This week’s WWE Raw featured CM Punk and Seth Rollins getting into a brawl, plus two big title matches.
It’s WWE Raw from the TD Garden in Boston with Joe Tessitore & Wade Barrett on commentary. They also taped next week’s episode as well.
CM Punk did a show opening promo saying he’s feeling a little low and in a bit of a bad mood. Punk talked about how he told Seth Rollins that he doesn’t think about him at all and over the course of the last two weeks, he thought about him from time to time. Punk said that Seth was right because whatever this thing is between them, it’s only a matter of time before they lock up in this ring. Punk said he’s the bad guy because Seth Rollins is Punk’s failure. Punk said if Seth wants to interrupt him, Punk is willing to give Seth the wrestling lesson that he asked for and do it for free. Punk said that there aren’t enough staples in the world to put Rollins back together when he’s done with him. Punk led the crowd chanting “CM Punk” so that led to Rollins’ voice and he was chanting “CM Punk” too.
Seth “Freakin” Rollins appeared in the crowd with a microphone. Rollins said that if he saw Punk the way these fans saw him then it might make Rollins feel differently about who Punk is. Rollins said even from way up here, Punk is still an “a**hole.” The swear word was muted. Punk said that he was glad Rollins was there without his stupid music and Punk said Rollins belongs with the fans. Rollins said it doesn’t bother him to be with the fans. Rollins said when Punk left this place, Rollins put it on his back and made it bigger than ever. Rollins said that this “fan” has more WrestleMania main events than you ever will. Rollins said: “That’s a fact, Phil” so he used Punk’s real name, Phil Brooks.
CM Punk jumped the barricade at ringside and Seth Rollins met him there, so they exchanged punches while they were around the crowd. A group of WWE Officials, referees, and Raw GM Adam Pearce showed up to try to break up the fight. Rollins and Punk went into the ring where they exchanged punches. The officials put Punk into the crowd and made him go back while Rollins was at ringside. Rollins jumped the barricade, then he ran around the crowd and Rollins and Punk met in the back part of the arena where they exchanged punches again! The fans chanted, “Let them fight” as Punk was finally pulled to the back while the fans cheered.
The Judgment Day clubhouse was shown. Finn Balor said he was wondering why the group wasn’t there for him in his World Title match. Liv Morgan said that they thought Finn didn’t need them. Morgan wished Finn & JD good luck for their match and mentioned Raquel Rodriguez was going to win tonight too. The girls left with Dominik while Balor had an angry look on his face.
The video aired where Triple H introduced us to the new WWE Monday Night Raw logo. It’s real, rebellious, and Raw. Raw on Netflix begins on January 6th.
Seth Rollins was shown walking backstage looking angry. Raw GM Adam Pearce wanted Rollins to listen to him. Rollins said that he wants the world to see it because the whole world wants to see it. Pearce said if you two stopped fighting he might get something done. Pearce told him to let him do his job. Pearce left.
Drew McIntyre walked up to Rollins saying you used to tell Drew not to be obsessed with Roman Reigns. Drew said that everybody enabling Reigns needs to be taken out so that includes Jey, Jimmy, and Sami. Rollins said he took out Roman at WrestleMania saying that Jey and Sami were by his side because they are his friends. Rollins said that Drew was not his friend. Rollins said he respects Sami and Jey, but the jury is out with Drew. Rollins said he’s going to do something that Drew couldn’t do and that is end CM Punk. Rollins left while Drew said “Okay” to end it.
Match #1: Intercontinental Championship – Bron Breakker defeated Ludwig Kaiser by pinfall to retain the IC Title. Kaiser worked over Bron’s left arm throughout the match and Bron was selling it very well. Bron hit double knees to the ribs followed by a Spear for the pinfall win. The match was great and went about 18 minutes with two commercial breaks.
The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were backstage wondering why people didn’t like them. The New Day tried to go into the locker room, but Rey Mysterio was there. Kofi and Woods wondered what was going on because Rey didn’t let them in the room due to their actions toward Big E. Kofi said the guys don’t want them in the locker room after 10 years and said Rey is a locker room leader, so he should do something about it. Rey said he thinks it’s best if they find somewhere else to change. Woods replied saying The New Day didn’t want to share a locker room with them anyway, so New Day left.
There was a video package about Cody Rhodes beating Kevin Owens at Saturday Night’s Main Event to retain the WWE Title. After the show, Kevin Owens attacked Cody with a Package Piledriver. Owens also took the Winged Eagle WWE Title while Cody was carted off on a stretcher. It was mentioned by the announcers that the Kevin Owens post match attack on Cody Rhodes got over 45 million social media views. Joe also went over the “injury diagnosis” for Cody, who has no fractures and he is back home.
