WWE Raw live results: CM Punk makes his decision
Date: December 11, 2023
Location: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, OH
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Show Recap —
There was a recap of Drew McIntyre’s actions last week. Jey Uso entered (wearing a Yeet t-shirt) and the announcers ran down tonight’s card. The crowd chanted, “Yeet.”
Jey said he got “Yeet” back and was excited about that. He was also excited that CM Punk was in the building and Raw would gain a real one if they signed him. However, they lost a real one in Sami Zayn and Jey wished him well. Jey called McIntyre a two-face and he was about to get got.
McIntyre entered. He had enough of Jey’s ass-kicking. He also warned Adam Pearce not to sign Punk because he would destroy this place from the inside out. (He was fine with Smackdown signing Punk.) The crowd chanted for Punk. McIntyre told the fans that, unlike them, he knew what Punk was actually like.
McIntyre said Seth Rollins got what he deserved but he apologized to Zayn for being partially responsible for putting him on the shelf. McIntyre did want a little credit for at least leaving him with one good leg. He told Jey that’s how you apologize. He justified his actions and said everyone would want revenge on someone for wronging their family.
Jey asked the crowd if they were ready to see McIntyre catch a Yeet-down and they yelled Yeet. The referee started the match.
(Michael Cole said Zayn was out indefinitely with a partially torn meniscus.)
Drew McIntyre defeated Jey Uso (17:14)
They went to break 30 seconds into the match, came back and went to break again 5 minutes later after Jey hit a suicide dive. During the break, McIntyre slingshotted Jey into the steel frame under the ring but Jey fought back after the break with strikes and a Samoan Drop for two. McIntyre dodged a running hip attack and hit a neckbreaker.
McIntyre went for Claymore but Jey caught him with two superkicks. Jey went for an Uso Splash but McIntyre got his knees up and hit a Future Shock DDT for a nearfall. (McIntyre beat Jey with the DDT a few weeks ago.)
McIntyre removed a turnbuckle pad as the ref checked on Jey. McIntyre went for the Claymore again but Jey hit a spear for a nearfall. The ref grabbed the turnbuckle pad and very casually tried to fix it as McIntyre raked Jey’s eyes behind his back. McIntyre followed with Claymore Kick for the pinfall win.
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There was a recap of Punk’s promo on Smackdown. (They included the line about not being able to trust someone who randomly punched people backstage.)
Shinsuke Nakamura video promo
Nakamura said he has been watching Cody Rhodes talk about finishing his story for weeks and weeks but he is no closer to doing it. He was a dog chasing a car. As great as Rhodes was, it was not enough. Rhodes’ lack of respect for him would be his weakness.
Rhodes strived for the admiration of others but Nakamura freed himself of that burden long ago. Now he would paint his own story and bring Rhodes’ story to an end. Nakamura was the real night. “Always remember, you asked for this.”
This was good.
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There was a Judgment Day meeting in the back. Finn Bálor said he and Rhea Ripley weren’t there for one week and now the wheels were falling off. Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh lost to the Creed Brothers last week and Dom lost his NXT North American title.
Damian Priest said it sucked that Dom lost his title but it also sucked not showing up to Raw (referring to Ripley). Priest said he and Bálor would take care of the Creeds.
Ripley heard Priest calling himself a leader but that was easier than actually being a leader. Ripley got in his face and said she was tired of the disrespect. She planned on making an example of Maxxine Dupri.
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Alpha Academy and the Creeds hyped up Dupri for her match. Ivy Nile said she would join her at ringside just in case. R-Truth showed up with Christmas decorations for Judgment Day. Chad Gable warned him to be careful with Judgment Day and informed him that he wasn’t actually in their group. Truth assured Gable that he was in their group and they were just misunderstood. He wished them all a happy Thanksgiving.
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Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defeated Maxxine Dupri (w/Ivy Nile) (2:05)
Dupri landed one clunky-looking move before Ripley booted her and hit Rip-tide (which Dupri barely got up for). Ripley mocked her and applied a Prism Trap for the submission win.
— Ripley didn’t let go right away so Nile hit the ring. They had a staredown and Ripley held up her belt.
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There was a Kayden Carter and Katana Chance video package.
Adam Pearce walked into CM Punk’s locker room ahead of a break.
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[SECOND HOUR]
CM Punk/Seth Rollins segment
Adam Pearce was in the ring and said it was time for CM Punk to make a decision. Pearce has known Punk for 25 years and knew he’d make the right decision. Punk entered.
The crowd chanted for Punk. Punk thought he was in a sullen mood until he saw all the signs and heard the fans. Punk has been thinking about this all week. He’s been consumed and worried about it because he loves the fans.
However, this town and this building haven’t been historically kind to him. Punk debuted in this building and he had Mickie James at his side. They immediately sent him to OVW after that. He embraced being uncomfortable and learned how to love it. He returned to Cleveland as World Heavyweight Champion but Randy Orton kicked him in the head backstage and he woke up to learn he was stripped of the title.
Ten years ago he had to take himself off the hamster wheel and make the hardest decision of his life. He always wondered if people in the building were disappointed in him when he left. He just spoke with Indi (Hartwell) backstage and she felt betrayed as a kid. He told her a story of when he saw Roddy Piper appear on WCW and felt the same way as her as a young fan. If anyone watching this was disappointed when he walked out he understood and he apologized.
Punk said Nick Aldis made a substantial offer to go to Smackdown. Shawn Michaels made him an offer to help mould the next generation of superstars. Pearce has made an offer that’s above both of those offers.
Punk had already made up his mind when he saw Cleveland on the calendar. His future starts now. Ten years almost to the day, CM Punk walked out. Now Punk walks right back in. If you’re happy about it, or mad about it, you better learn to love it. The newest Raw superstar is named CM Punk and CM Punk is home.
The crowd chanted for Punk as he signed the contract.
Seth Rollins entered.
Rollins and Punk went face-to-face. They let this sink in as the crowd buzzed with a mixture of Rollins’ song and chants for Punk.
Rollins grabbed a mic. “CM Punk, welcome to Monday Night Rollins.” Punk smirked. Rollins hoped Punk knew how incredibly fortunate he was to be standing in that ring.
Rollins said, “Don’t you dare call this place your home. You abandoned this place ten years ago. Not only did you abandon it, you actively tried to tear it down. You spent ten years slandering me, slandering every single person in that locker room and then you want to walk back in here and call this place your home? This is not your home, this is my home!”
Rollins said everybody in the back were his brothers and sisters. Everyone watching was his family. This was their home and he would do everything to protect it from people like Punk.
Rollins wanted it to be clear: “I hate you.” However, if Punk was going to be in WWE again, he wanted him on Raw because the truth always comes out. Everyone knew this was Punk’s last chance.
One of two things would happen. Punk would expose himself and self-destruct — or if by some miracle he has changed and he had any gas left, maybe he’ll be lucky enough to stand across the ring from him in a world title match and Rollins would expose him for the fraud that he was. Rollins would wrestle circles around him and show him in real-time what it meant to be the best in the world.
Punk grabbed a mic and said, “That’s your one pass for you to speak to me disrespectfully without me coming after you.” Punk said he’s never asked for anything to be handed to him and was willing to do things the hard way. Punk announced he was entering the Royal Rumble and when he won, maybe it’ll be Rollins he comes after. Punk dropped the mic and left. Rollins smiled.
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Bronson Reed defeated Ivar (w/Valhalla) (7:43)
With Reed standing outside the ring, Ivar hit a cannonball off the top which didn’t look fun for either guy. They battled on the top and Reed hit a superplex (which got a big pop) for the pinfall win.
(This finish was cool but about half the match happened during a commercial break.)
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Punk bumped into Judgment Day backstage and lightheartedly asked them where Ripley was. Priest welcomed him to their show. Priest hoped Punk was the one to finish his story because he’d be waiting when he did. (Priest held up the briefcase.)
