Date: December 2, 2024
Location: Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, WA
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Show Recap —
There was a Survivor Series video recap.
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods arrived separately at the arena.
CM Punk entered the arena and bumped into Jey Uso and Sami Zayn. Jey was pumped to see Punk, and Punk hugged him. Zayn was less enthused, but Punk offered a handshake and Zayn shook his hand.
Punk entered. The last time he was on Raw, he said he wasn’t sure what the future held, coming out of a career-threatening Hell in a Cell match. He was coming out of a career-threatening match again, but this time, he knew exactly where he was going next. He felt much better this time around. He handled his business with Drew McIntyre and handled some personal business for his friend Paul Heyman. He knew what his future held.
He stood on the middle rope and pointed where the WrestleMania sign normally would be. The sign might not be there, but he could see it. There were different ways you could take, different ways to finish your story. It could be the Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber. But no matter what, he had a favour or two in his pocket.
Seth Rollins interrupted. Punk mouthed the words, “F**cking gotta be kidding me.” Rollins has been thinking a lot. He said he should have knocked Punk out the second he stepped back in WWE. Over the last year, a lot has gotten the way. Punk got hurt, Rollins had titles to defend, and he had a Bloodline to take down.
The last time Rollins saw him, he came this close to taking his shot, but he had pity for Punk, who just came out of HIAC. He saw Punk standing next to Roman Reigns and decided it was time to rectify his mistakes. Rollins removed his jacket and said there was nothing standing between them. Tonight felt like the night he would knock Punk on his ass.
Punk said Rollins talked too much and didn’t listen enough. Punk was done with his personal stuff. He was tired of running races with people he didn’t even know he was running with. Rollins was champ six months ago and had something he wanted, but now he had nothing. Punk knew what was in his future, “and, kid, you ain’t it.”
Punk said Rollins might have been thinking about him for the past six months but Punk doesn’t think about him at all. Punk had business to take care of and told Rollins to stay out of it. Rollins told Punk he didn’t listen enough either because this was his business.
Rollins shoved Punk to the ground and invited him to fight. They had an awkward exchange where Punk took a swing at Rollins but missed. Punk tackled him to the ground, and they brawled very briefly until Zayn and Jey ran down to break it up.
Officials ran down to assist, and Jey left with Punk while Zayn held back Rollins. Rollins told Punk and Jey to leave and told Jey to run back to Reigns. Zayn told Rollins not to speak to Jey that way. Rollins understood why Jey would go back to Reigns, given they were family, but Zayn wasn’t. The crowd loudly chanted, “Sami Uso.”
Rollins said he was closer to Zayn than Zayn ever was with the Bloodline. They came up together and have known each other for 20 years.
Zayn cut him off. Zayn never wanted Punk to be their partner—he wanted Rollins, but Rollins turned him down twice because he was too damn stubborn. Rollins said he was never going to team with that monster Roman Reigns. Zayn said Rollins created that monster when he put a chair in Reigns’ back ten years ago.
Rollins said he had already apologized for what he did and knew it helped create the Tribal Chief, but Zayn was guilty of the same thing. Reigns treated everyone like crap, which led to Zayn turning on him. They worked together to take down the Bloodline at WrestleMania and urged Zayn to remember that. Rollins wondered if Reigns had even apologized to them yet.
Rollins said his stubbornness wasn’t the issue, Zayn’s naivety was. Zayn could see Rollins was frustrated and suggested they have a match tonight to blow off some steam. Rollins agreed.
(The show was 25 minutes old by the time this was done.)
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They aired footage from after Survivor Series of Damian Priest attacking Finn Bálor, only for Judgment Day to lay him out.
Judgment Day met backstage. Liv Morgan wasn’t sure about Bálor attacking Priest. Bálor told her that because of him, Priest was not walking around as the champion. Bálor said if she listened to him, she would have won WarGames. Bálor was full of confidence, and Morgan said she hoped he knew what he was doing. Bálor said, “When everyone listens to Finn, the Judgment Day win.”
