Last Week's Raw Today: 12/18/2023 The Holiday Raw

Welcome to Last Week's Raw today! the only blog that talks about Monday night raw in the past tense. 

beginning:

The show kicks off with a flurry of intense energy as the Judgement Day steps into the ring. Led by JD, with champions Dom Mysterio, Finn Balor, Damien Priest, and Rhea Ripley in tow, this is a force to be reckoned with. With their dark blue and purple lighting, it's clear they mean business. Get ready for explosive fights and edge-of-your-seat action, as this show is sure to go hard from start to finish.

It's time to get the energy flowing with a heated promo from Finn Balor and Damien Priest! These champs mean business and have every right to be cocky about their undisputed tag team championship status. Finn starts by acknowledging the Creed Brothers in NXT, giving them a backhanded compliment, before warning them that this match is going to be the best they ever had in their lives. It's clear they're not taking their opponents lightly and are ready to back up their claims in the ring.

And the intensity is ratcheting up a notch as Rhea Ripley picks up the mic after Finn's fiery promo. With a cool and calm demeanor in stark contrast to Finn's passionate speech, Rhea lays down a threat to their opponents, Ivy Nile. Stating that what she did to Maxine Dupree will pale in comparison to the action she will bring to the ring, Rhea's words give a glimpse of the brutal and merciless side of the Judgement Day.

Bringing some light-hearted humor to a tense situation, R. Truth comes out of nowhere and asks why he wasn't included in the promo with the rest of the Judgement Day. Dom's promo, however, was cut short when Truth was met with a cascade of boos from the crowd, who couldn't get enough of booing the group's de facto leader. When Dom picked up the microphone again, hoping to continue with the promo, he was cut off by R. Truth, who has started a wild new persona of pretending to be a member of the Judgement Day.

Adding some comedy to the tension-filled moment, R. Truth goes off on a hilarious tangent about the Judgement Day acting like a street gang. He declares that the beating they gave him last week during his initiation ceremony really hurt him emotionally, comparing them to something like the Crips or Bloods. He then turns his attention to Damien Priest, stating that he knows Priest didn't mean it when he said he didn't like him. This completely breaks kayfabe, as Priest tries to hold back his laughter in the face of Truth's antics.

JD sees R. Truth's joke about their "heat" and wants to protect the show, speaking for Priest, who doesn't seem too amused. R. Truth tries to hype the crowd, calling out Priest for a street fight, saying they can settle their issues in a match. But the match was already set before this encounter. R. Truth jokes that this is a "loser leaves the Judgement Day" match, which Priest finds hilarious in his smug ways. Either way, it's an exciting match-up, with Priest happy because he gets to beat R. Truth or get him out of the group.

R. Truth vs Jd Mcdounah's miracle of 34th street fight:

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R. Truth, despite being in his 50s and being no stranger to surgeries, is still a firecracker as this heated confrontation heats up further. Starting the match off with a rapid set of punches, R. Truth gets JD in the corner, but JD retaliates viciously, using a holiday-themed kendo stick. However, JD misses his swings, giving way for R. Truth to corner him outside. As Truth looks over at Dom for a high five, the judgmental man simply stares forward, coldly. Truth then gets thrown into the ring post.

The match between R. Truth and JD is heating up fast, as both competitors are throwing everything they have at the other. After some time to recover, R. Truth springs back to life, giving JD a devastating body splash from the corner and going under the ring for his next attack. JD is quick to counter, diving into a devastating kick that sends Truth into the barricades. Truth comes roaring back with even more force, bringing a makeshift weapon into the scene: a fire extinguisher. JD leaps into the air for an attack, but Truth quickly retaliates with the fire extinguisher, blinding his opponent.

As the battle for ring supremacy intensifies, R. Truth blinds JD with the improvised weapon: a fire extinguisher, taking the fight to new levels. Taking the chance while JD is blinded, Truth sets up a table. However, JD tries to fight back with punches, but Truth effortlessly reverses it, showcasing their great chemistry. The crowd erupts in joy as Truth channels John Cena's "you can't see me" and drops his hand over JD's head. This battle of titans continues as JD escapes the table and is thrown back into the ring, where Truth continues his relentless onslaught. This intense bout of wrestling prowess continues as the battle for ring supremacy reaches new heights. JD manages to narrowly escape being thrown through the table, but R. Truth keeps up with him, following him as he escapes to the outside. This continues on for a bit, with Truth launching a full-on Christmas tree attack at JD and throwing him back into the ring, landing him on the table. 

