5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE Raw (30 Dec - Results & Review)
Women's IC tourney closes strong, Rollins and Punk go full insider, New Day booed mercilessly.
And that’s a wrap for WWE Raw on cable television.
Next week’s program undoubtedly will look different, whether that’s simply new visuals or a new format. But for this week, WWE went out with a hot audience that elevated an above-average December episode.
Raw Monday night was powered by the strength of its two Women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament semifinal matches and a main event promo battle between CM Punk and Seth Rollins ahead of their much-anticipated match next week. There were plenty of things to enjoy about Monday’s program, which zipped by, but it also had a few things dragging it down.
Punk and Rollins had a heated exchange that kept the temperature up on their rivalry, but it also was chock-full of insider references that can be a turnoff to a lot of fans. While once upon a time that sort of thing was fun and shocking, in 2024 it feels like a try-hard. Still, their feud is ripe for a hot one-on-one bout next week.
The two women’s matches pitting Dakota Kai against Zoey Stark and Iyo Sky versus Lyra Valkyria were the high points of the night in the ring, with Iyo and Lyra being a fantastic exchange that deserves a rewatch. If WWE is doing New Year’s resolutions, they should commit to more women’s matches like that in 2025.
Less Finn Balor/Damian Priest, R-Truth/Pete Dunne, and American Made/Alpha Academy. Leave all of them in 2024.
Let’s get to it…