By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,649)
Houston, Texas at Toyota Center
Aired December 30, 2024 on USA Network
[Hour One] Joe Tessitore checked in on commentary while a shot aired of the city skyline. Backstage shots aired of Seth Rollins and CM Punk. Tessitore said there were 14,636 in attendance at the sold out show while he and Wade Barrett were shown at ringside.
Tessitore noted that this was the final Raw on USA Network. He noted that while Smackdown will remain on USA Network, Raw is moving to Netflix starting next week. Barrett said they would have limited commercial interruptions tonight and the first 30 minutes would be ad-free…
“New Day” Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods made their entrance with microphones in hand. The crowd booed whenever they tried to speak. A “New Day sucks” chant broke out as they stood the ring apron. Once they entered the ring, Kingston tried to tell the fans they had limited time. The boos continued.
Jey Uso’s entrance theme played and the crowd popped big as he made his entrance from the concourse. Once in the ring, Woods said they go way back with Jey. The fans booed. Jey told the fans to quiet down so they could hear “what this chump has to say.” Woods was still booed when he tried to speak.
Jey said he does go way back with New Day, but he said he had only had one thing to say to them. “New Day sucks,” Jey said. Woods got upset. Kingston pulled Woods back and then the two of them exited the ring to boos. Jey clapped to lead the fans in “New Day sucks” chants.
Jey said there were other problems to address. He said Roman Reigns would handle Solo Sikoa, and he’ll handle Drew McIntyre. Jey called out McIntyre.
“The Bloodline” Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga appeared on the big screen. Solo said Sami Zayn got a little too close on Friday. Solo said the Ula Fala will stay on his neck forever. He said he will destroy Reigns next week in the Tribal Combat match and then Jey and everyone else will acknowledge him.
Drew McIntyre entered the ring behind Jey and hit him with a cheap shot. McIntyre asked Jey what he thought would happen when he called him out. McIntyre roughed up Jey and then looked into the hard camera and held his arms out.
McIntyre went to a corner of the ring and counted down for a Claymore Kick, but Jey caught him with a superkick. Jey threw punches at McIntyre. Once both men stood up, McIntyre put Jey down with a Glasgow Kiss headbutt.
Referees and producers ran in and ushered McIntyre out of the ring. McIntyre walked all the way to the stage area before he turned around and ran back to the ring. McIntyre hit Jey with a Claymore Kick and then headed to the back…
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed “American Made” Chad Gable, Julius Creed, Brutus Creed, and Ivy Nile. Gable said he’s sick of the talk that he can’t win a title and he has trouble with luchadores. He said he would cross one off his list by beating Otis to show that the master remains the master. The others chimed in with a weak catchphrase about how they weren’t just born there, they were made here.
The American Made faction made their entrance while being introduced by ring announcer Lilian Garica. The entrance of “Alpha Academy” Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine Dupri followed…
1. Chad Gable (w/Julius Creed, Brutus Creed, Ivy Nile) vs. Otis (w/Akira Tozawa, Maxxine Dupri). Both wrestlers ended up at ringside during the opening minute. Otis slammed Gable’s head off the broadcast table and then off the ring post casing.
Gable returned to the ring and then cut off Otis when he tried to follow. Otis ran Gable into a corner of the ring. Gable avoided a charging Otis, who went through the ropes and into the ring post. Gable used a dragon screw leg whip on the left knee of Otis and then focused on it.
Gable went for a head butt from the top rope, but Otis rolled out of the way to avoid it. Otis went on the offensive and put Gable down with a clothesline. Gable charged Gable and cannonballed him. Otis hit Caterpillar (which Tessitore did not identify by name) and had the pin, but one of Gable’s allies put his foot on the bottom rope.
A fight broke out at ringside with the extras. Dupri took Nile down and threw punches at her. Gable caught Otis in an ankle lock. Otis tried to kick his way out of the hold, but Gable held on. Otis kicked him again and this time Gable went through the ropes to ringside.
