WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Jan. 6, 2025) from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, featuring all the latest build to the upcoming Royal Rumble premium live event scheduled for early next month in Indianapolis.
Advertised for tonight: It’s the big debut on Netflix with a loaded up lineup.
The Rock will make his return, John Cena is back to officially kick off his retirement tour, CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins will finally happen, Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa in Tribal Combat to determine the one true Tribal Chief, Liv Morgan defends the women’s world championship against Rhea Ripley, Logan Paul returns, and a whole lot more!
Come right back here at 8 pm ET when the Raw live blog will kick off once the show starts on USA Network. It will be below this line here. Because this is a WrestleMania-adjacent show, we’re treating it like a premium live event and giving it its own open thread. You can find that here.
WWE RAW RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR JAN. 6
Torn outta passion with a passion to survive, can’t stop believing, it’s staying alive. Gloss on the lipstick shining like a fire while I liveblog this pro wrestling show for you, folks.
The show opens with a flying pan over the red carpet while commentary welcomes us to the show.
The usual montage of talent arriving at the arena follows.
A Triple H voiceover plays over a video on the… video cube? that’s hanging in the middle of the arena. Hunter purports to tell us the story of professional wrestling itself, from the fairground to the television screen and beyond. Slowly throughout we realize that it keeps cutting back to someone painting a portrait of noted racist Hulk Hogan.
HHH starts getting inside baseball, talking about heels and faces and shoots and works and I hate it? I hate it.
The video ends and Triple H is in the ring as the lights come up. He talks about the crowd and and how many people are watching and that they should tell everyone that this is WWE and they are louder than anything you’ve ever seen before. He already knows the answer but he’s gonna ask anyway— Are you ready?
He welcomes us to the Netflix era of Monday Night Raw and a bunch of pyro goes off.
Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson makes his entrance, his custom title belt slung over his shoulder.
He takes his sweet time getting in the ring and on the mic, like I don’t have things I could be doing after this show is over.
He says years ago, when he was a little pebble traveling the highways with his dad, “Soul Man” Rocky Johnson, the only way to watch WWE was to buy a ticket or watch on Saturday morning, but now is a totally different story because you’re watching it on Netflix. He says this is a new arena gate record for WWE and that means finally, WWE has come back to Netflix?
That seems wrong, Rock.
He admits as much, saying he knows we’re waiting for the real one, and he gives us a “finally, the Rock has come back to Los Angeles.” He has acknowledgements for us, and says you need a partner that loves WWE and loves pro wrestling and that partner is Netflix. He shouts out some executives and threatens them with going Squid Game all over their candy asses if the feed is broken.
He talks about a man who’s spilled blood with him all over this country and he’s ready to do it again, this man has carried the company on his back for a year, doing an amazing job, and he thanks Cody Rhodes, who is out in the crowd. He tells Cody to say hi to Mama Rhodes for him.
Lastly, he acknowledges his cousin Roman Reigns, who is the Tribal Chief, the Original Tribal Chief, and he talks about Tribal Combat and says he’s gonna be watching. He’s a proud High Chief of Samoa and he carries that title with pride, respect, and mana warrior spirit. He loves Los Angeles and Netflix and wants to get the show on the road, so he drops the “If you smell…” and gets out.
We get entrances for Tribal Combat and we go to break.
Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa (Tribal Combat)
Circling, collar and elbow, struggling around the ring, Reigns slings him hard out of the ring! Back to the lockup on the floor, struggling back and forth, Sikoa rams Roman’s head into the post! Bouncing Reigns’ face off the announce desk, back inside and Roman fires back, corner lariats!
Elbow gets a boot, Solo sent to the floor, Roman follows after and eats a Spinning Solo into but not through the announce desk! Sikoa grabs a monitor and smacks Reigns in the head with it! Solo with the steel steps, hitting Roman in the head and taking a seat while he writhes in agony and we go to break!
Back from commercial, Sikoa walloping Reigns with a steel chair, horsecollaring him with it, looking for the Ode to Rikishi… ROMAN GETS UP AND SIDESTEPS! Fighting back, Solo with a low blow, Spinning Solo into a chair… REIGNS KICKS OUT! Sikoa out to the floor for plunder, Roman cuts him off with a dropkick and shoves a table into the ring!