R. Truth takes a moment to pause and recover a bit, taking his time to climb the ring-side turnbuckle, allowing JD some time to pull a surprise attack. Now, despite Truth's comedic persona, he's always been one to play his cards right when it counts and may just be tactfully brilliant. He manages to get JD in a surprise reversal, dropping him onto the table and managing to pin him before the ref gets to the count of three. Dom and the rest of the Judgment Day are stunned at this turn of events.

Getting a brief breather after the exciting action of the last match, the promo focus shifts to Katana and Caden, the party girls that will be squaring off against Chelsea Green and Piper Neiven in a fight for the women's tag team championship. Katana asks if the crowd can "feel the storm coming?" as Caden adds "we're under our electric sky now", showcasing the girls mean business and are ready to deliver a shock to their opponents. Both the party girls and the challengers are here to bring the heat as they look to stake claim to the coveted championships.

Nia vs Becky:

As the promo for the WWE women's tag team championship comes to an end, Nia Jax's music blasts, the crowd quickly booing her entrance. Jax, however, is well used to this negative response, and it only fuels her. Before she can speak, Becky Lynch's entrance theme plays, and the crowd bursts with excitement. Becky calls out Jax, saying "if you got anything to say to me, say it to my face," referencing how Jax broke her nose and how she will be entering the Royal Rumble.

In a shocking moment of silence, the crowd goes quiet as Becky Lynch comes to the ring, hoping to have a confrontation with Nia Jax. Beck plays the voice of the people, informing Nia that no one cares about her, and that she would love to have a go with Nia. Nia, however, continues to be her usual brash self, boasting that she never fought Becky due to knowing the result all along. Becky doesn't back down from the challenge, however, and needles Nia to come into the ring. Nia finally concedes by calling for a ref, which makes the match official.Nia seems to back out of the confrontation, claiming that she'll have a match with Becky, but not tonight or even next week. Finally, she declares that she'll fight Becky one day in 2024, most likely on Day 1 in San Diego. As Nia continues to make comments regarding her daughter's accomplishments, Becky leaps into the ring to deliver a flurry of rapid punches. In response, Nia manages to turn the tables on Becky and delivers a punch into her back as she's dragged out by security. Its a devistating look to see our champion of the people on the ground as she screams in pain from the devistating surprise blow from Nia. 

Following on the heels of the Nia Jax and Becky Lynch confrontation, we shift backstage where Kofi Kingston is giving out gifts to Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. As Kofi leaves, the duo runs into THE Miz. The three eventually quell the tensions from earlier this year and become a team once more. However, Miz has an interview to do, where he's asked if he's afraid of Gunther. Miz acts brave and confidently states he'll beat the Austrian giant, and heads into the ring for his match. 

Miz vs Gunther

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The Miz has been on a crusade against Gunther, seeking to add his name to the list of iconic Intercontinental champions. Gunther has been the reigning champion for what seems like forever, and he's been nothing short of dominant. Not only does Gunther's presence inspire fear, but his moveset is unparallel. As the Miz heads into the ring with a chip on his shoulder, he knows he has a fight on his hands, as Gunther isn't one to give away the title so easily. It's time for the Miz to prove that he's not just an entertainer, but a true wrestler.

Gunther's moves are technically sound, despite his massive size, and he seems smug as he mocks The Miz. The match begins with a dragging headlock, which Gunther uses to wear down his opponent. With his face mocking, Gunther shows little respect for The Miz, and tries to put him in a leg lock. The Miz, however, dodges the first strike and retaliates with a knee strike of his own. Gunther tries to regain the upper hand but The Miz outmaneuvers him again with a deck lock that puts Gunther's weight behind his knee. The Miz is now in complete control as he mocks his opponent. As he keeps Gunther trapped in a deck lock. The Miz knows how to utilize his opponent's weight and size in his favor, and he continues to play with Gunther. As he poses like the ring general, The Miz appears to lose focus and allows Gunther to reverse the deck lock into a headlock. Gunther looks to be getting back into the match, but The Miz isn't quite done yet. He manages to reverse the headlock again and gain the advantage once more.

