WWE Raw Report
Taped in: Des Moines, IA
Recap by: Richard Trionfo, pwinsider.com

We are in Des Moines, Iowa and your announcers are Vic Joseph, Jerry Lawler, and Samoa Joe.

Kevin Owens makes his way to the ring.

Kevin says he has a lot on his mind and he has a lot to say about a lot of people. First . . .

Mojo Rawley interrupts Kevin and makes his way to the stage. Mojo says the first thing out of your mouth better be an explanation of what you did with the steel pipe.

Kevin says he wasn’t going to talk about that at all.

Mojo says Kevin needs a reality check.

Kevin says he has at least seven problems and since you are out here already. Since you talk about how smart you are with your MBA, you can explain it. Can you do it quick since we have a No Disqualification Match.

Mojo says you have the fans twisted but not him. You are not a tough guy. Everyone is tough with a steel pipe in their hand. It will be Mojo Rawley versus Kevin Owens in a No Disqualification Match, except for you, it ain’t going to be a Merry Christmas for you. It won’t be you, your wife, and little kids huddled around the Christmas tree.

Match Number One: Kevin Owens versus Mojo Rawley in a No Disqualification Match

Owens sends Mojo to the floor and Kevin with a cannnonball off the apron. Owens sends Mojo into the ringside barrier. Kevin gets some chairs from under the ring and sends them into the ring. Kevin brings out some more chairs and a table to put into the ring. Mojo hits Kevin in the back with a chair while Owens sets up the table. Mojo sends the table to the floor. Mojo runs into an elbow but Mojo presses Owens over his head and sends him face first into the chairs on the mat. Mojo gets a near fall. Mojo with punches. Mojo drives a chair into the ribs and then Mojo sets up some chairs in the ring.

Mojo hits Kevin in the back with the chair. Mojo puts Owens on the turnbuckles and sets for a superplex through the chairs. Owens blocks the superplex and Owens pushes Mojo off the turnbuckles with an eye rake. Mojo press slams Owens onto the chairs and Mojo gets a near fall. Mojo pushes Owens but Owens with a super kick to Mojo and Owens goes up top for a Swanton and gets a near fall. Owens grabs a chair and throws it down. Owens goes to the floor and grabs the table and brings it into the ring.

Mojo gets Owens up but Owens gets back to his feet. Owens with a stunner and then hits a power bomb through the table and gets the three count.

Winner: Kevin Owens

After the match, Kevin says that Mojo put him in a fighting mood and he has a lot of fight left. Kevin says he knows the plan is to jump him in the back. The least you could do is do it in front of these people so someone can enjoy it. Kevin says he knows calling you out is a bad decision but making bad decisions is a part of his charm. Kevin says he is not leaving until you come out.

We see Seth Rollins, Akam, and Rezar in the back watching on a monitor and then they walk with mean looks on their faces as we go to commercial.

We are back and Kevin is sitting in the middle of the ring and Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring with Akam and Rezar.

Seth comes into the ring and he tries to tell Kevin not to listen to the crowd. Seth offers his hand to Kevin. Kevin thinks about it and he gives Seth a super kick. Akam and Rezar stop Kevin from using the chair and Akam and Rezar kick Owens. Seth takes over the attack and he kicks Owens. Owens with a double leg take down when Seth goes for Black OUt. Akam and Rezar with punches to Owens while Seth recovers. Seth wants to know what is Kevin’s problem and he hits Black Out on Owens.

Seth leaves the ring and Akam and Rezar follow him to the back.

Samoa Joe says what you are seeing is what need to be afraid of. Joe says he is a bad man, but those guys are thugs. Nobody is taking it seriously. You have to strike first to deal with those people. If you let these people tell the story, it is going to get real dark around here.

We go to footage of R Truth in New York City to light the Rock Tree. The invitation is in Japanese and Truth is told the tree has been lit for weeks. Truth wants to know why Rock had him come out if he was going to light his own tree.

Akira Tozawa rolls up Truth and gets the three count.

Truth says he got sabotaged.

