WWE RAW Live Coverage - January 22nd, 2024
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CM Punk and Cody Rhodes to go face-to-face
Tonight, two of the biggest contender’s in this year’s Royal Rumble Match will be in the ring together for the first time since CM Punk’s return. Both Superstars delivered two of the biggest WWE returns in recent memory and both will look to book their ticket to WrestleMania to finish their respective stories.
What will happen when CM Punk and Cody Rhodes meet inside the ring?
:raw:
Your announcers are Michael Cole and Wade Barrett.
We see footage of CM Punk arriving at the building earlier tonight.
We also see Cody Rhodes arriving a few minutes later.
World Champion Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring and he is wearing a knee brace.
Seth takes in the serenading from the crowd and he starts to tear up when the crowd chants 'Thank You Seth'.
Seth welcomes everyone to Raw. He says it has been a long week and he appreciates what the crowd did. Seven days ago, he was in this ring, defending the title against Jinder Mahal. He reminds the crowd that he beat Jinder. He says he hit a moonsault, like he does in most of his matches, but he felt his knee go in in a way it does not. He says he finished the match. He went to the back and sat down. That was when he realized he might be out for a while. Seth says he talked about how he gets better and stronger during the show, he felt a bit of a liar. He says he thought for the first time that he might miss Wrestlemania. He says he had to take an MRI. He says he got the results back and they aren't great. He says he has a grade 2 tear of his MCL and another tear. He says if he undergoes surgery, he is out for three or four months.
Seth says if it was up to him, he would be out here next week stomping heads, but it isn't just up to him. He says we don't know what the future holds. He says he is taking it day by day. . .
Imperium's music interrupts and they make their way to the ring.
Gunther enters the ring while Kaiser and Vinci wait outside.
Seth says he doesn't have time for this. If you are going to make an example of him, go ahead and do it.
Gunther says Kaiser and Vinci have a match later so don't worry about them. You should be worrying about him. Gunther says they have been avoiding each other for a long time. He felt today was a great opportunity for him to come out and tell Seth what he thinks about him.
Seth tells Gunther to have at it.
Gunther says from the beginning, you were in a tough spot. You were the workhorse champion who had to fight for every victory. A champion to bring honor and respect to the title. A champion everyone can be proud of. Just like him. Gunther says that now it pulls on his heartstrings to see Seth like this and realize he might not make it to Wrestlemania. Gunther says it makes him sad.
Seth says you and your boys should have let him finish. Seth says he was going to say that he doesn't give a damn about what the doctors say to him and he does not care how hard he has to rehab this injury, he will take this title into Wrestlemania. He says he will do everything to walk out of Wrestlemania as the World Champion.
Gunther says that is great. Last week, he says he thought he would see a big champion fall. Gunther says he admires what Seth said about being champion coming out of Wrestlemania. Gunther says he would do the same in Seth's position. He says he sees a lot of Seth in him. He says he will win the Royal Rumble on Sunday [sic] and he is going to choose Seth as his opponent at Wrestlemania. He will target Seth's knee, back, and everything that is not 100%. He will beat Seth and become the World Champion.
Seth says he appreciates Gunther's honesty. You can challenge him at Wrestlemania, but remember who you are coming after.
Seth offers his hand.
Gunther tells Seth to remember who is coming after him.
They shake hands.
Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston attack Kaiser and Vinci and they go into the ring to continue the brawl.
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci
The match is joined in progress and Vinci with a running cross body to Kofi. Vinci with a chop and kicks. Kofi with punches. Vinci with an Irish whip and Kofi with a missile drop kick. Kofi with kicks and Woods tags in. They kick Vinci in the corner. Woods with a forearm and chops. Vinci with a hot shot and a Northern Lariat. Kaiser tags in and he punches Woods. Kaiser with a kick to the chest and then he punches Woods in the corner. Kaiser with a chop and kicks. Woods with chops but Kaiser with forearms in the corner. Woods blocks a kick and he chops Kaiser a few times followed by an enzuigiri. Kaiser goes to the floor. Woods sends Vinci to the floor with a back body drop. Kaiser pulls Woods out of the ring and then Vinci with a back drop driver onto the apron. Kaiser sends Woods into the ringside barrier while Kofi distracts the referee.
