[epic music playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[music concludes]
[Michael] And this is Dallas, Texas, a pro wrestling hotbed for decades,
home to two WrestleManias,
and tonight, hosting Monday Night Raw for a 27th time.
And speaking of WrestleMania,
it's a rematch from last year's WrestleMania,
and it's become so personal.
That man, Seth "Freakin" Rollins, The Visionary, claims
to have lost all patience for his opponent tonight,
The Scottish Warrior, Drew McIntyre. So bitter, many call him delusional.
McIntyre, Rollins, one-on-one in our main event here tonight.
A man who knows those two men very well is The Second City Saint, CM Punk.
He's declared for the Royal Rumble match a week from Saturday.
CM Punk is here tonight to discuss that.
What a debut last week
for one of the greatest luchadors in the world. Penta is back tonight.
Penta goes one-on-one with "The Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne,
live on Monday Night Raw.
And earlier today, the Women's World Champion, Rhea Ripley,
arriving here at the American Airlines Center
when she was ambushed by Nia Jax.
[Jax speaking indistinctly]
[grunting]
[yells, grunts]
[staff member shouting indistinctly]
-[Jax yells] -[staff member] Come on!
[indistinct clamor]
Get me a medic!
-[mutters indistinctly] -[groans] Get off me!
[exciting music playing]
[Michael] And you are looking live at the American Airlines Center
in Dallas, Texas, sold out tonight.
15,572 WWE fans on hand
for Monday Night Raw, live on Netflix.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Hello again, everybody. And ringside, I'm Michael Cole.
My partner, Pat McAfee,
is in the national championship in Atlanta tonight.
So filling in from Friday Night SmackDown, Wade Barrett.
Wade, what do you think about the attack earlier today
by Nia on Rhea Ripley?
Well, Nia Jax has been on a perpetual warpath
since losing her championship.
And things could potentially get very ugly here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
And speaking of championships, how about the number one contender
for the World Heavyweight Championship?
"Main Event" Jey Uso!
-[crowd cheering] -["Main Event Ish" playing]
♪ Ay, ay "Main Event" Jey Uso is now in your city ♪
♪ It's just me, uce, day one ish It's just me, uce, day one ish ♪
♪ It's just me, uce, day one ish ♪
♪ It's Jey, I line 'em all up And knock 'em down like this ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Come on!
[crowd chanting "Yeet"]
[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
"Main Event" Jey Uso!
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Look at this absolute goofball, Michael Cole,
dancing like a drunk granddad at a wedding.
[cheers]
[Wade] Sit down, Cole, you're making a fool of yourself.
That's enough yeeting for one day.
♪ It's just me, uce, day one ish It's just me, uce, day one ish ♪
-[crowd cheering] -[Wade] Well, don't encourage it, Jey.
[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] I am blown up. -[Wade] Yeah, you're proud of yourself.
It's gonna take you 15 minutes to get your breath back after that.
[Michael] Well, if the audio guy doesn't strangle me.
[Wade] You deserve strangling after that performance.
[Michael] Hey, you gotta have fun on Monday Night Raw.
Hey, I gotta do what I can.
I don't get these star making entrances like you announcers do
on Friday Night SmackDown. I gotta make it for myself.
[Wade] Little green-eyed monster in Michael Cole, eh?
[crowd cheering]
♪ It's go time now, uce Okay, yeah, okay, yeah ♪
♪ Aye, let's get it, uce Aye, yo, I'm 'bout to get 'em, uce ♪
♪ I'm 'bout to get 'em all, let's go ♪
♪ Uso! ♪
[Michael] He is the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Jey Uso, who takes on Gunther this Saturday night
in San Antonio with Saturday Night's Main Event,
[crowd cheering]
♪ It's just me, uce, day one ish ♪
♪ It's just me, uce, day one ish It's just me, uce, day one ish ♪
♪ It's Jey, I line 'em all up And knock 'em down like this ♪
-♪ It's on me now, uce ♪ -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Jey is fired up looking for his first world title.
[Wade] Apparently, the entirety of Dallas, Texas is fired up with him.
[crowd cheering]
♪ Uso! ♪
♪ It's just me, uce, day one ish ♪
[Michael] Look at this place.
♪ It's just me, uce, day one ish It's just me, uce, day one ish ♪
[Michael] You know, Wade, it wouldn't hurt you
to have a little bit of fun every once in a while.
[Wade] I'm here for business, and listen,
if World Championships were a popularity contest,
Jey Uso would already be number one.
Unfortunately for Jey, it doesn't quite work that way,
as he will find out, no doubt, at Saturday Night's Main Event.
[crowd chanting "Yeet"]
I said…
"Main Event" Jey Uso is now in your city.
[crowd cheering]
-[Jey] Yeet. -[crowd] Yeet!
-This weekend… -[crowd] Yeet!
-…Saturday Night Main Event… -[crowd] Yeet!
-…I'm taking home the big one… -[crowd] Yeet!
-[Jey] …the new… -["Prepare To Fight" playing]
[Michael] Well, that didn't take long.
He is The Ring General, the King of the Ring
and the World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther.
[Wade] Who takes a similarly dim view of yeeting
as I do myself.
[Michael] Gunther says, "This is a sport."
He has no business with the entertainment portion of it.
[Wade] The match is sacred and Gunther is here to protect.
-[song concludes] -[crowd booing]
Let me guess, the next thing you were about to say
is that on Saturday you're gonna win the World Heavyweight Championship?
-[crowd] Yeet! -Yeah, I said I'm gonna beat you,
take your title, and hang it up in my room.
[crowd] Yeet!
Yeet!
You really are a funny little man, and…
Let's act-- Let's not act we both know that it's not gonna happen on Saturday.
You know, last week,
you sit right in front of me here and you look me in the eye,
and you said every morning when you wake up,
you look in the mirror and you bet on yourself.
And you know what? The thing is, I really believed you.
I was actually looking forward to Saturday Night's Main Event
to get in the ring and square off with "Main Event" Jey Uso.
[crowd] Yeet.
Until today.
When I saw you walking in here and pretending like our conversation
from last week never happened.
When I saw you walk out here, acting like a complete dork.
Acting like the company mascot for everybody here.
You know what? At this point, it doesn't even matter to me.
I could just as well get challenged by Jimmy Uso.
Gunther, say something
-about my brother again… -[Gunther] Or what?
What are you gonna say?
It doesn't matter what you say
because you never follow up with your words.
Those people, I mean, look at them.
They're naive enough to believe every word you say.
[crowd jeering]
Look at me, Jey.
But I don't.
"Bet on yourself." Until when?
Until your cousin whistles and you run there?
Until Sami needs you and you show up?
Until Jimmy needs you and you show up?
Hey, even when Cody needed you, you always show up.
All that makes you is a useful idiot, and you don't even realize it.
-[crowd groaning] -[Gunther] Jey.
Your words and your actions do not align. Mine do.
On Saturday, when the bell rings, I'm gonna expose you
for a flash in the pan that has no business being this close
to the World Heavyweight Championship.
[crowd booing]
[crowd chanting "Yeet"]
You right again.
You right.
Everything that came out your mouth is true again, bruh.
All right, I am the mascot. I'm the mascot.
-And this right here is my team. -[crowd] Yeet!
-Hey, this right here is my squad. -[crowd] Yeet!
-'Cause they ride with me. -[crowd] Yeet!
-Slide with me. -[crowd] Yeet!
And on Saturday, they're gonna be with me
when I beat you for the World Heavyweight Championship, uce.
[crowd] Yeet!
Real talk.
I told you.
I told you I respected you, uce, but Gunther, you're gonna respect me too.
You're gonna put some respect on my name.
'Cause there's only one of us…
There's only one of us standing in this ring right now
that main evented WrestleMania, and it ain't you.
[crowd] Yeet!
[Michael] Oh, and Gunther goes right after Jey with a big right hand,
and now the world champ has heard enough.
[Wade] Jey Uso dropping some heavy verbal bombs on Gunther.
And Gunther turns physical in a hurry.
[Michael] Yeah, Gunther, uh, setting up with a game plan.
And Uso now takes Gunther down.
And Jey Uso now pounding away at the world champion.
[Wade] Jey Uso tapping into something very different these days,
and Gunther simply not expect-- we got a hockey fight.
[Michael] Yeah, Jey Uso understands and realizes
what Saturday Night means for him in his career,
an opportunity at his first world title,
as Gunther is sent clean here on Monday Night Raw.
[crowd cheering]
-[inaudible] -Come on! Come on!
-[Michael] Gunther is angry. -[shouting indistinctly]
[Michael] Jey Uso has drawn the proverbial line in the sand.
I don't think Gunther was expecting that fire out of Jey Uso tonight.
-["Main Event Ish" playing] -♪ It's just me, uce… ♪
[Wade] Gunther called Jey Uso "a funny little man" a few minutes ago.
Gunther is not laughing now.
Will he be laughing in five nights' time
when the gold is on the line at Saturday Night's Main Event?
[Michael] Gunther, Uso for the title, Saturday Night's Main Event.
-Okay, done, he's done. -[chuckles]
-Finally, somebody who understands. -Yeah.
-[Woods chuckles] -What's up, guys?
-Hey! Good to see you. Xavier. -Oh, John "Bradshaw" Layfield.
-KofiMania, New Day. -You see it?
-JBL, man. Come on. -Great to see you guys.
Yeah, you're a champion.
You're a Hall of Famer, but most importantly,
you are the special guest commentator for our match against that hypocrite,
that so-called locker room leader,
-Rey Mysterio. -Hmm.
And we would love it if you could go out there,
and you know, and let everybody know
that we've been the victims of a disgusting smear campaign.
Yeah. [chuckles]
-Throw in some cash. Yeah. -You like money? [chuckles]
'Cause you understand us, man. You understand.
You were part of a tag team where you had to cut the dead weight.
-Damn. -And it was a tough decision,
but when you did, what happened?
You went on to have the greatest success of your career.
Yes, not as great as the successes of our careers--
-We're not talking about that. -You get it, you get it.
What we need from you tonight, if you wouldn't mind,
go out there and be an acolyte for your boys.
You know what, I got you guys. You know what, I got you.
'Cause Big E, I don't blame you, man.
That guy with all those big muscles and all that charisma
and all that personality.
Everywhere you go, everybody loves that guy.
"New Day rocks, New Day rocks."
Everybody chanting it 'cause they wanna see Big E, not--
I don't blame you for getting rid of him. They gotta pay attention to you.
I guess.
Oh, okay.
-Backhanded compliments, okay. -That's how it is?
-All right, John. -You too?
-All right, Layfield. -[Kingston] All right, man.
-Yeah, nice hat. -[Kingston] Hey, you've gone soft, man.
-[Woods] All right. -[Kingston] All right.
I get to keep the two dollars?
["Booyaka 619" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] I can't wait for JBL to come out here
and give us his take on this matchup.
But meanwhile, another Hall of Famer.
The legendary Rey Mysterio, set for action.
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from San Diego, California,
weighing in at 175 pounds,
representing the LWO,
WWE Hall of Famer,
Rey Mysterio!
[Michael] You know, Kofi and Xavier were sarcastic about it
when they mentioned Rey Mysterio being the locker room leader.
But he is just that.
And it is time for him to put New Day in its place.
Mysterio, Kingston, live, one-on-one, here on RAW.
I am here with arguably the busiest WWE Superstar this week, Bayley.
You were on SmackDown, you were on NXT,
now you are here for a match tonight on Raw against Nia Jax.
And I heard earlier that you had a bit of an announcement,
so for those that aren't aware, would you care to share?
Well, I guess cat's out of the bag.
I am officially back on Raw, first night officially back on Raw,
feels good to be here.
This is where I started my WWE career when I came from NXT,
so it feels good, it feels right.
But I also wanna take this moment, if you don't mind,
to declare myself in the 2025 Women's Royal Rumble.
And if you remember,
you're looking at the 2024 Women's Royal Rumble winner.
So, going back-to-back sounds pretty good.
And, you know, winning that match, I could take on Tiffany Stratton.
I could take on Raw's Rhea Ripley, or I could even--
[Jax] Well…
[crowd booing]
You can just forget about that.
I'll take you out just like I took out Rhea.
And I'll do what you couldn't do, and I'll take out Tiffany Stratton.
