Raw Deal - Raw recap for December 10, 2018

Seth Rollins is in the ring to start tonight's show. Rollins says "burn it down" will be his rallying cry when he puts the Intercontinental Championship on the line against Dean Ambrose, and that it will also be the theme for tonight. Instead of calling out Ambrose, however, he is here to spit some truth. He extends an invitation to General Manager-Elect Baron Corbin, saying it is time he heard some things as well as gotten a dose of reality. Corbin shows up, and tells Rollins that if he wants a conversation, then they can have it in private and that the door to his office is open to a Superstar of his caliber. Rollins refuses to buy this, and tells Corbin to shut up. He says that under Corbin's leadership, Raw has "sucked" and that it has sucked because of him puffing his chest out, abusing his power and ending careers. Rollins tells Corbin that what he has been doing has been wrong. Corbin says he is allowing Rollins to vent and that Rollins should watch what he says to him, but Rollins reminds him that the locker room is the most talented there is and that Corbin has no idea how to utilize it. He mentions that The Revival is deserving of better, and that some of the segments leave something to be desired, and also says that Corbin is just masking his insecurities at this point. He questions if Brawn Strowman hurt his feelings so badly that he decided to award the Universal Championship back to Brock Lesnar, who never wants to show up and has not wrestled on Raw in 16 years. Rollins concludes that "the Baron Corbin experience" has been an abject failure, as support and morale from both fans and the locker room as well as the ratings are all at an all-time low because of him. Corbin says he appreciates the feedback, but tells him to put it in writing so he can file it under "I don't give a damn," as he does not care what anybody thinks. He says that Raw is his show, and if Rollins doesn't like it, that's too bad. He says that if things are bad now, they will be worse for someone like Rollins. Rollins says it can't possibly be worse, but Corbin says Ambrose will win while he will win his own TLC Match by forfeit to become permanent General Manager. After that, he will put Rollins through hell until the day he quits, and Rollins proposes that he start tonight when they go one-on-one in the ring. Rollins then realizes that's not good enough, and decides to make their match a TLC Match. Corbin asks Rollins what he will do to him in a TLC Match, and says it will be the end of him, but Rollins considers it a tune-up match for Ambrose. Corbin says if Rollins wants to be a hero, it will cost him everything. He then says he will make an example out of Rollins for the rest of the locker room before declining. As Corbin talks about his responsibilities, Rollins keeps calling him a coward, and the egging on works as Corbin is forced to accept. Corbin then abuses his power to make the match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

Backstage, Dasha Fuentes interviews Seth Rollins, who admits that while calling out General Manager-Elect Baron Corbin was not the smartest move, he has to be a locker room leader and take a stand against him. He says that he must take a stand to be a real champion otherwise, he is not worthy of the Intercontinental title.

Bobby Roode and Chad Gable beat AOP (Akam, Rezar, Drake Maverick) in a 3-on-2 handicap match to win the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships after Roode scores a crucifix pin on a showboating Drake Maverick.

Backstage, Bobby Roode and Chad Gable are interviewed by Charly Caruso. Roode says there hasn't been much reason for hope lately, but he and Gable knew if they put in the work, they would be champions. At the same time, if someone told them they would win gold tonight, they would have thought that person was crazy. Nevertheless, Gable says he feels glorious.

Natalya is in the ring. Normally, she has a huge smile on her face, but she wants to get something off her chest and that something is about Ruby Riott. Natalya says she loves the business, but that Ruby Riott does not respect anyone or anything in the business. She says Ruby made it personal between them, and says that she had to overcome much to enter the WWE. She brings up the Montreal Screwjob and Bret "The Hit Man" Hart punching WWF chairman Vince McMahon in the face, and says she had to overcome all that and more to get here, and she is proud to be Hart family and to be in the WWE. This Sunday, she will teach Ruby Riott respect as she dedicates the match to her father, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Natalya tears up afterwards, and says it will take everything she has and drive her through a table and that there is nothing Ruby can do about it. The Ruby Riott then shows up with a table underneath a black cloth, then Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan leave before Ruby makes fun of Natalya. She says Natalya just feels sorry for herself, and says what Natalya needs is a good counselor. She then says that Natalya does not represent her family; instead, she disgraces them. She then announces she has a gift for her that will keep on giving: a table with Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart printed on it. Ruby says Natalya and The Anvil were close, but this Sunday, they will be even closer than ever when she puts her through the table.

We hear from Dolph Ziggler, who says that he plucked Drew McIntyre from obscurity and that maybe he should send him back. He says is neither the good guy or the bad guy; he is Dolph Ziggler. He says that he does not want or need Finn Balor, and while Drew should have pretended he was Balor, he is Dolph Ziggler.

Before the next match, Charly Caruso interviews Drew McIntyre, who says that nobody stays undefeated forever, not even himself. However, he is no less dangerous, as he beat Finn Balor up so badly he isn't here tonight and that he will beat him for good at TLC. He says that people listen when he speaks before proclaiming that he will make Raw a better place for all, and even if people do not like him, they will respect him. Drew also says he does not care what kind of guy Dolph Ziggler is, as he is the guy who is about to get his head kicked off.