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Raquel Rodriguez & Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan defeated Kairi Sane & Iyo Sky (4:00)
Sane hit Rodriguez with the Insane Elbow, but Morgan broke up the cover. Sky wiped out Morgan with a dive, and Sane hit Rodriguez with a spinning back fist. However, Rodriguez came back with a big boot and Tejana Bomb for the pinfall win.
— The heels attacked Damage CTRL post-match until Rhea Ripley ran out to make the save. Ripley fought them off for a moment until Rodriguez shoved her eye-first into the corner of the announce table. Officials ran down to separate everyone (for the second straight segment).
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Cathy Kelley attempted to interview Gunther but was interrupted by Bálor and Dominik Mysterio. Bálor said Gunther owed him a title match because Gunther was still the champion thanks to him.
Gunther said he owed Bálor nothing. Gunther wanted to prove himself at Survivor Series, but Bálor took that opportunity away from him. Bálor thought Gunther should want to fight him then.
Dom was being a prick beside Bálor, so Gunther smacked his hand out of the air. Gunther figured Dom was feeling confident because he actually scored a win over Priest, unlike Bálor. Gunther thought Dom deserved something for that. He was feeling good so he decided to go talk to Adam Pearce.
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Women’s IC title tournament first-round triple threat match: Dakota Kai defeated Katana Chance and Shayna Baszler (7:38)
Baszler had Kai locked in Kirifuda Clutch, so Katana went to the top to break it up. Kai moved out of the way, and Katana hit Baszler with a 450 splash. Kai grabbed Katana and hit a GTK variation for the pinfall win. The crowd popped for Kai getting the win.
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There was a New Day video package. Kingston and Woods were shown walking separately through the back. Their celebration is up next.
Rollins vs. Zayn was made official for tonight.
[SECOND HOUR]
The New Day 10-year anniversary celebration
The stage and ring were decorated with New Day memorabilia and pictures. Kingston and Woods entered together. They smiled upon seeing all the decorations. Pearce led the crowd in a “New Day rocks,” chant before leaving the ring. The crowd also gave them an ovation.
Woods said this was more than they could have ever dreamed of when they first started. Woods thanked the fans. Kingston said it’s been a wild ride. They accomplished a lot and couldn’t have done it without each other. They couldn’t have done it without the fans, either. The crowd chanted for Big E.
Woods had something they wanted to tell the fans. He wanted them to know it was not their fault. They loved every single one of the fans. Kingston was about to announce they were breaking up, but Big E entered to his music. Woods and Kingston were both surprised and happy to see him.
Big E thanked the fans for their response. He wished he was there under different circumstances. It troubled him deeply to hear them argue and bicker and say some of the most hurtful things you can imagine to each other.
They only had each other ten years ago when they started this. Kingston was mulling over retirement because the passion was beaten out of him. E and Woods were on the verge of getting fired. On one of the worst days of E’s life and the scariest moment of his career, they were at his bedside at the hospital, making sure he was good. E held Kingston’s baby while wearing a neck brace. Woods spilled tears on his shoulders when he won KOTR.
What they built meant a lot to a lot of people. It meant a hell of a lot to E, too. E said, “Until I am medically cleared to return to this ring, I am going to remind the two of you exactly who you are. I’m gonna be here to cheer for you, to root for you, to uplift you. I am going to be here every single week. To serve as your manager.” The crowd cheered louder as he spoke. They chanted his name and “New Day rocks.”
Woods responded, “Now? Now you want to come back? After you watched us fight for months and argue to the edge of the cliff, and the last thing left to do was jump? Now you want to come back? E, you left us.”
E said he broke his neck. Kingston said, “You left us, E.” Kingston said E broke his neck, but so what? Steve Austin, Kurt Angle and Edge all broke their necks, and they all came back. And those guys didn’t even have a family like New Day to come back to.
Woods said he and Kingston didn’t change or evolve while E was out. It was to their detriment, but they did that so he had something to come back to. Kingston said E didn’t even need surgery, and he still hasn’t come back. E said he’s been meeting with doctors.
