WWE Monday Night Raw 1/15/2024

WWE Monday Night Raw 1/15/2024

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/01/wwe-monday-night-raw-182024.html 

We see Jinder Mahal arrive.

Cody Rhodes comes out to talk like usual. He said the Royal Rumble is around the corner then Drew McIntyre came out.

Drew said they grew up in WWE together and said he's proud of him. Drew said they were called "The Dashing Ones" years ago. Drew talks about them both leaving WWE. He said Cody told him he'd be a future world champ and he said he did it twice. Drew told Cody he will finish the story but not before he finishes his.

Cody said either one of them could win and said not to count anyone out in it. Drew tells Cody to be himself and to stop with the suits and the big dumb smiles. Drew said if anyone has issues with the real Cody, he should beat them up. Cody says this isn't an act and this is what he loves. Cody said he made his opportunities for himself and is thankful.

Drew asks him why he would bring Jey Uso here and why would he endorse CM Punk. Drew calls him a kiss arse at times and said he'd be champ if it wasn't for Damian Priest. Drew says Cody is standing in his way and said he will be eaten alive like CM Punk was. Drew said he's not best for business, he is this business and said the story belongs to Drew McIntyre.

Cody says it's all "if" with Drew. Cody said Drew is filled with grievances and wants him to be like him. Cody said Drew keeps talking about their last match together and asks him who won/ He then leaves. The segment went a little off rails at times but it was a good segment talkingm about their history and establishing some issues between them.

R-Truth talks to Priest in the back. Truth has new Judgment Day shirts with his name included on it. Priest asks what is wrong with him and said he heard Truth is selling Judgment Day merch in the parking lot. Priest said it's embarrassing. Priest said they need to get serious and Truth gives him a handful of money. Truth says that's his cut and said he even got t-shirts made for Tom and Nick Mysterio. Truth asks if Tom is okay as he can't find him on facebook. Priest said sell the merch, but the crowd isn't happy with it. Priest tells him not to tag in during the match tonight. Truth thinks he means something else and winks at him then gives him a shirt.

DIY vs Judgment Day (JD McDonaugh and Dominik Mysterio)

JD and Johnny start us off. Johnny rolls out of a wristlock and trips him. JD front facelocks him then wristlocks him. Johnnyflying headscissors him then Dom pulls him out. Ciampa comes to help out and tornillo plancha's Dom. Johnny then topes JD over the announcer's table.

We go to break and return. Ciampa runs into JD. JD and Ciampa trade forearms. Ciampa slides through the legs. JD takes a chinbreaker and is pulled into a lariat. Dom hits Johnny from behind then JD elbow drops Johnny. JD stomps on Johnny. Johnny rolls Dom into a kick. The ref gets distracted and Johnny is stomped on both opponents.

JD is pulled out then Johnny slingshot spears Dom from the apron. Johnny goes for the tag and JD pulls Ciampa down from the apron. Dom dropkicks Johnny for 2.  

We go to another break and return. Ciampa is hititng corner lariats on both opponents then double lariats both. Ciampa back body drops JD. Dom slingshot sentons Ciampa then Ciampa orlls up Dom for 2. Ciampa ripcord forearms Dom then Dom takes a backdrop + powerbomb double team. Dom superkicks Johnny then is flipped with a lariat. JD standing spanish flies Ciampa then top rope moonsaults him for 2.

Dom dropkicks Johnny in the back. Johnny blocks his 619 then Ciampa nails Dom. Johnny is sent out and JD rolls up Ciampa for 2. Ciampa jumping ddt's JD. JD takes a usperkick + running knee combo and DIY win.

It went long, and that was just what we saw. I thought they did a little too much here and I don't think openers should be very long like this one. The teams worked okay together though.

We see video from earlier of Indi and LeRae talking to Adam Pearce. They say they are ready for 2024. Piper and Chelsea walk in. Chelsea said she pinned Kayden Carter last week but the ref slow counted it and it didn't count. Pearce tells her to respect the ref. Pearce said they blew their rematch and if they want a chance, beat Indi and LeRae tonight. Indi says it wasn't a slow count and Chelsea said she will show her how to count.

