[dramatic music]
[announcer] Then.
Now.
Forever.
[music crescendos]
Together.
[music ends]
[Joe] Monday Night Raw is here in Houston.
It's the 1,203rd,
and final episode to appear right here on USA Network.
With 2024 closing out,
the action at the Toyota Center will be red hot.
Seth "Freaking" Rollins is here.
The last time we saw him in front of a camera
was when he told us, "I've got to extract the demon from my soul."
He's talking about the guy who considers himself more saint than demon.
The Second City Saint.
CM Punk has arrived.
Their heated rivalry has boiled over and tonight,
they'll meet face to face one last time
before next week's mega match.
As we welcome you inside a sold out Toyota Center,
red hot crowd, 14,636 in attendance
as we say good evening, everybody.
Joe Tessitore, as always, with my partner, Wade Barrett.
This is the historic final episode of Monday Night Raw
right here on USA Network.
SmackDown will remain on USA,
but Wade, next week,
Raw moves and debuts on Netflix, and it is a mega card.
But still, what we have here tonight is extra special.
Yes, indeed, limited commercial interruptions all night.
The first 30 minutes, completely commercial free.
We're going to kick things off tonight
with none other than the main event, Jey Uso.
So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, welcome…
-[pulsing hip hop music] -[crowd booing]
[Joe] Are you kidding me?
[jeering continues]
Oh, no.
Cut that music off.
Cut it off. Cut it off. Cut it off.
Shut it down!
[loud crowd booing]
[booing continues]
What? What?
-Hou-- -[crowd booing]
[crowd booing]
Houston…
-Hou-- -[crowd booing]
What's the problem? He's got a problem? You got a problem, huh?
What? Why? Why are you even mad?
-Why are you… -Houston!
Please, just…
You know, all that we've done is…
[crowd booing]
[chanting] New Day sucks! New Day sucks!
New Day sucks! New Day sucks!
What did we even do to you?
-[crowd booing] -What did we even do to you?
Houston, understand that we…
[crowd booing]
We have a very limited amount of time, and if--
If you don't let us speak…
[crowd booing]
If you wouldn't mind for…
[chanting resumes] New Day sucks! New Day sucks!
New Day sucks! New Day sucks!
If you don't let us…
[crowd booing]
♪ Uso's ♪
[audience cheers and applause]
["Main Event Ish" playing]
[audience cheers and applause]
[chanting] Yeet! Yeet! Yeet! Yeet! Yeet! Yeet! Yeet! Yeet!
[audience cheers and applause]
♪ Day one ish It's just me, uce ♪
[audience cheers and applause]
Here I go! Here I go!
Here I go!
[audience cheers and applause]
Usos!
[audience cheers and applause]
[crowd] Yeet!
So y'all like Jey Uso.
[audience cheers and applause]
Well, Jey, you know we go way…
[crowd booing]
-I can't even talk to Jey? -[crowd booing]
Can you talk to them for us, please.
Hey, Houston, quiet down, and let's see what this chump got to say.
[cheers and applause]
-Yeah. -[crowd] Yeah!
We go way back.
Can you please talk…
[crowd booing]
We go way back, Jey. We go way back.
Tell them how far back we go.
[chanting] New Day sucks! New Day sucks!
New Day sucks! New Day sucks!
You know what, Uce, we do go way back.
So Woods…
Kofi…
I only got to say one thing to y'all, man.
New…
Day sucks.
[cheers and applause]
[muffled yelling]
[crowd chanting] New Day sucks! New Day sucks!
This is how you wanna be?
[indistinct chatter]
[crowd yelling] New Day sucks!
[crowd booing]
[crowd chanting] New Day sucks! New Day sucks!
Hey, H-Town, I ain't even here for that, though.
We got some other problems to, uh, address.
Got Solo and the new Bloodline.
-OTC gonna handle that. -[crowd yells] Yeet!
I got Drew McIntyre… still messing with me and my brothers.
-And I'm gonna handle that. -[crowd yells] Yeet!
As a matter of fact,
Drew, get your ass out here to this ring so I can give you the damn beat down.
-[barks] -[cheers and applause]
Jey.
Hey, yo, Jey, look up here.
[cheers and applause]
Hey, don't worry about us.
You see, we made our mark last Monday.
And that right there is the beginning of an end.
Your boy Sami Zayn got a little bit too close,
and look what happened last Friday.
We dropped his ass, too.
I did what I had to do to get Roman's attention.
And then you and Jimmy made a very big mistake
by going back to Roman after everything he did to you
when you should have sided with the real Bloodline, and that's us.
This Ulufale, this one right here on my neck,
it is going nowhere, and it is going to stay on my neck forever.
I am going to destroy Roman next Monday
in the tribal combat match, and remain…
your tribal chief.
You and everyone else will acknowledge me.
[crowd booing]
See you, man.
[cheers and applause]
I don't believe that, Solo.
-[Wade] Uh-oh. -[Joe] Oh, the Scottish psychopath.
He was calling for Drew McIntyre.
There's the RSVP, Wade.
[Wade] Well, here's the issue with fighting battles
on too many fronts for Jey Uso.
But Jey did say after Sami Zayn, he's going next.
What do you think was going to happen?
[[Joe] And now the beatdown is underway.
[Wade] Be careful what you wish for, Jey Uso.
McIntyre's got a vendetta against anyone who came crawling back to Roman Reigns
after Roman devastated McIntyre's career for years.
[Joe] Yeah, he's put that list together
and continuously attacking anybody who has partnered with Roman Reigns.
That's the reason why Jey Uso was out of action recently.
[Wade] Multiple physical confrontations between Uso and McIntyre in recent weeks.
[audience] Three, two, one!
[Joe] Oh! Superkick counters the Claymore attempt.
[Wade] McIntyre just got too confident and cocky
against one of the best in main event, Jey Uso.
[crunching thuds]
Glaswegian kiss.
With full force.
[Wade] And now, perhaps, it's take two for McIntyre.
He rarely fails twice.
[Joe] And now the officials coming in to break things up.
The way we intended to start Raw was hearing from Jey Uso.
The New Day interrupted everything.
And then Jey comes out, calls out Drew McIntyre.
Drew makes his arrival with a vicious attack.
Jey had his attention elsewhere with the new bloodline sending a message.
[crosstalk]
[Wade] McIntyre always stacks the deck, chooses the exact right moment to attack.
And Jey Uso, struggled to move ever since.
That Glaswegian kiss right to the noggin.
[Joe] And a sharpened edge of a dangerous focus from Drew McIntyre
that we had seen in recent weeks.
Even on social media, he's been that way expressively.
Watch the Raw entrance trailer-- [Wade] Oh, my God!
[Joe] …as he's coming back for more.
[Wade] Never drop your guard!
[Joe] Oh, there it is!
The Claymore! Flush!
-No! -You are next!
[yelling over each other]
[Joe] Full speed down the entryway into the ring to deliver it.
[Wade] You know what McIntyre said?
"You don't have next. You are next."
[crowd booing]
[Joe] The guy who recently felt slighted for a lack of promotional push
for next week and simply said with a casual but threatening warning,
"I guess I'll have to step up in 2025."
Boy, he's sending out 2024 with a bang though, isn't he?
And that is how we start this historic Monday Night Raw.
We go backstage to Cathy Kelley. Cathy.
Thanks so much. I am here with American Made.
Chad Gable, tonight is the night.
How do you feel knowing that you are finally facing
your former friend and protege, Otis, one-on-one?
I feel sick.
I'm sick of all the talk about Chad Gable.
He can't win a championship.
He has trouble with luchadores.
He's been ducking Otis.
Are you kidding me?
Tonight, I start checking stuff off my bucket list
and I'm starting with Alpha Academy.
It's time for me to kill my darlings, and Otis is the final nail in that coffin.
I taught that idiot everything he knows.
And tonight, he's going to get his final lesson.
And that is that the master remains the master forever.
'Cause we weren't just born here.