The Creeds climbed onto the apron and were pulled into the ring by Otis, who then splashed them both in the corner. Gable returned to the ring and was suplexed by Otis onto the Creeds. Otis put Gable in an ankle lock. Gable rolled onto his back and then kicked and slapped Otis, who spun him over and reapplied the hold.
Gable tripped Otis into the ropes to break the hold and then hit a deadlift German suplex. Gable went for a top rope move that Otis avoided. Otis played to the crowd. Nile grabbed one of Otis’s legs for a moment, but he didn’t budge. Gable took advantage of the distraction and put Otis in an ankle lock until he tapped out.
Chad Gable defeated Otis in 9:20.
American Made had an over the top celebration at ringside. The Creeds hoisted Gable onto their shoulders like he was Sam Darnold in the Minnesota Vikings locker room last night…
Powell’s POV: This was fun. Gable did a really nice job of carrying Otis to what has to be one of this best matches.
A Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan promo video aired. Ripley said 2024 was supposed to be Mami’s year. She said that after a year long reign, she walked into and out of WrestleMania as Women’s World Champion. Ripley said she took her eyes off the ball and has paid for it ever since. Ripley said that after all of the backstabbing and games with Liv Morgan, it has to end.
Morgan spoke about taking the Women’s World Championship, The Judgment Day, and Dominik Mysterio from Ripley. Morgan said she’s been having so much fun that she’s sad that it has to end.
Ripley said Morgan cleared her of all the dead weight that was holding her down. Ripley said it’s time to return the favor by unburdening Morgan of the Women’s World Championship.
Morgan said she’s always been one step ahead of Ripley and this time will be no different. Ripley said Morgan is all out of moves and Raquel Rodriguez and Dominik Mysterio can’t save her from the beating she has coming. Both women were shown separately saying, “This has to end”…
Powell’s POV: That was a strong video package that effectively recapped the history of the feud while promoting next week’s Women’s World Championship bout as a showdown match.
“Judgment Day” members Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and Carlito were shown talking. Dom told them that Morgan has to have something up her sleeve. The camera pulled back and showed Raquel Rodriguez and Finn Balor. Rodriguez said Morgan has been so busy preparing for her match with Ripley that she hadn’t spoke with her. Balor said Lady Liv knows exactly how to handle Ripley because she has a plan for everything. Balor pumped up the men about taking care of Damian Priest. Once they left, Balor insincerely told Rodriguez to tell Morgan that he wishes her the best of luck…
Backstage shots aired of CM Punk speaking with Adam Pearce, Zoey Stark warming up in a locker room while Sonya Deville and Shayna Baszler stood by, and then of Dakota Kai warming up while Iyo Sky was with her…
A shot aired of the Intuit Dome while Tessitore said tickets are still available for next week’s Raw. Tessistore said that he and Barrett will be on the post show on Netflix and the WWE YouTube channel with Big E as their broadcast partner…
Tessitore hyped the WWE Superstar Entrance Truck and said it will be in Los Angeles. Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio were shown next to the truck while Tessitore said you never know who might show up next week…
R-Truth made his entrance for his match against Pete Dunne. Truth was singing his theme in the entrance aisle when Dunne attacked him from behind. Producers and referees ran out and pulled Dunne off of Truth. “I’m nobody’s Butch,” Dunne said a few times…
Cathy Kelley interviewed Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai about the possibility of the two of them meeting in the finals of the Women’s Intercontinental Title tournament. Kai spoke about taking out Stark, and then said it would be an honor to face Sky if it comes to that. She said the thing that matters is that a member of Damage CTRL wins the title. Sky said the night belongs to Damage CTRL…
Tessitore said this event was the 66th WWE event to sell out in 2024… Entrances for the first of the two tournament matches took place…
2. Dakota Kai vs. Zoey Stark in a Women’s Intercontinental Title tournament semifinal match. Stark dumped Kai to ringside early in the match and then they cut to a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Tessitore said the finals of the tournament will be held on the January 13 edition of Raw.