Oh, and by the way, I'm gonna win the Royal Rumble.
[chuckles] Yeah, actually, I did see what you did to Rhea earlier.
And if you wanna try something like that on me right now, then I dare you.
I'll see you out there, Bayley.
["Longhorn" playing]
[Michael] Well, Bayley will be in action hopefully later on tonight.
Meanwhile, JBL is here. We'll get to him in a moment.
But that is Mason Taylor. He is a bull rider from the PBR Tour.
He is joined here tonight at ringside by some other cowboys,
including that man,
Austin Richardson, also a bull rider in the PBR Tour,
and the Wade Barrett, the announcer of the PBR Tour, Matt West,
joining us here tonight at ringside as well.
[Wade] Where's the Michael Cole of the PBR Tour, the clouds?
[Michael] How long-- Did you work on that all day today?
[Wade] I did nothing else, come on.
[Michael] Well, anyway, look who's here with us tonight.
He's the Hall of Famer, John "Bradshaw" Layfield.
-JBL is here, welcome back. -It is great to be here.
Michael, it's great to see you again.
And "Bad News" Barrett, it's great to see you, Wade.
-You're doing a fantastic job out here. -One of my all-time faves,
the Hall of Famer himself. Wow.
-So good to have you back at the desk. -["Booyaka 619" playing]
[Michael] Rey Mysterio set for action here tonight.
You do realize that on the old JBL and Cole Show,
there was a character invented on that show.
[Wade] I do recall, it may have had a small part
-in the trajectory of my career. -["New Day, New Way" playing]
-[Kingston] No, no. No, no, no, no, no. -[Woods] No, no, no. No, no, no, no, no.
-Turn the music off. -Turn it off.
-[music stops] -Turn the screens off.
-Turn the lasers off. -Cut it off.
-No. -We told you.
We're not using that anymore, we got idiots at the desk.
[crowd booing]
-It's your boys, The… -…New Day.
[crowd booing]
And to be honest…
y'all starting to piss me off with all this.
[crowd chanting "New Day suck"]
We have been doing this for too long and too well to be disrespected like this.
[crowd booing]
We are walking Hall of Famers.
Not like this fraud.
As a matter of fact, JBL, gimme my money back.
You don't deserve it.
-And now, without further ado… -[Michael chuckles]
[crowd booing]
I bring to you Rey Mysterio,
getting the brakes beat off him by the one and only Kofi Kingston.
[crowd booing]
-Because New Day rocks! -[crowd] Sucks!
[crowd chanting "New Day sucks"]
-[Michael] So, JBL, joining Wade and I… -[bell ringing]
…on commentary for this matchup, Kingston and Rey Mysterio.
JBL, who's in a very busy weekend already in Dallas,
is here again with us tonight at ringside. John, what do you make of the New Day
and this complete change of heart after they dumped Big E a few weeks back?
[JBL] I never thought I would root for a deadbeat dad like Rey Mysterio,
but this is the one time in the entire history of the world
that I'm rooting for him.
[Wade] I'll tell you right now, Kingston and Woods are gonna be careful.
I know for a fact that JBL has more than a few clotheslines
from hell left in that tank.
[JBL] I'm on a clothesline world tour right now.
[Michael] John, you were a… a locker room leader in your day,
kicked many people out of the locker room.
But what do you make of Rey Mysterio, uh,
basically turning much of the locker room against Kofi and Xavier?
[JBL] Well, you gotta look at Rey Mysterio.
I mean, he's a dad that makes Tywin Lannister look like Ward Cleaver.
He's the worst father in the history of the world.
Poor Dom, I don't know how Dom-- He went to prison and he came out.
I mean, like, I'm telling you, like Nelson Mandela came out a hero
-and came out just ruling the world. -[Michael chuckles]
[JBL] And then-- And Rey Mysterio is the cause of all this,
so I don't mind the locker room leader.
It just shouldn't be a guy that has to wear a mask
-because he's so ashamed of himself. -[Michael] Are you still upset
over the fact that Rey Mysterio retired you from in-ring competition?
[JBL] Enough of that, Michael.
What people don't know is I had a high fever that day.
People didn't want me to go to the ring.
That Michael Jordan ridiculous flu game, I had a 98.7-degree fever that night.
I should have never been out there, I was in danger of my life.
[Michael] I heard Larry Heck had declared you for competition.
Nonetheless, what about Kofi Kingston? Uh…
Former WWE Champion, uh, held the title, KofiMania, of course.
Um, again, that does not seem like… [grunts] …he and Xavier have appreciated
what Big E has done for them in their career.
Went for the 619, Kofi Kingston ducking underneath.
[Wade] And let me pull you up on that one.
I've gotta say that Big E had become an albatross
-around the necks of The New Day. -[Michael] Look out!
[Wade] They'd essentially turned themselves into a nostalgia act
waiting for him to return. A return that was never coming.
I have a little empathy for Kingston and Woods
and the fact that they had to throw E out.
They perhaps could've done it a little differently, I will accept that.
However, it was a job that had to be done.
[Michael] Kofi and Rey Mysterio meeting one on one for the first time tonight
in 16 years.
Kofi Kingston's had success here in Dallas.
He won his first championship,
the Intercontinental Title in this building.
[crowd booing]
[Michael] And now, he's dominating Rey Mysterio.
[Wade] Very different side of Kofi Kingston right now,
taking the gloves off and slogging away.
And he's getting some success finally after years of spinning his wheels
-waiting for Big E to return. -[Michael] I mean,
they are one of the greatest tag teams, if not the greatest tag team
in the history of WWE.
-Kofi Kingston, a 13-time tag champ. -[Wade] Whoa!
They were one of the great tag teams.
The last couple of years they've been rotten
and that's changing now before our eyes.
[Michael] Oh! Mysterio went for a sunset flip powerbomb
and Kofi Kingston able to hang on.
That was almost disaster for Kingston.
-[inaudible] -[Michael] And…
-Kofi, uh, pointing back at JBL. -[Wade] Oh!
[Michael] Oh, look out.
Rey Mysterio trying to fight out of it.
And now, Kingston with a kick right to the gut of Mysterio.
Very vicious, very aggressive Kingston.
[crowd booing]
[Michael] John, what exactly is his problem?
[JBL] A little backstage interaction with them,
I tell them how great they are. With Big E, everybody loved him.
Without Big E, they're actually gonna be noticed.
And they took offense at that. Look, I was a big fan of KofiMania.
It was an actual worldwide phenomenon. Kofi… Kofi just happens to be a jackass.
[Michael] Harsh words from Mr. Bradshaw as Kingston now--
Oh, Mysterio able to counter
and sent Kofi into the steel steps.
Rey Mysterio climbing back into this match.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Raucous crowd here tonight on Monday Night Raw sold out
in Dallas American Airlines Center,
15,572 WWE fans on hand
live on Netflix.
[Wade] And there has been a succession of underhand tactics from The New Day
against Rey Mysterio,
which has led to Kofi Kingston clearly getting the upper hand
in this one thus far.
[Michael] Mysterio looking to use his quickness in this matchup.
Rey ducks underneath a couple of different times. Rey now.
-Oh! And down goes Kingston. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Great move by Mysterio, buys himself some time.
Xavier Woods concerned now for his partner, Kofi.
[JBL] Rey's like a cockroach, you just can't squish him.
You try and try and try and he just keeps on.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Rey Mysterio…
former world champion.
He's already declared for the Royal Rumble match
a week from Saturday in Indianapolis.
[Wade] The most star-studded Royal Rumble thus far.
All the entrants, pretty much Hall of Fame level.
[Michael] It'll be Mysterio's 15th Royal Rumble match,
tying him for third all time.
Remember, Rey won the 2006 Royal Rumble setting a record
of, at that time, of a minute, two seconds.
One minute, I should say one hour, two minutes, twelve seconds.
Easy for me to say.
[Wade] One minute, two seconds is about a Michael Cole Royal Rumble entry.
[Michael] Well, let's not even get into that, I still hold the record.
But nonetheless, Mysterio, top rope now, Rey. Oh!
The senton by Mysterio, here comes Rey off the second rope, springboard,
-crossbody. -[Wade] Nobody home!
[Michael] And Kofi, sunset flip, Rey, basement drop kick.
Cover by Mysterio. Hook to the leg
-for the win, and Kofi kicks it, too. -[crowd groans]
[Wade] Simply cannot write off the Hall of Famer, Rey Mysterio,
25 plus years at the top.
And apparently still as good as he's ever been.
[JBL] Yeah, it's infuriating.
[Wade] It's the fountain of youth, pal. You and I need to find it.
[JBL] We're not even sure if it's the same Rey Mysterio.
He does have a mask, a shirt, and long tights,
so we have no idea who that is.
[Wade] A poke to the eye there from Kofi Kingston,
and now Mysterio staggered.
[Michael] Kingston now second row-- Oh! Right to the back of Rey.
Cover again for the win, another near fall.
[Wade] Mysterio desperately trying to duck out of the way,
but simply not enough time to get out of the way
for flying Kofi Kingston.
And say what you want about the attitude of The New Day.
They were verging on apathy from the fan base
over the past 12 months.
Now, everybody is locked eyes on them, watching their every move.
They might not like it,
but isn't that what entertainment's supposed to be about?
[JBL] You're right, Bad News, it's all about jealousy.
People are jealous of The New Day.
[Michael] Oh, missed with the Trouble in Paradise,
and now Rey Mysterio sets Kofi into position.
[JBL] Kofi, get out of there. Get out of there, Kofi.
[Michael] And Xavier Woods gets involved.
-I think the referee, Chad Patton… -[crowd booing]
…he saw and he caught him.
Chad's gotta do something here…
-[Wade] What? -…and he does.
He sends him to the back. Smart move by Patton.
[JBL] All of a sudden now Chad Patton realizes he's a referee
and he's gonna actually enforce some rules for once.
[Michael] And now Kofi from behind again, taking advantage of the distraction.
[Wade] Well, Rey Mysterio perhaps could have had this one
-with a disqualification. -[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Oh no! Oh no!
[Michael] John, you know what this feels like?
[JBL] Shut up, I've seen this movie,
-and it sucks. No! -[Michael] 619!
Wanted to Drop Da Dime, and Kofi got the knees up.
Cover now, on Rey,
who kicks out at two.
Fantastic matchup here on Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] Well, this is Kofi Kingston reminding everyone
why he himself is indeed a future Hall of Famer
and a former world champion in his own right.
Do not write off Kingston.
[JBL] And personalities all aside,
this is exactly what you expect out of two former world champions.
[Wade] Place is coming unglued for this matchup.
What a hot audience.
-[JBL] Dallas, Texas, let's see-- -[Michael] Uh-oh.
[JBL] A little bit.
[Michael] Kofi Kingston now, look at Rey, what a cover.
[bell ringing]
-[Michael] Kofi went for the Boom Drop… -[JBL] He got him!
-["Booyaka 619" playing] -[Alicia] Here is your winner, Rey Mys--
[Michael] Oh, and from behind,
Xavier Woods attacking Mysterio from behind, uncalled for.
Talk about sore sports. Kingston went for the Boom Drop.
[crowd booing]
-[Wade] Well, before-- -[Michael] SOS, I believe…
-["Our World" playing] -…before Rey picked up the win.
Meanwhile, here come the LWO, Mysterio's buddies.
[Wade] Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro, here to aid the leader of the LWO,
Rey Mysterio, not a moment too soon.
[Michael] And The New Day, high tailing it out of the arena,
wanted nothing to do with the LWO here tonight,
-who's coming in-- Wait a minute. -[Wade] Yeah, don't speak too soon!
Diversionary tactics there from The New Day.
[Michael] And as Wilde and Del Toro are checking on Mysterio,
Kingston and Xavier Woods attack from behind again.
[Wade] Hit and run from The New Day,
whose fangs grow sharper by the minute.
[Michael] And again, Kofi Kingston at the end of that match
-going for the SOS. -New Day rocks.
[Michael] Rey Mysterio is able to counter and pick up
the win here tonight.
We wanna thank, once again, the Hall of Famer, JBL,
for joining us tonight. It's been a fun time, partner.
It's great to be out here, Michael, just like old times.
You're doing a hell of a job, and, Bad News, great to see you.
You're welcome here anytime. Trust me, JBL. Thank you for coming.