Kofi checks on Woods.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Woods and Vinci exchange chops. Vinci with a kick to the knee and an Irish whip but he runs into a thrust kick. Kaiser tags in and so does Kofi. Kofi with a springboard chop to Kaiser and he knocks Vinci off the apron. Kofi with punches and then he punches Vinci. Kofi clotheslines Kaiser over the top rope and hits suicide dives on Vinci and Kaiser. Kofi punches Kaiser. Vinci with a drop kick through the ropes and he kicks Kofi. Woods with a drop kick through the ropes into Kaiser and Vinci. Woods and Kofi with punches to Kaiser and Vinci. Kofi sends Kaiser into the ringside barrier and the referee calls for the bell.
Double Count Out
After the match:
Kofi and Vinci fight into the crowd while Woods and Kaiser fight by the timekeeper's area. Kofi and Vinci continue to go into the crowd. Woods with a knee but Vinci punches Kofi. VInci sends Woods into the ring post and over the ringside barrier. Kaiser kicks Woods and Vinci with a forearm to Kofi. Kaiser gets a steel chair while Vinci punches Kofi. Vinci holds Kaiser and Woods stops Kaiser from hitting Kofi with the chair. Woods goes after Vinci with punches. Woods and Kaiser fight on the production case.
Woods looks around and he gets Kaiser up on his shoudlers. Vinci makes the save and they punch Woods. Kaiser and Vinci set for a double suplex through a table but Kofi blocks it and all four men go through the tables.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at what we just saw from The New Day and Imperium.
We take a look at Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest with a video package.
Backstage:
THE Judgment Day are in their clubhouse watching MONITOR. Rhea says she talked to Adam Pearce and she found out him and Finn are defending the tag titles against DIY. Priest says he isn't looking to fight everyone. He doesn't have a big head being on the cover of a video game. He tells Rhea not to go into Pearce's office. Priest says he will take care of Drew. Rhea tells Dom and JD they should have taken care of DIY. Rhea asks Finn what is so funny. He tells Finn that he will be ringside with JD for Dom's match.
Backstage:
Jackie Redmond is with Ivy Nile and Maxxine Dupri. Maxxine says that Valhalla isn't ready for Ivy. Julius and Brutus show up and Ivy says he has this.
Ivy Nile (w/ Maxxine Dupri) vs Valhalla (w/ Ivar)
Ivy gets Valhalla up and Valhalla gets back to her feet and rakes the eyes. Ivy with a snap mare but Valhalla with a knee and punches in the ropes.
We see Nikki Cross pacing at the stage.
Valhalla with a running forearm on the floor. Valhalla sends Ivy back into the ring and Ivy with a forearm. Valhalla with a head butt and Ivy misses a few kicks but Ivy with a round kick. Ivy with an uppercut and European uppercut. Ivy with a head scissors take down. Valhalla with a pop up head butt and Valhalla uses the ropes and the referee stops the count. Valhalla gestures to Maxxine for narcing her out. Valhalla misses a knee but she sends Ivy to the apron. Valhalla with an elbow and she sets for a superplex. Ivy sends Valhalla into the ring post. Ivy with a super bulldog for the three count.
Winner: Ivy Nile
Backstage:
We go to Kofi and Xavier in the hallway and Jey Uso shows up with ice bags. He says he is proud of them. Jackie interrupts and asks about Imperium and where does it end. Woods says they are sick of people walking into WWE that they don't do this. They are twelve time champions for a reason. Kofi says people have this confused. They see all of the other stuff so they think they can't do it when necessary. Kofi says Jey is not the only one thinking of winning titles. They want the big boss. Kofi says he is challenging Gunther for the IC TItle next week. We see KAIenFiVE walking in the background.
We go to commercial.
Nia Jax makes her way to the ring.
Nia says the first time she faced Rhea Ripley, she got squashed. When she went one on one with Becky Lynch, she got squashed. Nia says you thought she would be out here to complain about what Rhea and Becky were saying to each other last week. Rhea wants to face someone she thinks she can beat instead of Nia, who she can't beat. Becky is on her path to Wrestlemania and if she is in that path, Becky will squash both. Nia says she will squash both of their dreams.
Becky Lynch's music interrupts and she makes her way to the ring.
Becky tells Nia to shut up. Congratulations, you beat her so you have something new to talk about for the next five years. Becky says going into the Rumble match, she knows she has a big target on her back, but no one has a bigger target on their back than Nia. It isn't because you are bigger than everybody. That locker room don't agree on anything, except nobody likes you. You push them around, throw your weight around, and probably injured most of them.
