WWE Raw Results
December 18, 2023
Des Moines, Iowa (Wells Fargo Arena)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Wade Barrett
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
A “Happy Holidays” edition of the Raw video plays, and we go into the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa to see a big pyrotechnics display. The stage is decorated with Christmas trees and presents.
The Creed Brothers will challenge The Judgment Day for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven will defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship against Kayden Carter and Katana Chance. Shinsuke Nakamura will deliver the American Nightmare before Christmas. Finally, “The Ring General” Gunther will defend the WWE Intercontinental Championship against The Miz.
The Judgment Day makes their way to the ring. Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Finn Bálor and Damian Priest head to the ring alongside Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh.
Damian Priest welcomes everyone to Monday Night Raw and tells them to rise for the Judgment Day. Finn Bálor sarcastically puts over the Creed Brothers for becoming the #1 Contenders for the Undisputed Tag Team Championship. For them, it’ll be the biggest match of their careers and the biggest night of their lives. For Priest and Bálor, it’s just another night at the office because they’re stepping in the ring with the only two-time Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions of the World.
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley takes the microphone. She warns Ivy Nile not to run her mouth, or she’ll make what she did to her friend Maxxine Dupri pale in comparison. It’s as simple as this: the Judgment Day ran 2023 and will continue to run 2024. “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio starts to speak, but the crowd boos him down. Mysterio shouts that the Judgment Day runs all of WWE.
R-Truth comes out wearing a Judgment Day shirt with his name written on tape over it. R-Truth welcomes everyone to the show and gets in the ring. R-Truth thinks he’s in Judgment Day. The beatdown last week was his initiation. R-Truth isn’t one to complain, but they crossed a line a little bit. He was hurt physically and emotionally. R-Truth calls Priest “DP” and says he knows he didn’t mean it when he said he didn’t like him. JD McDonagh says if getting hurt is what R-Truth is worried about, he should get out of the ring now.
R-Truth says it seems like everyone is looking for a fight. Ripley wants to beat up Nile, while Bálor and Priest want to beat up the Creed Brothers. R-Truth needs someone to beat up on. R-Truth then stares at McDonagh. R-Truth says he’s seeing the Christmas trees and lights. There is a lot of animosity between him and McDonagh. They need to squash the beef to be a happy family in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight. McDonagh says the match was already made and advertised. R-Truth says 34th Street is far away and asks Siri how far it is. McDonagh says it’s happening in this ring and says R-Truth isn’t in the Judgment Day. R-Truth says he’s not in the Judgment Day if he loses his match, but McDonagh isn’t if he doesn’t win. This will be a “Loser Leaves the Judgment Day Match.” Priest looks amused and says it’s good to go. McDonagh says he’ll need a miracle to beat him.
Miracle on 34th Street Fight
JD McDonagh w/ “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio vs. R-Truth
This match has a “Loser Leaves the Judgment Day” stipulation.
R-Truth quickly tackles McDonagh and attacks him. R-Truth goes for a scissor kick, but McDonagh moves and takes him down. The rest of the Judgment Day leaves, but “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio stays behind. Mysterio gives McDonagh a kendo stick decorated like a candy cane. R-Truth avoids a few swings and hits a scissor kick. McDonagh rolls out of the ring. R-Truth follows him and bounces him off a table with Christmas cookies. R-Truth avoids a tree thrown at him and tosses him a gift. McDonagh catches it, and R-Truth big boots it in his face. R-Truth gets McDonagh in the ring and hugs Mysterio. Mysterio then shoves R-Truth into the ring post.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see R-Truth send McDonagh to the corner and avalanche him. R-Truth follows up with a hip toss for a two-count. R-Truth goes under the ring and pulls out a table to a big ovation. R-Truth puts it in the ring, and McDonagh levels him with a baseball slide. McDonagh gets him in the ring and kicks him in the ribs. A “JD sucks” chant picks up. McDonagh sends him into the ropes, but R-Truth holds the ropes and boots him down. Mysterio sweeps R-Truth’s feet and inadvertently sends R-Truth’s head into McDonagh’s crotch. Mysterio pulls R-Truth out of the ring, but R-Truth reverses a whip into the steps. Mysterio falls into a Christmas tree on the way down.
