Happy Monday everyone! Tonight’s edition of Raw is kicking off with Drew McIntyre in the middle of the ring.
He said last week’s match with Seth Rollins was all or nothing, he needed that title and didn’t get it. McIntyre is starting to believe that maybe the only person holding him back is himself, so he might need to step away from WWE and get himself right. However, he said he did not lose himself in the match, Damian Priest ruined his match when he tried to cash in.
Priest not only screwed him, but he also screwed himself. He then turned his attention to the disaster WWE has become, welcoming CM Punk back with open arms. He believes it might be his best choice to leave for nine years, then people will talk about him the way they talk about Punk.
Punk heard enough. Credit: WWE
CM Punk heard enough and made his way out to the ring, he told Drew since he got back all he has done is talk too much about him. Instead of running his mouth behind his back, Punk wants Drew to tell him how he feels right here to his face. Drew said congratulations that he’s still here and he is surprised that he hasn’t self-destructed by now.
Drew doesn’t care about what Punk said when he wasn’t here, what he cares about is what Punk does to him personally. He said he has worked with Punk for a long time and could go on about everything he’s done to him. Drew specifically recalled Punk being WWE Champion back in the day and being the self-proclaimed locker room leader. Back then Drew needed some guidance due to some demons, but Punk as the leader refused to help him.
So, when Drew got fired he figured it all out himself and now they are at a point where he is Punk’s leader. Punk said he never called himself a leader because he led by example, he did call himself a savior, so if he wants to join the Straight Edge Society, they can do that right now. Punk said Drew followed his example by leaving the WWE, but now he’s following Drew’s lead by coming back and winning the Royal Rumble.
Punk and McIntyre are on a collision course. Credit: WWE
Punk said he is not a demon, but he can become Satan himself when he’s pushed to the limit and he said we are getting to that time. Drew responded by saying his title wins were for the whole world when the world shut down and people stepped away. He said he will be in the Royal Rumble, he’s gonna eliminate Punk and this time he will win it all for himself.
Punk decided to be the bigger man and not knock Drew’s teeth out, instead, he said Drew can’t stop him from winning the rumble, Seth Rollins can’t stop him and Cody Rhodes won’t stop him. He then concluded his statement by saying that in the Royal Rumble, he’s going to make sure he eliminates Drew last. Punk’s work on the microphone continues to be top-notch.
Finn Bálor w/Damian Priest vs. Tommaso Ciampa w/Johnny Gargano
This match came to be because self-proclaimed Judgement Day member, R-Truth, said #DIY was talking too much about his stables tag titles. He told Bálor he should face Ciampa to prove J-Day’s dominance and Bálor can’t be too chicken to face him. Bálor upset about that remark from Truth took the match, and he began the match with a dropkick to Ciampa’s face.
Ciampa tried to get back into the match, but thanks to a distraction from Priest, Ciampa was launched from the ring apron into the announce table. As this battle carried on, Ciampa caught Bálor with a reverse DDT and followed that with a running knee. He then dropped Bálor with a brutal Project Ciampa and wanted a Fairytale Ending next, but Priest got up on the apron. Gargano pulled Priest from the apron and that ignited a brawl on the outside, Ciampa knocked Priest down with a diving knee.
Bálor tried to catch Ciampa with a suplex as he was getting back in the ring, but Gargano pulled his legs out and Ciampa fell into the pin to steal a victory. #DIY is coming for the tag titles!
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa
Becky Lynch was now backstage to address her loss to Nia Jax last week, she said last time Jax punched her in the face she went on to the main event of WrestleMania. This time her punch was not as strong and she’s hoping for a repeat instance when it comes to WrestleMania. So, Lynch declared that this is not the end, but maybe the beginning.
Kofi Kingston vs. Ludwig Kaiser
Last week, Kingston injured Kaiser’s teammate, Giovanni Vinci and tonight Kaiser was looking for revenge. Kaiser drilled Kingston with a clothesline, some knees and a big chop. Kingston began to battle back, but Kaiser dropped him face-first into the top turnbuckle and then threw him into the ring post. He proceeded to hang Kingston on the ropes and dropkick him in the mid-section. Kingston got back in the ring with a springboard crossbody and was then hoping for a suicide dive, however, Kaiser caught him in mid-air with a right hand.
