It’s another RAW in a Nutshell, and this week will be all about setting up Survivor Series, if we are betting on it.
I mean, we are well past Crown Jewel, and there is just one more big show left in 2023.
That is why this week should be all about setting up Survivor Series.
Last week’s RAW gave us the start of the women’s WarGames match. SmackDown laid the groundwork for the men’s WarGames clash.
However, neither match is completely locked in. With some open spots and some injured potential participants…there’s some setting up left to be done.
We learned of the SmackDown Women’s Championship match last week. The RAW Women’s Champ is a bit occupied already.
Beyond that? The card is wide open.
Could we see a big United States Championship bout? Based on how last week’s RAW ended…perhaps.
All this points to tonight being another important show, as we need to be setting up Survivor Series.
So…it is time for…
RAW In A Nutshell: Setting Up Survivor Series
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot
Let’s crack open this Nutshell and find out how things go!
Best Match of the night:
Our main event, for a number of reasons.
Balor and Rollins are just two of the best and they brought it.
And while this match had a lot of interference…it all makes sense.
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot
More of Judgement Day and The O.C, which I expect will give us a six man at Survivor Series…if not somehow a traditional match.
And, it was the second brutal beating of the evening delivered by Austin Theory.
Have to think Theory and Rollins tangle for the championship again in a couple weeks, no?
Worst match of the night:
Mia Yim and Tamina was short. Worked to get Mia back on TV, but that’s it.
Star of the Night
Huge nod for Austin Theory. He shed the briefcase and the whole “kid” thing real fast.
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot
Also a nod to Finn and Seth. Strong main event too.
Spot of the Night:
IYO SKY is fun to watch. Heel or not.
IYO SKY @Iyo_SkyWWE pic.twitter.com/JrlVTBReRh
— Sonya Bayley – WWE (@SDevilleLive) November 15, 2022
Jobber of the Night:
Tamina, for one.
Ziggler, for another, but in a good way.
And…have to give Tozawa some love.
Upset of the Night:
Gable, with help, over Riddle.
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
Maybe not completely, but it is a whole new Theory and perhaps now everyone can see why folks backstage were excited by his failed cash in?
Everyone seeing this Theory booking after crucifying HHH for last week #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/IKHVb34UGM
— . (@wwe_chaarlie) November 15, 2022
Theory snapped in a major way, and it makes him almost more dangerous than when he had the briefcase.
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot
Perhaps more dangerous? Maybe.
LOL Moment of the night:
JBL. Poker game.
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot
Need I say more?
Noteworthy Moment:
Some matches for Survivor Series were indeed set up, or at least teased.
AJ Styles challenged Finn Balor…but I feel like maybe that morphs into a traditional Survivor Series match.
For now though, the singles match has been confirmed.
We will also finally get Dexter Lumis versus The Miz. If Lumis wins, he gets his contract and the cash Miz owes him.
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot
Damage Control was looking to convince Mia Yim to join them for WarGames, but she wasn’t interested. They instead landed Rhea Ripley.
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot
Overall lowlights:
Not much to complain about. The football game sucked, but no one is here for that commentary.
The one iffy thing is…so many expected Sasha and Naomi to be the mystery two. It was too neat.
Overall highlights:
So now…do we find out who the fifth for Belair is next week? Or do we get Sasha in her hometown?
If we find out next week…could it be Becky Lynch, or possibly Raquel Rodriguez?
Becky would be a big get, and I suspect she’d due back soon from the injury. It could fit.
I’d almost welcome a surprise NXT call-up here, but I am hoping it’s a good one.
As for the rest? Austin Theory had himself a night, didn’t he?
It’s almost like his briefcase was a pair of creative handcuffs, no? Sure, having a guaranteed shot is big…
But it was a lot of pressure, and a lot of baggage from the prior regime.
It is gone, and it is like Theory has taken off.
After the final bell:
Still some setting up to do, and I suspect more of that will happen on Friday too.
Next week we get the women’s teams battling to see who gets the advantage. Which means we will get something similar, likely on the Friday go-home show too.
Things are not complete yet, but there’s been some good progress.
