Raw Deal - Raw recap for October 23, 2023

Finn Balor and Damian Priest head to the ring to start tonight's show. Finn Balor announces that he is in a good mood and will do something special tonight, and introduces himself and Priest as the new tag team champions. Priest says Rhea Ripley and "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio are in the clubhouse conducting business. As Priest says The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio) are back to running Raw and the WWE, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring. Cody says he has some choice words for the leader of The Judgment Day, but Rhea Ripley is not here, and he goes on to say that Rhea is Finn and Priest's "mami," too, as she is calling all the shots and the deals, including one with The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman). Cody also calls Priest out for hitting him a low blow and tells him that is far from the final shot in this fight, then Priest tells Cody that he is glad he showed up as he would have eventually found him. Priest then tells Cody that his story will eventually be one of failure, then Cody takes his tie off and proposes putting that to the test. Priest says she has a match with "Main Event" Jey Uso tonight, then proposes Finn Balor vs. Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel. Cody accepts, then asks what they do now before proposing they give a preview of Crown Jewel right now. Rhea and Dom show up, but Jey Uso attacks Dominik, allowing Cody Rhodes to fend off Priest. Suddenly, JD McDonagh shows up and hits Cody with a chop block, and he and Priest wrap Cody's angle around a chair and hit the ankle with another chair before officials show up.

Backstage, "Main Event" Jey Uso and General Manager Adam Pearce help "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes to the trainer's room.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) beat Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis).

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Becky Lynch. Becky says that she is here for a face, and since Indi Hartwell never lost the NXT Women's Championship or got a rematch and has the mettle to face her, she will accept her challenge. She also says that Lyra Valkyria may be poking holes in her game, but she cannot look past Indi. As this goes on, Xia Li can briefly be seen in the background.

We see Ivar take part in a Viking warrior ceremony as part of a vignette.

Backstage, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins is met by Rhea Ripley. Seth says that if Rhea is looking for Drew McIntyre, she is the wrong place, but Rhea says that he and The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio) have a history and they are concerned that Seth needs insurance against McIntyre. Seth takes this as The Judgment Day losing faith in Damian Priest, then asks what he would want with Rhea. Rhea says Seth needs her, as he is a world champion when he could be "the world champion," and while The Judgment Day have allied with The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman) in the past, alliances can change, and they could hold all the gold together. She then says that without them, Seth Rollins will never touch Roman Reigns, and they could have Seth's back and have people acknowledge him. Seth says he does not want to be anything like Roman Reigns, and Rhea tells Seth to think about it.

Backstage, Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae are met by Natalya, who wishes Indi Hartwell luck. She also says that Tegan Nox is hurt and is looking for a partner, then tells Indi she will make history tonight and says she is here for advice if she needs it.

Lyra Valkyria is seen in the front row.

Becky Lynch retains the NXT Women's Championship against Indi Hartwell with the Dis-Arm-Her. After the match, Candice LeRae - who has been watching from backstage - is chopped in the throat by Xia Li, who tells Candice that this message is also for Indi.

General Manager Adam Pearce asks two members of security to be on their toes during tonight's contract signing. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis shows up and apologizes to Pearce for his actions last Friday, saying he just wants friendly competition and does not want to tarnish their relationship. Pearce says he knows what it is like to be the new guy and agrees last Friday was out of line, then says it is water under the bridge and asks him to watch how things are done on Monday nights. Aldis accepts and leaves, then Pearce tells a referee to double security for tonight's contract signing.

General Manager Adam Pearce moderates a contract signing between Rhea Ripley, Zoey Stark, Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler and Raquel Rodriguez, and states that he wants the contract signed before everything gets bad. Raquel, Shayna, Zoey Stark and Nia Jax show up and all sign the contract in quick succession...almost. Nia Jax stands around as if to wait for Rhea Ripley, but Pearce says he is getting Rhea's signature later. Nia signs. Rhea Ripley quickly shows up and calls the Fatal 5-Way Match a conspiracy, and states that the more that Adam Pearce tries to stop and control her, the more she will make his life a living hell. She also says there will be four less women in the division after the match is over. Nia Jax says she knows what Rhea Ripley is doing by not getting in the ring, and says that if she still squashes all the other women, that still leaves Rhea with her. As Nia Jax insults Raquel's intelligence by breaking this down for her, Raquel punches her. This starts a brawl that security quickly moves in to stop only to be quickly overpowered. Nia and Raquel go at it, and when security tries to get involved, they get wiped out, and Nia lays Raquel out.

