[intro music playing]
[John Cena] Then.
[Ric Flair] Woooo!
-[glass shattering] -[The Rock] If you smell…
-[bell tolling] -[Cena] Now.
[Roman Reigns] Acknowledge me!
-[Triple H] The king of kings… -[Cena] You can't see me…
[Cena] Forever.
Together.
[serene music playing]
[Martin Luther King Jr.] I have a dream that my four little children
will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the color of their skin,
but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
[music continues]
When we let it ring, all of God's children, Black men
and white men will be able to join hands
and sing in the words of the old spiritual.
[music]
Free at last, free at last.
Thank god almighty, we are free at last.
[music]
Now is the time we as a people get to the promised land.
[music]
I still have a dream.
[music]
[Cole] Well, we thank you for spending your holiday with us tonight.
you are looking live at a frigid Little Rock, Arkansas,
like most of the rest of the country, suffering through a winter storm.
The WWE fans here in Little Rock not used to this weather,
but they are braving the conditions to be with us tonight.
And what a show we have tonight.
Earlier today, the working man's champion, Seth Rollins arrived.
It's been over one year since he's been pinned in one-on-one action.
Will that end tonight at the hands of a man who,
seven years ago, shocked the world to win the WWE Championship?
Jinder Mahal arriving in style at Monday Night Raw.
And we all wonder,
can Jinder Mahal do the same and win the gold tonight?
[Wade] That is the big question,
because the "Modern Day Maharaja" Jinder Mahal is sick of the disrespect.
Well it all ends tonight if, of course,
he can dethrone
the World Heavyweight Champion, Seth "Freakin" Rollins,
in tonight's main event.
["Kingdom" playing]
♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪
♪ Every fight out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow ♪
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain Lights go up, I'm home ♪
[crowd singing] ♪ Whoa! ♪
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
"The American Nightmare"
Cody Rhodes!
Well, ladies and gentlemen a week from Saturday,
my favorite event of the entire WWE calendar,
the Royal Rumble match,
and the start on the road to WrestleMania
and this man here, Cody Rhodes,
looks to go back to back and become the first man since the late 1990s
to win two consecutive Royal Rumble matches.
[mouthing indistinctly]
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants] Cody! Cody!
So…
-Little Rock… -[crowd cheers]
What do you guys want to talk about?
You know, there's a Collin Raye song about Little Rock.
You guys know that song?
My wife really likes that song.
Shout out to you, honey. Great song.
Congratulations, little rock, for that song being about you guys.
We can talk about that song.
We can talk about me fighting and defeating Shinsuke Nakamura.
Or we could talk about the reason, uh, that I'm standing here.
The reason that I came back to WWE,
the thing I came back to WWE for.
And the Royal Rumble is right around the corner.
And I don't plan on stop--
["Gallantry" playing]
Well, here is a man who is also going to be a part of the Royal Rumble match
a week from Saturday, and a man who, like Cody Rhodes,
has won a Royal Rumble back in 2020.
Drew McIntyre would win the event and go on to headline WrestleMania.
[Wade] McIntyre gave CM Punk a large piece of his mind last week,
spewing bile and venom.
Perhaps this week it's Cody Rhodes' turn for that treatment.
[crowd boos]
So, Cody…
what do you want to talk about?
Cody you've been back for a minute,
and you and I really haven't had a chance to catch up.
We go way back, you and I,
we grew up in WWE together.
We're the same age, similar career paths,
and I want to take this opportunity to finally look you in the eye
and tell you
I'm proud of you.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
I'm proud of the man you've become, the performer you've become.
Now look at us both. Now how far we've come.
And I can't help but think about when we were kids, like 23, 24 years old.
We were WWE Tag Team Champions.
That's true. You may have to go and Google.
That's 100% true. Do you remember our tag team name?
The Dashing Ones.
Man, I can't believe we didn't go to the top with that name.
The reason we didn't go far with the tag team is because
at the time, you know, we didn't quite have the perspective we had now.
We saw ourselves as Singles wrestlers.
We didn't embrace that opportunity.
We had to leave WWE to finally get our heads screwed on right,
to see things straight, to get that perspective.
And we weren't any ordinary wrestlers outside WWE, were we?
No.
We redefined what it meant to be a wrestler outside of WWE.
We laid the blueprint outside WWE.
We became verbs. To do a "Drew," to do a "Cody."
To become so undeniable, WWE calls you back.
And you remember the last match I had before I returned to WWE?
It was with you.
And I remember what you told me after that match.
Do you remember?
You said I was going to be a future World Champion.
And I've done it twice.
Now I'm going to tell you in front of the entire world,
I've seen what people are saying.
It doesn't matter who comes back.
I've seen the GIFs. I've seen the jokes.
Screw it.
You put your head down, you keep working, keep doing what you're doing,
and you're going to be the first member of your family to raise that championship.
You are going to finish the story.
But not before I finish mine.
Well, is that so?
You've declared for the Royal Rumble.
I've declared for the Royal Rumble.
You're right, Drew. You could win.
Jey Uso could win.
A man who is very hungry and wants to solidify his legacy.
Recently-returned CM Punk could win.
[crowd chants] CM Punk!
Now, I don't plan on letting that happen. But here's the thing.
We've stood in this ring for the Royal Rumble.
We've both won the Royal Rumble.
You can't count anybody out, Drew.
This ain't about anybody else right now, this is about you and me.
And since you're following my footsteps, I'm going to give you some advice.
Just be yourself, man. You don't have to wear the suits all the time.
You're not running for office.
You don't have to use all the big words like a thesaurus.
We have word of the day, toilet paper.
And the biggest one of all, just don't smile all the time.
You got that big dumb smile.
And I can say that because I did it too.
I felt like even when I was angry, frustrated, sad,
I had to be that beacon of light for the roster.
I had to be that leader. I had to put that big dumb smile on my face.
Wipe it off, mate, be the real Cody.
And if anybody has an issue with the real Cody, they can step up to you
and you drop them on their arse.
Since we're talking about stepping up.
I assure you, Drew, this is not an act.
I smile when I come out here because this is what I love.
I appreciate the opportunities I've got because I made them for myself.
You're right. We are very similar, similar career paths.
But the difference right now is I am thankful,
I am grateful, I cherish, I relish my second chance,
and you are just standing here complaining about yours.
So this is the real Cody, huh?
Or are you a wolf in politician's clothing?
If this is the real Cody, why the hell would you bring Jey Uso to Raw
knowing the trouble it would cause?
Is that case of friends close, enemies closer? Huh?
What about endorsing CM Punk?
You were there back in the day. You know what he's like.
You were there with him recently. You know exactly what he's like.
Is that to make you happy, or is it to make everybody else happy?
I don't like the fact you're a kiss-arse at times, but I do like you.
And I wish this conversation wasn't happening right now.
If Damian Priest wasn't an idiot and cashed in that briefcase when he did,
I'd be world champion.
We wouldn't be talking right now. But we are.
So…
you're standing in my way.
And like Punk learned last week,
if you step in my way, you'll get eaten alive.
I'm operating at a different level right now.
When I'm feeling like this, when I'm 100% me,
I'm not what's best for business.
I am this damn business.
And at WrestleMania, the story belongs to Drew McIntyre.
If, if that idiot Damian Priest,
if that horrible Jey Uso…
with you, that's all it is, right? It's, "If." It's, "If." It's, "If."
Drew, you think that we're the same
No. You are brimming with grievances.
And you want me to be like you. You want that for me.
But the difference is when I wonder, when I speculate,
am I going to finish the story?
I do not look at you, Drew McIntyre.
I look two places, right here and right there.
[crowd cheers]
So if you want to settle this in the Royal Rumble,
I sure as hell will give you something else to complain about.
And another thing, you keep mentioning this last match that we had,
you told the story about the last match between you and I.
Let me ask you something about it.
Who won?
[mic drop]
[Cole] There are a lot of stories on the way to the Royal Rumble match.
But only one of those stories will be fulfilled.
Only one will be finished when we get to WrestleMania.
Which superstar holds that fate in their hands?
[Damian Priest] Truth!
What is wrong with you, man?
Like, look, I think you're a funny guy.
But then I hear you're selling Judgment Day merch in the parking lot.
At some point, it's not funny anymore, and the crew is not happy.
But this is embarrassing.
I'm getting us some wholesale, flipping it and selling it below retail.
Stop. Stop. Look, enough's enough.
At some point, we got to get serious here, and--
Uh. Yeah. That's serious.
What's this for?
That's your cut, DP!
Every member of Judgment Day going to get their cut.
Hey, I even got T-shirts made for my boys, Tom and Nick Mysterio.
Tom and Nick?
Is Nick okay?
I can't find him on Facebook.
All right, Truth, sell the merch.
Just don't be too loud about it.
The rest of the crew, they're really not happy with you.
Gotcha. Appreciate you though.
Hey. Last thing.
Tonight's match.
You don't tag in.
Don't tag in?
Don't tag in.
[laughing] Gotcha.
Don't tag in. I got it.
Hey.
Take one for the road.
[Cole] I don't even know what to say anymore.
[Wade] Priest warmed up to those bootleg T-shirts
once he got some Benjamins in hand, didn't he?
Well, Damian Priest warmed up to Truth when he got the Benjamins in hand as well.
Well, speaking of Judgment Day.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following is a Tag Team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing the Judgment Day,
The team of JD McDonagh
and Dominik Mysterio!
[Cole] You know, Wade, Gargano and Ciampa of #DIY
said they want a Tag Team Championship opportunity
against Bálor and Priest of the Judgment day.
Well, "Dirty" Dom and JD McDonagh have some marching orders, don't they?
[Wade] Yes, indeed. They're going to extinguish the threat of #DIY
before it gets too serious.
Those two teams go head-to-head, up next.
[Cole] We're back live on Monday Night Raw here on USA.
JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio, the Judgment Day, set for tag team action.
["It's Our Moment" playing]
[announcer] And their opponents
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa,
#DIY!
[Cole] Well Johnny Gargano made it perfectly clear when he said that,
"The agenda continues."
#DIY are focused on one thing, Wade, here in the early part of 2024,
and they are the Undisputed Tag Team Titles
held by Bálor and Priest of The Judgment Day.
[Wade] Yeah, #DIY as a team, as individuals,
have been on a heck of a run these past three months.
Win after win after win.
Really capped off last week with Ciampa's Singles victory
against one half of the tag champs, Finn Bálor.
And you have to think victory tonight over the other half
of the Judgment Day in Dominik and JD McDonagh
would surely put them much, much closer
to an opportunity at the tag gold they covet so much.
[Cole] Yeah, Tomasso Ciampa said, "We win tonight,
"we're one step closer to the tag team titles."
Of course, #DIY once holding the NXT Tag Team Championship.
So our first match up of the evening here tonight on Monday Night Raw is underway,
and it's going to be Johnny wrestling.
Johnny Gargano starting things off for his team against JD McDonagh.
[crowd chants] Johnny wrestling!
Light crowd here tonight at Little Rock
because of the winter storm that has engulfed the area.