We weren't just raised here.
We were made here.
[American Made theme plays]
[Joe] That origin story of Chad Gable and Alpha Academy's divorce
is a very complicated one.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring,
being accompanied by Ivy Nile and the Green Brothers.
From Minneapolis, Minnesota,
weighing in at 202 pounds,
representing American-Made, Chad Gable!
[crowd booing]
♪
[Joe] And I can only imagine the anticipation for everyone
in Alpha Academy knowing this moment is now here.
[announcer] And his opponent, being accompanied
by Maxine Dupree and Akira Tozawa
from Superior, Wisconsin,
weighing in at 330 pounds,
representing Alpha Academy, Otis!
[Joe] And tonight, Monday Night Raw, we're all sold out here in Houston.
♪
This is former friendship.
They described the origin story of Gable
and Academy in this split as being complicated.
He's a point of clash in the castle.
When Otis and others refused to cheat on Gable's behalf against Sami Zayn,
and weighed so many psychological factors
as well the boiling points between these two,
that for months really haven't had the steam release
that fans and others want to see, and you get the sense that this is it.
This is the moment to release all of that.
Otis and Chad Gable finally face-to-face in an official match.
[Wade] Yeah, gone is the fun-loving Otis for now.
Imagine the emotions going through Otis' head.
He's looking across the ring at his former mentor.
These two won WWE Tag Gold together.
They were thick as thieves like brothers, training partners.
Otis feels betrayed. Chad Gable felt let down.
It was always gonna come to this.
[Joe] Otis just absorbing those chops with no issue whatsoever.
You focus in on the emotional side of things,
the psychological side of things,
but then it comes down to strategy in the ring.
When you know your opponent this well as these two competitors do,
how do you approach it, Wade?
[Wade] Well, physically is one thing.
For Chad Gable, he is used to beating up Otis mentally.
Otis, however, now seems like a completely different animal.
He's got that granite mindset,
and he's refusing to be bullied by Chad Gable.
The game has changed, Chad.
[Joe] The press, the pure power just drops him down on his front side.
[Wade] And I'll tell you right now,
Chad Gable was simply not expecting this out of Otis.
He expected Otis to crumble on sight.
Otis, though, looks like a whole new human being.
[yelling]
[Joe] Slamming his head into our announce desk.
[Wade] Yeah, talk about a new human being.
We need a new announce desk after that one.
[Joe] That was brutal to hear that impact.
And now right into the steel steps, and partially catching the post as well.
Well, this has to be years and years of pent-up aggression from Otis,
who did everything Master Gable told him to do for a hell of a long time
until one day he'd had enough,
disobeyed the master, and now feels he's ready to step to Chad Gable.
[Joe] Chad Gable looks to rally back a series of right hands,
sending the big man into the corner.
[Wade] Well, finally, a flurry of offense from Chad Gable,
who's got virtually nothing in thus far,
but immediately back on offense,
and Otis really starting to feel himself in that ring.
[Joe] And now all 330-plus pounds stepping on that left hand.
I mean, it has to be technique now for Chad Gable.
It's simply brute strength, raw power.
I respect Chad Gable's attributes, but he cannot match Otis.
[Joe] It's always those glimpses
of athleticism by Otis that are jaw-dropping.
You saw it, rolling out of the way, and then coming back with the clothesline.
Well, Otis is an accomplished freestyle competitor from his collegiate days,
but that shoulder into that steel ring post
with all the momentum of that 330 pounds is gonna change the game.
There's no way.
[Joe] Not at 330 pounds, even as gifted as Gable is with the German suplexes.
[Wade] You gotta get some kind of momentum going your way
before you can pull off a move like that, but wow.
Dragon screw whip in the corner there from Chad Gable
taking out one of the wheels of the big man Otis.
Now you got your bullseye.
[Joe] Yeah, and he's working on that left knee as well.
Down the target with the dragon screw, pounded on it a few times.
And now going right to work on it against Otis.
[Wade] Well, two things. Chad Gable, first of all, durability.
He had to weather that early storm,
but secondly, that 4.0 GPA that we all know about.
There's a strategy just lying in wait.
Chad Gable just needs to find the right opportunity
and find the opportunity he has done.
[Joe] 12 years removed from his summer Olympics run.
Greco Roman is Chad Gable.
Former training partners, former tag team champion partners.
[Wade] You see Chad Gable just talking smack to Otis the entire time,
getting back inside the mind.
You are the student. I am the master.
Know your level, Otis.
[Joe] Drop kick from Gable.
And nearly the big splash from Otis, but Gable able to get out of the way.
And you can just see the rest of his brethren
with American Made supporting him and laughing at Otis.
Up top, Gable goes.
[Wade] Desperation move from Otis that is backfired in the worst way,
but no, Gable just taking too long on the top rope,
going for that dive in headbutt.
And both men laid out.
[crowd chanting] Otis! Otis!
[Joe] After months and months of detention,
after the split, finally this is how they will close out the year,
in the ring opposite the other as both Otis and Gable rise to their feet.
[Wade] Chad Gable trying to hightail his way out of there,
but Otis with a second win is a terrifying sight for anyone.
Big body in that spinning reverse elbow from Otis.
And the big Lariat comes in, crashing Gable right to the mat.
Chad Gable, that brain has been scrambled,
now perhaps starting to regret every move he's made over the past several years.
Otis revving that engine and delivering into the cover.
[Joe] And now decides to get up from it.
[Wade] Well, Otis wanted to go for that pin.
Chad Gable caught up in the ropes.
I don't know if that was smart by Chad Gable or just fortuitous,
but there may be no escape from it-- Oh, no.
[Joe] It was great ring awareness, but here it comes
and delivers the elbow.
Hooks the leg for the win.
Foot on the rope.
[Wade] The Creed Brothers on the outside--
[Joe] Tozawa was getting into it with Brutus and Julius
who are beating him down.
[Wade] Involved in putting that foot on the ropes and now the brawl is on.
What's up, boys?
[Wade] Now Otis having to fight brawls on three separate fronts.
Both Creed Brothers getting laid out in our timekeeper's pit.
Throwing him in the timekeeper and Maxine and Ivy now getting after it.
Maxine, ground and pound on Ivy Nile.
[Wade] Two women who throw hands
as soon as they're in proximity to one another,
but this match continues, Joe.
[Joe] And look at Gable getting right into that ankle lock.
Right into the ankle lock is Chad Gable.
[Wade] How smart was Chad Gable?
The melee on the outside.
Chad Gable just waiting to pounce as soon as Otis got back in the ring.
[Joe] Does Otis have the ability to survive this?
To find a way out , smartly turning over on his back.
[Wade] Gable is the absolute master of that hold,
but that leg of Otis is so thick
it's almost impossible to get enough torque on that ankle
to fully do it damage, but locked in it is.
[Joe] He found a little bit of separation when he turned over
and was able to get his right leg free and kick away,
but immediately Gable right back into it looking for the submission,
and again Otis with the power of the leg sending him through the ropes.
[Wade] Well, that was one leg kicking.
I'm surprised Otis can even stand at this point.
The amount of damage that must have been done after that ankle lock.
[Joe] And now the Creeds looking to come to the defense of Chad Gable,
but Otis is getting the best of them as well.
Brutus Creed is a massive guy,
but he's getting racked on by the even more massive Otis.
[Joe] Wrong place to be, Creed.
And he sends him flying.
Well, Otis just took out his replacement family in American Made.
And it's all going horribly wrong for Master Chad Gable.
[Joe] Big slam from Otis,
and he's looking to give him a bit of his own medicine.
[Joe] To beat the Master at his own game, to make him tap out to his own hold.
[Wade] The ultimate humiliation incoming for Chad Gable.
[Joe] Big Otis with the ankle lock as Gable looking to get free.
[Wade] Gable scratching and clawing at anything he can.
[Joe] Gets right back into it with even more torque.
Look at the bend of that.
