Botched Finish In Major WWE Raw Match
Something absolutely looked off about a double pin attempt, with good reason.
In what shouldn't be a shocking revelation, the awkward finish fans observed during the Intercontinental Championship number one contender's match on WWE Raw Monday night was not the planned ending to the contest.
During Raw, Ivar, Ricochet, Bronson Reed and The Miz squared off in a fatal four-way match to determine Gunther's next challenger. At the conclusion of match, Ivar and Reed mounted the turnbuckles to hit aerial attacks on Ricochet and Miz, respectively. Ivar's moonsault connected, but Reed's Tsunami missed.
Miz quickly rolled up Reed and the referee counted a double pin on Ricochet and Reed, but Ricochet kicked out at two, giving Miz the win. However, the ref visibly tried to wave off the pin and even attempted to stop Samantha Irvin from announcing the winner.
Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer noted Tuesday that the finish was botched: Ricochet was not supposed to kick out, which would have resulted in a double pin.
Just a note regarding Raw last night. Ricochet was not supposed to kick out of the Ivar moonsault and it was supposed to be a simultaneous double pin. That's why it came across so awkward on television. I believe Ricochet was rocked earlier in the match when his head hit the…
Advertisement— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) November 7, 2023
Fightful Select confirmed this report.
In the aftermath of the botched finish, Ivar attacked Miz and laid him out with a moonsault, and a match between the two was later announced for next week. It's not clear whether this was always the plan for these two to face each other the following week -- as the planned winners of Monday's match -- to determine the true number one contender.
There also is the possibility the planned double pin was going to result in both Ivar and Miz getting the title match against Gunther, and next week's contest is a way to wedge the Viking back into the IC title picture.