Wise Man, why don't you go ahead and explain the Bloodline's success.
The single longest-reigning tag team champions in the history of SmackDown!, the Usos! The largest box office receipts in the history of SummerSlam; who was in the main event? Roman Reigns! The largest box office receipts in the history of Survivor Series; who was in the main event? Roman Reigns! The first billion-dollar-grossing year in the history of sports entertainment; who was on top as the main star all 365 days of that year?! [The crowd starts answering] Romain Reigns! The single biggest, largest-grossing box office in the history of the Royal Rumble; who was on top? Roman Reigns. The largest crowds in the history of WrestleMania Weekend, 58% increase on Peacock from last year, and the largest-grossing commerce facilitator in the history of WrestleMania; who was on top? [with the crowd] Roman Reigns!
Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you your Tribal Chief, the Head of the Table, the single biggest star in sports entertainment, undisputed Roman Reigns.
Wise Man always has this saying, it's, "what's good for Roman Reigns, is good for WWE." And it's no secret. With me at the head of the table, the billion dollar deals are coming easy. And that's because I'm the last needle mover. And I'm the last needle mover because I am constantly operating at God Mode. But you see, your Tribal Chief is so much more than all that. I'm a man of my word. I called my shot, and I delivered! I said I was gonna smash Brock Lesnar, and what did I do? Smashed him!
But you see, that's the past now. Other men, they'd hang their hat on this weekend, but that's not who I am, because we're never content. I'm a progressive Tribal Chief, and I'm constantly moving forward. So this Friday on SmackDown, we're gonna let y'all know what the next step is. But until then, Dallas, Texas...acknowledge me!
[Cody Rhodes has just finished talking to Seth Rollins, and is heading to the back]
BSByron Saxton
[continuing an ongoing conversation] We obviously saw Cody Rhodes defy the odds last night, so, uh...
[Seth Rollins races out with a sledgehammer, and strikes Cody]
BSByron Saxton
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! NO!
NO, YOU-- DAMN IT, ROLLINS!!
BSByron Saxton
WHAT-- WHY?! COME--
JSJimmy Smith
UNBELIEVABLE! Face to face a second ago!
This is disgusting - this is despicable! Rollins, you're a-- [grunts in frustration]
[After saving Matt Riddle from a Judgment Day attack, Edge grabs a microphone and angrily calls them out]
You have tried to finish me over and over again, but I always come back! Even if it takes me nine years, I come back! And I got to come back in Edmonton, in my country! You see, I don't quit. So, Finn, I'm gonna challenge you… at Extreme Rules. For the first time ever, Edge vs Finn Bálor… in an "I Quit" match!
RRRhea Ripley
You know, it's been awhile since I've been out here without my Latino Heat, my Dom-Dom, and the Judgment Day crew, but I really just wanted all the attention on me. Two nights ago, I disrupted the status quo. I did the unthinkable. I went the distance. I came in here at #1 and overcame and outlasted 29 other women to win the Royal Rumble Match. And now, I get to choose whichever champion I want to face at WrestleMania.
Three years ago, I had just turned 24, my career was just getting started, and I was the NXT Women's Champion. And I came here to Monday Night Raw, I stood in this ring, and I challenged the winner of the Royal Rumble Match, Charlotte Flair. I challenged her to a match at WrestleMania... and she... she put me in my place.
You know, the funny thing about Charlotte is that she's always somehow in the title picture. She's always at the top of her game, and I hate, I hate to give her the credit, but she seems to get better each and every year. The normal flow here in the WWE is that Charlotte Flair is at the top. But I'm the disruptor. I don't like the natural flow, I don't like the normal formula, and I don't like things being overplayed.
So Charlotte, I advise you to enjoy everyone rising and bowing down to the queen because they're about to rise to Rhea Ripley. At WrestleMania, I put you in your place. Charlotte Flair, I choose you.
SZSami Zayn
My entire career - my entire life - I have fought people like The Judgment Day. People who think like The Judgment Day. People that think that all that matters is power. And as long as you're chasing power, you can do whatever you want. You can be as ruthless as you want, as cutthroat as you want. You can rule with an iron fist. You can oppress, whoever, whenever, as long as it's in the name of power. So, that's fine, if that's the name of your game, fine, but understand that if that's your game my name is not Sami Zayn; my name is rebellion! My name is resistance! And I will fight The Judgment Day, whether it's one on one, two on one, three on one, four on one, five on one, as long as there is a breath of air left in my body... I will fight! I will fight The Judgment Day, and everything you stand for until The Judgment Day is no more!"