Drew McIntyre beats Dolph Ziggler after Ziggler nearly wins on a desperation Zig Zag. After the match, McIntyre tosses Ziggler into the ring post before attacking him outside of the ring. Referees and officials separate both men, but McIntyre uses the calm afterwards to boot Ziggler's head into the LED board on the side of the ring.

Bayley beats Alicia Fox after Apollo Crews runs in and fends off Jinder Mahal and The Singh Brothers (Samir and Sunil Singh) alongside Sasha Banks after The Singh Brothers try to interfere. Before the match, it is announced that Apollo Crews will be teaming with Bayley tomorrow night on Mixed Match Challenge due to injuries Finn Balor suffered last week.

Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Dean Ambrose, who demands he not be called "The Lunatic Fringe" ever again and that Seth Rollins called himself "The Architect" to keep the attention on himself. He says that Rollins went into the ring tonight without a plan because he is a madman with a huge ego who always has to be "The Man," and if Rollins is still champion after tonight, he will take the title on Sunday and tell him what he really thinks of him to his face. When asked what Roman Reigns would think of this, Ambrose simply says "Who cares?" After a video package that shows Rollins and Ambrose's reactions to Roman Reigns' leukemia announcement and well as what happened between him and Rollins afterwards, Ambrose is unmoved as he walks away.

Elias is in the ring. He plays guitar, and says that in a radio interview from earlier today, Bobby Lashley said he would take every sports team in the city and move it somewhere cooler like Los Angeles. He says that if it were up to San Diego, California, they would not let Bobby Lashley perform here, and that he would rather perform in the Gas Light District instead of in front of "L.A. trash." Elias says he considers himself a pretty good guy, and while hitting kids with guitars is not on the top of his list, last week was a pretty good exception. Tonight, he will teach Lio Rush a lesson he should have learned a long time ago. He then performs a song where he proceeds to make fun of Bobby Lashley, which is interrupted by Lio Rush and Lashley. After the commercial break, it is revealed that the referee for this match is Heath Slater.

Lio Rush beats Elias after Lashley intimidates referee Heath Slater into not disqualifying Rush before smacking Elias with his own guitar.

The Mendez Family are the recipients of tonight's Cricket Wireless Seat Upgrade.

Backstage, General Manager-Elect Baron Corbin tells Heath Slater he did a good job, to stop worrying about Rhyno and that he has another match to referee tonight.

Alexa Bliss shows up, followed by Nia Jax and Tamina Snuka. Nia takes the microphone and states that this Sunday, she will become the Raw Women's Champion at the direct expense of "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey. She says that UFC has done a number on Ronda's logic, and if she had any sense, she would lay the title at her feet to avoid the beating and humiliation coming her way at TLC. Nia says she realizes that Ronda comes from a world where one talks trash to hype fight, but she is a six-foot-tall Samoan woman, Ronda's worst nightmare and "the embodiment of the anti-Rousey." She then says that her fist - which broke Becky Lynch's face with one punch - is the secret to that, and when the bell rings and Ronda comes for her, he will punch her in the face and do it over and over again until she taps out just to stop her. Nia says she is not just the most imposing force in WWE history, she is also a strategist. She knows that Ronda has held multiple championships, and if Ronda manages to avoid her punch and grab her arm, she will open her first, pry Ronda off her and break her face. She then says she will hold the Raw Women's Title after erasing the myth of Ronda Rousey on Sunday. Suddenly, Ronda shows up and says she did not come here to hit poses and talk fighting; she came to fight. Ronda charges the ring, and Alexa, Nia and Tamina retreat. Tamina and Nia are about to surround Ronda when Ember Moon shows up to even the odds.

Ember Moon beats Tamina after "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey stops Nia Jax from interfering in the match.

Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews General Manager-Elect Baron Corbin. Corbin says he simply accepted Rollins' challenge, and saying that if he didn't, he would have deprived the fans of some TLC action. He says that Braun Strowman is a one-armed man because of him, and while it may be his first TLC match, it will be a taste for Rollins, who will experience more when he becomes permanent General Manager. He then says that the locker room has no choice but to "All hail Baron Corbin."

It is announced that Elias vs. Bobby Lashley at TLC will be a Ladder Match with a guitar hanging above the ring, and the first person to grab the guitar will be allowed to use it as a weapon.

Heath Slater is the referee for the next match.

We see yet another vignette for Lars Sullivan.

Seth Rollins retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Baron Corbin in a TLC Match despite interference from referee Heath Slater, who attempts and fails to help Corbin win the title after toppling the ladder while Rollins is climbing it. After the match, Dean Ambrose shows up and stares down with Seth Rollins from the ramp.

Here are the top 10 moments from tonight's show!