WWE Raw Results
January 29, 2024
Tampa, Florida (Amalie Arena)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Pat McAfee
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
We see an overhead shot of Tampa, Florida.
“Main Event” Jey Uso is shown walking into the arena. We also see WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther walking alongside Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci of Imperium. Bayley also arrived at the arena alongside the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors, WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai. Bayley won the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match.
Video Package: WWE Royal Rumble highlights
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes is shown walking into the arena earlier today.
Pat McAfee makes his way to the ring. Michael Cole announces that Pat McAfee will be on the Raw commentary team moving forward. Wade Barrett is not there.
CM Punk addresses his major injury
CM Punk comes out to the ring with his right arm in a sling. Punk does not look happy. A loud “CM Punk” chant picks up. Punk looks up at the WrestleMania XL sign and puts his head down. Punk is searching for the words to say. Punk says he came real close on Saturday night and felt like he had it in the palm of his hand. He’s not mad at anybody. He’s not mad at Cody Rhodes. Punk congratulates Rhodes on winning the Royal Rumble. A lot of times in this business, it’s not about what you deserve. It’s what you earn. Rhodes earned it. Punk hopes Rhodes goes to WrestleMania in Philadelphia and finishes his story. Going back-to-back in the Royal Rumble is a hell of an accomplishment. It’s like the Tampa Bay Lightning going back-to-back and winning the Stanley Cup.
While Punk came close, it doesn’t count in this business. It only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Punk has never believed in luck, but he feels a little bit unlucky. In the course of the Rumble, he tore his right tricep. As much as he tried and asked to tape it and work through it to get to Elimination Chamber and the main event of WrestleMania, it’s not in the cards. Punk doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him. When he thinks of this situation and how much it bums him out because his goal as a kid was to main-event WrestleMania, maybe it’s just not ever going to happen. Punk doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him. Realistically, is it really a problem? Punk has a friend named Chad Gilbert who has cancer really bad. He has a beautiful wife and a daughter, Lilly. Punk sits with him as he gets chemotherapy. Chad is never down. That’s a fight. To Punk, this injury is just a flesh wound. When he says “Best in the World,” it’s not because he always wins. Punk loses more than he wins. Did you see him in the UFC? He had a dream, got an opportunity, and did it because it scared the crap out of him. It scared him as much as coming back after 10 years of not being there when he never wanted to leave in the first place. Punk had to. It scared him. WrestleMania scares Punk. It’s a goal that will haunt him for the rest of his life. This is a bump in the world. Best in the World are the people who fight cancer or put their lives on the line, like Matt Flannagan, a Chicago firefighter. Punk happens to be an entertainer, and for some reason the people love him. Punk has overcome adversity countless times. Punk doesn’t focus on the negative. None of it matters. The people wake up. They’re teachers and garbagemen. They keep going and put food on their family’s tables. WrestleMania 40 isn’t in the cards, but he’s a Chicago Cubs fan. There’s always next year!
Drew McIntyre’s music hits. Punk says this is not what he was expecting. The crowd boos McIntyre. McIntyre looks sadly at Punk. McIntyre has said some terrible things about Punk since his return to WWE, and he meant them. Punk was a terrible person in the past and a poison in the locker room. However, listening to Punk talking just now was something McIntyre could relate to. McIntyre has gone through some changes recently. He’s not much of a spiritual person, but he wants Punk to know he prayed for him to get injured, and it happened. When he got into the Royal Rumble, he targeted Punk and violently assaulted him. Their Champion took that title to the next level. McIntyre didn’t want Punk to take it. Then Punk eliminated him. McIntyre couldn’t sleep, but when he heard about the injury, he slept like a baby. Mission accomplished. McIntyre exercised CM Punk. McIntyre will find a way into the World Title match at WrestleMania. He’ll go to the main event and live CM Punk’s dream again.
Punk looks disgusted. A “CM Punk” chant fires up. McIntyre tells Punk to look him in the eyes when he speaks to him. Punk steps up to McIntyre. Punk says his heart hurts more than his tricep. He’ll rehab it and will main event WrestleMania, but first on his checklist is McIntyre. Punk is coming for McIntyre.
McIntyre goes to attack him, but Punk ducks it and kicks away at him. McIntyre quickly takes Punk down with a Glasgow Kiss and stomps the injured arm. Sami Zayn’s music hits, and he runs down to make the save. Zayn punches away at McIntyre until he retreats from the ring. WWE doctors run down to help. Zayn helps Punk to his feet.