Judgment Day segment
Judgment Day entered (without Ripley) after a break. Priest wanted to remind everyone who they were. Bálor boasted about being tag team champions. Priest had a message for everyone: it didn’t matter if you had been dealt with already by Judgment Day, if you were a returning superstar, or new superstars like the Creeds — everyone was on notice. Dom tried to speak but gave up because of the booing.
Truth entered. He said he tried decorating their clubhouse but the front and back doors were locked. He wondered why they didn’t invite him in the ring for their holiday party. JD McDonagh screamed at Truth so Priest told him to calm down. Priest invited Truth into the ring because he wanted to hear what he had to say. Truth said they should kick out JD because nobody liked him.
Truth also advised Priest to stop calling himself the boss because it made Mami upset. Priest knew why everyone liked Truth and the crowd cheered for him. Priest added, “Everyone likes R-Truth — except me.” Priest clotheslined Truth and they all put the boots to him.
The Creed Brothers ran out to make the save but Judgment Day overwhelmed them at first. Julius fought back and hit Dom and McDonagh with a double Northern Lights. Julius wiped out Bálor before both Julius and Brutus dropped Priest with a double spinebuster.
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Punk approached McIntyre in the back (as he spoke to Pearce). McIntyre said he didn’t care about Punk’s story or Rhodes’ story, he was only interested in finishing his own story. McIntyre left. Punk wondered what he did to make McIntyre upset. Pearce said he did nothing wrong and informed Punk that McIntyre was getting a world title shot against Rollins on the January 1st edition of Raw.
Kofi Kingston, Chad Gable and Ricochet appeared. Punk was pumped to see Kingston and said, “Jamaican me crazy!” Kingston laughed and said, “No no, I don’t do that anymore.” They hugged. Punk shook hands with Gable and Ricochet. He said he’s heard a lot about Gable, and heard that Ricochet was terrible at video games. Punk left.
Pearce brought Kingston, Gable and Ricochet into his office because he wanted to discuss an idea regarding the Intercontinental Championship.
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Kayden Carter & Katana Chance defeated Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell (2:25)
Carter held LeRae for a neckbreaker as Chance hit a 450 splash for the pinfall win. (Cole said the move is called “The Afterparty.”)
Chelsea Green and Piper Niven were on commentary and it appears Kayden and Katana could be next in line for a tag title match.
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Johnny Gargano told Tommaso Ciampa he was pumped to be in action in his hometown tonight. Ciampa asked if he was sure about their partner. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci showed up. Kaiser was curious about who would actually team with them and asked who their mystery partner was. DIY told him not to worry about it and should instead worry about Gunther. Gunther showed up and also had serious doubts that anyone would want to be seen with them.
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Becky Lynch walked through the back. (Nikki Cross was standing in the background.)
[THIRD HOUR]
Becky Lynch/Nia Jax segment
Lynch wanted to cut to the chance and call out Nia Jax. They have never gone one-on-one but they’ve been linked together for the past five years. She aired the clip of Jax punching her in the face and breaking her nose.
Lynch said it may be petty to bring it up now, “but damn it, I’m petty!” Lynch said everyone she faces has tried to use that moment as a burn against her but it was time they got to the root of the problem.
Lynch and Jax kept missing each other since it happened. Lynch went on to main event WrestleMania, while Jax had double ACL surgery because she was a woman so unlikeable that even her knees would not stand up for her. (The crowd liked that line.) Lynch had a child, while Jax got fired, but it was 2023 now and they were both there.
Jax entered. Jax admitted her punch was a lucky swing — a lucky swing that almost ended Lynch’s career. Imagine what would happen if she punched her with her full force. Everyone was mad that she broke Lynch’s face but it was a contact sport, so what else did she expect?
Lynch said she didn’t expect anything less. Everyone knew that Jax was the most dangerous woman in the ring. Everyone who has been in the ring with her has been injured or hospitalized or almost had their careers ended.
Jax said that’s why Lynch couldn’t stop talking about her in the two years she’s been gone. Jax almost ended careers while Lynch should be thanking Jax for her career.
