WWE Raw Results For 12/31/18: The WWE Intercontinental Title Is Defended, A Steel Cage Match & A Fresh Start Battle Royal
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Steel Cage Match
Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler
The match begins with Ziggler immediately hitting McIntyre with a forearm strike, Ziggler tries escaping the cage and McIntyre gets him down before landing a chop. McIntyre follows that up by nailing Ziggler with a dead lift suplex, Ziggler fights back and McIntyre quickly drops him. McIntyre places Ziggler on the top rope before landing some more strikes, Ziggler recovers and he nails McIntyre with a leaping DDT from the middle rope. Ziggler gets McIntyre up before landing some more strikes, McIntyre responds by dropping Ziggler with a Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre tries escaping the cage and Ziggler prevents him from leaving, the two battle while standing on the top rope and Ziggler smashes McIntyre’s faces into the cage wall multiple times. McIntyre and Ziggler eventually crotch each other on the top rope as we go to a commercial break, we return from the break to see McIntyre slapping a downed Ziggler.
Ziggler fights back and he sends a charging McIntyre into the corner, Ziggler nails McIntyre with a fame asser for a near fall. McIntyre blocks a super kick from Ziggler before attempting an inverted Alabama slam, Ziggler shocks McIntyre with a roll up before being sent into the cage wall. Ziggler recovers and he sends McIntyre into the cage wall before landing a super kick for a near fall, Ziggler looks to leave through the cage door and McIntyre stops him. Ziggler makes McIntyre pay by nailing him with a headbutt, Ziggler looks to leave through the cage door again and McIntyre stops him. Ziggler grabs the steel door and he hits McIntyre with it, Ziggler then hits McIntyre with another fame asser for a near fall as we go to a commercial break. We return from the break to see McIntyre preventing Ziggler from escaping the cage, McIntyre gets Ziggler completely down by landing a superplex.
McIntyre picks up Ziggler and he propels him into the cage wall a few times, Ziggler nails McIntyre with a Zig Zag from out of nowhere for a near fall. McIntyre shocks Ziggler by landing a Claymore Kick from out of nowhere, McIntyre nails Ziggler with a second Claymore Kick for the three count.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
After the match, Drew McIntyre grabs a steel chair and he brings it back in the ring before attacking Dolph Ziggler with strikes, McIntyre then crushes Ziggler’s head by kicking a chair into it. McIntyre grabs a microphone and he tells everybody that he is the king of the Raw jungle, McIntyre says Ziggler is nothing but dead weight. McIntyre says its time to prove that he is the king of the WWE and he’ll do it by winning the 2019 Royal Rumble Match before winning the WWE Universal Title at Wrestlemania, McIntyre then hits Ziggler with another Claymore Kick.
– A limo arrives at the arena, with Triple H and Shane McMahon getting out of it.
– Finn Balor says his New Years Resolution is to win the WWE Universal Title.
– Ember Moon says her New Years Resolution is to win the 2019 Women’s Royal Rumble Match.
– The Ascension say their New Years Resolution is to win the Raw Tag Team Titles.
– The Lucha House Party say their New Years Resolution has to do with partying.
– Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring and he has a microphone in hand, Rollins says he isn’t too big on New Years Resolutions. Rollins says he has a mandatory rematch against WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose and he wants it now, Triple H interrupts and makes his way to the ring. HHH says that everybody has a chance at a fresh start everyday and that’s also true in the WWE, HHH announces that there are going to be no more automatic rematches for titles. HHH then turns down Rollins’ request for a rematch against Ambrose, HHH says that Rollins may not deserve a rematch anyway. HHH says that Rollins made HHH believe in Rollins because of all the opportunities Rollins took advantage of, HHH wonders where the old Rollins is.
Rollins says he isn’t asking for anything and he has been carrying Raw on his back for the last year, Rollins talks about all the matches he has had classic matches with in 2018. Rollins says he wants to earn his opportunities, Rollins asks HHH if he wants the old Rollins back and HHH tells him yes. HHH then makes Rollins versus Bobby Lashley for tonight, Rollins promises to destroy anybody who gets in his way. Shane McMahon interrupts and makes his way to the ring, McMahon says the winner of the upcoming battle royal gets a WWE Intercontinental Title Shot later in the night.
