As the world is on the verge of 2024, WWE Universe is all prepared to enter a new era of sports and entertainment like never before. Welcome to the 1203 and the final episode of WWE Raw on the USA Network. Starting from Jan 2025, WWE will be exclusively streaming its flagship show WWE Raw on Netflix along with all the upcoming WWE PLEs. Along with 14,636 members of the WWE Universe in attendance, Welcome to the final WWE Raw on USA Network from Toyota Center in Houston, TX.
The show began with the arrival of Seth “Freakin” Rollins and CM Punk into the arena ahead of their final faceoff. The show then moved to Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore on the commentary desk where they announced that the first 90 minutes of the show would be completely commercials free with limited commercials during the remaining show.
Announced in advance of Monday’s show:
- CM Punk and Seth Rollins face-to-face
- Otis vs. Chad Gable
- Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament: Dakota Kai vs. Zoey Stark
- Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament: Lyra Valkyria vs. Iyo Sky
- Damian Priest and The War Raiders vs. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio)
WWE Raw begins with chaos
Just as Wade Barrett on the commentary was about to announce the name of Jey Uso, who was originally scheduled to kick off the WWE Raw — The New Day interrupted the show as both Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods made their way out. WWE Universe booed the hell out of them after what they did to Big E on the Dec. 2nd episode of WWE Raw. Kingston and Woods made their way to the ring as the crowd chanted “New Day Sucks! New Day Sucks! New Day Sucks!” all over the arena. Both Woods and Kingston tried to talk to the WWE Universe but New Day Sucks! The chants were way too much louder than the microphone.
Just as all of this was going on, “Main Event” Jey Uso made his way to the ringside. Woods tried to explain things to Jey Uso about what they did to E, but it looked like Jey had already made up his mind as he turned his back on both Kingston and Woods.
Jey then began to talk about the Tribal Combat and Drew McIntyre problem that he has been dealing with for a few weeks now as he called out McIntyre to the ring.
Solo Sikoa along with The New Bloodline then made his appearance in the arena via video package. Sikoa talked about what they did to Sami Uso on this past episode of WWE SmackDown. Sikoa then called his shot saying that he will beat Roman Reigns in the Tribal Combat on WWE Raw debut on Netflix. Meanwhile, Drew McIntyre who is on the hunt for the Bloodline attacked Jey Uso from behind the back.
Luckily WWE Officials made their way to the ring to stop McIntyre before he could do anything bad to Jey Uso. But nothing was good enough to stop McIntyre from hitting Jey with Claymore as made his way back into the ring after dodging the officials.
Ratings: 9 /10
A backstage segment featuring American Made
The show then went backstage where Cathy Kelley interviewed Chad Gable and company. Gable told his plan of ending the Alpha Academy as he battles Otis on WWE Raw.
Otis vs. Chad Gable
After defeating his former student Akira Tozawa in a singles match here on WWE Raw last week. Gable was all set to end the Alpha Academy by overcoming Otis who defended his friends from the academy last week. After months and months of hatred between the master and the student, it is now finally the time when they settle it all. Gable came out strong as he took the fight to Otis, who responded back with an offense of his own.
Gable poured out everything he had but it was not good enough to keep Otis down, who kept on fighting for his friends from the Academy. Otis nearly had the match won at one point before the remaining member of American Made put Gable’s leg on the bottom rope which the referee didn’t see.
American Made then attacked Akira Tozawa on the ringside, forcing Otis to shift his focus from the Gable. Maxxine also took the fight to American Made as she took out Ivy Nile on the ringside.
Go Girl…
Gable in the ring attacked on the left leg on Otis before locking in the Ankle Lock. Otis, with all of his will and power, tried to fight back. Otis then took out the Creed Brothers in the ring, when they tried to interfere.
Otis then applied the Ankle Lock on the Master Gable in the middle of the ring with nowhere for him to go. Otis took the fight to Gable, but the numbers game was way too much from the American Made as Ivy Nile interrupted both Otis and the referee. This allowed Gable to take advantage of the situation to apply his Ankle Lock on Otis.
