Raw Live Raw discussion thread, January 1st 2024: Day 1 - Seth Rollins defends the WWE World Heavyweight title

[Dale]

World Heavyweight Champion Seth "Freakin" Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre​

World Heavyweight Champion Seth "Freakin" Rollins will put his title on the line at WWE Day 1 against the dangerous Drew McIntyre.

Since losing his title clash against Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WWE Clash at The Castle, McIntyre has slowly descended into madness and has taken out his anger on everybody in his path, and that includes Rollins.

The Visionary, meanwhile, has enjoyed a lengthy reign as champion, but he isn't overlooking the threat that is The Scottish Warrior.
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Rhea Ripley looks to teach Ivy Nile a lesson in a Women’s World Title Match​

Rhea Ripley is out to teach Ivy Nile that it is unwise to mess with The Eradicator of The Judgment Day. So much so that she will voluntarily put her Women’s World Championship on the line to show just how little she thinks of her challenger.

Is Ripley underestimating the dangerous Ivy?
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Becky Lynch set to battle Nia Jax​

t's a showdown several years in the making. Nia Jax broke Becky Lynch's nose, and soon after, The Man was born.

Taking credit for The Man's success that followed, The Irresistable Force is out to show that she can finish what she began. That, however, will be easier said than done when it comes to Lynch.

When Jax got personal on the Dec. 18 edition of Raw, an incensed Lynch attacked her adversary, and as the officials pulled her away, Jax attacked her from behind with a devastating strike.

The Man is out to settle the score when she journeys to Jax's hometown of San Diego for their highly-anticipated matchup.
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Tegan Nox & Natalya vs. Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark​

Tag team action pits Tegan Nox and Natalya against the bruising tandem of Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark.

Natalya has taken the upstart Nox under her wing, and now they'll test their teamwork against the newfound pair of Baszler and Stark.

The Queen of Spades and the newcomer Stark have formed an alliance in recent months, born out of their shared love of combat and winning.

What will happen when these two teams square off at WWE Day 1?​

 

[Cwalker]

This might actually be the Priest cash in

 

[Dale]

Do get the impression something big is going to go down with regards to the title changing hands

 

[Cwalker]

Same vibe I’m getting. Want to do something big to start the year off.

Why not change the title?

Priest probably wouldn’t hold it long. Presume he would drop it back to Rollins at Rumble, but that’s your impact moment

 

[Jimmy King]

Pretty psyched that I’ll get to see that live. I expect some shenanigans and something big to go down in that match like Priest possibly cashing in.

 

[Dale]

I wouldn't be against Priest cashing in at all and drawing a line under the MITB case run. He felt like the right guy at the time when he won it but the more time passes by, the more it feels like we're getting into Theory territory with him. I'd probably stick the title on him there and let him go through WrestleMania with it tbh.

 

[Cwalker]

Problem with keeping the title on him is it throws a monkey wrench in the Seth/Punk story.

Punk’s whole thing is main eventing Mania. They don’t Main Event night one if the belt isn’t on the line

 

[Sabretooth]

Yeah I think Punk wins the Rumble and challenges Seth at Mania and Cody finds another way to get to Roman

 

[Dale]

I guess we'll have more of a clue next week when JD take on The Creeds. If they drop the belts then I guess they'll start gearing him up for the cash in whenever that may actually be.

 

[Sabretooth]

Any chance judgment day fucks up Damien’s cash in and he turns face?

 

[Dale]

Not for him to turn face I wouldn't think, they have too many top faces as it is.

 

[Cwalker]

Yeah he’d be the de facto Number 4(maybe 5) babyface if he turned.

There’s no point

 

[Dale]

* Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax
* Rhea Ripley (C) vs. Ivy Nile (WWE Women’s World Title)
* Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark vs. Natalya & Tegan Nox (Women’s Tag Title Eliminator)​

 

[Dale]

https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1740851053585694982

Fightful Select has learned that WWE is very close to nailing down an unnamed "former WWE Champion" in their words to appear at the WWE Day 1 edition of Raw. We have some more details on Fightful Select and will work to find out more.
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Sources within WWE, while speaking vaguely, claimed that the company is "on the one yard line" in landing a former WWE Champion to appear on the show, and they feel confident they can get the deal done.

We haven't been given a specific name, but were told it was someone not currently on their roster.

It's worth noting that "former WWE Champion" was the terms used by those sources. We asked if the name was one that was active or a retired talent, but weren't given that info.​

 

[Chris]

Logical guess seems to be Brock