Raw 12/28/2020: Lee vs. Sheamus in #1 Contenders Match; Bliss/Orton Main Events!
Here's what's on tap for tonight:
What does Alexa Bliss have planned for Randy Orton?
Mustafa Ali vs. Ricochet
Charlotte Flair (WWE Women's Tag Team Champion) vs. Nia Jax
WWE Championship #1 Contenders Match (Winner gets championship match next week): Keith Lee vs. Sheamus
In memory of Jon Huber (known to wrestling fans as Luke Harper and Brodie Lee). 1941-2020. RIP and our thoughts and prayers are with his family! Gone way too damn soon!!
We're in the ThunderDome at Tropicana Field and this is the last Raw of 2020! We're kicking things off with WWE Champion Drew McIntyre! We see highlights of last week's six man holiday street fight. McIntyre says this is the last Raw of 2020 and he says 2020 has been a wild year for him and talks some of the things he's done this year. He thanks the fans for rallying behind him. Now it's time to look to the future. He hypes up defending his title against either Keith Lee or Sheamus. HERE COMES SHEAMUS TO INTERRUPT!! Sheamus is sorry to interrupt and McIntyre says he's not because he always gets interrupted. McIntyre tells Sheamus he vouched for Sheamus to Lee. Sheamus says he did it AFTER the match. Sheamus about their dream to fight each other for the WWE Championship. McIntyre wants it too and it'll be uncomfortable to watch because of how physical it will be. Sheamus talks about Brogue Kicking Lee again and facing McIntyre next week. LEE IS OUT NOW! Lee says this is real cute. Lee says McIntyre looks a little proud of Sheamus and McIntyre says not true. Lee is still pissed about the Brogue Kick. Lee calls out McIntyre for vouching for Sheamus. Lee says McIntyre's word is now just as good as Sheamus' word. Every fiber of Lee's being wants to be the hell out of him. Lee tells McIntyre that Sheamus will probably turn on McIntyre too! Lee and Sheamus argue until McIntyre stops them! McIntyre says they should do their match now! McIntyre says no matter who wins, he'll be champ after next week! SHEAMUS BROGUE KICKS LEE TWICE!! We go to a commercial!
WWE Championship #1 Contenders Match
Winner gets championship match next week
Sheamus vs. Keith Lee
McIntyre is on commentary for this match. Sheamus charges Lee right away but Lee pushes him away. Lee fights back and takes Sheamus to the corner where he hits Sheamus with punches to the midsection. Sheamus answers with knees and clubs the back of Lee. Sheamus rakes the face of Lee while having him in an arm submission. Lee battles out and delivers more punches to Sheamus in the corner. Sheamus catches him with a boot and continues the work on the left arm. Sheamus delivers kicks to the face of Lee and goes right back to the shoulder/arm. Lee fights to his feet but Sheamus cuts him off. Sheamus charges but Lee catches him and belly to belly throws Sheamus out of the ring! Lee sends Sheamus into the ring apron and then into the ring post. Back in the ring, Sheamus kicks Lee on the apron when he tries to get in the ring. A pump knee by Sheamus sends Lee to the floor!! SHEAMUS GOES TO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE AND DIVES OFF HITTING LEE AND SENDING HIM ONTO THE ANNOUNCE TABLE AS WE GO TO A COMMERCIAL.
We're back and Sheamus has Lee grounded and is still working on his arm. Lee fights to his feet again and gets Sheamus up for a press slam but Sheamus counters as Lee's arm gives out. Lee knocks Sheamus to the apron but Sheamus hangs him across the top rope. Sheamus gets back on the apron and does his classic chest clubs!! Sheamus goes to the top and leaps off but Lee swats him in mid air with a pounce!! Lee runs through Sheamus with shoulder blocks and tosses Sheamus across the ring!! Spine buster by Lee gets a near fall!! Lee sets up for a Spirit Bomb but Sheamus avoids it. Lee is still in control and takes down Sheamus again for a near fall. Lee tries another Spirit Bomb but Sheamus kicks his leg out from under him. Lee avoids a Brogue Kick and hits Sheamus with a running cross body for a near fall. Sheamus avoids a running Lee charge in the corner and HITS WHITE NOISE ON LEE!!! 1...2...NO!! Sheamus delivers head butts with no effect! Lee hits Sheamus with a head butt and THEN GRIZZLY MAGNUM!! SPIRIT BOMB TO SHEAMUS AND IT'S OVER!! Pretty good match here! Lee will face McIntyre next week!
