[intro music playing]
[John Cena] Then.
[Ric Flair] Woooo!
-[glass shattering] -[The Rock] If you smell…
-[bell tolling] -[Cena] Now.
[Roman Reigns] Acknowledge me!
[Triple H] The King of Kings…
[Cena] You can't see me…
[Cena] Forever.
Together.
♪ Wanna be the greatest of all time… ♪
[Cole] The historic city of New Orleans, plays host tonight
for the history making, longest running, episodic television show in history.
Welcome to episode,
number 1600 of Monday Night Raw.
And the Royal Rumble is this Saturday,
an opportunity for this man to win that match for the first time.
The controversial CM Punk, looks to Main Event WrestleMania
for the first time in his career.
And then there's the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes,
who must go back to back in the Rumble matches, to have a chance
to finish his story at WrestleMania.
So tonight, in a moment that was unthinkable
a mere two months ago, will now become reality.
Cody Rhodes, the controversial CM Punk,
in the WWE ring, at the same time,
for an epic confrontation live.
Live, on Monday Night Raw.
[crowd cheering]
♪ Burn it down ♪
["Visionary" playing]
[crowd vocalizing "Visionary"]
♪ Burn it down ♪
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome,
the World Heavyweight Champion,
Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
[Cole] Now, you see the left brace on the knee of Seth Rollins.
It has been the topic of headlines since last week,
in the Main Event versus Jinder Mahal. The health, Wade Barrett,
of the World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
Could his WrestleMania dream be in jeopardy?
[Wade] Speculation, rumor, innuendo, guesswork.
We've had it all week on social media.
I have tried my best to completely tune it out.
For one reason and one reason only, I only want to hear it from the horse's mouth.
I want to hear it from the World Heavyweight Champion himself,
and thankfully, the waiting game is over.
We're about to get the truth.
["Visionary" continues playing]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd vocalizing "Visionary"]
[applauding and cheering]
[crowd chanting] Thank you, Seth! Thank you, Seth! Thank you, Seth!
[whistling]
[exhales]
New Orleans!
[crowd roars]
Welcome to Monday Night Rollins.
[crowd cheering]
And it has been a long week.
So, I really appreciate that. Thank you, guys.
[crowd cheering]
Seven days ago.
I'm in this ring, I'm defending the World Heavyweight Championship
against Jinder Mahal.
-I, uh… -[crowd booing]
It's all right. I beat him.
I beat him.
[crowd cheering]
You know, I jump off these ropes here.
I hit him with a moonsault, like I do.
You know, in most of my matches, and uh…
I felt my knee,
kind of go in, in a way it's not really supposed to.
And you know, I did what I do.
I finished the match, I beat Jinder Mahal.
[crowd cheering]
You know, I spoke to the crowd,
and then, I went to the back and I sat down.
And when I sat down in the back, that was the first time it really set in
that I might be out for a long time.
[crowd murmuring]
You know, earlier in the night, I had spoken backstage
about how, with every single title defense, I only get better.
I only get stronger and I couldn't help but feeling
when I was sitting back there, kind of helpless, unable to bend my knee,
that I was a bit of a liar.
[man 1] We're behind you Seth!
I thought for the first time that it was a real possibility.
That I might miss WrestleMania.
[crowd jeering]
[crowd chanting] No! No! No! No! No!
I appreciate that, but we still had an MRI
to get done. We had to have it looked at.
Got the results back, middle of the week.
And not great.
I have a grade two tear of my MCL.
I have a partially torn medial meniscus as well.
And the doctors are telling me with surgery,
we're looking at three to four months.
Now, if it was up to me, I'd be out here next week.
Stomping people's heads into this mat.
Because it's what I love to do.
[crowd cheering]
But unfortunately, It's not just up to me.
I can't just say no, no, no. As much as I would like to.
We don't really know what the future holds.
And so, I'm taking it day by day.
I'm taking it week by week.
["Symphony No 9 In E Minor" playing]
[Cole] Well, this is indeed a surprise.
The longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time.
Five hundred ninety-one days and counting.
Gunther, making his way to the ring, leading his charges.
Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci of Imperium.
[Wade] When there's blood in the water, it does not take long
for the hungriest sharks to start to start circling.
["Prepare To Fight" plays]
[crowd booing]
Look, man, I ain't got time for this.
So, if you guys are out here to make an example out of me,
do what you gotta do, just get it over with, all right?
If that's what you're here for, just do it.
[Rollins] Just do it. Don't waste time.
Come on, get in here and just do it.
Seth, don't worry about them.
They got a match with The New Day later.
You should really concentrate on me.
Because I thought, you and me, we've been avoiding each other
for quite some time now, and I thought today,
is a great opportunity to come out here,
and just honestly, let you know, what I think of you.
All right. Okay, if that's really the case…
Should we let him… let him tell me what he thinks of me?
[crowd roars]
Have at it.
There's no reason to be that much on edge, Seth.
Because I just came here to tell you, right from the beginning,
you were in a tough spot.
You've been labeled a workhorse champion, right from the beginning.
Somebody that has to come out here every week,
and fight honestly, for every victory.
Become a champion,
that brings dignity, respect and honor to a championship.
A champion, that everybody here can be proud of.
[crowd cheering]
Just like me.
But now, it kind of pulls on my heartstrings to see you like that.
And…
I'm finding out today that you might not make it to WrestleMania.
That makes me, honestly sad.
[crowd] What?
Well, see, here's the thing, Gunther.
You and your boys, should have let me finish.
Because what I was about to say…
Is that, I don't give a damn what the doctors tell me.
[crowd cheering]
I don't give a damn, how hard I have to rehab.
How hard I have to push this knee.
I will keep my promise.
I will take this title in to WrestleMania!
[crowd cheering]
Hey!
And I will do every single thing in my power,
to walk out of WrestleMania, the World Heavyweight Champion!
-[crowd cheering] -[Gunther] Good.
That's great.
I'm really happy to hear that.
Because last week I thought, we're going to see a big champion fall.
But this week you're standing here in front of me proclaiming,
you're gonna do everything it takes to be the champion at WrestleMania.
And walk out a champion of WrestleMania.
And you know what, Seth?
I admire that.
I respect that a lot, because I would do the same thing,
if I would be in your position.
And in fact, you remind me a lot of myself.
So, from one great champion,
to another great champion.
On Sunday,
I'm going to win the Royal Rumble.
[crowd booing]
And I'm going to choose you,
as my opponent for WrestleMania.
But with all due respect, I'm going to target your knee.
I'm going to target your back.
I'm going to target everything,
that's not 100% and I will beat you,
and become the World Heavyweight Champion.
[crowd booing]
[crowd chanting] You suck! You suck! You suck!
[inaudible] I don't care.
[crowd chanting] You suck! You suck! You suck!
I appreciate your honesty, Gunther.
Now here's a little honesty from me.
You can challenge me at WrestleMania if you win the Royal Rumble.
But I want you to remember one thing.
Remember, who you're coming after.
-[mic drops] -[crowd cheering]
You better remember…
Who's coming after you.
[Cole] Well, in order for Gunther to win the Royal Rumble match,
he'll have to do it on Saturday night.
The Rumble is Saturday night.
This Saturday.
8:00 Eastern 5:00 Pacific on Peacock.
Gunther, one of 30 men will be involved in the over the top Royal Rumble match.
Meanwhile, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston,
of The New Day attacking Imperium.
[Wade] Two teams enraged with one another over the past few weeks.
And it is getting ugly.
[Cole] Woods and Kingston, taking out Kaiser and Vinci.
This rivalry is just getting started and it's hitting up.
And they've got a match coming up, on Monday Night Raw.
New Day and Imperium, next.
And the final Monday Night Raw, before the Royal Rumble.
And it is Imperium versus The New Day in this tag-team match-up.
So much bad blood here, Wade.
[Wade] No doubt about that. Of course, Kofi Kingston
three weeks ago took out Giovanni Vinci with a knockout dropkick.
It was kind of inadvertent, a freak incident.
But Vinci has been waiting this entire time to get his hands on Kingston.
He's making him pay. Watch this, boom!
Best crossbody in the business.
[Vinci] Let's go, come on!
[Cole] Vinci, screaming at Kingston.
And, of course, Kaiser took out Woods.
And then Kaiser, I should say Kingston and then Kaiser and Woods got into it.
And now Kofi Kingston, fighting back against Vinci.
Believe it or not, this is the first time ever
these two tag-teams have competed here on Monday Night Raw, against each other.
[Wade] He's getting dropkicked right to the kisser of Vinci.
That's what knocked him out three weeks ago.
-[Cole] Tag. -[Wade] But fared better this time.
[Cole] Xavier Woods as The New Day stomp away on Vinci.
New Day, of course, perhaps the greatest tag-team in WWE history.
As Xavier Woods continues to punish Giovanni Vinci.
[Wade] These two teams completely enraged with one another.
Who could forget that war with Kaiser and Woods, last week
that did not reach a satisfactory conclusion.
It was actually thrown out by the referee in the end.
[Cole] And the power of Vinci as he…
hangs Woods up on the top rope, and then a clubbing blow
right to the back of the neck. Tag made to Ludwig Kaiser,
who calls himself Mr. "A" Everything.
He says, "I step up when needed.
I collected one head in Kofi Kingston,
and I'm about to do that to Xavier Woods, next."
[Cole exclaims] Wow.
What a kick by Kaiser.
[Wade] Kofi Kingston, desperate to get his hands on Ludwig Kaiser,
who took him out two weeks ago with that sickening attack.
Chair o the head, followed by his dropkick, to the head
jammed against the steel steps.
[Cole] You know, Wade, ever since, Gunther had some kind words about Kaiser
and his viciousness, Ludwig Kaiser seems to have taken it up a notch.
[Wade] Yeah, it's been a ruthless display of power from Ludwig Kaiser.
And I'll tell you this, Vinci and Kaiser have been squabbling for months.
Prior to the most recent incident of a few weeks ago.
It seems to have galvanized them and brought them back together.
[Cole] And then, a chop by Woods, just seemed to set Kaiser off.
As he just mauls Woods in the corner.
[Wade] Notice it's all headshots,
they are trying to take New Day out, trying to knock him out once again.
-[crowd booing] -[Cole] WWE fans…
voicing their disapproval toward Ludwig Kaiser.
-Touch the hair. -Let go, now.
[Cole] Xavier Woods able to block.
Kaiser felt that.
Gasping for air! Step-up enzuigiri by Woods.
And can Xavier Woods make a tag?
[Wade] A very different side of Xavier Woods the past couple of weeks
after his running buddy Kofi Kingston, was taken out.
Certainly awakened something inside of Woods as well.
[Cole] And Vinci sent to the outside.
Both members of Imperium, down outside the ring.
Xavier Woods is gonna make a tag to Kingston.
[crowd chanting] You get up! You get up!
[Cole] And Kaiser's not going to allow it to happen.
[Wade] Textbook tag competition from the Imperium.
The absolute experts of this game. Divide and conquer.
[Cole] Spine first to the apron,
and then sent into the barricade
as Xavier Woods, Imperium is putting on a clinic,
here in this tag-team match on Monday Night Raw.