ENOUGH! ENOUGH! I'm tired of the games, every night, every week! You four wanna play games?! You four wanna play games?! You wanna play games? We're gonna play games in Chicago, at Survivor Series, IN WARGAMES!
HELL, yeah! Let's settle this the right way! Two rings surrounded by a steel cage! The Judgement Day! Rhodes! Rollins! Jey Uso! Sami Zayn! [Damien Priest jumps Jey] AND THE BRAWL IS BREAKING OUT AGAIN!!
I thought I was in a sullen mood, and then I come out here and I see all of these signs and I hear all of these people. The truth is, I have a huge decision to make. We, if I may, have a huge decision to make, and I’ve been thinking about it all week. And the reason I’ve been so consumed and worried about it is because I love you guys. But the truth is, this town and this building specifically hasn’t always historically been kind to CM Punk. I walk back here through the hallways, there’s a lot of ghosts, ladies and gentlemen, and I’m doing my best to face them head on. A lot of people might not know this, but I debuted in this building. Yeah, was anybody there? I had Mickie James on my arm. True story: we walked down that ramp, we got into the ring, and it was so good. I went back and they said, "we’re sending you to Louisville, Kentucky; have fun in OVW." And gosh, I didn’t want to go, but while I was there, I embraced being uncomfortable, and I learned how to love it. Exactly like when I came to the WWE for the first time. Man, I didn’t know what I was in for, but I embraced being uncomfortable, and I learned to love it. I triumphantly returned to this town, this same building, World Heavyweight Champion. I was ready to put on a show for everybody here. And then, Randy Orton kicks me in the head backstage, and I wake up and they tell me, "by the way, we stripped you out of the title, you couldn’t compete, you’re no longer the champion." And I was like, "Cleveland! Again?!"
Was anybody here ten years ago, for the story I’m about to tell? I'm not going to bore you with details, because a lot of it is in my rear-view mirror. I’m focused on the future, I’m focused on the now, I’m focused on everybody here in this building today. Ten years ago, I had to take myself off the hamster wheel. I had to, for better or for worse, make the hardest decision of my life. And I don’t regret it. I don’t look back. But there was always that part of me that wondered if anybody paid a ticket to see CM Punk that day I walked out Cleveland, if they were disappointed. Backstage, I saw a young lady by the name of Indi, and she told me that she felt betrayed as a little kid. And I told her a story of when I saw Roddy Piper appear on WCW Television. And as a young wrestling fan, I felt the exact same way, so I understood. So, if you’re here now, if you're watching at home and you were disappointed that CM Punk walked out, I understand, and hell, ladies and gentlemen, I apologize.
I’ve gone to SmackDown, and I’ve listened to what Nick Aldis has to say. He put together a very substantial offer, you understand. I went down to NXT, I hung out with Shawn Michaels. And there’s a 15-year-old CM Punk somewhere in the universe who’s tickled to death that he got an offer from Shawn Michaels to help mold the next generation of superstars. It’s a great deal. Adam Pearce has put together a deal that, honestly, is head-and-shoulders above both of those other deals. But can I be very real, and very honest with you folks right now? My mind was probably already made up when I looked at the calendar, and I saw Cleveland. I'm here to bury those ghosts, I’m here to right a few wrongs. My future starts now.
You couldn’t write a better television show, ladies and gentlemen. Ten years, almost to the day, CM Punk walked out. And regardless of how you feel about it, CM Punk walks right back in. And if you’re happy about it, if you’re mad about it, you better learn to love it, because congratulations, Adam Pearce, the newest Raw Superstar is named CM Punk. And CM Punk is home.
Cleveland, Ohio, CM Punk, welcome to Monday Night Rollins. I hope you know how incredibly fortunate you are to even be standing in this ring right now. But can you just do me one... one little favor, just one thing, please? Don’t you dare call this place your home. You abandoned this place ten years ago. Not only did you abandon it, but you also actively tried to tear it down. You spent ten years slandering me, slandering every single person back in that locker room, and then you want to walk back in here, and call this place your home? This is not your home; this is my home!
I've been here. Everybody in the back, those are my brothers and sisters. Everybody here, everybody watching at home, that is my family, and this is our home. And I will do everything within my power to protect it from people like you. Let me make one thing perfectly clear, I don’t want there to be any confusion. I know I'm a bit worked up. I want everyone to understand, I'm going to say it, plainly, with every fiber in my being, I hate you.
But if you’re going to be a part of WWE again, then I want you on Monday Night Raw. Because the truth always comes out, pal. The truth always comes out. I know, you know, everybody else knows, this is your last chance. So one or two things is gonna happen. Either you’re gonna expose yourself, you’re gonna self-destruct like you always do, and I’ll be the first person in the back to slam the door shut on your legacy. Or if by some miracle, you have changed, and you got any gas left in this old tank, maybe one day, you'll be lucky enough to stand across the ring from me, in a World Heavyweight Championship Match, and then I will expose you for the fraud that you are. I will show you that there are levels to this, I will wrestle circles around you, and I will let you understand, in real time, what it means to be the best in the world.
Are you done? That's your one pass to stand here and speak to me disrespectfully without me coming after you. I have never asked for anything to be handed to me. And I’ve always done things stubbornly the hard way, and I’m here to do that. Adam Pearce, where you at? We’re making things official; we might as well make it official. CM Punk is entering the Royal Rumble. And when CM Punk wins, maybe, Seth, it's you he's coming after.
So, San Diego... what do you want to talk about? I have the privilege of being the first superstar of coming to this ring and officially welcome you to a special Day One episode of Monday Night Raw. It's a new year. Folks like to talk about their goals, where'd they like to be in 2024, but admittedly, I'm a little stuck. And what I've gotten stuck on is Shinsuke Nakamura.
[The crowd boos.]
Don't get me wrong, I think we all know that Shinsuke is a force to be reckoned with in the ring, but with his rendition of a Nightmare Before Christmas, I was expecting something a little bit more sophisticated. See, I'm not stuck on Shinsuke Nakamura because the things he said about my family. That comes with the territory, I'm not stuck on Shinsuke Nakamura because he tried to blind me with poison mist. I fought blind and I fought just fine. I am stuck on Shinsuke Nakamura, simply put, because this should be over.
FFans
[chanting Cody's name] Cody!
This should be over and Shinsuke, I'm going to give you the opportunity to finish it tonight. So go ahead, bring your poison mist. Bring your poison words. Whatever makes you feel like you can stop me from where I need to be. Because this ends. And this ends right now!
[Shinsuke Nakamura appears via satellite on the TitanTron.]]
SNShinsuke Nakamura
Cody, Cody, Cody. [Smirks evilly. In Japanese] I never thought it would be so easy to get into your head. And to become the author of your final chapter. I have whispered the plot in your ear... pushed your character to the brink page-by-page. I have blinded you, so you cannot see the ending. Cody, but your story does not end tonight. I want to give The American Nightmare one more week to dream. Next week, Monday Night RAW. I become what you could never be. I will finish your story, then I close your book. [sprays mist over the screen as the transmission fades to black and his music plays.]
RRRhea Ripley
So obviously, you guys know what's going on right now, yeah? After the attack last week from Liv Morgan, I've now been told that I'm stuck on the bench for quite a few months. I've also been invok... I've also been told, informed, whatever, I don't care. I'm flustered, okay? I'm angry right now. I'm pissed off right now! You know why? Because I have been told that I need to vacate the one thing that means the most to me: my Women's World Championship.
[The crowd boos and chants "NO!"]
This... [crowd chants "bullshit!"] Yeah, it is. This right here, this championship, this means the most to me in my entire life, and that's why this is so painful.
CCrowd
[chanting as she lays the belt down] THANK YOU, MAMI!
RRhea
Revenge Tour. This is all because your stupid little Revenge Tour, Liv! Are you kidding me? Because your Revenge Tour, Liv. Are you bloody killing me right now. You know, I could've actually had some respect for you if you decided to go face-to-face. But instead, you decided to blindside me like the coward that I know you are. And I understand, because I would've dropped you exactly where you stood!
