PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

WWE RAW REPORT: STREET FIGHT, YOU WON'T LIKE KAISER WHEN HE IS ANGRY, DREW AND PUNK, RHEA AND NIA?, TAG TITLE MATCH, AND MORE

Your announcers are Michael Cole and Wade Barrett.

We see Cody Rhodes walking in the back in the arena.

Drew McIntyre is in the ring and he interrupts the graphic for Cody and Shinsuke Nakamura.

Drew says last week's match was all or nothing.  He had to have that title and he does not have that title.  He says he is replaying that match in his head and he had him pinned after a Claymore but he put Seth's foot on the rope and it cost him the match.  Drew says he has been thinking about it all week.  Maybe Seth and Sami were right.  The person holding Drew back is himself.  He says he needs to get his head on right and get his priorities right.  Drew says he has to get away from WWE for a while.  Drew says this wasn't easy.  Up to two days ago, he felt that way.  Then it occurred to him.  Drew says he did not lose straight up.  The better man did not win.  Damian tried to cash in and it cost him the match. 

Drew asks Priest why would he cash in during the match and wait until Drew won and he was a weakened target.  You screwed yourself and you screwed Drew.  Drew says with everything going on on this brand with Jey Uso and CM Punk and everyone else.  Maybe he should leave the company for nine years and he can get a huge reception when he returns . . . 

CM Punk's music plays and he makes his way to the ring.

Punk says they are in Piper Country.  He says he is a bit disappointed that Drew isn't wearing the kilt because they people might have cheered for him.  PIper is a legend who is known for talking. Punk says he is known for talking.  Is Drew known for his talking?  That is all you have done.  Punk says as someone who talks too much, but when he heard his name, he figured he would come out so Drew can talk to his face.

Drew congratulates Punk for lasting more than a month in WWE.  Drew says there was a bet that Punk was going to crash and burn and he is costing people the longer he stays.  Drew says maybe Punk and Seth have more in common.  He says he does not care what he says outside the company.  He was getting remembered.  Drew says he cares about what happens in the ring.  He says he traveled with Punk and he could talk about what Punk did to him.

Drew says Punk would refer to himself as the Locker Room Leader because the leader needs to announce he is the leader.  Drew says he needed a leader back in those days, but he does not need it now.  Drew says he had some personal issues, he lost the person closest to him.  He says he needed someone to help him but you refused.  Drew says he talked to Randy but Randy had his demons. You are straight edge so you don't have demons, but you are the demon.  You are a succubus.  Drew says when he got fired, he figured out what he needed to do.  Drew tells Punk he is his leader now.

Drew relaxes on the turnbuckles for Punk to speak.

Punk says he never called himself a leader because he led by example.  He says Drew can be straight edge and shave his head.  If he was a leader, who walked out of the company?  Punk says you came back bigger and stronger.  You won the Royal Rumble and main evented Wrestlemania.  Punk says because he wants to do what Drew did, he is back.  Punk says he wants to win the Rumble and main event Wrestlemania.  He is not the demon.  When he is pushed, he becomes the devil.  If you saw that, you were in the wrong place.  Punk says he is a nice guy until you tell him not to be.  Punk says he is not here to be a nice guy or be friends.  He is here to win the Royal Rumble and main event Wrestlemania.

Drew says we have a problem.  He says he main evented Wrestlemania, something you never did.  Drew says the company needed someone to step up.  He took the lead for everyone.  He says Punk would have left during that time if he was here, when the going gets tough, Punk gets going.  Drew says if Punk is in the Rumble, he will eliminate him.  Drew says when he wins at Wrestlemania, it is for him, not the fans.

Punk tells Drew it is getting a big spicy so he will lead by example and walk away before he punches him in the throat.  Punk says he is the only one who can stop him.  He got out of his own way a long time ago.  You can't stop him from winning the Royal Rumble.  Seth can't stop him from winning the Royal Rumble.  Cody cannot stop him from winning the Royal Rumble.  Punk says, leader to leader, he is going to throw Drew out last.

Ciampa and Gargano walk in the back and he says today is the 19th anniversary of his first match.  He fights hard and they want the tag titles.  This match is can't lose, it is must win.  They will become tag team champions in 2024.

We see how R Truth got this match set up.

Match Number One:  Finn Balor (with Damian Priest) versus Tommaso Ciampa (with Johnny Gargano)

They lock up and Ciampa backs Finn into the corner and Finn with a shoulder on the break.  Finn with a punch to the midsection and another punch.  Finn with a side head lock and Ciampa with a back elbow.  Ciampa with chops.  Ciampa with a sunset flip to Balor but you don't sunset flip Balor and he drop kicks CIampa and gets a near fall.  Finn with elbows to the head.  Finn with a punch but Ciampa with a Thesz Press and punches.  Finn goes to the floor and Ciampa follows after him.  Priest gets in Ciampa's way and Finn misses a forearm.  Ciampa with a shoulder from the apron and he sends Finn into the turnbuckles.  Priest distracts Ciampa and Balor knocks CIampa off the apron into the announce table.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Ciampa with punches and chops.  Ciampa with a flying clothesline and a clothesline into the corner.  Finn goes for an elevated elbow drop but Finn counters into a reverse DDT for a near fall.  Ciampa goes for a power bomb but Balor lands on his feet and he hits a double stomp.  Finn goes for the running drop kick but Ciampa with a running knee ot the head.  Ciampa with Project Ciampa for a near fall.  Ciampa sets for a running knee but Balor counters with Sling Blade and a running drop kick that sends Ciampa into the turnbuckles.  Finn goes up top and misses the double stomp when Ciampa moves.  Ciampa with a rollup for a near fall.  Ciampa with a punch and he sets for Fairy Tale Ending but Priest gets on the apron.  Ciampa punches Priest and Gargano pulls Priest off the apron.  Ciampa with a running knee to Priest on the floor.

Balor kicks the middle rope when Ciampa tries to get back in the ring.  Gargano trips Balor when Balor tries to suplex Ciampa back into the ring and Ciampa gets the three count.

Winner:  Tommaso Ciampa

We take a look at highlights from last week's match between Becky Lynch and Nia Jax.

Jackie Redmond is with Becky Lynch in the back.

Becky is asked about her loss last week.  

Becky says she tried to imagine what would happen if Nia threw a proper punch.  She says maybe she would break an orbital bone and she might have gone to the hospital.  Becky says Nia punched her and she got up and she announced that she would be in the Royal Rumble.  She is ahead of the last time.  Either Nia is getting weaker or Becky is getting stronger.  Nia did not end her and Becky did not stop her.  Maybe this was just the beginning.

We see Kayden Carter and Katana Chance in the back getting ready for their defense against the former champions.

We see Chelsea Green and Piper Niven in the back.

Match Number Two:  Kofi Kingston versus Ludwig Kaiser

Kofi with a waist lock and Kaiser with a back elbow and punch.  Kaiser with more punches to Kofi.  Kaiser with punches and a short arm clothesline.  Kaiser with forearms to the back of the head.  Kofi with punches but Kaiser with an elbow and he chops Kofi in the corner.  Kaiser punches Kofi and he chops Kofi some more.  Kofi with chops.  Kaiser fires back and Kofi with more chops and punches but Kaiser hot shots Kofi on the top turnbuckle.  Kaiser sends Kofi shoulder first into the ring post.  Kaiser with kicks and a drop kick to Kofi.  Kofi with a punch from the apron and a kick.  Kofi with a springboard cross body and punches.  Kaiser avoids Trouble in Paradise.  Kofi sends Kaiser over the top rope to the floor.

Kofi goes for a suicide dive but Kaiser with a punch.  Kaiser sends Kofi into the ringside barrier.  Kaiser with a kick to the chest.  Kaiser tells Kofi something in German as we go to commercial.

We are back and Kaiser chokes Kofi and hits springboard boots to the chest.  Kaiser goes to the turnbuckles but Kofi gets his feet up to send Kaiser to the floor.  Kofi goes to the apron and then he goes up top for a trust fall and connects.  Kofi leaps over the ring steps when Kaiser tries to reverse an Irish whip into them.  Kofi leaps over the ring steps and hits a cross body.  Kaiser sends Kofi into the ring post and Kaiser misses a running European uppercut and hits the barrier.  Kaiser stops Kofi from beating the count.

Double Count Out

Kofi with a super kick to Kaiser after the match.  Kofi with a suicide dive that sends Kaiser into the announce table.  Kofi punches Kaiser and Kaiser with a thumb to the eye.  Kofi back drops Kaiser onto the announce table. 

Kofi is held back by officials.

Kofi escapes and Kaiser throws the announcer's chair at Kofi and Kofi is down.  Kaiser grabs Kofi and he punches Kofi on the ring steps.  Kaiser goes to the apron and officials hold their arms out to tell Kaiser to stop.  Kaiser gets out of the ring and then Kaiser breaks free and hits a running drop kick to Kofi against the ring steps.

We go to commercial.

Coverage Continues on Next Page

 

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet