The January 6th, 2019 episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK. In addition to the takeaways below, Buddy Murphy attacked Aleister Black tonight.
Here are 6 takeaways from this week’s show:
Brock Lesnar Will Be The #1 Entrant In The Royal Rumble
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar made his way to the ring with Paul Heyman to begin this week’s episode of RAW. Heyman claimed that there is not anyone on RAW, SmackDown, or NXT’s roster that is man enough to step in the ring with Brock at Royal Rumble.
Paul scolded the crowd for booing Brock and claimed that Lesnar was about to do something unprecedented. Heyman announced that Brock Lesnar is entering the Royal Rumble match as the #1 entrant. Heyman added that Brock will standing in the ring last and conquer the Royal Rumble.
On one hand, this announcement does add some intrigue to the Royal Rumble match. On the other hand, it doesn’t look like we are getting a WWE Championship match at the PPV and I was already worried that Cain Velasquez was going to win the Royal Rumble before tonight. Their match at Crown Jewel was terrible and I don’t want to see it again at WrestleMania.
Andrade Retained The United States Championship
Andrade defended his United States Championship against Rey Mysterio in the first match of the night. Zelina Vega was ringside for the match.
Rey started off the match in control and sent Andrade to the outside. Andrade lifted Rey up in the Electric Chair but Mysterio escaped and sent the champ into the steel steps.
Back in the ring, Andrade connected with a Dropkick and both superstars crashed to the canvas as RAW went to a break. When RAW returned, Mysterio went for a Moonsault but Andrade caught. Mysterio then countered into a beautiful Tornado DDT for a near fall.
Andrade went for a Double Stomp but Mysterio got out of the way. Rey went for the Sunset Flip Powerbomb outside the ring but Andrade rolled through and hit him with Double Knees to the face.
Mysterio went for the 619 but Andrade got out of the way and hit Rey with an elbow to the face for a two count. Mysterio had the match won but Zelina Vega put Andrade’s foot on the bottom rope and the match was restarted.
Rey hit Andrade with a Hurricanrana that sent Andrade into the barricade. Back in the ring, Mysterio connected with the Sunset Flip Powerbomb for a two count. Rey followed it up with another Powerbomb on the ring post and Andrade fell to the floor outside the ring as the WWE Universe chanted “this is awesome!”.
Mysterio rolled Andrade into the ring and made his way to the top rope. Rey connected with a Leg Drop and went for the cover but Andrade was able to kick out at the last second. Mysterio hit the 619 and climbed up to the top rope once again. Andrade rolled to the outside and Rey leaped towards him.
Andrade caught him and wound up accidentally slamming Rey onto Zelina Vega. Andrade sent Rey back inside and set up for the Hammerlock DDT. The referee then stopped the move and awkwardly told Mysterio to roll back outside the ring. Rey then checked on Zelina Vega again, and Lawler made matters worse by referring to her as “Melina”. Mysterio then got back into the ring and Andrade hit the Hammerlock DDT for the victory. After the match, Andrade ripped off Rey’s mask and gave it to Zelina Vega.
Rey later attacked Andrade during a backstage interview and got his mask back.
The majority of this match was great but the ending had to be a botch. There was no reason for Rey to roll outside the ring again. It was still a very entertaining match, I just wish the final sequence wasn’t a disaster.
Viking Raiders Are Still The RAW Tag Team Champions
Viking Raiders defended their RAW Tag Team Championships against The OC and Street Profits tonight on RAW. Gallows and Anderson dominated early and isolated Montez Ford in the ring.
Erik tagged in and beat the hell out of Gallows an Anderson. Ivar tagged in and planted Angelo Dawkins with a Body Slam. Montez tagged in and walked into a Viking Experience. Ivar went for the cover but Karl Anderson broke it up. Erik went for a Suicide Dive but Gallows caught him and sent him over the barricade as RAW went to a commercial break.