The Judgment Day Clubhouse
The Judgment Day is watching backstage. WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley says if Bayley chooses her at WrestleMania, then it’s her funeral. Ripley will remind her who she is. Tonight is about sending a message, a message that wasn’t sent at the Royal Rumble. Damian Priest says they’re done with distractions. Finn Bálor says everyone is getting too comfortable challenging the Judgment Day. Tonight, they’ll show the world how vicious they are. Bálor and Priest walk off.
Backstage Segment
#DIY is walking backstage. Johnny Gargano says they’ve waited seven years for this opportunity. Tommaso Ciampa says they’ve dreamed of this moment as children. They’ll show the world that they are #DIY.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
#DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and “Señor Money in the Bank” Damian Priest) (c’s)
Damian Priest will start against Tommaso Ciampa. They lock up, and Priest powers him to the corner before punching him. Priest puts him in his corner and punches him before tagging Finn Bálor in. Bálor sends him into the ropes and punches him down. Bálor elbows him in the head. Ciampa ducks a clothesline, and Johnny Gargano blind tags in. Gargano and Ciampa take Bálor down before clotheslining Priest over the top rope. They send Bálor out of the ring next to Priest and hit them with stereo planchas. #DIY sits on the apron and pats themselves on the back.
Gargano gets Bálor in the ring and tags Ciampa in. They hit Bálor with back elbows, and Bálor begs Ciampa off before getting out of the ring. Bálor runs in and tags Priest in. Ciampa attacks Priest, and Bálor knocks Ciampa out of the ring. Priest goes outside and lifts Ciampa before dropping him face-first on the apron. Priest gets Ciampa in the ring and tags Bálor in. Priest kicks Ciampa, and Bálor follows up with a scissor kick for a two-count. Bálor applies a rear chin lock. Ciampa fights up, but Bálor keeps him back with a front facelock. Ciampa powers over and tags Gargano in, but the referee doesn’t see it. Bálor throws Ciampa into Priest, who kicks him down. Bálor covers for a two-count. Priest tags in and forearms Ciampa. Priest talks trash, but Ciampa fights back at him and Bálor. Priest stops Ciampa from making a tag, but Ciampa rolls him up for a two-count. Priest quickly forearms him down and tags Bálor in. Bálor punches Ciampa, but Ciampa fights back. Bálor tries for a falling elbow drop, but Ciampa counters into a reverse DDT.
Gargano tags in and kicks Priest back, who isn’t the legal man. Gargano clotheslines Bálor twice before hitting Priest with double knees in the corner. Gargano then hits Priest with a bulldog while hitting Bálor with a clothesline. Gargano knocks Bálor down and kicks Priest back. Gargano hits Bálor with a slingshot spear for a near fall. Gargano gets the crowd fired up. Gargano hits the ropes and goes for a satellite DDT, but Bálor counters into a falling elbow drop for a two-count. Priest tags in. Bálor and Priest send Gargano into the ropes, but Gargano rolls under them. Ciampa pulls Bálor out of the ring, and Gargano rolls Priest up for a two-count. Ciampa tags in. Priest misses an avalanche in the corner. Gargano hits Priest with an assisted Sliced Bread #2, and Ciampa covers for a two-count. Ciampa goes for a Fairy Tale Ending, but Priest counters out. Priest kicks Gargano off the apron and hits Ciampa with a back elbow. Bálor tags in and hits a slingshot double stomp. Priest tags in, and Bálor hits a leg drop. Priest follows up with a leg drop for a near fall. Priest cannot believe he kicked out.
Priest goes for South of Heaven on Ciampa, but Ciampa knees him. Priest fights back with a cradle front slam. 1… 2… Gargano breaks up the pin. Priest throws Gargano out of the ring. Bálor talks to Priest. Bálor tags in. Priest goes for South of Heaven, but Ciampa gets out. Ciampa then crotches Bálor on the top rope. Gargano hits a slingshot DDT on Priest, and Ciampa hits an air raid siren for a near fall. #DIY hits Bálor with Meet in the Middle! Gargano covers, but Priest pulls Bálor’s leg over and (sort of) puts his foot on the bottom rope. Ciampa goes for a plancha on Priest, but Priest punches him out of midair. Priest cannot afford a suicide dive from Gargano. Gargano gets in the ring, and Bálor rolls him up with an inside cradle for a near fall. Bálor connects with a Sling Blade and a Woo Dropkick. Gargano avoids a Coup de Grâce and locks Bálor in the Gargano Escape! Priest runs in, but Ciampa takes him down with a Sicilian Stretch! Priest fights up with Ciampa on him and slams Ciampa onto Gargano to break up the submission!
