From Drew McIntyre’s personal vendetta against Sami Zayn to IYO SKY’s high-flying victory in the Women’s Intercontinental Title Tournament, the special holiday edition of WWE Monday Night Raw delivered a night of intense action, emotional confrontations, and shocking twists.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of everything that went down on WWE Raw.
McIntyre and Zayn Engage in a Heated War of Words
The night kicked off with Sami Zayn confronting an irate Drew McIntyre in the ring. McIntyre, still seething from recent events, explained his animosity toward Zayn, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso. The Scottish Warrior revealed a deeply personal reason for his anger, sharing that he lost a close family member after Hell in a Cell and felt abandoned by his peers. According to McIntyre, only one wrestler checked on him during that difficult time.
Zayn, however, was not sympathetic. He countered McIntyre’s claims, stating that everyone in WWE faces struggles and that blaming others for personal pain is not the answer. Zayn also criticized McIntyre for turning on the fans, reminding him that they were the ones who “made” him. The exchange escalated, with Zayn challenging McIntyre to a match later in the night. McIntyre, while calling out CM Punk and Roman Reigns as the “real villains of WWE,” warned Zayn not to fight him, but Zayn refused to back down. A brawl ensued, with Jey Uso rushing to Zayn’s aid and forcing McIntyre to retreat.
IYO SKY Advances in the Women’s Intercontinental Title Tournament
The first match of the night saw IYO SKY, Natalya, and Alba Fyre face off in a Triple Threat First-Round Match of the Women’s Intercontinental Title Tournament. The action was fast-paced and hard-hitting, with Natalya nearly securing victory with a double Sharpshooter on her opponents. However, SKY and Fyre managed to escape the hold.
In the final moments, Natalya delivered a German suplex to Fyre from the top turnbuckle, but the move left her vulnerable. SKY capitalized, hitting her signature Over the Moonsault on Natalya to secure the win and advance to the next round of the tournament.
Tensions Rise Between Gable and Otis
Chad Gable showcased his technical prowess in a dominant victory over Akira Tozawa. After delivering a series of German suplexes, Gable hit a powerbomb and forced Tozawa to tap out to the Ankle Lock. However, Gable refused to release the hold after the bell, prompting Otis to storm the ring to defend Tozawa.
Otis appeared ready to fight Gable, but the leader of American Made avoided the confrontation by hiding behind The Creed Brothers and retreating. The tension between Gable and Otis continues to build, setting the stage for a potential showdown.
Damian Priest Beats “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio by DQ
Damian Priest faced off against “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio in a match that quickly descended into chaos. During the bout, Priest discovered JD McDonagh disguised as Santa Claus in the crowd and Carlito hiding under the ring. Priest neutralized both threats, but the interference allowed Finn Bálor to attack Priest, resulting in a disqualification.
The post-match assault on Priest was interrupted by The War Raiders, who evened the odds. Together with the new World Tag Team Champions, Priest fought off The Judgment Day, leaving his former group reeling.
Seth Rollins Promises a Fight on Netflix Debut
In an exclusive sit-down interview with Jackie Redmond, Seth “Freakin” Rollins addressed his upcoming match against CM Punk at the Raw on Netflix premiere. Rollins promised to bring the fight to Punk, vowing to settle their differences in the ring. The interview added further anticipation to one of the most highly anticipated matches in recent memory.
Dexter Lumis vs The Miz Ends in Chaos
Dexter Lumis squared off against The Miz in a match that was interrupted by the arrival of Authors of Pain at ringside. As Lumis climbed to the top rope, he leaped out to take down the imposing duo. Moments later, Karrion Kross attacked Lumis, causing a disqualification.
The chaos didn’t end there. The Final Testament and The Miz appeared to have the upper hand, but The Wyatt Sicks surrounded the ring, leading to a massive brawl. Erick Rowan delivered a shocking moment by picking up Nikki Cross and launching her at The Miz and The Final Testament at ringside, leaving the crowd stunned.
Kofi’s Own Mother Rejects Him Amid Loud Boos for The New Day
The New Day’s actions against Big E continued to draw the ire of the WWE Universe. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods interrupted the commentators to address the backlash but were met with deafening boos. In a shocking moment, Kofi’s own mother, who was seated at ringside, rejected her son and walked out.
Backstage, Rey Mysterio attempted to mediate and urged Kofi and Woods to apologize for their actions, but the duo refused, further cementing their heel turn.
Drew McIntyre Defeats Sami Zayn, The Bloodline Strikes
The main event of the night saw Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn clash in a hard-fought battle. Zayn appeared to gain the upper hand in the closing moments, but his injured back gave out, allowing McIntyre to hit the Claymore Kick for the victory.
After the match, McIntyre attempted a post-match assault on Zayn, but Jey Uso rushed to the ring to make the save. However, The Bloodline ambushed both Uso and Zayn, delivering a brutal beatdown to close the show. The shocking attack left the WWE Universe wondering what’s next for Zayn and Uso as they continue to battle The Bloodline’s dominance.
WWE Raw Match Card
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Women’s Intercontinental Title Tournament (Triple Threat Match) | IYO SKY def. Natalya and Alba Fyre |
| Singles Match | Chad Gable def. Akira Tozawa |
| Singles Match | Damian Priest def. Dominik Mysterio by Disqualification |
| Singles Match | Dexter Lumis def. The Miz by Disqualification |
| Singles Match | Drew McIntyre def. Sami Zayn |
This week’s WWE Raw delivered a mix of emotional storytelling, thrilling in-ring action, and shocking developments. From Drew McIntyre’s personal vendetta to the chaos surrounding The Bloodline, the holiday edition of Raw left fans eagerly anticipating what’s next in the road to WrestleMania season.