Lynch said if it was only about a broken face then the fans would have moved on from her as soon as her blood dried. This was about dusting yourself off and fighting like hell. That’s what she’s done her whole life, what she did that night, and what she’s done ever since.
Lynch said Jax and her minions tried to claim she wasn’t a main event star but she proved them wrong. And now all Jax can claim is that Lynch was only a main event star because of her. That was a lie and if she couldn’t end that lie she needed to end Jax.
Jax said Lynch needed her to prove that she was about more than that one night. Otherwise, Jax would always be the woman who made the Man.
Lynch said she didn’t come to Cleveland to talk she came for a fight. Lynch dropped the mic and offered Jax a free shot. Jax said Lynch needed this more than she did. Jax left.
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Jackie Redmond interviewed Cody Rhodes. Redmond asked about Punk. Rhodes congratulated Pearce on getting it done and was glad Punk and the fans were happy. But the Rumble was right around the corner and you can’t finish two stories at once and they were both aware of that.
Redmond asked about Nakamura. Rhodes would be excited about this encounter if not for Nakamura using the mist. Rhodes learned how vicious he was and that was fine with him. Rhodes said Nakamura claimed he asked for this and, “you’re damn right I did.”
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Six-man tag team match: The Miz, Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano defeated Giovanni Vinci, Ludwig Kaiser & IC Champion Gunther (10:33)
The announcers explained the history between Miz, Ciampa and Gargano and how odd it was they were teaming together.
Gargano made a hot tag after a break before tagging in Miz who wanted to get his hands on Gunther. Miz hammered away at Gunther and hit a springboard crossbody. Miz hit It Kicks but Gunther blocked one and smashed him with a chop. Gunther applied a Boston Crab but Ciampa broke it up with a knee strike. Kaiser and Vinci took out Ciampa moments before Miz and Gargano each hit Kaiser and Vinci with tilt-a-whirl DDTs.
Miz put Gunther in a figure four while Gargano put Kaiser in a Gargano Escape but Gunther managed to tag out. Vinci hit a springboard elbow drop but Miz fought back and hit Skull Crushing Finale for the pinfall win. The crowd was really into this, particularly once Miz got in.
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Raw next week in Des Moines, Iowa
- Damian Priest & Finn Bálor vs. The Creed Brothers for the undisputed tag titles
- Chelsea Green & Piper Niven vs. Kayden Carter & Katana Chance for the women’s tag titles
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Gunther berated his Imperium teammates in the back before Miz confronted him. Miz wanted an IC title match. Gunther accepted under one condition: if Miz lost he couldn’t challenge for the title again as long as he was champion. Miz accepted.
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Cody Rhodes defeated Shinsuke Nakamura via disqualification (17:41)
They wrestled for 18 minutes until Nakamura misted Rhodes for the DQ.
Nakamura maintained control before and after an early commercial break. Rhodes’ comeback attempt was quickly cut off when Nakamura countered a Cody Cutter into an armbar, which was a cool spot. Rhodes got a rope break so Nakamura followed with a sliding German suplex and a flying knee strike for two.
Nakamura went for Kinshasa but Rhodes kicked his leg out of his leg and followed with consecutive dragon screws — including one between the ropes. Rhodes hit a reverse vertical suplex and applied a single-leg Boston crab but Nakamura got a rope break. Rhodes hit a suicide dive which led to another break. They traded strikes until Rhodes hit a powerslam. Nakamura applied a sleeper hold but Rhodes broke out of it and hit a Disaster Kick for two.
Rhodes followed with jabs, a bionic elbow and Cody Cutter. Rhodes set up for Cross Rhodes but Nakamura slipped out and sprayed red mist in his face for the DQ.
— Rhodes tried to fight back despite not being able to see but Nakamura kicked his leg out from behind and hit Kinshasa.
Nakamura grabbed a chair and was about to do worse but the Creed Brothers ran out to make the save. Nakamura left.
As officials helped Rhodes to his feet outside the ring, Nakamura ran back down and hit a Kinshasa. The Creeds and officials checked on Rhodes as Nakamura walked away.