R-Truth sprays McDonagh in the eyes with a fire extinguisher and sets up the table in the ring. R-Truth positions it near the corner of the ring. R-Truth takes it to McDonagh before hitting John Cena’s diving shoulder tackles and a back suplex powerbomb. John Cena was R-Truth’s childhood hero. McDonagh fights back, but R-Truth takes him down and hits a 5 Knuckle Shuffle. R-Truth goes for an Attitude Adjustment, but McDonagh slides off. R-Truth sends McDonagh out of the ring and grabs a Christmas tree. Mysterio blocks a swing, and the tree hits McDonagh. R-Truth gets McDonagh in the ring and on the table. R-Truth climbs to the second rope, but McDonagh slides off the table and attacks him. R-Truth fights back, but McDonagh head-butts him in the face. McDonagh tries to pull R-Truth off the ropes, but R-Truth falls on top of him through the table. 1… 2… 3! R-Truth is victorious, and JD McDonagh is apparently out of the Judgment Day.
Winner by Pinfall: R-Truth
R-Truth looks shocked, and Mysterio looks upset at ringside.
Backstage Segment
Katana Chance and Kayden Carter say they’re going to become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Carter says Chelsea Green and Piper Niven are through and it’s time to party.
Chelsea Green and Piper Niven will defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship against Katana Chance and Kayden Carter later tonight.
Nia Jax makes her way to the ring. We’ll hear from her next.
-Commercial Break-
The commentators put over the WrestleMania 40 events for the week.
Nia Jax addresses “The Man” Becky Lynch
Nia Jax is in the ring when we return from the break. Before she can say a word, “The Man” Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring. Lynch heads to the ring, and Jax leaves. Lynch asks where she’s going. If Jax has something to say, she can say it to her face. Jax says as much as she’d love to break her face again, she has more important matters to deal with. Before Lynch interrupted her, she was going to announce that she was entering the Royal Rumble. Lynch says no one cares. They might care that Jax is here (they don’t), but they might care that Lynch is here (they do). The Man has come around to Des Moines and is looking for a fight.
Jax says the reason they’ve never fought is because they are afraid of what she’d do to Lynch. Lynch is the moneymaker of this company. If they went one-on-one, that would end. Lynch is the size of her leg. She would squash her and break her face again. Lynch says she’s the moneymaker because she’ll fight anyone at any time and anywhere. It’s not “them” that are scared. It’s Jax because her entire existence her has been on the backs of others’ names. First, it was her cousin’s, and now it’s Lynch’s. Her only claim to fame is that she broke the nose of the greatest to ever do it. Jax doesn’t want this fight because there will be no “Woman who made The Man.” It’s just a woman who lost to the greatest to ever do it. If Jax wants to prove everyone wrong, she can fight her.
Jax calls for a referee, and one runs down. Jax heads to the ring and gets on the apron. Jax goes to get into the ring and then gets off the apron. Jax tells Lynch to recognize how badly she wants this because she’ll never get it. This will happen on her terms and will happen in her hometown of San Diego, California. In two weeks on Day 1, they will fight. After she breaks Lynch’s face, Lynch’s daughter will be crying and wondering why mommy is uglier than normal. Jax walks off, and Lynch attacks her from behind. WWE security pulls Lynch off, and Jax clubs Lynch from behind. Jax happily walks off and looks at her devastating right hand.
Video: Replays show “Kofi Claus” coming to the ring before Monday Night Raw started and throwing some gifts out to the crowd.
Backstage Segment
Kofi Claus comes up to #DIY. They want the Tag Titles for Christmas. Kofi gives them a Jey Uso “YEET” shirt instead and bounces off. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa go over to The Miz, who is warming up. Gargano says they’ve had their differences, but last week was great. Ciampa says it was awesome.
Jackie Redmond comes up to Miz and asks if he’s feeling any added pressure knowing this is his last chance to dethrone Gunther. Miz says Gunther’s foundation is cracking. The first time we saw personality from Gunther was when Miz rocked him. Gunther is losing what is making him interesting. Miz says he’ll become a 9-time Intercontinental Champion. She should ask the man who never wants to face him again if there is added pressure.
The Miz makes his way to the ring. He’ll face Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Miz vs. “The Ring General” Gunther (c)
If The Miz wins, he will be a 9-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, which would tie Chris Jericho’s record. If he loses, he’ll never be able to challenge for the title as long as Gunther holds it.
