Tag: Ivar

WWE Raw results 04/15/24: Rhea vacates, Sami retains, Gable snaps

Sami Zayn won in front of his hometown fans on WWE Raw in Montreal, but Chad Gable wasn’t willing to let his defeat go.

Nothing makes an otherwise ordinary start to a week in pro wrestling turn sober faster than unexpected injury news, and that unfortunately is the case for tonight’s episode of WWE Raw in Montreal.

Earlier today, a report from PWInsider emerged that Rhea Ripley had been injured during her backstage brawl segment with Liv Morgan last week. Other outlets like Fightful have since confirmed that Ripley is indeed injured, but what isn’t clear is whether she will have to vacate her Women’s World Championship.

If she does, that heavily suggests she’ll be out of action for an extended period of time. If not, she might be back sooner than feared. But either way, since Ripley was promoted to be on tonight’s show to address Morgan’s attack, the expectation is that Liv will be blamed (or credited, if you’re on her side) with putting Ripley on the shelf for storyline purposes.

It’s an unfortunate situation, to be sure, and yet it could work out for the best in the long run. Morgan seems like more of a badass for being able to step to Mami like that — while in real life, her heart surely goes out to Ripley given her own bad luck with injuries — and Rhea will be just as over when she returns.

The other big thing to watch tonight is the Intercontinental Championship match between new champ Sami Zayn and the man who trained him to help win it, Chad Gable. The thought is that Gable will play it straight and fall short tonight, leading to him snapping and turning heel for an extended program with Zayn that probably leads to a title rematch at Backlash.

Finding out is why we watch. We’ll be doing that, so follow along with us if you will.

WWE Raw results from Montreal:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Various stars are shown entering the arena, including Sami Zayn, Damian Priest, Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso
  • Rhea Ripley has her arm in a sling and gives the fans the news they’ve dreaded: She’ll have to say goodbye to her Women’s World Championship as she spends months recuperating from injury
  • Ripley gets a group hug from The Judgment Day and some words of encouragement from Damian Priest, then tells them to keep the group on top and look after Dominik Mysterio
  • Sheamus def. Ivar by pinfall
  • A lengthy hype video plays up Sami Zayn’s Intercontinental Championship victory at WrestleMania and his title defense tonight
  • Triple H is in the house to present Awesome Truth with their new World Tag Team Championship belts
  • #DIY def. The Creed Brothers and The New Day to become No. 1 contenders for the World Tag Team Championship
  • Jackie Redmond is surprised that Drew McIntyre is laughing after watching what CM Punk did to him last week, but that smile goes away fast and the Scottish Warrior takes his wrath out on a TV monitor
  • Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell def. Ivy Nile and Maxxine Dupri by pinfall, with Hartwell showing the first signs of following the rule-breaking path LeRae has been trying to get her to take
  • A lengthy hype video plays to promote Priest; afterward, he psyches up the team and trues to motivate both Dominik and Finn Balor, who is questioning his match with Jey Uso tonight but ends up smiling
  • Redmond talks to Chad Gable, who runs down his experience with hostile crowds and says he won’t be intimidated by Zayn’s hometown advantage tonight
  • Andrade def. Dominik Mysterio by pinfall; after the match. JD McDonagh helps Dom with a two-on-one beating until Ricochet comes to even the odds and chase off the heels
  • Cathy Kelley asks Jey Uso about Tama Tonga and his attack on Jimmy Uso, and he questions adding “members we don’t even know” while also saying he needs to concentrate on Balor tonight
  • Chelsea Green and Piper Niven def. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter by pinfall
  • Kelley speaks with Morgan, who says she’s confused that people are mad at her, as no one had that reaction to Ripley when she injured Liv’s shoulder: “This is karma at it’s very finest, so Rhea got exactly what she deserved”; this also isn’t the end of the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour as she still needs to become champion again
  • And now, a word from our champion, Cody Rhodes, who reflects on WrestleMania and offers to watch Jey Uso’s back, though Jey says he needs to do things himself tonight
  • Kelley talks to Nia Jax about the Rhea situation, and as you might expect, she’s not too sympathetic and says that the title is hers
  • Jey Uso def. Finn Balor by pinfall; after the bell, Uso is assaulted by The Judgment Day but manages to escape into the stands and up the stairs toward the concourse, where he high-fives a bunch of people (and shoves one aside) …
  • … then he runs into Sami Zayn on his way to the ring, encouraging him to get it tonight as he defends his title
  • While Gable is on his way out, Bronson Reed stops him and says no matter who wins, that person will have to answer to “Big” Bronson Reed
  • Sami Zayn def. Chad Gable by pinfall to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship
  • Zayn lays his title belt down in the middle of the ring and asks Gable to meet him there, then heads to the corner instead; Zayn offers a hand to lift Gable, who initially seems to accept the show of respect, but then waits until Zayn is in front of his wife to attack the champ, battering him around ringside and the apron and wrapping an ankle lock on Sami around the top turnbuckle as Raw goes off the air

Rhea Ripley does, indeed, have to vacate her title

Though she is greeted warmly by the fans in Montreal, Ripley looks unhappy and says everyone knows what’s going on right now, yeah? She says she’s been told she’s “stuck on the bench” for months, and that she must vacate the Women’s World Championship, which gets a “bulls–t” chant going.

Rhea says the title is what means the most to her, which makes this even more painful. Ripley also delivers a warning: When she comes back, she’s coming back for blood, and when she finds Liv Morgan, they’re going to have to lock her up in a Montreal jail.

She won’t have to wait long, as a cackling Morgan comes out and a swarm of security guards emerges at the direction of Adam Pearce to keep them separated. One security guard takes some of Mami’s wrath, but that’s that.

No longer Raw champions, Awesome Truth are now World Tag Team Champions

“You guys are on fire tonight, I gotta tell you that,” the WWE CCO says to the crowd in Montreal. He says it was only a few days ago we were in the midst of the biggest WrestleMania of all time, one that gave us two sets of tag team champions.

To that end, he and Adam Pearce summon the Awesome Truth. Triple H congratulates them R-Truth and The Miz for making history, then tells Truth it was awesome to see him have his WrestleMania moment.

But to represent this brand and a new era, they need to do it in a new way. They will now be known as the World Tag Team Champions and are shown their spiffy new title belts. R-Truth thinks Triple H is a magician and suggests Little Jimmy used to be visible until a magic accident.

Much confusion on Truth’s part follows, especially about who Triple H is, but the CCO finally hits his limit and hands Awesome Truth their new title belts. Pearce then reveals there’s going to be a Triple Threat match to find them No. 1 contenders.

Cody Rhodes reflects, offers to watch Jey Uso’s back

Rhodes kicks things off by thanking Adam Pearce for letting him hang around Raw when he’s technically a SmackDown superstar. He reminds us all that at Backlash, he’ll defend his title against either LA Knight or AJ Styles, but before that, he wants to reflect a little bit.

There’s one man in particular he wants to shout out, and it’s the man who said he would be Cody’s shield, Seth “Freakin'” Rollins. Rhodes also talks about The Rock and says it was news to him that he did a 12-week training camp, stating that the Final Boss has a lot more than one more match left in him. Cody adds that The Rock is probably right about making him bleed again, but no amount of training can stop the fact that if he bleeds, The Rock will bleed with him.

One thing he’s confused about is the introduction of Tama Tonga to The Bloodline with Roman Reigns nowhere to be found. His last bit of reflection is to bring someone out to the ring, Main Event Jey Uso.

Rhodes offers to have Jey’s back for his match with Finn Balor, knowing that The Judgment Day usually rolls as a group. Jey appreciates that but says he has to do it on his own.

Cody says he totally understands and wishes Jey good luck, “until we yeet again.” Cody’s words, not mine.

Sami Zayn digs down deep to defeat Chad Gable

Sami takes some time to drink in the reaction from his hometown fans once he gets his in-ring intro from Samantha Irvin. Michael Cole says there are “many ghosts in this building” for Zayn, the biggest of which was being defeated by Roman Reigns while competing for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

The announcers discuss how Gable claims he knows all of Zayn’s weaknesses while he’s taking it to Sami on the outside. The champ’s rally includes a springboard moonsault to the floor, which gets the fans to reach another level as commercials arrive.

We return to see Zayn going for a ride courtesy of a Gable Olympic slam off the top rope, and Sami’s wife is shown with her hands over her mouth after that. Zayn takes two German suplexes before firing back with two of his own.

They trade one more German each before Zayn wins a battle of standing switches for one last suplex, this time with a release that sees Gable land a bit awkwardly on his neck.

Sami has just a tad of blood on his face as he hits an Exploder, but his Helluva Kick attempt is countered with an ankle lock. Gable tries to fly off the top but is caught and powerbombed by Zayn, who is thinking Sharpshooter but seeds his ankle give out.

Gable hits a release German suplex into the buckles, then wins a series of counters to drag Zayn back into the center of the ring for another ankle lock. Sami rolls through and nearly wins it.

Another Exploder sets up the Helluva Kick, and Zayn crawls over Gable to score the very popular pinfall.

WWE Raw results 04/01/24: The Rock, Roman Reigns rule once again

Seth Rollins had a good plan B in Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes, but it ended up not mattering on WWE Raw in Brooklyn.

We’re less than a week away from WrestleMania 40. Wild, right? You know we’re getting quite close because The Rock and Roman Reigns will on on WWE Raw tonight from Brooklyn, which isn’t something that happens every week.

OK, in fairness, The Rock has been around an awful lot as of late. He’s really jumped headfirst into this Final Boss heel run, regardless of whether it was originally in the cards or not.

Before you try to get any jokes off about Reigns, he typically isn’t even on Raw, so Monday nights aren’t really his domain. But it’s WrestleMania week, and now all bets are off.

Ah, but there might be the rub. See, last time we saw The Bloodline, the entire group minus Reigns was ruining last week’s episode of Raw for Cody Rhodes. Things got so bad for the American Nightmare that he ended up taking an extended beating from The Rock, one that was so one-sided that Rhodes could neither fight back nor object to hearing “look at you now” about 75 times.

Was that worse than being bloodied? You decide!

Seriously, though, it seems a bit unlikely that Rhodes would just let The Bloodline flaunt what they did without attempting to get some measure of revenge. Cody has sufficient backup in the form of Seth Rollins and Jey Uso, both of whom had his back last week, so … let’s just say it would be strange indeed if he didn’t show up trying to settle the score in Brooklyn.

There is indeed other stuff advertised for this show, including a Sami Zayn-Bronson Reed rematch, a women’s tag team match that will likely feature Candice LeRae acting horrible again, and The New Day teaming with #DIY against The Judgment Day. But Rock and Roman are where it’s at, and they might want to keep their guard up.

Let’s head to Barclays Center and see what’s what.