The crowd is loudly chanting, “This is awesome!” Priest tags in and attacks Ciampa. Priest goes for a Razor’s Edge on Gargano, but he gets out and tags Ciampa in. Gargano punches away at Bálor. Bálor hits Gargano with an overhead kick. Ciampa knees Bálor in the head, and Priest superkicks Ciampa out of the ring. Priest goes outside and grabs Ciampa. Priest goes for the Razor’s Edge, but he lets Ciampago and catches Gargano attempting a suicide dive. Priest hits Gargano with a flatliner on the commentary table.
Priest gets in the ring, and Ciampa rolls him up for a near fall. Priest quickly forearms Ciampa in the throat and tags Bálor in. Priest hits Ciampa with a Razor’s Edge. Bálor immediately follows up with a vicious Coup de Grâce for the win.
Winners by Pinfall and still Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions: The Judgment Day
“Dirty” Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh run down to celebrate with Priest and Bálor. Bálor shouts that they’re still the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions. Priest says for weeks, they’ve all seen a different side of the Judgment Day. We all know who the reason for that is. It’s the same person that everyone in the ring owes an apology to. After the Royal Rumble, Priest wants to apologize to him. It’s not a secret. Priest calls R-Truth out to the ring.
R-Truth comes out and looks a little confused. The crowd is happy to see him. They have Judgment Day graphics for him. Priest says R-Truth has his word that he won’t attack him. Bálor says Priest is a man of his word. R-Truth gets in the ring. R-Truth says he’s glad Priest is going to let him say his shtick because it doesn’t work when Priest says it. R-Truth asks everyone to PLEASE all rise for the Judgment Day. The crowd cheers. Priest says he’s been thinking about the Royal Rumble. R-Truth says they can talk about that later. R-Truth hasn’t been able to sleep since it happened. R-Truth relocated Priest’s money into crypto, filed his taxes, liquidated his assets, and he is good to go. Priest says R-Truth has no clue what that means. Priest says that Judgment Day is a family. R-Truth says Priest is like his older brother. Priest points out that R-Truth is older. Finn Bálor is like that weird uncle we’ve all got… unpredictable, but we still love him. What more is there to say about Tom and Nick (Dominik)? The crowd boos Mysterio. As for JD… he’s like that stepbrother you’ve got that you don’t want to admit is in the family.
Priest says R-Truth has to let him finish talking. Priest was going to say that Judgment Day is like a family, but unfortunately, R-Truth is not part of it. Priest says he’s always liked R-Truth and doesn’t want to be the one to do this. McDonagh attacks R-Truth from behind. The Miz quickly runs down to make the save, but he’s overwhelmed by Priest, Bálor, and Mysterio. McDonagh joins in. Bálor holds Miz down, and Mysterio hits him with a Frog Splash. The Judgment Day stands over the Awesome Truth and poses.
Backstage Segment
CM Punk is being tended to backstage. Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is with him.
Later tonight, Sami Zayn will battle Drew McIntyre.
Tag Team Match
Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark vs. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven
Samantha Irvin made her unique announcement of Chelsea Green’s name again.
The bell rings, and Niven immediately avalanches Stark down. Niven connects with a clothesline and grabs her, but Stark hits a jawbreaker. Niven elbows her back, but Baszler gets a cheap shot in. Stark kicks Niven down and tags Baszler in. Baszler mounts Niven and punches away at her. Baszler bends Niven’s arm and stomps it. Baszler twists the arm and tries to lift Niven, but Niven backs her to the corner. Stark quickly tags in, as does Green. Green sends Stark into the ropes. Baszler goes for a Kirifuda Clutch on Green, but Green pulls her out of the ring. Green avoids a cross-body block from Stark and takes her down for a two-count. Green goes for a tag, but Baszler pulls Niven off the apron. Stark hits Green with the Z-360 for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark
Video: Some of the headlines coming out of Royal Rumble headlines. The biggest headline is not shown for some reason.
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes is walking backstage. He’ll be out next.
-Commercial Break-
WrestleMania XL is 68 days away.
