Raw is War
Nashville, Tennessee
January 2, 2023
Results from wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the
show.
The Raw intro video plays…
…and we cut right into the Bridgestone Arena to see The Usos, Solo
Sikoa, and Sami Zayn of The Bloodline attacking a stagehand at
ringside! The Usos get on the commentary headsets. They say 2023 is
going the same way that 2022 went. The Bloodline runs this show.
Zayn shouts into the camera. They tip over the commentary table.
Kevin Owens’ music hits, and he walks out to the stage. Zayn warns
him not to say a word and listen carefully. They’re not in a very
good mood tonight. Tonight is a hostile takeover of Monday Night Raw
by The Bloodline. Owens sarcastically repeats what Zayn says. Zayn
says people are going to get hurt tonight because of Owens. Owens
looks confused and rubs his head. Owens says he had something to
say, which is why he has a microphone, but after hearing Zayn, all
he wants to do is punch him in the face.
Owens begins walking to the ring, but WWE Official Adam Pearce runs
down with security. Pearce says he’s let The Bloodline, including
Roman Reigns, run wild for too long. This is not happening in 2023.
Pearce orders security to get in the ring and get The Bloodline out
of the building. Security gets in the ring, but Sikoa quickly wipes
all four out.
Owens runs into the ring, but it’s a 4-on-1 beatdown on him. The
rest of the Raw Locker Room runs down to help and clears the ring of
The Bloodline. The Bloodline begins to leave through the crowd.
Pearce says The Bloodline isn’t getting away with this. He hopes
they’re prepared with their boots and gear if they want to come to
work. Tonight they’re all in singles matches, and that is official.
The Bloodline is not happy.
Byron Saxton is backstage with Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair.
Belair says she has lost all respect for Alexa Bliss. After tonight,
she doesn’t want to hear her name again. Bliss can blame Bray Wyatt
all she wants, but she’s her own woman.
Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves are standing amidst the wreckage left
by The Bloodline. Seth “Freakin” Rollins will challenge for the
United States Championship against Austin Theory. We’ll also take a
look at Cody Rhodes’ road to recovery. Coming up next, Bianca Belair
defends the Raw Women’s Championship against Alexa Bliss.
-Commercial Break-
The Street Profits, Kevin Owens, Dolph Ziggler, Mustafa Ali, Elias,
Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin, and The Good Brothers are
talking to Adam Pearce. They all want a piece of The Bloodline.
Elias wants a fight with Solo Sikoa, so Adam Pearce gives him a
Music City Street Fight. As for the rest of The Bloodline, Sami Zayn
and The Usos will take on The Street Profits and Kevin Owens. As for
the rest, it’s a new year, and they need to start acting like it.
Hardy is shown at ringside. He will perform live at the Royal
Rumble.
Footage is shown of Alexa Bliss attacking Bianca Belair with a glass
vase two weeks ago on Raw.
Raw Women’s Championship
Alexa Bliss vs. Bianca Belair (c)
The bell rings, and Belair immediately drops Bliss with a right
hand. Bliss angrily charges, but Belair holds her at arm’s length
while Bliss flails at her. Belair knocks her down before punching
her again. Bliss angrily stares at her. Bliss clearly whiffs on a
forearm before dropkicking her out of the ring. Bliss goes for a
baseball slide, but Belair counters into the powerbomb position.
Bliss tries for a hurricanrana on the floor, but Belair holds her up
before slinging her into the barricade.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Bliss kick Belair down. Bliss
hits the ropes, but Belair clotheslines her down. Bliss tries to
crawl away, but Belair jumps in front of her and challenges her.
Bliss goes running away, but Belair grabs her by the hair. Bliss
goes for a crucifix, but Belair slings her around before taunting
her. Belair dropkicks her into the corner and charges, but Bliss
sends her shoulder-first into the ring post. Bliss smiles and poses.
Bliss stomps away at Belair before standing on her back and bouncing
her face into the mat a few times. Bliss covers for a two-count.