WWE Raw results from Brooklyn:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • As one might expect, the show begins with a recap of the stuff between The Rock and Cody Rhodes from last week’s episode of Raw
  • The Rock is in Brooklyn and he’s not alone, but does Seth Rollins bite off more than he can chew?
  • Footage is shown on Becky Lynch confronting Rhea Ripley on “The MMA Hour” earlier today; afterward, Cathy Kelley asks Lynch about it, and The Man says she’ll be in the ring later if Rhea wants to do something about it
  • The Judgment Day def. The New Day and #DIY by pinfall
  • The Rock says goodbye to Reigns, who is off to write his speech … because he’ll be inducting Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame Friday night
  • A classic training montage is shown of Sami Zayn training with Chad Gable and Alpha Academy to prepare him for Gunther
  • The Judgment Day gets a visit from Legado Del Fantasma, and Dom’s teammates aren’t crazy about him inviting Santos Escobar and company into their clubhouse
  • Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed ends suddenly as Gunther attacks Gable, then Sami
  • Jey Uso runs into Lil Wayne backstage, and Weezy says he’s going to premier a new single at WrestleMania
  • Ivy Nile and Maxxine Dupri def. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell by pinfall after Dupri dropkicks Hartwell into LeRae on the apron while the two are bickering (though only after Candice looks like she’s up to her dirty tricks again)
  • Jey tells Seth he has his back the same way Seth had his last week; they take a walk and talk strategy
  • A video promo by Drew McIntyre has the Scottish Warrior delivering what appears to be a eulogy for Seth Rollins’ career while also getting in some shots at CM Punk

  • Ricochet def. Ivar by pinfall, somehow hitting the big man with a fallaway slam along the way, hot damn
  • Damian Priest is upset that Ricochet hasn’t been handled yet, so JD McDonagh says he’ll take care of him during the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, and Dom says Andrade can handle it, offering him full membership if he does
  • Becky Lynch is looking for a fight, and she gets a brief one from Rhea Ripley
  • Dakota Kai and Damage CTRL say they’ll prove at WrestleMania that they are the future while also proving something in the ring tonight
  • Pearce is still struggling to get the Lynch-Ripley fracas under control backstage
  • Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai and Kabuki Warriors) def. Shayna Baszler, Tegan Nox and Zoey Stark by pinfall
  • Michael Cole and Pat McAfee run down the WrestleMania XL card; we do the same thing here
  • Kelley asks Rollins why he’d take on this match tonight so close to double duty at WrestleMania, and along with saying he only knows one speed, he says he always has a plan B; on his way to the ring, though, he runs into McIntyre, and says “I ain’t dead yet” while heading for the curtain
  • Seth Rollins vs. Solo Sikoa ends in a no contest in a Bloodline Rules match, as The Rock and Reigns end up beating the heck out of Cody and Seth to end the show

The Rock is in Brooklyn and so is Roman Reigns, but neither of them are fighting Seth Rollins tonight

The Rock is a man of his word: He told Cody Rhodes he’d make him bleed, and that’s exactly what he did. And all the Cody Crybabies didn’t like that.

Though he mocks grown adults for crying about it, there were some reactions that stopped The Rock in his tracks. Namely, little kids crying on social media. Stuff like that breaks The Rock’s heart, however … there are moments in life when a man’s gotta to what a man’s gotta do.

The Rock repeats his assertion that professional wrestling is cool again and ratings have skyrocketed because of The Rock. Finally, The Final Boss has come back to Brooklyn, which gets most of the fans chanting “Rocky.”

But he didn’t come alone, as the rest of The Bloodline arrives. Roman Reigns gets Brooklyn to acknowledge him, then talks about the motto on his hoodie: “Family Above All.” He says it’s how he’s always operated, and he came to Raw to acknowledge his family.

“No yeet,” he says to the the chorus of “Yeet” chants, threatening to leave if the fans continue. Reigns says he wants to thank his cousin for making this the easiest WrestleMania of his life. He says they’re going to smash Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the tag team match and then have their way with Cody on Sunday.

But The Rock went above and beyond, making Cody bleed. Reigns insists that Rhodes only wanted to be part of WWE once he saw it was becoming cool again, but while they allowed him to be involved, this is far enough.

We’ll never know what Reigns intended to say next, as Seth Rollins’ music hits and the World Heavyweight Champion descends from the crowd like he did in The Shield era. Rollins says he’s not stupid enough to fall into their trap in the ring, and if they want a piece of him, they’ll have to come up in the crowd and fight the whole city of Brooklyn.

Rollins says the time for talk is over and he wants a fight — and tonight, not five days from now. Specifically, he asks for the biggest main event of all time and challenges The Rock to a match tonight. Or Reigns, he doesn’t care, nor does he mind if they set a stipulation. Who’s got the balls, he wonders.

The fans chant for Rocky again, and he’s incredulous, saying Seth doesn’t want any of that. Rollins isn’t going to fight The Rock or Reigns, as you expected, but since they always have a plan, they step aside and let Solo Sikoa step up.

Sikoa says he’s fighting Rollins, and Seth agrees, but The Rock says it’s Bloodline Rules.

Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley ignore the GM, start a brief scrap

No more talking for The Man. She wants a fight with Rhea Ripley right now. But General Manager Adam Pearce isn’t about that life, saying he needs to save that for WrestleMania and respectfully asks her to leave the ring.

Ripley comes out right after that, and Pearce tries to calm her down too. Rhea tosses her title belt to Pearce, powers through some security guards and heads to the ring.

The two WrestleMania opponents scrap, breaking free from security guards until Lynch dives from the top rope onto Ripley and a bunch of the guards on the floor. They’re eventually pulled apart just by sheer numbers.

Seth Rollins can’t defeat Solo Sikoa, as Bloodline Rules turns out to be literal

Rollins hits a suicide dive as soon as the bell rings, clearly not sitting back and letting Sikoa settle in. The fans challenge the record for least time passed before chanting for tables as Sikoa is hurled into the steel steps.

Heading behind the timekeeper’s area, Rollins starts chucking chair after chair at Solo, then DDTs him on a chair as well. The rest of The Bloodline might want to check on their boy.

A big cheer erupts from the fans as Rollins goes under the ring for a table setting it up in the ring. That backfires, however, when Sikoa meets him on the top turnbuckle and treats him to an Avalanche Samoan Drop to smash through it.

After commercials, Rollins has rebounded nicely, getting out a second table. Seth looks like he might go through that one too, with Solo looking for the same move. This time, Rollins pulls off the sunset flip, powerbombing Sikoa through the table. He wants a Stomp but is attacked by Jimmy Uso, who soon has to leave to deal with the incoming Jey Uso.

Unfortunately, Jey runs into The Rock, who quickly chucks Jey into the video board. The Final Boss heads for the ring and menaces Rollins. But Seth simply smiles, because Cody Rhodes’ music hits and the American Nightmare runs to the ring.

Rhodes unleashes on The Rock, then joins Rollins in clearing off the announce table. Cody looks for a Rock Bottom but is wiped out by Roman Reigns (who came out from beneath the ring), and now it’s a proper four-man melee.

The fans chant for CM Punk, but Reigns lays out Rollins with a Superman punch and spears Rhodes. Roman yells “this is it, this is everything” at Cody, then hugs The Rock. Reigns looks at his watch and The Rock takes off Cody’s belt, lashing both Rhodes and Rollins before tossing it to Reigns to do the same.

Sikoa is then ordered to hold Rhodes in place so The Rock can lash him again. The Rock holds up Cody’s belt and Roman raises his title belt as boos rain down on them. The Rock lays into Cody one more time as the show goes off the air.

WWE Raw results 03/04/24: Drew McIntyre gets one over on Jey Uso … and Seth Rollins

The Bloodline, and especially Jimmy Uso, also found a way to screw Jey Uso over again this week on WWE Raw.

Let’s go, San Antonio. Specifically, let’s get it cranked up for WWE Raw, which features a pair of matches between bitter rivals.

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom … er, sorry, just in WWE, Drew McIntyre had a chance to defeat Roman Reigns in front of his countrymen. He failed, and Jey Uso, then a loyal member of the Bloodline, was a big reason why.

Things have changed for both men quite a bit since then. Jey has discovered his better angels and had his own title bids foiled by the Bloodline. McIntyre, meanwhile, has seen misfortune befall his foes while his own arrow has been pointing up: all the way to WrestleMania 40 and another world championship opportunity next month.

That’s emboldened him to tell the people he dislikes exactly what he thinks of them, including Uso. Some hands flew during their conversation, and more will fly tonight between them on Raw.

As for Becky Lynch, her tale is more one of the opponent she can’t get past. Nia Jax beat The Man clean on the first Raw of the year, and it’s been a defeat that hasn’t sit well with Lynch.

Can Becky overcome the one foe she’s never really been able to put down? She’ll get a chance tonight.

Let’s see what’s going down.

WWE Raw results from San Antonio:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • After we see Jey Uso and Nia Jax entering the building, a video package takes us through Cody Rhodes’ challenge to The Rock, along with the counteroffer the latter made last week on SmackDown
  • Cody Rhodes wants to make sure Seth Rollins is on the same page with him, and they pledge to answer The Rock’s challenge Friday on SmackDown
  • Dominik Mysterio def. Gunther by submission
  • Damage CTRL runs into Adam Pearce, who wants to know why the group is here, and Dakota Kai claims it’s for the tag team champs to scout Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark; Shinsuke Nakamura also wants to have a word with Pearce about the Intercontinental Championship
  • Katana Chance and Kayden Carter tell Cathy Kelley they’re determined to do whatever it takes to be back in tag team title contention
  • Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark def. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter by pinfall; after the match, Kai gets in the ring to tell the victors that they’ll get a title shot at Houston, and Baszler says they’ll see the Kabuki Warriors next week
  • The Judgment Day regroups with Mysterio, who gets a visit from Andrade while JD McDonagh seems nervous he’s being serves up to Gunther soon
  • A short hype video gets us prepared for Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax, which is up next
  • Nia Jax def. Becky Lynch by DQ thanks to an attack from Liv Morgan, who ends up squabbling with Lynch until both are beaten down by Jax
  • An irritated Ricochet is told by Pearce that he has a plan that should satisfy just about anyone looking for an IC title shot; The Judgment Day stops by as well, and McDonagh makes his pitch to face Gunther
  • Lynch and Morgan keep arguing in the back and agree to settle their differences in the ring next week; Becky also gets a brief visit from Rhea Ripley, who simply flashes her a sinister smile and walks away
  • A video package shows us how we got to this moment between Jey Uso and Drew McIntyre ahead of their match later tonight
  • Andrade def. Apollo Crews by pinfall in Andrade’s first match back in WWE
  • Pearce reveals his Intercontinental Championship contender idea: a Gauntlet match that will take place next week on Raw and feature six men: Sami Zayn, Ricochet, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bronson Reed, JD McDonagh and Chad Gable

  • Sami Zayn says the Gauntlet match is the path to WrestleMania he believed would reveal itself, but that also means it’s do or die for him; Valhalla and Ivar stop by and mock Zayn for believing he can beat Gunther, but Sami says he knows he can beat Ivar, and they agree to battle tonight
  • Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell are getting antsy about a title shot, and Natalya and Tegan Nox have even more internal issues; Maxxine Dupri and Ivy Nile stop by to offer encouragement, which only seems to tick off Candice
  • The Judgment Day (Damian Priest and Finn Balor) def. Imperium (Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser) by pinfall
  • A highlight package is shown of Paul Heyman being named to the WWE Hall of Fame as the first member of the Class of 2024
  • Drew McIntyre doesn’t think Seth Rollins listened to anything he had to say and also warns Jey Uso that while he knows Jey could use a big win, he’s not going to be able to get it tonight
  • Damage CTRL bumps into Ripley, who warns IYO SKY to stay out of her territory but simply gets a scoffing laugh in return
  • Sami Zayn def. Ivar by pinfall but gets immediately ambushed by Bronson Reed and crushed with a Tsunami
  • Gunther talks to Kelley about the Gauntlet match, and the Ring General says he is kind of flattered to have so many men competing to challenge him, though all that will get them is a chance to be outclassed at WrestleMania; Chad Gable stops by and repeats his “it just means more” mantra about why he’ll win
  • Jey Uso apologizes to McIntyre … for what he’s about to do to Drew, that is; also he now has “Yeet” sunglasses
  • The Miz finds Xavier Woods, R-Truth and #DIY playing WWE 2K24 (and R-Truth still thinks #DIY is DX) and says the way to get payback on The Judgment Day is by taking their tag team titles
  • Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre

Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins have each other’s backs, including this Friday on SmackDown

After asking what San Antonio wants to talk about, Rhodes says he’d love to discuss standing across the ring from Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. However, he really can’t talk about it because of a distraction called The Rock.

