Simple focus for our RAW results for December 30, 2024-it’s the end of an era for the red brand, wrapping up their time on the USA Network.
Also Read: Who does Netflix want on their show?
Quick Results:
- Chad Gable makes Otis tap out.
- R-Truth and Pete Dunne never got started, with Dunne attacking Truth before the match.
- Dakota Kai defeats Zoey Stark. Kai moves on to the finals of the women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament.
- Lyra Valkyria defeats IYO SKY to advance to the IC tournament finals.
Best Match:
Not a match, as has happened before. Seth Rollins and CM Punk, in the main event spot, delivering a superb promo.
Funny too, as I was pondering why on Earth Punk/Rollins would be the main event instead of Reigns/Solo. Then again, this likely goes into what we’d heard earlier, that some RAW Netflix debut matches were initially planned for WrestleMania.
Yes, next week should be big.
And in fairness, both women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament matches were really good. Especially Valkyria and IYO SKY.
Worst Match:
Only because it never really happened, this goes to Dunne and R-Truth.
Noteworthy Moments:
The more I hear Finn Balor, between “listen to Finn and we all win” and his wishing Liv well via Raquel? I would say there are still issues within the faction.
Holy Sh1@ Moments:
Jey Uso said New Day sucks. Then he too got jumped by Drew McIntyre, while his little brother gave him grief from the video board.
Kofi and Xavier interrupted Rey giving a pep talk to a down Otis. That led to Mysterio offering a match against the duo. Woods then wondered which of the Latino World Order would join Rey.
But what if this match is made for the RAW debut next week, and Mysterio introduces Penta as his partner? Yes, it would be typical lazy WWE work, keep the black guys with the black guys, Latinos with the Latinos…but that is the easy way in.
Punk and Rollins didn’t hold anything back. Wonder if the mentions of Becky and the barely veiled shot at Punk and AJ Lee not having kids sets up a big women’s match? But that promo was fire.
Lowlights:
Not much to complain about. It was a heck of a run, most of the last 30+ years on a single network (but, I do remember having to find TNN and SyFy at times too). Thanks for the memories, USA.
Highlights:
I liked the farewell to USA montage. Did find it interesting that some of the loudest RAW memories involved guys no longer in WWE (JR kicked it off, which it had to be him or Cole, but then you got Jericho and Daniel Bryan and Edge and I probably missed someone in there).
Strong open, even stronger close. I am sure some things were held back, because next week will be one of the biggest RAWs ever.
Like, it may feel like a post-WrestleMania RAW times 10. Hopefully. And like, the good post-‘Mania RAW shows, not the last few Vince era shows that had nothing exciting.
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After the final bell:
The longest running weekly episodic show on television? That comes to an end, I guess. Because while it will still run, I feel like shifting to Netflix breaks the streak (but let’s see next week if WWE agrees).
Beyond that? Strong show as usual. Starting to feel like Priest and Balor won’t end until WrestleMania 41, somehow.
Lyra Valkyria and Dakota Kai will tangle for the women’s Intercontinental Championship-2 weeks from now on RAW. How could you not love Valkyria’s response to getting to the finals?
Rollins and Punk. Solo and Reigns. Drew and Jey and a whole lot more. Next week, RAW is Netflix.