Belair goes for a suplex, but Bliss fights it. Belair powers her up,
but Bliss slides through and takes her down for another two-count.
Bliss grimaces in frustration. Bliss gets Belair in the corner and
drives her foot into her throat. Belair pushes her off, but Bliss
punches and knees her down for a two-count. Bliss goes for a snap
DDT, but Belair powers her up into a delayed vertical suplex. Belair
gets to her feet and angrily clubs Bliss’ back. Belair bounces her
off all four turnbuckles and connects with a scoop slam. Bliss gets
up, but Belair slams her again. Bliss once again gets to her feet
and once again is slammed. Belair hits the ropes but stops when
Bliss repositions herself at an awkward angle. Belair stomps her and
hits a handspring moonsault for a near fall. Belair gets up and
scoops Bliss up, but Bliss slides off. Belair charges and goes
through the ropes despite Bliss dropping down extremely early.
Belair falls to the floor, and Bliss hits a cannonball off the
apron. Bliss rotated a bit too much and took an awkward landing on
her knees. Bliss also appears to be bleeding from the nose.
-Commercial Break-
We return from the break to see Belair fighting back at Bliss.
Belair hits a snapmare, but Bliss quickly pops up and dropkicks her
into the corner. Bliss covers for a near fall. Bliss applies a chin
lock. Belair fights up, but Bliss pulls her down by the hair. Bliss
hits double knees and goes for a rolling senton, but Belair moves.
They trade pins until Belair powers Bliss up on one shoulder. Belair
goes for the KOD, but Bliss fights out. Bliss goes for a
head-scissor, but Belair powers into a backbreaker. Belair gets her
in the corner and starts the 10 punches. Bliss slides away and leaps
off the apron while holding Belair’s braid. Belair is pulled out of
the ring.
Bliss shouts that the Raw Women’s championship belongs to her. A guy
stands behind her wearing an Uncle Howdy mask. Security tries to
pull him away, so the mystery man is forced to whisper, “I’m part of
the show.” The security guard quickly retreats. Bliss sees the man
and looks confused. Bliss gets Belair in the ring and starts to
climb the turnbuckles. She sees another man in the Uncle Howdy mask.
Bliss looks frightened now. The titantron flashes a few times, and
Bliss starts pulling her hair. The referee checks on her, and Bliss
takes him down with a Thesz Press and starts punching away at him!
Winner by Disqualification and still Raw Women’s Champion: Bianca
Belair
Bliss next takes Belair down with a Thesz Press and punches away at
her. Bliss knocks Belair out of the ring and whips her hard into the
steel steps. Bliss gives Belair a DDT on the lower half of the
steps. Belair is bleeding from the mouth. Bliss walks away but
returns to give her a second DDT. Bliss walks off as EMTs run out
with a stretcher.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of Alexa Bliss destroying Bianca Belair with two
DDTs on the steel steps. A bloodied Belair was helped to the back by
her husband, Montez Ford.
Two weeks ago, Austin Theory wiped out Seth “Freakin” Rollins with a
title belt to the head.
Cathy Kelley is backstage with United States Champion Austin Theory.
Theory says his confidence is at an all-time high. 2022 was his year
and so will 2023. Rollins wanted to pick a fight with The Bloodline,
so Theory took him out. Rollins is the past. Theory holds all the
cards, and he’s outplaying Rollins at every turn. His forever reign
is just beginning. Not so bad for a kid.
“Ladies and gentlemen… Elias.”
Elias strums a chord and greets the crowd before playing a lick.
Elias says he will smash this guitar on Solo Sikoa’s face and has a
fight song. Solo Sikoa’s music interrupts him immediately.
