WWE Raw Results – 1/6/25 (Massive Netflix debut, Punk vs. Rollins, Reigns vs. Sikoa, Ripley vs. Morgan, John Cena Retirement Tour starts)
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
For 1,649 episodes since January 11, 1993, WWE Raw was a Monday night tradition on the USA Network (and, for a time, TNN/Spike TV). For so many of us, it wasn’t just a show – it was where we developed our love for WWE. Whether it was Austin vs. McMahon, the rise of John Cena, or any number of unforgettable moments, Raw was a weekly destination.
But tonight, everything changes. After more than 30 years on traditional TV, Raw officially kicks off its new era on Netflix. It’s streaming for a new generation of fans, but for those of us who’ve been along for the ride, it feels like the start of something huge.
This is WWE’s chance to redefine Monday nights, and if tonight’s anything like what’s been promised, we’re in for something special. It’s episode 1,650. Let’s dive in!
Pre-Show Red Carpet Arrivals
The Intuit Dome is shown. Many WWE Superstars have walked the red carpet for tonight’s event. Seth “Freakin” Rollins is shown in a red suit. CM Punk, his opponent this evening for a long-awaited match, is shown arriving at the Intuit Dome. Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan is shown arriving with the Judgment Day. She’ll defend her title against Rhea Ripley, who is also shown arriving for the evening.
Michael Cole welcomes us for the first time to WWE Raw on Netflix.
We are live in the Intuit Dome. The arena seats show off LED lights. There is a large canvas wall surrounding all four sides of the ring. The amazing cold open for WWE Raw plays.
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque narrates the video:
It’s as real as our ancient yearning. Not merely for a hero but the villain as well. Just as they need each other, so do you need them to tell a story. But what of the story of wrestling itself? What if the canvas could speak of an ageless carnival with primeval roots, but came of age with that most American of institutions, television? As television changed, so did wrestling. And together, they changed America. Truth is, a great swath of American culture is born of that eternal battle between the face and the heel. From ecstasy to humiliation. Fame to obscurity and back again. An endless cycle that changed the rules and blurred the lines, made it harder to distinguish the good guys from the bad, the shoot from the work, the real from the unreal. Because wrestling’s greatest stories, every damn one, has that element of truth. The screens get smaller, but the show gets bigger. Global, from television to streaming, America to the world. Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the all real, ever fantastic, never to end, story of WWE. (Transcription courtesy of F4WOnline)
An explosion is heard, and the canvas walls surrounding the ring fall to reveal WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque standing in the center of the ring! The crowd roars.
Levesque says, “17,000 plus sold-out Los Angeles, let me hear you! In this moment, and this is the moment, all of you are being seen and heard by the entire globe. Show them who you are! Tell them that this is the WWE, and we are louder than anything you have ever seen before. I already know the answer to this, but I’m going to ask it anyways: Are you ready? Then, welcome to Monday Night Raw. Welcome to the Netflix era!”
A huge pyrotechnics display goes off, and the crowd is fired up.
The lights go out…
“IF YOU SMELL WHAT THE ROCK IS COOKIN’!”
The People’s Champion, The Final Boss, The Rock, comes out to a HUGE ovation! The Rock is carrying the People’s Championship belt that was given to him by the widow of Muhammad Ali at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in 2024. The Rock’s arms are covered in goosebumps, and he makes his way to the ring, slapping hands with the fans. The Rock hugs the TKO executives at ringside and embraces his daughters.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1876436800450810284
The ring canvas is covered in advertisements, from Fortnite to Netflix, Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer to Snickers.
The Rock stands in the middle of the ring, and the crowd loudly chants, “Rocky.” The Rock has some stubble on his face and raises the People’s Eyebrow. The Rock says years ago when he was a “little pebble,” he’d traveled the highways with his father, the late WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson. The only way to watch WWE was either buy a ticket or watch it on Saturday morning. You can still buy a ticket, but watching it now is a totally different story. Right now, around the world, you are watching it on Netflix. Rock says tonight on Netflix in the Intuit Dome they are making history. This is the largest arena gate in the history of WWE. The crowd roars at paying the highest prices for WWE tickets ever.
The Rock says, “Finally, the WWE has come back to Netflix. You guys are like, no, no, no, that’s bullshit. Get to the real one.” The Rock says he’ll say this one loud and proud. It’s a special night. The Rock says, “Finally, The Rock has come back to Los Angeles!”
The Rock wants to acknowledge a few people. When you think of great partners, you must have the right partner who loves WWE and professional wrestling and sees the bigger picture; that partner is Netflix. The Rock acknowledges the Netflix executives in the luxury suite.