Stark performed a nice exploder suplex and followed it up with a good knee strike to the face, which led to a near fall. Stark powered up Kai, but Kai powered into a rollup for a good near fall. A short time later, Stark went for a springboard move and jumped into a superkick. Kai performed a clunky kick finisher and scored the pin…
Dakota Kai defeated Zoey Stark in 8:15 to advance to the finals of the Women’s Intercontinental Title tournament.
The updated brackets graphic showed that Kai will face the winner of the Iyo Sky vs. Lyra Valkyria match that will take place later tonight…
Powell’s POV: It’s a shame that the finish was botched because it was an enjoyable match otherwise. My apologies for falling behind for those of you who are following my live review. The lack of commercial breaks has made it tricky to stay on schedule, but I’m caught up now.
Tessitore and Barrett spoke at ringside. Tessitore said Raw has aired on cable television since the first episode on January 11, 1993. He once again noted that Smackdown is staying on USA Network while Raw is moving to Netflix after over 1,200 episodes on USA Network alone. A video package aired on Raw’s run on USA Network…
Seth Rollins was shown talking with Adam Pearce in a backstage area…
Lyra Valkyria was shown warming up for her match in another part of the backstage area…
A brief ad hyped that John Cena’s farewell tour will start next week during Raw’s premiere on Netflix…
Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and Carlito made their entrance for a six-man tag team match… [C] An ad for Smackdown touted the expansion to three hours (BOOOOOO!!!!!!)…
[Hour Two] Tessitore noted that we’re just over a month away from the Royal Rumble event… Damian Priest and The War Raiders made their entrance…
3. Damian Priest and “The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar vs. Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh (w/Carlito). Erik and Ivar wore “JAX” armbands, presumably in honor of wrestler Jax Dane, who died on Christmas due to complications from a heart attack suffered late last month. Erik and Ivar knocked Balor and McDonagh off the apron and onto the broadcast table heading into a PIP break. [C]
Priest took a hot tag from Ivar. Balor raced to his corner and tagged out. Priest worked over Dom and McDonagh. Balor returned to the apron only to have Priest punch him off. Priest turned Dom inside out with a clothesline. Priest set up for his finisher, but Carlito distracted him. Dom clipped the knee of Priest. Eventually, Priest came back and hit Dom with a swinging version of the South of Heaven and got the three count.
Damian Priest and “The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar defeated Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh in 9:10.
Afterward, Balor attacked Priest from behind. Tessitore said this has been going on between Priest and Balor since SummerSlam. Balor went up top for his finisher, but the War Raiders returned to the ring and ran him off…
Powell’s POV: This match was over with the live crowd. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t complain if the Judgment Day was put to rest via the trade window. Speaking of which, I’m surprised they aren’t doing more to push the trade window.
Jey Uso was walking backstage when Adam Pearce stopped him and informed him that he escorted Drew McIntyre out of the arena. Pearce offered Jey a match against McIntyre for next week’s debut on Netflix…
CM Punk was shown pacing in his locker room, and then they cut to a shot of Seth Rollins pacing somewhere in the backstage area…
The latest teaser graphic for what appears to be the debuting Penta El Zero Miedo was shown… [C]
Ludwig Kaiser stood in the ring dressed in black and referred to himself as European Elegance (is he related to Ash?). Kaiser started to talk about Bron Breakker, but he was interrupted by entrance music.
Sheamus made his entrance dressed in street clothes and then fought with Kaiser once he arrived in the ring. Sheamus drilled Kaiser with a knee strike. Sheamus played to the crowd and then hit Kaiser with a Brogue Kick…
Backstage, Rey Mysterio stood with the rest of the LWO and praised Otis, who was with Alpha Academy, for standing up to his mentor. Rey said he knew he would whoop Gable’s ass next time. Alpha Academy made their exit.
