WWE RAW Live Coverage - December 25th, 2023
Your hosts are Peter Rosenberg and Jackie Redmond.
Miz asks really if this is it. He says he expected more pizazz. This is the Miz. He wants things to be more must see since it is Christmas. Tonight is a night of grandeur and spectacle. He says we will look at the most monumental moments of the year and who else to start it but Miz, the man who was too busy to host the Academy Awards because he was hosting Wrestlemania.
Miz says this year eclipsed them all. There was heart-wrenching drama. We saw Cody Rhodes face Brock Lesnar. We saw Rhea Ripley face Charlotte Flair on the greatest stage of them all. We saw Ricochet and Logan Paul. We also saw Trish Stratus face Becky Lynch. Miz brings up Bad Bunny. Our heroes shined and our villains reigned.
Peter says we will see exclusive interviews with Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Jey Uso, Becky Lynch, and more. Jackie says Seth Rollins will join them soon.
We take a look back at Seth Rollins and AJ Styles from Night of Champions.
Here is the coverage from Night of Champions:
Match Number One: World Championship Match: Seth Rollins versus AJ Styles
Seth avoids AJ on the first attempt to lock up and the crowd hums Seth's music. They go for a Test of Strength but Seth fakes AJ out and walks away. AJ with a drop kick and clothesline that sends Seth over the top rope to the floor. AJ with a slingshot move but he sees Seth get back in the ring so AJ lands on the apron. They lock up and Seth with a side head lock. Seth with sling blade and AJ rolls to the floor. Seth goes to the apron and hits a knee to the temple off the apron. Seth gets a near fall. Seth goes for a suplex but AJ blocks it a few times. AJ runs Seth into the corner and connects with shoulders. AJ with a snap mare and a knee drop.
AJ with a kick to the back. AJ with a reverse chin lock. Seth with an Irish whip and AJ floats over and Seth hits the turnbuckles. AJ with chops but Seth with an Irish whip. Seth catches AJ when AJ tries to float over and Seth with a flatliner into the turnbuckles and then he sends AJ face first into the middle turnbuckle. Seth puts AJ on the turnbuckles and chops AJ to the apron. Seth sets for a superplex but AJ escapes and drops Seth on the turnbuckles. AJ and Seth exchange punches. AJ suplexes Seth into the turnbuckles. Seth with chops and punches to AJ. AJ blocks a punch and Styles with a series of strikes ending with a clothesline and a sliding forearm.
AJ with a flying clothesline into the corner and Seth escapes an Ushigoroshi but AJ with a sit out gourdbuster for a near fall. AJ sets for a Styles Clash but Seth backs AJ into the corner and connects with an elbow. AJ with a moonsault into a reverse DDT for a near fall. Seth rolls through on a sunset flip and then picks up AJ and hits a buckle bomb. Seth goes up top and hits a frog splash for a near fall. Rollins with a rolling elbow but misses a KO to the back of the head. AJ with an Ushigoroshi for a near fall. Seth escapes a power bomb and he sets for a Pedigree. AJ escapes and hits an enzuigiri. AJ goes to the apron and then to the turnbuckles for a super Styles Clash. Seth holds on to the ropes and gives AJ a back drop. Seth puts AJ on the turnbuckles.
Seth with forearms to the back of the head and sets for a reverse superplex but AJ with elbows to send Seth to the mat. Seth leaps back to the turnbuckles and hits the reverse superplex and rolls through into a side slam for a near fall. Seth goes up for a Phoenix Splash but AJ moves and Seth over rotates to land on his feet and roll through. AJ with a tornado move to the apron and Seth tries to suplex AJ into the ring while AJ tries to suplex Seth to the floor. They go back and forth and AJ pulls Seth to the apron. AJ with an X Plex onto the apron.
AJ sends Seth back into the ring to set for a Phenomenal Forearm and Seth pushes AJ off the ropes to the floor. Seth with a suicide dive but Seth lands awkwardly and may have injured his knee. Seth limps to get back into the ring and AJ returns to the ring as well. Seth goes for a suplex but AJ counters with a Calf Crusher. AJ rolls Seth into the center of the ring. Seth with a reverse chin lock to try to get out of the hold and Seth succeeds. AJ with a kick but Seth with a clothesline and both men are down. Seth and AJ exchange punches and forearms. AJ slaps Seth and kicks the leg. Rollins with a back heel kick and Kawada kicks but AJ with a chop and punches.
