Drew McIntyre heads to the ring to start tonight's show. McIntyre says Seth "Freakin'" Rollins could not help himself and had to accept The Rock's tag match challenge in order to get a fix like a junkie and fulfill some sort of agenda. He says The Rock is "the bigger picture" in all of this, and says that working together with one of the most powerful people on the planet in The Rock is the next step in the evolution of wrestling. He says this is bigger than "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes or Seth Rollins, and it is not longer before Rollins shows up. Rollins tells Mcintyre to shut up, then says that since Night One is in the bag, he has been thinking about the Claymore that McIntyre gave him and that McIntyre can get his full attention with another one right now. Rollins then gets on his knees and gives McIntyre a free shot, then says that McIntyre is a coward and turns his back on him. McIntyre tells Rollins he just wants to talk to him and tell him that he was right when he told him to get over The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa) and that he took his advice, as he does this for Raw and he does this for the World Heavyweight title. He then says that when he told Rollins to take his own advice, he did not do it as he only cares about himself. Rollins says that McIntyre is starting to remind him of CM Punk, who he thought was the biggest hypocrite in the world until he met McIntyre. He talks about how McIntyre has stated that The Bloodline has cost him everything, yet is starting to look like an honorary member of The Bloodline and questions if McIntyre can get a win without them. He says that McIntyre would love nothing more than to have The Bloodline take his title and become The Rock's chosen one, then tells him that it is not going to happen when he and Cody take down The Bloodline. He then says that he will beat McIntyre at Night Two and that McIntyre will be hearing the fans singing his song afterwards. McIntyre takes this as Rollins wanting him to put him out of his misery, but says he has to pin him at WrestleMania and that there is nothing he can do to provoke him. As McIntyre leaves, Rollins says he has not paid attention to him as of late because he is the one person he is worried about the least. McIntyre heads back to the ring, but leaves as Rollins dares him to take a shot.
We hear from Chad Gable, who says that the upcoming gauntlet match is full of demons from his past in order to earn another shot at the Intercontinental Championship and another shot at redemption that his family and friends will be proud of. He says that the match with Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship just means more.
Becky Lynch beats Liv Morgan. After the match, Rhea Ripley shows up. Liv tells Rhea that everything she loves will be hers as a referee holds Liv back and Rhea heads towards the ring. Rhea congratulates Becky on beating Liv before asking if it was all worth it, as Becky has been getting in all sorts of fights and leaving it all in the ring as WrestleMania gets closer. Rhea mentions Becky saying she does this for the fans, family and friends before stating that Becky is doing this to prove herself when she knows that she is better than her. She says Becky keeps accepting matches in order to make an excuse for why she did not beat her, and if she does not arrive at WrestleMania at 100%, she will not be "The Man" and instead be a disappointment. Becky says that around Royal Rumble, she says that Rhea Ripley may be better than her and that she had to prove she was not, and while that planted a seed of doubt, she knows that she is greater when people doubt her than when they believe in her. She says that if she has to take on the whole world, then the whole world does not stand a chance.
We hear from Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, who announce that at WrestleMania 40, The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Damian Priest) will defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships against five other teams in a Six-Pack Ladder Match. Teams will compete in the coming weeks to earn a spot in the match and a chance to win the undisputed tag titles.
Backstage, The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, JD McDonagh) are not happy with the announcement of the Six-Pack Ladder Match for the tag titles at WrestleMania 40.
John Cena's nude appearance at The Oscars last night is mentioned.
Hip-hop artist Travis Scott is seen in the front row.
Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell beat Maxxine Dupri and Ivy Nile after Candice says very disgusting words towards Maxxine Dupri, saying the fans boo her because she does not belong her and that it would be a shame for her dead brother to see what she has become. (Author's note: What.)
Backstage, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis are confronted by The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, JD McDonagh) over the Six-Pack Ladder Match. When The Miz and R-Truth are mentioned by Nick Aldis when Damian Priest wants to know who idea this is, Priest is furious. R-Truth shows up when he should be doing interviews with the media with The Miz, and Damian Priest wants a match with R-Truth.
