This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from the SAP Center in San Jose, California! Damian Priest and Finn Balor battle in a Street Fight. Penta makes his WWE debut against Chad Gable. The inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Champion is crowned. Rhea Ripley celebrates her title win, and more!
We break it all down in this week’s WWE Raw recap!
We Hear From CM Punk
Punk recalls beating Seth Rollins last week, whom he says is also no longer on his plate. Punk recalls the Royal Rumble not going his way last year, as he lost and separated his tricep. Punk makes a reference to John Cena. He says he made his biggest setback, his greatest comeback, Punk says he sees John Cena and he always has. Punk declares himself for the Royal Rumble, much like Cena did last week. Seth Rollins’ music hits.
Rollins says Punk can’t be surprised to see him, as he said he’d be here this week. Rollins says he’d rather be the worst version of himself, than any version of Punk. Rollins claims that last week was the worst loss of his career. Looking ahead now, he is looking to flush Punk’s WrestleMania dreams down the drain. Rollins officially declares himself for the Royal Rumble.
Drew McIntyre emerges. Punk recalls standing over McIntyre at Bad Blood, begging him for his life. Punk warns McIntyre not to come into the ring. McIntyre says not everything revolves around Punk, as he came out here to actually address Rollins. McIntyre says Rollins’ role as a leader is just an act, because he was nowhere to be seen during the Bloodline shenanigans. McIntyre calls Rollins pathetic. Rollins says he has no patience for McIntyre. Punk intercepts, proclaiming he has no patience for either of them. Punk and Rollins prepare to fight each other. McIntyre teases joining them, but then backs up the entrance ramp. McIntyre says there is a bigger problem in WWE, and Roman Reigns is playing chess, while everyone else if playing checkers. McIntyre tells Rollins and Punk he’ll see them at the Royal Rumble.
Chad Gable vs. Penta
Penta is revealed as Gable’s surprise opponent. Gable and Penta trade arm locks. Gable takes him down with a headlock, but Penta reverses into a roll-up. Gable rolls him up too. Penta and Gable trade arm drags and are then at a stand-off.
Penta takes down Gable with a headscissors. Gable drops him onto the mat for a two-count fall attempt. Gable rains down with right hands in the corner. Penta responds with a kick and a stomp to Gable’s midsection. Gable rocks Penta with a right hand and a German Suplex on the apron. Gable rolls him back in the ring, then slams his leg against the ring post. He continues to target Penta’s leg. Gable drops him with a back suplex for another two count.
Gable goes up top for a flying headbutt, but Penta rolls out of the way. Gable collides with the mat, then eats a kick from Penta. Gable launches Penta into the turnbuckle. The two exchange chops. Penta plants Gable with a slingblade, then sends him flying over the top rope. Penta follows up with a dive to the outside.
Back in the ring, Penta connects with a crossbody and a backstabber. Penta hits a thunderous kick to Gable’s head. Gable responds with a German Suplex for a near fall. Gable locks Penta in an arm bar against the ropes. Penta sends Gable flying with a hurricanrana and a Mexican Destroyer. Penta connects with a knee. Gable bounces back with a dragonscrew and an ankle lock. Penta counters with an inverted armbreaker. He follows up with a Penter Driver for the win.
Winner: Penta
After the match, Penta thanks San Jose. He says WWE is his new home, something he’s waited for his whole life.
Backstage, Dominik Mysterio brings Liv Morgan flowers. Morgan says she’s not mad about last week. Meanwhile, Balor promises to take down Damian Priest tonight. He also says he and JD McDonagh will get a rematch for the tag titles. Balor advises Mysterio to get back on Morgan’s good side, starting by getting her bags.
Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser
Kaiser and Sheamus lock up, with the latter punching the former in the corner. Sheamus knocks Kaiser to the mat with a clothesline. They trade chops on the outside. Sheamus looks for his forearm strikes, but Kaiser blocks it and knocks him off the apron. Kaiser charges in with a running kick and stomp.
Back from break, Sheamus finally connects with his signature forearm strikes. He follows up with White Noise, but Kaiser kicks out. Kaiser grabs the shillelagh, but Sheamus knocks it out of his hand with a jumping knee. He looks for a Brogue Kick, but Kaiser evades it with a step-up enziguri. Kaiser chops him, only for Sheamus to land a big knee. Kaiser responds with a rolling senton. Kaiser looks for a kick, but Sheamus side steps and hits a Brogue Kick for the win
Winner: Sheamus
Post-match, Sheamus and Bron Breakker stare off. Sheamus said he wants Breakker one more time. Breakker shoves him. A WWE official intervenes before things can escalate.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley confirms that Seth Rollins will face Drew McIntyre next week. Rollins says he owes McIntyre one from WrestleMania, so next week will be fun. Rollins comes face to face with Sami Zayn. Zayn says if Rollins needs to talk, he’s here to listen. Rollins says last week was a good one for Zayn, as Roman Reigns got the Ula Fala back. Rollins questions if Zayn will stay helping Reigns or if he will help himself.