The War Raiders duo of Erik & Ivar were featured in a video package. They both spoke about overcoming major injuries. Erik said that nobody can describe the guilt when the strength hasn’t returned to your arms and you can’t pick up his son. Ivar spoke about wondering if the nerve pain would go away. What happened to them should have ended their careers, but it didn’t. Erik said two weeks ago he held his newborn son. The War Raiders said that The Judgment Day cheated them out of the titles once, but they are stronger than ever. Every match can be their last. Erik said his sons have to know that all the pain and damage was worth it. Erik said that the way they can prove that is by bringing them the World Tag Team Championships.
Raw GM Adam Pearce was interviewed by Cathy Kelley backstage. Pearce made it official by announcing CM Punk will face Seth “Freakin” Rollins on Raw on January 6th in Los Angeles. The fans cheered.
Liv Morgan, the Women’s World Champion, was joined by Raquel Rodriguez and Dominik Mysterio for an in-ring promo. Dominik introduced Liv, which drew massive boos from the fans. Liv used the bullhorn to announce that she was the greatest Women’s World Champion of all time. That drew more boos from the fans. Liv said that 2024 was the year of Monday Night Morgan. Liv said that she was just getting started. Liv said that there are a lot of historic changes happening in WWE next year and nobody is better to lead this company in the future than her. Liv said just wait until next year.
Rhea Ripley interrupted the promo and got in Morgan’s face. The fans popped for Ripley as usual. Ripley said that it’s time to settle this once and for all. Ripley said that Adam Pearce made it official that Ripley is the number one contender for the Women’s World Championship. Ripley said that the only thing that Liv can get excited about is the end of her title reign because Ripley will be the new Women’s World Champion. Ripley told Liv that all she’ll be left with is her little “chicken tender slut” referring to Dominik. Liv backed away as Ripley smiled about it.
The Miz was backstage with AOP and Paul Ellering. The Miz said he was proud to team with them and said that they don’t need him or anybody since they handled the Wyatt Sicks. Karrion Kross walked in with Scarlett. Kross said that what they (Wyatt Sicks) did to Ellering and to Scarlett means that this isn’t over until he says it’s over. Kross mentioned when Dexter Lumis kidnapped Miz, so Kross said that Miz had to face him next week. Miz seemed apprehensive about it. Ellering mentioned Miz owes them. Kross told Miz to talk to Pearce to get it done. Kross mentioned that Miz has won 22 titles in his career, so he can do this. Miz left. Kross told Ellering that Miz would realize that when you make a deal with the devil, you don’t run out on it.
Match #2: Women’s Intercontinental Title Tournament Quarterfinals – Zoey Stark defeated Kayden Carter and Raquel Rodriguez. Stark hit a missile dropkick while Raquel was going for her finisher. Stark superkicked Carter and hit Carter with Z360 for the pinfall win.
The Alpha Academy group (Otis, Akira Tozawa & Maxxine Dupri) was backstage talking to R-Truth about a recent commercial they did. R-Truth kept talking about Butch, so Pete Dunne walked up to them and complained about it. Dunne left. Chad Gable and American Made trashed Alpha Academy for ruining what he created. Gable insulted Otis. Gable said it’s time to kill his darlings and he’s starting with Akira Tozawa. Gable left.
There was a video showing a red circle and then an arrow was put through it.
The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were about to be interviewed backstage, but there was commotion backstage. Kairi Sane’s hand was trapped in an equipment case, so Sane was screaming. The Pure Fusion Collective trio of Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark left the scene while officials checked on Sane.
Who Won WWE Raw’s Main Event?
Match #3: WWE World Tag Team Championships: The War Raiders – Erik & Ivar defeated The Judgment Day – Finn Balor & JD McDonagh by pinfall to win the WWE World Tag Team Titles.
It was an interesting finish to the match. Balor hit Coup de Grace for two on Erik because Ivar was there to break up the pin. JD brought a chair into the ring, Balor tried getting a chair, but Damian Priest was at ringside to stop Finn from using that. Priest pulled the chair, so Balor’s ribs hit the barricade. The referee never saw it. Balor was the legal man, so Balor went back into the ring. Erik held Balor up and Ivar jumped off the ropes for the War Machine clothesline into a German Suplex combo. Ivar covered Balor for the pinfall win and the fans cheered for it.
The War Raiders celebrated with the World Tag Team Titles. There was some pyro by the entrance area. That was the end of Raw.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading.