WWE RAW Live Coverage - January 20th, 2025

[Kemo]

Seth 'Freakin' Rollins to battle Drew McIntyre

Seth "Freakin" Rollins will once again go to war against Drew McIntyre following an intense verbal confrontation between The Visionary, The Scottish Psychopath and CM Punk last week on Raw. With all three declaring for the Royal Rumble Match, Rollins and McIntyre are seeking a critical win this Monday.

– We kick off the show with footage of Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, and CM Punk arriving at the arena, as well we see Rhea Ripley being ambushed by Nia Jax as she enters the arena until officials come by to break things up.

– Michael Cole and Wade Barrett welcome us to RAW and discuss Jax attacking Ripley earlier tonight. Michael Cole then introduces Jey Uso.

Jey says he is now in Dallas, then addresses his World Heavyweight Championship match against GUNTHER at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event.

GUNTHER's music hits and he makes his way out. He assumes that Jey was about to state that he'll dethrone him as World Heavyweight Champion, and Jey confirms such. GUNTHER calls Jey "a funny little man", then says he was excited to face Jey until he saw him acting like a complete dork. He says Jey never follows up with his word, and he's a useful idiot with how much he helps Jimmy Uso and Sami Zayn. He says while Jey's words and actions don't align, his do and tells Jey that he will prove on Saturday why he shouldn't be anywhere near the World Heavyweight Championship.

Jey admits that GUNTHER is right, but says that the fans have his back and they'll be with him when he dethrones GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Championship. He says while he respects GUNTHER, GUNTHER will put some respect on his name because only one of them standing in the ring has main evented WrestleMania.

GUNTHER goes after Jey and fires off a right hand on him. Jey rains down right hands on GUNTHER, but Jey returns the favor and connects with a superkick on GUNTHER. GUNTHER considers getting back inside the ring, but opts not to and instead stares down Jey as Jey puts his signature sunglasses back on.

– Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston walk backstage and run into JBL. Woods and Kingston ask JBL to vouch for them to the crowd and slip him some bills. They tell JBL he had to cut his partner to get to the top, and JBL tells them he has their back and says he gets it. Why wouldn't they want to cut the muscular and charismatic part of The New Day. Woods and Kingston get pissed and leave.

– JBL comes out to co-commentate for our next match.

– Cathy Kelley catches up with Bayley backstage. Bayley says she's officially back on RAW and declares that she's entering the Royal Rumble this year. Nia Jax interrupts Bayley and says she's in the Rumble and she will win the Rumble and she'll see her out there later tonight.

– Rey Mysterio then makes his way down to the ring. New Day follows, and JBL joins the announce desk.

Kofi Kingston (w/ Xaiver Woods) vs. Rey Mysterio

The bell rings and Kingston sends Rey crashing into the mat face first. Kingston runs over Rey with a shoulder tackle, but Rey responds with a hurricanrana. Kingston fires off stomps on Rey in the corner, then follows it up with an enzuigiri from the apron. Rey responds with an enzuigiri of his own, but Kingston powerbombs Rey onto the floor on the outside and fires off stomps on Rey's groin on the outside. He sends Rey crashing into the ring apron and looks to send him crashing onto the floor, but Rey counters into a hurricanrana that sends Kingston crashing into the ring steps.

Rey sends Kingston's head repeatedly bouncing off the ring steps, then dumps Kingston back in the ring and looks to follow him inside. Woods grabs his ankle to prevent him from doing so, opening the door for Kingston to rain down right hands on Rey and ascend to the top rope. He flies off it to land a knee on Rey.

Rey sends Kingston crashing into the mat face first, and the two teeter on the ropes before Rey lands a dropkick on Kingston and goes for a pin. Kingston kicks out, then lands a splash off the ropes. Rey sends Kingston crashing into the roeps with a hurricanrana and dials it up for a 619, but Woods trips him as he runs the ropes.