Very vocal crowd, however,
cheering for Johnny wrestling to start things off.
Now, JD McDonagh, Wade, he is the member of Judgment Day,
but R-Truth claims that JD McDonagh isn't a member of the group,
because R-Truth made the match a number of weeks ago.
[Wade] Yeah, you keep banging on about that.
R-Truth is absolutely nuts.
JD McDonagh is in The Judgment Day.
R-Truth is not in The Judgment Day and that isn't going to change.
[Cole] McDonagh the rigorous and confident member of the group.
[Wade] He's confident, but I'll have to say this, JD McDonagh
has been on a losing streak of sorts of late,
and that is mainly thanks to the imaginary member that you just mentioned, R-Truth.
[Cole] And McDonagh not well-liked.
In fact, The Miz had an interesting quote last week when he said that,
"I didn't think that anyone on this planet could be more hated than Dominik Mysterio
until I met JD McDonagh."
[Wade] Well, Miz knows a thing or two about being hated.
Let's face facts, it's only very recently,
people have actually started cheering for him.
[Cole] Covered by Gargano and a kick out. Miz will be here later tonight.
He teams with R-Truth against Damian Priest and Finn Bálor.
You heard what Priest said earlier to Truth, "Don't tag into the matchup."
[Wade] Yeah, and that sounded like a literal instruction
that was taken as some sort of code by R-Truth.
I'm fascinated to see how that turns out.
Another take down by JD McDonagh,
of course, from Bray County, Wicklow, Ireland,
the same hometown of Finn Bálor,
and Finn Bálor trained JD McDonagh.
One of the reasons McDonagh is in the group today.
[Wade] High-flying, high-risk superstar, JD McDonagh can really do it all,
can brawl with the best of them and a real technician to boot
as Johnny wrestling is finding out.
[Cole] Yeah, the one thing we've learned about McDonagh,
he has that sinister, sadistic side when he needs to.
Now Gargano back to his feet.
[Wade] You gotta have a little hatred in your heart
if you want to make it to the top in this game.
And JD McDonagh has that in spades.
[Cole] And Gargano up over the top now.
The quickness of Johnny Gargano as he takes down JD McDonagh,
and McDonagh looking for a breather.
And Dominik Mysterio sends Gargano tumbling to the floor.
[crowd boos]
Johnny Gargano not happy with the performance
of his Cleveland Browns this past weekend,
as Ciampa now launches himself up over the top rope,
corkscrew takes out Mysterio.
And now Johnny Gargano gets involved, driving McDonagh over the announce table.
And almost into my lap.
And #DIY's happy and in control here on Raw.
[Cole] And we are back live on Monday Night Raw,
a matchup between JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio,
The Judgment Day, and #DIY's Gargano and Ciampa.
McDonagh took control during the commercial break,
but Tommaso Ciampa looking to rally as he just collided with McDonagh.
[Wade] Absolute car crash in the center of the ring.
Both guys caught in separate ideas of what they were trying to do there,
backfired on each of them, now desperately reaching out for a tag.
Dominik looking to enter the matchup, I believe, for the first time tonight,
if he can make a tag, Gargano looking on as well.
And Ciampa unloading.
Again, Ciampa and Gargano looking for a win
to perhaps position themselves
for a future opportunity at the Tag Team Titles.
Tag made by Gargano, and now the double team coming from #DIY.
[Wade] McDonagh had no idea that tag took place.
[Cole] What a clothesline!
He knows now, he was just tagged by Ciampa!
[Wade] Referee taking a very close look at JD McDonagh.
Take another look at the impact here.
Two on one, JD McDonagh.
Cleaning the clock of the Irish superstar.
-Bull-hammer like. -[Wade] Steady on, mate.
Let's not go that far. This would be over.
[Cole] Elbow by Gargano! Dominik with a cheap shot in the back of the neck.
Official Rod Zapata was checking on McDonagh
and Dominik with a cheap shot,
and now JD McDonagh takes over.
[Wade] Well, you might not like that kind of action, Cole,
but damn, that was perfection from Dominik Mysterio.
[Cole] At least Mysterio dressed for the over half foot of snow
they received here in Little Rock.
[Wade] I love those boots.
I'm guessing they were a Christmas present from Mami perhaps,
but, man, that is some real style.
[Cole] Mysterio now, mocking Tomasso Ciampa.
And Dominik Mysterio now, unloading on Gargano.
[crowd chanting] You suck!
[Cole] And the WWE fans here all over Dominik Mysterio.
[Wade] Yeah, and here's the thing with McDonagh and Dominik.
Once they get their upper hand, it is very difficult to turn the tide.
They're absolutely lethal at this point,
and Gargano is going to be in a world of hurt.
[Cole] As long as they can isolate Gargano at this juncture.
Dominik and McDonagh in control.
You mentioned later on that Bálor and Priest from Judgment Day
will be in action against R-Truth and Miz.
Still trying to figure out how R-Truth
is actually going to team with Miz tonight,
if he believes he's part of Judgment Day.
[Wade] I just saw the face of Tommaso Ciampa
and all the blood is drained from it,
because he knows exactly how much trouble
his tag partner Johnny Gargano is in right now.
[Cole] And Dominik doing a great job controlling Gargano.
The chinlock applied,
Gargano trying to make it back to his feet and he does.
Gargano, trying to fight out of the corner.
If there's life in the body of Gargano, he's going to keep swinging.
[Cole] And rolling through now,
and he caught Dominik with a kick to the face.
And now Gargano a bit stunned.
Trying to make it to Tomasso Ciampa.
[Wade] The glazed look on the face of Gargano
needs this tag in the worst way, and he gets it,
but the referee may not spotted that, Cole.
[Cole] And he didn't. The official did not see the tag.
Dominik did a great job,
as he now drags Gargano back to the corner and unloads on Gargano.
Double team by The Judgment Day.
[Wade] Beware the Machiavellian wiles of The Judgment Day.
[Cole] Again Dominik Mysterio showing the instinct
that he's gaining here in WWE.
Gargano, though off the telegraph, McDonagh sent through the second rope.
Oh, and there it is!
Johnny Gargano with a slingshot spear.
And now opens up a chance to make a tag.
[Wade] And an opportunity to try and get to cover there on Dom,
but the most important thing for Gargano has to be get the hell out of the ring,
and get a fresh Ciampa in there.
[Cole] Gargano…
Arm's length away, and JD McDonagh with a great job,
dragging Ciampa off the apron.
Dominik with a dropkick.
Cover by Mysterio.
Kick out by Johnny wrestling.
#DIY, trying to fight back against Judgment Day.
Seconds ago, Johnny Gargano made a tag to Tomasso Ciampa of #DIY
and Tomasso Ciampa is on fire.
[Wade] A one-man momentum shift.
[Cole] Ciampa and Gargano of #DIY
against McDonagh and Mysterio of Judgment Day.
Important matchup for #DIY as they look to climb the ranks
of the Tag Team Division.
Ciampa ducks underneath, Ciampa now…
Oh, and a double clothesline takes down McDonagh and Mysterio.
[Wade] He's got an engine that simply never tires.
[Cole] The ticking time bomb known as Tomasso Ciampa,
with tremendous stamina in the ring.
Big back body drop to McDonagh.
[Wade] McDonagh has been absolutely battered from the beginning in this one,
it keeps getting worse.
[Cole] Reverse DDT, now cover on McDonagh,
who kicks at two.
[Wade] Known for his durability
and he needs every ounce of that in this matchup.
[Cole] Ciampa, former NXT Champion. NXT Tag Team Champion.
And Ciampa now, perhaps looking for the fairy tale ending,
but McDonagh able to land on his feet.
Mysterio makes a tag.
And Mysterio up over the top rope.
[Wade] Best luchador in the industry, Dominik taking control of this one.
[Cole] That's going a bit too far, but nonetheless.
Double team by Judgment day. Gargano! Roll up by Ciampa.
Shoulders down.
[Wade] Oh, two count. Thought he had him.
Millisecond away from victory with #DIY.
And that victory is getting closer and closer.
Tag to Gargano. Double team now from #DIY.
Johnny Gargano sends Dominik on the back of his head,
cover…
JD McDonagh breaks it up.
[Wade] Yeah, just in the nick of time.
#DIY digging deep into the playbook.
And Ciampa realizes they had the matchup won.
[Wade] Take another look at how close this was.
Just an-- Oh! I mean, that is questionable at best.
[Cole] Now Ciampa and McDonagh exchanging blows.
[Wade] The frustration written on the face of Ciampa.
He thinks this one should be over.
By all rights, it should be! What a headbutt!
Gargano with a superkick! Dominik with one of his own!
[Wade] Dropping like flies!
[Cole] Gargano with clothesline. Everybody down!
[crowd chants] This is awesome!
[Cole] Indeed it is. Tag team action
to kick off the night here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] This is not about who wants it more at this point.
It's about who's capable of shaking off those cobwebs.
[Cole] Gargano and Dominik, the legal men.
Ciampa pulls himself up in the corner. Tag made.
McDonagh tagged in as well by Dominik Mysterio.
[Wade] Ciampa back at 100 miles an hour! Oh!
[Cole] McDonagh. Great move, turning Ciampa inside out.
[Wade] Standing Spanish fly.
And now McDonagh, top rope moonsault. Connects for the win.
Hooks the leg, shoulders down.
Gargano breaks it up!
And now Dominik into the fray.
Dropkick.
Gargano now in position.
Dominik looking for a 619,
Gargano intercepts,
Ciampa makes him pay with a running knee.
[Wade] Dominik Mysterio has to be out here on this one.
[Cole] And now McDonagh rolling up Ciampa, has the tights.
Ciampa kicked at two.
[Wade] What a struggle this match is turned into.
[Cole] And Ciampa with a DDT.
[Wade] JD McDonagh spiking on the top of his cranium.
[Cole] Tag.
[Wade] Completely defenseless.
Now we've seen this before, Cole
[Cole] DIY with McDonagh in their sights
As Ciampa and Gargano meet in the middle.
Cover.
[audience] One, two…
-[Cole] DIY one step closer -[bell rings]
["It's Our Moment" playing]
[announcer] Here are your winners
DIY!
[Cole] In a way, Ciampa and Gargano closing in
on perhaps a Tag Team championship opportunity down the road.
[Wade] Yeah, this was the incredible athleticism of JD McDonagh,
but coming within a millisecond
of putting this one to bed.
But the timing of Gargano was simply too good.
[Cole] With DDT by Ciampa,
and that would set up DIY
for the meeting in the middle
[Wade] You're right, Cole. They've conquered
the masters of the dark arts of tag competition.
And surely now they cannot be denied
an opportunity at Tag gold
[Cole] Ciampa and Gargano victorious here tonight
on Monday Night Raw.
[speaking indistinctly]
We're ready, 2024 is our year.
I believe that you believe that. I love the enthusiasm.
-[Pearce] And I'm going to take it-- -[woman 1] Adam.
[Pearce] I'm sorry.
Do you even watch your own show?
Mmm! No, you don't.
Because if you did,
you would see that I pinned Kayden Carter last week,
but that bum ref you hired
was the slowest counter ever.