[Kofi] Okay. You okay?
[Cole] Xavier Woods is trying to fight back in this match up.
It's New Day against Imperium.
Woods really needs to make a tag to his partner, Kofi Kingston.
And Vinci goes down to the knee.
[Wade] An all out fight from the beginning.
Once again, heavy kick to the jaw of Vinci.
This could finally be the opportunity Kofi Kingston has needed
-to get into this match. -[Cole] And its sudden impact
with a kick from Woods, creating a little bit of space.
And now Kaiser realizes Vinci's got to make a tag.
Can he make it there?
[Wade] Kingston wants a piece of Kaiser in the worst way.
[Cole] And it's Kaiser, legal.
Kingston, legal. Here we go.
And Kofi Kingston, takes out Kaiser.
A Kofi Kingston, who will be a part of the Royal Rumble match
on Saturday, will be closing in on history.
-What a blow by Kingston. -[Wade] Wow!
[Wade] Kingston completely consumed with fury.
[Cole] And Kofi, through the second rope, dropping Vinci.
Kofi Kingston, on a roll.
Now to the other side, down goes Kaiser.
[Kofi shouting indistinctly]
[Wade] As enraged as we've ever witnessed,
Kofi Kingston, in his 15-plus years, career.
[Cole] And Vinci with that baseball slide though, taking out Kofi.
-[Wade] The great game changer. -[Cole] Double teamed now by Imperium.
And Xavier Woods, through the ropes and takes down Imperium.
And now the brawl continues.
[Wade] Once again, New Day continuing to have one another's back when it counts.
[Cole] Again, we mentioned no love loss between these two teams.
[Wade] It's been an eye for an eye over the past three weeks.
An eye for an eye will send the whole world blind if you're not careful.
[Cole] Kaiser whipped into the barricade
-by Kingston. -[bell rings]
[Cole] The officials call for a double count out here.
Both teams have been counted out in this match.
[Wade] So much hatred and animosity.
It ain't about the win tonight.
It's about doing as much damage to your opponents as you can.
And now, Vinci dumping Kofi Kingston out in the WWE fans.
Now Woods and Kaiser continue their fight.
And Kaiser whipped into the barricade in front of the timekeeper.
Kofi and Vinci, fighting out of the tech area.
[Wade] You need an army of security guards to rip these guys apart.
[Cole] Yeah, New Day and Imperium…
This has become so intense, so personal.
All four of these men have tried to maim each other.
To hurt each other's careers, their livelihoods.
[Wade] So damn ugly with it.
This is getting messy Cole.
[Cole] And now Woods face first off the ring post by Kaiser.
Woods, dumped now into the the timekeeper's area,
Kaiser's still in pursuit.
[Kaiser shouting indistinctly]
[Wade] All thoughts of a sporting contest completely out of the window.
[Cole] Yeah, this is flat out chaos now.
[Wade] Yeah, a beat back.
[Cole] Kaiser, who's completely lost it.
Kaiser just wants to hurt people.
[Wade] And that's exactly what Gunther loves about him.
-[Cole] Vinci as well, the double team. -Once and for all.
[Cole] Kofi's helpless, defenseless here.
-And now Woods back into the fray. -[Wade] Just in the nick of time,
once again saving his buddy, Kingston.
[Cole] And the fight now spilling out into the WWE Universe.
The official helpless.
No way he's going to be able to separate these two teams.
[Wade] Security started running down, then had second thoughts, turned back
[Cole] And now, Woods, up on top of those equipment cases,
with Ludwig Kaiser.
[Wade] Playing all the instances, loving every second of it.
[Cole] Woods is at a level we've never you quite seen him at before.
[Wade] What Imperium have driven him to.
[Cole] Woods with Kaiser, up high. Vinci now to save his partner.
[Wade] Woods might be about to fall on his own sword.
[Cole] He's going to fall on something and it's going to be nasty
[Wade] When you're up that high, gravity always wins.
[Cole] And now Imperium, double teaming on Xavier, Woods.
And now Kofi Kingston to save his partner.
And now Kingston and Vinci and Woods and Kaiser,
crashing off the equipment case through the tables to the floor!
[crowd chanting]
[Cole] It is amazing what personal animosity will push you to.
And Wade.
This rivalry is so far from over.
Well, that was as gruesome as can be.
But ultimately it was inconclusive.
I hope all four guys are going to be okay.
They need check on, but you're right. This is not over by a long shot.
As they pick up the pieces over in the tech area.
We want to switch gears now and remind you,
that it's that time of year again.
This year, the iconic video game series WWE 2K24,
is celebrating 40 years of WrestleMania.
With a special edition featuring stars of the past and present.
Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair
will be on separate covers of the deluxe edition.
And the American Nightmare.
Cody Rhodes will be on the cover of the standard edition,
of the game, WWE 2K24…
Finish your story.
And for Cody Rhodes here tonight, he's on the road to finish his story.
Two of the odds on favorites heading into the Men's Royal Rumble match
this Saturday night, Cody Rhodes, and CM Punk.
They are face to face in a WWE ring,
live tonight, on Raw.
[Cole] Moments ago, what an intense personal rivalry.
A double count out on the tag-team match and then the brawl
out into the WWE fans Wade.
[Wade] Yeah, just a brutalist affair, twisted broken carcasses
finally helped out of here by some of our staff.
And I'm sure now getting checked over in our medical room and fingers crossed,
all four men are going to be okay.
[Cole] And we are live tonight in beautiful New Orleans.
Harvey City, home to two WrestleManias. Across the street there's the Superdome,
and tonight's main event,
two of the most ruthless men in WWE go one on one.
-[narrator] Drew McIntyre. -[Cole] Vile, delusional,
brutal, remorseless, McIntyre on tour
to take out everyone he believes has wronged him.
-[narrator] Damian Priest. -[Cole] Senor Money in the Bank.
[Damian Priest] All rise.
[Cole] Judgement day is upon us.
[narrator] Their uneasy alliance.
[Cole] Look at the way McIntyre and Priest are staring each other down.
[narrator] Has devolved into all out hostility.
We don't need Drew as an enemy.
Drew can't be my enemy because he's too much of a joke.
[Cole] Is Priest gonna cash in?
Claymore, by McIntyre.
Priest, you didn't just screw yourself.
You screwed me too, you idiot!
[narrator] Two of RAW's premiere superstars
head into an epic battle,
just days before the Royal Rumble.
[Cole] Priest and McIntyre off loading on each other.
[Wade] A heavyweight slug fest.
[narrator] Who will emerge victorious?
McIntyre, Priest, tonight on Raw.
Now's your time to handle business, Damian.
So what we're doing is, we're going to was with Drew McIntyre.
Cause it seems to me like you just want to fight everyone.
I just got out of Adam Pearce's office, and he informed me that next week on Raw,
you and Finn are going to defend your tag-team titles against DIY.
So I really think that Drew McIntyre is the least of our worries.
I'm not trying to go around and fight everyone.
And Drew will get handled by me.
You know what? I'm not the one walking around backstage
with the big head just because I'm on the cover of 2K.
I'm also not the one going into Pearce's office
to make matches for the Judgment Day, every other week.
I got an idea, stop going to his office.
Now, I'm gonna go clear my head for this match.
Judgment Day business, it's all under control.
Okay. You hear that, JD? I got the big head.
-Yeah, I heard it. -You two.
DIY should have been taken care of a long time ago,
-[Finn] A long time ago. -I'm not mad, I'm disappointed.
She's disappointed, you disappointed Rhea.
-Sorry, sis. All right? -Sorry Mami.
-What about him? -And you, is something funny?
Are you snickering?
-Is there a joke? -It's kind of funny…
It's not funny.
Damien will take care of Drew tonight alone.
So Finn, you're gonna be ringside with JD for Dom's match.
It's been a while since I've seen that vicious side, of Finn Bálor.
-You want vicious? -Yeah.
I'll show you vicious.
-Let's go. All right. -All right.
[JD] Let's get it.
Good.
Ivy, I've seen the workout videos online.
I know you've been training so hard for this Saturday's Royal Rumble,
but first you've got a match against Valhalla.
What would a win tonight do for you?
Jackie.
Here's the thing, little Miss Val isn't ready for Ivy Nile.
Okay? They don't call her the pit bull for nothing.
Come on, big dog. You're ready.
-You're locked in tonight. -Come on.
-Nobody works harder. -I'm excited. You excited?
-Relax. Get off her. -Guys!
[Ivy] I got it.
-Let's get this barefoot freak. -You got this.
[inaudible]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied by Maxxine Dupri,
from Knoxville, Tennessee,
Ivy Nile!
[Cole] I like that, "The Barefoot Freak"
[Wade] You like a lot of freaks, don't you Michael Cole?
[Cole] Valhalla goes one on one with the pit bull, Ivy Nile.
Ivy Nile looking for payback,
after what Valhalla did to Maxxine Dupri last week.
This match-up is next, live, on Monday Night Raw.
[mouthing] You got this!
The Royal Rumble is presented by cricket.
With fast and powerful nationwide 5G coverage.
You can stress less and smile more.
And by Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Available February second, on PlayStation 5.
It is our honor to welcome here at ringside tonight,
none other than Nina Strauss, of course, guitarist for Alice Cooper,
Demi Lovato, she also has been featured in NXT,
and played at WrestleMania 34,
right across the street here in New Orleans, at the Superdome.
Ivy Nile set for action
here tonight, on Monday Night Raw.
You're ready.
["Mystique" playing]
[Cole] I've seen your guitar playing online. You should take lessons from Nina.
[Wade] I wish I could afford lessons from Nina Strauss.
She's way out of my league.
[announcer] And her opponent, representing The Viking Raiders.
Valhalla!
[Cole] One of the most strangest individuals you'll ever come across.
"Inter-less," here tonight, again.
[Wade] I think you said it wrong again, it's "antlerless."
-You need to work on that, Cole. -[Cole laughs]
[Wade] Speaking to the job.
[Cole] This is how this match-up came about last week with Ivar one on one,
with Tazawa.
Ivar was going for the win when Maxxine decided to cause a distraction.
[Wade] Those feminine charms work on anyone, including Ivar.
And that wild shock of the year so far.
Big victory for Tazawa.
But the celebrations were short lived,
thanks to a flying Valhalla
who decided to flatten both Tazawa…
and Maxxine, followed by the biggest moonsault in the world.
The Doomsault by Ivar.
[Cole] So then, Ivy Nile decided to stick up
for her friend Maxxine Dupri. Hence the reason for the match up tonight.
So, the unorthodox Valhalla going one on one
with a relentless and tenacious Ivy Nile.
And very powerful, to say the least.
[referee] Hey out of the face!
[Wade] I'll tell you this about Ivy Nile.
She trains harder than anyone on planet Earth, but no training on the planet,
can help you figure out the most unorthodox woman
-on the roster, in Valhalla. -[Cole] Valhalla, who is using the ropes
to her advantage, hammering away on Ivy Nile.
[Wade] The question, what kind of style or technique
we're gonna see from Valhalla?
