Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE Monday Night Raw Report! (8/20/18)

Published

6 years ago

August 20, 2018

The Raw After Summerslam has THREE new champions! The Architect, The Big Dog and the Baddest Woman on the Planet reign, so what’s next for Monday nights?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Baron Corbin VS Bobby Lashley; Lashley wins.
Six Woman Tag: Ember Moon & The Boss & Hug Connection VS The Riott Squad; The Riott Squad wins.
Dean Ambrose w/ Seth Rollins VS Dolph Ziggler w/ Drew McIntyre; Ambrose wins.
Elias VS Curt Hawkins; Elias wins.
Titus Worldwide VS The Authors of Pain; The Authors of Pain win.
Bo Dallas w/ Curt Axel VS Scott Dawson w/ Dash Wilder; Dawson wins.
Curt Axel w/ Bo Dallas VS Dash Wilder w/ Scott Dawson; Wilder wins.
WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns VS Finn Balor; Roman wins and retains the WWE Universal Championship.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Big Dog heads to the ring!

Roman Reigns enters as the NEW WWE Universal Champion after the chaos and brutality that was Summerslam’s main event. Roman looks at the belt he fought so hard to get, and lifts it up with pride. He ignores the noise as he slings it on his back and continues down the ramp. Roman stands in the ring with a big smile on his face while fans are divided down the middle. “I’m a man of my word”, he says. “I said I was gonna beat Brock Lesnar, and I did.” Roman hears the fans chant “You Still Suck!” but Roman repeats that he vowed to defend the belt. He’ll even do that tonight. Fans like the sound of that.

Roman would make this an open challenge, but he has someone in mind already. That same man won the title in Brooklyn, too. But then he got hurt and never got his opportunity to get it back. Roman will defend this belt tonight, against… FINN BALOR! And speaking of the Extraordinary Man, he heads to the ring! The inaugural Universal Champion stands in front of the current champion, and says, “Wassup, Roman?” Finn accepts the challenge, and vows to take that title back! Fans love this already, so let’s make it official. They shake hands, but here comes Baron Corbin.

Stephanie’s appointed Constable wants us to calm down. As great as that match would be, it’s not happening on Corbin’s watch. If Finn thinks he’s getting rewarded for that “little stunt”, he’s crazy. Finn no-showed and sent his Demon instead. Corbin says that was unprofessional, cowardly, and in breach of contract. Plus, with all the smoke and noise, Corbin couldn’t hear or see so he didn’t know the match was on. Corbin refuses to accept that match happened. The fans boo, and he says they’re booing Finn. He wants Finn The Man tonight. Roman says the fans are booing Corbin, not Finn. And if he sucked as bad as Corbin did, he’d want to strike it from the record, too. Corbin claims the only reason Roman won was because Lesnar had to worry about Braun Strowman. Roman steps to Corbin but Corbin backs down. Here comes Kurt Angle!

The Raw GM soaks in the “You Suck!” greeting, then speaks to the three men in the ring. Corbin’s letting his Constable role go to his head, because Angle makes matches, not him. Angle also tells Corbin to shush, so we can get what Brooklyn wants. Does Brooklyn want Reigns VS Balor for the title tonight? “YES! YES!” Then that’s our main event! As for Corbin, he has a match, right now! And it’s against… Bobby Lashley!

Baron Corbin VS Bobby Lashley!

The Lone Wolf stuck his foot in his mouth, and now he has to take on the Dominator! Will Lashley send Corbin reeling with a bout of vertigo?

Raw returns as the bell rings and these two circle. Lashley gets around Corbin to throw him down. Then he throws him again! Lashley brings Corbin up but Corbin elbows into the standing switch. Lashley switches back to throw Corbin again. Corbin gets a ropebreak, so Lashley backs off. Lashley sees the sucker punch coming and drop sCorbin with a neckbreaker. Fans fire up as Lashley bumps Corbin off a buckle. Lashley bumps Corbin off another buckle, then another. He throws hands then whips. Corbin slides out and catches his breath, but fans boo and jeer him. Lashley pursues and rocks Corbin with forearms. He bumps Corbin off the apron, then puts him in the ring at 6. Lashley enters at 7, then rams a shoulder into Corbin in the corner.

Lashley climbs and gives Corbin corner punches. He gets all 10, then clotheslines Corbin back out. Fans cheer while Lashley goes back to get Corbin. Lashley puts Corbin in the ring then hops right up, only for Corbin to kick him down. Corbin throws Lashley into barriers, then puts him in the ring. Corbin stalks Lashley into a half-nelson. Lashley endures while fans rally up. Lashley stands and fights back with body shots. Corbin knees low, then whips Lashley. Lashley reverses but misses in the corner. They speed up and Lashley leaps over to lariat Corbin down! Lashley brings Corbin up, rocks him with clubbing haymakers, then prepares a suplex. Corbin powers Lashley all the way out, for a rough landing! Then he slides out to clobber Lashley down! The Lone Wolf has control while we go to break.

Raw returns and Corbin has Lashley in the half-nelson. He taunts Lashley while leaning his weight on the hold. Lashley feeds off the fan rally but Corbin knees him low. Corbin then throws Lashley into a post! He tries again, but Lashley turns it around and throws Corbin into a post! Lashley recovers while Corbin stands up. Lashley and Corbin brawl with big haymakers, but then Lashley gets on a roll. He throws Corbin overhead, then runs in for a big clothesline. Lashley keeps going, but runs into a back elbow. Corbin runs, but into a spinebuster! Cover, TWO! Corbin rolls out of the ring, but Lashley pursues again. Lashley throws hands on Corbin, then puts him in the ring. Corbin hotshots Lashley on the return, then clobbers him again.

Corbin drags Lashley in, then hoists him to the top rope. He throws forearms on Lashley while climbing up. Fans boo and jeer while Corbin grins. Lashley headbutts Corbin down, adjusts, and leaps, but into the Choke Slam Backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Corbin is furious, so he runs in. Lashley dodges, Corbin slides in and out, but into a knee. Then into the dominator lift! AK-47 Slam! Cover, Lashley wins!

Winner: Bobby Lashley, by pinfall

The Dominator may not have dominated, but he did come out on top. Will the Constable come up with excuses for this loss, too?

Paul Heyman visits Kurt Angle.

What’s he doing here? He has a specific mission, as his client, Brock Lesnar, would like his contractually obligated rematch clause. Seriously? Well, yes, Lesnar VS Roman or Finn. Heyman knows what Angle is thinking, Lesnar should be down the road to UFC by now. But Lesnar goes where he wants to go, so he’s going to want a rematch. Yes, that title contract has a rematch clause, but it doesn’t specify when and where that rematch happens. The thing is, Angle has a fighting champion now, and one that shows up. Lesnar will have to wait a long, long long time for that rematch.

Heyman agrees to that, it should be a long time. Obviously it wouldn’t happen next week. Heyman sees it way down the road, where Lesnar uses his rematch clause for… Hell in a Cell. Angle says it’ll be a cold day in hell for that. Or as they say in Brooklyn, forgettaboutit!

Baron Corbin complains to Kurt Angle.

Corbin says he was prepared for Finn the Man at Summerslam, not Demon Balor. And then tonight, the same thing happens but with Lashley the Dominator. Corbin isn’t some dog who does tricks! He is Stephanie’s Constable! And Corbin is tired of not getting what he wants. Angle says his job isn’t to do what Corbin wants. As long as he’s GM, he does what’s best for the WWE Universe. Fine, but Stephanie’s gonna be here tonight. Corbin’s gonna go talk to her, how does that sound? Will Stephanie give her pet Lone Wolf what he wants? Or will she give him what he deserves?

WWE and Raw take a look at the coming Final Chapter.

Super Show-Down in Australia, October 6th, Triple H and The Undertaker resurrect their ruthless rivalry! Six years ago at Wrestlemania, in a Hell in a Cell mach, it was the End of an Era. But finally, we will get the end of this iconic feud. Who wins this #LastTimeEver match?

Six Woman Tag: Ember Moon & The Boss & Hug Connection VS The Riott Squad!

The Prophecy of Flame and the #LegitHuggable duo take on the entire trio of Ruby, Liv and Sarah! Can Ember, Bayley & Banks Eclipse the entire Squad tonight? Or will Ruby and company #StartARiott in Brooklyn?

The bell rings and Sasha starts with Ruby. Sasha slaps Ruby around, then jumps on her for fast hands! She brings Ruby up and to her corner, tag to Bayley. They crisscross and throw Ruby back. Bayley stomps a mudhole, then tags to Ember. Roll up, TWO, and Ruby scrambles to her corner. Tag to Sarah, but Ember fires off a big right hand! Ember fires off kicks, then roars for a SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO, but Ember keeps on the Kentucky Viking. Liv and Ruby come in but get decked! The Squad escapes the ring, but Sasha gives Ruby a Meteora while Bayley crossbodies on Liv! Sarah stands alone, but Ember DIVES! The War Goddess and the best buddies are in control while we go to break.

