By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,647)
Boston, Massachusetts at TD Garden
Aired live December 16, 2024 on USA Network
[Hour One] Joe Tessitore, who was joined on commentary by Wade Barrett, checked in while a shot of the host city was shown. Backstage shots aired of The Judgment Day, Bron Breakker, and Ludwig Kaiser. Tessitore also said there would be a medical update on Cody Rhodes while footage was shown of him taking a package piledriver from Kevin Owens on Saturday Night’s Main Event…
CM Punk made his entrance for an in-ring promo. Fans chanted Punk’s name. Punk told them to be careful because some people might get mad if you chant his name. He also called out a fan in the front row for having the balls to wear a New York shirt in Boston. Punk delivered his “is it great to be alive” line.
Punk said he was feeling a little low and was in a bad mood. Punk recalled Seth Rollins indicating that he thinks about him a lot and then telling Rollins that he doesn’t think about him at all. Punk said he’s in a bad mood because Rollins is right. Punk said as much as he’d like to put their issues in the past and avoid it, it’s only a matter of time before they meet in the ring.
Punk said that he knows when he’s addressing the fans, Rollins’ stupid music would hit and he could come in clogs. Punk compared Rollins to Liberace and then said it’s not an insult because he thinks Liberace is cool as hell. Punk said wearing Elton John sunglasses doesn’t make you Elton John. Punk said that just because Rollins grew up worshipping CM Punk doesn’t make him CM Punk.
Punk said he’s not litigating the past and he’s looking to the future. Punk said Rollins wants to paint him as a bad guy. Punk said he’d be the bad guy. He asked the fans if they’ve ever been the bad guy in their life. Punk he’s the bad guy because there’s no such thing as a bad student, there’s just bad teachers. Punk called Rollins his failure.
Punk said that if Rollins wants to interrupt him, he’d give him the wrestling lesson that he asked for years ago for free. Punk asked Rollins if he’s tougher than Drew McIntyre. Punk said Rollins might think he is, but Boston knows that Rollins is not. Punk said there wouldn’t be enough staples to put Rollins back together once he’s done with him. Punk expressed surprise that this didn’t piss off Rollins enough to come out. Punk noted that the fans chanted his name during Rollins promos.
Seth Rollins appeared in the crowd and was chanting Punk’s name. Rollins said life is about perspective, so he thought he might see Punk differently if he got the perspective of the fans. Rollins said that even from where he was standing, Punk is still an asshole (censored).
Punk said he was overjoyed that Rollins didn’t come out to his stupid song. Punk said Rollins was in the right spot with the rest of the CM Punk fans. Rollins said he put the company on his back when Punk hoped it would fail without him. “This fan has more WrestleMania main events than you ever will,” Rollins said.
Rollins walked down the steps while Punk left the ring and hopped the barricade. Punk and Rollins fought until they were pulled apart by Raw general manager Adam Pearce, producers, and referees. Punk broke free and got some shots in, then Rollins broke free and jumped onto Punk. Both wrestlers entered the ring and threw punches until they were pulled apart again.
Punk and Rollins were pulled to ringside. They both picked up chairs, but the producers and referees were able to keep them apart. Rollins acted like it was over, then hopped the barricade and took a long path to get to Punk for another round of punching until they were pulled apart…
Powell’s POV: I haven’t seen a brawl that fun at TD Garden since the Bruins traded Milan Lucic to the Kings. The verbal exchange was entertaining and neither man seems to be going for heat. Rather, it seems like they are letting the fans choose for now.
Inside the Judgment Day clubhouse, Finn Balor wondered where the rest of his crew was when he was left facing two men at once on Saturday. Liv Morgan recalled Balor saying he didn’t need help. She also noted that the rest of the faction was banned from ringside during Balor and JD McDonagh’s tag team title match. Morgan, Dominik Mysterio, and Raquel Rodriguez left the room. Balor was seething while McDonagh and Carlito were focused on their WWE video game…
Ludwig Kaiser made his entrance for the Intercontinental Title match heading into a commercial break… [C] The Triple H video with the new Raw logo for the Netflix era aired… Tessitore hyped Wednesday’s WWE on Netflix kickoff event that will stream online from WWE Headquarters…
An angry Seth Rollins was shown walking backstage. Adam Pearce followed Rollins, who told him he wants a match with Punk. Pearce told Rollins to let him do his job.
