Credit: WINC
The post-TLC edition of WWE RAW opens up with the standard video package. We’re live from the WWE ThunderDome at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida as Tom Phillipswelcomes us. He’s joined at ringside by Samoa Joe and Byron Saxton. They talk about last night’s pay-per-view and hype tonight’s six-man Street Fight, and Randy Orton’s reaction to his Firefly Inferno win at TLC. The stage is set up with Christmas decorations.We go right to the ring and out comes new WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. This is Flair’s first RAW appearance at The ThunderDome, and her first RAW appearance since mid-June. She hits the ring as we get a video package showing how Flair returned at TLC as Lana’s replacement, teaming with RAW Women’s Champion Asuka to win the gold from Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.
Flair says she is in the ThunderDome and what would be the ThunderDome without The Queen. She brags on winning gold her first night back and says nothing has changed with The Queen in the last six months. She then goes on about her partner and friend, who some say is the heart of the division. Flair introduces Asuka and out she comes with both of her titles. Flair and Asuka stand together as Asuka takes the mic. She speaks in Japanese and touts being a double champion as the crowd cheers them on. Asuka says Jax and Baszler were not ready for Asuka, and were definitely not ready for her partner, The Queen. Flair laughs and then nods as Asuka bounces around.
Flair asks what about the RAW Women’s Title and says, “Friend to friend…” but the music interrupts as Jax and Baszler come to the ring. Tom announces that they will face Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose later tonight. Jax and Baszler enter the ring and take the mic. Jax jokes that it took 6 months to heal Flair’s broken arm, but that didn’t clear up her robotic voice. Flair mocks Jax and says she kicked her ass last night. Jax says Santa Claus isn’t the only one with a naughty or nice list but they don’t hand out coal, they hand out beatings… Season’s Beatings. Just ask Lana or Kairi Sane. The music interrupts and out comes Rose and Brooke. Rose and Brooke try to crack jokes on how Jax and Baszler look without the titles this week. They tell them to move over. Brooke and Rose are in the ring now. Flair asks Asuka if she wants to stay and watch this, and she does. Flair calls a referee to come to the ring. Flair’s music hits as she and Asuka head to ringside to watch. The other two teams have words as RAW goes to commercial.
Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke vs. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler
Baszler makes Rose tap with the Clutch.
Winners: Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler
After the match, Jax and Baszler stare down Charlotte and Flair.
The Hurt Business bully someone wearing a New Day shirt and give him a Hurt Business shirt instead.
AFTER A BREAK, those same bullies head to the ring for some MVP Lounge love. They want to celebrate their title win. Shelton says that last night, they showed why they are better than any team in the locker room. Cedric says especially The New Day. The comeup is over, because Prime Alexander is here now. No more pancakes and unicorns, they are champagne and custom made suits.
Lashley says they are the most dominant force in the WWE, and get used to seeing this. They have proven their dominance. As far as the US title, he can guarantee that there isn’t a man alive that can beat him for this title.
A photographer takes a few shots of the crew. Truth stands tall on the corner to be in the picture as well, until some jobbers come out to chase Truth backstage.
JEFF HARDY and RIDDLE come out. They are The Hardy Bros. Creative leapt far for that reach. Riddle is digging the celebration, but they’re doing a few things wrong. Like, why they spending so much at the club? They can be chillin and relaxin with the homies. Get toasted. Listen to the Joe Rogan Podcast, or watch Dave Chapelle. Riddle says there is no reason to spread negativity and be a bully. We are all self-aware carbon matter on a rock hurling through the darkness of space.
MVP says Riddle doesn’t know what the fuck he’s talking about.
Jeff says there are more important things in life than status and money. They’d rather die full of their pride rather than live a life of greed. They gotta fight with one thing that is worth more than anything they can ever buy – their faith.
Man…that was rough.
Up next, Drew Gulak takes on Angel Garza.
Garza cuts a promo backstage with Sarah, giving her a rose, and offering an interview under the mistletoe. Sarah acts intrigued and interested. Yes, I said act.
Angel Garza vs. Drew Gulak
Garza wins a short match with the Wing Clipper.