Last week on Monday Night Raw,
we saw the debut of the sensational luchador, Penta.
[voice over speakers] Cero miedo!
[Michael] It was the worst kept secret of the business.
Penta is here!
This man is gonna put on a show.
Penta against Gable. Be prepared to be wowed.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Penta has dominated around the planet for over a decade.
A man who shows absolutely no fear.
[Penta] I've been waiting for this moment!
[Michael] Uh-oh, look at this backstabber!
Absolutely incredible!
Gable lands on the top of his head!
[Penta] This is my new home.
[Michael] Penta Driver!
[crowd counting]
-[Michael] Welcome to the big time! -[bell ringing]
[Penta] Thank you, San Jose!
Now is the Penta new era!
[crowd chanting "Penta"]
[Gable] Have you heard what they're saying about me?
-What about you? -Yeah, well, I was slated
for an interview earlier tonight
with American Made and Chad Gable to talk about his loss last week to Penta.
But as you can see, he is busy, so--
Sorry, I was inspiring the team.
All right, now, I know I've been the talk
of the whole frickin' wrestling world the past week,
but I'm man enough to admit when I have a problem.
And that started when I lost to Penta last week.
I had trouble with Dragon Lee before that, Rey Mysterio before that.
I mean, what are we gonna do here?
Luckily, I figured it out.
I've already gone to a man that knows a thing or two
about lucha libre, an intelligent man with a mustache to match,
and his name is Dominik Mysterio.
[crowd cheering]
So, while he helps me with my luchador problem,
the rest of the crew's already got their marching orders.
Yeah, and there's a Women's Intercontinental Championship
-with my name written all over it. -[laughs] Yeah.
And those tag titles should have already had our names on them. [laughs]
War Raiders, The War Raiders,
they stand around and they boast about one more injury
and we're gonna be done forever.
Like there's something to be proud of there?
What is there to be proud of there? There's nothing.
So, we're done asking and we're telling you right now,
we're gonna take those titles away from the team
that's at the end of their career and instead we're gonna bring them
to a team that's entering their freaking prime.
Picture it.
American Made, the red, white, and blue with waists wrapped in gold.
It's gonna be glorious.
Thank you so much for your time, as delayed as it was.
Cole, Wade, back to you.
-[exciting music playing] -[Michael] Dominik Mysterio.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Nonetheless,
there's Sami Zayn, very outspoken as of late.
Sami Zayn is here live.
-[exciting rock music playing] -[Michael] Well, Dallas, Texas
is a pro wrestling hotbed.
Of course, The Freebirds and Von Erichs
was one of the greatest rivalries in the history of pro wrestling.
And here tonight, in Dallas,
hosted two WrestleManias in the American Airlines Center,
hosting the 27th Monday Night Raw in the city.
Something else happened in this building.
We announced the winner of the very first season
of the reality show, NXT.
[Wade] Oh, you're spoiling me here.
-Look at that handsome young devil. -[crowd cheering]
Yes!
[Wade] Yes, indeed.
Wade Barrett, number one. I knew from the beginning!
[Wade] And I'll tell you this, Cole…
Boom!
…the birth of WrestleMania and Wade Barrett winning NXT season one,
two pivotal moments in the history of our great industry.
And people unfairly call me out on social media for looking old.
Nonetheless, let's head up to the ring. Here's Sami Zayn.
[crowd chanting "Oh, oh, oh, oh"]
[crowd cheering]
-[Sami] Thank you very much for that. -[crowd cheering]
That never gets old. [chuckles]
Look, I'm not gonna beat around the bush.
I'm just gonna get right to it and tell you why I came out here.
Because I spoke with Adam Pearce,
and I am officially entered into the 2025 Royal Rumble match.
[crowd cheering]
And, you know, last week,
Seth Rollins told me that I spent all my time
helping other people, that maybe it was time I helped myself.
And it really got me thinking, actually.
I started thinking, you know, "What do I want?"
And when I started thinking about that,
man, that opened up a whole bunch of thoughts.
'Cause I started thinking about, well…
I started thinking about me, 14-year-old me.
I started thinking about the millions of people
all around the world that dream of ever becoming pro wrestlers.
And the thousands that actually get to live their dream
and become pro wrestlers.
And the very small group
that are actually lucky enough to call themselves "WWE Superstars."
And then there's the smallest group of all,
the hardest one to crack into of all,
and I'm talking about the upper echelon, the top tier of WWE.
I'm talking five or six, or seven guys.
And that is where I am now.
[crowd cheering]
And I firmly believe in my heart that I am every bit as good
as everybody else in that group.
And that group of guys, they're all in this year's Royal Rumble.
And the only difference that I think between me and them,
and I'm talking about Roman Reigns, I'm talking about Drew McIntyre,
CM Punk, Seth Rollins.
The only difference between them and me
is that they have a World Championship to their name.
And I don't.
I don't.
And I've said this before and I'll say it again,
I've had a great life, okay? I've had a great career.
I don't feel like I need the World Championship to complete me.
You guys have supported me throughout the years.
[crowd cheering]
And believe it or not,
your support through the years has meant more to me
than any World Championship could ever mean.
[crowd cheering]
So, no, I don't need the World Championship.
-But damn it, I want it! -[crowd cheering]
Because 14-year-old me wants it and he's still here.
He's still with me.
He sets foot in this ring with me every single time I come out here.
So, I don't need the World Championship, but I want it.
So, I am going to take it!
[crowd cheering, applauding]
-["Fight" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Well, the man who probably knows Sami Zayn
better than anyone who's here, Kevin Owens.
And, ladies and gentlemen, despite the fact
that Kevin Owens is carrying the Winged Eagle title to the ring,
he is not a champion.
He stole that championship from Cody Rhodes,
the true undisputed WWE Champion.
And they will battle it out for the title a week from Saturday at the Royal Rumble
in a ladder match.
[Wade] Well, regardless of what the facts are,
KO's mind firmly believes that he is the true champion
and that could become a reality at the Royal Rumble
in the ladder match with Cody Rhodes.
[Michael] It's so much history between these two best friends
for much of their career, bitter enemies for part of it as well.
[Wade] Kevin Owens is just a powder keg at the moment,
-you may wanna stay back, Sami. -[crowd jeering]
[crowd chanting "Sami"]
I knew it was a matter of time before you'd come.
How do you wanna do this?
What do you… what do you mean?
Come on, Kev.
-[Kevin] What? -Come on, man.
The whole world saw what you did to Cody Rhodes
when he teamed with Roman Reigns.
So, how's this gonna go down?
Oh, come on, you think this is what-- You think that's why I'm here?
No, look, okay.
Look, I'll admit that when I saw you team with Roman Reigns at Survivor Series, I…
I didn't understand it right away, and I was pretty upset,
okay, I'll admit it. But then, I started thinking a bit more on it
and I realized it's not…
it's not like when Cody teamed with Roman, okay?
Because I looked at the situation and I realized that, you know,
you and Roman, obviously, had a lot of history,
just like you and I have a lot of history.
And, you know, Roman did some really terrible things
to you that you chose to overlook. Just like I am man enough to admit,
I did a lot of terrible things to you in the past,
that you also chose to overlook.
Actually, it's not-- it's not that you overlooked them.
It's you forgave me.
Just like you forgave Roman.
Because that… that's who you are.
You're a good person, that's what you are.
And you know what? Seth's right. You do a lot for other people,
especially for your friends.
And you and I, you're my best friend. You're my best friend.
You're more like a brother to me than a friend.
I've said this time and time again, and that's why I'm here.
It's to tell you that I wholeheartedly believe
that you can and will win the Royal Rumble.
[crowd cheering]
I know that the Sami Zayn I've known for 20 years will win the Royal Rumble.
You know why? Because you deserve to win the Royal Rumble!
You deserve to go into WrestleMania and fight for the WWE Championship!
And I know you will do it!
[crowd cheering]
And then you know what? We can accomplish one more thing together.
Because think of the careers we've had. Think of everything
we've seen each other do in this business that we dreamed of doing 25 years ago,
when we first met. Huh?
We main evented WrestleMania together and won the Tag Team titles.
But there's one more thing we've never done,
and that is to main event WrestleMania one on one for the WWE Championship.
[crowd chattering]
And if, not if, when you win the Royal Rumble,
we will get to do that
as long as I walk out of the Royal Rumble as the WWE Champion.
But you know what?
I know both of those things are going to happen.
I know. I know you'll win the Royal Rumble.
You know why? Because I… I've got your back.
I do.
And I know I'm gonna walk out of the Royal Rumble
as the WWE Champion, because just like you had Roman's back,
you've got my back, right?
I mean… I just know it, dude,
you're my best friend, and as my brother,
if I need you, I know you'll be there.
[mic thuds]
["Fight" playing]
[Michael] Well, uh, Kevin Owens will now head to San Antonio, Texas,
this Saturday night on NBC for Saturday Night's Main Event.
He'll sign the contract for the ladder match at the Royal Rumble
with the champion Cody Rhodes.
The moderator for this event,
San Antonio's own, the Hall of Famer, the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels.
Kevin Owens leaving Sami Zayn with a lot to think about.
Yeah, Cole, before we get to Royal Rumble,
we have to talk about Saturday Night's Main Event.
And Sheamus, you have an Intercontinental Championship match
this Saturday, against Bron Breakker.
You are a very decorated champion throughout your WWE career,
so why is this title so important to you?
You know, Miss Kelly,
some people would say I have the perfect WWE career backwards.
About six months into my career, I beat the biggest Superstar
this business has ever seen, John Cena, for my first WWE title.
But the ironic thing is,
the IC title is the first championship that drew me to WWE as a kid.
And I have been chasing that as an obsession for the last five years.
And I have been so close on so many times.
But guess what, the stars are aligned.
This Saturday night, at Saturday Night's Main Event,
I am gonna brush that bleeding tango Bron Breakker aside
and finally fulfill my destiny
by winning the last championship I have never won.
And for everyone watching, and for you, Bron Breakker,
I wanna let you know, let's go Irish.
-[crowd cheering] -[speaks indistinctly]
I want you to look at this championship, Sheamus.
It's mine.
This is as close as you'll ever get to winning this title.
Because this Saturday,
I'm gonna beat you and break you like an old man!
So, why don't you do yourself a favor and retire?
-[grunts] -[sniggers]
[Michael] Well, to steal Sheamus' line, "That is going to be a banger."
[exciting hip-hop music playing]
[Michael] Well, there is former WWE Women's Champion, Bayley.
She's here, and now, officially a part of Monday Night Raw.
But the problem for Bayley is she hasn't been able to put
SmackDown's "Irresistible Force" Nia Jax in her rearview mirror.
They meet again, Bayley, Jax, live on Netflix.
-[music fades] -[crowd cheering]
["Not Like Most Girls" playing]
Just gonna show you what happened earlier tonight when Rhea Ripley,
the world champion, arrived at Monday Night Raw, Wade,
and attacked by Nia Jax.
[Wade] Yeah, the human wrecking ball, Nia Jax,
who has been on the warpath
for weeks now after losing her championship,
clearly targeting every single woman in the locker room,
not more so than those with the gold, such as Rhea Ripley,
who got absolutely trashed making her way into the building today.
-[indistinct clamoring] -[Wade] So thankfully, order was restored.
-However, much too late for Rhea Ripley. -Get me a medic!
-[Ripley groans] Get off me! -[Michael] Nia Jax and Rhea Ripley,
of course, met in Australia, last year, Elimination Chamber event for the title.
Last week, Nia Jax interrupted the world title celebration
for Rhea Ripley, and then was embarrassed
when Bayley and Rhea dumped her out of the ring.
Also, at ringside tonight, Roxanne Perez, former NXT Women's Champion,
got into it with Bayley this past Tuesday night
-on the CW on NXT. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Roxanne actually sent out a tweet today, uh,
when Bayley was announced coming to Monday Night Raw.
-She said, "Raw just gained a loser." -["Role Model" playing]
[Wade] Well, Roxanne Perez also showed up this past Friday at SmackDown at ringside,
distracting Bayley, and in part preventing Bayley
from defeating Tiffany Stratton for the gold.
-[crowd cheering] -[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making her way to the ring, from San Jose, California,
Bayley!
