[intro music playing]
[John Cena] Then.
[Rick 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.
[music playing]
[Corey] With Royal Rumble in the rearview mirror,
tonight, Cody Rhodes makes his WrestleMania decision.
[Wade] World Heavyweight Champion, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins
or WWE's Universal Champ, Roman Reigns.
[Pearce] Roman Reigns
what is finishing the story?
Is finishing the story taking that championship from you,
or is finishing the story taking everything from you?
Let me make it abundantly clear.
I want that title and I am coming for it.
I am coming for you, Roman Reigns.
But not at WrestleMania.
So I took a great deal of counsel this week.
Roman, one of the individuals I talked to,
He knows you very well.
["Electrifying" playing]
[crowd cheers]
[Corey] The most electrifying man in entertainment is here
on Friday Night SmackDown.
[crowd cheers]
["Visionary" playing]
[crowd sings]
[Samantha] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
the World Heavyweight Champion,
Seth "Freakin'" Rollins.
[crowd sings]
[Cole] The World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins.
You notice the brace on his knee.
He is not medically cleared to compete at the moment because of the knee injury
suffered a few weeks ago.
Welcome to Monday Night Raw, everybody.
At ringside, I'm Michael Cole.
My once partner, now again partner Pat McAfee
with us full-time again on Monday Night Raw.
Pat, it has been an interesting weekend to say the least.
Uh, yeah, I'd say so.
The whole world is talking about the WWE
and the stories that are possible in one place and one place only,
and that's the WWE.
It is a beautiful time to be here.
[crowd cheers]
St. Louis!
Welcome to Monday Night Rollins!
[crowd sings]
That sounds like a pretty big pop to me.
Because I am a visionary.
I am a revolutionary.
I am Seth…
[crowd] "Freakin'" Rollins!
Another big pop. How about that?
It has been a hell of a week here at WWE
and after last Friday and SmackDown,
I certainly smell what's cooking.
[crowd boos]
[McAfee] St. Louis knows.
[crowd chants] Cody!
I sense that you guys want Cody.
[crowd cheers]
Well, good news for you guys.
I want Cody Rhodes as well.
And after last Friday,
I got more questions than answers so I ain't wasting no more time.
Cody Rhodes.
Come on down.
["Kingdom" playing]
[Cole] Unless you've been living in a cave somewhere,
you know what's happened in the past three days.
The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes, has been trending worldwide
on X for three consecutive days.
There is so much to get into with this story, Pat,
and I will dissect it throughout the night tonight.
[McAfee] #WeWantCody.
Well, we got him.
Here to start Raw.
What's on his mind through all this?
Could you fathom?
[Cole] I know what's on his mind.
He's got a Bull Rope match with Shinsuke Nakamura
later on tonight as well.
A lot on Cody Rhodes' mind.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chants] Cody!
So.
World Heavyweight Champion, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins.
St. Louis.
[crowd cheers]
What do we want to talk about?
[crowd chants] Rocky sucks!
[Cole] Is it 1996 again?
I got to be honest with you,
uh, I didn't think I was going to hear that one.
It's been a hell of a week for you.
[crowd chants] We love Cody!
[crowd cheers]
[McAfee] Trending for 72 hours straight.
[crowd chants] Rocky sucks!
Look, I'm just going to cut straight to the chase, man.
I understand what you're going through.
I've been there, I get it, but we need answers.
Last week, I said that this is
the most prestigious championship in this entire industry.
I stand by those words.
[Cole] St. Louis.
I stand by those words.
But if I'm being perfectly honest,
I need this match as much as you do.
Look, man, I'm being real with you right now.
I got to know that I'm better than I was the last time we did this dance
a couple years ago.
I gotta know that I'm the best.
And the only way I can know if I'm the best
is if I test myself against the best.
And, Cody Rhodes, you are the best.
So let's cut the crap. Let's get some answers.
Are you going to fight me at WrestleMania?
[crowd chants] Hell yeah!
["Gallantry" playing]
[McAfee] The world wanted an answer, Cole.
[Cole] Well, Drew McIntyre apparently has other plans.
[Cole] A very bitter individual.
We saw the punishment he laid down on Sami Zayn
last week on Monday Night Raw,
one of the many he believes has crossed him
and cost him opportunities
at a world championship over the past year.
And who will forget what he did to CM Punk last week.
Punk coming to the ring acknowledging he needed tricep surgery.
Drew McIntyre saying, "Good," and then attacking Punk.
[McAfee] Seems to be a bit spiteful right now, Drew McIntyre.
Imposing Scottish man, huge.
[crowd boos]
I think I speak on behalf of everybody when I say, what the hell?
I laid you both up perfectly for WrestleMania,
and you're potentially going to screw it all up.
Seth, you're the only other person that hates Punk as much as me.
You knew how bad he would be for this place, and I took him out.
We were supposed to be in this ring, you and I, tonight,
talking about our main event match for the world title at WrestleMania.
Oh, you like that?
I even had the T-shirt commissioned for us.
You're extra small's in the back.
Why did you have to get inside his head? Why?
Cody, don't listen to him.
You've got to finish the story.
You've been talking about it for two years now.
Think about last year's WrestleMania.
Think about all the work you've done this year on TV,
off TV, the media events. You've earned this moment.
Don't let me down. Don't let your family down.
Don't let all these people down. And all the people across the world.
I don't want to go here because everybody else does.
And I was close with the man.
I was his champion in Florida Championship Wrestling.
But don't let your dad down.
Hey, Drew, look, you ain't gotta be a prick, all right?
And look what in the world makes you think
if he doesn't accept my challenge for WrestleMania,
it's going to be you and me, because we've done this dance twice.
And if I remember correctly,
you lost.
We both know there was outside reasons why I lost those matches.
But is this a case of the pot calling the kettle black?
Didn't you lose to him three times?
Okay, I'm going to say something nice.
You know, I heard what you said last Monday.
I heard what Roman had to say. Ignore them.
That insecure, I'll tell you.
I'll look you in the eye. You have done an amazing job with that title.
You've worked your butt off every single week
to make that mean something.
That is the true workhorse championship right there.
You did that.
Ignore what he has to say. Ignore what everyone else has to say.
This is a case when you fight for this title.
You know what happens in Roman's matches.
No one wants to fight because we know the finish.
His family are going to interfere every single time.
They did it to me, they did it to Cody. They've done it to multiple people.
This is a case of may the best man win.
Except in my case, of course, when I was screwed a couple of times.
Okay.
Cody, I'm not finished yet. Please.
[McAfee] He's rolling, Cole.
If you were a real workhorse,
they would have shot you dead after the first injury.
Now about 17 injuries later, it's time for somebody to do the job.
You've done an amazing, amazing job taking the title this far,
but it's time for Drew McIntyre to take it from here.
[Cole] Oh, no!
And Cody Rhodes now trying to unload on McIntyre,
after McIntyre took a cheap shot on Seth Rollins.
[McAfee] Drew McIntyre is making a living out of attacking hurt people.
[Cole] He's taking his personal vendetta out on everyone.
-I don't think tonight… -Me and Cody at WrestleMania.
[Cole] …to be pushing the buttons of Cody Rhodes.
Well, more on this story as the night continues.
But ladies and gentlemen, earlier today,
the arrival of "The Man" Becky Lynch.
We learned that Becky Lynch will be part of a qualifying match tonight
against Shayna Baszler.
What are you qualifying for? The elimination chamber.
The winner of the chamber match in Perth, Australia,
in two weeks from Saturday goes to WrestleMania to face Rhea Ripley.
Meanwhile, Kayden Carter, Katana Chance, former Tag Team Champions.
They get their rematch for the Tag Titles tonight
against The Kabuki Warriors.
And coming up next, an opportunity
to face Butch and Tyler Bate in a Number One Contender's match
this coming Friday on SmackDown.
Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Championship qualifier.
It's next live on Monday Night Raw.
And we are back live on Monday Night Raw. Fatal Four-Way action
to determine who faces Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate Friday night on SmackDown.
Turned the Number One Contender opportunity for the Tag Titles.
[McAfee] So much talent in the ring right now.
[Cole] The Creed Brothers, Imperium, DIY.
[McAfee] The Creed Brothers.
Both of them two-time NCAA All-American wrestlers.
[Cole] DIY, former NXT Tag Champs, and of course, Imperium,
two of the greatest in the world when it comes to technical wrestling.
[McAfee] Speaking of greatest in the world.
[bell rings]
[Samantha] The following is a Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Championship
qualifier match.
Making their way to the ring,
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, The New Day!
[Cole] Last week here on Monday Night Raw,
Kofi Kingston, an opportunity against Gunther
for the Intercontinental Championship.
And Kofi, well he almost ended the reign
of the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time
before Gunther finally took over.
This was a physical match-up.
That clothesline would be followed up by the drop kick
and then the patented powerbomb to put Kofi away,
but, Pat, it was what happened after the match that put everyone on notice.
Imperium continuing their rivalry
with a beatdown of Kofi and Xavier Woods of The New Day.
[McAfee] Imperium obviously attacked as Kofi was down
and Xavier Woods wasn't paying attention as Gunther smiled with glee,
watching Imperium take advantage of a down New Day.
Sleazy stuff, truly.
[Cole] Well, Imperium, uh, no hurry to get into the ring
since the arrival of The New Day.
-[bell rings] -Fatal Four-Way match.
Two men will battle. They can tag whoever they want into this match up.
First team to gain pinfall or submission will get the opportunity
to move on to SmackDown, Friday night.
So this is Xavier Woods, Tomasso Ciampa and DIY,
-Pat, been on a roll. -[crowd] New Day!
[McAfee] They certainly have, but…
[Cole] They took The Judgment Day, the tag champs, to the limit.
[McAfee] New Day's been on a roll for about a decade.
[Cole] One of the greatest tag teams of all time, if not the greatest.
And this is Ciampa with a side headlock on Xavier Woods.
[McAfee] Last week, they said that they're known for pancakes and Booty-O's,
but what people forget is how great they are.
[Cole] And I'll tell you, Imperium has really brought out
a dark and aggressive side of The New Day.
Very physical in these battles with imperium.
[McAfee] Talking their mess too, as they should.
A couple GOATs.
[Cole] Roll through, Kofi Kingston.
Springboard crossbody, cover for the win
and a kick-out.
[McAfee] That's what Kofi can do.
Tag. How you doing? Springboard crossbody.
This thing's almost over before it even gets started.
[Cole] Can you imagine if you had that athleticism?
[McAfee] Man. Would've played another position, another punter.
[Cole] And now the double team by The New Day,
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.
-[McAfee] Ying-yang. -[Cole] Cover.
-And again Ciampa kicks out. -[McAfee] Zig-zag, peanut butter jelly.
That's what New Day is.
[Cole] You see that later on tonight, Imperium Ring General Gunther
will celebrate over 600 days as the Intercontinental Champion.
[McAfee] I've never been to a European party.
-Right? -[Cole] Indeed.
That's what it would be.
[McAfee] Never been. Excited.
-[Cole] Well, you're part of one tonight. -[McAfee] Yeah. I'm pumped.
