WWE Raw is live on Christmas night tonight from Allstate Arena in Chicago.
Here’s a quick video preview of the show from WWE.com:
Tonight’s show will feature the return of John Cena to WWE TV for the first time in weeks and also Intercontinental Champion Roman Reigns after a one-week hiatus. This is the first Raw since the announcement of the first ever women’s Royal Rumble so expect more women to announce their participation. We will also get reaction from Reigns and Seth Rollins on the injury to Shield brother Dean Ambrose at the hands of Raw Tag Team Champs The Bar and Samoa Joe.
Refresh your browser throughout the night for updated results as they happen. Merry Christmas!
The show opens with John Cena making his return to Raw.
He stops himself short before gifting a child in the crowd with the literal shirt and hat off his back.
He wishes Chicago a merry Christmas and mentions that it’s the first time Raw has ever been live on Christmas. He loves the holidays, but wherever he goes and whatever he does, the WWE Universe is his family, and he wants to give cheers to the good times and to the bad times, but especially to a day like today when we can all be together.
John can’t think of a better place to tell us–
Enter Elias. He asks Cena if he knows what WWE stands for, and says that it’s “walk with Elias”, which even John gives a little “yeah, that’s clever” nod to. The Drifter asks who wants to walk with him and the crowd’s into it so Cena says he’ll walk. Elias says for months he’s been interrupted and he’s sick of it, so he figured he’d come out here and do the interrupting– which the crowd interrupts with “CM Punk” chants and Samson says for damn sure Punk ain’t gonna interrupt him!
Cena says it’s holidays, Chicago loves their fellow Chicago…eans, let ’em have some fun! Elias says he’s gonna perform uninterrupted and John goes to offer him some advice, but the Drifter keeps on cutting him off and it goes a bit Looney Tunes for a second ending with Elias having a finger on Cena’s mouth and shushing him. John gets him a stool and lets the maestro begin.
The Drifter sings us a Christmas song… about how terrible Chicago is, and Cena cuts him off mid-way through, demanding the lights go up. He says he was trying to tell him not to say anything bad about Chicago, it’s not a bad place, people are dressed for the occasion, excited, making noise, and Samson plays okay but every song gets to a point where he calls the audience jerks.
Elias says he speaks the truth and Cena says they’re not the jerks, it’s the Drifter who is the jerk. Elias admits that maybe he is a jerk and says he wants to do the song again if Chicago would give him a second chance. John reminds him of what he just said and that Chicago is a very tough city but it’s Christmas, so hit it one more time.
He starts up again and this time it is in fact about how nice Chicago is, and he invites Cena to join in. John starts singing a few bars… AND ELIAS PUNCHES HIM IN THE FACE AND KNOCKS HIM OUT COLD! Samson says he doesn’t play for anyone else, Christmas is overrated and so is Chicago! Elias puts boots to him for good measure and says Santa didn’t come for him so he’s challenging Cena to match here and now!
Referee John Cone comes down as Cena starts to recover and we have a match!
Elias vs. John Cena
Elias right on Cena, hammering forearms, big elbow drop, kicks in the corner, another big right knocks him back down again! Drawing John up but he fires haymakers off, gets some separation, hip toss, side headlock takeover and he’s got the Drifter grounded! The Drifter breaks out and knocks Cena to the apron, smashing his face into the corner of the ring and following it up with a knee trembler!
Big chop, back inside, release bodyslam, Elias gets two off the cover. Another release slam, another cover but only one this time, hanging him up in the Tree of Woe for some stomps and heading up top for the double stomp… NOPE! Kneeling armbar, trying to keep the 16-time world champion down but Cena gets right to his feet and breaks with a kick to the midsection.
Whip across, Samson is a step ahead, boot up in the corner, back to the Tree of Woe, again climbing up top but this time John swings out of the way and comes right back at him with a huge lariat to lay him out! Trading punches square in the middle of the ring, both men running low, Elias hits a wicked Blue Thunder Driver-style backbreaker! Drawing Cena up, right hands knock him back down and he backs, gasping, into the ropes to find that extra level of his.
