WWE Raw Review, Dec 9, 2024: Rhea Ripley DESTROYED Raquel Rodriguez

As a longtime fan of WWE who’s seen countless matches and stories unfold over the years, I must say that this week’s Raw was nothing short of spectacular! The action was intense, the storylines captivating, and the unpredictability kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

As a die-hard fan, I’m pumped because next week is the go-home stretch for WWE Raw, leading up to Saturday Night Main Event. Liv Morgan will be defending her World Title against Iyo Sky, and Gunther will face off with Finn Balor for his own title. With Saturday Night Main Event being all about nostalgia, who knows, we might even see legends like Goldberg make an appearance after his tussle with Gunther at Bad Blood in October, hinting at a possible World Title challenge! Last week on Raw, the unexpected happened when Drew McIntyre returned from his HIAC match with CM Punk to deliver a Claymore kick to Sami Zayn, following a shady backstage attack by Jey Uso. It’s going to be an exhilarating week, folks!

For this week on WWE Raw, here are the three matches that have been confirmed: Ivy Nile faces off against Zelina Vega and Lyra Valkyria in an IC Title Tournament Match, Wyatt Sicks battles Final Testament in a Faction War, and Rhea Ripley takes on Raquel Rodriguez in an Anything Goes Match. Additionally, there’s buzz about an upcoming WWE “Transfer Window” Shakeup that is said to move Raw superstars to SmackDown and vice versa. This shakeup seems to coincide with the midpoint of the WWE calendar as the organization gears up for WrestleMania 41 in April.

Tonight’s show kicked off with Gunther, the world champion, taking center stage, and we’ll be starting our WWE Raw Review for December 9, 2024 right there.

Gunther Promo [Opening Segment]

Result: Judgment Day ambushed Gunther. Damian Priest got added to the World Title Match.

For a while, Gunther admired Finn Balor immensely, but his admiration dwindled when Balor’s success was fleeting, lasting just 24 hours, and in the main event scene, he seemed to lose his unique identity, transforming into a ‘hot tag’ for the Judgment Day. Finn Balor believes that Gunther should not pass judgment because Gunther wouldn’t be the World Champion today if it wasn’t for Finn Balor allegedly helping Damian Priest at both SummerSlam and Survivor Series. Eventually, the members of Judgment Day confronted Gunther in the ring and attacked him.

As Finn Balor, I struck Gunther with a deadly Coup De Grace outside the ring. Then, my old rival, Damian Priest, jumped in to aid the situation since he’s still got issues with Judgment Day. For a moment, it seemed like he had control, but the numbers game eventually turned against him.

From my perspective as an enthusiastic fan, here’s how I’d rephrase that analysis:

Wyatt Sicks vs. Final Testament [Faction War]

Result: FInal Testament (via pinfall)

In this contest, Erick Rowan executed a stunning finisher known as a Cutter, while Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy played important supporting roles. Uncle Howdy delivered a precise Cross to AOP. Nikki Cross attacked Scarlett with a Lou Thesz Press outside the ring. However, just as Uncle Howdy was about to end the match by clutching Kross in the Sister Abigail, The Miz intervened. In retaliation, Uncle Howdy attempted to grasp Miz in the Mandible Claw, but Paul Ellering sprayed a fire extinguisher into Uncle Howdy’s face. Seizing the opportunity, Karrion Kross delivered the Final Prayer to Uncle Howdy, pinning him for the win.

Summary/Conclusion: The match earned 3.0 stars (C+), making it an average contest typical of weekly shows like Raw. It was unexpected to see Final Testament emerge victorious, hinting that this feud could prolong towards WrestleMania where fans may witness the babyface triumph for the Wyatt Sicks. Normally, characters with supernatural elements like Wyatt Sicks don’t lose on random weekly events. However, a positive aspect is that Wyatt Sicks was spared defeat by an unexpected interruption from Paul Ellering, ensuring that he still has a motive for vengeance.

CM Punk Interview [Intermission Segment]

Result: CM Punk revealed that he trained Seth Rollins and saved him from getting fired.

CM Punk was interviewed by Jackie Redmond. He was asked about the favor between him and Paul Heyman. He did not reveal that favor, as that is something being kept secret for now. Punk was then asked about his interaction with Seth Rollins last week on Raw. Punk let the WWE Universe know that he trained Seth Rollins for free. Rollins was the closest to being fired from the WWE, and Punk “shielded him” from that. Punk commended Rollins for being a multi-time champ during his absence from the WWE for 10 years, but he posited that Rollins’ anger at Punk is baseless and miscalculated.

Key Insight / Summary: 4.5 Stars (A-): This interview was exceptional, showcasing the pinnacle of cinema. It was succinct, engaging, and required no extensive advertisement. The disclosure by Punk that he once mentored Rollins during the formation of The Shield is crucial for modern fans to understand. The tactic of withholding the favor at this time adds a layer of strategic intrigue. It’s later unveiled that McIntyre assaulted Jey Uso and Sami Zayn last week, as they had hypocritically collaborated with Roman Reigns at Survivor Series.

Liv Morgan (c) vs. Dakota Kai [Non-Title Match]

Result: Liv Morgan (via pinfall)

During the match, Dakota Kai held the upper hand with her numerous attacks and control until she was distracted by Pure Fusion Collective. As she aimed for a Kaio Kick on Liv Morgan, Liv skillfully dodged, retaliating with an Oblivion move that pinned Dakota Kai for the win. Following the match, Pure Fusion Collective attacked Dakota Kai, but Damage Control’s Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane intervened. In the commotion, Kairi performed a Flying Crossbody on PFC. Meanwhile, inside the ring, Liv executed an Oblivion on Iyo Sky to secure her victory.

