Monday Night Raw opens with the future Hall of Famer, John Cena making his way to the ring!
Cena is fired-up and Chicago is in good spirits. He takes his shirt off and cuts a quick promo saying that he loves Christmas because it brings everyone together, like tonight. The fans chant “Merry Christmas” and Cena says that is the first time that’s ever been chanted. He is about to make an announcement of some kind when he is interrupted by Elias strumming his guitar.
Elias walks to the ring, playing his guitar. He asks Cena if he knows what WWE stands for and then says it stands for Walk With Elias. Cena and the fans get a kick out of that one. Elias enters the ring and Cena says he is willing to walk with Elias. Elias says he is tired of being interrupted and the fans chant “CM Punk”, to which Elias says CM Punk won’t be interrupting him. Cena says Chicagoians love their fellow Chicagoians. The fans chant for him again and Cena says to Elias, “Welcome to Chicago”.
Elias and Cena banter back and forth in a funny way before Elias silences John with his finger. Cena grabs a chair for Elias and the lights go down. Elias sings a pretty terrible Christmas song and starts insulting Chicago when Cena cuts him off. Cena tells him this is his problem, he shouldn’t insult everywhere he goes. Elias says he simply feels like he is speaking the truth, to which Cena tells him he might be the jerk. Elias says he never thought of it that way, and asks for a second chance from Chicago. The fans aren’t keen but Cena tells him to go ahead. Elias sings the song with nicer lyrics, then tells Cena to take-it-away. Cena starts singing but Elias clocks him with a right hand. Elias stands over Cena and tells him that he doesn’t play for anybody, and also, Christmas and Chicago are overrated. He turns to leave, then runs back an attacks Cena again. Elias then challenges Cena to a match right now and out comes a referee. Cena didn’t even accept.
Elias Vs. John Cena
The second the bell rings, Elias jumps right on him and starts beating Cena on the mat. He lands a stiff right hand to knock Cena on his back again. Cena starts to fight back with a few punches and a hip toss. Cena grounds The Drifter with a headlock but Elias fights out and nails Cena with a hard elbow to the face. He lays Cena on the apron and hits a running knee to knock him out of the ring.
Back inside, Elias throws Cena halfway across the ring! He earns a two count with a body slam, then puts Cena in the Tree of Woe and hits a double stomp to the chest from the top rope for another two count. John attempts a comeback but he runs right into a boot in the corner. Elias puts him back in the Tree of Woe for another double stomp, but Cena avoids the impact and lays Elias out with a clothesline. The Drifter puts Cena on his shoulder and spins him around for a powerbomb to get another near fall. John powers out of a headlock then hits his shoulder tackles but then Elias rolls from the ring. Cena runs out an chases, throws Elias back inside, only to be decapitated with a clothesline when he slides in.
Elias starts to get frustrated. Cena plays possum and pulls Elias into the STF but Samson is able to escape the hold and hit a knee to the face to take Cena down again. The 16-time champion takes Elias down and locks him in the STF again. The Drifter inches his way to the bottom rope to force a break. Elias grabs Cena and hits a modified neckbreaker for another near fall. Cena starts to build up a head up steam as he hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle and the AA for the pin and the win.
Winner: John Cena
The commentators talk about the match afterwards, asking if Elias proved anything to Cena tonight, and Corey graves says undoubtedly.
We get a video package highlighting Samoa Joe’s path of destruction, particularly in recent weeks regarding Seth Rollins, Jason Jordan, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns.
Backstage we see Kurt Angle putting a bauble on a Christmas Tree when in walks his son, Jason Jordan. They hug and Jordan says Angle wanted to see him, then Seth Rollins walk-in and says the same thing. Rollins says he wants Joe after he did to them last week. Jordan also says he wants Joe and he’s been waiting patiently, to which Rollins asks if he understands what patience is. Angle says they both want Joe but Sheamus and Cesaro keep getting in their way. Rollins cuts him off and says that he won’t team with Jordan again, and Jordan agrees, saying it would be step back for his career. They start arguing but Kurt interrupts them and says that they need to work together because tonight they face The Bar for the Tag Team Championships! They leave, seemingly pleased with that announcement. Angle turns around and Roman Reigns is right there. Angle says Samoa Joe is all his tonight and the Intercontinental Championship is on the line. Merry Christmas.
We go back to the ring and in it stands Jack Gallagher and Brian Kendrick. Charly Caurso stops to interview them but Kendrick cuts her off and talks about Hideo Itami. Kendrick says they aren’t too concerned with the hype surrounding Itami, and that they aim to see what the fuss is all about right now. Out comes Itami.
Hideo Itami Vs. Brian Kendrick
They start by trading strikes and Itami takes control. He scares Gallagher off the apron before Kendrick knocks him down with a heel kick to score a two count. Hideo shouts to the fans about respect. Kendrick fights back and lays into Hideo with crossface strikes and chokes him in the corner.
Itami fights out of a submission and hits a few kicks to the head. He goes to work with a series of vicious punches, kicks and throws. After a running corner dropkick, Itami taunts the crowd a throat slit motion, then lifts Kendrick and connects with Chicago’s favourite finisher, the GTS for the win!
Winner: Hideo Itami
We see a video recapping last week’s big announcement about the women’s Royal Rumble. Backstage, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Mickie James run into Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel, wearing Christmas sweaters. They wish the girls a Merry Mizmas and sing a Mizmas carol. The girls weren’t impressed.
