We open up with Baron Corbin in the ring with the most of the RAW locker room present and security around the ring. We get a recap of Crown Jewel where Brock Lesnar became the new Universal Champion. Baron Corbin cuts a promo for Survivor Series while reciting the events from Crown Jewel. We learn that Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, and Braun Strowman will be on the RAW Survivor Series Men’s team.
The captain for the Women’s Team will be Alexa Bliss and she will be picking the members. Alexa also sets up a match for tonight featuring The Riott Squad vs. Sasha Banks, Natalya, and Bayley.
Kurt Angle comes up to interrupt the proceedings, he challenges Baron Corbin to a match to get a chance to be the captain for the RAW Men’s Survivor Series team, Baron Corbin accepts the challenge. After Kurt Angle leaves the crowd treats Corbin to a continued “you suck” chant in unison which was great. As Corbin tries to grab control of the show so Alexa can continue, Braun comes out and begins to go after Corbin. He tears through the security protecting the ring, and then goes after Corbin. Corbin flees and, as he goes backstage, the locker room stops Braun from giving chase. Braun gets through the fighting, and then proceeds to search for Corbin backstage.
The first match of the evening is between the Riott Squad vs. Sasha Banks, Natalya, and Bayley. The Riott Squad starts beating up Natalya early, but is able to escape from Liv Morgan which gives Sasha and Bayley a chance to get some hits on the Riott Squad. The Riott Squad eventually corners Bayley and starts wearing her down. Bayley finally gets free and tags Natalya in. Natalya puts a sharpshooter on Sarah Logan, but before Sarah taps, Ruby Riott grabs Natalya’s sunglasses that she wore in, which were her father’s, and breaks them in half. Natalya is despondent outside the ring as the Riott Squad leaves. Bayley and Sasha come to comfort Natalya, and match just ends. It was a good match with a really weird ending that felt unnecessary.
Braun is still backstage searching for Baron Corbin, tearing over everything, even kicking in a bathroom door revealing a terrified man running from a stall. The segment was actually pretty funny considering what was going on, it’s always fun to see random people be scared of Braun Strowman as he tears apart whatever venue he’s in.
Next match is Jinder Mahal vs. Apollo Crews. The match is a good showcase for Crews, he wins handily by pressing Jinder Mahal into a moonsault for the victory. It was an impressive showing for Crews, it would be nice to see more of him moving forward, considering the kind of impressive athlete he is.
Seth Rollins comes out asking Dean to come out and explain himself for his betrayal two weeks ago. Dean doesn’t come out, instead Baron Corbin is backstage on camera telling Seth he’ll be defending the tag team titles in a handicap match against the Authors of Pain. This match went on much longer than one would have expected, with Seth putting up a great fight. Unfortunately, this match was clear from the start, Seth didn’t have enough to overcome AoP, as the Authors of Pain become the new RAW Tag Team Champions.
Dolph Ziggler comes out next to complain about getting beat by Shane McMahon during the WWE World Cup to become best in the world. Elias interrupts Ziggler and starts tearing him to pieces with the crowd’s support. Eventually Dolph cuts off Elias completely and challenges him to a match. The match features the two men quite well. The match is the best of the night so far which Ziggler and Elias trading blows back and forth. Ziggler eventually gets the zig zag on Elias but is able to break a pinfall by getting his foot on the rope. Elias counters with a drift away and pins Ziggler for the win.
Ronda comes out next to cut a promo touting her bona fides and why she will beat Becky Lynch at Survivor Series. Ronda tells us that while Becky may be “the man,” she is the baddest bitch on the planet. Nia Jax comes out to say that after Survivor Series she’s coming after Ronda to get the RAW Women’s Championship Match.
What comes next is a match between Nia Jax and Ember Moon. It’s a good match for Ember Moon who has been pretty quiet recently. She gets a number of good moves off on Nia. Unfortunately, Nia lands the Samoan Drop on Ember Moon and gets the pin. After the match Tamina comes out and beats up Ember Moon delivering another Samoan Drop. Nia considers stopping Tamina, but instead of stopping Tamina, Nia teams up with her and starts beating up Ember Moon.
We find out from Baron Corbin backstage that the main event will be changed from Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin to Kurt Angle vs. Drew McIntyre, due to an appointment Corbin has (aka fleeing Braun Strowman). Corbin leaves in a car while Braun briefly gives chase.
Bobby Lashley comes out next with Lio Rush. There’s a weird bit where Bobby shows off a new “stretch” which is him just bending over to the crowd. It’s a weird bit that was just made to get heat, but even that barely works. The match coming up is Bobby Lashley vs. Finn Balor. There’s some early chicanery early where Lio Rush trips up Balor leaving Lashley to get in some ground punches into a reverse chin lock. Balor gets out and throws the sling blade onto Lashley, followed by a backbreaker rack but Lashley kicks out. Finn takes out Lio with a dropkick and get ready to take out Lashley but Lashley is able to get the Yokosuka cutter on Balor for the pinfall.
Before the segment ends Drew McIntyre enters and stares Lashley down, begging him to make a move. Lashley back’s down at the request of Lio Rush and leaves Finn to his fate. McIntyre helps him up but then hits him with the Claymore.
Time for the main event between Drew McIntyre and Kurt Angle. Before the match begins Kurt Angle jumps Drew McIntyre forcing him in the corner until the referee breaks them up. Angle starts out fighting hard against McIntyre, but McIntyre shakes him off with a headbutt. Angle gets up against and starts hitting McIntyre but he shakes Angle off again with a neck breaker followed up by a stomp. Angle manages to get to his feet and starts with a series of rolling German suplexes. McIntyre gets up and gets pounded with a claymore. McIntyre starts taunting Angle rather than going for the immediate pinfall.
Angle shoots up but McIntyre clubs him down and stomps him. Angle tries again but McIntyre hammerfists down, he picks up Angle and calls him an embarrassment to him and his family. Angle becomes irate and is able to get the ankle lock on McIntyre in the middle of the ring. It looks like McIntyre might tap but he manages to roll out and kick Angle off. He’s hobbling but manages to put Angle in his own ankle lock, Angle taps and McIntyre wins by submission. It was a good match for Angle, he looked good on his own and was able to match up well with McIntyre. I’m not sure if I want to see him back to back Survivor Series’ but he certainly proved he’s still got the stuff.
