The latest edition of WWE Raw saw intense moments, including a fiery showdown between World Heavyweight Champion Gunther and his challenger Damian Priest, setting the stage for Survivor Series: WarGames. The night also featured a dramatic confrontation between the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill, and their challengers, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
Gunther and Damian Priest Face-Off Ahead of Survivor Series
The episode opened with a tense face-to-face between reigning World Heavyweight Champion Gunther and the No. 1 contender, Damian Priest. Gunther made his way to the ring, greeted with a chorus of boos from the crowd, as he held the microphone and briefly spoke about his reign. He emphasized that he wasn’t concerned with the past but focused on what lay ahead – his next challenger, Damian Priest.
The tension between the two quickly escalated as Priest made his way to the ring, acknowledging the crowd’s cheers. He told Gunther not to act surprised, as everyone knew Gunther would eventually talk about him. Priest quickly predicted what Gunther would say – calling him street trash and mocking his background. However, Priest took a moment to share his personal feelings, admitting that he once doubted his ability to defeat Gunther. He continued, explaining how Gunther’s title reign began to fade for him after his defeat in Saudi Arabia, especially when Cody Rhodes pinned him.
Gunther reacted angrily, shaking his head at Priest’s words and dismissing him. The crowd erupted with chants of “Cody,” intensifying the tension in the ring. Priest was quick to confront Gunther, taunting him to take a swing, daring the champion to show his true power. Gunther, visibly irritated, did not respond, instead pacing back and forth.
Before the situation could get physical, Ludwig Kaiser, Gunther’s trusted associate, appeared on the stage. He intervened, attempting to de-escalate the situation by advising Priest to leave the ring. Kaiser reminded Priest that Gunther had already defeated him, urging him to save face for their future encounter. However, as Kaiser spoke, Gunther put a hand over his microphone, showing irritation. Kaiser pushed back, calling Priest “street trash,” which led to a quick retaliation from Priest. He knocked Kaiser out of the ring with a hard right hand and clotheslined him over the top rope.
Gunther, now backing down, retreated with Kaiser as Priest stood tall in the ring, smirking at the champion’s hesitation. The confrontation between these two powerhouses has fans on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating their showdown at Survivor Series: WarGames.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match
The Women’s Tag Team Championship was also on the line as champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill defended their titles against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, who were determined to capture the gold. Both teams had plenty of support, with the champions arriving with confidence and the challengers accompanied by the Judgment Day, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
The match delivered high-energy action, with both teams showcasing their power and agility. Belair and Cargill worked seamlessly together, using their strength and athleticism to try to neutralize their opponents. However, Morgan and Rodriguez weren’t backing down. Rodriguez’s impressive power moves countered Cargill’s raw strength, and Morgan’s speed kept the champions on their toes.
As the match progressed, both teams exchanged near falls, keeping the audience guessing about who would walk away with the titles. In the end, it was Belair and Cargill who managed to retain their championship belts after a hard-fought victory. However, the challenge from Morgan and Rodriguez was far from over, and this rivalry looks set to continue, with tensions mounting between the two teams.
Damage CTRL’s Return and Hopes for Glory
In a backstage segment, Damage CTRL members IYO SKY, Kairi Sane, and Dakota Kai gathered for an interview. IYO SKY, fresh off her victory to become the No. 1 contender for Liv Morgan’s Women’s World Championship, expressed her readiness for the challenge ahead. Kairi Sane and Kai shared their thoughts on the ongoing rivalry within Damage CTRL, with Kai returning from injury and looking to make a statement. The trio is poised for more action, and they’re clearly setting their sights on taking down anyone who stands in their way.
Later in the evening, Damage CTRL made their way to the ring for a tag team match against the Pure Fusion Collective. The crowd was hyped to see the dominant faction back in action, but they would need to prove their cohesion after some internal struggles. Damage CTRL’s unity would be put to the test as they looked to reassert themselves as a dominant force in the women’s division.