You should really be fired for something like that, huh?
But we will take a rematch, right?
Hmm. Referee's name is Eddie Orengo.
Respect it. And also change your tone because I don't like it.
And you want a rematch? You had it and you blew it.
So you're looking for a fight. Meanwhile,
Indi and Candice are looking for a chance. So…
it seems to me we have an opportunity for a tag match
tonight.
What do you guys say?
-[Chelsea] No. -[Indi] We accept.
-[Pearce] Good. -[Indi] And, Chelsea,
it wasn't a slow count.
The ref counted to two.
You know how to count, yeah?
I'll show you how to count.
We accept.
Let's go, P. [scoffs]
There we go.
-You believe them? -Thank you.
-You're welcome. -Thank you.
[Cole] I feel sorry for
general manager Pearce every once in a while.
I feel sorry for the entire planet
who have to listen to Chelsea Green's voice.
["Hot Mess" playing]
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Hey, hey ♪
♪ Shhh I'm a hot mess… ♪
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following is a Tag Team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
the team of Piper Niven and Chelsea Green.
[Cole] Everyone wants an opportunity
at Katana Chance and Kayden Carter,
the women's Tag Team champions.
Well, you have to win
to get that opportunity.
Big match-up coming up.
Piper and Chelsea against Candice and Indi.
Live Monday Night Raw.
[Cole] Piper and Chelsea Green set for action.
Here is a look at their opponents tonight who are just
looking for a chance.
[speaking indistinctly]
[Indi] We're done waiting.
This is our time.
In 2024, you're looking at the new WWE women's Tag Team champions.
[LeRae] On NXT we were champions.
Raw… it's been a different story.
That ends now.
[man 1] What?
[Indi] And we hear the doubters in the locker room.
So please,
please keep doubting us, please keep sleeping on us.
[LeRae] Because this year we're doing it our way.
[Cole] That's what I love about this tandem.
The confidence.
Hartwell and LeRae.
["Comin' Back For You" playing]
[announcer] And their opponents,
the team of Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae.
[Cole] LeRae and Hartwell were once NXT women's Tag Team champions.
Indi Hartwell a former NXT women's champ.
[Wade] You got a chat with Indi Hartwell a little earlier today
as to what sets this duo apart
from every other team in the division,
and she said it's literally that the rest of them, they're all teams,
Myself and Candice LeRae,
we are family and those who are fans of NXT
will remember they were part of The Way family
along with the likes of Johnny Gargano once upon a time,
so they certainly see themselves as a tighter unit
than everybody else in this division.
[Cole] What's interesting about this match-up is the official is…
-[Cole] …Eddie Orengo. -[bell rings]
[Cole] The man who Chelsea Green blame for what she called a slow count last week
in their match-up.
[Wade] Chelsea and Piper were the former tag champs.
They lost them to Carter and Chance. They lost the rematch.
And now Chelsea has been demanding a rematch.
Rematch didn't really-- doesn't work like that.
You got to earn it.
[Cole] And now Piper Niven, the powerhouse.
Look at her just powering Indi Hartwell up.
-[Wade] Yeah. In-- -[Cole] Shoulder breaker.
[Wade] Indi Hartwell
bit of a powerhouse in her own right,
just got completely dominated there by Piper Niven,
who is taking it completely
to Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae in the early goings.
[Cole] And Candice blasted off the apron
and a tag made by Chelsea Green,
Chelsea and Piper, the former women's tag team champions,
before they lost the gold to
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance.
Cover now by Green.
Hook of the leg.
And a kick out by Indi Hartwell.
[Wade] I gotta tell you, I thought Niven would have been completely done
with Chelsea Green after last week's loss.
Perhaps over time, she's now starting to warm to Chelsea.
[Cole] Yeah, I've noticed, especially when they spend some time with us
on commentary, Wade, that--
It seems like Chelsea's grown on Piper a bit.
-[Wade] That is absolutely baffling. -[Cole] Oh!
[Cole] And Chelsea Green now
dragging Indi out to the apron and now down to the floor.
And Green missed Indi Hartwell.
Now face first goes Chelsea Green.
[Wade] Finally Indi Hartwell getting out the blocks on this one
and making it count.
[Cole] And again, the winning team in this match-up
would hope to, one time, gain an opportunity
at the women's tag titles match…
happens this coming Friday night on SmackDown.
The champs, Carter and Chance, will defend against
Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre.
[Wade] Two respective powerhouses of their teams…
-[Wade] …back in the ring. -[Cole] Oh!
[Wade] And once again,
there's just no answer to the strength of Piper Niven.
[Cole] And Piper now, with Indi Hartwell
hitting the turnbuckle hard.
Piper going to climb up to the second rope.
Ask Chelsea how this feels. Oh! Nobody home.
[Wade] Yeah, smart move there by Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae,
who's not been involved in this match-up at all,
might get her opportunity as the tag champs.
Carter and Chance look on.
[Cole] Now Candice LeRae and up the tag
going after the much bigger Piper Niven
trying to use her quickness now
to take down the powerhouse.
Nice step-up enziguri by Candice LeRae has stunned Piper.
[Wade] LeRae, a 20-year veteran of this industry
at every level imaginable.
[Cole] Couple step-up senton by Candice LeRae and-- oh!
Codebreaker.
Delivered that time to Chelsea Green.
Tag made. Here comes Indi Hartwell.
[Wade] Got the upper hand. Now you're going to make it count.
[Cole] Double team coming.
[Cole] Cover by Hartwell.
Hook of the leg.
Chelsea Green breaking things up.
[Wade] This will break it down in a hurry.
And that limb length of Chelsea Green coming in handy.
[Cole] Oh, spinebuster.
[Cole] Now Piper back to her feet.
[Cole] And Piper, that-- spinning slam.
[Wade] What a difference maker Piper Niven is.
[Cole] Tag.
[Cole] Went for the cross body.
Nobody home as Hartwell moved out of harm's way.
[Wade] Indi Hartwell had to be nimble today
to try and compete with that power…
-[Cole] Chelsea-- -[Wade] …of Piper Niven.
[Cole] Chelsea Green going for the unprettier.
She does not realize that Candice LeRae is the…
legal person on her team.
[Cole] And Candice off the second rope
[Wade] Assisted lionsault.
[referee] One, two--
[Cole] And the win!
[bell rings]
["Comin' Back For You" playing]
[announcer] Here are your winners,
Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae!
[Wade] One of the most chaotic endings to a match.
You will see a confusing pinning predicament.
But once again, I'm sure
Chelsea Green is going to be rather unhappy with this referee.
But ultimately, LeRae and Hartwell scored a victory
big dub with potential championship implications.
[Cole] He is the longest reigning
Intercontinental champion of all time, and he's back.
[Wade] Gunther is here. Live.
Next on Monday Night Raw.
[commentator 1] The irresistible force, Nia Jax.
[commentator 2] Nia Jax is for real.
[suspenseful music playing]
[commentator 3] Utter and complete domination.
Who on earth on the women's roster
can possibly stop Nia Jax?
It may be squashing time.
Nia has been unstoppable.
[Nia] At the Royal Rumble,
no one is beating me.
Period.
Who you think she was talking to?
I got to go address my division.
[Finn] Now look who it is.
-[Rhea Ripley] Priest. -[Damian Priest] Rhea.
What's up guys?
Where have you been, big man?
Where I've been?
It looks like I'm the only one
that has an issue with Drew running his mouth.
So I went and talked to Pearce about it.
-Any other questions? -Yeah, I got one.
Why are we not beating up R-Truth today?
You know what, JD?
You should focus less on R-Truth,
and focus more on what happened tonight so it doesn't happen again.
Whoa, hang on a second.
You're not possibly defending R-Truth here, are you?
No, I'm not defending R-Truth, man.
What does he bring to the crew?
What does he bring?
Tell you what. For one,
he earns for the crew.
[enunciating each word] What is that?
This
is just my cut.
If I was y'all, I'd find him and get mine.
What about me? Do I get a cut?
I don't know, man.
Your name's not on the shirt.
Probably not.
Now, dawg,
it's a serious business.
Let's focus on this match.
-Got it, brother. -My man.
[Wade] Well the A-lister The Miz has put Awesome Truth back together,
The problem is
R-Truth seems to think he's working for Judgment Day.
Better figure things out soon
as it's going to be Awesome Truth versus Priest and Bálor
later on tonight.
[Cole] Hey, Priest told Truth, "you don't tag in".
[eerie music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[prolonged enunciation] Ladies
and gentleman.
I demand
all your gratitude.
For the return of the longest reigning
Intercontinental Heavyweight champion in history.
"The Ring General"
Gunther!
["Prepare to Fight" playing]
[Cole] You know, dozens of WWE Hall of Famers
have held the prestigious Intercontinental Championship,
first made famous back in 1979
by the late, great Pat Patterson.
But none of those men
have held the Intercontinental championship longer.
Tonight,
marks day number 584…
from Gunther.
[Wade] Nobody in the history of this industry
has cast as great a shadow
in a short space of time
as "The Ring General" Gunther.
The sky is truly the limit for this man.
I'm sure the rest of the locker room is dreading having him back.
[crowd jeering]
[speaking indistinctly]
[crowd yelling]
We are two weeks away from the Royal Rumble,
and I can literally feel
the desperation around this place.
Well…
I can…
I can literally smell
the desperation around here.
And since we're in Arkansas,
I think I can smell excrements too.
[crowd booing]
When I was away and I was
observing what unfolded the last weeks,
all I saw
was my fellow superstars coming out here
every week and argue desperately
about who's going to win the Royal Rumble.
Who's going to win WrestleMania?
So I had to come here
and remind everybody about one thing.
Last year, I entered the Royal Rumble
as number one,
and made it all the way to the end.
I was one elimination away
from winning the Royal Rumble.
[crowd yells indistinctly]
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody!
I lasted longer in the Royal Rumble match
than any man in history before.
So this year…
The Ring General,
the longest reigning
Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion
of all time,
is going to win the Royal Rumble
and main event WrestleMania.
[crowd booing]
[speaking indistinctly]
But enough of that.
And now,
I want to focus…
at you, Ludwig.
Let's take a moment
and review
what happened when I was away.
[Cole] Well, two weeks ago, Kofi Kingston dropkick
put Giovanni Vinci on the injured list.
Last week, Kaiser, Wade, vowed revenge.
[Wade] Yeah, they had a match.
Kofi Kingston versus Kaiser.
It ended in a double countout
for that quickly became completely irrelevant
because things turned ugly.
Kaiser smashing Kingston in the face
with an announce chair, followed by this,
one of the most sickening things I've ever witnessed in this industry.
A running dropkick
to the head of Kingston against the steel steps.
[Cole] Yeah, Kofi going to be out…
for a number of days
with injuries suffered at the hands of Kaiser.
Ludwig…
what I saw there…
I loved
to see that.
You showed a side of you
that I always wanted to show you.
You showed grit.
You showed confidence.
You showed courage.
My friend…
well done.