Punches and kicks in the corner, the Drifter pummeling him, headed up top again, pulling Cena up with him but John counters, fireman’s carry, Samson slips out and under into the electric chair and spins him out into a powerbomb… NOT ENOUGH! John ended up outside off that, fighting his way back in, Elias right on him with the cover but it’s only two and he goes to a reverse chinlock after.
Rolling through into the middle of the ring to keep him down, shifting to a side headlock as Cena posts to a knee and then to his feet, he HOSSES the hold over his head, off the ropes, the shoulder blocks connect, hand in the air… and Elias rolls to the floor. John comes around the corner, rolls him back in and gets levelled with a lariat and a nearfall as Elias shifts the tide again!
Backbreaker follows it up, another nearfall, and another backbreaker for good measure as Elias becomes frustrated, wondering what it’ll take to put John Cena away. A third backbreaker sees Cena pick the leg and lock the STF on! Reaching, crawling, the Drifter nearly gets the ropes but John goes to reposition and he kicks him away! A running knee lands flush on Cena’s forehead but his momentum takes him to the apron!
Right hands over the ropes, John with a shoulder thrust, slingshot sunset flip, roll through and right back into the STF! Elias makes the ropes but Cena stays on him, standing him up, whip reversed, the Drifter shifts his positioning a few times… ROLLING CUTTER! NOPE! Big standing elbow drop, another, John is down and out on the mat but gets a sunset flip off for a nearfall!
Shoulder blocks, fall-forward Blue Thunder Driver, “You can’t see me!”, Five Knuckle Shuffle, fireman’s carry into an AA by Cena for the victory.
WINNER: JOHN CENA
We get a Samoa Joe video package next.
Backstage, Kurt Angle is decorating a Christmas tree when Jason Jordan rolls up on him. They hug and Angle says he did want to see Jordan. Seth Rollins rolls up and says he wants Samoa Joe tonight. After he put Dean Ambrose on the shelf last week, he needs this match. Jason says that he wants the match and they bicker, which leads to Angle saying every time they get close to Joe, the Bar get in the way.
Rollins scoffs at the idea of teaming with Jordan after what happened last week, and Jason says he’s not the one who got his head kicked in and lost. But he just got out of a tag team and he doesn’t want to move backwards, which gets Seth hot and he goes to call him arrogant. Angle says if they can work together they’ll be unstoppable, and they’ve got to figure it out soon, because their match is for the title, merry Christmas.
Roman Reigns rolls up and Kurt says Samoa Joe is all his, but it’s an Intercontinental Championship match.
Brian Kendrick and Jack Gallagher are being interviewed in the ring.
Kendrick mocks all the hype Hideo Itami has been brought to the main roster with and says he’s a former champion so he wanted to find out if Itami belongs here or if he’s just a passing fad.
Brian Kendrick vs. Hideo Itami
Kendrick gets ready for the match as Itami makes his way to the ring.
Kendrick strikes first but Itami fights right back and drops Kendrick. Itami with offense while Kendrick is down. Itami slams Kendrick again and delivers more kicks. Itami yells out about everyone respecting him. Gallagher provides a distraction, allowing Kendrick to drop Itami. Kendrick with a 2 count. Kendrick with crossface blows to Itami’s face. Kendrick takes Itami from corner to corner and puts a boot to his face while he’s down. Kendrick tosses Itami half-way across the ring and covers for a 2 count. Kendrick keeps Itami grounded with a submission now.
Itami refuses to submit as the referee checks on him. Itami fights up and out now but Kendrick sends him into the corner. Kendrick runs into boots. Itami goes to the top for a tornado DDT but drops Kendrick over the top instead. Itami comes off the top with a flying clothesline. Itami with a pair of clotheslines and a kick now. Itami with more offense as some fans cheer him.