Cody is ticked at The Rock insulting the fans, but especially mocking his dog. He notes that The Rock didn’t accept his challenge for a one-on-one match, spinning things and presenting a whole different challenge like the politician that he is.

One thing Rhodes admits is that he and The Rock did have a conversation, and The Rock suggested the people wanted Rock vs. Roman at WrestleMania. Why, he wonders, did people start chanting “We want Cody” while The Rock decided to call them Cody crybabies?

Since The Rock’s new challenge also involves his friend, he calls Seth Rollins to join him in the ring. Rhodes knows Rollins has offered his assistance against the Bloodline, but he also knows Seth has his own match against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania. If he needs to focus on Drew, Cody says he’d understand.

Rollins insists he’ll take care of McIntyre, as it’s not just Cody’s story that needs to be finished at WrestleMania, it’s his story too. Seth once vowed to give the power to the people, but Reigns wants to keep it all for himself. With The Rock now in the Bloodline, Roman is this close to having absolute power.

He goes on to say he’s “kind of over The Rock,” which inspires an enthusiastic “Rocky sucks” chant. Since none of his previous nicknames fit him now, Rollins says he’s going to call The Rock “Diarrhea Dwayne.” The crowd sounds like it enjoys that suggestion.

What Seth doesn’t like is The Rock saying he made wrestling cool again, as he hasn’t been cool in 20 years. But what is cool is that Rollins has been medically cleared, so he’ll be at SmackDown Friday to confront the Bloodline.

Seth just wants to know if Cody has his back in return, and the American Dream confirms he’ll join Rollins on SmackDown Friday.

Becky Lynch learns turnabout is fair play from Liv Morgan during her match against Nia Jax

Jax says something to Lynch right as the bell rings, then charges right after her. A body slam puts Lynch down and gives the fans a chance to boo Jax.

A headbutt puts The Man on her back again, where she eats a big elbow and has to kick out at two. Lynch jumps on her foe’s back but is smashed back into the turnbuckles, where she also suffers a Stinkface.

Lynch is choked along the bottom rope, but she fights back thanks to a chop block. The Man hits at least part of a missile dropkick that sends Jax to the floor, but she’s caught coming off the apron and treated to a Samoan Drop on the floor. Ouch.

After a commercial break, Lynch is mounting a serious rally, but a Samoan Drop puts a swift end to that. Jax wants an Annihilator but finds no one home, and Lynch applies the Dis-arm-her. Jax manages to power her way out and get to the floor, where she’s attacked by Liv Morgan.

The ref calls for the bell as Liv get in Becky’s face in the ring. Their ensuing argument is interrupted by Jax, who sets about destroying them both on the outside.

Drew McIntyre wins when Jey Uso is hosed again

Get ready to Yeet. Pat McAfee certainly is, telling Michael Cole he tired himself out doing the Yeetdown during Jey’s entrance. Alas, McIntyre quickly hurls Uso over the announce table, which gets a “no yeet” from Cole as we head to commercials.

Uso has it rolling when we return, but McIntyre blasts him with a kick out of the corner and earns a near fall. Both men trade shots until McIntyre hammers him with an elbow.

The Scottish Warrior chops away in the corner, even after Jey heads up higher. Drew has a thought for White Noise, but Jey counters with a running powerbomb for an impressive two count.

Uso tries to fly but catches knees to the chest and a spinebuster, good for another near fall for McIntyre.

After commercials, Uso is trying to regroup and has McIntyre lined up in the opposite corner. There’s a hip attack that’s on the mark, and when Drew heads to the floor, Jey flies out there to ensure there’s no respite.

As the men return to the ring, Solo Sikoa crawls out of the crowd. A distracted Uso is hit by the Future Shock, and when Uso kicks out, Cody Rhodes comes down to neutralize Sikoa, brawling with Solo into the crowd.

Drew’s Claymore is countered with three superkicks and a spear. Jey goes to head up top but sees Jimmy Uso at ringside, then turns and eats a Claymore, giving McIntyre the win.

Jimmy enters the ring with a steel chair, but Rollins hustles down and kicks it into Jimmy’s face … only to fall victim to a Claymore from McIntyre. Drew yells at Seth not to “taint this title” and to do the right thing by concentrating on Raw as the show fades out for this week.

WWE Raw results 02/19/24: Uso screw job as Jimmy costs Jey IC title

The Women’s Elimination Chamber field is also set thanks to WWE Raw from Anaheim.

It could be a historic night on WWE Raw from Anaheim — but not if the Ring General has anything to say about it.

Gunther has made the Intercontinental Championship his own, holding it for more than 600 days, most of anyone in the title’s history. Wouldn’t it be ironic, then, if he lost it right as he achieved the top spot on the list?

It’s possible. Jey Uso is certainly getting a push as a singles performer, the first big one of his career. Under normal circumstances, it would be unusual for a title change this close to WrestleMania, but with the Elimination Chamber not involved with this championship, there’s certainly a chance.

Two other matches also stand out on tonight’s card. A Last Chance Battle Royal will decide the last contestant in the Women’s Elimination Chamber, and it feels like there could be a surprise or two thrown in.

And in what could be the night’s main event if the IC title match isn’t, Cody Rhodes will clash with Drew McIntyre. Rhodes already has his WrestleMania spot secured, while McIntyre has mostly been playing spoiler and feeling great about it.

We’re set for big things from Anaheim and the final live show before Elimination Chamber. Let’s see what we’ve got.

WWE Raw results from Anaheim:

(please scroll down for more details for any match or segment in bold)

  • Drew McIntyre def. Cody Rhodes by pinfall thanks to blatant interference from The Bloodline’s Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa
  • A video segment promotes the Intercontinental Championship match later tonight between Gunther and Jey Uso
  • Andrade says his destiny is here in WWE, and the era of Andrade El Idolo has begun
  • Adam Pearce says the Bloodline members will get hefty fines and checks on Rhodes, who tells the GM “I’m good”; Seth Rollins drops by as well, saying nothing but getting a nod from Cody before leaving
  • A video package reviews the five women who have already qualified for Elimination Chamber as we get ready to find out who’s joining them
  • Raquel Rodriguez wins the Last Chance Battle Royal for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, last eliminating Chelsea Green
  • Michael Cole remotely interviews Rhea Ripley and Nia Jax, which of course turns to insults between them and ends with Ripley storming out
  • A “Truthline” segment in the style of investigative TV journalism has Jackie Redmond talking to R-Truth about his experience with The Judgment Day, and you really have to see it to properly appreciate it
  • UFC fighter Michael Chandler is shown in the crowd, and he’s given a microphone to call out Conor McGregor

  • Both Chad Gable and Ivar cut promos head of their match tonight
  • The Judgment Day def. The Miz, R-Truth and #DIY by pinfall, with Damian Priest pinning R-Truth
  • Highlights are shown of The Rock officially joining The Bloodline on the most recent episode of SmackDown
  • Jackie Redmond catches up with Sami Zayn, who says he doesn’t want to get fixated on McIntyre because he’ll end up getting stuck and potentially miss his path to WrestleMania
  • Becky Lynch talks Elimination Chamber before she’s joined by all of her opponents … and a rampaging Nia Jax
  • Gunther cuts a promo before his title defense against Jey Uso
  • Shinsuke Nakamura makes it clear he’s not done with Sami Zayn, vowing to defeat him again
  • Chad Gable def. Ivar by submission
  • Cathy Kelley talks with McIntyre, who says his victory over Cody wasn’t tainted by Bloodline interference, claiming that he wanted to attack them on sight but he had to keep his eyes on the big picture, saving WrestleMania … for the fans, of course
  • The New Day says Uso will win tonight, but next week it’s their turn, making it clear it’s not over with Imperium until they say it’s over; next week, it’s New Day vs. Imperium in a Street Fight
  • Gunther def. Jey Uso by pinfall to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship, in large part due to interference from Jimmy Uso, who lays an extra beating on his twin brother as Raw goes off the air
Image credit: WWE.com

Drew McIntyre gets Bloodline assistance to defeat Cody Rhodes

The crowd is definitely into this one, cheering enthusiastically for Rhodes and giving him a “let’s go Cody” chant immediately after the bell. He quickly sends the Scottish Warrior to the floor, then is able to apply a Figure Four back in the ring.

McIntyre flips the hold over, forcing Rhodes to the ropes for a break. Cody is selling damage to his right knee as commercials arrive.

Things aren’t going much better for our hero, after the break, but he manages to survive a series of chops before McIntyre puts him back on the canvas. Cody rallies for a Disaster Kick and a two count, drawing on the energy from the crowd.

A Cody Cutter is on target too, good for another two count. McIntyre takes both of them out to the floor, and we break for ads again.

Both men score near falls, including a very close one after a Cody Pedigree. Drew fires back with a Future Shock, but no one can get more than a two count, and Pat McAfee wonders what can possibly end it.

McIntyre looks up at the WrestleMania sign before he climbs the turnbuckles, but Rhodes meets him there for an emphatic superplex. There’s a super Cody Cutter off the top rope, but just as it appears Rhodes can get the win, Jimmy Uso is out to provide a distraction.

Solo Sikoa uses it to full advantage, delivering a Samoan Spike from the apron while the ref is occupied with Jimmy. A Claymore from McIntyre is next, and that’s a big win secured for Drew.

Image credit: WWE.com

Raquel Rodriguez makes her return a spectacular one, winning the Last Chance Battle Royal

Teammates Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark are the first two women to head to the ring, but the crowd really roars for the return of Raquel Rodriguez, who has been out injured for some time.

We won’t try to do play by play for a match this chaotic, but we can say Maxxine Dupri and Valhalla are out early on. Xia Li follows quickly. Rodriguez continues clearing people out, including Isla Dawn.

Natalya eliminates Tegan Nox, a bit of payback for what happened between them in the Royal Rumble. Zelina Vega and Elektra Lopez keep fighting even after they’re eliminated, while Baszler and Stark work together effectively, especially to get rid of Indi Hartwell and Katana Chance.

After Ivy Nile is eliminated, we’re left with four: Baszler, Stark, Rodriguez and Michin. It quickly becomes three as the tag team partners get rid of Michin.

There goes Baszler, leaving Rodriguez and Stark. Though Shayna catches Zoey when she’s first thrown out, a big boot soon sends her to the floor. Chelsea Green was apparently never eliminated properly and tries for a sneak attack, but Raquel sends her out quickly to wrap things up.

Image credit: WWE.com

The Elimination Chamber contestants have words, but Nia Jax has more than enough power to clear them all out

The Man gives props to the great crowd tonight before musing that she’s been lucky enough to accomplish so much, meaning that there are few “new” things left for her. One thing she hasn’t done is compete in the Elimination Chamber, which she needs to win to face Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania.

Lynch notes that it is inevitable that she and Mami collide, which is appropriate because both of them live for that kind of fight. They’ve been living differently as of late, however, with Rhea riding a once-in-a-lifetime wave, propped up by The Judgment Day.

And then there’s Becky, the biggest threat to the championship and one who’s been hiding in plain sight. Lynch says she’s the best she’s ever been right this moment, strengthened by taking on all kinds of opponents.

On the flip side of that, however, is that everybody else is also the best they’ve ever been — especially the five women in the Elimination Chamber match with her. Becky says she has nothing against any of the women (“though Tiffany’s kind of annoying”), but she’s beaten most of them, just not inside the Chamber.

