Winners, News And Notes On October 3, 2022

WWE Raw advertised a contract signing between Bayley and Bianca Belair ahead of their match at WWE Extreme Rules. Raw also advertised Braun Strowman vs. Chad Gable; Rey Mysterio and AJ Styles vs. The Judgment Day and Riddle and Rollins coming face to face. This past weekend, WWE announced former UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier will serve as special guest referee.

This week’s White Rabbit clues, presumably for the return of Bray Wyatt, implicated Samson and Delilah in addition to NXTXT
star Joe Gacy.

Last week’s WWE Raw garnered 1.674 million viewers.

WWE Raw Results on October 3, 2022

• The Judgment Day def. Rey Mysterio and AJ Styles
• Bobby Lashley def. Mustafa Ali
• Solo Sikoa def. Angelo Dawkins
• Dakota Kai def. Candice LeRae
• Otis def. Johnny Gargano
• Braun Strowman def. Chad Gable
• Iyo Sky def. Alexa Bliss

WWE Raw Ratings

• September 26, 2022 | 1.674 million
• September 19, 2022 | 1.594 million
• September 12, 2022 | 1.71 million
• September 5, 2022 | 2.094 million
• August 29, 2022 | 2.100 million

• WWE Raw Venue: Xcel Energy Center (St. Paul, Minn.)
• WWE Raw Tickets Distributed: 6,625
• WWE Raw Tickets Available: 251

WWE Raw Winners And Match Card

The Judgment Day def. Rey Mysterio and AJ Styles

Finn Balor flubbed a line when he said “last night” instead of “last week,” but he recovered just fine. WWE later left him hanging as there was an obvious delay in the musical cue when AJ Styles interrupted him.

Rey Mysterio once again refused to hit Dominik Mysterio, and that dynamic is starting to remind me of Undertaker and Kane’s first feud from 1998, where Undertaker refused to fight Kane.

AJ Styles in the Judgment Day could be better for both AJ Styles and the Judgment Day, but why would he join the group after they laid him out to this degree?

A frustrated AJ Styles teased tension with Rey Mysterio. Styles then shoved Mysterio to the ground. Meanwhile, poor Rey Mysterio can’t seem to keep a son or a friend.

Bobby Lashley def. Mustafa Ali

There was way too much time spent on backstage segments between the first and second matches, but both were intriguing. First, Mustafa Ali—who is turning into WWE’s boy who cried wolf—challenged Bobby Lashley in the whiniest of ways. Then, the Street Profits and the Bloodline got into a highly entertaining trash-talking war, where Montez Ford was stopped just short of saying “Acknowledge Deez Nuts.”

There was an insane spot where Mustafa Ali hit a 450 splash on Bobby Lashley’s arm. Fans immediately got behind a (kayfabe) injured Bobby Lashley.

Lashley was attempting to play the heel as the match progressed in order to build up Mustafa Ali as an underdog challenger with heart. Mustafa Ali was brutally beaten on the outside, and he just barely beat the 10 count. Fans were supposed to cheer at the guts from this valiant underdog, but they booed because they really wanted Bobby Lashley to win.

This was another good showing from Mustafa Ali, but sadly, coming up short and disappearing is the story of Mustafa Ali’s career.

Seth Rollins surprisingly attacked Bobby Lashley despite the fact that this is the go-home show for his big Fight Pit match against Matt Riddle. This was a lead-in to their face-to-face segment.

Seth Rollins vs. Matt Riddle, Face to Face

Matt Riddle tried singing Seth Rollins’ theme to the tune of “Brooo…” but he was in the wrong key and the fans were slow to follow along.

Seth Rollins used Riddle’s personal life to get him to punch Rollins, but it didn’t seem to get the heat they wanted.

Of note, Matt Riddle threatened to kill Seth Rollins.

Riddle asking Seth “when’s the last time you won a championship” got a much bigger pop than Seth Rollins bringing up Riddle’s personal life. As if AEW hasn’t taught us this already, storyline-based insults are superior to reality-based insults.

White Rabbit Clues (Possible Bray Wyatt Return)

The latest QR code came during the women’s backstage segment that followed this segment. The code linked to a picture of Samson and Delilah.

Behind the portrait of Samson and Delilah was a link to an additional portrait of Samson destroying the Philistine Temple. The number watermarked on the picture “6901209258022” linked to “White Rabbit” milk. Bray Wyatt has made past references to Samson and Delilah—who famously turned on her lover similar to how Alexa Bliss turned on Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 37.

A binary code on the QR Code website spelled the term “Gacy.” Gacy later changed his profile pic to mirror defaced pictures in the Firefly Fun House.

Dakota Kai def. Candice LeRae

Unlike Johnny Gargano, WWE is going to have to start from scratch in getting fans to connect with—and learn about—Candice LeRae.

Candice wasted no time getting over in this match, with fans chanting “Candice” in the match’s climactic moments.

Surprisingly, Candice LeRae lost after only her second match.

Otis def. Johnny Gargano

Chad Gable had a Twitter promo against Braun Strowman, and thankfully, WWE aired it on national television.

After back-to-back first-time losses, it’s gonna be a quiet ride to the next town for the Gargano tonight.

Braun Strowman def. Chad Gable

Braun Strowman really got this crowd going after he yeeted Chad Gable to the outside before the match started.

Omos was looking on intently as the countdown to his inevitable loss to Braun Strowman continues.

Braun Strowman is arguably the No. 2 babyface on Raw behind Bobby Lashley. And it’s a close second.

Bianca Belair vs. Bayley Contract Signing

Bayley was cutting a good promo about her journey from being a babyface with a ponytail, but unfortunately, these fans were not interested. Bayley battled “what” chants and tried everything to get them to stop without directly addressing them.

Fans in Minnesota didn’t give much more energy to Bianca Belair, tough Belair did receive a babyface reaction. This feud didn’t seem as big as it should be, especially headed into a Ladder Match.

Belair’s best line was “congratulations, it took you one year to come up with a whole plan.”

Backstage, Damage CTRL was beating up Alexa Bliss and Asuka, but when the crowd cut back, Bianca Belair was midair, upside down, in what looked to be a scary bump.

Solo Sikoa def. Angelo Dawkins

Montez Ford wore a walking boot, and backstage Jey Uso threatened to put him in two boots. The crowd gasped at disrespectfulness of Uso’s bar.

Sami Zayn and Jey Uso were fighting over the duties of “Solo whisperer.”

On a night where both Garganos lost early into their push, I was prepared for a potential upset with Solo Sikoa. Thankfully for Solo, his winning ways continued.

Edge referred to himself as “Adam” in a backstage promo.

Iyo Sky def. Alexa Bliss

There wasn’t as much focus on Alexa Bliss being “lethargic,” but all these Bray Wyatt teases have me overanalyzing her every move.

There were several false finishes in this match before Iyo Sky finally ended things with the Over the Moonsault.

Interestingly enough, Alexa Bliss was destroyed between a ladder by Damage CTRL. Asuka was taken out as well. The storyline headed into this Ladder Match is that Bianca Belair will not have any help. Bayley has to be considered the favorite to win.