10 Raw and SmackDown takeaways: Jan. 14. 2024

Veteran NFL writer and Pat McAfee Show contributor Mark Kaboly breaks down SmackDown and Raw with 10 takeaways.

<a href="https://www.wwe.com/videos/jey-uso-wants-gunther-s-title-at-saturday-night-s-main-event-raw-highlights-jan-13-2025" data-nid="40122756" data-tracking-label="Jey Uso wants Gunther’s title at Saturday Night’s Main Event: Raw highlights, Jan. 13, 2025" class="wwe-display-duration js-video-inline–btn js-track js-video–btn node-type-video video-play-large" data-duration="03:02" data-video="{"sponsors":"","numSponsors":false,"title":"Related Videos","playlist":[{"image":"/f/styles/wwe_16_9_s/public/2025/01/dchiraw1651_06_ntwk_rev_1–abaade59cb22009bb9af77db2744a0aa.jpg","image_uri":"public:///2025/01/dchiraw1651_06_ntwk_rev_1–abaade59cb22009bb9af77db2744a0aa.jpg","file":"//vod.wwe.com/vod/2025/,1080,720,540,432,360,288,/dchiraw1651_06_ntwk.m3u8","fid":"40684730","title":"Jey Uso wants Guntheru2019s title at Saturday Nightu2019s Main Event: Raw highlights, Jan. 13, 2025","nid":40122756,"vms_id":236914,"description":"u201cMain Eventu201d Jey Uso is looking to take The Ring Generalu2019s World Heavyweight Championship when Saturday Nightu2019s Main Event returns on Jan. 25. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more. #WWERAW","wwe_network":false,"link_url":"/wwenetwork","ads_disabled":0,"numSponsors":false,"path":"/videos/jey-uso-wants-gunther-s-title-at-saturday-night-s-main-event-raw-highlights-jan-13-2025","abs_path":"http://www.wwe.com/videos/jey-uso-wants-gunther-s-title-at-saturday-night-s-main-event-raw-highlights-jan-13-2025","network_logged_in_cta":"","show_name":"Raw","episode_name":"","countries":[],"country_logic":"","tracks":[{"label":"en","file":"https://cdn5.wwe.com/wwe%2F2025%2Fdchiraw1651_06_ntwk%2Fdchiraw1651_06_ntwk_cc_en.vtt","kind":"captions"}],"playlist_offset":0,"playlist_nid":0,"backfilled":false,"parent_playlist_nid":0,"playlist_title":"Related Videos","playlist_short_headline":"Related Videos","video_offset":0,"picture":"nnnnnnnnnnn<!– n"}],"takeover_bg":"/f/2018/10/Network_Video_Splash_Image–857cdd913705083d053590c09b1a91b9.jpg"}”>

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“Main Event” Jey Uso is looking to take The Ring General’s World Heavyweight Championship when Saturday Night’s Main Event returns on Jan. 25. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more. #WWERAW

10

Yeet! Gunther humbles Uce: Gunther is getting good at this talking thing. His dismissive attitude and body language directed at Jey Uso were on par with what we’ve seen out of The Ring General recently, and it’s been highly entertaining. It was no different at Raw on Monday. Throw in him talking trash on others in the business, especially citing last week’s Netflix premiere, worrying more about who is at The Head of the Table or who is The Best in the World rather than championships; you can see the rub when it comes to the man who doesn’t mind Yeeting his way to being one of the more popular Superstars in the company. Gunther’s verbal beatdown included reminding Jey that he beat him twice while being the Intercontinental Champion, but the exclamation point of this story was when Gunther referred to him as a “really good tag team wrestler.” He hit Uce hard. Now, Uso had a good response, and it should make a good Saturday Night Main Event Match. As far as Jey taking the title from Gunther… well.