What a smart move by Gable
to find a way with that level of body control.
My, oh my, Wade.
[Wade] At this point in a matchup,
deadlift German suplex to the massive Otis.
[Joe] Last time he went up top, the target wasn't there.
But right now, Chad Gable has complete momentum.
[Wade] Jaw dropping stuff from Chad Gable, thus far from--
[Joe] Otis to his feet.
[Wade] This is the best Otis has ever looked.
Just needed the motivation of Chad Gable.
Now Ivy Nile is about 100 pounds soaking wet.
That was never gonna work.
[Joe] She had no chance to stop him,
but did create a moment of pause.
And with it, Gable right back into the ankle lock.
[Wade] Well, a smart distraction there from Ivy Nile,
and completely locked in once again is that ankle lock.
Otis desperately trying to claw his way to that bow of weight.
It's a long, long way.
For Otis, it must feel like miles as he is surely fading now, Joe.
Gable has him in the ankle lock in the center of the ring.
-Otis is in deep trouble. -[bell rings]
And that's it.
Submission win, Chad Gable.
[Lilian] Here is your winner by submission,
Chad Gable.
[Wade] Well, what an effort from Otis
who had to literally fight off the entirety of American Made.
I've never seen Otis look at that level before,
but ultimately, just as Chad Gable said, the master remains the master forever.
An electric start to Monday Night Raw.
Next week, the showdown.
Raw's debut on Netflix next week from L.A.
But wait, that's just part of the megacard.
Yeah, what a card we have, it's gonna be amazing next week
-and you and I are gonna be there, Joe. -Of course.
Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan do battle once again.
This is my division!
You're lucky you're living in it!
2024 was supposed to be mommy's year.
After a year-long reign,
I walked into and I walked out of WrestleMania
as your Women's World Champion.
But I took my eyes off the ball, and I have paid for it ever since.
So as we approach the new year, one thing has become perfectly clear to me.
After all the betrayal, after all the backstabbing,
after all the games, Liv Morgan…
♪
This has to end.
[Liv laughs] I promised to take everything from Rhea Ripley
and that's exactly what I did!
2024 was the year of the Liv Morgan revenge tour.
Everything you did to me, Rhea, I did right back to you.
[laughs] Only better.
-[screaming] -You took my arm…
…so I took yours.
And then I took your Women's World Championship,
your place in the Judgment Day,
and your man, my dirty… Dominick.
Dominick, you sorry two-timing son of a…
[Liv] I've been having so much fun that it makes me sad to say
that this has to end.
[laughs] You know, part of me actually has to thank you, Liv.
You've cleared me of all the dead weight that was holding me down.
So now, it's time that I return the favor
and unburden you of the Women's World Championship.
My championship.
The one thing that I never truly lost.
Rhea, I have always been one step ahead of you.
Every time you thought you had me in a corner,
it wasn't Molly who ended up on top.
It was me. And this time would be no different.
Except this time, Liv, you're all out of moves.
The Judgment Day can't save you.
Raquel can't save you.
Even your pathetic, dirty Dom can't save you
from the beating that you have coming your way.
Next Monday…
Raw's debut on Netflix.
-This has-- -To end.
[muttering]
Of course Liv has something up her sleeve.
Why would you ever doubt my Guerita?
-I'm not gonna-- -She's the best.
She's got something up her sleeve, right?
I don't know. She's been so busy preparing for her match with Rhea
that I haven't had a chance to talk to her.
Oh, I'm sure Lady Liv
knows exactly how to deal with Rhea Ripley.
Because Liv has got a plan for everything, right?
Just like I've got a plan on how to deal with the War Raiders and Damien Priest.
-That's cool. -It is cool.
And you know what else is cool?
When we listen to Finn, we win.
-Yeah! All right, let's go. -Let's go.
-Come on, I'm ready. -I wanna hear this plan.
Raquel, can you tell Liv from me,
from the bottom of my heart,
I wish her the very best of luck next Monday.
[Joe] Not the most sincerest message, was it?
Well, there's Adam Pearce talking with CM Punk,
surely trying to maintain some order for what will be later tonight.
Seth "Freakin" Rollins and Punk under one roof for the final time
before their match next Monday on Netflix.
That comes up later tonight.
Huge opportunity for Zoey Stark
as she warms up for action here with Fusion Collective.
They're doing everything possible
to get their hands on the new Intercontinental Championship.
Dakota Kai stands in her way.
Both top contenders have advanced to the semifinals.
Who's gonna take that new crown?
The first of our two semifinal matches coming up tonight.
♪
[R-Truth] Y'all know what time it is!
Houston, Texas!
Let's light this Butch up!
People on the ground, what's up?
You feel me? Stand up and say "What's up?"
-What's up! What's up! What's up! -[crowd] What's up! What's up! What's up!
What's up!
[Joe] Oh, Pete Dunne just coming in against R-Truth!
These two are set to meet, but the perpetually angry Pete Dunne--
[Wade] "Perpetually angry." He has every reason to be.
-[Joe] How do you say that, Wade? -[Wade] The past few months,
listening to R-Truth deliberately ignore Dunne's polite request
to start using the "Butch" nickname,
something that R-Truth used immediately on the ground tonight.
[Joe] There is nothing polite about Pete Dunne.
I'm nobody's Butch!
[Joe] We're scheduled to have a match between these two,
and that's what he does?
I'm nobody's Butch!
Excuse me, Dakota, Iyo. Big night for Damage CTRL.
Both of you heading into semifinal matches
for the Women's Intercontinental Championship Tournament.
Bittersweet run for this title with Kairi Sane being taken out,
Iyo, you replacing her, but have you considered at all
that it could be you guys one-on-one in the finals?
As for PFC attacking Kairi,
that just goes to show that Shayna, Zoey, and Sonya
don't have what it takes to beat Damage CTRL.
That's why they have to resort to dirty tactics all the time.
So I can't wait to personally knock Zoey out of this tournament.
And as for the finals,
it would be an honor to face you, Iyo.
But as long as a member of Damage CTRL
is the first-ever Women's Intercontinental Champion,
that's all that matters.
If it's me and Dakota in the finals,
honestly, it would be great.
Yeah, well, tonight you face Lyra Valkyria,
someone who you faced in many high-profile matches before.
So how confident are you that you're gonna head to the finals?
Lyra has my respect.
One day she'll be champion,
but tonight isn't her night.
Tonight belongs to Damage CTRL.
-Yes! -[both laughing]
-Let's do it. -Yes!
Well, it sounds like they're both excited for these matches.
-Joe, Wade, back to you. -[Joe] Thank you very much, Cathy.
I think everybody's thrilled with the semifinal match-up.
Really good IC tournament to produce this final four
in front of this crowd here in Houston, Wade.
Over 14,000.
It is the 44th TV sellout of the year.
The 66th overall WWE event
that has sold out.
This is ascendant as a brand right now,
heading into what will be the debut on Netflix next week
when Raw moves to Netflix January 6th from LA.
Zoey Stark was impressive in making her way to this point.
[Lilian] The following is a semifinals match
in the Women's Intercontinental Tournament.
Introducing first, from Las Vegas, Nevada,
representing Pure Fusion Collective,
Zoey Stark!
[Joe] Wade, I really like the momentum of Zoey Stark,
winning the first round triple-threat match over Raquel and Kayden Carter.
And the perfect timing for a late rally there
when Rodriguez was seemingly in control,
but Stark landed the missile drop kick and then her signature Z-360 to win it.
[Wade] Yeah, what a momentum PFC have been on.
We only have to go back to a couple of weeks ago on Raw
as we see Stark eyeing up that Intercontinental Championship.
This was Kairi Sane of Damage CTRL, who was screaming in agony
after yet another sickening attack by PFC
that's put a top superstar on the shelf once again.
The mission has been clear for PFC from the beginning:
attack every woman you can, lay 'em out, hurt them, injure them, and then win gold,
and the mission is going so, so sweetly for Zoey Stark.