Music City Street Fight
Elias vs. Solo Sikoa
The bell rings, and they go right at it. Elias shoulder blocks him,
but Sikoa barely moves. Sikoa gets Elias in the corner and punches
him. Sikoa attacks him in the corner and chokes him. Sikoa taunts
the crowd, so Elias chops him back. Sikoa reverses a whip and blocks
a hip toss with a clothesline. Sikoa charges, but Elias pulls the
top rope down to get him out of the ring. Sikoa avoids a baseball
slide and punches him. Sikoa bounces him off the apron and punches
him. Sikoa grabs a cowbell, but Elias doesn’t have a fever because
he cuts him off. Elias smashes Sikoa with the cowbell, so he’s the
one with the fever, and punches him against the ring post. Elias
grabs a guitar and swings, but it explodes against the ring post
when Sikoa moves. Sikoa grabs him, but Elias throws him into a drum
set. Elias then takes a hi-hat and swats Sikoa into the timekeeper’s
area!
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Sikoa whips Elias into an amp on the stage.
Sikoa hits him in the head with a live microphone and kicks him.
Sikoa then gets his payback and whips Elias into a drum set. Sikoa
takes a hi-hat stand and drives it into Elias a few times. Sikoa
head-butts Elias. Elias rolls into the ring. A steel chair is in the
ring, apparently put in there during the break. Elias hits Sikoa in
the midsection with a keyboard, but Sikoa fights back with a big
Samoan Drop for a two-count.
Sikoa picks up the keyboard and plays a few keys before throwing
Elias out of the ring. Sikoa grabs Elias, but Elias hits him in the
head with a tambourine. Elias gets Sikoa in the ring and breaks the
keyboard over his body. Elias is bleeding from the arm. Elias
smashes the keyboard off Sikoa’s back for a near fall. Elias applies
a chin lock. Sikoa fights out with a belly-to-belly side suplex.
Sikoa knocks Elias down in the corner and sizes him up. Sikoa
charges, but Elias moves. Elias hits Sikoa in the head with the
tambourine twice and punches away at him. Elias whips him to the
corner and avalanches him twice. Elias hits the ropes, ducks a
clothesline, and hits a spinebuster. Elias knocks Sikoa out of the
ring with more tambourine shots and smashes the keyboard on his
back.
Elias points at Hardy, who is holding a nice guitar. Hardy gives
Elias the guitar. Sikoa attacks Elias in the ring and punches away
at him. Hardy all of a sudden gets in the ring and grabs the guitar.
Hardy smashes it on Sikoa’s back, but Sikoa no sells it! Hardy
smiles and begs him off before running away. Sikoa turns into a high
knee from Elias. Elias grabs the broken guitar and climbs to the top
rope. Elias jumps, but Sikoa hits him with a Samoan Spike out of
mid-air! Sikoa gets him on the apron and hits a Spinning Solo off
the apron onto a baby grand piano shell! The piano collapses. Sikoa
covers for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Solo Sikoa
An irate Solo Sikoa goes after Hardy, but he’s already gone.
Video Package: Kevin Owens and John Cena defeat Roman Reigns and
Sami Zayn on SmackDown
Coming up next, Kevin Owens and The Street Profits battle Sami Zayn
and The Usos.
-Commercial Break-
6-Man Tag Team Match
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) and
Sami Zayn vs. The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford)
and Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens and The Street Profits charge the ring and immediately
start brawling with The Bloodline. Angelo Dawkins is left in the
ring with Jimmy Uso, and the bell rings. Dawkins punches away at
Jimmy before sending him into the ropes. Jimmy shoulder blocks him
down, but Dawkins fights back with a diving shoulder tackle. Dawkins
takes his shirt off and hits a spinning avalanche followed by an
enzuigiri for a two-count. Montez Ford tags in and dropkicks Jimmy
down. Ford tags Dawkins back in. Dawkins kicks Jimmy but has a whip
reversed. Dawkins boots him back, but Jey Uso blindsides him with a
kick. Jey tags in and stomps away at Dawkins. Sami Zayn tags in and
attacks Dawkins. Zayn applies a front facelock and tags Jimmy in.
