So long, farewell…

It’s Raw’s last hurrah in 2024 AND the last one on USA Network. Netflix awaits, who will make it to the Women’s Intercontinental Championship finals?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Chad Gable w/ American Made VS Otis w/ The Alpha Academy; Gable wins.
• Pete Dunne VS R-Truth; No Contest.
• WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Semifinal: Dakota Kai VS Zoey Stark; Kai wins and advances to the finals.
• Six Man Tag: Damian Priest & The War Raiders VS Judgment Day; Priest & The War Raiders win.
• WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Semifinal: Lyra Valkyria VS Iyo Sky; Lyra wins and advances to the finals.

PLAY BY PLAY

Raw has a COMMERCIAL FREE first 30 minutes!

Plus, limited commercial interruption throughout the night to maximize the action!

The New Day is here!

But they don’t want their song? They cut the song off and now we just hear Houston, Texas booing at them. Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods frown as they continue to the ring, and the fans even chant “NEW! DAY SUCKS! NEW! DAY SUCKS!” Kofi & Woods continue to be confused as to what they did wrong, and Kofi wants them to understand. They have a very limited amount of time tonight, so if you don’t let them speak… The fans continue to boo, and Woods grows frustrated. Kofi repeats that if the fans don’t let them speak- “USOOO~!” The fans fire up as Main Event Jey makes his way down from the top of the bleachers!

The fans bounce and “YEET! YEET! YEET!” with Jey, then he high-fives fans as he makes his way towards ground level. New Day is even more upset than they were before as Jey hops the barriers and climbs up on a corner. The bouncing continues as fans sing along, “It’s just me, Uce! Day One Ish!” “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Woods says the fans like Jey Uso, huh? Well, Jey, they all go way back. The fans boo! Wow, Woods can’t even talk to Jey? Then Jey, talk to the fans. Jey asks Houston to quiet down, “and let’s see what this chumps has to say.” “YEET!” Woods repeats that they go way back. The fans boo again.

Woods sighs and Kofi wants Jey to tell the fans how far back they all go. The “NEW! DAY SUCKS!” returns but Jey says hey, they do go way back. So Woods, Kofi, he only has one thing to say. “New. Day Sucks.” The fans cheer that! New Day frowns, and Woods says if that’s how it’s gonna be… Kofi has Woods back down, and New Day takes their leave. Jey claps it out, “NEW! DAY SUCKS!” Jey now takes over and says H-Town, we ain’t even here for that. There’s other problems to address. “YEET!” They got Solo and hsi new Bloodline> “YEET!” OTC will handle that, though. “YEET!”

Jey’s got Drew McIntyre. “YEET!” Still messing with him and his brothers! “YEET!” And he’ll handle that!” “YEET!” Matter of fact, Drew should get his ass out here so Jey can give him a YEET DOWN! But then on the tron, it is Solo Sikoa! He tells Jey to look at him, Jacob & Tama. Don’t worry about them, they made their mark. That right there is the beginning of the end. Sami Zayn got a little too close and look what happened on Friday. They dropped his ass, too! Solo did what he had to do to get Roman’s attention. And then Jey & Jimmy went and made a very big mistake by going back to Roman after everything Roman did, instead of choosing the REAL Bloodline.

This ula fala, the one around Solo’s neck, is going nowhere! It stays on his neck FOREVER! Solo will destroy Roman next Monday in Tribal Combat to REMAIN Your Tribal Chief. Then Jey and everyone else will ACKNOWLEDGE HIM. Wait, McIntyre is storming out here from the crowd! He CLOBBERS Jey!! The fans boo as the Scottish Terminator strikes! McIntyre grins as he throws off his jacket and asks what’d Jey think would happen! McIntyre rains down fists, then DRIBBLES Jey off the mat! The fans boo while McIntyre stands over Jey, and he goes to a corner. McIntyre gives us the countdown, “THREE! TWO! ONE!”

SUPERKICK from Jey!! And then a TACKLE, and Jey rains down fists! The fans fire up but McIntyre gets to his feet. GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT! Jey is dazed, but McIntyre wants him to get back up! McIntyre reloads, but here come referees and producers. They tell McIntyre to stop, but Houston wants to “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” McIntyre backs down, knowing he has Jey right where he wants him. But then McIntyre jukes the refs to run right into the ring! CLAYMORE for Jey!! McIntyre wants Jey to understand, Jey doesn’t “got next,” Jey is next! McIntyre leaves for real now, but when and where will he terminate Main Event Jey?

Backstage interview with American Made.

Cathy Kelley is with Chad Gable and his team, and asks how he feels knowing he finally faces his former protege, Otis? Gable says he feels SICK! Sick of all the talk about himself! How he “can’t win a championship,” “he has trouble with luchadores,” “he’s been ducking Otis!” Are you kidding? Tonight, Gable checks stuff off the bucket list, and that starts with The Alpha Academy. Time to kill his “darlings,” and Otis is the final nail in the coffin. Gable taught Otis everything he knows, and tonight, he gets his final lesson: The Master remains the Master, forever.

Julius Creed adds that they weren’t just born here, and Brutus adds they weren’t just raised here. Ivy Nile adds… “We were  MADE here!” American Made heads out, but will they stand tall over the tree trunk that is Otis?

