Raw is War
Toledo, Ohio
January 24, 2022
Results from wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
We go live into the Huntingdon Center to see WWE Official Adam
Pearce in the ring with Corey Graves. There is a large scale in the
ring. Adam Pearce introduces Bobby Lashley first, who comes out with
his manager, MVP.
Corey Graves goes to introduce WWE Champion Brock Lesnar, but Paul
Heyman cuts him off. Heyman says he’s tired of everyone stealing his
shtick. Heyman does a loud and exciting introduction for Brock
Lesnar. The WWE champion comes out in a flannel jacket and a cowboy
hat. Lesnar is wearing heavy clothes, while Lashley is wearing light
clothes.
Corey Graves sheepishly says to “Mr. Lesnar” that he is not wearing
proper attire for a weigh-in. Lesnar asks if he’d like him to do
this naked. Graves turns away. Graves asks Lashley to stand on the
scale. Lashley removes his jacket and stands on the scale. Lashley’s
official weight is 273 pounds. Lashley has a nasty cut on his bottom
lip.
MVP says that’s 273 pounds of an All Mighty killing machine, closer
to a god than a man. 273 pounds of bottled lightning that Brock
Lesnar will have to contend with at the Royal Rumble. This is the
match that everyone has wanted and written off as impossible.
Lashley knew this match was inevitable. After the Royal Rumble,
Lashley will gain a little weight, the exact amount as the WWE
Championship.
Graves asks “Mr. Lesnar” to stand on the scale and recommends he
remove some clothing. Lesnar takes his cowboy hat off and stands on
the scale. Lesnar’s official weight is 286 pounds.
Lashley says this is pissing him off. Lesnar is laughing. Lashley
says Lesnar is acting like a fool because he knows Lashley will beat
him for the WWE Championship this Saturday. Lashley says this will
be the shortest title run of Lesnar’s career. Lashley says, “And
that’s not a prediction… that’s a spoiler.”
Lesnar says Lashley is a comedian now. Lesnar puts his arm on
Heyman’s shoulder and asks if he can see this headline: Bobby
Lashley beats Brock Lesnar with the Hurt Lock and there’s a new
reigning, defending, WWE Champion… Bobby Who? Lesnar walks off and
heads up the ramp alongside his advocate, Paul Heyman.
Footage is shown of Bianca Belair winning the 2021 Royal Rumble.
They then show footage of Belair defeating Sasha Banks in the main
event of WrestleMania 37.
Bianca Belair makes her way to the ring. She’ll be in action against
Queen Zelina.
-Commercial Break-
Later tonight, we’ll celebrate Maryse’s birthday. We’ll also see
Damian Priest defend the WWE United States Championship against
Kevin Owens, the man who ended Priest’s yearlong undefeated streak.
Raw Tag Team Champions Alpha Academy will battle RK-Bro in a
Spelling Bee, as well.
Bianca Belair vs. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Queen Zelina
Belair quickly scoops Zelina up and dumps her over the top rope onto
the apron. Belair pulls her into the ring and tosses her before
hitting a handspring. Belair goes for a suplex, but Zelina counters
into a sit-out jawbreaker. Zelina punches away at Belair before
kneeing her in the face. Zelina bows before the crowd. Belair pushes
Zelina to the corner and charges, but Zelina drops her into the
turnbuckles. Zelina goes to the top rope, but Belair punches her.
Belair presses Zelina above her head, but Zelina counters into a
sleeper hold. Belair backs her into the corner, but Zelina elbows
her in the neck a few times. Belair drops to her knees, but she soon
fights up. Belair throws Zelina off and flips out of a head-scissor
takeover. Belair shoulder blocks her before hitting a dropkick.
Belair kips up and gets the crowd going. Belair hits a suplex and
rolls through into a delayed vertical suplex. Belair kips up again
and hits a handspring moonsault, but Zelina gets the knees up.
Zelina goes for Code Red, but Belair fights her. Belair connects
with the KOD for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Bianca Belair
A replay is shown of Kevin Owens faking a knee injury to defeat WWE
United States Champion Damian Priest in a singles match for the
first time in a year.
Kevin Owens is warming up when Kevin Patrick comes in. Patrick
insinuates that Owens cheated to win, but Owens says he’s never been
in the ring and doesn’t understand. Owens just keeps fighting. Owens
has a WWE United States Championship opportunity and will just keep
fighting until he wins the title.
