Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of WWE's Netflix Kickoff.
They showed an aerial shot of the outside of WWE HQ.
They showed shots of different talents entering and walking in the venue.
Michael Cole addressed the audience, thanking them for allowing this to happen. He said it's been his pleasure to be the voice of WWE for 20+ years. The crowd chanted Thank you Cole. He seemed to really appreciate this. Cole thanked everyone who got them to where they are now, including the fans, those who came before them and the "road family" that worked behind the scenes.
Cole said he can't wait to say Welcome to the first Raw on Netflix.
Pat McAfee will return on that first Raw.
Paul Levesque came out and thanked the fans. 2024 was a groundbreaking year. It's the fans' era, not the HHH era. He said that everyone is getting a chance to see today all the people who work behind the scenes who get to make WWE what it is today. It is their era and it's "all of us" and why records are being set. He asked the crowd to thank everyone in the HQ. The crowd chanted, "Thank you." He said something special is happening but this time, he believes it is sustainable. People from all over the globe come together to enjoy what they love as a community. He said he's never seen a more talented roster of men and women then right now. He's never seen the company have a more global appeal. He praised Matt Bloom and Shawn Michaels for what they are creating for NXT. January 6th is a new launch for the company worldwide. He promised to bring the biggest stars and storylines and Netflix is just the start. That's the road to Wrestlemania in Las Vegas.
Adam Pearce came out and said there's been a lot of speculation, rumor and innuendo about the person he is about to bring out - he announced Logan Paul has become the newest member of the Raw roster. We had noted on the We Don't Need No Stinkin' Name Show today that some top stars would be shifted for January.
Logan Paul came out and said it was a beautiful moment and they are all blessed to be here. Paul said the WWE product right now is amazing and watching it weekly made him realize how much better he is than everyone else. He said every one of his matches are bangers and that Mike Tyson and Connor McGregor both want to fight him. He said his life is a highway of opportunities and he can do whatever wants. He said he loves this sport so if anyone has something he wants, he's going to take it. He said he's a bully and WWE is his playground.
They brought out Rhea Ripley. We mentioned on We Don't Need No Stinkin' Name Show that the planned direction was Rhea vs. Liv at the Netflix premiere, so this appears to be that announcement. She said life is like a roller coaster and emotions are all worth it. She never thought in her wildest dreams she could be on this stage talking about the Netflix debut. She knocked Raquel Rodriguez and Dominik Mysterio. Rhea said Liv Morgan was a bum and a coward.
Liv Morgan was introduced. She came out with Dom and Raquel. Morgan ran down her accolades and everyone she's beaten. She knocked Cole. Cole announced that Adam Pearce has a holiday gift for Morgan. He announced the title match for Raw. The competitors faced off. Rhea cut a promo and said Liv has pinned her but not by herself. The only reason she has the title is because Rhea wasn't here. She promised to beat her on Netflix.
Kevin Owens, holding the Winged Eagle title, asked how come he has to crash the conference and steal a microphone to be here. Why wasn't he invited? Security told him he had to leave. They cut his mic. I am pretty sure it was NXT trainees as security.
Cole got things "back on track" by introducing The New Bloodline. He was cutting a promo on Roman when Paul Heyman arrived. The place chanted for ECW. Heyman said he had a message of true honor. Heyman said there can only be one Tribal Chief and in his mind, it's Roman Reigns. He said Solo has turned the industry upside down and has taken the Bloodline. It all comes down to Solo vs. Roman.
Michael Cole talked up Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk. Paul Levesque and Adam Pearce came out. They had a special guest who came in at the last moment - WWE World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER. When asked if he knew he was going to hold championships as long as he has, he said it hasn't been easy and there's always obstacles but when he looks in the mirror, he knows he's the best. He's been in the business of making history. He said losing to Cody was yesterday's news and he's focused on the future. He's going to be the champion for a long time. On Logan Paul wanting to become champion, he said Paul is a very talented man and is a jack of all trades in the entertainment world, but not a World Heavyweight Champion. If Logan ever makes it to a title match, it will be GUNTHER's duty and pleasure to slap the smile off his face.
CM Punk came out. He hugged Pearce and HHH. Cole asked Punk what favor Paul Heyman offered him. Punk joked he needed to finish Heels season two, so he needed Paul's password. He said it means a lot to come back to a place he never really wanted to leave, but things happen. To be part of the company while they break new ground. He was down about tearing is triceps but decided to make it the best thing that ever happened to him. He joked that he sounds corny and like a company man, but he's excited to be here. He talked how they went from territories to NBC to cable to now Netflix. Punk said he doesn't want to spend time on the details and history, but his match against Rollins is about what happens when you have two guys with no peers
They brought out Seth Rollins. Rollins began badmouthing Punk. They went face to face. They were held apart. The crowd chanted for Punk. Rollins said he'll see him on the 5th and walked out.
They closed out the show.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