Raw returns and Bayley has Liv down with an armlock. Liv shrieks while her partners shout. Fans sing for Bayley but Liv gets up to whip her into a corner. Bayley snake eyes Liv back, then hits a big knee. Sarah saves Liv from a second one, but gets a punch for it. Liv rocks Bayley out of the ring with that right hand, then tags Ruby. Ruby stalks Bayley to bring her down with an STO! The ref reprimands the Squad but Ruby just puts Bayley back in. Cover, TWO, but Ruby drags Bayley over. Tag to Sarah and the Squad starts mugging Bayley. Tag to Liv, Liv pulls Bayley against the ropes with the backpack chinlock. Sarah gets a cheap shot in, then Liv covers. TWO, but the Juvenile Delinquent keeps Bayley grounded with another chinlock.

Bayley endures while fans rally up. Liv thrashes Bayley around, then knees Bayley low. She puts Bayley in the corner then tags Ruby. Ruby tags Sarah and the Squad coordinates. Ruby whips Liv in for a big corner clothesline, then Sarah throws Ruby in for a shoulder tackle. Liv and Ruby feed Bayley to Sarah’s pop up headbutt! Cover, TWO! Sarah wraps Bayley up in a cobra clutch and thrashes her all around. Fans rally up and Bayley jawbreakers out. Sarah takes out Ember, then howls. Bayley boots her back then fights out of the Squad corner. Sarah grabs Bayley’s leg and stomps her down. Sarah drags Bayley back and tags in Ruby. Ruby stays between Sasha and Bayley, but gets rolled up! TWO, hot tag to Sasha!

The Boss rallies as fans fire up. She dropkicks Ruby, then counters the kick with a knee! She runs in, stops those boots, and sets Ruby up for the Stock Drop! Cover, but Liv breaks it just in time. Ember throws Liv out, then gives her the tornado snap suplex! Sasha runs but Ruby puts her on the apron. She knees Ruby away, but has to fight Sarah. Bayley goes after Sarah, but gets a lethal lariat! Sasha hits a Meteora on Sarah, then climbs up again. Ruby kicks the arms, then brings Sasha in for the Riott Kick! Cover, Riott Squad wins!

Winners: The Riott Squad, Ruby pinning

The numbers were even, but it was about the right moves. Ruby and her Squad continue to rise up, how high will they go?

Triple H is here!

The Game and COO of WWE returns, his already legendary #LastTimeEver match with the Phenom on the horizon. Fans chant “NXT!” for the man behind that brand, and HHH admits, TakeOver blew the roof off the arena. Summerslam took it to another level, and it’s all been incredible. HHH was on the edge of his seat, because just like us, he’s a fan of wrestling “to the core, from day one.” He will work until the day he dies that this is here for all of us. But weekends like this give HHH “that itch” to rip his suit off, tape up and lace up to truly be The Game again! That is why when Vince called with an idea, HHH said “Hell Yeah!” Vince wanted HHH VS The Undertaker. HHH said “Hell No.” But for a different reason than we think.

For everything HHH has done, there’s a moment that stands out against all the others. A moment that he will never forget. The Wrestlemania #EndofanEra Hell in a Cell match. He, Taker and Shawn Michaels, on the ramp. Fans chant “HBK!” for the Heartbreak Kid. HHH says that moment is as real as it gets in this business. That is a moment of mutual respect, two of the biggest icons ever, just as responsible as anybody for WWE today. That moment changed them all. It was the End of an Era, but it also changed them. HBK was gone, The Streak would die. The Undertaker would put his hat and gloves down and disappear. HHH put his gear away and put on a suit. And it was over.

The three of them have talked about it, everything changed. The sound, the goosebumps, gone. It was truly the End of an Era, and without sounding bitter, their Era was special. But fans say “You Still Got It!” HHH continues, for the respect he had for that moment, and told Vince that he was back in. HHH takes off the suit to put back on his tape and boots, and be The Game once again! If Undertaker will pick up his hat, put on his gloves and be The Phenom one more time! Melbourne, Australia, 80000 in attendance and everyone around the world watching, that feeling will be back! “Because the Era is back!” Undertaker, The Game, #oneLASTtime! It’s clear on HHH’s face that the Cerebral Assassin is back already, will he meet the Deadman Down Under?

Dean Ambrose w/ Seth Rollins VS Dolph Ziggler w/ Drew McIntyre!

The Lunatic Fringe kept the Scottish Psychopath at bay last night and now The Architect is the NEW Intercontinental Champion! The Show-Off wants after Ambrose himself, but will lose twice within 24 hours?

The bell rings as Rollins and McIntyre move aside, and Ambrose ties up with Ziggler. Ambrose gets a waistlock, then a facelock, but Ziggler reverses to a hammerlock. They stand up and Ambrose gets a headlock takedown. Ziggler gets up and powers out, but Ambrose runs him over. Ambrose glares at Ziggler while Ziggler regroups with McIntyre. Ziggler comes back and circles with Ambrose again. Ziggler lunges in and gets a leg, but Ambrose counters with a roll. Ambrose has a facelock, but Ziggler gets him to ropes. Ziggler gives a shove, but Ambrose shoves right back! Ziggler kicks low and throws hands, but Ambrose gives back a chop! Ambrose chops Ziggler again, but Ziggler rakes the eyes. Ziggler whips but Ambrose reverses to run him over. Cover, ONE.

Ambrose gets another headlock takeover, but Ziggler stands up. Ziggler powers out, but Ambrose runs him over again. They speed up and Ziggler goes to hip toss. Ambrose blocks it to scoop slam! Ambrose runs but McIntyre sweeps his leg. Rollins keeps Ambrose from going after McIntyre, but Ziggler dropkicks Ambrose down! Ziggler gets control back while we go to break.

Raw returns and Ziggler has Ambrose in the sleeper hold. Ziggler is a backpack, but Ambrose works his way up and out. Rollisn rallies the fans, but Ziggler kicks Ambrose’s legs out. Ziggler slaps Ambrose around, daring him to do something. Ambrose ducks the clothesline to give his own! Ambrose gives Ziggler another, then whips him into the kitchen sink knee. Ziggler rolls to a corner, but Ambrose is right on him with a mudhole stomp. Ambrose goes corner to corner but runs into a boot. Ziggler has the ropes, but TWO! Ambrose bucks off the ZigZag, then catches Ziggler into a Fall Away Slam! Ziggler rolls out to the apron while Rollins coaches Ambrose up. Ambrose drags Ziggler up, but Ziggler hotshots Ambrose back. Ziggler kicks but is blocked into a catapult! Ziggler hits post, but then he dodges Ambrose to send him into the post!

Ambrose tumbles out to the floor, but Rollins keeps McIntyre back. McIntyre takes off the jacket and dares Rollins to do something. Rollins takes him up on it! He fires off and McIntyre fires back, but then Ziggler blasts Rollins from behind. Ziggler holds Rollins up so that he and McIntyre can throw Rollins into barriers. But then Ambrose goes after them! He puts Ziggler in but has to get McIntyre. Ziggler kicks, Ambrose dodges, but Ziggler haymakers. Ambrose stops the superkick, Rollins runs in, but only to DIVE onto McIntyre! Ambrose denies the satellite, to get his Dirty Deeds! Cover, Ambrose wins!

Winner: Dean Ambrose, by pinfall

The Lunatic wins on a great return! He and Rollins regroup while McIntyre comes rushing in. The Shield Brothers are firing on all cylinders, how high will they go?

Elias does a double check with his technicians.

He tells them neither of them are special, that designation is reserved for someone like him. And the guitar better not break or it’s both their careers on the line. The Drifter heads to the ring, will he redeem himself from last night?

Finn Balor prepares backstage.

But he encounters Braun Strowman. The Monster in the Bank got screwed out of a cash-in, but he’s reminding Finn here and now, it’s coming. “Good luck tonight.”

“Ladies and Gentlemen: Elias.”

The Drifter tries again from his embarrassing instrument malfunction. After that moment, someone is clearly trying to destroy him. He fired three crew members, and knows Fender does better than that. This mystery person doesn’t realize WWE really stands for “Walk With Elias!” Now he was supposed to give us the greatest performance ever, but his doctor warned him of his blood pressure being around people from Brooklyn. But a performer must perform, so he simply asks New Yorkers to do the impossible and shut up. But just as he starts playing, it’s Brooklyn’s own, Curt Hawkins! Hawkins says Elias can be Number One, as in the first man to lose to Hawkins!