They lock up, and Gunther hits a headlock takeover. Miz backs him into the ropes and leans him into the ropes. Gunther turns him into the ropes and sarcastically pats the chest as he gives a clean break. Gunther doesn’t appear to be sweating Miz. Gunther takes him down and goes for a Boston Crab, the same move he submitted Miz with at Survivor Series, but Miz fights out of it. They lock up, and Gunther backs Miz into the ropes again. Gunther gives a break and goes for a chop, but Miz ducks it. Miz chops Gunther and kicks away at the legs. Gunther blocks a kick and floors him with a vicious chop to the chest. Miz quickly trips him and applies a modified ankle lock. Gunther fights out, but Miz applies an Indian Death Lock! Miz mocks Gunther and falls back to put more pressure on the legs. Gunther grabs the bottom rope to break the hold. Miz boots Gunther out of the ring. Gunther avoids a baseball slide and chops Miz down. Gunther powers Miz up, but he nearly loses him. Gunther shows off his impressive strength by powering Miz back up and hitting a powerbomb on the apron.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Miz punching away at Gunther. Miz hits the ropes, but Gunther nearly decapitates him with a big boot to the face. Gunther mocks Miz and starts doing the IT Kicks. Miz’s chest is cut up from the chops. A “Let’s go, Miz” chant picks up. Gunther sends Miz into the ropes, but Miz fights back with a pair of flying forearms that don’t take Gunther off his feet. Gunther quickly chops him down and kicks him in the spine. Gunther shouts that Miz doesn’t belong with him in this sacred ring. Miz is beneath him. Gunther kicks him in the ribs and continues to talk trash. Gunther chops him down to the mat. The crowd is booing. Miz pops up, and they begin trading chops. Gunther quickly swats him down and smiles. Gunther knees away at Miz in the corner.
Gunther whips Miz to the corner and hits a running chop. Miz’s chest looks brutal. Gunther sends him to the opposite corner, but Miz boots him back. Miz hits another big boot and connects with his patented corner clothesline. Miz goes to the top rope for a flying cross-body block, but Gunther catches him. Gunther slams him on the top turnbuckle and chops him. Gunther climbs the ropes and stretches Miz over the ropes before chopping him to ringside. Gunther follows him at ringside and goes for a chop, but he smacks the ring post when Miz moves. Gunther holds his hand in pain.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Miz is fighting out of a chin lock. Miz starts to attack the hand and kicks him in the ribs. Gunther blocks a chop and takes Miz down for a Boston Crab, but Miz fights it. Miz twists the injured hand of Gunther. Gunther fights out and takes Miz down for an STF, but he turns it into a modified cravat. Miz screams in pain and pulls on the injured hand to get out of the grip. Miz then hits a Kneeling DDT.
Miz blocks a chop and hits another DDT. Miz gets fired up, and the crowd is getting behind him. Miz avoids a chop and hits a twisting satellite DDT for a near fall. Miz stomps away at the injured hand and punches him to the corner. Miz backs up and charges, but Gunther crushes him with a Tyrannosaurus Dropkick. Gunther follows up with a Powerbomb for a near fall! Gunther applies a Boston Crab to finish him off, but Miz somehow claws his way to the bottom rope. Gunther holds hand in pain.
The crowd chants, “This is awesome!” Gunther swats him a few times and chops the chest. Miz smiles at him and tells Gunther to bring it on. Miz slaps him in the face, so Gunther takes him down with a Sleeper Hold. Miz rolls over and nearly pins Gunther! Miz boots a chop with the injured hand away and hits a Skull Crushing Finale! 1… 2… Gunther barely kicks out! Miz cannot believe it. The crowd chants, “One more time!” Miz kicks away at Gunther and hits the ropes. Gunther viciously annihilates him with a nasty lariat. Gunther goes to the top rope, but Miz cuts him off. Gunther punches Miz away, but Miz kicks him in the injured hand. Miz hits Gunther with a Skull Crushing Finale off the second rope! Miz crawls over to cover him, but Gunther rolls out of the ring to save himself! The crowd loudly boos.
Miz goes outside to grab him, but Gunther grabs him and throws him into the ring. Gunther hits a nasty Powerbomb and follows up with a devastating short-arm clothesline. Gunther finally finishes Miz off with another Powerbomb. 1… 2… 3. Miz can never challenge for the Intercontinental Championship again as long as Gunther holds the title.
Winner by Pinfall and still WWE Intercontinental Champion: Gunther
The Determination to Win presented by Modello
A video highlights the Creed Brothers and what they are all about.