<a href="https://www.wwe.com/videos/penta-makes-wwe-debut-with-epic-win-over-chad-gable-raw-highlights-jan-13-2025" data-nid="40122753" data-tracking-label="Penta makes WWE debut with epic win over Chad Gable: Raw highlights, Jan. 13, 2025" class="wwe-display-duration js-video-inline–btn js-track js-video–btn node-type-video video-play-large" data-duration="02:59" data-video="{"sponsors":"","numSponsors":false,"title":"Related Videos","playlist":[{"image":"/f/styles/wwe_16_9_s/public/2025/01/dchiraw1651_14_ntwk–f313f4eaccda88aad3f09d12df189104.jpg","image_uri":"public:///2025/01/dchiraw1651_14_ntwk–f313f4eaccda88aad3f09d12df189104.jpg","file":"//vod.wwe.com/vod/2025/,1080,720,540,432,360,288,/dchiraw1651_04_ntwk.m3u8","fid":"40684724","title":"Penta makes WWE debut with epic win over Chad Gable: Raw highlights, Jan. 13, 2025","nid":40122753,"vms_id":236912,"description":"Penta emerges as Chad Gableu2019s mystery luchador opponent. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more. #WWERAW","wwe_network":false,"link_url":"/wwenetwork","ads_disabled":0,"numSponsors":false,"path":"/videos/penta-makes-wwe-debut-with-epic-win-over-chad-gable-raw-highlights-jan-13-2025","abs_path":"http://www.wwe.com/videos/penta-makes-wwe-debut-with-epic-win-over-chad-gable-raw-highlights-jan-13-2025","network_logged_in_cta":"","show_name":"Raw","episode_name":"","countries":[],"country_logic":"","tracks":[{"label":"en","file":"https://cdn5.wwe.com/wwe%2F2025%2Fdchiraw1651_04_ntwk%2Fdchiraw1651_04_ntwk_cc_en.vtt","kind":"captions"}],"playlist_offset":0,"playlist_nid":0,"backfilled":false,"parent_playlist_nid":0,"playlist_title":"Related Videos","playlist_short_headline":"Related Videos","video_offset":0,"picture":"nnnnnnnnnnn<!– n"}],"takeover_bg":"/f/2018/10/Network_Video_Splash_Image–857cdd913705083d053590c09b1a91b9.jpg"}”>

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Penta emerges as Chad Gable’s mystery luchador opponent. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more. #WWERAW

9

Worst kept secret: Give it to Michael Cole for saying the quiet thing outloud: Penta’s WWE debut on Raw was indeed the “worst kept secret in the business” for some time now. The former Lucha Underground star made his highly anticipated premiere on Monday against arguably the perfect opponent in Chad Gable. While Penta’s debut could never live up to the hype surrounding it, it sure came close. There was a nice mix of high-flying moves (i.e. the Mexican Destroyer and Penta Driver) that you would expect from Penta along with a counter of technical maneuvers by one of the best in that style in Gable.

<a href="https://www.wwe.com/videos/cm-punk-responds-to-john-cenas-royal-rumble-announcement-raw-jan-13-2025" data-nid="40122749" data-tracking-label="CM Punk responds to John Cena's Royal Rumble announcement: Raw, Jan. 13, 2025" class="wwe-display-duration js-video-inline–btn js-track js-video–btn node-type-video video-play-large" data-duration="02:34" data-video="{"sponsors":"","numSponsors":false,"title":"Related Videos","playlist":[{"image":"/f/styles/wwe_16_9_s/public/2025/01/dchiraw1651_02_ntwk_rev_1–c9587719f49e58c9d8c6049c0337b16f.jpg","image_uri":"public:///2025/01/dchiraw1651_02_ntwk_rev_1–c9587719f49e58c9d8c6049c0337b16f.jpg","file":"//vod.wwe.com/vod/2025/,1080,720,540,432,360,288,/dchiraw1651_02_ntwk.m3u8","fid":"40684718","title":"CM Punk responds to John Cena&rsquo;s Royal Rumble announcement: Raw, Jan. 13, 2025","nid":40122749,"vms_id":236908,"description":"The Second City Saint, The Visionary and The Scottish Psychopath engage in a heated confrontation while declaring for the Royal Rumble Match. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more. #WWERAW","wwe_network":false,"link_url":"/wwenetwork","ads_disabled":0,"numSponsors":false,"path":"/videos/cm-punk-responds-to-john-cenas-royal-rumble-announcement-raw-jan-13-2025","abs_path":"http://www.wwe.com/videos/cm-punk-responds-to-john-cenas-royal-rumble-announcement-raw-jan-13-2025","network_logged_in_cta":"","show_name":"Raw","episode_name":"","countries":[],"country_logic":"","tracks":[{"label":"en","file":"https://cdn5.wwe.com/wwe%2F2025%2Fdchiraw1651_02_ntwk%2Fdchiraw1651_02_ntwk_cc_en.vtt","kind":"captions"}],"playlist_offset":0,"playlist_nid":0,"backfilled":false,"parent_playlist_nid":0,"playlist_title":"Related Videos","playlist_short_headline":"Related Videos","video_offset":0,"picture":"nnnnnnnnnnn<!– n"}],"takeover_bg":"/f/2018/10/Network_Video_Splash_Image–857cdd913705083d053590c09b1a91b9.jpg"}”>