Fresh Start Battle Royal
Finn Balor vs. Curtis Axel vs. Bo Dallas vs. Baron Corbin vs. Apollo Crews vs. Zack Ryder vs. Curt Hawkins vs. Kalisto vs. Lince Dorado vs. Gran Metalik vs. Titus O’Neil vs. Tyler Breeze vs. Konnor vs. Viktor vs. Mojo Rawley vs. No Way Jose
The match begins with a huge brawl between everybody in the match, The B-Team work together and attack Hawkins. Corbin and Balor also try eliminating each other in a corner of the ring, Jose catches Viktor in an airplane spin. Crews dumps a dizzy Jose and Viktor out of the ring for a double elimination, Viktor goes after Crews and he eats a drop kick. The B-Team focus their attention on Balor while Hawkins battles the Lucha House Party, O’Neil attacks the Lucha House Party. The Lucha House Party triple team O’Neil before eliminating him as we go to a commercial break, we return from the break to see the Lucha House Party working over Balor. Balor recovers to eliminate Metalik, Balor also eliminates Kalisto and Dorado a few moments later.
Corbin goes after Balor and he winds up crashing into the ring post, Crews back body drops the B-Team out of the ring for a double elimination. Crews follows that up by eliminating Konnor and Rawley, Breeze misses an enziguri and Crews dumps him out of the ring. Corbin returns and he nails Crews with a choke slam, Balor then hits Corbin with a sling blade and shotgun drop kick. Balor also drops Hawkins and Ryder, Corbin sneaks up behind an attacking Balor to dump him out of the ring. Corbin then dumps a charging Ryder out of the ring for an elimination, Hawkins attacks Corbin with strikes in the corner. Hawkins gets dumped to the ring apron and he eventually gets eliminated by Corbin, Corbin then dumps Crews to the ring apron. Crews gets back in the ring and he kicks Corbin in the face, Crews nails Corbin with a follow up enzaguri to eliminate him from the ring.
Winner: Apollo Crews
After the match, Charly Caruso interviews Apollo Crews, who says this is the opportunity that he has been asking for all along. Crews says there is no better way to end 2018 than to become the new WWE Intercontinental Champion.
– Natalya is interviewed backstage, who says 2018 was such a whirlwind year and she cannot wait to face Ronda Rousey again at WWE Wrestlemania by winning the 2019 Women’s Royal Rumble. Nia Jax interrupts to distract Natalya so Tamina can attack her from behind.
– Baron Corbin is in the ring and he says that he should’ve won the battle royal because nobody deserves a fresh start more than him. Corbin says nobody understands how hard his job was a acting Raw GM, Elias appears on the stage and he wants to know “who wants to walk with Elias?” Elias says that Corbin’s time is up because its time for New Years Eve with Elias, Elias says that he and Kid Rock don’t think having Corbin run his mouth is the best way to spend New Years. Elias sings a song mocking Corbin and Corbin charges up the ramp to brawl with Elias, they battle into the crowd and Elias crushes Corbin with a crate on wheels. Corbin eventually gets free and he runs backstage to avoid Elias.
– AOP & Drake Maverick say their New Years Resolution is to deal more pain to the Raw Tag Team Division.
– The Riott Squad say they have no New Years Resolution other than to apply pressure to everybody.
– Zack Ryder says his New Years Resolution is to have more matches on Raw.
– No Way Jose just wants to continue to party heading into 2019.
Ember Moon, Bayley & Sasha Banks vs. The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan & Liv Morgan)
The match begins with Bayley taking Morgan down with a Thesz Press before landing some strikes, Morgan recovers and quickly drops Bayley. Logan tags in and Bayley takes her down with a cross body block, Banks tags in and hits Logan with a double knee strike for a near fall. Banks traps Logan in the corner while landing a series of strikes, Banks traps Logan in the corner before tagging Bayley back into the match, Bayley nails Logan with an elbow drop for a near fall. Moon and Riott get tagged in by their respective partners, Moon catches Riott in a few pinning combinations before landing a drop kick. Morgan tags in and she kicks Moon in the face for a near fall, Morgan traps Moon in the corner while kicking away at her.
Logan tags in and she also kicks away at a cornered Moon, Riott tags in and she attacks a cornered Moon as well. The Riott Squad triple teams Moon until Bayley and Banks hit the ring to start a huge brawl as we go to a commercial break, we return from the break to see Bayley wrenching away on the arm of Riott. Riott gets free and she takes Bayley down with a hip toss, Bayley fights back and Morgan tags into the match. Bayley drops Morgan and works over her arm, Moon tags in and Morgan gets triple teamed by the opposition. Banks tags in and Banks misses a double knee strike after interference from Riott, Morgan attacks the back of Banks for a near fall. Riott tags in and she double teams Banks alongside Morgan for a near fall, Riott holds Banks down while applying the full nelson.