W: Keith Lee via pin @ 12:54
Elias is playing his guitar backstage with Jaxon Ryker by his side. Someone knocks and Elias says to ignore it.
The Miz and John Morrison make their way to the ring. Miz is in action next!
The Miz w/ John Morrison vs. Gran Metalik w/ Lince Dorado
Miz looks pissed. Metalik rolls up Miz three times for near falls. Commentary says Miz's head is not in this match. Miz gets brief offense until Metalik sends him outside with a head scissors! METALIK WITH A MOONSAULT FROM THE TOP TO THE OUTSIDE!! Back in the ring, Miz catches a spring boarding Metalik with a boot. Miz chokes Metalik across the middle rope and hits him across the back of the neck. Big boot by Miz as he talks trash! Miz locks in a chin lock but Metalik gets to his feet. Miz looks for back suplex but Metalik lands on his feet and lands a kick. Metalik hits a missile drop kick from the top! METALIK ROLLS UP MIZ AND BEATS HIM!! Miz can't believe it! This was bad.
W: Gran Metalik via pin @ 3:22
Elias and Ryker are still guitar playing when someone knocks again. IT'S AJ STYLES AND OMOS!! Styles upset and calls Elias Johnny Trash. Elias says Styles is still upset about TLC. Styles challenges Elias to a match.
Dana Brooke w/ Mandy Rose vs. Shayna Baszler
Baszler hits a couple kicks to Brooke's though before they lock up. Brooke avoids her and knocks Baszler down with a shoulder block and takes Baszler to the corner. Snap mare by Brooke and tries a standing moonsault but Baszler gets knees up. Baszler misses the arm stomp but takes Brooke to the apron. Baszler contorts the arm and hyperextends it across the apron. Back in the ring, Baszler targets the arm again and gets a near fall. More arm work by Baszler. Brooke escapes with a jaw breaker. A back elbow and a couple clothesline by Brooke. Brooke slams Baszler who rolls to the outside. BASZLER LOCKS IN THE KIRIFUDA CLUCH ON THE OUTSIDE!! Baszler attacks Rose! Brooke saves Rose and they go back in the ring. Brooke gets a near fall and then hits a swinging neck breaker for another near fall. Brooke goes to the top but Baszler rolls out of the way. KNEE STRIKE BY BASZLER AND SHE LOCKS IN THE KIRIFUDA CLUTCH!! BROOKE TAPS OUT!! Post match, BASZLER LOCKS IN THE KIRIFUDA CLUTCH ON MANDY!! Glad the right person won here.
W: Shayna Baszler via submission @ 4:19
Commentary talks about Randy Orton and Alexa Bliss. We see highlights of TLC and last week's Raw segment between them. Orton will join Alexa Bliss inside Alexa's Playground next!
Back from a commercial, Alexa Bliss is sitting on a swing in the ring, She can't wait to show him when he comes back. She hasn't seen him since TLC when things "got heated". Maybe he'll come back at legends night to see his favorite Hulk Hogan! Or maybe he is waiting for Orton to come back to the playground so he has an audience. ORTON'S MUSIC HITS BUT NO ORTON!! Bliss asks if she did something wrong? Maybe Orton doesn't want to help find him. That can't be it as she reintroduces Orton. STILL NO ORTON! Orton must not want to play anymore. You light someone on fire one time and it goes straight to their head. FIREFLY FUNHOUSE TIME!! ORTON IS IN THE FUNHOUSE!! Orton wanted to see it and since no one is there, this is the perfect time!! Orton criticizes Bliss for thinking The Fiend is coming back. ORTON DESTROYS THE PUPPETS!! Orton is going to make sure he has nothing to come back too! Orton notices a a picture of fire and RIPS RAMBLIN RABBIT'S HEAD!! BLISS CHALLENGES ORTON TO A MATCH!! Orton asks if this is where he is suppose to return?? ORTON ACCEPTS!!