“New Day” Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods entered the picture while mockingly applauding Rey for being a locker room leader. Rey said he and one of his allies would face them in a match. New Day pondered whether it would be Dragon Lee, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro, or even Zelina Vega before accepting the challenge and making their exit…
Iyo Sky made her entrance for the Women’s Intercontinental Title tournament match… [C]
Tessitore spoke about Houston being home to Raw for the final time on USA Network while a graphic listed some notable WWE events that have been held in the city… The weekly fan sign spotlight segment took place… Half of Lyra Valkyria’s entrance was shown…
4. Iyo Sky vs. Lyra Valkyria in a Women’s Intercontinental Title tournament semifinal match. The broadcast team played up the possibility of an all Damage CTRL tournament final. Dakota Kai was shown watching the match from a luxury box (there’s no word yet as to whether TKO executives charged her for using the suite).
Valkyria targeted the left knee of Sky heading into another PIP break. [C] The broadcast team graphic was shown (Jackie Redmond was not listed because she is working her NHL broadcasting gig this week). Valkyria suplexed Sky and covered her for a two count.
Valkyria hoisted up Sky, who slipped away and then rolled her into a German suplex for a near fall. Valkyria threw a nice spinning heel kick and followed up with a neckbreaker for a two count. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Sky performed a cool rollup style move from the middle rope for a good near fall and acted stunned that she didn’t get the pin.
Valkyria rolled to the floor. Sky went up top and moonsaulted onto Valkyria at ringside. Sky got Valkyria back inside the ring and hit her with double knees in the corner. Sky went for her Over The Moonsault finisher, but she had to land on her feet because Valkyria avoided it. Sky went for a rollup, but Valkyria countered into a pin and got the three count.
Lyra Valkyria beat Iyo Sky in 11:45 to advance to the Women’s Intercontinental Title tournament final.
The updated graphic listed Lyra Valkyria vs. Dakota Kai in a match that will be held on Raw in two weeks in San Jose…
Powell’s POV: The match of the night. The crowd was quiet when Valkyria made her entrance, so it was cool to see the fans come to life during the match even if they were clearly hoping to see Sky go over. On a side note, Tessitore did a really good job of selling Valkyria’s win as a big upset.
A video package aired for next week’s Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa in a Tribal Combat match for the Ula Fala…
Seth Rollins made his entrance for the final segment. [C]
There was a brief and seemingly accidental clip of Bron Breakker talking to Adam Pearce for a second or two and then they cut to a video package for next week’s Raw on Netflix premiere…
Seth Rollins stood in the ring and played to the crowd before saying that it’s the last Raw of 2024 and the last Raw on USA Network. “What do you say we go out with a bang?” Rollins asked. He put over his match with CM Punk as the biggest match in the business and said it would be The Self Proclaimed Best in the World vs. The Real Best in the World.
Rollins said he’ll be on Raw every week, but you can’t say the same for Punk if things don’t go his way. He asked if Punk would whine and cry about it or even take another ten years off by taking his ball and going home.
CM Punk’s entrance music played and he walked out dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Once in the ring, Punk asked Rollins which “paragon of virtue” he got the “take your ball and go home” line from. He called it the most industry plant, cliched, b0otlicker line he’d ever heard. He said that’s what was said when a man was told no or that he was wrong.
Punk asked if Steve Austin took his ball and went home. Punk asked Rollins if The Man took her ball and went home too. Punk said Rollins wants to tell the fans that he abandoned them, but Rollins is just mad because he abandoned him. Punk said he had no regrets.
Punk asked Rollins how his neck is. Punk asked about his knee. He asked about his insides after what Bronson Reed did to him.
Powell’s POV: Wait, wasn’t Rollins playing up a career threatening back injury?