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes addresses winning the Royal Rumble in back-to-back years
“Wrestling has more than one royal family.”
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring to a huge reception. Rhodes won the 2023 and 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble matches. The crowd loudly chants his name. Rhodes looks amazed by the reception. The crowd chants, “You deserve it!” Rhodes tips his hat and says, “So, Tampa Bay, what do we want to talk about?” Rhodes says he has something to say in response to his own question. On the way out here, he heard something for the first time that was music to his ears. Rhodes asks Samantha Irvin to say it one more time. Samantha Irvin repeats the ring introduction, and Rhodes poses on the turnbuckles.
Rhodes thanks her. Rhodes says there are a lot of folks here. They come to Monday Night Raw, WWE Live, SmackDown, and the PLEs, and the expectation is on the WWE Superstars to give them the best action, the best three hours of their lives, to help escape for a bit. The people don’t realize that the WWE Superstars need to escape, too. The last 48 hours of his life have been challenging. All is well, but on Saturday, they will never know how much he needed them. Rhodes gets emotional. Rhodes is endlessly grateful for that, but let’s get to it. Let’s make WrestleMania XL official!
“BURN IT DOWN!”
World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins makes his way to the ring! The crowd loudly and happily sings Rollins’ song. Rollins says Tampa Bay is right. Rhodes does deserve it. Rollins says that because they haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, but over the past year, they’ve developed a mutual respect for each other. Back-to-back Royal Rumbles are special. Rollins is going to be real with Rhodes. If he chooses to fight Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, he is making a mistake. Rollins wants Rhodes to fight him instead. Rhodes looks perplexed. A “NO” chant picks up. Rollins says he understands the concern, but all he wants is for them to hear him out. Rollins watched Rhodes at the Royal Rumble Press Conference. Rhodes said he was THE guy, but he isn’t. Rollins says Reigns isn’t even THE guy anymore. Rollins is THE guy. This World Heavyweight Championship is THE title in WWE.
Last year, Rollins won the Rumble. It made sense to go after Roman Reigns, but that was when there was only one champion. The landscape has changed. All Rhodes has thought about every day is Roman Reigns, but Rhodes has been with Rollins on this ride. Since Rollins has won this title, Rhodes has been on the road with him at every show. On all those shows, who was in the main event? It wasn’t Roman Reigns. What title was Rollins defending in those main events because it wasn’t the WWE Championship? It was the World Heavyweight Title. Does Rhodes know why this title came to be? It was because every single one of these people was sick and tired of Roman Reigns. They were sick and tired of him showing up every other week, then every other month, then every six months, never defending the title and always cheating. This title belongs to the people. They’ve built this title through broken bones, a broken back, and a blown-out knee. They have leveled the playing field with the World Heavyweight Championship. We don’t need to pretend Roman Reigns is a god anymore because he isn’t. We don’t need Roman Reigns at all.
Rollins has to ask: what title does Rhodes want? Does he want the Hollywood title, the Hulk Hogan title, the one for posers and fraud, the one people politick their way to the top to get? Or does he want the Dusty Rhodes Title? Does Rhodes want the blue-collar championship? That’s what the World Heavyweight Championship means. It’s who is the very best between these ropes. Rollins could ask him which title Dusty Rhodes would rather have, but it’s not about him. It’s about Cody. This is about Cody and his decision. Rhodes looks conflicted. Rollins says he doesn’t need an answer right now. It’s the biggest decision he’ll make in his entire life. Rollins wants to know what is in Rhodes’s heart. What kind of man does Rhodes want to be?
Rhodes looks really conflicted. He says he has an insane amount of respect for Rollins. This is the last thing he woke up thinking that they would be talking about, and he would be thinking about. Rhodes will tell him this… he’ll think about it. Rhodes walks off, and Rollins smirks.
Backstage Segment
Kofi Kingston is backstage with Xavier Woods. Kingston says a lot of people think about the funny things the New Day does, but they forget that they also win titles. Kingston is going to be a 5-time Intercontinental Champion.
Gunther will defend the WWE Intercontinental Championship later tonight.
“Main Event” Jey Uso makes his way to the ring. Next, he’ll face “Big” Bronson Reed.
-Commercial Break-
Video: Bron Breakker’s great Royal Rumble performance.