The Creed Brothers will challenge the Judgment Day for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship later tonight.
Coming up next, Shinsuke Nakamura will deliver the “American Nightmare” before Christmas.
-Commercial Break-
Backstage Segment
WWE Intercontinental Champion “The Ring General” Gunther is walking backstage when his Imperium stablemates Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci come up clapping for him. Gunther says they have no reason to be jolly. Gunther is the only one who has been showing up all year, but they’ve done nothing. Gunther is taking some time off to recharge. While he’s gone, they better step up. Gunther storms off.
Kofi Claus comes up to Kaiser and Vinci. Kaiser says they’re not in the mood for him. Kofi Claus says he has a gift… it’s a lump of coal. Kaiser angrily stares at Kofi Claus before leaving with Vinci. Kofi Claus shouts that they have to be good all year.
The American Nightmare Before Christmas
Shinsuke Nakamura is shown backstage holding a book titled, “The American Nightmare Before Christmas.” It was two weeks before Christmas and out from his mouth came a warning to Cody that Shinsuke would pounce. While Rhodes’s daughter is snug in her bed and visions of championships dance in her head, Shinsuke will live the story. The Nightmare is over. The mist burns the eyes. The nightmare is Rhodes. He’s a bastard, a cancer, a Prancer, a nitwit, vomit, stupid, and his father was inbred. His goal is to see that Rhodes is living in fright. Nakamura wishes Rhodes a Merry Christmas and says he’ll be his last fight.
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes attacks Nakamura from behind. They fight backstage, and cameras run to catch up to them. They fight out into the arena. They fight through the crowd as security runs out to maintain order. Security holds Rhodes back, but he fights out. Rhodes jumps off the barricade and clubs Nakamura’s back. Rhodes clears the commentary table. Security grabs Nakamura, but Rhodes takes them all out with a suicide dive. Rhodes sets up for Cross Rhodes on the table, but security pulls Nakamura away! Nakamura gets in the ring, and Rhodes stands on the commentary table, staring at him. Nakamura smiles at Rhodes and backs up the ramp. The crowd chants, “Let them fight!”
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce’s Office
Akira Tozawa is in the office with Raw General Manager Adam Pearce. Pearce asks if this is the match he really wants, and Tozawa says it is. Tozawa walks off. We don’t know what the match is.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green and Piper Niven walk in and want the match canceled for Christmas. Pearce declines and tells them the match is next. They angrily walk off as “Big” Bronson Reed walks in. Reed says he heard Pearce has a plan to determine Gunther’s next challenger. Pearce says they can talk.
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance make their way to the ring. Their big title match is next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE wishes WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus a happy birthday.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance vs. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven (c’s)
Chelsea Green starts against Kayden Carter and hits a headlock takeover. Green steps on her and slaps her in the face. Carter fights back and walks on Green before taunting her. Green blocks a hip toss, but Carter takes her down and hits a dropkick. Katana Chance tags in and hits a slingshot senton for a two-count. Green scurries to her corner and tags Piper Niven in. Niven casually walks to the opposite corner and knocks Carter off the apron. Niven sends Chance to the corner, but she misses an avalanche. Niven soon grabs her, but Chance tags Carter and hits a bulldog. Carter takes Niven down with a kick and sends Green out of the ring. Carter and Chance go after Niven, but she takes them down and squashes them both with a Vader Bomb for a two-count.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Chance avoids a cannonball from Niven in the corner. Green and Carter tag in. Carter hits a pair of clotheslines on Green and avalanches Niven. Carter kicks Ninve back and lands on Green for a two-count. Carter moves, and Niven accidentally splashes Green. Carter hits a springboard leg drop for a two-count. Carter puts Green on the top rope and goes for a superplex, but Green knocks her back. Green hits a leg lariat for a two-count. Green covers again for a two-count.
Niven tags in. Green and Niven go for a double-team suplex on Carter, but Carter fights it. Green hits a codebreaker and holds Carter for a senton splash from Niven! 1… 2… Chance breaks up the pin. Carter floors Niven with a superkick. Chance tags in. Chance and Carter hit Niven with the Keg Stand. 1… 2… Green barely (she really mistimed it) breaks it up. Green tags in and goes for an Un-Pretty-Her on Chance, but Chance fights out and hits a lung blower. Chance and Carter hit Green with the After Party (neckbreaker/450 Splash combo) for the win! New champions!
