WWE Raw results, recap, grades: Judgement Day's new ally turns tide against Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn

JD McDonagh is proving his worth to Judgement Day despite apprehension from some members

JD McDonagh might just be Judgement Day material. Finn Balor's friend proved his worth on WWE Raw despite trepidation from faction members Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley.

Judgement Day needed an extra hand despite their existing numbers advantage over rivals Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn. McDonagh was a difference maker for the group on Monday night as he continues to straddle the line between ally and troublemaker.

Raw also featured the emergence of a potential new tag team and fans got one step closer to an official world heavyweight championship match between Seth Rollins and Shinsuke Nakamura.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from the Canadian Life Center in Winnipeg Manitoba.

Is JD McDonagh Judgement Day's curse or cure?

Judgement Day kicked off the show with Balor notably absent as he was preparing for a match against Rhodes. Priest acknowledged the disconnect between he and Balor but assured the unit would continue to dominate Raw so long as he holds the Money in the Bank briefcase. Ripley insisted this wasn't the time to speak on the group's friction. Priest lobbied for Mysterio's support, but Ripley's storyline boyfriend avoided the conversation.

McDonagh appeared on the entrance ramp with a message from Balor. McDonagh said there was no need for Judgement Day to worry about their relationship with Balor and that the faction should instead pay attention to Rhodes and Zayn's growing alliance. Priest, Ripley and Mysterio did not take kindly to McDonagh interjecting himself into their business. Ripley made it clear that the group needed to talk to Balor. Zayn's music hit but he was quickly assaulted by McDonagh, leading to a one-on-one match.

Rhodes def. Balor via pinfall after hitting Cross Rhodes. Rhodes and Balor fought a relatively competitive match. Judgement Day came to aid and support Balor during the match despite his absence earlier in the evening. The disconnect between Priest and Balor continued to impact their matches. Priest tried to trip up Rhodes and catch Balor when he was tossed to the outside, but the pair ended up eating a dive courtesy of Rhodes. Balor subsequently tossed the briefcase to Balor, but it slid between his legs and landed in Rhodes' hands. Rhodes laid out both Balor and Priest with the briefcase before finishing off Balor with a Cross Rhodes.

Zayn saved Rhodes from a post-match beatdown but the tables turned once McDonagh blindsided Zayn. Raw ended with Judgement Day laying out their foes and tossing Zayn through the announcers' table. It was a big moment for McDonagh who proved his worth to the trepidacious members of Judgement Day.

It's hard to book losers as winners, but Raw succeeded in doing just that this week. The lack of cohesion between Balor and Priest continues to be a problem, but they both are clearly trying to work through it. McDonagh would be a strong addition to Judgement Day's ranks and he proved his value on Monday. Judgement Day claims to run Raw but they're generally on the losing side of matches. This was the strong closing they needed to curry momentum. I worry that their in-fighting mirrors The Bloodline a little too closely, but this week's story development was solid. Grade: B+

What else happened on WWE Raw?

• Zayn def. McDonagh via pinfall after hitting a Helluva Kick.
• Piper Niven emerged as Chelsea Green's new tag team partner by laying out Kayden Carter and Katana Chance. Adam Pearce had planned to strip Green of the women's tag team titles moments earlier due to Sonya Deville's injury.
• Chad Gable def. Giovanni Vinci via pinfall after planting him with Chaos Theory.
• Gunther def. Otis via pinfall after landing his signature powerbomb in a short match.
• Drew McIntyre and Riddle def. Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) via pinfall after McIntyre hit Erik with a Claymore Kick. Riddle proposed a long-term tag team between the pair. New Day challenged them to a match next week.
  
• Ripley def. Indi Hartwell via pinfall after landing Riptide. Candice LeRae and Hartwell attacked Ripley post-match.
• Nakamura clocked Rollins with a Kinshasa after a verbal altercation between the pair. Rollins granted Nakamura a world heavyweight title match.
  
• Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus ends via double count out after the two brawled into the crowd. Stratus and Zoey Starks, who was barred from ringside during the match, laid out Lynch post-match.