Gunther is finally able to break free and escapes out side of the ring. Miz follows suit. The ring general goes for a massive strike but miz dodges letting gunther strike the ring post. after some time the two go back into the ring, and gunther goes for a sleeper hold, Miz uses gunther's injury as an advantage. using it to break free. But gunther is in full force getting miz into a deadly crossface. it feels like forever, but miz is able to break free and get gunther into a DDT. as both contenders rise back to their feet, gives gunther a tilt-a-whirl ddt. getting back up quickly, Miz strikes gunther's hand now, striking it with big stomps, but the moment gunther gets up he delivers a massive missle drop kick, the moment miz gets back up, Gunther delivers a powerful power bomb. The moment Miz drops to the ground Gunther delivers a boston crab, twerking his knees and neck. But miz is able to slowly get to the ropes and safety.

after what feels like forever, Miz finally rises to his feet,  as he does the crowed chants for miz stating that hes awesome. Miz is at the moment where hes either broken or feels the crowed's energy or both as the moment Gunther delivers a massive Chop to his chest, Miz demands another one. laughing at gunther's pathetic show. but before gunther can give miz what he wants miz slaps him making gunther mad.. delivering a sleeper hold, but miz reverses into a school boy pin. after gunther breaks out Miz delivers a skull crushing finale and a second pin. but is denied. the crowed eruptes into cheers for the awesome super star, as he delivers several powerful kicks preparing him for a second skull crushing finale. but were denied an early skull crush as gunther climbs to the ropes. 

Utilizing ring psychology, Miz strikes gunther's weakened hand and climbs the ropes and delivers a powerful flying skull crushing finale. gunther and miz land onto the ground. with a thunderous sound. before miz can pin gunther he rolls away like a coward. but this was a set up, as the moment miz meets gunther he dlivers massive powerbombs, destroying miz, as he pins him down for a three count, Gunther retains his title. and per stipulation, miz can no longer challenge gunther. the crowed boos gunther on his way out, they wanted miz to win. and were denied their hero his reward. 

The commentators are shocked by the match seen, asking "how on earth is anyone going to stop the reign of Gunther?" which is pretty accurate to ask because he seems unstoppable. 

Following the match with The Miz and Gunther, we're given a peek at the next contest, as the Creed Brothers prepare to take on the Judgment Day. The Creeds have come a long way from amateur high school wrestlers to professionals in NXT and Monday Night Raw. Now, the brothers are hungry to take down the Judgment Day and claim their legacy as the top tag team in the business. They're determined to break the hold the Judgment Day has on the WWE and take things to the next level.

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but before we can get any more action, We get story tme with Shinuske Nakamura, as he reads us the "american nightmare before christmas". in his foe story time book, He gives a warning to Cody Rhodes stating that hes going to beat him down. Nakamura threatens to end cody's story. he even knocks his daughter and father and ends it stating "The nightmare is over" and that his red mist will put him on the bench permanently. during the promo, we get really great manga style pannels interplaced with footage of their prior bouts. as nakamura gives us a devilish smirk saying "he'll be cody's last fight". but as he closes his book Cody jumps nakamura from behind. pushing him out the door. and out into the arena. Cody is pissed, this has been some of nakamura's best promo work in ages, but cody doesnt have time to compliment his rival.

(side note; i wanna point out that Hulu's captions make the funniest accidents)

Following on from the previous storyline, we see that Cody has been dominating Shinsuke Nakamura, even bringing him over to the English commentators table to attempt a Cross Rhodes. Security eventually pulls Nakamura back to safety, and now, Cody is enraged. The crowd is behind Cody, chanting "Let Cody Cook" in a show of support and anticipation for the showdown. The camera closes in on an angry Cody Rhodes, ending the scene on a dramatic note before cutting to commercial.