Another victory here, and she's in the final.
[Joe] And you saw what they are battling for, that newly minted championship,
the Women's Intercontinental Championship.
There has to be a great sense of accomplishment for Dakota Kai.
Iyo Skye has wished her well.
[Lilian] And her opponent, from Auckland, New Zealand,
representing Damage CTRL,
Dakota Kai!
[Joe] Of course, PFC cost her three months when she was out injured after an attack.
She was the first of these championship-hungry
tournament participants to advance.
That happened back on December 2nd, and what a way she could close out her year.
The ups and downs of this business!
But this would be a great mountain to climb for Dakota Kai.
[Wade] Yeah, you're absolutely right, Joe.
Listen, Dakota Kai, as you mentioned, lost three months of her career
thanks to an attack in part from Zoey Stark.
Of course, as we just saw, Kairi Sane,
Dakota Kai's partner in Damage CTRL, now also taken out.
Now, Kai took out Shayna Baszler in round one of this tournament.
To take out Zoey Stark tonight
would feel very sweet indeed for the Kiwi.
[Joe] Could you imagine if we had an all-Damage CTRL finals?
[Wade] Well, that is what Iyo Skye and Dakota Kai are hoping for.
It's almost a dream match-up.
But dreams don't always come true, and here to play spoiler, of course,
is the ever-aggressive, hyper-focused Zoey Stark.
[Joe] And Zoey Stark, who, with the rest of her PFC mates,
she said, "We just feel like we have a chip on our shoulder,
that every time we turn around, Damage CTRL is being gifted opportunities
like we see in this tournament." That's coming from their mouths, not ours.
And they resent it.
[Wade] I've got a little sympathy for Sonya Deville,
who was not entered in this tournament. I certainly feel for her.
-She's a hell of a-- -[Joe] You feel for her?
[Wade] …superstar, but I-- you know, arguably going about it the wrong way
and showing her dissent.
Although certainly must've got the attention of General Manager Adam Pearce.
[Joe] Yeah, I think so when you set forth a purposeful attack to open up a slot
in a tournament that then you want, that's not exactly the way to go about it.
[Wade] The game plan worked halfway.
The final piece of the puzzle was not there for her,
and Iyo Skye was the recipient of that,
who we're gonna see later on in tonight's second semifinal.
Iyo Skye versus Lyra Valkyria will be coming up later tonight.
Women's Intercontinental Championship Tournament.
-That is mine! -[Joe] Red hot action
from here in Houston. A sellout. Belt on the line.
[Joe] Great sellout crowd here in Houston.
Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett with you ringside.
Monday Night Raw, and it's the first
of our Women's Intercontinental Championship Tournament semifinal matches.
Dakota Kai and Zoey Stark.
And Wade, Dakota Kai has talked about Pure Fusion Collective
and the attack on Kairi Sane very much being on her mind.
Now, in a spot like this, you have to control emotion.
There's a difference between motivation and distraction
and applying a winning strategy.
[Wade] You have to tap into those emotions at the right time, Joe,
and it seems to me that Dakota Kai has just tapped into
something very special indeed.
[Joe] Great offensive surge from Dakota Kai.
Winner will advance to the finals
coming your way January 13th on Raw.
-[Wade] Oh! -[Joe] Oh, my!
[Wade] Nice rolling backcracker there from Dakota Kai.
Pulling out every trick in her arsenal.
[Joe] And the Dakota Kick from across the ring as she's in complete control
and brings the big boot in.
-Hooks the leg to advance to the finals! -One, two--
Kick out by Stark.
[Wade] Now frustration starting to build for Dakota Kai
after this flurry of offense that was so crisp and perfectly executed.
She has every right to feel disappointment that she's not through to the final.
But that durability of Zoey Stark has come to the fore, and-- Oh!
[Joe] What a turnaround from Stark!
Explosive, athletic, and a big knee!
-Could this be to get to the finals? -One, two…
[Wade] Oh, straight to the point of the jaw.
Clearly has been training with none other than PFC teammate Shayna Baszler
after this flipping exploder suplex there.
And how on earth Dakota Kai managed to kick out of that one is beyond me.
But now she's about to get ragdolled by Stark.
[Joe] Stark has talked about all the momentum she felt she had,
but now Kai turns things around, and a kick out by Stark!
She says after that first round win in this tournament,
she feels her confidence bubbling up.
That is what they are after, the chance to advance to the finals.
[Wade] Well, Dakota Kai could not get any closer
to making it through to the final than that count there, 2.99.
And then Zoey Stark somehow kicked back into gear,
and her opportunity to make it through is live.
[Joe] The power of Stark! And then the big kick right into the cover.
-One, two-- -[screaming]
-[Wade] I'll tell you this-- -[Joe] Frustration mounting.
[Wade] When the word "potential" has been thrown around in WWE
over the past couple of years, one of the first names to come to mind
has to be Zoey Stark.
Unbridled athleticism met with aggression.
This is a woman who really cut through it all in WWE
and may well be starting with that Intercontinental Championship.
[Joe] You can see her frustration, though, trying to capitalize on
these circumstances, just getting out of the way before Kai was able to deliver.
[Wade] Both women looking to win their first singles gold here in WWE.
-[Joe] Oh! -[Wade] Right on the point of the jaw.
Expert timing from Dakota Kai.
[Joe] And now, can she deliver into the fireman's carry?
The Pele kick.
-Stark is down into the cover… -[crowd] One! Two!
-…to advance. -Three!
Yes!
[Dakota Kai's theme playing]
[Lillian] Here is your winner, Dakota Kai!
[Joe] With all the emotion being delivered upon, Wade.
[Wade] We have our first finalist
for the final to win that Women's Intercontinental Championship.
This is the moment it all went wrong for Stark.
She went for broke on the top rope.
And a perfect super kick to the jaw
followed by this fireman's carry Pele kick.
[crowd] One, two, three!
[Wade] The three count, and Dakota Kai is part way to her dream
of making it an All Damage Control final.
She's through. We will find out who she meets later on tonight.
Will it be Damage Control's Iyo Sky or Dublin's own Lyra Valkyria?
Find out later on tonight.
[Joe] Iyo Sky and Lyra coming up.
That'll be the other half of our semifinals.
This has been a compelling Women's Intercontinental Championship tournament
and well deserved for this division.
That is for sure.
We are here in Houston, Texas
for this historic Monday Night Raw.
Houston hosted, of course, the 2020 Royal Rumble,
WrestleMania 17 and now this,
the final Monday Night Raw here on USA Network.
Monday Night Raw has appeared on cable television
since the first episode on January 11th of 1993.
Now SmackDown's gonna remain right here on USA,
but next week, Raw will move to Netflix
and it's the action that has happened right here
that has shaped history over 1,200 episodes just on USA Network alone.
It has forever shaped sports entertainment and with that,
we celebrate with a look back at Monday Night Raw right here on USA.
[Jim] Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Monday Night Raw on the USA network!
[Michael] You're watching the longest running
weekly episodic television show in history.
This is Monday Night Raw!
♪ Bleed out 'til it drops ♪
♪ Never gonna stop 'til we collapse ♪
♪ When it's hard to see the light ♪
♪ We're gonna be the ones who are burning bright, so ♪
♪ Let's go, let's go, gonna shake the crowd ♪
♪ Let's go, let's go, everybody now ♪
♪ Stand up, it's time to rise ♪
♪ [indistinct] 'til we win the--
[Jim] Tyson and Austin! Tyson and Austin!
Generation X invade WCW tonight!
D-X! D-X!
[Jericho] Welcome to Raw is Jericho!
The champ is here!
I quit!
[Rock] Finally, the Rock has come back home.
♪ This is our time ♪
♪ We're gonna win the fight ♪
♪ This is our time ♪
♪ We're gonna win some-- ♪
Yowie wowie!