[crowd cheering and applauding]
I can tell you--
["New Day, New Way" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Kofi's buddy is tag partner Xavier Woods.
[Woods] No.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
Ludwig, you and I
have a problem.
Because last week,
you took it ten steps too far
when you dropkick Kofi Kingston's head
into those steel stairs.
I talked to Kofi earlier,
and you are the reason
that Kofi Kingston is not here tonight.
But unfortunately for you,
Ludwig,
I'm here.
[crowd cheering]
And I'm here to extract my pound of flesh from you.
So tonight, this is what's going to happen.
You and me
in that ring in a match,
and you can step up and accept the challenge
or do you have to ask your daddy for permission?
[crowd cheers]
[speaking indistinctly]
[audience chant] Who's your daddy?
[audience continue] Who's your daddy?
[chanting] Who's your daddy?
[audience] Who's your daddy? [claps]
So after you seen what I did to Kofi last week,
you really standing here right now
and dare
to challenge me?
Woods…
what I did to your friend last week
was nothing compared
I'm going to do to you tonight.
[enunciating each word] I will take your head as well.
I accept.
[microphones thud]
[Cole] I like it. It looks like we're having a Kaiser
and Xavier Woods match here
on Monday Night Raw.
Oh, Xavier Woods going right after Kaiser.
[Wade] Let's see if this match-up gets made official
or if Woods just ends it here.
[Cole] And Xavier Woods
unloading on Ludwig Kaiser
after everything Kaiser did to Kofi Kingston last week!
[Woods] You want some? Huh?
You want to deal with this?
-What? What? What? -The match.
[Cole] We have an official down here.
Let's see if we actually get this match started
when we return to Monday Night Raw.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] We're back live on Monday Night Raw.
Match became official during the break.
Xavier Woods versus Ludwig Kaiser.
Woods out here to avenge the injury to his buddy, Kofi Kingston,
caused by Kaiser last week.
We understand that Kofi had a cervical neck strain and
an AC sprain
and that he could be out in a couple of weeks.
[Wade] I'll tell you this, Kofi Kingston got off lightly
if that's all it was wrong with him,
because that was a seriously nasty act by Ludwig--
-[Cole] Kaiser with a wicked clothesline. -[Wade] Oh!
[Cole] Xavier Woods has been dealing with a wrist injury of his own,
as Kaiser now hammers away with the right hands.
You know the one thing I noticed about Kaiser,
the last couple of weeks,
as we take another look at this impact by Kaiser.
[Wade] Baseball bat to the jaw.
[Cole] And also tonight, Wade, is the confidence that Kaiser now has,
especially after Gunther praised him earlier on.
[Wade] It's been a bit of a bad run over the past few months
for the lads and Imperium outside of Gunther, of course,
but that Vinci injury from a couple of weeks ago
has really lit a fire inside of Ludwig Kaiser,
and Gunther clearly liked what he saw.
[Cole] Xavier Woods now
shoulders to the midsection and a chop to Kaiser.
-[Wade] This is… -[Cole] Oh!
…aggressive, as we have seen from Xavier Woods.
The man is angry and who can blame him?
[Cole] He heard the news earlier, too, that
Gunther will be a part of the Royal Rumble match
a week from Saturday.
Gunther making history last year
starting at number one.
And look at the viciousness now of Kaiser
going right after Xavier Woods
trying to pick up where he left off last week.
[Wade] Things have gone south in a hurry for Xavier Woods
after a really hot start.
Completely snuffed out by Ludwig Kaiser.
[Cole] Back to Gunther for just a moment.
Entering number one in the Royal Rumble match last year,
set a record of being in the match
for one hour, 11 minutes and 40 seconds.
Cover by Woods, and a kick out by Kaiser.
Gunther eliminated five men in the Rumble
before being eliminated by Cody Rhodes.
The final two.
Cover by Kaiser,
off the uppercut and a kick out by Woods at two.
[Wade] This match-up has just been a pendulum
swinging back and forth every ten seconds.
[Cole] An emotion filled match-up.
Of course, Vinci out of action
because of Kofi Kingston and
Kingston out of action because of Kaiser.
And now Xavier Woods finds himself in the middle of it all.
[Wade] I spoke to Xavier Woods.
[Kaiser] I'm gonna take your head.
You hear me?
[Wade] I spoke to Xavier Woods earlier today,
asked him if he's still feeling the power of positivity
after what happened to Kofi last week.
He said, "The only thing that I'm positive about
is that Ludwig Kaiser is going to get a well-earned whooping."
[Cole] Well, it might be Woods
who's going to get the whooping because he just got taken off
the ropes by Kaiser.
Kaiser has been so aggressive.
He's been vicious.
He's brought it to another gear as of late.
The Women's World Champion,
Rhea Ripley, will be here later on tonight.
She told the rest of the members of Judgment Day,
she has some business to deal with in the women's division.
[Kaiser] I'm going to take your head…
-[Kaiser] …for my collection. You hear me? -[referee] …two, three…
[Cole] And again, still to come is our main event.
Jinder Mahal…
who nearly seven years ago shocked the entire planet
when he beat Randy Orton to win the WWE Championship.
Can he do the same tonight
for the world title against Seth Rollins?
We'll find out later on.
[Wade] The Ring General demands wins,
but failing that, a ruthless display of power
goes a close second.
And he's getting exactly that from Ludwig Kaiser.
[Cole] Here's the cover now by Kaiser
and a hook of the leg and a kick out.
It's almost been like a refocus of sorts
for Kaiser over the past couple of weeks.
[Wade] And Kaiser needed it in the worst way.
It's sad that it came at the expense of Giovanni Vinci's health,
but wow, what a return to form for Ludwig Kaiser.
[Cole] Xavier Woods…
a member one of the greatest Tag Teams,
if not the greatest Tag Team in history in The New Day,
also has had some success as a singles champion.
Remember, he was a King of the Ring
in his career.
He's still looking for the elusive singles championship, however.
[Wade] Only the very best become King of the Ring, Cole.
And that's exactly
what Xavier Woods is going to have to be tonight to take on Kaiser.
And some mediocre folks.
[Cole] As Woods is sent over the top rope to the apron.
And, oh, Woods catching Kaiser on the ear.
And now Xavier Woods runs right into a right hand
and then a clothesline.
What a physical battle this is.
[Wade] These two have both come out
and they are emptying their nuclear warheads on one another.
And I'm loving watching it.
[Cole] Woods driven shoulder first to the post
and Ludwig Kaiser now,
that running basement dropkick.
Kaiser in control.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Ludwig Kaiser has been dominating
Xavier Woods of The New Day in this one-on-one match-up.
[Kaiser] First Kofi,
now your head.
[Cole] Woods came out tonight to avenge the injury to Kofi Kingston
caused by Kaiser last week.
[Wade] Kaiser made a big error there. Do not write off Xavier Woods
until this one is over.
[Cole] Woods now. There's that DDT as he
flew through the second rope and buys himself some time.
[Wade] Woods tasting his own blood at this point,
and that has lit something else inside of him.
Now finally getting a second wind in this one,
but he's taken a lot of punishment.
[Cole] And, uh… loud fun crowd here tonight.
WWE fans braving the elements in Little Rock, Arkansas
to join us for Monday Night Raw
as Woods and Kaiser pounding the heck out of each other.
[Cole] And now Woods with the upper hand.
[Wade] Woods refusing to be denied tonight.
[Cole] And giving Kaiser a little of his own medicine.
[Wade] Woods simply a man on a mission.
[Cole] Xavier Woods…
sends Kaiser up over the top rope.
And now Woods…
gonna fly.
Dropkick, grabs Kaiser up, and over our announce table
and Kaiser hit hard.
[Wade] Oh, what a horrible landing for Ludwig Kaiser.
[Cole] Could have moved your chair for him.
[Wade] Had to focus on getting myself out of the way.
[Cole] Now Kaiser trying to do
the same thing he did to Kofi last week.
Woods was ready,
and now dumps Kaiser on the announce table.
And now hammering away at Kaiser,
and Kaiser tried to--
rip the eyes, thumb in the mouth of Woods.
Woods with a kick and…
This is broken down out here in ringside.
And now Woods with a chair to Kaiser.
-[bell rings] -[Cole] A little bit of payback.
[Cole] The official had no choice but to call for the bell.
[crowd jeering]
[Cole] Woods using the chair as a weapon,
and it forced the disqualification.
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] So Woods said, "Well why not?"
And now Woods with a steel chair and heading--
Kaiser with a kick to the chair
off the face of Woods.
[crowd screams]
[Wade] Well, the anger and fury
simply boiled over in this one.
Once again…
-[Wade] …a member of New Day… -[referee] You won.
[Wade] …that has come a cropper at the hands
of the vengeful Ludwig Kaiser.
[Cole] And Kaiser's not done yet.
He drags Xavier Woods to his feet
and now he's going to do the Woods
what he did to Kingston last week.
[Wade] It's an action replay.
It worked perfectly last time.
God! Someone stop this.
[Cole] Xavier Woods is defenseless,
but now makes it back to his feet
and he's able to take out Kaiser.
[Wade] Woods needed everything in his soul
to summon up the energy to stand up there.
And damn, did he need it.
[Cole] This rivalry between
Imperium and New Day
has been taken to another level tonight.
Xavier Woods with a steel steps in hand.
He's going to try to injure--
He's going to try to maim Kaiser,
who ducks out of harm's way.
[Cole] And now Ludwig Kaiser
trying to escape the wrath of Xavier Woods…
[Wade] Kaiser looked like he'd seen a ghost.
[Cole] …as Kaiser escapes out of the WWE Universe.
[crowd clamoring]
[Wade] Two can play at that game, Ludwig.
[Cole] The problem with this, Wade, is nothing was settled tonight.
[Wade] Thankfully.
[Cole] Absolutely nothing has been settled
between The New Day and Imperium.
First, Kaiser tried to do to Woods what he did to Kofi last week,
but it didn't pay off tonight.
[Wade] This is where… Oh.
A chair to the face with that enziguri.
[Cole] And then trying to do what he did to Kofi.
And Xavier Woods was ready.
[crowd cheering]
And then Woods tried to maim Kaiser.
And Kaiser wisely retreated.
[yelling]
[crowd cheering]
There is a man right now
who holds a championship in WWE.
Who doesn't realize that sooner than later,
it will belong to "Big" Bronson Reed.
[indistinct chatter]
[Saxton] Excuse me, Xavier.
Uh, can you explain to us where your emotions are at?
-A moment ago, when we saw-- -Where do you think they were at, Byron?
You saw what he did to Kofi.
-I'm not gonna-- -[yelling]
-[Cole] Oh. -[speaking indistinctly]
-[Cole] That's Kaiser. -[indistinct yelling]
Come on, come on, come on. That's enough. That's enough. Come on.
Come on, get out of here.
Calm down, calm down. Both of you guys.
-Guys, get him out of here. -All right.
Get Ludwig.
-[groaning] -Bro.
This new attitude of Ludwig Kaiser
does not bode well for the health of the Raw locker room.
Yeah, not making many friends either.