Rollins with an enzuigiri and AJ misses a Pele Kick. Seth with a stomp to the hand. AJ escapes a Pedigree and goes for a Styles Clash. AJ with a Pele Kick and Pedigree for a near fall. AJ is the first to his feet and he goes to the apron. Seth helps himself up using the ropes and AJ with a forearm. AJ goes for a Phenomenal Forearm but Seth with a super kick. Seth sets for the Stomp but his knee gives out. AJ goes for the Calf Crusher but Seth rolls through for a Pedigree. Seth limps into a Stomp for the three count.
Winner: Seth Rollins (new champion)
After the match, Triple H comes to the ring to present the new title belt to the first World Champion Seth Rollins.
Peter calls it a monumental victory for Seth.
We go to Seth Rollins.
Jackie asks if his daughter is old enough to understand stuff and get hyped. Seth says she loves the holiday and everything. He loves being able to watch her open her gifts. Peter asks what did it mean to be the first champion. Seth says it was an honor to be the first champion and give others a shot at the title. If you have nothing to aim for and not have goals, you are going to stagnate. Seth says he wants to make this place the best it could be. He says he is proud to be a champion and give chances to so many. He says he cannot wait to keep defending the title.
Peter brings up the return of CM Punk and he mentions that Seth is not a fan. Jackie points out what Seth said about Punk. Peter asks about Punk's return at Survivor Series. He says he felt rage and disappointment, but he knew it was coming. There was some disbelief that you are seeing a ghost you want to punch in the mouth. Jackie asks if anything will have Seth show respect to Punk. Seth says it is a long road because for Punk, he spent ten years losing respect. He respected Punk before but then he said you don't want to meet your heroes. Seth says it will be a long road for Punk to have his respect.
Jackie asks about Drew and their match. Seth says a lot of what he is saying is not wrong. Seth says he understands where Drew is coming from and what he wants. The problem is that he has to beat him for the title. Seth says he is operating at a level that is untouchable. He does not care about what version of Drew McIntyre we have, he has to find a way to beat Seth for the title. Seth says he does not believe that he can be beaten. He tells Drew to bring his best next Monday.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Alpha Academy talk about what they have done in 2023. Chad says he hates saying goodbye to 2023. Maxxine says she is a master of curing the Christmas blues. We have ad for WWE Shop.
Jackie says Christmas is a time to celebrate and she mentions the signing of Jade Cargill. Peter says it was an early Christmas when she signed. He calls her a once in a career talent. Peter says he cannot wait to see Jade in the ring.
We take a look back at the Smackdown Women's Championship Match between Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley from Wrestlemania.
Here is the coverage from the show.
Match Number Six: Smackdown Women’s Championship Match: Charlotte Flair versus Rhea Ripley
Charlotte bounces off the ropes before locking up. Charlotte with a wrist lock. Flair with a hammer lock and she slaps the back of Rhea's head. Charlotte with a side head lock and shoulder tackle but Rhea with a shoulder tackle of her own. Rhea blocks a hip toss and Rhea misses a clothesline. Flair with a shoulder tackle and she sends Rhea over the top rope to the floor. Rhea returns to the ring and she pokes Flair. Rhea pushes Flair and Flair with a chop. Rhea backs Flair into the corner and connects with shoulders. Flair with forearms. Rhea with an Irish whip and Flair does the Flair flip to the apron. Flair with a kick and she goes up top and hits a cross body. Rhea with a back elbow. Flair with a kick to the head. Flair puts the leg in the ropes and Rhea avoids the knee drop. Rhea drops Flair into the top turnbuckle and she goes down. Rhea kicks Flair many times. Rhea works on the back. Flair with forearms and Rhea with a kick and she sends Flair into the turnbuckles. Rhea with a body scissors.
