Here are my Raw Thoughts, Facts & Stats & Rankings:
But first, here's everything that happened in 2023. I decided not to include my Rankings as it would have added too many extra pages & it's not that important. Also, it didn't make sense to do posts with 2023 Facts as I want you to read the site.
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/2k23yr/This will be the 4th time that Raw has been held on New Year's Day after 2001, 2007, 2018.
I love this opening with Michael Cole & Wade Barrett in the ring previewing Raw. It's strange that Byron Saxton did the preview on the cut-in during SVU earlier?
Thank you Triple H for starting with Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax, so the crap will be out of the way & I can enjoy the rest of Raw.
I didn't give a crap about Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax, so I didn't even look at my TV. And I do like Becky Lynch, but I refuse to watch Nia wrestle. Then, I realized that it would be wrong to completly ignore the match, so I went back & watched it during the commercial. That would be disrespectful to both women. Even if I don't like Nia, she's doing her best. This is a new year. I shouldn't be critical or mean to someone. I know I say this all the time & then say something negative a minute later. Life's too short to be negative about silly things like wrestling. The match turned out to be pretty good. FACTS: This was Becky Lynch’s 1st Raw of 2024, 1st Raw since she defeated Xia Li on Raw on November 20, 2023 & 1st match overall since War Games at Survivor Series on November 25, 2023. This was Nia Jax’s 1st Raw of 2024 & 1st match overall since she defeated Shayna Baszler on Raw on December 4, 2023.
Good segment with Cody Rhodes & Shinsuke Nakamura to continue their feud.
Kofi Kingston & Jey Uso VS Imperium was great & heating up when Vinci got hurt. It looks like he got a concussion. I hope he will be OK. It's the 1st Referee Stoppage of 2024. FACTS: This was Kofi Kingston & Jey Uso's 1st Raw of 2024, Kingston's 1st Raw since a Tag Team Turmoil on November 27, 2023, & 1st time he teamed with someone other than Xavier Woods or Big E since he & Seth Rollins defeated Cesaro & Sheamus on Raw on April 8, 2019. This was Jey Uso's 1st Raw since he defeated Ludwig Kaiser on December 18, 2013 & 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since he & Cody Rhodes lost to The Judgment Day on November 13, 2023. This was the 1st time that Kingston & Uso teamed up since the Usos & Kingston lost to The Shield on Main Event on August 21, 2013 & 1st on Raw since May 6, 2013, & 1st time they teamed up in a 2-on-2 Match. This was Ludwig Kaiser's 1st Raw since he lost to Jey Uso on December 18, 2023, Giovanni Vinci's 1st Raw since Imperium lost to #DIY & The Miz on December 11, 2023 & their 1st 2-on-2 Match since they lost to #DIY on December 4, 2023.
Good video profile on Ivy Nile.
Hilarious MizTV with The Miz, R-Truth, JD McDonagh & Dominik Mysterio. I love Mysterio getting booed in his hometown.
The Miz & R-Truth VS JD McDonagh & Dominik Mysterio was a fun match. R-Truth is a treasure & needs to be protected at all costs. FACTS: Awesome Truth VS The Judgment Day was The Miz & R-Truth's 1st Raw of 2024, The Miz's 1st Raw since December 18, 2023 & 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since he & Tommaso Ciampa defeated Bobby Lashley & AJ Styles by Disqualification on Raw on August 22, 2022, R-Truth's 1st Raw since he defeated JD McDonagh on Decembe 18, 2023, 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since he & Shelton Benjamin defeated Duke Hudson & Von Wagner on Main Event on November 3, 2022 & 1st on Raw since he & Jaxon Ryker defeated Cedric Alexander & Elias on July 5, 2021. This was the 1st time that The Miz & R-Truth teamed up since they lost to Elias & Drew McIntyre on Smackdown on June 18, 2019 & 1st on Raw since they defeated John Cena & Zack Ryder on November 7, 2011. This will be JD McDonagh's 1st Raw since he lost to R-Truth on December 18, 2023, Dominik Mysterio's 1st Raw & their 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since they lost to The Creed Brothers on December 4, 2023.
Ivy Nile VS Rhea Ripely was an excellent match. Ivy held her own & showed that it was a right decision for her to move up to Raw. But please stop doing headbutts. They are too dangerous. FACTS: This was the 1st Women’s World Championship Match of 2024 & 1st on Raw since Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Rodriguez on September 11, 2023. This was Ivy Nile’s 1st Raw match of 2024, her 1st match overall since she & Maxxine Dupri lost a Fatal 4-Way Match on November 20, 2023, 1st 1-on-1 Match on Raw in her Career, & 1st 1-on-1 Match since she defeated Valentina Feroz on Level Up on November 3, 2023. She is the 1st wrestler since Paige on April 7, 2014 to wrestle for a Women’s Championship in her 1st Singles Match on Raw. If she would have won, she would have been the 2nd 1st-time Champion in a row & the 1st since Liv Morgan to win the Women’s Championship as her 1st Championship in her Career. This was Rhea Ripley’s 1st Raw of 2024 & her 1st match overall since she defeated Maxxine Dupri on December 11, 2023. This was Rhea Ripley’s 8th Women’s World Championship Defense, so if she would have lost, she would have been the 1st to lose in her 8th Defense, which is the 2nd Most Women’s World Championship Defenses below Bayley (12). As of Raw, Rhea Ripley’s Women’s World Championship Reign has lasted 275 Days, so if she would have lost, she would have been the 1st to lose in 275 Days, which is the 2nd Longest of All-Time, below Bayley’s 2nd Reign (10/11/19 – 10/25/20, 380 Days) & only the 2nd Reign to be over 200 Days. The Women’s World Championship has never changed hands in 2024, with the last title change taking place when Ripley defeated Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 on April 1, 2023. It has changed hands 27 times in History. This is the 1st Raw of 2024 to have 2 Women's Matches.