Liv Morgan arrives to say she’s a big fan of Becky’s hat, but she’s not a big fan of Lynch saying she’s the one to face Ripley. Liv admires Becky wanting to prove she’s the best, but all she cares about is her revenge. She has both professional and personal reasons for wanting to pay Rhea back, and Liv reminds Becky that she was also the last person to defeat Ripley.

That brings out Raquel Rodriguez, who says they’re making great points. But the champ after Elimination Chamber could also be Nia Jax, and only she’s big enough to stand up to either one of them.

You see where this is headed now, as Naomi comes out too. She says it’s time to climb her way back to the top but doesn’t get any further before it’s Tiffy Time. Tiffany Stratton says nobody cares about the past, but that’s all she sees in the ring.

That only leaves one final Chamber contestant, but Bianca Belair quickly makes that number zero. She reminds them all that you can’t spell WrestleMania without “EST,” and when Stratton gets lippy with her, Tiffany decides to smash Liv int he face, and soon all six women are scrapping.

Make that seven as Nia Jax hits the ring as well. Jax crushes Naomi with a Samoan Drop and casually tosses Morgan and Stratton around.

Jax runs over Belair as well, gives Rodriguez a legdrop to the back of the neck and has some left for Lynch as well. Nia is the only woman still standing at the end of the segment, making an emphatic statement.

Image credit: WWE.com

Jey Uso falls short against Gunther … but only because of Jimmy

Can Uso end Gunther’s 619-day reign? Or will there be hijinks in this one since The Bloodline has already made its presence felt once tonight?

After Jey smacks him in the mouth, The Ring General wastes zero time punishing Uso with chops, both in the center of the ring and on the top rope. The attack continues on the floor, where Gunther drops Jey on the barricade. Commercial break one is here.

Gunther continues his assault when the broadcast returns, punishing Jey with a backbreaker. They head back to the floor, with the champ looking for a piledriver but foiled by a back drop. Gunther is smacked off the announce table with a Samoan Drop, exciting Pat McAfee.

They return to the ring, where Uso hits a back elbow and a superkick, plus an uppercut that sends Gunther into the corner. The champion retaliates with a big dropkick and a powerbomb, stacking Jey for a two count.

Another two count is in Gunther’s favor after a clothesline, and he quickly locks in a Boston Crab. Even after Jey escapes he’s not clear of danger, but he is able to send Gunther to the floor and greet him with a dive that brings the final set of commercials.

More hard chops greet Jey after the ads, and his chest can’t be feeling too good now. Gunther spends some time verbally berating Jey, slapping him around some more and looking for a powerbomb. But Uso slides out the back side and delivers a spear, earning a near fall.

Uso heads up top, where Gunther rushes to meet him with another chop. There’s a release superplex that just flings Jey down, and he hits his own top rope splash but sees Uso kick out again at two.

Another spear for Uso has Gunther looking for a respite on the apron, but Jey spears him there, then out on the floor. The challenger rolls the champ back into the ring for his fifth spear of the bout. Up top goes Jey, dropping the Uso Splash … but the bell rings in mid-count. It’s Jimmy Uso, smirking wildly.

WWE security orders Jimmy to leave, but the damage may already be done, as Gunther is back on his feet. A superkick puts the champ down so Jey can fly to hit his brother with a suicide dive.

Uso climbs again, but this time Gunther gets his knees up on the splash, rolling Jey up and barely surviving with his title intact.

Jimmy gets a chance to beat on Jey some more after the bell, including an Uso Splash of his own. He delivers one more for good measure, raising one finger to the sky as the show goes off the air.

WWE Raw results 02/12/24: Drew McIntyre is still living his best life

Lexington also saw three more wrestlers qualify for Elimination Chamber matches.

Happy pre-Valentine’s Day to those who celebrate. We’re not thinking love so much for WWE Raw tonight from Lexington, but more the opposite thing: Getting people out of our lives, or at least out of contention for the Elimination Chamber matches.

(Yes, we’re aware sometimes Valentine’s Day soul-searching leads in somewhat the same direction, but we digress.)

As of the start of this show, only two of the six men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber spots are spoken for. That will change tonight, with two men’s qualifiers and one women’s qualifier filling up more of those pods.

Perhaps the most interesting candidates right off the dome are LA Knight and Liv Morgan. Both are fan favorites, the kind of performers that will have big chunks of the WWE Universe backing them to make the Elimination Chamber bouts.

It’s also hard to see where they fit into the larger WrestleMania picture right this second. Knight has ridden his populist wave to two championship shots but hasn’t broken through. Morgan is a former champ, but has been out of action for a while due to injury and is trying to make her way back into contention.

Does that mean they might get upset tonight? It doesn’t feel like it, but it’s worth filing away in case it happens.

There’s also a fun six-man tag featuring The New Day and Jey Uso against Imperium, so this should be an entertaining Monday night. Off we go to Kentucky.

WWE Raw Results from Lexington:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Cody Rhodes is shown heading into the arena this afternoon as Michael Cole reminds us Cody has another shot at Roman Reigns at WrestleMania
  • The New Day and Jey Uso def. Imperium by pinfall
  • Highlights of WrestleMania XL Kickoff are shown
  • Andrade says he needed to leave WWE to remember who he was, but now that he’s back, his direction is clear
  • Bobby Lashley def. Bronson Reed by pinfall in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match
  • Sami Zayn is shown coming to the rescue of Cody Rhodes after Raw went off the air last week; afterward, we see Zayn talking to Jackie Redmond about why he believes he is still a contender and will be a champion until he’s interrupted by some taunts from Shinsuke Nakamura on all the arena’s big video screens
  • Cody Rhodes is back on track to finish his story, but he may need some help — and Seth Rollins offers it
  • Cathy Kelley is backstage with a happy New Day and Jey Uso, who only get happier when they learn Uso will get an IC title shot next week
  • Liv Morgan def. Zoey Stark by pinfall in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match
  • Damian Priest tries to tell R-Truth the truth about his status with The Judgment Day, and it might finally be sinking in; later we see Truth desperately trying to get The Miz to join him ringside
  • JD McDonagh def. R-Truth by pinfall; after the bell, Truth tries to fight off all of The Judgment Day, and it goes about as poorly as you’d expect until #DIY finally comes running down with steel chairs to chase off the heels
  • Rhodes stops by to thank Zayn for having his back last year, and Cody also reassures Sami that he and the WWE fans all believe in him, which earns the American Nightmare a grateful hug
  • Becky Lynch is still locked in on WrestleMania, but both she and Rhea Ripley can’t overlook Nia Jax
  • Drew McIntyre is still taking credit for pushing Rhodes in the right direction and insists he’s still the underdog, and it appears he’ll be facing Cody next week
  • Truth thanks #DIY for the save, but thinks they are DX
  • LA Knight def. Ivar by pinfall in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match
  • McIntyre and Zayn have a brief but tense run-in backstage as Sami heads for the ring
  • Chelsea Green asks Adam Pearce if she’s going to be in the Last Chance Qualifier for the Elimination Chamber match, angering Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell, who are also in there; Green insults Shayna Baszler and Stark, who of course end up right behind her
  • Shinsuke Nakamura def. Sami Zayn by pinfall, with an assist to McIntyre for a timely distraction
  • When McIntyre and Nakamura try for a post-match beating, Rhodes hustles down to the rescue, hitting a Cody Cutter on Drew and Cross Rhodes on Shinsuke
Image credit: WWE.com

The New Day and Jey Uso prove to be a formidable team against Imperium

The crowd gets behind The New Day as soon as the bell rings, motivating Kofi Kingston to go right after Ludwig Kaiser. Jey Uso and Gunther quickly get tagged in, but the Ring General does the classic heel thing and deprives the fans of the matchup they want to see by tagging Giovanni Vinci in.

Only after Vinci takes control does Gunther tag back in to get some work done on Jey. Uso gets sent out to the floor in enemy territory, leaving Imperium in full control as of a commercial break.

That’s no longer the case on the other side, with Kingston unleashing a wide variety of offense and scoring a near fall on Vinci with a frog splash to the back. Kofi takes flight with a leaping clothesline and a Boom Drop on Vinci, but Imperium manages to send him to the outside and then into the steel steps.

Kofi kicks out after a boot to the face from Vinci, but now he’s dealing with Gunther’s methodical attack. The Ring General stops him from tagging a partner and puts him in a Boston Crab, but Jey breaks the hold with a nasty slap to the face.

After more commercials, Uso leads a furious rally, dropping both of Gunther’s wingmen and locking in on the man himself. Jey loses a battle of chops, however, and has to fight back with an enzuigiri. He hits a cross body off the top and covers for two.

A short-arm clothesline earns Gunther a two count of his own before he mocks Jey’s entrance. He pays for it by eating a spear, yet he manages to get a save from Kaiser.

After Kaiser is sent into the post, Vinci tags in and trades superkicks with Jey. The New Day returns to help pull off the 1-D, allowing Uso to hit a top rope splash on Vinci to end it.

Image credit: WWE.com

Cody Rhodes gets an offer of backup from Seth Rollins

Ever the consummate babyface, Rhodes stops to autograph some action figures for young fans on his way to the ring. The fans loudly chant his name once his music stops.

Cody says they could talk about him challenging Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 40. He says the only reason he can say that is because of the fans making their voices heard, and there’s only one way he can repay them.

Though he’s a passionate guy, Rhodes says he doesn’t want to get emotional because then he’d become a crybaby, referencing The Rock’s taunt toward him. He also shows footage of The Rock on “The Pat McAfee Show” coining the term, for which Michael Cole needles McAfee.

One thing The Rock does not do well is listen, Rhodes says, because he said nothing insulting about Rock’s ancestors and he still got slapped anyway. For that, Cody vows to hit Rocky back.

That brings Seth Rollins to join the party, and the fans greet him warmly as well. Cody wants to thank Seth for coming to his aid at WrestleMania Kickoff, and Rollins thanks him before saying he understands why Rhodes made the choice he did.

The Visionary tells Rhodes he must finish his story, because if he does not, the landscape on the other side of WrestleMania is very dark. As he sees it, this is probably the last real chance anyone has to take Roman’s title and power and give it to the people.

But Rollins also has a question: What’s your plan? Because last year, Cody got screwed by outside interference form The Bloodline, and now he’s facing that plus dealing with The Rock as well. Yet Rollins says he doesn’t have to fight this battle alone, as he’s been moved by the idea of taking everything from Roman.

He also says it’s partly his own fault that Reigns is the man he is today, with Rollins suggesting he taught Roman everything he knows during The Shield days.  Seth says “there’s only one man on Earth who is uniquely suited to be your shield,” heh.

“Think about it,” Seth mouths after throwing down the mic.

Image credit: WWE.com

Liv Morgan is headed to Perth after taking down Zoey Stark

Morgan tries for a quick dub as her rollup gets a two count. Liv stomps away in the corner and shrieks as the referee pulls her away. Stark’s lariat gives her control, and she does some yelling of her own as she presses her advantage.

Liv hits a hurricanrana and smashes her foe’s head into the top turnbuckle before a springboard kick lands and sends Zoey to the floor. Stark fires back with a right hand that prevents a suicide dive, then follows with a painful looking Death Valley Driver on the apron.

Both women have chances to win it right after a commercial break. Stark gets a second in quick succession following a springboard missile dropkick before verbally berating Morgan.

Liv tries for a Codebreaker but gets sent into the turnbuckles instead, though Morgan instantly turns the tables … until she runs into a head kick and has to kick out at two again.

Zoey drags Liv to the corner, but her corkscrew splash finds no one home, and Oblivion means she’s not getting back up.

