This week’s episode of WWE RAW aired live from Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. It was the final RAW before the Royal Rumble PPV this weekend.
WWE RAW Results (1/20)
- Andrade retained the US Title over Rey Mysterio in a Ladder Match
- Aleister Black defeated a jobber
- The OC attacked Randy Orton & Drew McIntyre during their match
- Becky Lynch defeated Kairi Sane
- Buddy Murphy & Seth Rollins defeated The Viking Raiders to capture the RAW Tag Team Championships
- Erick Rowan defeated Matt Hardy
- Lana & Lashley defeated Liv Morgan & Rusev
Here are 6 takeaways from the show:
Andrade Retained The US Championship
Andrade defended his United States Championship against Rey Mysterio in a Ladder Match tonight on RAW. Zelina Vega accompanied Andrade to the ring.
Match Recap: Mysterio connected with a Hurricanrana off the second rope that sent Andrade crashing on top of a ladder. Andrade’s neck landed directly on the steel ladder. Rey followed it up with a Senton off the ring post and onto Andrade outside the ring. Andrade battled back and Suplexed Rey onto a ladder. Rey and Andrade battled on the ladder and Mysterio went for a Sunset Flip Powerbomb but it was botched and both superstars fell on the ladder.
Mysterio hit 619 and tried to grab the belt but Andrade pulled the ladder from underneath him. Rey went for a Hurricanrana but it was botched and Mysterio fell on his head. Mysterio climbed back up but Zelina Vega interfered and distracted Rey. Andrade then planted Mysterio with the Hammerlock DDT through the a ladder. Andrade then climbed the ladder and grabbed the title to win the match.
After the match, Zelina Vega took off some padding off and exposed the concrete floor. Humberto Carrillo then made the save and attacked Andrade.
Opinion: I give Andrade and Mysterio an A+ for effort but this match was tough to watch. Rey landed hard when he went for the Hurricanrana and didn’t look right when he got up. The spot with Andrade landing on his neck also looked painful as hell. I was hoping the person in the Mysterio mask was Dominick and it didn’t seem like anyone cared when it was revealed to be Humberto.
Lesnar Hit Ricochet With A Cheap Shot
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar came down to the ring with Paul Heyman tonight on RAW. Heyman claimed that WWE Universe was taking Brock Lesnar for granted.
Paul once again guaranteed that Brock Lesnar will win the Royal Rumble this Sunday and the crowd booed. Paul scolded the crowd and said that there is no one in WWE or anywhere else that is worthy of stepping in the ring with Lesnar. Ricochet interrupted and said that he wasn’t afraid of Lesnar.
Heyman told Ricochet to take his ass back to the locker room before he gets hurt. Ricochet stated that he wasn’t afraid and got into the ring with Brock. Ricochet challenged Lesnar to a fight and Brock cracked up. Lesnar started to leave the ring and Ricochet suggested that Brock was scared. Lesnar booted Ricochet in the balls and said “not scared” before exiting the ring.
Opinion: I think everyone involved in this promo deserved a kick to the jewels. This was absolutely pointless.
Drew McIntyre Vowed To Main Event WrestleMania
Randy Orton squared off with Drew McIntyre tonight on RAW.
Match Recap: McIntyre dominated the match early but Orton battled back with a DDT while Drew was caught in the ropes. Orton went for the RKO but McIntyre blocked it and connected with the Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre went for the Claymore but Randy countered into a Powerslam.
The OC rushed the ring and attacked McIntyre. Orton brought a chair into the ring and beat Gallows and Anderson down as AJ Styles retreated. After the match, Orton dropped the chair and told McIntyre he is a tough son of a bitch before planting him with the RKO.
McIntyre grabbed a microphone and referred to Orton as “Randal Keith Orton”. Drew said that RKO was on him because he should have hit Orton with the Claymore Kick. McIntyre vowed to kick Orton’s head off in the Royal Rumble Match and then go on to main event WrestleMania.
Asuka Sent A Message To Becky Lynch
RAW Women’s Champion came down to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. Lynch claimed Asuka did her a favor by spraying mist in her eyes because she now sees things clearly. Becky boasted about making history at WrestleMania and joked that Asuka went on YouTube to make soup. Lynch then battled Kairi Sane as Asuka was ringside.
Match Recap: Becky controlled the match early as Asuka sat on the top of the ring post. Lynch connected with a Leg Drop off the middle rope for a near fall. Lynch leveled Asuka with a punch to the face that sent her tumbling to the floor outside the ring. Becky then locked in the Dis-Arm-Her for the submission victory.
After the match, Asuka attacked Becky and trapped her in the Asuka Lock in the middle of the ring. Asuka followed it up with a kick to the face before exiting the ring. Becky will defend the RAW Women’s Championship against Asuka this Sunday at Royal Rumble.
Seth Rollins & Buddy Murphy Are The New RAW Tag Team Champions
Seth Rollins, AOP, and Buddy Murphy came down to the ring to begin tonight’s show. Rollins thanked the crowd as they booed and claimed that without them there would be no Monday Night Messiah.
Seth introduced Buddy Murphy as the newest disciple of the Monday Night Messiah and gave him a hug. Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe interrupted and challenged them to a fight. Rollins accepted because they thought they had the numbers advantage but the Viking Raiders joined Owens and Samoa Joe. Joe, Owens, and the Viking Raiders beat Rollins, AOP, and Murphy down and sent them on the retreat to end the segment. Rollins and Murphy challenged Viking Raiders to a match for the RAW Tag Team Championships during a backstage interview.
Match Recap: AOP, Kevin Owens, and Samoa Joe were ringside for the match. Owens & Joe battled AOP through the crowd as RAW went to a break. Back from the break, Ivar tagged in and leveled Murphy and Rollins. They went for the Viking Experience but Seth broke it up. Erik and Ivar connected with Suicide Dives and then rolled Buddy Murphy into the ring. They connected with Viking Experience this time but Rollins broke up the cover. Rollins shoved Ivar off the top rope and to the floor outside the ring. Rollins hit Erik with the Stomp on the apron and then Buddy pinned him. Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy are the new RAW Tag Team Champions.
Opinion: This would have made a lot more sense to if AOP were in this match and won the titles because Seth Rollins interfered. Akam and Rezar are an actual tag team and not just thrown together like Rollins and Murphy. I guess AOP are just bodyguards now.
Lana & Lashley Defeated Liv Morgan & Rusev
Bobby Lashley & Lana faced Rusev & Liv Morgan in a tag match to close this week’s show. Before the match, Lana claimed that Rusev Day is canceled and the crowd immediately responded with a “Rusev Day!” chant. Lana claimed that they were the love story of the millennium and called the crowd disrespectful.
Match Recap: Liv Morgan beat Lana down in the corner to start off the match. Lana battled back with a Suplex for a near fall. Morgan and Lana fell to the canvas after both connecting with a Clothesline. Rusev and Lashley tagged in and Rusev hit a Samoan Drop. Lana hit Rusev with a cheap shot and Lashley capitalized with a slam. Liv broke up the cover and then threw Lana out of the ring. Liv hit Lashley with an Enziguri and Rusev geared up for the Machka Kick but Lana grabbed his leg. Lashley then hit a Spear for the pinfall victory.
Opinion: Tonight was an awful RAW go-home show for the Royal Rumble PPV. I enjoyed the match between Andrade and Rey Mysterio but it was a botchfest. The rest of the show was boring and just a terrible way to go into the PPV for the RAW brand. The main event was a complete joke and not worth anyone’s time.
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