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The Second City Saint, The Visionary and The Scottish Psychopath engage in a heated confrontation while declaring for the Royal Rumble Match. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more. #WWERAW

8

Everybody wants a piece of Cena: CM Punk could’ve gotten through his entire opening address getting his point across without mentioning the name John Cena once. Instead, he referred to Cena twice in a small amount of time. I’m going to have to keep a running tab on who subtlety (or not so subtlety) wants to be a part of the John Cena Farewell Tour. Punk and Cena had a nice run of matches against each other (both winning their share) over their storied careers, but we haven’t seen the two square off in a dozen years. When you think about it, “Punk vs. Cena” would be a nice WrestleMania match, especially since Punk basically washed his hands in the Seth “Freakin” Rollins rivalry and the Drew McIntyre conflict. And seriously, who wouldn’t want to see The Best in the World vs. The Greatest of All Time at The Showcase of the Immortals.

<a href="https://www.wwe.com/videos/sheamus-confronts-bron-breaker-after-ludwig-kaiser-match-raw-highlights-jan-13-2025" data-nid="40122754" data-tracking-label="Sheamus confronts Bron Breaker after Ludwig Kaiser match: Raw highlights, Jan. 13, 2025" class="wwe-display-duration js-video-inline–btn js-track js-video–btn node-type-video video-play-large" data-duration="02:21" data-video="{"sponsors":"","numSponsors":false,"title":"Related Videos","playlist":[{"image":"/f/styles/wwe_16_9_s/public/2025/01/dchiraw1651_05_ntwk_rev_1–a641b395fa6e08c0112215fd4dc2153c.jpg","image_uri":"public:///2025/01/dchiraw1651_05_ntwk_rev_1–a641b395fa6e08c0112215fd4dc2153c.jpg","file":"//vod.wwe.com/vod/2025/,1080,720,540,432,360,288,/dchiraw1651_05_ntwk.m3u8","fid":"40684728","title":"Sheamus confronts Bron Breaker after Ludwig Kaiser match: Raw highlights, Jan. 13, 2025","nid":40122754,"vms_id":236913,"description":"The Celtic Warrior looks for retribution against Ludwig Kaiser for a vicious shillelagh attack at Survivor Series and to continue his pursuit of Bron Breakkeru2019s Intercontinental Title. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more.","wwe_network":false,"link_url":"/wwenetwork","ads_disabled":0,"numSponsors":false,"path":"/videos/sheamus-confronts-bron-breaker-after-ludwig-kaiser-match-raw-highlights-jan-13-2025","abs_path":"http://www.wwe.com/videos/sheamus-confronts-bron-breaker-after-ludwig-kaiser-match-raw-highlights-jan-13-2025","network_logged_in_cta":"","show_name":"Raw","episode_name":"","countries":[],"country_logic":"","tracks":[{"label":"en","file":"https://cdn5.wwe.com/wwe%2F2025%2Fdchiraw1651_05_ntwk%2Fdchiraw1651_05_ntwk_cc_en.vtt","kind":"captions"}],"playlist_offset":0,"playlist_nid":0,"backfilled":false,"parent_playlist_nid":0,"playlist_title":"Related Videos","playlist_short_headline":"Related Videos","video_offset":0,"picture":"nnnnnnnnnnn<!– n"}],"takeover_bg":"/f/2018/10/Network_Video_Splash_Image–857cdd913705083d053590c09b1a91b9.jpg"}”>

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The Celtic Warrior looks for retribution against Ludwig Kaiser for a vicious shillelagh attack at Survivor Series and to continue his pursuit of Bron Breakker’s Intercontinental Title. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more.

7

Moving on: A graphic accompanying Sheamus’ match against Ludwig Kaiser stated that The Celtic Warrior had a 2-1 lifetime record against Kaiser. It sure seemed like it has been more than that. Monday’s physical confrontation, which ended with a Sheamus win, seemed like it signaled the end of the rivalry between the two. In one way, it was time. In another way, though, you’d like to see more based solely on the brutality Superstars brought every time by the two. With Bron Breakker in the crowd watching the matchup, WrestleMania a few months away, and Sheamus’ stuffed resume having one glaring omission – an Intercontinental championship – a couple of months leadup to the match should be fun, especially considering both of their physical styles.
 

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Former Judgment Day brothers open a new chapter in their heated rivalry when they battle in a lawless brawl. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more.