WWE United States Champion Damian Priest makes his way to the ring.
He’ll face Kevin Owens with the title on the line next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE United States Championship
Damian Priest (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Owens immediately goes for Stunner at the start of the match, but
Priest pushes him off. Owens chops away at him in the corner, but
Priest turns him around and punches away at him. Owens reverses a
whip to the corner and blocks a boot from Priest. Owens knocks
Priest back, but Priest hits the ropes. Owens hits a back elbow and
a senton splash for a two count. Owens sets up for a cannonball, but
Priest pops up and goes for South of Heaven. Owens gets out of it,
so Priest big boots him out of the ring. Priest goes for a
somersault plancha, but Owens moves. Priest goes outside the ring
and sends Owens into the barricade. Owens superkicks Priest getting
into the ring and goes for a Swanton Bomb off the apron, but Priest
gets the knees up! Priest hits Owens with South of Heaven on the
apron and is fired up!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Priest kicking away at Owens and
connecting with a back elbow in the corner. Priest blocks a strike
from Owens and hits a headlock DDT for a near fall. Priest puts
Owens on the top rope, but Owens fights him. Owens head-butts away
at him and hits a tornado DDT. Owens goes to the top rope and
connects with a frog splash, but Priest kicks out! Owens is in shock
and checks the count with the referee.
Owens attacks Priest and goes for a Pop-up Powerbomb, but Priest big
boots him. Priest hits a flapjack and absolutely rocks him with a
spin kick for a near fall! Owens signals that he has a shoulder
injury. The referee tries to wave Priest off, but Priest bypasses
him and attacks Owens. Owens rolls to the apron and snaps Priest off
the top rope. Owens schoolboys him with a handful of tights for a
near fall. Owens goes for a Stunner, but Priest blocks it and turns
him inside out with a clothesline. Priest punches and kicks away at
Owens. The referee warns Priest to stop or be disqualified. Priest
won’t stop, so he’s disqualified. The crowd loudly boos.
Winner by Disqualification: Kevin Owens
Damian Priest remains the WWE United States Championship
Priest is furious as he stomps up the ramp.
Replays are shown of Nikki A.S.H. viciously attacking Rhea Ripley
before they could have a match last week on Raw.
Rhea Ripley is backstage and says the Royal Rumble is consuming her
mind. It’s every woman for herself and she’ll win at any cost. It’ll
be a nightmare for 29 other women when she wins. Elsewhere
backstage, WWE 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke says she’s going to
continue riding the wave and win the Royal Rumble. Liv Morgan says
everyone has seen her go from a girl just living her dream to
someone that pushed the Women’s Champion to the edge. She’s going to
win the Royal Rumble and go on to WrestleMania to win the title.
Rhea Ripley makes her way to the ring. She’ll team with Dana Brooke
and Liv Morgan to face Nikki A.S.H., Carmella, and Tamina.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Official Sonya Deville is backstage with Damian Priest and says
he’s out of control. He could be suspended or worse. She warns him
to get control.
6-Woman Tag Team Match
Rhea Ripley, WWE 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke, and Liv Morgan vs. WWE
Women’s Tag Team Champion Carmella, Tamina, and Nikki A.S.H.
Tamina starts against Dana Brooke and takes her down hard. Tamina
quickly applies a neck vice. Brooke fights up and elbows her, but
Tamina fights it. Brooke flips through a back suplex and tags Rhea
Ripley in. Ripley takes Tamina down and wipes out Carmella and
Nikki. Ripley takes Tamina down and hits a pair of short-arm
clotheslines followed by a head-butt. Ripley hits a low dropkick.
Tamina knocks her back, but Ripley kicks her before hitting a
northern lights suplex. Carmella breaks up the pin. Morgan runs in
and takes her out. Nikki hits Morgan with a neckbreaker. Brooke
dropkicks Nikki out, and Tamina dropkicks her. Carmella tags in and
taunts Ripley. Ripley takes her down and applies the Prism Trap for
the submission.
Winners by Submission: Rhea Ripley, Dana Brooke, and Liv Morgan
After the match, Nikki A.S.H. wipes Ripley out from behind and runs
off. Ripley is furious.
A replay is shown of Alpha Academy challenging RK-Bro to an Alpha
Academy Academic Challenge.
Raw Tag Team Champions Alpha Academy make their way to the ring.
They’ll face RK-Bro in a Spelling Bee, next.
-Commercial Break-
Spelling Bee Academic Challenge Part I
Raw Tag Team Champions Alpha Academy are in the ring. Kevin Patrick
welcomes everyone to the Spelling Bee. Chad Gable says he needs to
explain this to the idiots in Ohio. This is a triad of events, which
means three. It’ll prove that he’s not only an Olympian but a genius
with a Master’s Degree and a 4.0 GPA. Gable tells Ohio not to boo
education since they need it so badly. The crowd loudly boos. Gable
says his prized pupil Otis will prove he has not only the brawn but
the brains when they pound RK-Bro into mental submission. Gable
wants to officially announce that Otis and Master Gable are
officially in the Royal Rumble match. One of them will win and Alpha
Academy will headline WrestleMania.
RK-Bro makes their way to the ring. Kevin Patrick says this is the
first event of the Academic Challenge. Tonight’s winners will get to
choose next week’s challenge. They’re starting with the champions of
Alpha Academy. Otis is the first one up. Otis looks a little
nervous. The word is “Emmental.” Otis wants it used in a sentence,
and Patrick says it’s a cheese. Otis knows it and correctly spells
it. Riddle must spell, “Calibration.” Riddle thinks it’s
“Cali-bro-tion.” Riddle wants it in a sentence, but he doesn’t know
it. Riddle wants it put into letters. Riddle finally (and correctly)
spells it.
Chad Gable steps up to the microphone. His word is, “Disillusion.”
Gable laughs and says he wanted a challenge. Gable asks for the
definition and cuts Patrick off before defining it. Gable then
spells, “Dissolution,” which isn’t the correct word! Gable flips out
and says he can’t understand Kevin Patrick. Randy Orton stands up
and tells Gable to take a freakin’ seat. Patrick says Orton’s word
is the most frequently misspelled in the English language:
“Dumbbell.” Orton thinks about it and spells it correctly. RK-Bro is
victorious in the first Academic Challenge.
Gable is furious and says Orton’s partner is a dumbbell. Orton flips
out and says he wants to shut Gable up in a challenge in a match
right now. Orton is going to spell out how he’ll beat him: R-K-O!
Orton is fired up!
-Commercial Break-
Raw Tag Team Champion Chad Gable w/ Otis vs. Randy Orton w/ Riddle
The bell rings, and Orton avoids Gable going for a takedown. Orton
hooks a side headlock, but Gable twists out and applies an overhead
wristlock. Orton quickly takes Gable down and applies a front
facelock. Orton backs away from Gable and sizes him up. Gable goes
after Orton’s shoulder, but Orton knocks him away. Gable applies a
hammerlock, but Orton transitions into one of his own before going
to a side headlock. Gable whips him off, but Orton shoulder blocks
him down. Orton hits the ropes, but Gable hits a pair of arm drags.
Gable applies an armbar, but Orton gets to his feet and backs him to
the corner. Orton whips him to the corner, but Gable slingshots over
him. Orton knocks him back and goes for an RKO, but Gable pushes him
off and gets out of the ring. Gable stands with Otis.
Gable gets back in the ring and locks up with Orton. Orton wrenches
the arm, but Gable rolls through and kips up. Gable rolls around him
and hits a drop-toe-hold. Orton rolls out of the ring to regroup.
Orton takes a moment before getting in the ring. Gable chops him in
the throat before knocking him to the corner. Orton uppercuts Gable
a few times before sending him into the ropes for a back elbow.
Gable rolls out of the ring to recover, but Orton follows him out
and hits a back suplex on the commentary table! Otis sneers nearby.
Orton gets Gable in the ring. Otis gets on the apron to distract
him, so Orton knocks him to the floor. Gable clips the knee and goes
to the top rope for a moonsault, but Orton kicks out!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Gable applying a leglock to Orton
before snapping it off the ropes. Orton is limping around the ring.
Gable goes for a whip, but Orton collapses in pain. Gable sends him
to the corner, but Orton pops out with a clothesline. Orton
clotheslines him a second time and hits a back body drop. Gable
tries to fight back, but Orton turns him inside out with a headlock
backbreaker. Orton puts him on the apron and connects with a draping
DDT. Otis is not pleased.
Riddle goes after Otis at ringside, but Otis hits an exploder on the
floor. Orton fights Gable off and hits a snap powerslam. Orton is in
too much pain to follow up. Orton sets up for a Punt, but Gable
counters into an ankle lock. At ringside, Riddle hits Otis with his
scooter and takes him down! In the ring, Orton gets out of the ankle
lock and CRUSHES Gable with an RKO for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Randy Orton
Riddle gets in the ring and congratulates Randy Orton. Riddle says
since they won the Spelling Bee, they get to choose the challenge.
It’s time to go old school to gym class with a scooter race! Otis
looks worried at ringside.
WWE promotes Bad Bunny’s World’s Hottest Tour.
A replay is shown of the psychiatrist triggering Alexa Bliss by
insinuating that Lilly is imaginary. Alexa Bliss’ journey back to
Raw continues next.
-Commercial Break-
Alexa Bliss is back with the psychiatrist. He asks when he met
Lilly. Bliss says Lilly has always been there. When she was a child,
she was picked on because she had glasses. Some girls pushed her off
a ride and she got hurt. When she came to, there was Lilly. Lilly
told her not to worry about those girls and they had fun that day.
The scene fades away.
Austin Theory defeated Finn Bálor last week on Raw.
Earlier today, Austin Theory was with Mr. McMahon. Theory says he’s
going to win the Royal Rumble and face the champion of his choosing
in the main event of WrestleMania. Theory tries to get McMahon to
put him in at a later number like 27 or 28. McMahon says he has no
influence on the numbers. Theory needs to be concerned about his
opponent tonight, AJ Styles. Theory looks worried about facing
Styles, who is a future Hall of Famer. Theory says he can do it.
McMahon reminds him to take his phone and bring back a really good
selfie.
AJ Styles makes his entrance.
-Commercial Break-
AJ Styles vs. Austin Theory
They lock up, and Theory powers him to the corner before taunting
him. They lock up, and Styles puts him in the corner. Theory quickly
turns him around and taunts him again. Styles applies a side
headlock. Theory tries to whip him off, but Styles hangs on. Theory
eventually whips him off, but Styles rolls him up for a two count.
Theory lifts him, but Styles counters into a roll-up for a two
count. Styles rolls him up again for a two count before dropkicking
him out of the ring. Styles connects with a forearm plancha.
Styles puts Theory in the ring and chops the chest. Theory blocks a
kick and forearms him back. Styles quickly kicks him in the leg, but
Theory pulls him into the turnbuckles. Theory takes him down and
hits a slingshot stomp followed by a suplex. Theory covers, but
Styles has the shoulder up. Theory applies a chin lock, but Styles
fights up. Styles chops the chest and takes him down for a knee
drop. Styles hits a snap suplex for a near fall. Theory hits a
snapshot off the top rope and stomps the midsection. Theory forearms
him into the corner and whips him hard sternum-first into the
corner.
Theory continues to take it to Styles, but Styles takes him down
with a forearm. Theory counters a suplex with a front suplex. Theory
puts Styles on the top rope and climbs, but Styles knocks him back.
Theory rolls and connects with a dropkick that sends Styles to the
floor.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Styles hit a step-up enzuigiri.
Theory quickly comes back with a spinout backbreaker for a near
fall. Theory continues to attack Styles, but Styles comes back with
a forearm. Theory reverses a whip and hits a back body drop for a
two count. Styles avoids an elbow drop and elbows him back. Styles
springboards off the second rope into a reverse DDT!
Styles makes a comeback with a big strike combo. Styles clotheslines
him in the corner and hits a suplex into a neckbreaker. Styles hits
a sliding forearm for a near fall. Theory hits a nasty elbow and
connects with a back suplex for a near fall. Styles fights back, but
Theory hits him with a standing blockbuster for a near fall. Theory
puts him on the top rope, but Styles gets out and sweeps the feet.
Theory elbows him and goes for a slam, but Styles gets out and hits
a Pele Kick! Styles goes for a Styles Clash, but Theory counters
out. Styles applies a Calf Crusher, but Theory gets to the bottom
rope.
Styles knocks Theory back and goes for a Phenomenal Forearm, but
Theory hits the ropes to make him crash and burn. Theory rolls him
up with his feet on the ropes, but the referee catches him. Styles
knocks him back and hits a Phenomenal Forearm for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: AJ Styles
Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and Doudrop will be interviewed
coming up next.