Chad Gable w/ American Made VS Otis w/ The Alpha Academy!

The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally as they tie up, and Gable waistlocks to CLUB Otis. Otis just gets mad! The fans fire up as Gable CHOPS, but Otis just takes it! Gable CHOPS, then headlocks, but Otis powers up and out. Otis CLOBBERS Gable and the fans fire up! Gable goes to a corner, Otis fires hammers from all sides! Otis lets off as the ref counts, then storms back up to gorilla press Gable! The fans fire up and Otis THROWS Gable down! Gable flounders out while Otis shouts, “OHH YEAH~!” Gable gets mad at Tozawa & Maxxine just for being there, but Otis goes out to SMACK Gable off the desk!

Otis refreshes the ring count, then he sends Gable into the steel steps! Gable drops but Otis drags him up to POST him! Otis says, “I loved you!” and he puts Gable in the ring. But Gable attacks while Otis is int he ropes! The fans rally for Otis while Gable fires hands. Gable whips corner ot corner but Otis reverses! Gable hits buckles hard and falls back! The fans fire up as Otis looms over Gable. Otis stands on Gable’s hand, pulls him up by his ear, but Gable gets free to throat chop! Gable runs, Otis rolls under! Otis comes back to LARIAT! The fans fire up again and Otis storms up on Gable. Otis whips Gable corner to corner, runs up, but Gable POSTS him!

The fans boo and the Academy worries for Otis, but Gable drags Otis in, to waistlock and lift! But Otis is too much to suplex! Gable lets go, and he puts one leg in the ropes to then DRAGON SCREW the other! Otis falls in the corner but Gable stomps away on those legs! The ref counts, Gable drags Otis from the corner, and steps through for a KNEE JAMMER! Otis clutches his leg but he is still in this. Gable hooks the leg in a standing leglock! The fans rally for Otis while American Made cheers Gable. Tozawa & Maxxine get the fans to be louder, and Otis kicks at Gable from below! Otis BOOTS Gable away!

Gable flounders but comes back, and he DROPKICKS! Otis rebounds, but Gable avoids the splash! Otis is down and Gable goes up! Gable aims to DIVING HEADBUTT but it FLOPS as Otis moves! Both men are down and everyone else coaches them up. The fans rally for Otis and he stirs. Otis rises up, but so does Gable. Gable runs for it, but Otis keeps him in the ring! Otis TOSSES Gable across the away, CLOBBERS him, then CLOBBERS him again! Otis shoves Gable to a corner for an ELBOW! Then the TURNAROUND LARIAT! Gable sputters and Otis powers up! The fans fire up as Otis runs, BATTERING RAM HEADBUTT!

The fans fire up while Gable grabs ropes. Otis backs up to get the CATERPILLAR going! ELBOW DROP! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Gable survives by a literal foot, but Tozawa says the Creeds had something to do with it! The Creeds mug Tozawa and SLAM him! So Otis goes out to POST Julius, and he TOSSES Brutus! Then he TOSSES Julius! Maxxine says good work, but then she TACKLES Ivy! The fans fire up with Maxxine while Otis goes back to the ring. But Gable dropkicks legs out! Gable has the ANKLE LOCK!! Otis endures, reaches out, but Gable leans on that leg! The fans rally as hard as they can, and Otis turns over!

Otis BOOTS Gable, but Gable holds on! Gable rolls and has the ANKLE LOCK even tighter! Otis fights around, turns over again, and he BOOTS Gable outta the ring! The fans rally but the Creeds return! Otis TOSSES Julius, SLAPS Brutus, and then he TOSSES Brutus! The fans fire up as Otis SPLASHES the Creeds int he corner! Then he catches Gable, EXPLODER into the Creeds! The fans are thunderous as Otis tears the shirt! Otis catches Gable again, scoop and SLAM, then an ANKLE LOCK!! Otis uses that against Gable and the fans are loving it! Gable flails, reaches out, but rolls over! Gable kicks and kicks and SLAPS and SLAPS!

Otis roars at Gable, then turns him right back over! ANKLE LOCK!! Gable rolls to HOTSHOT Otis! And then GERMAN SUPLEX?!? The fans can’t believe it, but Gable has Otis down! Gable climbs a corner, takes aim again, but Otis rises! Gable still leaps, but into the WRECKER ELBOW!! Otis roars and the fans are loving it, but Ivy anchors Otis’s foot! Well, not really as Otis steps in and drags Ivy along! Ivy apologizes, scurries away, but Gable trips Otis! ANKLE LOCK!! Otis is caught in the GRAPEVINE!! Otis crawls, and he drags Gable along with him! But that’s still a long way to the ropes! Otis TAPS, Gable wins!

Winner: Chad Gable, by submission

Team American Made celebrates with their leader, that was truly a team effort to take down Otis. But with numbers and tactics like that, will nothing stop Gable from making 2025 American Made?

We hear from both Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan.

“2024 was supposed to be Mami’s Year. After a year long reign, I walked into and I walked out of WrestleMania as your Women’s World Champion. But I took my eyes off the ball and I have paid for it ever since. So as we approach the New Year, one thing has become perfectly clear to me. After all the betrayal, after all the backstabbing, after all the games, Liv Morgan… This hast to end!” Liv laughs as she says 2024 “was the year of the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour. Everything you did to me, Rhea, I did right back to you, only better. You took my arm? So I took yours. Then I took your Women’s World Championship, your place in Judgment Day, and your man, my Dirty Dom.