Image credit: WWE.com

Becky Lynch has her eyes on Rhea Ripley, but there’s a Nia Jax roadblock first

After promising to go to the prom in 2034 with a fan who has a sign to that effect, The Man talks about how much she loves the business and how it’s given her everything, including her husband and their daughter. But her obsession with wrestling has caused her to miss important moments in her loved ones’ lives, and more recently, it’s led to some tough conversations with her daughter.

On the plus side, her obsession has kept Becky on track for her intended WrestleMania date with Rhea Ripley. Lynch says a lot of fans love Ripley and think no one can beat her, but Becky isn’t just anyone. She grabs a drink and proposes a toast to Rhea’s last few weeks as champion.

It’s not Ripley but Nia Jax who comes out in response. Jax is emotional when talking about Lynch’s example as a mother, but it all turns into a shot at Ripley, who comes rushing to the ring for a donnybrook.

Lynch catches a stray in the corner, so she decides to clear Jax out with a missile dropkick. That leaves Lynch and Ripley face to face, though Rhea rushes over to smash Jax with a boot to the face.

Image credit: WWE.com

Shinsuke Nakamura gets an assist from Drew McIntyre to outlast Sami Zayn

Sami looks ready for Shinsuke in the early going, even having time to mock his “come on!” taunt right before the first commercial break. He’s still in control on the other side, at least until Nakamura buries some knees in his midsection.

Shinsuke goes for a couple of covers but doesn’t really seem to think they’ll be enough to end it. Zayn eats some kicks to the chest, even after catching a leg, and has to kick out again at two.

Stuck in the ropes, Sami takes a kick to the back of the head and the sliding German suplex, which means he’s got to kick out one more time. Zayn finally rallies with a Michinoku Driver, earning a flash two count.

After Nakamura is sent to the floor, Zayn finds the target with a tope con hilo, and we’re off to the final ads of the evening.

They’re standing and trading forearm shots when the broadcast returns, and now Nakamura is feeling it as he emerges in position for the Kinshasa. Sami counters with a Blue Thunder Bomb, but it’s only good for two.

Shinsuke rolls out to the floor to avoid an incoming Helluva Kick, and he’s able to catch Sami with a kick to the face when he tries to dive between the ropes. A knee to the back of the neck off the top rope has Zayn looking done, but he’s able to muster one more kickout.

There’s another back of the neck shot and another kick at two. Zayn is showing incredible resilience, but can he rally to win?

A clothesline helps, as do the cheers from the fans. Open hand strikes and punches force Nakamura back into the corner, and an exploder suplex puts him right back there.

It could be the end, except that Drew McIntyre distracts Zayn. Shinsuke takes Sami’s legs out, and the Kinshasa seals the deal.

WWE Raw preview 02/12/24: New Day (+ Jey) vs. Imperium, Elimination Chamber qualifiers

Who will join the two men and two women to qualify for Elimination Chamber tonight on WWE Raw?

Has everyone recovered from that football game of some note Sunday night in Las Vegas? If so, it’s time to bring your attention about two-thirds of the way across the country to Lexington, Ky., because WWE Raw is advancing us another step toward Elimination Chamber. Here’s what to watch for tonight.

Can Jey Uso help The New Day tip the scales against Imperium?

The New Day has been having a fiery feud against the wingmen from Imperium, but the presence of Gunther would seem to be a problem from both mathematical and physical perspectives. Enter Jey Uso, who’s recently made it clear he’s got his sights set on the Ring General’s Intercontinental Championship.

As we all wait hopefully for the potential return of Big E, Uso feels like a nice fit as a partner for Kofi and Xavier, and there’s no question that a Jey-Gunther program has a lot of promise. If this six-man tag doesn’t settle things tonight, we’re fine with that.

Who else will win their way into Elimination Chamber?

To date, two men and two women have earned spots in the Elimination Chamber matches in Perth. That number will increase by three total in Lexington.

The men have two matches, with LA Knight facing Ivar and Bobby Lashley taking on Bronson Reed. On the women’s side, Liv Morgan will battle Zoey Stark. The feeling is that Knight, Lashley and Morgan will be the winners, but we also wouldn’t be stunned if there’s a surprise among these three bouts.

Will there be more WrestleMania Kickoff follow-up or is wait until Friday?

It’s wild to think about, but it’s still been only four days since the WrestleMania Kickoff event and the reshuffling of the top of the WrestleMania card. WWE is promoting Roman Reigns and The Rock for this week’s episode of SmackDown, so that figures to be the place where the next big developments will take place.

Still, it would be strange for the first Raw since Kickoff not to touch on what happened in Las Vegas at all, especially since Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins are on the Raw roster and were heavily involved in Kickoff. We’re anxious to see what they might say.

Also scheduled for Raw tonight:

  • R-Truth battles JD McDonagh

We’re set to recap all the action beginning at 8 p.m. ET tonight, so please join us back here then for live results and updates if you need somewhere to follow along.

WWE Raw results 02/05/24: Cody wins, but is Drew in the ‘Mania mix now too?

Gunther has a new challenger, and nothing was really resolved with Cody Rhodes and WrestleMania on WWE Raw this week.

It’s not easy to get more popular when you’re already the top face in the top wrestling promotion. Yet that very well might apply to Cody Rhodes, who will be front and center during tonight’s episode of WWE Raw in St. Louis.

All it took was WWE putting The Rock, possibly because of a clause in his new deal to join the TKO board, in position to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. You know, the spot that was going to allow Rhodes to finish his story, the one that he earned by beating 29 other competitors in the Royal Rumble.

That one.

So now the American Nightmare, already very over with the fans, has the sympathy factor going for him too. To be fair, there are also a lot of people who really do want to see The Rock vs. Roman at WrestleMania. Some of those people are also Rhodes supporters, though, and they didn’t want to see it come about this way.

But hey, there are still two months to WrestleMania, so who knows what could happen until then? What we do know is that tonight, building off something that happened at a house show over the weekend, Rhodes will face Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bull Rope match. What’s better for getting out some frustration than being tied together with one of your enemies by a rope and then using it to beat them with it?

Well don’t look at us, we’ve never been in a match like this. We’d expect the answer is “probably nothing.”

Whether you’re part of the “WHOA movement” or just want to see what happens next in the ongoing drama that is WWE, come along on this ride that is Raw tonight.

WWE Raw results from St. Louis:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • That ending from SmackDown is shown again, with The Rock making his appearance after Cody Rhodes told Roman Reigns he wasn’t coming for him at WrestleMania
  • Seth Rollins calls out Cody Rhodes for a WrestleMania answer, but Drew McIntyre spoils their conversation
  • #DIY def. The Creed Brothers, The New Day and Imperium, and will go to SmackDown to face Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate with the winner of that match earning a tag team title shot
  • Shayna Baszler says the last Elimination Chamber match she was in didn’t go the way she wanted, but she gets Becky Lynch tonight without having to jump through any hoops; Lynch is shown as well, saying her future is on the line in this match
  • Becky Lynch def. Shayna Baszler by pinfall in an Elimination Chamber qualifier
  • Liv Morgan talks about the long time she spent out with injury and how badly she needs to earn her place in Elimination Chamber to start on the path to revenge against Rhea Ripley
  • Adam Pearce warns McIntyre that he’s close to being fined for his behavior, and both men look surprised that Ripley is on her way out to the ring
  • Rhea Ripley wants Nia Jax, and gets her in two ways: a title match at Elimination Chamber and a scrap right now, which Nia wins definitively
  • A video package is shown of Bayley getting betrayed by Damage CTRL and challenging IYO SKY at WrestleMania
  • Ivar and Valhalla def. Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri by pinfall
  • The Judgment Day says Ripley will be alright but gets joined by R-Truth, and eventually Damian Priest just gives up and tells him to make himself at home
  • Jackie Redmond talks to The Miz about Truth’s situation
  • The Miz def. JD McDonagh by pinfall, in large part because JD gets distracted by Truth giving him a cut of t-shirt sales during the match, and yes that is really what happened
  • A hype video promotes Katana Chance and Kayden Carter and their attempt to reclaim the tag team titles tonight
  • Imperium insists to Pearce that everything must be perfect for Gunther tonight, and as they leave, the GM makes his offer to Bron Breakker
  • A video package checks in on CM Punk as he deals with surgery and his recovery
  • Gunther celebrates 600 days as Intercontinental Champion by getting a new potential challenger: Jey Uso
  • Shinsuke Nakamura scoffs at the idea that a Bull Rope match gives Rhodes an advantage tonight, promising to beat Cody in the match his own family made famous
  • The Kabuki Warriors def. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter by pinfall to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
  • Sami Zayn sat down with Redmond earlier today to discuss thinking back to this same time a year ago, when he was preparing to face Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber; Zayn says Triple H pulled him aside after losing to Reigns and told him not to be down, comparing Sami to Rocky, and he says he’s gone beyond underdog to contender
  • Cody Rhodes def. Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall in a Bull Rope match
  • Right after the bell, McIntyre attacks Rhodes, leaving him looking at the lights with the WrestleMania XL sign in the background as Raw goes off the air
Image credit: WWE.com

Seth Rollins wants an answer from Cody Rhodes, but Drew McIntyre wants to get in his two cents

Michael Cole makes sure to point out that the World Heavyweight Champion is wearing a brace on his left leg. It doesn’t affect the pop he gets, as he points out.

Rollins antagonizes the crowd just a bit, and when it appears they want Cody, he says he does too, inviting the American Nightmare to join him. It’s an enormous reaction for him, as you might expect, and when he asks what everyone wants to talk about, there’s a “Rocky sucks” chant and Cole asks if it’s 1996 again.

Seth says he understands what Cody is going through but needs answers, and he stands by the words he said when he called the World Heavyweight Championship the most prestigious title in the sport. More than that, Rollins says he needs to know if he’s the best, and the only way to do that is to test himself again the best … meaning Cody.

“Are you gonna fight me at WrestleMania?” But Rollins gets no answer, as Drew McIntyre decides to join the party. The Scottish Warrior says he was supposed to be talking to Rollins about their main event match at WrestleMania and implores Rhodes to finish the story.

Rollins is sort of bewildered, wondering why McIntyre thinks he’ll get a shot at the world title if Rhodes refuses. Drew at least compliments Seth for making his championship the workhorse title and contrasts him with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline.

Rhodes wants to say something but is hushed as McIntyre says it’s time for him to take the title form here, smacking the champ after he does. Cody snaps into action and hammers Drew right back, but the Scottish Warrior only grins as he retreats back up the ramp.

Image credit: WWE.com

Rhea Ripley should be careful what she wishes for with Nia Jax

The Women’s World Champion hardly sounds like a heel as she gets cheers while storming to the ring. Ripley makes it clear in no uncertain terms that she wants to rip Nia Jax’s bloody head off, but Adam Pearce heads down the ramp and says we aren’t doing this right now.

Pearce is giving Rhea what she wants … but at Elimination Chamber, where they will battle over the title. Much to Pearce’s dismay, Jax makes a beeline for the ring, getting the best of Ripley in a scrap that security can’t stop, and delivering the Annihilator to boot.

Image credit: WWE.com

Gunther’s celebration is crashed by a new contender … Yeet!

The Ring General says it’s to the surprise of absolutely nobody that he’s standing in the ring commemorating 600 days as champion. He tells Ludwig Kaiser that he appreciates the effort Imperium gave to putting this together but doesn’t want anything like this going forward — because it’s a given that he’s the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time.

Gunther says his problem now is he’s running out of competition. That boast is answered by some familiar entrance music as Jey Uso makes his way to the ring.

The champ admits he’s not surprised to see Jey after he eliminated Uso from the Royal Rumble but is irritated at the apparent disrespect. Jey says there’s no disrespect as he knows the work Gunther put in.

Gunther replies that Uso is one of the most decorated tag team wrestlers of all time and holds the record for longest tag team reign. The best part is he only had to put in 50% of the work for it.