Drew McIntyre confronted Rollins after Pearce left. McIntyre recalled Rollins telling him that he needed to get over his issues with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline. McIntyre said it’s not so easy when it’s staring you in the face. McIntyre said he and Rollins know that Punk is the same person he was unlike others in the company, including Sami Zayn and Jey Uso .
Rollins said McIntyre thinks they have a common cause and are friends. Rollins said he took Reigns out of power at WrestleMania and he had Zayn and Jey at his side. Rollins said he respects Zayn and Jey. Rollins told McIntyre that he as going to do something that McIntyre couldn’t do – end CM Punk…
Powell’s POV: I like the idea of Rollins and McIntyre bonding over their mutual hatred of Punk and The Bloodline. Rollins established that they’re not there now, but that doesn’t mean they won’t get there eventually.
Footage aired of Ludwig Kaiser slapping Bron Breakker last week in a backstage segment… Breakker made his entrance and was introduced by ring announcer Lilia Garcia. A graphic noted that Breakker had been Intercontinental Champion for 56 days…
1. Bron Breakker vs. Ludwig Kaiser for the Intercontinental Title. Breakker ran the ropes while ducking two clothesline attempts and then put Kaiser down with a clothesline of his own. Kaiser rolled to ringside less than two minutes into the match. [C]
Kaiser targeted Breakker’s left arm. Kaiser went for a suplex, but Breakker blocked it and then suplexed Kaiser, who rolled to the floor. Breakker went to the apron and hit a diving clothesline that sent both men tumbling over the broadcast table. Breakker sold his left shoulder before rolling Kaiser back inside the ring.
Kaiser wrenched Breakker’s left arm to drive his shoulder on the mat. Kaiser stomped the injured shoulder several times. Kaiser continued his attack on the shoulder with additional holds and moves. Kaiser placed Breakker’s arm over the ropes and then dropkicked him into the corner. [C]
Kaiser drove Breakker’s bad shoulder into the mat and covered him for a two count. Breakker caught a charging Kaiser with a leaping knee strike. Breakker held his bad arm at his side while using his good arm to throw clotheslines and a running elbow at Kaiser.
Breakker hit a top rope Frankensteiner for a near fall. Kaiser performed a rolling senton and applied another hold on the bad shoulder. Breakker backed him into the corner and then charged, but Kaiser moved and Breakker’s bad arm hit the corner.
Kaiser kicked Breakker to ringside. Kaiser went to the floor on the other side of the ring. Kaiser ran for his dropkick, but he stopped when he didn’t see Breakker where he left him. Breakker ran around the ring and dropped Kaiser with a shoulder block. Back in the ring, Breakker hit a gutbuster and then ran the ropes and speared Kaiser before pinning him…
Bron Breakker defeated Ludwig Kaiser in 18:15 to retain the Intercontinental Title.
Powell’s POV: This match went about double the time of the Saturday Night’s Main Event matches. As much as Kaiser targeted the shoulder and Breakker sold it, I just didn’t buy into the possibility of Kaiser winning the Intercontinental Championship. Kaiser is really talented, so I hope the creative forces can build him up to feel like a strong challenger.
“New Day” Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were walking backstage and were about to enter the locker room, but Rey Mysterio came out and stopped them. Mysterio said it wasn’t just him, everyone in the locker room didn’t want them in the locker room. Rey said after what they said to Big E, he felt it was best that they find somewhere else to dress. Woods said it was okay because they “didn’t want to share a locker room with y’all anyway”… [C]
Classic still shots aired of Steve Austin, Mike Tyson, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and Chyna from Raw in Boston back in 1998…
A video package recapped the Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens match for the WWE Championship that aired on Saturday Night’s Main Event. They also aired footage from after SNME went off the air that included Owens giving Cody a package piledriver, followed by Cody being stretchered out of the building…
A “Did You Know?” graphic noted that the post match footage had over 45 million social media views…
Tessitore and Barrett spoke from their desk. Barrett noted that it was a banned piledriver that took out Randy Orton and now Owens used a package piledriver on Rhodes. Tessitore read through the storyline injuries suffered by Cody’s character. Tessitore said X-Rays were negative, and Cody returned home where he is resting…
A War Raiders promo video aired. Erik and Ivar spoke about the major surgeries they went through. Erik added that he held his newborn son two weeks ago. Ivar said Judgment Day tried to end their careers. Erik said his son has to know that all of the pain and damage was worth it, and the only way they can prove that is to bring home the World Tag Team Titles…
[Hour Two] [C] A video hyped Raw’s debut on Netflix for January 6 in Los Angeles… Tessitore hyped Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa in Tribal Combat for the Raw debut on Netflix…
Backstage, Cathy Kelley spoke with Adam Pearce about the Raw debut on Netflix and asked if he could confirm any additional matches. Pearce announced CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins for the January 6 show… A graphic listed Punk vs. Rollins while the broadcast team spoke briefly about it. Tessitore also hyped the Raw on Netflix kickoff special for Wednesday at 1CT/2ET and noted that Triple H would be there with Punk and Rollins. He also said Michael Cole will host the event…
Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Dominik Mysterio made their entrance. Rodriguez brought a megaphone to the ring with her. A fan held up a sign that read “Dom looks like he thinks Taco Bell is authentic.” Wait, it’s not?!? Anyway, the crowd booed when Dom tried to speak, but he eventually introduced Morgan as the greatest women’s world champion of all-time.