“Main Event” Jey Uso vs. “Big” Bronson Reed
They lock up, and Reed powers Jey to the corner. Jey ducks a right hand and punches away at him. Jey hits the ropes, but Reed avalanches him down. Reed punches and head-butts Jey to the corner before clubbing him. Reed connects with a short-arm clothesline. Reed clubs Jey into the ropes. Reed whips him, but Jey holds the ropes and sidesteps him to send him out of the ring. Jey connects with a suicide dive. Reed quickly shoves Jey into the ring post and charges, but he hits the post when Jey moves.
-Commercial Break-
Picture-in-Picture Commercial Break: Reed takes a few moments to recover at ringside before getting in the ring. Jey rocks him with some right hands. Jey hits the ropes and ducks a clothesline, but Reed catches him on the rebound with a back elbow. Reed connects with an elbow drop. Reed applies a neck vice. Jey fights out and punches the big Aussie. Reed quickly head-butts him to knock him back. Reed stands on Jey for a few moments. Reed grabs Jey and chokes him on the middle rope. Reed punches Jey and whips him hard into the opposite corner. Reed smooshes Jey’s face into the middle turnbuckle and mocks him. Reed connects with a running hip attack and applies a rear chin lock.
Back from the break, Jey fights up and punches out. Jey punches him to the corner and charges, but Reed puts him on the apron. Jey kicks him back and goes to the top rope for a diving cross-body block. 1… 2… Reed kicks out. Jey kicks and uppercuts him. Reed quickly swats him down and hits a senton bomb for a two-count. Reed is furious that Jey kicked out. Jey ducks a clothesline and superkicks Reed twice. Reed doesn’t go down. A third superkick takes the big man off his feet, and Jey picks up a two-count. Jey goes to the top rope, but Reed cuts him off. Reed goes for a superplex, but Jey punches him down to the mat. Jey goes for an Uso Splash, but Reed moves. Reed connects with a Death Valley Driver for a near fall.
Reed avalanches Jey in the corner and heads to the top rope. Reed goes for a Tsunami, but Jey moves. Jey superkicks Reed and connects with a Spear. Jey goes to the top rope and hits an Uso Splash for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: “Main Event” Jey Uso
Video: Highlights are shown of Andrade’s return to WWE in the Royal Rumble.
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce’s Office
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is watching Andrade sign a WWE Raw contract. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis walks in and says SmackDown had a handsome offer for Andrade. Andrade tells Aldis to say hello to Zelina Vega for him. Andrade walks off. Aldis says he lent Damage CTRL, but this is how it is. Aldis’s phone rings, and it is Bron Breakker.
Backstage Segment
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther is backstage. Kofi Kingston will remember this night for the rest of his life, but Gunther will soon forget about him. Gunther tells Kingston to leave it all out there in the ring. After tonight, no one will talk about Kingston, and he’ll continue being the longest-reigning Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion of all time. Gunther wishes Kingston luck.
-Commercial Break-
Video: Headlines from the Royal Rumble event.
Backstage Interview
Jackie Redmond is backstage with “The Man” Becky Lynch. Lynch says she let a lot of people down, but she’ll fight harder and dirtier until she’s back on top in the main event.
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Kofi Kingston vs. “The Ring General” Gunther (c)
The bell rings, and Kingston quickly takes it to Gunther. Kingston hits the ropes, but Gunther catches him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Gunther applies a Boston Crab.
-Commercial Break-
Picture-in-Picture Commercial Break: Kingston twists out, so Gunther elbows him in the head. Kingston fights back, but Gunther catches him with a shoulder tackle. Gunther clubs the back and kicks him against the ropes. Gunther pushes Kingston into the ropes and clubs him down on the rebound. Kingston fights back, but Gunther takes him down. Kingston avoids a cannonball and tries to pick the leg, but Gunther fights him off. Gunther is dominating Kingston right now. Kingston quickly chops him, but that is a mistake as Gunther spins him and chops him out of the ring. Gunther catches Kingston coming back in the ring with a snapmare and a kick to the back.
Back from the break, Gunther elbows Kingston in the nose. Kingston punches and head-butts the Ring General, but Gunther cuts off the momentum with a chop. Gunther viciously whips him to the corner and smiles. Gunther’s chest is bleeding a bit from Kingston’s chops. Gunther grabs Kingston and viciously whips him to the corner a second time. Gunther grabs the legs and goes for a Boston Crab, but Kingston kicks him back. Gunther quickly grabs him and hits a scoop slam. Gunther talks trash to Kingston and uppercuts him a few times. Kingston chops him, but Gunther lights him up with a chop to the chest. Gunther sends him to the corner, but Kingston pops out with a clothesline. Kingston punches away at Gunther and boots him back. Kingston catches him with a pendulum kick and heads to the top rope. Kingston leaps, but Gunther catches him and hits a backbreaker. Gunther goes back to the Boston Crab… and we once again go to a commercial on the submission attempt.
