WWE RAW Live Coverage - January 13th, 2025
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Damian Priest to battle Finn Bálor in a Street Fight
A new chapter in the extremely volatile rivalry between Damian Priest and Finn Bálor is set to be written when the one-time Judgment Day brothers go to war in a Street Fight.
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– We are live! The show kicks off with a video recapping some of the highlights of last week's show.
– Michael Cole and Pat McAfee then greet audiences at home as CM Punk makes his way out to the ring.
Punk acknowledges the firefighters and first responders working to put out the wildfires in Los Angeles, then says it's good to be alive on a Monday night in San Jose. He asks the live crowd who was watching last week when he defeated Seth "Freakin" Rollins, and while he has a lot on his plate, Rollins is no longer one of those things.
Punk addresses being unable to win the 2024 Men's Royal Rumble and separating his tricep from the bone during the match, then says he made his biggest setback his biggest comeback. He calls out John Cena after he declared his intentions to win the 2025 Men's Royal Rumble, then says he has the same intentions that Cena has to finally achieve his dream of main eventing WrestleMania.
Rollins' music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He says he knows Punk isn't happy to see him, but he can't be surprised that he's standing in the ring with him because he promised to do so and is a man of his word. He says he's lost plenty of big matches, but his loss to Punk last week was the worst in his career. He says he's never been more disappointed in himself because he couldn't get the job done, and now to seek redemption, he'll flush Punk's WrestleMania dreams by winning the Men's Royal Rumble.
Drew McIntyre's music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He says Punk got more disgusting when he thought he couldn't, and Punk responds by reminding them of what happened in their last encounter. McIntyre clarifies that he was talking to Rollins, and says the difference between him and Punk is that Punk can admit "what a piece of crap he is." Rollins says he has no patience for McIntyre, and Punk says he has no patience for either man. He says he's planning on staying in the ring to swing, and Rollins squares up. McIntyre makes his way down to the ring, but opts not to get inside asking why he'd ever do that after everything he's said. He says there's a bigger problem in Roman Reigns playing chess right now while everyone has been playing checkers, then announces that he'll be joining Punk and Rollins in the Men's Royal Rumble.
– Chad Gable then makes his way out to the ring. His mystery opponent and WWE's newest Superstar, Penta, follows.
Penta vs. Chad Gable
The bell rings and Penta looks to hit his signature Zero Miedo pose. Gable intercepts it, but Penta catches him in a side headlock Gable transitions into a pinfall, but Penta kicks out and lands an armdrag on Gable. Gable fires off a right hand and a chop on Penta, then whips him into the corner. Penta intercepts Gable with a superkick, then lands a springboard leg drop on him.
Gable connects with a suplex on Penta in the ring and pins him, but Penta kicks out. Gable then rains down right hands on him in the corner, but Penta lands a kick on him that sends him crashing off the ropes and delivers a modified Bronco Buster. Penta and Gable brawl on the ring apron, but Gable delivers a German suplex to Penta that sends him crashing onto the floor and dumps him back inside the ring. He then sends Penta's leg bouncing off the ring post and continues wearing it down before landing a suplex on Penta and looking to land a leg drop off the top rope.
Penta sees Gable coming and delivers a suplex to him into the corner, and the two exchange chops with one another. Penta connects with a Sling Blade on Gable and sends him crashing onto the floor over the top rope. He then flies to level him on the outside.
Penta dumps Gable back inside the ring and lands an enzuigiri on him from the apron, then ascends to the top rope and lands a crossbody on him. He connects with a kick on Gable in the corner and sends him crashing into the mat. Gable hits a German suplex on Penta before Penta responds with a Canadian Destroyer and goes for a pin. Gable kicks out.
Gable delivers a Dragon Screw to Penta and cinches in an Ankle Lock on him. Penta escapes and wrenches back on Gable's arm, then sends him crashing into the mat with the Penta Driver for the win.
Winner: Penta
– Jackie Redmond gets in the ring and welcomes Penta to RAW on Netflix. She asks Penta what this means to him and he thanks San Jose and says this is his new home. He says he knows we were all waiting for this moment, but the truth is he has been waiting for this moment. He says he knows this is a new era, so this is not only the Netflix new era but it's The Penta new era.
– Backstage, The Judgement chats it up. Finn Balor tells Liv Morgan she'll be champ again and says he'll let the two lovers sort out their business. Dominik Mysterio apologizes to Morgan and she says she isn't mad at him but then tells him to get her bags and Raquel Rodriguez's bags. Morgan and Rodriguez leave and Balor says he's going to destroy Priest tonight. McDonagh says he'll get a rematch for their tag titles. Mysterio asks Balor if he's sure he doesn't want him out there for his match against Priest. Balor tells him he should work on fixing stuff with Morgan and to get her bags.
– Cathy Kelley catches up with The Pure Fusion Collective. PFC says they get disrespected and no one cares, and when they disrespect people it's an issue. What they did to Kairi Sane isn't just a message for Damage CTRL but it's for the whole women's roster.
– Bron Breakker is shown in the audience taking in our next match.
– Sheamus then makes his way down to the ring. Ludwig Kaiser follows.
Ludwig Kaiser vs. Sheamus
The bell rings and Kaiser looks to land an arm drag on Sheamus. Sheamus turns Kaiser inside out with a clothesline, but Kaiser rocks Sheamus with a kick to his head. Sheamus levels Kaiser with a chop on the outside, then dumps him back inside the ring and sets up for The 10 Beats of the Bodhram. Kaiser escapes and sends Sheamus crashing into the announce desk face first. Kaiser then delivers a dropkick to Sheamus.
Kaiser and Sheamus get back inside the ring, and the two go back and forth before Sheamus sends Kaiser crashing into the top turnbuckle midsection first. He joins him on the ropes, but Kaiser pulls him off and sends him crashing into the mat. Kaiser fires off a few kicks on Sheamus, but Sheamus catches one and fires off chops on Kaiser. He connects with The 10 Beats of the Bodhran, then clotheslines Kaiser over the top rope and back into the ring.
Sheamus gets Kaiser up on his shoulders and ascends to the middle rope, then sends him crashing into the mat with White Noise and goes for a pin. Kaiser kicks out, but Sheamus intercepts him with a jumping knee. Kaiser then mocks Sheamus and looks to land an enzuigiri, but Sheamus catches him with a Brogue Kick for the win.
Winner: Sheamus
– After the match, Sheamus celebrates and Bron Breakker gets in his face.
– Cathy Kelley catches up with Seth Rollins and tells him Adam Pearce has made a match with him against Drew McIntyre next week. As Rollins walks away he sees Sami Zayn. Zayn tells Rollins if ever wants to talk he's here for him. Rollins says his week was rough but Zayn's week was great bringing up how Zayn helped Reigns win. He asks Zayn if that's all he's going to do or if he's going to help himself.
– Gunther is seen walking backstage.
– Jackie Redmond talks to Carlito and JD McDonagh about the current status of The Judgement Day - with what appears to be tension between Liv Morgan and Finn Balor. McDonagh tells her she's trying to stir up drama and that there is no tension within The Judgement Day.
– The Miz and Karrion Kross talk backstage and Kross tells Miz that The Wyatt Sicks have been moved to SmackDown and if Miz had anything to do with this... Sami Zayn comes by and they make fun of Zayn. Zayn tells Miz that he's Kross' lacky and says he's going to ask Pearce for a match against The Miz.
– GUNTHER then makes his way out to the ring.
GUNTHER says he followed Raw last week and says while he was impressed with the production, he wasn't impressed with the performers. He says everyone is fighting over personal drama, and the only prize worth fighting for is his World Heavyweight Championship.
Jey Uso's music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He tells GUNTHER that now that his family drama is settled, he has his sights set on GUNTHER's World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event on January 25. GUNTHER makes it clear that he doesn't take Jey seriously and calls him a really good tag team wrestler before telling him that he isn't on his level. He says while "Main Event" is a nickname to Jey, it's the place that he belongs and he should stay out of championship business. He says he's willing to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Jey, but the choice is ultimately up to him.
GUNTHER looks to leave the ring, but Jey stops him and says he respects him. He says everything GUNTHER said was true, and he was scared to be a singles star, but he bet on himself and GUNTHER will respect that at Saturday Night's Main Event.
– Bayley is in the crowd and Cathy Kelley catches up with her. Bayley plugs her match against Tiffany Stratton next week and then discusses the IC Finals and says she's excited to see the match. She then trashes Michael Cole and gets the arena to say "Michael Cole is an idiot".
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WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship Finals: Dakota Kai vs. Lyra Valkyria
The bell rings and the two lock up. They go back and forth with each other, but Valkyria sends Kai crashing into the ring apron spine first. Kai looks to respond with a kick off the apron, but Valkyria intercepts it and delivers a suplex to Kai off the ring apron and onto the floor.
The pair get back inside the ring, and Valkyria locks in a pair of Bow and Arrows on Kai. She continues wearing down Kai with another submission but Kai responds by sending Valkyria crashing into the mat. She looks to land a Go To Kick on Valkyria, but Valkyria escapes and sends Kai crashing into the mat. She delivers a split leg drop off the top rope, but Kai lands a Scorpion Kick on her and follows it up with a second kick to her spine. She lands a second Go To Kick on Valkyria, then looks to land a running boot on her. Valkyria sees Kai coming and gets her up on her shoulders, then connects with Night Wing for the win.
Winner and NEW WWE Women's Intercontinental Champion: Lyra Valkyria
– After the match, Adam Pearce gives Valkyria the title and both Kai shows a sign of respect and shakes Valkyria's hand.
– Finn Balor gets ready for his match backstage.
– Cathy Kelley catches up with The New Day and asks them when they'll compete again. Woods says they won't address this until they get respect - and call out Rey Mysterio. Woods says, maybe next week and tell Kelly they're out of time for any more questions
– The Miz then makes his way out to the ring. Sami Zayn follows.
Sami Zayn vs. The Miz
The bell rings and the two lock up. Zayn delivers a double ax handle to Miz off the middle rope, but Miz fires off a pair of knees on Zayn's midsection and delivers a kick to his face. Zayn rains down right and left hands on Miz in the corner, then connects with an Exploder on him. Miz fires off the Miz Kicks on Zayn, but Zayn intercepts Miz with a Helluva Kick and a Blue Thunder Bomb for the win.
Winner: Sami Zayn
– Rhea Ripley is shown walking backstage with her Women's Championship and she makes her way to the ring. Ripley says Mami is back on top and how dominant she is. Nia Jax interrupts Ripley and says she's out here to talk to Mami. Jax says she'll win the Royal Rumble and will take whatever title she wants. She calls out Bayley in the front row and trashes San Jose. Jax says the only woman on top in this division is her, not Ripley, not Bayley or Tiffany Stratton. Bayley jumps the barrier and gets in the ring and calls Jax a dumb idiot. Jax takes down Bayley and then shoves Ripley. Ripley headbutts Jax and Jax pushes her down. Bayley hits Jax and Ripley clobbers Jax out for the ring. In the ring, Bayley and Ripley celebrate.
– Jackie Redmond talks to Rey Mysterio about Penta's debut. Mysterio says Penta belongs in the WWE and he proved it today. Redmond then brings up The New Day and their words on Mysterio. Mysterio says Big E deserves all the respect and Kingston and Woods are full of disrespect.
– Damian Priest then makes his way out to the ring. Finn Balor follows.
Street Fight: Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor
The bell rings and Balor sneaks up behind Priest. He repeatedly cracks a kendo stick across his spine, but Priest sends Balor crashing into the mat face first. Balor then sends Priest's head repeatedly bouncing off the announce desk and looks to fly off the apron, but Priest sends him crashing into the announce desk with a flatliner and dumps him over top of it.
Priest grabs a table from under the ring and sets it up, but Balor dumps Priest into the crowd and the two brawl through the crowd. Priest dumps Balor into the ringside area, but Balor hits him with a chair as the two brawl back through the crowd and up a set of stairs. Balor fires off right hands on Priest's head as he teeters above a pair of tables, but Priest sends himself and Balor crashing through the tables with a Broken Arrow.
Officials check on Balor and Priest as Balor is loaded onto a stretcher and Priest makes his way back into the ring. Priest take out Carlito and JD McDonagh, then beats down Balor on the top of the entrance ramp and sends him crashing into the ring apron as he's still loaded on the stretcher. McDonagh and Carlito join Balor in the ring and beat down Priest, then grab a table from under the ring and set it up.
The War Raiders run down to the ring and take out Carlito and McDonagh. Priest then catches Balor with a South of Heaven in the ring and pins him as he has a chair around his neck, but Balor kicks out. Balor then sets Priest up on the table on the outside and delivers a Coup De Grace to him through the table off the apron. Priest sends Balor crashing through the barricade near the timekeeper's area, but Priest then sends Balor crashing through a table and gets him inside the ring. He follows it up with a South of Heaven for the win.
Winner: Damian Priest
– Damian Priest celebrates in the ring as the show goes off the air.
