WWE Raw live results: Seth Rollins vs. Jinder Mahal World title match
Date: January 15, 2024
Location: Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, AR
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Show Recap —
There was a Martin Luther King Jr. tribute video.
Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal were shown arriving at the arena earlier today. Rollins arrived with his daughter (presumably) in hand.
Cody Rhodes/Drew McIntyre segment
Cody Rhodes entered to a strong reaction in Little Rock. Rhodes said there was a Collin Raye song about Little Rock that his wife really liked. He said they could talk about that or talk about him beating Shinsuke Nakamura. He said the Royal Rumble was right around the corner and they could talk about what he really came back to WWE for.
Drew McIntyre interrupted. McIntyre said they grew up together in WWE and he was proud of Rhodes. They were even WWE Tag Team Champions. That didn’t get much of a reaction and McIntyre admitted that you’d probably have to look it up. Rhodes mentioned that their team name was the Dashing Ones.
McIntyre said they both redefined what it meant to be a wrestler outside of WWE. They laid the blueprint to become so undeniable that WWE would call them back. Before McIntyre returned to WWE, his last match was against Cody and Cody told him at the time that he would be a future world champion.
McIntyre felt that Cody would be the first member of his family to win that championship. McIntyre said Rhodes would finish his story — but not before he finished his. Rhodes said that each of them could win. Jey Uso could win. CM Punk could win. But Rhodes didn’t plan on that.
McIntyre advised Rhodes to be himself. He didn’t have to wear a suit, he didn’t have to smile all the time, and he wasn’t running for office. McIntyre knew what that was like and he assured Rhodes he didn’t have to be that way.
Rhodes assured him that this wasn’t an act. Rhodes smiled because he loved this. He appreciated the opportunities because he made them for himself. He relished his second chance while McIntyre just complained about his.
McIntyre wasn’t sure this was the real Cody Rhodes. Otherwise, why would he bring back Jey Uso or endorse CM Punk? McIntyre said he would be the world champion if not for that idiot Damian Priest. Rhodes was standing in his way just like Punk was. McIntyre said the story belonged to him at WrestleMania.
Rhodes said he would give McIntyre something to complain about at the Rumble. Rhodes said McIntyre brought up his final match before returning to WWE but he didn’t mention who won (Rhodes did). Rhodes dropped the mic and left.
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Damian Priest confronted R-Truth about selling Judgment Day merchandise outside the arena (at below cost, apparently). Truth handed Priest a wad of cash, which he kept. Priest told Truth not to tag in during their tag match (against each other) tonight. Truth winked and said he understood.
Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa defeated Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh (18:21)
Shortly after a break, Gargano made a hot tag, but the referee didn’t see it because McDonagh distracted the referee. Gargano went for another hot tag, but McDonagh yanked Ciampa off the apron. After all that build-up to the hot tag, Ciampa made the tag moments before they came back from a second break.
Ciampa hit McDonagh with a knee strike, McDonagh headbutted Ciampa, Gargano superkicked McDonagh and Dom superkicked Gargano. Everyone went down so that led to a modest “this is awesome” chant. McDonagh hit Ciampa with a standing Spanish Fly and a moonsault but Gargano broke up the cover with a superkick.
Dom dropkicked Gargano but Gargano blocked a 619 and Ciampa knocked Dom out of the ring. Ciampa spiked McDonagh with a DDT and DIY hit him with Meet in the Middle for the pinfall win.
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Earlier today, Chelsea Green (and Piper Niven) complained to Adam Pearce because she had Kayden Carter pinned last week but the referee blew it. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae were already in Pearce’s office at that moment so he put them in a tag match. Hartwell told Green that the ref counted to two but Green couldn’t count.
There was a quick video package for LeRae and Hartwell.
Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae defeated Chelsea Green & Piper Niven (3:30)
Hartwell blocked Green’s Unprettier and draped her over the middle rope so LeRae could hit an assisted Lionsault (which didn’t look great) for the pinfall win.
