Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (1/6/20)
The first Raw of the New Year!
A MASSIVE Monday Night Raw opens 2020!
A Raw Tag Team Championships Triple Threat! A United States Championship rematch! And the reigning, defending, undisputed WWE Champion, BROCK! LESNAR! What goes down on the first Raw of the New DECADE?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE United States Championship: Andrade Almas w/ Zelina Vega VS Rey Mysterio; Almas wins and retains the WWE United States Championship.
- Raw Tag Team Championship Triple Threat: The Viking Raiders VS The Street Profits VS The OC; The Viking Raiders win and retain the Raw Tag Team Championships.
- Erick Rowan VS KJ Orso; Rowan wins.
- AJ Styles VS Akira Tozawa; Styles wins.
- Charlotte Flair VS Sarah Logan; No Contest.
- Drew McIntyre VS No Way Jose; McIntyre wins.
- Aleister Black VS Shelton Benjamin; Aleister wins.
- Six Man Tag: Seth Rollins & The Authors of Pain VS Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe & ???; Owens, Joe & Big Show win, by disqualification.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Most Ravishing Wedding in history was RUINED!
Whether it was Lana’s first husband, Bobby Lashley’s first wife, or Liv Morgan revealing she and Lana were together, Lana and Lashley could not get through their “I do’s”! And then RUSEV popped out of the admittedly over-sized cake. No holy matrimony, only MACHKA! But the question is now, what comes next in WWE’s own personal soap opera?
Oklahoma City is SUPLEX CITY!
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman return to Raw to open the New Year! And while fans boo and jeer, The Advocate wishes them a “Happy New Year, b*tches.” Heyman then gives his usual introduction for the reigning, defending, undisputed WWE World Heavyweight Champion, BRRROCK! LESNARRR! And to kick off the New Decade, let’s make history. “Because that’s what Brock Lesnar does: Brock Lesnar makes history.” Lesnar told Heyman he wonders who will dare challenge him for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. Heyman said back, “Well, Brock, who do you think is worthy of stepping into the ring with the Conqueror? The Beast! The single-greatest fighter in sports entertainment history!” Lesnar’s answer was, “There is not one single member of the Raw, SmackDown or NXT roster that is man enough to step into the ring, let alone worthy enough of sharing the spotlight.”
So to get it straight: fans aren’t allowed to boo Lesnar. But they do. Not when Lesnar is about to do something unprecedented. Something that is legitimately advertised as first-time-ever. Every time Lesnar makes history, it’s unprecedented. The Undertaker couldn’t lose at WrestleMania? Lesnar conquered the Streak! No man could ever be NCAA Division I Heavyweight Champion, UFC Heavyweight Champion, WWE Universal Champion or WWE World Champion, and yet Lesnar is. So how about a dream match at the Royal Rumble? Every single challenger that wants Lesnar at the Rumble can have Lesnar at the Rumble, because here’s the official announcement: “Brock Lesnar hereby enters the Royal Rumble match!” Wait, wait, not just entering it! That would be slightly historic. “Let’s go all the freakin’ way.” Lesnar enters the Rumble… FIRST.
That means that if Roman Reigns is in the Rumble, it’s like Lesnar VS Reigns. If Seth Rollins is in the Rumble, it’s like Lesnar VS Rollins. Every single man that steps into the Rumble will be face-to-face with Brock Lesnar! Because while Lesnar takes the ring first, Lesnar will be victorious at the end. This is unprecedented, historic and even brazen! But The Beast will conquer the Royal Rumble, will WIN the Royal Rumble, and that’s not just a prediction, Heyman says that’s a spoiler. A huge move from the WWE World Champion! Will Lesnar clear out the field of 30 to deny everyone an automatic WrestleMania main event?
Rey Mysterio speaks backstage.
And in passionate Spanish, at that. He speaks about respect and excellence. Clearly tonight’s WWE United States Championship match means a lot to Mysterio. At this point in his career, it could be a matter of days left, not years. Mysterio thanks Dominic for convincing him to stay and compete against the best of the best. With the way El Idolo has been acting, Andrade Almas doesn’t deserve to represent the Latino community as champion. That is why Mysterio is taking that title back, and NOW!
WWE United States Championship: Andrade Almas w/ Zelina Vega VS Rey Mysterio!
The King of Lucha Libre is as fired up as he’s ever been! He lost the title in Madison Square Garden but has been raring for this rematch! Will he be able to humble Andrade? Or is 2020 the Year of El Idolo?
Raw returns as Almas and Vega make their entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and Almas rushes Mysterio right away! Almas clubs away but Mysterio dodges to come back with a huricanrana! Then he slides to huricanrana again! Fans are fired up and Vega is panicking! Almas gets up but Mysterio kicks away. Mysterio puts Almas in and covers, ONE. Mysterio has fans cheering for “Lucha Libre!” but Almas throws forearms and body shots. Almas whips but Mysterio kicks him back. Mysterio runs, springboards and hops onto Almas’ shoulders. Mysterio headscissors Almas out but Almas holds on and still has Mysterio on his shoulders! Almas spins around but Mysterio pops out of the Electric Chair to victory roll Almas into steel steps! El Idolo is down and Vega is in shock!
The referee checks on both men but somehow Almas is okay to continue. Vega coaches Almas up but Mysterio stands first. Fans rally behind Mysterio as a ring count begins. Mysterio puts Almas in and takes his time aiming from the apron. Mysterio springboards but Almas dropkicks him out of the sky! Vega is relieved and Almas is back in control as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as Mysterio has Almas up top. Mysterio climbs and the two brawl, but Almas sends Mysterio down. Almas sunset flips but Mysterio slips through to buzzsaw! Both men are down and Vega is worried again. Almas and Mysterio slowly rise as fans rally up again. Mysterio counter punches Almas and then throws haymakers. Mysterio whips but Almas reverses, only for Mysterio to huricanrana again! Almas ends up in a corner, Mysterio runs in but Almas puts him on the apron. Mysterio enziguris back then springboards, seated senton! Mysterio keeps moving, springboard but Almas catches him, only for Mysterio to tornado DDT! Cover, TWO! Almas lives and Vega is again relieved, but Mysterio keeps his cool.
Mysterio drags Almas up as fans chant “6 1 9!” Almas elbows free and runs in but into a boot. Mysterio climbs but Almas clubs him on the back. Almas climbs up from the outside and has Mysterio in a Tree of Woe! Almas aims from up high, WOE STOMPS but Mysterio evades! Almas stomps the apron and tumbles to the floor! Mysterio frees himself from the Tree of Woe, then builds speed to side and sunset flip! But Almas slips through, Point-Blank CIEN SHADOWS! A ring count begins again but Almas puts Mysterio in. Almas slingshot sentons then covers, TWO! Mysterio still lives and Almas grows frustrated. Almas rises and drags Mysterio up to suplex. Uno amigo! Almas spins through and suplexes, Dos Amigos! Almas wants the third, but Mysterio cradle counters! TWO!!
Almas runs but Mysterio dropkicks the legs out! Almas is on the ropes but gets clear, boot to ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Almas goes to drop knees but Mysterio blocks and jumps up, DESTROYER!! Cover, but Vega gives Almas the ropebreak!! The ref counts three but sees the leg on the rope just after! Mysterio does NOT win! This match has to continue because La Muneca gets away with another cheat! Fans protest, as does Mysterio, but this match does not end! The ref tries to explain it to Mysterio while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Almas whips Mysterio corner to corner hard! Almas runs in, but Mysterio dodges and Almas’ knee hits buckles! Almas tumbles all the way out of the ring! Mysterio goes to the apron and Vega is worried all over again. Mysterio leaps for a huricanrana, sending Almas into barriers! Fans fire up with Mysterio as he stares Vega down. Mysterio drags Almas up and into the ring, then hops on for another DESTROYER! Cover, TWO!! Almas survives and Vega coaches him up. Mysterio rises as fans rally behind him. Mysterio goes to where Almas is on the apron but Almas throws body shots. Mysterio kicks back and we have a brawl! Almas CHOPS but Mysterio dropkicks! Mysterio runs, SUNSET BOMB into post! Almas crashes down but Mysterio won’t let up. Mysterio drags Almas up as fans chant “This is Awesome!”
Mysterio has Almas in a drop zone and springboards, LEG DROP! Cover, TWO!! Almas shocks Mysterio and Vega is shouting for him to stand! Mysterio heads up top first, wanting another one. Mysterio leaps and wheelbarrows, but Almas makes it a FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Almas and Vega are furious, but Almas puts Mysterio in the corner. Almas stomps a mudhole then backs off to run corner to corner! CIEN BUCKLES! Mysterio springboards, huricanrana puts Almas on ropes! Dial it up, 619!! Mysterio heads up top, but Almas bails out thanks to Vega. Mysterio runs and leaps! But Almas catches the seated senton, to toss Mysterio onto Vega! Down goes La Muneca! Mysterio can’t believe it, but Almas just throws him into steel steps!