LeRae and Indi do a video. They say they will be champs this year. They said they were champs in NXT but it's been a different story on Raw. Indi says to keep doubting them and says they will do it their way.

Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell vs Chelsea Green and Piper Niven

The faces get hit from behind and the ref who Green said slowcounted her is the ref. Piper shoulderbreakers Indi. Green slaps Indi. Indi is pulled out to the floor and Green is tripped on the apron. Indi kicks Green in the head. Piper sends Indi into the buckles chest first then misses a vader bomb.

LeRae hits forearms on Piper then step up enzugiri's her. Piper does step up sentons on Piper's back then codebreakers Green on Piper's back. LeRae rolls into Indi and is dropped on Piper. Indi spinebusters Green. Piper spinning slams Indi then isses a splash.

Indi kicks Piper off the apron then LeRae asai moonsaults Green while Indi holds her in the air. Green and Indi then get the win.

This wasn't good here with Indi being sloppy as usual. It was also on the shorter end, limiting what could be done with it. I thought Green and Piper should have been protected more.

We get a video on Nia Jax. She said nobody is beating her at The Royal Rumble.

The Judgment Day are in the back. Rhea said she needs to go address her division. She then runs into Priest. Finn asks Priest where he was. Priest says he seems to be the only one who has an issue with Drew running his mouth and said he talked to Pearce about it. JD asks why they aren't beating up Priest today. Priest said JD needs to focus less on R-Truth and more on tonight so it doesn't happen again.

Finn asks if he's defending Truth and JD asks Priest what Truth brings. Priest shows us the money he earned from the t-shirts and says that's his cut. JD asks if he gets a cut and Priest says probably not as his name is not on the shirt. Priest tells Finn to focus on the match.

I like the stuff about Truth earning money selling shirts. It helps explain why Truth is still with them.

Imperium of Gunther and Kaiser come out. Gunther says we are 2 weeks away from The Royal Rumble. He said he feels the desperation around this place. He said he can smell it and said since they are in Arkansas, he can smell excrement too. He said while he was away, he saw people argue about who would win The Rumble and who would win at Mania. Gunther said he entered The Rumble as #1 last year and made it to the end, being one elimination away from victory.

The crowd chants Cody. Gunther said he lasted longer in it than anyone before and said he will win The Rumble and main event Mania. Gunther then said he wants to talk about what happened with Kaiser while he was away. He said he loved to see Kaiser taking out Kofi. He said he showed a side of him he always wanted to see. He says well done and offers a hug.

Xavier Woods then comes out. He said he has a problem with Kaiser and said he took it too far. Woods said Kaiser is the reason Kofi isn't here. He challenges him for tonight and asks if he has to ask Gunther, his daddy, for permission. Kaiser asks if he is really challenging him after what he did to Kofi last week. Kaiser said what he did to Kofi is nothing compared to what he will do to him tonight. He said he will take his head and he accepts.

Xavier Woods vs Ludwig Kaiser

Woods hits a spear from the apron then back body drops him to the floor. Woods jumps off the apron and lariats him. Woods then hits mounted punches. We go to break and return. 

Woods hits shots in the corner then Kaiser lariats him. Kaiser hits mounted punches. Woods hits corner spears. Kaiser stomps him and hits mounted headbutts. Woods crossbodies Kaiser then Kaiser pounds on him. Kaiser kicks him in the back. Woods slaps him from the mat then hits corner punches. Woods is on the 2nd rope and Kaiser lariats his leg, knocking him down.

Kaiser chokes Woods then kicks him. Woods hits chops and flying forearms him. Woods step up enzugiri's him from the apron then Kaiser lariats him. Woods is thrown shoulder first into the post. Woods is then dropkicked off the apron.

We go to break and return. Woods pulls Kaiser's neck down over the top then enzugiri's him from the apron. Woods ddt's him and they trade chest chops. Woods lariats Kaiser over the top then dropkicks him through the ropes. Kaiser goes over the announcer's table. Kaiser throws a chair at woods and Woods ducks it. Wood's mouth is busted open then Woods drops a chair on Kaiser and gets dq'd.

