By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,644)
Glendale, Arizona at Desert Diamond Arena
Aired live November 25, 2024 on USA Network
[Hour One] Joe Tessitore checked in on commentary while shots aired of the exterior of the building. Tessitore, who was joined on commentary by Wade Barrett, noted that the show was sold out. Shots aired of the arrivals of Bianca Belair and Naomi, Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton, Ludwig Kaiser, Bron Breakker, The War Raiders, and The Judgment Day…
World Heavyweight Champion Gunther made his entrance while being introduced by ring announcer Lilian Garcia. Jackie Redmond stood in the ring and interviewed Gunther. Redmond set up footage from last week of Damian Priest getting the better of Gunther during a backstage altercation.
Gunther looked rattled after watching the footage. Redmond noted that Gunther’s WWE career has been dominant, but he’s been difference since he took a rare loss to Cody Rhodes. Redmond asked him to comment.
Damian Priest’s entrance theme played before Gunther could respond to Redmond. Priest stood at ringside and told Gunther to let everyone know how easy it will be. Priest entered the ring when Gunther didn’t respond. Priest had Redmond hand her microphone to Gunther before she exited the ring.
Priest said Gunther wants everyone to think the old Gunther is back, but they both know it’s not true. Priest said Gunther has never had to deal with a problem like him. “At Survivor Series, this problem is taking that championship,” Priest said. Priest questioned what would happen to the Ring General when he loses to a guy from the street.
Priest mentioned that it was Gunther’s interview time and encouraged him to speak. Gunther held the microphone up to his mouth, but he didn’t say anything. Gunther turned to leave, but then turned and slammed the microphone over the head of Priest.
Gunther worked over Priest and dumped him to ringside. Gunther hit Priest with a short-arm clothesline and then cleared the broadcast table. Priest fought back and ran Gunther into the ring post. Priest hoisted up Gunther and gave him a Razor’s Edge through the broadcast table. Priest held the World Heavyweight Championship belt over his head and then dropped it on Gunther…
Powell’s POV: Priest getting the better of this battle was the right move for the story that’s been told. The idea is that Gunther is vulnerable due to his lack of confidence after losing to Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel, so it would have been a mistake to have him regain his mojo on the go-home show.
Footage aired of the Jade Cargill injury angle from Friday’s Smackdown. Barrett said there’s no timetable for Cargill’s return…
Backstage, Naomi asked Bianca Belair about Cargill. Belair said Cargill is banged up and said it’s bad. Belair said they will get whoever did it once they find out. Naomi brought up the need for a fifth woman for the WarGames team.
Iyo Sky showed up and pitched Kairi Sane for the spot. Belair mentioned Bayley. All three women bickered.
Rhea Ripley showed up and said whoever the person is has to stay out of her way and carry their weight. Belair asked if Ripley had any suggestions. Ripley said she couldn’t care less as long as they leave her Liv Morgan. “Wow, what leadership,” Belair replied. Belair said she was going to get ready for the advantage match and told the others to figure it out…
“The LWO” Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, and Zelina Vega made their entrance. Rey and Lee headed to the ring for their tornado match heading into a commercial break… [C]
“American Made” Chad Gable, Julius Creed, Brutus Creed, and Ivy Nile made their entrance, but only the Creeds headed to the ring…
1. Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee vs. Julius Creed and Brutus Creed in a tornado tag match. Tessitore explained the rules of the match allowing all four men in the ring at once. Lee had Brutus in the tree of woe and set up for a double stomp, but Julius jumped up and superplexed Lee. Brutus laughed at Lee before freeing himself.
Moments later, Lee pulled Brutus off the apron with a huracanrana. Rey put Julius in position for a 619. Rey ran the ropes, but Julius shot up and drilled him with a clothesline. Julius stood in the ring and glared at Lee, who was at ringside. [C]
Julius hit a 450 plash on Rey and had him beat, but Lee broke up the pin. Lee put Julius down with a DDT and had him beat, but Brutus broke up his pin. A short time later, Rey hit a double 619 and Lee followed up with a double double stomp.
Rey performed a sliding dive onto Brutus. Lee executed a clunky move on Julius at ringside. Julius came right back with a suplex and then returned to the ring. Rey performed a rough huracanrana that put Julius in position for a 619.
Brutus went after Rey, who shot him toward the referee in the corner. Chad Gable showed up and twisted Rey’s mask so that he couldn’t see. Julius rolled up Rey and got the three count…
Julius Creed and Brutus Creed defeated Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee in 10:45 in a tornado tag match.
Gable and the Creeds had an over the top celebration that included posing on the broadcast table…
Powell’s POV: There were a couple of clunky spots, but there was more good than bad with some some cool and impressive spots along the way.