Rhea with forearms to the back and then she connects with forearms to the back. Flair with forearms and she escapes. Flair with a rollup for a near fall. Rhea with a forearm to the back and she connects with another two. Flair with a back elbow but she misses a chop. Rhea with a German suplex for a near fall. Rhea with a short arm clothesline and then she connects with another one. Flair with a boot and elbow. Charlotte with a back breaker and she sends Rhea into the turnbuckles. Flair with clotheslines. Flair with chops to Rhea. Flair with a knee drop to the leg hanging on the ropes. Rhea sends Flair to the apron but Flair with a forearm.
Flair sends Rhea into the turnbuckles. Flair goes to the apron and she goes up top and hits a cross body but Rhea holds on and goes for a slam. Rhea goes for RipTide but Flair counters into a DDT for a near fall. Flair goes for the figure four but Rhea kicks her away. Flair tries again and Rhea kicks her again. Rhea with an inside cradle for a near fall. Both women with boots to the head and both go down. Rhea with a forearm and Flair fires back. Flair with forearms. Rhea with a kick and she stomps on the foot and hits a face buster. Flair with a fallaway slam. Flair goes up top for a moonsault but Rhea leaps to the turnbuckles. Flair knocks Rhea off the turnbuckles but Rhea gets back up and hits a German superplex for a near fall.
Flair lands on her feet and she clips Rhea and hits Natural Selection for a near fall. Rhea rolls to the apron. They go to the floor and Flair misses a spear and hits the ring steps. They return to the ring and Rhea sends Flair to the mat for a near fall. Rhea sets for RipTide but Flair escapes and hits a German suplex. Flair with another German suplex. Rhea with a back elbow and a German suplex and Flair lands hard. Rhea with a forearm and she tries for another German suplex but Flair blocks it and connects with an elbow. Flair with a boot for a near fall. Rhea kicks Flair to stop the figure four. Flair with a running boot to knock Rhea off the apron. Flair goes to the turnbuckles for a moonsault and she hits it.
They return to the ring and Flair with a single leg take down but Rhea kicks Flair away. Flair misses a spear and almost hits the referee. Rhea with a head butt and RipTide for a near fall. Rhea sends Flair back into the mat. Flair with an inside cradle for a near fall. Rhea with the Prison Lock. Flair gets to the ropes to force a break. Flair sends Rhea into the referee on the break and Flair with a spear for a near fall. Flair pie faces Rhea and Rhea with forearms. They go back and forth with forearms. Rhea with a round kick and Flair with a boot to the head. Flair with a figure four leg lock but Rhea gets to the ropes to force a break. Rhea goes to the apron.
Flair sends Rhea into the ring post and they go to the turnbuckles. Flair with a super fallaway slam attempt but Rhea stops it and drops Flair on the ring post. Rhea with RipTide from the turnbuckles for the three count.
Winner: Rhea Ripley (new champion))
Rhea says 2023 was the year where Rhea Ripley and THE Judgment Day took over Raw. Anyone who dared step in her path found themselves Eradicated. As the calendar flips to 2024, another fool thinks they can step up to her. Ivy Nile, you will discover what every other woman on this roster knows. This is here division and you are nothing in her world.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look back at Ricochet and Logan Paul from SummerSlam.
Here is the coverage from the show.
Logan Paul vs Ricochet
Ricochet has some words for Logan and Logan has something to say to Ricochet. Logan wipes Ricochet's head and Ricochet slaps Logan. Logan misses a clothesline and Ricochet with a handstand head scissors and a drop kick. Ricochet teases a dive but Logan ducks and Ricochet does a Superhero landing. Ricochet with a waist lock into a side head lock. Logan goes for a sunset flip but Ricochet rolls through. Ricochet misses a kick and Logan with a back elbow. Logan avoids Ricochet and Logan with a front face lock. Logan with a hip lock take down into a reverse chin lock. Logan holds on to the ropes to avoid a spin kick from Ricochet. Ricochet with a shoulder from the apron but Logan stops Ricochet from getting back into the ring and Logan chokes Ricochet in the ropes. They both go to the apron and Logan with forearms to the back. Logan with a neck breaker onto the apron.
Logan tells Samantha he is going to hurt her man real bad. They get back into the ring and Logan with a punch to the midsection. Logan with more punches to Ricochet and the referee warns Logan. Logan with more punches and he puts Ricochet on the turnbuckles. Logan with a running power slam for a near fall. Logan with a slam. Logan with a boot to the chest and a split leg drop for a near fall. Ricochet escapes a slam and hits a spinebuster. Ricochet with the People's Moonsault for a near fall. Ricochet with punches and kicks. Logan with a back body drop. Logan with a springboard clothesline to Ricochet on the apron. Logan goes to the apron and sets for Spanish Fly off the apron but they land on their feet. Ricochet with Spanish Fly on the floor. Logan trips Ricochet and pulls him to the floor. Logan with a buckshot lariat to the floor.
Logan goes up top and hits a cross body and then he hits a standing moonsault for a near fall. Paul with a punch but Ricochet punches follow up punches. Ricochet with punches and he avoids Logan when Logan charges into the corner. Logan hits the ring post shoulder first. Ricochet goes up top and he pulls Logan up with him. Ricochet with a neck breaker off the turnbuckles. Ricochet with kicks to the leg and a chop. Ricochet with a handspring back elbow and then he hits a running forearm. Ricochet with an Irish whip and head butt to the midsection. Ricochet with a springboard clothesline. Ricochet with a shooting star press for a near fall. Ricochet with kicks to the chest.
Ricochet kicks Logan in the arm. Logan avoids a kick and Ricochet lands on his feet on a belly-to-back suplex attempt. Logan comes off the turnbuckles with a moonsault and Ricochet catches Logan. Logan counters into a tornado DDT for a near fall. Logan sets for a power bomb but Ricochet lands on his feet and connects with a jumping knee and Recoil. Ricochet pulls Logan into position and he goes up top. Ricochet holds his ribs and then goes for the shooting star press but Logan gets his knees up. Logan gets an inside cradle for a near fall. Logan kicks Ricochet in the corner. Ricochet lands on his feet when Logan pulls him up. Logan with a power bomb set up into a flapjack. Logan with a springboard splash for a near fall.
Logan sets for a punch but Ricochet with a thrust kick. Ricochet gets Logan up and hits a Detonation Kick and a rolling Death Valley Driver. Ricochet with a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Ricochet pulls Logan into the corner but Ricochet has trouble doing it because of the damage done to his ribs. Logan grabs the ankle and Ricochet kicks Logan. Ricochet goes up top and misses a 630 splash when Logan moves. Someone hands Logan brass knuckles without the referee seeing it. Logan punches Ricochet and gets the three count.
Winner: Logan Paul
Peter mentions that Logan has only been in eight matches. Jackie mentions that we will see Logan's match against Rey Mysterio from Crown Jewel.
Jackie mentions Bad Bunny and his 2023 in the ring.
We take a look at his match from Backlash against Damian Priest.
Here is the coverage
Bad Bunny versus Damian Priest
Bunny gets in Priest's face and Priest pushes Bunny to the mat. Bunny gets up and he gets in Priest's face again. Priest backs Bunny into the corner and Bunny covers up and he pats Bunny on the head. Bunny with a punch. Priest misses a splash into the corner and Bunny with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Bunny goes to the floor and he gets a kendo stick from his buggy. Bunny gets into the ring when Priest goes to the floor. Priest catches Bunny and runs him into the corner when Bunny tries to use the kendo stick. Priest grabs the kendo stick and he breaks it over his knee. Bunny with a punch and Priest wtih a forearm and slam. Priest kicks Bunny in the head. Priest with a wrist lock but Bunny with a punch. Priest adds more pressure to the wrist lock. Bunny with a punch and Priest with a forearm to the arm. Bunny rakes the eyes and punches Priest but Priest with a knee to the midsection.