Video: WWE 2K22 trailer
-Commercial Break-
Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and her opponent at the Royal
Rumble, Doudrop, are shown on split-screen. Jimmy Smith addresses
Doudrop first, so Lynch gets angry. Lynch has a story about a girl
named Doudrop across the pond that idolized her. Lynch wants some
gratitude for giving her this match. Doudrop says it’s going to be
easy to break Lynch’s ribs. Lynch insults her, so Doudrop gets up
and leaves. Lynch continues to talk until Doudrop barges into her
dressing room and attacks her. Referees break it up.
The Mysterios are interviewed backstage. Rey Mysterio says he’s
excited to be on the cover of WWE 2K22 but will be prouder when his
son eventually is. Dominik says his legacy begins when he wins the
Royal Rumble. Rey says that means his son will have to eliminate
him. Dominik says after what Rey did last week, he’s the first one
going over. Rey hopes he’s kidding.
The Street Profits make their entrance.
-Commercial Break-
Tag Team Match
The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) vs. The
Mysterios (Rey and Dominik Mysterio)
Dominik Mysterio starts against Angelo Dawkins. Dominik takes him
down with a hurricanrana and a top rope arm drag. Dawkins soon hits
him with an elbow for a near fall. Dawkins sends him into the ropes,
but Dominik hits a unique takedown to get him out of the ring. Rey
holds the ropes open for Dominik to hit a suicide dive. Rey then
hits Ford with a springboard moonsault. Ford knocks Rey over the top
rope, but Dominik catches him. Ford then crushes The Mysterios with
a somersault senton!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Dawkins grounding Dominik with a
chin lock. Dominik eventually fights up and hits a tornado DDT. Rey
tags in, as does Ford. Rey takes it to Ford before Ford hits a
flapjack. Ford hits a rolling big splash for a near fall. Rey comes
back with a kick to the face. Dominik lifts his father into a
hurricanrana on Ford. They go for a double 619, but Dawkins pulls
Dominik out of the ring. Rey knocks Ford into the ropes and goes for
a 619, but Ford blocks it. Ford puts Rey in the electric chair, but
Rey counters with a victory roll for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The Mysterios
The Mysterios celebrate their victory in the ring. Dominik goes to
dump his father over the top rope, but Rey counters into a
head-scissor to eliminate his son! Ford eliminates Rey, and Dawkins
eliminates Ford. The Dirty Dawgz then eliminate Dawkins. The
Mysterios and The Street Profits then attack The Dirty Dawgz and
eliminate them.
We’ll hear from Seth “Freakin” Rollins next.
-Commercial Break-
Video: SmackDown Recap
Seth “Freakin” Rollins says he likes to deliver his messages in
person and will see Roman Reigns this Friday on SmackDown.
The commentators run down the loaded Royal Rumble card for this
Saturday.
The Miz makes his entrance. Maryse’s birthday celebration is next.
-Commercial Break-
Maryse’s Birthday Celebration
The Miz is in the ring and introduces his wife to celebrate her
birthday. Security is in front of the ring. Maryse makes her
entrance. There are pictures of their family in the ring. Miz tells
her to open her first gift. There’s a painting of Miz and Maryse
dressed as a king and queen. Maryse is in love with it and says she
feels more special than the day she had her children. The second
gift is a bejeweled bag.
There’s a box large enough to fit a human inside of it. Maryse wants
to open that gift, but Miz doesn’t know where it came from. They’re
nervous and call security to open it. Inside is the brick Maryse hit
Beth Phoenix with last week. They laugh. Miz says they’ll always be
a step ahead of Edge and Beth Phoenix.
Video: Maryse hits Beth Phoenix with a loaded purse last week.
Miz says it’s time to sing “Happy Birthday,” but the crowd boos. Miz
has the music play and sings offkey.
Edge and Beth Phoenix interrupt. Edge says Miz and Maryse played
this well, but they stepped in it after what they did last week.
Edge and Phoenix charge the ring absolutely annihilate the security
at ringside with clotheslines and body slams. They chase Miz and
Maryse out of the ring. Phoenix and Edge each hit Spears on the
guards. Edge and Phoenix hit a security guard with a Hart Attack and
another with a 3D. Edge then powerbombs the security guard through a
table and the birthday cake. Miz and Maryse run off furious.