Jimmy punches Dawkins down and tags Jey in. The Usos hit Dawkins
with a wishbone split for a two-count. Dawkins fights away and tags
Kevin Owens in. Owens runs wild on Jey and hits a senton splash
before knocking Jimmy and Zayn away. Owens tells them to “suck it”
before calling Zayn a bitch. Owens goes for a tag, but Ford looks
lost in his thoughts about his wife, Bianca Belair. Jey capitalizes
and attacks Owens. Zayn and Jimmy tag in and stomp away at Owens.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Jimmy taking it to Owens. Jey
tags in and stomps Owens. Jey rocks Owens with a strike before
posing. Jey then superkicks Dawkins out of nowhere. Ford looks
totally distracted. Owens superkicks Jey down. Owens goes for a tag,
but Ford doesn’t see him. Owens smacks him to tag him in. Ford gets
fired up and hits Zayn and Jimmy with a cross-body block. Ford takes
Zayn down and kips up before hitting a standing moonsault for a near
fall. Ford is back in the game. Ford sets Zayn up and climbs to the
top rope, but Zayn cuts him off. Ford knocks Zayn down and hits a
frog splash, but Jey breaks up the pin.
Dawkins runs in and punches Jey out of the ring. Dawkins goes
outside and pounces him down! Ford sends Jimmy out of the ring
before throwing Zayn over the top rope. Ford hits the ropes and
wipes out Jimmy and Zayn with a somersault senton! Solo Sikoa comes
through the crowd and hits Dawkins with a Samoan Spike. Owens
attacks Sikoa, but Jey superkicks him. Ford gets Zayn in the ring
and knocks Jimmy off the apron. Zayn hits Ford with a Helluva Kick
for the victory.
Winners by Pinfall: The Usos and Sami Zayn
The Usos and Sami Zayn attack Owens in the ring. Sikoa grabs a steel
chair and hands it to Zayn. All of a sudden, Sheamus and Drew
McIntyre come through the crowd to fight. McIntyre gets in the ring
and hits Jimmy with a Glasgow Kiss. Sheamus and McIntyre clear the
ring of The Bloodline and stand tall with Owens.
Coming up next, Chad Gable battles Dexter Lumis.
-Commercial Break-
Bray Wyatt will battle LA Knight in the Mountain Dew Pitch Black
Match at the Royal Rumble.
AJ Styles broke his ankle at a WWE Live Event last week.
“SHOOSH! SHOOSH, PLEASE!”
Chad Gable w/ Otis vs. Dexter Lumis
Gable tries to evade Lumis, who creepily crawls after him. Lumis
eventually takes him down in the ring and attacks Gable. Otis is not
happy and then falls over after Lumis scares him. Gable flapjacks
Lumis onto the ropes and hits some short-arm clotheslines. Gable
hits a knee to the midsection and taunts the crowd. Gable applies an
overhead wristlock. Lumis fights up, but Gable takes him down. Lumis
throws Gable over the top rope, but he holds on and skins the cat.
Lumis attacks and hits a bulldog. Lumis connects with a back suplex
and kips up before hitting a leg drop for a near fall. Gable knocks
Lumis out of the ring and knocks him into the ring post. Otis goes
to blindside him, but Lumis sends him into the ring post. Gable
attacks Lumis in the ring, but Lumis rolls him up for the victory.
Winner by Pinfall: Dexter Lumis
Video Package: Cody Rhodes’ road to recovery Part 1
Bayley is walking backstage with Damage CTRL. We’ll hear from them
next.
-Commercial Break-
Damage CTRL makes their way to the ring. Bayley wishes “Trashville”
a happy new year. There’s no better way to kick off 2023 than next
to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY.
Bayley wants to address the Irish elephant in the room and says she
beat Becky Lynch. It wasn’t easy, but it was fun doing it on her
own.
Becky Lynch comes out onto the stage. Bayley is talking like she
invented the wheel, but she’s just a hamster on the wheel hiding.
Lynch says Bayley was in someone’s shadow for years, finally got
out, and put herself back in the shadow. The Women’s Tag Team
Champions do all the work, and Bayley takes the glory. It’s only a
matter of time before someone turns. Bayley says Lynch is just mad
she lost. Lynch says she gets even. Since this started in Nashville
at SummerSlam, how about it ends here? Bayley says no. If she has a
problem with Kai and Sky, it should be them versus Lynch with a
partner. Lynch says she doesn’t have her phone, so it’s 2-on-1.
