Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 8, 2024

Drew McIntyre is in the ring to start tonight's show. Drew is furious that he is not World Heavyweight Champion, and has realized that he is holding himself back. He says he needs to get his priorities and step away from WWE for a while. He addresses Damian Priest, asking him why he could not wait until he was champion, as he screwed him as well as himself. Drew says he might as well leave for nine years and come back to a hero's welcome when CM Punk shows up. CM Punk says that he is known for talking and not Drew McIntyre, then says that since he has returned, talking is all Drew has done. He then allows Drew to say whatever he has to say to him to his face. Drew congratulates CM Punk on his returns, then admits everyone in the back has a running bet on whether CM Punk will crash and burn. He says that he only cares what Punk does to him personally. Drew says that he was in a dark place when CM Punk was the locker room leader over a decade ago, but Punk saw him as a threat. He says Randy Orton could not help him because he had his own demon, then goes on to call CM Punk a demon and "a self-serving succubus." He says that when he was fired, he eventually figured it out, and now he is Punk's leader. Punk says he has called himself many things, but leader is not one of them. He also talks about how Drew followed his lead on his return, then says that Drew is somehow mad about it. CM Punk then says he "is Satan" when pushed, and that he is a nice guy until it is time not to be and that it is time to win the Royal Rumble and headline WrestleMania. Drew says they have a problem, as he won the Royal Rumble and headlined WrestleMania while stepping up while the world shut down, and states that CM Punk would have run off while he stepped up. He then says he will do it again, and this time, it will be for himself. Punk says things are getting spicy and that he will leave before Drew punches his teeth out. He says the only person who can get in his way is him and that he got out of his own way a long time ago, and because he is such a nice guy, he will toss Drew out last.

Before the next match, Tommaso Ciampa says that it is a long road for him and Johnny Gargano and that they must fight for what they want. He says that this is "must-win" and not "can't lose," and that they will become the next tag team champions.

Tommaso Ciampa beats Finn Balor after Johnny Gargano grabs Finn Balor's foot from the outside.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Becky Lynch. Becky says she was hoping Nia Jax would break her nose and put her in the hospital again, and while Nia busted her mouth open, she got back up and declared for the women's Royal Rumble. She says that either Nia is weaker or she is stronger. She says that since one never ended the other, this is not the end and only the beginning.

Kofi Kingston vs. Ludwig Kaiser ends in a double count-out. After the match, both men brawl, and Kaiser throws a commentary table chair at Kofi and knocks him out before ultimately drop kicking Kofi's head into the ring steps.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Ludwig Kaiser, who says Kofi Kingston had it coming after he was left holding the entire weight of Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci), and after Kofi took Giovanni Vinci's head, he took Kofi's.

Michael Cole interviews Nia Jax in the ring. Nia says she is a new Nia Jax and is more focused than ever, and says it would really be shocking if she broke Michael Cole's face. She then says she is focused on running through the Royal Rumble and becoming a champion. As Nia says there is no man or woman who can stop her as she mentions both Rhea Ripley and Io Sky, Rhea Ripley suddenly shows up. Rhea says everyone knows Nia likes to talk a big game, then reminds Nia that she eliminated her from the Royal Rumble last year. She then says that while beating Becky Lynch is an accomplishment, Becky is "no Rhea bloody Ripley." She then tells Nia that she does not own the women's division and warns her that if she does win the Royal Rumble, it is best that she keep her name out of her mouth. Nia tells Rhea she may be the most dominant women's champion in history, then reminds her that she put her on her ass when she came back and that she is not champion because Rhea does not want to face her. Nia then tells Rhea that when she wins the women's Royal Rumble, she will choose her.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Cody is suddenly attacked from behind by Shinsuke Nakamura, and officials quickly have to stop the attack.

Katana Chance and Kayden Carter retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships against Chelsea Green and Piper Niven.

It is announced that "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura later tonight is now a street fight.

We see video footage of R-Truth, who says that he dreamed of being in The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) since he was a baby and that his dream came true. He says that with JD McDonagh gone, The Judgment Day is a real family, and that they are here for anyone if they want to talk. Backstage, Damian Priest says that he will end "the R-Truth joke" when the time comes. Finn Balor says #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) will need CPR and MRIs, and Rhea says she will take care of Nia Jax. JD McDonagh says he will take care of The Miz tonight.

The Miz beats JD McDonagh after The Miz drop kicks McDonagh into "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio from inside the ring. After the match, R-Truth celebrates with The Miz in the ring. Backstage, The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley) gets more irritated with R-Truth.

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins heads to the ring. Rollins says that he has never taken a world title into WrestleMania and has never been the headline or marquee match, and says that this is going to change because this is his year. He says he has worked too hard and too long and that he took a title that did not exist a year ago and made it the most important title in the industry the way he said he would do it, then asks who he will beat at WrestleMania. As he talks about how the Raw roster is loaded from top to bottom, Jinder Mahal suddenly shows up and heads to the ring. Jinder says he was more of a revolutionary in five minutes than Seth was in five years and that Seth is only here to entertain clowns and push degeneracy before calling Portland, Oregon a degenerate city. He also says that Seth is not a role model and and overlooks tenured, decorated champions like him, and for the first time, he finally has his attention. Seth agrees that Jinder has been overlooked, then says it was on purpose and that Jinder was forgotten until The Rock put his balls in a vice. He then gives kudos to Jinder for showing back up before confronting him for getting in his face. He says that if Jinder does not want to be overlooked, all he has to do is take a swing. Jinder refuses, but when Seth calls him "Same old Jinder" and turns his back, Jinder hits him from behind. Jinder fights back and goes for the Khalass, and Seth strikes back, with Jinder geting away before Seth can hit him with The Stomp.

Ivar beats Otis.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews "Main Event" Jey Uso. Jey says he will get his first WWE singles title this year, then "Big" Bronson Reed shows up and tells him that he is not the only one with plans and warns him not to get in the way.

We see a video package for "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura in a street fight.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beats Shinsuke Nakamura in a street fight after going for a Kinshasa and going through a table.

This week on Raw Talk: The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth)! Jinder Mahal! Katana Chance and Kayden Carter!

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