5 Best Moments From WWE RAW In November 2023

November 2023 was one of the most action-packed months in WWE RAW’s storied history. Two huge pay-per-views framed the month, with Crown Jewel kicking things off and Survivor Series bringing the excitement near the end. In between those events, RAW delivered major title changes, blockbuster returns, and pivotal moments shaping storylines.

The month started with Seth “Freakin” Rollins achieving double gold glory. He bested Matt Riddle in a savage Fight Pit match at Crown Jewel to capture Riddle’s United States Championship. Later that same night, he shocked the world by pinning Bobby Lashley to add the WWE Championship to his mantle as well. With both titles, Rollins ignited a new era by crowning himself the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

Rollins had little time to celebrate though as Mr. Money in the Bank Damian Priest tried cashing in his contract on the new double champion. But Sami Zayn rushed to ringside and smashed a chair over Priest’s back, allowing Rollins to flee the scene with his titles intact. This heroic act by the wily Zayn would not go unrewarded.

The following week, Rollins granted Zayn a future championship match out of gratitude for saving him from Priest’s cash-in. The two battled on RAW in an instant match-of-the-year contender, with near fall after near fall keeping fans on their feet. Finally, Rollins hit a Stomp on his valiant challenger to narrowly escape by the skin of his teeth with the Undisputed WWE Universal Title in hand. Their epic created intrigue over whether a rematch may occur down the line.

The tag team division also underwent an upheaval when Finn Balor and Damian Priest dethroned RK-Bro to become the new RAW Tag Team Champions. The archrivals Riddle and Randy Orton seemed to have mended fences, but ultimately imploded in their title rematch against the calculating Judgment Day pair. Miscommunication led to Priest pinning Orton after a Reckoning, beginning Balor and Priest’s first reign with tag team gold.

Of course, no moment shocked fans more than the unexpected return of The Viper Randy Orton himself. After disappearing for months with an injury, Orton re-emerged to get revenge on Judgment Day. His RKO to Dominik Mysterio re-established Orton as a major player on the red brand. Then came an even bigger announcement. Orton would participate in the men’s WarGames Match, teaming up with bitter rivals like Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre to battle Roman Reigns’ Bloodline faction.

WarGames saw Orton enter the barbaric double-cage structure last, cleaning house alongside teammates Kevin Owens, Cody Rhodes, Rollins, and McIntyre. The united five overcame the opposition through teamwork. Finally, Orton finished off Sami Zayn with an emphatic RKO for the squad’s emotional victory, getting payback on The Bloodline. Orton riding high sets the stage for him likely challenging old foe Rollins soon.

If Orton’s comeback shocked viewers, then CM Punk generating massive cheers and chants was utterly surreal. The “Best in the World” resurfaced on the November 21 episode after over 7 years removed from WWE. Punk marched down the ramp with a microphone in hand, officially proclaiming, “CMPunk is back!” Fans roared their approval as the anti-establishment firebrand stoked ambitions of regaining championship glory.

A stunned Rollins interrupted to confront his old nemesis. The history between the two traces back to their time atop WWE as parallel champions. While Rollins escaped this encounter against Punk, fans eagerly await the dream match that is certainly inevitable between the two elite stars. Punk’s reemergence injects must-see unpredictability moving forward.

Lastly, the November 28 show held bizarre happenings when Shinsuke Nakamura finally unveiled his intended target for recent ominous messages – none other than Cody Rhodes. As Rhodes discussed his impressive Survivor Series outing, the lights cut out suddenly. Nakamura then emerged to blast his foe up close with red mist to the eyes, leaving Rhodes blinded. This sets up a deeply personal feud as the enigmatic Nakamura draws first blood versus Rhodes, who will seek brutal retribution.

Overall, November’s five weeks of RAW held career-defining moments for the history books. Monumental returns, title changes, and pivotal storyline progression makes it arguably one of the best months ever for WWE’s flagship program. Heading toward 2023, intrigue builds over what these developments mean for the red brand’s future. One thing is certain – with shocking surprises now the norm, fans are sure to expect the unexpected each Monday night.