-Commercial Break-
2-on-1 Handicap Match
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai and IYO SKY)
w/ Bayley vs. Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch starts against IYO SKY. Lynch attacks Sky and knocks
Dakota Kai off the apron. Lynch big boots Sky down and hits Kai with
a baseball slide. Lynch knocks Sky back and poses. Lynch knocks Sky
back and hits an enzuigiri for a two-count. Lynch goes for the
Dis-Arm-Her, but Sky rolls her up for a two-count. Sky tags Kai in.
Lynch avoids a big boot. Lynch hip tosses Sky into Kai for a
two-count. Lynch drops an elbow and a leg on Kai. Bayley talks trash
from ringside. Lynch hits a running forearm in the corner before
whipping Kai hard into the opposite turnbuckle. Lynch kicks Sky away
before Kai flattens her with a big boot for a two-count.
Kai and Sky attack Lynch at ringside. Sky is tagged in and gets
Lynch in the ring for a two-count. Kai tags in and applies a camel
clutch while ripping at her mouth. Kai jumps on her for a two-count.
Sky tags in and goes to ringside to throw Lynch into the barricade.
Sky whips Lynch into the ring post and talks some trash before
slapping her in the face. Sky gets Lynch in the ring for a
two-count. Kai tags in and attacks Lynch.
All of a sudden, “Michin” Mia Yim runs down to the ring and gets on
the apron. Lynch tags her in… and apparently, that’s legal despite
this being a 2-on-1 Handicap Match. Yim and Lynch take it to Damage
CTRL. This is stupid.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Kai hit Yim with a scorpion kick.
Sky tags in. Kai boots Yim and Sky dropkicks her for a near fall.
Sky hits a head-scissor takedown into a crossface on Yim. Yim knocks
Sky back, and she hits Kai, who falls off the apron. Yim and Sky
mistime a neckbreaker. Kai is the legal competitor. They do a
horrible hot tag…
Lynch takes it to Kai at ringside, who I guess was supposed to pull
Lynch down or miss it before the hot tag, but she was there too
early. Lynch gets Kai in the ring and tags Yim in. Lynch and Yim hit
a double-team superplex, but Sky breaks up the pin. Sky gets out of
a Manhandle Slam and knocks her back. Yim dropkicks Sky. Kai snaps
Kim off the top rope, but Kim comes back with a head-scissor DDT (or
something). Bayley puts Kai’s foot on the bottom rope. Bayley and
Lynch brawl at ringside. Sky hits Yim with an Over the Moonsault for
the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Damage CTRL
Becky Lynch is irate as Damage CTRL celebrates at ringside.
Seth “Freakin” Rollins is backstage with Cathy Kelley. Rollins says
The Bloodline can try to take over and Austin Theory can think he’s
taking his spot, but Monday nights belong to him. As good as Theory
is and will be, he’s not Seth “Freakin” Rollins.
-Commercial Break-
Jimmie Allen is shown at ringside.
Replays are shown of Alexa Bliss losing her mind after some Bray
Wyatt teases earlier tonight during her Raw Women’s Championship
match. The attack on Bianca Belair left Belair bloodied and in a
medical facility.
Byron Saxton is nearby Alexa Bliss, who is pacing backstage. Bliss
has dry blood on her nose. Bliss says she didn’t lose control. She
gained control of Bianca Belair’s headspace. Now she knows that
Bliss is in control and that Raw Women’s Championship belongs to
her.
A WWE Digital Exclusive shows Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley
showing up at Rey Mysterio’s house on Christmas Eve. It ends with
Dominik being arrested.
Dominik Mysterio is shown backstage. Sadness is not a bad thing to
feel. The cold absence of feeling is what prison was like. Mysterio
says he’s not playing a game. Mysterio served hard time and
survived. Prison changes a man. People may think it’s over for him,
but he’s just getting started. He’ll see Mami soon.