[Michael] This has been a tremendous rivalry
between Nia Jax and Bayley. It actually started a decade ago in NXT.
These women have met one-on-one 13 times over the years,
and Nia holds a slight seven-to-six edge in victories.
[Wade] Yeah a lot of that, though, is ancient history.
Let's talk about the past 12 months, 'cause, believe me,
Bayley has had almost zero success over Nia Jax in the past 12 months.
It has been all about the Annihilator.
[Michael] Well, Bayley, of course, losing the…
championship to Nia Jax at SummerSlam.
Battled Nia Jax again at Bad Blood, would lose there as well,
so Bayley looking to get some payback here tonight against Nia.
Bayley's first night on Monday Night Raw…
-[bell ringing] -…and I'm glad to have her here.
-[Wade] You? -[Michael] Yeah!
[Wade] You're glad to have… Boy, you're a Bayley fan all of a sudden?
[Michael] Well, I'm trying to turn over a new leaf here as Bayley goes--
[Wade] You have done nothing but talk smack about Bayley
for the past few years, at every opportunity,
and now you've turned the corner, huh?
[Michael] Well, we'll see how she does in this match tonight…
-[crowd counting] -…as Bayley hammers away on Nia Jax,
of course, the former WWE Women's Champion on Friday Night SmackDown
before Tiffany Stratton cashed in Money in the Bank on her
a few weeks ago to win the title.
And Nia now using her power
to lift Bayley up on her shoulders and--
-Oh! -[Wade] Oh!
[Michael] Nice DDT by Bayley, is that enough to put Nia away?
Cover now on Nia,
hook of the leg for the win, and a kick-out by Jax.
Both of these women have declared for the Women's Royal Rumble match.
Takes place a week from Saturday in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Nia-- Oh my goodness! A headbutt right to the chest,
driving Bayley to the mat! Cover now by Jax!
Hooks both legs, and Bayley kicks out at one,
but that'll drive the breath out of your lungs.
Nia Jax taking down Bayley.
[Wade] What a display of power and timing from Nia Jax,
who is continuing to squash the competition.
Let's take another look at this. Bayley…
had all the momentum in the world,
but that was like running straight into a brick wall.
[Michael] And this is what 29 other women
are gonna have to compete against inside the Rumble.
Nia has been prolific in the Women's Royal Rumble match.
She is tied with Rhea Ripley all time with 20 eliminations in that matchup.
She's the first woman to ever compete in two Rumbles on the same night.
And she enters her sixth Royal Rumble this year.
Elbow misses as Bayley rolls out of harm's way.
[Wade] That was an Iron Man or Iron Woman-like effort
from Nia Jax when she competed in two Rumbles.
Here's the thing about Bayley, who is now getting the upper hand.
[Michael] Nice back suplex,
stacks up Nia, kick-out at two. Now, speaking of Iron Women,
how about Bayley last year, winning the Royal Rumble match,
entering at number three,
and setting a women's Royal Rumble record of one hour, three minutes and one second
to win the Royal Rumble and go on to WrestleMania with a title!
Sit down, uranage by Jax!
[Wade] Here's the problem with Bayley in the last few days.
She has been on all three brands, brawling everywhere you go…
-[Michael] Uh-oh! -…crossing time zones,
and eventually, burning the candle at both ends
can come back and bite you. You have to think, Bayley right now,
especially after that match on SmackDown against…
-[Michael] Oh! -[Wade] …Tiffany Stratton,
cannot be anywhere near 100%,
but what an effort thus far from the Role Model.
[Michael] Now, getting in the face of Roxanne.
-Go back-- -[Michael] Oh!
[crowd gasping]
[Michael] Oh, Roxanne went to slap Bayley, and Bayley smacked her right back.
[Wade] Well, you gotta be careful fighting wars on too many fronts,
especially mid-match against somebody like Nia Jax.
Keep your focus, Bayley.
Or else…
[Michael] Roxanne Perez dragged out of the arena,
Bayley and Nia having a battle.
This has been quite the battle between Nia Jax and Bayley, Wade.
Bayley's hanging in there,
and you see Nia Jax now working on the arm of Bayley.
Here's the hook of the leg now on Bayley, and a kick-out.
I think this goes back to Friday Night.
[Wade] Yeah, interesting you bring that up.
That was the main target of Tiffany Stratton
in their matchup for the Women's WWE Championship
on SmackDown, a match ultimately won
by the champ retaining her gold.
[Michael] Wait, I was gonna ask, bring this up earlier, we got sidetracked.
-Oh my goodness! -[Wade] Oh!
Right on that arm as Bayley tried to get out of the way.
-[Michael] Yes, still-- -[Wade] All of the weight of Nia Jax
-came crashing down on Ba-- -[Michael] Wow!
[Wade] Oh, that could be a snapped limb there for Bayley.
[Michael] I was gonna ask the question
if Bayley was 100% coming into this match tonight
with everything she has going on. Bayley and Nia fighting back--
You see how she's holding that arm to her side, Wade.
[Wade] Fighting like a one-armed bandit, but ultimately has the upper hand here.
-[Michael] Is it enough to put Nia away? -One, two…
[Michael] Nia kicks out at two, a near fall for Bayley.
[Wade] If Bayley has any chance whatsoever in this one,
she needs to end this as quickly as possible.
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, this is Monday Night Raw.
We're live tonight, sold out, at the American Airlines Center
in Dallas, Texas,
15,572 on hand for this matchup between Bayley and Nia Jax.
The breaking news tonight,
the fact that Bayley is now a part officially of the Monday Night Raw roster,
Nia Jax is here, part of the transfer window!
Talked to our general manager, Adam Pearce.
And again, targeting the injured arm, the shoulder of Bayley.
Just shows you the growing smarts and strategic skills of Nia Jax,
used to be exclusively known for power maneuvers.
Now, it is all a mental game for Jax.
-[Michael] Yeah. -[Wade] Nia just gets better and better,
but over kicked the coverage on that one.
[Michael] And I was gonna mention, I think that is the part of Nia's game
that has matured over the past couple of years
and really makes this a different Nia Jax than the first run here in WWE.
[Wade] She is so damn special, it's an absolute treat
watching Jax every time she's in that ring.
[Michael] And it's a treat watching Bayley! Sunset flip,
spine into the post, Nia's in trouble.
[Wade] This could be a count out here, Cole.
[Michael] Desperation move by Bayley.
She's injured, she's hurt, she wants to take the count out winning,
-I don't blame her. -[crowd counting]
[Wade] Bayley so resourceful there, you thought there was absolutely
no way out of this predicament for Bayley,
but she may have just bought herself a win here.
[Michael] Count of eight now,
Nia back to her feet and back into the ring.
[Wade] But how much damage has already been done?
-[Michael] Oh! -[Wade] A taste of your own medicine.
-[Michael] Annihilator by Bayley… -[crowd counting]
[Michael] …and a kick-out by Nia Jax.
Bayley almost beat Nia with her own move,
now drops the elbow,
-again covering Jax and again a kick-out. -[crowd jeering]
[Wade] Well, Bayley now throwing everything
but the kitchen sink at Nia Jax and clearly hampered
by that arm issue, limiting her moveset, her arsenal that she can throw at Nia Jax.
What else do you have in the tank, Bayley?
[Michael] But I've been impressed, Wade, with the way that
Bayley's been able to change her offense up
to do things without using her arm.
-We'll give her the Rose Plant. -[Wade] Yeah, to do that in a split second
is pretty incredible, but it may be for naught here.
-[Michael] Nia now… -[Wade] Shoulder breaker.
[Michael] Cover now on Bayley, hook of the leg for the win.
Nia continues to work on the injured shoulder
and Bayley stays in the match.
[Wade] Once again, targeting everything on that limb.
Bringing out new moves of her own arsenal.
And Bayley really struggling at this point.
[Michael] Now, Nia, a splash in the corner.
[Wade] This is when a different side of Nia Jax comes out,
when she smells blood, she starts enjoying it a bit too much.
[Michael] Oh, Nia in trouble out on the apron,
Bayley now, and a big right hand by Jax.
[Wade] Just a game-changing slug to the jaw
-from Nia Jax. -[Michael] Oh! And again.
[Wade] My God, I felt that one.
[Michael] The bad shoulder into the post, Nia Jax is dissecting Bayley here tonight.
-And now, oh, goodness! -[crowd gasping]
[Wade] Bayley just hung up to dry,
crushing those ribs against the steel ring post.
[Michael] The official better step in because Bayley's in trouble here.
[Wade] It's squashing time, Michael Cole.
[Michael] Bayley, though, back to her feet.
Nia taken off the rope as she went for the Annihilator.
Bayley's got a chance.
[Wade] Pancake face first to the mat.
[Michael] Bayley with a running knee. Nia's down.
Bayley again covered.
-What a win this would be for the former… -[crowd counting]
…World Champ and a kick-out by Nia.
[Wade] Well, I'll tell you right now, Michael Cole, when you are injured
in a match like Bayley is, there is nothing more frustrating
than thinking you've just crossed the finish line,
only for your opponent to still have enough left
-in the tank to kick out. -[crowd chanting "Let's go, Bayley"]
[Michael] And the "Let's go, Bayley" chants
ring through the American Airlines Center.
Nia Jax back to her feet again.
This has been an incredible matchup between two of the best.
Nia Jax now, powering Bayley up to her shoulders.
This is gonna be nasty. Bayley trying to counter.
Bayley now! Oh!
-Sunset flip powerbomb on the tailbone. -[crowd counting]
-[Michael] Kick-out somehow by Jax. -[crowd gasping]
[Michael] How the hell did Bayley pull that off?
[Wade] You can see Nia Jax
desperately trying to avoid that landing on the back,
ended up with perhaps an even worse one, and now in the drop zone!
-[Michael] The elbow drop from Bayley… -[crowd counting]
[Michael] …for the win, and again Jax kicks out!
Bayley physically exhausted, what the hell does she have to do?
[Wade] I mean, if this hits the bullseye and somehow this deep
into a matchup, your opponent can still kick out,
you fear that it's good night for Bayley from here.
What on earth do you have left in your tank here, Bayley?
[Michael] Yeah, Bayley fired up back to her feet now.
-Understand she has control. -[Wade] Oh!
[Michael] Went for the belly-to-belly, injured shoulder gave out.
Bayley still fighting back though.
Clips Nia in the back of the knee.
[Wade] As resourceful as they come, and she has to be at this point.
-[Michael] Uh-oh, pop up Samoan drop! -[crowd gasping]
[Wade] Knocking the stuffing out of Bayley.
-[Michael] Oh! And a senton. -[crowd gasping]
[Wade] Well, Bayley's just a carcass at this point, Michael Cole.
[Michael] It was a valiant effort by an injured Bayley,
-but the Annihilator from Nia Jax… -[crowd counting]
-[Michael] …seals the deal. -[bell ringing]
["Not Like Most Girls" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner, Nia Jax!
[Wade] Just overwhelming offense,
a staggering amount of force thrown at the body of Bayley
by this woman, perhaps the Woman of The Year in 2024 in WWE,
starting this year,
after a false start and losing her championship to Tiffany Stratton,
the way she means to go on.
[Michael] And Bayley the latest member of the Monday Night Raw roster.
-A game effort tonight and-- -["Demon In Your Dreams" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Nia Jax thought she took Rhea out
before the show even began.
But the Women's World Champion is here!
Rhea "Bloody" Ripley is on her way to the ring!
[Wade] What kind of condition is Ripley in though? That's the question.
[Michael] And Rhea going right after Nia Jax,
renewing a long-time rivalry.
Rhea drives Jax into the corner. Rhea taking the fight to Nia tonight.
[Wade] Well, throw whatever you want at Rhea Ripley.
This woman loves nothing more than being in the trenches.
[Michael] Well, the security sent in the ring
-to separate these two women. -[crowd booing]
[Wade] Nia Jax must be exhausted after that competition against Bayley.
[Michael] How do you think Rhea feels?
Nia Jax ambushed her before the show even started.
And now a splash by Jax and the brawl continues.
[Wade] We got about every security guard and producer out here now
trying to split these women up,
and we still might not have enough here, we haven't.
[Michael] And now it's Rhea's turn. Rhea Ripley going after Jax.
Bad blood spewing here between these two.