“I’ve been having so much fun that it makes me sad to say, but this has to end.” Rhea says part of her actually has to thank Liv. Liv cleared the dead weight holding Rhea down. So now to return the favor and unburden Liv of the title. RHEA’s title, the one thing she never truly lost. Liv has always been step ahead. Every time Rhea had Liv cornered, it wasn’t Mami on top, ti was Liv. It won’t be different. Except Liv is outta moves! Judgment Day can’t save her, Raquel can’t save her, pathetic little Dom can’t save her! Monday Night Raw on Netflix, this has to end!

Judgment Day meets in the clubhouse.

JD McDonagh, Carlito & Dominik talk about Liv’s plan for Rhea. Dom says Liv always has a plan. Don’t you dare doubt his girl. Speaking of, Raquel walks in. Dom asks Raquel if Liv has something up her sleeve. Raquel doesn’t know! She’s been so busy preparing that they haven’t talked. Finn Balor says surely “Lady Liv” knows how to deal with Rhea. Because Liv has got a plan for everything, right? Just like Finn does for how to deal with The War Raiders & Damian Priest! Carlito says that’s cool! Yeah it is! And y’know what else is cool? When you listen to Finn, you win! Raquel rolls her eyes, but JD is fired up!

JD, Carlito & Dom head out, ready for Finn’s plan. But Finn has Raquel hang back. She needs to tell Liv from Finn, that from the bottom of his heart, he wishes her the very best of luck next Monday. Finn leaves, but will the Judgment Day even survive the New Year?

Pete Dunne VS R-Truth!

The Bruiserweight has had all he can stand and he can’t stands no more! No more butching and moaning, no more “Life’s a Butch!” Dunne wants to be DONE with that name and the goofy antics of one Ron “R-Truth” Killings! Will this be the end of all this Butch crap?

OH NO, Dunne doesn’t even wait for his entrance, he attacks during Truth’s! The fans boo as Dunne pulls a Butch move! Dunne stomps away, throws down hammer fists, and this has refs and producers rush out here. They pull Dunne off Truth, and Dunne says he is nobody’s Butch! NOBODY’S! The fans boo more but the refs have Dunne back off. So is this match not even happening tonight?

Backstage interview with Damage CTRL.

Cathy Kelley finds Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai preparing backstage for their tournament matches, it is a BIG night for them. Bittersweet, though, with Kairi Sane being taken out and Iyo replacing her. Have either of them considered the possibility of DMG CTRL VS DMG CTRL in the finals? Dakota says when it comes to PFC attacking Kairi, it shows how worried they were in taking on DMG CTRL. That’s why they resort to dirty tactics. That is why Dakota cannot wait to take Zoey Stark outta this tournament personally! As for those finals, it would be an honor to face Iyo. But as long as a member of DMG CTRL is the first-ever Women’s Intercontinental Champion, that’s all that matters.

Iyo says yes, if it is her and Dakota int he finals, that’d be so great. She faces Lyra Valkyria, who she’s already faced in some high profile matches. How does she feel about her chances tonight? Iyo says Lyla has her respect. One day, Lyra will be a champion, just not tonight. Tonight belongs to DMG CTRL! They high-five and fist bump! The Evil Genius & #CobraKai are ready, will one, both or neither of them make it to the finals?

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Semifinal: Dakota Kai VS Zoey Stark!

Well first up, Dakota looks to make good on that promise! Will Captain Kick kick Zoey to the curb? Or will it be a no scope Z360 that punches Zoey’s ticket to the finals?

The bell rings and the two run up! Dakota BOOTS Zoey down, CLUBS away on her, and puts her in a corner, Dakota whips corner to corner but Zoey reverses, then RAMS into Dakota! Zoey RAMS, whips, but Dakota reverses. Dakota runs up again, MONKEY FLIPS, but Zoey lands out of it! Zoey brushes herself off, but Dakota LAIRATS! Zoey gets up but Dakota runs to slide and trip her! Then she spins Zoey to BOOT her! Dakota hops up onto the apron, but Zoey fights off the suplex! HEEL KICK, then a waistlock! Dakota fights the suplex and throws elbows! Zoey kicks low, fireman’s carries, but Dakota fights free!

Dakota GAMANGIRIS from inside the ring, then she runs side to side! But Zoey springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK! Down goes Dakota and Zoey says that title is HERS! The fans boo but Raw goes picture in picture.

Zoey paces around while Dakota crawls, but then she goes out to AX HANDLE her down! Zoey drags Dakota up, smacks her off the apron, then brings her around to show her the belt. Zoey again says that’s hers, then THROWS Dakota down! Zoey refreshes the ring count, pushes Dakota into the ring, but Dakota fires forearms! Zoey YANKS Dakota into ropes, then stands on her! The ref counts while Zoey CHOKES Dakota, but Zoey lets off at 4. Dakota sputters to a corner but Zoey whips her corner to corner hard! Dakota falls, but Zoey storms over to stand on her some more! The ref counts but Zoey steps off at 4.

