Brock Lesnar, The Authority, Seth Rollins & John Cena Kick Off RAW
The WWE Royal Rumble “go-home,” reunion special edition of WWE RAW opens with a Martin Luther King Jr. video package. This year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day package is quite extensive, as is the open shot of RAW, which features a close-up shot of the announce team standing and applauding. From there, the regular RAW intro package plays.
15,519 fans are jam-packed in the sold out American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas, where Michael Cole informs us of some of the legends scheduled to appear on tonight’s RAW Reunion special. After that, the show officially kicks off as Brock Lesnar’s music hits. Out comes the WWE World Heavyweight Champion with Paul Heyman.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is …” is all Heyman can say before a pissed off Lesnar stops him, standing in front of him shaking his head. He takes the mic and says he’s here to fight. He tells Seth Rollins he’s got ten seconds to get his “weaselly” ass out here. The fans start counting to ten. Lesnar laughs and says that’s what he thought.
Finally, “King of Kings” hits and out comes Triple H. He comes down to the ring as highlights are shown of Rollins Curb Stomping Lesnar and John Cena last week. HHH tells Lesnar to calm down. He says he would’ve done the same thing if he had the opportunity. He says he seems to recall Lesnar suplexing Rollins first. He tells Lesnar they can all go to the back and he and Heyman can talk like businessman and put this behind us.
Heyman, off-mic, tells Lesnar he’s being reasonable, let’s do it. Lesnar tells HHH, “are you here to fix this — or fight?” Heyman tells Lesnar to calm down, reminding him that Triple H is “their meal ticket.”
Stephanie McMahon’s theme hits and out she comes with Kane and Big Show. She tells Lesnar to calm down. Heyman — still off-mic — yells to Lesnar, “Brock, they’re being reasonable. Come on!” Then, out of nowhere, Rollins appears on the big screen from backstage.
Rollins tells Lesnar he’s always two steps behind. He calls Lesnar a cave-man and tells him to be patient. He says he’ll get his shot at him, right before he takes his title at the Royal Rumble. Heyman says, “pardon me, this will be between the adults here.” Heyman warns The Authority to “put a leash on their puppy.” Heyman further warns The Authority about what Lesnar is about to do if things don’t get fixed now.
As Heyman continues to speak, John Cena’s theme hits and out he comes. He talks about how The Authority tried to recruit him a few weeks ago and how he turned them down. He talks about what The Authority does to him all the time. He tells them to “keep it up,” telling him that every single thing they do, lights a fire under him. He tells HHH and Steph that they make him sick. He talks about them firing Ryback, Erick Rowan and Dolph Ziggler. He says he’d do anything to get them hired back.
Cena throws one last insult at The Authority and tries to walk off, but Steph stops him and tells the production crew to turn off his music. She talks about what Cena “used to be,” and informs him that he’s not the same man today. She said he lied to everyone and he’s the reason The Authority is back. She reminds Cena that they’re here because of him. She tells him he’s soley responsible for getting Ryback, Rowan and Ziggler fired.
Once Steph is finished telling Cena how he’s not the man he used to be, Rollins chimes in from the big screen and tells Cena he’s a loser. He tells him that this Sunday at the Royal Rumble, he’s going to fail again. He says everyone knows Cena is a failure except for Cena himself. He says if there’s one thing he and Lesnar can agree on, it’s that Cena’s time is up. He tells Cena to remove himself from Sunday’s match. Cena mocks Rollins for mumbling his words and then threatens to kick his door down and beat him up. Cena says when he wins this Sunday, no one has to like him, but they will damn sure respect him. He tells The Authority they should sweaten the pot. He says if he wins this Sunday, they have to give Ryback, Rowan and Ziggler their jobs back.
Triple H asks the fans if that’s what they want. He says they seem to want it, but the problem is — they gave Cena an opportunity to get their jobs back already and he failed miserably. However, he says he’s inclined to give him the chance. He says if he wants it though, he’s got to put something on the line. Cena says name it. HHH says great and tells him tonight he has a match. He says if he wins, all three will get their jobs back, but if he loses, all three guys remain fired — and — he gives up his opportunity in the title match at the Royal Rumble this Sunday. He asks Cena if he wants the deal or not. Steph asks if Cena’s all talk.
Before he can answer, HHH tells him it’s not for him to answer. He says they’ll ask the fans via the WWE App if he should take the offer. He says it’ll tell them if the fans have given up on Cena. It’ll be a simple yes or no answer and we’ll find out once and for all what the WWE Universe truly thinks of John Cena. “King of Kings” hits again to end the segment. We head to our first commercial break of the evening.
Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan
When we return from the commercial, Bray Wyatt is in the middle of making his entrance. He blows out the latern, the lights come back on and Daniel Bryan’s music hits. The fans explode into a big “Yes!” chant as he skips down the aisle.
The bell sounds and here we go. Early on, Wyatt gives Bryan some trouble, but ultimately, Bryan fights back and hits a big splash off the top rope onto Wyatt on the floor. The action returns to the ring as out of nowhere, Kane’s music hits and out he comes. We head to commercial.
We’re back from the break and now Wyatt is in control of Bryan. We see a shot of Kane sitting and watching on from a seat at ringside. Wyatt knocks Bryan off the top rope and out to the floor.
Wyatt continues to beat Bryan down and then Bryan starts firing up on offense. Strangely enough, we head to a second mid-match commercial on that note.
When we return from the break, Bryan is trying to get things going again, and finally does, however once he does, Kane pops up out of his chair at ringside and yanks Bryan off the apron. He throws him back in the ring. Wyatt slams Bryan face-first into the bottom turnbuckle and then hits him with his Sister Abigail finisher. 1-2-3.
After the match, Kane stares down at Bryan in the ring as Wyatt leaves. Kane decides he’s not done yet, and beats Bryan down some more, likely continuing an eventual feud/match between the two. We head to another commercial.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