The referee catches him, but Rey clocks him and sends him crashing onto the floor from the apron. Kingston looks to take advantage and clocks Rey from behind, but Rey dials it up for a 619 and looks to land a splash from the apron. Kingston gets his knees up and pins Rey, but Rey kicks out and pins Kingston for the win.

Winner: Rey Mysterio

– After the match, Woods comes back and beats on Mysterio. Cruz del Toro and Joaquin Wilde come out to save Mysterio.

– Cathy Kelley is backstage with American Made and Gable says he's had trouble with Luchadors so he hired Dominik Mysterio to help him with Luchadors. The Creed Brothers trash talk the War Raiders and Ivy Nile talks about vying for the Women's Intercontinental Title.

– Jackie Redmond catches up with Karrion Kross and Scarlett. She talks to them about The Wyatt Sicks moving to SmackDown and The Miz not being here tonight. She asks Kross what he's looking to accomplish this year and Kross calls out Rollins, Punk and Zayn.

– Sami Zayn then makes his way out to the ring.

Zayn says he spoke with Adam Pearce and he's officially entered into the 2025 Men's Royal Rumble match. He says Seth Rollins' words about thinking about himself rather than other people last week really got him thinking, and thought about all the people who want to be wrestlers, those who actually make it to WWE, and the select group of main eventers including himself. He says everyone else in that group is already in the 2025 Men's Royal Rumble, and the only difference between him and them is that they have a World Championship to their name while he doesn't. Zayn says he's had a great life and career, and while he doesn't need a World Championship thanks to the support of fans, he still wants it.

Kevin Owens' music hits and he saunters down to the ring with his Winged Eagle Championship in hand. Zayn says he knew it was a matter of time before he and Owens came face-to-face. Owens says he was upset when Zayn teamed with Roman Reigns at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames, but that situation was different from Cody Rhodes teaming with Reigns due to Zayn and Reigns' extensive history.

Owens says Zayn is his brother, and he's in the ring tonight to tell Zayn that he can win the 2025 Men's Royal Rumble because he deserves it. He says Zayn will win and fight for a World Championship at WrestleMania, and while they've main evented WrestleMania together in tag team action, they haven't done so one-on-one to fight over his Winged Eagle Championship when he defeats Cody Rhodes at WWE Royal Rumble. He tells Zayn that he has his back and says he knows Zayn has his.

– Cathy Kelley talks to Sheamus backstage and Sheamus says he's been chasing that IC Title and will obtain it at Saturday Night's Main Event. Bron Breakker comes by and tells Sheamus that the IC Title is his and he will beat up Sheamus. Sheamus pushes Breakker who laughs and walks away.

– Bayley walks backstage and stretches.

– Nia Jax walks backstage.

– Jackie Redmond catches up with Ludwig Kaiser where Kaiser talks about being superior and how he'll become champion.

– Bayley then makes her way down to the ring. Nia Jax follows, and we see Roxanne Perez in the crowd to watch the following match.

Bayley vs. Nia Jax

The bell rings and Bayley rains down right hands on Jax. Jax gets Bayley up on her shoulders, but Bayley sends Jax crashing into the mat. Jax returns the favor, then jams her boot into Bayley's chest in the corner and ascends up the middle rope. Bayley trips Jax, then delivers a boot to her and follows it up with a tope suicida on the outside. She gets into Perez's face and Perez looks to land an open palm strike on Bayley, but Bayley intercepts it and clocks Perez. Security then drags Perez away from ringside.

Jax dumps Bayley back into the ring, then connects with a Hip Attack on her in the corner and levels Bayley with a back elbow. Bayley catches Jax with a pair of kicks, but Jax delivers a bodyslam to Bayley and stomps on her fingers. Jax looks to land a leg drop on Bayley, but Bayley rolls out of the way and connects with a back elbow on Jax. She follows it up with an elbow drop and goes for a pin, but Jax kicks out.

Jax begins targeting Bayley's arm and looks to land a leg drop on it on the apron, but Bayley moves out of the way and delivers a Sunset Flip to Jax into the ring post. Bayley then connects with an An-Nia-Lator on Jax, then follows it up with an elbow drop off the middle rope. Jax responds with a shoulderbreaker to Bayley, then sets up for the An-Nia-Lator. Bayley trips Jax, then lands a running knee on her.