Almas puts Mysterio in and leaves Vega behind to hammerlock. But the ref won’t allow it! Mysterio looks in bad shape and the referee tells Almas to leave him be. Mysterio rolls out of the ring to check on Vega, but he should be more worried about himself. Referees check on Vega while Mysterio seems to be very upset. Almas doesn’t care, NOW he hammerlocks and LA SOMBRA DDT! Cover, Almas wins!!
Winner: Andrade Almas, by pinfall; still WWE United States Champion
Only now does Almas care about Vega. Or, no, is he just grabbing the United States title? And then he SNATCHES Mysterio’s mask!! Insult to injury of the highest order! Almas hands the mask to Vega as a trophy of her own, but will watching the footage back nullify this good will?
Backstage with Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe!
Seth Rollins has been trying to divide and conquer, and went onto Twitter to say these two are “individualists” who do not stand a chance against a “united front” like him and the Authors of Pain. Kevin wants to get this out of the way: Rollins is right about Kevin and Joe. Kevin doesn’t play well with others, and Joe just doesn’t play. But this situation has brought them together, “and the fact is, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” So against a force like Rollins & The AOP, Kevin and Joe need each other to watch each other’s back. That is what they will do here tonight. Joe admits he is prideful, but even he knows when back-up is needed.
So Joe poses a challenge to The Architects of Pain: the three of them against the three of them. Wait, he surely doesn’t mean including Charly in this. No no, Joe has a guy. Who is it? Just trust Joe, and let their opponents worry about the rest. Kevin still worries a little. But who is it that’s joining this battle against Rollins and his heavy hitting henchmen?
Backstage interview with Rollins & The AOP.
Charly asks for The Architect’s response to this Six Man Tag challenge. Akam and Rezar are already annoyed but Rollins handles this. They don’t need to be briefed on some challenge. They’ve faced challenges every single day of their lives! The only concern is about taking Raw to the next level. Rollins didn’t ask to be the Chosen One, but the WWE Universe made him that. Rollins has sacrificed everything he stands for to be the visionary and Messiah of Monday Nights. As for this “challenge,” KO, Joe and a surprise? No one stands with Kevin or Joe! The Architects of Pain are inevitable! And those who stand up against them, they will be taken care of. But with a variable in the equation, can Rollins and the AOP really #BurnItDown?
Raw Tag Team Championship Triple Threat: The Viking Raiders VS The Street Profits VS The OC!
Erik & Ivar are the champions but Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson are the Best Tag Team in the World! However, Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins have a win over the Good Brothers, and have taken on the raid and pushed it to its limits! So what will this make the Profits if they happen to win tonight? Who will be the Best Tag Team in the UNIVERSE after this match?
Before the match, Ford and Dawkins have mics. “Everybody seems to be talking about the Golden Globes, or who’s Kevin and Joe’s mystery partner here tonight. But we’re here to tell you that NOW, we are changing the conversation!” The first Raw of the DECADE, “and we ain’t ringing it in. We blinging it in!” So the OC can hold up their little hand signs, but there won’t won’t be kliq’ing. And the Raiders may be the champions, they may be Vikings, but the Profits are pillaging! The Profits are up, and #WeWantTheSmoke! Where there’s smoke, there’s fire! The OC make their entrance, followed by the war machines, Erik & Ivar! Will this match be the fire that blazes a trail into the New Decade?
Raw returns with the bell as Erik starts with Anderson. They tie up, Erik puts Anderson on the ropes but backs off. Anderson kicks low and headlocks but Erik powers out. Things speed up, Anderson dodges but collides solid with Erik! Erik trips Anderson and turns him over to waistlock and dead lift, to then slam Anderson down! Tag to Ivar and Erik feeds Anderson to Ivar’s knee. Ivar feeds to Erik’s knee and down goes Anderson! Cover, TWO! Ivar drags Anderson back over and tags Erik. Ivar rams his shoulders in then Erik rams his. Tag back to Ivar and Ivar drags Anderson up to scoop. Anderson slips out but Ivar bucks him off. Dawkins tags in off Ivar before Ivar runs Anderson over! Dawkins and Ivar stare down but back away.
Dawkins headlocks Anderson but Anderson powers out. Dawkins hurdles Anderson then throws him tot he ropes to dropkick down! Ford is fired up as he tags in. Dawkins whips and Ford dropkicks Anderson! Ford shoulder shimmies at the Vikings, but Anderson tags out to Ivar! That’s allowed in a Triple Threat, obviously. Ford isn’t as fired up now that the War Beard is back. Ford and Ivar circle and tie up, and Ford headlocks. Ivar powers out but Ford slides under. Ford tries but can’t arm-drag Ivar! Ivar whips Ford, Ford goes up and over and shows off his agility! Fans like that but Ivar runs at Ford. Ford dodges and ducks but Ivar rolls off Ford’s back! Ivar shoves Ford and Ford comes back, to handspring off Ivar’s back!
Ivar swings on Ford but Ford cartwheels. Ford swings on Ivar but Ivar cartwheels! Both men cartwheel! Fans are loving this stand-off, but the OC aren’t! They attack Ivar and Ford from behind, then take out Erik and Dawkins as they come in! The ref restores order but Gallows tags off Ivar. Gallows stomps Ford down then puts Ford in the open corner. Gallows throws big body shots and an uppercut! Gallows throws the Too Sweet up but fans boo. Gallows drags Ford to the OC corner and tags in Anderson. The Good Brothers mug Ford and Anderson throws European Uppercuts. Anderson rakes Ford’s eyes then pulls on his ears. Anderson throws haymakers and grinds a knee in! The ref backs Anderson off and Gallows tags in. Gallows butterfly suplexes Ford and covers, TWO!
Gallows keeps on Ford with big elbows into the shoulders and chest! And then he wraps on a thrashing chinlock! Ford endures and fans rally up. Ford fights to his feet but Gallows knees low and hard. Tag to Anderson, and the OC hit the back suplex neckbreaker combo! Cover, but Dawkins breaks it! Anderson protests but then he knocks Dawkins off the apron! Ford enziguris Anderson down! Both men are down but Gallows tags in. Gallows stalks up Ford and suplexes but Ford slips out! Ford doges, hot tag to Erik! Erik fires off strikes on Gallows, then lifts him for an EXPLODER! Dawkins returns but Erik gives him an EXPLODER! Anderson returns, but gets Ace Ten Mao! Shotgun knees for Gallows!
Tag to Ivar and the Raiders scoop slam Dawkins! Then Erik scoop slams Ivar onto Dawkins! The Raiders fire up and Erik tags back in. Ivar corner clotheslines Gallows, then is the human weapon, hip attack! But Ford tags in off Gallows! Ford runs in, avoids the clotheslines, but not THOR’S HAMMER!! Cover, but the OC break it up! Ivar throws Anderson out and Erik throws Gallows out. Ivar DIVES Onto Dawkins and Anderson!? Erik DIVES onto Gallows, but gets caught! And thrown into barriers! Then into the crowd! The Best Tag Team in the World has control as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and Erik fights up and out of Gallows’ chinlock. Fans fire up but Gallows knees low. Gallows throws big hands on Erik in the OC corner then tags Anderson. Anderson drags Erik out for EuroUppers! Anderson rains down angry right hands then covers, TWO! Anderson keeps on Erik with a chinlock but fans rally again. Erik fights up and throws hands but Anderson EuroUppers back. They brawl in OC territory! Tag to Gallows and the OC mug Erik in their corner. Gallows stomps a mudhole then headbutts Erik against ropes. Gallows throws body shots then tags Anderson. Anderson snapmares Erik to a chinlock. Fans rally with “We Want the Smoke!” Anderson grinds Erik down but Erik is fighting his way up again. Erik pushes but Anderson throws more hands.
Erik pushes and fights out of the OC corner, but Anderson whips him away. Erik goes up and over, hot tag to Ivar! Ivar rallies and sidewalk slams Anderson! BASEMENT CROSSBODY! Ivar whips Anderson but Anderson dodges! But runs into a seated senton! Ivar cartwheels and clotheslines Gallows! Fans fire up and Ivar runs corner to corner, but Anderson avoids the bronco buster! Dawkins tags in off Anderson but Erik tags in off Ivar. Dawkins ROCKS Erik with a right, and dropkicks Ivar! Dawkins throws Ivar with an EXPLODER! And body blocks Erik into a corner! Dawkins decks Gallows, cyclone splashes and bulldogs Erik! Tag to Ford, and Dawkins whips him corner to corner at Erik. Erik puts Ford on the apron but Dawkins SPINE BUSTER!
Ford is up top but Anderson tags in before the WORLD STAR SPLASH! Anderson pushes Ford out of the ring! And hits Dawkins! Cover on Erik but Ivar breaks it! Dawkins hits a spinning back elbow on Ivar, but Gallows YAKUZA KICKS Dawkins! Ford dropkicks Gallows but Anderson whips Ford. Ford dodges to FLY out onto Gallows! Erik sneaks up on Anderson, but Anderson mule kicks and UPPERCUTS! Anderson runs side to side, but no Rocket Kick! Ivar tags in. POWERBOMB and VIKING SPLASH!! Cover, the Viking Raiders win!
Winners: The Viking Raiders, Ivar pinning; still Raw Tag Team Champions
The raid continues! Erik & Ivar keep the gold, even after facing two teams at once! Are they truly the Best Tag Team in the Universe? Or will a new challenge arise in this New Year?