Itami with more strikes, including a back-fist, to knock Kendrick into the corner. Itami with a big dropkick in the corner. Itami cuts his own throat and calls for the GTS. Itami nails the GTS in the middle of the ring for the pin.
Winner: Hideo Itami
Michael Cole sends us to a video package of last week’s big announcement from Stephanie McMahon about the first ever women’s Royal Rumble.
As we cut to backstage, Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel are decked out in their ugly Christmas sweaters and they sing a carol to Sasha Banks, Mickie James and Bayley. Only their song is I WISH YOU A MERRY MIZMAS as they sing about missing The Miz while he’s been on hiatus from WWE.
Absolution (Paige, Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose) vs Sasha Banks, Bayley & Mickie James
The heels isolated Banks for a long time, which came after she took a great bump on an impressive clothesline from Deville on the outside. Banks made the hot tag to Bayley, who came in and ran wild. She hit the Bayley-to-Belly on Paige, but Rose and Deville pulled their partner out of the ring.
While The Boss and James take out Deville and Rose outside the ring, Bayley drags Paige back inside. However, Paige quickly turns the tables, kneeing Bayley and then hitting a Ram-Paige for the victory.
WINNER: ABSOLUTION
After the match, we go to a video package recounting The Bar and Samoa Joe injuring Ambrose last week. Cole recounts that the Lunatic injured his triceps muscle and underwent surgery before we cut to a backstage interview with Renee Young and Joe.
Joe tells Ambrose’s real-life wife that he’s enjoying carrying out his plan to take out The Shield, especially putting Ambrose on the shelf for a while. Joe says his next step is to take out the Intercontinental Champion tonight.
Kane vs Heath Slater with Rhyno
As we return from break, the arena is awash with Christmas red…and flames as the Devil’s Favorite Demon make his way to the ring. We cut to a video package of the recent Kane-Braun Strowman feud with the double count out and last week’s announcement both men would face WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble in January at Philadelphia.
As Slater gets announced, we cut to a promo with Slater and Rhyno where Slater whines about his job security and his kids getting no Christmas presents because Raw GM Angle threatened the duo last week. Rhyno assures Slater that he just needs to toughen up and this is the first week in Rhyno’s plan to toughen up the many time father.
Kane wails on Slater for a goodly long time and then tosses him out of the ring. Rhyno pep talks Slater with help from the crowd at the base of the ring, and Slater starts puffing out his chest before Kane pulls Slater up to the apron by his hair. Slater smacks Kane away briefly, but, undeterred, Kane recovers and gets a few strikes in on Slater before Chokeslamming him to Hell for the 1-2-3.
WINNER: KANE
After the match, Rhyno ambushes Kane, spearing the Demon into the corner before getting pumped up for a GORE attempt. Kane reverses, though, stopping Rhyno’s momentum before delivering another Chokeslam From Hell and strutting up the ring ramp as we go to commercial.
We return from break with Curt Hawkins recounting his 146-match losing streak and 2017 not being his year. But Hawkins says the year isn’t over and he feels a Christmas miracle coming on. He issues an open challenge.
ENTER THE BALOR CLUB!
Curt Hawkins vs Finn Balor
Hawkins starts strong with some right hands and whipping Balor into a corner, but Balor reverses with double boots to the face. As Balor struggles to get going, Hawkins rolls him up for 3 pinfall attempts, but Balor kicks out to Hawkins’ disbelief every time.
Balor then gets rolling with a few kick strikes before flying high through the air off the top rope for a Coup De Grace and the squash match victory. HAWKINS LOSES 147 WIN IN A ROW! With history made, we cut to more commercials. The WWE has to make up for that ad-free first hour.
WINNER: FINN BALOR
Back from the break and we see Axel and Dallas backstage, still trying to spread Miz-mas cheer. They approach Goldust and start singing a Christmas carol about how his career has lost some steam. They present him with a DVD of Santa’s Little Helper, starring The Miz and Paige. They say he’ll love it, then walk off. Titus Worldwide’s Dana Brooke, Titus O’Neill and Apollo Crews walk up and Goldust gives Titus the DVD. The segment ends with Goldust re-appearing to knock the DVD to the floor.