United States Champion Austin Theory makes his way to the ring.
-Commercial Break-
A Bronson Reed video plays.
United States Championship
Austin Theory (c) vs. Seth “Freakin” Rollins
The bell rings, and Rollins quickly shows Theory up by ducking a
lock up and taunting him. Theory hooks a side headlock, but Rollins
whips him off and hits a Sling Blade. Rollins clotheslines him out
of the ring and gets the crowd to sing his song. Rollins hits the
ropes and hits a baseball slide. Rollins gets Theory in the ring,
but Theory immediately rolls out of the ring. Rollins avoids an
attack and hits a knee off the apron. Kevin Patrick mentions that
Theory rose to power with “Mr. McMahon” behind him. Rollins jumps
off the commentary table and knees Theory in the back of the head.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Rollins is taking it to Theory. Rollins gets
him in the ring and hits a springboard knee to the side of the head.
Theory rolls to the apron and snaps Rollins off the top rope. Theory
hits a rolling thunder dropkick for a two-count. Theory punches away
at Rollins. Theory hits a snapmare and stomps him. Theory shouts
that Rollins is the past and bounces him off the top turnbuckle.
Theory says he’s on top and drives Rollins’ face into the
turnbuckle. Theory whips Rollins sternum-first into the corner.
Theory hits a backbreaker for a two-count. Theory cinches in a chin
lock and has Rollins grounded. Rollins fights up and hits a back
suplex. Theory avoids an avalanche in the corner for a one-count.
Theory quickly goes back to the chin lock. Rollins hits a jawbreaker
and boots him back. Theory quickly sends Rollins over the top rope.
Theory follows him out and bounces him off the commentary table.
Theory drives him into the apron and sends him over the commentary
table. Theory takes the United States Championship and says he is
the champion. Rollins will not disrespect him.
-Commercial Break-
We return from the final break of the first Raw of 2023 to see
Rollins picking up steam. Rollins takes Theory down and knocks him
out of the ring. Rollins gets the crowd to sing his theme song and
hits the ropes for a suicide dive. Rollins lands on his feet and
gets Theory in the ring. Rollins goes for a Pedigree, but Theory
fights it. Rollins counters into a roll-up for a two-count. Rollins
knees Theory and hits a backbreaker for a two-count. Rollins goes to
the top rope, but Theory cuts him off. Rollins goes for a Buckle
Bomb to counter, but Theory fights it. Theory elbows him and goes
for a suplex, but Rollins counters into an inside cradle for a
two-count. Rollins goes for a powerbomb, but his knee looks to give
out. Theory tries for one, but Rollins gets out. Theory knocks
Rollins back from the top rope, but Rollins scales the ropes with a
superplex. Theory counters a falcon arrow into an over-the-knee
neckbreaker for a near fall!
Theory goes for A-Town Down, but Rollins gets out. They trade blows
before Rollins hits an enzuigiri. Rollins is clutching his knee on
the mat. Theory and Rollins get to their feet and trade blows.
Theory goes for a Pedigree, but Rollins gets out and hits a rolling
elbow. Rollins teases a neckbreaker before hitting a forearm to the
back of the neck. Rollins sets up for a Stomp, but Theory moves and
gets out of the ring. Theory signals that he is done with the match
and grabs his United States Championship. Rollins limps after him
and throws him over the barricade. Theory gets in the ring and goes
to swing the belt, but Rollins superkicks him. Rollins hits a frog
splash for a near fall!
Rollins gets out of A-Town Down, but Theory pushes him into the
referee. Rollins flips through a back suplex, and his knee gives out
again. Rollins hits a Pedigree and covers. A new referee runs down
and counts, but it’s only a two-count. Rollins sets up for a Stomp,
but Theory avoids it and pushes him toward the new referee. The new
referee blocks himself. Theory low blows Rollins and hits A-Town
Down for the win.
Winner by Pinfall and still United States Champion: Austin Theory