Backstage, Sami Zayn and The Miz have a tense encounter, resulting in Zayn requesting a match with Miz.
We Hear From Gunther
Gunther says he was impressed with last week’s episode of WWE Raw, but not with the performances in the ring. Gunther wishes WWE had a roster that could fulfill high expectations. Gunther says the only prize worth fighting for is the World Heavyweight Champion. Jey Uso runs down to the ring.
Uso tells Gunther he’s looking at a potential contender for his title. Uso calls for a match against Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Gunther calls Uso naive for thinking he can take the title off him. Gunther recalls beating Uso twice before already. He calls Uso funny and entertaining, but is just a tag team wrestler. Gunther says Uso is not on his level. He further suggests that Uso stays out of his championship business. Uso says he respects Gunther and everything he said is true, but at WWE SNME, Gunther will respect him when he beats him for the title. Furthermore, Uso says his “Main Event” isn’t just a nickname; it’s where he belongs.
Women’s IC Title Finals: Dakota Kai vs. Lyra Valkyria
Kai tries to stomp on Valkyria, but she moves out of the way, driving Kai backfirst into the side of the apron. Valkyria attempts a dropkick, but Kai catches her and plants her. Valkyria then drives Kai into the apron. Valkyria follows up with a suplex onto the floor.
Back from break, Kai rolls up Valkyria for a two count. Valkyria responds with a series of kicks. Kai nails her with some kicks of her own. Kai sends Valkyria to the corner and lands a big boot. She follows up with a Kai-ropractor for a near fall. Kai looks for a GTK, but Valkyria blocks it. Valkyria plants her with a running powerbomb for another near fall. Valkyria goes up top and descends with a leg drop for a two count. Kai hits a scorpion kick and a stomp to the back on Valkyria’s neck. She follows up with a GTK, but Valkyria rolls out of the ring.
Kai drags Valkyria back into the ring. Valkyria dodges a kick in the corner, then delivers a Night Wing for the win.
Winner (And New): Lyra Valkyria
The Miz vs. Sami Zayn
Zayn and Miz lock up, with the latter backing up the former into the corner. Zayn rocks Miz with a clothesline and an axe handle. Miz kicks him in the back in response. He continues to beat down Zayn with elbow and knee strikes. Zayn delivers another clothesline and a series of right hands. Zayn suplexes Miz into the corner. Miz catches him with a kick and a DDT. Miz nails him with more kicks.
Miz looks for a Skull Crushing Finale, but Zayn reverses into a roll-up. Zayn rocks him with a Helluva Kick and a Blue Thunder Bomb for the win.
Winner: Sami Zayn
We Hear From Rhea Ripley
Ripley reflects on her title win last week, and says Mami is back on top. Nia Jax’s music hits. She tells Ripley she will be winning the Royal Rumble and then take whatever title she wants. Jax then looks to Bayley in the ring, questioning why she’s here. Jax says she is the woman at the top of the division, and not Bayley, Tiffany Stratton, or Ripley.
Bayley hops the barricade and tells Jax to come up with someone different. Bayley says this is her city, so if Jaz has something to say, then to do it. Jax pushes Bayley, then shoves Ripley. Ripley headbutts Jax, only for Jax to headbutt her back. Bayley and Ripley drive Jax out of the ring.
Street Fight: Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor
Balor ambushes Priest from behind with a kendo stick. Priest takes hold of the same stick and swings it at Balor. Balor slams Priest’s head against the announce table. Priest then slams him against it and over it as well. Priest sets up a table. Balor sweeps Priest off his feet and lands a forearm to his face.
Balor bashes Priest over the head with a trash can. He follows him through the crowd. Priest fights back with a right hand and trash can shot to Balor’s head. Priest drives Balor into the barricade, then leads him back to ringside. Balor sends Priest back over the barricade. He hits him with a chair. Priest whips him into a steel barricade. Balor trails up the bleacher stairs. Balor and Priest trade strikes until Priest drives Balor through a table of equipment with a Broken Arrow. WWE officials calls for medical staff to check on them.
Back from break, Balor is being wheeled out on a stretcher. Priest, however, takes out Carlito and JD McDonagh before raining down on Priest. Priest wheels the stretcher back to the ring. Balor, still wearing a neck brace, eats a clothesline from Priest. Carlito and McDonagh level Priest, then set Balor up on the turnbuckle. He descends with a Coup de Grace, but Priest kicks out of his pinfall. McDonagh and Carlito retrieve another table. The War Raiders run down, taking out both Carlito and McDonagh. The pairs brawl to the back.
Balor connects with a slingblade. He smashes a chair over Priest’s back, then to his midsection. He places the chair around Priest’s neck. Priest, still with the chair around his neck, hits a South of Heaven for a near fall. Priest looks for a Razor’s Edge, but Balor counters into a slingblade. He places Priest onto the table, subsequently landing a Coup De Grace. Priest drives Balor and himself through the barricade.
Priest follows up with a Razor’s Edge through the table. He rolls Balor back into the ring, and finishes him off with a South of Heaven.
Winner: Damian Priest