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WWE RAW REPORT (Episode #1,203)
DECEMBER 30, 2024
HOUSTON, TEX. AT TOYOTA CENTER
AIRED ON USA NETWORK
BY WADE KELLER, EDITOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia
Attendance: WrestleTix reports that 14,506 tickets were distributed. The arena has a capacity of 20,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
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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 an aerial view of Toyota Center in the downtown area of Houston, Tex. They showed Seth Rollins and C.M. Punk arriving separately. Tessitore said it was episode #1,203 and the final ever on USA Network. They cut to a crowd shot as he announced 14,646 in attendance. Then they went to Tessitore and Wade Barrett at ringside. He said Raw moves to Netflix next week, while Smackdown stays on USA. Barrett said it’s a loaded show with limited commercial interruptions. Barrett said Jey Uso would be out first. Instead, New Day’s music played.
-Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods walked out to boos. Kofi told them to cut off the mic. They jawed at fans and made their way to the ring. Fans chanted, “New Day Sucks!” Xavier pleaded with the crowd to tell them what they did wrong. As Kofi began to tell fans what would happen if they didn’t pipe down, Jey’s music played.
After Jey was wildly cheered during his long entrance through the crowd, Xavier said, “So you like Jey Uso?” As fans kept booing, Xavier asked Jey to tell the crowd to be quiet. Jey actually did, and some fans seemed a bit disappointed. The boos and another “New Day Sucks!” chant broke out. Xavier said they go way back. Jey said it’s true, they do, so he only had one thing to say: “New Day Sucks.” He laughed. Fans laughed. Kofi tried to calm Xavier. New Day left the ring. Jey clapped as fans chanted, “New Day Sucks!”
Jey said he isn’t there for that, as they have other problems to address. He talked about The Bloodline and Drew McIntyre. He called Drew to the ring. Instead, Solo Sikoa showed up on the big screen alongside Jacob Fatu and Tonga Loa. Solo said he and Jimmy made a bit mistake going back to Roman Reigns after all they did to him. He said the ula fala is going to stay on him forever. He vowed to destroy Reigns next week and remain the Tribal Chief, after which Jey and everyone else will acknowledge him. Drew then attacked Jey from behind. The crowd tried for five seconds to tip him off with gasps and warning screams. Drew beat down Jey and rammed his head into the mat. Jey fired back with a superkick. Drew replied with a Glasgow Kiss headbutt. Jey went down. Drew signaled for a Claymore, but officials ran into the ring to separate them. Drew pretended he was gong to leave, but turned back and charged to the ring and gave Jey a Claymore.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Chad Gable with the American Made. He said he will show the master remains the master forever. They made their ring entrance.
(1) OTIS (w/Maxxine Durpi, Akira Tozawa) vs. CHAD GABLE (w/The Creeds, Ivy Nile)
Otis got in early offense. Gable took control for a while, but Otis avoided his top rope headbutt. Gable eventually applied an anklelock. Otis powered out and sent Gable through the ropes to the floor. Otis fought off the Creeds when they interfered. He suplexed Gable into the Creeds, then played to cheering fans. He then put Gable in an anklelock. Gable upkicked, but Otis held on and wrenched on the anklelock tighter. Gable still powered out and then delivered a deadlift German suplex. Gable leaped off the top rope, but Otis punched him out of mid-air. Barrett said it was the best Otis has ever looked. When Ivy crawled into the ring, Otus turned to her. Gable then took Otis down and applied an anklelock again. Otis reached toward the bottom rope, but came up short and cried out in pain, then tapped.
WINNER: Gable in 9:00.
-A video package hyped the Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley match.
-Backstage, The Judgment Day were gathered and chatting. Referees separated them. Dunne yelled, “I’m nobody’s Butch!” over and over.
-Kelley interviewed Sky and Kai backstage. She brought up that Iyo and Kai could face off in the finals. Dakota said all that matters is that one member of Damage CTRL win the IC Title. Sky said it’d be great.
-Tessitore touted the 44th TV sellout of the year and the 66th overall sellout of the year.
(2) DAKOTA KAI vs. ZOEY STARK – Women’s Intercontinental Title Tournament semi-final match
The bell rang 41 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break a few minutes in. [c/db]
Tessitore said the tournament final will take place on the Jan. 13 Raw. For the finish, Stark springboarded toward Kai, but Kai kicked her out of mid-air followed by a fireman’s carry into a Pelé kick for the win.
WINNER: Kai in 8:00 to advance to the IC Title Tournament final.
(Keller’s Analysis: The action was okay up the finishing move by Kai which didn’t land right.)
-They went to Barrett and Tessitore who talked about how Raw was on cable TV since the first episode. “It has forever shaped sports entertainment,” he said. He threw to a video package on the history of Raw. It led with Jim Ross’s voice at first, then Michael Cole’s voice.
(Keller’s Analysis: It’s not often you get a clear “tell” how current management feels about the toxicity of Vince McMahon, but this said it all. He appeared in a crowd as Mike Tyson and Steve Austin got into it, but otherwise wasn’t visible. They didn’t shy away from showing Edge or Daniel Bryan, who have since gone to AEW.)
-They showed Pearce chatting with Seth backstage. Then they showed Lyra Valkyria warming up backstage. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
(3) THE WAR RAIDERS & DAMIEN PRIEST vs. THE JUDGMENT DAY (Finn Balor & Dominik Mysterio & J.D. McDonagh w/Carlito)
Barrett and Tessitore talked more about the War Raiders being unsure of whether their careers were over after serious physical setbacks and injuries. The Raiders knocked Balor and McDonagh into the announce desk at 4:00. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
The Raiders beat up Balor for a while. Eventually, as the Raiders took McDonagh and Balor out at ringside, Priest went on the attack on Dom in the ring and scored a clean three count with a South of Heaven.