Zoey drags Dakota up, reels her in, and suplexes, but Dakota cradle counters! TWO! Zoey escapes, then LARIATS Dakota down! Cover, TWO! Dakota stays in this and Zoey is annoyed. Zoey clamps on with a cravat and neck wrench. Zoey talks trash that she’s winning that title, but Dakota endures. Dakota fights up, fires body shots, but Zoey throws her down! Zoey then sits Dakota up and clamps on with a chinlock. Dakota endures, even as Zoey leans on the hold. Zoey talks trash to Houston, then grinds Dakota to the mat. Zoey shifts to grab an arm, and she drops knees on it! Dakota clutches the wrist but Zoey clamps on another chinlock.

Dakota endures again while Zoey leans on her. Dakota fights up, pries the hold open, but Zoey clamps it back on! Raw returns to single picture as Zoey throws Dakota down again! The fans boo but Zoey stalks Dakota. Zoey scuffs Dakota, talks trash on her, then stands Dakota up. Zoey winds up but Dakota counter punches! And again! And again! Dakota fires a flurry of forearms, but Zoey shoves back! Dakota ducks ‘n’ dodges to LARIAT! And LARIAT! Dakota blocks a kick, THROWS Zoey down, then she runs to KAI-ROPRACTOR! Zoey flounders away to a corner but Dakota goes Around the World! KAI KICK!

Dakota runs side to side, BOOT WASH! Cover, TWO!! Zoey survives that onslaught but Dakota won’t let off! Dakota fireman’s carries, but Zoey fights free! Zoey half nelsons, HALF ‘N’ HALF PLEX! Then a kip up and KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Dakota survives and Zoey is furious! Zoey hauls Dakota up, reels her in, and lifts, but Dakota pops free to a SUNSET BOMB! Cover, TWO?!? Zoey escapes by nanoseconds and Houston can’t believe it! Dakota reaches out, stands up, but Zoey fireman’s carries! ROLLING DEATH VALLEY, then a SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!! Zoey is furious again but she rains down fists!

The fans rally for Dakota but Zoey roars. The fans boo Zoey but she whips Dakota. Dakota reverses to put Zoey in the ropes! But Zoey avoids the stomp to bump Dakota off buckles! Springboards, but into a THRUST KICK! Zoey staggers, Dakota reels her into the fireman’s carry! DETONATION KICK!! Cover, DAKOTA WINS!

Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

And with that, we’re halfway to the finals! #CobraKai is set, but will Iyo Sky make it through to join her? Or will The Morrigan be the one battling for gold?

Six Man Tag: Damian Priest & The War Raiders VS Judgment Day!

The grudge that never ends seems to now escalate! The Punisher joins Erik & Ivar against their common enemies, ready to show Finn Balor, JD McDonagh & Carlito how to fight with honor! Will the war finally end here? And who will be standing tall when the smoke clears?

Raw returns as #TeamHonor makes their entrance. The teams sort out and Finn starts against Priest. The fans rally as the two circle, feel things out, but then Priest’s Spidey Senses tingle! He turns around and BLASTS Dom, right as Dom stepped into the ring! Finn goes after Priest, but Priest TOSSES Finn to a corner! Priest swings, Finn dodges, tag to JD! JD runs up but Priest BOOTS him! Priest snarls at Finn, then he TOSSES JD to the corner! Priest ROCKS JD, tags Erik, and Priest feeds JD to Erik’s forearm! Erik deadlifts JD, but JD elbows free! JD runs, Erik blows past him, then catches JD for an UREANGE!

Dom gets back in but Erik scoops and SLAMS him! Finn runs in, Erik scoops and SLAMS Finn! Tag to Ivar, and Erik scoops JD to SLAM him again! Then they say “UP!” Erik scoops and SLAMS Ivar onto JD! The fans fire up while JD sputters. Ivar stalks JD, puts him in a corner, and Ivar fires body shots! Ivar UPPERCUTS JD, backs off, and he tags Erik back in. They whip JD for a KNEE, then Erik ROCKS JD with a forearm! JD goes to a corner and Erik fires off! The ref counts, Erik whips corner to corner hard and JD falls back! JD sputters, Erik tags Ivar, and then Ivar tags Erik back in. JD is sent into the POP-UP, but Finn drags JD to safety!

The fans boo, but then the War Raiders BLAST Finn & JD off the apron! JD & Finn hit the desk, the fans fire up, and Raw goes picture in picture.

Finn & JD sputter and slump down, Dom & Carlito check them. Carlito tells the ref to back Erik up, but Erik goes out to fetch JD. Erik glares at Carlito to back him up, but then he has to ELBOW Dom away. JD runs up, Erik RAMS into him, but Finn YANKS Erik down! Erik hits the apron and wobbles before falling over. Finn seethes, Dom tags in, and Dom hurries after Erik. Dom puts Erik in, hurries to stomp away on him, then drags Erik up for some Latino Heat. Dom snap suplexes for Uno Amigo! Then Dos Amigos! Then some more Latino Heat before Erik blocks Three Amigos! Dom CLUBS Erik, then RAMS him into the corner!