Gallows and Anderson were still in control when RAW returned. Anderson had Erik trapped in a Headlock but Erik battled back to his feet. Ivar tagged in and planted Anderson with a Backbreaker. Montez hit a Frog Splash but Anderson tagged himself in. Erik planted Anderson with a Powerbomb and Ivar followed it up with a Splash for the pinfall victory. Viking Raiders are still the RAW Tag Team Champions.
Becky Lynch Sent Asuka A Message
RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch came down to the ring to a great reaction. Lynch said that it was good to hear the crowd’s voices because she has been walking around for months now what kind of champion she is.
Becky added that she let the doubters get to her and forced the powers that be to give her a match with Asuka at Royal Rumble. Lynch claimed that she thought about what it means to be “The Man” and wondered if she should just be happy with her accomplishments so far.
Lynch suggested that maybe she should try to avoid the one woman she cannot seem to beat and highlights from Asuka’s victories over Becky were shown. Asuka then interrupted and laughed into the microphone. Asuka danced her way into the ring and was about to say something to Becky but Lynch punched her in the face. Asuka collapsed to the canvas and Becky left the ring. Lynch smirked on the entrance ramp as Asuka flipped out in the ring.
Rusev Will Battle Lashley Next Week
Lana and Lashley came down to the ring to a chorus of boos. Lana stated that they were going to get married tonight and handed the pastor the microphone.
Lashley and Lana kissed and the pastor left the ring. Lana told the official that he was so boring and she wasted so much money on him. She claimed that all of their exes and the crowd should be ashamed of themselves.
The crowd chanted “Rusev Day!” as Lashley claimed that Rusev wasn’t man enough to keep his own. Rusev appeared on the jumbotron standing in front of a green screen with an image of a beach behind him. Rusev said that the beach was next to a restaurant and claimed he made them a wedding album. Pictures of Rusev and Liv Morgan ruining the wedding last week were then shown.
Lana shouted that she hated Rusev and that he ruins everything. Lashley told Lana to shut up and claimed that Lana has stripped Rusev of his manhood. Bobby challenged Rusev to come to RAW next week so that he can rip off what is left of his balls and shove them down his throat.
Rusev stated that the Bulgarian Brute will return next week and he will brutalize every portion of Lashley’s body and Lana can have whatever is left. Liv Morgan said she will be in Rusev’s corner next week during a backstage interview.
Once again, this wasn’t so bad that it was good. It was just bad. My favorite part of this was that the “pastor” tried to get into the ring following AJ Styles’ victory over Tozawa and security tackled him.
Big Show Returned To Team With Owens & Joe
Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe challenged Rollins and AOP to a match tonight. Samoa Joe told Owens that he had a guy that wants to be their tag partner for the match.
Before the match, Seth Rollins cut a promo and said that it was best to eliminate people like Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens because they are trying to impede progress. Rollins referred to himself as the “Monday Night Messiah” during the promo. It was then revealed that the Big Show was the mystery partner.
Big Show dominated early and hit Rollins with a massive chop as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Kevin Owens was trapped in the ring as Seth and AOP took turns beating him down. Big Show tagged in and the match ended in a DQ after Rollins hit Big Show with a chair. A brawl then broke out and Big Show took out Rollins with a KO Punch. It was then announced that these teams will face off again next week in a “Fist Fight”.
I thought this week’s show started off very good and then naturally fell off a cliff. I guess it was cool to see Big Show back on RAW but I don’t understand why he is being thrown into one of the best storylines on the show. It was also a little jarring to see Big Show main event a RAW in 2020.
WWE has announced that Styles vs. Orton, Rusev vs. Lashley, Buddy Murphy vs. Aleister Black and the first ever “Fist Fight” will go down next week. I figured these matches would happen at Royal Rumble, so if I were to guess there will be several stupid finishes next week so they can have some of the matches again at Royal Rumble. I don’t find that to be an interesting build to a PPV at all if that winds up being the case.
