Raw Deal - Raw recap for December 23, 2024

Drew McIntyre heads to the ring to start tonight's show. McIntyre talks about how he went home because a close family member passed away after his Hell In A Cell match, and mentions that not a single person asked him if he was okay. He also says his brother would not stab in the back for his spot like a lot of the locker room. He also says that he does not believe Sami Zane when he says that Roman Reigns is a changed man, and says he has given so much time only to be told to go screw himself. He says he will give no more for anyone and will start taking. He also says that anyone who sides with Roman Reigns or CM Punk, or has wronged him, should sleep with one eye open before Sami shows up and says that everyone just thought that McIntyre was just recovering from a brutal Hell In A Cell match. Sami says he has gone through everything that McIntyre has had to go through, and that they chose this path and chose to be WWE Superstars. He also says that the fans have a story much like theirs. He says that the fans go through their struggles and losses like they do without pointing the finger, and says that the people made McIntyre and did not forget him. Sami says that just because McIntyre is mad does not make him special and that what he or The Usos (Jimmy and "Main Event" Jey Uso) do have nothing to do with him, but if McIntyre wants to stay angry, nobody will stop him and he will have no problem being McIntyre's problem. McIntyre says his anger comes from a place of pain and wants to know why Sami wants this fight when he has never beaten him and he is not 100%, then suggests that Sami walk back to his family and leave the arena, for he is the least of his worries. Sami admits that McIntyre is right about having his number and that he is not 100%, and while he should rest and recover with his family, he would rather fight McIntyre, and punches McIntyre in the face. McIntyre fights back, and Jey Uso shows up as McIntyre readies the Claymore. Sami and Jey clothesline McIntyre out of the ring following a thrust kick from Jey.

Backstage, General Manager Adam Pearce is met by Pure Fusion Collective (Sonya Deville, Zoey Stark, "The Queen of Spades" Sonya Deville). Sonya Deville says she wants the opening in the Women's Intercontinental Championship Tournament, but Pearce says he has filled the vacancy they caused with Iyo Sky.

Iyo Sky - replacing Kairi Sane - beats Natalya and Alba Fyre to advance in the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship Tournament.

Backstage, Finn Balor is irritated with not having any championship gold for Christmas to the misery of the rest of The Judgment Day (JD McDonagh, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, Carlito, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez), and Dominik Mysterio says he will get a match with Damian Priest, saying that he has a plan.

Backstage, Sami Zayn thanks "Main Event" Jey Uso for having his back. Jey says he had to get revenge on Drew McIntyre for dropping him weeks ago, but Sami says he started something with Drew and he has to finish it.

Chad Gable beats Akira Tozawa with the ankle lock. After the match, Gable refuses to let go of the hold, and Otis grabs Gable and throws him to break the hold. Julius and Brutus Creed stand with Gable, but the three of them soon retreat when Otis refuses to stand down.

Backstage, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) are met by "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, who says that even though he hated Big E, "that was just crazy." Woods calls Dominik "a broke-ass Tom Selleck." Dominik says "Tom Selleck wishes."

Damian Priest beats "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio by disqualification after being attacked by Finn Balor on the outside. This is after attacking JD McDonagh disguised as Santa Claus in the front row and finding Carlito underneath the ring and beating him up as well. The numbers game takes over, but The War Raiders (Ivar and Erik) show up to even the numbers and save Priest, who tosses McDonagh out of the ring and attacks Finn Balor. Together, they and Priest clean house. Priest then raises The War Raiders' hands.

In footage from this past weekend, Jackie Redmond interviews Seth "Freakin'" Rollins. Rollins says he has tried to explain how he felt about CM Punk many times over the years, saying CM Punk needs WWE and not the other way around, and that it eats away at him and he cannot let it go. He says he has to have this fight with CM Punk after seeing him hand-in-hand with Roman Reigns and becoming viscerally angry, and that he wants the fans as well as CM Punk to see this anger. Rollins says there will be a side to him that nobody has ever seen and that he must "extract this demon from [his] soul" or else he is going down.

Dexter Lumis beats The Miz by disqualification after Akam and Rezar attack him on the outside. After the match, Dexter is surrounded by The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Scarlett, Akam, Rezar) when the lights go out and the rest of The Wyatt Sicks (Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Nikki Cross) show up when they come back on. The Wyatt Sicks clean house in the ring quickly.

The War Raiders (Ivar and Erik) are met by Damian Priest backstage. Ivar admits they have not always seen eye-to-eye, but there is honor between them, and they owed Priest after last week. Priest says that if they go to war with The Judgment Day, he will go to war with them.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) suddenly show up and want to know why everyone hates them, and also confront Joe Tessitore for talking about them. Woods says that Wade Barrett is not man enough to lace his boots up like Big E. The New Day then get in the ring, and Kofi says they could have beaten Big E up, but they did not. Woods wants to know why the fans are so upset, and Kofi says tonight was supposed to be a homecoming for him and his mother, who is in the front row. Woods says they gave the fans the ten best years of their lives, but stops speaking as he continues to be booed. Kofi apologizes to his mother, saying she did not come here for this and asks for a hug. Kofi's mother gets up from her seat and gives him the business for what he did to Big E, then refuses to hug him and walks off.

Backstage, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) are met by Rey Mysterio. Rey says he thought about what Kofi said last week and apologizes, saying he could have handled things differently, and says he has the responsibility to help everyone as much as he can. He says that what they did to Big E was out of pocket, and says they should apologize, but Kofi says they did not do anything wrong, as does Woods. Rey then says "Don't say I didn't try," and tells them they are on their own and to get used to being told that they suck.

Drew McIntyre beats Sami Zayn. After the match, McIntyre continues to attack a downed Sami Zayn, then "Main Event" Jey Uso shows up, runs into the ring and hits McIntyre with a Spear. All of a sudden, he is shoved off the top rope by Tama Tonga, who is joined by Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. McIntyre leaves the ring as Tama and Jacob attack Jey, but Jey avoids the hip attack by Jacob and superkicks Tama. Solo gets in the ring for a Samoan Spike, but Jey is able to avoid and counter before Jacob downs him. Solo is about to hit Jey with the Samoan Spike, but Sami stops him. Sami is soon overpowered, and Jacob hits him with the top rope moonsault before Solo finally nails Sami with the Samoan Spike. Solo Sikoa's Bloodline (Solo, Tama, Jacob) celebrates to end the show.

Here are the highlights for tonight's show!