Winner: Angel Garza
Tom hypes a MizTV segment for later tonight with AJ Styles. We get a video package showing how The Miz failed to cash in at TLC last night in the TLC Match between AJ and WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, who retained. Charly Caruso stops AJ backstage and asks how he felt when The Miz cashed in last night. AJ goes on about how he was furious, past his boiling point. Charly asks if AJ is so upset, then why did he accept the invite to be on MizTV tonight? AJ says he wants to find out what Miz has to say for himself, and for his sake, it better be good. AJ looked up at Omos when he said the last line. We go back to commercial.
Back from the break and The Miz and John Morrison are in the ring for another must see edition of MizTV. Miz says you aren’t always presented with the chance to become WWE Champion but he had the chance to make history at TLC last night, but he failed. Not only did he fail himself, he failed his family and for that, he’s sorry.
Morrison says that isn’t the only apology that needs to be delivered tonight. Miz agrees. Miz then introduces his guest for tonight and out comes AJ Styles. AJ poses on the stage as the pyro goes off. Omos then comes out and joins him. They head to the ring together. Tom plugs tonight’s six-man Holiday Street Fight with AJ, Miz and Morrison vs. WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, Sheamus and Keith Lee.
There’s some tension as soon as they enter the ring but AJ hold Omos back. Miz wants to hear AJ’s explanation. Miz goes on and says AJ would’ve done the same thing… AJ cuts him off and has already heard enough. He calls Miz the biggest idiot on Earth and goes on about how incompetent he is. AJ says Miz cashed in and because of him, they both lost. Miz yells back and gets fired up, saying that Money In the Bank contract was everything. 10 years ago he cashed in and main evented WrestleMania, and this was going to be the same thing this year. Miz goes on about how he’s fought for respect for 15 years. If he won the WWE Title again maybe, just maybe, AJ and everyone else would’ve respected him and he would’ve taken RAW to new heights. Miz says all he can do now is make it right. He apologizes from the bottom of his heart and says they were both robbed last night. He admits he blew it. Miz says it’s the holidays, the time for giving, and he might can make this right by giving AJ an early holiday gift. He offers AJ the chance to star in the next edition of The Marine. We see a mock poster for The Marine 7. Omos is on it but AJ can barely be seen. Morrison points out how he’s not even on the poster. Everyone argues some more with AJ and Morrison getting heated with each other.
Omos exits the ring as Miz gets in between Morrison and AJ. Miz points out how they’re right, Morrison cashed in Miz’s contract last night but technically Miz is the only one who can cash it in. Miz starts ranting about how he wants a WWE official to reinstate his MITB title shot because Morrison is the one who cashed it in. The music interrupts and out comes McIntyre. McIntyre points out how he left AJ a present on his face last night, a scar. He goes on about how he, Sheamus and Lee came up with a sequel to last week’s “Nightmare Before TLC” story from Miz, Morrison and AJ. Drew starts reading. Sheamus takes over and appears at ringside. Lee picks up with the reading and he’s also at ringside. The babyfaces have surrounded the ring now. They enter as Miz, Morrison and AJ get ready to fight. A big brawl breaks out now as fans pop. Drew launches Morrison over his head and he flies to the floor. AJ dropkicks Lee into Sheamus as he prepared for a Brogue Kick to Miz. Sheamus and Lee argue now but Drew gets in between them. AJ retreats to the floor with Omos. Drew calms Sheamus down as they stand with Lee in the middle of the ring. AJ, Miz and Morrison head up the ramp.
– The announcers hype Ricochet vs. T-BAR for tonight. We get a video package on the recent feud between Ricochet and RETRIBUTION.
T-Bar vs. Ricochet
T-Bar wins with an inverted GTS.
Winner: T-Bar
After the match, the music hits as we go to replays. RETRIBUTION hits the ring now. T-BAR stands over Ricochet and takes the mic, telling him that they are his allies, not his enemies, and he will either join them or his existence will come to an end. T-BAR drops the mic and RETRIBUTION yells down at Ricochet as he looks up from his back.
– We see video from earlier today of Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston. Woods says they will win the RAW Tag Team Titles back one day as they always do. Kofi gives props to new RAW Tag Team Champions The Hurt Business and talks about losing pieces of his teeth in the WWE TLC match. He goes on about how The New Day will bounce back because this is what they do.
MVP and Bobby Lashley vs. Riddle and Jeff Hardy
Lashley makes Hardy tap with the Hurt Lock.
Winner: MVP and Bobby Lashley
After the match, The Hurt Business regroups and stands tall as the music hits. We go to replays. Hardy and Riddle look on from the ring as The Hurt Business heads to the back.
– We see AJ Styles, The Miz and John Morrison arguing backstage as Omos looks on. AJ storms off and we go to commercial.
Jaxson Ryker vs. Gran Metalik
Ryker wins with a sit-out choke bomb.
Winner: Jaxson Ryker
Orton enters the ring and poses in the corner as most fans boo him. Orton does his signature pose as more pyro goes off from above. Orton takes the mic and goes on about being sick and twisted and deranged, and demented, and at TLC he proved he is each and every one of those things when he burned “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt alive. Other normal people may have an issue when they set a man on fire but The Fiend is no man and Orton is not normal. He enjoyed every second as he stood by and watched The Fiend burn. The boos get louder. Orton kneels down in the middle of the ring and says this is exactly where it happened. He can see it and smell it if he closes his eyes. Orton says the stench of burning flesh lingers.
Orton says he didn’t sleep last night because the voices in his head he’s grown accustomed to, which also enabled him to rest peacefully at night, those voices were gone. They don’t exist in his head after last night and the only ting he hears in his head right now is The Fiend gasping for his last breath as the fire grew hotter, as the flames grew higher. Orton declares that The Fiend is gone and The Fiend is no more, and Orton is the evil son of a b—h that took him out. The boos get louder.
The lights suddenly start going out in the arena. Orton rolls out of the ring as the arena goes black. A reddish purple light comes on in the ring and there’s some fog. Alexa Bliss is there, swinging on a swing set. There are some other toys there. Bliss asks Orton if he was expecting someone else. She says “He” built this for her, and we’ll just call it Alexa’s Playground. Bliss tells Orton to come in the ring. She says he’s probably worrying where “He” is now. “He” could be at a tanning salon because “He” was looking kind of pale, or “He” could be at the beach but she hopes “He” doesn’t get sunburned. “He” could be at his favorite restaurant eating his favorite food… BBQ. She laughs some more.
Bliss says Orton is right – it was right here in the ring, where you can smell his burning flesh. She says it’s almost like The Fiend was absorbed into the mat. She goes on and says “He” is home, but if “He” ever leaves home, “He” might come to Alexa’s Playground and if so, it’ll be unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. The lights go down again and the arena is black as Bliss stares at Orton. The lights come back up and the announcers are playing up the seriousness of the situation. Bliss and Orton are gone.
Charlotte Flair and Asuka vs. Peyton Royce and Lacey Evans
Flair makes Royce tap with the Figure Eight.
Winners: Charlotte Flair and Asuka
After the bell, Jax and Baszler are shown backstage again, annoyed by the champs. Flair and Asuka stand tall together.
– We see Sheamus, Drew McIntyre and Keith Lee backstage warming up for the main event. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and we get a video on how Titus O’Neil recently teamed up with other locals to give a new car to a local middle school employee. Byron says Titus and his friends have given 5 new cars to families in need. The announcers give him props for how he helps the community.
– We see what happened earlier tonight on MizTV. The Miz and John Morrison are backstage now. Miz is on the phone with someone now, trying to get his Money In the Bank title shot reinstated because it was Morrison who cashed in at TLC. AJ Styles and Omos walk up. AJ tells Miz to hang up the phone because they have a match. Miz keeps talking and AJ hangs it up for him. AJ walks off as Miz complains about how much that phone call was.
Drew McIntyre, Sheamus and Keith Lee vs. AJ Styles, The Miz and John Morrison
Lee hits a powerbomb on Miz for the win.
Winners: Drew McIntyre, Keith Lee and Sheamus
After the bell, the winners stand tall in the middle of the ring but Sheamus drops Lee with a Brogue Kick. Drew yells at Sheamus in his face and they have words. The post-TLC edition of RAW goes off the air with Sheamus and McIntyre arguing in the middle of the ring
