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WWE RAW REPORT: PUNK IS BACK, ORTON IS BACK, CODY IS READY TO RUMBLE, THE CREEDS, DREW HAS ISSUES, AND MORE

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

Cody asks what does Nashville want to talk about.  

So many stories stemming from this weekend.  Cody says his team was able to secure the victory and he wants to thank all of his teammates, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Seth Rollins, and Randy Orton.  He says Randy is a mentor and a friend.  He was given another memory by being given Damian Priest to hit CrossRhodes to win the match.  Not any match, but his dad's match.  

The other story is the return of CM Punk.  Nobody knew it was going to happen and everyone is tuning in to see what he has to say.  Cody welcomes Punk back.  Fishermen spot other fishermen from afar.  

Cody says he has some news to talk about tonight.  Cody says you know him and that means there is only one destination for him.  That is why he is the first person to enter the 2024 Royal Rumble.

The lights go out.

Shinsuke Nakamura appears on the TitanTron.  

Nakamura says Cody is a brave hero who has won his battle.  Now you need to continue your story.  He says he needs Cody to st him free and to awaken him and to evolve.  I was patient with you week after week but I am not waiting.  HE says he will bring chaos to Cody.

Nakamura appears behind Cody and sprays red mist in Cody's face.

We go to commercial.

Match Number Two:  Bronson Reed versus Ivar (with Valhalla)

They lock up and go to a stalemate.  Both men try for clotheslines and they barely move each other.  Ivar with a knee and shoulder tackle that sends Reed into the ropes and Reed with a shoulder tackle.  Reed with an elbow drop.  Reed charges into the corner and is met with a seated splash from Ivar.  Ivar sets for a suplex but Reed blocks it.  Reed with a suplex.  Ivar goes to the floor and Reed goes ot the apron.  Valhalla pushes Ivar away and Ivar pulls Reed off the apron and hits a spin kick of doom followed by a cross body into the apron.  They return to the ring and Ivar with an elbow in the corner followed by a punch.  Ivar with another elbow.  Ivar with a punch and clothesline.  Ivar with a cross body splash for a near fall.  Ivar with a chin bar.  Ivar with a punch and Reed with an Irish whip that flips Ivar in the corner.  

Reed with a head butt and shoulders in the corner.  Reed chokes Ivar in the ropes and he head butts Ivar again.  Reed with a rear chin lock.  Ivar with a punch and Reed with a forearm.  Both men with clotheslines and both go down.  Ivar and Reed exchange punches and forearms.  Reed with a head butt.  Reed with chops in the corner.  Reed goes Kojima goes Kobashi and then Ivar with the lawnmower elbows.  Reed blocks the spin kick of doom and hits a super kick.  Reed with a Samoan drop and back senton for a near fall.  Reed missesa  clothesline and Ivar with a power slam for a near fall.  Ivar goes up top for the moonsault and misses when Reed moves.  Reed goes up top for Tsunami but Valhalla gets on the apron and Reed goes to the mat.  Valhalla is sent to the back by the referee.  

Ivar with a clothesline that sends Reed to the floor.  Ivar is caught by Reed off the apron and Reed with a slam.  Reed sends Ivar over the ringside barrier.  Ivar with a kick and they fight into the time keeper's area.  Reed stops Ivar on the ringside barrier and Reed with a Death Valley Driver into the ringside barrier as the referee makes the ten count.

Double Count Out

After the match, Ivar hits Reed with a chair and they fight through the crowd.  Ivar moves and Reed splashes a production worker.  Security come out and they do their job so well that Ivar clotheslines one.  Reed lawn darts another member of security into Ivar.  Ivar with a cannonball off a production case onto Reed and security.

Reed and Ivar are finally separated.

Zoey and Shayna talk about Survivor Series and Zoey mentions how close she got.  Shayna says she will get another chance.

Nia tells Zoey she did a great job becoming champion but you fell short.  Nia says she should have been in the match and would have been champion.

Shayna tells Nia to shut up before her arm is broken and she is put on the shelf.

Zoey says she doesn't need Shayna's help and she challenges Nia to a match.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a look at footage and reaction to CM Punk's return to WWE.

Finn, Damian, and JD enter the clubhouse and R Truth is eating jelly rolls.

Priest yells at Truth for messing it up.

Truth says he is all in to be the fifth member of their War Games team.

Truth is told that was two days ago.  He asks how did they do and how did he do.

Priest says they lost and he thanks Truth for reminding him.  

Truth brings up Randy's return and Priest tells him to leave.

JD says he will take care of R Truth.

Match Number Three:  Zoey Stark versus Nia Jax

Zoey with kicks to Nia and a forearm that staggers Nia.  Nia pushes Zoey into the corner but runs into a boot.  Zoey goes to the apron and kicks Nia.  Zoey goes for a springboard move but Nia with a forearm.  Nia hip tosses Zoey back into the ring and Zoey rolls through.  Nia with a slam.  Nia sends Zoey into the corner and she hits a splash.  Nia goes to the floor when ZOey moves.  Zoey with a double jump clothesline to Nia.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Nia with a torture rack.  Zoey is able to get to her feet and she hits a jaw breaker.  Nia with a back elbow.  Nia sends Zoey into the turnbuckle.  Nia slams Zoey's head into the mat.  Zoey escapes a slam attempt and hits super kicks.  Nia misses a shoulder in the corner and hits the ring post.  Zoey with a slingshot twisting splash to the leg and she gets a near fall.   Nia with a head butt and a splash into the corner.  Nia with a running hip into the corner.  Nia goes for the Banzai drop but Zoey gets to her feet and she hits a thrust kick to the leg and Zoey with a rollup for a near fall.  Zoey with a missile drop kick for a near fall.   Zoey goes up top and Nia hits the ropes to send Zoey to the mat.  Nia with a Samoan drop and a back senton.  Nia pulls Zoey into the corner for the Banzai drop and the three count.

Winner:  Nia Jax

We take a look back at the Intercontinental Championship match from Survivor Series.

Kaiser and Vinci are in the back and Gunther shows up.   He says he expects them to go to Adam Pearce to solve the DIY issue.  

Kaiser promises to get it done.

Gunther turns around into Miz.

Miz says he saw Gunther's press conference.  He says that Gunther said his next challenger had to come to his face.

Gunther asks Mike if he is sure about that.

Miz says he is sure that he can beat Gunther.  

Gunther says that he knows that Miz isn't a threat for his title.  You came prepared for a fight.  You proved you belong in the ring, just not with him.

Coverage Continues on Next Page

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