Whenever WWE holds an event at Madison Square Garden, fans can usually expect some unexpected moments, and tonight’s Monday Night Raw was no different. The show heavily focused on the upcoming Survivor Series and its WarGames matches, but it was also John Cena’s last Raw appearance as part of his farewell tour, so his career was a major part of the night. Here’s a rundown of the eight best and worst moments from tonight’s WWE Raw, starting with John Cena’s final appearance on the show.
8. Hit: John Cena’s Monday Night Raw Swan Song
John Cena has had an incredible career, and Monday Night Raw has been a significant part of it. It was clear from the start of his final Raw appearance that it was a meaningful moment for him, and the crowd enthusiastically celebrated and bid him farewell during the opening segment.
The show featured a fantastic back-and-forth between John Cena and Dominik Mysterio, and they’ve been scheduled for a rematch at Survivor Series. Then, Cena teamed up with Sheamus and Rey Mysterio to face Dominik, JD McDonagh, and Finn Balor in a six-man tag team match. It was an entertaining match full of moments fans loved, like all six wrestlers performing each other’s signature moves – even the Five Knuckle Shuffle! With only a few dates remaining on Cena’s farewell tour, this was a perfect way to wrap up his time on Raw.
7. Hit: The Last Time Is Now Matches
John Cena is set to have one last match, and WWE is holding a tournament on Raw and SmackDown to determine who his opponent will be at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Tonight, the number of competitors in the tournament was reduced. The matches included exciting pairings like Dolph Ziggler returning to face Solo Sikoa, and NXT’s rising star Je’Von Evans battling Gunther, who is also back in action.
Both matches felt exciting and new for everyone involved, but Dolph Ziggler and Bron Breakker really stood out. Breakker, a rising star from NXT, proved he could compete with top WWE talent and showed a lot of promise to the Raw audience. Ziggler, as always, delivered a great performance and has a knack for making his opponents look fantastic.
6. Miss: The Last Time Is Now Results
The tournament matches themselves were good, but the outcomes felt a little predictable. Most people expected Gunther to advance, but Sikoa’s progression was less certain. Even though Sikoa and Cena have faced each other before, a final match between them wouldn’t likely excite fans. It was also disappointing to see neither Ziggler nor Matt Cardona win, ending their chances in the tournament. Overall, the tournament lacked major surprises, and tonight’s results continued that trend.
5. Hit: Nikki Bella Puts Stephanie Vaquer on Notice
Following Nikki Bella’s turn as a villain on WWE Raw last week, fans anticipated Stephanie Vaquer would respond, possibly challenging Bella. Instead, Bella unexpectedly attacked Vaquer as she walked to the ring and then proudly displayed Vaquer’s championship title, making it clear she was sending a message.
Okay, so Bella just cut a promo, and honestly, it was really good. She thanked Vaquer for, like, waking her up and reminding her who she is, then officially challenged her for the Women’s World Championship at Survivor Series. It’s awesome to see Nikki back to her heel roots – she’s the perfect bad guy for Vaquer right now. These attacks have definitely put everyone on notice that Bella’s a force again. Now, it all comes down to the match itself – it has to deliver and keep this whole story going strong.
4. Hit: Becky Lynch Dethroned, The Maxxine Dupri Era Begins
Tonight’s match featured the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, and the rivalry between Becky Lynch and Maxxine Dupri has been a compelling underdog story. They’ve had several great matches, and tonight, Dupri finally won, with a little assistance from AJ Lee.
Dupri had a strong performance throughout the match, and Lynch also looked fantastic. A turning point came when AJ Lee unexpectedly appeared, briefly distracting Lynch and allowing Dupri to take advantage. Ultimately, Dupri secured the victory. This win marks a new chapter for Dupri as champion, and feels like a well-deserved reward for her dedication over the past few years. It also advances the ongoing storyline between Lynch and Lee. Overall, it was a successful outcome for everyone involved, and reinforces the importance of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
3. Hit: Women’s WarGames Storyline
I was a little surprised by the initial decision to remove Charlotte Flair from the Women’s WarGames match last week, but it turned out to be a short-lived change. After a sincere and straightforward speech from Alexa Bliss, Flair rejoined the team alongside Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky. The return was done well – Flair came back with a Kendo stick and immediately dominated their opponents.
IYO SKY hugs Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair laughs and points at them. #WWERaw #IYOSKY
— meraWRESTLING (@meraWRESTLING) November 18, 2025
Bliss and the fans warmly welcomed her, and a funny moment even made Flair crack a smile when she hugged Bliss. Ripley and Sky joined in with a hug of their own, bringing smiles to everyone’s faces. It was a lovely scene, and it solidified the core group. But WWE went a step further, hinting at a potential WarGames team-up between Ripley and AJ Lee. If that happens, Becky Lynch will probably complete the opposing team, creating a truly impressive lineup.
2. Miss: New York Crowd What Chants
“Really Charlotte?!”@AlexaBliss_WWE is fed up
— WWE (@WWE) November 18, 2025
Honestly, as a wrestling fan, it really bothered me that Bliss kept getting those random “What?” chants from the New York crowd. She handled them really well, and Nia Jax followed it up nicely, but I just hate those pointless “What?” chants in WWE. They feel so out of nowhere and disrupt the flow, you know?
It would be understandable if this happened with someone like Logan Paul or Solo Sikoa, or even with a villainous character like Jax. However, interrupting Alexa Bliss while she’s having a meaningful conversation – especially in a storyline fans are enjoying – just doesn’t make sense. It makes the audience seem out of touch. Honestly, I’m tired of hearing ‘What?’ chants in general, but it’s particularly frustrating when they happen at inappropriate times and don’t fit the situation.
1. Hit: Roman, Brock, and Men’s WarGames
The last part of the show really revolved around the Men’s WarGames match. It started with both teams still needing one more person, but things got crazy at the very end! Brock Lesnar unexpectedly showed up and joined The Vision’s team, completing their lineup. Now, they’ve got Lesnar, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and Drew McIntyre ready to go – it’s going to be a wild match!
Roman Reigns unexpectedly returned to television, leveling the playing field and joining the WarGames team alongside CM Punk, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, and Cody Rhodes. This creates a highly anticipated men’s WarGames match. Traditionally, the women’s division has delivered more exciting matches at events like WarGames and the Royal Rumble, but this year, the men’s match has a strong chance to be the standout event, though its success will depend on how the match unfolds.
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2025-11-18 09:11