By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,648)
Taped December 16, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts at TD Garden
Aired December 23, 2024 on USA Network
[Hour One] Drew McIntyre was shown walking through the backstage area while Joe Tessitore checked in on commentary. Wade Barrett was the color commentator. McIntyre walked through the Gorilla Position area and then made his entrance while being introduced by Lilian Garcia. The stage was decked out with Christmas trees and gift boxes.
Footage aired from last week’s show of Sami Zayn cutting off McIntyre while he was approaching Seth Rollins from behind. Additional footage aired from Smackdown of Jimmy Uso beating McIntyre with a crutch.
McIntyre said he’d never been as beaten up as he was coming out of the Hell in a Cell match. McIntyre said he went home to Scotland because a close family member passed away. McIntyre said some of the people in the locker room were probably saying they didn’t know. McIntyre told them that if they cared enough they would have asked.
McIntyre said only one person reached out to him after Hell in a Cell. He said he was led to believe that they are a happy family in the back, but it’s all BS. McIntyre said his brother wouldn’t stab him in the back to take his spot, but people like the Usos and Sami Zayn would. A small “yeet” chant broke out.
McIntyre said the fans turned on him for someone who told them to go screw themselves. McIntyre said he will give no more for anyone and he will continue to tell the truth. He said the real villains in WWE are Roman Reigns and CM Punk. McIntyre said it’s pathetic that people like the Usos and Zayn went back to Roman’s side when he snapped his fingers.
Sami Zayn made his entrance and spoke from ringside. He said he didn’t know what happened to McIntyre in Scotland and thought he was recovering from one of the most vicious Hell in a Cell matches of all-time. Zayn said that’s what everyone backstage thought.
Zayn entered the ring and told McIntyre that he’s also endured his share of losses. He spoke about missing funerals and other events. Zayn said it’s the life they chose and they are lucky to be WWE Superstars. Zayn said all the fans have similar stories of losses and sacrifices. Zayn said they get up every day and soldier on without pointing fingers at everyone else.
Zayn told McIntyre that the fans made him. Zayn said McIntyre thinks the world revolves around him because someone once told him that he was the chosen one. Zayn said that what he and the Usos do have nothing to do with him. Zayn said he had no problem facing McIntyre on the spot.
McIntyre said he knows that what Zayn said is his truth. McIntyre said Zayn can go home and see his family all the time, but his family is across the world and he doesn’t have that luxury. McIntyre asked Zayn why he wanted the match when he’s never beaten him. McIntyre assumed that Zayn wasn’t healthy. He said he saw Zayn’s wife and kid backstage and suggested he go backstage and leave the arena with them.
Zayn conceded that McIntyre has had his number and that he wasn’t healthy. Zayn said he could go home and try to celebrate and get healthy over the holidays. “But I would so much rather do this…” Zayn punched McIntyre, who put Zayn down and set up for a Claymore Kick.
Jey Uso made his entrance via the stage and helped Zayn clear McIntyre from the ring. McIntyre stood in the entrance aisle and smiled while looking at Zayn and Uso…
Powell’s POV: Strong mic work from both men.
Tessitore and Barrett recapped Kairi Sane being taken out by the Pure Fusion Collective on last week’s show…
“Pure Fusion Collective” Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler, and Zoey Stark approached Raw general manager Adam Pearce in the backstage area. Deville said she wanted Sane’s spot in the Women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament. Pearce refused to give her the mach and announced that he filled it with Iyo Sky…
Iyo Sky made her entrance for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament match… Triple H’s “Raw on Netflix” logo reveal video aired heading into a commercial break… [C] An ad aired for Tuesday’s NXT on The CW…
Alba Fyre was accompanied onto the stage by Isla Dawn, who did not accompany her partner to ringside. The tournament brackets were shown and then Natalya made her entrance. She stopped and touched the title belt that was sitting on a podium. Tessitore spoke about how much the title means to Natalya given her family’s history with the men’s Intercontinental Title…
1. Iyo Sky vs. Natalya vs. Alba Fyre in a Women’s Intercontinental Title tournament match. Fyre pulled Natalya to the floor and ran her into the ring steps. Sky hit Fyre with a suicide dive. [C]
Fyre performed a Swanton on both opponents and then covered them for two counts. Moments later, Natalya applied a double Sharpshooter until both women reached the ropes to break it. Moments later, Sky performed a moonsault off the apron onto both opponents on the floor.
