Renee Young is backstage with Roman Reigns. She asks what he thinks of Joe’s words earlier, to which Roman says he doesn’t care because he is the Champion. He has no plans of leaving Chicago without his title. However, Reigns does say that anyone who attacks and hurts his brothers, will have to answer to him.
Samoa Joe makes his way to the ring and Chicago loves Joe. We see replays of Joe beating on The Shield. Reigns is out next and the fans aren’t as pleased to see him. Michael Cole says Dean Ambrose is liable to miss 9 months with his injury – this Shield reunuion can’t catch a break. We get ring introductions for both men.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
(C) Roman Reigns Vs. Samoa Joe
The bell rings and Joe runs at Roman, who hits him with a big clothesline. Roman beats on Roman but then Joe returns the favour with some stiff jabs and an elbow. Roman catches Joe with a big right hand, but again Joe comes back with some jabs. Roman counters Joe by tossing him neck-first onto the second rope. Joe hangs on the rope allowing Reigns to run around the ring and an hit the drive-by kick.
Reigns comes back to the ring, where Joe takes control, chopping him in the corner and landing a back body drop. Joe slams Roman’s head into the corner, then tee’s off on him. Joe slaps Roman repeatedly in the neck before Roman ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own. Roman hits Joe in the corner with ten forearms, then a big boot floors Joe.
Roman poses in the corner, waiting for Joe to land a Superman Punch but Joe falls into the corner. Reigns comes after Joe but the referee pushes him back, allowing Joe to land something of a cheap shot an hit some jabs forcing Reigns to the corner. Joe hits a Pele kick for a near-fall.
*Commercial Break*
Both men are inside the ring exchanging right hands. Superman punch by Roman as he goes for the cover but a 2 count only! Reigns up first as he goes for the spear but Joe kicks him in the face. The Coquina Clutch on Reigns and Reigns is down. Roman looks like he’s fading but Roman makes it to the ropes.
Roman rolls to the outside of the ring but Joe jumps through the ropes onto the outside. Roman looks like he hurt his left arm. Back in the ring, Joe with an arm bar as he applies pressure to Roman’s left arm. Reigns fighting out of it. Roman stomping on Joe in the corner of the ring. The referee tries to break it up but Reigns continues. The referee rings the bell as Samoe Joe wins by disqualification. R
Winner Via Disqualification: Samoa Joe
Reigns is frustrated and delivers a superman punch on Samoa Joe. On the outside of the ring, Reigns lands another superman punch taking Joe out. Reigns continuing the beat down on Joe. Reigns hits Joe with the steel steps. Still with the steel steps, he hits Joe a second time taking him down. Reigns grabs a steel chair and he goes to hit Joe with it who was leaning on the ring post but Joe moves out of the way. Referees break it up.
Backstage, Rollins is watching the beat down with a smile on his face. Jason Jordan enters the locker room and Rollins tells him he’s teaming with him tonight for two reasons. The first being because he owes his dad Kurt Angle a favor after he bailed himself out and the second because he has a score to settle with Sheamus and Cesaro. Jordan says he is excited to be teaming with him tonight. Jordan says Rollins has to admit, he makes a good replacement for Dean Ambrose. Rollins tells him no matter how good he thinks he is, he will never be Dean Ambrose. Jordan says he will be even better.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Dallas and Axel in the ring They start singing Jingle Bells with the fans, then tell us they have a Secret Santa match tonight and they seem excited, that is, until they see their opponent:
Braun Strowman Vs. Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas
The bell rings and Strowman with a clothesline takes Dallas down. Strowman throws Bo Dallas around the ring. He grabs Curtis Axel off the ring apron and throws him onto Dallas. Strowman man handling both of them. He delivers a running powerslam on Bo Dallas. He goes for the cover and gets the 3 count.
Winner: Braun Strowman
After the match, Braun hits Axel with a powerslam. The fans ask for more and Strowman provides, hitting both with another powerslam. Now that’s how you buil omentum and look dominant.
Alexa Bliss is walking to the ring to address the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble!
*Commercial Break*
Alexa Bliss is in the ring. She wishes everyone a Merry Blissmass. She is giving everyone the gift of a Godess. She says 2017 was her year and then goes on to talk about the first ever women’s Royal Rumble. She tells everyone “You’re welcome” because everything has happened because of her. She’s the gift that keeps on giving. Asuka’s music hits. Asuka says she has entered the Royal Rumble and she will win because nobody is ready for Asuka. A staredown between the two women as Asuka delivers the Buzzsaw Kick.
It’s almost main event time, and it’s for tag team gold. Brock Lesnar will return to Monday Night Raw next Monday!
*Commercial Break*
Seth Rollins is out, followed by his teammate Jason Jordan. Sheamus an Cesaro are out next and we get ring introductions.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match
(C) The Bar Vs. Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan
Jordan and Sheamus start the match with a lock up and the Irishman gets taken down with a waistlock. He breaks free with a back elbow and Cesaro takes a cheap shot on JJ. Seth makes the blind tag and springboards into the ring to take down both tag champs. He almost sends them into the crowd with a suicide dive to both men at the same time. Just in time for a break.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Cesaro and Sheamus giving Rollins a beating. The Swiss Cyborg keeps him grounded with a headlock for a little while. The Celtic Warrior tags in and hits the 10 Beats of the Bodhran, but Seth counters and almost makes a tag. Cesaro hits a leg drop from the second rope for a two count. JJ tries to help Rollins, but he ends up getting rammed into the barricade by both Sheamus and Cesaro.
The Kingslayer hits a DDT, but he has nobody to tag. Cesaro hits an uppercut and Sheamus drops Rollins with an Irish Curse backbreaker for a near fall. The Bar keeps using quick tags and double team moves to punish Rollins, but he stays alive. Jordan finally returns and tackles Sheamus to give Rollins a fighting chance. JJ gets the hot tag and starts going to work on Sheamus. He picks Sheamus up and rams him into the corner multiple times. Cesaro is able to put him in the Sharpshooter, but he lets go to deal with Seth.
Sheamus hits Jordan with a move and it looks to be over but Seth springboards in to break the pin, however Cesaro catches him in mid-air, which distracts the referee from the pin anyway. Jordan fights out of a cloverleaf submission from Cesaro. Rollins throws Sheamus into the steps and Jordan hits Cesaro with his finisher to get the win!
Winners and New WWE Tag Team Champions: Jason Jordan & Seth Rollins
Rollins and Jordan clebrate their huge win and new tag titles as Raw comes to a close.
That’s it for this week’s Raw, and Raw for 2017. It’s been a wild ride as always but here’s looking fowrard to another great year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