♪ My heart won't beat out 'til it drops ♪
♪ Never gonna stop until we collapse ♪
♪ It's hard to see the light ♪
♪ See the light ♪
♪ You're gonna be the ones who are burning bright ♪
[CM Punk] Pipe bomb.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
[Cody] Everyone thinks the decision to return to WWE was difficult.
It was not.
♪ This is our time ♪
♪ We're gonna win this fight ♪
[Austin] Uh-huh. Right.
♪ Oh, oh-oh-oh ♪
[Joe] And of course, still to come tonight, Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
We will have the final words that he speaks to CM Punk.
They are both in the building.
Next week, they're gonna be squaring off in the main event
on Raw on Netflix the debut there,
as Adam Pearson talks it through.
It'll be Punk and Rollins.
Their last words coming up later tonight.
And Raw still with massive matches and results coming your way
like Lyra Valkyria. She's been enjoying the
She's been enjoying the best year of her career.
Now, the semifinals for the IC tournament. That's tonight.
But right now, there's major business to be settled…
-[Judgment Day theme playing] -[Joe] …by the Judgment Day.
♪ Put the pain on, what they think, they got it ♪
♪ Thinkin' about it ♪
♪ They started it, better than all of 'em ♪
♪ Come on, back to feel the pain ♪
[audience booing]
[Lillian] The following six-man tag team contest
is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, being accompanied by Carlito,
the team of "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonough
and Finn Balor,
The Judgment Day.
[Joe] Wade, we were there calling the action
when they lost their tag team championships in Boston.
Now, one of their biggest rivals is joining forces
against them in a six-man tag team match.
[Wade] Yeah, major issues in recent weeks,
but Damian Priest and the War Raiders team up in six-man tag.
It's coming up next.
They take on the Judgment Day.
I'm expecting some bloodshed.
♪ They started it, better than all of 'em ♪
♪ Coming back to feel the pain ♪
♪ Who you thinkin' [indistinct] ♪
♪ Coming back to feel the pain ♪
[Joe] Finn Balor and JD McDonough held the World Tag Team titles
for only 175 days.
-With two, two successful defenses. -[War Raiders theme playing]
[Wade] It was a great reign.
175 is a hell of a long time--
-[Joe] Two successful defenses. -[Wade] Successful is the key word.
[Joe] But the new tag team champions are ready Wade, and that means…
[Wade] Raw is war!
I want to hear Michael Cole try and do that next week.
[Joe] [indistinct]
[Wade] Yeah, I think he'll fail.
-[Damian Priest's theme playing] -[Joe] He doesn't fail at much.
[Joe] Erik and Ivar and their newfound friend.
Damian Priest is involved with so much big drama with the Judgment Day.
[crowd cheering]
♪ All rise for the rockstar ♪
♪ All rise for the outlaw ♪
[Lillian] And their opponent, the team of Damian Priest
and the World Tag Team champions,
Erik and Ivar, the War Raiders!
[Joe] He said, "Let's go. Let's do business,"
but consider all the drama we were detailing.
Finn Balor's involvement alone
with Priest's recent attempts at the World Heavyweight Championship
And Wade, let's focus on what happened last week on Raw.
[Wade] Yeah, so let's go back to last Monday.
It was Damian Priest taking on "Dirty" Dom Mysterio
and Damian Priest was simply too street smart
to fall for the Judgment Day's traps
in part because he wrote their playbook for them
when he was the leader of the Judgment Day.
One by one, he dropped them,
Laying all of them out until…
-the arrival of Finn Balor. -[bell ringing]
One disqualification later
and the Judgment Day's numbers game is about to take hold
until the new tag champs, the War Raiders, even the odds,
flattening the Judgment Day
before this unlikely trio of men, after a South of Heaven,
stuns all, much to the applause of that arena.
[Joe] These fans here in Houston,
[indistinct] I'm sure they feel the same way
-so many in WWE's universe feel. -[bell dinging]
That there have been few title changes that have come with more appreciation
than what we all collectively experienced a couple weeks ago,
as they quickly try to get to work on Priest,
but just the way he likes it as he slams Finn Balor into that corner.
But Erik and Ivar, they truly didn't know if their careers would continue
after facing massive medical adversity.
[Wade] No, not at all,
and they were about to lose their second championship opportunity
against the Judgment Day, once again,
by the underhanded tactics of the Judgment Day.
That was until the arrival of Damian Priest,
who helped them out,
negated the issues on the outside of the ring.
The War Raiders won gold,
and then last week, as we saw, they repaid the favor,
just as Damian Priest was about to fall to the sword of the Judgment Day.
[Erik grunting]
[Joe] Erik just slamming JD McDonough down hard.
And now, Dirty Dom's gonna get a piece of the action.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] These War Raiders just living on borrowed time
and now looking to decimate the bodies
of anyone who serves them with disrespect.
Two of the most merciless individuals.
Up!
[Wade] Terrifying at that, capable of moves…
-[Joe] 350 pounds crashing down. -War Raiders!
[Wade] What nobody their size should be capable of.
That is the conundrum that opponents face
when they step in the ring with the War Raiders.
[Joe] See the veteran Ivar, and we were talking to him earlier about
how much it meant to him to win gold again.
Another run as tag team champions,
but especially to accomplish it in his home region
He was in New England, in Boston,
when they did it in front of family and friends.
[Wade] They look retooled, they look reinvigorated
after their time away.
Getting major surgeries that drop the sideshow aspects of their game,
drill down on upping the intensity
and that is the only word you can use when you look at Erik in there,
-just laying waste to poor JD McDonough. -JD!
-[Joe] JD taking a lot of punishment.
Had an interesting conversation with JD earlier today.
He said, "we're the ones that always take the criticism because of the numbers game,
but nobody made a big deal about the massive weight difference
that we faced in this matchup.
And they were aided in taking the championships from us."
That's what he came up with.
[Wade] That's a new one. We don't have weight divisions here.
[Joe] There are no weight divisions.
[Wade] We used to have a cruiserweight division. Things are different now.
[Joe] Oh, man, oh, man.
Welcome to the party.
-[crowd cheering] -Just draped all over our announce desk,
the former titlist.
[Joe] Look at this crowd here in Houston.
The 44th televised sellout for WWE in the calendar year 2024.
Monday Night Raw, since its inception,
Monday Night Raw has been on cable TV for 32 years.
1,649 episodes on cable TV, and Netflix,
Raw debuts on Netflix next week.
A week from tonight, from LA, the Intuit Dome with a mega card
that of course will be topped by Seth "Freakin" Rollins and CM Punk,
who are in the building tonight and we will hear from them later tonight.
Right now, in the midst of six man tag team action.
Damian Priest teaming up with the War Raiders,
taking on the Judgment Day.
Remember they took the championship from JD and Finn just two weeks ago.
And now Dirty Dom joining forces as desperate for that tag is Erik.
[Wade] Yeah, Erik is taking a hell of a lot of abuse
and how smart of that was Finn Balor
attacking the man that he booted out of the Judgment Day.
It has to be said Finn Balor was the chief conspirator in that.
But this is backfire taking his eye off the prize.
[Joe] Oh, fight.
[Wade] A fresh Ivar in their cleaning house.
[Joe] A fresh and explosive Ivar cleaning house.
[Wade] Well, a veteran mistake there from Finn Balor.
-[screaming] -[Wade] Who has let the absolute
worst nightmare into this matchup. In a rampaging Ivar.
[Joe] Bringing all that weight down.
And now the spinning kick.
[Wade] That explosive athleticism that we see time and again from the big man.
350 pounds.
[crowd chanting] More! More! More!
[Joe] The spinning heavyweight.
Just able to escape harm's way.
[Wade] Tried that missile strike in the corner, Finn Balor just had too much left
in the tank and now it is Ivar who needs the pin and of course
Finn Balor's worst nightmare on the outside is asking for that pin.
Damian Priest, the man licking his chops,
at the thought of getting his hands on Balor who's high-tailing it out of there.
[Joe] He'll take any of them including this guy Dirty Dom.
