Raw Deal - Raw recap for October 9, 2023

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Rollins says that adrenaline is "a powerful, powerful thing" and that Shinsuke Nakamura took him to his limit at Fastlane, and that there were times in the match if he did not know if he would get back up or keep Nakamura down, even though he did. He then states that he felt on top of the world after his victory, but then the adrenaline wore off when he made it to the back and his back still felt "very, very broken." Rollins states that being the World Heavyweight Champion has been one of the greatest honors of his career, which leads to a "Thank You Rollins" chant. Rollins then says that he is just getting started, much to the delight of the fans, and proclaims that while he will still be their fighting champion and take on anyone, anywhere, he would like to go one Monday without fighting for his life. As Rollins proclaims that he and the fans have some fun tonight, Drew McIntyre shows up. Rollins quickly concludes that McIntyre is not here to party and wants to face him for the World Heavyweight Championship, then sticks to his word and says he will be a fighting champion. McIntyre says the party is still on and that one day, someone will jump him from behind, then tells Rollins he wants the title match and he wants Rollins as close to 100% as possible at Crown Jewel. Rollins is surprised by what McIntyre wants and admits he is not used to challengers conducting business in this way, then asks the fans what they think of this, to which the fans agree. Rollins then tells McIntyre that he has a match, then tells him that the party is just getting started and mentions McIntyre used to be in a band, but McIntyre says he has business to tend to in the back and tells anybody who sees him to buy him "a pint and a shot." As McIntyre leaves, Seth Rollins is attacked from behind by Damian Priest. Drew McIntyre notices this, and when Dominik Mysterio shows up with the briefcase, Drew stops him, headbutts him and tosses the briefcase to the back. Rollins then gets the upper hand on Priest, forcing him to retreat.

Ivar beats Kofi Kingston in a Viking Rules Match after catching Kofi as he goes for Trouble In Paradise and puts him through a table.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Shinsuke Nakamura. Before Nakamura can say much of anything, he is jumped by Ricochet, and officials have to restore order.

Backstage, Damian Priest pins JD McDonagh to the wall, and the rest of The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio) have to separate Priest from McDonagh. Rhea tells Damian Priest that he and Finn have a tag team title rematch next week, then tells Priest not to worry about Drew McIntyre and that she has business of her own to take care of before telling McDonagh to prove himself and deal with McIntyre. Priest tells McDonagh to prove himself and that there is a part of him that wants to get his hands on McDonagh after McIntyre breaks him in half, then Finn Balor tells McDonagh to "beat it."

Raquel Rodriguez beats Nia Jax by disqualification after Rhea Ripley shows up and tosses Raquel out of the ring before attacking Nia Jax. As this goes on, Raquel gets back in the ring and fights with Rhea Ripley, but Rhea hits Raquel with a headbutt. "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler then shows up and attacks Nia until Rhea pulls Shayna off of Nia and argues with her, leading to Shayna beating Rhea up.

Backstage, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins meets with Drew McIntyre and tells him their match for Crown Jewel is official, then wants to know what is up with McIntyre. McIntyre says that he is staying to his word as far as looking out for himself goes and that he does not want a sequel of what happened with The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa) with The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio). Rollins says that The Judgment Day could not take his title from him, and neither will McIntyre.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler, who says that she is the baddest woman in the ring and that nobody sneak attacks her in the ring and gets away with it. Akira Tozawa gets away as Baszler walks away.

Michael Cole interviews "Main Event" Jey Uso and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes in the ring. When asked about where the undisputed tag team titles fit in "finishing the story," Cody Rhodes says that Fastlane was quite the moment and that he is excited as everyone else here to be an undisputed champion. Michael Cole then asks if coming close to the WWE Championship just like his father will be his story. Before Cody can answer, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn show up. Sami Zayn admits he has not heard his previous heel theme in some time, then recaps what has happened with the unidsputed tag titles since he and Owens lost it and says that this is the story everyone is talking about right now. Sami congratulates Jey and Cody on winning the tag team titles, then says that he is sincerely happy for Jey for winning the titles with Cody before admitting that it feels like it should be him and Owens holding the titles. Owens admits he is not happy to see either of them with the tag titles and wants the tag titles match, and that he would love to challenge them to a title match tonight. He then says that if he does, they would not accept, as Jey would not handle losing the titles to them twice. Cody then says they are all friends here, or at least, he thinks they are, then says that they do accept and that they will do it tonight.