Winners by Pinfall and new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions: Kayden Carter and Katana Chance
Katana Chance and Kayden Carter celebrate big time with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. Green and Niven scream in fury.
Backstage Segment
Ivy Nile is warming up. Alpha Academy is with her. Nile says she challenged Rhea Ripley for a match. Chad Gable is impressed with her attitude. Akira Tozawa walks in and says he has a match… against him. Ivar walks in with Valhalla. Gable says he told him to go big, but not that big.
Ivar makes his way to the ring with Valhalla. He’ll face Akira Tozawa next.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of Katana Chance and Kayden Carter winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Backstage Segment
Katana Chance and Kayden Carter are walking backstage with their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship when Kofi Claus walks up to them. He asks what they want for Christmas, but they say they’re good to go with the titles. Kofi Claus congratulates them and walks off. They turn and see Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, Natalya, Tegan Nox, Shayna Baszler, and Zoey Stark waiting for them. Chance says that dreams really do come true. They go to party with LeRae and Hartwell. Natalya says it looks like they need new challenges, and Baszler says that’s what she was thinking.
Ivar w/ Valhalla vs. Akira Tozawa w/ Maxxine Dupri
The bell rings, and Tozawa takes it to Ivar. Ivar easily sends him out of the ring. Tozawa charges the ring and quickly avoids some offense from Ivar. Ivar quickly sends him to the corner, but Tozawa knocks him back. Tozawa goes for a flying seated senton, but Ivar catches him. Tozawa counters into a hurricanrana into the turnbuckles. Tozawa soon connects with a spike DDT. Tozawa charges, but Ivar hits a seated senton. Ivar goes to the top rope and dives for a splash, but Tozawa moves. Tozawa has trouble ripping his shirt off and heads to the top rope. Valhalla gets on the apron, but Maxxine pulls her off. Valhalla charges, but Maxxine sends her into the barricade. Tozawa hits Ivar with a diving senton splash off the top rope for a near fall!
Tozawa hits the ropes, but Ivar flattens him with a nasty lariat. Ivar goes to the top rope for a Doomsault, but Tozawa crotches him up there. Tozawa climbs to the top rope and goes for a super hurricanrana, but Ivar keeps him up. Ivar hits a World’s Strongest Slam off the second rope for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Ivar
Ivar and Valhalla stand over Akira Tozawa in victory.
Replay: Last week on Raw, CM Punk signed with the Raw brand. Right after, World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins came out to tell Punk that he hated him and resents him for leaving ten years ago. Punk told him if he came at him like that again, he would do something about it.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins is walking backstage. We’ll hear from him next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE wishes WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin a happy birthday.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins appears
World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins makes his way to the ring. Rollins is announced as, “Iowa’s own.” Rollins looks fired up to be there. Rollins welcomes Des Moines to Monday Night Rollins. Iowa sings to him. Things have been heating up for this Iowa boy. After his little confrontation last week, he’s feeling more motivated than he ever has to continue being the best World Champion in this entire industry. If they thought 2023 was something, wait until they see what happens in 2024. That starts with Day 1 when he defends his World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre. The crowd boos McIntyre’s name.
Rollins says you can say what you will about Drew McIntyre… Drew McIntyre’s music hits, so we don’t get to hear what Rollins was going to say. Rollins says before he says anything, he hasn’t forgotten about that head-butt. McIntyre says he’s not here to fight because they have Day 1 set. McIntyre is proud of Rollins. There are so many turning a blind eye and kissing arse regarding CM Punk, but not Rollins. Rollins looked him right in the eye and told him the truth. That is a real leader. McIntyre says Rollins is on top of the world right now. He’s on a roll heading into a festive season with what is basically his hometown crowd singing his song. It probably feels good. McIntyre has been thinking about his family and the sacrifices they’ve made. McIntyre started to feel guilt. His family is getting older. After 16 years, he questioned if it was worth it. Rollins knows how he feels. He and his wife sacrifice every single week. Rollins has been part of the difficult conversations, such as missing a wedding or not being there for a family member getting sick. McIntyre says his mother heard that. All he wanted to do was be by her side, but they told them not to come home and keep fighting for their dream. Suddenly they’re not there anymore. McIntyre is choked up a bit.
