The December 30th, 2019 episode of WWE RAW aired live from the XL Center in Hartford, CT. It was the final episode of RAW in 2019. In addition to the takeaways below, Becky Lynch announced that she will defend her RAW Women’s Championship against Asuka at Royal Rumble.
Here are 5 takeaways from the show:
RAW Started In Chaos
Kevin Owens marched down to the ring to begin this week’s episode. Owens stated that he has a problem with the consequences of AOP and Rollins’ actions affect the people that he look up to. Kevin added that it made him sick to watch them beat Rey Mysterio down last week. Owens claimed that he knows that it was their actions that cost Rey the United States Championship a few days later at Madison Square Garden.
AOP and Rollins interrupted and Seth said that Owens has left him no choice but to impose his will. Rollins added that if Kevin resists the AOP will impose his will. Owens charged up the entrance ramp but AOP beat him down. Seth told AOP to teach Kevin a lesson as they beat him down in the corner.
Samoa Joe came down to the ring and took out Akam and Rezar outside the ring. Joe and Rollins then battled in the ring and Joe locked in the Coquina Clutch. AOP broke it up but Owens brought a chair into the ring. Owens got in a couple of shots before Rollins ripped the chair away. WWE security rushed the ring and separated everyone in the ring. Kevin climbed to the top rope and took everyone with a Cannonball as RAW went to a break. Joe and Owens were then escorted out of the arena after the break. Rollins and AOP left the arena voluntarily.
Aleister Black Defeated Buddy Murphy Again
Aleister Black battled Buddy Murphy once again tonight on RAW. Buddy controlled the bout early and planted Black with a Suplex for a near fall. Aleister battled back with a boot to the face and unloaded some jabs in the corner of the ring.
Buddy bounced Black’s face off the turnbuckle and made his way to the top rope. Aleister hit Buddy with another kick to the face but Murphy tripped Black up and sent him into the ring post as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Black was back in control and was targeting his attack on Buddy’s knees. Aleister connected with a Shining Wizard and a Moonsault for a near fall.
Murphy slammed Black into the turnbuckle and followed it up with a Dropkick. Buddy went for a cover and used the ropes for leverage but the referee caught him. Murphy sent Aleister to the outside and flipped onto him.
Back in the ring, Buddy climbed to the top rope and connected with Double Knees for a two count as the crowd chanted “this is awesome!”. Murphy climbed to the top rope but Black caught him with punch to the chest. Aleister went for a Superplex but Murphy escaped and planted Black with a Powerbomb for a two count.
Buddy hit knee to the face but Aleister shrugged it off and connected with a Brainbuster for another near fall. Aleister hit Black Mass but held Buddy up. Aleister hit another Black Mass for the pinfall victory.
Aleister Black and Buddy Murphy had another terrific match tonight. Once again, I just hope that this is actually leading to something for them. I would love to see either of these superstars battling to take the United States Championship from Andrade.
Charlotte Flair Officially Entered The Women’s Royal Rumble
Charlotte Flair announced that she is entering the women’s Royal Rumble match in January. Flair boasted about being the 10-time women’s champion and that she is arguably the greatest of all-time. She then issued an open challenge and Natalya accepted.
Charlotte took Natalya to the mat and applied a Headlock to start off the match. Natalya escaped and connected with a Clothesline for a two count. Natalya slammed Charlotte’s face into the turnbuckle and followed it up by bouncing her face off the steel steps. Natalya Suplexed Charlotte on the entrance ramp and rolled Flair back into the ring.
Wrestlers that WWE doesn’t believe in then chased 24/7 Champion R-Truth around the ring. Charlotte hit Eric Young in the face with a big boot as RAW went to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Natalya connected with a Crossbody off the top rope for a two count. Natalya followed it up with a Powerbomb for another near fall. Charlotte battled back with a Spear and went for the cover but Natalya was able to kick out at two. Flair then hit Natural Selection for another near fall.
Charlotte went for a Moonsault but Natalya caught her and rolled her up for a two count. Flair hit a big boot and locked in the Figure Four in the middle of the ring. Charlotte transitioned into the Figure Eight and Natalya tapped out.
Randy Orton Tricked AJ Styles
Orton came down to the ring with crutches to begin the final hour of this week’s RAW.
Randy said that there is a saying in this business that this isn’t ballet and it means that injuries happen all the time. Orton brought up Edge and how he had to surrender his entire career because of an injury and that nobody wants to see that happen.
Orton announced that he is going to be out a very long time and added that there is a good chance that he will not be able to come back. Orton claimed that he is going to everything in his power to make sure that somebody gets RKO’d at WrestleMania.
AJ Styles interrupted and asked Orton if he is mad and started mocking him. Styles said that he is going to put his arms behind his back and let the Viper strike. AJ vowed to wait until WrestleMania to put him in the Calf Crusher and retire Orton. Styles then booted one of Randy’s crutches away as the crowd chanted “AJ sucks!”. Orton then hit Styles with an RKO and posed on the turnbuckle.
Liv Morgan Interrupted Lana & Lashley’s Wedding
Lana and Lashley’s wedding was the final segment of this week’s RAW.
The pastor made reference to children and Lana went on a rant about not wanting to be fat and that none of the women in the crowd will ever be as beautiful as her. The crowd started chanting “Rusev Day!” and Lana shouted at them.
Lana told Lashley that this is the greatest day of his life because he is marrying the greatest woman on earth. Lana tried to start a “Lana Day!” chant but the crowd booed. She then said that see wanted to jump on top of Lashley and make love to him right now. Lana then made out with Bobby and got his make-up all over her face. Lana then told Lashley to read the vows she wrote for him.
Lashley said that he is the luckiest man on the planet because he is going to marry the most successful woman in WWE. Lashley added that this was the greatest moment in his career, his life, and his manhood. He then thanked Lana for allowing him to marry her.
Lana’s “first husband” then interrupted and stated that this wedding is a sham. He claimed that they got married when she turned 18 and then left him for that son of a bitch Rusev. He told Lashley that she was going to leave him too but Bobby Chokeslammed him to the canvas.
Bobby Lashley’s first wife interrupted and Lana hit her in the face. Liv Morgan interrupted and said that Lana was the love of her life. Lana then slapped her in the face and the two started fighting. Rusev then popped out of the cake and attacked Lashley. Morgan then threw Lana to the canvas to end RAW.
This was absolutely pathetic. WWE wasted Liv Morgan’s return for this dumb storyline and I have zero interest in what happens going forward between Lashley, Lana, Liv Morgan, and Rusev. I would love to get that twenty minutes of my life back. Sometimes there are segments that make people embarrassed to be wrestling fans, in particular WWE fans, and this one is right at the top of the list. I’m sure there will be some that say that this was somehow so bad that it was good. It wasn’t. It was just bad.
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