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WWE RAW REPORT: CODY AND PUNK CHANGE ROLES, VISITORS FROM SMACKDOWN, GUNTHER ADMIRES SETH, KOFI CHALLENGES GUNTHER, AND MORE

We are back and Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

CM Punk makes his way to the ring.

Punk suggests they enjoy this moment because they came here on different paths.  He says it changes on Saturday and he hopes they will still be friends on Sunday morning.

Cody asks the people and Punk what does he want to talk about.

Punk says he wants to talk about Cody's dad.  He says he does not know if Cody knows this story.  Dusty called him in 2007 and told him that he was sending his youngest son Cody to train at OVW and he wanted Punk to watch Cody.  Punk says he didn't know if Cody needed a guardian angel, but when the American Dream asks you for a favor, you say yes.  You never got into any trouble Cody couldn't get out of and he didn't fall into the vices that others did.  You went from a preliminary wrestler to a main event superstar.  Punk says he is proud of Cody.

Punk says he brought this up because on Saturday he feels like he is breaking a promise.  When the bell rings, he will not be looking out for Cody, he will be looking for Cody.  He says he will do what he has to do.  He will punch Cody in the face and throw him out if he needs to because Punk says he is going to win the Rumble.

Cody says Punk is not alone in the feeling who is talking to him and thinking about Dusty.  Cody talks about all of the people who when they see him, they can't help but see Dusty Rhodes.  It is a large shadow.  Cody says he has done everything in his power not only to be the shadow but but the light to be his own man. 

Cody says he came to OVW folk style wrestling experience with no matches under his belt.  He was a nepotism hire.  You were there and you were on the independent scene for ten years.  You treated him like a peer and a friend.  That is why it is bittersweet.  In the Royal Rumble, there are no friends.

Punk asks about Sunday morning.  He knows about the Rumble.  Punk says he can separate business from personal.  Can you?  Punk says he wasn't born into this business while you are from this business.  Business is personal to you.  You are the son of one of the greatest.  They have traveled different paths.  He didn't have a famous dad.  You weren't a nepotsim hire.  Punk says he didn't have everything.  He says he saw the burden of Cody's last name and to come out of that shadow.  Punk says Cody did it with flying colors.  

With all of their differences in what they are wearing.  They came on two different paths, but they have a similar goal.  Punk says he didn't have Dusty Rhodes as a father.  Punk says his father was a regular guy, an electrician.  Punk says he is more of the 'American dream' than Cody is.  

Cody says this is what he wants to talk about.  Cody brings up the Pipe Bomb.  You sat up there and rattled off the formula for a revolution.  There are many who got into this business because of that.  Cody says he was inspired by it.  Then you left, and you really left.  You didn't pass the torch, you dropped it.  You didn't care who picked it up but you know who did.  Cody says he did.  He did everything Punk said he would do.  While you talked, Cody walked.  Cody says that makes him more CM Punk than Punk.

Punk takes off his sweatshirt and he says it is getting hot in here.  Punk says he wants to give Cody the full Road to Wrestlemania path.  You put this company on your shoulders for two years and you are on the cover of the video game.  In the distance there is a bigger superstar than you waiting to take it all away from you.  Punk says that is him.

Cody says Punk is looking out for him again.  You talked about The American Dream.  Cody says Dusty was his best friend and he quoted John Wayne.  Cody says he only has one direction and that is to go forward.  That is in the Royal Rumble.  That direction goes through you.

Cody drops the mic and brushes past Punk.  Punk stops Cody and they go face to face.

Punk and Cody leave the ring.

Punk tells Wade and Cole he is going to win the Rumble and they should put their money on him.

Cole mentions that tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the night Hulk Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik to win the WWF Title and the night that Hulkamania was born.

We go to commercial.

We see Kayden Carter and Katana Chance at ringside to watch the next match.

Match Number Five:  Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell versus Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark

Candice and Shayna start things off and Shayna sends Candice to the mat and kicks her in the head.  They lock up and Candice trips Shayna in the corner.  Candice with arm drags and Zoey tags in.  Zoey says she has it and Indi tags in and she punches Zoey.  Indi sends Zoey to the apron and connects with an uppercut and boot to the head.  Indi sends Shayna to the floor.  Candice walks the ropes like Hakushi and Candice sends Zoey into Shayna with a head scissors.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Zoey kicks Indi.  Zoey comes off the ropes with a springboard move but Indi with a spinebuster.