Bayley delivers a Sunset Flip to Jax off the ropes, then follows it up with an elbow drop off the top and goes for a pin. Jax kicks out, then delivers a Samoan Drop and a senton to Bayley. She follows it up with the An-Nia-Lator for the win.

Winner: Nia Jax

– After the match Rhea Ripley comes out running to attack Jax. Jax and Ripley go at it in the ring. Jax is punched out in the corner and security runs down to separate the women. Jax breaks free and attacks Ripley and they're pulled apart again. This time Ripley breaks through and attacks Jax. The fight bleeds outside the ring and Jax slams Ripley's head onto the announce table and tosses Ripley on the table. Ripley dives off the table onto Jax and security. Ripley grabs a mic and gets on the announce table and tells Jax she wants her on Saturday for Saturday Night's Main Event.

– The Judgement Day and Chad Gable meet. Dominik Mysterio gives Gable contact info for someone to help Gable with Luchadors. Dom tells JD he will replace Balor for the match.

– A video package for Lyra Valkyria plays.

– We then head over to another video from WWE honoring MLK Day.

– Sami Zayn talks to Seth Rollins backstage. Rollins says even though they're friends it's every man for himself at the Rumble.

– Back at ringside, Pete Dunne makes his way out. Penta follows.

Penta vs. Pete Dunne

The bell rings and Penta and Dunne exchange right hands with one another. Dunne blindsides Penta from behind with a right hand, then snaps Penta's fingers. Penta whips Dunne into the corner, then hits an enzuigiri on him. Dunne responds with an enzuigiri of his own, then looks to land a moonsault out of the corner. Penta catches him with a boot to his midsection, then looks to fly out of the ring to level Dunne on the outside. Dunne catches Penta with a right hand and sends him crashing onto the apron spine first.

Dunne delivers a pair of double knees to Penta's arm, then fires off stomps on him and delivers another pair of double knees to Penta's arm. He stomps on Penta's fingers, then slaps him and lands a pair of sliding forearms on him. Penta delivers a boot to Dunne's midsection, then follows it up with a delayed Bronco Buster and sends Dunne crashing into the mat off his shoulders.

Dunne charges at Penta, but Penta catches him with a superkick and follows it up with a Mexican Destroyer. He flies over the top rope to level Dunne on the outside, but Dunne sends Penta crashing into the mat back inside the ring. Dunne and Penta exchange strikes with one another, but Dunne snaps Penta's fingers and locks in a Triangle on him. Penta escapes and connects with a back-breaker on Dunne, then sends his arm bouncing off the mat and follows it up with a Penta Driver for the win.

Winner: Penta

– CM Punk makes his way to Jackie Redmond who is stationed in the arena high fiving everyone on the way. Redmond asks Punk about the Royal Rumble and what makes this one different for CM Punk. Punk says he's the maker of history and says he comes alive when there's pressure and no one can beat him when he's at his best. He calls out several of the competitors who have already declared to be in the Rumble.

– Cathy Kelley talks to The War Raiders about their match against Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh next week. Ivar says they'll restore honor and prestige to the tag titles.

– Pure Fusion Collective then make their way out to the ring. Damage CTRL follows

Pure Fusion Collective (w/ Sonya Deville) vs. Damage CTRL

Kai and Baszler begin the action. The bell rings and the two go back and forth. Stark tags herself in, then delivers a dropkick to Kai off the top rope. Stark wears down Kai with a submission, then tags Baszler back in. Baszler lands a backbreaker on Kai, and Stark follows it up with a sliding clothesline.

Baszler targets Kai's knee and wears it down, but Kai escapes. SKY and Stark tag in, and SKY levels Stark with a dropkick, then levels her and connects with a German suplex on an interfering Baszler. SKY levels Baszler with a tope suicida, then ascends to the top rope and lands a missile dropkick on her.