Hawkins feels so lucky tonight in front of not Elias’ town. So maybe together, Elias and Hawkins go ahead and end the 218 match losing streak! Elias likes the moxie, but he has a cold hard fact: Hawkins is a loser. Hawkins was born a loser, will die a loser, just like everyone in Brooklyn. Elias’ ring is his stage, Hawkins doesn’t belong. No more wasting time, just get out of here. Elias can’t even believe he’s wasted this much time. Hawkins turns and walks up the ramp while Elias begins to play. “Hey, Elias,” Hawkins says. Is he gonna hide behind a guitar and a scarf? Or are they gonna fight? Hawkins gets in the ring, and challenges him to a match, right now! Elias sees he has no choice, we have a match!

Elias VS Curt Hawkins!

The bell rings, Hawkins rolls Elias, TWO! Elias hits him with a jumping knee! The Drifter rips off his shirt before throwing hands on Hawkins. Brooklyn is behind their ultimate underdog, but Elias whips him and runs him over. Elias drops an elbow, then covers. TWO, but then a crucifix! TWO! Elias swings, Hawkins rocks him back. Hawkins throws haymakers, then whips. Elias reverses, Hawkins runs him over. Hawkins rallies, “you Deserve It!” Hwakins pursues but gets a big knee to the heart. Elias brings Hawkins up, Drfit Aaway! Cover, Elias wins!

Winner: Elias, by pinfall

Hawkins goes to 0-219, but he at least kept Elias from singing. Will Hawkins ever get that bad streak off his back?

Titus O’Neil finds Apollo Crews and Dana Brooke talking.

Where’ve they been? They were talking “strategy”. Dana has a weakness in AoP’s tactics. Then let’s get to it! That match is up next, does Dana have the algorithm to undo Akam & Rezar?

Titus Worldwide VS The Authors of Pain!

Raw returns as Rezar has Titus in a bearhug. Titus fights his way out with elbows, then with headlock punches. Rezar powers him to the AoP corner, tag to Akam. Akam and Rezar throw in knees and clubbing forearms, then talk trash in their respective native tongues. Akam tries but can’t lift Titus. Titus lifts and suplexes Akam! Dana rallies the fans while Akam and Titus crawl. Hot tag to Apollo! Apollo swings on Rezar, but gets clobbered by Akam! Tag to Rezar, and the Authros double lift and slam Apollo! Cover, TWO! Rezar keeps on Apollo with both hands and trash talk. He lifts Apollo into a facelock. Apollo endures, and powers Rezar backwards step by step. Rezar powers Apollo all the way back, but lets go at 4 in the corner.

Rezar drags Apollo back up and over to tag in Akam. Akam climbs while Rezar lifts Apollo, sidewalk slam and stomp! Cover, TWO! Akam keeps on Apollo with a standing crossface, but Dana rallies the fans. Apollo stands and fights back with elbows. He fires off forearms from both sides, but trades hip toss blocks. Akam throws Apollo with a fireman’s carry, but Apollo fights out of the corner! He dodges Akam, whose knee goes into the buckle! Akam still blocks the enziguri, then tags in Rezar. Both Authors hoist Apollo up top, but Apollo keeps fighting. He gets Akam down then elbows Rezar away, for a BIG crossbody! Cover, TWO! Shooting Star! But Akam covers that cover.

Titus goes after Akam and they go all the way out. The referee is busy with Titus, so that Rezar can knee him down. Apollo rolls Rezar, but Rezar holds ropes. Rezar yanks Apollo up with one hand! He whips Apollo hard, then tags in Akam. The Authors finish this with the Last Chapter! Cover, AoP wins!

Winners: The Authors of Pain, Akam by pinfall

Dana’s diagrams didn’t help, the story ended the same as before. Will the AoP write their way all the way to the very top?

Stephanie McMahon heads to the ring!

The rest of the Raw Women’s Division is already ringside as the Commissioner heads out. Alexa Bliss has her arm in a sling after what the Baddest Woman on the Planet did to her. When Stephanie thinks of today’s Women’s Division, she thinks of “proud.” Stephanie is proud of all the women in the WWE, and of the All Women’s PPV, Evolution. She’s also proud of the Raw Women’s Championship from Summerslam. She cues up footage, The Goddess VS Rowdy Ronda Rousey! Needless to say, Ronda threw Alexa around and then popped that arm out! And then the crowning achievement, Ronda won the title! “This one’s for Roddy!”

Ronda is the first woman to ever be UFC and Raw Women’s Champion. Stephanie takes credit for the business prowess that brought Ronda and her “raw talent” to make it into a diamond to shine above all others. Stephanie takes credit for “molding” Ronda into a superstar, and for setting an example for all the women of WWE. She introduces Ronda as her “protege”, but Ronda skips being formally introduced. Ronda takes up a mic, hears the fans chant for her, which Stephanie takes credit for. Ronda says this isn’t about Stephanie, this is about the women who wrestle in the WWE. Why are they even ringside? What is this? Is Stephanie putting herself above all of them? Ronda invites them into the ring!

Stephanie doesn’t think this is becoming of a champion. She’s telling Ronda what it’s like to be a champion? This isn’t even about one person, this is about the Women’s (R)Evolution! From Natalya, a cornerstone of the Division today, to Sasha & Bayley who made history with NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn sparking this movement. Ronda isn’t Lesnar, she is GOING to be a fighting champion and looks forward to facing each and every woman in the WWE. Stephanie agrees, Ronda isn’t Lesnar. Who is this Ronda? This is the Ronda who wants to just hurt people. Stephanie knows what that feels like! As does Alexa. Alicia comforts her friend, while Stephanie shows everyone how Alexa’s elbow got bent back. Look at Alexa’s anguished face! “That’s not wrestling, I don’t know what that is.”

Stephanie says Ronda will do the same to the Squad, to Alicia, to Dana and the Bellas. Ronda will wipe them all out so that she can stand alone in the spotlight. “That’s who Ronda really is.” Ronda won’t let Stephanie turn them against each other. Ronda only breaks those who deserve it. She then creeps closer to Stephanie, and throws her down! Ronda has the arm, and Stephanie taps out! Stephanie’s arm broke!? Fans love it, as do Natty, Dana, The Bellas, Ember, Sasha and Bayley. They’re with her, but will Ronda suffer consequences for what she just did to the Billionaire Queen?

Bo Dallas w/ Curt Axel VS Scott Dawson w/ Dash Wilder!

“Dearly beloved!” The magic carpet ride of life has its twists and turns, because only a month ago, these two had never won once! Not once! But then, one letter changed all of the WWE, and now Bo & Axel are Raw Tag Team Champions! Tonight, they dedicate these singles matches to the WWE Universe. The B in B-Team stands for Brooklyn! The #TopGuys come out, and we begin.

Bo and Dawson tie up, and Bo powers Dawson back. Dawson pulls hair to pull Bo back, then gives him a headbutt. Bo rocks Dawson with a right, then has him at the ropes. Dawson uses the rope to snap Bo back, then reels BO in for a lariat. Bo gets to a corner, but Dawson is on him with a buckle guillotine! Dawson stalks Bo while Axel rallies the fans. Dawson digs an elbow into Bo’s forehead, then jams it in. Bo crawls but Dawson sits him up for a chinlock.

Bo powers his way out but Dawson rocks him with a European Uppercut. Dawson brings Bo up for a neckbreaker, but Bo backslide counters! TWO, Bo rocks Dawosn with a back elbow. Bo rallies, then hits a knee lift to body check! “B-Team, B-Team! Go go go!” Bo brings Dawson up for a draping neckbreaker, but Dawson counters with buckle bumps. Dawson lifts Bo, for a package DDT! Cover, Dawson wins!

Winner: Scott Dawson, by pinfall

Dawson shows Bo’s luck has run out, but now it’s time to switch. Can Axel keep things even with The Revival?

Curt Axel w/ Bo Dallas VS Dash Wilder w/ Scott Dawson!

“Dash, get your ass in here!” Axel wants this match asap, but Dash takes his time. Raw goes to break while Axel and Dash get ready.

Raw returns and Dash bends Axel back. Axel fights out but Dash is on him again. Dash whips but Axel sunset flips. TWO, and Axel kicks low. Axel runs but into a Wasteland backbreaker. Cover, TWO! Dash mocks the B-Team chant while Brooklyn does the wave. Dash bends Axel back again, but Axel endures while Bo chants. Axel fights his way out and arm-drags Dash away. He throws hands and then rallies with clotheslines. Axel dropkicks Dash down then hits a corner forearm. Fans join in on the chant, Axel neck snaps Dash. Axel brings Dash up, but Dash powers out. Dash runs but into boots. Axel climbs up,for the ax handle, but misses! Dash has Axel in the Gory Special, to facebuster! Cover, Dash wins!

Winner: Dash Wilder, by pinfall

The B-Team isn’t undefeated in singles matches, but Bo and Axel point out that they’re still the champions. Will The Revival get another go at the titles?