Woods said he tore his Achilles but came back in nine months for E. Kingston said E could have come back any time for them, but instead, he chose his new life, his girlfriend, his projects and his desk job over them. Woods said E has become a burden for them. Everyone kept telling them they missed E. They missed him too, but he didn’t miss them.
Kingston said their philosophy was always “we before me” but E chose himself—broken neck or not. Woods said they can stop teasing the people—E would never be cleared. Woods told him to get the hell out of the ring and get back to his desk where he belonged.
E wouldn’t leave the ring. He didn’t want to throw his all away. He offered a hug, but Kingston held him back. Woods looked away from E. E couldn’t believe what was happening and kept pleading with them as the crowd chanted, “Big E rocks.” E finally left the ring.
Kingston and Woods looked at each other and were in agreement that it was just the two of them now. They shook hands as the crowd booed.
This was a pretty incredible heel turn.
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World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defeated Dominik Mysterio in a non-title match (6:37)
Gunther patted Dom on the head, and the crowd laughed, so Dom smacked him. Gunther booted him and was about to powerbomb him into the ring post, but Dom countered and sent him into the ring post instead. Dom followed with a suicide dive ahead of a break.
Gunther applied a sleeper after the break, but Dom blocked the referee’s view and gave him a low blow. Dom followed with a 619, dropkick, another 619 and frog splash for a nearfall. Dom went for a suplex, but Gunther booted him and killed him with a powerbomb for the pinfall win.
— Bálor attacked Gunther after the match and laid him out with a Coup de Grace. Bálor told Dom, “Watch and learn, kid.” Bálor hit his finisher two more times and laid the title belt over him. Bálor left without Dom.
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Pete Dunne was being interviewed but it was interrupted by a nearby commotion. Officials checked on Jey Uso, who was attacked backstage.
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R-Truth defeated Pete Dunne (1:53)
Dunne was in control but became distracted by the crowd chanting “Butch.” Truth applied a schoolboy for the pinfall win.
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Ludwig Kaiser approached Bron Breakker as he was being interviewed by Kelley. Kaiser said he was moments away from becoming champion, but that was ok because he accomplished what he set out to do, and that was take out Sheamus. A rib for a rib. Now there was nothing stopping him from taking the IC title back to Imperium.
Bron had no problem facing Kaiser and beating him. Kaiser would have that stupid look on his face knowing he would never hold the IC title. He advised Kaiser to get out of Gunteher’s shadow quickly because his stock was dropping rapidly.
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Next week on Raw:
- Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez
- Lyra Valkyria vs. Zelina Vega vs. Ivy Nile – Women’s IC title tournament
- Eight-man tag: Wyatt Sicks vs. Final Testament & The Miz
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Zayn confronted Pearce, who told him that Jey was being tended to. Zayn demanded to know who attacked Jey. Pearce didn’t know. Zayn said he knew exactly who it was and was about to kick his ass in the ring.
Bálor approached Pearce after a break. Bálor wanted a match against Gunther. Pearce already spoke to Gunther, and he wanted the same thing. Bálor is getting a title match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Bálor was happy until Pearce told him he’d have news about defending his tag title.
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Seth Rollins defeated Sami Zayn (9:19)
Zayn took most of the match but Rollins got the win. This was more of a storyline segment than a match.
They went to break after 50 seconds with Zayn in control and Rollins being caught off guard. Zayn was still in control after the break and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Zayn followed with an exploder into the corner, but Rollins finally came back with a superkick.
Rollins told Zayn that his fight was with Punk. Zayn slapped him and said, “I know it was you.” Rollins drove him into the ring post, but moments later, Zayn booted Rollins and drove him into the post.
Zayn grabbed a chair and threatened to hit Rollins for attacking Jey, but Rollins said it wasn’t him. Rollins talked him down, and Zayn dumped the chair, but Rollins caught him in a rollup for the pinfall win. After the match, Rollins told Zayn he loved his heart, but he needed to start using his head.
— After Rollins left, Drew McIntyre (in a hoodie) laid out Zayn with a Claymore Kick.