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Following the intense confrontation between Cody Rhodes and Shinsuke Nakamura, we're now given a chance to relax and party as the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Chelsea green and Piper nevans are challenged by Katana and  Kayden. the challengers are in the ring awaiting their enemies, Chelsea Green and Piper Neven. As the bell chimes, Chelsea and Piper take control of the matchup, with Chelsea utilizing an armbar to gain the upper hand. However, as she begins to taunt the two champions, Kayden counters and manages to secure an armbar of her own. Chelsea regains her footing after a surprise counter from Kayden, following what appeared to be a quick and decisive victory for Katana and  Kayden. Chelsea proceeds to literally walk all over our challenger and continue delivering a barrage of strikes, leaving them gasping.  Kayden gets a little cocky and tries to dance a bit. Chelsea finally gets a chance to regain her strength. She uses the time to her advantage, and just as Kayden begins to deliver a missile dropkick, she manages to counter and deliver her own.

Piper Neven, a powerhouse of a woman, is able to knock out Kayden, leaving Katana weakened and vulnerable. Piper proceeds to deliver several big slams and strikes to Katana, making it seem like the two champions are now at the mercy of their opponents. However, Katana shows off her resilience and manages to surprise Piper, hitting her with a quick and dirty move that sets up for a double team maneuver with Kayden. Just as it seems like the two party girls are about to gain the upper hand, a timely intervention by Chelsea saves Piper and allows her to follow up with a flying flop.

The momentum has shifted and now Kayden is in control, delivering several solid kicks and strikes to both Piper Neven and Chelsea Green, forcing them on the defensive. Piper tries to regain control with a surprise canonball, but she narrowly misses, giving Kayden the perfect opportunity to deliver a brutal super kick. Chelsea is visibly frustrated as she is unable to pin Kayden, forcing her to try some double team moves with Piper. The first one doesn't work, but Chelsea manages to hold Kayden in place while Piper squashes her with her feet, prepping for a pin fall attempt, but kaydens partner Katana breaks it up, freeing our challengers

On the wings of momentum, Kayden and Katana are ready to deliver their signature double team move, the Keg Stand, as they make their way to the ring. With both Chelsea and Piper weakened, they take advantage and attempt a pin fall. Though the attempt is unsuccessful, they manage to turn things around and deliver a devastating tag team maneuver, netting them the three count and becoming the new tag team champions. As the party girls celebrate their victory and the crowd cheers them on, the camera pans over to Piper and Chelsea, who can't help but feel devastated by their loss.

the biggest elephant in wwe's locker room right now is C.M punk and Seth Rollins, and wwe knows this. With Royal Rumble right around the corner, WWE's editors have created a montage promo highlighting the explosive chemistry between CM Punk and Seth Rollins. The promo is designed not only to hype up the upcoming rumble, but to build further anticipation for their brewing rivalry. While the video features several clips of their epic battle at the summer slam and their heated exchanges at Raw, it's clear that the editors have done their research, adding a fitting musical backdrop and editing to make it feel truly special. It's certain to be a collision for the ages.

With a suit that outshines even the sparkle-loving Elton John, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins makes his grand entrance and receives an uproarious hero's welcome. As the crowd goes wild for the returning hero, Seth continues to bask in the glory, ignoring any mention of CM Punk. Instead, he focuses his attention on his upcoming title defense against Drew McIntyre. Before Seth can even compliment the Scottish Warrior, the bagpipes and heavy metal combine for a thunderous entrance for the latter, who steps into the ring ready to face Seth once again.

Amidst a tense moment between Seth and Drew, the charming hero seems to be thrown off by his opponent's unexpected response. Drew surprisingly expresses pride in Seth for not bowing down to CM Punk, acknowledging that the crowd is behind him and he should be proud to be on top of the world with the title and a legion of loyal fans. However, Drew doesn't stop there, as he takes a more somber turn and speaks openly about the sacrifices he has made in his life, how he has missed the chance to see his family grow older and asked himself whether it was worth it.