Backstage with Samoa Joe!
Charly wants to ask Joe about this mystery opponent for tonight’s Six Man Tag. Will he give us who that is? Well Joe is sure that everyone is eager to hear about who Joe managed to recruit, especially the “Monday Night Messiah” and his disciples. But everyone will just have to wait. Kevin comes by, and says he’s probably the most eager. Kevin has done a lot of bad things to people in the WWE, so he just wants to know in case he has to smooth things over first. Perhaps it’s best of Joe shows Kevin who they have. Charly hurries after but we go to break. Just who did Joe get?
Raw returns as Joe, Kevin and Charly arrive at a door.
Is Kevin ready? Sure. Just go through this door. Cameras, please stay outside. Kevin peeks in, and has a smile on his face. Good? Yeah, that’s good. But Rollins & The AOP won’t be. Charly asks who is in there, but Joe has his mystery friend “lock it up.” Well it seems we have no choice but to wait.
Becky Lynch is here!
Oklahoma City is fired up to see The Man dressed up in her Kill Bill best! The Raw Women’s Champion takes the mic as fans chant her name. “Man, it is so good to hear your voices.” Becky says that she’s been walking around for months now, “wondering what kind of a champion I am.” She let the doubters get in her head and forced “the powers that be” to give her this coming title match with Asuka. But to be honest, Becky’s starting to doubt herself on this one. Becky’s life has changed so much in just the last year, living in a whirlwind. Over the holidays, she finally had time to think about “what it really means to be The Man.” Should she just be content to have made the history she has? Should she just be happy with being on cereal boxes and red carpets? Should she follow all the advice from the people backstage “looking out for her?” Should she avoid the one woman she just can’t seem to beat?
Footage replays of last year’s Royal Rumble, when The Man and The Empress fought for the SmackDown Women’s Championship that Asuka held. Becky was fired up and pulled out all the stops, but Asuka tapped her out! Of course, we do know that Becky would shift gears later that night to win the Women’s Rumble, but a loss is a loss. And footage now shifts to a tag team match back in November, The Man & The Queen VS The Kabuki Warriors. Becky tried but Asuka had an answer for her each time to get the roll-up. And of course, TLC 2019, the Women’s Tag Team Title TLC match. That was brutal to say the least, and in the end, Asuka had a trick up her proverbial sleeve to deny Becky a new belt!
Back to the present, Becky says she realized something in all of this. But before she can share that wisdom, Asuka appears! “Hey, hey, hey!” The Kabuki Warriors’ Asuka is here! And Becky, of course you can’t win against her! “Mudi mudi mudi,” it’s not going to happen! “Baka baka!” You dummy! Baka Lynch! The fans know! It will be “easy peasy” all over again! Asuka swaggers as she walks into the ring and around Becky. Becky DECKS Asuka! No matter what language you speak, actions speak louder than words! Asuka is furious but Becky is smiling. Who will be the one that can say they won it all in Houston?
Erick Rowan walks backstage.
And encounters Mojo Rawley. Mojo just wants to take one look at what’s in the cage. Please? Rowan considers it, and says “help yourself.” But don’t tell anyone. Mojo takes his peek, and FREAKS! “What is wrong with you, man?! What the hell!?” What the hell is in there to horrify Mojo!?
Backstage interview with Zelina Vega and Andrade Almas.
El Idolo is still holding onto Mysterio’s mask, so Sara asks if he feels he’s crossed a line tonight. Crossed the line? Almas says he has the mask of Mysterio after he just ended Mysterio’s final run. But Mysterio ATTACKS! He’s more concerned about revenge than he is of lucha libre tradition! Vega shouts at Mysterio to stop this but Mysterio gets his mask back. And now that he has it back on, he really fires off on Almas! Vega freaks as Mysterio snatches the belt away! Security backs Mysterio off but this is far from over!
Erick Rowan VS KJ Orso!
Mojo was SHOOK after seeing what Rowan’s pet really is. Will we ever see the nightmare inside the cage? Or will Rowan be the scariest thing in Oklahoma tonight?
Rowan doesn’t even wait for the bell to grab Orso with both hands! “You wanna see what’s in the bag, don’tcha?!” No, no he doesn’t! But Rowan still throws Orso out and keeps him from running away! “You want to look?! Take a look!” Orso breaks free to run away into the ring. He would rather take the beating than see whatever scared a grown man that badly. Rowan throws his jacket aside and gives Orso that fight. The bell rings and LEG LARIATS Orso down! Then corner to corner splash! IRON CLAW SLAM! Cover, Rowan wins!
Winner: Erick Rowan, by pinfall
That was scary fast, but also natural. But Rowan still won’t spare Orso, he makes Orso look at the pet!! Orso freaks out, and his face is all red!? Was that from the creature?! What did it do to him?! And why is Rowan laughing!? Will no one be laughing as Rowan runs roughshod over Raw?
AJ Styles VS Akira Tozawa!
The Phenomenal One is not in a good mood. And it isn’t just that The OC didn’t get the Raw Tag Team Championships, it’s that he got suckered by The Viper! Randy Orton faked a foot injury just to lower Styles’ guard and hit an RKO outta nowhere! Will Styles take his frustrations out on the Stamina Monster? Or will it throw him off his game enough for Tozawa to get his biggest win on Raw?
The bell rings and Styles talks trash to Tozawa but Tozawa pushes him. Tozawa dodges Styles’ punch and throws punches of his own! Tozawa has Styles in the corner but the ref backs him off. Tozawa whips, Styles reverses, then Styles runs in, to miss! Tozawa runs in but gets boots and a forearm. Styles springboards and PHENOMENAL FOREARM! Cover, but Styles pulls Tozawa up! Styles is angry now and wants to make Tozawa rethink hitting him. Styles drags Tozawa up, in position, but thinks better of it. He puts Tozawa through the ropes and fans all get what’s going on here! Styles copies Orton with the draping DDT! Fans boo but Styles soaks it up as he looms over Tozawa. Fans chant for “Randy! Randy!” but Styles hears the voices in his head, just like Orton! RKO!! Cover, Styles wins!
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall
The Phenomenal One copies The Viper and still gets the win! Styles even copies the Orton pose! But with a match next week between the two, how will Orton respond to Styles?
Bobby Lashley and Lana are here!
At least, their music hits. It makes sense they’d be hesitant to appear after the humiliation they must’ve felt after their on-air wedding went sideways. Lashley and Lana still go down the ramp and to the ring, and the wedding officiator is back! Lana snatches his mic to address the fans. They boo so she tells them to be quiet. “For all of you who didn’t want us to get married, that is too damn bad.” Because tonight, they’re getting married here and now! Yes, this is the Most Ravishing Elopement ever! With all the objections out of the way last week, “by the emergency power” invested in nWo Bill Belichick by the state of Oklahoma, he now pronounces Lashley & Lana husband and wife. Lashley may now kiss his bride. And they kiss.
Lana snatches the mic back and says the money she paid was not worth it. She is supposed to be happy, but she’s not. Lana is “extremely, extremely sad,” but not because of her or Lashley. It is not their fault what happened last week, it is “every single person” that does not want to see a ring on Lana’s finger! She therefore shows it off to everyone, and hopes they’re taking a long look at it. All these civilians should be honored to be in her presence! Those at fault for making Lana feel so sad are all the exes that literally interrupted the wedding ceremony over and over and over! Lana can’t even with their jealousy! They should be ashamed! Lashley says the worst one of them all is Lana’s “sorry excuse for an ex-husband,” Rusev. Rusev ruined the greatest day of Lana’s and Lashley’s lives, for what?! So that he and “these little idiots” can have a laugh? Fans chant for “RUSEV DAY!” as Lashley says Rusev wasn’t man enough to keep his own wife!
But wait, Rusev is on the titantron! Rusev says hi to Lana and “Bob” and congratulates them becoming “Mr. & Mrs. Bob.” Now they have a joint bank account. Rusev and Lana used to have one, “before she cleaned it out.” But with them claiming everyone else is miserable, it seems like those two “are more miserable than anyone else in the arena.” And now that they’re not on their honeymoon, Rusev took one of his own! He’s on a beach by a restaurant, but he doesn’t want to be selfish or rude. He got them a very special Lana & Bob wedding album as their present. “And oh boy are you going to like this. Enjoy.”
It is a slideshow from their wedding last week! Lashley slamming that first husband of Lana’s, Liv and Lana cat-fighting, and of course, Rusev popping out of the cake to tackle Lashley. And Machka Kick him. And Liv rubbing Lana’s face into the frosting. Rusev is tearing up. Lana and Lashley are not happy in the slightest. Lashley tells Rusev he’s an SOB and Lana shouts she HATES Rusev so much! But Lashley then tells Lana to shut up!? Lana is both shocked and furious, bu doesn’t speak up. Lashley continues to address Rusev, saying Rusev “used to be a man.” But apparently his ex stripped him of his manhood. So if Rusev has any balls left, he should show up next week so Lashley can castrate him and shove those balls down Rusev’s throat!