Fatal Four-Way too. Here we go.
[Cole] And now leapfrog.
Another one by Kofi.
[McAfee] Oh, and the Travis Scott's too.
[Cole] Oh, and a big kick by Ciampa, and tag made by Vinci.
Again, you can tag anyone to get into this match-up.
Does not necessarily have to be your teammate.
Big drop kick by Kingston.
Ludwig Kaiser now drives Kingston shoulder first into the post.
And here is the aggressive and vicious Imperium.
Fatal Four-Way Tag Team match continues.
Who's going to have an opportunity to head to SmackDown
to battle to be the Number One Contenders for the Tag titles?
Hey, we are back live on Monday Night Raw.
Jam packed here tonight in St. Louis, Missouri.
This is a Fatal Four Tag Team Championship qualifier match.
The winner will go on to SmackDown Friday night
to take on Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.
The winner of that match will earn a future opportunity
against The Judgment Day for the Tag titles.
Kofi, Kaiser in the ring,
it's The New Day, DIY, Imperium and The Creed Brothers.
First team to gain pinfall or submission will advance,
and Kaiser just controlling Kofi Kingston.
[McAfee] This Kaiser specimen, special. Talking about like 0% body fat.
[Cole] Oh.
[McAfee] Doesn't matter when you get bopped in the jaw, though.
[Cole] And Kofi with an opportunity to try to make a tag.
Xavier Woods realizes this is his chance.
Kingston crawling to the corner.
Kaiser makes a tag.
Here comes Vinci. Tag to Xavier Woods.
And these two teams. So much bad blood between them
over the past couple of months.
Woods with a big kick to the face.
[McAfee] Ciampa sensing there was an end near.
[Cole] Now Julius Creed into the mix.
[McAfee] First appearance in the ring for The Creed Brothers.
[Cole] And the honor roll by Xavier Woods.
And now Vinci back into the match-up.
[McAfee] Phenomenal stuff.
[Cole] Well, remember no disqualifications in a Fatal Four-Way
as Xavier Woods now-- Oh! Slingshot spear by Gargano!
[McAfee] Who did tag in.
[Cole] And know Brutus Creed into the mix.
Double team by DIY.
[McAfee] That type of teamwork is why DIY had their chance before.
[Cole] And down go the Creed Brothers.
-You enjoy that, don't you? -[McAfee] Hell yeah.
-Little self-parade! -[Cole] A little pat on their back.
[McAfee] Stop and smell the roses.
-[Cole] And Kofi Kingston now. -[McAfee] And some Travis Scott's.
[Cole] Double dropkick
And Kofi Kingston gonna fly.
Oh, an intercepted by Imperium.
And now the beatdown on Kingston outside the ring.
Johnny Gargano with a suicide dive.
And watch the athleticism here, Pat.
This is Julius Creed from the top rope!
That's 6'3", 230 pounds.
[McAfee] Hopped up the ropes like a spider monkey and hits a swanton.
Almost lands on his feet.
And what's Xavier Woods thinking?
[Cole] Thinking, "Wow, that hurt," as Ciampa delivered a shot to the chest.
[McAfee] Thinking the same thing again.
[Cole] Everyone brawling outside the ring.
Woods and Ciampa now in the corner.
Who's going to get the upper hand?
[McAfee] I'm thinking Ciampa is thinking
about doing something wildly destructive on a Monday night.
-[Cole] Ciampa… -[McAfee] No!
[Cole] Oh, my goodness! Taking out everybody!
So much action outside the ring.
Look at Julius Creed.
[McAfee] Flying through the air. It's a bird. It's a seed.
No, it's Julius Creed into a white noise from the top rope.
[Cole] Everybody down and out. Who gains the upper hand?
Fatal Four-Way action continues live.
We are back live on Monday Night Raw.
A Fatal Four-Way Tag Team match-up continues.
Right now it is, uh-- Oh, goodness!
Vinci backdropping Brutus Creed into Gargano and Julius Creed,
and now Ciampa looking to head up to the top rope
and Vinci's is going to meet him there.
DIY and Imperium had some great match-ups over the past couple of months as well.
[McAfee] They know each other well, which is what happened up on the top.
Vinci caught him up there.
[Cole] And now Kaiser, and a double team coming from Imperium.
[McAfee] Hold on now.
[Cole] And now The New Day into the mix.
Woods and Kingston.
This is gonna be nasty.
Wow.
[McAfee] Couple power bombs and the superplexes!
[Cole] And now, Brutus Creed.
The 282 pounder, 5'11", keg of dynamite up to the top rope.
[McAfee] Ohio guy, two-time All-American.
[Cole] Moonsault connecting. Cover to advance
and Kingston and Woods break things up.
The Creed Brothers, winners
of the 2022 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic at NXT,
as you take another look at this.
And congratulations go out to the winners of the 2024…
[McAfee] Look at the picture-perfect moonsault!
[Cole] …Dusty Classic, The Wolf Dogs,
Bron Breakker and your old buddy, Baron Corbin.
-[McAfee] He showed up on motorcycle. -[Cole] Oh!
[laughing] What a collision!
And a running knee by Julius Creed.
Step up enziguri by Gargano.
Kofi Kingston. Ducks underneath that.
Oh, and a famouser.
Running, spinning clothesline by Kaiser.
Xavier Woods with knees to the midsection.
[McAfee] Everybody's getting some.
And Xavier dropped out of the ring by a knee to the face and--
Oh! Brutus just falling through Ciampa!
[McAfee] Shoulder tackle from--
[Cole] Vinci crossbody.
Brutus rolls through.
Now looking for an ankle lock.
He admired Kurt Angle growing up.
Kurt Angle, the Hall of Famer, one of Brutus's heroes.
Julius with a belly-to-belly, and a kip up!
Unbelievable athleticism!
[McAfee] Another kip up.
[Cole] Kingston caught by Creed into a belly-to-belly again!
[McAfee] Kid's a machine!
[Cole] And Ciampa, trying to lock in a sleeper on Julius Creed,
and Xavier Woods caught.
The Creed Brothers are dominating!
[McAfee] Holy shiitake mushrooms!
[Cole] And now the ankle lock again into Vinci.
Is Vinci going to tap?
Is Brutus is going to get Vinci to tap?
Gargano and everyone else back into the mix, breaking things up.
What action here tonight.
And Vinci, you can see the pain on his face
after the punishing ankle lock by Brutus Creed.
Capacity crowd tonight in St. Louis.
Loving this action.
The Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Championship qualifier match.
[crowd chants] This is awesome!
-Didn't you miss this? -[McAfee] Hell yes I did.
What a start to Monday Night Raw.
[Cole] Kofi Kaiser tumbling over the top rope.
And now the fight is on with New Day again.
Quite the rivalry between Imperium and New Day.
These two teams cannot stand each other.
[McAfee] Cole, who's legal?
Who can win or lose right now?
Seems like everybody's winning and everybody's losing.
[Cole] Look out above!
Brutus is going to fly with a Brutus ball!
-[Pat laughs incredulously] -A strike by Brutus off the top rope!
[McAfee] He had to be 25 feet in the sky.
Cannonballing! Brutus balling!
[Cole] And now The Creed Brothers
could be moments away from winning this match-up.
Brutus looking to go to the top rope. Ciampa's legal. The Brutus ball hits.
But Ciampa's the legal man.
Running knee. Kick to the face.
Gargano and Ciampa! DIY!
Setting up Vinci!
Firmino to the middle!
Cover by Gargano!
I mean, by Ciampa, the legal man!
-DIY! With the win! -[bell dinging]
What ring awareness by Ciampa!
[Samantha] Here are your winners! DIY!
[Cole] With all the chaos, Tommaso Ciampa, remembering he was legal,
knocked Gargano off the pin. DIY picks up the win.
They're heading to Friday Night SmackDown.
[McAfee] They're veterans.
They knew exactly what they had to do to get the job done.
Taking advantage of the perfect opportunity
after the Brutus fall to the side of the ring.
[Cole] We thought the Green Brothers had it won,
but Ciampa had made the tag.
So Ciampa and Vinci were now the legal match.
Meet in the middle by DIY, and there's the awareness of Ciampa.
-One, two, three. -[bell dinging]
[Cole] And DIY qualifies,
which sets the stage for this coming Friday night on SmackDown.
-It'll be Pete Dunne, sorry… -[McAfee] Who's that?
[Cole] Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate on one side against Gargano and Ciampa.
DIY on the other, the winner,
will take on the Judgment Day for Tag Team Gold.
[McAfee] These two teams know a lot about each other for a long time.
[entrance theme playing]
The last time I was in an Elimination Chamber match,
I destroyed everybody in it in order to get to Becky Lynch.
But that didn't go the way I wanted.
But tonight, I don't have to do all that.
I get Becky right away, and I can take care of her
and tear her apart, limb by limb.
Last time when I fought Chayna, I wanted to beat her because my title
was on the line.
But this time, when I fight Chayna, I need to beat her
because my future is on the line.
["Celtic Invasion" playing]
[McAfee] A lot at stake.
[bell dinging]
[Samantha] The following is an Elimination Chamber qualifying match!
Introducing first, from Dublin, Ireland,
The Man, Becky Lynch!
[Cole] So, Pat, two weeks from Saturday, we are in Western Australia in Perth
for Elimination Chamber.
Six women will battle it out for an opportunity at Rhea Ripley
in the Women's Championship at WrestleMania.
Our first qualifying match is up next.
[McAfee] Changing life.
[Cole] Becky Lynch says her future's on the line.
She takes on the Submission Magician, Shayna Baszler, live next.
Well, Thursday, the road to WrestleMania stops in Las Vegas
for WrestleMania 40 kickoff.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Roman Reigns will face off
at an open-to-the-public fan and media event live from T-Mobile Arena,
streaming on Peacock and all WWE social platforms at 7 Eastern,
4:00 PM Pacific.
Fans and media will hear from The Rock, Roman Reigns,
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque,
Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley.
WrestleMania 40 kickoff is delivered by Pizza Hut.
[McAfee] Excited to see how you and I navigate that evening, Michael Cole.
[Cole] Yeah, we'll be hosting the event as you look at Becky Lynch,
-who hopes to qualify. -[McAfee] Free to get in.
[Cole] For Elimination Chamber. Free to get in.
[McAfee] That's gonna be very calm.
[Samantha] And from Sioux Falls, South Dakota,
Shayna Baszler!
[Cole] Shayna Baszler, one of the most successful women in the history
of Elimination Chamber.
The year she won, Pat, back in 2020, she set a record when she eliminated
all five of her opponents inside the Chamber.
[McAfee] Yeah, she's a weapon, and for my colorblind friends,
that is a black belt, which is the best one.
[Cole] Yeah, the best.
[McAfee] That's the one at the top of the mountain.
[Cole] Shayna Baszler with the MMA background,
wearing her traditional gi to the ring
as we look to qualify for the Elimination Chamber Match
two weeks from Saturday in Perth, Western Australia,
streaming live on Peacock.
And again, the winner of that Elimination Chamber Match
-will earn a shot at Rhea Ripley… -[bell dinging]
…and the Women's World Title at WrestleMania.