Match Number Two: Bobby Lashley (with Lana) versus Cedric Alexander

They lock up and Lashley with a wrist lock and Alexander with a reversal into a side head lock but Lashley with a take down. Alexander with an elbow and he sends Lashley into the turnbuckles. Lashley with a punch. Alexander with a back elbow to stagger Lashley. Alexander with a handstand head scissors followed by a drop kick that sends Lashley to the floor. Alexander avoids Lashley from the apron and he hits Lashley and hits a moonsault off the apron.

Lana has a mic and she wants to woah woah things down. She gets in the ring and wants to know who the hell Cedric is. She reminds Cedric that next week is the most important date in her life as well as her hot soon to be husband’s life because they are getting married. Lana demands some respect. She does not want her fiancee bruised when they have to worry about their vows. Lana mentions they are getting married next week on Raw. Lana suggests a Greco Roman match.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Alexander with chops. Alexander with a kick that sends Lashley to the floor. Alexander with a running kick to the chest. Alexander drop kicks Lashley and Lashley sends Alexander to the apron. Lashley catches Alexander on a slingshot move and Lashley with a clothesline. Lashley with an Irish whip and shoulder tackle into the corner followed by a neck breaker for a near fall. Lashley with a reverse chin lock. Alexander with a chop but Lashley with a flatliner for a near fall.

Lashley with a slam and he goes to the turnbuckles and poses. Alexander drop kicks Lashley in the back of the legs and Lashley falls to the mat. Lashley misses a splash into the corner and Alexander with an enzuigiri and springboard clothesline. Alexander with a suicide dive onto Lashley. Alexander with a plancha onto Lashley. Alexander with Neuralizer for a near fall. Alexander with kicks to the arm and Lashley catches Alexander and hits a Dominator. Lashley sets for a spear and Alexander with a drop kick to the knees. Lashley with a choke slam and spear for the three count.

Winner: Bobby Lashley

Seth Rollins is stopped by Charly Caruso and she asks what is he trying to achieve with his acts of brutality. Seth says he was extending an olive branch to Kevin and Kevin kicked him in the face. Why not ask Kevin why is he trying to pick a fight with them every week. Seth walks away and we go to commercial.

We are back and Tozawa is walking through New York with his title and he takes a seat but we see a statute of R Truth and a referee behind Tozawa. In the most convenient moment, Truth has Tozawa bump into someone at a food truck. Tozawa tells him that it was Truth’s fault and he runs away.

Match Number Three: Zack Ryder (with Curt Hawkins) versus Drew McIntyre

They lock up and Drew pushes Zack. Zack pushes back and then they exchange punches. Drew with kicks. Zack sends Drew to the floor and Ryder wtih a drop kick through the ropes but Drew with a clothesline. Drew runs Zack into the apron and ringside barrier. Drew with an overhead belly-to-belly throw. Ryder with a jaw breaker and kick followed by forearms. Drew with a forearm and Ryder goes down. Drew with an Irish whip and Ryder with knees but he goes for a missile drop kick and Drew with a spinebuster. Drew sets for the Claymore and hits it for the three count.

Winner: Drew McIntyre

After the match, Drew sends Hawkins to the floor and Drew hits Future Shock on Ryder. Hawkins with punches to Drew but Drew with a Claymore.

Drew takes the mic and he says that was fun. He says he is having fun. He asks Zack and Curt if they are having fun. You can’t answer right now, but he will speak on their behalf. Drew, we are having fun and you are a big inspiration to us. You are as wise as you are jacked. You are an incredible wrestler because you decimated both of us.

You just saw his definition of fun. Drew says he won’t give you the tired cliche of being the future. The year 2020 belongs to Drew McIntyre.

Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring.

Becky says she has had some things on her mind. Becky says that since The Man was born, she has done better taking matters into her own hands. She says she has become the face of this company. This company is trying to save and protect her. Becky says she doesn’t give a damn what this company wants. She has stayed quiet for too long. The Man versus Asuka needs to happen next. She says she is not taking no for an answer. Becky says she is williing to go to some deep, dark places to remember who she is. Becky tells Asuka that she is the one woman to beat The Man fair and square. The Man has come around to collect on one last debt. What do you say Asuka?