[Wade] Two alpha females
swinging everything they've got at one another,
and it is Nia Jax who goes down first.
[Michael] And now Rhea, drop right on the back of her head,
on the apron.
Nia Jax now driving Rhea,
bouncing her head off the announce table here.
-Nia Jax tearing the table. -[Wade] Oh, God, Nia's lost it!
[indistinct clamor]
[Wade] You see the apprehension
of these security guards, they're not getting in the way.
[Michael] And Nia trying to climb on the table to take out Rhea.
Finally, nearly a dozen security.
And Rhea Ripley now taking out everybody with a dive off the table.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] And still, Rhea Ripley isn't done.
[crowd chanting]
[Michael] Rhea Ripley and Nia Jax beating the hell out of one another.
Rhea pissed off after being attacked by Nia before the show tonight.
[security] Get her out of here!
Get out of the way.
[crowd cheering]
You, me, Saturday Night Main Event!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Oh, yeah! Make it official, Pearce, make it official!
Rhea and Nia! Saturday night at San Antonio!
[indistinct chatter]
-["Demon In Your Dreams" playing] -[Michael] What did Gorilla used to say?
"The irresistible force meets the immovable object."
[Wade] I think the whole world cannot wait for that matchup.
What an appetizer we just got, imagine the main course.
[Michael] Adam, make it official, make it official for Saturday Night.
Do your job, Pearce, just say yes.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, what a battle here tonight,
Rhea and Nia Jax.
Well, last week, our main event on Monday Night Raw,
and I would have wished you were here for it.
It was a great one. It was a street fight between Damian Priest and Finn Bálor.
Watch this, Wade, the Broken Arrow.
[Wade] Culmination of an incredibly bitter rivalry
between Judgment Day member…
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] …Finn Bálor and former leader Damian Priest.
Bálor getting carted out of there in a stretcher,
but Priest simply was not done bringing Bálor back
into the firefight despite his body showing the wounds of war.
That was, of course,
until Judgment Day members got involved.
Until the arrival of the tag champs, The War Raiders,
-to even up the odds. -[Michael] Say it one time for us.
[Wade] "Raw is war."
[bell ringing]
[Michael] Priest with the win in the Street Fight.
-[dramatic music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[indistinct chatter]
It's a great clubhouse, but look, Dom,
you said you could help me with my lucha problem, right?
Got some information for me, something? Come on, help me out.
Fine, fine. I know a guy who can help you out.
Oh!
-This is the guy. -This is the guy.
[chuckles] Judgment Day, JD McNewdge,
I'm off to master the dark arts of lucha libre.
Dark, what?
-What is that all about? -[sighs] It's a long story,
but it's never a bad thing for Dabo to owe us one.
Yeah, the dude's a stud, all right, but that doesn't help us.
Next week, Pearce is giving us the tag title rematch,
and Finn's not gonna be there. He's laid up.
Well, listening to Finn hasn't led to much winning lately, has it?
Yeah, listen, this is serious, all right?
We're gonna forfeit this match if we don't get it.
-Okay. -What if I replace Finn, right?
I don't think he'll mind, right?
As long as the tag titles are back with the Judgment Day.
-It's not bad. -Plus, the wall's looking a little empty.
-Uh-huh. -Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, you're absolutely right.
-We got this. -I got you. [chuckles]
You don't think Finn's gonna mind that, do you?
Oh no, no, no. He's gonna love this idea. He's gonna love it.
And… Hmm. Seems like you're quite the mastermind now, Dominik, huh?
I just hope that this plan goes better than the one that you had
-for my match with Rhea. -[scoffs]
-Mi güerita, I thought you weren't mad. -I'm not. But what?
You can't take a joke, my little honey bunny?
[chuckles] No, I have an idea for you as well.
-Oh? -And I know you're not mad,
but I'm gonna make it up to you anyway.
Oh, you will. Let's go.
[indistinct chatter]
[dramatic music playing]
[Valkyria] Last week, I walked into Raw ready to become a history maker.
[Alicia] The following contest is for the WWE
Women's Intercontinental Championship!
[Valkyria] And that meant spreading my wings,
and shedding any dead feathers that made me doubt the heights
I knew I was capable of reaching.
-[crowd cheering] -[Valkyria] I took fear, I took doubt,
and I used them to become something more.
[crowd counting, cheering]
[Michael] Your brand-new intercontinental champion!
And now, that I have this…
it's about what comes next. And what comes next is building a legacy
as a valiant, fighting, women's intercontinental champion.
[thrilling rock music playing]
[Wade] And still to come tonight, the bitter "Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne,
goes one-on-one with the phenomenon that is Raw's newest star,
the incredible luchador, Penta! That is next here on Raw.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, tonight, we take a moment
to pause and reflect and honor a man
who was an integral part of the civil rights movement
and a man who fought for the equality of everyone,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
["Ain't No Better Time" playing]
♪ Every morning that you get ♪
♪ There's a choice you haven't met ♪
♪ Well, here's some hope you can borrow ♪
[Martin Luther King Jr.] I have a dream that my four little children
will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged
by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
♪ 'Cause there ain’t no better ♪
♪ Time than today ♪
[Martin over recording] When we let it ring, all of us,
children, Black men, and white men will be able to join hands,
and sing in the words of the old spiritual.
♪ Oh, yeah, you know ♪
[Martin] Free at last, free at last!
-Thank God Almighty, we are free at last! -[crowd cheering]
♪ There ain't no better time… ♪
Now, is the time that we as a people get to the promised land.
♪ Than today ♪
♪ Well, there ain't no better time ♪
[Martin over recording] I still have a dream.
♪ Than today ♪
[song concludes]
-[crowd cheering] -[Zayn] Hey.
Hey, Sam.
Hey, I know you got your match with Drew coming up.
I just want to tell you, as a friend, I really appreciated our talk last week,
-and I needed to hear that. -Nice.
I want you to know that it got through to me.
-[chuckles] -All right?
I know, man. I heard you out there. I respect that.
It's about time for that Sami Zayn to show up.
And you know what? I'm almost rooting for that Sami Zayn.
But push comes to shove at the Rumble…
I will throw you right over that top rope.
[crowd cheering]
-Not if I throw you out first. -[crowd cheering]
-Hmm. -Good luck with Drew tonight, buddy.
[scoffs]
[heavy rock music playing]
-[heavy rock music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Fasten your seat belts, partner.
-Cero miedo! -[crowd] Cero miedo!
[screams]
-[cheers] -[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] And his opponent from Ecatepec, Mexico,
weighing in at 87 kilos, Penta.
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, he has no fear.
Everyone is loving Penta. Everyone's buying his mask.
You should buy one and wear it out here. Improve the ratings.
[Wade] Are you implying something there, Michael Cole, about my looks?
[Michael] What a debut last week!
Penta and Chad Gable blew the roof off the place.
[Michael] And tonight, Penta goes head-to-head
with "The Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne,
who's very upset because people still call him Butch.
[Wade] Just stop saying the B-word, please, Michael Cole.
We knew what the terrible nickname is. You don't have to keep repeating it.
Let's grind the gears of poor Pete Dunne, but people like you love saying that word.
[Michael] So, this is a very interesting matchup
because Dunne and Penta have met before, back in 2017.
RevPro, these two went one-on-one, but here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
And Dunne and Penta now slugging it out early on.
[Wade] Well, I'll tell you right now, Penta has come in
with a hell of a lot of fanfare.
He's been wowing the globe for years.
Once upon a time, it was Pete Dunne
getting that kind of fanfare on the independent scene.
And it must anger Dunne to no end
that the spotlight has firmly turned to Penta.
[Michael] Well, Pete Dunne is dangerous as they come,
a former NXT Tag Team Champion and NXT UK champ as well.
And he just knocks Penta to the floor.
[Wade] And Dunne, as you mentioned, is irate.
It's week three of Raw here on Netflix.
At no point was Dunne invited to the show, asked to be on the show,
put here in a match. This is an opportunity for…
[Michael] Oh my God!
…to make a point to management here and at Netflix.
[Michael] Trying to break the fingers and now the elbow.
[Wade] Or break the shiny new toy of the bosses here in WWE.
That's what you get for ignoring Pete Dunne.
[crowd chanting "Butch"]
[Michael] The fans are chanting "Butch" here.
[Wade] Yeah, because of people like you and people like R-Truth.
You should be ashamed of yourself, Michael Cole.
[Michael] I was gonna say Butch,
it was Dunne sent across the ring by Penta.
Caught with a kick, now reversal, Penta sent into the corner.
Dunne catches him with a step-up enziguri to the back of the head.
[Wade] Well, the party really is over now for Penta, isn't it?
That honeymoon period lasted one week. This is a rude awakening.
-Oh! -[Michael] Oh!
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] What timing there from Penta!
[Michael] Incredible.
And Pete Dunne outside the ring doesn't wanna be out there
-with a high-flying luchador, Penta. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Well, Pete Dunne over committed on that one.
-What a huge error. -[crowd] Cero miedo!
[Michael] And this is why he has no fear, and Dunne caught him with a right.
The rough and tough bruiserweight, the brawler, Pete Dunne.
There's a reason why Pete Dunne has a gold laden career.
[Michael] Right on the apron, Penta's in trouble.
[Michael] It's been great strategy by Pete Dunne, Wade,
he's grounded the highflyer. Oh! Penta at every turn.
Well, that was Bull Hammer-esque to the jaw of the luchador,
and this has completely gone off the rails now for Penta.
The party of last week, the celebration,
it may all be for nothing
because he is getting beaten from pillar to post by a vengeful,
vindictive, bitter bruiserweight.
[Michael] Well, Dunne's mad at everybody, he's mad at the world.
[Wade] Whatever nightmare fuel Dunne is feeding off here,
-it is clearly working. -[Michael] Uh-oh, nobody home.
Penta ducked underneath that. Now, Penta looks to rally.
Kick right to the midsection.
Penta looking to pick up the pace. Sling blade drops Dunne face-first.
[Wade] We've got a little glimpse of the durability of Penta.
You've got an absolute beating for about four straight minutes from Dunne.
[Michael] Bang, right to the midsection.
[Wade] But has now bounced back with a vengeance.
[Michael] Penta now lifting Dunne up on his shoulders.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And now down goes Dunne!
[Wade] Penta may have hurt himself in the process.
-Cover for the win. -[referee] One, two…
[Michael] I believe the shoulders were up as well
as Penta turns the tables here, Wade.
[Wade] Yeah, take a look at this, just a window of opportunity.
And then these jaw-dropping forms of offense from the luchador
has completely taken the wind out of the sails of Pete Dunne.
[Michael] Yeah, Death Valley Driver driving Dunne into the match…
into the mat, as you look on here from the American Airlines Center.
Fifteen thousand five seventy-two sold out!
Great match between Penta and Dunne here on Raw.
Kick again by Dunne.
[Wade] Two completely different styles, but both hard hitting,
both have taken a lot of abuse in this matchup, and both men are hurting.
[Michael] Ooh. That'll stop Dunne in his tracks.
Penta… Oh, wow! The Mexican Destroyer by Penta.
[Wade] Well, Pete Dunne has rolled out the ring.
I don't know if it was instinct or what, but thankfully for him,
for now, out of the danger zone, just when he needs some time to recover.
[Michael] What did you say, "Out of the danger zone?"
-I wouldn't be too sure, Wade. -[Wade] I… I…
Maybe the danger zone is everywhere when it comes to Penta.
Topé con hilo for Penta, taking out Dunne.
Both men showing the wear and tear of this match.
[Wade] Yeah, two men popped through the ring,
but we know both of these men are highly motivated to get the job here.
-Take a look at this. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Mexican Destroyer followed by this topé con hilo to the outside.
And Pete Dunne moving gingerly in ring. What on earth is Penta cooking up next?
[Michael] The official counting, the count of six.
-Penta's got Dunne in trouble. -[crowd counting] Seven…
[Michael] Penta back into the ring, measuring his opponent.
[Wade] Gonna go in for the kill here.
[Michael] Now, Pete Dunne though, Penta trying to hang on,
what's Dunne gonna do here?
And now it's Dunne dropping Penta on the back of his head.
Penta kicked at two and a half, that was close.
[Wade] Late… Late kick-out there from Penta,
simply serving to anger Pete Dunne even more.
But right now, the ball squarely in the court of The Bruiserweight.
[Michael] This matchup has been fun to watch.
[Wade] It is. Pete Dunne just carries an aura of casual menace
wherever he goes, that gets ramped up as soon as that bell rings.
[Michael] On their knees, exchanging blows and chops.
[crowd cheering]
Listen!
-Cero miedo! -[crowd] Cero miedo!
[Michael] Pete Dunne said, "I'm gonna break your hand for that."
[Wade] Talking smack at the wrong time.
You simply cannot do that with someone like Dunne!
[Michael] Dunne looking for a triangle choke here on Penta.
[Wade] And he's got it locked in, center of the ring.
[Michael] Penta though, trying to lift Dunne up
and break this hold, and he does!
-Penta with a backbreaker. -[Wade] Whoa!
[Michael] Knee to the spine.
-What a counter by Penta! -[Wade] What a powerhouse that is,
the high-flying luchador that does a deadlift powerbomb like that.
[Michael] And we saw Penta use this last week against Gable.
-He calls it The Sacrifice. -[crowd] Cero miedo!
[Michael] And hammerlock into an armbreaker.
[Wade] May have dislocated the right shoulder of The Bruiserweight,
who now you have to think is defenseless.
[Michael] And now, he's got him where he wants him.
Penta now, lifting Pete Dunne up…
-[Wade] Oh! -…into a Penta Driver!
-Cover by Penta, and another win! -[crowd counting] One, two, three.
-[bell ringing] -[heavy rock music playing]
-[crowd cheering] -[Alicia] Here is your winner, Penta!
[Michael] He is a joy to watch.
Penta off to a roaring start here on Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] Wow, the brightest spotlight of his entire career.
Penta doesn't hide at all. He simply grew in stature before our eyes,
this stunning modified backbreaker on Dunne,
followed by this, The Sacrifice, leaving a defenseless Pete Dunne
to taste this Penta Driver.
-And it's 2-0 now… -[crowd counting] One, two, three.
-[bell ringing] -…for this incredible luchador,
the latest Superstar here on Raw. What a bright future this man has.
[Michael] Yeah, and an emotional Penta as well.
He told us last week on Monday Night Raw, how excited he was to be here.
It really was a dream come true and the highlight of his career,
to be able to participate here, in ring, at WWE.
He is going to be a force to be reckoned with.
Yeah, undoubtedly the kind of guy that puts fear into the locker room,
because they know one day, I'm probably gonna have to try
and beat that man. That may be Mission Impossible.
Also a force to be reckoned with,
the newest member of the Monday Night Raw roster,
a former United States Champion, Logan Paul!
[music concludes]
["Who's The One" playing]
Man, it must suck to be a Logan Paul hater.
For years, all of you have wanted me to fail.
But you know why it's never happened, and it never will?
Because when I do something, I become the best at it.
♪ Who's the one? Who's the one? Who's the one? Yeah! ♪
♪ Who's the one? I'm the one Who's the one? Yeah! ♪
♪ Turn it up, run it up I've been in that mode ♪
[Logan] I became the king of the internet.
I was the only man in history to beat Floyd Mayweather.
So, what makes you think the WWE will be any different?
♪ Walking down with no fear Competition can't come near ♪
♪ Who's the one? Let's make it quick ♪
♪ Who's the one? I'm the one ♪
Look around, dummies.
♪ Who's the one? I'm the one Who's the one? ♪
[Logan] This is my life now.
And I will eat, sleep, and breathe wrestling
until I become the greatest Superstar to ever step foot in that ring.
You can quote me on that.
You're looking at the GOAT, ladies and gentlemen.
-[exhales] -[music concludes]
-[exciting rock music playing] -[Michael] Did Logan know
you were calling the show tonight?
-[Wade groaning] Real-- -[Michael] He said, "Listen up, dummies."
-[Michael] Nonetheless. [laughs] -[Wade] Real cheap shot, Michael Cole!
[Michael] Monday Night Raw is in Atlanta next week,
where we will see the Monday Night Raw debut
of the sensational Logan Paul, here on Netflix.
[Wade] Not only that, next week, Raw will be war!
Because the world tag team champs, The War Raiders, put the gold on the line
against a new combination of former champs, The Judgment Day,
this time, "Dirty" Dom and JD McDonagh.
World Tag Team Championship's on the line next week on Raw.
[Michael] Well, Saturday night, it's Saturday Night's Main Event on NBC,
Cody Rhodes will sign the contract with Kevin Owens
for his ladder match at the Royal Rumble. Then he heads to his hometown of Atlanta.
Cody Rhodes, the WWE Champion, live next week on Netflix!
["Cult of Personality" playing]
-Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! -[crowd cheering, exclaiming]
[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]
[Michael] He told me earlier today, he was a--
[Alicia] Please welcome
CM Punk!
[Michael] I didn't get upset that the great Alicia Taylor…
-[Wade chuckling] -…actually interrupted me,
but nonetheless,
CM Punk told me earlier today, he's a man of the people, Wade.
And he just entered through the people, joining our…
[crowd cheering]
…our hockey analyst, Jackie Redmond, this year.
Punk, of course, a huge hockey fan.
Let's head up to Jackie. Take it away, Jack!
-[crowd chanting "CM Punk"] -CM Punk, they love chanting your name!
Thank you so much for coming out here for this interview in the arena,
with the people of Dallas.
Jackie, before you get to questions, I have a question for you.
Is it great to be alive on a Monday night in Dallas, Texas, or what?
[crowd cheering]
CM Punk, you know it is, but let's get to the question.
You know, there are only so many ways to get to the main event of WrestleMania,
something you're looking to do for the first time ever in your career.
The Royal Rumble, of course, is one of those ways,
but that's a PLE that you've never won.
And it's shaping up to be one of the most stacked fields ever.
Yourself, Roman Reigns, John Cena…
Seth "Freakin" Rollins, Drew McIntyre. Sami Zayn just declared earlier tonight.
So, my question for you is,
what makes this Royal Rumble different for CM Punk?
History! And I am the maker of history!
It was just three short weeks ago, I main-evented
the first Monday Night Raw, live on Netflix.
And I beat Seth Rollins, somebody favored to win this Royal Rumble.
It is a very fickle business. What have you done for me lately?
Lately, I make history, and I'll do it in two short weeks
at the Royal Rumble, when I walk in,
and I throw 29 other "Superstars" over the top rope.
The stakes are much too high, the lights are much too bright,
the pressure is on!
And that is when CM Punk comes alive, and that is when he thrives.
Nobody can beat me
when I am at my best with these people behind me!
[crowd cheering]
-[Punk] Did you say John Cena? -[Jackie] I did.
I "can't see" John Cena throwing me over the top rope on February 1st.
Did you say Roman Reigns?
Roman Reigns needed my help
to settle family business at War Games.
And in the Royal Rumble there are no friends.
It's every man for himself.
I put Drew McIntyre in the dirt.
Don't ask me about Sami Zayn, he's not on my level.
You put Hulk Hogan in the Royal Rumble, I'll throw his dusty ass over the top rope
and I'll kill Hulkamania once and for all!
-[crowd cheering] -On February 1st, 60,000 strong,
live on Peacock, in living color, at Lucas oil field, Indianapolis, Indiana.
My name is CM Punk, and I am settling scores,
and I am cashing in debts,
and I'm calling in a favor or two if I need to.
And at the end of the night, 29 other men are going night-night.
And one man will get his hand raised!
-One name, three syllables, C… -[crowd chanting "M Punk!"]
-Thank you so much for your time. -["Cult of Personality" playing]
[Michael] McAfee still won't have him on his show.
[Wade chuckling]
[Michael] Well, CM Punk, part of the Royal Rumble.
It is an all-star field forming for Indianapolis,
a week from Saturday.
[crowd chanting "CM Punk!"]
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, this man's in the Rumble as well.
Drew McIntyre proved once again on social media this weekend,
that he's nothing but a hypocrite.
I'll explain why.
WrestleMania rematch with Seth Rollins tonight.
[music concludes]
-["Run For The Hills" playing] -[Michael] For the 27th time,
Monday Night Raw is visiting Dallas, Texas.
Once home to the renowned Reunion Arena.
Now home to the American Airlines Center and Monday Night Raw.
Tonight, we're sold out, 15,572 on hand, Wade,
and they all brought their signs here to Dallas.
♪ I break down, I break down ♪
[Wade] "Iyo Sky, Genius of the Sky."
We will be seeing her in action, imminently.
And of course, the place, as always, full of yeeting signs.
Yeah, you're on Netflix. All of us are, around the entire world.
[Michael] National Championship, of course, underway tonight.
That's where Pat McAfee is. That's why we're stuck with Wade for
-a few more minutes. -[Wade] Just mean. Unnecessary mean.
I'm calling HR on that one.
-Crossed the line now, pal. -[Michael] You're not an actual employee.
[Wade] No comment.
[Michael] And meanwhile in the…
in the ring, Sonya Deville leading Pure Fusion Collective.
Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark will team up here tonight.
The official in our match-up tonight is Daphanie LaShaunn.
-["Still the Baddest" playing] -[laughter over speaker]
♪ Damage CTRL ♪
[Yuka laughing]
[Alicia] And your opponents, the team of Iyo Sky
and Dakota Kai, Damage CTRL!
[Michael] Well, there is no love lost between these two groups,
Pure Fusion Collective and Damage CTRL.
You notice Kairi Sane is not accompanying Iyo Sky
and Dakota Kai to the ring here tonight.
And there is a reason for that. You can blame Pure Fusion Collective.
[Wade] Yeah, this was last month on Raw. You hear a screaming Kairi Sane…
-[Kairi screaming] -[referees clamoring]
…left in agony after yet another sneak attack by PFC.
The reign of terror from this trio shows no sign of slowing down.
[Michael] Yeah, Kairi Sane suffering a hand injury with that attack.
[Michael] Dakota Kai coming off
-a very emotional… -[bell ringing]
…match-up last week,
the finals of the Intercontinental Championship Tournament.
Won, of course, by Lyra Valkyria.
Dakota Kai said, "I'm gonna keep going after a championship."
"I belong here in WWE. I believe I proved that last week."
-And indeed, she did, Wade. -[Wade] Yes, she did.
And it's interesting you bring that up
because Dakota Kai actually eliminated her two opponents tonight
in various rounds of that tournament, on that run to the final.
In the first round, Shayna Baszler, in a triple threat match,
and then in the semifinal, Zoey Stark. So, a little bit of vengeance there from…
[Michael] Dakota stacks up Shayna and a kick-out.
[Wade] …Dakota Kai, but, man, it will be a glorious win tonight
for Damage CTRL, in honor of their fallen counterpart, Kairi Sane.
[Michael] Sonya Deville, the mastermind of this group, looking on.
You know, interesting history between all these women.
Zoey Stark was once a tag team champion at NXT with Iyo Sky,
her opponent here tonight. Tag made by Zoey.
[Wade] Yes, she was. That was a rookie Zoey Stark.
-[Michael] Zoey like a missile! -[Wade] Oh my God! That was amazing!
-[Michael] Like a missile. -[Wade] Oh, wow.
[Michael] Zoey Stark, she's a sniper, Sonya, and she's better than you.
[Wade] I mean, what a missile dropkick right to the gut of…
-Take another look at this. -[Michael] Just like a sniper, Wade.
-[Wade] Oh, it was so good. -[Michael] Bang!
And then here's the problem. Afterwards, the gloating,
and there was a sloppy pin from Stark, but I promise you,
a tight hook pin immediately there. This one was over. Wow, Zoey.
[Michael] Yeah, Dakota is in trouble now.
-Always… -[Wade] Iyo Sky desperate for this tag.
Get a fresh woman in there because I just can't even imagine
that sternum, that rib cage
-of Dakota Kai after that dropkick. -[crowd booing]
[Wade] I've never seen anything quite like that before.
[Michael] Tag to Shayna Baszler.
Shayna, a former two-time NXT Women's Champ…
-[Wade] Oh! -…three-time WWE Tag Team Champion.
Double team now by Zoey and Shayna Baszler.
[Wade] That was Sonya Deville
yelling into the microphone here, clearly impressed
by the performance of her two partners so far this evening.