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[SECOND HOUR]
There was a quick Nia Jax video package focusing on the Rumble match. Rhea Ripley was backstage with Judgment Day, minus Priest, but she quickly left after seeing the video. Priest showed up as Ripley left. McDonagh and crew wondered why they weren’t taking out Truth right now. Priest presented the wad of cash that Truth gave him. McDonagh wondered if he would get a cut but Priest said he wasn’t on their merch. Jokes aside, Finn Bálor and Priest were focused on their upcoming match.
Gunther segment
Ludwig Kaiser introduced Gunther. Gunther received some cheers before it turned to a mixed reaction. Imperium acted surprised by the cheers.
Gunther said they were close to the Rumble and he could feel and smell the desperation around this place. Since they were in Arkansas, he could smell excrement, too. Since he’s been gone, he saw his peers bickering over who would win the Rumble.
He wanted to remind them of one thing: he entered the Rumble at number one last year and lasted until the end. He was one elimination away from winning. The crowd chanted for Cody. This year he would win the Rumble as Intercontinental Champion and main event WrestleMania.
Gunther turned his attention to Kaiser. He played a replay of Kaiser taking out Kofi Kingston. He said Kaiser showed a side that he always wanted to see. He showed grit, confidence and courage. Gunther hugged him.
Xavier Woods interrupted. A serious Woods said he had a problem with Kaiser, who took it too far last week by taking out Kofi Kingston. Woods challenged Kaiser to a match and wondered if he’d have to ask his daddy Gunther for permission. Gunther handed Kaiser the mic and left the ring.
Kaiser accepted and said he would take Woods’ head as well. Kaiser tried to attack but Woods dumped him from the ring. Woods hammered away on Kaiser until a referee stopped him.
Ludwig Kaiser defeated Xavier Woods via disqualification (10:24+)
Woods, whose mouth was busted open, fought back after a break. Kaiser tried launching the chair at him (as he did to Kingston) but Woods used it on Kaiser instead for the DQ. (As this match trudged along, Michael Cole reminded us that Jinder Mahal was in tonight’s main event.)
— A frustrated Woods grabbed a steel chair but Kaiser kicked it into his face. Kaiser tried a running dropkick into the steel steps as he did last week but Woods caught him with a dropkick. Woods tried launching the steps at Kaiser but Kaiser bailed through the crowd.
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Bronson Reed cut a one-line promo saying, “There is a man right now who holds a championship in WWE who doesn’t realize that sooner than later, it will belong to big Bronson Reed.”
Byron Saxton interviewed a pissed-off Woods in the back. He was immediately attacked by Kaiser but was saved by Jey Uso. Kaiser backed off upon seeing Jey and officials stepped in. Jey checked on Woods.
There was a Jinder Mahal video package.
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They boldly went to commercial letting us know that the following match was next.
Akira Tozawa (w/Maxxine Dupri) defeated Ivar (w/Valhalla) (1:59)
Tozawa had a brief flash of offence before Ivar hit a spinning powerslam and a running crossbody. Ivar went to the top but was distracted by Dupri on the apron. Tozawa kicked Ivar and hit a sunset flip powerbomb into a stacked-up cover for the (surprise) pinfall win.
— Valhalla decked Dupri after the match while Ivar dropped Tozawa with a spin kick. Valhalla headbutted Dupri out of the ring before Ivar squished Tozawa with a moonsault.
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CM Punk on Instagram teased a face-to-face confrontation with Cody Rhodes next week.
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Alpha Academy and the Creed Brothers checked on Tozawa in the back. Ivy Nile said she’d talk to Pearce about Valhalla. Gable said he was proud of Tozawa. Gable called Ivar a coward and an idiot and Gable would teach him a lesson next week. (This will be Gable’s first Raw match since November 20th.)
[THIRD HOUR]
Rhea Ripley/Becky Lynch segment
Rhea Ripley entered to a strong reaction. Ripley was sick of people like Nia Jax claiming that this was their division when the division belonged to her. She warned the Royal Rumble winner that they’d be wasting their opportunity by picking her because Mami was always on top (she initially flubbed her line but recovered).
Becky Lynch interrupted. They circled each other as Lynch cut her promo. Lynch said they were two very different people with similar stories. Two people coming from foreign lands becoming the best to ever do it. Two people who were afterthoughts at WrestleMania one year who became faces of the industry the next.
