WWE Raw Results 11/20 - Drew McIntyre Speaks, WarGames Advantage Match & More
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE Raw" on November 20, 2023, coming to you live from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan!
Last week, Drew McIntyre shocked the world when he helped Finn Balor and Damian Priest retain the Undisputed Tag Team Championship against Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso after he caught Jey with a Claymore Kick on the outside. Prior to that, he had been spotted secretly chatting with Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley. In light of such recent events, McIntyre has something to share in the opening moments of the show.
The team with the advantage in the Men's WarGames match will be determined, as one member from Judgment Day's team and one member from Rhodes, Jey, Seth "Freakin" Rollins, and Sami Zayn's team will go one-on-one. The winner ensures that members of their team will be allowed to enter the WarGames match first.
Becky Lynch and Xia Li have encountered one another on several occasions, with tensions building between the pair over the past few weeks. Tonight, they look to settle their differences as they square off with one another. Elsewhere in the women's division, Raquel Rodriguez will be facing Nia Jax following a backstage confrontation with one another.
Additionally, Chad Gable looks to pick up a win over Shinsuke Nakamura one night before he takes on Noam Dar for the "NXT" Heritage Cup. The aforementioned Ripley and Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER are also advertised to be in town tonight, per WWE's event page.
We are live! The show kicks off with a video recapping what happened during last week's main event.
Michael Cole and Wade Barrett greet audiences at home as Drew McIntyre waits in the ring.
We Hear From Drew McIntyre
Boos rain down on McIntyre as he explains that he's the most upset about himself. He says he's been the same person he's been all this time, and says if you're a fan of his, then he doesn't need to explain himself. He says he gave Jey Uso something he never could give him, and tells Jey that despite wanting an apology from him, he never gave anyone backstage an apology of his own. McIntyre calls Cody Rhodes "collateral damage" and questions why he should get over The Bloodline costing him the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WWE Clash of the Castle last year. He talks about all the sacrifices he's made in the sixteen years he's been away from Scotland, then says Jey and his family took that away from him. He says that should be everyone's focus, but instead, everyone is focused on whether or not he's a member of Judgment Day. He formally declares that he is not a member of their group, but says he will be on their team in the Men's WarGames match at WWE Survivor Series. He says Rhea Ripley provided him with an opportunity to meet Jey in a cage.
Jey's music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He tells McIntyre he needs to let it go and hops up on the apron as Judgment Day does the same on the other side to provide McIntyre with some backup.
Seth "Freakin" Rollins, Sami Zayn, and Rhodes then make their way down to the ring to even the odds, but before anything turns physical, Adam Pearce intervenes and says no one is fighting outside of the WarGames advantage match. He says that if anyone becomes physical with each other, then they lose the advantage for the team. He tells Rollins, Zayn, Rhodes, and Jey that they need to pick the fifth member of the team by the end of the night, and says by 9:00 pm, he needs to know which member of each team will be competing in the WarGames advantage match. McIntyre exits the ring, and Judgment Day follows suit.
Nia Jax then makes her way down to the ring.
Back from the break, we head backstage to Judgment Day's lounge. Damian Priest expresses his frustrations with not being consulted about Drew McIntyre being added to Judgment Day's WarGames tag team, and Rhea Ripley apologizes for not letting him know. Priest suggests himself as the member of his team to take part in the WarGames advantage match, and Ripley tells him to wait until McIntyre arrives so they can all discuss it together.
Back at ringside, Raquel Rodriguez heads down.
Nia Jax vs. Raquel Rodriguez
The bell rings and Rodriguez delivers a boot to Jax' face. She fires off shoulders on her midsection, but Jax sends her crashing into the mat with a uranage. Rodriguez fires off strikes, but Jax stays on her feet. Rodriguez then sends her crashing to the outside and delivers a crossbody off the apron. Jax sends her crashing into the barricade spine first and gets her up on her shoulders before tossing her into the barricade.
Back from the break, Jax uses the ring post to target Rodriguez's spine. She locks in a Cobra Clutch, but Rodriguez makes her way up to her feet to escape and sends Jax crashing into the mat spine first. She looks to level Jax with a clothesline, but Jax stays standing on her feet and connects with a headbutt. Rodriguez responds with a big boot and a corkscrew elbow, then looks to get Jax up on her shoulders. Jax escapes and lands a running senton, then drags Rodriguez over to the corner. Rodriguez gets back on her feet and looks to powerbomb Jax, but Jax counters into a senton. She follows it up with a second senton from the middle rope for the win.
