Netflix and completely no chill. The WWE’s franchise show “Monday Night Raw” made its debut on the streaming platform final evening, and main stars got here out, championships and bragging rights had been earned, and hip-hop beefs had been addressed.
Solely within the WWE are you able to see Travis Scott don a championship belt, Kendrick Lamar get dissed in his hometown, and Hulk Hogan get booed in a single present. But that’s par for the course at one thing just like the “Uncooked” occasion, which broadcasted reside from the brand new multi-billion greenback Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA, residence of the LA Clippers.
The night started with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shedding his badass “heel” persona (that’s wrestling for unhealthy man) and speaking sincerely, thanking the WWE Universe and even giving gratitude to rival Cody Rhodes, the Common Champion that he bloodied and pinned within the ring final yr.
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The Rock additionally gave props to his real-life cousin Roman Reigns, who wrestled quickly after in one of many present’s foremost points of interest in opposition to Solo Sikoa, certainly one of The Rock’s different cousins. Reigns and Sikoa, every of whom lead their very own variations of two separate factions of relations (each named “The Bloodline”), have been feuding for months, battering one another’s our bodies and egos alongside the way in which. Finally, Roman gained the competition and the bragging rights of being known as the undisputed “Tribal Chief” of their household. After the match, The Rock introduced Roman with a sacred Samoan Ula Fala that was at stake.
Later within the evening, Jey Uso, who’s Sikoa’s actual life older brother and Reigns’ cousin, took on and beat Drew McIntyre. Uso, who is likely one of the hottest wrestlers within the firm, ignited the group by bringing Travis Scott into the ring with him. Scott, rocking gold chains and a customized WWE title belt, stood within the crowd a number of ranges above the ring as a snippet of his hit “Fe!n” blared out. Uso joined him, standing by his facet because the grappler’s beloved theme “Major Occasion Ish” roared. On cue, all the viewers replicated the up-and-down arm actions that Jey does with each match entrance.
Scott acquired in on the motion by sliding into the ring with Uso, climbing the ropes and standing on the second turnbuckle to hype the group. He then perched on the ring announcer’s desk, arms going up and down in tandem with the viewers. And, to cap off his WWE look, Scott appeared backstage within the car parking zone, exchanging pleasantries with The Rock.
“Travis Scott, we discuss celebrities coming in right here who’re outdoors followers so to talk, coming in right here and loving what we do,” Triple H, WWE’s chief content material officer, stated in the course of the press convention after “Uncooked.” “Travis Scott is one other man like Dangerous Bunny who grew up watching this, is like this unimaginable fan that loves respects what we do. [He] needs to take part in what we do.”
His look begged the query: Will Scott ever step into the ring and wrestle like Bunny has accomplished previously? It’s nonetheless unclear, nevertheless HHH did say Scott and WWE is a union that can final.
“I believe everyone ought to anticipate to see extra issues from Travis Scott in an enormous approach,” the in-ring wrestling legend added.
Different celebrities who attended “Uncooked” included Seth Inexperienced, who sat subsequent to Macaulay Culkin, in addition to Tiffany Haddish with rapper Grafh. O’Shea Jackson Jr., Ashton Kutcher, Wale, Flo Rida, Oya Child, and Michael Che had been additionally noticed within the crowd.
And though Kendrick Lamar was not current, the hometown hero’s title brought about some ruckus. Throughout their promo interview, tag staff The New Day dissed him: Xavier Woods proclaimed that Kendrick was “trash” and Kofi Kingston insisted Drake gained their iconic rap battle. The New Day’s trolling elicited boos from the group.
But nobody acquired booed extra loudly and longer than Hulk Hogan. The once-adored Hulkster got here out to advertise his new beer and the viewers nearly drowned out his phrases with their verbal displeasure.
Different matches all through the evening included CM Punk beating Seth Rollins, and Rhea Ripley successful again her Girls’s Title from Liv Morgan. John Cena returned to start his yearlong WWE farewell tour. Cena, who has drifted in the direction of Hollywood, promised final yr that 2025 could be final as a wrestler. On Monday, he advised the group that he was going to enter and win the February Premium Reside Occasion “The Royal Rumble.” The winner of the “Rumble” will get to face a champion of their alternative at “WrestleMania” this spring in a foremost occasion title match.
“Uncooked” airs each Monday at Netflix at 8 p.m. EST.