Tag to Finn and the Judgment Day mugs Erik. Finn tags JD, they mug Erik some more, then snapmare and tag to Finn. Slingshot STOMP! Finn tags Dom, slingshot SENTON! Tag to JD, and he slingshot ARABIAN PRESS SAULTS! Cover, TWO! JD is annoyed but he tags Finn back in. They mug Erik, put him in the corner, then stomp away! The ref reprimands, Raw returns to single picture. but Finn RAMS into Erik again and again. Finn ROCKS Erik, but Erik ROKS Finn! Erik ELBOWS Dom, BLASTS JD, then ROCKS Finn again and again! Finn dodges to ELBOW DROP DDT! Priest storms in but Finns tares him down.

The ref has Priest go back to his corner, and Finn clamps on a chinlock. Erik endures, the fans rally up, but Finn holds on tight. Erik fights to his feet, powers Finn back, but Finn throws a knee! Finn then sucker punches Priest! The fans boo and Priest scowls, but then Finn DROPKICKS Priest down! Erik RAMS Finn into the corner, hot tag to Ivar! Ivar BACKDROPS JD, BLASTS Dom, then scoops Finn for a SIDEWALK SLAM! Ivar runs, SPLASH DOWN! The fans fire up while Finn goes to a corner. Ivar runs up, Finn dodges, but Ivar hits a SEATED SENTON! Ivar cartwheels to dodge JD, and he HEEL KICKS JD down!

The fans fire up with Ivar, “WAR! WAR! WAR!” Ivar goes corner to corner, but Finn avoids the Bronco Buster! Ivar bounces off the ropes, the fans claim Carlito had something to do with it! Ivar and Finn crawl, but then Finn anchors Ivar’s leg! Ivar hops up on one leg, and hot tags Priest! Finn tags out to Dom! So Priest THRWOS Dom, DECKS him, then he DECKS JD! Priest DECKS Dom, FLAPJACKS JD, then FLATLINERS Dom! The fans fire up for Priest as he ELBOWS Dom in a corner, keeps moving, and LEPIANG LARIATS! Priest BLASTS Finn off the apron, and the fans fire up! Priest powers up his arm and he waits on Dom.

Dom stands, Priest runs, LARIAT! Priest then clamps on a choke grip, but Carlito gets on the apron! priest storms up but Carlito runs away! Dom CHOP BLOCKS Priest! Erik BLASTS Carlito, the apple bits go flying! JD PENALTY KICKS Erik! Then he ASAI MOONSAULTS! Down goes Erik, but Ivar SPLASHES JD against the barriers! Priest kicks Dom, reels him in, and Canadian Rack! RAZOR’S- RANA! Dom puts Priest on the ropes then dials it up! But Priest is up for a SWINGING SOUTH OF HEAVEN!!! Cover, Priest & Raiders win!

Winners: Damian Priest & The War Raiders, by pinfall

But then Finn attacks Priest while he celebrates! The fans boo as Finn stomps away, and Carlito drags Priest onto ropes! Finn HIP DROPS the knee again and again and again! Carlito keeps Priest anchored, but the Raiders run back in! Finn & Judgment Day regroup to retreat, but did Finn do enough damage to Priest’s leg? Or has he only put fuel on the fire that is Priest’s hate for him?

Adam Pearce finds Jey Uso backstage.

The Raw General Manager knows Jey is after McIntyre, but it won’t happen tonight. Pearce already escorted McIntyre out of the building. But Jey wants the fight, right? Then next week, Raw on Netflix, Jey VS Drew 1v1. Jey says YEET, and Pearce gives the bounce. Will things finally come to a head between Main Event Jey and the Scottish Terminator?

A zero, a pentagram, and now…

A ninja star with a skull smile. Does Raw have room for zero fear?

Ludwig Kaiser is in the ring.

Raw returns as The Impeccable German has the mic to say, “Ladiiiies and gentlemeeeen… I demand all your gratituuude…! For Ludwig Kaiser! That’s right. I know it! Each and every one of you peasants know it! The entire WWE Universe knows that Ludwig Kaiser belongs at the absolute top of the food chain in the WWE! Because Ludwig Kaiser is A+ everything! Ludwig Kaiser IS European Elegance! And Ludwig Kaiser demands that Bron Breakker walks down that aisle, brings that Intercontinental Championship-” Wait, that’s not Bron. That’s SHEAMUS! And the Fella goes right to the ring to fight Kaiser!

The fans fire up as these two brawl, and Sheamus CLOBBERS Kaiser! Sheamus rains down more fists, then he throws off the jacket! Houston fires up as Sheamus CLAWS at Kaiser’s face! Kaiser CLAWS at Sheamus’ face! And then he hits the bad ribs! But Sheamus hits Kaiser with a KNEECAPPER! The fans fire up as Sheamus goes to a corner, beats his chest, and takes aim. BROGUE!! Kaiser goes down and the fans fire up with The Celtic Warrior! Will Sheamus make sure he and Kaiser settle things once and for all?

The LWO talks with the Alpha Academy.

Rey Mysterio tells Otis that it takes a lot of huevos to stand up to a former mentor like he did. Otis will get another chance, and we all know Otis will whoop Gable’s ass. Otis nods and heads out. But in walk The New Day to mockingly applaud. Rey Mysterio, locker room leader, giving advice. A shoulder to cry on, is that it? Rey says this isn’t happening here, not like this. Kofi & Woods should just back off and take that BS somewhere else. Wow, BS? Or what? The LWO will jump them? Is that what a locker room leader would do? What’s he gonna do? Rey will teach them some manners!