Rusev says NO! Because it won’t happen that way. This will be the return of THE Bulgarian Brute, and he promises to do “unspeakable things” to Lashley. Rusev will brutalize every part of his body, and whatever is left is Lana’s. The challenge has been made. Who will be the one to survive this battle full of hate and tainted love?
Backstage interview with R-Truth!
The historic 29-time 24/7 Champion is here on the first Raw of 2020, and what is in store for him? Well Liv Morgan appears first, and Charly is excited to interview her, too. Of course she is. Liv wants to congratulate Truth on his record-setting reign with the title. Thanks, much obliged. But Liv couldn’t help but hear about Rusev VS Lashley. That means Lana is going to be in Lashley’s corner. So Rusev will need someone in his corner, right? And that is a moment she’d live for. Truth likes the word play. Will Liv be dying to get her hands on Lana at the same time Rusev goes after Lashley?
Charlotte Flair VS Sarah Logan!
The Queen is the first woman to officially declare for the Women’s Royal Rumble match, but you can be sure there are many others to follow her into that huge match. Will the Country Valkyrie make a mark in her own return to Raw?
Attacking from behind sure helps! Sarah clobbers Charlotte and stomps her down! Sarah rams Charlotte into the post, then pursues Charlotte on the outside with a BIG KNEE! Sarah shows no mercy as she clubs away on Charlotte! The ref backs Sarah off but that doesn’t last long. Sarah whips Charlotte but Charlotte reverses to send Sarah into barriers! Now Charlotte fires off clubbing forearms on Sarah! Charlotte dumps Sarah out to the crowd but Sarah brings Charlotte with her! The fans enjoy seeing this brawl up close, and Charlotte shoves Sarah over the barriers the other way. Charlotte climbs over but Sarah shoves her back into the post! The ref can barely keep Sarah off Charlotte, but Sarah goes into the ring on her own accord.
Sarah circles Charlotte’s feathered robe and paws at it. She drags it up to show it to Charlotte, and then thrashes it around! Charlotte sees Sarah wipe her feet on the robe before throwing it out. Sarah goes out after Charlotte again, but Charlotte SPEARS her down! And then rams her back into barriers! The ref pleads these two stop but Charlotte throws Sarah all around, EXPLODER into the barriers! Fans “WOO~” for The Queen as she drags Sarah up to bounce off the apron. Sarah shoves Charlotte into another post! Sarah stomps and kicks but Charlotte hits back. Charlotte shoves then BOOTS Sarah down! Charlotte dusts herself off and demands the ref fetch her robe. The ref does as told and Charlotte puts her robe back on. She didn’t have a match but she did win this fight. First Natalya scraps with Charlotte and now Sarah, just how violent will the Women’s Rumble be this year?
Drew McIntyre VS No Way Jose!
The party might be over as the Fighting Fiesta faces the studly Scottish savage! Will it all be over but the crying here in OKC?
McIntyre starts off by going after the conga line! Jose is furious as McIntyre TOSSES the hula fire dancer! The bell rings and Jose fires off fists on McIntyre! Jose whips, McIntyre reverses but Jose goes up and over, only for McIntyre to kick him out of the air! McIntyre runs in corner to corner to then overhead suplex Jose across the way! Jose writhes but McIntyre goes back out to target the man in the kilt! The kilt wearing hipster trips and McIntyre has him! McIntyre rips the man’s shirt off to CHOP him! And then inverted Alabama SLAM into the apron! McIntyre returns to the ring at 8 but Jose BOOTS! Jose throws fast ball haymakers from all sides but McIntyre boots him away. McIntyre runs corner to corner, misses, Jose rolls him up, ONE! FUTURE SHOCK! McIntyre kips up just to show off!
McIntyre aims from the corner as Oklahoma is divided. But McIntyre gives the countdown, CLAYMORE! Cover, McIntyre wins!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall
McIntyre has almost too much fun destroying his opponents. But he’s not done with Jose, he throws him out onto what’s left of the conga line! Then he gets the mic to address Oklahoma City. “Who dares me to do one more Claymore?” No no, who double dares him to do another Claymore?! Oklahoma City does! McIntyre drags Jose back into the ring and takes aim from the corner again. The countdown begins again, CLAYMORE!! And a kip-up! “Didn’t even drop the microphone, thank you very much.” And don’t expect an apology, because McIntyre’s always hated conga lines. Though Mr. Cheeseburger seems like an nice guy.
But does anyone want to know a “not so fun fact” about McIntyre? He has never had one opportunity to fight for the world title. Fans are upset by that. So since everyone is too scared to fight McIntyre, he seems he has to put himself in maybe… the ROYAL RUMBLE! So who has declared? AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, and apparently Brock Lesnar. McIntyre doesn’t care if you’re from Raw, SmackDown, NXT or walked in off the street, “lads, when it’s all said and done there can only be three… two… ONE!” Mic drop. Will McIntyre have a Claymore in store for all 28 men and The Beast?
Aleister Black VS Shelton Benjamin!
The Embodiment of the End meets the Gold Standard in the City of Thunder. Who wins this first-time-ever match as we travel down the Road to the Royal Rumble?
The bell rings and Aleister circles with Benjamin. Aleister blocks a kick and avoids the dragon whip to also deny Pay Dirt! The two stand off and fans cheer. Benjamin and Aleister tie up and Benjamin waistlocks. Aleister resists the lift to victory roll, TWO! Aleister comes in but Benjamin shoves him away, only for Aleister to roll off Benjamin’s back and sit down. Benjamin keeps his cool as he slides to headlock, but Aleister slips out to a facelock. Benjamin trips and goes to cover but gets caught to a hammerlock! Aleister grabs at arms but Benjamin resists, so Aleister just cranks the arm. Benjamin powers his way up and around to dead lift Aleister! Electric Chair Drop! Benjamin is free and shakes out his arm as he looms over Aleister.
Aleister kicks from the mat and Benjamin staggers. Aleister boots but Benjamin forearms! And again! Benjamin has Aleister on the ropes but he whips. Aleister springboards but Benjamin gets under. Aleister bobs ‘n’ weaves but Benjamin grabs hair. Aleister back elbows HARD, but Benjamin ROUNDHOUSES! Aleister wobbles but KNEE TRIGGERS! Benjamin falls to a knee, but Aleister lifts him up with his foot. BLACK MASS! Cover, Aleister wins!
Winner: Aleister Black, by pinfall
But Buddy Murphy attacks?! The Aussie Juggernaut is furious after his defeat to Aleister before the New Year! He whips Aleister HARD into the post! Then into the apron, and the barriers! Murphy drags Aleister up to DECK him, then whip him into the timekeeper’s area! Murphy won’t let up, he rains down hands! Fans boo but Murphy scowls as he KNEE TRIGGERS Aleister down! Fans want “One More Time!” but Murphy gets a chair first. Aleister crawls but Murphy looms over him with that chair. Murphy uses his foot to lift Aleister’s head onto the edge of the chair and shouts, “I can beat you, Aleister!” FULL METAL AUSSIE-GOYE!! Murphy grins as he sits with crossed legs and watches Aleister. Will Murphy be the one to make Aleister #FadeToBlack?
Six Man Tag: Seth Rollins & The Authors of Pain VS Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe & ???
Akam and Rezar enter first as harbingers of the “Monday Night Messiah” before The Architect makes his entrance. This “united force” looks to #BurnItDown and #ImposeHisWill on all of Raw, and Rollins grabs a mic to first address the crowd. “I have been chosen to lead Monday Night Raw to the Promised Land!” He was chosen by the WWE Universe. “You did this. I gave you Monday Night Rollins, and that was not good enough for you.” But the truth is, the fans don’t know what’s good for them. But Rollins does and always has! He knows what is BEST for them and all of us is to “eliminate people who impede progress.” Tonight, those are Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe and whoever it is that took up arms with them. So Rollins dares them to meet their fate!
Kevin Owens enters first, followed by Samoa Joe. But who is their mystery third man? “Welllll~…” It’s THE BIG SHOW!! The World’s Largest Athlete returns to Raw and the Architects of Pain can’t believe it! Big Show’s come to set things right, will he be just the thing Kevin and Joe need to stop Rollins and the AOP?
The teams sort out and Big Show starts against Akam. Akam goes right at Show but Show reverses the whip and runs him over! Then Show hits Rezar! And throws in Rollins! Show has Rollins in the corner to CHOP! It’s been a long time since someone’s felt one of those! Rollins bails out to regroup with the AOP as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns once more and Joe has Rollins in a corner to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! Rollins’ chest is red like raw steak! Joe whips Rollins corner to corner and back elbows, to the PELE! Rollins is down in the corner, Joe tags Kevin and Kevin says “SUCK IT” before hitting the CANNONBALL! Kevin covers, TWO! Kevin mocks Akam and Rezar before giving Rollins another CHOP! Kevin whips and redirects Rollins but Rollins goes up and over to run the ropes. Rollins dodges Kevin’s clothesline but can’t avoid the tilt-o-whirl backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Kevin keeps on Rollins by putting him in a drop zone. Kevin climbs but Akam distracts the ref so that Rezar can attack! Rezar knocks Kevin right down to the ground and Big Show protests!
