WWE Raw results, recap, grades: War Games match set for Survivor Series after successful Rollins title defense

Three big matches are now set for when Survivor Series comes to Chicago at the end of November

With one of WWE's traditional "big four" pay-per-views on the horizon, the promotion used Monday night's edition of Raw to put in work to build toward in Chicago on Nov. 25. Among those matches that are now set is a War Games match featuring most of Raw's top stars.

A surprise world heavyweight championship match between champ Seth Rollins and challenger Sami Zayn proved to be just one part of a story that led to the two men teaming with Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso against Judgment Day and JD McDonagh inside the double cage at Survivor Series.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

War Games locked in for Survivor Series

Seth Rollins opened the show, celebrating retaining the world heavyweight championship by beating Drew McIntyre at Crown Jewel. Rollins then called Sami Zayn out to celebrate with him since Zayn prevented Damian Priest from cashing in the Money in the Bank contract after that match. Rollins told Zayn that he visited Adam Pearce and Zayn could have a title shot at any time of his choosing. Zayn initially said he didn't want to face a champion who was compromised by injury, but Rollins said veterans like them were never 100%, but always gave 100%. Zayn then accepted, saying there was no better time or place than later in the night.

World Heavyweight Championship -- Seth Rollins (c) def. Sami Zayn via pinfall with a roll-up. Zayn tried to attack Rollins' compromised back. That included a match-ending sequence where Zayn locked in a lion tamer and transitioned to a Boston crab. Rollins was able to reverse the submission into a pin, however, and score the three-count to retain his title. After the match, Rollins offered Zayn a handshake, which Zayn accepted before raising Rollins' hand. As Zayn left the ring, he was jumped by Judgment Day (and JD McDonagh). Rollins tried to make the save but the numbers advantage was too much. Jey Uso then ran in try and make his own save but eventually was cut off before Cody Rhodes ran in to even things up. General manager Adam Pearce and a host of WWE officials ran in to break things up. Pearce then announced that if everyone involved "wants to play games," the two groups could meet at Survivor Series in a War Games match. A brawl again broke out as the show went off the air.

Survivor Series now has several big matches set, though none is bigger than the War Games match where Judgment Day and JD McDonagh will face Rhodes, Uso, Zayn and Rollins. It's hard to complain about a lengthy world title match on a weekly television show and getting a clean finish that led to a bigger match down the road is an extra boost. Monday was a fine night of wrestling, with tightly constructed stories and every match seemingly leading to something bigger. That's good wrestling TV. Grade: A

What else happened on WWE Raw?

• Judgment Day (Finn Balor & Damian Priest) def. New Day via pinfall when Balor hit Xavier Woods with a Coup de Grace. Before the match, Priest was furious that Zayn was able to get a title shot after ruining his cash-in attempt on Saturday.
• Shinsuke Nakamura def. Akira Tozawa via pinfall after a Kinshasa. Otis confronted Nakamura after the match, but Nakamura shook his head and left the ring.
• The Miz def. Ivar, Ricochet and Bronson Reed in a fatal four-way match by pinning Reed after Reed missed a Tsunami. Ivar also had Ricochet pinned at the same time, but Ricochet kicked out at the last moment. After the match, Ivar attacked Miz and hit a moonsault. Miz will face Gunther for the intercontinental championship at Survivor Series.
• The Creed Brothers def. DIY via pinfall when Brutus Creed hit Johnny Gargano with a Brutus Ball. Ludwig Kaiser interfered to set up the finish.
• Zoey Stark won a battle Royal to secure a women's world championship shot at Survivor Series. Xia Li attacked Becky Lynch as Lynch was making her way to the ring, leading Adam Pearce to eject Li from the venue. The attack also took Lynch out of the match. The final three were Raquel Rodriguez, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark. Stark and Baszler eliminated Rodriguez before battling on the ring apron where Stark landed three kicks before a DDT that sent Baszler to the floor.