{"id":2201245,"date":"2025-12-16T13:41:25","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T13:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2201245"},"modified":"2025-12-16T13:41:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T13:41:25","slug":"wwe-raw-preview-sports-entertainment-is-finally-dead-in-wwe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wwe-raw-preview-sports-entertainment-is-finally-dead-in-wwe\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE Raw preview: Sports entertainment is finally dead in WWE"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"zephr-anchor\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><em>Raw<\/em> airs tonight (Dec. 15) with a live show from GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This is the third episode of <em>Raw<\/em> during the nine week build to <em>Royal Rumble,<\/em> which takes place on January 31 in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p><h4 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">Sports entertainment is finally dead in WWE<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">WWE spent most of 2025 telling fans that John Cena is the GOAT. Cena\u2019s brief storyline with GUNTHER made it seem like WWE was actually saying Cena is the greatest sports entertainer of all-time, rather than the best professional wrestler. That\u2019s why it was pretty interesting to hear the line that was fed to Michael Cole right after GUNTHER sent Cena into retirement as a quitter at Saturday Night\u2019s Main Event, with the camera panning across the stunned live audience:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<blockquote class=\"duet--article--blockquote _1teeyfa0 ls9zuh9\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1teeyfa8 ls9zuh1\">\u201cLadies and gentlemen, tonight, professional wrestling destroyed sports entertainment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Does this line mean sports entertainment is finally dead in WWE? <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.f4wonline.com\/podcasts\/wrestling-observer-radio\/wor-john-cenas-last-match-whose-call-it-was-weekend-news\/\">Wrestling Observer Radio\u2019s<\/a> Dave Meltzer seems to think so:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<blockquote class=\"duet--article--blockquote _1teeyfa0 ls9zuh9\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1teeyfa8 ls9zuh1\">\u201cThat is essentially the mantra of Paul Levesque, that it is no longer sports entertainment. We\u2019re gonna call it professional wrestling.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The truth of the matter is that \u201csports entertainment\u201d is a really stupid phrase that Vince McMahon tried for decades to replace what WWF and WWE fans always understood to be \u201cprofessional wrestling.\u201d The term always sounded like ridiculous nonsense; practically nobody goes around saying things to friends and family like, \u201cI\u2019m a huge fan of sports entertainment!\u201d, \u201cStone Cold is my favorite sports entertainer of all-time!\u201d, or \u201cI want sports entertainment action figures for my birthday!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">With that in mind, GUNTHER is scheduled to appear on Raw tonight, where he will cut his first promo since forcing Cena to give up in his final match. As he brags about ruining John Cena\u2019s legacy, will the Ring General even address the matter of sports entertainment versus professional wrestling, or is it simply time to move on and not waste any more breath on this silly debate?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Tune into Raw to see what the best professional wrestler in WWE, and its new legend killer, has to say after ending John Cena\u2019s career, and which babyface might be planning to get in his face about it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><strong>Women\u2019s World Champion<\/strong> Stephanie Vaquer puts the gold on the line tonight against Raquel Rodriguez. Will Nikki Bella interfere to get revenge on Raquel after last week\u2019s attack, or was Bella lawn-darted out of the title scene for good? Is Liv Morgan really okay with Rodriguez chasing after the belt that she covets the most?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><strong>Women\u2019s Intercontinental Champion<\/strong> Maxxine Dupri returns from her training at The Dungeon with Natalya to make her first Raw title defense tonight, and it\u2019s against Ivy Nile. Considering that Ivy hasn\u2019t won a match on Raw in 2025, it seems clear that Dupri will retain the belt as everyone awaits Becky Lynch\u2019s eventual return from her current boycott of the show.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">WWE is revisiting one of its greatest tag team rivalries ever tonight with New Day vs. The Usos. Neither team is performing at its peak level at the moment, with New Day rarely ever winning on Raw these days, and Jey Uso reluctantly returning to tag team wrestling after failing so many times to win back the world heavyweight championship. If The Usos prevail, will Jimmy and Jey already be in line for a title shot against <strong>World Tag Team Champions<\/strong> AJ Styles and Dragon Lee?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul is also booked on Raw. The YouTube douchebag now has The Vision backing him up, so Mysterio may very well end up as the next babyface who is Tsunami splashed through a car by the time tonight\u2019s show is over. Will <strong>Intercontinental Champion<\/strong> Dominik Mysterio get dragged into this one for an eventual three-way title match against Paul and Rey?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Finally, a pissed off <strong>World Heavyweight Champion<\/strong> CM Punk returns to Raw for the first time since he was pinned at War Games. CM will address all the trash that Bron Breakker\u2019s been talking in recent weeks, as well as the masked mystery man who is running around in WWE and helping The Vision. Does Punk think it might actually be his hated rival Seth Rollins under that mask?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p><h4 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\">Other stuff to keep an eye on<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">&#8211; Does WWE have any update on LA Knight\u2019s status after Bronson Reed completely destroyed him last week?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">&#8211; Are there any plans for Oba Femi, Sol Ruca, Je\u2019Von Evans, or Joe Hendry to be called up to the main roster for good after they were showcased at Saturday Night\u2019s Main Event? Will Bayley snap on Lyra Valkyria after losing to Ruca at SNME?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">&#8211; The women\u2019s tag division is deeper than ever, with a long list of challengers gunning for the Kabuki Warriors\u2019 <strong>WWE women\u2019s tag team championship<\/strong>. That list includes Rhea Ripley &amp; IYO SKY, Charlotte Flair &amp; Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan &amp; Roxanne Perez, and Lash Legend &amp; Nia Jax. How will WWE decide which team gets the next title match? Kairi Sane has already lost singles matches against Bliss and IYO in December, so is it the Judgment Day\u2019s turn to beat her next?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">&#8211; Does creative have anything for Rusev now that The Last Time Is Now tournament is over?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">&#8211; Which WWE stars will be the first to declare for next month\u2019s Royal Rumble matches?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">&#8211; Where the f*** is Omos?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">What will you be looking for on <em>Raw<\/em>?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.cagesideseats.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Raw airs tonight (Dec. 15) with a live show from GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This is the third episode of Raw during the nine week build to Royal Rumble, which takes place on January 31 in Saudi Arabia. Sports entertainment is finally dead in WWE WWE spent most of 2025 telling fans that John [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2201246,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[424965,23675,367844,424966],"class_list":["post-2201245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-saturday-nights-main-event","tag-wwe","tag-wwe-raw","tag-wwe-raw-previews"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WWE-Raw-preview-Sports-entertainment-is-finally-dead-in-WWE.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2201245","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2201245"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2201245\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2201247,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2201245\/revisions\/2201247"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2201246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2201245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2201245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2201245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}