Banks gets free and she rolls up Riott before eating a back elbow strike, Logan tags in and she double teams Banks with Riott for a near fall. Banks tries fighting back and Logan nails her with a knee strike for a near fall, Morgan tags in and she hits banks with a middle rope bulldog for a near fall. Morgan holds Banks down while applying a chin lock to her, Banks gets free and she nails Morgan with a knee strike of her own. Logan tags in and she nails Banks with a pop up headbutt, Riott and Morgan double team Banks while the ref was distracted. Moon interferes and she takes out two members of the Riott Squad with a suicide dive, Banks catches Logan with a back stabber after Bayley tags in. Bayley hits Logan with a top rope elbow drop for a three count.
Winners: Ember Moon, Bayley & Sasha Banks
– A video package airs highlighting Braun Strowman.
– Before the next match, Lio Rush gets a microphone to say that Bobby Lashley was hand picked by Triple H to fight Seth Rollins and people will remember just how good Lashley is tonight.
Seth Rollins vs. Bobby Lashley w/Lio Rush
The match begins with Lashley quickly dropping Rollins with a waist lock takedown, Lashley traps Rollins the corner while landing some strikes. Lashley follows that up by nailing Rollins with a spear in the corner, Lashley keeps Rollins down while attacking the lower back. Rollins gets up and he attacks Lashley with a few strikes, Rollins then stuns Lashley with an enziguri before knocking him out of the ring. Rollins follows that up by taking Lashley down with a dive, Lashley gets back in the ring and he nails a leaping Rollins with a flat liner. Lashley keeps Rollins down while landing a few elbow strikes, Lashley applies the nerve hold to a downed Rollins. Rollins gets free and Lashley drops him with a clothesline, Lashley then dumps Rollins out of the ring so Rush can interfere and send him into the ring post as we go to a commercial break.
We return from the break to see Lashley wrenching away on the arm of a downed Rollins, Rollins gets free and he attacks Lashley with some chops. Lashley recovers and he drops Rollins with a hard Irish whip into the corner, Lashley keeps Rollins down while landing a few strikes of his own. Lashley goes for a delayed vertical suplex and Rollins gets free after landing a knee strike, Rollins follows that up by hitting Lashley with a few strikes and a sling blade. Rollins knocks Lashley out of the ring before landing a series of suicide dives, Rollins gets Lashley in the ring before landing a springboard clothesline. Rollins then hits Lashley with a thrust kick before Rush interferes, Lashley nails a distracted Rollins with a spine buster for a near fall. Lashley misses a charge in the corner and Rollins lands a thrust kick to the face, Rollins goes to the top rope and Rush distracts him.
Rollins chases Rush around the ringside area before finally nailing him with a clothesline, Rollins also throws Rush into the barricade. Lashley returns and he knocks Rollins over the barricade, Rollins grabs a chair and he attacks Lashley with it.
Winner: Bobby Lashley w/Lio Rush, by DQ
After the match, Seth Rollins attacks Bobby Lashley with a series of chair shots, Lio Rush hits the ring and Rollins attacks him with the chair as well before hitting him with a curb stomp.
– Ronda Rousey is shown backstage with Natalya.
– A video package airs showing the fresh faces coming to Raw and Smackdown Live.
Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers (Samir & Sunil) vs. Heath Slater & Rhyno
The match begins with Slater backing Mahal into the corner before letting him go free, Slater then nails Mahal with a few strikes. Slater gets distracted and Mahal attacks him with a clothesline, Mahal attacks a cornered Slater with some strikes before tagging the Singh Brothers in. The Singh Brothers take turns stomping away on Slater before landing a double suplex, Slater recovers and hits Sunil with a leg lariat. Rhyno and Samir get tagged in by their respective partners, Rhyno quickly cleans house against the opposing team. Rhyno then hits both Singh Brothers with a double belly to belly suplex, Mahal tags in and he eats a spine buster from Rhyno. The Singh Brothers distract the referee and Rhyno, Mahal hits Rhyno with his finisher for a three count.
Winners: Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers (Samir & Sunil)
– Dean Ambrose is shown backstage and he is talking about the fresh starts given by the McMahon family, Ambrose says Seth Rollins needs a fresh start and he will take everything Rollins holds dear. Ambrose says Apollo Crews won’t have his feelgood moment tonight.
– Bobby Roode & Chad Gable say their New Years Resolution is to make things glorious.
– The Revival say their New Years Resolution is to win the Raw Tag Team Titles.
– Sasha Banks & Bayley say their New Years Resolution is to win the women’s tag team titles.
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Apollo Crews
The match begins with Crews attacking Ambrose with a few strikes, Ambrose fights back and Crews rolls him up for a near fall. Crews then knocks Ambrose out of the ring with a clothesline, Crews then hits Ambrose with a moonsault before getting him in the ring. Crews knocks Ambrose right back out of the ring as we go to a commercial break, we return from the break to see Ambrose stomping away on a downed Crews. Ambrose picks up Crews before dropping him with a short arm clothesline for a near fall, Ambrose holds Crews down while applying a straight jacket hold. Crews gets free and he sends a charging Ambrose out of the ring, Ambrose gets back in the ring and Crews rolls him up for a near fall.
Ambrose and Crews drop each other after landing simultaneous clotheslines, Crews gets up and he nails Ambrose with a series of kicks. Crews then drops Ambrose with a leaping clothesline, Crews follows that up by landing a pop up Samoan drop for a near fall. Crews sets up for his finisher and Ambrose gets free after grabbing the ropes, Crews still hits Ambrose with a top rope high cross body and a standing shooting star press for a pair of near falls. Ambrose fights back and Crews nails him with an overhead release suplex, Ambrose escapes the grip of Crews to rake his eyes. Crews recovers and he hits Ambrose with a sit out power bomb for a near fall, Ambrose rolls out of the ring and Crews takes him out with a suicide dive.
Crews gets Ambrose in the ring before missing a top rope frog splash, Ambrose nails Crews with a Dirty Deeds for a three count.
Winner: Dean Ambrose, still the WWE Intercontinental Champion
– Alexa Bliss appears backstage and she announces that her “Moment Of Bliss” talk show debuts next week on Raw with Ronda Rousey as the guest.
– A video package airs highlighting Brock Lesnar.
Ronda Rousey & Natalya vs. Nia Jax & Tamina
The match begins with a brawl breaking out between both teams before the bell even sounded, the bell sounds and Rousey takes Tamina down with a judo throw. Rousey tosses Tamina into the corner after landing a series of strikes, Jax tags in and Rousey nearly gets her in an arm bar. Jax gets free and she tosses Rousey across the ring before landing an avalanche, Jax lands a slam on Rousey before missing a rolling senton. Natalya and Tamina get tagged in by their respective partners, Natalya hits Tamina with a drop kick followed by a suplex. Natalya traps Tamina in the corner before landing some shoulder thrusts, Natalya then hits Tamina with a slam for a near fall. Natalya goes for a sharp shooter on Tamina and Jax drags her out of the ring, Rousey tags in and she takes out both opponents with a dive as we go to a commercial break.
We return from the break to see Jax stomping away on a downed Natalya, Tamina tags in and she kicks away at a cornered Natalya. Jax tags back in and she nails Natalya with a slam, Jax then tosses Natalya shoulder first into the ring post. Jax holds Natalya down while applying a cobra clutch, Natalya uses a jaw breaker to get free from Jax and Tamina tags into the match. Tamina drops Natalya before applying a chin lock to her, Natalya gets free from Tamina to hit her with a cross body block. Rosuey and Jax get tagged in by their respective partners, Rousey cleans house against the opposing team. Rousey hits Jax with a running knee strike and judo throw for a near fall, Rousey then hits Jax with a jumping elbow strike for a near fall. Jax recovers to hit Rousey with a press slam for a near fall, Jax gets Rousey on her shoulders before climbing the ropes.
Tamina tags in as Rousey gets free and Tamina lands a super kick for a near fall, Tamina drops Rousey with a headbutt before missing a falling headbutt. Rousey looks for an arm bar and Jax lands a leg drop on her, Tamina knocks Natalya out of the ring before getting a near fall on Rousey. Tamina goes for a top rope splash and Rousey gets out of the way, Rousey gets Tamina in the arm bar to force a tap out.
Winners: Ronda Rousey & Natalya
