet from the ring before beating up Tucker.
They pushed Ricochet into the ring. He tried to fight them off but they overwhelmed him. T-Bar and Mase gave him a double chokeslam. (Mia Yim was there but didn’t get physically involved.) Ali and Retribution stood tall over Ricochet’s body.
The lights went out as if they were going to break but they actually cut to the back where McIntyre bumped into Sheamus. McIntyre was happy to see him but he had business to take care of. Sheamus said he should join Team Raw which meant they could team again. McIntyre said he would love to team with him again but he was busy with Orton. Sheamus understood. Sheamus wanted him to Claymore kick Miz and shove the briefcase down his throat.
1-on-2 handicap match: Drew McIntyre defeated The Miz & John Morrison (15:32)
McIntyre was in control until Miz chop-blocked him and Morrison followed with a shining wizard for a one count. McIntyre fought back and gave Morrison a reverse Alabama slam on top of Miz on the outside which led to break.
McIntyre was in control but Miz and Morrison managed to double-team him again. They drove him into the post and barricade. Morrison hit an impressive-looking springboard corkscrew splash but barely got a one count.
Morisson went to the top but McIntyre grabbed him and did Seamus’ clubs to the chest spot. Morrison crotched McIntyre but McIntyre managed to sit up and yanked Morrison down with a suplex. Miz made a tag just for McIntyre to run wild on him.
They traded counters until McIntyre hit a spinebuster but Morrison broke up the cover with a standing shooting star. Morrison tagged in and used a neckbreaker for two.
Miz tagged himself in and hit a Skull Crushing Finale for a nearfall. Miz followed with It Kicks but McIntyre shoved him into Morrison. McIntyre followed with a Future Shock DDT. Morrison yanked Miz from the ring so McIntyre wiped them both out with a flip dive.
McIntyre pulled Miz into the ring and hit a Claymore Kick for the pinfall win.
(There was nothing on the line so I’m not sure this kept people’s attention, but this match was much better than I was expecting. It’s perhaps slightly interesting that McIntyre pinned Miz instead of Morrison.)
Predictably, Orton flew in and gave McIntyre (who was warned) an RKO. This is at least the second time that has happened to McIntyre.
The Fiend’s laugh played on the speakers as Orton looked around nervously and they went off the air.