Deville distracts SKY, but Kai pulls her off the apron. Baszler levels Kai with a clothesline on the outside, opening the door for Stark to land a kick on SKY and send her crashing into the mat. Baszler then tag back in, and Kai brawls with Stark on the outside before Baszler takes her down. She looks to cinch in a Kirifuda Clutch on SKY, but SKY responds with an Over The Moonsault for the win.

Winners: Damage CTRL

– Seth Rollins then makes his way down to the ring. Drew McIntyre follows.

Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins

The bell rings and the two lock up. McIntyre runs over Rollins with a shoulder tackle, but Rollins looks to respond with one of his own. McIntyre stays standing and delivers a second shoulder tackle to Rollins, then lands a chop on him. Rollins responds with a Sling Blade to McIntyre, then clotheslines him out of the ring and hits a dropkick through the rope. He follows it up with a tope suicida and looks to land a second one, but McIntyre sends Rollins crashing over the announce desk with a Belly-to-Belly Throw.

McIntyre sends Rollins' face bouncing off the announce desk, then sends it bouncing off the ring steps and dumps him back inside the ring. He follows it up with a suplex to Rollins and wears him down with a submission hold, but Rollins sends McIntyre crashing into three of the ring posts and sends his arm bouncing off one of them.

Rollins lands a knee on McIntyre off the top rope, then connects with a jumping knee and flies over the top rope from the apron. Rollins lands a superplex on McIntyre, but McIntyre rolls through and responds with a Falcon Arrow to Rollins. He then goes for a pin, but Rollins kicks out.

McIntyre kips up, then sets up for the Claymore Kick. Rollins avoids it and looks to level McIntyre, but McIntyre sees him coming and lands an Alabama Slam. Rollins delivers a hurricanrana and a Falcon Arrow to McIntyre, then goes for a pin but McIntyre kicks out. McIntyre then looks to land a Future Shock DDT on Rollins, but Rollins avoids it. McIntyre then levels Rollins with a clothesline, but Rollins fires off right hands on McIntyre's arm and cinches in a crossface on him.

McIntyre crawls over to the bottom rope to break the hold, then connects with a Future Shock DDT on Rollins and pins him. Rollins kicks out, then rolls up McIntyre for the win.

Winner: Seth "Freakin" Rollins

– After the match, a livid McIntyre continues beating down Rollins and drags him next to one of the ring posts hanging off the apron. Sami Zayn's music hits and he takes out McIntyre, then checks on Rollins. McIntyre makes it up to his feet and levels Zayn, then gets in Rollins' face. Zayn looks to land a Helluva Kick on McIntyre in the corner, but McIntyre moves out of the way and accidentally hits Rollins. Zayn looks at Rollins in shock at what he just did and tries explaining himself to him as McIntyre retreats up the ramp and the show goes off the air.

[LionDen]

RAW Preview:

-- Seth Rollins vs Drew McIntyre
-- New Day vs Mystery opponent
-- Pure Fusion Collective vs Damage CTRL
-- Lyra Valkyria returns as the new Women’s Intercontinental Champion
-- Sami Zayn takes to appear
-- Jey Uso to appear and probably Gunther
-- WWE Hall of Famer JBL to appear

[LionDen]

So, Bayley now officially on RAW.

[LionDen]

Owens will not win at SNME and Zayn will not win the Rumble. lol

[LionDen]

So, is WWE NXT's Roxanne Perez going to just keep showing in the crowd up or joined one of these brands. lol

[LionDen]

Well, at least something happened this time, Bayley hit her and Perez got kicked out. lol It is growing .... slowly.

[LionDen]

WOW! explosive everything in that match between Nia Jax and Bayley lol

[LionDen]

Pete Dunne, "No one reespects me." He got his mic shut off during his speech for a quick commercial. lol

[LionDen]

I like Penta. Pete Dunne was a better opponent than Chad Gable.

[LionDen]

Logan Paul signs with RAW, takes a month for him to arrive. lol