Ladies and gentlemen, later on tonight, it is our main event
for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Seth Rollins versus former WWE champion Jinder Mahal.
This is how our main event came about.
[Seth] Welcome
to Monday Night Rollins.
[crowd cheering]
I worked too hard.
I worked too long.
I took a title that a year ago did not even exist,
and I turned it into the most important prize in this industry.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Seth Rollins is in stunned disbelief
at the fact that Jinder Mahal is making his way out to the ring here.
The World Heavyweight Champion, the man with the platform.
Yet you instill no change.
You speak no truth.
You pride yourself as a workhorse,
a man who provides opportunities
except to a decorated, deserving, former WWE champion.
Let me remind you, I beat Randy Orton,
the greatest of all time,
and I did it with ease.
[Cole] Jinder Mahal, the 50th WWE Champion in history.
[Jinder] You have the audacity to overlook the Modern Day Maharaja.
This disrespect will not be tolerated.
Here's the thing, Jinder.
You're sick of being overlooked.
Take a swing, Jinder.
[laughs]
That's what I thought.
Same old Jinder.
[Cole] Oh, a cheap shot from behind.
And Jinder Mahal incensed now,
beating the hell out of the world champion.
And looking for the Khallas.
Rollins now with a kick to Mahal.
Jinder came looking for an opportunity.
And now he has, what,
a World Heavyweight Championship match with Seth "Freakin'" Rollins.
[Jinder] I will not be overlooked.
I will not be disrespected.
The sun will rise on a new era
of the Modern Day Maharaja.
[Cole] Seth Rollins takes pride in being the working man's champion,
defending the championship against all comers.
Well, at some point, it's going to catch up to him.
Will it be tonight?
Seth Rollins against former WWE champion Jinder Mahal
in our main event for the world title, live on Raw.
["Shoooosh" playing]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
accompanied to the ring by Maxxine Dupri,
from Kobe, Japan,
weighing in at 156 pounds,
Akira Tozawa.
[Cole] You know, Wade, I admire Tozawa's moxie.
[Wade] That's one way of saying Akira Tozawa is completely insane.
[Cole] Tozawa against the 300-plus pound Ivar.
[Wade] It's early goings,
but it would be the shock of the year if Tozawa can pull off a victory.
And it's coming up next.
[Cole] For the first time ever, a premium live event is coming to France.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 4th,
when Backlash is live from the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Décines,
and that's not all.
Friday Night SmackDown will emanate from the LDLC
the night before Backlash,
the first time SmackDown will ever be broadcast from France.
Tickets are on sale now.
Tozawa's hoping he makes it to May.
It's coming up next.
He has to go one on one with Ivar.
[Wade] Tozawa has made a habit of trying to punch above his weight lately.
Shinsuke Nakamura, "Big" Bronson Reed and indeed this man right here.
He's fallen victim every single time.
["Vicious" playing]
[woman] Valhalla is here.
-[screaming] -[Cole speaking indistinctly]
[announcer] And his opponent.
Accompanied to the ring by Valhalla,
representing The Viking Raiders,
Ivar!
[Cole] Sorry, Samantha.
What I was trying to say was, antler-less.
Antler-less again?
[Wade] Antler-less is what--
-[Cole] Antler-less-- -[Wade] Just don't.
-Is this your first week on the job? -[Cole laughing]
[Cole] So it's Ivar set take on Tozawa.
Let's show you how this match came about from last week,
when it was Ivar against Otis of the Alpha Academy,
two 300-pound plus men going at one another.
[Wade] Yeah, battle of the big boys, Otis of Alpha Academy.
It was all going well until big Ivar hit the massive doomsault.
And of course, that was good night. But then--
[Cole] What's Tozawa thinking, Wade, seriously?
[Wade] Well, it was the aftermath.
As Ivar was enjoying his moment,
Tozawa got a little too close to the big Viking.
[indistinct shouting]
[grunts]
You think you're big, huh?
I'm big, little man.
You ain't…
[Cole] So it's Ivar one on one with Tozawa.
Maxxine is out and Tozawa's corner,
and the antler-less Valhalla--
-Valhalla's out here at ringside. -[Wade] There we go.
[Cole] And just like that, Ivar turned Tozawa inside out.
[Wade] You talk about courage, about moxie.
The truth is, I admire all of that about…
You are little man!
[Wade] …about Tozawa.
Somebody in Alpha Academy needs to take the prized pupil
and say to him, "Hey, pump the brakes, slow down,
get something more manageable."
[Cole] Yeah, but shouldn't it be applauded
that you want to take on these challenges, Wade,
and try to prove your worth to the group?
[Wade] What's the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing--
-[Cole] Oh! -[Wade] All right, over and over again
expecting a different result.
[Cole] Tozawa's a tremendous athlete.
He's not going to back down from a challenge.
[Wade] I don't doubt that at all. I'm an admirer of Tozawa,
but I think there is a limit to everyone's potential.
But you know what? I may be made to eat my words.
I would be surprised.
[Cole] Yeah. The quickness from Tozawa not gonna outpower Ivar however.
-And, oh, goodness, -[Wade] Man, that was--
[Cole] Tozawa with a tremendous counter and Tozawa's feeling it now.
[Wade] Effectively using Ivar's power against him.
[Cole] And he does.
-He's able to rip the shirt tonight. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] It took about ten minutes. That's the problem.
-And in that ten minutes, Ivar… -[Cole] Ooh, boy!
Getting slammed by Ivar.
[Wade] …takes Tozawa on around the world--
[Cole] And now a crossbody.
-[Wade] And a sternum crush. -[yelling]
[referee] …can you continue?
[Wade] It's just angered Ivar, that's the problem.
I like the flurry. I like the attempt.
But this was inevitable.
And once again, the big man seems to be going skyward.
[Cole] And now, Maxxine on the apron, begging Ivar
or trying to distract Ivar nonetheless.
[Wade] Who would not be distracted?
[Cole] Tozawa kicked to the face. Ivar is in trouble.
Trying to keep his balance.
Tozawa now.
-Top rope. -[Wade] Oh.
[Cole] Sunset flip powerbomb stacks up Ivar.
-[Wade] No way! -[Cole] Got him.
Tozawa with a win!
["Shoooosh" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner,
Akira Tozawa.
-[Wade] Uh-oh. -[Cole] And now Valhalla
blasting Maxxine.
Blaming Maxxine for the distraction that may have cost Ivar the match.
[Wade] Tozawa got flattened in the process.
Such is the power and force of Valhalla.
[Cole] And now Tozawa trying to come the aid of Maxxine
and runs into that spin kick by Ivar.
-Valhalla punishing Maxxine. -[groaning]
[Wade] Well, that was a Pyrrhic victory for the Alpha Academy.
[Cole] A fish hook to the jaw…
of Maxxine,
and then a headbutt.
And Valhalla and Ivar laying waste to the members of the Alpha Academy.
[Wade] Sometimes in life, when you win, really, you lose.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Well, Tozawa picked up the victory tonight,
but… at what cost?
[indistinct chatter]
Three hundred pounds.
As that weirdo Valhalla looks on the doomsault.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] I don't think they teach a defense for that.
Well, the Alpha Academy.
[Wade] Was it worth it, Tozawa? That is the question.
And the answer surely is no.
[Cole] Again, the distraction by… Maxxine
would allow Tozawa to climb back into things
and deliver that sunset powerbomb
-and pick up the win. -[bell rings]
[Wade] Yeah, keeping his wits about him was Tozawa throughout the match.
Once the bell rung to single victory, he took his eye off the ball completely.
And this is where things went south,
almost getting decapitated by that massive spinning leg lariat.
Followed by this.
[Cole] Yeah, Maxxine got run over by a reindeer,
and then the doomsault was delivered by Ivar to Tozawa.
[crowd booing]
[screaming]
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, we kicked off Monday Night Raw tonight
with a confrontation between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre.
You're standing in my way.
And like Punk learned last week,
if you step in my way, you'll get eaten alive.
I'm operating at a different level right now.
When I'm feeling like this, when I'm 100% me,
I'm not what's best for business.
I am this damn business.
And at WrestleMania,
the story belongs to Drew McIntyre.
[crowd cheering]
So if you want to settle this in the Royal Rumble,
I sure as hell will give you something else to complain about.
And another thing, you keep mentioning this last match that we had.
You told the story about the last match between you and I.
Let me ask you something about it.
-Who won? -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Emotions are high. Tension's heating up.
The field is filling up.
You got Lashley and Gunther and McIntyre and Cody Rhodes,
among others,
including this man, the returning CM Punk,
who is part of the Royal Rumble match a week from Saturday,
and also thinks it's time to talk with Cody Rhodes.
This from CM Punk's Instagram story a bit earlier on tonight.
She is the Women's World Champion.
"The Eradicator," "The Dominator," the superstar.
Rhea wants to set things straight in the women's division.
Live next.
[singer] ♪ Watch me do the impossible… ♪
-Are you okay? -He's out.
-You all right? -[indistinct chatter]
Are you okay?
Enough!
I'll talk to Adam Pearce.
Valhalla will pay for this.
[indistinct chatter]
All right.
Tozawa, I'm so proud of you.
You're on your way to graduating the academy.
Nice job tonight.
But as for Ivar,
what he did tonight to you, that's the work of a coward.
-Yes. -Savage idiot.
Savage idiot.
And next week, he's going to learn the difference
between being a coward and being an Alpha.
And Master Gable
is gonna be the one to teach him.
Arigato!
[whimpering]
♪ This is my brutality ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ I eat, sleep, bleed ♪
♪ The demons in your dreams ♪
♪ I eat, sleep, bleed… ♪
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] Please welcome the Women's World Champion,
The Judgment Day's
Rhea Ripley!
[Cole] "The Eradicator" has been unstoppable as a champion
ever since WrestleMania of last year.
But in fact, the dominance really began at last year's Royal Rumble match,
when Rhea Ripley lasted
a record one hour, one minute and eight seconds.
To go from number one, wire to wire,
to win the Royal Rumble.
[Wade] Well, the scuttlebutt, the word on social media at the moment
is that Mami's position on top of this division,
her dominance is beginning to get questioned.
There are a lot of threats surrounding Mami
and that perhaps brings out the best,
or, should I say, the worst in the champ.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "Mami"]
You know, I am so sick and tired
of people like Nia Jax running their mouth
and claiming that this is their division.
[indistinct chatter]
This is my division.
And that's why this is my championship.
[crowd cheering]
So take this as a warning to whoever wins the Royal Rumble match.
If you decide to waste your WrestleMania…
[woman] Love you, Mami.
…then I would advise you to choose me.
But if you don't want to waste that opportunity of yours…
choose someone else
because it's going to end up just like it did last year.
Because Mami is always on top.
[crowd cheering]
["Celtic Invasion" playing]
[singer vocalizing]
[Cole] Well, there's Mami.
And there's "The Man."
Becky Lynch.
Someone who knows a little something about winning a Royal Rumble match.
[Wade] The champ is always on top,
but "The Man" is always in close proximity to that top spot.
-[crowd cheering] -[singer vocalizing]
[Wade] I don't know if I would ever turn my back on Rhea Ripley.
[Cole] It just shows you the confidence of "The Man."
[singer vocalizing]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "Becky"]
So here we stand.
[crowd cheering]
Two very different people with two very similar journeys,
both two women from foreign lands
who dreamt of coming over here and becoming the very best to ever do it.
[crowd cheering]
Both spent years meandering trying to figure it out.
Both went from being afterthoughts at WrestleMania one year
to becoming the faces of the industry the next.
[crowd cheering, clapping]
-[man] Go, Becky! -But there's a difference.
One of us went on to win the main event of WrestleMania.
[crowd cheering]
The other did not.
But there's another difference.
One of us has a natural ability in this ring
and a finesse that is unmatched.
They have the strength of a bear.
The other has the heart of a lion…
[crowd cheering]
…and a relentlessness and a determination
that is unmatched.
So here we stand.
The two very best to do it.
[crowd cheering, clapping]
But there's-there's this-this thought.
There's this voice in my head, this thing that keeps me awake.
And it's asking and it's questioning and it's saying to me.
It's saying to me…
[indistinct chatter]
I think you might be better than me.
[crowd cheering]
But I need to prove that you're not.
[crowd cheering]
And to do that, I need to take that title from you.
And to do that, I need to win the Royal Rumble.
I need to point to the sign.
I need to declare at WrestleMania, it will be Mami versus "The Man."
[crowd cheering]
Becky…
there's only one other person
that wants you to win the Royal Rumble match
more than yourself.
And that's me.
[crowd cheering]
I'll see you at WrestleMania.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] We have a long way to go
before we get there.
But a week from Saturday on Peacock at the Royal Rumble event,
the Road to WrestleMania begins.
♪ We kill all of the devils in me ♪
♪ I still feel The darkness that lives in me ♪
♪ Give you chills I'll take your soul in your sleep… ♪
Rhea Ripley versus Becky Lynch.
Now, that's a match that I want to see.
But for now, let's welcome the World Heavyweight Champion.
Seth "Freakin'" Rollins.
[crowd cheering]
Oh, Little Rock… [laughs]
It's freezing cold,
but welcome
to Monday Night Rollins!
[laughing]
Well, it is cold. I can see your breath.
Uh, but let me ask you this, Seth.
Last week you made the goal
of bringing this World Heavyweight Championship
into WrestleMania.
But tonight, it was you that asked for this match against Jinder.
Why take the risk?
Jackie, I have been
World Heavyweight Champion now for over 200 days,
and with every single title defense,
I get stronger, I get better.
And so the way I see it,
the only way I can do what I have set out to do
and take this title into WrestleMania
-is to continue to be who I am. -[crowd cheering]
A fighting champion, a workhorse champion.
[crowd cheering]
And as for Jinder Mahal… [laughs]
Well, this ain't our first dance.
But this Jinder Mahal,
this is not the same Jinder Mahal that I beat
to become the very first NXT champion.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
This Jinder Mahal is a former WWE champion.
This is the best version of Jinder Mahal.
This is a deserving Jinder Mahal.
And, Jackie…
I wouldn't have it any other way,
because I am a visionary.
I am a revolutionary.
-I am Seth "Freakin'" Rollins. -[crowd chanting "Rollins"]
[laughing]
[Cole] It's our main event tonight.
Seth Rollins puts
the World Heavyweight Championship on the line,
a title he won all the way back in May
against the former WWE champion in Jinder Mahal.
Can Mahal do it again? Can he shock the world?
Or will Seth "Freakin'" Rollins' title reign continue?
Find out live in our main event tonight.
[The Miz] Awesome!
-♪ I came to play ♪ -♪ I came to play ♪
♪ There's a price to pay ♪
♪ Time for you to get down on your knees And pray ♪
-♪ I came to play… ♪ -[bell rings]
[announcer] The following is a tag-team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
residing in Hollywood, California,
weighing in at 221 pounds,
The Miz.
[Cole] So, Wade, The Miz is happy to have
Awesome Truth together as a tag team.
The problem is, I don't think Truth understands
he's supposed to be, actually, on The Miz's team.
[Wade] I hope Miz knows what he's doing
because his tag partner tonight, R-Truth, certainly does not.
Those two are up against the tag champs,
Finn Bálor and Damian Priest,
and it's coming up next.
[Cole] Royal Rumble is presented by Cricket
with fast and powerful nationwide 5G coverage.
You can stress less and smile more.
And by Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Available February second on PlayStation 5.
The Miz is set for tag team action but still waiting on his partner.
-["The Other Side" playing] -[singer vocalizing]
[announcer] And their opponents,
accompanied by JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio,
representing The Judgment Day,
they are the undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions.
Finn Bálor, and Señor Money in the Bank, Damian Priest.
[Cole] This is so hysterical because R-Truth's in the background.
He's supposed to be teaming with Miz tonight,
but Truth, he fancies himself a part of Judgment Day,
and he got his marching orders from Damian Priest earlier on.
Tonight's match, you don't tag in.
Don't tag in?
Don't tag in.
[laughing] Gotcha.
Don't tag in.
[Cole] So again, Priest and Bálor are the tag champs.
The Miz is teaming with R-Truth as part of the team Awesome Truth.
However, Truth believes he's part of Judgment Day.
Miz trying to figure out what's going on.
We're all confused.
[Wade] Yeah, R-Truth also-- Oh.
Also took that literal instruction from Damian Priest.
Don't tag in, as some sort of code for a master plan.
The problem was there-there is no master plan.
It was just don't tag in. It's very simple.
[Cole] R-Truth was barking at JD McDonagh
who Truth claims isn't in Judgment Day.
Miz is legitimately excited about this team.
Awesome Truth, a team together a number of years ago.
Miz said he's fired up and--
[Wade] Better get in the ring, Cole.
[Cole] That's the money Truth's been making
selling Judgment Day swag out on a street corner.
And I'm not sure who's cut that is for.
And apparently, it's for Finn.
It's your cut, it's your cut.
-Here's your cut, Bálor. -Take his money.
Take the money, dawg. Take the money. It's yours.
[Wade] I mean, no one's going to complain if you hand him a wad of cash.
Me least of anyone.
[Cole] This is one of the strangest things I've witnessed.
-Miz can't figure out what's going on. -[R-Truth speaking indistinctly]
-[Cole] Dominik-- -[indistinct conversation]
[Cole] Well, Dom wants his cut too.
-Where's my cut? -You have to be a member--
[Cole] R-Truth said, you gotta be a member.
[Wade] Truth thinks he replaced JD in the group.
[Cole] Well, he did, because he beat him in a match.
-It did happen. We called it. -[Wade] That wasn't it.
He did beat him in the match but it wasn't official.
-We're on the same tag team! -I'm rich, I'm rich.
I'm rich.
Put that in my pocket. Put that in my pocket.
Put it in my pocket.
[indistinct conversation]
-Hey, Priest. -I don't want to see your smile.
Just be serious.
[bell rings]
[Cole] So again, the match-up's underway.
Again, Miz was fired up about this.
He said we make magic when we're Awesome Truth.
And we've never been tag team champs,
so maybe we can add that to our list of great moments.
[Wade] R-Truth is WWE's resident space cadet,
and he wasn't even supposed to get involved in this match-up
per Damian Priest.
[Cole] No, no, no. Again, being a bad journalist, as you always are,
you're-you're-you're making things up.
Priest said, don't tag in.
He didn't say anything about starting the match.
[Wade] You wrote the book on bad faith journalism, Michael Cole.
[Cole] And R-Truth now took out Finn Bálor,
who he believes is his teammate.
Now he's upset about it.
-I'm sorry. My bad. -[The Miz] What are you sorry for?
Get back, get back, get--
[Cole] Bálor now double-leg takedown of Truth,
and stomping away now on R-Truth.
[Wade] Yeah, I've-I've noticed Priest
has seemingly warmed somewhat to R-Truth of late.
The same cannot be said about Finn Bálor.
[Cole] You said it earlier.
You hand somebody money, they'll warm to you.
He's not supposed to… Remember?
-…two. -[crowd chants "Let's go, Truth"]
[Cole] We are back on Monday Night Raw.
Bálor and Priest against Awesome Truth.
Miz and R-Truth here on Monday Night Raw.
Truth still believes he's in Judgment Day
and does not understand why Finn Bálor
is, uh, physically assaulting him in this match.
This is how he started the match.
R-Truth doing his best impression of the New York Jets here tonight
as he fumbles the cash that he made for selling all the Judgment Day T-shirts
before the show.
He was supposed to hand that money to Finn Bálor and company.
[Wade] Well, it's been a disastrous night for Truth so far.
He's lost about five grand to his supposed teammates
and now they're all beating him up.
[Cole] And now Bálor…
[Cole] Tag made and here comes Señor Money in the Bank,
-Damian Priest. -Come on, it's the Judgment Day.
Drew McIntyre, still very upset with his man, Damian Priest.
Calls him a "idiot" because he tried to cash in
the Money in the Bank contract.
McIntyre believes it cost him the World Heavyweight Championship.
[Wade] Priest has seemed a little hesitant to beat up Truth so far.
Surprising from him but Finn Bálor having no reservations whatsoever.
[Cole] I think uh, Truth is growing on Damien Priest.
Again, when you hand someone money, that seems to be the way it goes.
[Wade] It took forever for JD McDonagh-- Priest to warm to JD McDonagh.
Truth has apparently found the key to his heart.
[Cole] McDonagh never gave Priest any money.
Truth tagged, here comes Miz.
And Miz now with a clothesline.
And the Miz, who said earlier, is so excited about this matchup tonight,
an opportunity to maybe knock off the tag champs.
[Wade] Or maybe he's as nuts as R-Truth then.
[Miz] Come on! [grunts]
[Cole] Miz ducks underneath and now
right here in front of us, Damian Priest, straight off the announce table!
And again, Priest over and down and out.
[Wade] Miz might win this one on his own.
He's the freshest man In the matchup, finally getting in there.
And he's got all the momentum.
[both groaning]
-Goodbye. -[both groan]
[Cole] Get out. Priest trying to get out of the announce table
as Miz now goes into the cover, hooks the leg on Bálor and a kick out.
[Wade] And if I was Miz, I would not tag in Truth at any point,
-if you actually want to win this matchup. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Got to do it on your own from here, pal.
[yelling]
[Cole] And now Miz looking perhaps for a Skull-Crushing Finale
Take down by Bálor.
[Wade] Bálor just too quick.
[crowd groaning]
[Cole] Tag made and here comes Truth.
[Wade] Miz knew very little about that tag.
-But perhaps Truth back on-- -[Cole] Oh!
Scissor kick right to the back of the neck
and R-Truth can't believe he took out his own partner,
-Finn Bálor. -I'm sorry.
[grunting]
[Miz] JD!
[Wade] No hesitations on dropping JD McDonagh however.
[Cole] Priest back into the fray, delivering a kick to Miz.
And now R-Truth measuring Priest.
Whoa!
What are you doing? You trying to join us or not?
What happened to this?