So this... [points down at the belt] this is a warning to whoever wins my Women's World Championship. When I come back, I'm coming back for blood! But no, no, no. I'm not just gonna be gone because of an injury. I'm gonna be gone because, when I find Liv back there, I swear they're gonna have to lock me up in Montreal jail!
CKCathy Kelley
I'm standing by with Liv Morgan. And as you know, earlier tonight, Rhea Ripley was forced to vacate the Women's World Championship. The crowd here in Montreal not pleased by that announcement at all. Is this the conclusion of your Revenge Tour?
LMLiv Morgan
You know, Cathy, I can't even lie, I'm a little bit confused by that reaction. I feel like I'm walking around back here, and everyone is mad at me, and for what? I'm not the bad guy here. Where was the sympathy for me when Rhea literally tore my shoulder out of my socket and put me on the shelf for 8 months? Oh yeah. There wasn't any of that. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a shoulder for a shoulder. This is karma at its very finest, so Rhea got exactly what she deserved.
You wanna know what the best part is? This isn't the end of the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour. No, this is just the beginning, because the end is Liv Morgan as your Women's World Champion. Watch me.
[During the Intercontinental Championship Match]
Spear! Could this be the moment?! Could it be?! For the first time ever, could Jey grab gold?! [Jey Uso hits the splash on Bron Breakker] Oh my, Wade! Here it is! [The referee counts three] Go ahead and Yeet! He did it!
SISamantha Irvin
Here is your winner and NEW Intercontinental Champion: Main Event Jey Uso!!!
How do you not love this?! A veteran who waited, whose identity was always tagged as "he's a twin, he's part of a tag team." [Jey exits the ring and enters the audience] And after 14 years, finally a singles champion! He is taking it to the people! They are celebrating! Jey Uso is the Intercontinental Champion!
[Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are heading to the back after losing to Alpha Academy. Tension between them have been boiling over for months now, and they are now arguing about Xavier calling the shots for the team.]
XWXavier Woods
Kof', what the HELL was that out there?! You're wrestling like garbage! Are you gonna HELP me at some point?!
KKKofi Kingston
I'M wrestling like— if I was garbage, what were you?! You talkin' about "help" you? Have I not done everything BUT help you? That's all I've ever done! Did I not give you MY Intercontinental title shot a couple of weeks ago for YOU? Matter of fact, when you were King of the Ring, I was on bended knee, fluttering your damn cape! I did that for YOU! And what did you do with those opportunities, by the way? You fumbled the title shot, and you fumbled the crown! [the audience is stunned in awe.] There's a reason that E and I never let you call the shots, man... [there are audible "OOOOOOOH" from the audience.] because you're too RECKLESS out there, man! You take too many unnecessary risks—
WWoods
"Unnecessary ris"—
KKofi
—just like you did out th—
WWoods
SHUT UP AND LET ME TALK FOR A SECOND!!! "Unnecessary risks"? I remember when you were too terrified to take ANY kind of risk, and that's exactly why you couldn't get a shot at the Heavyweight Championship until I came along. And took those risks FOR you, Kof'. I'm the reason you became champion.
KKofi
You're the reason...
KKofi
... that I became champion? Nah, man... I was a Hall of Famer when you met me. That's why YOU asked ME to be a part of this group, not the other way around! Don't you ever forget that! [the audience is applauding Kofi's truth about his accoladed career.] And you of all people... shouldn't be talking about championships and titles, because last time I checked... you still haven't won a singles championship by YOURSELF, now, have you?! [the audience is shocked at what Kofi is saying while Woods is standing there, seething.] Woods... do you know why YOU have never been a World Champion like ME and like E? It's because you have not been good enough! [more emphatic "OOOOOHS" from the crowd as Xavier can't even look at Kofi.] And that is NOT my fault!
WWoods
"Good enough", huh? I was "good enough" to FIGHT for you, wasn't I? I was "good enough" to take your BEATINGS for you, wasn't I? I was "good enough" to BELIEVE in you, wasn't I?! Just like THEY believed in you! And what did we do with that belief? We turned it into KofiMania, and we HANDED it to you! And what did you do with that, Kof'? You pissed it away on a silver platter in 6 seconds to BROCK LESNAR!