Winner: Nia Jax
Back from the break, we head back over to Judgment Day's lounge. Drew McIntyre shows up and tells Priest he hears that he wants to be the one competing in the advantage match. Ripley points out that Priest is the leader of their WarGames team, and McIntyre puts his hat in the ring to be the competitor. The two get into a verbal exchange, but Priest backs down and offers the match to McIntyre. Ripley asks Priest if he's sure and Priest says he is, as it provides McIntyre with an opportunity to show his worth.
We then head over to a video recapping everything that's led up to the Women's WarGames match thus far.
Back at ringside, Becky Lynch heads down.
Back from the break, we see Seth "Freakin" Rollins, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, and Cody Rhodes discussing which one of them should comepte in the WarGames advantage match later tonight. Jey volunteers to step up, and although Rollins is reluctant, he agrees to let him be the one. Zayn then addresses their fifth teammate and asks Rhodes if "SmackDown" roster members are off limits. Rhodes says they aren't, and Zayn says he has an idea. Rollins says he has a couple ideas himself, and Rhodes says he'll make a call to someone who he knows would come through.
Back at ringside, Xia Li heads down as we see Lyra Valkyria in the crowd to watch the action.
Becky Lynch vs. Xia Li
The bell rings and the two lock up. Li lands a shoulder tackle, but Lynch trips her and connects with a chop. She follows it up with a pair of arm drags and a right hand off the apron, then sends her face bouncing off the apron and gets her back in.
Back from the break, Lynch executes a jawbreaker and a pair of right hands. Li fires back with one of her own, but Lynch lands several rapid fire ones and a boot on her midsection. She follows it up with a flying shoulder tackle and a splash in the corner, then delivers the Bexploder. Li sends her crashing into the middle rope face first and delivers a roundhouse kick to her head, but Lynch cinches in an Arm Bar. Li escapes and gets Lynch up on her shoulders, then executes an Airplane Spin.
The two women find themselves teetering on the top rope, where Lynch fires off rapid fire right hands on Li. She hits a superplex and sets up for the Man Handle Slam, but Li escapes and dumps her out of the ring. She joins her out there, and Lynch sends her crashing into the ring post face first. Lynch and Li get back inside the ring and fire off right hands on one another before Lynch plants Lee with the Man Handle Slam for the win.
Winner: Becky Lynch
After the match, Damage CTRL makes their way to the ring through the crowd. Charlotte Flair, Shotzi, and Bianca Belair blindside them, and all eight women begin to brawl. Security runs down to the ringside area to separate everyone from one another, and Lynch, Belair, Flair, and Shotzi end up standing tall in the ring.
We head backstage and see Ludwig Kaiser tell Giovanni Vinci to stay in the back during his upcoming match against Johnny Gargano. Kaiser and Gargano (along with Tommaso Ciampa) then make their way out to ringside.
Ludwig Kaiser vs. Johnny Gargano (w/ Tommaso Ciampa)
The bell rings and the two lock up. Gargano delivers a chop, but Kaiser sends him crashing into the mat and delivers a right hand to his spine. He lands a second one on his head, but Gargano catches him with a kick. Kaiser hits an overhand chop, but Gargano delivers a step-up enzuigiri. Kaiser sits Gargano on the top turnbuckle and hits an enzuigiri of his own, but Gargano catches him with an avalanche hurricanrana and delivers a kick that sends him crashing out of the ring. He looks to go flying, but Kaiser catches him with a right hand and follows it up with a running uppercut.
Back from the break, Gargano gets Kaiser up on his shoulders on the apron. Kaiser escapes and slides back into the ring, then catches Gargano with a strike and looks to level him. Gargano catches him with a spear and a tope suicida on the outside, then looks for a DDT as he gets back in the ring. Kaiser gets him up on his shoulders to counter, but Gargano escapes and lands a kick to his head. He delivers a Tornado DDT off the middle rope and sits Kaiser on the top turnbuckle, but Kaiser delivers a kick to his face.