Commentary talks about what just happened. Then they talk about Charlotte and Nia Jax. We see highlights of Nia attacking Charlotte back in June. Charly Caruso is backstage with Charlotte. Charly asks if she's ready for her match with Nia tonight. Charlotte says she's ready but Charlotte is always ready to bet on herself. In 2021, Charlotte plans on getting back on top. ASUKA IS HERE and says Nia isn't ready for Charlotte!
AJ Styles w/ Omos vs. Elias w/ Jaxon Ryker
They lock up and Elias gets a head lock on Styles. They trade counters before having a stand off. Again they lock up and Elias gets the upper hand this time and takes Styles to the corner where he delivers kicks and punches. Big back body drop by Elias and Styles kicks out of a pin. Elias works on the left arm of Styles. Styles counters with a sunset flip pin for a near fall. Styles drop toe holds Elias into the ropes and takes control now. Styles hits an enziguri. Elias goes to the outside. Styles goes to the outside but Elias catches him! ELIAS DROPS STYLES ON THE APRON BEFORE SENDING HIM SHOULDER FIRST IN THE RING POST!! Commercial time.
Back from the break, Elias hits Styles hits running knee to the face for a near fall. Elias holds Styles arm and climbs to the top turnbuckle. Old School by Elias and he does a Meteora!! 1...2...NO!! Elias goes back to the chin lock on Styles. Styles gets to his feet but eats a straight right. Elias sends Styles out to the floor. Ryker makes his way to Styles but Omos stops any ideas he might have. Elias come to the outside and puts Styles back in the ring while watching Omos. Styles fights back with right hands and forearms and flattens Elias with a clothesline. Running forearm by Styles and another in the corner. Fireman's carry by Styles and he delivers a knee to Elias' back for a near fall. Styles sets up a Styles Clash but Elias escapes. Styles tries the Phenomenal Forearm but Elias catches him. ELIAS HITS STYLES WITH A DRIFT AWAY!!! 1....2...NO!! Elias goes to the top but Styles cuts him off. Elias with a kick but STYLES HITS A PELE KICK BRING ELIAS OFF THE TOP!! ELIAS HITS A TKO!!! 1....2....NO!!! Elias goes for another Drift Away but Styles counters with an enziguri! Elias back drops Styles to the apron. STYLES HITS A PHENOMENAL FOREARM AND THAT DOES IT!! Much better match than I expected. Styles is phenomenal per usual and Elias got to look great against him.
W: AJ Styles via pin @ 14:02
Commentary talks about Ricochet vs. Mustafa Ali coming up. We see the history between them. Their match is next!
Ricochet vs. Mustafa Ali w/ Retribution
Ricochet lands punches to start and takes down Ali. Ricochet takes Ali to a corner and lights him up with a chop. Another one followed by a slam. Elbow to Ali and a pin that Ali kicks out of it. Drop kick by Ricochet and it's all Ricochet early. Big back body drop by Ricochet. Ricochet come towards Ali and Ali sends Ricochet into the turnbuckle. Ali takes control in the corner now. Nice neck breaker by Ali gets a near fall. Ricochet back drops Ali to the apron. Both men fight on the top turnbuckle. Slapjack and Reckoning distract the ref allowing T-Bar to knock Ricochet to the floor. ALI HITS A SPLASH FROM THE TOP TO THE FLOOR!! We go to a commercial.
We're back and Ricochet is trying to fight back but ALI HITS A BACK STABBER IN THE CORNER!! 1...2....NO!! Ali works a chin lock. Ali gets a near fall before going back to the head lock. Ricochet counters a suplex but Ali avoids a charge. RICOCHE BACK FLIPS AND PICKS UP ALI FOR A GERMAN!! WOW!! Ricochet with rights and knees. Big clothesline by Ricochet that flips Ali!! KICK BACK BY RICOCHET!! 1...2...MACE PULLS ALI OUT OF THE RING!! RETRIBUTION ALL GET ON THE APRON!! RICOCHET TORNADO DDTS T-BAR TO THE FLOOR!! HOLY SHIT!! Ricochet takes out everyone! He kicks Ali into the ring. TORNADO DDT TO MACE ON THE FLOOR. Back in the ring, RICOCHET GOES FOR A SHOOTING STAR BUT ALI GETS THE KNEES UP!! ALI LOCKS IN THE KOJI CLUTCH AND RICOCHET PASSES OUT!! That really got good in the closing moments. Post match, Ali gets on the mic and asks Ricochet when he is going to learn. Ali offers Ricochet another chance to join Retribution. RICOCHET TEASES JOINING BUT HITS ALI WITH A RECOIL!!
