Tag: Rollins

For most of WWE Raw’s existence, the show has aired on USA Network, with only brief breaks where the show moved to a new network. Monday marked not only the end of Raw’s current USA Network era, but the end of the show airing on cable television, with Raw moving to Netflix on Jan. 6.

While much of Monday night was spend building to the move to Netflix, the final segment brought some serious heat. In that segment, CM Punk and Seth Rollins came face-to-face to trade a final verbal volley before they face off in a match next Monday night. Both men delivered intense work on the microphone that made their upcoming match feel bigger — and more personal — than ever.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Toyota Center in Houston.

CM Punk and Seth Rollins end Raw’s USA Network era with a heated confrontation

The final segment for WWE Raw’s time on USA Network featured Seth Rollins and CM Punk coming together for a face-to-face before they meet in a match on the show’s Netflix debut on Jan. 6. Both men took deep, impactful shots at the other. Rollins focused on Punk’s decision to leave WWE in 2014, claiming Punk had “taken his ball and gone home.” Punk fired back by saying he loved where he worked but hated the guy in charge (the now-disgraced Vince McMahon) and did what he had to do while Rollins sat around being a corporate stooge. The insults intensified with Punk claiming he would come to Raw’s Netflix debut with all the arrows that had been shot in his back and ram them down Rollins’ throat. Rollins responded by saying he would bring his eyes of fire and burn Punk to the ground, forcing him into another retirement, though not one of his own choosing.

To be honest, the final Raw on USA Network largely felt like the promotion doing little more than building up and promoting the move to Netflix. While much of the show felt like sleepwalking until next Monday, Rollins and Punk delivered in a huge way once they had the microphones in their hands. Both men threw daggers that were legitimate in their intention and that made everything feel more legitimate than most promos that take place within WWE. In that way, Raw’s USA Network era came to a successful and memorable conclusion. Grade: A

What else happened on WWE Raw?

• New Day opened the show with an attempt to cut a promo but the fans loudly booed whenever they attempted to speak. Eventually, Jey Uso came to the ring and told the fans to let New Day talk to see what they were trying to say. The fans did not play along and eventually Uso said he agreed and that “New Day sucks.” Later, Rey Mysterio and the LWO confronted New Day and challenged them to a match.
• Drew McIntyre attacked Jey Uso after Uso spoke. Uso took the microphone after New Day left the ring, addressing both Drew McIntyre and Solo Sikoa. Sikoa eventually interrupted on the Tron, promising to beat Roman Reigns on Raw’s Netflix debut. This eventually led to McIntyre attacking Uso from behind before delivering a Claymore after WWE officials attempted to stop the attack. Later in the show, Adam Pearce told Uso that he could have a match with McIntyre next Monday.
• Chad Gable def. Otis via submission with an ankle lock. Ivy Nile interfered late and the distraction allowed Gable to lock up the submission hold and force Otis to tap.
• Pete Dunne attacked R-Truth during R-Truth’s entrance. After laying Truth out, Dunne kept yelling, “I’m nobody’s Butch.”
• Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Semifinal — Dakota Kai def. Zoey Stark via pinfall after a Detonation Kick to advance to the finals.
• War Raiders & Damian Priest def. Judgment Day (Finn Balor, JD McDonagh & Dominik Mysterio) via pinfall after Priest hit Mysterio with South of Heaven. After the match, Judgment Day attacked Priest, with Balor focusing on his knee until War Raiders rushed the ring to stop the attack.
• Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Semifinal — Lyra Valkyria def. Iyo Sky via pinfall with a bridging pin reversal to advance to the finals against Dakota Kai.