-I guess it's just primal rage. -[Cole exclaims]
[Cole] Well, that's exactly what it is, in your face, smash mouth style.
Just knock down Ivy Nile and then just continue to hammer away.
Watch the collision here and the right hand by Valhalla.
[Wade] Club to the jaw,
and it's a surprise that Ivy Nile is still moving after that,
and now it looks like Valhalla is trying to rip the face
-off the pit bull. -[Cole] Keeper of the gods, Valhalla.
-As Maxxine Dupri, looks on. -[Maxxine] Give her the pit bull!
[Wade] I don't know. I don't even know, if Valhalla is aware of the rulebook.
When it comes to the competition here.
Perhaps not here to win a match just here to cause carnage.
Nice fight back there from the pit bull, Ivy Nile.
[Cole] Nifty move by Ivy, and that's what you have to contend with
if you're Ivy Nile, that weirdo.
Nile caught her with an uppercut and another one to Valhalla.
[Wade] One thing we know about Ivy,
she does not have a reverse gear it is simply all out aggression.
[Cole] Well, Valhalla sent flying,
Now-- Oh, what a head-butt by Valhalla.
[Wade] Pop-up head-butt beautifully connected.
And now using-- I thought she was going-- She did use the rope to her advantage.
Her feet are on the ropes!
[Cole] Maxxine explaining to the official that is not legal.
Overzealous Maxxine tonight, Valhalla, very upset…
-Get out of here. -[Cole] That she was caught
[Wade] Maxxine, putting herself in the crosshairs of Valhalla.
Saw quite a bit of that last week.
[Cole] Not sure what language Valhalla was speaking,
but nonetheless, Ivy Nile now, sent out to the apron.
Vahalla caught her with an elbow.
The barefoot Valhalla.
[Wade] Obsession with bare feet, Cole.
Get off of her face!
[Cole] She's wrestling in bare feet, Wade. I'm doing my job.
I'm a journalist, I'm pointed out what's going on in the ring.
[Wade] Just twice you've mentioned it. Not that I'm keeping score.
But big face to the steel post.
[Cole] Ivy Nile mentioned it first. I just repeated her.
But nonetheless, Nile, top rope.
With Valhalla in trouble.
What's Nile going to do here?
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Ivy Nile from the top rope with a bulldog.
[Wade] Pulls out the pit bull.
-[Cole] cover -One, two, three!
-[Cole] And Nile with the win. -[bell rings]
[announcer] Here is your winner.
Ivy Nile!
[Cole] The pit bull, Ivy Nile, with the win over Valhalla
here tonight, on Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] Consistently refuses to be daunted
by physically more imposing superstars,
like Valhalla.
Digging deep, proving,
it's about the size of the fight in the dog,
and this pit bull has a lot of fight inside it.
A nice victory for Ivy Nile.
[Jey] Yeah, man. Yeah, man.
My boys, The New Day.
Okay. I see The New Day, got new ways.
Getting all nitty gritty in this New Orleans city.
Man, I see y'all out there, uce.
Let's go man. Stop playing with him.
Excuse me, gentlemen, I'm so sorry to interrupt,
but I have to ask you about Imperium.
I mean, this situation seems to be getting more and more intense,
with every passing week.
I mean, where does it end?
Look, Jackie, first things first.
We are sick and tired of people walking into WWE,
looking at us first glance and thinking that we don't do this.
We are not 12-time tag-team champions, for no reason.
It's because we're the best tag-team going today and we have been for a decade.
Jackie look, a lot of people got this whole thing confused, okay?
They think because they see the unicorn horns and the unicycles
and the pancakes and the booty-o's, and we high fiving the kids.
They think that we can't get down when the time is right.
Now what you saw out there with us taking out Giovanni and Ludwig
was a perfect example of what happens
when you push us too far and you cross The New Day.
You see, Jey, is not the only one planning on winning some titles this year.
No, no.
We done took out the henchmen, and now we want the big boss.
That's why I'm challenging Gunther
for the Intercontinental Championship title, next week.
Here, on Raw.
Yeah, Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
[Kofi] Yeah.
Yeet.
[Cole] Monday Night Raw is live in wonderful New Orleans tonight.
Harmony Circle, of course, Bourbon Street.
And you can also go off Bourbon Street as well, Wade.
You know, get into a little bit of trouble.
[Wade] You can, a couple of knuckleheads like us,
-had fun last night, didn't we Cole? -[Cole] It was fun in New Orleans,
and I'm glad that New Orleans could have us once again,
for Monday Night Raw. Well, folks, the critically acclaimed Undertaker
1 Dead Man Show, is coming to Tampa Bay this Sunday.
Tickets on sale now via wwl.com/events.
["Not Like Most Girls" playing]
[announcer] Please welcome, Nia Jax!
[Cole] On this coming Saturday night, Nia Jax will enter the fifth
Royal Rumble match of her career, where it is every woman for herself.
Last year, she made a surprise appearance, Wade.
And it took a record 11 women,
to eliminate Nia Jax from the Rumble match.
[Wade] Yeah, every woman for herself.
But those 29 women in the Royal Rumble match, not named Nia Jax,
better get together and form a plan because this woman is a problem.
[crowd cheering]
The first time I came face to face with Rhea Ripley,
one of the most dominant champion in our women's history.
She got squashed.
The first time I went one on one with Becky.
Excuse me.
The Man, Becky Lynch, one of the greatest superstars
in the history of this business.
She got squashed.
I know you think I'm coming out here
to complain that they were in this very ring last week
saying, " I want to face you at WrestleMania Becky.
I want to face you at WrestleMania Rhea."
But, I completely understand.
[crowd] What?
Rhea wants to face Becky, who she thinks she can beat.
[crowd] What?
She doesn't want to face me, who she knows she can't beat.
[crowd] What?
And Becky,
[crowd] What?
-Becky's on her path to WrestleMania, -[crowd] What?
and she knows that any path with me in it,
ends with her getting squashed again.
[crowd] What?
So this Saturday, at the Royal Rumble, I'm gonna kill both of their dreams.
[crowd] What?
I'm gonna go to WrestleMania, and--
["Celtic Invasion" playing]
[crowd cheering]
Shut up, Nia, your dope.
Congratulations, you beat me.
At least, that gives you something new to talk about for the next five years.
But, you know what's interesting, Nia?
Is that going into this Royal Rumble match on Saturday,
I know that I have a big target on my back.
But nobody has a bigger target on their back than you.
And it's not…
It's not because you're bigger than everybody.
No, no, no. It's because… It's because that locker room.
They don't agree on anything.
They don't agree at all,
except… except one thing.
Nobody likes you.
[crowd cheering]
Hell, yeah.
You push them down.
You throw your weight around.
You probably injured nearly half of them.
And so on Saturday, I'm not sure what I'm going to enjoy more.
Winning the Royal Rumble for the second time in my career,
[crowd cheering]
or watching you lose.
["Role Model" playing]
[Cole] Well, look who's here.
[Wade] Your favorite Cole.
Ding dong.
Hello, guys.
Actually, both of you idiots are going to lose
[laughs]
Now, I came here tonight to find Rhea Ripley, but…
I couldn't help myself, this is almost better.
My two old pals…
Shut up!
Look at this reunion we got here, huh?
What a beauty!
Hey, Nia, long time no see. Long time no see.
But I'm here to make one thing absolutely clear.
I'm winning the Royal Rumble.
I'm gonna point to the WrestleMania sign,
because 2024 is the year of--
[Cole] And look at Bayley now hammering away at Becky,
And now Nia Jax, going after Bayley.
Remember, the Royal Rumble match this coming Saturday.
Every woman for herself, 30 women over the top rope,
with a chance to Main Event WrestleMania.
[Wade] You simply could not put these three…
[Cole] Manhandle Slam!
[Wade] Egos in the ring together, and not expect this.
[Cole] You're gonna have 27 other women.
And just like that, Nia Jax shows that she could eliminate Becky Lynch.
Come the Rumble Saturday.
And big leg drop to Bayley.
And the irresistible force, Nia Jax,
may be one of the clear favorites to win this thing, Saturday night.
[Wade] Jax just has a such a massive advantage
going into the Royal Rumble match on Saturday.
She's got a long track record of squashing bodies,
this Saturday night, she may well squash 29 dreams,
in one go, in the Women's Royal Rumble match.
And again, Wade, tonight, just a little example of what will happen
come Saturday night at the Royal Rumble,
and when it comes to the Royal Rumble match.
It's all about the numbers.
[narrator] The Royal Rumble,
a stage where a singular moment in time,
become immortalized.
[commentator 1] It's Flair from behind. Flair wins it.
[commentator 2] Rey Mysterio, again.
[commentator 3] Asuka, history maker.
[commentator 4] Drew McIntyre is going to WrestleMania!
[narrator] The road to WrestleMania begins with 30 men and 30 women
vying for the chance of a lifetime,
a World Championship match, in the Main Event of WrestleMania.
The brainchild of WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson,
The Royal Rumble made its debut in 1988.
We witnessed 1310 superstars,
compete in this legendary event,
but only 34, a staggering 2.6%
of participants have won it all.
Twenty have gone on to win a World Championship at WrestleMania,
including Rhea Ripley.
In 2023, Rhea Ripley made history, becoming the first woman
to enter at number one and outlast the entire field.
The Eradicator broke the Women's Rumble record,
for most career eliminations,
with 20, as Mami's marathon performance
set the new women's endurance record at an under unprecedented,
one hour, one minute and eight seconds.
[Cole] Rhea Ripley, set the record.
[narrator] Last year, the Ring General marched into the record books as well.
Gunther earned the distinction of the longest time spent
in a traditional Rumble match,
at an unbelievable one hour, 11 minutes and 40 seconds.
Later entry into the match significantly increases
your odds of being the last one standing.
A winner has emerged from the final ten entry positions in 60% of Rumble matches.
But no entry number has produced more winners
than the coveted number 30 where five superstars
have claimed victory, including Cody Rhodes.
Cody made his triumphant return from injury last year
and blazed his trail to the Main Event, of WrestleMania.
[Cole] The American Nightmare one step closer.
[narrator] While the American Nightmare has vowed to finish his story,
winning back to back Rumble matches is exceedingly rare.
No superstar has won consecutive rumble matches in 26 years.
A feat last achieved by Stone Cold Steve Austin.
The Texas Rattlesnake is the most accomplished Royal Rumble competitor
of all time, with three victories.
[Stone Cold] Oh, hell, yeah!
[narrator] This year marks the third time Tampa Bay has been host to the Rumble.
The first was in 1995, when the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels
skillfully avoided elimination. Proving both feet…
[commentator 5] One foot…
[narrator] …must hit the floor.
In 2021, the Royal Rumble came to Tropicana Field,
where Bianca Belair bested 29 other superstars.
This year, Belair looks to become the first two times Women's Rumble winner.
The EST is tied with The Queen of Spades,
Shayna Baszler for most eliminations in a Women's Rumble match with eight.
[Cole] Royal Rumble match, my favorite event of the year,
coming this Saturday.
I love it because there's so many statistics and so rich in history.