Table set up, Solo returns to the fray with a kendo stick in hand and lights the OTC up! Choking Roman in the corner, Sikoa says he did everything he could to show Reigns that he loves him but it was never good enough! Roman gets under him… POWERBOMB THROUGH THE TABLE BUT TAMA TONGA PULLS REFEREE CHAD PATTON OUT OF THE RING TO STOP THE COUNT!
“Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu is in the ring and he clobbers Roman and follows with the moonsault! Sikoa with the Samoan Spike… BUT ROMAN REIGNS KICKS OUT! Sikoa hits Patton with a Samoan Spike and kicks him out of the ring! Fatu and Tonga hold Roman up… BUT SAMI ZAYN AND “BIG” JIM USO MAKE THE SAVE!
They fend Tama and Jacob off, superkick to Solo, Helluva Kick, Zayn throws Solo into Roman’s path… BUT THERE’S NO REFEREE! Referee Shawn Bennett rushes to the ring… TOO LATE! Tonga and Fatu return to take Sami and Jim out, Roman is lining him up… KEVIN OWENS IS HERE AND HE HITS A STUNNER ON ROMAN BUT REIGNS KICKS OUT!
Shoving Bennett aside, KO with mounted punches, underhooks— CODY RHODES IS HERE TO MAKE THE SAVE! Brawling with Owens, off the ropes, Cody Cutter connects and they brawl out into the crowd! Back and forth, Solo goes for the Samoan Spike but Reigns ducks and hits the spear! Calling for it…
Roman Reigns wins by pinfall with the spear, becoming the undisputed Tribal Chief of all the Bloodline.
Paul Heyman brings him the garland of the Tribal Chief, tears in his eyes, on his knees. As Roman readies himself to accept, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson makes his way down the aisle.
He gets in the ring and takes the garland from Heyman and squares up with his cousin, placing the garland around his neck and acknowledging him as Tribal Chief. They shake hands and embrace, Rock kissing his cheek.
Roman takes a moment to look skyward, clearly considering his father and his uncle who first presented him with the garland, before turning to take in the crowd. Paul throws his one up and Reigns joins him.
We see CM Punk warming up backstage and we go to break.
Back from commercial we get another Penta el Zero M teaser.
A hype reel for the 2026 Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia follows, because we live in the worst timeline.
We see various people in the crowd, including Gabriel Igesias, Ashton Kutcher, Michael Che, and Wale.
Various superstars are here in the crowd as well, LA Knight, Rey Mysterio, War Raiders and so on.
John Cena makes his entrance to kick off his retirement tour.
He gets on the mic and says everybody talks about it but you can’t understand it until you’re in the middle of it. He says LA shows up and notes this is the first time Raw has actually been broadcast simultaneously throughout the world. “Thank you, Cena!” chants go up and he acknowledges them before continuing.
He says he’s learned we’re very smart and the audience is even larger and now their electricity is felt all around the world. He thanks Netflix for allowing the world to finally see the experience of Monday Night Raw. He talks about this being his last time in this ring in full jorts and about his history getting started on the indies here in Southern California as the Prototype.
He talks about winning his first world title here and for one last time in the city where dreams are made, he humbly stands before us to say “thank you.” He says it’s about making moments and there’s lots of noise in here and lots of noise outside, experts guessing who he’s gonna fight at WrestleMania and who will be his last match in December.
Names like Drew McIntyre, CM Punk, Logan Paul, GUNTHER, and Cody Rhodes, and when does he win his 17th world title? He’s gotta be honest, he doesn’t see that title happening, and it’s okay. And it’s okay because of the streak, and he means his losing streak. It’s been 2446 days since he won a match.
He’s at peace with it and that’s why he’s doing this— his time is up, their time is now. Don’t get him wrong, we’re gonna have some fun, it’s gonna be a great year, but as far as a 17th world championship goes, it’s never gonna happen. Hold on, wait, he forgot where he was, this is WWE, never say never.
So move never away, he’s gonna say it would take a miracle. He’s got a better chance of winning an Oscar and well… we know. He can’t just waltz into the main event, he’s gotta win Money in the Bank or Elimination Chamber or hell, the Royal Rumble! He does some quick finger math in the air and decides maybe he can win the Royal Rumble!
It’s a longshot and you can’t win the lottery if you don’t play, and he should be in the Royal Rumble! It’s his last one, after all, and the best way to say “thank you” is to win the deal and make history at WrestleMania! It sounds impossible, but if you know anything about him, nothing is impossible, and the only time we say “never” around here is when we say “never give up.”
He’s not just going to the Royal Rumble, he’s going to WIN the Royal Rumble!