Backstage interview with Roman Reigns.

Renee Young congratulates Roman on his Summerslam victory, but brings up his match with Finn Balor and the possibility of a cash-in. Does he regret putting his title up tonight? Not at all. Roman didn’t spend years of his life taking years off his life just to hide. Roman will defend his Yard, and is giving Finn the rematch he deserves. Finn will lose and go to the back of the line. As for Strowman, Roman wasn’t thrown off at all last night, and won’t be tonight. He’s ready to take on all comers, but will The Big Dog really be ready for the Man and the Monster?

Stephanie McMahon is in the trainer’s room.

She’s getting her arm iced after what Ronda did to it. Alexa is with her, too, because she knows what that’s like now. Baron Corbin has the trainer leave while Angle comes in. Stephanie gets mad at him for not keeping his stars under control. But he wasn’t out there, what could he have done? Corbin and Stephanie get on Angle for everything from last minute matches to Ronda assaulting the Commissioner. Stephanie sees Angle is being worn down by this job. It’s been a year and a half, maybe he needs time off. Angle doesn’t want a vacation. It’s fine, it’ll be temporary, but he just needs time away. Which would then put Corbin in charge as interim GM. Angle is beside himself, what will happen under the Constable’s control?

WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns VS Finn Balor!

The Big Dog finally beat the Beast, but he isn’t going to rest on his laurels. Demon Balor beat the cranky Constable but this is Finn the Man tonight. Will a Man be enough to take over The Yard? And what of the Monster in the Bank promising to cash-in on the champion no matter what?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we begin! Finn and Roman circle then tie up. Roman powers Finn back, then throws him out of the corner. Finn gets a waistlock but also a back elbow. Roman locks on a headlock, but Finn powers out. Roman swings but Finn ducks, only to run into a shoulder. Fans duel while Finn catches his breath. Roman drags Finn up and whips him. Finn sunset flips, TWO, but Finn gets away to swing kick, but Roman rocks him with an uppercut! The Big Dog has control while we go to break.

Raw returns again, and Roman has Finn in a chinlock. Fans duel as Finn fights his way up and out. Roman knees low, then whips Finn. Finn reverses but Roman sunset flips. Finn rolls through for the basement dropkick! Roman checks his face while Finn gets up. Roman runs at Finn, but Finn tosses him out! Finn hits a wrecking ball dropkick, then an apron penalty kick! Wait, Roman catches that to throw Finn into the apron! Cover, TWO! Finn sits up but Roman stalks him to a corner. Roman gives Finn a quick haymaker, then whips him corner to corner hard. Roman takes his time checking his face while Finn writhes on the mat. Fans duel again as Roman circles Finn like a shark. Roman rocks Finn with a right, but then runs into boots!

Finn and Roman runs, but Finn hits forearms. Finn takes Roman down and gives him a double stomp! He keeps going, giving Roman a running chop in the corner. They go corner to corner but Roman reverses. Finn goes up and over, to give another chop. That one wasn’t as strong… Roman puts Finn in the corner to give close range clotheslines! Roman gets all 10, then runs, but into Finn’s dropkick! He goes out, but Finn FLIES! Direct hit on the Big Dog! Finn puts Roman in the ring, then covers, TWO! Finn is shocked but we go to one last break.

Raw returns once more, and Roman stands over Finn. Fans boo Roman, and someone in the crowd, but Roman goes back to Finn. Roman eggs Finn on, but Finn blocks the punches to give his own! Roman uppercuts Finn but Finn PELES Roman! Both men are down from exhaustion, but still have something left. Roman sits up but Finn follows. Finn drags himself up with ropes, but Roman runs at him. Finn ducks to fire off! He gives springboard stomp after springboard stomp! Fans fire up as Finn grits his teeth. He runs at Roman, but Roman counters the slingblade with a roll up. TWO, to a deadlift sit-out! TWO!! Roman can’t believe it, but Finn survives that sudden turnaround.

Roman gets to a corner, and he locks and loads. He runs but into a kick! Then the elbow drop DDT! Cover, TWO! Finn knows he’s close, so he keeps going. Roman shoves him back, but misses in the corner. Finn swing kicks Roman down, then climbs up! Roman gets up and under, but into the Slingblade! Finn runs, SUPERMAN PUNCH! Cover, TWO! Both men have gone so far already, but there’s still fight in both of them. Fans rally up and Roman stands first. He goes to a corner and fans are a thunderous mix as he lets out the howl. Roman runs, but into a knee! Then into a wheelbarrow roll-up! TWO! SUPERMAN PUNCH! Roman shouts “ENOUGH!” and goes back to the corner. But here comes BRAUN!!

The Monster in the Bank gave fair warning, but this is a bit different from his face to face from last night. Finn Slingblade! Blasting dropkick! COUP DE– SPEAR!! Cover, Roman wins!

Winner: Roman Reigns, by pinfall; still WWE Universal Champion

But now Strowman is here! He lets Roman get ready, before booting him down! Strowman cashes in!! It! Is! HAPPENING!

But wait, it’s THE SHIELD!! Rollins and Ambrose are in their Shield uniforms!! They and the Monster stare down. Fans aren’t sure what to make of this, but the match hasn’t been made official because there was no bell. Rollins and Ambrose creep in, Roman stands, and now Strowman has WWE’s Cerberus to deal with. Strowman strikes first! It’s a 3v1 as the Shield tear into Strowman. SUPERMAN PUNCH! Chop block from Ambrose, SUPERKICK from Rollins! Roman clotheslines Strowman out, but that’s not all! Ambrose clears the table, we all know what this means! They beat Strowman down more, then hoist Strowman up… But Strowman fights out! SPEAR from Roman! The Shield tries again, and hit the SHIELD TRIPLE BOMB!! Strowman is down, the Shield stands tall! Will Ambrose & Rollins be the guard dogs for The Big Dog against the Monster in the Bank?

My Thoughts:

This was a wild Raw, but I’m still sorting out if that made it good or bad. Kudos to Roman’s character for being a fighting champion out of the gate and giving Finn Balor the rematch. Baron Corbin gets beat by Bobby Lashley, but now he has complete control because Stephanie forces Angle to take a vacation after what Ronda did. Ronda clearly has the Faces on her side, but I’m still hoping Stephanie via Corbin makes a Woman’s Armageddon Hell in a Cell. Ronda and any five women from Raw fighting in the Cell all for the title. Angle told Heyman that Lesnar would have to wait a long time for his rematch, but I’m betting Corbin changes that, too. It oddly feels that while Raw had just reached a great point, they’re purposefully writing themselves back down the hole.

The Riott Squad wins again, a bit to my surprise. I suppose they have to extend this Woman’s Tag story if they want to give us the Women’s Tag Division before the year is out. Clearly Raw’s side of this is still building to Bayley & Banks VS Riott Squad while SmackDown has currently thrown out the possibility of Becky & Charlotte. As for the Men’s Tag Team Division, I almost thought Ambrose VS Ziggler was going to turn into a tag match but that clean ending was actually pretty good. The Revival look primed to finally get those belts, while AoP keep winning without really gaining round. Raw needs to sort out the Men’s Tag because it feels weaker than NXT’s.

And on the subject of Titus Worldwide, I hope they’re not going for a Dana-Apollo shipping. He’s in a relationship and has a child, they can’t/shouldn’t kayfabe those two together. But if they’re both talking about quitting Titus Worldwide, that might be an interesting twist. For some reason, I thought Hawkins was finally going to get the win here. But Elias’ bad luck was only for Summerslam, he’s back up with his quick win tonight. I have no idea where Hawkins’ story will finally give him his first win, and Elias seems just as aimless right now.

HHH had a really solid promo, with the heartfelt part about the End of an Era Hell in a Cell match. I think he started to shoot there a bit about how the three of them all felt about that moment. But then he did great to get back into character, and man, Super Show-Down sounds great just off of the match between WWE legends. We have Hell in a Cell first, but I’m betting there will be some great matches thrown onto Super Show-Down’s card just to give us some great excitement.

Then comes the main event. Roman VS Finn put on one hell of a match, but then Strowman changes his mind to do things the sneaky way. Fans ate it up either way because they all love Strowman. But then The Shield surprises us all, and Brooklyn ate that up, too. It was hard to tell who was Face and who was Heel anymore, but this twist is more than enough to bring some intrigue back to Raw. A massive multi-turn might be interesting, too, with The Shield back to Heel since everyone loves Strowman as Face. I actually want to see next week’s Raw already just to know what they’re going to do next.

My Score: 8.4/10

About Chairshot Radio Network

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

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Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

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Up Next

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Live Report! (8/21/18)

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Mitchell’s WWE Summerslam 2018 Report! (8/19/18)

Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (12/24/24)

NXT on Christmas Eve!

