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This week's episode of WWE RAW had low expectations since it was pre-taped ahead of Christmas week. Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn resumed their feud to open and close the show.
Seth Rollins had a sit-down interview with Jackie Redmond and was more serious than usual. The New Day continued to experience the fallout from kicking Big E to the curb. This Monday's RAW only featured one women's match. IYO SKY advanced to face Lyra Valkyria next week in the semifinals of the Women's Intercontinental Championship tournament.
Gunther also failed to appear for the second straight week. Here's the best and worst from the latest episode of WWE RAW.
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#3. Best - Sami Zayn and Drew McIntyre's opening promo
Drew McIntyre opened RAW with an emotional promo about his mental and physical state following the brutal Hell in a Cell match with CM Punk. He mentioned needing a break to heal both his body and his soul since a close family member had passed away.
The locker room may not have known that had McIntyre not opened up. Even without them knowing, he claimed only one person reached out while he was away.
Sami Zayn sympathized with Drew and criticized him for his words since they chose the life of a WWE star. Zayn stepped into the fray, claiming that what Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso do shouldn't concern him.
Telling someone how they should feel isn't the best route. Sami would be right if they hadn't cost McIntyre some big opportunities. Both guys don't have to be easily forgiven by everyone for everything they've done.
#3. Best/Worst - IYO SKY takes advantage of an opportunity
The Pure Fusion Collective attacked Kairi Sane backstage last week. That thrust IYO SKY to take her place in a triple-threat match with Alba Fyre and Natalya. SKY predictably won and will face Lyra Valkyria next week.
The two have great chemistry and have faced each other in a few matches this year. The problem is Sane keeps getting the short end of things. She's taken the pin in losses for Damage CTRL and got destroyed by Raquel Rodriguez one week.
Natalya also lost. Having her win the title may not be the most exciting decision, but it would make sense due to her place in WWE history. She's one of the longest-tenured and most respected women in the industry.
It would also have been a great opportunity for her to join her uncles, Bret and Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith, who have won the Intercontinental Title.
#2. Worst - Chad Gable squashes Akira Tozawa on RAW
WWE decided to reignite the feud between American Made and Alpha Academy. Neither team has done much after they parted ways, yet WWE is returning to the well. Gable squashed Tozawa in less than five minutes. Otis saves his friend from further damage.
The pairing is still boring, even if Otis gets cheers from the fans. It feels like a holding pattern, so things can change after the premiere of RAW on Netflix.
#2. Best - The Judgment Day is a high school clique
The Judgment Day had a bad night on the latest RAW. Finn Balor and Liv Morgan passively argued with each other by having JD McDonagh and Raquel Rodriguez vocalize their points while sitting beside each other.
McDonagh was tired of the situation, but Dominik Mysterio thought he could fix it and outsmart Damian Priest. He faced The Archer of Infamy until he sniffed out all of the group's hiding members. McDonagh stood in the front row dressed as Santa.
Carlito hid under the ring. Balor blindsided the Priest, but the War Raiders made the save. Later, they claimed it was because they shared the honor with the Priest, a nod to their time in the Ring of Honor.
#2. Best/Worst - Seth Rollins gets a weird reaction after a serious promo
WWE decided to have Seth Rollins sit with Jackie Redmond for an interview. CM Punk did so on last week's RAW. Rollins repeated his main points of Punk leaving and trashing the company. He also claimed Punk needed WWE more than it needed him.
The Architect then mentioned how he disliked how Punk stood side by side with Roman Reigns after winning WarGames. The second he mentioned Reigns' name, Jackie Redmond rolled her eyes.
It's getting annoying when anyone who criticizes Reigns or Cody Rhodes receives an eye roll. Aren't people supposed to express themselves in 2024? Or is it only acceptable when their feelings/reactions fit into the correct narrative? Seth was undoubtedly getting the Owens/McIntyre treatment for speaking against Roman and Punk.
#2. Worst - Back-to-back RAW matches have the same DQ finish
Dominik Mysterio challenged Damian Priest to another match on this week's RAW. The Judgment Day predictably interfered. Finn Balor's attack caused a disqualification and a post-match attack on their former ally.
The War Raiders made the save. The next match featured The Miz taking on Dexter Lumis. The Authors of Pain came down to distract Lumis until Karrion Kross walked up and decked him in front of the ref.
The Miz was disqualified, and the Final Testament was ready to destroy Lumis. The Wyatt Sicks then saved their teammate, but they did so without Uncle Howdy.
Instead of repeating the same finish in the next match, Kross could have tripped Lumis to allow Miz to hit his finisher. They could have attacked him after the win. It was a lazy booking.
#1. Best - The New Day gets the Dominik Mysterio treatment
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have been absolutely shocked with how everyone has reacted to their kicking Big E to the side. They thought they'd be cheered on for insulting someone with a career-threatening neck injury.
Instead, they've been treated like pariahs for blaming someone who can't control their situation. The former tag champs were booed out of the ring a few weeks ago.
They got some words out this week but now know what Dominik Mysterio has gone through when trying to speak into a mic. The funniest part was Kofi claiming he flew his mother from Ghana for RAW so she could see him in his hometown.
She got to sit in a middle seat - on a 20-hour plane ride, no less - to see him in his hometown of Boston. She rebuked his gestures but got a chant from the crowd.
#1. Best/Worst - Another predictable main event
Drew McIntyre cleanly defeated Sami Zayn for the second time this month. He beat down Zayn after the win, only to have Jey Uso come out for the save. The problem was that the same thing happened to open the show as Jey saved Sami.
The New Bloodline thwarted the Yeet Master's second attempt. He almost had the upper hand, which would have killed the group's credibility, but Sikoa, Fatu, and Tonga beat him.
The Tribal Heir and his minions stood tall to close the show. They took up enough time on SmackDown and appeared again on RAW. Where's Gunther, RAW's major Champin, in all this? Does the Bloodline still really need to be on both shows?