Remember it was Priest who came to the ring
back on December 16th when the World Raiders defeated
the Judgment Day to become the World Tag Team Champions.
Just slamming and clearing house.
He was on that night when Finn Balor was trying to grab the steel chair
and Priest denied him that opportunity
and cleared the way for the World Raiders to become champions again.
[crowd chanting]
[Joe] All that momentum and just crashing down on Dirty Dom.
[Wade] Looking to put it to bed perhaps for his South of Heaven
but Carlito on the outside providing that numbers game
that Damian Priest had to be aware was going to happen at some point.
[Joe] Apple bits everywhere South of Heaven was lined up
but Carlito denied it and now springboard moonsault.
-[Wade] Taking out Erik-- -[Joe] Oh, my crossbody into the barrier.
[Wade] Getting pancake for his troubles as poor JD McDonough.
Leaving Dirty Dom without a hope or perhaps without a prayer.
[Joe] Trying to go razor's edge but Dirty Dom able to counter.
[Wade] Nose first into the mat goes Priest.
-But it's going to take more than that. -[Joe] There it is.
-And the cover-- -One, two, three.
And that does it.
-[bell dings] -[crowd cheering]
[Lilian] Here are your winners Damian Priest
and the World Tag Team Champions
The World Raiders!
[Wade] Oh, Damian Priest, wow, wait a second.
[Joe] I mean this has been going on, Priest and Balor, since Summer Slam.
And again Balor can just never control himself
when it comes to Damian Priest.
And now they're walking on that left wing.
[Wade] Smashing Damian Priest massive leg to bits.
That's a lot of leverage on that knee.
[Joe] Carlito's holding it down.
[Wade] But perhaps going for that coup de grace,
and just in time the World Raiders chasing the Judgment Day.
The question is, has the damage already been done to that left knee
of Damian Priest who is in sheer agony?
[Joe] Priest said, "I'm looking for resolution with Judgment Day"
but Finn is absolutely obsessed, and it continues on and on.
It needs to end.
He came up with a win tonight.
But Finn just can't help himself.
This ain't over until I say it's over. It's not over yet. No way.
[crowd cheering]
Jey Uso, I know you're looking for a fight, but it is not happening tonight.
I walked Solo out of the building
and personally escorted Drew McIntyre out of my arena.
But you still want to fight right?
Next week Live on Netflix, Monday Night Raw,
about you and Drew, one on one.
On, gentlemen.
♪ Born to be the greatest of all time ♪
♪ This is where I draw the line ♪
♪ Can't stop my shine they know it's my time ♪
♪ Let the world know I've arrived ♪
[Joe] And still to come tonight, CM Punk.
He's been sending out those truth missiles for weeks now.
There are more to launch.
Seth Rollins, he's boiled up and boiled over
in dealing with this long-standing history with Punk.
They're in the building, we will hear from them,
and then they'll be in the ring for the Raw premiere on Netflix.
♪
[Joe] It's Ludwig Kaiser.
He is taking on a massive challenges lately.
Tangle with Bron Breakker multiple times.
It's been a distinct edge to Kaiser as vicious Shileleigh assault
at that triple threat on Survivor Series on Sheamus most recent attempt
the IC the tittle just a couple weeks ago.
Ladies and gentlemen
I demand
all your gratitude
for Ludwig Kaiser.
That's right, I know it.
Each and every one of you peasants know it.
The entire WWE universe knows
that Ludwig Kaiser belongs at the absolute top
of the food chain at WWE.
[crowd booing]
Because Ludwig Kaiser is A+ everything.
Ludwig Kaiser is European Elegance.
And Ludwig Kaiser demands
that Braun Breakker walks down that aisle right now
and brings his Intercontinental Championship.
-[crowd cheering] -[excited music]
[Wade] Oh, oh.
[Joe] I think European Elegance is about to get a European ass kicking.
[Joe] The Celtic Warrior is back Wade.
[Wade] You want it Braun Breakker, you may have got something far
far worse Ludwig Kaiser.
We haven't seen Sheamus since Survivor Series.
[Joe] That's when his ribs were broken
from the Shillelagh attack by Kaiser.
[Wade] Now Sheamus at his most ferocious best.
Looking to pay off about six weeks of anger
while those damaged ribs were receiving treatment healing up.
[Joe] Yeah, he has been out of action but he's right back to give it to Kaiser.
Look at this from Sheamus.
-[Wade] Oh, Kaiser to the eyeballs. -[Joe] Oh! Just gouging in those eyes.
[Wade] How smart was that of Kaiser.
Get-- Briefly gets Sheamus to lift up those hands, expose the ribs.
That was an attack [indistinct] Kaiser. But Sheamus is simply too tough.
[Joe] In a knee to the dome. Sheamus is just a man possessed right now
seeking revenge.
[crowd chanting] Braun! Braun!
[Joe] And the sellout crowd knows exactly what they want to see.
Look at the blow.
[Wade] Completely wiping out European Elegance.
By a man as disheveled as they come.
As Irish as they come, as tough as they come.
And Ludwig Kaiser may well have bitten off more than he can chew once again.
[Joe] That had to feel great for Sheamus.
Look at this. It takes a lot of huevos to stand up to your mentor like you did.
Don't trip. You'll get another shot at Gable.
And next time I know you'll whoop his ass.
That's my man.
[The New Day clapping and laughing]
Oh, wow. Is that Rey Misterio locker room leader
give us some advice like a locker room leader would.
You gave him a little-- a shoulder to cry on, is that it?
Nah. Not here, not having it.
Why don't you two back off and take your BS somewhere else.
Oh! BS? Or what?
You're gonna have your crew jump us?
Is that what a locker room leader would do?
What you gonna do?
Teach you some manners about locker room leader.
Part of being a leader is stepping up and shutting up any egos
that need to get checked.
So if you two are feeling froggy and wanna jump,
two of us will jump, and we'll have ourselves a match.
Oh, okay, Kofi, what's the match?
-Oh, wow. -What's the match with us?
So obviously, Rey, you'll be in it and what?
You pick one of your Rey Misterio cosplaying cronies
behind you to be next to you?
We got what? Mask guy, hat guy, no-hat guy.
Maybe even this little kid with the 12 inch boots on.
Sucio better shut up. Rey?
-You know what, Rey? -It's all good.
We accept the challenge. We'll see you soon.
Hasta luego.
[crowd booing]
[Joe] Kofi and Xavier becoming insufferable.
[Wade] I agree, for once we're on the same page.
Reprehensible behavior once again from the New Day.
[bell dings]
[announcer] The following is a semi-finals match
in the Women's Intercontinental Tournament.
Making her way to the ring from Tokyo, Japan,
representing Damage Control, Iyo Sky.
[Joe] Only 16 days ago that Iyo Sky was perhaps moments away from capturing
the Women's World Championship of course,
Liv Morgan retaining in Saturday night's main event.
But the complete pro she is. She just keeps on fighting.
Keeps taking opportunity
and another title opportunity has opened its way up right here.
It's our next semi-finals for the IC Championship Tournament, coming up.
[Joe] Houston is home to this historic episode of RAW right here on USA.
The final time that RAW will be on cable.
32 years, over 1600 episodes.
And now RAW will be debuting on Netflix next week.
SmackDown will remain right here on USA.
You see the great history that Houston has had
throughout the years of WWE action.
Wade, are you ready for Signs of the Night?
Take it away, my man.
[Wade] "Wade wears socks in the shower." No, council, son!
What are these people doing?
That's a lie!
And first of all, how do you know I wear socks in the shower?
It simply doesn't happen-- Josh, did you put that in there?
-Is that a plant? -[Joe] You know what I love?
I love all the kids who celebrate their first visit to WWE.
And you see that time again
You also saw the CM Punk sign here.
And he is in the building as is Seth Rollins.
And Lyra Valkyria.
Lyra Valkyria with a huge opportunity.
We caught up with her earlier.