Published

2 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Steven Mitchell

Golden tickets make for great stocking stuffers!

With Nathan Frazer & Axiom still NXT Tag Team Champions, they need new contenders for New Year’s Evil! Who wins a Fatal 4 Way to head for LA?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Stephanie Vaquer VS Cora Jade; wins.
Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx w/ Fallon Henley VS Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn; win.
NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Charlie Dempsey w/ No Quarter Catch Crew VS Lexis King; wins and
NXT Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Christmas Chaos Fatal 4 Way: Myles Borne & Tavion Heights VS Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo & Luca Crusifino VS OTM VS Hank ‘n’ Tank; win(s) and will challenge Nathan Frazer & Axiom for the titles.

PLAY BY PLAY

[Due to scheduling conflicts, coverage will be on delay]

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (12/23/24)

The Raw Before Christmas!

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2024

Steven Mitchell

The Hollywood A-Lister’s got his own nightmare before Christmas!

Christmas is just a few days away, but things aren’t merry and bright for Raw! The Miz must face his fears as he faces Dexter Lumis 1v1!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Natalya VS Alba Fyre VS Iyo Sky; Iyo wins and advances to the next round.
Chad Gable w/ Team American Made VS Akira Tozawa w/ The Alpha Academy; Gable wins.
Dominik Mysterio VS Damian Priest; Damian Priest wins, by disqualification.
The Miz VS Dexter Lumis; Lumis wins, by disqualification.
Sami Zayn VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Drew McIntyre walks to gorilla.

The Scottish Terminator makes his way through the curtain and to the stage, and the fans have a mixed reaction as he goes to the ring. McIntyre grabs a mic, and he says, “After Hell in a Cell, I’ve never been so beat up in my entire life. 16 staples in my head, my back almost broken from landing on the steel steps. And I went home to Scotland. The reason I went home, and I haven’t really talked about it publicly, is because a very close family member passed away. Some people probably feeling sympathy right now. Some guys in the back are probably talking to each other, saying, ‘I didn’t know.’ Maybe if you cared enough, you would’ve asked.

“Over these past two months, guess how many people phoned me to check. Not how I was doing mentally but how I was doing physically after Hell in a Cell. ONE PERSON! These past 17 years, I’ve been led to believe we’re all a big happy family in the back. We’re brothers and sisters, we travel the world together, we spend more time with each other than with our actual families, but it’s all BS! My brother, John, in Scotland wouldn’t stab me in the back to take my spot, but people like Jimmy, Jey and Sami 100% would.” The fans boo that, then chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” McIntyre says that proves his point.

After watching everything The Bloodline did, Jey says he is a changed man. He does a cute hand sign, he says a made-up word, and the fans just forget about it and move on. That’s the other thing McIntyre realized: He has given and given and given all this time, and the fans turned on him for a guy who was gone for years and has told the WWE fans to go screw themselves! McIntyre was fighting for the fans, he thought they believed in him, so he believed in the fans! McIntyre bled out in the cell, and while he was gone, the fans instantly forgot him! The fans boo, that’s not true! But McIntyre says from now on, he gives no more for anybody!

McIntyre will take and take and he will tell the truth! The real villains are Roman Reigns and CM Punk! And if you choose to prop them up, as he already said, Jey, Jimmy & Sami, the things Roman did to you… Roman took a vacation, then simply snapped his fingers and they were by his side again! McIntyre suggests everyone who ever wronged McIntyre should sleep with one eye open. But wait, here comes Sami Zayn! The fans cheer and sing for Sami but Sami says hey, McIntyre is angry, he doesn’t have to believe Sami in place of believing everyone has ulterior motives. Sami doesn’t blame him.

But personally, man to man, Sami did not know what happened with McIntyre’s family. They figured he was recovering from one of the most vicious matches of all time. Sami thought that, all the guys ‘n’ girls in the back thought, and that’s all the fans thought. Believe that or not, fine, but Sami wants to level with McIntyre. Talk about 17 years, Sami has 22 years in this game. Sami’s been through what McIntyre’s been through. Sami’s had losses. Trust him. He has had losses he had to put on the side and go to work that week. The same sacrifices, from birthdays to weddings to funerals that he should’ve been at? Sami’s done it all.

Sami has put unnecessary stress on his wife, on his kid, and why? Because this is the life that they both chose! They are WWE SUPERSTARS! The fans cheer that! And as such, they are LUCKY to be WWE Superstars! And you think this is just your story or Sami’s story? Y’know who else has stories like this? Every single person sitting in the stands. Every single person at home! The kids who struggle at school, the adults who struggle at work, who struggle economically, physically, and they have their losses and sacrifices, but they still get up every day to do what they gotta do to soldier on, without pointing a finger at everyone else!

The fans fire up for that passion. Sami says McIntyre dares pointing a finger at the fans for forgetting him?! They didn’t forget, brother! They MADE McIntyre! And McIntyre still thinks the world revolves around him just because once upon a time, someone told him he was “The Chosen One.” But newsflash, just because you’re mad doesn’t make you special. And now McIntyre thinks everyone else is somehow tied to him? What Jimmy does has nothing to do with McIntyre. What Jey does has nothing to do with McIntyre! What SAMI does has nothing to do with McIntyre!

But McIntyre, if you want to still walk around all angry and pointing fingers at the fans, at Sami, at Jey, at Jimmy, at Punk, at Roman, and still be mad about The Bloodline, fine. No one is stopping McIntyre. But Sami has no problem being McIntyre’s problem and facing him in this ring right now! McIntyre says if Sami wants to know the truth… IT isn’t just anger. McIntyre’s anger comes from pain, and he doesn’t doubt what Sami just said. There was so much truth and passion, but it’s never the whole truth, is it? Sami has a way of spinning things. Because Sami can fly back home every week to his family. McIntyre is halfway across the world from his!

And no one here in Boston ever leaves Boston, they’re with their families 24/7! McIntyre doesn’t have that luxury! The fans boo that veiled insult, but McIntyre says he will remain calm and ask Sami why he wants this fight. They both know the result, we saw it time and time again, Sami has NEVER beaten McIntyre. So McIntyre suggests, given Sami isn’t 100%, and Sami’s wife and kid are here tonight… Sami should just walk back there, take their hands, and leave this arena. Of all those in the Bloodline, Sami is the least of McIntyre’s worries.

Sami says McIntyre is right about a couple things. When it comes to win-loss records, McIntyre has Sami’s number. And Sami is not 100%. Haven’t been since Saturday Night’s Main Event. And yes, the smart thing would be to just go home, celebrate and get healthy over the holidays. But Sami would so much rather do this. Sami fires hands! The fans fire up but McIntyre shoves Sami away. McIntyre swings, but gets caught! Sami lifts but McIntyre fights free, then GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT! McIntyre takes aim, but here comes JEY USO! The fans fire up as Jey runs down the ramp, slides in, and then dodges McIntyre to SUPERKICK!

The fans fire up as Jey & Sami DOUBLE LARIAT McIntyre up and outta the ring! The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” with Jey & Sami Uso! Will the Scottish Terminator’s mission be ended when Sami and/or Jey shut him down?

Adam Pearce is met by Pure Fusion Collective.

The Raw General Manager asks Sonya Deville what he can do for her and she says not much. She knows how stressful this job can be since she once had it. She’s just here to make things easier. And how’s that? Well, Kairi Sane is not cleared to compete, there is an opening in the tournament, and Sonya wants it. Oh, is that so? Y’know, Sonya, that is a terrible idea. They caused this scenario so he’s just gonna reward them? Are they outta their minds? And zip it! Plus, he already filled that vacancy with Iyo Sky. Happy Holidays! PFC is upset by that since Iyo just lost to Liv Morgan, but will there be nothing to stop the Evil Genius now?

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Natalya VS Alba Fyre VS Iyo Sky!

Just as Pearce said, PFC taking out the Pirate Princess will not mean they get away with murder! The Queen of Harts and the Fire Keeper must now figure out how to handle this change to the program. Will Iyo redeem herself for losing Saturday Night’s Main Event by moving on to the next round?

Raw returns and Alba makes her entrance, Isla Dawn seeing her to the ramp, and then Natalya makes her entrance. The bell rings and Alba kicks Natty then ELBOWS Iyo! Alba whips but Natty reverses and Alba tumbles out of the ring! Iyo rolls Natty, TWO! Iyo whips, Natty dodges in the corner and gets Iyo up! REBOUND SIT-DOWN, and then Natty steps on Iyo, only for Alba to trip Natty up! Alba brings Natty out to send into steel steps! But then Iyo DIVES onto Alba! The fans fire up with Iyo and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Natty brawls with Abla. Alba knees low, but Iyo CROSBODIES them both down! The fans fire up and Iyo SHOTEIS Alba! And SHOTEIS her again! And then DROPKICKS her down! Iyo brings Alba around, whips, but Alba reverses. Iyo goes up and out, then blocks a shot to ROCK Alba! The fans fire up, Iyo spirnboards, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Iyo handsprings up and the fans fire up again! Iyo gets the fans going, but Alba wrenches and facelocks, TORNADO DDT! Alba gets Iyo up again to GOURD BUSTER her onto Natty! Alba then rearranges them into the drop zone!