Becky says she doesn't know what she will enjoy more . . . winning the Royal Rumble for the second time or watch her lose.
Bayley's music interrupts and she says she came here to look for Rhea Ripley, but she found her two old pals. What a reunion. Long time, no see Nia. Bayley says she is making one thing clear. She is winning the Royal Rumble and pointing at the sign.
Nia attacks Becky and then Nia goes after Bayley. Becky with a uranage to Bayley and Nia sends Becky over the top rope, which makes it a good thing it isn't the Royal Rumble match or her night would be over. Nia with a leg drop to Bayley.
We go to the By the Numbers video for the Royal Rumble.
Backstage:
Becky Lynch walks in the back and she sees Rhea Ripley in the hallway. Rhea tells Becky she should make other plans for Wrestlemania.
We see footage of Miz telling Truth to be careful with THE Judgment Day. Truth tells Miz not to tag in. Truth says to keep his eyes out for those Mysterio boys. Truth mentions Tom and Nick. MIz tells Truth, as he walks away, that it is just one guy.
Dominik Mysterio (w/ Finn Balor and JD McDonagh) vs Miz
They lock up and Dom backs Miz into the corner. Dom pushes Miz on the break. They lock up and go into the corner. Miz teases a chop and Dom flinches. Miz with two arm drags but Dom avoids a third. MIz avoids a kick and Miz gets a near fall with a rollup. Dom with a kick and Miz with a clothesline. Miz with a kick and punches. The referee pulls Miz out of the corner and Dom with a kick to the knee and a punch. Miz gets sent to the floor in front of Finn and JD. Finn with a punch while the referee was not looking. Dom with a suicide dive.
Dom sends Miz back into the ring and hits a slingshot senton for a near fall. Dom with punches. Dom with punches. Miz with chops and a knee to the midsection. Miz wiht an Awesome Clothesline and he kicks at JD but that distraction allows Dom to kick Miz off the apron to the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back and both men are down. Miz with punches to Dom. Dom with a kick to the knee and Miz with clotheslines. Miz with Reality Check for a near fall. Miz gets distracted by Finn and Dom with an O'Connor Roll for a near fall. MIz gets a near fall. Dom goes down and Miz with a drop kick to Finn through the ropes followed by a head scissors off the apron to JD. Miz with a springboard cross body for a near fall. Miz with kicks and a round kick followed by a back heel kick. Dom sends Miz into the ropes with a bouncing victory bomb. Miz avoids the 619 but Finn hits Miz when JD distracts the referee. Dom with a 619 and a frog splash for the three count.
Winner: Dominik Mysterio
After the match:
FInn Balor attacks Miz. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa come out and they take care of Dom in the aisle. Johnny with a slingshot spear to JD. Ciampa punches Finn and he leaves the ring. Johnny feeds JD to Miz for a Skull Crushing Finale. Miz holds JD for the super kick and running knee combination but Finn pulls JD to safety.
Backstage:
Damian Priest is with Priest. She asks him about his match against Drew. Priest congratulates Dom for taking care of business. R Truth interrupts and he has more money for Priest from the Tom and Nick shirts. Priest says he has some serious business tonight and he appreciates his sense of humor but this is not the time. Priest says Drew likes to talk and be real. Drew talks about when he was the man around here. That was when people were struggling. When everything got back to normal, he couldn't beat Roman, Gunther, or Seth. Now Drew wants to stop Priest from becoming champion. He will become champion. Drew will receive his punishment tonight.
We go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Bronson Reed says he is fully aware that Jey Uso thinks he will be a singles champion in WWE, but so does he. Eventually their paths are going to cross. The sooner the better. He challenges Jey to a match next week so Jey can be made an example of by Bronson Reed.
We see footage of Chad training for his match with Ivar by sparring with Otis. Maxxine has a new Alpha Academy product for Chad.