He then threw Kingston into the barricade and kicked through his chest with a stiff PK. Kaiser continued the attack and dove from the second rope, but Kingston got his feet up and sent Kaiser to the floor. Kingston then dove from the top rope onto Kaiser, but Kaiser responded by throwing Kingston into the ring post. He then attempted a running uppercut, however, Kingston moved out of the way. While they were battling on the floor, the referee counted to ten and this match was declared a draw.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1744537642136424618
Despite the match being over, the fight was not, Kingston dove onto Kaiser with a suicide dive and slammed him on the announce table. Kingston then took a run at Kaiser, but he was cut off by Kaiser launching one of the commentator’s chairs into his face. This was a brutal shot and he followed that by stomping Kingston’s head into the steel steps. Kaiser has lost it and he got the revenge he was looking for.
Winner: Double countout
Jackie Redmond caught up with Kaiser to ask what’s got into him, he said this was all Kingston’s fault. Kingston is the reason that he is the only member of Imperium here. Last week, Kingston took Vinci’s head, so tonight he took his.
Michael Cole now invited Nia Jax to the ring, he wanted to ask her about her upset victory over Becky Lynch last week. Jax said her win last week was not a shock, she is a new person and she promised that she would break Lynch’s face again. Her focus is now the Royal Rumble, she believes that there is not a single person that can stop her. Jax then made the mistake of mentioning the Women’s World Champion, Rhea Ripley.
A possible WrestleMania preview. Credit: WWE
Mami made her way to the ring to a loud ovation, she told Jax she is walking around like she already won the rumble. Ripley reminded her that last year she threw Jax out of the rumble herself and she also told her that Lynch is no Rhea Ripley. If Jax can win the rumble, Ripley told her it’s best she keeps her name out of her mouth. Jax gave Ripley credit but told her not to forget that she put her on her ass when she came back. She said Ripley is too scared to give her a one-on-one match and if she wins the rumbles she’s going to choose Ripley because then she will have no choice but to face her.
Cody Rhodes was doing an interview backstage to discuss his main event match against Shinsuke Nakamura later tonight when he was attacked from behind by Nakamura. This match was starting early backstage and it took many WWE officials to keep these two separated. Due to this brawl, the main event match was changed to a street fight!
Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Kayden Carter & Katana Chance (c) vs. Chelsea Green & Piper Niven
Carter and Green traded dropkicks to start this match before Chance dropped double knees on Green’s midsection. Despite that, Green tripped Chance into the turnbuckle and Niven followed that with a cannonball to Chance. Niven attempted a second cannonball, but Chance rolled out of the way and tagged Carter in. Cater super kicked Green, gave her a botched big boot and dropped a leg drop.
Carter then had Green sitting on her shoulders on the top rope and Chance springboarded to give Green an avalanche hurricanrana, very impressive. Green battled back and hit Carter with a Rough Ryder, a shoutout to her husband Matt Cardona. She then placed Carter on her knees and Niven dropped a senton onto her. Niven gave Carter a uranage and went for a Vader Bomb, but she did not realize Chance switched Carter for Green and Niven dove onto her own partner. The champs then worked together to hit Green with the Keg Stand and they retained their titles.
Winners: Still Women’s Tag Team Champions, Kayden Carter & Katana Chance
For Part Two click on the link below:
Michael Cole announced that we finally have some video proof of why R-Truth believes he is in the Judgement Day. What a spectacular video, R-Truth is so amazing and I’m sure everyone who watched this laughed a bit.
What a beautiful tribute for The Judgment Day from @RonKillings. 💜#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/bdBse5xrIz
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2024
J-Day responded with laughs and Priest said he would deal with Truth when he needs to. Bálor then spoke about #DIY and them getting what they deserve. Priest wanted to talk about Drew McIntyre and the fact he cost him the World Championship last week. Ripley did not care to hear what Priest had to say, so Priest questioned why she would pick a fight with Nia Jax. Quite a bit of tension in J-Day and they all got a lot of issues going on.
The Miz vs. JD McDonagh w/Dominik Mysterio
Dirty Dom was meant to be in JD’s corner for this match, but R-Truth also surprised us all by being ringside. Miz was kicking away at McDonagh’s chest and dropped him on his knee before delivering a neckbreaker. He gave JD a back-body drop, but JD then distracted the referee so Dom could hit Miz from behind. This allowed JD to gain control and he landed a springboard corkscrew splash on Miz. McDonagh continued with an enzigiri and a suplex, but Miz fought back hitting a corner clothesline and the It Kicks.
Miz now went after the left knee of McDonagh before locking in the figure-four leg lock, but he was able to reach the ropes. After breaking the hold, Miz launched JD into Dom and then hit a Skull Crushing Finale to get the victory.
