WWE Raw Results 1/29 - Intercontinental Title Match, We Hear From Cody Rhodes And Bayley
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE Raw" on January 29, 2024, coming to you live from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida!
The Women's Royal Rumble this past Saturday was one for the books, from Naomi and Liv Morgan returning to Jade Cargill making her debut, and TNA's Jordynne Grace appearing. Bayley emerged as the winner of the match, dumping Morgan and Cargill out of the ring last to punch her ticket to WrestleMania 40. Likewise, Andrade returned to WWE in the Men's Royal Rumble, and Omos competed in his first televised match since SummerSlam. Cody Rhodes and CM Punk were the final two in the match, with the former tossing the latter over the top to win his second Royal Rumble in a row. Tonight, both of the winners have something on their minds to share.
GUNTHER will be putting his Intercontinental Championship on the line against New Day's Kofi Kingston. Kingston encountered "The Ring General" backstage last week and requested a title shot after he and Xavier Woods squared off with Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser in a tag team earlier that night which ultimately ended in a double count-out.
GUNTHER won't be the only person to put a title on the line, as Finn Balor and Damian Priest defend the Undisputed Tag Team Championship against #DIY. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa scored a victory over Balor and Priest's Judgment Day teammates Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh two weeks ago to gain some momentum heading into tonight's bout.
Additionally, Jey Uso will be colliding with Bronson Reed after both competing in the Men's Rumble on Saturday.
We are live! Michael Cole and Pat McAfee greet audiences at home as CM Punk makes his way down to the ring.
We Hear From CM Punk
Punk says he came really close in the Men's Royal Rumble on Saturday and he felt like he had it in the palm of his hand. He says he's not mad at anybody and congratulates Cody Rhodes, then says he earned the win and hopes he can finish his story in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He says while he came close, close doesn't count in the wrestling business. He says he feels a little bit unlucky after tearing his right tricep in the Royal Rumble, and says as much as he wants to push through, it's not in the cards for him. He says he doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for him, and although it's always been his dream to main event WrestleMania, it might not be meant for him to do. He talks about his friend, Chad Gilbert, and how he's able to remain positive through cancer. He says all he has is a flesh wound, and when he says "Best In The World", it's not because he always wins but because he does what scares him. He says it scared him to come back after ten years when he left a place he didn't want to, and this is just a bump in the road for him. He says he doesn't focus on negativity, and says he'll keep going like the fans who work hard do. Punk says there will always be next year.
Drew McIntyre's music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He says he's said some terrible things about Punk, and while he meant them, he relates to what Punk is saying. He says he's had his dreams taken from him too, and despite not knowing what he believes in, he prayed for this to happen. He says he targeted Punk in the Rumble, and he couldn't sleep when Punk eliminated him. He says when he heard the news of Punk's torn tricep, he slept like a baby. He says he'll go to the main event of WrestleMania and live out Punk's dream for the second time in his career.
Punk says he's going to rehab his tricep and main event WrestleMania 41, but before he goes that, he's coming for McIntyre. The two begin brawling, and McIntyre lands a Glasgow Kiss on Punk. He stomps on his tricep before Sami Zayn runs down to the ring and McIntyre is forced to retreat up the ramp.
We then head backstage and see Judgment Day strategize in their lounge.
Judgment Day (c) vs. #DIY for the Undisputed Tag Team Championship
Ciampa and Priest begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Priest delivers a right hand to Ciampa, then sends him crashing into the corner and tags in Balor. Balor delivers an elbow to Ciampa's head, but Ciampa responds with a chop and double teams on him with the now legal Gargano. Priest and Balor land on the outside, and #DIY goes flying over the top rope to level them.
Gargano tosses Balor back in the ring and delivers a cop. Ciampa tags back in and Balor rolls out of the ring. CIampa chases him back inside, but Balor clocks him. Priest (now legal) hops off the apron and gets Ciampa up on his shoulders, then sends him crashing into the ring apron face first. He gets him back in the ring and tags back out to Balor. Balor delivers a scissor kick and wears Ciampa down with a hold. Gargano tags in, but the referee doesn't see and he tells him to get back on the apron. While he's doing so, Priest delivers a cheap kick to Ciampa from the apron before tagging back in. Ciampa connects with a few strikes on him and Balor, but Priest delivers a right hand and tags Balor back in.
