3 Positive Takeaways From WWE Raw – 11th September 2023
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.’s weekly review of “WWE Raw”, the show that fans worldwide can’t seem to resist, regardless of the season. The mid-September Monday night episode of “Raw” was notably lengthy, leaving viewers feeling every tick of the clock. The anticipation was palpable; this episode marked the end of the McMahon ownership era. The Wrestling Inc. crew, like many, had mixed feelings. Some moments left them indifferent, such as Nia Jax’s return. But as with any episode of WWE, there are moments to love, and the crew has pinpointed three standouts.
The opening segment set the stage. It began with Jey Uso and Kevin Owens, a scene all too familiar to WWE fans. The predictability of the event was a drawback; as Judgment Day entered, it was clear where the storyline would lead. The impending match against Uso and Owens was foreseen, as was the result, with Judgment Day’s win emerging due to Uso and Owens’ lack of teamwork. Yet, this narrative arc still has much to offer. It is the continuation of the emotional narrative that started the previous week with Sami Zayn’s forgiveness toward Jey. Kevin Owens’ promo highlighted his understanding of redemption and that Jey still had a lot to achieve. Owens’ decision to give Jey a chance, only to face disappointment, fit perfectly. The entire sequence adds depth to Jey’s story, making every bit of sense. This was a refreshing contrast to the rather convoluted storyline surrounding his brother on “SmackDown”.
However, it wasn’t just Jey’s narrative that intrigued fans. Drew McIntyre, a staple of WWE, surprised viewers with a new twist to his character. Encounters with Xavier Woods and Jey Uso set the tone for future storylines. McIntyre’s face-off with Woods led to a match which he won, and the animosity with Uso foreshadows an upcoming bout. With prior episodes building tension between McIntyre, Kofi Kingston, and Matt Riddle, there’s a significant indication of what might come next: a potential heel turn for McIntyre. This shift is timely. Since his victory at the Royal Rumble match in January 2020, McIntyre’s character had remained fairly consistent. His menace, despite his role as the ‘good guy’, has been palpable. But with the hints dropped during the recent episode, fans can expect McIntyre to unleash the darker, heel side of his character soon.
Apart from these two intriguing storylines, there was another aspect that salvaged the episode: the riveting face-offs between Chad Gable and GUNTHER. Their interactions injected life into what was otherwise perceived as a humdrum episode. GUNTHER’s championship celebration speech took a twist when he accused Gable of being an inadequate father, leading to Gable’s fierce retaliation. The subsequent brawls culminated in a six-man tag match that can arguably be called the highlight of the evening. With Gable securing a win over Imperium, the path seems set for a fourth face-off between GUNTHER and Gable for the Intercontinental title. Speculations are rife that Gable might finally get his due, given that GUNTHER now holds the record previously secured by the Honky Tonk Man. But the episode left some unanswered questions, mainly revolving around Tommaso Ciampa’s sudden alignment with Gable. The unexpected pairing led to wild speculations, with some hoping for a return of Johnny Gargano, possibly as a heel.
In summary, while the episode had its lows, it certainly wasn’t devoid of highs. From Jey’s continuing redemption arc and Drew McIntyre’s potential character twist to the thrilling Gable-GUNTHER rivalry, WWE Raw left fans with enough to ponder and look forward to. As the McMahon era draws to a close, there’s a unanimous hope that the WWE universe continues to serve episodes as layered and complex as this one.