Back in the ring, Sky hit the Over the Moonsault on Natalya and then got the three count…
Iyo Sky defeated Natalya and Alba Fyre in 8:05 to advance in the Women’s Intercontinental Title tournament.
The updated brackets graphic showed Dakota Kai vs. Zoey Stark, and Lyra Valkyria vs. Iyo Sky as the semifinal matches…
Powell’s POV: So much for Natalya getting a feel good tournament win. They did play up how much the title means to her and showed her looking at it before and after the match, so I’m guessing she’ll be going after the tournament winner at some point.
Inside the Judgment Day’s clubhouse, Finn Balor vented about how he should have two titles yet has none. Liv Morgan told Raquel Rodriguez to tell Balor that she knew this would happen. Balor told JD McDonagh to tell Morgan that she has her own problems to worry about, namely Rhea Ripley. Morgan told Rodriguez to tell Balor that she was on his case because he lost the tag team titles.
Dominik Mysterio interrupted and said he was going to ask Adam Pearce for a match against Damian Priest. After Dom left the room, McDonagh wished for a week without drama while saying that it’s Christmas time. Carlito was also in the room wearing a black Santa hat… [C]
Backstage, Sami Zayn told Jey Uso that he is happy Uso is cleared and had his back. Zayn said he talked a big game and now he has to back it up. Jey said Zayn isn’t 100 percent, but Zayn was insistent. Jey said he had next and then they did their handshake…
Tessitore and Barrett set up a video package that recapped the Raw on Netflix kickoff show… The American Made faction made their entrance… [C] Alpha Academy made their entrance…
2. Chad Gable (w/Julius Creed, Brutus Creed, Ivy Nile) vs. Akira Tozawa (w/Otis, Maxxine Dupri). Gable put Tozawa in an armbar over the ropes. Gable released the hold and dropped to the floor where he slapped Otis. Back in the ring, Tozawa caught Gable with a superkick.
Tozawa went for a top rope senton, but Gable put his knees up. Gable hit three German suplexes and then powerbombed Tozawa. Gable applied an ankle lock and got the submission win.
Chad Gable beat Akira Tozawa in 2:10.
After the match, Gable refused to break the hold until Otis entered the ring. Otis tossed Gable. The Creeds joined Gable, who told Otis that they’re going to end him. Gable and the Creeds made their exit…
“New Day” Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were talking backstage when Dominik Mysterio walked into the picture. Kingston and Woods thought Dom would sympathize with them. Dom said he doesn’t like Big E, but what they did was crazy… [C]
Tessitore hyped Elimination Chamber tickets being available… Dominik Mysterio made his entrance. The entrance of Damian Priest followed.
Powell’s POV: It’s hard to look goth cool while standing in front of a bunch Christmas trees and gift boxes.
[Hour Two] Priest’s entrance carried over to the start of the second hour…
3. Damian Priest vs. Dominik Mysterio. Dom went to ringside once the bell rang to start the match. Once Dom returned to the ring, Priest caught his fist when he went for a punch. Priest roughed up Dom and put him in a Torture Rack before dropping him.
Dom caught Priest with a kick and dropkicked him from behind. Priest stuffed a suicide dive and then dumped Dom on the broadcast table. Priest ran Dom into the ring post casing before tossing him back inside the ring.
Priest smiled when he spotted a man dressed as Santa Claus in the front row. Priest pulled “Santa” over the barricade and roughed him up while revealing that it was JD McDonagh. Priest found Carlito hiding under the ring. Finn Balor attacked Priest for the DQ.