We'll look at some more of those statistics a bit later on tonight.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied by JD McDonagh.
and one half of the undisputed WWE tag-team champions,
Finn Bálor,
representing The Judgment Day.
Dominik Mysterio!
[Cole] You know, Wade, no messing around tonight for Dominik Mysterio.
Rhea Ripley made it pretty clear, make some things happen.
[Wade] Yeah, got the riot act read to the entire group.
I think Dirty Dom got off a little lightly.
I think they call that the lover boy past.
But he has to protect huge results tonight,
It is Dirty Dom up against The Miz, and it's coming your way.
Next on Raw.
It looks like you should make other plans for WrestleMania.
[Cole] Becky Lynch embarrassed a few moments ago,
being tossed over the top rope by Nia Jax.
Meanwhile, Dominik Mysterio, set for one on one action,
-["I Came to Pay" playing] -Awesome.
♪ I came to pay ♪
♪ I came to play There's a price to pay ♪
♪ Time for you to get down on your knees ♪
♪ I came to say… ♪
[announcer] And his opponent, residing in Hollywood, California.
Weighing in at 221 pounds.
The Miz!
[Cole] I give Miz credit. He's been so excited about this tag team
with R-Truth, called, of course, Awesome Truth.
But he's also still trying to explain to R-Truth,
listen, you've got to stay away from The Judgment Day.
This happened a bit earlier today.
You know Judgment Day can't be trusted, right?
They're going to drop the hammer. They're going to drop it hard.
Cause, I don't want to see you get hurt.
I don't want to see you get hurt either.
Don't tag in, dawg.
What?
Don't tag in.
I'm in a singles match against Dominik tonight.
You're not in the match.
If you don't want me out there, dawg, that's fine with me.
But keep your eyes on those Mysterio boys. They can be tricky.
-I got to get this. -Mysterio boys?
Dominik.
[R-Truth] Hello.
Dominik, it's one guy, Truth.
[Cole] Truth, very delusional, but nonetheless it's Miz against Dominik.
[Wade] Good luck trying to have a logical conversation with R-Truth.
-Normal rules do not apply with that guy. -[bell rings]
[Cole] Well, The Miz, of course, we would have to expect
that he will be part of the Royal Rumble match, come this Saturday night.
If he does compete in that match-up, Wade,
-it will be the 15th of his career. -[crowd chanting] We want Truth!
[Cole] Which will be third all time.
[crowd chanting]
[Wade] The roster is talking about the Main Event in WrestleMania
at the moment, Miz is a guy who's been there, done that,
bought the t-shirt and been victorious.
[Cole] You know, we discussed the boots, that are being worn here tonight
by Dominik Mysterio.
Last week, when we first saw them, I did a little bit of research.
They are replica sheepskin boots once worn by Perro Aguayo,
a late Mexican luchador, from back in the day.
[Wade] Dominik Mysterio respects all of the lucha legends.
[Cole] A couple of deep arm drags by The Miz.
Now, roll-up, shoulders down. Now, Dominik and a kickout.
Dominik said, he does not find The Miz,
the least bit funny.
[Wade] He was not particularly funny, and until very recently,
The Miz was not particularly likable.
Which all seems to have been transferred over
to Dominik Mysterio in recent months.
[Cole] We also see at ringside, Wade, of course, JD McDonagh and Finn Bálor.
A little bit earlier tonight, Rhea Ripley
telling Finn Bálor, it is time that we see the vicious side
of Finn Bálor, once again.
and Rhea telling Finn,
you need to accompany JD and Dominik to the ring tonight.
[Wade] I think the implication was that Finn had kinda been coasting of late.
Finn is a guy who's been to the very top in this industry,
[both exclaiming]
[Cole] And there's a bit of the vicious side of Finn Balor with a cheap shot.
[Wade] What Mami wants, Mami gets.
And now, Dominik Mysterio gonna fly
and The Miz now…
Knocked down by Dirty Dom.
[Wade] The greatest luchador on Earth.
[Cole] That's cute. You see what he just did?
Now Dominik, the self proclaimed ex-con.
Up over the top.
Cover now, and a kickout by Miz.
Some would say he was paying homage to the late, great Eddie Guerrero.
Others would say, uh-uh.
[Wade] He respects all of the greats of lucha history,
including Eddie Guerrero and Perro Aguayo.
[Cole] Except his dad.
[Wade] No, no, no. His dad lost his legend card,
when he got exposed as a deadbeat dad.
So no, Rey Mysterio no longer a legend.
[Cole] We saw Finn Bálor, of Finn and Damian Priest
are the current undisputed WWE tag team champions.
-They will defend the titles next week. -[crowd chanting] You suck!
[Cole] On Monday Night Raw, after the Royal Rumble in Tampa,
against DIY, Gargano and Ciampa.
[Wade]What a hot streak DIY have been on lately.
But you're right. When it comes to Judgment Day, it is most important
They maintain their grip on power and the gold.
That focus has been slipping lately,
as is perhaps Dominik's grip on this match-up.
[Cole] Miz is fighting back now, Dominik whipped across the ring,
knee right to the midsection of Dominik Mysterio
and Miz now on a roll into the corner, there's that running clothesline
that The Miz has used so effectively.
JD McDonagh ducking out in harm's way.
And Dominik Mysterio takes advantage of the numbers
that The Judgment Day have in their favor.
Dominik in control, can Miz get back in this match?
And we are back live on Monday Night Raw
The Miz looking to turn things around in this match-up
against Dominik Mysterio.
Wade, it has been an uphill battle for The Miz
because of the presence of Bálor and JD McDonagh at ringside,
-from The Judgment Day. -[Wade] Poor Miz has been fighting battles
on three separate fronts,
But right now he's back to evens, and this is turning into a slug fest.
And now, you have to back The Miz.
[Cole] Miz, fighting back now against Dominik.
Dominik, right to the knee.
And Miz follows it up with a clothesline.
And now, Miz starting to build momentum here,
Jampacked crowd live in New Orleans, Louisiana,
for the final Monday Night Raw before the Royal Rumble.
Hook to the leg.
Dominik kicks out.
This is that reinvigorated Miz that we saw in those battles with Gunther
a couple of months ago.
Has not taken his foot off the gas since.
[Cole] Two-time WWE Champions, Main Evented WrestleMania
and now Finn Bálor.
Another Grand Slam Champion jumps up to the apron.
Dominik now roll through.
Now he stacks Miz up, two count, Miz turns things around.
Dominik's got the tights, kick out, by Miz.
[Wade] Finn Bálor saw this one slipping away.
Knew he had to get involved.
There's a little payback for you.
[Cole] And now JD McDonagh sent flying by The Miz.
Dominik trying to take advantage, shoulders right to the gut.
And now Miz, launching himself off the top rope
into the crossbody and a kick-out by Dominik.
[Wade] Well, Miz took out all distractions.
This might have been his biggest opportunity to win the match.
Nice springboard crossbody connected to perfection.
Tight, tight pin.
But Dominik with just enough left in the tank, to keep in the fight.
[Cole] Wade, when is the last you saw Miz
leap off the top rope and throw a crossbody like that?
[Wade] Probably back when he was in his main eventing days,
in 2011, 2012, that is back now.
The famous "It Kicks" from The Miz.
And Miz, caught Dominik right in the back of the neck, and then a kick to the face.
-And Miz punishing Dominik Mysterio. -[Wade] He goes for it.
[Cole] Looking for the Skull-Crushing Finale.
Dominik able to put Miz in position now for perhaps a 619.
And Mysterio, nobody home has Miz ducked out of harm's way.
And now JD McDonagh caused an interference with the official.
Finn Bálor takes control, 619 from Dominik.
[Wade] Classic lucha stylings.
[Cole] And the full splash, from Dominik Mysterio.
-who picks up the win. -[bell rings]
-[announcer] Here is your-- -[Cole] Rhea Ripley said,
Finn Bálor, I want to see the vicious Finn Bálor tonight,
and Rhea Ripley got it.
Bálor helped Mysterio with the win and now beating the hell out of Miz.
[Wade] Ask and you shall receive.
["It's Our Moment" playing]
[Cole] And we mentioned earlier, these two men, DIY.
Ciampa, Gargano, have a tag-team championship match
next week, against Bálor and Priest.
[Wade] They were working in six man competition with Miz several weeks ago,
apparently formed a bit of a union with him, here to save the day.
[Cole] That slingshot spear by Gargano.
Ciampa now, driving Bálor out of the ring.
[Wade] Completely clearing house.
Apart from one final soldier.
Poor JD.
[Cole] Yeah, JD McDonagh about to be a sacrificial lamb.
Skull-Crushing Finale by the Miz.
And DIY,
were looking for meat in the middle.
Before Finn Bálor saved McDonagh.
And the question is Wade, does DIY
have Judgment Day on the ropes?
With a tag-team championship match looming next week.
[Wade] Well Judgment Day know exactly how dangerous DIY can be.
They've had gold in their past,
and they may well be getting more very, very soon.
[Cole] Well, let's head backstage another member of Judgment Day
standing by with our broadcast colleague, Jackie Redmond.
Cole, thank you so much. I am here with Damian Priest and Damian,
this match between you and Drew McIntyre has been months in the making.
What's your mindset heading into tonight's main event?
Well, first, congratulations to Dirty Dom.
For handling business, just like I knew he would.
-Now, Drew McIntyre, this is-- -[R-Truth] DP!
Hey dawg, here is your cut,
from the new merch of the Tom and Nick t-shirts.
We gotta do something about JD.
He added me on Venmo.
-He got a dirty history-- -Truth…
Truth, look, what I got going on tonight is pretty serious, man.
I appreciate your sense of humor.
Not time, not the right time.
-Not the time. -Later on? Hot dog.
-Appreciate it. -[R-Truth shouting indistinctly]
Now, back to Drew. He likes to talk.
He likes to be real.
So let's real talk about Drew.
The guy talks about when he was the man around here, right?
That was at a time when everyone was struggling.
Then everybody was back to 100. And what happened?
He couldn't beat Roman, he couldn't beat Gunther.
And now he can't beat Seth Rollins.
And out of pure jealousy
he wants to make sure I don't become champion.
The issue with that is, one way or another whether it's cashing in,
or winning the Rumble and winning the title at Mania.
I will be champion.
And as far as Drew goes tonight,
he will receive his punishment.
[Cole] Strong words from Damian Priest,
who later on tonight will take on the master of the Claymore.
The Scottish warrior, Drew McIntyre.
Two men who have their sights set on winning
the Royal Rumble match this Saturday.
Will clash in our main event later tonight.
Priest and McIntyre, live on Raw.
["Shoosh" playing]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing Alpha Academy,
from Minneapolis, Minnesota, weighing in at 202 pounds.
Chad Gable!
[Cole] Chad Gable has his hands full, Wade.
[Wade] No doubt about that.
It has been a rough few weeks for the Alpha Academy.
But now the beloved Master, Chad Gable.
He's going to fight for the honor of his Alpha Academy pupils.
in hopes of taking the fight to the vicious and dominating
Viking warrior himself.
The 330 pound Ivar, and it's coming up next.
Thank yew!