Chad Gable vs Ivar
Chad with a rolling kick and he hits a clothesline off the turnbuckles. Chad with chops but Ivar with an Irish whip. Chad floats over but Ivar with a spinning power slam. Ivar goes for a belly-to-back suplex but Chad lands on his feet and hits a drop kick. Ivar misses an elbow drop. Chad with uppercuts and a double thrust. Chad with a kick and a swinging neck breaker. Chad goes up top and hits a diving head butt for a near fall. Chad with a waist lock and he tries for a German suplex but Ivar with a back elbow. Chad goes for an exploder but Ivar blocks it. Ivar goes for a suplex and he gets Chad to the floor but Ivar's neck bounces off the ropes. Ivar with a splash off the apron.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Chad sets for a superplex and hits it. We see footage of Ivar hitting a cross body against the apron. Chad with a running cross body and both men go over the top rope to the floor. Ivar misses the spin kick of doom and he hits the ring post. Chad sends Ivar with a sit out power bomb for a near fall. Chad with a dragon screw and a victory roll into an ankle lock. Ivar kicks Gable away and then he hits the seated splash in the corner. Ivar goes to the turnbuckles and hits a leg drop for a near fall. Chad counters a spin kick of doom and applies an ankle lock. Ivar tries to get to the ropes and he gets there to force a break.
Ivar with a power bomb for a near fall. Ivar goes to the turnbuckles for a moonsault but Gable moves and Ivar hits the mat. Chad with a German suplex and bridge for a near fall. Chad goes to the turnbuckles but Ivar with a chop and forearm. Ivar sets for a superplex but Chad gets on the ring post and hits a German superplex. Chad goes back up top and Valhalla shows up and screams at Chad. Ivar with a reverse slam. Ivar goes to the turnbuckles and he hits the moonsault for the three count.
Winner: Ivar
Backstage:
CM Punk walks in the back.
Backstage:
Cody Rhodes walks in the back as well.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.
CM Punk makes his way to the ring.
Punk suggests they enjoy this moment because they came here on different paths. He says it changes on Saturday and he hopes they will still be friends on Sunday morning.
Cody asks the people and Punk what does he want to talk about.
Punk says he wants to talk about Cody's dad. He says he does not know if Cody knows this story. Dusty called him in 2007 and told him that he was sending his youngest son Cody to train at OVW and he wanted Punk to watch Cody. Punk says he didn't know if Cody needed a guardian angel, but when the American Dream asks you for a favor, you say yes. You never got into any trouble Cody couldn't get out of and he didn't fall into the vices that others did. You went from a preliminary wrestler to a main event superstar. Punk says he is proud of Cody.
Punk says he brought this up because on Saturday he feels like he is breaking a promise. When the bell rings, he will not be looking out for Cody, he will be looking for Cody. He says he will do what he has to do. He will punch Cody in the face and throw him out if he needs to because Punk says he is going to win the Rumble.
Cody says Punk is not alone in the feeling who is talking to him and thinking about Dusty. Cody talks about all of the people who when they see him, they can't help but see Dusty Rhodes. It is a large shadow. Cody says he has done everything in his power not only to be the shadow but but the light to be his own man.
Cody says he came to OVW folk style wrestling experience with no matches under his belt. He was a nepotism hire. You were there and you were on the independent scene for ten years. You treated him like a peer and a friend. That is why it is bittersweet. In the Royal Rumble, there are no friends.
Punk asks about Sunday morning. He knows about the Rumble. Punk says he can separate business from personal. Can you? Punk says he wasn't born into this business while you are from this business. Business is personal to you. You are the son of one of the greatest. They have traveled different paths. He didn't have a famous dad. You weren't a nepotsim hire. Punk says he didn't have everything. He says he saw the burden of Cody's last name and to come out of that shadow. Punk says Cody did it with flying colors.
With all of their differences in what they are wearing. They came on two different paths, but they have a similar goal. Punk says he didn't have Dusty Rhodes as a father. Punk says his father was a regular guy, an electrician. Punk says he is more of the 'American dream' than Cody is.
Cody says this is what he wants to talk about. Cody brings up the Pipe Bomb. You sat up there and rattled off the formula for a revolution. There are many who got into this business because of that. Cody says he was inspired by it. Then you left, and you really left. You didn't pass the torch, you dropped it. You didn't care who picked it up but you know who did. Cody says he did. He did everything Punk said he would do. While you talked, Cody walked. Cody says that makes him more CM Punk than Punk.
Punk takes off his sweatshirt and he says it is getting hot in here. Punk says he wants to give Cody the full Road to Wrestlemania path. You put this company on your shoulders for two years and you are on the cover of the video game. In the distance there is a bigger superstar than you waiting to take it all away from you. Punk says that is him.
Cody says Punk is looking out for him again. You talked about The American Dream. Cody says Dusty was his best friend and he quoted John Wayne. Cody says he only has one direction and that is to go forward. That is in the Royal Rumble. That direction goes through you.