Part of being a leader is stepping up and shutting up the egos that need to be checked. If New Day is feeling froggy and wanna jump, then Rey and team will step up to give them a match. Oh, a match, huh? Well, alright, Rey will be in it, but what? He’s gonna choose one of his “cosplaying cronies” here? We’ve got Mask Guy, Hat Guy, No Hat Guy, or maybe even this little kid with the 12 inch boots on. Zelina says they best shut up. Woods says fine, challenge accepted. See you soon. Hasta luego. The LWO is not liking the New Day’s new attitude, will the King of Lucha Libre shut them up no matter who he teams with?

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Semifinal: Lyra Valkyria VS Iyo Sky!

The Morrigan and Evil Genius met in the Queen of the Ring Tournament just earlier this year, and it was on that night that Lyra advanced to the tournament finals. Will she make history repeat itself before the year is over? Or will Iyo redeem herself from all her near misses to have one more big moment?

Raw returns and Lyra makes her entrance. The bell rings and the fans rally as these two circle. They feel things out, tie up, and go around. Lyra wrenches and wrangles Iyo, drops an elbow on the arm, then double wristlocks. Iyo fights up, Lyra hits a headlock takeover but Iyo headscissors. Lyra kips free, Iyo turns things around with her own headlock takeover, but now Lyra headscissors. Iyo rolls free, the fans duel, but Lyra trips Iyo to a cover. ONE, Iyo trips Lyra to a cover, ONE! Iyo kicks low, wrenches and whips, but Lyra stops from hitting buckles,. Lyra then goes up and over, but Iyo avoids a leg sweep and a heel kick!

Lyra avoids Iyo’s handspring, then victory rolls, TWO! Iyo rolls but Lyra sits on the cover, TWO!! Iyo sunset flips, Lyra rolls out and stands Iyo up to headlock! The fans fire up for this exchange while Iyo powers up and out. We get a shot of Dakota watching from the skybox, Lyra avoids the hurdle to dropkick the legs out! Iyo clutches her knee, but Lyra stomps that leg. Lyra then hooks Iyo up in a Mexican Surfboard! Dakota is worried while Iyo endures being swung around! Lyra drops Iyo, hooks the legs up, and then she STMOPS the knees! Iyo scrambles out of the ring but Lyra builds speed! Lyra WRECKS Iyo with a dropkick!

The fans are torn while Lyra hops down to fetch Iyo. Lyra puts Iyo in the ring, stands her up, but Iyo fights the lift! Iyo CLUBS Lyra, goes to a corner, but Lyra runs up. Iyo BOOTS Lyra, goes up the corner, but Lyra stops her! SUPER DRAGON SCREW! Lyra clearly has a game plan, and she drops an elbow on the knee! Iyo endures while Raw goes picture in picture.

Lyra YANKS Iyo’s leg, and Iyo scrambles away to ropes. Lyra drags her from the ropes, and she YANKS the leg again! Iyo hobbles, but Lyra stalks her. Lyra fireman’s carries, but Iyo fights with elbows! Iyo is free but Lyra trips her! Lyra has the toehold, but Iyo fights back with a chinlock! Lyra fights that off but Iyo clamps on again. Lyra pulls on the leg, Iyo lets go, but then Iyo BOOTS Lyra away. Iyo rolls Lyra up, TWO! Lyra stands to LARIAT! Lyra covers, TWO! Lyra keeps on Iyo but Iyo fires body shots! Iyo hits a headlock takeover, but Lyra rolls through to get a leg! HALF CRAB, almost a half Liontamer!

Lyra adds on to her innovation by twisting Iyo’s foot! Lyra then stomps the bad leg, but Iyo grabs Lyra’s other leg! Lyra kicks free, rolls Iyo to her feet, and then reels her in for a SHIN BREAKER! Iyo hobbles and falls, but Lyra kicks at her. Iyo kicks and CHOPS in return! Then Iyo hobbles up to ROCK Lyra! Iyo fires forearms even on her knees, and she gets the edge on Lyra! Iyo kicks, but Lyra blocks and reels Iyo in! LEG TRAP GER- NO, Iyo fights free! Lyra BOOTS Iyo, runs, but DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! The ref checks both women, they’re okay to continue, and they each crawl away to a corner.

Raw returns to single picture as the fans duel. Lyra and Iyo catch their breath, Dakota coaches Iyo from afar, and the tow run up! Iyo dodges to SHOTEI! SHOTEI! And then DROPKICK! Lyra staggers to a corner, Iyo runs up, ELBOW! Iyo then pushes Lyra down, fires up, and the fans are with her! Iyo climbs the corner, and she MISSILE DROPKICKS Lyra down! Cover, TWO! Lyra stays in this but Iyo shakes out the bad leg. Iyo drags Lyra around, steps on her, and goes to the corner. Iyo goes up, up, but Lyra CLUBS her first! The fans duel as Lyra climbs, and Lyra CLUBS away on Iyo more. Lyra fireman’s carries, but Iyo shifts! SUPER SUNSET FLIP-

NO, Lyra backflips free to then SHOTGUN Iyo down! The fans fire up as Lyra hauls Iyo up, TORNADO DDT! Then a FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Iyo survives and Lyra is beside herself! Dakota is also worried but the fans rally up for Iyo. Lyra fireman’s carries, but Iyo fights free again! Iyo waistlocks, O’Conner Rolls and deadlifts for CHAOS THEORY! Bridging cover, TWO!! Lyra escapes and the fans can’t believe it! Iyo is beside herself, but she drags Lyra back up. Iyo reels Lyra in, underhooks, but the bad leg won’t let her lift! Lyra wrenches out to HEEL KICK! And then she reels Iyo in, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Cover, TWO!!