We know that Bayley made her decision this past Friday on SmackDown.
Choosing former Damage CTRL teammate Iyo Sky
to battle for the WWE Women's Championship.
[McAfee] I didn't like what they did to Bayley,
but we're excited to see her obviously
take advantage of winning that Royal Rumble.
[Cole] We talk about this match-up. Let's focus on Shayna Baszler
and you see her go to work,
she's going to look to tap out Becky Lynch.
-A master of joint manipulation. -[McAfee] "Snap, tap, or nap,"
she said earlier to me today.
She wants to tear Becky Lynch limb for limb, she said earlier.
[Cole] And Becky Lynch, the multi-time women's champion.
[McAfee] What? Like, she wants to rip her arm off of her?
[Cole] I think Shayna would actually enjoy that.
[McAfee] She has the ability.
The strength. The technique.
But Becky Lynch has this thing about her where she wins.
[Cole] Well, Becky's got a wicked arm bar as well.
Calls it the Dis-arm-her,
trying to lock it in there before Shayna Baszler
looks to counter into a Kirifuda Clutch,
which has taken out so many women in the past.
Cover by Lynch, and Baszler kicks out.
[McAfee] Becky has a ferocity, a grit.
[Cole] Again, looking for the Dis-arm-her, and Shayna Baszler able to counter.
[McAfee] A talent that not a lot of humans
have ever had in the history of the business.
[Cole] And there you see Zoey Stark.
She will be facing Liv Morgan next week here on Monday Night Raw
in another Elimination Chamber qualifying match-up.
Becky Lynch, nobody home for Shayna Baszler, misses with a kick.
For Becky Lynch, if she can qualify, Pat, it will be her first ever
Elimination Chamber match, which took me by surprise
when I was doing the research today because Becky seemingly
has been a part of everything in WWE.
And again, knee to the nose of Becky Lynch.
[McAfee] That's because Becky Lynch has been at the top of the mountain.
Main Event at WrestleMania.
So you assume that she's accomplished everything in WWE.
That tells you how much she can get better.
And she's even at the top of her game and only growing stronger.
[Cole] And Baszler sent outside the ring by Becky.
Becky Lynch looking to pick up the pace here.
Baseball slide. Takes out Baszler.
[crowd cheering]
And now Becky caught by Shayna Kirifuda.
Looks to block. Oh, and a kick.
Drops Becky.
[McAfee] From a choke to a kick to the face.
-The way Baszler has. -[Cole] Oh, look it.
Baszler has Becky Lynch's hand locked inside the steel steps.
Looking to break the hand and wrist of Becky Lynch. Oh, my goodness.
Baszler's taking over.
Can Becky continue in this chamber qualifying match?
The winner of this match will be one of the six women to step inside
Elimination Chamber two weeks from Saturday in Perth, Western Australia
for Elimination Chamber.
The winner gets Ripley for the Women's World Title
at WrestleMania.
Becky Lynch, Shayna Baszler, and Becky now,
-Pat, trying to pick up the pace. -[McAfee] Absolutely.
A world championship opportunity is on the line.
Becky set her entire futures on the line.
She's been able to withstand the storm of Shayna Baszler through the break.
[Cole] One of the most dominant women ever inside Elimination Chamber.
Becky Lynch has never been a part of that match.
And what a German suplex and a running knee by Baszler.
Cover to put Becky away, and a kick-out by Lynch at two.
Now remember that Chamber match.
You have that massive steel structure with a roof on it.
She's taking another look at the contact. There's four pods inside.
Women will be locked inside those pods. Two women start.
Now, every few minutes, one of the women will exit the pod and join the fray.
The last woman standing will be heading to WrestleMania.
[McAfee] Of course.
What an opportunity available in Perth, Western Australia.
You always hear about Sydney and Melbourne.
Perth putting on a big one down there for Elimination Chamber.
[Cole] And again, targeting the elbow
and the wrist and hand that she locked inside
the steel steps a little bit earlier on and caused some damage to Becky.
But now Becky looking for the manhandle. Slam again.
Shayna Baszler looking to wrestle Becky down to the mat.
Now Becky with a sleeper of her own.
And now Baszler slinging her out of harm's way.
[McAfee] You'd think Baszler would know the reversal.
She is a black belt, but I love that Becky Lynch
got a deep choke sunk in there.
[Cole] Becky now, heading up to the top rope.
Becky, oh! Missile drop kick.
Down goes Baszler, covered by Lynch for the victory.
Kick-out at two, and now looking for the Dis-arm-her again.
Becky Lynch looking to lock in the Dis-arm-her.
Submission move has tapped out many, many, many in Becky Lynch's career.
And Baszler able to counter.
[McAfee] Whoa.
Thought we had an Elimination Chamber member in Becky Lynch there.
That was deep.
[Cole] Shayna Baszler able to survive. Becky catches her with a kick to the face.
Lynch again.
[McAfee] Becky Lynch already proven she's willing to go.
Oh!
[Cole] Yeah, that may have caught her, that there, that high risk.
[McAfee] Shayna Baszler brings her back down to Earth.
[Cole] Becky may be out cold, hook of the leg.
Becky just got the shoulder up.
[McAfee] Just a picture-perfect knee to the jaw as Liv Morgan watches on.
[Cole] Yeah, Liv Morgan will face Zoe Stark right here next week
on Monday Night Raw, Lexington, Kentucky.
Another Elimination Chamber qualifying match.
[McAfee] St. Louis coming alive for Becky Lynch.
[Cole] Becky fighting back, standing switch and Shayna went for one.
Becky able to counter, down goes Baszler.
Becky cover to advance to the Elimination Chamber
and a kick-out at two by Baszler.
[McAfee] Shayna's tough.
-Tough, tough. -[Cole] Former two-time NXT champion.
Former tag team champion. Becky Lynch, of course.
Rumble winner. Former multi-time women's champ.
And Becky rallying the WWE fans here in St. Louis.
Ducks underneath. Went for the manhandle slam.
Shayna Baszler. Roll lock. Now looking for an ankle lock.
-Now Becky's screaming in pain. -[screams]
Baszler with yet another submission, locked in on Lynch.
-[screams] -[McAfee] Middle of the ring, Cole.
[Cole] Becky trying to drag herself to the rope.
Baszler trying to drag her back to the middle and does.
And Becky Lynch is gonna have to hang on.
[McAfee] She's in know the man's land.
Stay with me, come on.
[Cole] Baszler sent outside the ring to the apron.
Uppercuts, kick to the midsection, and now Becky Lynch unloading on Baszler.
There's the fierceness of Lynch.
[McAfee] There's the grit of Becky Lynch.
[Cole] Baszler able to duck out of harm's way.
Oh! And again, been working the left arm throughout this entire match-up,
striking yet again.
Now looking to do more damage.
[McAfee] What the hell?
[Cole] Got Becky's fingers caught up in her touch, but Becky.
Able to get out of that situation.
[McAfee] So she faked it. Played possum.
Reverses fortune.
Now headbutting and beating down Shayna on the top row.
Brilliant stuff from Becky Lynch.
[Cole] Becky Lynch can get down and dirty when she needs to.
-[McAfee] A trailblazer. In her prime. -[Cole] Here tonight.
Superplex. Becky into the arm bar.
And Baszler able to block. Shayna Baszler will block momentarily.
Becky trying to. And again Baszler able to keep her hands together.
And now Shayna Baszler into an offensive position
with a gut wrench, planting Becky face first.
Cover by Baszler. Hook of the leg for the win.
Becky again survives.
And that's the story of Becky Lynch and her entire career.
It's about being a survivor.
[McAfee] She will not give up, especially with what's on the line now.
You don't think she doesn't want to get back into that world of wearing
a title over her shoulder?
You meant me and you knew it.
I'm the one.
[Cole] Baszler was trash-talking Lynch and Becky isn't gonna hear it.
[crowd exclaiming]
Baszler waist lock over the again.
Becky Lynch trying to make it to the top rope.
Becky in trouble.
And Shayna, Becky able to roll through. Shayna's shoulders down, kick-out.
Becky looking for the armbar again.
[McAfee] Able to counter once again, Shayna an expert.
[Cole] And again with a gut wrench.
This time Becky lands on her feet, rolls Baszler.
Baszler rolls through, missed with a kick.
Becky.
Manhandle slam. Cover by Lynch.
-One, two… -[Cole] For the first time in her career,
Becky's gonna step inside
Elimination Chamber.
[Samantha] Here is your winner, The Man, Becky Lynch!
[Cole] Tremendous match by both these women,
Becky Lynch and Shayna Baszler.
Becky Lynch, Pat said, "My future is on the line."
Two weeks from Saturday, Lynch steps closer to an opportunity
at a Main Event match at WrestleMania.
[McAfee] I think we're all excited to see Becky's approach
to the Elimination Chamber.
There's many strategies, and everything she's great at
will bode well for her in another opportunity
-at being the champ. -[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen,
our own Cathy Kelley is standing by with someone
who is watching this match-up very, very closely.
Excuse me, Liv.
We just saw the results of that Elimination Chamber qualifying match.
You yourself have an opportunity to qualify in your match next week
against Zoey Stark.
How are you finding things since your return?
Well, firstly, I actually think Zoey is pretty incredible.
But respectfully,
these girls have absolutely nothing to do with my business.
And my business has absolutely nothing to do with these girls.
I had almost one whole year of my career taken away from me, Cathy Kelley.
Now, just think about that for just a second.
That's a really long time.
So next week,
next week is about my revenge.
And my revenge is about Rhea Ripley.
-[crowd cheering] -Watch me.
Revenge is certainly a powerful motivator. Pat, Cole, back to you.
Yeah, 12 months, 365 days thinking about one thing.
Revenge on the mind of Liv Morgan.
Yeah, Rhea Ripley who took Liv Morgan out.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, a very newsworthy weekend
for one American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes.
Remember though, last month Shinsuke Nakamura promised Cody,
"This story between you and I only ends when I say it ends."
Well, this past Saturday night, Knoxville, Tennessee,
at a WWE live event, Nakamura took advantage of
a very emotional Cody Rhodes.
-My God! That was… -[grunting]
-[all clamoring] -[exclaiming]
Get out of here! Get out of here, Cody! Hey, I need some help!
[Cole] Well, Pat, later on tonight, this thing gets settled once and for all.
In a match made famous by The American Dream, Cody's father,
Dusty Rhodes,
Nakamura, Cody Rhodes will be tied together with a bull rope
in a bull rope match!
[McAfee] A bull rope match is a throwback match.
A cowboy match.
A "We're rounding up bulls and we're beating the hell
out of each other" match.
[Cole] It's Nakamura, Rhodes live tonight.
Let me understand it, 'cause I don't get it.
Make me understand,
what is it about not medically clear that you don't understand?
You take out Punk now, the champion's out there on one leg
and you headbutt him. He's not medically cleared.
It's not hard to understand.
But since you don't, when you get home and check that account, zeros missing,
you've been fined.
If I'd seen you wearing that, I would've doubled it.
All I want is to maintain some order around here. That's all I'm looking for.