LOL. It's Jinder Mahal. That's why I never get my hopes up from announcements & rumors and only respond when something actually happens. Never get excited, IWC. Yes. They were just trolling us with Jinder Mahal. I thought since he was talking Anti-American, Sgt. Slaughter, Hulk Hogan, & Kurt Angle would come out, but I'll take The Rock. Amazing. The minute he walked out, I got goosebumps. I love his tribute to The Iron Sheik. The minute The Rock walked out, I got goosebumps. I love his tribute to The Iron Sheik. For the record, I saw Baywatch & it sucked. Rock's promo was incredible. At least they don't have to edit his Sing-Along on Peacock as The National Anthem is public domain. And it's no big deal that it was Jinder Mahal that got beat up by The Rock since he's not an established talent. I love his hint at Roman Reigns. Perth, get ready for Rock VS Reigns at Elimination Chamber.
Natalya & Tegan Nox VS Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark was a decent match. I like that every match tonight has been given time & 2 segments. FACTS: This was Natalya & Tegan Nox’s 1st Raw of 2024 & their 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match & 1st Raw match since they lost to Katana Chance & Kayden Carter on Raw on December 4, 2023. This is the 1st time that Natalya has teamed with the same wrestler 3 matches in a row since she & Sonya Deville lost to Toxic Attraction (August 19, 2022 Smackdown) & they won a Fatal 4-Way & then lost to Aliyah & Raquel Rodriguez (August 26, 2022 Smackdown) & the 1st time that Tegan Nox teamed with the same wrestler 3 matches in a row since she & Shotzi defeated Natalya & Tamina (July 9, 2021, July 16, 2021, & August 20, 2021 Smackdown). This was Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark’s 1st Raw of 2024 & their 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since they wrestled Chelsea Green & Piper Niven to a No Contest on Raw on September 18, 2023, Baszler’s 1st match overall since she lost to Nia Jax on Raw on December 4, 2023, & Stark’s 1st match overall since she lost to Nia Jax on Raw on November 27, 2023.
Next week's Raw looks good & I'm interested in Triple H's announcement on Thursday, but I won't be able to watch it live.
Seth Rollins VS Drew McIntyre was unbelievable. I love McIntyre stopping Damian Priest's MITB Cash-In & then Rollins' foot on the rope with Rollins rebounding to win the match. FACTS: This was the 1st World Heavyweight Championship Match of 2024 & 1st on Raw since Seth Rollins VS Jey Uso on December 4, 2023. This was Seth Rollins’ 1st Raw match of 2024. This was Seth Rollins’ 10th World Heavyweight Championship Defense, so if he would have lost, he would have been the 1st to lose in his 10th Defense which is the Most Defenses of All-Time. As of Raw, Seth Rollins’ World Heavyweight Championship Reign has lasted 219 Days, so if he would have lost, he would have been the 1st to lose in 219 Days, which is both the Shortest & Longest Reign of All-Time. This will be Drew McIntyre’s 1st Raw match of 2024. If Drew McIntyre would have won, he would have been the 2nd 1st-time World Heavyweight Champion in a row & the 2nd in a row to be a former WWE Champion, NXT Champion, Intercontinental Champion, & Raw Tag Team Champion. This was the 11th 1-on-1 Match between them after NXT on July 25, 2012 (won by McIntyre), NXT on August 1, 2012 (won by Rollins), Raw on July 9, 2018 (won by McIntyre), Raw on July 30, 2018 (won by Rollins), Raw on October 1, 2018 (won by McIntyre), Raw on October 15, 2018 (won by Rollins by Count Out), Raw on January 21, 2019 (won by Rollins), Raw on March 18, 2019 (won by McIntyre), & Money In The Bank on May 10, 2020, (won by McIntyre), & Crown Jewel on November 4, 2023, so Drew McIntyre won 5 & Rollins won 5. The World Heavyweight Championship had never changed hands in 2024 with the last title change taking place when Rollins defeated AJ Styles to win the vacant title. It has changed hands 1 time in History.
Becky Lynch, Jey Uso, & Seth Rollins are the only wrestlers to wrestle on the 1st Raw of 2023 & 2024.
Here are my RAW Match Rankings:
1) Seth Rollins VS Drew McIntyre
2) Ivy Nile VS Rhea Ripley
3) Awesome Truth VS The Judgment Day
4) Kofi Kingston & Jey Uso VS Imperium
5) Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax
6) Natalya & Tegan Nox VS Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark
I'm not going to be cheesy & say this was the best Raw of 2024, but it was pretty damn good. All of the matches were solid even Nia's match. There wasn't anything that I didn't like. But The Rock's promo was the best thing on the show. 2024 will be a great year. I can feel it.
Ends Raw Thoughts, Facts, & Stats. Visit darrenswinloss.wordpress.com, which will be updated with the 1st Records of 2024 later this week. Enjoy this rerun of Barmageddon.
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NO-ONE SITS ON SHAYNA BUT ME!!