Really, the brains of this operation is Sonya Deville,
a former executive here in WWE,
-knows how to get deals done. -[crowd booing]
[Michael] She manipulated Shayna and Zoey to join her group,
just tell it like it is.
[Wade] Well, I'll tell it like it is, and whatever manipulation was required,
it's certainly looking pretty damn good for PFC right now,
who are completely dominating poor Dakota Kai,
who has not looked the same
since that springboard missile dropkick from Zoey Stark.
[Michael] And the Submission Magician, Shayna Baszler,
wisely working on the injured right leg of Dakota Kai.
She wears a knee brace because remember, she missed a number of months
of action in her career because of a damaged knee.
[Wade] Well, at this point, you can pick any body part of Dakota Kai
because she has been blasted all around this ring from the word, "Go."
And Shayna Baszler, such a silent killer, lets her physicality do the talking,
and it is absolutely terrifying.
[Michael] Shayna just continues to put the pressure on Dakota Kai…
[Wade] It's part of the game plan of these women.
It's to leave a little something on an opponent after a match.
Give them a souvenir, tear something, break something,
but let them know, when you get in the ring with PFC,
win, lose, or draw,
you're coming out there with some form of injury.
[Michael] Tag made to Zoey,
trying to prevent Dakota from making the tag.
Caught her in the shoulder. Dakota has an opening.
Shayna Baszler now sent out of the ring. Dakota makes a tag.
-Here comes Iyo Sky. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Yeah, not a moment too soon.
Genius of the Sky in there with shotei uppercuts.
And this match has completely turned around.
[Michael] Iyo Sky, former Miss Money in the Bank,
-former WWE Champion. -[crowd chanting "Iyo"]
-[Michael] Look at Iyo go! -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Well, I'd say if Damage CTRL are gonna win this match-up,
Iyo Sky has to win it alone, cause surely Kai is down and out now.
[Michael] Iyo is such a joy to watch.
-[crowd exclaiming] -[Wade] Ooh!
Always putting her body on the line.
Perhaps the highest risk Superstar of them all.
And it is paying dividends right now for Damage CTRL.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Iyo now, top rope, measuring Zoey.
Now, there's a great dropkick as well, and a kip-up by Iyo.
[Wade] Well, receipt there for Zoey Stark, got a taste of her own medicine,
and is in big trouble in the corner of the ring.
[Iyo screams]
[Michael] Iyo calls that the Bullet Train Attack.
-Cover by Sky. Hooks the leg. -[crowd counting] One, two…
-Zoey kicks at two. -[Wade] Minimum, a jaw loosener.
Two knees right to the point of the chin of Zoey Stark,
who simply doesn't look like she's got anything left in her at this point.
[Michael] Looked like Iyo was gonna go for the moonsault.
Sonya Deville caused a distraction, Dakota Kai made her pay,
-and now Iyo headed up to the top rope. -[Wade] Perhaps nobody left to hold--
[Michael] Baszler blasting Dakota. Iyo Sky distracted, Zoey takes advantage.
[Wade] I was gonna say, nobody left to save Zoey Stark.
Forgot about Baszler temporarily.
[Michael] Well, they're gonna set up Iyo Sky, try to put her away here.
Wow, what a move by Stark. Cover now, stacks her up.
-[crowd counting] Two… -[Michael] Iyo kicks at two.
[Wade] I'll tell you right now,
for years, when people have brought up the word "potential,"
Zoey Stark is the first name that comes to mind.
We are seeing that potential come to fruition now.
[Michael] And Zoey and Shayna Baszler looking to put this one away.
Baszler now with that running knee, catches her, stacks her up again.
And Dakota Kai breaks things up, little bit of payback.
[Wade] This offense that keeps opponents' brains spinning.
You simply can't defend yourself when they stack that offense.
-[Michael] Nobody home. -[Wade] Wisely out of the way there
was Dakota Kai.
[Michael] And Dakota now, a running kick takes out Stark.
[Michael] Shayna Baszler now with a kick to Kai.
[Wade] What a mess this matchup is turning into.
[Michael] Or maybe not.
Kirifuda Clutch by Shayna Baszler.
Just look at the malice in the eyes of Baszler.
[Michael] Oh, that's an innovative counter.
[Wade] Highly creative,
it had to be 'cause she was locked into that hold.
-[Michael] Genius of the Sky. -[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] A fly, cover. -[crowd counting] One, two, three.
-[Michael] Iyo and Dakota with the win. -[bell ringing]
-["Still The Baddest" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] Here are your winners, Damage CTRL!
[Wade] A big victory there for Damage CTRL
as PFC once again rue their luck.
[Michael] Well, coming up on Monday Night Raw
it is our main event. It is a WrestleMania rematch.
Seth Rollins versus Drew McIntyre.
-[Rollins] I am… -[dramatic music playing]
-[McIntyre] Selfish. -[Rollins] …a visionary.
-[Rollins] I am the revolutionary! -[McIntyre] Delusional.
[Rollins] I am…
-[McIntyre] Arrogant. -[Rollins] …Seth…
-Self-serving. -[Rollins] …"Freakin"…
-Hypocrite. -[Rollins] …Rollins!
[Corey] The new kingpin of Monday Night Raw is Drew McIntyre.
[McIntyre] Enjoy the spotlight cause after WrestleMania
the spotlight's all mine.
♪ I'm on the edge And I'm fighting for my life ♪
[McIntyre] Everybody's finally starting to realize what I've known all along,
that Drew McIntyre has always been the chosen one.
This dude has been needling me, needling me for months.
[McIntyre] I remember the last time we had a world title match,
and I beat your ass.
[Rollins] You've been whining that you deserve better.
The problem is, Drew, you fumbled the ball.
You still want to point the finger at everybody else.
And that's the difference between you and me.
When the lights are the brightest, I shine, baby.
[crowd cheering]
[McIntyre] You think everything revolves around you.
You're only worried about your selfish agenda.
♪ When you collect You 'gon pay the price ♪
[Rollins] The lights are gonna be as bright as they have ever been.
And you are gonna find out, you're not as good as you think you are.
♪ 'Cause I'm on the edge And I'm fightin' for my life ♪
-[crowd cheering] -[music concludes]
-["The Vision" playing] -♪ Burn it down! ♪
[crowd cheering]
-♪ Woah, woah-oh-oh ♪ -[crowd chanting “Woah, woah-oh-oh”]
♪ Woah, woah-oh-oh ♪
♪ Woah-oh ♪
-♪ Burn it down! ♪ -[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Davenport, Iowa,
weighing in at 225 pounds,
Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
♪ Woah, woah-oh-oh ♪
♪ Woah-oh ♪
♪ Burn it down! ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] It is a WrestleMania rematch,
Rollins, McIntyre live on Netflix.
♪ Woah, woah-oh-oh ♪
[Michael] Main event time. WrestleMania rematch.
It was last year at WrestleMania where Seth Rollins
-lost his World Heavyweight Championship… -["The Vision" playing]
…after wrestling back-to-back nights. Drew McIntyre beat him for the title.
Only for McIntyre to be cashed in on moments later by Damian Priest.
-[crowd cheering] -["Gallantry" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[inaudible]
-[yells] -[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] And his opponent from Ayr, Scotland,
weighing in at 275 pounds,
-Drew McIntyre! -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] We're in Dallas tonight,
but next Monday we head to Atlanta, Georgia.
The final Monday Night Raw before the Royal Rumble
in the beginning of the road to WrestleMania.
Raw in Atlanta next week. Okay, why is Drew McIntyre a hypocrite?
Well, he went on social media this week once again,
and, well, he complained and complained and complained.
Exhibit number one, he could have ended Roman Reigns himself,
instead of complaining about everyone else not doing it.
He could have got involved in the Tribal Combat Match
on the debut of Raw on Netflix, where there are no rules,
no disqualifications, yet McIntyre was nowhere to be found.
Then he complained that anybody else didn't stop Roman.
[Wade] What are you talking about here?
Drew McIntyre was the one responsible for neutralizing Jey Uso
from getting involved in that matchup.
He was the only family member of Roman Reigns
-who didn't get involved in tribal combat. -[Michael] Oh, please.
[Wade] Drew can't stop them all on his own.
He needs help from people like Seth Rollins.
[Michael] And then Drew would go lose to Jey Uso later on in the night.
Exhibit number two, Drew McIntyre, preached to Seth Rollins last week,
that "You would burn--" Or last year, I should say,
"You were burning the candle on both ends."
"Need to focus on me." Seth Rollins didn't do that.
He got involved in the Cody Rhodes situation,
wrestled on Saturday Night WrestleMania, lost his title.
What does Drew do? The same thing he told Seth not to do.
Took his eye off the ball, obsessed with CM Punk,
got into it with Punk, got knocked out. Damian Priest cashes in.
-[Wade] No. -[Michael] Oh!
And that was Seth Rollins just tossing his new jacket at you.
Well, I'm gonna put that on eBay. Now it's worth a lot of money, I'm sure.
But here's the deal, the point you just made,
Drew McIntyre absolutely did focus at WrestleMania.
He focused so much, he beat Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
-He won the championship… -[bell ringing]
…what he couldn't focus on was unknown after the match
when CM Punk blindside attacked Drew McIntyre with a cast…
[Michael] Well, after McIntyre mouthed off to him.
McIntyre's title reign at WrestleMania lasted as long as the TikTok ban.
-I got two good knees on me now… -[crowd chanting “Woah, woah-oh-oh”]
[Michael] Rollins said he's 100% and he's ready to go tonight.
[Wade] Rollins has not been close to 100% in years.
He simply runs too hard for too long.
That is the nature of the competitor that Seth freaking Rollins is.
[Michael] And here's another thing about McIntyre.
He's complained for over two years about how The Bloodline cost him
the championship at Clash at the Castle, in front of his family and his friends.
The man who cost him that was Solo Sikoa.
He walked out of the ring a couple of weeks ago, got in Solo's face
and did nothing about it.
[Wade] I wouldn't say he did nothing about it.
He told Solo Sikoa quite squarely, "One day your time is coming, pal,
but I have to focus on somebody else right now,
then I'm moving on to somebody else, then I'm coming for you, Solo."
[indistinct chatter]
[Michael] Oh, and a chop by McIntyre.
[Michael] And one from Rollins.
I spoke to Seth Rollins earlier today. Seth told me…
[indistinct chatter]
…that on the first match,
first main event in the history of Monday Night Raw on Netflix,
when he lost to CM Punk, it was the worst loss of his career.
He can't get it out of his head,
and he says he needs to right that wrong here tonight in the main event
-against McIntyre. -[Wade] And you're okay with that,
but when Drew McIntyre suffers the worst loss
of his career and starts spiraling, you have a big problem up with it.
[Michael] Yeah, but Seth blamed himself. Seth didn't blame anybody else.
That's all McIntyre does is blame other people.
Shoulder tackle by McIntyre.
[Wade] Well, Seth "Freakin" Rollins needs a win tonight to right the ship
after what happened on the Raw debut a couple of weeks ago against CM Punk.
The problem is he now has a mountain to climb
against 270 pounds of snarling Scotsman.
[Michael] You know, Wade, both of these men have declared
for the Royal Rumble match, a week from Saturday in Indianapolis,
both of these men have won Royal Rumble matches.
Drew McIntyre winning in 2020.
Last year he was eliminated by CM Punk in the Rumble match.
Seth Rollins won the Rumble in 2019,
and they have to be odds-on favorites as well.
[Wade] McIntyre now cleared to the outside by Seth Rollins
-with the wind in his sails. -[Michael] And Rollins drives McIntyre
right to the announce table. Seth Rollins now measuring his man.
Here comes Rollins, suicide dive. McIntyre bounced into the announce table.
[Wade] And still, McIntyre does not stay down.
-Maybe third time's a charm for Rollins. -[Michael] And Rollins, though,
caught by McIntyre. And McIntyre, what a throw on the announce table,
over the announce table, into the chair. Rollins is in trouble.
McIntyre with a near fall after that knee right to the midsection of Rollins.
[Wade] Yeah, what an epic matchup we're seeing here.
Both men putting in their absolute best,
but it is McIntyre who has a clear upper hand right now.
We should be on the same team. Play for the same cause.
You're too damn selfish, aren't you?
You're so damn selfish.
[Wade] And here's the point McIntyre's making,
"We're batting for the same team." Both men are in agreement
that a Roman Reigns with power is a negative for the industry.