Backstage, Ludwig Kaiser tells Giovanni Vinci that he needs to get the job done and take Johnny Gargano out tonight, for he is his responsibility now. "Big" Bronson Reed shows up wanting a rematch with Gunther, and Kaiser tells him to tell Gunther himself. Kaiser and Vinci leave, then Akira Tozawa shows up wanting a match with Bronson Reed, chopping him in the chest after Bronson says he is being merciful tonight. Bronson says it is his funeral, then leaves, and Maxxine Dupri shows up and asks Tozawa what he is thinking challenging Bronson Reed.

Johnny Gargano beats Giovanni Vinci after Tommaso Ciampa pulls Ludwig Kaiser off the ring apron and chases him away from ringside.

We hear from Shinsuke Nakamura, who says a brutal beating from him is a beautiful thing and that he is so happy to give Ricochet this experience. He calls Ricochet's efforts "an honorable sacrifice," and now he wants an opponent who will inspire the yet-to-be-seen self within him. He then asks who is worthy enough to set him free.

Logan Paul heads to the ring. Logan talks about how he beat Dillon Danis so badly that he got dropped from his fight team, then says that he is a free agent just like Dillon Danis and that he plants to win the United States Champonship and come back to Raw to defend it. "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio shows up and says he cannot wait for Logan Paul to beat "his deadbeat dad," then Logan Paul says that Rey Mysterio was right about them having a lot of talent and forgot to mention how he and Dominik overcame odds, and that Rey needs a humbling. Dominik says that after Crown Jewel, he and Logan will both be champions, then mentions ring announcer Samantha Irvin and asks her to join them in the ring, as he owes her a genuine thank you for everything she does for WWE. Samantha gets in the ring, and Logan Paul says he made it hard to make her declare him the winner when he beat Ricochet, but Samanatha kept it professional. She then asks Samantha to give a preview of Crown Jewel by declaring him the new United States Champion. Suddenly, Ricochet runs into the ring and attacks Logan Paul, and when Dominik Mysterio gets involved, he gets superkicked. Logan Paul saves Dominik when Ricochet goes for the top rope shooting star press.

Natalya's replacement partner for the next match is revealed to be Nikki Cross. When Nikki heads to the ring, instead of running straight towards the ring, she approaches the ring slowly as if in a trance.

Chelsea Green and Piper Niven beat Natalya and Nikki Cross. During the match, Nikki Cross stands on the ring apron with a blank stare, then walks off the apron and heads to the back, as if in trance.

It is revealed that "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes has suffered an ankle injury.

Backstage, Drew McIntyre meets with "Main Event" Jey Uso and apologizes to him for losing the tag team championships, then tells him to get over it. He also says that whatever happens on the next match is on Jey.

Backstage, General Manager Adam Pearce is met by The Miz, who goes on about his WWE accolades. Rhea Ripley suddenly shows up, hands Pearce the signed contract, then tends to "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio.

Drew McIntyre beats Sami Zayn after Rhea Ripley shows up and distracts Sami Zayn as he goes for the Helluva Kick, allowing McIntyre to connect with the Claymore Kick for the win.

Backstage, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis is talking to Kayden Carter and Katana Chance when General Manager Adam Pearce confronts him for talking with all of his Superstars backstage. Nick Aldis, knowing Pearce has had a rough night, offers to leave, which he does. Nikki Cross then walks by as if in a trance, and Pearce notes that he needs a drink.

"Big" Bronson Reed beats Akira Tozawa.

Backstage, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) and Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) are met by Akira Tozawa. Gable tells Tozawa he will turn him into a tag team wrestler, then #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) shows up and announces they are having their first tag team match in three years against Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci). Tozawa is then awarded a Dallas Cowboys championship belt.

Backstage, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins congratulates Drew McIntyre on his first win as a member of The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio). Seth and McIntyre both agree that they do not need The Judgment Day to beat each other.

Damian Priest beats "Main Event" Jey Uso following the distraction by Finn Balor. After the match, Finn Balor attacks Jey Uso and hits him with the Coup de Grace before he and Priest tries to injure Jey like they did "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Cody then hobbles to the ring and fights his way to Priest before hitting him with a chair. Cody then wraps a chair around Priest's left foot, but Finn Balor pulls Priest out of the ring, and officials have to tell Finn and Priest to head to the back.

This week on Raw Talk: The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)! Xia Li! Chelsea Green and Piper Niven!

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