Welcome back to the latest edition of our weekly WWE RAW hits and misses series. Last night’s RAW emanated from the SAP Center in San Jose, CA. Here’s what went down on the show.
Hit – Old rivals, new goals
The opening segment featuring CM Punk, Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre did a great job of selling the Royal Rumble, which is already starting to feel like a big deal. Rollins is smart enough to accept he lost to Punk clean. The Monday Night Messiah wants a shot at the world title, so do Punk and McIntyre. Neither man got physical which was a smart way to cap off the segment.
Miss – The Wyatts are no longer on WWE RAW
They were one of the biggest debuts on RAW last year, but the Wyatts were moved to SmackDown last night. This was underwhelming to be honest. This writer feels the Wyatts should be booked to look bigger than RAW, SmackDown or NXT. Having them just switch brands via the transfer window seems odd. Plus, so much could’ve been done with them on Netflix. Let’s see if the group pops up on the blue brand this Friday.
Hit – Penta vs. Chad Gable
After putting over Uncle Howdy, Chad Gable did the honors for RAW’s latest signing in Penta. It’s good to see one of the very best finally join the big leagues. No jab at his work in AEW; the promotion really put him on the map. Gable was the right guy to give Penta his first WWE match. That said, it’s about time Master Gable scored some wins.
Miss – Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser on WWE RAW
This felt like a rehash of their previous encounter, which makes sense, I suppose. Sheamus is the right opponent for Kaiser to test his mettle. This match featured some really stiff knee strikes. Let’s see if Kaiser manages to get his hands around the Intercontinental Championship after Sheamus versus Bron Breakker.
Hit – New Women’s Intercontinental Champion crowned
They got Bayley in attendance for the match. Both competitors put on a great show. The suplex to the outside looked like it hurt, it sure did. The crowd wanted Dakota to win but Hunter seems to have plans for Lyra. For those talking trash about the new champion, the Intercontinental Champion has majorly been a stepping stone. Let her come into her own as the first-ever Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
Miss – Nia Jax on WWE RAW
Isn’t Nia supposed to go after Tiffany Stratton? What about her rematch clause? Tiffany backstabbed her and Nia popped up on RAW to declare for the Rumble. WWE should’ve, at the very least, delivered Tiffany versus Nia at the Rumble to give the feud a proper conclusion.
Hit – Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest in a Street Fight
RAW this week got a PLE quality main event. Both Balor and Priest killed it. All the near falls led to a run-in from The Judgment Day and the Raiders. JD’s moonsault is a thing of beauty. Finn getting shoved in the ring while wearing a neckbrace was hilarious. Priest picked up the win with a huge South of Heaven. Let’s see what’s next for the Archer of Infamy.
Multiple competitors confirmed they will enter the 2025 Royal Rumble, and Finn Balor and Damian Priest finally ended their feud in a street fight. Check out everything that went down on WWE RAW here.
How would you rate 1/13 WWE RAW on a scale of 1 to 10? Let us know in the comments!