Cody drops the mic and brushes past Punk. Punk stops Cody and they go face to face.
Punk and Cody leave the ring.
Punk tells Wade and Cole he is going to win the Rumble and they should put their money on him.
Cole mentions that tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the night Hulk Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik to win the WWF Title and the night that Hulkamania was born.
We go to commercial.
We see Kayden Carter and Katana Chance at ringside to watch the next match.
Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell vs Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark
Candice and Shayna start things off and Shayna sends Candice to the mat and kicks her in the head. They lock up and Candice trips Shayna in the corner. Candice with arm drags and Zoey tags in. Zoey says she has it and Indi tags in and she punches Zoey. Indi sends Zoey to the apron and connects with an uppercut and boot to the head. Indi sends Shayna to the floor. Candice walks the ropes like Hakuzhi and Candice sends Zoey into Shayna with a head scissors.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Zoey kicks Indi. Zoey comes off the ropes with a springboard move but Indi with a spinebuster.
We see Piper and Chelsea in LOCKER ROOM watching on MONITOR.
Candice tags in and she takes care of Shayna and Zoey with kicks. Candice with a snap mare to Shayna and a step up Codebreaker to Zoey onto Shayna. Zoey kicks Indi off the apron. Candice sends Zoey to the floor. Shayna with the Kirifuta Clutch and Zoey tags in and hits Z360 for the three count.
Winners: Shayna Bazeler and Zoey Stark
After the match:
Katana and Kayden make their way intot he ring and hold up their title belts.
Kairi Sane and Asuka attack the champions from behind. Dakota joins them in the ring
Backstage:
Drew is with Jackie in the back. She asks Drew about what Cody and Punk said. Drew says he said everything he had to directly to their faces. Drew says he won the Royal Rumble and won at Wrestlemania. He cares about what Priest said. Things weren't 100% right when he was champion. He isn't looking for some sort of spin. He was the constant in people's lives during that time and people told him they saved their lives. Drew says not everyone can have a destiny or a story. There is room for only one chosen one and it is him.
We go to commercial.
Drew McIntyre vs Damian Priest
They lock up and Drew with a side head lock. They push each other and Drew with a side head lock. Drew with a shoulder tackle that sends Priest into the ropes and Priest takes Drew down with a shoulder tackle. They push each other and Priest punches Drew in the corner. Priest with an Irish whip and Drew with a clothesline out of the corner. Drew with a chop and Priest with a punch to send Drew to the floor. Priest comes off the ring steps but Drew catches Priest and hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on the floor. Drew sends Priest back into the ring and Drew with a chop and punch. Priest with a punch but Drew clotheslines Priest over the top rope to the floor.
Priest with a back heel kick and Priest tries to Irish whip Drew into the ring post but Drew stops him. Priest blocks an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on the floor and Priest sends Drew into the ring post and then follows with a Broken Arrow onto the announce table.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Priest kicks Drew in the back of the leg and follows with a forearm and another kick to the leg. Drew with chops and punches. Drew with a kick to Priest and Priest with a clothesline for a near fall. Drew avoids Priest clapping his hands but Priest with a forearm to the back. Drew with a back elbow. Both men with boots and both are down. Drew with clotheslines and an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Drew with a neck breaker and both men are down. Drew sets for the Claymore but Priest avoids it by moving out of the way. Priest misses a spinning back heel kick. Drew with a spinebuster and he gets a near fall. Priest with a forearm and he sends Drew into the turnbuckles. Priest charges into the corner but Drew with a kick. Priest with a leaping flatliner for a near fall.
Priest goes for an elbow into the corner but Drew catches Priest. Priest with kicks to the ribs and leg. Drew with a head butt to Priest and Priest sends Drew to the apron. Drew goes up top and misses a move but rolls through. Priest with a kick to the head. Priest with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Priest with a flip dive onto Drew on the floor.
R Truth comes out with Priest's money and Priest pushes Truth down. Priest with a kick to Drew and Priest comes off the ropes and Drew with a Future Shock.
Truth asks Priest for the password for Priest's briefcase and he gets on the ropes but Drew with a forearm to Truth. Priest with South of Heaven but Truth is with the referee so he cannot make the count. Priest grabs Truth and he sends Truth to the floor. Drew with a Claymore to Priest for the three count.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
End of show.
