Could Sami Zayn do the unthinkable and defeat Gunther twice in one year, this time for the World Heavyweight Championship?

He had his chance to answer that question Monday night on WWE Raw as he challenged The Ring General in a hotly anticipated main event.

That contest capped off a show that featured the fallout from Bad Blood, Xavier Woods' quest for singles gold and the latest chapter in the rivalry between Sheamus and Pete Dunne.

Who emerged victorious and what did Seth Rollins, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre all have to say on the first two-hour episode of Raw since July 23, 2012?

Find out with this recap of the October 7 broadcast.

Match Card

Announced in advance of Monday's show were:

• World Heavyweight Championship: Sami Zayn vs. Gunther (c)
• Intercontinental Championship: Jey Uso (c) vs. Xavier Woods
• Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook match: Sheamus vs. Pete Dunne
• Seth Rollins promo
• What's next for CM Punk and Drew McIntyre?

CM Punk Kicks Off Raw, Seth Rollins Interrupts

CM Punk opened Raw, battered but victorious following his war with Drew McIntyre inside Hell in a Cell at Bad Blood.

He thanked his fans, peers and those who don't like him, and then said he was unsure of his future.

Seth Rollins interrupted and brushed past Punk before warning Bronson Reed: "You want to get famous, I'll give you your 15 minutes."

He issued a challenge for a match with the big man before appearing annoyed that Jey Uso interrupted him as he made his way to the ring for the night's opening contest.

This was an interesting opening segment in that it gave us a not-so-subtle reminder that Punk vs. Rollins is the endgame but a heel turn for the latter is not out of the question along the way.

Not only did The Visionary threaten to retire Punk, but the dismay on his face as Uso hit the ring was also obvious.

Perhaps Rollins is fed up with the changes in WWE since WrestleMania 40 and is ready to lash out against them.

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

• "I'm alive, but it doesn't feel like it. I'm a winner, but I don't feel like one," Punk said.
• "There's a thin line between love and hate, and I've turned your hate into cash. I don't know why you keep doubting me but keep doubting me," The Best in the World said.
• "Get well soon because the sooner you heal up, the sooner I can beat your ass and retire you for good," Rollins told Punk.

Jey Uso vs. Xavier Woods

Xavier Woods again failed to win singles gold Monday night, falling to intercontinental champion Jey Uso following a superkick and Uso Splash.

The match was shorter than expected but showed enough of that Uso-New Day chemistry to still be a solid entry into their legendary rivalry.

Afterward, a frustrated Woods refused a sign of respect from Uso and encouraged Kofi Kingston to join him in walking out. Out of nowhere, Bron Breakker attacked Uso, downing him with a Spear. When Kingston made the save, Woods watched from the floor as Breakker laid him out, too.

Another Spear, this one on the floor and to both New Day members, preceded one final one to Uso before Breakker stood tall to close out the segment.

So, after showing Uso respect a week ago and teasing interest in challenging Gunther for the world title, Breakker just goes right back to his heel ways by laying out Uso? This felt like a creative about-face for reasons that are not yet clear.

Result

Uso defeated Woods

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Woods refused the handshake and told Kingston: "Yeah, he beat me. I'm not shaking his hand."
• Backstage, interviewer Jackie Redmond asked Breakker why the change in attitude, and the former IC champion just walked away.

Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook: Sheamus vs. Pete Dunne

Sheamus and Pete Dunne wrote the latest, perhaps last, chapter in their rivalry Monday in a Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook match.

The hard-hitting bout, featuring Irish pub props such as a bar, whiskey barrels, a shillelagh and a cricket bat, rolled through a commercial break before The Celtic Warrior delivered a White Noise off a stack of whiskey barrels and through two tables on the floor.

That was not enough to keep Dunne down, and The Bruiserweight produced two zip-ties and bound his opponent's arms behind his back. A running knee to the face stunned the former world champion, but he recovered, delivered the Brogue Kick and scored the win.

The match was a fun brawl, but there is a real question about the decision not to put Dunne over.

WWE has a bunch of strong babyfaces at this point but heels such as Dunne and The Judgment Day have seen recent losses cost them credibility. That trend needs to be corrected before there are too many babyfaces and no one for them to work with.

Result

Sheamus defeated Dunne

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Dunne applied a crossface with a shillelagh in a spot that echoed Edge using a piece of chair to try to force a submission from Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan a few years back. 
• The White Noise spot was excellent and took a ton out of both guys. Kudos to them for continuing the battle after that landing.

10-Woman Tag Team Match

The women's division took center stage in 10-woman tag team action as Natalya, Kayden Carter, Katana Chance, Zelina Vega and Lyra Valkyria battled Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler, Sonya Deville, Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre.

An short but action-packed contest saw the babyfaces earn a measure of revenge when Valkyria downed Deville to score the win for her team.

The two-hour format is much welcomed, but it does mean talent will see their roles reduced or time for their matches cut. This felt like one where as many competitors were put together with less time to work with, and the result was a collection of spots with no real flow or story advancement.

Hopefully, it is the exception and not the rule.

Result

Natalya, Carter, Chance, Vega and Valkyria defeated Stark, Baszler, Deville, Dawn and Fyre

Grade

C

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Chance showed good fire as she continued to seek revenge for having her face busted by the heels.

World Heavyweight Championship: Sami Zayn vs. Gunther

Gunther narrowly avoided defeat Monday night on Raw when he outlasted a game Sami Zayn to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.

Time constraints hampered the contest, with commercial breaks preventing it from reaching the next level until the final few minutes.

Gunther threw everything at Zayn, rocking him with a dropkick and downing him with a powerbomb, but the challenger kicked out at two. Another powerbomb followed but Zayn kicked out at one this time.

The champion locked in his trademark sleeper and, despite a last-gasp fight from Zayn, won the match via referee stoppage.

And just like that, Gunther cashed his ticket to Crown Jewel and a match with WWE champion Cody Rhodes.

Result

Gunther defeated Zayn

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Gunther cut off a Helluva Kick attempt with a wicked lariat that kept the challenger down for two-and-two-thirds.
• The champion added a powerbomb for another incredibly close two-count. 
• A defiant Zayn kicked out at one, following another powerbomb in a great hope spot.

Final Grade

The two-hour format of Raw is a welcome change from the elongated and mostly unnecessary three-hour slog we have experienced every Monday night for the last 12 years.

With that said, it will take a while for Triple H and the creative team to find their stride as they completely revamp the flagship show.

Time constraints hurt some of what they wanted to do here and it was obvious. How the team navigates that one big change, and tells as many stories involving as many Superstars as it can, remains to be seen.

We saw the latest interaction between Punk and Rollins, a teased heel turn for The Visionary; some quality in-ring action in the Sheamus-Dunne and Gunther-Zayn matches; and the first real build toward Crown Jewel on November 2.

It wasn't a perfect show, but it was a nice followup to Bad Blood.

Prediction: B