Uso is unfazed as he has the crowd going “Yeet” behind him, though Gunther continues to taunt him for only now stepping out of his family’s shadow. He says he’ll beat Jey worse than his family ever did, and that Jey will wish he’s back in the says where people couldn’t tell him and his brother apart.

That leads to an attack by Jey, and when the 3-on-1 odds quickly turn against him, The New Day runs down to make things even and chase the heels away.

Image credit: WWE.com

The Kabuki Warriors ensure they’re the ones partying by fending off Katana Chance and Kayden Carter

Can the C&C tag team factory win their titles back? Asuka seems like she’s in no mood for it, running over Chance and berating her as she continues her assault. The Empress of Tomorrow also laughs after getting slapped and goes right back to trying to bully Chance.

Katana manages to roll up Asuka for a two count, then tags her partner to take the fight to the floor. Carter boosts Chance into a leaping move on the outside, and the challengers look good as commercials arrive.

The champs are still in control after the break, though the announcers note that both the Kabuki Warriors are taped up after Bayley lit into them with a metal pipe on SmackDown. Chance tags in and uses her speed to keep Kairi Sane flustered, then stomps away in the corner.

Sane eats a knee and a double stomp on the back of the neck but kicks out at two. Carter tags in and helps her teammate deliver the Afterparty, but a save is made to prevent a three count.

The champs want the Keg Stand, but Sane drags Carter out to the floor to stop it, and Kairi follows with the Insane Elbow to ensure the champs retain.

Image credit: WWE.com

Cody Rhodes gets some measure of relief with a Bull Rope match victory over Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura looks a bit perplexed by the rope, and instead of getting strapped in, he launches a sneak attack on Rhodes right before the bell rings. Shinsuke does get his hand in his end, and the two men slug it out with right hands before Cody finds and rings the bell in the middle of the rope. They fight to the outside and over the barricade as an early commercial break ensues.

It’s Nakamura pressing the attack in the corner, then choking Rhodes with his boot. Cody rolls out to the floor, then gets dragged hard into the apron, selling damage to his knee. Shinsuke drives a knee into the back of his foe’s neck inside the ring and covers for a near fall.

Rhodes’ rally leads to a Figure Four, much to the delight of the fans, but Nakamura manages to free himself right before the show’s last ad break.

We return to see another burst of offense from Rhodes and a near fall. Shinsuke responds by getting Cody seated in the ropes and kicking him in the back of the head.

It might be Kinshasa time, but Rhodes puts a stop to that thought with a Cody Cutter. Cody fires up with the help of the fans, and the two men trade shots in the middle of the ring. A Bionic Elbow connects, but Nakamura uses a kick to knock Rhodes down too.

Cody sees the Kinshasa coming again and is able to hit a Pedigree for a close two count. Even after being sprayed with the red mist, Cody is able to deliver a Cross Rhodes, but he puts his hands on his face in dismay as Shinsuke kicks out at two.

As Shinsuke tries again for a Kinshasa, Rhodes blocks it, uses the rope to crotch Nakamura, and hits a second Cross Rhodes that ends it.

WWE Raw results 01/22/24: Punk, Rhodes have a classic showdown, Priest upended

Seth Rollins also vowed to fight on to WrestleMania on WWE Raw from New Orleans.

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There’s a big time moment of truth that will lead off tonight’s episode of WWE Raw from New Orleans.

(From the Smoothie King Center, one of our favorite venue names anywhere.)

Seth Rollins is advertised to open the show, which isn’t unusual for Raw. As World Heavyweight Champion, the Visionary is pretty much The Man on this brand.

That would normally suggest he’s in line for a big time match at WrestleMania, perhaps even one that fans have been clamoring for ever since a certain Chicago native made his return to WWE.

But there’s been a complication: Rollins is hurt, and we don’t know at the moment how it might affect his availability over the next few months.

Might another segment on tonight’s show offer a clue? CM Punk and Cody Rhodes are going to be face to face in NOLA, which should be an entertaining exchange. While no one knows exactly what will happen next, the most popular theory is that Punk will win the Royal Rumble (he’s the betting favorite at the moment), positioning him to challenge Rollins, while Rhodes has to jump through one more hoop to try to finish his story against Roman Reigns.

But what if Rollins says he’s too injured and relinquishes his title? That isn’t what we expect to happen, but if it does, that would potentially change everything less than a week out from Royal Rumble.

These are the kind of intriguing nights wrestling fans live for, and we’re anxiously awaiting it as well. Off we go!

WWE Raw results from New Orleans:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • CM Punk and Cody Rhodes are shown walking into the arena earlier today, hyping up their “confrontation” later in the show
  • Seth Rollins is determined to stay the course for WrestleMania, but Gunther’s sights are set on Seth’s world championship
  • The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. Imperium (Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser) goes to a no contest after they end up in a wild brawl that ends up with all four men going through tables together out in the crowd
  • A trailer is shown for WWE 2K24, which was officially revealed today
  • The Judgment Day has a little tension going on, with Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley especially heated, and Finn Balor says he’ll do Rhea a favor and display his vicious side tonight
  • Maxxine Dupri says Ivy Nile is ready for her match tonight … which happens to be next
  • Ivy Nile def. Valhalla by pinfall
  • Jey Uso daps up The New Day, who tell Jackie Redmond that if people think they can’t stand on business just because they’re entertaining a lot of the time, they’re sadly mistaken; to that end, Kofi Kingston challenges Gunther to a title match next week on Raw
  • Nia Jax, Becky Lynch and Bayley all explain why they will win the Royal Rumble
  • A Royal Rumble “By the Numbers” package is shown
  • Lynch gets briefly taunted by Ripley backstage

  • Dominik Mysterio def. The Miz by pinfall; not only does Balor assist in the victory, he attacks Miz after the bell, but #DIY comes to the rescue
  • Priest is about to talk about his match with Drew McIntyre when he has to stop and tell R-Truth that this isn’t the right time; Priest then turns back to McIntyre and says he will receive his punishment tonight
  • Bronson Reed warns Jey Uso that their paths are eventually going to cross, so they might as well get it out of the way, and he challenges Jey to a match next week
  • Ivar def. Chad Gable by pinfall, thanks in part to some assistance from Valhalla
  • Cody Rhodes and CM Punk discuss the past … and the uncertain future that starts this Saturday
  • A video package features Hulk Hogan talking about the birth of Hulkamania and how he sees some of it in current stars, and he also discusses the Royal Rumble matches and his favorites in each one
  • Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark def. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell by pinfall; after the bell, the Kabuki Warriors attack tag team champs Katana Chance and Kayden Carter, who were watching from ringside
  • Drew McIntyre has nothing to say about the Rhodes-Punk confrontation, but he does have some tough talk for Priest, who he says isn’t ready to be world champion
  • Damage CTRL is feeling good, but Adam Pearce stops by and has to intervene when Natalya and Tegan Nox take exception to them, and Dakota Kai says if he has a problem with them, Pearce needs to take it up with Nick Aldis; Pearce turns and sees Indus Sher behind him, and he agrees to have a chat with Jinder Mahal
  • A second Royal Rumble By the Numbers package is shown with more fun tidbits and stats
  • Drew McIntyre def. Damian Priest by pinfall, aided largely by some very unfortunate timing on the part of R-Truth

Seth Rollins isn’t missing WrestleMania, but that might mean dealing with Gunther

The World Heavyweight Champion is serenaded by fans as usual as he heads to the ring, though there’s something unmistakably different about him: the brace on his left knee. It’s over his dress pants, though, which seems like a bit of a show, and the fans deliver a loud “thank you Seth” chant.

Rollins shows his appreciation for the love he’s receiving before going into an explanation of when he hurt himself a week ago facing Jinder Mahal. Seth says while doing a moonsault, he felt his knee “go in” in a way it’s not supposed to, but it took until he got to the back to sink in that he might be seriously hurt.

The champ goes on to say that it made him feel like a bit of a liar that he says he is always better and stronger, and he also says it crossed his mind that it was a real possibility that he might miss WrestleMania. Rollins says his MRI results were not great: grade 2 MCL tear and partially torn meniscus. It will mean four months off if he gets surgery, so he’s taking it day by day for now.

While that’s sinking in, Gunther’s music hits and Imperium makes its way to the ring, with the Ring General joining Rollins. Seth says he doesn’t have time for this and Imperium should just get an attack out of the way if that’s the plan.

Gunther says no, and that he’s really just out there to tell Rollins what he thinks of the world champ. As Gunther puts it, Seth has been in a tough position right from the start, expected to be a workhorse and living up to the ideal of a champion everyone can be proud of — just like Gunther.

It kind of pulls on Gunther’s heart strings seeing Rollins like this, he claims, and even saddens him to think Seth might not make it to WrestleMania. Rollins says Imperium should have let him finish, as he insists he will take the title to Mania and do everything in his power to leave that way too.

Gunther says he admires that, saying that as one great champion to another, he plans to win the Royal Rumble and choose Seth as his WrestleMania opponent. After he does that, the Ring General will target Seth’s knee and his back on his way to becoming World Heavyweight Champion.

Rollins replies that he appreciates the honesty, and both men say they better remember who is coming for them. Also Gunther said the Rumble is Sunday, so a graphic and Michael Cole quickly remind us it’s really Saturday.

Nia Jax, Becky Lynch, Bayley make their Royal Rumble cases

Jax asks for a mic so she can point out that the first time she went one on one with Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch, she squashed both of them. Nia says she understands why the two of them want to fight at WrestleMania since neither of them can beat Jax.

So this Saturday, Nia plans on killing both of their dreams. That boast brings out Lynch, who tells Jax to shut up. Becky says she knows she has a target on her back in the Royal Rumble match … but not as big as the target on Nia. After all, the locker room never agrees on anything, but they do agree that no one likes Jax.

Lynch says she’s not sure what she will enjoy more, winning the Rumble match again or watching Jax lose. That brings out Bayley, who says “both of you idiots are going to lose.” The Role Model was looking for Ripley but says this is almost better.

Bayley wants to make it clear: She’s winning the Rumble and will be the one to point at the WrestleMania sign. Both Lynch and Jax start beating on her, then throwing hands with each other. Lynch hits a Manhandle Slam on Bayley but gets thrown out by Jax, who drops a leg on Bayley.

Will Cody Rhodes and CM Punk still be friends after the Royal Rumble … or even after tonight?

Punk suggests they take a second to enjoy the moment, as even though they’ve taken very different paths to get here, they’ve done it. He hopes they will still be friends come Sunday morning.

Rhodes asks both the crowd and Punk what they want to talk about, and the latter says he wants to talk about Cody’s dad. He says this is a story he’s never told, one about Dusty asking Punk to keep an eye on his son. Punk says he didn’t know Cody or think he needed a guardian angel, but when the American Dream asks for a favor, you say yes.

The job was easy, as Cody didn’t fall into any vices or get into much trouble, and Punk says he was proud of Cody. Alas, that means Saturday he’s going to feel like he’s breaking a promise, as in the Royal Rumble he’ll be looking for Cody and do whatever he needs to do to win.

Cody responds that Punk is hardly alone among people who are talking to him but thinking of Dusty. It’s a very large shadow, but Cody says he’s done everything in his power to be the light in that shadow and subvert expectations. He remembers his OVW days and appreciates Punk treating him like a peer, and later a friend.

That makes it bittersweet that in the Rumble, there are no friends. What about Sunday morning, Punk asks, wondering if Cody can separate business from personal. And he goes a step further suggesting that with his electrician dad, he’s more of the American dream than Punk.

Cody responds by bringing up the famous Pipe Bomb interview, saying that when Punk left after that, he picked up the ball and lived what CM talked … so he’s more CM Punk than the man himself.