All right, maybe instead of shouting at me, hit that.
You should do your job.
-Look, is that Rhea Ripley? -It's not supposed to be.
I think she doesn't look very happy, does she?
-You should go deal with that. -Thanks for the tip.
At least there's one leader around here.
♪ Demons in your dreams I eat, sleep… ♪
[McAfee] Adam Pearce is great at his job, but…
I don't know how he didn't know that Drew was wearing that shirt.
[Samantha] Please welcome the Women's World Champion,
The Judgment Day,
Rhea Ripley!
[Cole] We also didn't know
that Rhea Ripley was on her way out to the ring,
apparently not a part of our regularly scheduled program.
-[McAfee] Of course. -[Cole] The Women's World Champion,
Bayley picked Io Skye to face for the WWE Women's Championship
at WrestleMania after Bayley won the Royal Rumble.
So Rhea Ripley's going to defend against
the winner of the Elimination Chamber Match,
which takes place two weeks from Saturday in Perth, Western Australia.
[crowd chanting]
Yes, Becky Lynch just qualified for the Elimination Chamber match.
But I'm not out here to talk about qualifying matches.
I'm out here because I want Nia Jax in this ring one-on-one
so I can rip her bloody head off.
-[McAfee] Jeez. -[crowd cheering]
So, Nia, I advise you to get in this ring right now.
[Pearce] Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.
You and I both know this is not the time for this, okay?
I understand you're upset.
Everybody can see that you're upset, but we're not doing this right now.
[crowd booing]
I get it. I know what you want.
You want Nia Jax. So here's what I've done.
I've given you Nia Jax
for the championship at the Elimination Chamber.
[crowd booing]
That works for you?
Then please, let's keep the show going. This is not the time. Let us…
["Not Like Most Girls" playing]
[Cole] Not so fast, General Manager Pearce,
because marching to the ring,
the irresistible force, Nia Jax,
who last week on this program annihilated Rhea Ripley.
And here we go, and the fight's on. Why wait to Elimination Chamber?
Oh, and Nia Jax just…
Blasting into Pearce's-- Pearce is calling for security
and Ripley and Nia Jax beat the hell out of each other.
[McAfee] Rhea Ripley's throwing bombs on Nia Jax.
[Cole] And now a security trying to separate these women.
Nia Jax screaming at the champion.
Deep disdain between these two.
Jax blowing through everybody to flatten Ripley.
And now she's assaulting security officers.
-You thought McIntyre was in hot water. -[screams]
[crowd booing]
Wait until we see how Nia Jax is addressed by our general manager.
-But before that, second rope. -[McAfee] Oh no!
[Cole] And an annihilator to Rhea Ripley.
I'll see you in Perth, baby.
[McAfee] Sternum to spine.
[crowd booing]
["Not Like Most Girls" playing]
[Cole] Rhea Ripley demanded Nia Jax.
Pat, I am not quite sure that was the right move,
despite the fact the Eradicator, the Women's World Champion, Rhea Ripley,
has been nearly unstoppable.
And I'm not quite sure how anybody survives that.
I mean, I watched it here. Rhea Ripley just got flattened by Nia Jax.
Adam Pearce has his hands full. Figure it out.
Well, Nia Jax and Rhea Ripley will face off for the Women's World title
at Elimination Chamber two weeks from Saturday.
But we also know what the Main Event's going to be at WrestleMania
for the WWE Women's Championship.
Let's show you what happened between Bayley and her former
Damage CTRL teammates.
[announcer] The founder of Damage CTRL
and winner of the Women's Royal Rumble match,
Bayley, with a WrestleMania decision to make.
Who will Bayley choose to challenge in Philadelphia?
Now, when I think about WrestleMania, you know, I've really done it all.
But this year, this year is different, and this year is special.
So when I think about WrestleMania, I think about being the best.
And for me to be the absolute best, I have to beat one of the best.
Or I can go a different route, I can fight a different fight.
[sad piano music playing]
Sometimes it comes down to what's in your heart and proving people wrong.
And sometimes the people that you thought were your biggest support system,
the people that you thought were your friends,
sometimes you have to prove them wrong.
You guys done laughing?
[speaking Japanese]
[crowd exclaiming]
[in English] Yeah, that's Japanese.
I picked that up from all the times you guys talked about me behind my back.
You guys think I don't see all around me?
Bayley's down tonight.
[all laughing]
[Bayley] You guys talk about me constantly.
All I wanted was for Damage CTRL to be the best.
But you guys see nothing in me, do you? Iyo, what happened?
Ever since they came around, you turned your back on me.
-What happened? -[announcer] Oh, my God.
The Kabuki Warriors laying waste to the woman
who was at one time the leader of Damage CTRL.
What did Bayley just…
Oh, my God. Bayley's got a pipe.
[crowd cheering]
Iyo, I'll see you at WrestleMania.
[Cole] The women's tag team champions, the Kabuki Warriors,
could be a bit vulnerable tonight after that attack with a steel pipe
by Bayley this past Friday.
Asuka and Kairi Sane defend against Champs and Carter later on tonight.
♪ Shoooosh ♪
[bell dinging]
[Samantha] The following is a mixed tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied by Otis and Chad Gable,
the team of Akira Tozawa and Maxine Dupree.
[Cole] So, this is a mixed tag team match, and these two have their work cut out
for them because the Vikings are coming after them.
[McAfee] Never wanna be in a fight with one Viking, let alone two Vikings.
[Cole] Ivar and Valhalla.
in a mixed tag match against Tozawa and Maxine.
It's live next on Monday Night Raw.
Though not yet official, the Piers the Rock and undisputed WWE champion
Roman Reigns are on a collision course,
perhaps at WrestleMania in April in Philadelphia.
Friday night on SmackDown,
the People's Champ shocked the entire planet
when he entered to a massive ovation.
Marched down to the ring and stood face-to-face with his cousin,
the Tribal Chief,
The head of the table, Roman Reigns. The appearance sparked controversy.
It became the most talked-about story on the planet this weekend.
News outlets around the world cover this. Will this match become official?
Well, we're going to find out Thursday.
Live on Peacock at WWE's social media platforms.
It is the WrestleMania 40 kickoff press event in Las Vegas.
All the people you see on the screen will be there.
Pat and I will be hosting. It takes place at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 p.m. Pacific.
Again, live on Peacock at our WWE social media platforms.
[McAfee] And free to the public, might I add?
Feels like every human that had Internet on the entire planet Earth
had an opinion about what happened between The Rock and Roman.
[Cole] What's gonna happen to Maxine and Tozawa?
[McAfee] I dunno how you find yourself in this, but you don't like it ever.
[Samantha] Valhalla is here.
[Cole] I'm mad. You know what? I'm really upset right now.
-[McAfee] Why? -[Samantha] Their opponents,
representing the Viking Raiders,
the team of Valhalla and Ivar!
[Cole] Because, Pat, Valhalla is antler-less tonight.
She wore the antlers in the Rumble.
I was so excited. I thought maybe she'd take the cue
and understand that I'm trying to help her out here.
And now she comes out with no antlers on her head.
She doesn't even have any horns and she's going into battle with Ivar
-in a mixed tag team match. -[McAfee] She's still a Viking, you idiot.
It's not about the antlers, the horns.
How to work out the Royal Rumble, the little horns you wanted her to wear.
[Cole] Only one person can win the Rumble out of 30, and she did pretty decent.
-Until R-Truth. -[McAfee] You think the Vikings
want to do pretty decent? You think that's what the goals are?
You think that's what the standards are?
She was in the match for five seconds, Michael Cole.
You think that's what they want to do? You know what? Let me wear the horns.
I was in a match for five seconds. No, Cole.
The Vikings want to last forever and ever.
It's 2024, and they're living like Vikings.
-[bell dinging] -Cole, so yeah, no horns.
[Cole] Here we go, Tozawa with a kick, just drove Ivar outside the ring.
Now, there you go, Tozawa and up.
-[yells] -[McAfee] Love Tozawa.
[Cole] And now Valhalla, and Tozawa takes out Ivar.
Mixed tag team rules. Women fight women, men fight men.
And now Valhalla and Maxine Dupree, who have had quite the issue.
[McAfee] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Cole] And Maxine trying to go up over the top and does.
Shoulders down for Valhalla and a kick-out.
A very primitive way to approach her in ring gear is Valhalla.
[McAfee] It might get used against her, which I think…
[Cole] You wear that much eye black when you played?
-Thank you. -[McAfee] No, but I wasn't near contact…
-[crowd booing] -…or trying to intimidate anybody.
-[Cole] Tozawa, top rope, caught by Ivar. -[McAfee] Once again, a Viking.
[Cole] Maxine Dupree, top rope, and down goes Ivar.
What a crossbody. Cover now, and Valhalla.
Wow, that was impressive by Maxine.
[McAfee] How about the Alpha Academy working together on a Viking?
[Cole] Valhalla, wicked clothesline, sends Maxine out the ring.
And now Valhalla, that weirdo,
is going to continue the assault on Maxine.
[McAfee] I dunno about a weirdo, just living her life.
Now, there's the Amish, right, we heard of?
[Cole] Yeah.
-[McAfee] People don't-- -[Cole] Oh!
Tozawa's head may be in the front row.
[McAfee] There's a Viking community living there.
[Cole] Okay.
How much you know about the community?
[McAfee] Well, I know that they like to fight.
[Cole] I've visited Medieval Times.
-[McAfee] How'd your person do? -[Cole] Oh!
Lost the joust, but there's plenty of… Oh!
[McAfee] My knight was the yellow one, and it lost in the first battle.
[Cole] And here's Tozawa looking for a sunset flip powerbomb.
Not sure how wise this is.
[McAfee] Look at the strength, just stopping a full-speed Tozawa.
[Cole] Look at the power. Oh, no, not from the second rope.
-[McAfee] Look at the agility. -[Cole] Oh!
Splat goes Tozawa.
-Thanks for coming, Alpha Academy. -[bell rings]
-["Vicious" playing] -[Samantha] Here are your winners.
The team of Valhalla and Ivar!
[McAfee] You wouldn't want to get into physical combat
with people that live like Vikings.
[Cole] This is pretty incredible.
World's Strongest Slam from the second rope,
and watch the impact, crushing Tozawa.
-One, two, three. -[McAfee] Yeah.
[Cole] And the very strange and eccentric Valhalla celebrates
with Ivar here tonight.
Now, speaking of eccentric, Pat. What about R-Truth? [chuckles]
-Talented? -He is as delusional as they come.
Still trying to figure out if he thinks he's in Judgment Day.
-After last week… -He is in Judgment Day.
He may not be after last week.
Let's take you back to what happened with Truth and The Judgment Day.
The Judgment Day is a family.
Unfortunately, you're not part of The Judgment Day
You never were, man.
I've always liked you. I think you're very funny.
That's why I'm not going to be the one to do this.
[Cole] And JD McDonagh would beat down R-Truth
before Miz would come to the aid of his buddy.
Awesome, R-Truth. Buddy, R-Truth. The numbers were just too much.
Judgment Day just wiping out the Miz and R-Truth.
Pete and Tyler. DIY. Pete and Tyler. DIY.