I am fully aware,
they Jey Uso intends on becoming a singles champion,
here in WWE.
But Jey, like i've told you…
So, do I.
And that means that eventually our paths
are going to cross and the sooner the better,
because nothing will stand in my way.
So, Jey Uso, face me next week on Raw.
So you can be made an example of, by "Big" Bronson
Reed.
[Cole] Well, Bronson Reed said that, "2024 will be mine."
Ladies and gentlemen, shop the largest collection
of official Royal Rumble merchandise at the Royal Rumble Superstore,
coming to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
The Royal Rumble Superstore is your home for event merchandise,
championship titles, WWE Superstar apparel and so much more.
Go to WWE.com, for details.
Chad Gable set for action, he better be ready.
Well, this is how Chad Gable got ready for the match
with the Viking Raider, Ivar, earlier today.
[Otis groaning]
You see that? You see? And you're twice the amount of beef
-that Ivar is. -Rad.
He's getting frequent flyer miles tonight,
Tozawa, give it a shot.
-Come on, T. -What?
Look what I got you.
[laughs] Amazing.
Thank yew!
Tozawa, back to work.
-Come on. Come on. -Hips.
Use the hips now.
-Hips. -Come on.
-Hard pull, that's nasty. -Come on.
[Otis] Come on, Tozawa.
[Cole] Wade, are you part of the Thank Yew Crew?
[Wade] I'm still getting over that Otis and Tozawa thing.
That was one of those weird things that you usually enjoy, Cole.
["Vicious" playing]
[announcer] And his opponent, representing the Viking Raiders,
Ivar!
[Cole] Ivar, despite the loss last week to Tozawa,
has been so impressive as of late.
[Wade] Yeah, completely running through the likes of Otis and Tozawa.
Even if Tozawa did score a lucky victory last week.
Well, now he has to face Master Gable,
putting a… Attempting to put a stop
to big Ivar's path of destruction.
Easier said than done, however.
[Cole] Yeah, ask Bronson Reed all about Ivar.
Chad Gable said that,
"You want to get nuts, let's get nuts."
The big man is going to fall hard tonight.
[Wade] I'll be honest with you, I think anyone who gets in the ring
with Ivar is nuts.
So, certainly we're off to a good start
as far as the philosophy of Master Gable goes.
[Cole] So, let me ask you Wade, a 2012 Olympian, Chad Gable.
What does he have to do against the very unorthodox Ivar tonight?
Well, you need to do some… something unorthodox back,
which was exactly what we just saw from Gable.
Nobody was anticipating that.
What a hot start from the Olympian.
Completely rocking the big man right from the start.
[Cole] Chad Gable going right after Ivar, whipped across the ring.
Up over the top goes Gable.
Obviously, the quicker of the two, but do not count Ivar out.
There's the power and that spinning slam.
[Wade] Inside out slam.
Using all that torque and momentum of a 330 pound, centrifugal force.
Coming, crashing down the spine of poor Chad Gable.
[Cole] You know, there's something perversely interesting
about watching Ivar in the ring.
[Wade] No one that big and strong should ever be able to do
the things that Ivar can do.
But he has the power of the Viking gods coursing through his body.
That is what Chad Gable is up against tonight.
[Cole] Ivar tried to drop the elbow. Gable moved out harm's way.
And now a couple of uppercuts by Gable, thrust right to the throat.
Chad Gable kick to the knee.
Gable, who had-- [Cole exclaims]
Swinging neck breaker. Who had some great matches,
with the Intercontinental Champion, Gunther.
And now… head butt off the top rope, cover now.
Can Gable put Ivar away? And a kick out at two.
[Wade] You mentioned those matches with Gunther, the final ones,
take another look at this, leaping head butt
it certainly rocked his opponent, but also himself.
Getting a close two count, but, oh, gone for that German suplex.
Ivar, just too big and too fresh at this point in the match-up.
[Cole] Ivar, a clubbing blow.
Ivar is gonna power Chad up into a vertical suplex,
now dumping him over the top rope and Gable hanging on!
[Wade] And snapped his neck in the process, however,
in desperation to prevent that fall.
I think he did a mischief to his upper spine.
[Cole] And now, Ivar splat to Chad Gable
off the apron, Ivar in control, here on Raw.
[grunts]
[Cole] We are back live on Monday Night Raw.
Chad Gable, one on one with Ivar.
And what a match this has been, Wade.
And what is Chad trying to do here from the top rope?
[Wade] This is wild for anyone.
But when your opponent is as big as Ivar, that is--
[Cole] Oh, my goodness, superplex!
Can Gable capitalize?
[Wade] Well, Gable has taken such a merciless beating in this one.
A, I'm surprised he can pull that off,
but, B, I'm not surprised he was not capable of making
a cover after that. But this is what happened before the break.
[Cole] Look at this. Ivar with that running crossbody.
[Wade] Absolute zero, give at the edge of that ring,
and then followed up with pulling out this move
on the massive frame of Ivar,
the amount of power that required.
And this one spilling all over the ringside area.
[Cole] Gable and Ivar once again over the top rope out to the floor.
what a superplex, oh and Ivar went for the heel kick
and he kicked the post.
[Wade] He may have just clipped his foot on that one,
but it was enough to stop the big Viking temporarily, at least.
[Cole] Gable, I thought, an opportunity.
But Ivar gonna lift Gable up, slam him down.
Sit-out powerbomb, cover for the win, kick out by Gable.
[Wade] Well, Gable is just getting rag dolled
around the ring by big Ivar, at this point.
You question how much more of this kind of punishment
can the Olympian possibly take?
[Cole] Double under hook, sit-out powerbomb by Ivar,
and almost put Gable away.
But tremendous guts by Gable,
that dragon screw takes Ivar down and now Chad Gable…
it's gonna happen here, Gable, roll through
trying to pick the ankle,
trying to turn Ivar into an ankle lock.
-[Wade] Locked in massive leg of Ivar. -[Cole] Middle of the ring,
nowhere to go, Ivar trying to reverse somehow.
But he can't. Gable, now Ivar onto his back, unable to--
[Wade] Just such a big calf and ankle.
It's hard to get a grip on that, Gable--
[Cole] Oh, and just sit down.
[Wade groans]
Crushing the ribcage on the diaphragm of Chad Gable.
And now it looks like we're going to get a taste of the Beard of Prey.
[Cole] Measuring his opponent, Ivar, with a leg drop from the second rope.
Crushing Gable, cover. Chad still in it.
[Wade] Glassy eyed lock on the face.
I'm amazed that Chad Gable can even breathe
after his windpipe just got crushed
by the flying Ivar.
[Cole] Ivar, though, right back to his feet,
measuring his man, stalking Gable.
Ivar, spinkick, caught, picked out of midair by Gable.
[Wade] From defense to attack in the blink of an eye and back to that ankle.
[Cole] Dragging Ivar to the middle of the ring.
Gable's got the ankle locked up, the ankle lock in round.
Is Ivar going to tap?
Will Ivar tap out to the ankle lock of Gable?
[Wade] He's a million miles away from the ropes. It's coming, Cole.
[Cole] What a win this would be for Chad Gable.
Ivar gets to the bottom rope, forcing the break.
[Wade] And Chad Gable's heart
just sank through his feet.
He thought he had victory in his grasp.
[Cole] Now is Gable's best opportunity,
Ivar now planting Gable again.
Shoulders down, Gable still able to kick out the match continues.
[Wade] It is so frustrating when you're in there
with an opponent like Gable,
who you know should be defeated by now.
But he just refuses to quit.
[Cole] And Ivar, having some issues with his right leg.
Of course, based on the ankle lock by Gable.
Capacity crowd here tonight, New Orleans, the final Monday Night Raw,
before Saturday night's Royal Rumble match.
[Wade] Ivar's on top, he's going for that
-Doomsault! -[Cole] Top rope, nobody home,
Gable moves out of harm's way.
And now Chad Gable
with a German suplex, bridge cover, for the win!
Kick out by Ivar at two.
[Wade] Just a millisecond from victory for Chad Gable.
Take another look at the power and technique required
to pull this off at the best of times.
But after you've taken such a beating, it is incredible Gable can pull that off.
[Cole] Gable to the top rope, and Ivar meets him there with a chop.
This has been a hell of a match here tonight.
On Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] What do you expect from to competitors like Gable and Ivar?
Bringing their best every single time.
But someone's gonna win this Cole.
[Cole] And Gable, now, oh! A German suplex.
What a counter!
Gable slipped behind Ivar.
Delivered the German.
[Wade] That is a lot of humanity to come down from the second rope
[Cole] And now Valhalla just screaming in Gable's face.
And Ivar, able to take advantage of the distraction,
dumps Gable right on the top of his head.
[Wade] What a sickening landing for Chad Gable,
who surely was just seconds away from victory.
Until Valhalla showed her face.
[Cole] And now of the top rope.
The 330-pounder, Ivar.
With a Doomsault.
-And the cover. Give Valhalla the assist. -[referee] One, two, three!
[bell rings]
[announcer] Here is your winner.
Ivar!
[Cole] That's a shame, Wade, the match had to end like that.
[Wade] Oh, man, that was absolutely wild,
and it just got even more wild when Valhalla appeared.
But wow, what a contest.
Take nothing away from Chad Gable who gave it everything.
[Cole] This right here is incredible.
This is absolutely incredible.
Chad Gable turned the entire match around
right there, slipping down into a German suplex.
And I believe that Gable was going to go for the moonsault
before Valhalla--
[Wade] Yeah, Ivar was done there.
But once again it was Valhalla who proved pivotal,
and if you connect with his Doomsault,
at the second time asking, it is simply game over.
-No matter how tough and durable you are. -[bell rings]
[Cole] Ivar picks up the win over Chad Gable,
here tonight.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, a mere two months ago,
no one would have believed that these two men,
the Second City Saint, CM Punk
or the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes,
would be in a WWE, ring at the same time.
Well, it's going to happen.
CM Punk and that man Cody Rhodes,
both to partake in the Royal Rumble match,
this coming Saturday, will be live,
in the same ring at the same time.
It happens, coming up next, live on Monday Night.
Monday Night Raw is in New Orleans tonight,
and Love and WWE: Bianca & Montez is a fun, exciting peek,
into the personal lives of one of WWE's hottest couples
and their wild road to WrestleMania. With the support of their friends,
family and fellow WWE superstars,
the dynamic duo manages to pull off the impossible.
Stream, all eight episodes of Love and WWE: Bianca & Montez
on Hulu, February second.
[voice on PA] Wrestling has more than one royal family.
["Kingdom" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪
♪ Every fight out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow ♪
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain, Lights go up, I'm home ♪
Whoa!
[fireworks crackle]
♪ And my father said… ♪
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome,
the American Nightmare,
Cody Rhodes!
[Cole] It's very difficult to win.
The Royal Rumble match.
Cody Rhodes accomplished that last year,
but in order to finish the story, he has to do it again.
And in the 37 years of the Royal Rumble match,
only one man has won back to back Rumbles.
It happened back in 1997 and 1998,
and that man's name, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
♪ Hear the crowd on their toes ♪
♪ Ready for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain, Lights go up, I'm home ♪
Whoa!