Punk hints at a much bigger superstar coming to take Cody’s story away, but sadly he means himself and not The Rock. The American Nightmare says the only way he can go from here is forward, meaning through Punk. When Cody goes to leave, CM grabs him and spins him around, and the two men are literally nose to nose for a few tense moments.

Fans chant loudly for both men until they finally separate, with Cody leaving the ring and Punk on the other side of it.

Damian Priest gets some Truth at the wrong time against Drew McIntyre

Considering they are snarling at each other before the bell even rings, it’s no surprise that it doesn’t take long for them to lock up. An evenly fought opening few minutes finally leads them to battle on the floor, where Priest is able to run McIntyre into the post. A Broken Arrow onto the announce table is next, leaving the Judgment Day stalwart in good shape going into a commercial break.

Priest is still knocking McIntyre around after the break, scoring a near fall after a running lariat. A chinlock keeps the Scottish Warrior grounded for just a sec, but simultaneous big boots leave both men on the canvas.

McIntyre kips up and hears some cheers as he looks for a Claymore, but Priest sidesteps it only to be caught by a spinebuster for a two count. Priest responds with a flatliner of sorts that gets him two right back.

A series of kicks from Priest is answered by a Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre heads up top but gets caught by a kick to the back of the head, and Priest turns some counters into a Broken Arrow and another near fall.

Priest hits his feet on the top rope but still pulls off a somersault plancha, but R-Truth shows up and distracts him at a critical moment. That allows McIntyre to hit the Future Shock, and he lines up again for a Claymore attempt.

Truth is on the apron now, and takes a right hand from McIntyre. Priest hits the South of Heaven, but the ref is occupied with Truth and the money scattered all over the ring.

You know what’s coming next: a Claymore from McIntyre, giving Scottish Warrior the win.

WWE Raw results 01/15/24: Jinder Mahal comes close but not quite against Seth Rollins

See how Jinder Mahal came within a hair of dethroning Seth Rollins on WWE Raw in Little Rock.

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With less than two weeks to go until the Royal Rumble in Florida, it’s time for some of the top talent on WWE Raw to get their current programs finished and turn their attention to securing a spot at WrestleMania.

Cody Rhodes might have the first half of that plan finally checked off after he defeated Shinsuke Nakamura again last week, so he can finally put all his effort on winning the Royal Rumble match. Or we think that’ll be the case anyway, since WWE says he’s kicking off the show tonight.

What if we’re wrong, though? Is it possible Rhodes has one more in a seemingly ceaseless string of hurdles placed in his way? TBD.

Seth Rollins knows he can’t worry about Royal Rumble just yet, as he has a World Heavyweight Championship defense to attend to this evening. Plus it’s against the man of the hour, Jinder Mahal, not something we expected to be typing as recently as two weeks ago.

There would seem to be little chance WWE would put this title on Mahal, especially given the time of year we’re in. Things need to be cemented, not chaotic. Right?

Normally, we’d say yes. But there’s that little matter of Elimination Chamber in Australia, where WWE will need to put on a big show next month. Roman Reigns probably won’t be there, and while the Chamber matches are attractions in their own right, a world title match doesn’t seem like too much to ask for.

So we’re just putting this out there: Maybe Mahal wins tonight and Rollins has to win it back from him at Elimination Chamber. Or a certain Straight Edge Superstar could snag it there and go into WrestleMania making Seth chase him.

Or, you know, Rollins could just win tonight and speed on down the Road to WrestleMania. That’s why we watch, which we’ll be doing starting right now.

WWE Raw results from Little Rock:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • A tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. starts the show
  • Are Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre more alike or different?
  • Damian Priest takes R-Truth to task for selling Judgment Day merchandise in the parking lot, but Truth is making a killing off the gear, and Priest relents while also telling him not to tag in during their tag team match tonight
  • #DIY def. The Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh) by pinfall
  • Chelsea Green and Piper Niven interrupt a conversation between Adam Pearce and Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell, which Pearce turns into a match between those two teams tonight
  • Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell def. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven by pinfall
  • Rhea Ripley sees a Nia Jax hype video and leaves to “address her division,” while the rest of The Judgment Day takes Priest to task about the R-Truth situation; Damian shows the money he’s been bringing in and suggests to McDonagh that he may not get a cut because “your name’s not on the shirt”
  • Gunther is back and offering rare praise for Ludwig Kaiser, who gets a challenge from a vengeful Xavier Woods
  • Ludwig Kaiser def. Xavier Woods by DQ after Woods uses a steel chair, though he ends up getting it kicked into his (already bloody) face afterward
  • Bronson Reed says there is a champ right now who is unaware his championship will soon belong to Reed … though he doesn’t name which champ he’s talking about
  • Byron Saxton tries to get a word with Woods, but Kaiser attacks him until Jey Uso puts a stop to it
  • A video package shows us how we got to a Seth Rollins-Jinder Mahal world title match
  • Akira Tozawa def. Ivar by pinfall, though after the bell, Valhalla assaults Maxxine Dupri after the bell and Ivar hits a moonsault on Tozawa
  • CM Punk and Rhodes will be face to face next week on Raw
  • Ivy Nile says she will look for Pearce to deal with Valhalla; Chad Gable says he will teach Ivar a lesson next week too
  • Rhea Ripley addresses her division and ends up in a showdown with Becky Lynch
  • Seth Rollins says the only way to head to WrestleMania is to continue to be a fighting champion, a workhorse champion, and he knows this is the best version of Jinder Mahal and he wouldn’t have it any other way
  • Damian Priest and Finn Balor def. The Miz and R-Truth by pinfall
  • Jinder Mahal says everyone is divided but his focus is singular, and everyone will be unified when he defeats Rollins to become World Heavyweight Champion
  • Apparently Shinsuke Nakamura isn’t done with Cody Rhodes, which is interesting
  • Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark def. Natalya and Tegan Nox by submission, with Baszler making Natalya tap out
  • Seth Rollins def. Jinder Mahal by pinfall to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
Image credit: WWE.com

Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre bicker over who will finish their story first

Rhodes asks Little Rock what they want to talk about, giving some options. He’s about to launch into his “I’m on my way to Royal Rumble” routine when he’s interrupted by the arrival of Drew McIntyre.

The Scottish Warrior turns Cody’s question around on him before reminiscing about how they came up the first time in WWE together. McIntyre says he’s proud of Rhodes as both a man and performer and also reminds him they were tag team champs together as The Dashing Ones.

Drew mentions that both of them had to leave WWE to find themselves and “become verbs.” He believes in Rhodes now too, saying he will finish the story … but not before Drew finishes his.

Rhodes says Drew could win the Rumble, but so could Jey Uso. So could CM Punk. You can’t count anybody out.

McIntyre tells Rhodes he should just be himself and doesn’t need to smile all the time and try so hard. Cody seems irritated by that, insisting that he smiles when he comes out because he is grateful for his second chance while Drew stands and complains about his.

Undeterred, McIntyre claims Rhodes is standing in his way, and at WrestleMania, the story belongs to him. But the American Nightmare says McIntyre is still blaming everyone but himself, and if he wants to keep bringing up the last time they wrestled, he has one question: Who won?

Image credit: WWE.com

#DIY closes in on a tag team title shot with a victory over the champs’ teammates

The framing here is that #DIY is stringing together wins to get closer to a tag team title shot, and this is a victory that would surely help considering it’s the other two Judgment Day men who hold the gold.

Tommaso Ciampa takes flight with a corkscrew plancha, and Johnny Gargano does the same to send McDonagh over the announce table. They do their sitting on the apron and clapping thing as commercials arrive.

With some timely rulebending and double teaming, Mysterio and McDonagh take charge after the break. Wade Barrett calls out Dom’s fuzzy boots, which are, in fact, incredible.

Gargano is isolated and taking a beating far from his own corner. He finally hits Dom with his slingshot spear, and he nearly dives for the tag before Ciampa gets hauled off the apron by McDonagh.

Ciampa is the legal man after a second commercial break so must have gotten himself back in position while we were away. Gargano prevents a double team and Ciampa nearly rolls up Mysterio for three.

McDonagh saves his partner from another close call seconds later. Big shots start flowing in every direction, eventually leaving all four men down. The fans approve, starting a “this is awesome” chant.

Also awesome: McDonagh’s standing Spanish fly and top rope moonsault, leaving Ciampa in need of a save from his partner. Mysterio’s attempted 619 is foiled and he gets sent to the floor by a hard knee shot.

McDonagh looks like he’s in trouble now, and he eats Meet in the Middle, leaving him helpless as Gargano covers for three.

Image credit: WWE.com

Gunther is … happy with Ludwig Kaiser? Xavier Woods definitely is not

Ludwig Kaiser does his usual ring intro for Gunther, who is back from IRL paternity leave. Giovanni Vinci is hurt, so this is all the Imperium we get.

The Ring General says he can smell the desperation this close to Royal Rumble, which he reminds us he was close to winning last year after a record-setting time in the ring. This year, he plans on winning and main eventing WrestleMania. As one does.

But for now, he wants to focus on Kaiser, reviewing what’s been happening while Gunther was gone. The champs likes the grit, confidence and courage Kaiser showed in his attack on Kofi Kingston and gives him a hug as a sign of his happiness.

Not as happy? Xavier Woods, who is here and hot for some payback. He challenges Kaiser to a match, taunting him for needing to ask his “daddy” for permission.

Kaiser accepts and says what he did to Kingston is nothing compared to what he’ll do to Woods, who comes right after Ludwig, leaping off the apron and hammering him on the floor until a ref finally calms him down.

Mami vs. The Man? Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch tease Mania showdown

Mami makes it simple: This is her division, which is why she is the champion. As such, she says the Royal Rumble winner will be wasting a WrestleMania opportunity if they choose her. It’s just going to go the way it did last year, because Mami is always on top.

Some familiar music hits as an answer, and Bekcy Lynch joins Ripley in the ring. The Man says they are two very different people but with two very similar journeys.

Lynch says they’re the two very best to do it, but the voice in her head keeps her awake asking if perhaps Ripley is better than she is. Becky says she needs to prove that Rhea is not, and to do that means taking the title, and to do that means winning the Royal Rumble match.

Ripley says she really does want Lynch to win the Rumble and will see her at WrestleMania.

Image credit: WWE.com

R-Truth gets some harsh truth from Damian Priest and Finn Balor

Truth is not only in The Judgment Day’s entrance video, he also walks out behind them despite being on the opposing team. He then proceeds to spill cash all over the ring before the bell. Miz is basically pleading with his partner to convince him they’re on the same team. Funny stuff.

Truth ignores Priest’s suggestion earlier in the show that he not tag in, earning him a beating from Balor as commercials arrive. Nothing has changed after the break, really. Priest tags in but is immediately outmaneuvered by Truth, who get Miz in for his first extended action.

Miz fights Balor to the floor and sends Priest over the announce table. The A-Lister is rolling, but only until Balor counters away from a Skull Crushing Finale, and Truth tags himself in for a scissor kick to Balor. Priest blasts Miz with a kick but manages to stop Truth, who ends up kicking Balor and then taking South of Heaven from Priest.

Balor crawls over and pins Truth for a chaotic win as boos rain down from the fans.

Image credit: WWE.com

Seth Rollins overcomes chaos, retains against Jinder Mahal

Indus Sher accompanies Mahal to the ring, giving Rollins potentially one more thing to worry about. Seth has got plenty to worry about from Jinder himself in the opening minutes, though he connects on a flying knee off the apron to get a foothold in things. Damian Priest wanders out casually with his MITB case, and Rollins has a grim look on his face heading into commercials.