Drew's heart-wrenching promo about the sacrifices he has made on the road and the fact that he missed the opportunity to say goodbye to his father and grandfather as they passed away is truly captivating and feels real. However, Seth, who has witnessed Drew's heelish actions, doesn't believe these words and challenges Drew to show genuine intent by his actions. Seth proclaims his dislike for CM Punk, affirming that his words of hatred are genuine. He concludes by expressing pity for Drew as he walks away, leaving Drew to his own thoughts.

Drew demonstrates his newfound resolve as he ambushes Seth from behind, trying to catch the latter off-guard and retaliate for the harsh words Seth had shared with him. The champ is taken aback but is quick to recover, countering Drew's attempted assault and pushing him out of the ring. However, Drew manages to quickly turn the tables, slamming Seth's head into the electronic curtain of the entrance area and catapulting him into the steel stairs, leaving a significant impression on the champ.

The backstage of WWE is full of tense moments awaiting the verdict of Rhea Ripley as she addresses her faction, The Judgement Day. Priest is criticized by JD for his loss, with Dom making light of the situation. Rhea is not in the mood for jokes and is quick to reprimand Priest for his attitude. Rhea is also concerned about the implications it has for her faction and announces that her match with Ivy will be a title match, to help boost their morale. Rhea's leadership has been a driving force for the group, so her decision is paramount to their future.

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As Ivy Nile makes her entrance to the ring, accompanied by her teammates The Creed Brothers, the crowd is eager to see her dominate as usual. Despite their loss with JD, the Judgement Day still dominates as the dominant heel faction, cheered by a crowd that revels in the edgy and ruthless nature of the group. Rhea Ripley enters the ring in her usual intense and edgy manner, knocking down Christmas trees and presents with no regard for the festive atmosphere. I do want to applaud WWE and their workers for having only the judgement day even acknowledge its the Winter Holidays, despite having the festive trees and  decorations up. only two matches even referenced the items and its both been judgement day matches

When the bell rings for the match, Finn finds himself on the defensive immediately against Julian Creed. Finn tries to take control but struggles against Julian's amateur wrestling ability. Julian is able to knock Finn down and bring him to the ground but Finn uses the ropes for support. Priest then intervenes to save his Judgement Day brother but is met with a brutal arm strike from Brutus Creed. The odds seem stacked against Finn but there is still plenty of fight left in him to turn things around.

As the thrilling tag match continues, the action intensifies as brutal blows are exchanged between both sides. After a series of incredible moves, Damien Priest knocks Brutus Creed down but Brutus catches him mid-air and into a spine-shattering Supplex. Brutus and Damian tag their respective partners in, leading to a fierce back-and-forth barrage of moves. As the action continues, Damian Priest is knocked out of the ring, allowing Brutus to set the stage for a spectacular aerial tag team maneuver with Julian. However, Damien is quick to recover and delivers an impressive missile drop kick and a crippling sling blade. Despite the relentless barrage of counters, the two sides remain evenly matched in terms of power and athleticism, keeping the fans on the edge of their seats and making it hard to predict a winner. Damien Priest attempts to set up an electric chair, hoping to gain an upper hand, but Julian Creed stops him in his tracks. Brutus Creed then sets Damien up for his own Brutus bomb, which could be enough to win the match if he can successfully execute it.

As both sides fight it out, the action heats up even further as the crowd erupts in an energized chant of "HOLY SHIT." The two factions are exhausted, but they continue to give their all. Priest attempts to finish the match with a south of heaven chokeslam and manages to gain the upper hand for his faction. He pins Brute, the crowd erupts again, and the Judgement Day wins the match, earning them yet another victory. The final stretch of the match was nothing short of thrilling and had viewers' hearts pumping. The crowed is sent home both happy and sad at the same time. The heels won with an incredible thunderous applause, but the crowed is also shocked that the faces couldn't bring the titles home for Christmas. 

WWE has been on an incredible roll lately, delivering compelling storylines and talented in-ring performances. They have given fans what they want with the dominance of the heel Judgement Day faction, as well as the return of C.M. Punk and Cody Rhodes. The editing and writing has been top-notch, with the creative team showing their expertise in crafting enticing storylines. And with such a talented roster working in lockstep, it's no surprise that the company has been on fire with each and every event and match.

With that. I'd like to wish my followers a Happy Holidays