Raw Deal - Raw recap for October 2, 2023

The show starts with Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax brawling their way to the ring with referees trying to restore order. Baszler goes for a sleeper, and Nia backs her into the corner before Raquel Rodriguez rights her only to accidentally boot Baszler in the face. Rhea Ripley suddenly shows up for the first time since Nia Jax laid her out to fight Nia, and Raquel starts brawling with Rhea. Security rushes in to restore order, but they get laid out. Rhea then takes the microphone and states that she is back and she is not done, then calls out The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio), saying they need to talk. Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest show up and head to the ring. After the commercial break, Rhea says there is no leader in The Judgment Day, yet everyone has their own responsibilities, and someone needs to come up with a gameplan so that things go their way. She notes things falling apart for The Judgment Day as soon as she is gone, as she is usually the one that keeps everything together and she left that responsibility to Priest. She mentions that Finn Balor is injured and that Priest cannot compete because he is not medically cleared, and also Dominik losing the North American Championship because Priest was not there to help like she told him to. She then says they have "a Cody and Jey problem" because there is tension in The Judgment Day and that they are coming for the tag team titles. Priest says he knows what is going on and that when push comes to shove, he will shove harder, and the way he sees it, he still has his titles and his contract, then ask where Dominik's title is. Rhea tells Dominik that he has a rematch against Trick Williams tonight, and tells him that if he does not come home with the championship, then he had better not even bother coming home. Suddenly, "Main Event" Jey Uso shows up. Jey Uso welcomes Rhea Ripley back, saying everyone missed her and that "there is a new Tribal Chief on Raw and that she has bigger balls than Roman Reigns ever did." Priest says he is tired of hearing Jey open his mouth, then Dominik stops him and reminds him that he is not medically cleared and that he will take care of Jey. Jey Uso superkicks Dominik when Dominik goes for the cheap shot, then JD McDonagh shows up, attacks Jey and helps Dominik. As Dominik calls for the Money In the Bank briefcase, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes shows up and helps Jey fend them off. WWE official Adam Pearce shows up and says The Judgment Day have caused enough chaos, and that this chaos will be taken care of at Fastlane with Cody Rhoes and Jey Uso vs. Finn Balor and Damian Priest for the undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships.

Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci) beats Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) after Vinci grabs Otis' foot as Otis goes for a slam off the middle rope.

It is announced that Becky Lynch is not medically cleared due to an arm injury at No Mercy that required eleven stitches to close. It is announced that Becky Lynch is not medically cleared due to an arm injury at No Mercy that required eleven stitches to close. Backstage, WWE official Adam Pearce talks with Tegan Nox about Becky's injury and their match being postponed, then Cheslea Green tells Tegan to suck it up, saying that she is good yet some people aren't championship material. Tegan Nox proposes a match with Chelsea Green, which Pearce makes official.

"Big" Bronson Reed beats Cedric Alexander.

Backstage, WWE official Adam Pearce is met by Drew McIntyre. McIntyre says he is not doing Miz TV, saying that he did it last week. Pearce mentions that The Miz gave him an open forum to speak, but McIntyre says he will say what he has to say without Miz. When Pearce asks McIntyre if he is okay, McIntyre said that nobody did "the right thing" when The Bloodline were beating him up.

George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers is seen in the front row.

WWE official Adam Pearce oversees a contract for the WWE Intercontinental Championship match between Tommaso Ciampa and Gunther at Fastlane. Ciampa is introduced first, followed by Gunther. Ciampa is about to sign the contract when he tells Gunther that what he is setting out to do is beyond his own imagination and that everything is going to seem a little bit different and that both of them will be the only people who matter. He says that Gunther has been served five-course meals and opportunities while people like him have been served roadkill and asked to turn it into filet, and says that when he faces Gunther, his family will be in the front row to see him make history. Ciampa then says he will be fighting for the five-year-old boy who has dreamed for this moment his entire life, wrestling with his entire heart, and becoming Intercontinental Champion. He then signs the contract. Gunther says this signing is for the most important championship in wrestling today, then says that Ciampa's choice of casual clothes tells him everything he needs to know. He then says that he respects Ciampa for fighting what is near and dear to him and standing up for himself, then states the Intercontinental Championship is what means the most to him for he is the greatest and most glorious reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time. As Gunther tells Ciampa to take one good like at his title, Ciampa says Gunther is confident for someone whose world is about to crumble before telling him to sign the contract. Gunther tells Ciampa not to interrupt him ever again, then tells him to take one good look before he hugs his family and keeps on dreaming, for this is the closest he will ever get to the title. Ciampa notes that Gunther is still to sign the contract and that they don't have to wait until next week or Fastlane when he could tap Ciampa out tonight. Gunther tells Pearce that Ciampa should prove it before signing the contract, then Pearce makes the match official for tonight. Gunther then goes for a cheap shot on Ciampa before Ciampa strikes back. Gunther throws the table out of the ring, but Ciampa throws a ring at Gunther and puts him in the Sicilian Stretch. Gunther rolls out of the ring to break the hold, and Ciampa holds up the Intercontinental Championship in the corner.

Backstage, Damian Priest is irritated with the tag team title match at Fastlane. When JD McDonagh interjects, Rhea Ripley has to calm Priest down, and she and McDonagh agree that they need to use the wedge between Cody and Jey in their favor to get the better of them.

Kofi Kingston guests on commentary for the next match.

Xavier Woods beats Ivar with the Backwoods. After the match, Ivar attacks Woods, and when Kofi Kingston tries to make the save, Ivar overpowers them both. Ivar then powerbombs Kofi into Woods before going up to the top rope and hitting them both with a moonsault.

Michael Cole interviews Seth "Freakin'" Rollins in the ring. Rollins says he has been asking Nakamura for a rematch for weeks and he has finally given it to him, but Michael Cole wants to know what Rollins is doing when he has done it all and has become a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Cole also reminds him how dangerous a Last Man Standing can be, and that he could be days away from his career ending, and wants to know why Rollins is doing this. After it is mentioned that Michael Cole has only missed two shows in 26 years in WWE, Rollins says he gets it and that it is a compulsion for him and he loves it and that this is what it is like for him. Rollins says he has an honor, a duty and a responsibility to the fans and that the ring has given him everything, and that he has to be the responsibility and the change. He says that if this is his last match, all that will matter is that he left it in the ring. Rollins says that by doing this, he will have honor his responsibility and be an honorable man, especially for his daughter, then says it is more of a feeling and that it feels right. Shinsuke Nakamura on the TitanTron shows up and say nobody believes Rollins anymore, then asks if Rollins is faking a back injury for sympathy and wants the world to feel sorry for him. He then says he can make that happen. Rollins is then attacked from behind by Nakamura, who then hits Rollins with the Kinshasa. Rollins gets back up as the Nakamura on the TitanTron counts to seven, then the real Nakamura hits Rollins with a chair. Nakamura then sits in the chair as the Nakamura on the TitanTron reappears and counts again. Rollins attempts to get up again, and Nakamura kicks and knees Rollins before putting him through the chair with a backbreaker. Nakamura then hits Rollins with the Kinshasa again before conducting a rather fast count to ten and holding up the World Heavyweight Championship.

Tegan Nox is met backstage by Becky Lynch, who admits she is not medically cleared tonight and that she would rather Tegan face the best version of her anyway. She then says that when she is cleared, it will be a war. Becky then runs into Natalya, who admits to Tegan Nox that they got off the wrong foot and says she is proud of her, and that she will get her opportunity against Becky and that she will nail it.

Tegan Nox beats Chelsea Green after Natalya shows up to stop Piper Niven from getting involved further.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews "Main Event" Jey Uso, who says that he and Cody Rhodes are good and that they can handle The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio).

Drew McIntyre heads to the ring. He says that everyone wants an explanation as to why he has changed, but he owes no one an explanation and the only people that he answers to are his fans. He then says that he is going to stop being the savior and that he is done with it. He says that as much as he saves the day, nobody steps up, and that forgiveness is weakness when it comes to "Main Event" Jey Uso. Suddenly, The Miz shows up. The Miz says he does not forgive Drew McIntyre for what he did to him last week as well as cancelling his show this week, but McIntyre tells Miz that he was warned not to show up. As McIntyre says that one must stand up for one's self and that one will not do it for them, Miz complains about McIntyre telling him to shut up and starting a "Shut Up, Miz" chant. Miz then tells McIntyre that he thinks that he is edgy for taking a stand, and tells him to embrace who he really is. McIntyre tells Miz to shut up again, then says that if The Miz wants him to be the bad guy, that is not what is going to happen. McIntyre then proposes they both fight right now unless Miz's balls are still tiny. Miz says he is in a suit and that McIntyre is "in a skirt" and that McIntyre is just painting himself as a hero after feeling bad for what he has done and feels sorry for himself. He says that Drew McIntyre is hypocritical and two-faced and picks whatever side benefits him. McIntyre tells Miz to really shut up, but Miz says McIntyre makes him throw up. McIntyre calls Miz "a bloody idiot," and Miz calls McIntyre a waste of time. McIntyre then decides to fight, and Miz says that a bigger man knows when to walk away from a fight before deciding to "be the hero" and walk away. Miz then goes for the cheap shot as he walks away only for McIntyre to overpower him. Officials have to stop the brawl between Miz and McIntyre.

Drew McIntyre beats The Miz after pulling out his sword, ripping off a turnbuckle cover that The Miz tried to remove as the referee puts the sword away, and hitting the Future Shock DDT for the win. After the match, McIntyre says he has done some serious thinking and that he is not the same person he was 30 seconds ago, then apologizes for his actions before stating he is on the road to be forgiven.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Trick Williams. Trick introduces himself to the main roster, then JD McDonagh, Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio show up. Rhea Ripley says Dominik will not be coming to NXT alone and that he will win back the North American Championship.

Jackie Redmond interviews "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes on the stage. Cody admits he never planned on tagging with "Main Event" Jey Uso and that The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio) have backed themselves into their fight at Fastlane, and says that if The Judgment Day will be at SmackDown, he will be there and Jey Uso will be there as well as they march to the tag team titles.

Backstage, Chad Gable tells Otis that he is disappointed with Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) with having to cheat to beat them, then says Gunther has peaked and that Imperium will pay for the setbacks they have caused.

Gunther retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Tommaso Ciampa after Ciampa fades from the sleeper hold. After the match, Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci attack an unconscious Ciampa as Gunther walks away, then Johnny Gargano suddenly runs into the ring and takes out Kaiser and Vinci to end the show just before he and Ciampa double team Vinci.

This week on Raw Talk: Nia Jax! Raquel Rodriguez! Ivar!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!