Backstage, Otis chops Chad Gable in the chest to get him ready for tonight's Triple Threat Match and for Gunther when "Big" Bronson Reed shows up. Bronson says Gable is not getting near the Intercontinental Championship after having beaten him and Otis and that tonight will be another heartbreaking loss for him and his daughter.

Shinsuke Nakamura attacks Ricochet before the next match. Officials have to restore order.

"Big" Bronson Reed beats Ricochet and Chad Gable after picking Ricochet up out of Chaos Theory, slamming him onto Gable, hitting both Ricochet and Gable with a senton before squashing Ricochet with a Tsunami to earn a shot at the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Becky Lynch. Becky admits she is not 100% as she has eleven stitches in her arm, then plugs her autobiography coming out in Match before saying tonight's match will be the biggest in Tegan Nox's career and that she will give it everything she has got. Xia Li then shows up wanting a title match, and Becky says she is not hard to find.

Drew McIntyre beats JD McDonagh despite the constant interference by "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio. Backstage, Damian priest is not happy with JD McDonagh. Rhea Ripley tells Damian Priest that she has an idea and tells him to trust her.

In backstage footage from earlier today, Wade Barrett interviews Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. Ciampa says this has been seven years in the making and that the fans made them who they are. Gargano has been wanting to know how far DIY could go and has been wanting to come back for a while, and now is their moment. When asked if they will be a team, Gargano and Ciampa are suddenly attacked by Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci.

We see a video package for Tegan Nox.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Tegan Nox, who says that she has been wanting the best version of Becky Lynch for a long time and she wants to deliver the best Tegan Nox as she wants to show the world who she is. Natalya shows up and says she is proud of her and to show Becky what she is made of, because she is born to do this.

Backstage, Ricochet hunts for Shinsuke Nakamura. WWE official Adam Pearce shows up and tells Ricochet that Nakamura has been out of the building and that he and Nakamura will be in a Falls Count Anywhere Match next week. Also, Rhea Ripley is seen talking to Drew McIntyre in the background.

Becky Lynch retains the NXT Women's Championship against Tegan Nox with the Dis-Arm-Her after getting out of a roll-up pinfall attempt and maintaining the hold.

Backstage, WWE official Adam Pearce meets with Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell, who are checking on the condition of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. Rhea Ripley shows up and forcefully tells Candice and Indi to get out, then tells Pearce to get the women's division in order and that she wants to make an example out of "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler next week.

Backstage, Natalya meets with Tegan Nox, who tells her that she did amazing. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance shows up and tell Tegan that she did great out there. Suddenly, Chelsea Green and Piper Niven show up and mock Tegan for having a "pity party," then tells Natalya not to interfere with her again, or else Piper will have to deal with her. Natalya tells Piper to name a time and place, and Piper says next week.

Backstage, "Main Event" Jey Uso is met by Drew McIntyre, who wants to drop Jey where he stands before Sami Zayn stands between them. McIntyre walks away, then Jey says that it is go time.

We see a video package for Ludwig Kaiser, who compares himself to fine art and calls himself "living art." He considers himself "European elegance" and "A-plus everything," for he is "an A-plus specimen."

"Main Event" Jey Uso and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes retain the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championships against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. After the match, Kevin Owens shakes hands with Cody, then shakes hands with Jey and raises his hand while Sami raises Cody's.

This week on Raw Talk: "Big" Bronson Reed! Shinsuke Nakamura! Chelsea Green and Piper Niven!