Alba goes up, the fans are torn, but Alba grins as she SWANTON BOMBS! Cover on Iyo, TWO! Cover on Natty, TWO! But into a KOJI KLUTCH! Natty endures, flails, fights around, but Alba holds on tight! Natty pushes, stacks Alba, TWO!! Natty has the legs! Alba flails now, but Iyo runs up! Natty trips Iyo onto Alba, and she has them both! Natty turns them both over, DOUBLE SHARPSHOOTER!! Iyo and Alba both flail, both claw at the mat, and Alba gets the ROPEBREAK! No disqualifications so Natty can hold on! But now Iyo drags herself under the ropes, and there’s no room left, so Natty has to let go!

Natty rises up and she stalks Iyo to the apron. Natty drags Iyo up but Iyo HOTSHOTS Natty! Natty staggers, rebounds, but Iyo jumps the baseball slide! Natty hits Alba down, and then Iyo PENALTY KICKS Natty! Iyo fires up and springboards, ASAI MOONSAULT! Direct hit on both targets and the fans fire up! Iyo hurries to get Natty up and into the ring, then she drags Natty into the drop zone. Iyo climbs, but Alba CLUBS Iyo first! Alba snarls as she climbs up, but Iyo holds onto ropes! Natty CLUBS Alba and she adds on! SUPER GERMAN SUPLEX on Alba! But Iyo stays up top to go OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, Iyo wins!

Winner: Iyo Sky, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)

The Genius of the Sky moves on, ready to fly against The Morrigan! Will Iyo be able to get past Lyra Valkyria and head for the title?

Judgment Day sulks in the clubhouse.

Finn Balor tells JD McDonagh that he can’t believe this. This was supposed to be a Merry Christmas, Finn was supposed to be celebrating with two titles, and now he has none! Liv Morgan tells Raquel Rodriguez to tell Finn that the reason she suggested he stay away from Damian Priest is because she knew this would happen. Raquel starts to relay the message, but Finn has JD tell Liv that she’s got her own problems to worry about and to stay off his back. But then Liv tells Raquel to tell Finn that the reason she’s “on his back” is because he lost the tag titles. JD, tell Liv that Christmas is-

Dominik speaks up to stop the arguing. Christmas IS around the corner, and now they’re not even talking to each other? Dom says he’s gonna go talk with Pearce and get a match with Priest! Dom’s gonna step up for this family. Oh, Dom thinks he’s better than Finn? No, it’s not even like that. Dom has a plan. He’ll talk with Pearce then fill everyone in later. Dom heads out, JD prays for one week of no drama while it’s Christmas. Will Dirty Dom make sure The Punisher pays for screwing Finn & JD over? Or will Priest be given the gift of sending Dom South of Heaven?

Sami and Jey regroup backstage.

Sami can’t believe Jey didn’t text or call about the comeback. Jey says, “My bad.” But Sami says it’s fine, he’s happy Jey is back. And thanks for having his back out there tonight and every night, Sami appreciates Jey. Jey thanks Sami for that, and says you know he had to come back for payback. Jey is gonna handle business! Actually, Sami was kinda hoping he could handle McIntyre. Sami talked a big game, he’s gotta back it up. But Sami, you’re not even 100% tonight. Sami knows, but he started something so he has to finish it. Jey says alright. He’s got next! They secret handshake and Jey wishes Sami luck. Will Sami finally get a win on McIntyre in a Christmas miracle?

Chad Gable w/ Team American Made VS Akira Tozawa w/ The Alpha Academy!

As “Master” Gable said last week, it was about time he settled things with his past. Will Gable prove to the world that he was always the reason the Alpha Academy was relevant? Or will he find out he can’t keep up with the Stamina Monster?

Raw returns and the #AlphaBabes make their entrance, showing off that new merch while they’re at it. The bell rings and the fans rally up. Tozawa and Gable tie up, Gable wrenches and talks trash right to Tozawa’s face! Gable CHOPS Tozawa down, stands him up, CHOPS him down again, repeat! Gable whips and CLOBBERS Tozawa, then raises the fist. The fans boo more but Gable talks smack on Otis. Gable drags Tozawa up, suplexes, but Tozawa slips free! Tozawa SOBATS, spins, slides under, and SPIN KCIKS! Gable goes to a corner and Tozawa puts him up! But Gable gets Tozawa for a HANGING ARMBAR!

Otis protests, the ref counts, and Gable lets off at 4. Gable says he didn’t break a rule, and Otis never learns. Gable SLAPS Otis, slides into the ring, but Tozawa victory rolls! TWO, but Tozawa SUPERKICKS Gable down! Tozawa rips the shirt off, goes up top, and SUPER SENTRONS onto knees! Gable saves himself and hauls Tozawa up to GERMAN SUPELX! And then GERMAN SUPLEX again! Gable GERMAN SUPLEXES again! But he isn’t done, Gable spins Tozawa around, and POWERBOMBS him! ANKLE LOCK!! Tozawa flails but he’s so far from the ropes! Tozawa TAPS, Gable wins!

Winner: Chad Gable, by submission

But Gable won’t let go! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Gable just drops into a GRAPEVINE! So Otis storms in and he drags Gable off the leg! Otis TOSSES Gable! The fans are thunderous, but Team American Made steps up to support Gable. Gable says Otis never learns! But Otis’ hips are moving! He’s shaking, quaking, and the fans fire up, but American Made backs off. Will Gable finally fight Otis and put this beef to rest?

The New Day talks backstage.

They still don’t understand how everyone here doesn’t see things their way. But then Dirty Dom walks over, clapping with “New! Day Rocks!” Finally, someone who understands! Dom says he never liked Big E, but uh, no, what they did was crazy. Well, whatever, Broke Ass Tom Selleck! Dom says Tom Selleck wishes! Dirty Dom heads for gorilla, ready to fight for the Judgment Day. But will Dom go from “Broke Ass Tom Selleck” to just broken?

Dominik Mysterio VS Damian Priest!

Judgment Day’s history has always been a rocky one, but it has never been rockier than right now. Betraying Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest probably has a lot to do with it, but will Dom be able to smooth things over by taking Damian down? Or will Priest finally beat some sense into #LatinoCheat?

The bell rings and Dom bails right out! Dom dares Priest to come get him, but Priest says Dom needs to get back in the ring. Priest will even give him a free shot! Dom storms up to the apron, steps in, and takes that swing, but Priest blocks it! Then Priest BELL CLAPS Dom, DECKS him, then DECKS him again! Dom staggers around, Priest picks him up to SLAM DUNK! Dom staggers back up, into a torture rack! Priest bends Dom with the Argentine Backbreaker! Priest then THROWS Dom down and the fans fire up. Priest paces around, powers up his arm, and Dom rises. The fans rally and Priest runs, but Dom ducks a lariat!

Dom kicks, CLUBS and KICKS again! SUPERKICK! Then DROPKCIK! Priest staggers but Dom hurries to stalk behind him. Priest sits up first and glares at Dom. Dom panics, but he DUMPS Priest out! Dom builds speed to DIVE, but into Priest’s hands! FLATLINER onto the desk! The fans fire up and Priest drags Dom up to then POST him! Dom falls in a heap, but Priest puts Dom in the ring. Priest then notices a very suspicious Santa Claus. Priest snatches the beard away, and tada! It’s JD! Priest TOSSES JD and the fans cheer! JD wants mercy but Priest SLIDES him across the desk! The fans fire up as Wade narrowly avoids getting hit!

Priest then has a Spider Sense moment, and he looks under the ring! Carlito spits out his apple in surprise! Priest drags Carlito up and TOSSES him into the timekeeper’s area! But then Finn attacks!

Winner: Damian Priest, by disqualification

Finn fires hands, but Priest blocks the desk bump! Priest body shots and SMACKS Finn off the desk! And again, and again! Priest puts Finn in the ring, Dom runs up, but Priest DECKS him! Priest fires more hands on Finn, but the Judgment Day regroups! They mug Priest 4v1 as usual, and JD even drops elbows! The fans boo but the Judgment Day stand Priest up. WAIT! Here comes the War Raiders! Erik & Ivar fire hands on Dom & Carlito, and Priest TOSSES JD! Finn realizes he’s alone, and Priest SUPERKICKS him down! Priest stomps a mudhole into Finn, the Raiders put Carlito and Dom in the ring!