The fans fire up while Iyo survives again! Lyra rises, she drags Iyo to a drop zone, and she goes up the corner. But Iyo hurries to get closer! Iyo SHOTEIS from below! Iyo climbs, “This is Awesome!” as Iyo SHOTEIS again! Iyo stands on the corner, then SUPER VICTORY ROLLS!! Cover, TWO!!! Lyra escapes and shocks everyone! Iyo hurries to shake off the shock and she goes to the apron. Lyra is outside, Iyo climbs the corner! ARIHARA MOONSAULT!! Direct hit and Iyo hurries to put Lyra in! Iyo fires herself up, the fans are with her! All aboard the SHINKANSEN! And then Lyra is in the drop zone! Iyo steps on Lyra to go up!

OVER THE MOONSAULT!! But Lyra moves! Iyo lands, her leg jams, but she still waistlocks. Lyra switches Iyo switches, repeat! Iyo O’Conner Rolls, TWO, and Lyra has a BRIDGE! LYRA WINS!!

Winner: Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

So close and yet so far again for Iyo Sky, and now Lyra is moving on to the finals! In two weeks, in San Jose, we will see Lyra and Dakota battle to be THE Women’s Intercontinental Champion! Who will be hungry enough to tear down the other in the New Year?

Seth Rollins is here!

The Visionary heads to the ring, ready for one last face-to-face with CM Punk before their main event match next week! Will things stay civil this close to Raw on Netflix? Or will they #BurnItDown on the last episode of Raw’s USA Network run?

Raw returns, and while fans sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~,” Rollins gets the mic to tell Houston, “Welcome to Monday Night Rollins! I am your host, I am a Visionary, I am a Revolutionary, I AM!” “SETH! FREAKIN’! ROLLINS!” And yes, this is the last episode of Raw for 2024! Last episode of Raw on USA Network! So why not go out with a bang?! The fans like the sound of that! Rollins says just one week from tonight, the biggest fight in this sport, ten YEARSE in the making! The Voice of the Voiceless VS The Visionary! The Second City Saint VS The Monday Night Messiah! Self-proclaimed Best int he World VS THE REAL Best tin the World! CM PUNK 1V1 WITH SETH ROLLINS!!

But here’s the deal. After next week, you know where you’ll find Rollins. He’ll be on Monday night, the Monday after that and the Monday after that, fighting in this ring because that’s what he does! But if things go CM Punk, we can’t say the same. What’s he gonna do? Cry about it? Whine about it? Take another ten years off, pick up his ball, go home… But wait, here comes Punk! Houston fires up as Punk goes right to the ring, and Punk stares Rollins down while he has a mic of his own. “Took his ball and went home? The most industry plant, cliche, bootlicker line I’ve ever heard in my entire life!

“What paragon of virtue did you get that from, huh? Who originally said that, that wanted to turn the people against the boys when he got told ‘No,’ or he got told, ‘You’re wrong!’ Did Stone Cold Steve Austin take his ball and go home? You know, I haven’t seen The Man around these parts in some time. Did she take her ball and go home, too? Or is it just me, Seth?” Rollins wants to tell these people that Punk turned his back on them? He wants to tell 15 THOUSAND in Houston that Punk abandoned them?! Or in reality, does Rollins wanna cry because Punk abandoned him?

Punk got sick and tired of WWE, he left, but Rollins stayed, and Rollins hated it. They both made their choices, they both chose their paths. Punk has NO regrets! NONE! Let’s not talk about the last ten years, let’s talk the last ten MONTHS! How is Rollins’ neck? Or how about the knee? Or the inside? We saw Bronson Reed hit SIX Tsunamis! How is Rollins’ pride feeling? Because Rollins didn’t get a modicum of revenge on Bronson but we all saw Punk take him on in WarGames! Self-proclaimed best in the world? Yeah, because Punk believes in himself! Self-professed martyr? DAMN RIGHT!

Punk came back, he didn’t wanna make friends, he wanted money. And oh does he get to make a boatload of money when he puts “little brother” Rollins in his place! Rollins laughs but says cut the crap, that doesn’t work anymore. The difference between Punk and everyone else who left here is, those other people actually left! Becky’s raising a kid, not that Punk knows what that’s like. Stone Cold said that it was the biggest mistake he ever made. Austin understands about change. Punk left, he wanted WWE to DIE with the echoes of those chants. Punk went on his friend’s podcast trying to tear this place down.

When that didn’t work, Punk tried everything he could to kill WWE, and he still couldn’t do it! But then Punk took “a big chunk of change” to go help the competition, how’d that work out for him? If you know you know… Punk wants to call Rollins a martyr? Nah, Rollins never felt bad, felt ashamed, he fought and stayed, because that is how revolutions are made! They’re made in the trenches! Not by cowards who abandoned their families! Rollins and WWE won the war, but now Punk wants to wave the flag with them? Punk can’t “big brother” Rollins now, ROLLINS is the big brother!

