WWE Raw 15th of January 2024

Tonight’s episode starts with a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In-Ring Segment: Cody Rhodes
Rhodes asks the Littlerock crowd what they want to talk about. There are many things they can talk about, or they can talk about the one thing he came back to WWE for. The Royal Rumble is right around the corner. Rhodes is interrupted by Drew McIntyre’s music. McIntyre marches down to the ring while Rhodes looks on. McIntyre asks Rhodes what he wants to talk about. The crowd groans. McIntyre notes they have a lot of history and haven’t had a chance to catch up. He’s proud of Rhodes.
McIntyre and Rhodes were tag team champions many years ago. McIntyre notes they both had to leave WWE to get to the point they are at now. The last match McIntyre had before returning to WWE was against Rhodes. After the match, Rhodes told McIntyre he was going to be a world champion. McIntyre puts Rhodes over somemore and exclaims that Rhodes is going to finish his story and become the first WWE Champion in the Rhodes family… but it will be after McIntyre finishes his story.
Rhodes tells McIntyre that anyone can win the Royal Rumble. Jey Uso, CM Punk, anyone. You can’t count anyone out. McIntyre tells Rhodes to stop putting on that big dumb smile trying and be the real Cody. Rhodes steps up to McIntyre and says this isn’t an act. Rhodes says they are both alike, but the difference is Rhodes is thankful for his second chance.
McIntyre is just complaining about his. At WrestleMania, the story will be McIntyre’s. Rhodes mocks McIntyre for blaming everyone else for his failures. The crowd murmers. Rhodes says McIntyre keeps bringing up the match they had before McIntyre returned to WWE. Rhodes has a question for McIntyre. Who won that match? Rhodes drops the mic and walks away. McIntyre is livid.

#DIY vs. The Judgement Day (Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh)
Gargano and McDonagh trade headlocks and takedowns. Gargano and Ciampa clear the ring together. Dive by Ciampa. Gargano and Ciampa lands dives and celebrate on the apron. After the break, Mysterio and McDonagh are working over Gargano. Gargano manages to tag in Ciampa. Ciampa clears the ring. A four-way brawl breaks out. Everyone lands a big move and everyone is down. McDonagh lands a moonsault on Ciampa. Gargano breaks it up with a superkick. DDT by Ciampa. Gargano and Ciampa Meet in the Middle on McDonagh for the win.
Winners- #DIY

Earlier today, Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell were in Raw GM Adam Pearce’s office. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven interrupts. Green annoys Pearce to the point that he puts both teams in a match tonight.

Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell vs. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven
The referee of this match is the same referee Green accused of giving a slow count during their title defense. Niven drops Hartwell with a shoulder breaker. Green and Niven work over Hartwell. Niven misses a Vader Bomb. The Women’s Tag Champions Kayden Carter and Kitana Chance are watching the match from backstage. Hartwell manages to tag in LeRae, who lands a senton on Niven. Green runs in and eats a lungblower, were LeRae lands on Niven in another senton. Hartwell escapes the UnprettyHer and hangs Green on the second rope. LeRae lands a springboard moonsault for the win.
Winners- Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell

In-Ring Segment: Intercontinental Champion Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser
Gunther says he can feel the desperiation around here. Since they are Arkansa, he thinks he smells escrament too. Over the last few weeks, Gunther has watched everyone come out her and argue over who will win the Royal Rumble. Gunther reminds everyone that he went the distance last year. He lasted longer in the Royal Rumble than any man in history. This year, Gunther promises to win the Royal Rumble and main event WrestleMania.
Gunther wants to take a moment to review what has happened with Kaiser since he’s been away. A video package of Kaiser trying to blind Kofi Kingston last week. Gunther tells Kaiser he loves what he just saw. Gunther puts over Kaiser big and give him a hug. Xavier Woods interrupts. Woods is here to extract his pound of fleash from Kaiser. Woods challenges Kaiser to a match and wonders aloud if Kaiser can accept the match without his daddy’s permission. Gunther motions to Kaiser to do it and leaves the ring. Kaiser promises to take Woods head tonight as well.
Kaiser tries a sneak attack. Woods sends Kaiser over the top rope. Diving lariat off the apron by Woods. Woods lays into Kaiser with a flurry of punches. A referee runs down to the ring and tells Woods to get in the ring for the match. It’s official.

Xavier Woods vs. Ludwig Kaiser w/Gunther
The match started during the break. Woods knocks Kaiser into the corner. Kaiser kicks Woods in the knee and lands a lariat. Woods and Kaiser trade strikes. Kaiser chokes Woods in the corner. Crossbody by Woods. European uppercut by Kaiser. Woods kick sout. Kaiser works over Woods. Woods fires up. Kaiser hangs Woods up in the corner. Running dropkick by Kaiser. After the break, Woods mouth is bleeding. Woods lands a dropkick through the ropes. Kaiser tries to toss a desk chair at Woods. Woods ducks it. Woods picks up the desk chair and hits Kaiser with it. The referee disqualifies Woods.
Winner- Ludwig Kaiser
After the match, Woods grabs a steel chair. Kaiser dropkicks it into Woods’ face. Kaiser lays Woods on the ringsteps for a running dropkick. Woods dives off the steps as Kaiser is charging in and blasts him with a knee to the face. Woods is all over Kaiser. Kaiser escapes through the crowd.