Kaiser plants Gargano with a running senton as Giovanni Vinci appears at ringside. Kaiser tells him to go to the back, opening the door for Gargano to hit a kick and a DDT for the win.
Winner: Johnny Gargano
Back from the break, we head over to Judgment Day's lounge, where Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio run into Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler hanging out. A verbal exchange then ensues between Ripley and Stark.
Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell make their way down to the ring. Tegan Nox, Natalya, Kayden Carter, Katana Chance, Maxxine Dupri and Ivy Nile follow.
Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell vs. Tegan Nox and Natalya vs. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance vs. Maxxine Dupri and Ivy Nile in a Number One Contenders Match for the Women's Tag Team Championship
Chelsea Green and Piper Niven join the announce desk as Nule and Natalya begin the action. The bell rings and Natalya delivers a boot to Nile's midsection. She tags in Nox, and Nox lands a kick on her chest. Natalya tags back in, and Nile delivers a pair of kicks on her thighs. Dupri tags in and rolls Natalya up, but Natalya kicks out. Dupri delivers a drop toe hold before Nile tags back in and gets caught with a Side Russian Leg Sweep by Natalya. Hartwell tags herself in, and Nile looks to roll her up. Hartwell stays on her feet and delivers a bodyslam, then delivers an uppercut. LeRae tags in and double teams on Nile with Hartwell, but Carter tags herself in and beats LeRae down. Chance becomes legal and double teams on LeRae with Carter, then tags Carter back in. Nox and Natalya get in the ring, and Carter and Chance dump the to the outside. Carter then goes flying off the top ro level them, and everyone starts beating down one another on the outside. Dupri delivers a crossbody off the middle rope to take everyone down.
Back from the break, Natalya tags in and delivers shoulder tackles to Chance and Carter. She pins Chance, but Chance kicks out. Natalya plants her with a Michinoku Driver, then sits her on the top turnbuckle and climbs up to join her. Carter looks to help out her partner, but Nox takes her down and joins Natalya on the ropes. Nile pulls Nox and Natalya off the ropes, and Carter levels her with a thrust kick. She gets Natalya and Nox in position, and assists Chance in flying off her shoulders. Chance goes for a pin, but everyone on the apron breaks the fall. Nile takes down Hartwell with a step-up enzuigiri, but Nox sends her crashing on top of Hartwell. LeRae delivers a kick to Carter after she takes her down, and Chance levels LeRae with a kick.
Natalya slides back in the ring and locks in a Sharpshooter on Chance. Nile breaks the hold with a bulldog to Natalya, and Dupri tags herself in. Dupri delivers a pair of bodyslams to the now legal Nox and hits The Caterpillar, then follows it up with a Northern Lights suplex and goes for a pin. Nox kicks out and Dupri delivers a splash to her in the corner. Nile tags in and tags back out to Dupri. The pair then deliver a double suplex to Nox and ascend to the top. Natalya pulls Nile off, but Dupri stays standing and looks to hit a crossbody. Nox rolls her up for the win.
Winner (and new Number One Contenders): Tegan Nox and Natalya
We head backstage and see GUNTHER catch up with Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci. GUNTHER asks Kaiser to explain himself, and Kaiser says he told Vinci to stay backstage. GUNTHER tells Kaiser that he never listens, and says he really thought Kaiser could uphold the prestige of Imperium. He applauds Vinci's efforts, then says he thinks he put the wrong person in charge. He tells Kaiser to watch how he handles The Miz in the ring.
Miz then makes his way out to ringside.
GUNTHER and The Miz Meet In The Ring
Miz says he wants to talk about one word he feels the pro wrestling industry is about: respect. He says respect for the stars in the ring and respect from the fans, but there is someone who lacks respect and that is GUNTHER.
GUNTHER's music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He tells Miz that it's not that there's a lack of respect, but rather that he has no respect for him. He tells him that he doesn't understand the ring is for fighting because he's an entertainer, and Miz says he's proud of being an entertainer because he gets it done in and out of the ring. He says many Superstars of the past he looks up to have held the Intercontinental Championship, and he hoped and prayed to hold that same title. He says the reason his heroes are remembered is because they aren't a one note robot like GUNTHER, and says he's been knocked down from the top of the mountain time and time again. He says he's been able to reinvent himself countless times, and that's what makes an entertainer immortal. He says that's what elevates the legacy of the Intercontinental Championship, and he will do whatever it takes to win. He says no one knows much about GUNTHER, and that won't change until he hits the bottom when everyone can find out if he deserves their respect. He tells GUNTHER that if he doesn't understand that, then he will beat it into him.
