Seth Rollins Rejuvenated, Creed Brothers' Rise, Big Tag Team Shake-up, More Raw Takes

The Dec. 18 edition of Monday Night Raw was the second-to-last episode of 2023 for WWE, delivering big title matches and promising more to come for the new year.

Seth "Freakin" Rollins delivered a passionate promo on Drew McIntyre. The Scottish Warrior responded by beating down The Visionary just two weeks ahead of their World Heavyweight Championship match at Raw Day 1.

The Creed Brothers challenge The Judgment Day for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships. While Julius and Brutus Creed fell short, they made an impression in the main event.

The Miz also fell short in his second challenge to Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship, but he impressed with his in-ring work once again.

Kayden Carter and Katana Chance pulled off a shocking upset, winning the Women's Tag Team Championships.

It was an exciting night and likely the last important show of the year for WWE as the company ramps down for the holidays.

Seth "Freakin" Rollins Has Upped His Game Since CM Punk Return

Seth "Freakin" Rollins had the WWE Universe talking for the second week in a row. His promos have gotten tighter, and he is making an impression.

The improvement in his intensity directly followed the return of CM Punk, whose absence was felt on the first Raw he has missed since returning.

The Visionary struggled to elevate his feud with Shinsuke Nakamura in the ring or on the mic, but he is now coming off as the world champion of Raw again.

Drew McIntyre will not beat Rollins on Raw Day 1, but the match should also further solidify The Visionary as a man no one can easily defeat, setting the stage for his Punk match as worthy of a WrestleMania main event.

The Real Work Starts Now to Build Up Shock Tag Team Winners Carter and Chance

Kayden Carter and Katana Chance have been the best established tag team in the women's division since before they even got drafted to the main roster.

They were the longest reigning NXT women's tag team champions ever and have worked as a tag team since 2018. Unlike every other women's tag team that started in that time, they have never broken up or gone solo.

That dedication has paid off as the two become the first women's tag to capture the WWE and NXT Tag Team Championships separately.

What makes Carter and Chance special is their pure athleticism. They work like a veteran tag team in a division that has very few established teams.

They will get more over by wrestling, regularly defending the gold on Raw, SmackDown and NXT. They can help establish longer-term rivals like Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark, Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn and Natalya and Tegan Nox.

They will certainly face a dangerous challenge in Damage CTRL as Asuka and Kairi Sane set their sights on gold. However, WWE should not quickly take the gold off their young duo.

Gunther Established The Miz as a Reliable Babyface Going Forward

Gunther has sent another challenger to the background after defeating The Miz a second time. However, The A-Lister certainly raised his stake throughout this short rivalry and will not be easily sidelined.

Miz has struggled as a babyface in the past, but The Ring General has consistently elevated stars while defeating them. The A-Lister showed his in-ring acumen and underdog fire against the dominant champ.

The crowd is invested in Miz's future in a way they have not been for years. He is performing at a higher level than he did in previous years.

With a possible alliance forming with Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, he is in a better spot than he ever has been as a fan favorite.

This is all thanks to The Ring General, who has yet to miss as Intercontinental champion and may still have more to give with the gold around his waist.

The Creed Brothers Are WWE's Greatest Success Story of 2023

The Creed Brothers arrived on October 30, 2023 to Monday Night Raw, and the Diamond Mine crew has not looked back. Julius and Brutus Creed are unpolished athletes with massive upside.

Each performance sells their potential more. They looked like the right team to dethrone The Judgment Day, even if it was not the right time just yet.

WWE has built The Creed Brothers from the ground up from their signing in late 2020. It is incredible how quickly they have developed.

In 2023, they went from prospects to stars, and they will enter 2024 as one of the most exciting tag teams in all of WWE.

Julius and Brutus have a chance to become two of the most important building blocks of this WWE era. That makes them the greatest success of any prospect WWE has committed to in 2023.

Ivy Nile will hope to show her own high potential against Rhea Ripley on Raw Day 1. She looked solid in NXT near the end but has not reached the same heights as The Creed Brothers yet.