[the crowd is stunned at what Woods said as he and Kofi are now face-to-face with each other. Kofi, in particular is displaying rare anger.]
KKofi
I swear to GOD... if you were anybody el—
WWoods
If I was "what", Kof'? If I was anybody else, you'd finally get mad?
[on the last RAW before Netflix, Seth Rollins and CM Punk get heated]
You can recognize the pioneers because of the arrows in their back, I was the first one through the wall and I got bloodied for it, you wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me. I love the place I worked, I just hated the guy in charge and he loved you. And in situations where you should have had my back, all you did was shoot arrows in it!
And then I leave, and lo and behold, he shows his true colors, and he stabs Roman Reigns in the back. And now he's dressed like an idiot, trying to play victim in a situation that he created.
Those arrows? Kill weak people, The greats? Above all odds, find a way to march forward and I left because I had to, and I got far enough away until those arrows couldn't reach me anymore and after a few years, I started to be able to pull them out. And after a few more years, I pulled them all out and I came back because for seven years, they chanted-- mostly during your television time-- my name! [Crowd chants CM Punk] I should be dead, Seth, but I'm not, and ohhhh aren't the arrow throwers mad? Next week, those same arrows that were supposed to do me and I carry to this day, and I'm walking into LA. Netflix - live and in living color with a fistful of arrows - and I'm gonna jam them down your corporate throat!
You know, I've never said this to your face, maybe, once upon a time, you were a pioneer. What you have become is a cancer, you are a cancer to that locker room, [points to his head] you are a cancer in my brain, you are a cancer to this business and cancer does not cure itself, the only way to defeat it is to cut it out. So, in one week, you bring your fist full of arrows, I'll bring my eyes of fire and my heart full of HATE AND RAGE AND I WILL BURN YOU TO THE GROUND! [Throws mic]
[John Cena faces the crowd after the Elimination Chamber turn, and he's having none of the strong crowd language]
No, tonight, you get to find out how I make you pay for the abuse you have put me through. For 25 years, I have listened to your lies and your noise, but I didn't waste that time being mean like you, no I paid attention. You make this so easy, while you were chanting profanity at the top of your lungs, I've been paying attention, I've been learning from you, quizzing you, studying you, testing you, prodding you, rewarding you for playing along with your stupid, childish, curse-ridden nursery rhymes. And in doing so, you have told me every single thing about you, you know nothing about me, I know more about you than you, and the truth is, your life is sad, because this, is the best it's gonna get, this is all you have. But to me, you have been nothing more than an experiment, you have been rats in a cage. Oh, you don't believe me? Pick out any moment in my career and I'll tell you what I learned from you, when I bled, you thought I was tough, when I spoke, you were inspired, when I was edgy, you were excited, when I was vanilla, you were bored, [crowd starts chanting "WHAT!"] when I was loyal, you were loved, when I was selfish, you were disrespected, when I speak in rhythmic tones, you say what? You make this so, so simple.
You will always tell me everything about yourselves because you so desperately want to matter. And the most important thing you ever told me was in April 2005, it was a day I gave you my greatest idea, I gave you the WWE Spinner Championship. And just like right now, you ate me alive! All you have to do is Google negative comments about the spinner belt, you all told me loud and clear how stupid I was... Because I changed your championship into a toy and the championship is not a toy. The championship is a symbol, of the center of all this and the toy belt I made for you, disrespected tradition and disrespected your legacy. Listen closely because that was the biggest mistake you ever made, in that one single moment you were vulnerable enough to actually tell you what means the most to you in this life and now that I know that, I am going to ruin wrestling. I am going to ruin wrestling for every fan, for every wrestler, for everyone.
At WrestleMania, I make history by winning a 17th championship, and I finally force you to forget the name of the fun machine, jet-flying, Woo!! Ric Flair, [crowd goes "Woo"] you will forever say the name John Cena. [gets booed] But even worse, I'm going to win that championship, the center, of every superstar, of this entire business, of every fan in this building, I will win that championship and retire with it. I am taking it home with me and leaving all of you to create a brand new toy belt, because the real one comes home with me! I will be the last real champion in WWE, revenge is best served cold and I pay you back by ripping your heart out and forcing you to watch as I just walk away with your memories, with your traditions and your dreams and there is nothing you can do to stop me!