Ivar KNEES Carlito, then feeds him to Erik’s KNEE! The fans cheer, JD gets up, but Priest LARIATS him inside-out! Dom is fed to the WAR MACHINE!! Finn staggers up, but Priest grabs him! And Finn goes SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! The Judgment Day just got further embarrassed, and that’s not even considering JD’s Santa costume. Will the War Raiders be some unlikely allies for Priest in this ongoing war with the Judgment Day?

Sit-down interview with Seth Rollins.

Jackie Redmond thanks The Visionary for taking this time to talk with her, and he says it is his pleasure. Jackie talked with CM Punk and heard what he had to say, what Punk believes, when it comes to Rollins’ hatred for Punk. And we have heard from Rollins, as well, but Jackie’s still just curious. What is the root cause, the driving force, of this disdain he clearly feels for CM Punk? Rollins says the thing is, he has tried to explain how he feels many times over the years, and it sort of… Well, he won’t say he’s talking into the wind, but Rollins just feels Punk has needed the WWE more than the WWE needed him.

And so that hypocrisy from Punk is what just eats at Rollins. It is hard for Rollins to let that go. Jackie mentions how Rollins has talked about getting rid of it by “cutting it out” and fighting through it, and how this fight with Punk has to happen as a catharsis. What does “cutting” Punk out look like? What should we expect from, not even so much a match, that doesn’t feel like the right word now. Rollins says it’ll be fight. That’s what we’re getting, no question. It is the biggest fight in their sport right now, and Rollins needs it now. After Survivor Series, seeing Punk hand-in-hand with Roman Reigns… Roman’s finger in the air, Punk doing the stupid Go To Sleep thing…

Rollins just wanted to throw the remote through his TV, he was so viscerally, internally destroyed. Rollins felt that was it, no more waiting. The world needs to see it. This is perfect. The Netflix debut, the world will be watching. But to answer the question, he doesn’t know what it’ll look like. You might see a side of Rollins that no one’s ever seen. No pun intended, it will be raw, visceral, violent. Rollins needs to exorcise this demon from his soul, he has to cut the cancer out of his brain, or he is going down. Then the only way to process the betrayal is to go through a fight, and we get that on January 6th, Raw in LA for Netflix.

Jackie thanks Rollins for the time and his honesty. Rollins says yeah, he can’t wait. Will Rollins truly #BurnItDown when it comes to fight CM Punk?

The Miz VS Dexter Lumis!

The Hollywood A-Lister has his own history with the man now turned buzzard, and things are only worse now that this is about the Final Testament and the Wyatt Sick6. Will Miz manage to bury the past once and for all? Or will he get no mercy from Lumis?

Raw returns as Miz waits. A message flashes, “I OPENED THE DOOR,” and then the lights go down. And from that mysterious door to the other side, out steps Lumis. He takes off the Mercy the Buzzard mask, then rushes the ring! Miz scrambles right out as Lumis slithers along the mat! The fans cheer Lumis on while Miz tentatively returns to the ring. The bell rings, Miz wants Lumis to hold on, but Lumis swings hands! Miz bobs ‘n’ weaves, then throws a punch! Lumis just glares at Miz! Miz runs away, Lumis gives chase, and they go around the outside, then back inside! Lumis drags Miz out of the ring to ROCK him!

Miz staggers, Lumis THROWS him into barriers! The fans cheer, Lumis ROCKS Miz again, and then Lumis SMACKS Miz off the apron! Lumis pushes Miz into the ring, Miz bails out, but Lumis goes out to the apron. CANNONBALL! The fans fire up and Lumis brings Miz up. Lumis CLUBS Miz, stalks him, then puts him in the ring. Miz again asks for mercy, but then he tries a cheap kick! Lumis blocks and UPPERCUTS! Lumis scoops, Miz slips free and Miz BOOTS Lumis! Miz runs, but into a THESZ PRESS! Lumis rains down fast hands, then runs to AX HANDLE! The fans fire up and Lumis brings Miz up.

Miz breaks free to throat chop! The ref reprimands but Miz runs, only for Lumis to catch him! URENAGE! Lumis storms around, then goes looks to the corner. Lumis climbs, but wait, the Authors of Pain are here! So Lumis CANNONBALLS onto them! The fans fire up but Kross attacks!

Winner: Dexter Lumis, by disqualification

The Final Testament beats Lumis up and puts him in the ring. Miz stands, confident now that he has reinforcements. Kross says they’ve got Lumis where they want him, but Lumis looks to the sky. Seems it’s the other way around! The lights go down, and when they come up, the rest of the Wyatts are here! They brawl with Final Testament and then send them running! Nikki wants uppies, and Erik Rowan pops her up to POWERBOMB her out onto The Final Testament! Nikki is all fired up as the Wyatts stand together! Will The Final Testament be the one buried and forgotten after all is said and done?

The War Raiders regroup backstage.

Erik & Ivar are fired up after getting the better of Judgment Day, and then Priest walks in. He says what’s up, and they give him some pushes and shoves of excitement. Priest says okay, okay, settle down. But that was good, and he appreciates the save. Ivar says hey, they’ve all known each other a long time. And while they haven’t always seen eye to eye, there has always been honor here. They may not be friends, but Priest had their backs in a big way last week and they don’t forget that. They owed him, they got him. Priest respects that. If the War Raiders are at war with the Judgment Day, then he’ll go to war with them.

They all fist bump, and Erik & Ivar say they like the sound of that. Could these three finally tear down Judgment Day once and for all?

The zero symbol returns…

And now it’s joined by a pentagram? What could these clues be leading to?

The New Day barges out to ringside.

And Kofi Kingston tells Joe Tessitore & Wade Barrett on commentary that no no no no! You do not get to speak about them like that! Woods asks what is going on around here? What happened to unbiased journalism? How long has Tessitore even been with the WWE? Not that long, right? Certainly not long enough to know that his job is not to have an opinion but to tell the TRUTH like they have! But it seems in 2024, no one wants the truth! Certainly not these fans. Wade was sympathizing with E as well! Well that’s fine, because Wade and Big E have something in common. They’re not man enough to lace up their boots again and get in the ring!

The fans boo now but Kofi says speaking of getting back int he ring, allow the New Day to do that and continue to tell everyone what they were trying to tell people before. They did NOT put hands on Big E. They could have, laid him out here in the ring, stretchered out of the building again, but they didn’t! So why is everyone so upset!? The fans keep booing but Kofi says this was supposed to be a homecoming for Kofi, and for the woman he bought a plane ticket for to come all the way here to Boston from Ghana, and that is Kofi’s mom! Kofi’s mom is in the front row! Miss Elizabeth Kingston is here, but she doesn’t seem very amused.

Kofi says his mom sat in the middle seat for 20 HOURS, just to see Kofi, and the fans are ruining her experience! This is his mother! The woman who taught him how to be the man that he is today! She does not deserve to see her son get booed out of his own hometown! Woods says they gave the fans ten of the best years of their LIVES…! Kofi steps back outside to apologize to his mom for the fans. She does not deserve this. Kofi doesn’t understand why they’re doing this. Kofi wants a hug. Miss Elizabeth stands up, but she pushes Kofi! She’s upset with HIM, not the fans! Miss Elizabeth takes her coat and leaves! Kofi is confused, what’s this about?

Kofi calls after his mom but she tunes him out. Though, it might be hard to hear over the fans. Will it ever get through to the New Day that they are in the wrong?

The New Day regroups backstage.

And then they cross paths with Rey Mysterio. Woods asks if he’s gonna pile on. Rey says no, it’s not like that. Rey thought about what they said last week, being a locker room leader and all. Rey definitely could’ve handled things better, so he’ll apologize to them. Rey just has the responsibility to help everyone as much as he can. So hey, what New Day did was out of pocket, all foul. And if they want to start fixing things, they can start by apologizing. Whoa, hold up. Them? Apologize to Rey and the locker room? No, they aren’t apologizing, because they didn’t do anything wrong! This is ridiculous!

Rey is just as bad as Big E and everyone else! Why not let Woods pop that mask off again so he can hear them better. New Day did nothing wrong. Rey says okay, fine, que pasa nada. Just don’t say he didn’t try. From this point on, New Day is on their own. And oh, get used to hearing this. “New! Day SUCKS!” With that, Rey takes his leave. After hearing that, will Kofi & Woods have anything but a Merry Christmas?

Sami Zayn VS Drew McIntyre!

The Honorary Uce may have just lost to the Scottish Terminator at Saturday Night’s Main Event, but he isn’t going to give up the fight. Will Sami finally get a win over McIntyre as a Christmas miracle? Or will McIntyre ruin the holidays with a Claymore?