[fireworks crackle]
[Cole] Can Cody Rhodes make history this Saturday night?
As the road to WrestleMania begins,
at the Royal Rumble.
♪ …can't take my freedom ♪
♪ Here to change the game, A banner made of pain ♪
♪ I built my kingdom ♪
[crowd cheering]
["Cult of Personality" playing]
♪ Look in my eyes ♪
♪ What do you see? ♪
♪ The Cult of Personality ♪
[announcer] And please welcome,
CM Punk!
♪ I've been everything you want to be ♪
♪ Oh, oh ♪
♪ I'm the Cult of Personality ♪
♪ Like Mussolini and Kennedy ♪
[Cole] A decade ago, 2014.
CM Punk would compete in the Royal Rumble match.
It was Punk's final match in WWE.
For a decade,
CM Punk returns to action,
Saturday in that very same event.
The Royal Rumble.
♪ …follow me ♪
♪ Only you can set me free ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ I sell the things you need to be ♪
♪ I'm the smiling face on your TV ♪
Whoa!
♪ I'm the Cult of Personality ♪
♪ I exploit you still you love me ♪
♪ I told you one and one makes three ♪
Whoa!
[Cole] Punk wants to finish his story.
Rhodes finish his.
[crowd cheering]
[corwd chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk!
[chanting continues]
[CM Punk] I was gonna say before we start.
Let's take a minute to enjoy this moment.
You and I have been on very different paths to get here.
Saturday night it all changes, Sunday morning,
I hope we're still friends,
but for right now, let's just enjoy this moment.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody!
[Cody] So, NOLA.
[crowd cheering]
More specifically, CM Punk.
[crowd cheering]
What do you want to talk about?
[crowd chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk!
I want to talk about your dad.
[crowd murmuring]
And I don't know if you know this story. I've never told it.
I know they don't know it.
In 2007…
Your father calls me on the telephone,
and he tells me he's sending his youngest son, Cody
to Ohio Valley Wrestling to start his journey.
As a professional wrestler, and he tells me,
"I want you to keep an eye on my kid."
And at the time, I don't know if I was the guy for the job,
and I certainly didn't know you yet.
I wasn't aware if you would need a guardian angel.
I didn't think you did.
But when The American Dream asks you for a favor,
New Orleans, you say, yes.
[crowd cheering]
It wasn't a hard job.
I stayed out of your way.
You didn't get into any trouble, you couldn't talk your own way out of.
You didn't fall into the same vices I saw a lot of our contemporaries do.
And I watched you grow from a preliminary wrestler
into this bona fide the Main Event,
championship caliber superstar
that stands before me today.
And it might sound a little bit condescending coming from me.
But you know me.
I am proud of you.
I bring this up, I bring this story up, I bring your father up.
Because on Saturday, I feel like I'm breaking a promise.
In the Royal Rumble when the bell rings.
If me and you cross paths, I'm not going to be looking out for you.
I'm going to be looking for you.
I'm gonna do what I have to have to do.
I'll punch you in the face. I'll throw you over the top rope because CM Punk
is going to win the Royal Rumble
and he's going to go on to Main Event WrestleMania.
You're not alone…
In that feeling,
of you being someone who is talking to me
but thinking about him.
I work with countless legends and luminaries
and dignitaries in our industry.
Freebird, Michael Hayes, Bruce Pritchard, Triple H even Mr. Heyman.
That when they see me,
they can't help but see The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes.
It's a very large shadow, but I think you know well
that I have done everything in my power.
Since I left here, to not just be in the shadow,
but to be the light in the shadow to subvert expectations
on my own last name and be my own man.
You're talking about OVW.
You're not lying.
I showed up to OVW, folk style wrestling experience only.
No matches under my belt.
A complete nepotism hire, and there you were.
CM Punk who had toiled on the independent scene for 10 years.
Who had made a name for himself.
You could have treated me poorly and you did not.
You treated me like a peer.
And after that we became friends.
And that's what makes all of this so bittersweet.
It's because in the Royal Rumble, there are no friends.
What about Sunday morning, Cody?
I know there's no friends in the Royal Rumble,
I've been in more than you have.
But what about Sunday morning?
Because I can separate business from personal.
Can you?
Because I wasn't born into this business.
You very much were.
You grew up in this business.
Personal to you, is this business.
You are the son of one of the most legendary
professional wrestlers of all time, one of the greatest.
[crowd cheering]
And I said, to start this all off, you and I have traveled very different paths.
I didn't have a famous dad.
When you showed up to OVW other people saw Dusty, I saw Cody.
I didn't see necessarily a nepotism hire
because where everybody saw that you were born on third base
and you were afforded all these great things,
and you had the head start that I didn't get
because I had to scratch and claw and fight my way to get to where I was.
I saw the burden of your last name.
I saw how hard it was going to be
to come out of that shadow and congratulations.
You have done it with flying colors.
[crowd cheering]
But for all our differences, you in a very nice, expensive suit,
me and what I wore to the gym today.
Two very different paths.
One very, very similar goal.
I didn't have the famous dad.
I didn't have The American Dream Dusty Rhodes.
Son of a plumber.
Global International Heavyweight Champion superstar wrestler
recognized on the streets.
Dined with kings and queens.
How does the rest of it go?
Slept in alleys and dined on pork and beans.
I didn't have the famous dad.
My father was blue collar.
My father was just a regular guy.
He was an electrician.
Which makes it kind of ironic.
I'm more of The American Dream than you are.
[crowd clamoring]
Okay.
Okay, American Dream.
Here's what I want to talk about.
Let's talk about, the pipe bomb.
[crowd cheering]
You said right up there.
You said a few words, you rattled off,
the formula for a revolution.
You inspired countless.
There are wrestlers who have gotten in this today because of said interview.
Count me one of those who was inspired.
But then, you left.
And when you left, you really left.
You didn't pass the torch off, you dropped it on the way out.
And I don't think you cared who picked it up.
But I think you know who did.
I did.
Everything.
Everything that you spoke about, I literally did.
So where you talked, I walked and what is actually ironic,
that makes me more CM Punk than you.
[crowd gasping]
[crowd clamoring]
It's getting a little hot in here. You're more CM Punk than I am?
Well allow me to give you the full road to WrestleMania CM Punk experience.
See, Cody Rhodes you have carried this company on your back
for a soul crushing two years and you're right around the corner,
and they hand you the cover of the WWE2K video game.
Congratulations, by the way, it's on sale pretty soon, I'm sure.
And right when you're about to cross the finish line
and finish your story, oh, wait, what's that in the distance?
It's a much a bigger superstar that hasn't been around in a very long time.
Coming to take it all away from you.
And I'm talking about me.
There you are, looking out for me again.
You might be right.
You talked all about The American Dream, well, then you should know this.
He was my best friend, and he regularly quoted John Wayne.
And the quote I heard the most,
is, "Courage is being scared to death,
but saddling up anyways."
You may be right, but I have only one direction I can go.
I have to go, and that's forward.
And that's in the Royal Rumble.
That direction, goes through you.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody!
[crowd chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk!
[crowd clamoring]
[crowd jeering]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Well, stark reality has set in,
emotions are running high.
We are days away from this Saturday
in the Royal Rumble match
where the winner
will main event WrestleMania.
[Wade] Oh, facade of friendship just fell away before our eyes.
Such is the pressure ahead of Saturday's Royal Rumble match.
This one so difficult to call
I'm gonna win the Royal Rumble.
Just so you know. Put your money on me.
Words from CM Punk.
Ladies and gentlemen, I mentioned earlier that
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin was the last man
who would go back-to-back in winning the Royal Rumble match
as Cody Rhodes looking to do that this year.
Only two other men have done that,
Shawn Michaels
and Hulk Hogan.
Ladies and gentlemen, 40 years ago tomorrow,
the birth of one of the greatest phenomenon
in sports entertainment
and pop culture history.
[soft piano music playing]
[Hulk Hogan] January 23rd, 1984.
I was a mess.
Pins and needles, brother.
[commentator 6] Hulk Hogan and he drops the big leg on him
…two. He got him!
[crowd cheering]
Hulkamania was born, brother.
[Hulk Hogan] Whatchu gonna do
when the power of Hulkamania destroys you?
[Hulk Hogan] I had no idea how powerful that really was.
[commentator 7] The greatest professional athlete in the world today.
[man 2] Hogan's got all his Hulkamaniacs out there like me
[Sylvester Stallone] The one, the only, The Immortal Hulk Hogan
Forty years of Hulkamania…
[music intensifying]
…that blows my mind.
When I watch the WWE Superstars today.
I see so many shades of Hulkamania.
The Roman Reigns.
Seth Rollins,
who's a Hulkamaniac all night long
-[triumphant music playing] -[explosion]
Cody Rhodes.
Cody symbolizes so much of Hulkamania
for the WWE Superstars for the WWE fans.
Hulkamania will live forever.
[heroic instrumental music playing]
[commentator 8] We are on the Road to WrestleMania.
[Hulk Hogan] The women's Royal Rumble, where do you start?
But Bayley.
[Bayley] Damn, I'm good
"The Man" Becky.
[Becky Lynch] The biggest star in this industry.
[Hulk Hogan] The list goes on and on,
but I would not want to be in that Rumble, brother.
[commentator 9] Which man will Royal Rumble match?
[Hulk Hogan] I can think of two or three guys I'd bet on.
Cody Rhodes number one
[Cody] I have to finish the story.
CM Punk.
[CM Punk] I'm back to finish
what I started.
But don't forget the wild card factor.
You never know who's going to show up.
[triumphant music playing]
You never know.
I might have one left in me.
[Cole] Celebrating 40 years of Hulkamania running wild
with WWE Legends Elite Series 21 action figures
featuring Hulk Hogan himself.
Available now exclusively at Target.
Make your collection elite.
Big Tag Team match-up coming Wade.
[Wade] Yes, indeed.
A lot of blood in the water in the tag division,
and now it is the teams
potentially vying for an opportunity at gold
is The Queen of Spades, Shayna Baszler, and Zoey Stark.
They'll take on LeRae and Hartwell,
and it's coming up next
[bell rings]
[Samantha] The following is a Tag Team match
scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring.
The team of Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae
[Cole] Big Tag Team match-up here tonight, Zoey and Shayna.
There you see them taking on Indi Hartwell Candice LeRae.
The winner could be in position
for a future Tag Team championship opportunity.
And the Tag champs,
Katana Chance on the left,
Kayden Carter on the right,
out here to watch this match-up.
Wade, big match Friday night on SmackDown
the night before the Rumble for the tag champs.
[Wade] Yeah, no doubt about that. Facing The Kabuki Warriors,
what a test that will be.
Could be goodbye to those
gold championships around their waists.
-[Wade] However, whoever wins that… -[bell rings]
…may well be faced off
with the winner of this match before our eyes right now.
Both of these two teams,
last week, were victorious in their respective matches,
so you could consider this potentially
an eliminator for a opportunity at gold down the line.
[Cole] The former NXT champion, Shayna Baszler,
former Tag champ here as well
against Candice LeRae to start things off here tonight.