[Cole] And from behind, Bálor tried to take out Truth
and caught him with a heel kick.
-[grunts] -[crowd booing]
[Cole] And Damian Priest, so much for the teammate.
South of Heaven!
[crowd booing]
[Wade] That went south in a hurry.
[Cole] And Bálor will crawl into the cover
-One, two, three. He's done. -[bell rings]
[Cole] for the Judgment Day win.
[rock music playing]
[announcer] Here are your winners.
The undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions!
Señor Money in the Bank, Damian Priest
and Finn Bálor!
[Cole] You know, honestly, Wade, uh,
Damian looked a bit concerned about having to do what he did to R-Truth
but none the less, Judgment Day picks up the win.
[Wade] Well, this is when things turn bad for R-Truth.
This is called getting hit with a reality check
from a man who has completely disassociated himself
from the word "reality" of late.
-One, two, three. -Damian Priest
-and Finn Bálor. -[bell rings]
The Tag Champs once again stamping their authority on Raw.
[Cole] Bálor and Priest with the win here tonight.
[rock music continues]
[crowd cheering]
Excuse me, Jinder, I'm so sorry to interrupt,
but it's almost time for your World Heavyweight Championship match
and we were hoping to get your thoughts before tonight's main event.
[takes deep breath]
Absolute clarity for the Modern Day Maharaja.
A seven year drought but the whispers are pouring in.
Making me the most talked about star of 2024.
Everyone is divided,
but my focus is singular.
Twelve years in the making
narrowed down to one night.
And tonight,
everyone is unified
when I beat Seth "Freakin" Rollins
and become World Heavyweight Champion.
[crowd cheering, clapping]
[Cole] A very focused and intense Jinder Mahal.
An opportunity of a lifetime tonight.
The working man's champion, Seth "Freakin" Rollins,
who has not been pinned in a one on one matchup in over a year,
takes on the upstart, Jinder Mahal.
Can Mahal do the unthinkable?
It's our main event for the World Heavyweight title,
moments away on Monday Night Raw.
["Loyalty Is Everything" playing]
["Cut Above the Rest" playing]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first the team of Shayna Baszler
and Zoey Stark!
[Cole] You know, so many teams jockeying for position
in the women's tag team division.
Wade, I like this grouping of Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark.
[Wade] Yeah, maximum aggression.
These two ladies are bad news for anyone else in this division
And tonight they are going to be taking on
the team of Tegan Nox and the veteran, Natalya.
Potential championship implications for Carter and Chance.
[oriental music playing]
[speaking Japanese]
-[rock music playing] -[Cole] Next week, the men's Rumble
and the women's Royal Rumble matches.
Shayne, Zoey, set for Tag Team action.
["Blue Marvel" playing]
["New Foundation" playing]
[announcer] And their opponents,
the team of Tegan Nox and Natalya!
[Cole] Nox and Natalya against Baszler, Zoey Stark here in this Tag Team matchup.
Came about a bit earlier on today.
The party is over when we say it's over.
And second, we're fighting champions.
-And after we defend our titles on Friday, -Mmm-hmm.
why don't we just see how dangerous you really are?
-Oh, they're egging us on. -We'd like to.
-It's your funeral. -All right.
-[Tegan] Oy! -[clicks tongue]
We also heard what you guys said about us. You said that beating us is a cakewalk.
-Yeah. -I mean, why wait for next week?
-We're ready. You're ready. -We'd love to do it tonight.
Let's go tonight, shall we?
-Think they can last 20 seconds? -We can find out.
I'll last as long as I want.
-See you in the ring. -See ya.
I'll save it for the ice.
-Tegan warm me up, please. Thank you. -Okay.
[Cole] We talked about this earlier.
-Everyone jockeying for position -[bell rings]
trying to get an opportunity at Kayden Carter and Katana Chance
in the Women's Tag Team titles.
[Wade] I'll tell you this about Carter and Chance, the champs.
They will fight every single one of these teams.
It's really just a question of who gets the first opportunity here on Raw.
That's what everyone's squabbling over at the moment.
[Cole] Well, the next opportunity comes Friday night on SmackDown,
when they defend the Tag Team titles against Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn.
Baszler and Zoey Stark, who make a pretty good tag team.
-Once rivals, now tag team partners. -One.
[Wade] Yeah, they earned each other's respect in a grueling matchup
a couple of months ago against each other,
as the Tag Champs, once again, look on at the growing
-groundswell of competition -[Tegan grunting]
that is heading in their direction.
[Cole] What do you like about Baszler and Stark?
[Wade] I like that unmitigated aggression that they both have,
the technical skills, the extreme athleticism
and quite simply, the malice in their eyes.
And Tegan Nox is finding out that the malice in the eyes
extends throughout their entire bodies.
[Cole] Yeah, Baszler, the Submission Magician.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] I'll say this, Natalya, the veteran of the women's locker room,
sees herself as the mother hen,
has decided to take the upstart, Tegan Nox under her wing,
take her on as a protege.
But right now, in no man's land is Tegan Nox
in a whole world of hurt.
[Cole] Stark and Baszler with tags in and out of the ring.
Terrific tag team wrestling here.
Baszler with the body shots, tagged from Stark again.
[Wade] And Nox has not managed to get a shot in at all thus far.
-And, ooh, this one-- -[crowd gasping]
[Cole] Keeping the veteran, uh, Natalya, out of the ring.
-[Wade] Get a sense that Stark and Baszler -[Stark] One more?
-[Wade] are simply enjoying this, -[smack]
-[crowd groaning] -[Wade] shredding meat in their corner.
[Cole] Tegan Nox though, trying to fight out of this.
Battling out of the corner now.
Stark with a knee to the midsection.
[Wade] Prolonging the agony for the Welsh firecracker
-who needs a tag in a bad way. -[crowd chanting] Tegan, Tegan.
[Wade] I promise you this about Tegan Nox, she is gonna keep on swinging.
[Cole] Tremendous heart, trying to fight her way out.
Needs to make a tag to her partner, Natalya.
-And that knee floors Nox by Baszler. -[Wade] Ooh!
[Cole] Baszler's dangerous with her whole body
-and Natalya now… -One, two. Two.
[Cole] …breaking things up, saving the matchup.
[Wade] Needed that breakup but perhaps too much left in the tank of Baszler.
But I'll tell you this about Tegan Nox.
She's had a heart-wrenching story.
A stare down the barrel of medical retirement
on several occasions.
It's a miracle she's even here at this point.
She likes to fight every match as if it's her last.
[Cole] Yeah, well Shayna Baszler may make it Tegan Nox's last match tonight
as the assault continues.
[Wade] This is getting increasingly ugly.
[Tegan grunts]
[Cole] Baszler bringing Nox to the top rope.
Nox, though, able to block,
sends Baszler down face first.
And now Tegan Nox from the top rope.
There's a cross body, rolls through.
[Wade] Fortuitous landing. Could've gone for the tag,
but has decided to launch an assault.
Perhaps that was a mistake by Tegan Nox,
who was right in the corner and--
-There's the tag. -[Cole] A running uppercut.
Tag made by Natalya. Zoey Stark is, uh, legal as well.
[Wade] Now is a little payback time from mother hen herself.
[Cole] And Natalya,
the self-proclaimed BOAT.
-Best Of All Time. -[grunting]
-Former Women's Champion. -One, two.
[Wade] When you got a fistful of Guinness World Records,
-it's hard to dispute that claim. -[Natalya grunts]
[Cole] Bouncing Stark off the top, now in the middle of the ring.
Natalya catches Baszler.
And that right there, vintage Natalya,
with the basement dropkick to Stark.
[Wade] Yeah, this match has turned around in a hurry.
[Cole] And now Natalya-- Oh nice release, German suplex.
-Little Rock. -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Natalya, so good at her craft.
Running, spinning a discus lariat
and Stark able to duck underneath and deliver an elbow.
Went for the Z-360, blocked though, by Natalya.
[Wade] Nice reversal, perhaps going for the Sharpshooter.
[Cole] Trying to step into the Sharpshooter,
Stark creates space.
-[Wade] Wild panic in the eyes -[Cole] Tag.
[Wade] of Zoey stark.
Knew she was in real danger there for a second.
[Cole] Baszler and Nox now legal.
-Double team coming from… -[Stark groans]
-[Cole] Natalya… and Nox. -[Wade] Ooh. Backbreaker.
-[Cole] Shayna Baszler. -[Tegan] Naty, help!
[Cole] And Natalya connects!
-Tegan! -[Wade] Ooh!
-One, two… -[Cole] Stacks up.
Shayna kickout at two.
[Wade] That was a Gareth Bale-esque penalty to the jaw of Shayna Baszler
by the Welsh woman herself, Tegan Nox.
[Cole] Natalya setting up for perhaps the Heart Attack.
Zoey Stark, no, intercepts.
[Wade] Yeah, it was game over for Stark and Baszler,
had she not intercepted.
[grunts]
[Cole] And now, Shayna Baszler, Kirifuda Clutch time.
-Natalya rolling through, -One, two…
[Cole] shoulders down, Baszler able to reverse.
Still has the hold locked in. Natalya's fading.
[Wade] All the leverage in the world.
Torque on that spine tightening around the throat.
-[bell rings] -[Cole] Natalya had to tap out.
Ahhh!
["Loyalty Is Everything" playing]
[announcer] Here are your winners by submission.
The team of Zoey Stark
and Shayna Baszler!
[Cole] Well, the list of competitors and contenders continues to get longer
for the tag team champions, Katana Chance and Kayden Carter.
Yeah, really, really impressive performance by Stark and Baszler.
It's only a matter of time till they're fighting for gold.
Can you believe we are almost on the road to WrestleMania?
Next Monday night is the final Raw before the Royal Rumble
And we are live in New Orleans and CM Punk told Cody Rhodes,
"It's about time we had a chat."
CM Punk, The American Nightmare,
face-to-face in this can't miss encounter next week.
[Wade] After a shocking loss to Tozawa earlier tonight,
Ivar and Valhalla took it on themselves to destroy Alpha Academy.
Now they've attracted the ire of the pitbull Ivy Nile,
who looks to set things straight
when she goes one on one with Valhalla next week.
[Cole] Meanwhile, Ivar will be in action as well
as he takes on the man with the golden brain, Chad Gable.
Gable, the leader of the Alpha Academy and Ivar, one on one next week.
[Wade] Well, there's been weeks of potshots and several cash-in attempts,
ruined by The Scottish Warrior.
Now Señor Money in the Bank seeks vengeance.
Damian Priest takes on Drew McIntyre in the battle of the big men,
right here, next week on Raw.
[Cole] And it is time for our main event.
["Sher" playing]
[Cole] And look who's here with Jinder Mahal.
The men that he has taken on as proteges, Indus Sher.
The 6' 5", 300 pound, Sanga,
the 6' 4", 275 pound, Veer.
Seth Rollins has got to be careful tonight.
[Wade] 6' 5", Sanga? You got to be kidding me.
He's 6' 8", Cole. The guy's massive.
[Cole] Jinder Mahal with a smile on his face
because he knows this could be his night.