Punk asked Rollins how his pride is when he didn’t get his revenge on Reed, whereas he broke Reed’s ankle in WarGames. Punk recalled saying that he didn’t come back to make friends, he came back to make money. He said he gets to make a boatload of cash next week by making Rollins the victim that he so badly wants to be and then called Rollins “little brother.”
Rollins said the “little brother” stuff doesn’t work anymore. He said his wife took a break to raise a kid, which is something that Punk wouldn’t know about. Rollins said Steve Austin said he made the biggest mistake he ever made. Rollins said Punk left and went on his buddy’s podcast and then took every single shot at the company to kill it.
“And then you took a big chunk of change to go join the competition,” Rollins said. “How’d that work out for you?” The crowd gasped, but Punk’s facial expression didn’t change. Rollins said he never felt bad about anything he did because he fought and stayed because that’s how revolutions are made, not by cowards who abandon their families. Rollins said Punk wants to come back in and wave the flag, but he doesn’t get to. Rollins said Punk will take another ten years off, but it’s because he’ll be making that decision for Punk.
Punk said you can recognize the pioneers because of the arrows in their back. Punk said he was the first one through the wall and he got bloody for it. Punk said Rollins wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for him. “I loved the place I worked, I just hated the guy in charge,” Punk said. “And he loved you.”
Punk said that in situations where Rollins should have had his back, all he did was shoot arrows in it. Punk recalled Rollins stabbing Roman Reigns in the back and said he’s now trying to play victim in a situation that he created. Punk said those arrows kill weak people. He said he left because he had to. He said he got far enough away that the arrows couldn’t reach him. He said he eventually pulled them all out.
Punk said the fans chanted his name for years, mostly during Rollins’ TV time. Punk said he should be dead, but he’s not. “And, oh, aren’t the arrow throwers mad,” Punk said while getting in Rollins’ face. He said he would be walking into the debut of Raw on Netflix with a fist full of arrows and would jam them down Rollins’ corporate throat. A “CM Punk” chant broke out.
Rollins said he’d never told Punk to his face that maybe once upon a time he was a pioneer, but what he’s become is a cancer. Rollins said Punk is a cancer in the locker room, a cancer in Rollins’ brain, and a cancer to the business itself. Rollins said cancer doesn’t cure itself, the only way to beat it is to cut it out.
Rollins told Punk to bring his fist full of arrows. Rollins said he would bring his eyes of fire and his heart filled with hate and rage and will burn Punk to the ground. Rollins slammed the mic to the mat and then hard a staredown with Punk. Tessitore hyped the Raw on Netflix debut while once again stating that Smackdown is staying on USA Network. The staredown between Punk and Rollins continued until the show went off the air…
Powell’s POV: Hot damn, that was fun. Punk brought a level of intensity to his promo that I don’t think he reached during the Drew McIntyre feud. Rollins also had some good lines and they did a great job of setting the stage for next week’s showdown match.
Overall, a solid infomercial for Raw on Netflix, er, final broadcast on USA Network. I will have more to say about this episode during my weekly same night audio review of Raw for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Raw by grading the show below.
So much for “the first 90 minutes are commercial free,” Joe…
I thought he said 30 minutes and they went beyond that.
it’s quite possible; my rock n roll ears ain’t what they used to be. als, thanks for the JAX explanation; it’s hard to keep up…
I heard 90 and I thought Barrett said it.
Okay, I watched it again. Barrett did say 90 while talking at ringside, but closed captioning (leknifrag isn’t the only one with poor hearing) listed him as saying 30 minutes. I think Barrett simply misspoke.
That closing segment was excellent. I hope the match is good.
“Mask guy, hat guy, and no hat guy”. Yeah, that basically summarizes Rey’s generic supporting cast.
That was really funny. I love the Boo Day
Was nice to see that the new regime seems to past the previous pettiness that was prevalent in the past. Jericho, Edge and Bryan all prominently featured in the history of RAW video package.