We cut backstage somewhere to Bray Wyatt. He talks about how and why Sister Abigail hated this time of the year. One reason is because it reminded her of people like Matt Hardy. Wyatt accuses Hardy of using people for his own personal gain. Wyatt addresses Matt’s “Woken Warriors” and says they are surrounded by darkness, by Wyatt’s fireflies, by her. Wyatt tells Chicago that he is here. Wyatt blows out the lantern and heads to the ring as the Allstate Arena lights up with fireflies.
Wyatt enters the ring but the lights come on and Matt attacks him from behind as fans pop. Matt goes for a Twist of Fate but Wyatt retreats to the floor. Matt is wearing his “Broken” jacket now. Fans start chanting “Delete!” as Matt does the gesture. Wyatt looks on from the ramp. Matt makes a bunch of odd sounds. A “Woken” text flashes on the screen and cracks. That’s the end of the segment.
The Bar is backstage now. We hear fans in the arena chanting for Matt Hardy. Sheamus presents Cesaro with a Christmas present but tells him to open the card first. We hear fans chanting “delete!” in the arena now. Sheamus’ card says they don’t just set the bar, they are The Bar. The present is a Dean Ambrose action figure, missing an arm. The gift giving continues with figures of Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan. They joke about how Sheamus doesn’t want the Jordan figure but Angle doesn’t even want Jordan as his son and Rollins doesn’t want Jordan as his partner.
We see the WWE crew setting up for a Christmas Street Fight with the cruiserweights. Back to commercial.
Back from commercial, Enzo Amore makes his entrance, he does his Certified G bit.
Amore was dressed as Santa Claus and Gulak and Daivari were his elves. Amore cut his promo before the match started, saying he was there to spread Christmas cheer to people who had a terrible day like Alexander. Amore said Alexander didn’t get the one thing he wanted — Amore’s Cruiserweight Championship. It was announced Alexander will get his title shot next week.
Akira Tozawa, Cedric Alexander, & Mustafa Ali vs. Zo Train (Ariya Daivari, Drew Gulak, & Enzo Amore) (Miracle on 34th Street Fight)
Daivari and Alexander to start, Ariya backing him in the corner with punches a whip leads to flips and a headscissors to the floor. Gulak runs interference and gets a dropkick, Amore drops to the floor, Tozawa’s fired up… HE AND ALI DIVE IN STEREO TO SEND US TO BREAK!
Back from commercial, Daivari slams Tozawa into a present for a nearfall! Amore in, hard whip into a Christmas tree, another nearfall and he grabs a reverse chinlock. Out, tags made, Ali clearing house, whip reversed, pop-up dropkick, slide short on the hammer whip, kick from the apron, rolling thunder X-Factor! Headed up top, 054… GULAK BREAKS IT UP WITH A COOKIE SHEET!
Akira clobbers Drew with a cookie sheet, Enzo and Cedric in and the champ has a candy kendo stick but Alexander takes it away from him and holds him at… stickpoint. Sidestep the charge from Gulak and Cedric beats on him with it! Daivari tries to steal it, Cedric thinks fast, back suplex lift and then hits a Lumbar Check for the 1-2-3.
WINNERS: AKIRA TOZAWA, CEDRIC ALEXANDER & MUSTAFA ALI
There is another backstage segment with Amore and Nia Jax. They noticed they were under mistletoe and went to kiss, but Alexa Bliss came running in and said she had to talk to Jax about the women’s Royal Rumble match. Jax left, with Amore angrily wishing Bliss a Merry Christmas.
Renee Young interviews Reigns backstage. He said he’s the champion, is going to leave Chicago with his title, and he doesn’t care what Joe has to say. Reigns noted that tonight is about Dean Ambrose and said if you hurt one of his brothers, he’ll hurt you.