Highlights aired of Paul Heyman’s return along with CM Punk on Friday’s Smackdown. The video included clips of fans watching the segment and freaking out. A graphic noted that it generated over 72 million views on social media, making it the most viewed clip of anything from Smackdown in 2024…
Bron Breakker made his entrance… [C]
Tessitore hyped Cody Rhodes appearing on Thursday’s edition of The Tonight Show on NBC…
Inside Judgment Day’s Clubhouse, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were talking when Finn Balor said they should hae more faith in their teammates. R-Truth showed up and acted liked he belonged. Balor told Truth get leave. Truth said they’re not a family anymore and Thanksgiving is off, then stormed away.
Balor said Morgan should be concerned about being locked in the WarGames cage, then spoke about Dom letting Damian Priest get back in the title picture, and Dom and Carlito losing to the War Raiders. Balor switched to being positive and said they are one big happy family no matter what happens…
Ludwig Kaiser made his entrance…
2. Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker vs. Ludwig Kaiser in a non-title match. Kaiser took offensive control until Breakker performed a gutbuster. Kaiser went to ringside. Breakker followed and charged for a spear that Kaiser avoided, causing Breakker to crash into the side of the broadcast table a couple minutes into the match. [C]
Tessitore listed the attendance as 13,216. Kaiser worked over Breakker. A chant broke out in support of Breakker, who fired up and took offensive control. Breakker hit a top rope Frankensteiner and let out a primal scream before going for a spear, but Kaiser beat him to the punch with a step-up enzuigiri.
Breakker crawled from the apron onto the ring steps. Kaiser rolled to ringside and motioned as if he was setting up for a move, but Sheamus ran out and hit him from behind for the apparent disqualification.
Ludwig Kaiser beat Bron Breakker by apparent DQ in 9:00.
Sheamus worked over Kaiser until Breakker pulled him off. Sheamus shoved Breakker. A group of producers and security guards tried to stop Breakker and Sheamus from brawling heading into a break… [C]
Powell’s POV: I assume they are setting up a Triple Threat match for the Intercontinental Title, perhaps even for Survivor Series since they only have three matches advertised thus far. Breakker took a hell of a bump when he collided with the broadcast table before the break.
Breakker, Kaiser, and Sheamus were fighting on the stage coming out of the break. Barrett said they fought backstage and returned. Raw general manager Adam Pearce came out and blew his top before announcing three three men will meet in a Triple Threat for the Intercontinental Title will take place at Survivor Series…
Tessitore and Barrett spoke at their desk and set up a video package that recapped the drama involving The Bloodline, OG Bloodline, Paul Heyman, and CM Punk…
[Hour Two] Cathy Kelley interviewed Sami Zayn, Jimmy Uso, and Jey Uso in a locker room and asked them about CM Punk joining their WarGames team. Zayn said they were shocked and he never thought in a million years it would be CM Punk.
Zayn said Punk is a complicated guy and anyone who has history with him has a complicated history, including Roman Reigns. Zayn said he was told that Reigns and Punk will sit down and talk on Friday. Zayn said he wants to trust Punk, but the million dollar question is whether they can.
Jimmy Uso said they could trust Punk because The Wiseman said it was okay to do so. Jimmy said they just need Jey to win the advantage match against Jacob Fatu on Smackdown. Jey cut a brief promo about the match…
World Tag Team Champions Finn Balor and JD McDonagh made their entrance. The entrance of The War Raiders followed…
3. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh vs. “The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar for the World Tag Team Titles. The War Raiders jumped out to a fast start. Erik bodyslammed Ivar onto Balor. The champions both ducked out to ringside and then Ivar hit them with a dive off the apron. [C]
Tessitore said Balor and McDonagh worked over the neck of Erik’s neck throughout the commercial break. Ivar eventually took a hot tag and then worked over McDonagh. Balor tried to help, but Ivar took him out with a spin kick.
Erik tagged in and the War Raiders hit their Viking Experience finisher on McDonagh. Erik had the pin, but Balor broke it up. Dominik Mysterio and Carlito came out. Dom saved McDonagh from another pin attempt by putting McDonagh’s foot on the rope.
The referee was scodling Dom and Carlito when Ivar climbed up top. Balor cut off Ivar and pulled him into a clothesline via the top rope. McDonagh rolled up Ivar and pinned him…
Finn Balor and JD McDonagh defeated “The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar in 9:55 to retain the World Tag Team Titles.
Powell’s POV: A Judgment Day finish to an otherwise solid tag team match. I suppose the War Raiders were protected if they want to run this back.
A video package set up New Day’s ten-year anniversary celebration for next week’s Raw…
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were all smiles as they watched the video backstage. Woods said they should squash what’s happened over the last couple of months. Woods told Kingston he loved him, then Kingston returned the favor. Woods said next week would be the greatest night of their careers. Kingston said they should head to the ring and show everyone what they are all about. The duo made their entrance… [C]
Thought out of left field. I’m probably going to be wrong – but how about BECKY LYNCH as the replacement for Jade Cargill?
Let’s see if I’m right.