Damian Priest defeated Dominik Mysterio by DQ in 2:55.
After the match, all four heels worked over Priest until “The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar ran out for the save. Priest put Balor down with a kick. Priest turned McDonagh inside out with a clothesline. Erik and Ivar hit War Machine on Dom. Priest put Balor down with a South of Heaven chokeslam…
Powell’s POV: Three babyfaces destroyed the four male members of Judgment Day. I wonder if we’re nearing the end of Judgment Day via the transfer window.
Footage aired of Jackie Redmond’s sit-down interview with Seth Rollins that was listed as being recorded over the weekend. Redmond asked Rollins what the source of his disdain for CM Punk is. Rollins said he’s tried to explain it many times, but he feels like he’s talking into the wind. Rollins said Punk needed WWE, WWE did not need Punk. He said the level of hypocrisy eats at him.
Rollins said his match with Punk will be a fight. Rollins said it’s the biggest fight in the industry and he needs it now. He said he wanted to throw his remote control through his television when he saw Roman Reigns put his finger in the air while Punk did his GTS signal. Rollins said the match will be raw, visceral, and violent. Rollins said he needed to cut the cancer out of his brain. Redmond plugged Rollins vs. Punk for the Raw on Netflix debut on January 6…
Powell’s POV: This was fine when it comes to reestablishing Rollins’ disdain for Punk, but they didn’t add anything new.
The Miz made his entrance… [C] The Wyatt Sicks entrance wind down occurred and then Dexter Lumis walked out with a mask on his head. Lumis removed the mask and then headed to the ring, causing Miz to duck out to ringside…
4. Dexter Lumis vs. The Miz. Miz returned to the ring and showed fear as the match started. Lumis took the fight to ringside and ran him into the barricade. Back in the ring, Miz begged off and then went for a cheap kick that Lumis blocked. Miz connected with a kick, but Lumis came right back. Lumis put Miz down with a uranage slam.
“AOP” Akam and Rezar arrived at ringside while went up top. Lumis spotted AOP and dove onto them. Karrion Kross showed up and hit Lumis for the DQ.
Dexter Lumis defeated The Miz by DQ in 2:25.
After the match, Kross, Miz, AOP, and Scarlett surrounded Lumis in the ring. Lumis held his arms out and then the lights went out. Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross were in the ring when the lights turned on and they cleared the heels from the ring. Rowan tossed Cross onto the heels…
Powell’s POV: Back-to-back weak DQ finishes. The crowd was quiet, but I wouldn’t read too much into it given that they sat through a marathon with last week’s Raw and the taping for this show.
Backstage, Damian Priest told The War Raiders that he appreciated their help. Ivar said they haven’t always seen eye to eye, but there’s always been honor amongst them. Erik said Priest had their backs last week and they owed him one this week. Priest said they’re at war with Judgment Day and he’d go to war with them… [C]
The latest 0 with a slash through it symbol was shown along with a pentagon. This was followed by a Raw on Netflix logo…
The broadcast team spoke at ringside about Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods turning on Big E. Footage aired of fans booing the New Day duo on a recent show. Kingston and Woods showed up at ringside and confronted the broadcast team.
Woods asked what happened to unbiased journalism. Kingston said their job isn’t to have an opinion, it’s to tell the truth. Woods said Barrett and Big E aren’t man enough to lace up their boots again.
Kingston and Woods entered the ring while the crowd booed them loudly. Kingston said it was supposed to be a homecoming for him. He pointed out that his mother flew all the way from Ghana and was seated in the front row. Kingston blamed the fans for ruining her experience.
Woods said they gave the fans “ten of the best years of your lives.” Kingston and Woods went to ringside. Kingston apologized to his mother and said she didn’t deserve it. Kingston said he didn’t understand why the fans were doing this.
Kingston asked his mother for a hug. Kingstons mother stood up and then asked what was wrong with him. Kingston’s mother grabbed her coat and belongings and left the ringside area while Kingston called for her…
Powell’s POV: The crowd may have sat through a marathon show, but they worked up plenty of angst for Kingston and Woods. That was fun. Kingston’s mom did a great job of looking upset with her son.