Can Mahal do the unthinkable?
Can he knock off Set Rollins
for the World Heavyweight Championship?
Our main event
-is next, live on Raw. -Ready!
[Cole] Are you looking at the new World Heavyweight Champion, Jinder Mahal?
We'll find out. Our main event is right now.
["Visionary" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd singing] ♪ Oh, whoa, oh ♪
♪ Oh, whoa, oh ♪
-♪ Burn it down! ♪ -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] You know, our final Monday Night Raw
between the Royal Rumble event happens next Monday night.
We are live in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Will Seth Rollins still be the World Heavyweight Champion?
[crowd singing] ♪ Oh, whoa, oh ♪
♪ Oh, whoa, oh ♪
-♪ Burn it down! ♪ -[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall
and it is for the World Heavyweight Championship!
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] Introducing the challenger,
accompanied to the ring by Indus Sher
from Punjab, India, weighing in at 245 pounds,
The Modern Day Maharaja,
-Jinder Mahal. -[shouting]
[crowd booing]
And his opponent from Davenport, Iowa,
weighing in at 225 pounds,
he is the World Heavyweight Champion,
-Seth "Freakin" Rollins! -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] You know, Jinder Mahal said that he feels great, but also feels offended.
He says he's been overlooked, he's been frustrated.
He's been helping the new generation like Indus Sher.
But people have forgotten about me.
Now, an interesting Tweet sent out earlier today
by SmackDown general manager, Nick Aldis,
who said, "I wish Jinder the best of luck."
-"You're overlooked on Raw, -[bell rings]
"however, SmackDown's the land of opportunity.
I'm always open for a conversation."
[Wade] Well, that is an interesting development, but oh.
[Cole] And now Seth Rollins, distracted immediately by Indus Sher,
hit ringside and Jinder Mahal takes the upper hand on Rollins.
Let's talk about the former WWE Champion, Wade,
who shocked the world back in 2017 to knock off Randy Orton to win the gold.
What does Mahal have to do tonight to beat Seth Rollins?
[Wade] Well, Jinder Mahal is the ultimate Cinderella story.
The fact that he was booted out of WWE, came back, became the champion
and has faced this disrespect.
He needs to channel into that disrespect, unleash it all on Seth Rollins right now.
-[Cole] Yeah. -[Wade] And backed by Indus Sher ringside.
Things are looking bleak for the champ.
[Cole] Early on, Mahal went for the Khallas, his finishing move.
Rollins with the Stomp and then the Pedigree.
-[Wade] Oh. -[Cole] Oh, and Rollins hit hard
as he came over the top rope right in front of Sanga of Indus Sher.
[Wade] Well, the Jinder hinderers were out in force on social media all week,
taking potshots at the man from Punjab, India.
Well, this is your opportunity Jinder
to shove all of their faces in the mud where they belong.
-[grunting] -[Cole] Those two huge men at ringside.
Is that shift enough of the balance of this match over to Mahal's side?
[Wade] Well, if Seth Rollins came into this match
not anticipating that Indus Sher were gonna be out here,
-he better start thinking fast. -[Cole] Oh.
[Wade] I promise you, those two big boys are not out here to look pretty.
[crowd singing]
[Cole] Rollins said,
as he delivers and went for the knee.
-It was a glancing blow on Jinder, -Bring it on me, I dare you!
[Cole] but it did enough.
[Wade] And the ever resilient champion, Seth "Freakin" Rollins
-refusing to bow in the face -[Indus Sher speaking Hindi]
[Wade] of overwhelming odds.
[Cole] Now, Indus Sher has got to be very careful.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Oh, wait a minute. Mr. Money in the Bank.
Damian Priest waltzing out here tonight.
Rollins back is against the wall.
This match is for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The reason that Mr. Money in the Bank, Damian Priest,
is sitting out here at ringside,
perhaps he plans to cash in on Rollins tonight.
[Wade] Who knows if Jinder Mahal wins this match up,
Maybe Priest will cash in on Mahal,
although I'll have to say I'll mitigate that idea
by the fact that Indus Sher are standing ringside.
[Cole] Indus Sher's got to be careful if they get involved.
Remember Rollins with a Champion advantage tonight.
Mahal has to pin or submit Rollins to win the Championship.
[Wade] I'll tell you this, Jinder Mahal is a smart as they come
And he will have given his men, Indus Sher marching orders
not to screw this one up.
[Cole] Jinder Mahal was the 50th WWE champion in history
when he won the Championship just about seven years ago.
-Mahal would love to win the gold again. -[groaning]
Abdominal stretch now applied to Rollins.
[Wade] Mahal has become a punchline in recent weeks.
Verbally eviscerated by first, The Rock
-and then, Seth Rollins last week. -[Cole] Yeah, but--
But he's put a positive spin on it, Wade.
He's called himself the most talked about superstar of 2024
and that has gotten him into this position tonight.
An opportunity at the world title.
[Wade] He's absolutely right and if he wins that world title tonight,
he'll become even more talked about, I promise you that, Cole.
-Shockwaves throughout the industry. -[Cole] Yeah, punchline no more,
if Mahal can pull off the upset tonight.
Rollins now collides with Mahal, center of the ring.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Rollins!
-[both grunting] -[crowd chanting] Let's go, Rollins!
[Cole] WWE fans have been vocal all night long here in Little Rock,
Battling the elements to be a part of Monday Night Raw.
The penultimate Raw before the Royal Rumble event.
[Wade] It's essentially a rematch ten years in the making for Jinder Mahal,
who lost to Seth "Freakin" Rollins for the first ever NXT Championship.
[Cole] Yeah, the finals of the NXT Championship tournament,
the inaugural championship, all the way over a decade ago,
-where Rollins would win the title. -[crowd chanting]
[Cole] Many believed Mahal was the favorite on that night
And Rollins now with a forearm to the jaw!
[grunting]
[Cole] And another one, this time to the chest, taking down Mahal.
[Wade] This is Seth "Freakin" Rollins hitting that championship gear,
but do not forget, Mahal has a gear of his own.
He's been to the top of the mountain and he can do it again tonight.
[Cole] Rollins so proud to be a working champion.
He's been the World Heavyweight Champion since all the way back in May,
when he won the tournament in Saudi Arabia.
[Wade] That's a problem with being proud of something like that.
-You end up with matches you shouldn't. -[Cole] Crossbody!
-Lateral press and a kick out by Mahal. -One, two--
[Wade] Seth Rollins burning the candle at both ends,
but so far, things are looking really good for the champ.
[Cole] Rollins out to the apron, but uh, takes a bit of a pause
as he looks down at Indus Sher.
Off the top rope, flies into a senton and now a moonsault from the second rope.
-Cover by Rollins. -One, two…
[Cole] Rollins may have tweaked something when he hit that moonsault.
[Wade] Perhaps hit that patella hard, but you're right,
there is danger everywhere you look when you're the champion.
No different here.
Take another look at this landing by Rollins,
-who has had knee issues in the past. -One, two…
Two!
[Cole] You don't become the superstar, the level that Seth Rollins is
without fighting through many injuries in your career.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Every one of these matches takes a toll.
[Wade] Seth is hurting bad now.
This is an opportunity for Jinder to take back control here.
[Cole] Mahal trying to overpower Rollins now with a vertical suplex.
Rollins, though, able to land on his feet.
-Spin through into a falcon arrow. -[Wade] Ooh!
[Cole] Tremendous power by Rollins there.
[Wade] Yeah and make no mistake, Jinder Mahal is a massive man.
To pull that move off at any point is impressive,
-but when you got a busted kneecap… -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And Rollins, back to his feet, may have Mahal where he wants him.
Thought about the Stomp,
but Mahal got back to his feet too quickly.
[Wade] Seth has been moving gingerly.
It's that slight slow down that gave Mahal an opportunity--
[Cole] Pedigree! Oh, no, the knee gave out.
So Seth didn't get all of it.
He went for the Pedigree, but his knee gave out.
He didn't get all of it.
And now can he capitalize?
Cover now on Rollins.
-Hook on inside leg on Mahal. -One, two…
And Indus Sher pays off.
Hey, hey, hey!
[Cole] Rollins hit the Pedigree but didn't get it all 'cause of the knee.
and then, Wade, he couldn't capitalize quick enough.
[Wade] It cost him. That's what happens when you burn the candle at both ends.
Your body starts breaking down on you.
[Cole] Rollins top rope, gonna take out Indus Sher.
-Veer, you okay? -Yeah.
[Wade] Seth Rollins fighting battles on many fronts.
Well, the most important battle of all is for the World Heavyweight Championship.
[Cole] Mahal moves out of harm's way as Rollins went for the splash.
[Wade] Well, that diversion when he launched himself--
[Cole] And look who's back to his feet!
With both men down, Damian Priest
-maybe wondering if this is the time, -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] if this is his opportunity to finally cash in the contract.
[Wade] Lots of…
-[Cole] But looks who's here. -[Wade] Ooh!
You're dead.
You wanna keep running your mouth, what do you think is gonna happen?
Okay.
[Wade] Whoa! Next week's come early, Cole.
[Cole] And Priest and McIntyre unloading on each other.
Remember, McIntyre blamed Priest for trying to cash in Money in the Bank
and costing him a World Championship opportunity.
-[Wade] A heavyweight slugfest. -[Cole] Oh, and a cheap shot.
[Wade] Referee was distracted by Drew and Priest. And Mahal--
[Cole] And Mahal trying to take advantage.
-Rolls up the champion for the title. -One, two…
[Cole] Kick out by Rollins.
Indus Sher delivering a cheap shot to Rollins
when the official was dealing with McIntyre and Priest on the other side
and Mahal almost stole the Championship.
[Wade] There are bullseyes all over the body of the champ now.
And Jinder knows it, Jinder smells blood.
[Cole] Yeah, Mahal realizes this is his chance.
This is his opportunity.
[Wade] You may never get a better chance to drop Seth "Freakin" Rollins
than right now, Jinder.
-[crowd cheering] -[Indus Sher speaking Hindi]
[Cole] Oh, no. Steel chair?
Tossed into Mahal.
[Wade] Seth Rollins wasn't born yesterday.
[Cole] Oh! And the briefcase off the face of Rollins.
Mahal,
with the Khallas. You gotta be kidding me!
-Not like this! -One, two…
-[Cole] Rollins kicks at two. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Oh, my. What a sequence, Cole.
That is exactly how Jinder Mahal won the WWE Championship.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And Veer and Sanga are livid.
[Wade] Veer and Sanga are getting tossed out of here.
[Cole] And Mahal going once again for the Khallas.
Rollins able to roll through.
Stomp by Rollins.
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] Cover.
-[crowd] One, two, three. -[bell rings]
[Cole] Rollins retains the Championship.
-["Visionary" playing] -[announcer] Here is your winner!
And still the World Heavyweight Champion,
Seth "Frreakin" Rollins!
[Cole] Congratulations to Seth Rollins,
who retains the World Heavyweight Champion
as Rollins march to WrestleMania continues.
[crowd cheering]
[music fades] g]