You mentioned the Kabuki Warriors, of course, part of Damage CTRL.
Asuka and Kairi Sane,
they get the opportunity for the gold Friday night on SmackDown.
[Wade] I'll tell you this, this championship win by Carter and Chance
has really injected life
into that entire division.
There's like a power vacuum beneath them,
where every woman in the locker room thinks
they've got an opportunity,
in part, because everyone looks at Carter and Chance as underdogs.
They think the gold is there for the taking.
[Cole] Yeah, but they are a well-oiled team, as Candice LeRae
with a couple of deep arm drags now to Shayna Baszler.
Candice, a former Tag Team champ and NXT in her own right.
And tag is made, and here comes
Zoey Stark
[Stark] Three actually.
Go, I got it.
[Cole] And they're a very unique Tag Team.
As the former NXT champion,
Indi Hartwell is in
for her team.
[Wade] Well, Indi and Candice once upon a time
were women's tag champs in NXT,
so they certainly have experience winning gold together.
And now taking a commanding lead
in the early going to this one.
[Cole] Now Shayna Baszler sent out to the floor by Indi Hartwell.
And Candice LeRae,
top rope, double team coming.
Candice walking the tightrope.
And now Zoey Stark sent in to Shayna Baszler.
Great move by LeRae
Tag Team action continues live
on Monday Night Raw.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] You know, Wade, during the commercial break on Monday Night Raw,
Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler really turning things around
against Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae
in this Tag Team match-up.
[Wade] Yeah, two women in stark…
-Oh-- Around. -[Cole] Oh!
[Wade] Just as I was about to say great things about them.
Indi Hartwell grabbing an opportunity
to get out of this one.
[Cole] There, former tag champs, Chelsea Green, Piper Niven,
looking on the current tag champs,
Chance and Carter, here at ringside with us.
All these teams jockeying for position,
for a possible Tag Team championship opportunity.
[Wade] It's the fresh air, Candice LeRae,
who is taking this team to task.
[Cole] LeRae taking out Zoey Stark.
And now Candice into the corner.
And Shayna Baszler taken down with a snapmare.
-[Wade] Candice LeRae, 20 year… -[Cole] Oh!
[Wade] …veteran of this industry.
[Cole] Cover!
[referee] One, two--
[Cole] And Zoey Stark breaking things up.
[Wade] LeRae knows every trick in the book.
Almost had this one won.
Niven and Green do not look impressed, however.
[Cole] Glad they're not out here with us on commentary.
-[Wade] Very true. -[Cole] Indi Hartwell…
[Cole] …knocked out of the ring.
[Wade] This one spilling all over the place.
[Cole] Baszler from behind, trying to lock in the Kirifuda Clutch on
Candice LeRae.
Sh-- Shayna…
is no longer the legal woman
because Zoey Stark has made the tag.
Kirifuda
start now.
[Wade] LeRae thought she had reversed that into a pinfall,
but here's the legal woman…
-[Wade] …Z-360. -[Cole] Z-360…
[Cole] …from Zoey Stark.
[Cole] Stark and Baszler with a win.
[bell rings]
["Cut Above The Rest" playing]
[Samantha] Here are your winners.
The team of Shayna Baszler
and Zoey Stark.
[Cole] Big win, could earn a future Tag Team championship opportunity
for Baszler and Stark.
[Wade] Life comes at you thick and fast
when you are a champion in this industry.
Kabuki Warriors await this Friday
for Carter and Chance, but then after that,
should they be successful,
it may well be Zoey Stark
and Shayna Baszler.
[Cole] And now from behind.
Speak of the devil's.
Sane, Asuka, Kabuki Warriors.
There's Dakota Kai as well from Damage CTRL.
[Wade] Four days ahead of their championship opportunity
this Friday on SmackDown.
Low chance to send a message to the champs and perhaps
soften them up.
[Cole] Carter and Chance's days as Tag Team champions
could be coming to an end.
Friday night on SmackDown,
live from Miami.
The night before the Royal Rumble.
♪ Control the stage, control the cage ♪
♪ We are the puppet-masters yuh ♪
♪ They goin' fast, we faster yeah ♪
♪ And we don't take a day off ♪
Jackie Redmond standing by backstage
with the Scottish Warrior Drew McIntyre.
And Drew, before we get into your match against Damian Priest,
which has been fueled by months of mounting hostility,
do you have anything to say
about the war of words tonight
between The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes and CM Punk?
No.
Everything I had to say, I said to both their faces.
They're the ones following in my footsteps.
I won the Royal Rumble,
and I actually won
the main event at WrestleMania,
so I couldn't care less about the big bad words. Although
speaking of words, I heard what Damian Priest had to say.
Yeah, things weren't 100 percent right around here.
When I was champion, Things weren't 100 percent right
in the world.
I'm sick of people trying to put a negative spin
on what I achieved during that time.
We needed a hero to step up, and I stepped up.
You want some names Bill Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, AJ Styles?
That aside, that's the most proud I've ever been in my entire career.
We were the constant in people's lives.
People have literally told me
we saved their lives,
so I'm sick of it. People can drop it.
[inhales]
But tonight,
Priest, you're not ready
to be world champion.
You need to be physically tough,
mentally tough, and you're not there yet.
I am proving.
Everybody can have a destiny and a story, every single person saying the same thing.
There's only room for one, chosen one.
And you're looking at him.
[Cole] Well, something has to give
because coming up next, it is our main event
on Monday Night Raw.
Days away from both men being involved
in the Royal Rumble match this Saturday.
Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre,
live, next.
[crosstalk]
Hey, are you okay though?
Yes. I'm fine, thank you.
You guys may be happy after watching that.
-[Bayley] That made-- -[Tegan] What the hell?
So you think you can come to Raw and just get away with that?
[laughs] Why do you care?
[crosstalk]
Ladies, ladies!
Save it for the Rumble.
Can I talk to them, please?
-[Bayley] Yeah -[Natalya] Yeah.
-[Natalya] We're tired of the disrespect. -[Pearce] Thank you.
Bayley, I invited you here tonight for two reasons.
One, to promote the Royal Rumble and two, the Tag title match on Friday.
Not to go into business for yourself and cause chaos.
If you have a problem,
how about you hit up Nick Aldis, huh?
Aldis? Yeah. If I could pry him away
from staring at himself in the mirror, maybe I'll do that.
Okay, well, I think you need to get used to seeing our faces,
Once The Kabuki Warriors, Kairi and Asuka,
win the tag titles on Friday,
you're going to be seeing a lot of us, buddy.
-[Bayley laughs] Let's go. -[Dakota] Bye.
Talk to you later!
I can hardly wait.
-[Pearce] Sanga, Veer. -[Jinder] Adam Pearce.
[Pearce] Jinder.
[Jinder] We have to talk.
I want to know what your plans are for The Maharaja,
the most talked about star of 2024.
The man who went face to face with The Rock.
The man responsible
for injuring your World Heavyweight Champion,
Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
-[Pearce] Okay. -[Jinder] So?
Right now's a good time. Right, gentlemen?
We have a few minutes.
Yeah. [claps]
Why don't I meet you in my office?
I need a drink.
If you need a drink, you're in the right town.
But tensions are boiling point everywhere you look.
And everything comes to a head this Saturday, doesn't it, Michael?
Of course, it's the Royal Rumble match, both the men's and the women's,
and it's all about the numbers,
part two.
[Cole] Batista is going to WrestleMania.
[Lawler] Winning his second Royal Rumble.
Nine superstars have made it to the mountaintop twice,
including Brock Lesnar.
In 2020, The Beast Incarnate conquered the record
for the most superstars sent packing
in a traditional Rumble match,
with an astounding 13 eliminations.
In women's Rumble history.
Natalya is one of only four superstars
who has competed in all six Rumble matches.
And no one brings the heat like The Big Red Machine.
Kane's wake of destruction includes a record
forty five eliminations in 18 Royal Rumble matches,
the most in history.
Hot on his tail is the dynamic Kofi Kingston,
who will move into second place with his 16th appearance.
Kofi makes the impossible look effortless…
That's the craziest thing I've ever seen.
…but not everyone shines under the spotlight.
[commentator 10] Chelsea Green eliminated faster than anyone in history.
Some superstars are ready to get in the action at a moment's notice.
That's a unique way to enter the Royal Rumble match.
You never know who will show up
when their number is called.
The Phenomenal One is here.
We've seen countless mind-blowing returns.
What? It's John Cena.
Oh, yeah.
This year will be no different
when CM Punk completes 3,653 days removed
from his last Rumble match.
Will this finally be the year
the best in the world accomplishes his goal of main--
Main-eventing WrestleMania
Thirty four million,
the number of social engagements
for the viral collision between
Logan Paul and Ricochet last year.
Holding the record for the most social moment in Rumble history.
Making it across the finish line can serve as a career launching pad.
Nine competitors have won their first world title
as a direct result of winning the Royal Rumble.
In the last five years,
sixty percent of winners parlayed their victory
into championship gold at WrestleMania.
This year, the Showcase of the Immortals
takes over the city of brotherly love,
but there will be no love lost on the Road to WrestleMania
Sixty superstars will compete
in two Royal Rumble matches
for a once in a lifetime opportunity to headline WrestleMania 40.
♪ Wild child ♪
♪ You got me runnin' Through the turnstile ♪
♪ You're gonna get my love today ♪
[audience] Three, two, one!
[fireworks crackle]
[buzzer]
[Cole] And the Road to WrestleMania begins Saturday
at Tropicana Field in St. Pete.
At 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific on Peacock.
And the traditional 30-Man Over-the-Top Royal Rumble match.
It's every man for himself.
who will punch their ticket to WrestleMania.
[Wade] Anything the men can do,
the women can do, just as well.
Thirty women vying to cement their place
in the main event of WrestleMania,
and an opportunity at the gold of their choosing.
It's the women's Over-the-Top Rope Royal Rumble match.
[Cole] It is explosive.
It is personal.
It is emotional.
Logan Paul
defends his United States Championship against Kevin Owens
this Saturday at the Rumble.
[Wade] He's the unstoppable WWE champ,
but Roman Reigns has his work cut out
if this titanic reign is to continue.
He defends against three of SmackDown's very best
in the form of the megastar LA Knight,
The Phenomenal AJ Styles,
and The Viper Randy Orton
in a Fatal 4-Way Match this Saturday at the Royal Rumble.
[Cole] And coming up next on Monday Night Raw,
it is our main event.
One match to go.
Presented by Credit One Bank.
["The Other Side" playing]
[explosion]
[bell rings]
[Samantha] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
representing The Judgment Day.
He is one half of the undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions.
Señor Money in the Bank
Damian Priest
[Cole] Earlier tonight, Damian Priest called Drew McIntyre
jealous.
And it is now time for the Scottish Warrior to quote,
"receive his punishment."
Priest.
McIntyre.
Massive main event.
Live next,
on Raw.
♪ Once you reach the other side ♪
[Cole] And then the first show after the Royal Rumble
is Monday Night Raw live next week in Tampa,
where DIY Ciampa and Gargano get an opportunity
at the undisputed Tag Team champions,
Priest and Bálor.