Rollins tags to Rezar and Rezar storms right over to Kevin to throw him into barriers! And then the apron! Fans chant for Big Show as Rezar pushes Kevin in. Rezar hammers away on Kevin’s head! Rezar talks trash to Kevin before cranking on the neck. Kevin endures and fans rally up. Kevin fights up and back but Rezar knees low. Tag to Akam and the AOP combine for the sidewalk slam STOMP! Cover, TWO! Akam keeps on Kevin with more stomps and more hammering hands. Akam looms over Kevin and brings him up, but Kevin CHOPS! And haymakers! But Akam tackles Kevin down for more hammering fists. Tag to Rollins, and Rollins waits for Kevin to stand. Kevin does, but Rollins springboards to hit the flying knee! Cover, TWO!
Rollins stares right at Big Show as he drags Kevin around to ram elbows in. Rollins wraps on a chinlock to grind Kevin down but fans keep rallying. Kevin fights up but Rollins clubs him back. Tag to Akam and Akam mugs Kevin. Akam whips Kevin into a corner but Kevin boots back! Kevin reaches but Akam keeps him from Joe. Kevin elbows the waistlock off and enziguris! Akam staggers but Rezar tags in to sucker punch Joe! Big Show swipes at Rezar, Kevin SUPERKICKS and SHOTEIS Rezar! Kevin gives a shout out to Jushin Thunder Liger, on this, the day Liger officially retired! Kevin and Rezar are down but fans are thunderous! Hot tags to Rollins and BIG SHOW! Rollins freaks out as Big Show runs him over! And runs Rezar over! And Rollins again!
Big Show whips Rollins to a corner and back bumps him! Then keeps moving to shoulder block Rollins upside-down! Fans fire up but Rollins bails out. The AOP target Joe on the outside and throw him into steel steps! Big Show glares at them but Rollins returns with a FLYING- No! Show catches him with one hand! The AOP rush Big Show but he shoves Rollins away to catch them in one hand each! Big Show holds them back but that’s a lot of power. Rollins returns with a chair and USES IT! SMACK on Big Show’s back!
Winner: Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe & The Big Show, by disqualification
The AOP beat down the Giant as fans boo and jeer. But Joe returns to fight AOP off. They spill outside but Rollins aims at Show from the corner. Kevin anchors Rollins’ foot, and then Big Show hits the BIG punch! Rollins is out, but the AOP drag him to safety. Akam and Rezar have to drag Rollins in their retreat, and Big Show stands tall with The Prizefighter and Samoan Submission Machine!
BREAKING NEWS for next week’s Raw!
Things are already big with Rusev VS Lashley and Orton VS Styles, but it’s only getting bigger! Aleister VS Murphy will have another rematch after what happened tonight, and it’s already been decided by WWE management that we will have a special rematch of the Six Man Tag we just witness! BUT it won’t be just a normal match, it will be the first ever “Fist Fight” match in WWE history! But what does that even mean!? And what will it mean for Raw when the dust settles and one side is left standing?
My Thoughts:
What a wild Raw to start the new year! What’s really wild is, I honestly can’t say there was anything bad this time! Lesnar entering the Royal Rumble as the number one entrant is pretty crazy. I suppose that while Lesnar has been a part-time wrestler for quite some time, he’s at least putting in a lot of work Rumble night. At least, that’s how it might look. The way they are probably going to book this, and probably should book this, is that a lot of the early entrants are midcarders or jobbers that everyone knows won’t win so that Lesnar gets some easy eliminations. Bigger names should come in later, perhaps from spots 7 and up just so it isn’t “Lesnar waits, eliminates, repeat.” This really does give a lot of great potential showdowns we wouldn’t normally get. But Lesnar better not win. There needs to be someone, or even a group of superstars, that eliminates Lesnar so that we’ll get a contender for a top title. Personally hoping it’s McIntyre so he can turn Face. He had a lot of fun squashing Jose and the conga line, and fans had fun watching him do it.
Even though we all knew Rowan was going to win his match, and we all knew we wouldn’t get to see Rowan’s pet tonight, I love that we got some development in that tonight. Mojo did a great job selling the horror, and now that only increases the intrigue. I am having a hell of a time imagining what could possibly be in the cage. Styles was also obviously going to beat Akira Tozawa tonight, but it was great that he did it using Randy Orton’s moves. A bit disappointed their blow-off is supposedly next week to get it before the Royal Rumble, but hopefully that match will be as great as they’ve built this rivalry up. Aleister VS Benjamin was good, I could tell they were going for a “real fight” feel with the strikes and how quick it was, and then WOW Murphy’s attack on Aleister. Aleister VS Murphy Round 3 will be incredible!
I’m only a little disappointed they got the two big title matches out of the way so early, but I suppose it has to do with ratings and viewing habits with so many other things on TV these days. The United States Championship story was incredible tonight. Mysterio’s passion, the match itself with Vega taking that bump, Almas taking Mysterio’s mask and the subsequent attack to take it back, that’s good stuff. There seemed to be a bit of a hiccup with the timing on getting refs out to check on Vega and Almas wanting the finisher, and I’m pretty sure I heard John Cone tell Mysterio to go outside to stretch things. But in the end, this is a great story they’re telling with these two and I can’t wait for the next part. The Raw Tag title Triple Threat was really good, and I’m just a little disappointed there wasn’t a title change. But I suppose even the New Year Raw wasn’t the right time in WWE’s eyes for one. Maybe the Royal Rumble PPV in another epic Triple Threat?
Sarah Logan and Charlotte Flair had a great brawl, which I did not expect. Technically Sarah doesn’t lose despite Charlotte standing tall, but Sarah got her shots in so that’s about as good as if she were to have fought and lost a match. It does make me think the rest of the Women’s Division is finally being built up so there are more opponents for the Four Horsewomen. Becky and Asuka had a pretty good segment, too. Not sure if we needed all that recap but the package itself was well done. And Asuka going on and on for Becky to simply respond with one punch was a great exchange. Their match is going to be great, too. I just hope Kairi Sane makes her recovery, and that WWE gives her fat checks given how Stardom is courting her to return.
Good to know that Liv will be on Rusev’s side for next week, if only to spite Lana. And the Lana-Lashely-Rusev segment was actually not cringey this time! The eloping made sense, it was actually good that they didn’t make a big deal of Liv claiming she and Lana were together behind the scenes, and Lana actually hit the right level of annoying where it wasn’t nails on a chalkboard. Rusev had a great promo and just Lashley’s “Shut up!” was amazing. This is already showing signs of his relationship with Lana breaking down, and next week’s match could break them up already. This might be the best case of WWE salvaging their own mess in a long time.
The main story of the night, Rollins & AOP against Kevin, Joe and a mystery man, was handled fairly well. It was an interesting tease for Joe and Kevin to go to a door and peek in. Maybe they were trying to make it seem like Aleister was joining them, but that would’ve been a shame since he’d ditch his story with Murphy. Unless Murphy was going to join Rollins, but that doesn’t fit Murphy. I don’t think I would’ve guessed Big Show in a long time, but it was great to see him back in the ring. The Six Man Tag was pretty great, and I suppose it works for the best for things to end in a Disqualification. I just worry what this “Fist Fight” stipulation is. I don’t know if this is the time to think up new match types. I’m sure a No DQ Six Man would’ve been good enough. Also why announced so soon? Maybe give us time to breathe at the end of the show and tell us about this on social media or even the night of Raw next week. I guess as long as it’s really good, we can’t complain.
My Score: 8.6/10
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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.
My Score: 8.8/10
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The Road to the Tokyo Dome goes through KOPW!
As 2024 nears an end, Great-O-Khan defends the KOPW Championship one more time, against a former KOPW Champion in Taichi! Who will be THE 2024 King of Pro-Wrestling?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Chase Your Dream Match: Shoma Kato VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins.
- Boltin Oleg VS Satoshi Kojima; Boltin wins.
- Triple Threat Tag: Jeff Cobb & Jakob Austin Young VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson VS Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi; Narita & Yujiro win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS El Desperado & Master Wato; Desperado & Wato win.
- Fatal 4 Way: Kevin Knight VS Robbie Eagles VS Francesco Akira VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Eagles wins.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
- Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita; ZSJ & Fujita win.
- KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi; Khan wins and is the definitive 2024 KOPW Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
After the Triple Threat Tag…
The House of Torture of course cheated to win, but they wouldn’t leave it at that! They waited until the United Empire and TMDK argued with each other to then attack them all! Yujiro Takahashi CLUBS Oiwa down while Narita shoves Cobb into big Hartley Jackson! And then Narita JAMS Cobb with the pushup bar! The fans boo but Narita JAMS Oiwa up, too! The Souled Out Son of Strong Style is so proud of himself as he holds up his NJPW World TV Championship, but wait. Christmas music starts playing? The fans clap along as surprise! Santa and his reindeer are here! Well, one reindeer. But shouldn’t the House of Torture be on the naughty list?