Gargano tags in and delivers an enzuigiri to an interfering Priest. He delivers a pair of running knees, then levels both him and Balor. He then delivers a shoulder to Balor's midsection and a spear through the middle rope from the apron. Balor manages to tag in Priest, and Gargano rolls him up as Ciampa pulls Balor out of the ring. Priest kicks out, and Ciampa tags in. Gargano delivers an assisted Sliced Bread to Priest with Ciampa before Balor tags in and delivers a stomp to Ciampa's chest. Balor delivers a backbreaker, then holds Ciampa in place for the legal Priest to deliver a leg drop. Priest then connects with a slam on Ciampa and goes for a pin, but Gargano breaks the fall.
Priest dumps Gargano out of the ring and tags in Balor. Priest looks to land South of Heaven to Ciampa as Balor ascends to the top, but Ciampa escapes. Gargano levels Priest with a DDT as Ciampa ascends to the top and delivers an Air Raid Crash. Gargano tags in and #DIY deliver Meeting In The Middle. Gargano goes for a pin, but Priest gets Balor's foot on the bottom rope to break the hold.
Ciampa and Gargano go after Priest on the outside. Balor rolls up Gargano when he gets back in the ring, but he kicks out. Balor delivers a Sling Blade and dropkicks him into the corner, then ascends to the top and looks to hit a Coup De Grace. Gargano avoids it and locks in the Gargano Escape. Ciampa does the same on Priest, but Priest makes his way up to his feet and sends Ciampa crashing on top of Balor and Gargano. Priest tags in and sets up for Razor's Edge on Gargano, but Gargano escapes and tags Ciampa in. Ciampa fires off right hands on Priest as Gargano and Balor brawl. Priest sends Gargano crashing into the announce desk face first, and Ciampa rolls him up when he gets back in the ring. Priest kicks out and tags in Balor. Priest then delivers Razor's Edge to Ciampa, and Balor follows it up with the Coup De Grace for the win.
Winners (and still): Judgment Day
We Hear From Judgment Day
After the match, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh join Priest and Balor in the ring. Balor brags about him and Priest retaining their title, and Priest says fans have seen a different side of Judgment Day for weeks thanks to one person: R-Truth. He invites Truth to join them in the ring, and he makes his way down. Truth asks the WWE Universe to rise for Judgment Day, and says he hasn't been able to sleep since what happened in the Men's Royal Rumble. He tells Priest he moved around his finances for him, and Priest says Judgment Day is like family. Truth says he's been saying that, calling Priest his older brother, Balor a weird uncle, questioning what else can be said about Dominik, and compares McDonagh to a step-brother they don't want in the family.
Priest cuts Truth off and says he's never been part of the group. He says he's always liked him and won't be the one to do this. McDonagh then attacks Truth and The Miz runs down to even the odds, but Priest, Dominik, and Balor waste no time going after him.
Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark then make their way down to the ring. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven follow.
Chelsea Green and Piper Niven vs. Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark
Niven and Stark begin the action. The bell rings and Niven goes right after Stark. She sends her crashing into the mat, then rocks her with a back elbow. Baszler takes a cheap shot at Niven from the apron, and Stark delivers a kick. Baszler tags in and fires off right and left hands on Niven, then stomps on her arm.
Green and Stark tag in, and Green sends Stark crashing into the middle rope. Baszler looks to lock in the Kirifuda Clutch on Green, but Green escapes. Baszler pulls Niven off the apron as Green looks to tag her in, opening the door for Stark to deliver the Z360 to Green for the win.
Winners: Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark
Cody Rhodes then makes his way down to the ring.
We Hear From Cody Rhodes
Rhodes asks Tampa what they want to talk about, then says he had something in mind to say. He says it was music to his ears to hear Samantha Irvin call him the winner of the 2023 and 2024 Men's Royal Rumble matches. He calls on her to do it for a second time, then says the expectation on WWE is to give everyone the best action they can and provide an escape. He says sometimes people don't realize that Superstars need an escape too, and says the last 24 hours have been challenging for him. He says he needed fans on Saturday.