-Commercial Break-
Picture-in-Picture Commercial Break: Kingston soon gets to the bottom rope to break the hold. Gunther sizes Kingston up and hits a German Suplex. The Picture-in-Picture break goes away from here.
Back from the break, Kingston stuns Gunther with a knee to the face. Kingston chops the chest twice and dropkicks him. Gunther sidesteps a leaping clothesline and goes for a sleeper hold. Kingston fights it. Gunther goes for a Powerbomb, but Kingston fights that and hits Gunther with a hurricanrana over the top rope. Kingston goes for a suicide dive, but Gunther catches him and viciously throws him into the ring apron. Kingston hit awkwardly. Kingston soon sends Gunther headfirst into the ring post. Kingston hits a pair of suicide dives. Gunther follows him into the ring, and Kingston hits Trouble in Paradise! Kingston crawls over, but Gunther rolls out of the ring before he’s pinned.
Kingston bounces Gunther off the steel steps and climbs on top of the barricade. Kingston leaps and lands on Gunther, who is hanging over the ring steps. Kingston gets Gunther in the ring before they’re counted out. Kingston goes to the top rope and hits a massive Boom Drop! 1… 2… Gunther kicks out! Kingston sizes Gunther up for Trouble in Paradise, but Gunther blocks it. Kingston counters into an inside cradle for a two-count. Gunther quickly takes his head off with a lariat. Gunther charges, but Kingston hits the SOS for a near fall. Kingston gets to his feet, and the crowd chants, “This is awesome.” Gunther crushes Kingston with a lariat, followed by a Tyrannosaurus Dropkick. Gunther connects with a Powerbomb for the win.
Winner by Pinfall and still WWE Intercontinental Champion: Gunther
Xavier Woods runs down to check on Kingston. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci run down and attack Woods and Kingston. Woods fights back, but they whip him into the ring post.
Video: Replays are shown of Drew McIntyre viciously taking out Sami Zayn last month.
Backstage Interview
Jackie Redmond asks Sami Zayn about facing Drew McIntyre, who took him out a month ago. Zayn says it was hard to be on the sidelines at the hands of a man who makes an excuse for everything. Then Zayn came back at No. 30 and was targeted by McIntyre again. McIntyre never blames himself for his problems. Zayn will give him a reality check.
Drew McIntyre will battle Sami Zayn in tonight’s main event.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors make their way to the ring. They’ll battle Natalya and Tegan Nox next.
-Commercial Break-
Video: Footage is shown of Jade Cargill’s fantastic Royal Rumble appearance.
Backstage Segment
Sami Zayn is shown warming up backstage. Elsewhere backstage, we see Drew McIntyre warming up.
Non-Title Tag Team Match
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) vs. Natalya and Tegan Nox
Kairi Sane starts against Tegan Nox. Sane dances around the referee before taking her down. Nox quickly gets the momentum and tags Natalya in. Natalya dropkicks Sane for a two-count. Sane quickly pulls Natalya down by the hair. Asuka tags in, and Sane bounces Natalya off her boots. Natalya quickly sends Asuka into the corner. Nox tags back in and punches away at Asuka. Asuka charges, but Nox slingshots over her and hits an uppercut. Nox kicks Asuka down in the corner and hits a cannonball. Sane runs in, but Nox takes her down. Natalya and Nox hit running boots on the Women’s Tag Team Champions.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Asuka digging her knee into Nox’s face. Sane tags back in. The Kabuki Warriors kick away at Nox. Asuka tags back in and kicks Nox in the face. Nox soon fights off Sane and Asuka. Asuka ducks an enzuigiri and applies an ankle lock. Nox tries to crawl to her corner, but Sane pulls Natalya off the apron. Nox rolls Asuka up for a two-count. Nox head-butts her and hits an uppercut.