Santa Claus walks over, and he gets the mic. He sounds familiar as he tells, “Narita-san… You have a Christmas present waiting. Would you like it now?” Narita asks what the heck is going on. Santa steps into the ring and offers Narita the little tiny bag. Narita snatches the bag, then he and Yujiro look at it. The fans asks, “Nani nani? <What is it?>” Narita tells them to shut up. Narita gets the bag open and pulls out… Blue sunglasses! With LED lights! The fans cheer as the lights go down! “E! L! P!” EL PHANTASMO IS HERE! The Headbanga has been battling cancer, but he’s here in Korakuen Hall!
Narita is furious but ELP slides right into the ring! Narita & Yujiro run away, but the fans cheer ELP on as he stands side-by-side with Jado Claus. ELP gets the mic now, and the fans cheer him on. ELP takes a moment before saying, in Japanese, “Cancer. Cancer… I’ve beaten cancer! And I love Korakuen!” But ELP asks Jado-san how to say a certain something in Japanese. He whispers it, but then Narita & Yujiro attack! The fans boo these cowards, but then Narita says Merry Christmas! But ELP BOOTS him, ELBOWS Yujiro, then dodges Narita to SUDDEN DEATH! Jado Claus DECKS the Tokyo Pimp!
ELP again asks Jado, and Jado says on behalf of ELP, that ELP is going to wrestle tomorrow night! And… Then he’ll be at the Tokyo Dome! ELP grabs the NJPW World TV Championship! ELP looks it over, and looks to the crowd, and then to Jado, but then Jeff Cobb and Ryohei Oiwa get in the ring. Cobb asks if ELP’s good. ELP is good. Are they good? Then let’s turn it up a notch! FATAL 4 WAY for the TV Championship! Narita snatches his belt, gets out of the ring, and tells everyone to shut up! The odds just got stacked against the House of Torture, will the New Year have a NEW NJPW World TV Champion one way or another?
Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita!
Ahead of battling for THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, The Roughneck and The Front Man bring some back up! The Ace is also preparing to fight Evil, will he and Shota bring a Once in a Century Paradigm Shift? Or will ZSJ and the Japanese Young Punk prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The teams sort out and Shota starts against ZSJ. The fans cheer this WrestleKingdom preview, and Korakuen duels between “SHOTA! SHOTA!” and “ZAKU! ZAKU!” ZSJ and Shota feel things out, then knuckle lock. ZSJ clinches but Shota fights back with his own clinch. ZSJ slips around to chinbar but Shota wrenches to a wristlock. ZSJ rolls, tries another chinbar but Shota cranks the wristlock. ZSJ bridges, spins, slips around and wrangles Shota! Shota kips up to WRING the arm, but ZSJ UP KICKS! The fans cheer as the two reset. Shota and ZSJ circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. ZSJ then stands on Shota’s hand!
ZSJ has another hand and twists the wrist! Then he has both arms for a motorcycle stretch but Shota fights up. Shota turns things around, and he fights ZSJ as ZSJ tries to turn them back. ZSJ keeps trying, and he pushes through, but Shota spins things right back around! The fans cheer while Shota digs a foot into ZSJ’s back. ZSJ flips, kips up, spins things around, but Shota spins them back! The fans cheer, and Shota spins ZSJ. ZSJ dodges the lariat, Shota blocks a kick, but ZSJ ducks the enzigiri! Shota avoids the Penalty Kick and arm-drags ZSJ, but ZSJ headscissors! Shota kips free, avoids a leg pick, and the fans cheer!
Shota dares ZSJ to go for the leg but the two reset again. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and each man breaks free of one. They back off, and Shota tags in Tanahashi. The fans cheer, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Korakuen strongly supports President Ace. Tanahashi and Fujita circle, tie up, and Tanahashi powers Fujita back. The ref counts, Tanahashi lets off slowly, but then Fujita turns things around! Tanahashi turns things around, and repeat! The ref counts, Fujita lets off slowly, but then both men block a kick! They argue over who lets go first, and eventually agree for a mutual break. They set the feet down, but then Fujita holds on!
Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi, then whips. Tanahashi reverses but Fujita ducks ‘n’ dodges to GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Fujita aims from a corner. Fujita runs corner to corner but Tanahashi BOOTS him! Shota CLOBBERS Fujita, then eggs ZSJ on! ZSJ runs up, Shota blocks a kick and he sends ZSJ into Tanahashi’s ELBOW! Shota CLOBBERS ZSJ and the fans fire up. Shota pursues ZSJ to the outside and CLUBS him down! Shota clamps onto ZSJ with a chinlock but the ref reprimands. Tanahashi CHOPS Fujita, but Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi! The fans fire up as Fujita storms back up, but he blocks a boot!
Fujita DRAGON SCREWS Tanahashi’s leg! Fujita kips up, ZSJ sends Shota into railing, and Fujita stomps Tanahashi. The fans rally and Fujita brings Tanahashi up to CHOP! Fujita eggs Tanahashi on, CHOPS him again, then CHOPS again! Tanahashi flounders and ZSJ tags in. ZSJ drags Tanahashi up to UPPERCUT! Tanahashi ends up in the TMDK corner, ZSJ UPPERCUTS him again! ZSJ says, “Mada mada!” and he UPPERCUTS again! Tanahashi falls, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Fujita brings Tanahashi up. Fujita CHOPS again, and then CHOPS again! Tanahashi is stinging and using the ropes for defense while the fans rally up.
Tanahashi storms up but Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi CHOPS, Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi falls and Fujita BLASTS Shota! Tag to ZSJ and he grabs a leg. Fujita also grabs one, they drag Tanahashi to center, and then they both go after arms. Then they shift, ZSJ has an arm while Fujita has a leg! Then they both have legs again! Then ZSJ has a leg and Fujita has an arm! Then back to the arms! They both isolate the arms for DOUBLE STOMPS! The fans cheer, the ref reprimands and ZSJ “apologizes” with a bow. ZSJ stands on one of Tanahashi’s legs to then twist the other! Tanahashi endures, even as ZSJ TWEAKS the ankle!
ZSJ twists the foot the other way, flips Tanahashi over, and shifts around to have a headscissor and armlock! Shota stomps ZSJ but Fujita goes after Shota! Fujita TOSSES Shota, ZSJ tags Fujita back in. Fujita stomps Tanahashi, KICKS him in the back, but Tanahashi gets mad! Fujita KICKS Tanahashi but Tanahashi fires up! Fujita KICKS and CHOPS, but Tanahashi fires forearm after forearm! Fujita CHOPS again! Tanahashi grits his teeth but Fujita CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! SHOTEI! Fujita falls but so does Tanahashi! The fans rally up while both men crawl, hot tag to Shota! Shota rallies on Fujita with big forearms and elbows!
Shota whips, Fujita reverses, but Shota dropkicks the legs out! ZSJ runs up and RAMS Shota! Then ZSJ runs, but into Shota’s DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Shota goes to Fujita. Shota whips corner to corner, runs up, and UPPERCUTS! Shota reels Fujita in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota doesn’t mind. Shota clinches but Fujita fights the suplex with elbows. Shota runs up, but Fujita wrenches, waistlocks, but Shota ELBOWS free! Shota whips, Fujita reverses and DROPKICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Fujita crawls, hot tag to ZSJ!
ZSJ runs up to BOOT Shota! Shota stays up so ZSJ runs to BOOT him again! And BOOT him again! Shota roars and ROCKS ZSJ! Shota runs to ROCK ZSJ again! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Shota eggs him on, repeat! Shota UPPERCUTS and ZSJ roars! ZSJ UPPER- NO, Shota hooks the arm, but ZSJ wrenches out of the backslide to PELE the arm! Then ZSJ basement DROPKICKS Shota! The fans fire up while Shota clutches a leg and an arm. ZSJ kicks him around, scuffs him and taunts him. The fans rally, the ref checks Shota, but Shota is okay to continue. ZSJ stands Shota up to UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT!
Shota clinches to EXPLODER! Both men are down and the fans rally again! Shota crawls, hot tag to Tanahashi! Fujita runs up, but Tanahashi blocks a kick to DRAGON SCREW! Payback for earlier! Tanahashi runs up at ZSJ in a corner, blocks a boot, and DRAGON SCREWS! Tanahashi put some stank on that one! Then he goes up the corner for a SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! ZSJ stays in this but the fans continue to rally! “GO ACE! GO ACE!” echoes out as Tanahashi runs, but ZSJ catches him into a COBRA TWIST! Tanahashi endures, then throws elbows into ZSJ’s leg. Tanahashi gets free to DRAGON SCREW again!
ZSJ writhes, Tanahashi ties the legs up, but ZSJ kicks at him! Tanahashi blocks a kick to GROUND DRAGON SCREW! And now, TEXAS CLOVER- NO, ZSJ fights the turnover and reels Tanahashi into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Tanahashi endures and the fans rally up, but Shota gets in! Shota stomps away on ZSJ, but then Fujita MISSILE DROPKICKS Shota! Fujita brings Tanahashi up but Tanahashi SHOTEIS him down! ZSJ is after Tanahashi but he avoids the shotei! ZSJ SLAPS Tanahashi, then PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives but ZSJ gives him a NECK TWIST! The fans fire up as ZSJ stand Tanahashi up.