Doesn't bother me who he beat? How about you?
I don't sweat anybody, so it makes no difference to me.
That's what I thought.
-[Dominik] What up, boys? -Yo.
[speaking Spanish]
[in English] So Rhea's good, she's not happy though.
But we just need to give her some space. She'll be all right.
Nia Jax has her work cut out for her when Rhea gets her hands on her.
Oh, yes, she does.
Rhea will continue having her division on lock,
just like we continue having our titles on lock,
-right? -Yeah.
-And tonight, you're handling Miz? -You don't have to…
[R-Truth speaking Spanish]
[in English] What's up, fam?
What are you talking about?
What's going on? I'm sorry I'm late.
Truth, you are so lucky I have a match right now
or else I would wipe this floor with you.
You need to be wiping the windowsills. That's what you need to be doing.
-[Dominik] We gotta go. Come on, come on. -Earn your keep around here, dawg
You know what I'm talking about? I know what it is, dawg.
I know what it is. I know you feel bad, but I'm "in" in now.
Before it was the pre-initiation, last week was the real initiation.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait, wait, wait. There was no initiation ever.
What planet are you…
Are we getting… [scoffs]
Damian?
I can't deal with this guy anymore, man. I'm out. I'm out. Out.
He feels bad. He feels real bad.
-Truth! -Yeah?
[exhales]
Man, make yourself at home. Whatever.
Much obliged, DP!
[McAfee] Yes.
Oh, y'all got a box of shirts?
Y'all got to hustle these all?
["Irish Ace" playing]
-[McAfee] He did it. -[Cole] So is Truth back in?
-[McAfee] He's always been in. -[Cole] No, he hasn't.
-They beat him up last week. -[McAfee] Jumped him in.
[Cole chuckles]
[McAfee] That's what he said on social media.
And look, it's coming. It's real!
They just gave him shirts from their locker room
which had what? "R-Truth" on the bottom of it.
-[bell rings] -Bang.
[Samantha] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied by Dominik Mysterio,
representing The Judgment Day, JD McDonagh!
[Cole] It's those journalistic instincts, is the reason
that you have a daily show on ESPN every day.
[McAfee] That's right. True journalism.
And also, if you're Judgment Day, you want R-Truth on the squad.
He brings a whole different dynamic that ain't none of them got.
[Cole] Well, JD McDonagh goes one-on-one…
[McAfee] That's a likability. [Cole] …with The Miz next.
WWE is proud to support the Ad Council and their Love Has No Labels campaign.
Celebrate this Black History Month and visit WWE dot me slash shopbhm
or scan the QR code on the screen
to purchase your own WWE Heritage Month merchandise.
$7.50 will be donated from each sale to support Ad Council.
Let's head back to the locker room area with our own Jackie Redmond.
Thank you so much, Cole. I'm here with The Miz
and, Miz, after what happened last week,
and considering R-Truth's tumultuous relationship with The Judgment Day,
how are you approaching tonight's match against JD McDonagh?
Truth still believes that he is in Judgment Day,
and I don't know if that makes him crazy or a genius.
But one thing about Truth is he finds a crazy line in between crazy and genius
and that is why we love him. That is why we have his back.
But he seems to think that last week was an initiation.
While I think it was a declaration of war.
The battle lines have been drawn
and JD McDonagh and Judgment Day have no idea what I have in store for them
because I am The Miz and I am…
[crowd] Awesome!
[Cole] I love the way The Miz approaches this R-Truth situation.
[McAfee] He wants a friend.
Hasn't had one since he and Truth were together.
[Cole] As Awesome Truth.
[Samantha] And his opponent, residing in Hollywood, California,
weighing in at 221 pounds,
The Miz!
[Cole] The Miz set to go one-on-one with JD McDonagh of The Judgment Day.
And Elimination Chamber is presented by Credit One Bank.
Get cash back rewards and live large.
Two weeks from Saturday.
Elimination Chamber, the event in Perth. Streaming live on Peacock.
JD McDonagh said what happened to R-Truth last week, Pat, was cathartic.
-Had to bring the necessary evil back. -[bell rings]
Bring the group back to what it was made to be.
He said, "Less funny, more money," as JD McDonagh goes to work on Miz.
[McAfee] And the Miz sticking up for his guy
who's actually on the other team's squad.
[Cole] I'm trying to figure this out because
Truth's real good friends with Miz. They've teamed together.
Truth doesn't believe that JD McDonagh is actually in Judgment Day
because Truth beat McDonagh a number of weeks back in a match
that Truth believed was for a spot in Judgment Day.
[McAfee] McDonagh now the second-shortest-tenured member
of Judgment Day.
If he's even…
I mean, Judgment Day, certainly fascinating, but seems like a group
that everyone wants in, but nobody seems to like outside.
[Cole] I'd never want to be in any group that that man,
-Dominik Mysterio was a part of. -[McAfee] Of course not.
You stay as far away from that particular individual as possible.
The Miz…
[Cole] Sends McDonagh into the corner,
and now Miz explodes off the ropes with a clothesline.
[McAfee] Normally, The Miz fighting for himself, fighting for his family…
[Cole] He called this a declaration of war.
[McAfee] About The Miz…
been in the WWE over a decade.
Still in phenomenal shape. Terrible at golf.
[Cole] Big back body drop by The Miz.
[McAfee] Bad at basketball.
Everything else except for this.
[Cole] Knocking McDonagh over the top rope,
multi-time world champion, The Miz.
[McAfee] But he is awesome.
[Cole] Stares back at Mysterio.
You never know what Dirty Dom's going to do.
And now, McDonagh whipped into the barricade
and into the timekeeper's area.
[McAfee] Dirty Dom standing real close to the action.
[Cole] Miz not going to forget what The Judgment Day did to him last week.
Suplex! Dropping McDonagh right on the back of his neck.
Miz, the victim of the numbers game and The Judgment Day beatdown last week.
[McAfee] Good to see you, Miz.
[Cole] Not quite sure he was looking your way, but…
No, no, I don't… Yeah, yeah.
[Cole] My drink almost went flying.
[McAfee] My drink did go flying, but The Miz…
[Cole] Clean up over here at the announce table.
[McAfee] Tossing McDonagh around!
[Cole] And Miz now with a kick to McDonagh's face.
And look at Dirty Dominik grabbing the leg of Miz!
And that allows JD McDonagh to take control.
[McAfee] Miz, you knew they were going to do something.
Look at the face on that guy.
[Cole] So many things I'd like to say about him.
-[McAfee] Say it! -[Cole] You stink.
[McAfee] You suck!
[Cole] We're back live on Monday Night Raw.
The Miz and JD McDonagh, one-on-one, here tonight.
Dominik, Dirty Dom, of The Judgment Day,
getting involved before and during the commercial.
And McDonagh!
Standing moonsault!
Cover now on Miz
and a kick-out.
JD McDonagh is very, very good. He's called himself "the necessary evil."
He can be vicious, when needed.
[McAfee] And he benefits from the dirty deeds that Judgment Day does.
[Cole] Yeah, a perfect fit to that group,
-if I say so. -["What's Up?" playing]
-[McAfee] Wait a minute! -[crowd cheering]
Judgment Day member.
Icon.
Legend.
[Cole] R-Truth is actually giving away the new Judgment Day T-shirts,
the one I believe that has his name on it, right?
[McAfee] Absolutely!
-Nice addition at the bottom. -[Cole] There it is.
"And R-Truth" on the bottom.
R-Truth out here in the middle of the WWE fans here tonight
handing out T-shirts.
And it distracted JD McDonagh
and allowed Miz to get the feet up
and could be a turning point in this match-up.
[McAfee] R-Truth's been selling a lot of those shirts,
handing them out for free 'cause that's the type of dude he is.
[Cole] I don't think R-Truth,
if he believes he's a member of The Judgment Day,
realizes that he actually just cost McDonagh the momentum of this match-up.
[McAfee] That's not his fault. He should have felt the positive support.
[Cole] Well, McDonagh has had it to wit's end with R-Truth,
as Miz now unloads with the kicks to JD McDonagh.
[McAfee] Judgment Day. So disorganized.
I don't know what's right and wrong at this point.
[Cole] Miz now into the corner with a running clothesline
and Miz is now fired up!
R-Truth interacting with the members of the WWE universe here tonight.
Meanwhile, Miz crossbody, hook of the leg. Is it enough to put McDonagh away?
And a kick-out at two.
[McAfee] If Miz would have won a match here tonight in St. Louis,
this would have been a night that's remembered forever.
[Cole] Especially in this town.
And Miz looking to put McDonagh away,
perhaps with a Skull-Crushing Finale.
And McDonagh able to sling Miz and now McDonagh sent outside the ring.
And Miz now driving Dominik right down to the floor.
-[McAfee] Dominik took the shot for JD. -[Cole] And Miz sends McDonagh flying.
-[McAfee] R-Truth! -[Cole] A goofy R-Truth is a…
[McAfee] Brand-new merch for you, Dom!
[Cole] Giving Dom a new T-shirt, but it's like Dom's in a straitjacket.
[McAfee] No, it's brand-new merch!
[Cole] And Miz makes him pay! See! The Awesome Truth are awesome!
And R-Truth looks a bit upset that Miz took out Mysterio,
but Truth's the dummy that put the T-shirt on Dom in the first place.
McDonagh, top rope! Looking to take Miz out.
Hook of the leg, for the win, on Miz,
who kicks out at two!
[R-Truth] JD!
[Cole] R-Truth is wearing a road crew vest.
[McAfee] Of course.
-Flashing some… -[Cole] Oh, look at…
This is a JD McDonagh's cut of the T-shirt sales.
[McAfee] R-Truth hustling those shirts. JD McDonagh said, "Don't mind if I do."
All right.
-It's all you! -[Cole] He'll take the money, won't he?
And Miz from behind!
Skull-Crushing Finale!
One, two, three!
-[McAfee] What? -[bell rings]
["I Came To Play" playing]
[Samantha] Here is your winner! The Miz!
[Cole] R-Truth screwed up.
Or did he?
[McAfee] I don't think he thought he was screwing up.
For Dom, he wanted to give him merch. For JD, wanted to give him his cut.
[Cole] But maybe R-Truth did all of that,
feigned surprise, so he could help his buddy Miz?
[McAfee] That would be quite a cerebral play by R-Truth.
[Cole] Well, first, Dominik looked like he was in a straitjacket,
the way that Truth put the T-shirt over him.
Miz would take advantage.
And then finally JD McDonagh,
as we thought he was gonna put Miz away here.
Miz was able to kick-out.
JD McDonagh has been begging for a cut of the T-shirt sales for weeks now.
He finally got his cut from R-Truth.
But it cost him.
[McAfee] R-Truth is looking out for JD.
JD lost focus.
Take that money, quick. Put it away.
Instead, delay, Miz recovers,
Skull-Crushing Finale, as the Benjamins fall to the mat,
and The Miz is your winner which has not been uttered often
in the WWE.
-The Miz is your winner! -[Cole] We're all confused.
[McAfee] And R-Truth is…
awesome?