Morgan used the megaphone while repeating what Dom said about her being the greatest women’s world champion of all-time. Morgan said 2024 was the year of Monday Night Morgan. She said we’re just getting started. Morgan said there are a lot of historic changes happening in WWE next year and there’s no one better to lead the company into the future than her.
Rhea Ripley’s entrance music interrupted Morgan. Ripley walked out with a microphone and spoke as she walked to the ring, saying that Morgan would care about what she had to say. Ripley entered the ring and told Morgan to shut up. Ripley said it’s gone on long enough and it’s time to settle things once and for all.
Ripley said Adam Pearce made it official by naming her the No. 1 contender for the Women’s World Championship. Ripley said she will be the new Women’s World Champion and the only thing Morgan will be left with is her “little chicken tender slut.” Dom acted like he was taken aback by Ripley’s comical insult…
Jackie Redmond caught up with Seth Rollins and was informing him about the match with CM Punk being made official. Drew McIntyre was shown walking quickly toward Redmond and Rollins. Sami Zayn appeared and fought with McIntyre until they were pulled apart by producers and referees…
Powell’s POV: McIntyre’s character can always deny that he was going to attack Rollins. He was walking quickly toward Rollins, but he didn’t have a weapon and there’s no way to prove that he was going to attack Rollins. But I’m not sure if that’s the idea, as Barrett was the person who said McIntyre was going to attack Rollins, and Barrett would normally be the person to stand up for the heel. By the way, we’re over an hour into the show and there’s only been one match so far.
Zoey Stark made her entrance while Barrett assumed that McIntyre was going to attack Rollins had it not been for Sami Zayn. Raquel Rodriguez was already in the ring for the match… [C]
Backstage, The Miz told Paul Ellering, Akam, and Rezar that they don’t need him anymore. Karrion Kross and Scarlett showed up. Miz tried to make his case for going separate ways, but Kross said it’s not over until he says it’s over.
Kross said they’d been reacting to the Wyatt Sicks, but now they would take the first strike. Kross asked if he remembered Dexter Lumis kidnapping and torturing him, then said Miz would face Lumis on next week’s Raw. Ellering told Miz that he saved him twice and now Miz owes them. Kross told Miz to go to Adam Pearce and get the match made. He also said Miz has won 22 titles during his career and he can do this.
After The Miz walked away, Rezar asked Kross if Miz can take Lumis. Kross said he doesn’t know, but they’re going to keep testing the Wyatts. Kross said Miz would learn the lesson that when you make a deal with the devil, you don’t run out on him…
Kayden Carter made her entrance and her opponents were still in the ring…
2. Kayden Carter vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Zoey Stark in a Women’s Intercontinental Title tournament match. Carter hit an early corkscrew suicide dive on both opponents. [C] Carter caught Rodriguez in a figure four and then used a neckbreaker on Stark simultaneously.
Carter released the hold and performed a springboard leg drop on Stark. Carter went for the pin, but Rodriguez pulled her to the floor. Stark dove onto both opponents. Rodriguez and Stark returned to the ring. Rodriguez shoved Stark over the top rope. Carter rolled up Rodriguez for a near fall.