WINNERS: Priest & War Raiders in 9:00.
-Afterward, Balor attacked Priest. The Raiders made the save. Balor said from ringside, “It’s not over yet; no way!”
-Pearce told Jey backstage he personally escorted Solo and Drew out of the arena. He booked Jey against Drew next week on Raw on Netflix.
-They showed Punk and Seth each pacing backstage. [c]
-Ludwig Kaiser stood mid-ring and demanded “all your gratitude for Ludwig Kaiser.” He said he is “European elegance” and “A-plus everything.” He demanded that Bron Breakker walked down the aisle with his title. Instead, Sheamus’s music interrupted. He knocked Kaiser out of the ring with a Brogue Kick and then played to the crowd.
-Backstage, Rey Mysterio praised Otis for standing up to his mentor like he did. He said next time. he knows he’ll whip his ass. Otis and his crew walked away. New Day walked up to Rey, who was with his friend. Rey told them to back off and take their b.s. somewhere else. Kofi asked if he’d have his crew jump them if they didn’t. Rey said part of being a leader is stepping up and shutting up any evils that need to get checked. Xavier asked Rey who he’d pick to be his partner. He said they accept his challenge and they’d see him soon.
-Iyo Sky made her entrance. [c]
-Tessitore talked about some of the big WWE events in Houston over the decades including WrestleMania 17, the 1989 and 2020 Royal Rumbles, and 16 Raws. Then they showed fans signs.
(4) IYO SKY vs. LYRA VALKYRIA – Women’s Intercontinental Title Tournament semi-final match
They cut to a double-box break a couple minutes in. [c/db]
They showed Dakota watching from a luxury suite. Sky scored a near fall at 8:00. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” Sky landed a top rope move for a near fall. Lyra rolled to the floor. Sky regrouped after being shocked at the kickout. She landed a top rope moonsault onto the floor, threw Valkyria back into the ring, and then landed double knees in the corner. She followed with a top rope Over the Sky moonsault attempt, but Valkyria moved. Sky went for a leverage pin, but Valkyria countered and scored a three count. “Lyra herself is in shock!” exclaimed Tessitore. Barrett called it the biggest shocker of her career.
WINNER: Sky in 12:00 to advance to advance to the IC Title Tournament final.
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside who talked about the upcoming Seth-Punk confrontation.
-A video preview aired for Solo vs. Reigns next week on Raw.
-Seth made his ring entrance. [c]
-A video package previewed Seth vs. Punk.
-Seth then played to the crowd who cheered and chanted for him. He suggested they end 2024 and Raw’s run on USA Network with a bang. Seth said whatever happens, he’ll be there every week in 2025 fighting, whereas Punk would cry and whine and disappear for another ten years.
Punk made his entrance and took Seth to task for saying he “took his ball and went home.” He said that was a cliche boot-licker line. Who asked who originally tried to “turn the people against the boys.” He asked if Steve Austin took his ball and went home. He asked if The Man took her ball and went home, too. “Or is it just me, Seth?” he asked. He asked Seth if he’s telling 15,000 strong that he abandoned him. “You just want to cry because I abandoned you,” he said. Punk said he was sick and tired and he left, while Seth “stayed and you ate it.” He said they both made their choices, but he has no regrets. He said he doesn’t want to talk about the last ten years, but rather he wants to focus on the last ten months. He asked how his knee and neck are. Seth hopped on one leg.
Punk said he believes in himself, which is why he calls himself the best in the world. He said he came back to make money, not friends. He said next week he gets to make a boat load of cash beating the little brother he so badly wants to be.
Seth said the difference between Punk and others who left is they actually did leave. He said his wife is staying at home to raise a baby. He said that’s something that Punk knows nothing about it. He said Austin said it was the worst mistake he ever made. He said Punk went on his buddy’s podcast and “tried to kill this place.” He said then he took a big chunk of change from the competition. “How’d that work out for ya’?” he asked.
Seth said he never felt bad for anything he did. He said he fought and stayed because that’s how revolutions are made, but by cowards who abandon their families. He said Punk can’t return and wave the flag with everyone. He said he’s the big brother now. He said after Jan. 6, he will take ten years off but not by choice.
Punk said you can tell the martyrs by the arrows in their backs. He said he was the first one through the wall and he got bloodied for it. “You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me,” he said. “I loved the place I worked, I just hated the guy in charge. And he loved you. And in situations where you should’ve had my back, all you did was shoot me in the back.” He said Seth shot Roman in the back and is now dressed like an idiot trying to play victim in a situation he created. Punk said arrows kill some people, but after a few years, he pulled them out. He said he came back because for seven years, “mostly during your television time,” they chanted my name.
“I should be dead, Seth, but I’m not,” Punk said. “And oh, aren’t the arrow-throwers mad.” He said he’s walking into Raw at Netflix in L.A. with a handful of arrows and he’s going to jam them down his corporate throat. A loud “C.M. Punk!” chant broke out. Seth said he’s never said it to his face, but perhaps once upon a time he was a pioneer, but he’s become a cancer. He said he’s a cancer to the locker room, his brain, and the business. He said the only way to defeat cancer is to cut it out. He told him to bring his fist-full of arrows, and he’ll bring his eyes of fire and his heart full of hate and rage and he will burn him to the ground. He threw down the mic and got some cheers. His music played to end the segment as they stared each other down.
(Keller’s Analysis: Heated segment. That didn’t go well for Seth. Punk delivered all the comebacks that could be had and left Seth without anything.)
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 Tej Narayanan 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.
LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER WWE RAW TONIGHT: LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER WWE RAW TONIGHT: CLICK HERE TO WATCH
[HOUR ONE]
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