So yeah, Punk will take another ten years off. But it won’t be because Punk chooses to, it’ll be because Rollins makes him! Punk says, “You can recognize the pioneers because of the arrows in their backs. I was the first one through the wall and I got bloodied for it. You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me! I loved the place I worked, I just hated the guy in charged, and he loved you! And in situations where you should’ve had my back, all you did was shoot arrows in it.” Punk leaves, lo and behold, Rollins shows his true colors! He stabs Roman Reigns in the back, dresses like an idiot, and plays a victim in a situation that he created!

“Those arrows kill weak people. The greats, above all odds, find a way to march forward. And I left because I had to. And I got far enough away until those arrows couldn’t reach me. And after a few years, I started to be able to pull ’em out. And after a few more years, I pulled ’em all out. And I came back because for SEVEN YEARS, they chanted, mostly during your television time, MY NAME.” The fans chant “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Punk says he should be dead, but he isn’t, and aren’t the arrow throwers mad? Next week, those same arrows that were supposed to do Punk in, he carries them with him.

And in LA, Netflix, live and in living color, a fistful of arrows, Punk jams them down Rollins’ corporate throat! The fans are torn, but we get plenty of “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” chants. Rollins says he never said this to Punk’s face, but maybe once upon a time, Punk was a pioneer. What he has become is a cancer. Punk is a cancer to the locker room, in Rollins’ brain, and to this business. Cancer does not cure itself. The only way to defeat it is to cut it OUT! So in one week, Punk can bring that fist full of arrows, while Rollins brings his eyes of fire and heart full of rage to BURN PUNK TO THE GROUND!!

The fans are all fired up as the mics are dropped! The final stare down has tension on another level! Who survives this main event grudge match when Netflix gets Raw?

My Thoughts:

A great Raw, though maybe not quite as epic as the final Raw of 2024 or of their 32 YEAR cable TV run (18 or so being on USA Network) would entail. I will say, this still did great as a go-home to next week’s Raw Netflix debut, which is bordering on PLE/PPV levels of stuff. I’m a little surprised we’re not getting the Women’s Intercontinental Championship match on there, given it will be three hours of a show, but maybe with the matches we’re getting, they just want there to be room for those and not rush anything. That said, great matches for the semifinals, especially Lyra VS Iyo. Dakota winning over Zoey was the right call, but I’m very surprised Iyo didn’t win her match.

At the same time, DMG CTRL VS DMG CTRL probably wasn’t how this was going, even when Kairi was healthy. Dakota and Lyra are both examples of superstars who have been doing great work for a long who deserve something. Granted, Dakota’s been in the WWE for longer, so perhaps she’ll be the one to win the title. Very good promo from Rhea and Liv to top off the build to their match, which I am sure will be the end of this one way or another. And it was also used as a good lead into the Judgment Day promo. The passive aggressive tension continues, and just in time for a new theme song that’ll probably be for whatever half of the team joins Finn.

Speaking of teams, very good Six Man Tag but not much too it, other than that great swing into the choke slam. Great win for the Faces but of course Finn goes after Priest. Finn VS Priest 1v1 once and for all needs to happen, and with this talk of “Transfer Window,” they really could/should go with Loser Leaves Raw. As such, Finn can find a way to win so that Priest is sent to SmackDown so that they both get fresh starts. Very good bit from Dunne and Truth in that they don’t even have a match, Dunne just beats Truth up. Maybe they sneak this onto the Netflix debut, or at least go with the San Jose Raw, so that Dunne and Truth can have a proper match.

Great stuff with Gable VS Otis, but naturally, with the numbers in Gable’s advantage, the outside interference tips things in his favor and he wins. Depending on what midcard titles end up where, I feel like this should lead to Gable getting his shot at the Intercontinental Championship, and we could get a great match out of Gable and Breakker. Kaiser sure thinks he’s getting another shot at Bron, but of course Sheamus goes out there instead. That feud is apparently never-ending in its own right, but they could also make use of the Transfer Window to put Sheamus wherever the Intercontinental Championship is, and Kaiser on the other brand.

Great stuff with New Day tonight, mostly because they again just let the fans hurl boos and chants at them. Jey confronting them was great, and it was a great segue to McIntyre going after Jey for their feud. They’ll have an awesome match next week, too, and it could go either way, really. Great bit with New Day and LWO, too, and New Day VS Rey & Lee is surely the combo we’re getting. That’ll be a great match, and hopefully it both helps New Day rise back towards the titles and helps Dragon Lee get going again. That latter part is something I thought they were doing to do by now, but I guess not.

And of course, an excellent closer with Rollins and Punk having their final promo before their match. Great use of continuity, making subtle yet still pretty clear references to ROH, AEW, Vince McMahon, HHH, The Pipebomb, and everything both men have done the past decade or more. They made this match the main event because it certainly will be the best match of the night, even with it being under standard 1v1 rules, and while I’m leaning towards Punk winning, that’s like a 51-49 split at best. Punk brought up the Road to WrestleMania weeks ago, so between the Royal Rumble AND Elimination Chamber, there are still ways for one of these two men to become World Heavyweight Champion before WrestleMania and the other to become the challenger to then escalate things.

My Score: 8.9/10