Before he can continue any further, Seth "Freakin" Rollins' music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He tells Rhodes that Tampa is right in cheering for Rhodes because he deserves it, and while they haven't always seen eye-to-eye, they've developed a mutual respect for one another. He congratulates Rhodes on winning the Rumble and shakes his hand, then says Rhodes would be making a mistake choosing to fight Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40. He tells Rhodes he thinks he should fight him instead, and tells him to hear him out.
Rollins recalls hearing Rhodes call himself 'the guy' during the Royal Rumble Press Conference. He says Rhodes isn't 'the guy' (nor is Reigns) because he is, and says it made sense to go after Reigns when there was only one World Championship. He says he knows all Rhodes has thought about for the past year is Reigns, but he's been on the road with him as he's defended the World Heavyweight Championship week in and week out. He says the title he holds came to be because of how tired the fans grew with Reigns showing up less and less frequently on television and cheating to win when he defended his title. He says his title is for him and the fans by him and the fans, and they've now leveled the playing field. He says they don't have to pretend Reigns is a God or on a pedestal, and asks Rhodes if he wants the workhorse title. He says the World Heavyweight Championship is about who is best between the ropes, and says this is about Rhodes and his own decision. He says he wants to know what's in Rhodes' heart and what kind of man he wants to be.
Rhodes tells Rollins he has that same amount of respect for him, and he'll think about his offer.
Jey Uso then makes his way down to the ring. Bronson Reed follows.
Jey Uso vs. Bronson Reed
The bell rings and the two lock up. Reed runs over Jey and delivers three clotheslines to him in the corner, then lands a right hand across his spine and connects with a pair of right hands on his head. Jey dumps Reed out of the ring and delivers a tope suicida, but Reed sends him crashing into the ring post and charges at him. Jey ducks out of the way, and Reed is sent crashing into the ring post.
Back from the break, Jey fires off right hands on Reed. Reed responds with a senton, but Jey connects with a kick. The pair teeter on the ropes, but Jey pushes Reed off and looks to fly. Reed rolls out of the way and delivers a Death Valley Driver. He gets Jey back up on his shoulders, but Jey escapes.
Reed then delivers a splash to Jey in the corner and looks to execute the Tsunami, Jey avoids it and lands a spear, then ascends to the top and delivers an Uso Splash for the win.
Winner: Jey Uso
We then head backstage and see Andrade talking to Adam Pearce. Nick Aldiso strolls in, and Pearce announces that Andrade is the newest member of the "Raw" roster. Andrade walks off, and Aldis (passive aggressively) expresses his frustrations with not being able to sign him first. He says they need to discuss Elimination Chamber business, but walks off when he gets a call from Bron Breakker.
Kofi Kingston then makes his way down to the ring. GUNTHER follows.
GUNTHER (c) vs. Kofi Kingston for the Intercontinental Championship
The bell rings and Kingston wastes no time. He fires off right hands on GUNTHER, but GUNTHER responds with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and locks in a Boston Crab.
Back from the break, Kingston delivers a headbutt to GUNTHER. GUNTHER responds by whipping Kingston into the corner and looks to lock in a second Boston Crab. Kingston fights his way out of it and GUNTHER delivers a bodyslam to him. He then delivers an uppercut, but Kingston responds with a pair of overhand chops. He follows it up with another heaedbutt and an enzuigiri from the apron, then ascends to the top. GUNTHER catches him and lands a backbreaker, then locks in a Boston Crab.
Back from another break, Kingston delivers a pair of chops to GUNTHER and follows it up with a dropkick. He dumps GUNTHER over the top rope and looks to land a tope suicida, but GUNTHER catches him and sends him colliding with the ring apron. He looks to hit a powerbomb, but Kingston counters into a hurricanrana that sends GUNTHER crashing into the ring post. Kingston then delivers a pair of tope suicidas.
The pair get back in the ring, and Kingston lands a kick on GUNTHER's head. GUNTHER rolls out of the ring and Kingston follows him out, then climbs up to the barricade and flues with a right hand as GUNTHER his draped over the ring steps. Kingston gets GUNTHER in the ring and ascends to the top, then delivers the Boom Drop. He sets up for Trouble In Paradise, but GUNTHER rolls him up. Kingston kicks out and gets caught with a clothesline from GUNTHER.