Carter stood over Rodriguez in the corner. Stark jumped up behind Carter and suplexed her off the ropes. Rodriguez clotheslined Stark and covered her for a two count. Carter tried to roll up Rodriguez, who stuffed it and then performed a fallaway slam. Rodriguez hit a move from the middle rope and then set up for a Tejana Bomb, but Stark hit a missile dropkick. Stark hit a terrible Z360 on Carter and even fell down before covering her for the pin…
Zoey Stark defeated Kayden Cater and Raquel Rodriguez in 9:25 to advance to the semifinals of the Women’s Intercontinental Title tournament.
Powell’s POV: Not good. The finish was so poorly executed that I’m surprised they didn’t perform the move again.
Otis, Maxxine Dupri, and Akira Tozawa were shown backstage. Dupri asked R-Truth what he thought of their commercial. Truth said it was outstanding. He said he changed his workout because of it. Truth said if that “son of a Butch” had taken their advice, he may not have beaten him so easily.
Pete Dunne showed up and was pissed about Truth using the Butch name. Otis got between Dunne and Truth. Dunne threatened to break Truth’s jaw and said this was his last warning and then stormed away.
“American Made” Chad Gable, Ivy Nile, Brutus Creed, and Julius Creed showed up. Gable said they ruined his academy. Gable said he saw their commercial last week and called it pathetic. Gable said Otis is the worst of all. “Shut up,” Otis yelled. Gable said it was time to kill his darlings and he’s starting with Tozawa…
A sponsored video package set up the main event. Tessitore hyped the World Tag Team Title match as coming up after the break… [C] A video aired that concluded with a 0 and then a slash through it…
Backstage, Jackie Redmond stood with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods and noted that they were still looking for a locker room. Redmond mentioned that their team tried to interview them last week and it didn’t go well. Woods said it was biased journalism.
There was commotion nearby. Redmond wrapped up the interview and then the cameras cut to “Pure Fusion Collective” Soyna Deville, Shayna Baszler, and Zoey Stark standing over a production crate with a screaming Kairi Sane on the ground behind it. The PFC trio ran away when Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai showed up and checked on Sane…
The War Raiders made their entrance followed by the tag team champions. Tessitore noted that Balor and McDonagh had been champions for 175 days and this was only their third title defense…
3. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh vs. “The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar for the World Tag Team Titles. Lilian Garcia delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Tessitore noted that the other Judgment Day members were banned from ringside. The challengers were dominant during the opening minute before the show went to a break. [C]
Tessitore said there 11,785 in attendance. Ivar was isolated for a bit, but he came back with a handspring into the ropes and then knocked down both opponents. McDonagh grabbed Ivar’s foot to stop him from tagging out, but Ivar dragged McDonagh and was able to make the tag. Erik worked over McDonagh and hit a uranage before sending him to ringside.
Erik ran the ropes for a dive, but Balor grabbed his foot, allowing McDonagh to return and hit him from behind. Balor and McDonagh brought Erik to ringside and ran him into the ring steps twice. “That’s what the champs do,” Balor gloated. [C]
Ivar took a hot tag while Tessitore noted that he was a New England native working in Boston. Balor cut off Ivar on the ropes, but Ivar was able to powerslam McDonagh from the middle ropes moments later for a two count. Erik tagged in and tossed McDonagh into a powerslam from Ivar before covering him for a near fall.
The War Raiders set up for their War Machine finisher, but Balor held the ropes down to take out Ivar. Balor tagged in and caught Erik with a sling blade clothesline. Balor followed up with a shotgun dropkick. McDonagh hit a moonsault on Erik and then Balor followed up with a Coup de Grace. Balor had the pin, but Ivar returned to break it up.
McDonagh went to ringside and returned with a chair. The referee stopped McDonagh. Balor went to ringside and grabbed a chair from the timekeepers area, but someone held the other side of the chair. Damian Priest was shown holding the chair and then he pulled it, causing Balor to crash into the barricade.
In the ring, Ivar clotheslined McDonagh to take him out and then he tagged in. Balor returned to the ring and was hit with the War Machine finisher before Ivar pinned him…
“The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar defeated Finn Balor and JD McDonagh in 16:15 to win the World Tag Team Titles.
After the match, Priest applauded the new champions from ringside. Pyro shot off in the stage area while Erik and Ivar held up the title belts to close the show…
Powell’s POV: A satisfying finish to a fairly ordinary episode. It’s nice to see the War Raiders get a run with the belts given everything they’ve been through medically. I will have more to say about the show during my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Raw by grading it below.
Somebody give Jimmy Hart his megaphone back!!
Paying to see three matches is not worth it.