GUNTHER says everyone thinks he will be facing Miz at Survivor Series, but he sees through him and he will be facing Mike Mizanin. He says all his heroes bullied him to make him understand that he doesn't belong in pro wrestling on top of him already being taunted in high school, and says twenty years later, nothing has changed. He tells Miz he belongs with the fans, and says he hasn't been bullied enough. He shoves Miz repeatedly and tells him to do something, and Miz fires off strikes on him. GUNTHER connects with a big boot, then holds him in place, forcing him to look at his title and taunts him. Miz low blows GUNTHER to escape his grasp, then lands a Skull Crushing Finale. He grabs GUNTHER's title and holds it up as he stands tall.
Shinsuke Nakamura then heads down to the ring. Alpha Academy follows.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Chad Gable (w/ Alpha Academy)
The bell rings and the two lock up. They go back and forth exchanging submission holds with one another before Gable delivers a Dragon Screw to Nakamura. Nakamura fires back with an enzuigiri as Gable sits on the top turnbuckle, but Gable dumps Nakamura out of the ring and delivers a cannonball off the apron.
Back from the break, Nakamura delivers a knee to Gable's midsection as he's draped over the top turnbuckle. He follows it up with a flying knee off the middle turnbuckle, but Gable manages to cinch in an Ankle Lock. Nakamura escapes and Gable plants him on the mat face first. He ascends to the top and hits a flying headbutt, then goes for a pin. Nakamura kicks out and exposes the top turnbuckle, then sets up for a Kinshasa. Gable reverses into a German suplex and ascends to the top, then looks for a moonsault. Nakamura gets his knees up and looks for a Kinshasa, but Gable avoids it and cinches in an Ankle Lock. Nakamura escapes and looks to send Gable crashing into the exposed turnbuckle. Gable puts a stop to his momentum, but this opens the door for Nakamura to roll him up for the win.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Drew McIntyre then makes his way down to the ring.
Back from the break, we head backstage and see Sami Zayn chatting with Seth "Freakin" Rollins and Cody Rhodes. Zayn and Rollins say that their ideas didn't pan out, but Rhodes reveals that his did and the person he called is in.
Back at ringside, Jey Uso heads down.
Drew McIntyre vs. Jey Uso - Winner Receives WarGames Advantage For Their Team
The bell rings and the pair stare one another down before exchanging right hands with one another. McIntyre lands a stomp, then delivers a right hand to the side of Jey's jaw and follows it up with a back elbow. Jey then sends McIntyre crashing out of the ring and goes flying to level him before sending him crashing into the ring post face first.
Back from the break, McIntyre delivers a chop to Jey. Jey responds with several right hands and an enzuigiri, then follows it up with a crossbody off the top rope and looks to go flying to level McIntyre on the outside. McIntyre catches him with a right hand, then sends him crashing into the barricade and the ring apron. He gets Jey back inside the ring, and Jey catches him with an enzuigiri. He lands a shoulder on his midsection, but McIntyre knocks him back out of the ring and follows him. He sends him crashing over the announce desk.
Back from another break, Jey fires off strikes on McIntyre. He follows it up with a superkick and a Samoan Drop. McIntyre ascends to the top, but Jey moves out of the way. McIntyre manages to hit a neckbreaker and kips up, then sets up for the Claymore Kick. Jey catches him with a superkick and ascends to the top, but McIntyre trips him and hits a Future Shock DDT for the win.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
After the match, McIntyre drags Jey out of the ring and clears the announce desk. He looks to send Jey crashing through it as Ripley appears at ringside. Jey fights his way out and grabs a chair, but the rest of Judgment Day blindsides him and attacks him. Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, and Seth "Freakin" Rollins then run down to the ring with chairs in hand to help Jey out and send Judgment Day tumbling to the outside. Rhodes grabs a mic and says he's glad Judgment Day has the advantage. He says they found a fifth member of their team, someone that he has a legacy with and is an A-Pex Predator. The crowd started cheering for Randy Orton, and Rhodes tells Judgment Day they aren't hearing voices in their head because the crowd is right.