Michael Cole interviews "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes in the ring. When asked why he slapped The Rock in the face, Cody says that if feels good to slap one's boss - assuming The Rock is really his boss - and that The Rock knows the slap was a receipt. When asked why he accepted the tag team match for Night One and why Seth "Freakin'" Rollins would accept on his behalf given the history between him, Cody and Roman Reigns, Cody says people change, and says it was not long since Michael Cole tried to be a wrestler and that he had to go out on his own to prove himself, and that while he and Rollins have not always gotten along, he has always had his respect. He says that he is more than happy to go to war with Rollins against Roman Reigns as it is his last shot at the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, then brings up an interview Cole conducted with him back in October. He says he is nervous and scared, and says that the story is no longer about him, Roman and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, but about the fans who has followed him to the absolute ends. He gets emotional as he mentions some of the fans, especially those within his own family such as his mother, who is all he has left, and his wife Brandi, who took a shot on him when he was taking RKO's as Stardust every night. Cody says that he and Roman are in the last inning, and that he is glad Michael Cole is here for this as he will be able to say that a Rhodes is Undisputed WWE Universal Champion and that he finished his story.
We hear from Ricochet, who is back to reclaim something that was taken from him. He says he has always known where he wants to be, and after he wins tonight's gauntlet match, he will be at WrestleMania to take back the Intercontinental Championship. We hear from JD McDonagh, who says that he looked into the mirror and saw a man whose effort has brought him one match away from WrestleMania. He says he will do anything to win, as he has seen a man in the mirror who can beat Gunther.
Backstage, Liv Morgan is met by Becky Lynch, who offers to shake hands. Both women shake hands before Nia Jax attacks them both and plants Becky through a table with an Uranage.
Members of the McBee family from "The McBee Dynasty" are seen in the front row.
The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark after Dakota Kai grabs Baszler from the outside as she has Kairi Sane in the Kirifuda Clutch.
Backstage, The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, JD McDonagh) are met by Andrade, who has been asked to stop by by Rhea Ripley, who wants to do some business when "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio returns. Andrade says he is all about business, and tells Rhea to let him know. Andrade leaves, and Finn says that Andrade brings a lot to the table, as he has known him for a long time. Priest is more focused on the Six-Pack Ladder Match as he heads to the ring.
We hear from Shinsuke Nakamura. He says that with WrestleMania and the road to championship gold around the corner, he finds it worth it for him to let his emotions, anger and frustration out. He tells Gunther to keep his eyes wide open. We also hear from "Big" Bronson Reed, who says that his challengers do not know what hard work is and that they deserve what they get, and that he will punch his ticket to WrestleMania.
Damian Priest beats R-Truth. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) show up during the match to show support for R-Truth. Later in the match, they are attacked by Finn Balor and JD McDonagh, and after R-Truth takes them both out from the top rope, Priest clotheslines Truth and hits him with South of Heaven for the win. After the match, The Judgment Day (Finn, Priest, McDonagh) continue to attack R-Truth and #DIY.
We hear from Becky Lynch, who announces that next week, she and Nia Jax will be in a Last Woman Standing Match.
"Main Event" Jey Uso heads to the ring. Jey addresses Jimmy Uso, saying he came to Raw for a fresh start, but Jimmy and the rest of The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa) will not let him go, and he proposes they both face each other at WrestleMania. He then tells Jimmy to accept his challenge, because he will knock the "Yeet" out of his ass.
We see a video package of Gunther's reign as WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Gunther. On the subject of underestimating his potential challengers and being a little cocky, he says public opinion is not his concern and that he focuses on his legacy that he has made for himself and the Intercontinental Championship. He says that he has elevated the Intercontinental Championship to new heights, and now, the creme de la creme of Raw leave it all in the ring to face him at WrestleMania. While he is flattered, he says it takes a lot to be in his position. Gunther then wishes good luck to the potential winner of tonight's gauntlet match.
It is announced that Muhammad Ali will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
Country artist Cody Jinks is seen in the front row.
Sami Zayn beats JD McDonagh, Ricochet, "Big" Bronson Reed, Shinsuke Nakamura and Chad Gable to face Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania. When "Big" Bronson Reed is eliminated, he attacks Sami Zayn before hitting him with the Tsunami as Shinsuke Nakamura makes his way to the ring. Nevertheless, Sami gets the win after countering a German suplex with a After the match, Sami Zayn and Chad Gable in a sign of good sportsmanship after the match, then Gunther shows up to stare down Sami Zayn from the stage to close out the show.
This week on Raw Talk: #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa)! Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Asuka, Kairi Sane)! Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell!
Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!
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