This week’s RAW comes in from the Barclay’s Center, from Brooklyn, New York. As announced, we are informed about Finn Balor’s injury by Michael Cole, and we shift to the ring to Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley.
They invite Finn Balor to the ring and ask him to talk about his injury and the time he would need to take off for surgery. He makes his way down to the ring and announces that he is forced to relinquish the title owing to his injury and hands the title over to Mick Foley. Even before Balor can make his way to the back, Seth Rollins interrupts and says that he is ready to accept the universal title. He is interrupted by Sami Zayn, Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, Enzo and Cass. All of them stake a claim at the universal title. Roman Reigns makes his way out too. Mick Foley says that the new universal title would be decided through a tournament amongst the competitors. Stephanie books Seth Rollins vs Sami Zayn next.
Seth Rollins vs Sami Zayn: As good old J.R. would say, this will be a slobber knocker of a match. The match starts off with Owens serving the distraction to Zayn, but once the bell hits, Rollins is in control for most of the part of the match. Zayn counters with a head scissor takedown. Action moves to ringside, with Zayn hitting a moonsault on Rollins. Back in the ring, Rollins hits the super kick and a knee to the back of the head for a near fall. Rollins tries to take things to the top of the turnbuckle, but Zayn counters with a sunset flip power bomb! Wow! Another near fall! Zayn connects with a t bone suplex, but Rollins counters with a big boot. Sami goes for a suplex, but it appears he hurt his ankle. Rollins hits the pedigree for the win!! What a way to start off RAW!!
Kevin Owens vs Neville: This match is on the lines of the previous match! Expect another great match! Neville hits a 450 splash initially. Neville hits the suicide dive on Owens. Jericho tries distracting Neville, allowing Owens to hit a clothesline. Neville follows up with a german suplex and moonsault. Owens hits the super kick and tries for the pop up power bomb in vain. Jericho again distracts Neville and pays for it. Owens grabs Neville and grabs him in the torture rack and turns into a neck breaker for the win.
We are informed that next week’s RAW would have a fatal four way for the universal title, with two of the competitors being Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens and two others to be decided later in the night.
The New Day are out and cut a promo about how they have held the tag titles for a year now. As expected Anderson and Gallows interrupt and cut a heel promo, calling both the New Day and Brooklyn stupid (ouch!). They say the New Day cheated at Summerslam and that they want a rematch. Anderson vs Big E is up next.
Big E vs Karl Anderson: Big E is on the offence initially and drops Anderson with a belly to belly suplex. Gallows distracts Big E, allowing Anderson to connect with a drop kick and work on Big E’s knee. Big E reverses a suplex and throws Anderson on the outside, but Gallows hits Big E behind the ref’s back. Big E catches Anderson with the big ending for the win.
Big Cass vs Rusev: I’m surprised that they have Rusev in action after the beat down he received at the hands of Roman Reigns last night at Summerslam. Cass throws Rusev on the outside initially and Rusev seems to be injured on the ribs from last night’s offence. This happens twice in a row. Rusev counters with a kick and drops him. Cass hits a big splash on Rusev in the corner and right hands to the injured ribs. Rusev tries to move to the outside but gets thrown into the steel steps. Rusev walks out holding his ribs and gets counted out. Winner by count out: Cass
Owens and Jericho are arguing backstage about who would win the Universal Championship.
Charlotte is out next and gloats about her victory over Sasha. Foley is out and says that Sasha will get a rematch once she returns from injury. In the meantime, Foley says he has signed the hottest free agent, Bayley, who will get a shot at Charlotte too, but first she has to go through Dana Brooke.
Dana Brooke vs Bayley: I expect Bayley to go over in the match, back and forth action initially. Charlotte distracts Bayley, leading to Dana kicking Bayley to the floor. Once action goes back to the ring, Dana is on the offence. Bayley comes back with a splash in the corner and a spinning elbow!! Bailey hits the belly to belly suplex for the win.
Braun Strowman defeated another local wrestler in a squash match.
The Dudley Boyz are out and as advertised, they seem to be here for an announcement. They shake the hands of the announcers, and Bubba says he’s emotional tonight and talks about their historic return to the WWE. D-Von talks about the 20 year career they have had. Bubbas says the crowd should stand up and give themselves a round of applause and that they are ending things on their terms. We are interrupted by the Shining stars who call the Dudleyz washed up. They give Dudleyz tickets to Puerto Rico to check out retirement homes. Dudleyz hit the 3D on Epico and Wassup on Primo. D-Von gets the tables, and 3-D primo through the table. Suddenly, Gallows and Anderson hit the ring and attack the Dudleyz. They hit the Magic killer on Bubba on the floor and on D-Von through the table in the ring. Looks like the Dudleyz are back as faces!! This would be one epic rivalry!!
Roman Reigns vs Chris Jericho: Expect Reigns to come out on top for this one! Jericho is putting Reigns over like a million bucks! Both superstars hit all the moves they have in their repertoire. During the end moments, Reigns avoids a code breaker and turns into a power bomb. Owens is out for distraction, returning the favor for Jericho allowing Jericho to go for a roll up for a 2 count. Superman punch by Reigns. An excellent counter of the spear into the walls of Jericho. Owens distracts again, allowing Jericho to hit the codebreaker for a two count. Jericho slaps Reigns. Reigns gets in control, knocks out Owens and hits the spear for the win.
Its official, next week it’s a fatal four way between Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Big Cass and Kevin Owens for the Universal title.
- Updated card for the WWE Royal Rumble pay per view - January 28, 2017
- WWE SmackDown Results – 01/24/2017 - January 26, 2017
- WWE RAW Results – 01/23/2017 - January 24, 2017