During a video package, Bronson Reed exclaims that there is a person here holding a title that doesn’t understand that the title belongs to Bronson Reed.

Akira Tozawa w/Maxxine Dupri vs. Ivar w/ Valhalla
Ivar runs over Tozawa as soon as the beel rings. Tozawa slaps Ivar. Tozawa lands a flurry of strikes. Ivar sends Tozawa into the ropes. DDT by Tozawa. Tozawa is finally able to rip off his shirt. Ivar lands a modified tour of the islands. Ivar goes ip top for the Doomsault. Dupri gets on the apron and distracts Ivar. Tozawa manages to hit a a sunset flip powerbomb off the top for the win!
Winner- Akira Tozawa
After the match, Dupri and Tozawa celebrate. Valhalla attacks Dupri and Tozawa. Ivar almost decapitated Tozawa with a spinning leg lariat. Valhalla destroys Dupri with a pop-up headbutt. Ivar obliterates Tozawa with the Doomsault.

Backstage, Gable tells Tozawa that he’s going to teach Ivar a lesson next week.

In-Ring Segment: Rhea Ripley
Ripley is tired of people like Nia Jax acting like they run this division. Ripley runs this division. If the person who wins the Royal Rumble wants to waste their WrestleMania opportunity, they should pick her. Mami always ends up on top. Becky Lynch’s music hits. Lynch slowly walks to the ring. Lynch notes all the ways they are alike. Ripley and Lynch circle each other while Lynch speaks. Lynch puts Ripley over big.
There is a voice that keeps Lynch up at night and it’s saying she thinks Ripley may be better than her. Lynch needs to prove that to herself that Ripley isn’t. Lynch needs to win the Royal Rumble. It needs to be Mami vs. The Man. Ripley says there is only one person who wants Lynch to win the Royal Rumble more than Lynch does. Ripley smiles and says she’ll see Lynch at WrestleMania.

Backstage, Seth Rollins says Jinder Mahal is worthy of a title match.

The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The Judgement Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) w/Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh
R-Truth enters the arena with The Judgement Day. R-Truth starts the match but a wad of cash falls out of his pocket. Everyone is confused. R-Truth gives Bálor and Mysterio their cut of the bootleg merch he sold earlier. McDonagh wants his cut. R-Truth tells McDonagh he would have to be a member of The Judgement Day. As the bell rings, Bálor attacks Truth. Truth clocks Bálor. Truth apologizes for hitting Bálor. Bálor gets upset and double legs Truth.
Bálor lands a few strikes. Truth rolls out of the ring and reminds Bálor they aren’t supposed to hurt each other. After the break, Bálor tags in Priest. Priest hesitates to attack Truth. Truth surprises Priest with a chin breaker. Truth manages to tag in Miz. Miz clears the ring. Truth is about to strike Priest from behind. Priest turns around and asks Truth what he’s doing. Bálor tries to roll up Truth. Truth lands a leg lariat. Truth turns around and eats South of Heaven from Priest. Priest pins Truth.
Winners- The Judgement Day

Natala and Tegan Nox vs. Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark
As soon as the bell rings, Stark superkicks Nox. Stark holds Nox while Baszler lands a leaping stomp. Baszler works over Nox’s arm. Stark and Baszler work over Nox. Natalya tries to make the save, but is quickly sent flying out of the ring by Baszler. Nox blocks Baszler’s suplex attempt with a gourd buster. Roaring European uppercut by Nox.
Nox manages to tag in Natalya, who clears the ring. Stark blocks the Sharpshooter. Baszler gets a blind tag and tries to sneak attack Nox. Natalya and Nox set up the Hart Attack. Stark trips Nox and pulls her out of the ring. Baszler locks Natayla in the Krifuda Clutch. Natalya tries to escape, but Baszler tightnes her grip. Natalya is forced to tap out.
Winners- Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler

Backstage, Jinder Mahal says he is the most talked about wrestler in 2024. Mahal focused and will win the championship tonight.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Jinder Mahal w/Indus Sher
As the bell rings, Veer hops up on the apron. Rollins gets distracted. Mahal attacks from behind. Rollins and Mahal trade strikes. Mahal tries the Kallus. Rollins escapes and almost lands The Stomp. Mahal sends Rollins over the top while countering the Pedigree. Rollins and Mahal brawl outside the ring. Diving knee by Rollins. Damian Priest walks down the ramp with the MITB briefcase. After the break, Priest is seated at ringside as the match continues. Mahal is working over Rollins. Rollis fires up and lands a superkick. Springboard senton by Rollins. Rollins follows that with a springboard moonsault for a near fall.
Mahal and Rollins trade strikes. Rollins hits the Pedigree. Veer puts Mahal’s foot on the bottom rope to break the pin. Rollins dives off the top onto Veer. Rollins tries a splash, but Mahal rolls out of the way. Priest stands up at ringside. Drew McIntyre hops the barricade and gets in Priest’s face. McIntyre and Priest brawl up the ramp. In the confusion, Indus Sher attacks Rollins. Mahal lands a gut buster for a near fall. Veer distracts the referee as Sanga slides in a chair. Rollins takes the char away but Veer hits Mahal with the MITB briefcase. Mahal lands the Kallus! Rollins kicks out. Mahal tries it again but Rollins escapes and lands the Stomp for the win.
Winner and STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins!