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WWE RAW REPORT
DECEMBER 16, 2024
BOSTON, MASS. AT TD GARDEN ARENA
AIRED ON USA NETWORK
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia
Attendance: WrestleTix reports today that 11,062 tickets were distributed as of right before showtime. The arena has a capacity of 20,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Javier Machado to review WWE Raw LIVE tonight right after the show ends. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Raw. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Joe Tessitore introduced the show as they showed a drone shot of downtown Boston, Mass. Then they showed the arrivals of The Judgment Day, Bron Breaker, and Ludwig Kaiser. “We have big names to hear from and championships to decide,” Tessitore said. They showed Kevin Owens piledriving Cody Rhodes after Saturday Night’s Main Event went off the air. Tessitore said they’d have a medical update on Cody.
-They cut to the entrance stage where C.M. Punk’s music played and he made his entrance to cheers. When fans chanted, “C.M. Punk!” Punk told them to be careful because some people won’t like it. He pointed out a guy in the front row wearing a New York Mets jersey. He said he didn’t want to call attention to someone who doesn’t matter, but it’s brave of anyone to show up in Boston wearing something from New York.
Punk said he’s feeling low and is in a bit of a bad mood. He said Seth Rollins is right that the issue between them cannot be avoided. He said it’s only a matter of time before they lock up in the ring. He said he feels he will always be overshadowed when he talks to the fans from the ring, the “stupid music is going to hit.” He mocked Seth’s laugh and said he dresses like Liberace. He said he likes Liberace. He said just because he wears Elton John sunglasses doesn’t make him Elton John. He said just because he grew up idolizing him doesn’t make him C.M. Punk when he puts on wrestling trunks.
Punk said it’s true when Seth says he ghosted him. He said that’s part of the past. He said he’s the bad guy. He asked the fans if they’ve ever been the bad guy. Punk seemed surprised how few arms went up. He said there is no such things as bad students, only bad teachers. He said therefore Seth is his failure. He said he’s willing now to give Seth the wrestling lesson he once asked for for free. He said he should look at what Drew McIntyre went through and ask himself if he’s tougher than him. He said they’ll have to staple him back together after he’s done with him.
Punk indicated he was surprised Seth had yet to interrupt him. He said it pissed off Seth that fans chanted his name during his seven years away from WWE. A chant of “C.M. Punk!” rang out. Seth’s voice then joined in chanting “C.M. Punk!” Punk looked around. A spotlight shone on Punk in the crowd.
Seth said life is about perspective and he thought perhaps if he came out there and saw him the way the fans see him, it might give him a new perspective and make him feel differently about who he is. He looked at Punk for a few seconds and then said, “Nah, even from way out here, you’re still an asshole.” Punk said he’s overjoyed he didn’t come out to his stupid song, but for once he’s coming out the right way because he belongs in the audience with the rest of the C.M. Punk fans.
Seth said that doesn’t embarrass him to be in the crowd with the fans. He got some cheers. “I’m a fan and I always will be,” Seth said. “I love this place. When you abandoned this place and hoped it would die without you, I put it on my back and made it stronger than it’s ever been.” He said if anyone should be embarrassed, it should be Punk because he has more WrestleMania main events than Punk ever will. “That’s a fact, Phil,” Seth said.
Punk leaped over the barricade and met Seth in the aisle. They brawled. They were separated quickly by referees, agents, and Adam Pearce. Punk broke free and went back after Seth at ringside. They continued to break free and fight, making their way to the ring. Punk grabbed Seth’s hair and punched away at him before letting go and rolling out of the ring. A “C.M. Punk!” chant broke out briefly. Wade Barrett said Seth came to fight, thus no Elton John sunglasses. They met in the aisle and fought again. Tessitore said it was outrageous. They showed a close up of Punk huffing and puffing.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good showing from both, not great. I’m not sure it’s great for Punk to say the fan in the front row “doesn’t matter” or think it’s a great insult to say Seth belongs with the fans in the crowd as if that’s a shameful, demeaning place to be. I get what he was going for, but it did come across as if it’s some lowly place to be compared to him. Seth, though, continues to battle for his share of cheers as he makes his earnest case why he believes he’s the good guy here and Punk isn’t.)
-They cut backstage to Finn Balor asking Liv Morgan, Dominik Mysterio, and Raquel Rodriguez where they were on Saturday night. “We’re supposed to be a team,” Balor said. Liv said they believe in him and didn’t think he needed any help. She said they’re all banned from ringside for his match against the War Raiders tonight. Raquel, with a tinge of sarcasm, said when you listen to Finn, you win. Finn smiled back at her. Barrett said all is not harmonious in the clubhouse right now.
-Ludwig Kaiser made his ring entrance. [c]
-A commercial aired with Triple H driving up to WWE headquarters. He said the WWE logo says it all and then stood in front of the augmented Raw logo for the Netflix era.
-Tessitore plugged the Netflix kickoff.
-They showed Seth raging backstage with Pearce storming up to him. Seth said he wants the fight with Punk and he wants him to make it happen. Pearce yelled that they should give it a rest for just ten minutes so he can do his job. Drew McIntyre walked up to Seth and said people told him when it came to Roman Reigns and The Bloodline to just get over it. He said everyone enabling Roman needs to be taken out. Seth said Drew thinks because they have a common cause, they’re friends. Seth said Jey Uso and Sami Zayn are his friends and Drew isn’t. He said friendships are forged out of respect, and he respects Jey and Sami. He said now he has to go do something Drew couldn’t do and that is go end C.M. Punk.
-Tessitore threw to a clip of Bron Breakker telling Kaiser he wasn’t worried about Gunther’s watch dog. Tessitore said it happened “during the third hour of Raw.”
(1) BRON BREAKKER vs. LUDWIG KAISER – Intercontinental Title match
Barrett said Kaiser has main event potential running through his veins. Breakker then made his entrance. The bell rang 28 minutes into the hour. Kaiser slapped Breakker in the corner. Breakker tackled him and punched away at him. Breakker then clotheslined him. Breakker said Ludwig showed an elitist snobbery there with that slap. Kaiser rolled to ringside. They cut to an early break. [c]
At 7:00, Breakker leaped off the ring apron and knocked Kaiser onto and over the announce desk. Breakker favored his left arm afterward. He lifted Kaiser onto the top rope, but Kaiser powered out and drove Breakker’s left shoulder into the mat. He then stomped away at it and applied a keylock. They cut to another break with Kaiser in control. [c]
Kaiser continued to focus on Breakker’s shoulder after the break. At 15:00 Breakker made a comeback with a Frankensteiner for a two count. He continued to favor his left arm, but signaled for his finishing spear. Kaiser caught him and slammed him to the mat and scored a two count. He applied another armbar. When Breakker charged at Kaiser in the corner, Kaiser moved and Breakker crashed into the turnbuckle. Kaiser went after Breakker at ringside. He signaled for the runaround ringside, but when he ran, Breakker was gone. Breakker then surprised him with a flying shoulder attack, but he also went down wincing after impact.
Back in the ring, Breakker caught Kaiser with a gut-buster. He then ran the ropes and hit his super-spear for the win. “What a match!” said Tessitore. Barrett said Breakker answered any questions anyone had about him in that match.
WINNER: Breakker in 19:00 to retain the Intercontinental Title.
-They went backstage to New Day. Xavier Woods noticed a backstage worked averting himself. Xavier asked Rey Mysterio if he’s got a problem with him. Kofi Kingston said Rey is supposed to be a locker room leader and after sharing a locker room for ten years, he should have his back. Rey said they crossed a line with “E” and it’d be best if they found another place to change. Xavier said that’s fine because they didn’t want to share a locker room with him anyway. [c]
-A photo was shown of Mike Tyson holding up the arm of Steve Austin who was holding up the winged angel version of the WWE Title belt back at WrestleMania in 1998 in the same venue as tonight’s Raw.
-Clips aired of Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens on Saturday Night’s Main Event including the post-match piledriver. They showed concerned reactions from fans as Cody was tended to and rolled out of the ring and into an ambulance. Tessitore said there were over 45 million social media views.
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside who said a package piledriver took out the WWE Champion. He said it is a banned move which also took out Randy Orton. Tessitore said Cody suffered cervical swelling and was kept overnight at a local hospital for observation. He said X-rays were negative when it came to fractures, so Cody is back home resting. He said they all wish Cody a speedy recovery.
-A promo aired with The War Raiders talking about their tag title match later. It included conversation about their injuries and comebacks and families.
If you are interested in becoming a contributor to PWTorch and join our great team of volunteers who help round out our coverage of the industry, email editor Wade Keller here: kellerwade@gmail.com. Include details on which promotions you most closely follow.
[HOUR TWO]
[c] -A rare case of the second hour of Raw starting with a commercial break, so something is off with their timing.
-After the commercial, Cathy Kelley interviewed Pearce backstage about rumblings regarding other matches besides Roman vs. Solo Sikoa for the Netflix debut. Pearce said Raw’s debut on Netflix will include Punk vs. Rollins. Kelley said a big night got even bigger. Pearce said, “Way bigger.”
-Tessitore asked Barrett for his reaction. Barrett said he can’t wait. Tessitore then plugged the Raw on Netflix Kickoff this Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.
-Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Dominik Mysterio walked out. Dom and Liv did some mic work including yelling into a megaphone. Liv said 2024 was the year of Monday Night Morgan and they’re just getting started. She said no one is more qualified to lead WWE into the new era than her. She was interrupted by Rhea Ripley’s music.
Ripley walked out. Ripley said she is going to want to hear what she has to say. Liv said she doesn’t care. Ripley told her to shut up. Ripley said Pearce made it official that she’s the no. 1 contender for the Women’s World Title. She said she can see into the future and she is going to end her title reign. She said all she’ll be left with is being with “your little chicken tender slut.” She looked over at Dom. Tessitore said Liv will have to face Ripley at some point.
-Jackie Redmond approached Seth and talked about Pearce making his match with Punk official. Drew marched toward Seth, but Sami cut him off. They brawled and were pulled apart by security and officials.
-Zoey Stark made her ring entrance. [c]
-Miz told The Final Testament he is proud to be associated with them, but they don’t need him anymore. He said they beat The Wyatt Sicks and now they can go on their separate ways. Kross told Miz not to say another word. He said it’s not over until he says it’s over. He stopped Miz from speaking up. He said they’ve been reacting to the Wyatts, and now they’re going to take it to the Wyatts on their terms. He told Miz he’s going to fight Dexter Lumis next week. Paul Ellering said the way he sees it, he saved him twice, so now he owes them. Kross reminded Miz that he has won 22 titles in his WWE career so he can do this. Miz said he’d go talk to Pearce. Kross said he’s not sure if Miz can beat Lumis, but they’ll keep testing the Wyatts. He said they’re teaching Miz that if you make a deal with the devil, you don’t run out on him.
(2) ZOEY STARK vs. RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ vs. KAYDEN CARTER – Women’s Intercontinental Title tournament match
They showed the brackets with the winner of this match facing Dakota Kai in the semi-finals, while Lyra Valkyria will face the winner of Alba Fyre vs. Kairi Sane vs. Natalya in the other semi-finals. The bell rang 20 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early break after a Carter dive onto Stark and Rodriguez at ringside. [c]
As Raquel set up her finisher on Carter, Stark dropkicked them. Stark landed a (sloppy) Z-360 on Carter for the win.
WINNER: Stark in 10:00 to advance.
-Backstage, Maxxine Dupri asked R-Truth what he thought of their commercial. Truth said he loved it and it changed his whole workout. He said if Butch hadn’t taken their advice, maybe he wouldn’t have lost so easily. Pete Dunne walked in and said he’s sick of hearing him say that name and he’s going to break his jaw if he hears it again. Chad Gable and his crew walked up to Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine and said they threw away all his training. He said they’re pathetic. Otis told Gable to shut up. Gable said it’s time to “kill my darlings.” He said he starting with Tozawa.
-Redmond told New Day backstage that the attempt to interview them didn’t go well last week. Xavier blamed it on biased journalism. There was a ruckus in the background and cameras turned to show Pure Fusion Collective had attacked Kairi Sane. Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai ran to check on them.
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside to react.
(3) J.D. MCDONAGH & FINN BALOR vs. THE WAR RAIDERS – WWE Tag Team Title match
War Raiders made their entrance first. Then McDonagh and Balor. After formal ring introductions the bell rang to start the match 43 minutes into the hour. Erik bodyslammed Ivar onto McDonagh a minute into the match and they cut to a break. [c/db]
Balor and McDonagh took over after the break. They cut to another break after Balor whipped Erik into the ringside steps. [c]
Ivar hot-tagged in. When War Machine set up their finisher on McDonagh, Balor broke it up. McDonagh rolled up Erik for a two count. Balor tagged in and swung at Erik, but Erik fought back. Balor countered with a sling blade and shotgun dropkick. He tagged McDonagh back in and he landed a top rope moonsault. Balor landed a Coup de Grace. Ivar broke up the cover. Fans chanted, “War! War! War!” McDonagh brought a chair into the ring. Balor went for another chair, but Damien Priest was holding it. Meanwhile, Ivar tagged back in and they gave Balor their War Machine finisher for the win. Priest smiled and laughed at ringside.
WINNERS: War Raiders in 16:00 to capture the WWE Tag Team Titles.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Javier Machado to review WWE Raw LIVE tonight right after the show ends. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Raw. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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