Raw returns and Sami makes his entrance. The bell rings and McIntyre kicks low! McIntyre fires hands, then CHOPS Sami in a corner! McIntyre ROCKS Sami, stands him up, and then CHOPS again! The fans are torn but McIntyre paces while Sami sits down. Sami rises up, and he avoids a chop to fire hands! The fans fire up as Sami CHOPS and fires more punches! The ref backs Sami off, but Sami comes back to stomp and punch! The fans rally behind “SAMI USO!” and Sami whips Mcintyre corner to corner. McIntyre reverses, Sami goes up, but McIntyre KICKS him out of the air!

McIntyre snarls and then he deadlift suplexes Sami! Sami writhes and clutches his back, but McIntyre storms over to him. McIntyre STMOPS Sami’s hands! Then he ROCKS Sami with a right! Sami goes to ropes but McIntyre CHOPS him again! The fans “WOO~!” as that chop echoes out! The fans rally for Sami but McIntyre grins. McIntyre whips but Sami KICKS him in return! Mcintyre comes back but Sami TOSSES him out! The fans fire up and Sami builds speed, but then Mcintyre moves so Sami Arabian Presses to land back inside. Sami smiles as he gets the better of McIntyre, and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Sami is in the corner. McIntyre storms up to stomp away on him again! The ref backs McIntyre off but then McIntyre storms back up. McIntyre drag’s Sami up to the apron, and he suplexes Sami up and into the ring! Sami flounders to the ropes and the ref checks him. Sami says he’s still in this, so McIntyre drags Sami back up. But Sami CHOPS McIntyre! And CHOSP! And fires forearms! Sami whips, McIntyre reverses but Sami ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for McIntyre to tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Sami survives and McIntyre grows annoyed. The fans rally up but Sami writhes form all the damage.

McIntyre stalks Sami to the ropes, eggs him on, and then whips him to ropes. Sami ducks ‘n’ dodges again, and this time Sami tilt-o-whirls to DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Sami and McIntyre both rise up, and McIntyre bails out. Sami storms up to ropes, grits his teeth, and he PLANCHAS! But McIntyre catches him! And then he aims for the desk! Sami fights free, and he DRIBBLES McIntyre off the desk! Sami backs off as the ring count climbs, but Sami goes back for McIntyre. McIntyre stops the step bump to SMACK Sami off the steps! McIntyre refreshes the ring count because he wants to do more damage!

McIntyre stalks Sami up the steps, then lifts him for an APRON BACKBREAKER!! Sami falls and writhes, and McIntyre has a manic look on his face as he watches Sami suffer, but Raw goes to break.

Raw returns once again and Mcintyre has Sami in the Inverted Alabama Lift! INVERTED ALABAMA- VICTORY ROLL! TWO!! McIntyre escapes and runs up, but Sami dodges! McIntyre POSTS himself! The fans fire up as McIntyre flops back, and Sami hurries to the corner! Sami climbs, but his back slows him down! McIntyre ROCKS Sami first! And then CHOPS him! McIntyre climbs up after Sami, fires some shots, then fireman’s carries Sami! SUPER WHITE NOISE! A shoutout to Sheamus and McIntyre covers, TWO!! The fans fire up while McIntyre grows frustrated. Sami stirs but McIntyre watches him closely.

The fans rally and McIntyre drags Sami back up. But Sami cradle counters! TWO! McIntyre GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTTS! Sami falls and McIntyre snarls. McIntyre goes to a corner, and he takes aim at Sami. Here comes the countdown! “THREE! TWO! ONE!” But Sami LARIATS McIntyre! And then a clinch, EXPLODER into the corner! Sami goes to the other side and the fans fire up! Sami aims as McIntyre rises, but that back tightens up. Sami fights through the pain, gets running, but CLAYMORE!! Cover, McIntyre wins!

Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall

That was perhaps the closest Sami’s come, but he was still so far away from victory over McIntyre. 3-0 in 2024, 10-0 overall, and McIntyre stands over Sami to rub it in. Sami is already dazed, but McIntyre rains down fists! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but McIntyre shoves the ref away to HAMMER Sami down! But here comes Jey, just like earlier tonight! Jey runs in, dodges again, and this time, SPEAR!! Jey has Mcintyre down, but now he goes up! But wait! TAMA TONGA SHOVES JEY OFF THE TOP!! Solo Sikoa & The Bloodline are here! McIntyre is just as surprised, but given the truce they called on Friday, McIntyre takes his leave.

The Bloodline beat down Sami & Jey, which McIntyre loves to see. Tama Tonga rains down fists on Main Event Jey in a corner, but the fans chant for “O T C! O T C!” Instead, Jacob Fatu gets running! But Jey dodges the hip attack! SUPERKICK for Tama! Jey fires haymakers on Jacob! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Solo steps in to swing, but Jey dodges! Jey ROCKS Solo! Jacob SUPERKICKS Jey! The fans boo as the Samoan Werewolf gets all geeked up! Solo adds his SAMOAN SPIKE!! Solo throws off his jacket, sits Jey back up, but Sami gets in! Sami fires hands, but Tama TACKLES Sami! Tama beats Sami down and fans boo again.

Solo tells Tama to set Sami up, and Tama stomps Sami into the corner. Jacob runs in, to HIP ATTACK! Jacob isn’t done, he puts Sami in the drop zone to go up, up and BEST MOONSAULT EVER! The fans boo but Solo adds on another SAMOAN SPIKE!! Solo roars, then he and his Bloodline stand over the OGs. Jacob adorns Solo with the ula fala, will not even Roman Reigns be able to stop the “Undisputed” Tribal Chief? Will all of the WWE have no choice but to acknowledge Solo Sikoa?

My Thoughts:

A great Raw here to build both the last Raw of 2024 and the first Raw of 2025, aka the Netflix debut. Rollins had a very good interview promo to add just a little more to things, but I feel like there’s little left that they need to say. Very good stuff with Judgment Day, such as the classic “X, can you tell Y…” gag from Finn and Liv. Dom thinking their plan to screw Priest over would work is hilarious, as was how it all fell apart. Priest gets the win from disqualification, but then great save from the War Raiders. Good promo from Priest and War Raiders, love the reference to ROH by saying “honor” there, and that’s a solid Six Man Tag right there.

Fun little bit from Pearce with Pure Fusion Collective, and of course Sonya thought she’d get a second chance, and of course Pearce uses real logic to say no way. Iyo Sky replacing Kairi Sane was announced last week on social media, so I guess Sonya didn’t check between shows. Great Triple Threat from Iyo, Alba and Natty, and of course Iyo won or else why put her in there? Iyo VS Lyra next round will be great stuff, as will Dakota Kai VS Zoey Stark, and whatever combination we get for the title match is going to be great. I don’t think we’ll get DMG CTRL VS DMG CTRL, so if Dakota wins, Iyo loses, and then vice-versa.

Great stuff with American Made and Alpha Academy, but of course Tozawa takes the loss. Otis standing up to Gable & The Creeds was a great moment, and I really hope we get Gable VS Otis for the big Netflix debut. Win or lose, Otis should definitely have a moment where he rallies through Gable and both Creeds, really get the crowd hot before the finish. Miz VS Lumis was good but could’ve been better. With only two hours, I guess they had to trim things down to the basics. Another disqualification finish tonight is a bit much, but I guess it keeps things going until we can come up with some kind of new 8 Man Tag, or even a really wild Mixed 10 Person match so Nikki and Scarlett can get involved legally.

Great stuff with New Day, from their interaction with Dom, then their “interrupting” the show to try and get their point across. It was great to have Mama Kingston there, and I just knew she would be disappointed in Kofi. Good promo with Rey, too, as Rey now leaves New Day out in the cold. I feel like we need a big tag team match to not only have Heel New Day show their stuff against like LWO, Alpha Academy, etcetera, and then they earn their way to a match with the War Raiders to revisit their feud, just with flipped Heel and Face dynamics. That could be some really good stuff as Raw on Netflix paves the road to WrestleMania 41.

And great stuff with McIntyre and the extended Bloodline. He and Sami had a great promo to again bring up family and sacrifice, but also how Roman’s OG Bloodline came back together without Roman ever changing a thing. Great brawls, great saves by Jey, and of course McIntyre won the match. Jey will of course get next, probably also for the Netflix debut, but good stuff with Solo Sikoa and his Bloodline showing up. They beat down Jey & Sami to send a message to Roman, who was obviously not going to be here tonight. There will surely be a response in part on SmackDown, but maybe more verbal than physical.

I feel like the “Transfer Window” will need to put all Bloodline members, old and new, on one brand so the story can be told all on one show. It’d just be easier while Jimmy’s foot is healing, because what can Roman do without backup against Solo, Tama & Jacob? And honestly, still waiting on when and where Hikuleo is going to show up. This is a good time to bring him in with Tonga Loa also hurt, so Solo can get the numbers edge on Roman again.