WWE Intercontinental Title Match: Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe
Back to the ring and out comes Samoa Joe for a title shot. WWE Intercontinental Champion Roman Reigns is out next to a very mixed reaction.
The bell rings and we get formal ring introductions from JoJo. Joe attacks first but Reigns stops him with a big shot. Reigns rocks Joe into the ropes with more big shots. Joe fights back and sends Reigns towards the corner. Reigns drops Joe. Joe fights back again but Reigns gets the upperhand and sends Joe down on the ropes. Reigns follows and goes for the Drive By, nailing it. Reigns comes back in and works Joe over but Joe turns it around with a headbutt. Fans do dueling chants as Joe slams Reigns for a 2 count.
Joe with more offense until Reigns comes off the ropes and rocks him into the corner. Reigns with big shots in the corner as fans count along. Reigns drops Joe with a running boot to the face. Reigns readies for a spear but Joe avoids it. Reigns goes in and the referee gets in between them. Joe takes advantage of that with a cheap shot. Joe beats Reigns into the corner now and takes control. Joe drops Reigns with an enziguri and covers for a 2 count. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and Joe keeps control until Reigns hits a big Samoan Drop out of nowhere for a 2 count. More back and forth now. Joe with body shots and a suplex. Reigns comes back with a Superman Punch for a 2 count. Reigns goes for a spear but Joe kicks him in the mouth. Joe with the Uranage for another pin attempt. Reigns goes to the apron for a breather but Joe grabs him. Fans do dueling chants now. Reigns comes in but Joe catches him and applies the Coquina Clutch.
Reigns fights the hold and reaches for the ropes but Joe drops down and brings Reigns to the mat with the clutch. Reigns tries to turn it around but Joe cuts him off. Reigns finally makes it to the ropes and the hold is broken. Reigns is on the floor for a breather now. Joe runs the ropes and nails a big dive through the ropes, sending Reigns back into the barrier. Reigns clutches his elbow and stays down. Joe brings Reigns back into the ring and focuses on the arm and elbow now.
Reigns fights up and out of the hold, unloading on Joe into the corner. The referee warns Reigns but he keeps going, shoving the referee away. The referee calls for the bell.
WINNER: SAMOA JOE BY DQ;
REIGNS RETAINS INTERCONTINENTAL BELT BY CHAMPION’S ADVANTAGE
After the bell, Joe is announced as the winner but Roman retains the gold. Reigns responds by knocking Joe out of the ring with a Superman Punch. The referee has words for Reigns. Reigns leaves the ring and stalks Joe, who is trying to recover. Reigns drops Joe with another big right hand at ringside. Reigns launches Joe into the ring post. Reigns grabs Joe and sends him into another ring post as some fans boo him. Reigns takes apart the steel steps next as the cheers pick up. Reigns grabs half of the steps and rams them into Joe’s face as he gets up. Reigns delivers a steel chair shot next. Officials finally get Reigns to stop.
We see Seth Rollins backstage watching Reigns vs. Joe when Jason Jordan walks up. Rollins says he’s doing this match for two reasons – he owed Kurt Angle a favor and he wants a piece of The Bar. Rollins goes on and Jordan says Rollins must admit that he makes a good replacement for Dean Ambrose. Rollins wants to make one thing perfectly clear – as good as Jordan thinks he is, he will never be Dean Ambrose. Jordan says Rollins is right, he will be better. Jordan walks off and we go to commercial.
Back from the break and The Miztourage is in the ring, still trying to spread Miz-mas cheer. They start singing a version of “Jingle Bells” but the music interrupts and out comes Braun Strowman to a pop.
2-on-1 Handicap Match: Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel vs. Braun Strowman
The bell rings and Bo Dallas goes for Braun but Braun catches him and nails a big clothesline. Braun takes Bo to the corner and launches him across the ring. Axel gets brought in. Dallas charges but Braun throws Axel into him and they both go down.