Otis tried to fight back but ultimately tapped out to Gable.
I really liked the match a lot. The match had everything from a properly executed story to all the drama in the match. Otis looked incredible in the match.
Result: Chad Gable def Otis
Ratings: 8 /10
Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan Cinematic
Ahead of their Women’s World Championship match at WWE Raw debut on Netflix, WWE Raw featured an incredible hype package for their match. The package had everything from the night after WrestleMania XL when Morgan attacked Ripley to WWE SummerSlam 2024 when Dominik Mysterio betrayed Ripley.
WWE Raw then went backstage in Judgment Day’s locker room where Finn Bálor tried to rally the team. The cracks can be seen clearly between Judgment Day, it is just a matter of time before they all turn their back on Bálor — just like they did to Edge, Rhea Ripley, and Damian Priest.
The show then went to the ringside where Pete Dunne attacked R-Truth as he was making his way to the ring.
WWE Raw then went backstage where Cathy Kelley interviewed Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai ahead of their Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament match. Sky and Kai talked about the possibility of facing each other in the finals of the tournament, saying that it would be an honor for them to face each other in the finals.
Dakota Kai vs. Zoey Stark – 1st Semi-Final of Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament
The match began red hot as both women took the fight to each other to make their place in the finals of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament. Zoey Stark had a really close count in the match when she took out Kai with a knee to her face. Immediately following that Kai had a near fall as she delivered a sunset flip on Stark.
After an amazing back-and-forth action, Dakota Kai pinned Zoey Stark after delivering a Pelé Kick.
Kai won the match and advanced to the Finals of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament.
Result: Dakota Kai def Zoey Stark to qualify in the Finals
Ratings: 7 /10
The history of WWE Raw on USA Network
WWE then featured a video package showcasing some of the most epic moments in the history of WWE Raw on television as they now move to Netflix from Jan 2026.
Damian Priest and The War Raiders vs. Finn Bálor, JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio “The Judgment Day”
WWE Raw then featured a 6-man team match as Damian Priest teamed up with The War Raiders to take on his former friends from The Judgment Day. The show also featured a highlight from last week when The War Raiders came to help Damian Priest after he was attacked by The Judgment Day. The War Raiders took the fight to Judgment Day as Erik slammed Ivar onto the JD McDonagh.
The match finally shifted in favor of The Judgment Day for the moment when they trapped Erik in their corner. The momentum shifted for a moment when Erik tagged Ivar into the match. Ivar then tagged in Priest who simply laid out the entire Judgment Day.
Chaos began when all members of both teams brawled outside the ring, leaving Priest and Mysterio in the ring as the two legal participants. Priest pinned Mysterio to win the match for his team.
Finn Bálor attacked Damian Priest right after the match ended. Just when he was about to hit Priest with the Coup de Grâce — The War Raiders entered the ring forcing both Bálor and Carlito to retreat.
Result: Priest and The War Raiders def The Judgment Day
Ratings: 7 /10
Did you know:
- Finn Bálor mocked Damian Priest after the match saying: it is not over.
Backstage segment featuring Jey Uso and Adam Pearce
WWE Raw then went backstage where GM Adam Pearce told Jey Uso that he would be facing Drew McIntyre one-on-one next week on WWE Raw on Netflix.
Sheamus returns to WWE Raw
WWE Raw then went back into the arena with Ludwig Kaiser in the middle of the ring. Kaiser called out Bron Breakker into the ring but got Sheamus instead. Sheamus who was last seen on WWE Survivor Series: WarGames (2024) took the fight to Kaiser. Sheamus tried to hit Kaiser with a Brogue Kick but he escaped.
Did you know:
- As soon as Sheamus’s music hit the arena, Joe Tessitore on the commentary said: “I think European elegance is about to get a European a** kicking”.