Winner: The Miz
Seth Rollins is coming off another successful title defence last week when he defeated Drew McIntyre. He said we are so close to the road to WrestleMania and his ‘Mania track record is quite successful. However, one thing he has never done is take a World title into WrestleMania, but that all changes this year. He took a title that didn’t even exist a year ago and turned it into the biggest prize in the industry while being a workhorse champion.
Rollins acknowledged that the journey is not done and he said it all comes down to who he has to beat at the grandest stage of them all. He was now interrupted by Jinder Mahal, who had a run-in with The Rock last week. Mahal said of course Rollins is singing his praises, last week he was more of a revolutionary than Rollins in just five minutes. He then gets some cheap heat by calling Portland a dump, Rollins brings no value according to Mahal and he throws temper tantrums like a child. Mahal believes Rollins gives all the opportunities, but overlooks the Modern Day Maharaja. He beat Randy Orton for the WWE Championship and he sees right through Rollins’ charades, but now he finally has Rollins’ attention.
Mahal wants the world title. Credit: WWE
Rollins agreed with Mahal, he has been overlooked, but that was not an accident, it was on purpose. We’ve all been trying to forget Mahal, but Rollins respects that even after The Rock fried him last week he got back up. However, Rollins doesn’t appreciate Mahal interrupting his party, so if he’s sick of being overlooked and wants to do something to be remembered he should take a swing at him. Even with Rollins daring him, Mahal refused to swing, so Rollins said ‘Same old Jinder’ and tried to walk away.
Mahal took the opportunity to attack Rollins from behind, Rollins was able to hold his own, but it seems like the next challenger for the World Heavyweight Championship has stepped up. I don’t think anybody expected that person to be Jinder Mahal. Next week Rollins will defend his title against Mahal on Raw!
Otis w/Akira Tozawa & Maxxine Dupri vs. Ivar w/Valhalla
Ivar was all over Otis to start this match, but that all changed when he springboarded off the ropes and Otis caught him in mid-air. Otis delivered a World’s Strongest Slam to Ivar after catching him, what a feat of strength. He then hit Ivar with a Caterpillar, but Ivar now cartwheeled out of the way of a lariat and hit a spinning heel kick. Ivar went to the top rope and dove onto Otis with a moonsault to secure the victory.
Winner: Ivar
Jey Uso joined Jackie Redmond backstage to talk about his New Year’s resolutions, he promised that in 2024 he will get his first singles title. Bronson Reed then interrupted him to say he is not the only one with plans of becoming a champion, so his advice is that Jey should stay out of his way.
Street Fight: Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Rhodes began this match by striking down Nakamura to the outside and hitting him with a baseball slide. The fight then made its way up the ramp, Rhodes repeatedly drilled Nakamura into the barricades and the announce table. He bounced a water bottle off Nakamura’s head before trying to take the fight back into the ring, but Nakamura rolled back out to the floor and struck Rhodes with a broom. Nakamura was now pummeling Rhodes with a kendo stick, but Rhodes got a reversal and now took his turn swinging the kendo stick.
A Cody Pedigree. Credit: WWE
He was able to land a few shots before Nakamura caught him with a knee in the ribs and then a few knees to the head. Nakamura kicked Rhodes in the back of the neck and hit an enzigiri, but Rhodes then began building momentum. He caught Nakamura with a scoop slam and a disaster kick, Rhodes then brought a table into the mix. However, while he was getting the table Nakamura attacked him with nunchucks, he got some shots in and Rhodes responded with a punch to Nakamura’s ribs.
Rhodes grabbed a chair and when he turned Nakamura sprayed the poison mist, but Rhodes ducked and Nakamura blinded the timekeeper. With the timekeeper down Rhodes tried to check on him and Nakamura hit him from behind with a steel chair. Nakamura continued to drill the chair into Rhodes’ spine before wedging it in the corner. That worked against Nakamura as Rhodes threw him head-first into that steel chair.
OH NO! 😲😲😲#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/ylLFW7dOGx
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2024
Both men were now trading strikes, but it was Cody who got the advantage following two Bionic Elbows. Rhodes finally got to set up that table from earlier, however, Nakamura ended up lying Rhodes on the table. Nakamura dove from the second rope with double knees sending Rhodes through the table. It seemed as though Nakamura enjoyed the first table so much that he set up a second table in the corner. He then hit Rhodes with a sliding German suplex and a diving knee to Rhodes’ face, but Rhodes responded with a superkick and a Pedigree.
Rhodes followed that with a Cody Cutter before sending Nakamura crashing through the table in the corner. He got Nakamura up and dropped him with the Cross Rhodes to win this wild street fight!