We get a Logan Paul hype reel and see Logan Paul in the crowd running his mouth about how it’s his time.
Judgment Day make their entrance and we go to break.
Back from commercial we see Seth Green, Macaulay Culkin, O’Shea Jackson, Jr, and Danielle Fishel in the front row.
Superstars shown include Bianca Belair, Naomi, Sean “X-Pac” Waltman, and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley (WWE Women’s World Championship)
Trading punches hard out the gates, Ripley with a knee lift and a chokebomb! Morgan to the floor, Rhea with a cannonball to wipe Raquel Rodriguez out, Dominik Mysterio runs interference and Liv knocks her to the floor! Diving Frankensteiner countered… POWERBOMB INTO THE ANNOUNCE TABLE TO SEND US TO BREAK!
Back from commercial, Morgan stomping a proverbial mudhole in the corner but Ripley pulls her face-first into the turnbuckles! Diving X-Factor, cover for two! Smashing Rhea’s face into the mat, trying to kickstart her face, big slaps, Ripley powers up and drops her with a couple lariats and a running knee!
Double pumphandle vertical suplex connects! Victory roll countered into a half nelson suplex, lungblower from the champion sets up a tornado DDT… NOPE! Back and forth, slide under for a pumphandle, Riptide… LIV MORGAN KICKS OUT! A chair in the ring, Dominik keeps referee Aja Perera distracted, Oblivion onto the chair… RHEA RIPLEY KICKS OUT!
Liv with the Three Amigos, up top, a lil shimmy, frog splash… SO CLOSE! Looking for Oblivion again, Rhea hosses her out of the ropes, Riptide connects, she grabs her again…
Rhea Ripley wins by pinfall with Riptide, becoming your new WWE Women’s World Champion.
Post-match, Dominik slides into the ring, arms wide for a hug. She looks at the title and kisses it before setting it down. She opens her arms… AND KICKS HIM RIGHT IN THE GENTLEMAN’S AREA! RIPTIDE WIPES DOM OUT!
Rhea celebrates on the stage—
(DONG.)
Undertaker drives out on his motorcycle as the American Badass, down the ramp and to the ring and right back up the ramp, where he fistbumps Rhea and shares a moment with her, fists up, and a high five before he drives off.
We pan around the party skybox where New Day are most definitely being sour. (But Kofi’s wearing a sweet leopard print coat.)
Adam Pearce is backstage chatting with Bayley.
He is interviewed, but before he can get a word out, Chad Gable rolls up with American Made and talks himself up as singlehandedly destroying Otis and Alpha Academy. He pledges to win a singles title and dispel any rumors that he has trouble with luchadors, so he wants Adam to get him the best luchador he can for next week.
Pearce asks if he’s sure, he says he’s never been more sure of anything in his life, and Adam excuses himself to go make a phone call.
We see “Main Event” Jey Uso and Drew McIntyre walking separately backstage and we go to break.
Back from commercial we get an Instagram video of the Rock leaving the arena, shaking Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns’ hands but cold shouldering Triple H after an embrace. The video cuts to the loading dock where he embraces Cody Rhodes and starts to drive off before saying he’ll see us tomorrow night at NXT.
Another round of celebrities in the front row, Bill Simmons and some Netflix fat cats who don’t get a chyron, as well as Vanessa Hudgens wearing a “hot girls love pro wrestling” shirt and well she ain’t wrong.
Michelle McCool, Damage CTRL, and Lyra Valkyria make up our contingent of superstars shown in the crowd this time.
Travis Scott, WWE Hardcore Champion and author of the new Raw theme, is shown in the stands, smoking a cigarette like a real cool dude. (Dear folks that are prone to get upset at me for being a woman with an opinion, I actually am fairly neutral on smoking despite the health risks. I might have taken it up late in life if I wasn’t critically aware that nicotine depresses your body’s estradiol uptake.)
Anyway, he’s accompanying Jey Uso for his entrance and we go to break again.
Drew McIntyre vs. “Main Event” Jey Uso
Uso attacks McIntyre in the aisle before the bell, Drew shrugs him off after a bit and starts laying chops of his own in! Throwing him into the ring, referee Eddie Orengo checks him and we get a bell!
Back elbow from Jey sets up an enzuigiri, whip reversed, up and over countered with a kick to the midsection! Fighting in the corner, big powerbomb, both men down! Back on their feet and trading punches, Drew blocks a kick but eats an enzuigiri! Diving crossbody, cover for two!