The difference is Drew has backed his words up
with physical actions, Seth Rollins has not.
[Michael] Drew hasn't had any physical actions against Roman Reigns
who apparently is the problem. But nonetheless…
Rollins runs into an elbow by McIntyre.
[Wade] McIntyre is pulling down Roman Reigns' power structures
that he surrounds himself with, that's the point.
-Taking down the bloodline one by one. -[Michael] With the Alabama slam,
Rollins able to roll through now
-for the win, cover-- kick-out… -One, two!
-[Michael] …at two. -[Wade] Victory roll there
from Seth Rollins was almost catastrophic, coming down close to smashing his head
on the mat. But now, with that drop in McIntyre,
finally an opportunity perhaps to recover for The Architect.
[Michael] Both men are down, we talked about Rollins'…
issues with Punk at the premiere of Raw on Netflix in Los Angeles.
McIntyre had a rough go of it as well. The loss to main event Jey Uso.
Jey, of course, battling for the world title Saturday night
at Saturday night's main event against Gunther.
That's gotta hurt McIntyre as well.
[Wade] Well, McIntyre's game was thrown off that night
-after witnessing Roman Reigns. -[Michael] Oh my God. Now, you're making
-excuses for the guy. -[Wade] I'm not making excuses at all.
Well, watching Roman Reigns retake power in tribal combat.
McIntyre's head was not in the game after that.
[Michael] Very aggressive and vicious,
Seth Rollins on more than one occasion tonight,
taking the fight to McIntyre.
[Wade] It's the only way you can fight McIntyre.
You simply have to take the physical game to him.
You give McIntyre an inch, he's gonna take a mile,
-and Rollins knows that. -[Michael] He's also trying to rinse
the bad taste out of his mouth with that loss to Punk. And now, McIntyre,
the powerhouse, catching Rollins, lifting him up.
-[Wade] Oh. -[Michael] Went for the vertical Suplex,
Seth landed on his feet and drives McIntyre,
shoulder first to the post.
[Wade] One of the great athletes in WWE history,
-Seth "Freakin" Rollins just had too much. -[Michael] Oh, and again.
Again, just disdain between these two men, a longtime rivalry.
[Wade] McIntyre so big, so strong, it takes so much to--
[Michael] Oh, and again!
[Wade] Massive frame, but it would appear there is a chink in the armor
of Drew McIntyre, now getting exposed
-by Seth Rollins. -[Michael] Oh!
Rollins working on the left arm of McIntyre.
Referee Rod Zapata right there, checking on McIntyre.
Rollins from the apron.
Leaps off the top rope, knee caught him.
[Wade] Straight to the temple, drops McIntyre to his knees.
[Michael] And Rollins with another knee. Down goes McIntyre.
-Cover now by Seth for the win… -[referee] One, two!
…on Drew, kick-out, two.
[Wade] Yes, expert precision there from Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
Couple of bullseyes to the temple of McIntyre.
And McIntyre looking like a wreck.
[Michael] Seth would love to put McIntyre away here.
Again, going to launch himself, springboard off the top rope!
-Senton, cover by McIntyre. -[referee] One, two!
[Michael] Rollins pulling out all the stops tonight
and still can't put him away.
[Wade] Yeah, and you've gotta notice that Seth "Freakin" Rollins,
one of the most popular Superstars we have these days.
But face facts, there is still that hard-edged,
cutthroat assassin living inside
Seth "Freakin" Rollins when he comes out to play on nights like this.
[Michael] Again, working on the left arm of McIntyre,
great strategy here by Rollins.
Drew will roll out of the way, lifts Rollins up on the shoulders,
well-placed elbow by Seth.
And McIntyre sent out to the apron,
caught him with a big forearm.
[Wade] Two guys who desperately, desperately need a win tonight…
-[Michael] I agree with that. -[Wade] …after disastrous nights
two weeks ago on the Raw Netflix debut, both men losing.
Someone's gonna lose here again tonight.
-[Michael] Rollins, Superplex. -[crowd cheering]
Flown through.
-McIntyre, Michinoku Driver. -[crowd gasping]
-[crowd] One, two… -[Michael] Cover by McIntyre.
Kick-out at two by Rollins.
Rollins was going for his patented Falcon Arrow,
and McIntyre countered into the Michinoku Driver.
[Wade] While so few Superstars can bounce back like that,
McIntyre did it, he's just built of different stuff.
Take another look, a different angle on this one.
-Drew bang to rights until he wasn't. -[crowd gasping]
[Wade] And in the blink of an eye, The Scottish Psychopath
back on top in this one.
[Michael] Yeah, both men are down in our main event.
Kip-up though by McIntyre.
[Wade] Nothing more demoralizing in the deep water
than seeing your opponent pull out something like that,
especially when he's as huge as Drew McIntyre.
[Michael] McIntyre may have Rollins where he wants him.
Rollins may be going to Claymore Country.
-Nobody home. -[crowd gasping]
[Michael] Rollins ducked underneath the Claymore.
[Wade] Well, McIntyre just gave it a beat too long.
You can't do that with Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
[Michael] Rollins is looking for the stomp and he ran into a spine buster.
-Jackknife cover by McIntyre. -[crowd] One, two…
-[Rollins grunts] -[Michael] Kick-out by Rollins.
[Wade] Rollins grabbing his sternum and probably struggling
to get any oxygen in those lungs right now.
-[Michael] McIntyre sent down. -[crowd gasping]
Rana by Seth Rollins. Now, a super kick to the face.
-[Wade] Attempting that DDT… -[Michael] Oh!
…blocked by McIntyre, but finally that Falcon Arrow.
-[Michael] And a cover now. -[crowd counting] One, two…
[Michael] Went for the--
A kick-out at two.
[Wade] And that was a lazy kick-out by McIntyre,
lazy because there's almost nothing left in the tank of the big Scotsman.
[Michael] And again, watch this.
Seth Rollins turning this into the Falcon Arrow.
[crowd gasping]
-[Michael] And almost picked up the win. -[crowd counting] One, two…
[Wade] There was a light cover from Rollins
who has had the stuffing knocked out of him on several occasions.
A tight snap pin there probably would have got the job done,
but there wasn't enough left in Rollins to get that in.
[Michael] It is our main event tonight on Monday Night Raw
live from a sold out American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas.
WrestleMania rematch, Rollins-McIntyre-- Went for the stomp.
McIntyre rolled out of harm's way. Look at the Future Shock DDT.
Rollins now kicked to the midsection, looking for the Pedigree.
-McIntyre counters, clothesline. -[Wade] Counter for counter,
hold for hold, but nothing fancy about that from Drew McIntyre,
a Louisville slugger across the upper chest
of Seth Rollins.
[Michael] In fact, look at the impact here,
what has been a slugfest between these two men.
[Wade] JBL-esque clothesline from hell, and it's giving McIntyre the upper hand.
Can he put this one to bed?
[Michael] McIntyre gonna head up now to the top rope,
high risk for the big man.
[Wade] I can only imagine the pain wracking these two bodies.
[Michael] McIntyre caught by Rollins.
Rollins focusing on the injured arm.
McIntyre, though, able to counter.
Rollins counters as well.
Seth now trying to wrestle Drew to the mat,
perhaps looking for an arm bar.
Again, focusing on the injured shoulder.
Rollins now gonna lock it in. Look at this.
[Wade] Cross-face applied, center of the ring.
McIntyre a million miles from the ropes,
even with the elongated limbs of the big Scotsmen.
[Michael] And he's got the bad arm trapped in the legs.
Rollins trying to get McIntyre to tap out here.
[Wade] So, technically, as soon as Rollins knows exactly
where to apply the pressure,
-knows where the leverage needs to go… -Come on, Drew!
[Wade] …and Drew's fading.
[Michael] McIntyre trying to drag himself to the bottom rope
-and force a break here. Can he do it? -Come on!
[Michael] Drew McIntyre's almost there.
McIntyre grabs the rope and forces the break.
[Wade] The strength of McIntyre had to come to the fore there.
Rollins thought he had him exactly
-where he wanted him. -How does it feel, Drew?
Fighting without an arm or a leg.
You question me? You question my integrity?
You wanna question me?
How dare you?
[Michael] Seth Rollins is just possessed tonight.
[Wade] Seth got poked in the eye there by McIntyre.
-[Michael] And McIntyre, future shock DDT. -[crowd gasping]
[Michael] I think he went to the eye or actually pulled the hair,
Rollins kicks out.
McIntyre used the distraction, the official,
grabbed Rollins by the hair, hit the future shock DDT,
but Rollins somehow was able to kick out.
[Wade] Either the hair or the eye, but either way,
McIntyre knew exactly what he had to do when that referee
was not looking, took a cheap shot
at Seth "Freakin" Rollins just when he needed it most.
[Michael] McIntyre trying to figure out what he needs to do.
[Wade] You see the bruises all over the frame of McIntyre, all over his face.
Imagine the hell that that man's body is going through right now,
but the drive is still there
-to grab victory. -How are you doing there, Seth?
You run your mouth.
Your words and actions don't line up.
[Michael] Another wicked clothesline by McIntyre.
[Wade] It looks like Seth Rollins is out of answers here.
-[coughs] -You wanted this.
-[coughs] -You named the season,
you wanted to fight Drew McIntyre.
What did you think was gonna happen?
[Michael] Oh, another one, Rollins.
[Wade] Both men's energy spent, this has turned points
into a mid-match debate between these two men.
Malignant thoughts boiling to the surface.
McIntyre's got that look in his eye.
[Michael] McIntyre looking to put away Seth once and for all.
Went for it again, Seth Rollins floats up over the top.
Jackknife cover by Rollins now.
-Shoulders are down. -[crowd counting]
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] Rollins got him.
-Rollins got him, Rollins got McIntyre. -["The Vision" playing]
-[Alicia] Here is your winner! -[Michael] McIntyre in shock.
Drew McIntyre in shock, now attacking Rollins.
Rollins surprising McIntyre and Drew is blowing a gasket here.
[Wade] It's a rarity, Drew McIntyre got caught napping.
And of course, Seth Rollins picked his spot, pounced,
pulled out the "W" and is now defenseless in the ring
at the feet of an irate Drew McIntyre.
[Michael] And now, Rollins trying to fight back against Drew,
-but a Claymore. -[crowd gasping]
McIntyre is upset, humiliated, got caught by Rollins.
And again, this bit of a mini downward spiral
continues for McIntyre.
[Wade] All the trauma of the past two and a half years have conspired
to create an anger prison inside the heart of Drew McIntyre.
And right now, the inmates in that prison are escaping.
-[Michael] Yeah. Drew McIntyre. -Drew, do not do that.
[Michael] Looking to damage, looking to destroy Rollins,
trying to end his career here.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Meanwhile, Sami Zayn,
Zayn coming to the aid of his friend, Rollins.
Rollins and Zayn with a poignant conversation earlier tonight,
and Sami Zayn making sure that McIntyre didn't injure Rollins here.
[Zayn] Hey, you all right?
-You all right? You good? You good? -No!
[crowd chanting "Sami!"]
[Wade] A brave man who gets in the way of Drew McIntyre right now.
[Michael] Yeah, Zayn and McIntyre, that's right.
-[Wade] Oh! -[Michael] Glasgow Kiss by McIntyre.
[Wade] McIntyre who's just been competing for about the past 25 minutes.
-[Michael] Oh, goodness! -[Wade] At the highest level possible.
With rage seeping out of every pore.
[Michael] I think that Sami Zayn getting involved
just enraged McIntyre even more. This is gonna be bad news for Seth.
Seth has no idea where he is.
We should be on the same page, the same team.
You're so damn selfish.
-[Michael] Oh! -[crowd gasping]
[Michael] Oh my goodness, Sami Zayn inadvertently caught Rollins.
[Wade] McIntyre moves out of the way in the nick of time.
And Sami Zayn did McIntyre's job for him.
[Michael] I mean, an absolute terrible mistake for Sami Zayn.
Is there gonna be any kind of repercussions?
I mean, Rollins is already in a bad place
and he was just kicked in the face by his friend.
And McIntyre's loving it.
[Zayn] Hey.
I wasn't aiming for you.
Listen to me. Hey, wasn't aiming for you, all right? mi Zayn.