The Judgment Day.
[Wade] Yeet or no yeet?
Main event Jey Uso has a colossal challenge up ahead.
He goes one-on-one with the big boy from down under,
the massive Bronson Reed.
Next week on Raw.
[Cole] You want to talk about colossal challenges?
Gunther is approaching 600 days
as the Intercontinental Champion.
Can Kofi Kingston stop the streak?
We find out live
next week.
[Cole] Meanwhile, in the ring, Damian Priest
who's got a busy week ahead.
The main event tonight, the Royal Rumble match Saturday,
The Tag Team title defense next Monday.
Set for action.
["Gallantry" playing]
[explosion]
[Samantha] And his opponent
from Ayr, Scotland, weighing in at 275 pounds.
Drew McIntyre
[Cole] Drew McIntyre had plenty to say earlier tonight.
One of those was he sick and tired of what he calls
the negative spin on everything he's accomplished in the WWE,
including winning the Royal Rumble
and also winning the championship at WrestleMania.
[Wade] Yeah, McIntyre is convinced
he's been suffering grave injustice after injustice
for the past six months plus,
and he's had enough.
But this is brought Drew McIntyre in the red zone.
And this is a dangerous place
for someone like Damian Priest to put himself--
[Cole] That was the point.
[Wade] Rhea Ripley made earlier tonight.
You do not need to engage McIntyre.
You're on a fool's errand.
-[Wade] You talk about-- -[explosion]
[Wade] How busy Damian Priest is.
Well, this just adds to it.
[Cole] Well, ladies and gentlemen, you have to wonder
if next week when Monday Night Raw gets to Tampa, Florida,
if it'll be Priest or McIntyre
who could be celebrating a win
in the Royal Rumble match.
[Cole] And can you imagine, Wade,
if Priest wins the Royal Rumble match,
not only will he be guaranteed a championship match
at WrestleMania in the main event.
He also holds the Money in the Bank briefcase.
The contract to cash in at any time.
[Wade] Further concentrating the power in this industry
within The Judgment Day.
[Cole] Now, a lockup, center of the ring.
McIntyre and Damian Priest one-on-one
in our main event here tonight
on Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] And here's the thing, both of these men in this match-up
have a legitimate gripe with the other
that they would be the World Heavyweight Championship,
would be the World Heavyweight Champion today.
if not for the actions of their opponent.
[Cole] McIntyre, in a match-up against Rollins,
blames a Priest for attempting to cash in and costing him the title.
Priest was going to cash in.
And McIntyre interrupted that as well.
Very physical match-up between these two huge men.
McIntyre said Priest does not have the makeup
to be champion.
He said you've got to be physical.
You've got to be mentally tough.
You've got to be a chosen one, like McIntyre.
[Wade] I don't actually agree with McIntyre on that one.
I think Priest has all the tools,
but I will reword what Drew was saying.
Essentially, you cannot call yourself championship material
until you've been to the top of the mountain.
Drew McIntyre has been there twice before already.
It remains to be seen
if Priest is capable of getting up there himself.
[Cole] Wade, how physical has this match been?
[Wade] It's inevitable.
You've got two massive heavyweight guys.
This was going to be a slugfest for the ages.
[Cole] Uh-oh. Priest ran right into a belly-to-belly throw by McIntyre.
[Wade] That's it. They're both massively athletic
with that size and power.
Two incredibly dangerous guys.
It's the old adage, if you could design a main-event-caliber star,
it would look like a McIntyre or a Priest.
These two have everything.
[Cole] And Priest, of course, has the added bonus of holding
the Money in the Bank contract.
And McIntyre now with a chop
to Damian Priest,
and McIntyre again with a right hand.
These two throwing massive haymakers
at one another in this match-up.
Oh, McIntyre going to drop Priest
right over the top rope into the floor.
And now McIntyre and Priest.
Priest with a kick to McIntyre.
Right to the midsection.
[Wade] It's getting too ugly and too close for comfort.
[Cole] And Priest,
McIntyre.
Priest raking the eyes and drives McIntyre
neck first into the post.
And now, Priest staring at our announce table.
Damian Priest setting up Drew McIntyre.
This is going to be ugly.
Priest now, broken arrow into the table.
McIntyre may be broken in half.
Priest is in control.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] It's pretty cool here, tonight on Monday Night Raw
live in New Orleans.
This is episode number
1,600 of Monday Night Raw.
And our main event, Drew McIntyre Damian Priest.
And matches don't get much physical than this, Wade.
[Wade] Yeah, absolutely. Ever since McIntyre
was crashed onto our announce table,
it's kind of been one-way traffic.
And then we get these flurries from McIntyre.
They've swiftly been shut down by Priest.
[Cole] There's so much at stake.
Just days away from the Saturday
and the Royal Rumble event, the Royal Rumble match,
the Road to WrestleMania begins.
Cover by Priest.
[Wade] Hook of the leg.
[Cole] McIntyre kicks out.
I was thinking about this.
This is the 37th annual Royal Rumble event, Wade.
I don't believe there's ever been a year
that has been more unpredictable than this year
when it comes to the Rumble matches.
Both men's and women's wide open.
Anyone can win this thing.
[Wade] I almost said the same thing
right after we saw Cody and Punk out here earlier.
It's so difficult to call a winner.
So many people are odds on favorites right now,
but, yeah, it's going to be a heck of a night, that's for sure.
[Cole] Either of these two men could win.
You mentioned Punk and you mentioned Cody earlier on.
I mean, just so many people involved.
Thirty men, 30 women.
The Road to WrestleMania begins this coming Saturday,
And McIntyre hanging on
and caught Damian Priest with an elbow.
Oh, and both men down.
[Wade] McIntyre has been put through the ringer already on this one,
buying himself a brief respite.
But can he make it count?
[Cole] I think about Priest too, is you just feel like
he's just on the cusp
of breaking out, of exploding,
of having his moment,
of maybe cashing in the contract at some point,
maybe winning the Rumble come Saturday.
And McIntyre back to his feet.
Clothesline. And now McIntyre looking to build momentum.
[Wade] This is the last thing you want
after you've put the beating on McIntyre.
[Wade] He's taken out,
and he builds up a head of steam like this.
This is a terror moment
for Damian Priest.
[Cole] After the belly-to-belly, McIntyre follows it up with a neckbreaker.
And then the six foot five,
270 pound terminator
with a kip-up.
[Wade] Like a tightly-coiled spring.
[crowd cheering]
-[audience] Three, two, one. -[Cole] McIntyre about to take Priest…
…to Claymore country, but Priest sidesteps.
[Wade] Just too much left in the tank
of the punisher and The Judgment Day.
[Cole] Priest misses with a kick, follows-up with a chop by McIntyre.
And look at that.
That's spinebuster by Drew,
jack-knife, cover. Is it enough?
Kick at two by Priest.
[Wade] Drew has got busted ribs.
However, in this one that is sucking all the wind out of his soul.
[Cole] McIntyre
going to fight back into it.
You know, so much has been made about
so many controversial comments of Drew McIntyre
over the the past number of weeks.
A lot of truth in them, though.
-[loud slap] -[Cole] Oh.
[Cole] Drew into the corner.
Damian Priest.
[Wade] These two just knocking lumps out of one another.
The scary thing about McIntyre is
the more pain he's in, the better he gets.
[Cole] Face first goes McIntyre.
Covered by Priest.
Is it enough? Hook of the leg
and a kick out.
[Wade] Dangerous, dangerous match for both men.
So close to the Royal Rumble.
But two alpha-minded Individuals
who simply do not have
a reverse gear.
[Cole] The penultimate stop
before the Royal Rumble Saturday
is Raw tonight, of course,
SmackDown in Miami Friday night
and the Rumble
at Tropicana Field in St. Pete on Saturday.
And now Priest caught in the corner by McIntyre.
[Cole] McIntyre, though. Just-- The ribs just given out.
[Wade] Yeah. These strikes from Priest have been so telling in this match.
That's been the difference.
[Cole] Oh, and a Glasgow Kiss.
[Wade] Rocking both men,
but Priest clearly getting the worst of it.
[Cole] And now McIntyre sent out to the apron.
Drew going to go up top.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] McIntyre has to roll through
as Priest ducks underneath.
Damian Priest kick him to the back of the head.
[Wade] Right to the temple, stunned Drew temporarily
[Cole] And now McIntyre.
Priest…
turns it. Oh, look at this!
[Cole] Is it enough to put him away off the broken arrow
Cover now on McIntyre.
Kick out by Drew.
[Wade] Light kick out and a weak kick out at that.
There is very little left in the tank
of the Scottish Warrior now.
[Cole] Well, the second broken arrow suffered by McIntyre tonight.
The first was on our announce table.
That was a traditional one in the middle of the ring.
McIntyre is hurting.
[Wade] McIntyre has been in a mess
for the past ten minutes in this match.
-[Wade] Now Priest. -[Cole] Oh, my goodness.
[Cole] Launching himself off the ropes.
Incredible move by Priest.
[Wade] Crazy athleticism for such a big man.
And McIntyre ate all of that.
[crowd jeering]
[Wade] And now McIntyre sent into the ring by Priest
[Cole] Well, look who's here.
[crowd clamoring]
[Cole] Truth trying to give his cut…
to Priest
of the merchandise sales for Judgment Day.
[R-Truth] In the briefcase right? He want it in the briefcase
[crowd booing]
[Wade] We all like money. This is not the time or the place.
[Cole] And now, Priest, uh,
as he's fighting back against McIntyre,
Truth has got the Money in the Bank contract
on the announce table.
Trying to put the money in as Priest…
delivers
falls into a future shock
-[Cole] DDT by McIntyre. -[R-Truth] What's the password?
[Cole] R-truth doesn't know the combination to the briefcase,
so he can't put the money in.
That's the dilemma now, facing Truth.
[Wade] Priest completely had the upper hand in this match-up,
until Truth turned up.
[R-Truth] What's the password?
What's the password?
[Cole] It's a combination, Truth, not a password.
And McIntyre with the right hand.
Money goes everywhere.
Priest.
[Cole] South of heaven chokeslam
Cover on McIntyre.
The officials dealing with that goofy R-Truth.
Priest had McIntyre beat.
And R-Truth, I believe,
just inadvertently may have cost Priest--
[Wade] Yeah, that would inadvertently.
I'm not so sure.
[Cole] And Priest has had enough.
[Wade] Yeah, unsurprisingly. So R-Truth just cost--
[Cole] Claymore!
[crowd cheering]
You're right, Wade.
-[Cole] Truth just cost Priest the match. -[audience] One, two, three!
-[bell rings] -[Cole] That claymore
[Cole] may have collapsed…
-[Cole] …Priest's jaw. -[Samantha] Here is your winner…
Drew McIntyre.
[Cole] Well, I mean, R-Truth means well, but--
[Wade] Well, that was a colossal disaster for The Judgment Day.
[Cole] But Drew McIntyre picks up the win
and he builds momentum towards Saturday.
Will it be McIntyre's night?
Who will win the Royal Rumble?
Live, Saturday on Peacock. le?