6

Exclamation point: The rivalry between Damian Priest and Finn Finn Bálor has been ongoing since SummerSlam, and if their Raw main event Street Fight turns out to be the final chapter of this book, it went out with a bang. There is only so much you can do in a Street Fight, and mostly all of it has been done, including tables, chairs, Kendo sticks, and fighting in the crowd. Priest and Bálor, however, found a way to differentiate their showdown from many that came prior. The Broken Arrow moment off the stands was something you don’t see every day and, to be honest, was quite spectacular. Attacking Bálor on the stretcher made it even better. It turned out to be a more brutal match than expected, and while that will go a long way with Priest, it should help Bálor’s reputation moving forward. 

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Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes teams with Jimmy Uso to take on The New Bloodline’s Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more. #SmackDown

5

Jacob climbing the ladder: If SmackDown wasn’t an audition for Jacob Fatu to become the new Tribal Chief, or at least the leader of whatever is left to the new Bloodline, then color me surprised. It sure had the feel of just that. With Solo Sikoa noticeably absent and Tonga Loa injured, Fatu has moved to the front of the new Bloodline, and he passed his first real test with flying colors on SmackDown. Fatu was part of the opening of the show, a backstage segment, interfered with LA Knight’s match, spoke on his way to the ring to face Cody Rhodes, and was responsible for winning the match. The Samoan Werewolf came across as more of a Tribal Chief than Sikoa, and Solo has been pretty good with that role. With Solo advertised to return on Friday, let’s see where that dynamic goes. I wouldn’t anticipate anything less than an “I love you, Solo” response… at least for now.   

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New WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton holds a celebration for her title win, but she is interrupted by Nia Jax, Bayley, Naomi and Bianca Belair. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more. #SmackDown

4

Tiffy caught in the middle: The newly crowned WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was welcomed with cheers and chants at SmackDown, but her moment with Byron Saxton continued to blur the line of what she really is. Is Tiffy good or bad? She was received as a fan favorite, but she then said things like, “Put some respect on my name and tell me what time it is?” With Bayley now the No. 1 Contender after winning an impromptu Fatal 4-Way Match against Nia Jax, Bianca Belair and Naomi, Friday will give us a clearer picture of what Tiffy is. For me, why not straddle that line?

3

So much hate: Who despises Roman Reigns more? Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Drew McIntyre or Kevin Owens? It is pretty much a tossup at this point, yet The OTC apparently wants nothing to do with any of them. Paul Heyman declared to Cody Rhodes that Reigns has his eyes set on getting back his WWE Championship, and it’s confusing why the other three care so much about him. Reigns really hasn’t acknowledged any of them with the same vitriol, which leads me to believe that something has to be brewing between now and WrestleMania. 
 

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Lyra Valkyria and Dakota Kai collide in the final match of a tournament to determine the first Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more.

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She earned it: Lyra Valkyria became the inaugural WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion by defeating Dakota Kai in the finals of the tournament. It was Valkyria’s first title on Raw, and you can’t say that she didn’t earn it. The Irish Superstar defeated Zelina Vega and Ivy Nile in a Triple Threat Match, IYO SKY, and then Kai. Valkyria and Kai brought it to the finals and left it all on the canvas. Valkyria’s in-ring ability sets the stage for some potentially great matchups to give credibility to the title’s inaugural championship reign.
 

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“Dirty” Dom finds himself in hot water with former Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan after his actions involving Rhea Ripley last week on the Netflix debut of Monday Night Raw. Catch WWE action on Netflix, Peacock, USA Network, CW Network, Sony India and more.

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Odds and ends: The opening of Raw with the drone taking us from outside and through the crowd and over the ring was elite. … “Dirty” Dom Mysterio having no clue that Liv Morgan is mad at him after trying to make amends with former girlfriend Rhea Ripley during last week’s Raw just added to Mysterio’s character. We all haven’t been in the same spot as Dom. … I am sure there has been a Royal Rumble over the past 35 years that had as much main event star power participate, but when it is all said and done, it might be taxing to find one with as much high-end talent as the one coming up in a few weeks. Already confirmed for the Rumble are Cena, McIntyre, Punk, Rollins and Reigns. … What a nice little dart McIntyre flung at Punk when he said, “It may come as a shock, Phil, not everything revolves around you. I was talking to Seth.” … Apollo Crews sure likes to stir it up backstage. There has to be a payoff for his meddling soon. … The Wyatt Sicks moving to SmackDown will give them a much-needed fresh start. … Rollins was right, Sami Zayn pretty much will do anything that is asked of him. Maybe he does need to start worrying more about himself. … Nia Jax got some serious crowd reaction when she interrupted Rhea Ripley. But is that because of Jax or because it was Jax interrupted Mami? … More Carlito, please. He’s just a funny dude without saying a word.

BGB Media Staff

Publishing articles on film, television, and pop culture articles inclusive entertainment