It was a good, aggressive math with the two showing a lot of hate and going after each other. The DQ finish helped it.

Woods grabs a chair after and Kaiser enzugiri's it into his head. Woods comes off the steps and dropkicks Kaiser, evading an attack. Woods then throws the steps at Kaiser but Kaiser moves. Kaiser then runs into the crowd away from him.

Bronson Reed talks. He says there's a man who holds a title in WWE that doesn't realize it will belong to him. They then cut away before we hear more.

Xavier Woods is interviewed and is immediately jumped by Kaiser. Jey Uso makes the save and it's broken up immediately.

Ivar vs Tozawa

Ivar face kicks him to start. Ivar pounds on him in the corner then Tozawa slaps him. Tozawa spin kicks him, slides through the legs and corkscrew kicks him. Ivar pops him up and takes a ddt on the way down. Tozawa rips his shirt off then Ivar spinning slams and splashes him.

Ivar goes up top and Maxxine dances to distract him. Tozawa sunset bombs him off the 2nd rope and wins it.

I didn't like Maxxine cheating here to help Tozawa win for no real reason.

Valhallah rightfully beats up Maxxine after then Ivar spin kicks Tozawa. Val pop-up headbutts her then kicks her out of the ring. Ivar top rope moonsaults Tozawa.

CM Punk does an instagram story telling Cody that it's time Cody talks about what Punk wants to talk about and says they will talk face to face next week.

Alpha Academy and The Creeds talk in the back. Ivy comes in and says she will talk to Adam Pearce. She says Valhallah will pay for this. Gable says he's proud of Tozawa and he's on the way to graduating him the academy. Chad says Ivar is a savage idiot and said he will learn the difference between a coward and an alpha next week when he teaches him. 

Rhea Ripley comes out to talk. She said she's sick of people like Nia saying this their division. Rhea said it's her division and said this is her championship. Rhea says if Nia wants to waste a Wrestlemania opportunity, choose her. She says it will end like last year though and says mami is always on top.

Becky Lynch comes out. She said they are two different people with similar journeys. She said both were afterthoughts one year then the faces of the industry the next. Becky said the difference though is one of them went on to win the main event of Mania and the other did not. Becky said she thinks Rhea might be better than her but she needs to prove that she's not. She said she needs to take the title from her to prove it and needs to win The Rumble to do it. She says it needs to be them two at Mania.

Rhea said there's only one person that wants her to win the Rumble more than herself, and that's her (Rhea). She said she will see her at Mania.

Seth Rollins is interviewed. He said he planned to be a fighting champ and a workhorse champ. He said this isn't the same Jinder Mahal he beat to become NXT champ. He said this Jinder is a former NXT champ and the best version of Jinder Mahal. He said he is deserving and said he would not have it any other way.

The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Damian Priest) vs R-Truth and The Miz

R-Truth has inserted himself into The Judgment Day's CGI. He actually comes out with them too, though he stays a few feet behind.

Truth takes money out of his pockets and drops it. He gives it to Finn and tries to stuff it into his coat pockets. Miz is confused then Truth gives money to Dom and hugs him. JD wants his cut and Truth says "you have to be a member". Miz asks him what is going on and tells Truth they are on the same team.

Finn lariats Truth. Truth ducks a shot then drops Finn with one. Finn says he is sorry. Finn takes down and stomps Truth. We go to break and return. Finn headlocks Truth then takes him down by the hair. Finn hits knees to the body and tags in Priest, who seems unwilling.

Truth jawbreakers Priest then enzugiri's Finn. Miz hit lariats on his opponents then lariats Priest over the top. Miz trips Finn into the apron and sends Priest over the announcers table (this is being done too much). Miz codebreakers Finn over the middle rope.

Finn armdrags him then Miz corner lariats him. Truth kicks Finn then scissors kicks him. Finn apologizes to Dom and can't believe he did what he did. Truth then nails JD. Priest nails Miz then Truth goes to nail Priest. Priest stops him and asks what happened to this? Finn rolls up Truth and Truth does a leg lariat. Priest hits south of heaven on Truth and Finn wins it.