She's well aware of just how much she's advanced herself in this year of 2024.
[Lilian] And her opponent, from Dublin, Ireland
Lyra Valkyria!
[Wade] Yeah, this is a woman who's had unparalleled momentum
Since joining WWE through NXT.
And it could go gangbusters tonight.
[Joe] So here we are, the second semifinal
for the Women's Intercontinental Championship Tournament.
Earlier tonight, Dakota Kai advanced with a sensational win
against Zoey Stark, and now we will find out
Who will make it to the January 13th finals on RAW
in San Jose, California.
Will we have an all-damage control finals
If Iyo Sky can get through Lyra Valkyria?
[Wade] Well, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky had a little pep talk earlier tonight
ahead of Dakota Kai's match.
They made it very clear,
they want an all-damage control final.
And it has to be said, Iyo Sky, on resume alone
Has to be the favorite in this matchup.
She's the only superstar in this tournament at this point
who has previously won singles championships on RAW, SmackDown.
She's pretty much done it all around the world,
Whereas Lyra Valkyria is still on the rise.
[Joe] We had a great visit with Lyra earlier today
who told us she does have confidence.
Now this is another matchup with Iyo.
Iyo's 2-1 against her.
But considering the stakes of when she's been in tournament competition,
because it was a victory in the quarterfinals,
a win of the ring tournament.
That's the win that Lyra has over Iyo.
[Wade] Yeah, certainly can do it in the biggest moments.
But let's not forget.
Recently we had the number one contenders Battle Royal Tournament
for the Women's World Championship won by Iyo Sky.
Last woman she eliminated: Lyra Valkyria.
So there's quite a burgeoning rivalry going on between these two.
[Joe] First up high here at the Toyota Center Is Dakota Kai.
Had the win against Zoey Stark earlier tonight and now she scouts.
She watches to see who she will be facing in the finals to claim
the first Women's Intercontinental Championship.
[Wade] It was a very interesting development there as Dakota Kai
was looking on the knee of Iyo Sky seemed to take some damage
from Lyra Valkyria who's now produced this torturous
and highly creative hold that has hurt just about
every joint On the body of the Genius of the Sky.
[Joe] Can't even imagine what that feels like to be stretched out
and then swinging with all your body weight working against you.
You mentioned the knees and now look at this from Lyra.
How smart is Lyra Valkyria.
When you get a weakness on somebody as talented as Iyo Sky
Make sure you get all over it.
[Joe] Oh! Right through the ropes.
[Wade] And this match is not going the way many people would have expected.
I was expecting hot right out of the gates Iyo Sky to start dominating.
Just shows you really how talented Lyra Valkyria is.
Valkyria off to a very good start against Iyo Sky.
[Wade] These are two quite well matched women.
Both high flyers, both technicians.
Just the resume of Iyo Sky is a little bit larger
than that of Valkyria.
At this point in their career, but nice drag and screw off the top.
Once again on that knee, it's Valkyria who's in control.
Can she progress to the final?
[Joe] And that!
[Joe] Great scene from here in Houston.
A sold out Toyota Center 14,636,
as we take you from the luxury suite level,
sweeping down to the floor.
We're in the ring It is the second of our semifinal action
in this Women's Intercontinental Championship Tournament.
There's Dakota Kai who earlier tonight defeated Zoey Stark
to make it to the finals, to see who will be crowned
the first Women's Intercontinental Championship.
And right now it's Iyo Sky looking to rally against Lyra Valkyria.
And she's doing it on a damaged left knee, Wade.
[Wade] Yeah, this is really the first time in the match
that we've ever seen any form of cohesive offense from Iyo Sky.
She's been battered from pillar to post, especially that knee
by Lyra Valkyria.
Lyra Valkyria did not close the door on Sky.
That may be a mistake.
[Joe] Oh, missile dropkick from the genius of the Sky.
[Wade] Because there's rarely a way back from here.
Into the cover to advance.
Lyra survives.
Exactly why they call her the genius of the Sky.
Pinpoint missile dropkick on the woman from Dublin
who slowly for all her advancement In the early goings in this one,
now looks in serious jeopardy.
[Joe] And Lyra quick to get up and deny that opportunity from Iyo.
Although she recently was fighting for the Women's World Championship.
[Wade] And I'll tell you Joe, at the best of times,
Both of these women do not want to quit.
They don't want to lie down for anyone.
They want to win and they want to win gold.
Even more so when history is on the line
to become the first ever Women's Intercontinental Champion.
Or at least progress through to the final.
[Joe] Iyo trying to slither out of this opportunity
and she does, reversing course.
But Lyra escapes as well.
And then scissors, huge shotgun dropkick just slamming Iyo into the corner.
[Wade] The sickening whiplash on the back of the neck of Iyo Sky.
And Lyra Valkyria may have this won.
Tornado DDT,
maintains the hold with a grab and turns it in to a suplex.
And Sky may be done.
[Joe] Hooking the leg to advance for the upset.
But the kick out from the veteran Iyo Sky
on the Women's Champion.
As Dakota Kai looks on hoping for an all damage control finals.
[Wade] And that look in the eye of Lyra Valkyria,
that is one of despair.
She knows that volley of offense puts everyone away.
Iyo Sky just felt a little bit different.
You've got to raise your game to a whole new level Valkyria
if you're going to pull something off tonight.
[Joe] O'Connor roll!
The chairman, bridging pin attempts!
And the kickout by Lyra.
[Wade] A high-angle landing on the back of the head, and neck of Lyra Valkyria.
It has softened up the Irishwoman.
Iyo Sky can't believe it.
That leg's still hurting.
But she knows she is in pole position to put this one away.
[Joe] All of a sudden, momentum in the hands of Iyo.
As Lyra looks to counter.
[Wade] Spinning heel kick to the temple of the genius of Iyo Sky.
[Joe] Straight into the cover.
Hooks the legs to make the finals.
And Iyo surprising.
Reminder, Seth Rollins, CM Punk, they are in the building a week away
from RAW on Netflix when those two will headline things in LA.
But for right now, the Women's Intercontinental
Championship Tournament advances.
This the last of our semifinals.
[Wade] These were the moments Valkyria must be thinking
of the times she's come so close in the past.
The final of the Queen of the Ring tournament that she lost against Jax.
[Joe] Remember, she went through Dakota Kai,
Zoey Stark, and Iyo Sky to get there.
That was the one win she has in her career against Sky.
It was a quick roll up that did it that night.
Excellent skill!
Explosion from Sky!
But Lyra survives it.
How in the world did she kick out from that weight?
[Wade] Well, that looked like game over.
The whole world thought so.
And Iyo Sky thought so.
But somehow the dream lives on for Lyra Valkyria.
So many times the bridesmaid in recent months
now determined to make that change tonight
and progress through to the final.
Rolling out to the outside, which is about as instinctively smart
as you can get in this game.
Getting a little breathing room, but straight back into the drop zone, perhaps.
[Joe] Moonsault out onto the floor!
[Wade] This audience losing their minds.
And now Iyo Sky completely with the upper hand,
fighting through the pain barrier.
[Joe] Remember, that left knee was worked on by Lyra.
Meteor that comes in, crashing home.
Iyo Sky seemingly always finding a way.
She's thinking over the Moonsault, isn't she?
[Wade] Thanks for coming.
What an effort from both of these two women.
[Joe] And landing hard on that left knee after Lyra got out of the way.
[Wade] Valkyria with just about enough left in the tank
to get out of the way of that Moonsault.
[Joe] There's the O'Connor Roll for the win to advance.
Countering it, countering it, bridging is Valkyria.
And she does it!
My oh my, what a win!
[Lilian] Here is your winner,
Lyra Valkyria!
[Joe] Lyra herself is in shock!
A tremendous upset of Iyo Sky here in Houston.
[Wade] Lyra Valkyria just pulled out the biggest shocker
of her entire career.
Raised her game to a new level, has advanced through
to the final of the Intercontinental Championship Tournament
against arguably the best female wrestler
on the planet, Iyo Sky.
Congratulations, Lyra Valkyria.
You get Dakota Kai in the final in two weeks time on RAW on Netflix.
I mean, that is what it's all about right there.
That level of emotion, expressing yourself
and having what is just a tremendous year
as we are just moments away from hearing from CM Punk
and Seth Rollins prior to their Mega Match next Monday on Netflix.
That card is unbelievable.
The debut of RAW on Netflix, the next chapter in this feud.
[whooshing]
I didn't take that [indistinct].
I earned it.
♪ Ashes again ♪
Because I was the man to lead this family.
♪ To win ♪
[Jey] I'll leave my bloodline behind.
You leave your bloodline behind.
[Roman] It's tribal combat.
I am walking in, and I'm walking out
as the Tribal Chief.
♪ No pain, no gain, There really is no other way ♪
♪ The crowd is ours, we rule the game ♪
[Jey and Roman] Acknowledge me!
♪ We rule the game ♪
♪ We conquer all ♪
♪ On this path to kingdom great ♪
♪ We must try for victory ♪
♪ Glory still in effect We out shine our enemy ♪
♪ Ain't a foe too high ain't a foe too strong ♪
[man] There can only be one Tribal Chief!
[indistinct lyrics]
♪
♪ Kingdom call ♪
♪ Burn it down ♪
["Burn It Down" by Seth Rollins plays]
[crowd vocalizing]
[Lilian] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
[Joe] What a reception for Seth Rollins
here in front of his sold out crowd in Houston.
They've traded barbs. They've brawled across arenas.
And now one last time under the same roof, Punk and Rollins.
♪
[crowd vocalizing]
Houston!
[audience cheers and applause]
-Welcome to… -[crowd joins] Monday Night Raw!
I am your host.
I am a visionary.
I am a revolutionary.
-I am Seth-- -[crowd] "Freakin" Rollins.
Tonight, right here, last episode of Monday Night Raw in 2024.
Last episode of Monday Night Raw on the USA Network.
What do you say we go out with a bang?
[audience cheers and applause]
One week from tonight, the biggest fight in our sport.
Ten years in the making.
The voice of the voiceless versus the visionary.
The Second City Saint versus the Monday Night Messiah.
The self-proclaimed best in the world,
versus the real best in the world.
CM Punk one-on-one with Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
Here's the deal.
After next week, you know where you're going to be able to find me.
I will be here on Monday night.
I will be here the Monday after that.
The Monday after that. The Monday after that.
I will be fighting in this ring because that's what I do.
But if things don't go CM Punk's way, you can't say the same for him.
What's he going to do?
He's going to cry about it.
He's going to whine about it.
Maybe he'll take another ten years off.
Pick up his ball. Go home.
Hm-hm.
["Cult of Personality" by Living Color plays]
[Joe] Hey, remember four weeks ago
when Punk told Rollins he doesn't think about him at all?
Boy, that's changed, hasn't it?
[Wade] Tried to avoid Rollins.
Focus on gold.
Rollins simply would not accept those terms.
These are issues that have been simmering for years.
Two weeks ago, we got a PSX Brawl all over the arena at Raw.
Hopefully, better behavior ensues tonight.
This is just supposed to be a face-to-face.
Although, let's face it,
with these two egos, anything could happen.
[Joe] Like what we saw in Boston.
All over the arena floor.
[Wade] Seth looks ready.
[Joe] Week from tonight on Netflix.
Took his ball and went home?
The most industry plant, cliche,
bootlicker line I've ever heard in my entire life.
What paragon of virtue did you get that from, huh?
Who originally said that?
That wanted to turn the people against the boys when he got told no.
Or when he got told, "you're wrong."
Did Stone Cold Steve Austin take his ball and go home?
You know, I haven't seen the man around these parts in quite some time.
Did she take her ball and go home too?
Or is it just me, Seth?
You want to tell these people that I turned my back on them?
You want to tell 15,000 strong in Houston that I abandoned them?
When in reality, you just want to cry because I abandoned you.
I was sick and tired,
and I left this place, and you stayed and you ate it.
We both made our choices. We both made our decisions.
I have no regrets.
None. I don't want to talk about the last 10 years.
Let's talk about the last 10 months, Seth.
-How's your neck? -Good.
How's your knee? How's that knee?
How's your insides?
Because I watched Big Bronson Reed hit you with six tsunamis.
How's your pride, because you didn't get a modicum of revenge on him,
and you saw me break his ankle in war games.
Self-proclaimed best in the world?
Yeah, because I believe in myself.
Self-professed martyr?
You're damn right.
I came back.
I didn't want to make friends.
I said very publicly I'm here to make money
and next week, oh baby, I get to make a boatload of cash
making you the victim you so badly want to be, little brother.
[crowd boos]
Ah! [chuckles]
Cut that crap, man. Cut that little brother crap.
That don't work no more.
You know the difference between you and everybody else that left?
They actually did leave, all right?
My wife, she's taking a break to raise a kid.
I know you don't know what that's like.
[crowd booing]
Stone Cold, he said it was the biggest mistake he ever made.
He understands about change, all right?
You, you left.
You wanted this place to die with the echoes of those CM Punk chants.
You went on your buddy's podcast, tried to tear this place down.
When that didn't work, you took every single shot you could
to try to kill this place, and you still couldn't do it.
And then you took a big chunk of change to go join the competition.
How'd that work out for you?
[crowd yelling]
You! You want to call me a martyr?
Nah-man. I never felt bad about anything that I did.
I never felt ashamed.
I fought and I stayed because that's how revolutions are made.
All right? That's how they're made.
They're made in the trenches, not by cowards who abandon their families.
You stay in the trenches, you fight.
That's how we win the war, and we won the war.
And you want to come back in here, and you want to wave the flag with us.
No way.
You can't Big Brother me anymore,
because I'm the damn Big Brother.
So you will, you will take another 10 years off after the 6th,
but it's not going to be a decision you make.
It's going to be one I make for you.
You can recognize the pioneers because of the arrows in their back.
I was the first one through the wall, and I got bloodied for it.
You wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me.
I loved the place I worked.
I just hated the guy in charge, and he loved you.
[crowd yelling]
And in situations where you should have had my back,
alls you did was shoot arrows in it.
Me?
And then I leave, and lo and behold, he shows his true colors,
and he stabs Roman Reigns in the back.
And now he's dressed like an idiot
trying to play victim in a situation that he created.
Those arrows kill weak people.
The greats, above all odds, find a way to march forward.
And I left because I had to,
and I got far enough away until those arrows couldn't reach me anymore.
And after a few years, I started to be able to pull them out.
And after a few more years, I pulled them all out.
And I came back because for 7 years, they chanted,
mostly during your television time, my name!
[chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk!
I should be dead, Seth, but I'm not,
and oh, aren't the arrow throwers mad.
Next week,
those same arrows that were supposed to do me in, I carry to this day.
And I'm walking into L.A., Netflix, live and in living color,
with a fistful of arrows,
and I'm gonna jam them down your corporate throat.
[crowd yelling]
[chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk!
You know, I've never said this to your face.
Maybe once upon a time you were a pioneer.
What you have become is a cancer.
You are a cancer to that locker room.
You are a cancer in my brain.
You are a cancer to this business,
and cancer does not cure itself.
The only way to defeat it is to cut it out.
So in one week, you bring your fistful of arrows.
I'll bring my eyes of fire and my heart full of hate and rage
and I will burn you to the ground!
[audience cheers and applause]
[Joe] It is on.
Punk and Rollins headlining what is arguably
the most loaded card in Raw history.
A history that comes with great gratitude
for the wonderful relationships developed here on USA Network.
Which will remain the home to Friday Night SmackDown.
But it'll be these two.
The Raw on Netflix debut a week from tonight.
A nuclear heated bitter rivalry
with Raw's debut on Netflix next week. night.