[Cole] I guess. Nonetheless, coming up later tonight,
we've got a women's tag-team title match.
It is a rematch for this duo.
[Cole] The women's tag-team titles on the line.
Chance and Carter against The Kabuki Warriors.
[crowd] One, two, three!
[Cole] And new champions!
[Carter] Every door that's closed, we've ripped it off the hinges.
We might be known for bringing the party.
But tonight, we're bringing the fight.
So Kabuki Warriors, enjoy those WWE women's tag-team titles while you can.
Because once we get our hands on you?
Party's over.
[Cole] Will the party be over for The Kabuki Warriors
or is it just beginning?
Coming up later on tonight,
Asuka and Kairi Sane of Damage CTRL defend the tag-team gold
against the former champions, Carter and Chance.
Tag-team title match live on Monday Night Raw.
Let ask you one more time because it is very, very important.
Is everything prepared?
Let me say it again and I'll say it even slower.
Everything will be just as we discussed.
He's going to have a great ceremony. Don't worry.
Well, it better be. It is very important.
Six hundred days Intercontinental heavyweight champion.
-It has to be absolutely perfect. -It will be exactly as we discussed.
Gunther will be more than happy. And if you don't mind,
-I need the room… -[knocking at door]
Come in! I have a meeting.
Ah!
[crowd cheering]
[Pearce] Have you met Bron?
No?
They're very friendly. Okay. Listen, thanks for the time.
Whatever Aldis is going to offer you, and he's going to overpromise,
I'm willing to beat it, okay?
These are the details we talked about. And I've given you my word…
[Cole] Monday Night Raw is live in St. Louis, Missouri tonight.
We've had a lot of fun here.
[McAfee] Wonderful city. Blues, Cardinals, Battlehawks, and Monday Night Raw.
Tonight has been a blast.
[Cole] No fun for CM Punk, however.
Last week, he told the world that he tore his triceps at the Royal Rumble match,
then Drew McIntyre beat the hell out of him.
Let's show you how the week transpired for CM Punk.
Today's surgery day. It's, uh…
It's always a fun day.
-I appreciate you -Any time, man. I'll see you in a bit.
[nurse] Take some nice big breaths. In and out.
This is the most frustrating thing. The little simple tasks like this.
I am in a lot of pain.
It's mental more than anything. I can handle pain.
I can power through hard PT.
The mental aspect of it,
I think it's a lot harder than the physical, day one.
My comeback will be the greatest of all time.
Well, indeed, CM Punk had successful surgery on his tricep.
He's expected to be out of action for a number of months.
Sending well wishes to CM Punk.
We all miss you over here, brother. Can't wait to see you.
Let's head up to the ring and Imperium.
[crowd booing]
Ladies and gentlemen.
I demand
all your gratitude
for the longest-reigning
Intercontinental heavyweight champion.
Six hundred days of
The Ring General,
Gunther!
["Symphony No. 9 In E Minor" playing]
[Cole] You know, back in 1979, the late, great Pat Patterson
would become the first-ever Intercontinental champion,
winning a tournament in Rio de Janeiro.
Over the years, Pat, dozens of WWE hall-of-famers
have held that prestigious championship,
But no one has ever held the title longer than this man.
As of tonight, 605 days,
and counting, as champion.
And I know how impressed you've been with this man.
You had the opportunity to call one of his great matches
last week against Kofi Kingston.
[McAfee] He's destructive and dominant.
It's really the only way to describe this man.
Just wears you down.
Bullies people in there.
To the surprise of absolutely nobody,
I'm standing here today celebrating the jubilee
of 600 days as Intercontinental heavyweight champion.
But, to be honest, Ludwig…
I really appreciate the gesture of setting all of that up.
But I don't want it anymore, going forward.
Because what's the point? 600 days? 700 days? 800 days?
Hey! 1000 days?
All of that is a given, anyway.
Because one thing will never change and that is The Ring General
being the greatest and longest-reigning
Intercontinental heavyweight champion of all time.
And the matter of fact is, I'm running out of competition here.
There's no man there that is worthy of challenging me
for this great championship.
I mean, who is it? You tell me.
Who?
-["Main Event Ish" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[McAfee] I think they gave him an answer, Cole.
[McAfee] Cole!
[Cole] You gotta get back back in shape for this.
[McAfee] Hell yeah, Uce. Hell yeah!
Whole place loves him! Every city we go to!
[Cole] Look at that look Gunther's giving you.
[McAfee] Hell yeah, Uce.
Uce just got me in some stuff with Imperium, I think.
[Cole] I know, I think you got yourself in hot water with Imperium.
[McAfee] Once this song hits your bones, you have to.
[crowd chanting] Yeet!
I said Main-Event Jey Uso is now in your city!
[crowd cheering]
I get it, yeah.
I get it.
Simple gestures for a very simple audience. I get it, totally.
[crowd booing]
-[Cole] He called them simple. -[McAfee] That's not…
You see, Jey, the last time I saw you
I eliminated you from the Royal Rumble, I think.
I expected you. You wanted to have a word with me…
but that's not the way.
It's still a celebration here,
and I'm sensing some kind of disrespect here.
Ha!
[crowd chanting] Yeet!
No disrespect.
No disrespect, Uce.
You earned your stripes.
I see the work you put in.
Six-hundred-plus days, Uce.
The longest IC champion…
-[crowd] Yeet! -…in WWE…
-[crowd] Yeet! -…history.
-The Ring General. -[crowd] Yeet!
-Gunther! -[crowd] Yeet!
Thank you, Jey, I appreciate that.
But I got to say, you're a very accomplished man, yourself.
You're one of the most decorated tag-team wrestlers of all time.
Yeet!
You were part of the best tag-team in WWE history.
-[crowd] Yeet! -[Gunther] Yeah.
You even hold the record for longest-reigning
tag-team champions of all time.
[crowd] Yeet!
And, the best is, you only had to put in 50 percent of the work for it.
-[crowd booing] -[McAfee] No yeet.
[booing continues]
I mean, see, Jey, that's where I'm confused.
That's why I don't get how we see eye-to-eye.
Because, unlike you, I achieved all of this doing all the work on my own.
Well, I guess you're about to get 100 percent of this work then, Gunther.
So allow me to reintroduce myself.
-They call me Uce! -[crowd] Uce!
A thousand-plus days of tag-team champions.
First tag-team to main-event WrestleMania.
-[crowd] Yeet! -And, uh oh, it's 2024!
-[crowd] Yeet! -First singles champion.
[crowd] Yeet!
And if you want Jey Uso to be the new Intercontinental champion…
-[crowd] Yeet! -…then let me hear you say "Yeet!"
-[crowd] Yeet! -Come on!
-Yeet! Yeet! -[crowd chanting] Yeet!
[chanting continues]
Well, good for you.
That, after 15 years, you finally develop the guts
to step out of the shadow of your family and achieve something for yourself.
[crowd booing]
So let me talk pretty plain and simple to you.
You're not the first, and you won't be the last
that wants a ride on The Ring General's coattail.
But when I beat you,
I'm going to beat you worse than your own family ever did.
I'm going to beat you so bad,
that you wish yourself back to the good old days
where people couldn't tell you and your brother apart.
Uce!
[Cole] Now, Jey Uso is not gonna be disrespected!
He takes Gunther down.
And of course, Kaiser and Vinci,
the henchmen from Imperium, all over Jey Uso.
[McAfee] Outnumbered.
[Cole] And finally, The New Day, of course,
who have their own issues with Imperium, coming to Jey Uso's aid.
Gunther, Kaiser, and Vinci will retreat.
What you want? Huh? Huh!
Why don't you stay when we have three-on-three, huh?
Let's go. Let's go!
Let's go!
[speaking German]
[Cole in English] Jey Uso made it pretty clear.
He wants an opportunity at Gunther and the Intercontinental championship.
And, Pat, where do we sign up for that?
[McAfee] Hopefully as soon as possible.
Because everybody can feel the energy in all of St. Louis.
As Gunther and Jey Uso were not only complimenting each other,
and talking to each other,
but seemingly setting up a fight for the Intercontinental title
that Jey Uso has certainly earned.
Jey Uso says that 2024 will be the year
that he earns his first singles championship.
It has been…
We were talking during the commercial break.
The last week has been unbelievable.
Between Friday Night SmackDown and Monday Night Raw,
and the controversy that is going on,
and we're going to talk all about this this coming Thursday, live.
Pat and I have the honor to host the WrestleMania 40 kickoff press event.
Everyone on your screen will be there and there is plenty to talk about.
Thursday, 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific, live on Peacock.
There'll be plenty of WWE fans there as well.
[McAfee] Yeah, free to attend. Cannot wait to see how that goes.
[in Japanese]
[in English]
[Cole] These two men will be tied together with a 14-foot-long bull rope
and an iron cowbell in the middle.
Everything's legal.
You win via pinfall or submission.
Shinsuke Nakamura and Cody Rhodes
look to settle their rivalry in a bull rope match live.
Tonight.
["Party All The Time" playing]
These two young women call themselves the life of the party pack.
They were the longest-reigning NXT Women's Tag Team Champions of all time.
And tonight they look to win back the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles.
Carter and Chance against The Kabuki Warriors live next.
[music continues]
[upbeat music playing]
[Cole] We'll get premium experiences to the iconic face-off
between The Rock and Roman Reigns at the WrestleMania 40 kickoff event,
with an official WWE Priority Pass.
Packages include reserved seating
and a post-event cocktail reception with your favorite WWE superstars.
Go to onlocationexp.com/wwe for details.
Cocktail reception? I might have to buy one.
[McAfee] Yeah. Who is your favorite WWE superstar?
-[Cole] Pat McAfee. -[McAfee] Aww! That was cute, Cole.
[Cole] Kayden Carter, Katana Chance,
opportunity to win back the Tag Team Titles.
["Reigning Warriors" playing]
[Cole] They're called the Kabuki Warriors.
They were the longest-reigning WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
and they've won the gold back.
Asuka and Kairi Sane, part of Damage CTRL.
But, Pat, so many people have been wondering
if The Kabuki Warriors will be 100% tonight
after the attack with the steel pipe by Bayley
this past Friday night on SmackDown.
[McAfee] After they turned on Bayley,
Bayley attacked them back with a steel pipe.
And you can…
Earlier tonight we saw a little bit of a bandage on Asuka on her ribs,
and they can't be at 100%, but that's what they asked for.
And when you're the champions,
you got to be able to perform when you're not at your 100%.
[Cole] Iyo Sky, the WWE Women's Champion, also of Damage CTRL,
will defend her gold 61 nights away at WrestleMania against Bayley,
the winner of the Women's Royal Rumble match,
choosing Iyo Sky this past week after the ultimate betrayal
by the members of damage CTRL.
[McAfee] The head games are all a part of it for The Kabuki Warriors.
[bell rings]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the WWE
Women's Tag Team Championship.
Introducing the challenger,
the team of Kayden Carter and Katana Chance.
And their opponents,
they are the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Asuka and Kairi Sane,
Kabuki Warriors!
[Cole] High-pressure, high-stakes match-up here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
Pat let's talk about the challengers.