After we return, Mahal is treating Rollins to some pain inside the ring. Seth finally battles free of an abdominal stretch for the obligatory exchange of strikes, which the champ wins thanks to a healthy clothesline.

Rollins is tossed over the buckles, then comes flying back in with a cross body for a near fall. A second rope moonsault gives Rollins another near fall, though the announcers wonder if he tweaked a knee or ankle.

Both men want suplexes, but Rollins wins the day by pivoting to a Falcon Arrow. Seth is thinking Stomp but runs into some head kicks, though he perseveres for a Pedigree … sort of, as his knee gives out, and his cover is thwarted by Indus Sher’s timely assistance.

Rollins dives onto one of Mahal’s wingmen on the floor but misses a splash back into the ring. Priest is up on his feet as both combatants are down, but Drew McIntyre is there to throw hands with him.

While the ref is distracted by their brawl, Mahal follows a cheap shot by Indus Sher and comes darn close to stealing the world title. A chair is slid into Mahal, and dealing with that allows Indus Sher to get in a briefcase shot. Mahal hits the Khallas … but Rollins kicks out.

As Mahal tries for a second Khallas, Rollins evades it and hits a Stomp, closing the show by retaining his world title.

WWE Raw results 01/08/24: Cody might finally be done with Shinsuke

CM Punk also had a showdown with Drew McIntyre on WWE Raw from Portland.

While we all ponder where we might be watching Raw come this fall, we know where to catch it tonight: on USA, as per usual. The show comes to us from Portland, where one matchup has our attention.

That would be Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. Everyone expects that Rhodes will be in position to “finish the story” later this spring, but he keeps getting roadblocks thrown in his way in the meantime. Nakamura has been an especially persistent one, showing his full sadistic side during this program.

Would defeating him again help end it? Probably couldn’t hurt, and with Rhodes looking forward to the Royal Rumble match later this spring, he really needs to put Shinsuke in the rear view mirror if at all possible.

Portland will also see CM Punk make an appearance, though it looks like it may just be to talk in the ring. That’s fine since he’s one of the best at that, but you figure that sooner or later, WWE will want him to actually wrestle on Raw. Probably.

We’re ready for these segments and everything else thrown our way tonight, so off we go.

WWE Raw results from Portland:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Cody Rhodes is all smiles as he enters the building ahead of tonight’s main event
  • Drew McIntyre has something to say, but so does CM Punk
  • Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano walk out toward the ring, and Ciampa calls this a “must win” match that will lead to #DIY becoming tag team champs in 2024
  • Tommaso Ciampa def. Finn Balor by pinfall
  • Becky Lynch says she thought about the bad things that could have happened in the match with Nia Jax, and she’s taking the positive view since she didn’t end up in the hospital, and that maybe this is just the beginning of a run for her
  • Kofi Kingston vs. Ludwig Kaiser goes to a double countout, much to the dismay of the fans; they decide to keep fighting even after the bell, and Kaiser throws one of the announcer’s chairs in Kingston’s face and then dropkicks his head into the steel steps
  • Asked backstage about his attack, Kaiser screams and says it’s Kofi’s fault he is carrying the weight of Imperium alone
  • Nia Jax and Rhea Ripley have a face to face confrontation and sling some barbs at each other
  • A replay of The Rock’s appearance on last week’s episode of Raw is shown
  • Shinsuke Nakamura assaults Cody Rhodes backstage while he’s trying to be interviewed, and Adam Pearce and officials have to hustle to pull them apart
  • Kayden Carter and Katana Chance def. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven by pinfall to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
  • Due to their earlier brawl, the Rhodes-Nakamura main event is now a Street Fight
  • R-Truth explains why The Judgment Day is a “real family” now that he’s in and JD McDonagh is out, heh
  • The Judgment Day argues again about Truth, and Ripley tells McDonagh he needs to “handle” The Miz
  • The Miz def. JD McDonagh by pinfall, and R-Truth celebrates the win afterward, as confused as ever
  • Ripley goes to talk to Pearce about “our plans for next week,” and Balor and Priest agree that “this needs to end”
  • Seth Rollins is in the house, and he gets a visit from Jinder Mahal
  • Ivar def. Otis by pinfall
  • Jey Uso is asked if he has any plans for the new year, but Bronson Reed warns Jey not to get in his way
  • Cody Rhodes def. Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall in a Street Fight
Image credit: WWE.com

Drew McIntyre and CM Punk have a heated discussion about leadership

The Scottish Warrior says again that last Monday was all or nothing, and that he cost himself the match. He’s been thinking about it all week, and perhaps it is Drew McIntyre who is holding Drew McIntyre back.

If that’s the case, he needs to get his head screwed on straight and step away from WWE for a while. But … he didn’t lose straight up! It was because Damian Priest tried to cash in his MITB contract during the match, and due to that, he screwed McIntyre and himself.

Or maybe he can leave the company for nine years and get a hero’s reception when he returns. You know who did that? CM Punk, that’s who, and he does indeed get a great reception from the fans as he joins McIntyre in the ring.

Punk says it’s Piper Country and questions whether McIntyre is known for talking like Roddy was. If Drew has anything to say to CM, he can say it to his face, as he makes himself comfortable in the corner.

The Scottish Warrior mocks Punk for making it a month into his comeback while also suggesting he knows the “real” CM Punk. At one point in his career, McIntyre says he needed a leader to show him the way, but Punk was never that person and still isn’t. Indeed, Drew suggests he’s the one who is a leader now.

Punk retorts that he’s always led by example — including when he left the company, suggesting that gave McIntyre a blueprint to make himself better. He also disputes Drew’s assertion that he’s a demon, saying instead that he’s a nice guy but can be “Satan himself” when pushed too far.

McIntyre says what he did before, he did for the fans, but when he eliminates Punk from the Royal Rumble and heads to WrestleMania, it will be for him. Punk says the only person who can stop himself from accomplishing his goals is him, and not Drew, Seth Rollins or Cody Rhodes can prevent him from winning the Rumble. He claims he’ll throw McIntyre out last before he leaves the ring.

Image credit: WWE.com

Tommaso Ciampa outwits Finn Balor with a little help

Apparently R-Truth was responsible for this match, calling Balor a “scaredy-cat” and goading him into this matchup. There are high stakes too, since #DIY will get a title shot if Ciampa wins.

Both Damian Priest and Johnny Gargano are ringside to support their respective teammates, with Priest staring down Ciampa when they find themselves face to face outside the ring. Balor sends Tommaso crashing down into the announce table right before commercials.

Ciampa’s DDT right after the break gets him a near fall. A stomp to the chest is Finn’s answer, but he takes a running knee and Project Ciampa and has to kick out at two again.

Balor rallies but sees Ciampa roll away from the Coup de Grace, and then gets rolled up for another near fall. Priest is up on the apron, and Gargano nearly finds disaster when he gets involved.

Will Ciampa pay for halting to help his partner? He does not, as he’s able to capitalize on Gargano grabbing Balor’s foot after a suplex to get a quick three count. Turnabout is fair play, as they say.

Nia Jax has a Mami problem, or is it the other way around?

Michael Cole gets a word in the ring with Jax, who scoffs at the idea that it was “shocking” that she defeated Becky Lynch. But when she gets to the part about running through the Royal Rumble, Rhea Ripley joins her.

Rhea says the people know what’s up and they know how Nia loves to talk a good game. She reminds Jax who threw her out of last year’s Rumble (it was Rhea) and warns Nia not to walk around like she owns the division, because she doesn’t.

Ripley says it’s best to keep Rhea’s name out of her mouth; Jax fires back that she’s too scared to face off one on one. But once she squashes everyone else in the Rumble, she plans on choosing Ripley. “See you soon, unstoppable champ.”

Image credit: WWE.com

Kayden Carter and Katana Chance retain after friendly fire downs the former champs

Wade Barrett suggests that even with the gold, Carter and Chance feel like underdogs coming into this title defense. Many other members of the women’s roster are shown watching backstage.

The champs go for some quick falls, trying to keep Green busy and isolated. Green finally sends Chance headfirst into the turnbuckles, and Niven tags in and treats her to a cannonball for a near fall.

After commercials, Carter gets her first chance for some extended offense, including a near fall on Green. A springboard legdrop is good for another. A top rope Frankensteiner by Chance forces Green to kick out yet again, but the champs are really rolling.

Green finally scores with a Roughrider on Carter and her own near fall. Niven tags back in, using a senton on Carter that means Chance has to save her partner. A uranage sends Carter down, but Chance pulls her partner out of the ring, and Niven hits a Vader Bomb on her own partner. Oh dear.

After getting Niven out of the ring, the Keg Stand on Green seals it up for the champs.

Image credit: WWE.com

Seth Rollins fights off Jinder Mahal … no, really

The World Heavyweight Champion reminds Portland that Royal Rumble is close and after that, we are on the Road to WrestleMania. While Seth says his Mania record is pretty good, he says he’s never taken a world title into the event. He’s never been on the marquee, but he says that will change this year.

But the question is who he’s going to beat on the Grandest Stage of Them All? That starts a somewhat unorganized CM Punk chant, to which he responds by saying “in his dreams, maybe.” Instead, Jinder Mahal comes down the ramp.

Mahal suggests he was more of a Visionary in five minutes last week than Rollins has been his whole career. He also gripes that Seth is giving out opportunities to others less deserving than him, which … not sure that’s true but OK.

Seth says Jinder is right and that he’s been overlooked — but it’s been on purpose, until last week when he showed up “and The Rock put your balls in a vice.” He does admit that Mahal was able to rebound from that and show back up, but he’s not crazy about Jinder coming out and interrupting his segment.

The champ tells Jinder to take a swing, but he chooses to take a cheap shot instead. Rollins easily repulses his attack, however, and is the one standing tall in the ring.

Image credit: WWE.com

Cody Rhodes might finally be done with Shinsuke Nakamura after winning a Street Fight

It doesn’t take long for these two to fight up toward the stage, then back toward ringside where Rhodes is fully in charge. He bounces a water bottle off Shinsuke’s face as the crowd chants for tables.

Rhodes goes up top but sees his foe escape, then pop back up using a broom as a weapon. A kendo stick is next to be brought to bear, and Rhodes has to head for the floor for a respite.

Nakamura is bossing things after a commercial break, paintbrushing Rhodes and toying with him a bit. He kicks Rhodes in the face, then the back of the neck.

Shinsuke switches gears, looking for a half crab. More kicks land too, but Rhodes fires himself up with a forearm shot off the ropes and a powerslam. A Disaster Kick follows and earns a near fall.

Nakamura gets some nunchaku out and puts them to good use over by the announce table. But his attempt to spray his mist misses Rhodes and hits the timekeeper right in the face instead. While Cody asks for help, Shinsuke attacks him with a steel chair, and more ads arrive.

He’s still going to town with that chair when we return, though now both men are back in the ring. Rhodes is able to turn the tables with the fans urging him on, and he meets Shinsuke for an exchange of strikes that he wins with a pair of Bionic Elbows.

The American Nightmare sets up a table but is greeted by a headbutt. Rhodes ends up on the table and takes double knees to drive him through it. Nakamura covers but only gets a two count.

Shinsuke gets another table out from under the ring, smiling as he goes about setting it up. They battle into a corner, and Nakamura hits his sliding German suplex. Off the second rope comes Nakamura with a knee strike, yet Rhodes manages to kick out again.

In the middle of the ring, Rhodes delivers a Pedigree for his own near fall. A Cody Cutter is next, but it’s still not quite enough to end it.

Nakamura counters a Cross Rhodes attempt and looks for a Kinshasa, but Cody sends him into the corner table. Cross Rhodes doesn’t miss this time, and the American Nightmare is triumphant.