W: Mustafa Ali via submission @ 11:49
Charly Caruso is backstage with Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. Nia says Charlotte should be afraid of her. Nia's goals are 1) End Charlotte before she gets to the top. 2) Get the tag titles back. 3) She's entering the Royal Rumble and plans to win and challenge the champion. Baszler says that is a good idea and she's in too.
Commentary hypes Drew McIntyre vs. Keith Lee for the WWE Championship next week! Charly is backstage with McIntyre now. McIntyre is excited to face Lee next week in front of all of the legends. Lee may not like what happened over the past two weeks but it opened Lee's eyes and lit a spark. McIntyre says this is Lee's chance to prove himself. McIntyre says Lee can beat anyone except McIntyre.
Charlotte Flair (WWE Women's Tag Team Champions) w/ Asuka (WWE Raw Women's Champion & WWE Women's Tag Team Champion) vs. Nia Jax w/ Shayna Baszler
They lock up but we get a clean break after neither get the upper hand. Lock up again and another break. Charlotte gets Nia in a head lock but Nia backs her into the corner. Shoulders by Nia as she works on Charlotte's shoulder/arm. Nia sends Charlotte into the corner but she turns the tide with a shoulder of her own and a big boot. Drop kick by Charlotte sends Nia to the outside. Back in the ring, they have a collision and Nia gets to the ropes. Charlotte sends Nia to the outside again. Charlotte uses a baseball slide to send Nia into the announce table. ASUKA AND SHAYNA GET INTO IT OUTSIDE. Charlotte sends Nia into the ring post. Back in the ring, CHARLOTTE GOES FOR THE FIGURE FOUR BUT NIA SENDS CHARLOTTE NECK FIRST INTO THE TURNBUCKLE!! Nia splash Charlotte in the corner and gets a near fall as we go to a break.
Back from the break, Nia is wearing down Charlotte. Charlotte fights back and hits a neck breaker before hitting Nia with some chops. Forearm by Charlotte in the corner before taking Nia to the mat. Charlotte puts Nia in position and then goes to the top. Nia pulls her off. Nia tries a Samoan drop by Charlotte counters with a roll up for a near fall. Charlotte goes for a boot but NIA COUNTERS WITH A POWER BOMB!! 1...2...NO!! Nia misses a leg drop. Charlotte tries a Figure Four but Nia kicks her away. Shayna tries to interfere but Asuka stops that. Asuka is sent into the announce table. CHARLOTTE TAKES DOWN NIA AND LOCKS IN THE FIGURE FOUR!! SHAYNA GETS IN THE RING AND LOCKS THE KIRIFUDA CLUTCH ON CHARLOTTE FORCING A DQ!! ASUKA COMES BACK IN TO MAKE THE SAVE! I didn't care much for this,
W: Charlotte Flair via DQ @ 10:55
We see the Hurt Business arriving earlier today. They're in an eight man tag match later against the New Day, Jeff Hardy, and Riddle.
Charly Caruso is backstage with Angel Garza. She asks how he thinks his 2020 was. He says there have been ups and downs. For 2021, maybe he''' introduce himself to a lovely lady on legends night perhaps. Charly asks who the rose is for that he's holding. R-TRUTH AND THE 24/7 GOONS INTERRUPT! The rose gets trampled. After they leave, Garza shrugs and gives Charly what's left of the rose.
Commentary talks about Big E's Intercontinental Championship win on Smackdown and we see highlights of it. The New Day, Riddle, and Jeff Hardy are getting ready for the eight man tag. They're pumped about Big E's win. They plan to get the tag titles back. Riddle wants to get a team name. They go with the Positively Hard Bros!
Before the eight man tag team match, Bobby Lashley declares himself for the Royal Rumble.