For Carter and Chance, so much pressure in this match-up,
because if they don't win the match, they don't win their rematch.
Who knows when they get another opportunity
at those Tag Team Titles?
[McAfee] Anytime you fight for the title,
you got to act as if it's your last opportunity ever.
[Cole] And it could well be for the former champions,
-for The Kabuki Warriors… -[bell rings]
…who'd love to have a long tag team championship reign,
and with everything that went down with Bayley this past Friday night,
you can ill afford to lose here.
[McAfee] Well, when you're the champions, you're on Monday Night Raw in St. Louis,
the legacy is building.
[Cole] Now, Katana Chance taking the fight to Asuka.
I don't know if you noticed, but when this match-up started,
Asuka immediately was feeling her rib area,
the kinesio tape, as other women from the Tag Team Division look on
at this championship match.
Everybody jockeying for position for a future Tag Team Championship match.
[McAfee] Asuka, GOAT.
[Cole] The Empress of Tomorrow, multi-time Women's Champion,
won the very first Women's Royal Rumble match back in 2018 and--
[McAfee] Oh, big-time slap, right to the mouth from Chance.
-[Cole] Asuka-- -[McAfee] Ate it.
She smiled after getting smacked in the mouth.
[Cole] Now Asuka with a kick to the face, and down goes Katana Chance,
The Kabuki Warriors just looking to bully Carter and Chance here tonight.
[McAfee] They have a ruthlessness to them.
[Cole] They do. And if you're the former champs,
you want to pick up the pace in this match-up.
Try to out quick Asuka and Kairi Sane with a big kick, but didn't catch it.
Chance rolls her up, and a kick-out by Asuka two.
-[McAfee] Chance-- -[Cole] The injured ribs of Asuka.
[McAfee] Smart.
[Cole] Tag.
[McAfee] High in-ring IQ from Chance,
[Cole] And again kick to the ribs,
and Kayden Carter drops Asuka out to the apron.
Now from behind, Kairi Sane.
Chance gets involved.
Chaos here in the early going of this Tag Team Championship match.
[McAfee] Absolutely.
And one Kabuki Warrior goes into another.
Can't win it on the outside.
But you can certainly hurt some people.
[Cole] Can Carter and Chance win the Tag Team gold back?
Those titles are coming home with us!
[Cole] We are back live on Monday Night Raw.
This is for the Women's Tag Team championship.
The champs Kabuki Warriors dominating Carter and Chance,
the former champions right now.
[McAfee] Yeah. Rubbing it in their faces too, the entire break.
Kabuki Warriors will beat you up and tell you about it.
[Cole] And double team from the champions.
Cover by Asuka, hook of the leg, and a kick-out.
We've talked a lot about Asuka having her ribs taped
after the attack by Bayley with a steel pipe on Friday,
as women from the Tag Team Division look on at this match-up.
Kairi Sane's ribs are also taped.
[McAfee] We noticed, and who knows if they're taped
on the right side, might be a distraction. A ploy
to draw away from the damage that Bayley put on 'em with a steel pipe.
[Cole] Kayden Carter trying to fight back.
[McAfee] Sane with a miss.
Kayden Carter out-quicked them both.
Roll through. Can she get a tag?
Needs one badly.
[Cole] Oh!
Not quite sure who suffered the worst of that there.
[McAfee] I think Carter got out of the way, a sixth sense.
She saw Kairi Sane coming,
eyes in the back of her head, rolled out of the way.
[Cole] Kayden Carter trying to make a tag to Katana Chance here,
and Kairi momentarily drags Carter back in the ring.
-Tag made. Here comes Chance. -[McAfee] Over the rope.
[Cole] And there's the quickness and the speed
of the uber-athletic Katana Chance.
Drop kick
[McAfee] Ninja warrior flying on the Kabuki Warriors.
To the corner she goes, stomping a mudhole.
[Cole] And Chance now fired up.
Looking to win back the Tag Team titles.
[McAfee] Are they going to do it?
Is Katana Chance…
[Cole] Went to the back of the neck!
-[McAfee] …gonna win this? -[Cole] Opportunity to win the gold.
Hook of the leg.
Sane will kick at two
And Katana knew that was her chance to win the Tag Team titles there.
[McAfee] For an eighth of an inch away, from a one, two, three.
[Cole] Tag, Asuka is legal.
-[McAfee] Champions phenomenal. -[Cole] Wow.
Went for the codebreaker. And meanwhile, oh! Look at that.
Kairi Sane up over the top.
And now the double team by The Kabuki Warriors.
One… Two…
[Cole] Oh, and able to kick-out at two is Chance.
[McAfee] Kairi thought it was over. So did Asuka.
Katana somehow kicks out.
[Cole] This match for the Women's Tag Team titles here tonight
on Monday Night Raw, live, St. Louis, Missouri.
Chance and Carter trying to rewin the gold.
Jack-knife cover now, and a kick-out by Asuka.
Blasts Kairi Sane off the apron. Asuka misses wildly.
Chance to the injured ribs.
[McAfee] Double reverse.
[Cole] Tag made.
[McAfee] Feels like the former champs are starting to really go.
[Cole] And this could be it.
They could be closing in on a victory here.
Wow, look at that.
The after party connecting!
Kayden Carter. Hook of the leg for the win.
And Kairi Sane saving the Tag Team titles.
[McAfee] That was it, Cole.
That was it.
[Cole] Tremendous double-team action by the former champions.
Now Kayden Carter makes the tag.
We've seen them win all kinds of matches with this move.
It's called the keg stand.
Kairi Sane though, intercepts.
[McAfee] Knocked off the tap.
[Cole] And Katana Chance crashed and burned
and Kayden Carter sent into the steel steps.
And a kick to the head, tag to Kairi Sane.
Here comes the double team.
The Kabuki Warriors have been so successful with this.
Kairi Sane from the top rope…
Insane elbow!
And with that Sane will go into the cover,
-and retain the tag team titles. -[bell rings]
["Reigning Warriors" playing]
[Samantha] Here are your winners,
and still
the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
The Kabuki Warriors!
[Cole] Well, this double team move that the Kabuki Warriors used
to put Carter and Chance away has become so dangerous.
[McAfee] Certainly is.
And the champs remain the champs.
And that is hit as cleanly as possible into a one, two, three,
and any time you fall during a keg stand,
your night's normally going to end poorly.
And tonight, it's no different.
[Cole] Spoken like a true pro.
Nonetheless, ladies and gentlemen,
earlier today Jackie Redmond sat down with Sami Zayn.
Sami, thank you so much for the time.
It's no secret that you've been facing some adversity in recent weeks.
And today, I mean, you've been sitting up here in these stands by yourself all day.
What's going through your mind
and how much of it has to do with Drew McIntyre?
Uh, yeah. I have been thinking a lot,
and it does have a little bit to do with Drew McIntyre
because, I've had a really good year.
I've been thinking a lot about the last year I've had.
It's really taken me and transported me back to this exact time period last year,
right after the Royal Rumble, right before Elimination Chamber,
going into this huge, biggest match of my career.
-Yeah. -Roman Reigns in my hometown.
Cinderella story. All the stars are lined up and I come close.
But, you know, come up a little short.
And I've learned to not let that, you know, eat me up.
But there's this conversation I had after the after the match
that I can't get out of my head.
Um, Triple H pulled me aside.
A lot of people, nobody really knows this,
but he pulled me aside after the match, saw I was down.
He said, "Listen to me, you have nothing to be down about."
"You gave the performance of a lifetime."
-He goes to me, "You're Rocky." -Wow.
"You're Rocky. You're the ultimate underdog."
"And you know, Rocky, he overcomes all these obstacles
and he doesn't beat the champion in Rocky I."
"But he goes the distance with the champion
and he makes a name for himself."
"And that's what you just did tonight."
And don't get me wrong, in the ring, I'll fight like an underdog.
Every single night I will go, no, I will give 100% everything that's in me.
Like it's life or death. Because for me, it is life or death.
If I'm not alive in there, I might as well be dead.
So I will fight like an underdog. But I'm not an underdog anymore.
I am a contender now.
I am a contender who will be a champion.
Sami what is it though, about being champion?
I mean, is there maybe a part of you
that feels like you still have something to prove?
Yeah, I mean, sure, there's a part of me that needs to prove it to myself,
but it's more about proving it to the people that sit in these seats.
It's about proving it to them. It's about…
It's about proving that they didn't believe in me for nothing.
They believed in me, and proving them right,
that's what it's about.
That's what it's about.
-Thank you for the time, Sami. -Thank you.
[Cole] Sami will indeed get his opportunity.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, our Main Event is up next.
One match to go, presented by CreditOne Bank.
And the King of Strong Style, Shinsuke Nakamura
says he will beat Cody Rhodes in the match
that Cody Rhodes' dad, Dusty Rhodes, made famous.
Shinsuke Nakamura will be on one end,
Cody Rhodes, the other of a 14-foot-long bull rope,
a cowbell in the middle.
Anything goes, pinfall or submission to win.
Nakamura, Rhodes, Bull rope match.
Our Main Event is live, and it's next.
We're in St. Louis, Missouri tonight for Monday Night Raw.
[McAfee] And this Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs
take on the San Francisco 49ers.
The only way to champion your team is with an Official NFL Legacy title.
These officially-licensed NFL products
are the ultimate way to gear up for game day.
Shop your favorite team today at wweshop.com.
There's the arch.
Saw it earlier, beautiful.
[Cole] St. Louis, the gateway to the west on the Mississippi river.
Next week, Monday Night Raw is in Lexington, Kentucky.
The University of Kentucky in the famous Rupp Arena,
where we will finally try to settle things between these six men,
Jey Uso teams up with The New Day against Gunther and Imperium.
Also next week, Pat, imagine what this match is going to be like.
R-Truth and JD McDonagh trying to settle their differences.
JD McDonagh had his loss to Miz tonight caused by R-Truth.
And also next week, another Elimination Chamber qualifying match-up
to see who joins Becky Lynch inside the chamber in Perth, Australia
in two weeks from Saturday.
Will it be Liv Morgan? Will it be Zoey Stark?
We find out next week, Pat.
Meanwhile, you're off to Las Vegas for The Pat McAfee Show,
and you're going to be joining us as co-host with myself for
for this big WrestleMania 40 kickoff press event in Las Vegas, Thursday.
[McAfee] Yeah, the Super Bowl is in Vegas on Sunday,
and on Thursday the world's going to be talking about what's happening
at T-Mobile, free for humans to come watch.
I think some news is gonna be broken out of there.
[Cole] And it's also on Peacock. 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.
["Kingdom" playing]
"The American Nightmare." Cody Rhodes will be in Las Vegas.
[McAfee] Yes, he will.
[bell rings]
[Samantha] The following is a bull rope match!
The only way to win is by pinfall or submission.
Introducing first,
he is the winner of the 2023
and 2024 Men's Royal Rumble match,
"The American Nightmare,"
Cody Rhodes!
[Cole] #WeWantCody has trended…
…worldwide for three days now,
and it all has to do with a match that hasn't even been announced yet.
Will Roman Reigns face The Rock at WrestleMania?