Asuka’s music plays.

Asuka and Kairi Sane make their way to the stage. Asuka asks Becky if she remembers TLC and she says they are the champions. Asuka says Asuka Two Belts.

Becky says if it will take putting the title on the line is necessary, she will do it. Becky says something to Asuka in Japanese.

We are back and next week, Aleister Black faces Buddy Murphy.

Match Number Four: Aleister Black versus Deonn Rusman

Black with a leg sweep and jumping knee. Black with Black Mass for the three count.

Winner: Aleister Black

After the match, Black goes up the ramp and Buddy Murphy comes out and walks past Black.

Match Number Five: Buddy Murphy versus Joeasa

Murphy with a jumping knee after shaing Joeasa’s hand. Buddy lifts Joeasa up and hits Murphy’s Law for the three count.

Winner: Buddy Murphy

After the match, Black returns to the ring and he gets in Buddy’s face. Black offers his hand and Buddy refuses and walks past Black. Buddy turns around and Black with Black Mass.

Charly Caruso is in the back with Rey Mysterio. Rey is asked about his match with Seth Rollins. Rey says he has been looking forward to facing Seth for a long time. Seth is one of the best and he wants to defend the title against the best. To have this match be their first match, it will always have an asterisk. It will be Rey versus Seth Rollins and AOP. They are running around like this is their playground. They can do what they want when they want. They made a mistake not finishing him off last week. He will walk out of that ring as the United States Champion.

We go to commercial.

Match Number Six: Tony Nese versus Ricochet

Ricochet with a rollup for a near fall. Ricochet with a side head lock and he flips out of the corner and so does Nese. Nese with a Matrix but Ricochet blocks a kick. Ricochet with a chop. Ricochet flips over Nese and hits a handstand head scissors followed by a drop kick for a near fall. Nese goes over the top rope and drops Ricochet on top. Nese with a double jump moonsault for a near fall. Nese with forearms and a body scissors. Ricochet with a head scissors take down and shoulder into the corner. Ricochet with a kick to the head and he sets for a springboard move but Nese with a rolling palm strike. Nese sets for a Running Nese but Ricochet with a super kick and Recoil for the three count.

Winner: Ricochet

We see Akira Tozawa running on the streets of New York and he hides in a Christmas tree display. Truth is with the referee and Tozawa runs away from Truth and they continue on the streets of New York.

We have a video package for Charlotte Flair’s opponent, Chelsea Green.

Match Number Seven: Charlotte Flair versus Chelsea Green

They lock up and Flair backs Green into the corner. Charlotte with a clean break but Green does not back away from Charlotte. They lock up again. They lock up and Flair with a wrist lock. Green gets to the ropes and Charlotte is told to release the hold. Green pushes Charlotte and Charlotte slaps Green. Charlotte with kicks in the corner. The referee pulls Charlotte out of the corner. Green with a kick to the knee and she sends Charlotte into the turnbuckles and then Green drives Charlotte’s face into the turnbuckles for a near fall. Green with a drop kick and she chokes Flair in the ropes.

Green with a reverse chin lock. Flair tries to get to her feet but Green brings Charlotte back to the mat in the side head lock. Charlotte with punches to the ribs to escape and she punches and chops Chelsea. Charlotte goes for a fallaway slam but Green lands on her feet to escape. Green with an elbow but Charlotte gets a boot. Charlotte with a bridging figure four and Green taps out.

Winner: Charlotte Flair.

We see Tozawa and Truth in front of Santa Claus and he does not want any fighting. They fight bump and Santa tells Truth his gift is in the sleigh. Santa hits Tozawa with his sack and Santa rolls up Tozawa for the three count.

Truth shows up and he realizes that Santa is gone. Truth tells Tozawa they have to get Santa.

We go to commercial.