The broadcast team listed the following matches for next week’s Raw: Damian Priest, Ivar, and Erik vs. Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh, Dakota Kai vs. Zoey Stark and Iyo Sky vs. Lyra Valkyria in Women’s Intercontinental Title tournament semifinal matches, Chad Gable vs. Otis, and CM Punk and Seth Rollins will be under the same roof for the last time before their match on January 6…
Drew McIntyre made his entrance for the main event… [C]
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were walking backstage when Rey Mysterio approached them. Woods asked if they were going to pile on too. Mysterio said no and said he thought about what Kingston told him last week and he apologized while saying he could have handled things better.
Mysterio said what they did to Big E was out of pocket and foul. Mysterio suggested they apologize. Kingston said they wouldn’t apologize because they didn’t do anything wrong. Rey told them not to say he didn’t try. Rey said they are on their own He told them to get used to hearing “New Day sucks”…
Sami Zayn made his entrance while a graphic noted that he has never beaten McIntyre in a singles match…
5. Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn. A “Sami Uso” chant broke out early in the match. McIntyre caught Zayn with a kick to the chest to go on the offensive. Zayn came back and cleared McIntyre to ringside. Zayn teased a dive and bounced off the ropes while performing a flip instead. [C]
McIntyre executed a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall. Zayn came back with a neckbreaker. McIntyre went to ringside and then Zayn dove onto him, but McIntyre caught him. McIntyre set up for a fallaway slam, but Zayn escaped and threw punches at him.
McIntyre fought back and slammed Zayn’s head on the ring steps. McIntyre picked up Zayn and walked up the steps before side slamming Zayn on the ring apron. [C]
Zayn caught McIntyre in an inside cradle for a near fall. When they stood up, McIntyre hit Zayn with a Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre counted down and then charged Zayn, who clotheslined him. Zayn hit an exploder suplex in the corner. Zayn set up for a Helluva Kick, but he sold back pain. Zayn fired himself up and went for the move, but McIntyre caught him with a Claymore Kick and then pinned him.
Drew McIntyre defeated Sami Zayn in 15:45.
Tessitore noted that McIntyre was 3-0 this year against Zayn and has back-to-back wins over him in the month of December. McIntyre mounted Zayn and threw punches at him until he heard entrance music.
Jey Uso ran out and speared McIntyre. Uso went up top for his finisher, but Tama Tonga appeared out of nowhere and pushed him into the ring. Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu also arrived. The Bloodline members glared at McIntyre, who exited the ring.
Sikoa stood on the apron while Fatu and Tonga worked over Uso. Eventually, Uso fought back. Sikoa entered the ring, but Jey ducked his clothesline attempt. Fatu cut off Jey with a superkick.
Sikoa hit a Samoan Spike. Solo set up for another, but Zayn broke it up. Tonga tackled Zayn and put the boots to him. Fatu hit a hip attack on Zayn in the corner. Fatu followed up with a moonsault on Zayn. Solo hit Zayn with a Samoan Spike. The Bloodline trio stood over Zayn and Uso. Fatu put the Ula Fala around Sikoa’s neck and then the Bloodline members put their fingers in the air to close the show…
Powell’s POV: No feel good ending on the holiday week show. And no Christmas miracle for Zayn, who remains winless in singles matches against McIntyre. It’s going to pack a punch when he finally beats McIntyre if they do it right, and having it happen on this show with minimal build would have been a mistake. That said, it filled the main event slot nicely and kept Zayn’s losing streak against McIntyre fresh in the minds of viewers.
Overall, this was a “fine if you saw it, fine if you did not” holiday week edition. I will have more to say about Raw 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.
We won’t have live reviews of NXT or AEW Dynamite this week because of the holiday, but things will start to get back to normal on Thursday. Have a wonderful Christmas.
That was a pentagram, not a pentagon. And before you ask, yes I’ve had sex before. *pushes glasses up nose*