Will Cody Rhodes face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania?
We hope to get those answers this coming Thursday
at the press event in Las Vegas.
But, Pat, I know you have a lot of thoughts on the situation.
[McAfee] The emotional response from the WWE universe is because
this man right here has earned the love and support
of every human that watches professional wrestling
with the way he goes about doing his business.
He epitomizes professional wrestling.
["The Rising Sun" playing]
[McAfee] Oh, no.
[Samantha] And his opponent from Kyoto, Japan
weighing in at 220 pounds,
Shinsuke Nakamura!
[Cole] I know you want to dance, Pat,
but Shinsuke is in a much different place than the first time you were here in WWE.
[McAfee] I'm very torn because this song
is my actual phone ringer and alarm.
But what Shinsuke has done to Cody Rhodes,
I cannot support.
[Cole] You know, tonight this is the first
serious bull rope match we've had in WWE in almost 17 years.
The last time we had a bull rope match,
ironically, Cody Rhodes' dad, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
participated in that match-up.
And Pat McAfee enjoying the Shinsuke Nakamura dance.
But now things get serious. It's Cody Rhodes, Shinsuke Nakamura
will now be tied to a 14-foot-long bull rope
with a cowbell inside.
Now it's interesting.
This bull rope is the exact bull rope
that was used by Dusty Rhodes back in 1977,
in the bull rope match that started it all against superstar Billy Graham.
Madison Square Garden in New York.
Dusty used this same rope throughout his entire career.
It was passed on to Dustin Rhodes, who used it in his match-ups.
And now here tonight, Cody Rhodes continues the family tradition
using the same bull rope his father used nearly 50 years ago.
[McAfee] These two have been going at each other for months.
Let's put an end to it here.
[Cole] Nakamura now, Cody's already been hooked up to the bull rope,
-but Shinsuke Nakamura… -[bell rings]
…going to attack Cody Rhodes and Rhodes in trouble early on.
Shinsuke Nakamura taking advantage.
Both men now tied together by this bull rope.
That cowbell made of iron in the middle can be used as a weapon
in this type of match-up.
Cody Rhodes now with a big right hand to Nakamura and here we go.
It's been an emotional week for Cody.
Can he channel it all tonight and take out Nakamura.
Knee to the midsection by Rhodes.
[McAfee] If Cody Rhodes is able to remain focused,
he's one of the most mentally-tough humans to ever exist.
[Cole] And this is one of the reasons for the bull rope.
No escaping your opponent.
-[McAfee] Shinsuke's headed to the crowd! -[Cole] Not for long.
Nakamura driven abdomen-first into the barricade.
Cody Rhodes in control of a bull rope match over Shinsuke Nakamura.
This is a bull rope match between Cody Rhodes and Nakamura.
Tied together to a bull rope, you win via pinfall or submission.
Cody Rhodes looking to feed off the emotional support of the WWE fans
here tonight, and taking it to Shinsuke Nakamura.
[McAfee] They've been telling Cody to finish his story.
[Cole] You talk about the-- Oh, goodness!
Great bull rope matches over the years.
Dusty Rhodes, of course, involved in one with Randy Orton.
JBL and Eddie Guerrero had an unbelievable one as well here in WWE.
[McAfee] Massive piece of Cody's story
is obviously his father, this rope used in one of his father's matches.
[Cole] And of course finishing the story
having to do with the fact that his father never won the WWE championship,
which has sparked so much emotional response over the the past number of days.
You talked a lot about Cody Rhodes and what was at stake for him.
And you know, does he face Seth Rollins for the world title?
Why did he say what he did to Roman Reigns Friday night?
But then when you look at Roman Reigns and The Rock, Pat,
and the possibility of those two iconic figures actually meeting in the ring,
in what would be the biggest match perhaps of this entire century,
has to be something said.
[McAfee] For that family, for this business, for society.
We're talking about biggest headline in the history of the company.
[Cole] And all this will be discussed this Thursday
at the WrestleMania 40 kickoff press event.
It's open to the press and the public.
It is free.
It is sure to be loud, rowdy, raucous,
and hopefully we'll get the answers to all these questions.
I'm not sure how you can go wrong with no matter what happens.
Did you see Cody grab his knee as he collided with the apron,
when Nakamura dragged him back into the ring?
[McAfee] Yeah, the rope has been used as a whiplash machine
and, obviously, Shinsuke starting to get the hang of this bull rope match.
[Cole] Knee to the back of the neck.
Hook of the leg now, and a kick-out by Cody Rhodes.
[McAfee] This chapter here obviously needs to be closed as well.
Shinsuke. Cody Rhodes.
[Cole] Nakamura… Cody Rhodes thought this was all over
with a win over Nakamura weeks ago, but Shin said, "Uh-uh!"
"We're gonna end this thing on my terms."
Hence the attack with the mist
at the WWE live event in Knoxville, Tennessee
this past Saturday night,
leading to this bull rope stipulation here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
[McAfee] Cody only has his whole life on his mind right now.
Shinsuke saw a great opportunity to attack.
[Cole] Well, I mean, there's so much going through this young man's head
with everything that's been going on,
and now he's got to focus on Nakamura and a bull rope.
[McAfee] So much that he's earned for years and years and years of hard work.
-[Cole] Knee right to the midsection. -[McAfee] Crafty!
[Cole] Hook of the leg and a kick-out.
[McAfee] And earning the respect of the entire WWE universe.
[Cole] I mean, what about what Roman Reigns has earned,
and what about what The Rock has contributed and earned over the years?
-I mean… -[McAfee] Absolutely!
[Cole] Ooh. Nakamura.
[McAfee] So much magic possible in the WWE.
But right now there's a bull rope attached to two dudes' wrists.
[Cole] I mean, I'll be honest, Pat, I'm a fan, just like you.
I mean, I love Cody.
I've known Cody most of his life.
And a big kick by Nakamura.
I wanna see Cody finish the story.
I want to see him win the title that his dad never won.
Oh, and a nice takedown by Rhodes.
And now Cody Rhodes looking to try to punish Shinsuke Nakamura.
Looking for a figure four! Call-- Callback by Rhodes!
[yelling]
Nakamura, will he tap?
[McAfee] Figure four.
[Cole] And now, Nakamura using the cowbell to break things up.
Bull rope match continues live on Monday Night Raw.
"The American Nightmare," Cody Rhodes is looking to rally
in this bull rope match against Shinsuke Nakamura.
Cody lands on his feet.
Waistlock, caught an elbow by Nakamura.
Cody Rhodes though with a quickness, knocking Shinsuke down,
and now Cody Rhodes looking to rally.
Sidesteps Nakamura, oh! And a powerslam by Rhodes.
[McAfee] Cody Rhodes looking like an absolute natural,
which is what he's been to this company.
In this business since he was 15 years old.
[Cole] In the match that his father,
the late, great "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes made famous.
Cover…
and a kick-out,
the bull rope match here live on Monday Night Raw.
[McAfee] As if Cody doesn't have enough on his mind.
He's got the incredibly-talented Shinsuke Nakamura attached to a bull rope.
[Cole] Well, and talk about how dastardly Nakamura is.
I mean, he launched this attack on Rhodes Saturday night,
just 24 hours after what came to pass on SmackDown,
and the appearance of The Rock.
Nakamura… Oh! Preying on Rhodes
at the most opportune time.
[McAfee] Cody said The Rock was counsel to him.
And obviously a massive decision that we don't know yet
because nothing's been made official, obviously.
But, boy, the emotions that have run through Cody Rhodes
over the last three days, I assume, have been very heavy.
The love and gratitude from the WWE universe.
The hope and optimism of everything he's worked for.
[Cole] Second rope, Cody cutter!
And Cody's got a chance.
[McAfee] And now with the same bull rope that his father used
attached to his wrist.
[Cole] Cody fired up!
Nakamura, though, fighting back as well.
These two warriors going at it in our Main Event on Monday Night Raw.
[yelling]
Speaking of Dusty!
And Nakamura went for the kick to the back of the head.
Bionic elbow connects. Nakamura, though…
caught him with a kick.
[McAfee] Bull rope getting tangled up in Shinsuke's legs.
[Cole] Yeah, the danger of this type of match-up.
Shinsuke Nakamura wearing Cody Rhodes out now,
and at some point, you got to believe, how much does Cody have left?
Nakamura looking for the kinshasa, Cody Rhodes though able to roll through.
Set up Nakamura, pedigree.
-Cover. -One… two…
[Cole] Nakamura stays in it.
[McAfee] A pedigree in the middle of all this to get a win for Cody Rhodes.
[Cole] It is the start of what's gonna be quite the week here in WWE.
Monday Night Raw is live jam-packed in St. Louis.
Our Main Event, "The American Nightmare," Cody Rhodes,
Shinsuke Nakamura, in a bull rope match.
Cody Rhodes will also be a part of the historic press event
this coming Thursday in Las Vegas,
where we believe matches for WrestleMania, the Main Events, will be set.
Rhodes now measuring Nakamura…
using-- Oh! Mist! Mist to the eyes!
Rhodes is blinded!
Went to use the cowbell and Shinsuke Nakamura with the mist.
No disqualification in this match-up, Nakamura takes advantage.
And Cody Rhodes somehow delivers a Cross Rhodes!
Blinded and all,
-finds his way to the cover. -One… two…
[Cole] Nakamura kicks-out at two!
That may have been Cody Rhodes' one final chance.
Cody struggling to his feet, trying to clear his eyes of the mist.
[McAfee] Mentally, physically, been through it all.
Cody Rho--
[Cole] Nakamura now, using the cowbell to his advantage.
Went for the kinshasa. Cody blocked.
Cody got his hands up. He blocked the kinshasa!
Now, low blow with the bull rope. Completely legal.
Taking advantage of the rules.
Cross Rhodes by a pissed-off Cody Rhodes.
And here's the cover!
-One… two… three! -[Cole] Rhodes with a win tonight.
-[bell rings] -["Kingdom" playing]
[Samantha] Here is your winner,
"The American Nightmare,"
Cody Rhodes!
[Cole] That had to be cathartic on some level for Cody Rhodes.
Now, it doesn't end the controversy, but it sure made Cody Rhodes feel good.
[McAfee] Had to have!
[Cole] And with these low blows, Pat,
it's almost like Rhodes is trying to drive all the emotion out of his body
from the past few days.
[McAfee] Call it therapeutic, call it what you want.
I call it a huge win for everybody in the WWE universe.
[Cole] And now Cody Rhodes turns his attention to Las Vegas on Thursday,
where we see where the Road to WrestleMania takes us,
because Seth Rollins is there, The Rock is there, Roman Reigns is there.
All part of the…
Oh! McIntyre!
[crowd boos]
Drew McIntyre pounding away on Cody Rhodes.
[McAfee] This cheap-shot artist.
[Cole] This dangerous vendetta he's had against all he believed
have cost him the World Championship.
And a claymore to Cody Rhodes,
who just went through a bull rope match.
Got blinded by mist.
For Drew McIntyre, he said before, "I'm not a bad guy."
"I'm a hero."
I think McIntyre is delusional.