The Rock’s Return Sets Up Legendary Clash with Roman Reigns, More WWE Raw Day 1 Takes

The Rock’s Return Sets Up Legendary Clash with Roman Reigns, More WWE Raw Day 1 Takes0 of 5

The Rock declared his true return to WWE on the first day of 2024 and set his sights on Roman Reigns.Credit: WWE.com.

WWE promised a big show with WWE Raw Day 1 on January 1, and the biggest moment certainly delivered on that promise.

The Rock has returned, and it does not look like it will be just a one-off situation. After laying the verbal smackdown on Jinder Mahal, he made clear that his goal is Roman Reigns.

This does leave Cody Rhodes in an awkward position/ He has faced many challenges in 2023 and wanted a fresh start in 2024. He was flustered once again in an encounter with Shinsuke Nakamura and is set to face him next week.

Seth “Freakin” Rollins put on another fantastic Raw main event, defending against Drew McIntyre once again. The Scottish Warrior will now look to rebuild going into Royal Rumble 2024.

Rhea Ripley successfully defended the World Women’s Championship against Ivy Nile but found a tougher fight than expected. Nile showed that all of Diamond Mine will define the new future of WWE.

Nia Jax pulled off a shocking and brutal victory over Becky Lynch, leaving her bloodied once again. It was a better match than expected and keeps both women dangerous during Royal Rumble season.

Day 1 was not an absolute game changer, but with great wrestling throughout the night and the return of The Great One, it certainly set a tone for WWE for 2024.

Roman Reigns vs. The Rock Can Only Happen at WrestleMania 401 of 5

The entire wrestling world was shaken by The Rock’s mic drop moment at the end of his WWE return promo.

When The Rock goes out to eat something to eat in San Diego, should The Rock sit in a booth, or should The Rock sit at the bar. (Yeah, The Rock loves a bar too.) Or should The Rock sit at the head of the table?
WWE @WWEOH. MY. GOD.@TheRock just delivered an absolute mic drop on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/TKMfwDiHa5

It may not have been a direct challenge to Roman Reigns, but this was as close as a tease could get. The stage is set for arguably the biggest money match in WWE.

Since his heel rebrand, The Head of the Table has made clear that he is the leader of his family, but he ignored the biggest name in the Anoa’i family.

The Great One is one of the all-time greatest WWE Superstars, and any match he has needs a major stage. Fighting the top star of the current era should be saved for only one show: WrestleMania.

The Show of Shows is a special event that cannot be replicated. Elimination Chamber in the Optus Stadium in Perth, West Australia could be a sold-out arena, but it will air early morning and be built as a set-up show for The Show of Shows.

WrestleMania remains the premier show in WWE. Nothing else is close to the legacy required for one of WWE’s most important matches.

WWE cannot afford to deliver Reigns vs. Rock at any time other than WrestleMania 40, no matter what other stories are potentially available.

The Rock’s Return Spells Disaster for Cody Rhodes’ Immediate Future2 of 5

Going into 2023, everyone assumed the ultimate goal was for Cody Rhodes to beat Roman Reigns and capture the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

Instead, he failed at WrestleMania 39 and has struggled to get back on track. Brock Lesnar did put him over big at SummerSlam though, which could have helped him rebound into 2024.

With the arrival of The Rock though, The American Nightmare simply does not feel like the biggest star that could challenge The Head of the Table anymore.

Rhodes is an absolute star and future world champion. However, anyone would be overshadowed by The Rock in this day and age.

At this point, it is hard to tell what The American Nightmare will do next on the road to WrestleMania. His feud with Shinsuke Nakamura has been engaging but will likely end next week on Raw in their in-ring rematch.

Cody Rhodes @CodyRhodesSan Diego set a very high bar, and I look forward to next week 💥 ♥️

…wait that’s the official graphic?

Okay https://t.co/MgkklPcBlf

Since Rhodes is completely focused on winning Reigns’ title long term, it would not make sense for him to challenge Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship.

The best option may be Drew McIntyre, though the two have not interacted recently. Otherwise, Randy Orton or LA Knight are the other big names that he could interact with if he were to appear on SmackDown occasionally.

Drew McIntyre Needs a Memorable Royal Rumble Run to Rebound from Latest Loss3 of 5

Drew McIntyre is the most compelling personality on Raw, but it is time for him to move on from the World Heavyweight Championship. He has lost twice to Seth “Freakin” Rollins.

The easy answer would be for The Scottish Warrior to rebound with a great performance in the men’s Royal Rumble match.

His past Rumble performances have been impressive, especially his 2020 run that included eliminating Brock Lesnar and winning big.

He could be a great candidate for an “Iron Man” run or even challenging the elimination record.

Either way, the next few months need to sell McIntyre as a monster heel again, who can challenge anyone. This can set him up for a personal feud on the road to WrestleMania with Cody Rhodes or LA Knight.

Becky Lynch Pushes Nia Jax to Career-Best Effort4 of 5

Nia Jax has impressed since her return to WWE, showing that she is willing to keep improving. The latest culmination was a very strong opening match against Becky Lynch.

The Man had an incredible in-ring run in 2023. She continued in 2024, pushing Jax to a career-best performance. It was a personal and physical battle that played on the history between them.

It even ended in a shocking result as Jax won. The Irresistible Force remains undefeated in singles action since her return and will likely soon challenge Rhea Ripley.

Sportskeeda Wrestling @SKWrestling_The Becky Lynch redemption arc gonna hit crazy 😤#WWERaw #WWE pic.twitter.com/NzKr4adTqa

This match showcased Lynch and Jax and keeps Raw’s women’s division exciting.

Ivy Nile Delivers in Biggest Match of Her Career5 of 5

Ivy Nile spent several years in NXT but rarely got a chance to work a long, competitive singles match with the gold brand.

Putting her against Rhea Ripley this early in her run on Raw was a major test, much like The Creed Brothers challenging Judgment Day. It was even more important for Nile, who was less proven.

Not only did Nile hold her own, she delivered one of the best matches of Ripley’s title reign so far. It was a competitive athletic showcase with multiple memorable spots.

It is far from time for Mami to lose her gold, but matches like this are what can elevate Ripley’s title reign. She can make stars.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com @SeanRossSappIVY NILE BELONGS pic.twitter.com/OGQXEtI4sY

Alongside The Creed Brothers, Nile can become a staple member of the Raw roster for years to come. If this is her base as a performer, she will get her time to become a champion and stand atop the division in the future.