We are back with Liv Morgan. She says when you seek affirmation from someone else, you give them all the power. Liv says she was young and impressionable. So typical. It is up to her to decide who she is. She says she is anything but typical.

Match Number Eight: Randy Orton, Erik and Ivar versus AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson

Ivar and Anderson start things off and Anderson with a side head lock. Ivar tosses Anderson aside. Anderson with a side head lock and Ivar gets Anderson on his shoulders but Anderson gets to his feet. Ivar with a shoulder tackle. Erik tags in and Erik with a double leg take down into a waist lock take down. Erik sends Anderson into the corner and Ivar tags in. Ivar with a knee to the midsection and Erik with a knee to the jaw for a near fall. Ivar with a forearm and Anderson with a knee. Ivar with a slam and he tags Erik in and Erik slams Ivar onto Anderson and Erik gets a near fall.

Erik with an arm bar. Anderson with a knee and elbow. Anderson with a double thrust to the throat and Gallows tags in. Gallows with a punch and Anderson with a back breaker. Gallows with a kick and baseball slide to send Erik to the floor. Styles with a kick to the midsection while the referee is not looking. Gallow wit punches to Erik in the corner. Styles tags in and kicks Erik in the corner. Styles chops Erik in the corner. Styles with a snap mare and leaping knee drop for a near fall.

Anderson tags in and he gives Erik a snap mare and applies a side head lock. Erik with an elbow to escape the hold but Anderson with a spinebuster for a near fall. Erik sends Anderson to the floor but Styles with a Pele Kick and both men are down. Gallows and Orton tag in and Orton with punches. Orton with a thumb to the eye and he sets for the IEDDT but Gallows gets into the ring and he sends Orton over the top rope to the floor. Orton lands awkwardly on the leg and his knee gives out.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Gallows with kicks to the hamstring. Gallows punches Orton and then applies a side head lock. AJ tags in and kicks Orton in the back of the leg. AJ kicks Orton in the back of the leg and in the head. Orton blocks a suplex and Orton hits a suplex of his own. Anderson and Erik tag in and Erik with forearms to Anderson and one to Gallows. Erik with a T-Bone suplex and a second one. Ivar tags in and he hits a shoulder tackle on Gallows followed by a side slam and splash. Erik tags in. Erik runs Styles into the corner and Erik runs Ivar into Styles in the corner. Erik and Ivar with Viking Experience to Anderson but Gallows breaks up the cover. Ivar with a cartwheel and clotheline to Gallows. Styles with a Pele Kick to Ivar and a Pele Kick to Erik. Orton makes the blind tag before Styles hits a drop kick. Styles avoids an RKO but Orton goes for the IEDDT. Orton with an RKO to Anderson. Gallows stops Orton from hitting an RKO. Styles with a Phenomenal Forearm to Orton for the three count.

Winners: AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson

We go to commercial.

We are back and Santa continues to run through New York. He gets on a horse drawn carriage and Truth, Tozawa, and a referee get in another carriage. The race is on. Santa gets out of the carriage and Tozawa and the ref chase after Santa. Truth tells the horses ‘bad reindeer’.

Erick Rowan tells his friend he brought him a gift and he says he will have him fed momentarily.

The Street Profits are in the back and Montez says they are a week away from the wedding ceremony and he still hasn’t gotten his invitation. Angelo says he doesn’t want to go to the wedding, but he wants to go to the Bachelor Party. Montez talks about Erick Rowan’s friend and whether they should look to see what is in there. Angelo says it can be anything. It could be a squirrel, a rabbit, or a komodo dragon ready to spit fire. Montez tells Angelo that komodo dragons are different than Game of Thrones dragons.

Match Number Nine: Erick Rowan versus Travis Horn

Travis pulls a candy cane out of his tights and he gives it to Rowan. Travis goes to the floor and he has more candy canes in his tights. Travis says they are for Erick’s friend. Erick stops Travis and knocks him down. Rowan sends Travis into the led board on the apron. Erick exposes the edge of the apron and drops Travis on the edge of the apron. Rowan with a running cross body. Erick with a claw slam Rowan with a second claw slam for the three count.