ZSJ scoops but Tanahashi fights that, to a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up but Tanahashi isn’t done! TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi stands ZSJ up again, but ZSJ scoops to ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, ZSJ & Fujita win!
Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita, by pinfall
Shota can’t believe The Ace fell, but this is why ZSJ is the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! Will ZSJ do this all to Shota when they’re 1v1 in the Tokyo Dome? Or will Shota prove he’s mightier than The Mighty?
KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi!
The Dominator has, well, dominated as KOPW Champion for a long stretch of 2024, but the Holy Emperor did close out 2023 with this title. Granted, Taichi says that win, lose or draw, this is his final KOPW Championship match. As such, tonight’s stipulation is a sort of “Best Of” compilation as we go Best 2 Out of 3. Part one: a no ropes Sumo Rules match! Part two: Yoshinobu Kanemaru as special guest referee? Well, he would be a neutral party… And part three, if needed, will be a LAST MAN STANDING MATCH! Will Taichi “retire” from this truly freestyle division standing tall? Or will Khan truly conquer KOPW for the United Empire?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, but Taichi also brings back the trophy for the occasion, and it’s time to end the year in style!
Sumo Rules!
Both men finish preparations with weight belts and some stretching. They square up, the ref says go and they RAM into each other! The fans rally as both men go for those weight belts to use as leverage. They go around, get very close to the ring edge, but then Khan moves things away. Khan THROWS Taichi, but Taichi stays on the ring so the sumo match continues. They reset and go again! Taichi pushes Khan back with both hands, but Khan digs in his heels! They clinch, go around, and Taichi goes for the edge! Khan pulls on Taichi’s leg to get around, but Taichi uses that to steer Khan to another edge! But Khan hits a fireman’s carry takeover!
Khan drags Taichi up but Taichi fights off the throw! They clinch and fight for control again. They each try to lift with the belt! Khan has Taichi near the edge, but then Taichi has Khan near the edge! Khan is teetering and the fans fire up! Taichi THROWS Khan to the floor, Taichi wins the fall!
Khan: 0; Taichi: 1
Special Guest Referee!
The fans are thunderous as Taichi takes the Sumo Rules fall, but now we go to a much more complicated situation. The ropes have to be put back up, sure, but now the Heel Master of all people is going to be the referee! The time it takes to set up the ropes is a reprieve for both sides, especially Khan as he has to catch his breath and refocus. Once the ropes are up, both men wait in the ring. All that is left is the buckle pads, and of course, Kanemaru himself. Kanemaru gets a proper introduction and entrance before he goes to the ring, and wow, he’s even wearing an official NJPW referee shirt with the lion mark on it.
Referee Kanemaru does his check and he even tells Taka Michinoku to watch himself. Kanemaru does a far less thorough check of Khan than Taichi! Did the Empire pay Kanemaru off?! Kanemaru has Taichi cool off, then whispers something to Khan! The bell rings, the fans rally for Khan, and Khan circles with Taichi. They tie up, Taichi powers Khan to ropes, and Kanemaru calls for a ropebreak. Then he has a fast count! Taichi lets off before 4 and argues with Kanemaru! Kanemaru says that’s his count, deal with it. Khan and Taichi reset, tie up, and Khan puts Taichi on ropes. Kanemaru pays more attention to Taka than Taichi!
The fans can’t help but laugh as Kanemaru finally does count, and now it’s really slow! Taichi protests, but Khan pulls Taichi’s arms. Then he CHOPS Taichi and stops at “3!” Khan then goes after Taichi, wrenches and wristlocks, and Kanemaru is asking if Taichi gives up!? Taichi tells him to shut up, but Khan kicks and CLUBS Taichi. Khan whips, Taichi BOOTS Khan down, then covers! Kanemaru strolls over to count! And it’s so slow! “TWO” and the fans cheer. Taichi is upset, but Khan rolls Taichi up! SO FAST!! TWO!! Taichi is getting pissed but Kanemaru backs away. Taichi stomps Khan, and Kanemaru’s untying a buckle pad?!
Taichi stomps Khan around, Khan leaves the pad there loosely, and Taichi whips. Khan reverses, and SURPRISE! bare buckles! Taka protests but Kanemaru SMACKS him with the pad! Khan plays dumb, and then he stands on Taichi’s lower back. Taichi has the ropes, but Kanemaru kicks the arm away! Khan has Taichi’s other arm, Taichi keeps grabbing for ropes but Kanemaru keeps kicking the hand away! Khan drags Taichi up, brings him around, and ROCKS him in the back! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan Mongolian Chops him on the back! And Mongolian Chops again! And Mongolian Chops again! Kanemaru doesn’t bother counting at all!
Taka protests, Kanemaru warns him, but then Khan hops up to sit on his throne! The fans cheer while Taichi endures, and only now does Kanemaru count! Khan asks hold on, hold on, so Kanemaru stops counting! Khan hops down, and then he puts Kanemaru up on the throne! Khan gets the fans to join in on the “Ohh…! HMPH!” Kanemaru isn’t into it so he hops down. Khan apologizes to Kanemaru, then he kicks Taichi around. Taichi gets up to fire hands! Khan kicks low, whips, but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! The fans fire up while both men are down. Taichi stands, and he drags Khan up into SEITEI JUJIHOU!
Kanemaru might be stuck, he can’t ignore Khan tapping. But then Kanemaru drags Khan over to the ropes! Taichi is frustrated with Kanemaru but Kanemaru says that’s a ropebreak. Taichi storms up on Kanemaru, but then Khan waistlocks! Ripcord and SAYANAGI! Both men are down again and the fans rally up! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan runs in, but Taichi dodges! GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Taichi snarls. Taichi TAKES OFF THE PANTS! The pants were a bit stubborn, but still. But then Kanemaru “checks” Khan just to stay between him and Taichi! Taichi says move or else! Kanemaru says he’s the ref!
Kanemaru kicks Taichi, CLAWS Taichi’s eyes, then traps his arms! Khan gets up to IRON RIGHT!! Kanemaru “scolds” Khan, then “checks” Taichi. Khan rests in a corner and Kanemaru drags Taichi up for him. Taichi CHOKES Kanemaru! Kanemaru kicks low! Kanemaru whips Taichi into a corner, ELBOWS him, then Khan LARIATS! Khan snapmares and covers, Kanemaru wants more first! Khan sits Taichi up for a BASEMENT DROPKICK! Now cover, TWO!! Taichi survives so Kanemaru hurries to get his whiskey! Khan takes a swig, and Kanemaru sets Taichi up! WHISKEY MIST into Kanemaru! Taichi hits the GEDO CLUTCH, but Kanemaru really can’t count now!
Taichi lets off of Khan since there was no count to be had. Taichi drags Kanemaru up, but Khan WHISKEY BOTTLE SHOTS Taichi! IRON CLAW!! Kanemaru calls for the bell? He just hands the win to Khan without counting, so now we’re all tied up!
Khan: 1; Taichi: 1
Kanemaru has fulfilled the contract, Khan gives him the envelope of money. Khan even makes sure we all see how many thousands that is! Kanemaru heads out, is he going to party hard for the holidays? But that aside, it is time for the final fall!
Last Man Standing!
Taichi gets the mic first, and tells Khan that if that’s how Khan wants to do it, then Taichi will get down and dirty with Khan! No lumberjacks, no special guests, just the straight up ten count, and it can happen anywhere in Korakuen Hall! Khan says bet! The announcement is made for the official rule change, and now we have the final fall! Khan rushes Taichi on the outside, then whips him into railing! And we’re already going into the crowd! Khan throws Taicihi at English commentary, but big Hartley is a solid wall for Chris. Khan then drags Taichi up into the bleachers, and the fans clear out of the way!
Khan CHOKES Taichi with a chair, then lets off to clear chairs out of the way. The Young Lions try to help but Khan gets mad at them and pushes them aside. Khan drags Taichi up, knees him low, and then reels him in! But Taichi fights the sayanagi! Taichi SHOVES Khan, Khan falls to the floor but gets up, only for Taichi to CROSSBODY! Down goes Khan and Red Shoes hurries over. Both men are down but Taichi sits up. The count starts and Khan is still down at 5 of 10! Khan hurries to get up, and Taichi stomps him down! Taichi drags Khan back up into the bleachers, but we go the other way.
Taicih KICKS Khan down, Young Lions keep the fans back again, and Taichi drags Khan along. They keep moving through the crowd, and Taichi shoves Khan into chairs! Khan sputters but Taichi drags him up again. Taichi KNEES Khan, then drags him up. They go back down to floor level, and then Taichi aims at chairs! Taichi whips but Khan reverses and he BOWLS Taichi into chairs! Not quite a strike but he got a good number of those chairs! Khan pops the railing loose from the special corner piece, and he brings that corner piece over! Khan SMACKS Taichi with the steel! Taichi staggers away but he sits in a chair.
Khan starts folding chairs to stack them on the floor. Khan then uses one chair as a leash to drag Taichi over! Khan CLUBS Taichi, adds that one chair to the pile, and then snap suplexes Taichi onto the chairs! Taichi writhes but Khan rises up. Khan roars and the fans fire up! The count begins again but Taichi slowly sits up at 4. Taichi rises up, and he stands at 8! Khan brings Taichi around in a headlock, and they go to the orange bleachers! Khan uses the gate to smother Taichi, then they go up to the higher level! The fans fire up but then fans have to move! Khan KNEES and CLUBS Taichi, then whips Taichi at the exit door!