We'll have to see where this goes. This was short and there wasn't a lot to it prior to the finish. I thought they could have worked with the Truth storyline more here and I thought they missed some opportunities to really explore the dynamics of this one.

Jinder Mahal is meditating in the back and is interviewed. He said it's absolute clairty. He said it's been a 7 year drought and said he's the most talked about star of 2024. He said it's 12 years in the making narrowed down to one night. He said everyone is unified when he beats Seth then becomes world champ.

Shinsuke Nakamura does a translated promo. He said he didn't cause the damage he desired last wee kand that made him mad. That has also made him hungry. He tells Cody to keep an eye open because their story doesn't end until he says so. He said his hunger is now turned to The Royal Rumble and said a hungry Shinsuke is a dangerous Shinsuke. He said he will feast on the dreams of the other 29 men in the Rumble.

Natalya and Tegan Nox vs Shayna Baszler and Zoey Star

We see an inset from earlier in the day. Katana and Carter say the party is over when they say it is over to Zoey and Shayna. They said they will see how dangerous they really are when they defend their titles on Friday. Natalya and Nox then walk in. They say why  wait for next week.

Zoey hits a superkick that barely connects on Nox to start. Nox is put on the 2nd rope then takes a neckbreaker + foot press down. Carter and Chance are seen watching this. SB yanks the arm of Nox then chokes her with her knee on the bottom rope. SB hits punches on Nox's gut then Zoey hits a hard chop.

Nox fires back then is knee'd. Nox takes a jumping knee from SB. SB throws out Natalya. Nox drops SB from the 2nd rope then top rope crossbodies her. Natalya hits punches on Zoey then suplexes her. Nat flurries on her then slingshot drops her on her butt. Nat baseball slides her then germans her.

Zoey back elbows her and Nat blocks a GTH. SB tags herself in. Zoey is lariated against the ropes. Nat spinning lariats SB then Nox PK's SB for 2. SB puts Nat in a choke and taps her out.

It was short and just average.

World Heavyweight Title - Seth Rollins (c) vs Jinder Mahal

Indus Sher is with Jinder. Sanga gets on the apron and is distracted. Jinder boots him and slams him. Seth kicks him in the gut and is back body dropped over the top to the floor. Jinder kicks him in the bck of the head. Seth hits chops and pushes Jinder into the post. Seth flying knees him off the apron.

Seth argues with Indus Sher outside then Damian Priest comes down with the MITB briefcase. We go to break and return. Seth hits forearms then takes a back elbow. Jinder knee drops him using the ropes. Jinder abdominal stretches him then Seth lariats him.

They trade forearms and Seth spinning forearms and lariats him. Seth top rope crossbodies Jinder. Seth does a top rope swanton into an asai moonsault for 2. Seth falcon arrows him then superkicks him. Seth hits a pedigree and Veer puts Jinder's foot on the ropes. Seth goes up top and dives on Veer outside.

Seth misses a top rope splash on Jinder. Drew McIntyre comes own and argues with Priest. They start fighting. Priest is sent into the rails and Drew goes into the post. Jinder fireman's carry gutbusters Seth for 2. Jinder hits mounted punches. Veer gets on the apron and Sanga slides a chair in.

Veer nails Seth with the MITB briefcase and Jinder hits a cobra clutch slam for 2. Indus Sher get on the apron and are thrown out. Seth rolls Jinder then curbstomps him to win it.

It was short but an okay match. They did a nice job of building up this match which would have been nothing of interest otherwise. I would have liked to have seen them have Jinder win it then lose it next week in a rematch maybe just to surprise people, but it was not to be. They got Drew and Priest involved here as well to continue their issues.

Overall thoughts: Just an average Raw. Woods/Kaiser and Truth were the best things on this show. I didn't like Maxxine cheating for Tozawa. I thought they could have had more fun with the R-Truth tag match and I was a little disappointed they went the safe route and gave Seth the win over Jinder here.