Rey Mysterio motivates Alpha Academy backstage on WWE Raw
WWE Raw then went backstage where Rey Mysterio tried to motivate Otis saying that he would beat Chad Gable soon. LWO then got interrupted by Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. Mysterio, who is already pissed off at them after what they did to Big E, challenged them to a tag team match which they accepted.
Lyra Valkyria vs. Iyo Sky – 2nd Semi-Final of Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament
Both women looked incredibly prepared for each other in the early moments of the match, countering each other’s every single move. Dakota Kai who is the friend of Iyo Sky and now one of the two finalists in the tournament looked on from a skybox in the arena.
Both women scored a really close count on each other with none of them ready to lose. The match continued as the WWE Universe chanted This is Awesome! This is Awesome! This is Awesome!
Lyra Valkyria pinned Iyo Sky with one of the most innovative covers that I have ever seen in my life.
Result: Lyra Valkyria def Iyo Sky to qualify in the Finals
Ratings: 9 /10
Final Faceoff between CM Punk and Seth Rollins
Just one week away from their history-making match in the main event of WWE Raw Debut on Netflix, Both Rollins, and Punk came out to the ring for one last time.
Punk made his way to the ring and began talking on the microphone as he replied to Rollins for saying “Punk took his ball and went home” by saying “The most industry plant, cliche, bootlicker line I have ever heard in my entire life.”
You know I haven’t seen the man around here in quite some time, did she take her ball and go home or is it just me Seth? Said Punk
You are only angry because I abandoned you. Punk said to Rollins
I was sick and tired and I left this place and you stayed and you ate it. We both made our choices. Punk also said
“I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to make money.” He then referred back to one of his recent statements.
“Next week, I get to make a boatload of cash making you the victim you so badly wanted to be, little brother”, Punk said this inference with The Shield
My Wife, she’s taking a break to raise a kid, I know you don’t know what’s that like. Rollins said to Punk
“You went on your buddy’s podcast trying to tear this place down. When that didn’t work, you took every single shot you could to try to kill this place. And you still couldn’t do it and then you took a big chunk of change to go join the competition”— Rollins directly referencing AWE asking punk “How that work out for ya?”
“You can’t big brother me anymore, Cause I am the damn big brother.” Rollins said.
“I loved the place I worked, I just hated the guy in charge and he loved you.” Punk clearly mentions Mr. McMahon.
Punk also said that he only came back because for ten years WWE Universe kept on chanting his name.
So in one week, you bring your fist full of arrows, I’ll bring my eyes of fire and my heart full of hate and rage and I will burn you to the ground.
Rollins ended the promo with a banger of a moment when he said:
Both Punk and Rollins delivered one of the most epic bomb-dropping promo segment in the history of WWE. The promo segment contained references to Mr. McMahon, Stone Cold, and All Elite Wrestling, and even some stuff from the real life of both Rollins and Punk.
Did you know:
- Seth Rollins named himself as the Monday Night Messiah after such a long time.
WWE Raw, Dec. 30: Results Highlights
Singles Match
Chad Gable def Otis
1st Semi-Final of Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament
Dakota Kai def Zoey Stark
6-Man Team Match
Priest and The War Raiders def The Judgment Day
2nd Semi-Final of Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament
Lyra Valkyria def Iyo Sky
My thoughts on this week’s edition of WWE Raw
Now with the WWE Raw premiere on Netflix less than a week away, WWE went all in to deliver a perfect finale episode of WWE Raw on the USA Network. The show was filled with so many awesome moments that the fans will definitely remember for years and years to come. Some of the key highlights from the show that I really loved were the match between Chad Gable vs. Otis and Lyra Valkyria vs. Iyo Sky.
And how can I not talk about the final face-off between CM Punk and Seth Rollins ahead of their main-event match on WWE Raw debut on Netflix? The segment had everything, like from start to end — it was perfection being delivered at its finest. I just loved it, cannot wait for Raw on Netflix.
The End of an Era.
See y’all on Netflix.
Ratings: 10 /10