McIntyre doesn’t want the title. He NEEDS the title. McIntyre has to know that it was worth it and the hurt he brought to his family was worth it. McIntyre will hurt Rollins and do whatever it takes to take that title from him on Day 1.
Rollins says people don’t know how to feel about McIntyre. McIntyre says things like that. Rollins wants to take it to heart and believe him, but his actions and words haven’t lined up. Rollins doesn’t know whether to believe him or call him out on his crap. Rollins respects him. McIntyre came to him after Crown Jewel. McIntyre said he would earn his way back to the World Heavyweight Championship and has done that. As much as McIntyre needs this, what makes him think the outcome this time will be any different? McIntyre says he’ll do whatever it takes. Is he willing to cheat? Lie? Hurt people? Take shortcuts? McIntyre has changed in that regard, but he’s still the same. McIntyre still wants to point the finger at everyone else. McIntyre will do whatever it takes except the one thing it takes to be a champion: take responsibility for your actions. McIntyre needs to look in the mirror and face the reality that the only person keeping Drew McIntyre from being a World Champion is Drew McIntyre.
Last week, he looked a man in the eye and told him he hated him. This week, he’s looking Drew McIntyre in the eyes and doesn’t hate him. He pities him. Rollins says, “Merry Christmas, Drew. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.” Rollins goes to walk off, but McIntyre grabs him. Rollins punches away at him and superkicks him out of the ring. Rollins hits a suicide dive and punches away at McIntyre. McIntyre pulls Rollins face-first into the LED barricade. McIntyre punches away at him and says he’s not a guy you pity. McIntyre grabs him and hits an inverted Alabama Slam onto the steel steps! Rollins grabs his left elbow in pain. McIntyre walks off.
Backstage Segment
The Creed Brothers are warming up backstage. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes walks up to them and wishes them luck before leaving. The Creed Brothers flip out in glee about Cody Rhodes speaking to them.
Kofi Claus brings a little Christmas to Des Moines
Kofi Claus makes his way to the ring throwing gifts out to the crowd. All of a sudden, Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci of Imperium attack him from behind. Vinci gives him a back suplex in the ring. They continue to double-team Kofi Claus until “Main Event” Jey Uso runs down for the save. Jey knocks them out of the ring and hits a running plancha. Jey challenges one of them to a match.
-Commercial Break-
Ludwig Kaiser w/ Giovanni Vinci vs. “Main Event” Jey Uso
We join this match in progress. Jey takes it to Kaiser, but Kaiser soon fights back. Kaiser rips at Jey’s face and elbows him. Kaiser sends Jey into the ropes and hits a back elbow. Kaiser whips Jey hard into the corner and continues to take it to him. Jey misses an enzuigiri, and Kaiser sends him over the top rope. Kaiser connects with a running uppercut at ringside.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Jey finally hits Kaiser with a step-up enzuigiri. Jey punches back at Kaiser, does a little dance, and floors him with a stinging right hand. Kaiser sends him into the ropes, but Jey gets away and hits another enzuigiri. Jey hits a running hip attack for a two-count. Jey lifts Kaiser, but Kaiser rakes the eyes and hits a Kaiser Roll (rolling Death Valley Driver) for a two-count. Kaiser goes for a twisting DDT, but Jey gets out and superkicks him. Giovanni Vinci pushes Jey off the top rope as the referee checks on Kaiser. Kaiser hits a nasty enzuigiri for a near fall.
Kofi Claus returns to ringside and hits Vinci with Trouble in Paradise! Jey takes Kaiser down in the ring with a Spear and hits an Uso Splash for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Jey Uso
Jey Uso celebrates with Kofi Claus… who is really Kofi Kingston! Wow!
The Judgment Day will battle the Creed Brothers with the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship on the line next.
-Commercial Break-
The Judgment Day’s Clubhouse
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Finn Bálor and Damian Priest and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio are joking with JD McDonagh about losing to R-Truth. JD McDonagh looks devastated and thinks he’s out of the Judgment Day. Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley is not happy that they’re taking the loss so lightly since it reflects on them all. She wants them to get serious. She’ll get them on track by facing Ivy Nile in two weeks with the Women’s World Title on the line. Bálor says they’ll show the Creed Brothers why they are the Tag Champions.