Braun scoops Axel and rams him back into the corner. Braun with a running corner splash on Bo next. Braun with a huge running powerslam on Bo for the easy pin.
Winner: Braun Strowman
After the match, Braun stands tall as his music hits. Chicago wants one more powerslam. Braun scoops Axel and delivers, flattening him in the middle of the ring. Braun stands tall, but grabs Bo and drops him with another powerslam. Axel also gets another big powerslam.
Alexa Bliss is backstage walking. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss is in the ring, wishing everyone a Merry Bliss-mas. Bliss says she decided to take the coal out of everyone’s stockings this year and give them the gift of a goddess. She knocks the WWE Universe for stuffing their faces with cookies and opening gifts this time of year and says she prefers to reflect instead.
Bliss talks about how 2017 has been the year of Bliss and how she has dominated every obstacle in her way, just like a Jedi from Star Wars. Bliss knocks the fans and the other women in the locker room. Bliss says she has to admit that the moment of the year came last week when RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon announced the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble match. We see a replay of the announcement. Bliss she has watched that clip 100 times and still gets goosebumps. She tells everyone else that they are welcome because everything that’s happened is because of her. Bliss goes on and says she will be watching the Royal Rumble match to see who her opponent might be for WrestleMania 34. The lights go out and the music interrupts and Asuka makes her way out to a pop.
Bliss is confronted by the unbeatable Asuka in an in-ring promo. After Asuka dances to her music, she tells Bliss that she’s entering the women’s Royal Rumble. Then she yells, “I will win! Nobody’s ready for Asuka.” As Bliss pouts like someone stole all her Christmas presents, Asuka kicks her head and drops her to the mat, out like the Grinch with all the Christmas loot.
Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan vs Raw Tag Champs The Bar
We return from break with the Kingslayer making his entrance. The crowd chants, “Burn it down!” to Rollins’ entrance theme. Jordan comes out and then the heel champs.
Rollins starts the match as a man possessed. He sends us to break after dominating the opening moments of the match by hitting a top-rope, diving crossbody on The Bar. He clears the ring of the heels and then offers Jordan, who had been grounded in the corner, a hand up as he pumps up the crowd before another break.
Sheamus has Rollins down on the mat in a side headlock as we return. The Celtic Warrior tags in Cesaro and the Swiss Cyborg continues to grind away, grounding the Architect with a side headlock, before riding piggyback on Rollins as he kept the Kingslayers’ arms bent behind him. Sheamus tags in and tries the Beats of the Bodharan but Rollins nearly escapes for the tag. Cesaro and Sheamus cycle through tags before Sheamus throws Rollins out of the ring.
Jordan then attacks the heels outside the ring on the heel side. The heels ground Jordan by throwing him into the ring barricade and leaves Rollins with no one to tag. Sheamus and Cesaro then start double-teaming Rollins. First, it’s a Swiss Uppercut into the Irish Curse Backbreaker, but Rollins kicked out. The Kingslayer kicks out again after a White Noise. Rollins then breaks free and gets a tag to Jordan.
Jordan starts clearing house. He picks up Sheamus and rams him into one corner, another corner across the ring, another corner and then hits an exploder suplex. Sheamus kicks out of a pinning predicament and tags Cesaro, who changes the momentum and locks in a Sharpshooter.
Match breaking down, no count on the powerbomb, Sheamus grabs the cloverleaf on Jason! Middle of the ring, Kurt Angle’s biological son crawling and he makes the ropes! Celtic Warrior calling for it, tag made, fireman’s carry, thinking assisted White Noise but Rollins runs interference and they have to settle for the normal White Noise! Seth runs Sheamus around and into the steps, Cesaro with the save with the uppercut but when he comes back in the ring Jordan is ready for him and nails a back suplex neckbreaker for the 3-count. We have new champs!
WINNERS: JASON JORDAN & SETH ROLLINS, NEW RAG TAG TEAM CHAMPS