Key Insight/Conclusion: 3.5 Stars (B-), These two wrestlers displayed exceptional chemistry in the match, making it an engaging spectacle. Dakota Kai’s performance was impressive as she showcased her potential for main event competition, despite currently participating in a mid-card title tournament. Liv Morgan, as the world champion, needed this win to regain momentum following several pinfall defeats over the past few months. Moreover, the post-match altercations were strategic, effectively highlighting ongoing rivalries.

Seth Rollins Promo [Intermission Segment]

Result: Seth Rollins Exposed CM Punk. Sami Zayn Challenged Drew McIntyre for SNME.

Seth Rollins acknowledged that CM Punk trained him, but he explained why he was upset with CM Punk. When Punk departed from WWE in 2014, he disappeared on Rollins despite their close friendship. Furthermore, Rollins disliked it when Punk criticized WWE so harshly, to the point where he wanted to undermine them. Suddenly, Sami Zayn stepped in to apologize for accusing Seth of attacking Jey Uso since Drew McIntyre confirmed that it was him instead. Rollins accepted the apology and allowed Zayn to handle his business with McIntyre, challenging him to a match at SNME.

As a gamer, I’d say:

Ivy Nile vs. Zelina Vega vs. Lyra Valkyria [IC Title Tournament]

Result: Lyra Valkyria (via pinfall)

Zelina Vega delivered a 619 to Lyra Valkyria inside the ring and a Sunset Flip Powerbomb to Ivy Nile outside the ring. Zelina Vega was the star of the show in this match. Zelina then scaled the top rope and delivered the Meteora to Lyra Valkyria for the near fall. Zelina scaled the top rope again to deliver the Flying Crossbody, but Ivy Nile caught Zelina mid-flight and delivered the STO for the near fall. Zelina rallied back with a Code Red to Ivy Nile for the near fall. Lyra broke up the pinfall by dropkicking Zelina outside the ring and delivering the Night Wing to Ivy Nile for the 3-count and the victory.

Key Insight/Summary: 3.5 Stars (B-), This was an exceptional match featuring these two talented women. Many bold moves were executed flawlessly, with Zelina shining particularly brightly as the driving force behind the match’s success. Lyra and Ivy also delivered commendable performances, playing their roles effectively as the underdog and powerhouse respectively. This tournament has been impressive in highlighting lesser-known female wrestlers often overlooked in the main event circuit. Impressively, Lyra progressed to the semifinals and stands a strong chance of taking home the championship.

New Day Promo [Intermission Segment]

Result: New Day garnered heel heat from the WWE Universe for their betrayal of Big E.

During a backstage interview, New Day was asked why they had betrayed Big E. Instead of admitting their actions, they countered by suggesting that Big E had betrayed them. According to New Day, Big E didn’t require surgery for his neck injury and failed to support them at ringside during matches while he recovered. They viewed Big E as selfish given the examples set by legends like Edge and Kurt Angle who persevered through their own neck injuries. Kofi and Woods disregarded the interviewer, seized the camera, and headed to the ring to address the WWE Universe. However, they struggled to speak due to the intense booing from the crowd that drove them out of the arena.

Key Insight/Summary: 3.5 Stars (B-), This segment mainly served to generate heat for New Day following their betrayal of Big E last week on Raw. Although it seemed somewhat superfluous, it effectively demonstrated the magnitude of their heel turn and hints at their path towards tag team gold en route to WrestleMania. Interestingly, there were chants for Big E, indicating that not only are Kofi and Woods garnering heel heat but also, Big E is gaining sympathy as a face due to the audience’s empathy following his betrayal by his friends.

Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez [Anything Goes Match]

Result: Rhea Ripley (via pinfall)

In a fierce encounter that saw them turn the arena into a battleground, former rivals Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez used steel chairs, kendo sticks, and tables in their intense fight. Just as Ripley seemed poised to end it all for Raquel, Liv Morgan intervened, attacking Ripley with her signature move, the Oblivion. Iyo Sky, contender for the World Title, then stepped in to help Raquel, executing a Suicide Dive on Liv. In the climax, Raquel set up a table and hoisted Ripley for the Tejana Bomb. However, Ripley managed to break free and retaliated with the Riptide, sending Raquel through the table for the winning pin.

Key Insights/Summary:: 4.0 Stars (B+), Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez shone in the main event, pushing boundaries and weaving compelling narratives. At this stage, it’s hard to ask for more. Ripley’s momentum towards dethroning Liv for the World Title is evident. WWE didn’t overlook Iyo Sky, hinting at her title challenge with Liv. Tension between Rhea and Iyo was subtly suggested as they both claimed the World Title belt simultaneously, staring each other down to end the show. A strong pre-event spectacle!

December 9, 2024, Raw Results:

Judgment Day ambushed Gunther. Damian Priest got added to the World Title Match.
Final Testament defeated Wyatt Sicks in their Faction War.
CM Punk revealed that he trained Seth Rollins and saved him from getting fired. Seth Rollins responded that CM Punk ghosted him when he left WWE and tried to end WWE. Sami Zayn apologized to Seth for accusing him of attacking Jey and then challenged Drew McIntyre to a match at Saturday Night Main Event.
Liv Morgan defeated Dakota Kai in their non-title match. New Day garnered heel heat from the WWE Universe for their betrayal of Big E.
Lyra Valkyria defeated Zelina Vega and Ivy Nile to advance to IC Title Tournament SemiFinals.
Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Rodriguez in their Anything Goes Match.

2024-12-10 15:16

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