McIntyre with a neckbreaker, kip-up, Uso goes up top for a dive but Drew gets the feet up! Spinebuster into a jackknife pin, cover for two! Liger Bomb… NOPE! Back and forth, Future Shock… JEY KICKS OUT! Waiting for the Claymore but Uso pops up with a spear… STILL NO!
Off the ropes, McIntyre has him… JEY USO KICKS OUT OF THE CLAYMORE! Mounted punches, Drew’s frustrated, punches in the corner, a headbutt, laying in wait but Uso collapses in the middle of the ring! Drew closes the distance but it was a ruse!
Jey Uso wins by pinfall with an inside cradle.
A GUNTHER hype reel follows.
Gabriel Iglesias is interviewed backstage.
Before he can say much, New Day roll up to complain about not getting a chance to explain what happened between them and Big E and it should be them getting interviewed, not this fluffy buffoon. Gabriel says he liked them better when they had cereal, the interviewer says they’re out of time, and Alpha Academy roll up to chat but Iglesias goes off to take his seats and does a “New Day sucks!” chant on his way out.
Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman are walking backstage and Heyman asks for a date, and Roman offers up January 27th as they go into a WWE 2K25 room.
We see Seth Rollins backstage and we go to break.
Back from commercial we get another round of front row celebrities including Stephen Amell.
Wrestler-wise we see Bron Breakker, Tiffany Stratton, and Nikki Bella.
Noted racist Hulk Hogan makes his entrance, with Jimmy Hart waving the American flag in front of him, because this is the worst timeline.
He can barely move and he stops on the stage to get on the mic. He says the greatest part of his life has been being in the great WWE. He’s had all kinds of tag team partners over the years, but the fans have been his greatest partner, because they stuck with him through thick and thin.
But he’s got a new partner now in Hulk Hogan’s Real American Bear. He talks about partnering with “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Andre the Giant and says the greatest partner WWE has ever had is Netflix. He tears his beer shirt off to reveal a Netflix shirt and says the catchphrase.
Commentary hypes up next week’s show.
Stephanie McMahon is shown in the crowd.
Seth Rollins makes his entrance to send us to break.
CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins
Punk in with right hands, Rollins gets him in the ropes, pummeling him, CM turns him around, clothesline sends him to the floor, plancha but nobody’s home! Seth dives on him, clearing the announce desk, yelling at referee Rod Zapata to let it ride! Body blows, whip into the barricade, Punk back body drops him into the crowd!
CM up top, diving crossbody into the crowd! Zapata trying frantically to restore order, back to ringside, Seth dives and Punk cuts him off with a right hand to the breadbasket! Back inside, Rollins cuts him off with rabbit punches, Punk cuts him off with a kick and gourdbusters him into the ropes! Pulling Seth up top… AVALANCHE SWINGING NECKBREAKER AND WE GO TO BREAK!
Back from commerical, Rollins has Punk in the corner, paintbrushing him, jawing at him, across, CM cuts him off with the rising knee! Opposite corner, another knee, bulldog countered but Punk lands a couple lariats and a swinging neckbreaker! Diving crossbody, Seth rolls through, deadlifts him up, fireman’s carry… GO TO SLEEP SENDS CM PUNK ROLLING TO THE FLOOR!
Rollins with disdainful kicks, talking about how he built all of this and the people sing his song before rolling Punk inside… CM PUNK HITS BLACKOUT AND SETH BARELY KICKS OUT! Punk looking for the Go to Sleep, Rollins blocks and hits another one of his own, cover… SO CLOSE! Seth takes him back to the floor and bounces him off the announce desk!
Seth with a Pedigree on the desk and another one inside, but Punk won’t stay down! On their knees and trading slaps, trading punches, to their feet, chops, neckbreaker countered with the Albeto Del Rio Memorial Flash Roundhouse Kick! Rollins comes back at him with the Buckle Bomb, Blackout… CM PUNK GETS A FOOT ON THE ROPES!
Rollins puts him up top and climbs to join him, CM knocks him down with a right hand! Seth starting to groan, furious, losing his mind, he charges up the ropes, superplex, roll through, Punk counters… GO TO SLEEP! Rollins bounces off the ropes and back into another fireman’s carry, CM gets him up… GO TO SLEEP! IT’S OVER!
CM Punk wins by pinfall with Go to Sleep.
Punk gets his hand raised.
That’s the show, folks.