Winner: Erick Rowan

We go back to New York and Santa’s cardio is getting worse. Truth and Tozawa catch up to him and Truth gets the three count to become the new 48/7/24/7-11 champion.

The referee yells at Truth and Tozawa and says it is too cold so he is going home. Santa tells Truth he is getting coal for Christmas. Truth says he does not want any Michael Cole. Truth and Tozawa decide to have a truce.

Rusev is in the ring and he says he cannot believe it was snowing on the ramp and he says he has some mixed emotions. Was he screwed over at TLC? Yes he was. Is he upset about it? Yes he is. Is he going to do anything about it? You are damn sure he will. Is he upset that Lana is getting married to her hot hot boyfriend Bobby Lashley on Raw? He is not upset because it will be the greatest day of his life. The biggest punishment he could give Bob is to let him marry Lana. Rusev says he is not going to be alone.

Match Number Ten: Rusev versus No Way Jose

They lock up and Rusev misses a punhc. Jose does some dancing. Jose with a punch and Rusev with a Machka Kick for the three count.

Winner: Rusev

After the match, Rusev helps up Jose. Rusev does a spinaroonie and leaves the ring. The conga line moves over to celebrate with Rusev.

Seth Rollins is in the back and Charly asks Seth about his match with Rey and what it means to him. Seth says he is going to beat Rey Mysterio and he is going to win the United States Title. Then we are going to establish dominance.

Seth walks in the back and he is joined by Akam and Rezar.

Rey walks in another hallway.

We go to commercial.

Match Number Eleven: Seth Rollins (with Akam and Rezar) versus Rey Mysterio for the United States Championship

Rey with punches but Rollins with a kick to the knee and more kicks in the corner. Rollins runs into a boot from Rey and Rollins with slingblade for a near fall. Rollins with a rollup for a near fall. Rey escapes a suplex attempt but Rollins with a forearm. Rollins kicks Rey in the back. Rollins sends Rey into the turnbuckles and punches him. Rey with a victory roll for a near fall. Rey with a head scissors take down. Rey with a kick and he is sent to the apron. Rey sends Rollins into the ropes but Rollins ducks the 619. Rollins sends Rey shoulder first into the ring post.

Rollins sends Rey under the bottom rope to the floor and we go to commercial.

We are back and Seth with a top wrist lock. Rollins with a double sledge and he sends Rey shoulder first into the turnbuckles. Seth gets a near fall. Rey sends Rollins to the floor. Rey with a sliding sunset flip power bomb into the ringside barrier. Rey sends Seth back into teh ring and Rey with a springboard seated splash and he goes for a quebrada but Seth catches Rey. Rey counters with a satellite DDT for a near fall. Rey with a springboard cross body but Seth catches Rey and hits a buckle bomb followed by a super kick for a near fall. Rollins sets for Black Out and Rey moves. Rey sends Rollins into the ropes with a rana and hits a 619. Rey goes up top for a frog splash and Akam and Rezar attack Rey.

The referee calls for the bell.

Winner: Rey Mysterio (by Disqualification) [retains chamiponship]

Akam sends Rey into the LED board on the apron and then they drop Rey on the ringside barrier. Akam and Rezar drag Rey up the ramp with Seth following behind. Vic and Jerry get up but Joe is not moving. They adjust the announce table and Joe says he does not move for anyone. Rey is sent into the trees.

Joe says if he gets up, it is not to move, it is both your asses.

Joe gets up and he is ready for a fight. Seth tells Akam and Rezar to back off and Joe is ready for a fight. Seth tries to calm things down. Seth tells Joe he can do his job while they do their job. Seth turns around and he tells Akam and Rezar to finish him. Joe fights off Akam and Rezar for a moment but the numbers are too much for Joe. Akam with knees while Rezar holds Joe. Rollins with Black Out to Rey on the stage. Akam and Rezar pick up Joe and hit a double spinebuster through the table.

We go to credits.