Bunny with a jaw breaker and he goes to the turnbuckles to punch Bunny. Priest stops Bunny and Bunny with a sunset flip for a near fall. Priest blocks a punch and Priest boxes the ears a few times. Priest waits for Bunny to turn around and he hits an elbow in the corner. Priest sets for South of Heaven and hits it and Priest pulls Bunny up before the three count. Priest goes to the weapon cache and gets an axe handle. He tosses it to teh floor and then Priest goes for a springboard flip to the floor but Bunny throws a chair at Priest. Bunny goes under the table and he gets a kendo stick and hits Priest with it a few times. Priest runs into a boot and Bunny with a tornado DDT.
Bunny clotheslines Priest over the top rope to the floor. Bunny goes up top and hits a cross body onto Priest on the floor. Bunny hits Priest with the trash can lids and then Bunny gets his kendo stick back. Bunny hits Priest many times with it. Priest blocks a kendo stick shot and he sends Bunny away. Bunny with an elbow into the corner and then Bunny boxes the ears. Bunny with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Priest sees that he is bleeding and Bunny tells him to come back into the ring and cross his line.
Priest says he has had enough and he starts to walk away. Bunny gets a trash can and goes after Priest but Priest turns around and kicks the trash can into Bunny. Priest hits Bunny in the back with the trash can. Priest gets the lid and hits Bunny with it. Priest gets to the kendo stick and he hits Bunny in the back with it as he swings for the fences. Priest sends Bunny over the ringside barrier into the timekeeper's area. Priest with a forearm and they go into the crowd. Priest and Bunny exchange punches. Bunny with a punch and Priest with a round kick to the head. Priest puts Bunny on top of a production case. The shirt comes off and Bunny punches Priest but Priest with a punh and Broken Arrow through a table.
Adam Pearce and officials come over to check on Bunny. Priest tells an official that Bunny isn't done because he isn't done. Priest puts Bunny on his shoulder and he carries Bunny back into the ringside area. Priest with a kick to the chest. Priest kicks Bunny against the ring post. Priest goes for a Cyclone kick but Bunny moves and Priest kicks the ring post. Bunny gets a kendo stick and hits Priest in the leg. Bunny runs into a boot but Bunny blocks it and hits a knee breaker to the injured leg. Bunny with an elbow to the leg followed by punches and then he wrings the leg into the ring post. Bunny with punches and he wrings the leg again. Bunny grabs a chain and he hits Priest in the leg with it. Priest begs for mercy and Bunny puts the chain around the ankle and wrings the leg into the post.
Bunny gets a chair and he hits Priest in the leg with it against the ring post. They go into the ring and Priest begs for mercy. Bunny stops and then he thinks about it for a moment. Priest with a kick to the head. Priest hops over to Bunny. Bunny kicks Priest in the groinal region.
Balor and Dom come to the ring and they attacck Bunny. Finn grabs the chair while him and Dom kick Bunny. Balor puts the chair in the turnbuckles. Rey Mysterio makes his way to the ring and he goes after Dom and Balor but Balor and Dom are too much for him.
Carlito makes his way to the ring and he punches Dom and Balor. Carlito sends Dom over the top rope and Rey with a head scissors take down to Balor followed by a lungblower from Carlito. Carlito takes a bite out of an apple and Dom hits Carlito from behind. Rey with a drop toe hold to send Dom into the ropes and Rey with a 619. Carlito punches Dom and Carlito and Rey chase Finn and Dom up the aisle.
Savio Vega makes his way down the aisle. Finn laughs at Savio. Savio is not alone and the rest of the LWO make their way up the aisle and they go after Dom and Finn.
Finn has had enough and he turns around to Savio. Savio with chops to Finn followed by a back heel kick. Now it is Dom's turn to get chopped followed by a palm thrust.
Meanwhile, back in the ring, Priest's knee gives out on a cyclone kick. Bunny with a figure four leg lock and Bunny gets a near fall. Bunny punches the leg and Priest is about to tap out. Priest chokes Bunny and gets out of the hold. Bunny counters South of Heaven into a victory roll for a near fall. Priest misses a shoulder in the corner and hits the chair that Balor set up.Bunny with Sliced Bread and he gets a near fall. Bunny hits Priest in the back with the chair many times. Bunny with a Destroyer for three count.
Winner: Bad Bunny