GUNTHER delivers a clothesline to Kingston and dropkicks him into the corner. He then delivers a powerbomb for the win.
Winner (and still): GUNTHER
After the match, Xavier Woods checks on Kingston, but Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser blindside the pair with an attack. Kaiser holds Kingston in place, and Vinci delivers a boot to him. Woods goes after them, but the numbers game becomes too much and the Imperium members send Woods crashing into the ring post face first.
The Kabuki Warriors then make their way down to the ring. Natalya and Tegan Nox follow.
The Kabuki Warriors vs. Natalya and Tegan Nox
Nox and Sane begin the action. The bell rings and the two waste no time going after each other. Natalya tags in and Sane sends her crashing into the mat, then tags in Asuka. Sane sends Natalya crashing into Asuka's boot, but Natalya sends Asuka crashing into the turnbuckles face first and tags Nox back in. Nox delivers an uppercut and an enzuigiri, then hits a senton. Nox and Natalya then double team on The Warriors.
Back from the break, Sane tags in and double teams on Nox with Asuka. Sane then lands a pair of chops on Nox. Asuka (now legal) fires off stomps on the side of Nox's head, but Nox lands an enzuigiri. Asuka cinches in an Ankle Lock on Nox, but Nox escapes and delivers an uppercut. Natalya tags in and delivers a pair of suplexes, then delivers a German suplex and a discus lariat. She looks to lock in a Sharpshooter, but Sane prevents her from doing so by getting in the ring Natalya dumps her out of the ring. Sane tags in and ascends to the top, then delivers the In-Sane Elbow to Natalya as Asuka holds her in place for the win.
Winners: The Kabuki Warriors
Bayley then makes her way down to the ring as the rest of Damage CTRL is already waiting inside.
We Hear From Bayley
Bayley gives fans a photo op and asks when the last time the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions, the WWE Women's Champion, and a Women's Royal Rumble stood in the same ring. She says this is history right here, and it's all thanks to her. She says she told everyone that Damage CTRL would take over despite what everyone said, and she stands in the ring now as the 2024 Women's Royal Rumble winner. She says she beat 29 other women and set the record for the longest time spent in the match at over 63 minutes.
Before she can continue any further, Rhea Ripley's music hits and she makes her way out. Ripley says Bayley only set the record because she wasn't in it, but Nia Jax blindsides her on the ramp and tosses her down the ramp. Ripley gets Jax inside the ring and looks to land a splash, but Jax knocks her down and hits three leg drops. She then delivers the A-Nia-Lator and stares down Bayley as the rest of Damage CTRL hops out of the ring. Jax stares down Bayley in the corner and tells Bayley that she can choose to face IYO SKY at WrestleMania or anyone else because Ripley won't be making it. Bayley then says she will be making her decision about her WrestleMania opponent on "WWE SmackDown" this Friday.
Sami Zayn then makes his way down to the ring. Drew McIntyre follows.
Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn
The bell rings and McIntyre sends Zayn crashing into the corner. Zayn hits a few chops and flies to join McIntyre on the outside, but McIntyre tosses him over the announce desk. Zayn then goes flying to take down McIntyre.
Back from the break, Zayn fires off chops on McIntyre. McIntyre sits Zayn on the top rope and joins him up there, but Zayn fights back and delivers a Sunset Flip. He follows it up with a Tornado DDT and sets up for a Helluva Kick, but McIntyre watches him with a spinebuster and a powerbomb. He charges at Zayn in the corner, but Zayn ducks out of the way and McIntyre delivers a Glasgow Kiss. He ascends to the top, but Zayn joins him up there and delivers a superplex.
McIntyre sets up for the Claymore Kick, but Zayn counters into a Blue Thunder Bomb and goes for a pin. McIntyre kicks out and delivers a belly-to-belly suplex to Zayn, then kips up and delivers White Noise to Zayn off the middle rope. He goes for a pin, but Zayn kicks out and fires down right and left hands on McIntyre. Zayn looks to hit the Helluva Kick, but McIntyre ducks out of the way and Zayn's foot collides with the top turnbuckle. McIntyre takes advantage and delivers the Claymore Kick for the win.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
After the match, McIntyre demands the referee raise his hand and heads to the back, proud of his win as the show goes off the air.