Taichi tumbles into the hallway! Khan drags Taichi back into the arena and uses the HITSUJIGOROSHI against the chairs! Taichi endures as Khan chokes him, then Khan lets him go! Red Shoes checks on Taichi, Taka coaches him, but the count begins. Khan sits in a chair to relax while he waits. Taichi sits up at 7, and stands at 9! Khan storms up on Taichi to CLUB him on the back! Khan headlocks Taichi, brings him to the other section, and he gets up close to the fans for photo ops. Khan then whips, but Taichi reverses, and Khan is sent into the wall! Taichi leaves Khan behind while the count begins again.
Khan sits up so Taichi KICKS him back down! Taichi drags Khan up, KICKS him again, and Khan falls to his knees. Taichi drags Khan up by his ponytail, and he goes close to the stairs that lead to the back! Khan fights the suplex, and for his life, but then he turns things around! Taichi fights the suplex, throws hands, and then DDTS Khan to the floor! Red Shoes checks both men, then starts the count. Taichi shakes out his arms and sits up at 4. Taichi stands at 6 but Khan is still down at 8! Khan drags himself up at 9! Taichi CLUBS Khan down, then brings him back up. Taichi brings Khan back to ground level, then snapmares him hard for a KICK!
Khan is in agony but Taichi drags him back up. But Khan RAMS Taichi into the railing! Taichi sputters while also sitting in a chair. Khan staggers away to ringside, and he goes looking under the ring. Khan brings out a trolly cart? Khan JAMS Taichi up using his own mic stand, then leaves him behind. Khan brings out a TABLE! Fans rally up as Khan puts the table on the trolly, then he staggers over to Taichi. Khan CLUBS Taichi down, then SHOVES him onto the table trolly combo. Khan has fans clear out, and then he SNOW PLOWS the chairs with Taichi on the cart!! The fans fire up as Khan stands over Taichi.
Khan drags Taichi up, and he brings the table along, too. Khan kicks chairs out of the way as he returns to the upper deck! Khan SMACKS Taichi off the edge, then he clears out space. Khan sets the table up, then he goes up to fetch Taichi. Khan JAMS Taichi up with a chair, then SMACKS him! Taichi writhes, fans rally, and Khan drags Taichi up. Khan vows to end this! IRON CLAW, and ELIMI- NO! Taichi fights Khan off! Taichi stumbles away through the crowd, but then grabs himself a chair. Taichi runs up to JAM Khan right in the face! Taichi then steals Khan’s idea to choke grip and CHOKE SLAM down through the table!!!
Khan writhes and the fans go nuts! Taichi hobbles around while Red Shoes counts Khan. Khan is still down at 5! Still down at 7! 9! KHAN GRABS RED SHOES’S HAND!! Khan survives, and though he has a couple bloody cuts on his back, he crawls his way to the ring. Taichi eggs Khan on and the fans are thunderous! Khan drags himself into the ring, Taichi runs, AX BOMBER!! The fans fire up and the count returns! Khan is still down at 5, stirs at 6, sits up at 7, and he rises at 8! So Taichi just runs up to AX BOMBER!! Khan drops to his knees, flops over, but he’s already pushing himself back up! Taichi runs again, AX BOMBER!!
Khan staggers around but he stays on his feet! Taichi says fine, AX- SAYANAGI!! Khan turns things around, and he AX BOMBERS in return!! Both men are down and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and Khan crawls for ropes at 5! Taichi slowly sits up at 6, and both men go to corners at 7! Red Shoes waits on them to rise up, and then Taichi fires up! Taichi runs up, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so Taichi BOOTS! Khan BOOTS back! Taichi URAKENS! Khan MONGOLIAN CHOPS! Taichi SOBATS! Khan BODY BLOWS! Both men drop to knees, but they also grab at each other.
The fans rally as Khan and Taichi slowly rise. They are forehead to forehead, and then Taichi AX BOMBERS! Khan drops to his knees, Taichi BUZZSAWS, but Khan blocks it! Khan ROCKS Taichi with a right! And then Khan reels Taichi in, but Taichi Alabama Lifts! BLACK- NO, Khan fights into a GUILLOTINE! Taichi is stuck in the body scissors!! Taichi flails, even taps out, but that’s not how Last Man Standing works! Khan squeezes tighter and tighter, Taichi fades, and Red Shoes checks! Khan lets Taichi go and the count begins! Khan rises at 6, and Taichi is somehow up at 9!! So Khan clamps on an IRON CLAW!
Khan lifts Taichi, but Taichi slips free! Taichi shoves Khan and ROCKS him! DANGEROUS SAIDO!! But Khan is staggering to his feet?! Khan goes to a corner, flounders along ropes, but he isn’t down yet! The fans rally hard while both men fight to their feet! SUPERMAN PUNCH from Khan! PELE from Taichi! Both men are down again! Red Shoes starts the count on them both, and the fans rally even harder! Taichi is up at 7! Khan grabs Red Shoes at 9 again!! Taichi roars, Korakuen is with him, and he powers up! TENSHI JUJI- NO!! Khan blocks, and he hooks Taichi! Taichi CLUBS away on Khan, but Khan still lifts! ULTIMATE ELIMINATOR!!
Both men are down again and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and they’re both down at 5! At 7! 9! Khan pushes up, but he FLOPS back down!! DOUBLE TEN! IT’S A DRAW!! What does that mean for the belt!? Red Shoes goes out to talk with Abe-san, and then the announcement is made. In the end, with it being 1-1-1, a true draw, it all goes to KHAN!
Winner: Great-O-Khan, by pinfall (DEFINITIVE 2024 KOPW Champion)
Khan flips Taichi off, one last insult added on top. Khan is given the belt back, but Taichi grabs his trophy. Taichi steps up to Khan, and gives him the trophy, saying it is rightfully his now. Taichi shows Khan that respect, and Khan returns it with a handshake. Khan “retires” Taichi from KOPW, what will the Holy Emperor look to do in 2025?
As for Khan, he grabs the mic, and he asks Taichi to wait a moment. “You served this title for three years. We will honor your glory!” The fans applaud that, and Khan asks the previous champion to come closer. No, closer. The fans cheer Taichi on as he steps closer to ringside. Khan says Taichi served this title well, so here is his reward. Khan is giving the trophy back? Taichi says no, he gave that to Khan out of respect. Khan says to Taichi and to everyone to listen well. “We are the last KOPW Champion!” Everyone is a bit surprised to hear that.
Khan says, “As an alternative, on January 4th in the Tokyo Dome… as THE last KOPW Champion, We demand that the January 4th match determine the next IWGP World Heavyweight Championship challenger!” The fans are really intrigued by that idea! Khan throws down the belt, and Chris makes sure English speakers understand what Khan is suggesting. The New Japan Ranbo determining a #1 contender? Khan says that these are the words of the final KOPW Champion, The Great-O-Khan! “HAIL US, PEASANTS!” A New Year, a new era? Will Khan’s revolution bring glory to the United Empire?
My Thoughts:
A very good night for Road to Tokyo Dome, though I did skip a lot just because I didn’t have a lot of time today. But luckily I was skimming through, or I would’ve missed ELP’s great return. Congratulations on him beating cancer, and I like that they’re adding him to the NJPW World Television Championship match. It makes sense given ELP’s beef with the House of Torture, and honestly, why not just have ELP win? Not even so much for getting over cancer (though kind of that, too) but because fans love ELP and it’d help him solidify his singles run with Hikuleo long gone for WWE.
Really good stuff in the other tune-up matches, such as #DespeWado winning and the chaotic end to the Fatal 4 Way. Eagles won to help him and Fujita have momentum, but there is still more to the Road to Tokyo Dome first. Honestly that tag Fatal 4 could really go any which way they want so I’m not sure how the go-home math would even work. And Gedo of course took the loss against LIJ. Yota Tsuji is aiming for David Finlay and the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, but who knows how things go before we get to WrestleKingdom.
Very good tag match from Shota & Tanahashi VS ZSJ & Fujita, and it was technically a surprise for Tanahashi to take the loss. This works on many levels, as Tanahashi should be figuratively on the ropes going into his match with Evil, and this gives Fujita equal momentum alongside Eagles. And then great main event, Khan and Taichi really went the distance with this one. And it all makes sense after Khan reveals this is the end of the KOPW Division. Khan wants to make the New Japan Ranbo to basically be the Royal Rumble and that is pretty cool. I think they could keep the belt to represent that contender’s status the same as the G1 Climax having a briefcase, because that KOPW belt actually looks pretty nice.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Who's dreaming of a gold Christmas?
Mitchell’s ROH Final Battle Results & Report! (12/20/24)
Is this the end of the Forever Reign?
DWI Podcast Classic: Scrooge McBitch
As the snow falls, enjoy this holiday classic from 4 years ago!
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (12/19/24)
One last stop before Final Battle!