Natalya tags in and hits Asuka with a pair of snap suplexes. Natalya connects with a German Suplex and follows up with a Discus Clothesline. Natalya goes for a Sharpshooter. Asuka shouts for Sane, and Sane is really late on her cue. Nox goes after Sane, but Sane takes her down. Natalya was looking for a tag and wasn’t happy. Natalya connects with a baseball slide on Sane. Natalya rolls Asuka up for a two-count. Asuka quickly kicks Natalya down. Asuka and Sane hit a reverse DDT/In-Sane Elbow for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The Kabuki Warriors
Women’s Locker Room
Katana Chance and Kayden Carter are watching this match backstage. Jackie Redmond asks what is next for them. Chance and Carter announce they’ll have a rematch next week on Raw against the Kabuki Warriors.
Bayley, the winner of the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match, makes her way to the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Bayley addresses her Royal Rumble victory
Bayley is in the ring with WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors, WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai. Together, they all make up Damage CTRL. Bayley says she’ll let the people take a picture of them in the ring. When was the last time the Women’s Tag Team Champions, the Women’s Champion, and the Royal Rumble were all in the ring together? It’s never been done before. This is history, all because of Bayley. Everyone thought Bayley was done, that she wasn’t as good coming back from injury… she might not have been on the poster, but she is a winner. Bayley won against the most stacked women’s roster they’ve had. She also beat Rhea Ripley’s record and lasted 63 minutes and 3 seconds.
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley comes out to the stage. Ripley says the only reason Bayley beat her time in the Royal Rumble is because she wasn’t in the match. The rest of Damage CTRL has gold. If Bayley chooses her for WrestleMania, it will remain that way. All of a sudden, Nia Jax attacks Bayley from behind. Jax fights Ripley into the ring and hits her with a leg drop. Jax drops two more leg drops before hitting her with an Annilator! Jax approaches Bayley, who cowers in the corner. Jax tells Bayley to pick Iyo because Ripley is not making it to WrestleMania. Bayley sheepishly says she’ll make her decision this Friday.
Sami Zayn makes his entrance. The main event is next.
-Commercial Break-
Sami Zayn vs. Drew McIntyre
The bell rings, and McIntyre immediately powers him to the corner. Zayn ducks a chop and chops McIntyre’s chest. Zayn hits some jabs before having a whip reversed. Zayn quickly sends McIntyre over the top rope and goes for a plancha, but McIntyre catches him. McIntyre slings him over the commentary table. McIntyre puts Zayn back in the ring and looks at Pat McAfee. Zayn then sends McIntyre over the commentary table with a suicide dive.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, McIntyre chops Zayn in the corner. Zayn is holding his shoulder in pain. McIntyre pulls him up by the beard, but Zayn fights back. McIntyre backs him up and chops the chest. McIntyre puts him on the top rope and sets up for White Noise, but Zayn fights off and hits a sunset flip powerbomb for a near fall. Zayn scales the ropes and connects with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Zayn backs up for a Helluva Kick, but McIntyre pops out and hits a spinebuster, followed by a jackknife pin for a two-count. McIntyre immediately follows up with a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Zayn soon sidesteps a charging McIntyre and sends him shoulder-first into the ring post. Zayn goes for a suplex, but he can’t get McIntyre up. McIntyre connects with a Glasgow Kiss, and Zayn is out cold. McIntyre pulls himself to the top rope, but Zayn sweeps the feet. Zayn connects with a top-rope superplex. Zayn slowly gets up and goes for a Helluva Kick, but McIntyre takes him down. McIntyre counts down and charges for a Claymore Kick, but Zayn counters into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall!
McIntyre backs Zayn up and connects with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, followed by a kip-up. McIntyre lifts Zayn and climbs the ropes for a vicious Super White Noise. 1… 2… Zayn barely kicks out. Zayn rips at McIntyre’s face on the kick-out. McIntyre says he is out of Zayn’s league. Zayn fights back and punches away at McIntyre. McIntyre hits another Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre backs up, and Zayn follows him for a Helluva Kick. McIntyre drops down and covers up, inadvertently low-blowing Zayn. McIntyre follows up with a Claymore Kick for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Drew McIntyre
Quick Match Results
— The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and “Señor Money in the Bank” Damian Priest) def. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
— Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark def. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven in a Tag Team Match
— “Main Event” Jey Uso def. “Big” Bronson Reed
— “The Ring General” Gunther def. Kofi Kingston to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship
— WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) def. Natalya and Tegan Nox in a Tag Team Match (non-title)
— Drew McIntyre def. Sami Zayn
Email – mike@wrestleview.com
X – @MikeTedescoWV
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