We see Piper and Chelsea in LOCKER ROOM watching on MONITOR.

Candice tags in and she takes care of Shayna and Zoey with kicks. Candice with a snap mare to Shayna and a step up Codebreaker to Zoey onto Shayna.  Zoey kicks Indi off the apron.  Candice sends Zoey to the floor.  Shayna with the Kirifuta Clutch and Zoey tags in and hits Z360 for the three count.

Winners:  Shayna Bazeler and Zoey Stark

After the match, Katana and Kayden make their way intot he ring and hold up their title belts.

Kairi Sane and Asuka attack the champions from behind.  Dakota joins them in the ring

Drew is with Jackie in the back.  

She asks Drew about what Cody and Punk said.

Drew says he said everything he had to directly to their faces.  Drew says he won the Royal Rumble and won at Wrestlemania.  He cares about what Priest said.  Things weren't 100% right when he was champion.  He isn't looking for some sort of spin.  He was the constant in people's lives during that time and people told him they saved their lives.  Drew says not everyone can have a destiny or a story.  There is room for only one chosen one and it is him.

We go to commercial.

We see KAIenFive in the back and Tegan Nox and Natalya stop them.

Nattie says they can't come to Raw and run things.

Adam Pearce stops the arguing.

Adam says he invited Bayley for two reasons, not to go into business for herself.  Bayley says once Kairi and Asuka win the tag titles, you are going to see a lot of them.

Adam walks down the hall and he turns into Veer and Sanga.  Jinder Mahal says they need to talk because of what he has done recently.

Adam tells Jinder he will meet them in his office.

If you like numbers, we get more.

We are back and next week, DIY face THE Judgment Day for the tag titles.  Jey Uso faces Bronson Reed.  Kofi Kingston challenges Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship.

Match Number Six:  Drew McIntyre versus Damian Priest

They lock up and Drew with a side head lock.  They push each other and Drew with a side head lock.  Drew with a shoulder tackle that sends Priest into the ropes and Priest takes Drew down with a shoulder tackle.  They push each other and Priest punches Drew in the corner.  Priest with an Irish whip and Drew with a clothesline out of the corner.  Drew with a chop and Priest with a punch to send Drew to the floor.  Priest comes off the ring steps but Drew catches Priest and hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on the floor.  Drew sends Priest back into the ring and Drew with a chop and punch.  Priest with a punch but Drew clotheslines Priest over the top rope to the floor.

Priest with a back heel kick and Priest tries to Irish whip Drew into the ring post but Drew stops him.  Priest blocks an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on the floor and Priest sends Drew into the ring post and then follows with a Broken Arrow onto the announce table.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Priest kicks Drew in the back of the leg and follows with a forearm and another kick to the leg.  Drew with chops and punches.  Drew with a kick to Priest and Priest with a clothesline for a near fall.  Drew avoids Priest clapping his hands but Priest with a forearm to the back.  Drew with a back elbow.  Both men with boots and both are down.  Drew with clotheslines and an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.  Drew with a neck breaker and both men are down.  Drew sets for the Claymore but Priest avoids it by moving out of the way.  Priest misses a spinning back heel kick.  Drew with a spinebuster and he gets a near fall.  Priest with a forearm and he sends Drew into the turnbuckles.  Priest charges into the corner but Drew with a kick.  Priest with a leaping flatliner for a near fall.

Priest goes for an elbow into the corner but Drew catches Priest.  Priest with kicks to the ribs and leg.  Drew with a head butt to Priest and Priest sends Drew to the apron.  Drew goes up top and misses a move  but rolls through.  Priest with a kick to the head.  Priest with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall.  Priest with a flip dive onto Drew on the floor.

R Truth comes out with Priest's money and Priest pushes Truth down.  Priest with a kick to Drew and Priest comes off the ropes and Drew with a Future Shock.  

Truth asks Priest for the password for Priest's briefcase and he gets on the ropes but Drew with a forearm to Truth.  Priest with South of Heaven but Truth is with the referee so he cannot make the count.  Priest grabs Truth and he sends Truth to the floor.  Drew with a Claymore to Priest for the three count.

Winner:  Drew McIntyre

 

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