In two weeks on the Day 1 edition of WWE Raw on January 1, 2024:
— “The Man” Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax
— Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark vs. Natalya and Tegan Nox
— Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Ivy Nile
— World Heavyweight Championship: Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
The Creed Brothers (Brutus and Julius Creed) w/ Ivy Nile vs. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and “Señor Money in the Bank” Damian Priest) (c’s) w/ Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley
Julius Creed starts against Finn Bálor. The bell rings, and Julius quickly slams Bálor down. Julius grabs him and rolls around the mat with Bálor. Bálor looks surprised at the fire from Julius. Bálor kicks Julius in the midsection, but Julius comes back with a hip toss. Priest runs in, and Julius hits him with a hip toss. Brutus Creed runs in, and the Creed Brothers clear the Judgment Day from the ring. Rhea Ripley is furious.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Julius hit Bálor with a fireman’s carry. Brutus Creed tags in, and the Creed Brothers hit Bálor with a double-team fireman’s carry. Bálor fights back and bounces Brutus off the turnbuckle. Brutus reverses a whip to the opposite corner. Brutus knees Bálor in the midsection and tags Julius back into the match. Julius and Brutus go back and forth kneeing Bálor before hitting a double-team gutbuster. Bálor whips Julius into the ropes, and Priest blind tags in. Priest pulls the top rope down to get Julius out of the ring. Priest then clotheslines Julius at ringside. Ripley is pleased with what she’s seeing. Priest sends Julius into ring steps and nearly takes out Ripley.
Bálor tags in and takes it to Julius. Julius soon boots him down and kicks him away. Brutus tags in and clotheslines Bálor before knocking Priest off the apron. Brutus clubs away at Bálor and hits a gutwrench suplex. Brutus avalanches Bálor in the corner and puts Bálor on his shoulders for a slam to pick up a two-count. Priest blind tags in and whiffs on a kick. Brutus is sent out of the ring, and Priest hits a pounce over the commentary table. Priest is fired up.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the final commercial break of 2023, Priest and Brutus are going back and forth with some forearms. Priest comes out on top by laying in some nasty forearms to the jaw. Priest charges, but Brutus catches him. Priest tries to fight out, but Brutus keeps the big man powered up and hits a back suplex.
Bálor and Julius tag in. Julius hits a pair of shoulder tackles followed by an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Julius kips up and hits Priest with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Julius kips up and hits Bálor with another overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Julius connects with a standing shooting star press for a two-count. Julius gets Bálor on his shoulders, and Brutus climbs for a Brutus Ball, but Priest pushes Brutus to ringside. Bálor rolls Julius up for a two-count. Julius knocks Priest off the apron. Julius and Bálor then take each other out with a double clothesline.
Rhea Ripley attacks Ivy Nile from behind and puts her in position for the electric chair. Nile gets out and puts Ripley on her shoulders before putting her on her shoulders. Nile slams Ripley onto the apron. The Creed Brothers then hit Bálor with the Brutus Ball. 1… 2… Priest breaks up the pin. Priest goes for the South of Heaven, but Julius fights out. Julius flips through and dropkicks Priest out of the ring. Julius scales the ropes and hits a wild somersault senton to the floor on Priest!
In the ring, Bálor hits Brutus with a Sling Blade and follows up with a Woo Dropkick. Bálor goes to the top rope, but Julius scales the ropes for a superplex. Priest blind tags in and gets Julius on his shoulders. Brutus crotches Bálor on the top rope. Julius gets off Priest’s shoulders and lifts him for a Brutus Ball! 1… 2… Bálor breaks up the pin with a Coup de Grâce! The crowd is going wild! Brutus spills out of the ring with Bálor and lands hard. In the ring, Priest hits Julius with a South of Heaven for the win. Julius kicked out right after the final count of the pin.
Winners by Pinfall and still Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions: The Judgment Day
The Judgment Day celebrates with the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship as the final Raw of 2023 comes to an end.
Quick Match Results
— R-Truth def. JD McDonagh in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight
— “The Ring General” Gunther def. The Miz to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship
— Kayden Carter and Katana Chance def. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
— Ivar def. Akira Tozawa
— “Main Event” Jey Uso def. Ludwig Kaiser
— The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and “Señor Money in the Bank” Damian Priest) def. The Creed Brothers (Brutus and Julius Creed) to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
Email – mike@wrestleview.com
X – @MikeTedescoWV
I wish you all a happy and peaceful 2024. I will see you all in the new year. All my best to you and yours.
Thanks for reading!