Lynch said there were differences. One of them won the main event of WrestleMania, while the other didn’t. One had the strength of a bear while the other had the heart of a lion.
Here they stood, the two of the very best to ever do it. But there was a voice in Lynch’s head telling her that, maybe, Ripley was better. Lynch needed to prove that she wasn’t and she needed to take the title from her. She needed to win the Rumble, point to the sign and declare that it would be Mami versus The Man at WrestleMania.
Ripley said, “There’s only one other person that wants you to win the Royal Rumble match more than yourself, and that’s me. I’ll see you at WrestleMania.”
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Jackie Redmond interviewed Seth Rollins in the back. Rollins was cold and you could somehow see his breath backstage as he spoke. Rollins said he’s been champion for over 200 days and he gets stronger after every title defence. That’s why he wanted to keep being a fighting champion heading into WrestleMania.
Rollins said this wasn’t the same Mahal he beat to become the first NXT Champion. This was the best version of Mahal and a deserving version of Mahal (what?). Rollins did his catchphrase and the crowd sang along.
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Non-title match: Tag Team Champions Finn Bálor & Damian Priest (w/Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh) defeated R-Truth & The Miz (8:00)
Before the match started, Truth gave Bálor a big handful of cash. Dom got a small share too. McDonagh put his hand out but Truth told him he wasn’t in Judgment Day.
After some ‘comedy’, the match eventually started with Truth confused that Bálor was attacking him and they went to break after 60 seconds.
Truth acted dumb momentarily before it finally seemed like he would attack Priest. Bálor stepped in but Truth fought him off. Priest reluctantly chokeslammed Truth and Bálor covered him for the win.
(They played up that Priest liked Truth and didn’t really want to do this. I guess we’re supposed to ignore a few weeks ago when Priest specifically said he was the one person who didn’t like Truth and attacked him.)
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Mahal was meditating in the back when he was approached by Redmond for an interview. Mahal said he’s been in a seven-year drought but he was the most talked-about star of 2024. It was years in the making and everyone would be unified when he became World Heavyweight Champion.
Shinsuke Nakamura was angry that he didn’t put away Cody Rhodes. He warned Rhodes to keep an eye open because he was turning his attention to the Rumble match. A hungry Shinsuke was a dangerous one and he would feist on the dreams of 29 other men.
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Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark defeated Tegan Nox & Natalya (5:21)
Natalya set up for Hart Attack but Stark took out Nox and Baszler taped out Natalya with Kirifuda Clutch.
(For the first time in a while, I think, Natlaya did not wear pink but instead wore white/silver and black.)
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Next week on Raw in New Orleans:
- CM Punk and Cody Rhodes go face-to-face
- Ivy Nile vs. Valhalla
- Chad Gable vs. Ivar
- Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest
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Seth Rollins defeated Jinder Mahal (w/Indus Sher) to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (12:58)
They decided to add some intrigue by having Priest walk out with his briefcase two minutes into the match. After a break, Mahal held an abdominal stretch as Priest was forced to watch at ringside.
Rollins got the better of a strike exchange and hit a flying crossbody for two, followed by a springboard senton and Lionsault for two. Rollins sold his knee on the landing as Priest looked on.
Mahal tried a vertical suplex but Rollins countered with a falcon arrow. Rollins followed later with a Pedigree, landing awkwardly on his knee. Rollins slowly made a cover but Veer put Mahal’s leg on the rope (sort of) for the rope break. Rollins went after Veer but missed a frog splash on Mahal.
Priest thought about cashing in but McIntyre suddenly appeared at ringside. They exchanged blows and fought up the ramp. The distraction allowed Mahal to hit a gutbuster for two.
Veer distracted the referee while Sanga handed a chair to Mahal. Rollins avoided the chair but as the ref chucked it away, Veer hit Rollins with the briefcase. Mahal followed with a Khallas for a nearfall. The ref tossed Veer and Sanga from ringside.
Rollins blocked another Khallas attempt and nailed a curb stomp for the pinfall win.
(They were up against the clock and quickly went off the air after Rollins retained.)
They’ve mostly done what they’re going to do to build the Rumble show already and boy did this ever feel like a place-holder show.