Eight Man Tag Team Match
The New Day, Jeff Hardy, & Riddle vs. The Hurt Business
Riddle and Cedric start it off and trade blows. Cedric takes Riddle down with a drop kick but Riddle turns the tide with a gutwrench suplex. Lashley tags in. Lashley sends Riddle into the ropes and takes him down with a shoulder block. Lashley slams Riddle hard before sending Riddle into the Hurt Business corner. MVP tags in and beats down Riddle in the corner with stomps. Shelton tags in and snap suplexes Riddle for a near fall. Shelton takes Riddle into the corner delivers shoulder blocks. Both men trade punches. Riddle avoids a slam and lands kicks. Hardy gets the tag. All faces take tags doing the Unicorn Stampede!! The faces are standing tall as they clear the ring of the Hurt Business as we go to a commercial.
We're back and MVP is working on a leg of Riddle. MVP stomps the bare foot. Lashley tags himself in and lays out Riddle with a flatliner! 1...2...NO!! Shelton tags back in and stomps the bare foot of Riddle before delivering a punch. Shelton works the leg and locks in a single leg crab. Riddle makes it to the ropes. Shelton throws Riddle to the outside. MVP taunts Riddle and Riddle makes it back in. Cedric tags in and hits Riddle with a back suplex for a near fall. Riddle tries to fight back but Shelton tags back in and chokes Riddle. Lashley comes back in and mauls Riddle. Cedric back in but Riddle kicks him in the head. Kofi tags in and hits Cedric with a spring board clothesline! Kofi is going crazy! BOOM DROP!! Kofi sets up for Trouble in Paradise but Shelton and MVP distract. Kofi avoids the Lumbar Check and Woods makes a blind tag. Woods trips Shelton and hits an elbow drop to the back. Woods takes out MVP. Woods catapults Cedric into the bottom rope while Hardy takes out MVP outside. WOODS WITH A BIG HARPER CLOTHESLINE! NICE TRIBUTE!! HARDY TAGS AND HITS A SWANTON!! Lashley is in to clean house! Things are breaking down!! HARDY HITS TWIST OF FATE ON SHELTON!! Lashley goes to spear Hardy but Hardy counters with a mule kick! LASHLEY LOCKS IN THE HURT LOCK AND HARDY FIGHTS IT FOR A BIT BEFORE TAPPING OUT!! Good match that picked up after the break. Post match, the Hurt Business tries to attack but the faces escape and Riddle is able to get a hit and run on Lashley with a knee to the face!
W: The Hurt Business via submission @ 13:45
Backstage, The Miz and John Morrison are sulking in a stairwell. Adam Pearce is here. He says they are as miserable as the Browns played yesterday. PEARCE GIVES MIZ BACK THE MONEY IN THE BANK CONTRACT!! Miz celebrates like he won the title at WM.
Orton wants to know where "he" is. Bliss says this is about her and not him. Bliss goes to the outside of the ring and grabs a present wrapped in red paper with a red bow. She gets in the ring and opens it. It's a cardboard box with GASOLINE AND MATCHES INSIDE!! She sets them down in front of Orton. BLISS CHALLENGES ORTON TO DO TO HER WHAT HE DID TO THE FIEND!! BLISS LAYS DOWN ON THE MAT!! Orton crosses him arms and stares. Bliss gets up and grabs the gas can and pours some out onto the mat. SHE MAKES A TRAIL FROM HER TO ORTON!! She tells him to a light a match and do it!! Bliss screams at him to do it!! Bliss gets up again pissed off. She grabs the can again and pours a circle around herself. Bliss tells him he doesn't have the guts to do it. Bliss tells Orton he claims to be sick and demented but he's not. HE'S NOTHING BUT A LITTLE BITCH!! BLISS POURS THE GAS CAN OVER HER HEAD!! Orton grabs a mic and says you think that I won't do it? Orton grabs the matches and says you think I'm not capable? Orton wants to do it but he also knows Bliss wants him to do it. Orton likes watching people suffer. Orton says maybe he'll set her on fire now so she can be with The Fiend or maybe.....THE LIGHTS GO OUT!! ORTON LIGHTS A MATCH. THE LIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN. End Show!! We don't know what happen. Cliff hanger!!
Next week:
Legends Night featuring Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Big Show, Torrie Wilson and many more!
WWE Championship Match: Keith Lee vs. Drew McIntyre (champ)
Thanks for taking the time to read this!! If you enjoy what you've read, don't hesitate to follow our Facebook page and get updates when new content is posted! Also, any comments or feedback is greatly appreciated!