1/15 WWE RAW Results – We start off with the video tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.
We see Seth Rollins arriving at the building with his daughter. We also see Jinder Mahal arriving at the building.
We are live from the Simmons Bank Arena in Little Rock, AR as Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.
In the Arena:
Cody asks the people of Little Rock what do they want to talk about. Cody says there is a song about Little Rock that his wife really likes. They can talk about that song. They can talk about him beating Shinsuke Nakamura. They can talk about the reason why he is in the ring and why he came back to WWE. He says the Royal Rumble is right around the corner. Cody says he doesn’t plan on…
Drew McIntyre interrupts (despite not having his name mentioned, so he is violating Kevin Owens’ rules).
Drew asks Cody what does he want to talk about. He says they haven’t had a chance to catch up. They grew up in WWE together. They are the same age and have had a similar career path. Drew says he wants to tell Cody he is proud of him and who he has become. They were tag team champions when they were 23 or 24. They mention that they were The Dashing Ones. They didn’t get that far because they didn’t view things the right way. They felt that they were singles wrestlers.
Drew says they redefined what it meant to be a wrestler outside of WWE. They became verbs. WWE called you back.
Drew asks Cody about his last match before he returned to WWE. It was against Cody. Cody told him he was going to be a future world champion and Drew says he did it twice. Drew says it doesn’t matter who comes back, you keep doing what you are doing and you will be the first member of your family to raise that title. You will finish the story, but not before Drew finishes his.
Cody says they have both declared for the Royal Rumble. You could win. Jey Uso could win. A man who is very hungry and wants to solidify his legacy, CM Punk could win. Cody says he doesn’t plan on that happening. They have both won the Royal Rumble and you can’t count anyone out.
Drew says it is about the two of them. Drew says he will give Cody some advice. He tells Cody to be himself. He doesn’t have to wear a suit because he isn’t running for office. Don’t smile all the time. Drew says he did it and says that he had to be the beacon of light for the roster. He tells Cody to be the Real Cody and if they have a problem, you can drop them on their arse.
Cody says since they are talking about stepping up, Cody walks up to Drew and says this isn’t an act. He smiles because this is what he loves. He has made these opportunities for himself. Cody says he is thankful and grateful. He says he relishes his second chance while Drew complains about his.
Drew asks if this is the real Cody or is he a wolf in politician’s clothing. Why did you bring back Jey? Why are you okay with CM Punk coming back. He does not like that Cody is a kiss arse. If Priest didn’t try to cash in when he did, he would be champion. You don’t want to step in his way because Punk found out last week. Drew says he is the business and the story at Wrestlemania is about him.
Cody says it is all about if with you. You want him to live the same life. Cody says when he wonders or speculates about finishing the story. He looks two places. Inside himself and in the crowd. If you want to finish this at the Rumble, he will give Drew something else to complain about. Cody asks Drew if he remembers who won their last match. Cody drops the mic and leaves.
Backstage:
R Truth is in the back and Damian Priest wants to know what is wrong with Truth. He says he likes Truth but he heard that Truth is selling THE Judgment Day merchandise in the parking lot. He tells Truth he needs to be serious. Truth gives Priest his cut and everyone will get theirs. Truth says he has shirts for Tom and Nick Mysterio. Priest tells Truth to keep selling the merch but be quiet about it. He tells Truth not to tag in during his tag match tonight.
We go to commercial.
DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) vs. JD McDonagh & Dominik Mysterio
Gargano and JD start things off. They lock up and JD with a wrist lock. Johnny with a drop toe hold and JD gets to the ropes to force a break. JD with a rolling ankle pick into a front face lock. Johnny with a reversal and JD tries to roll through but Johnny holds on and gets a near fall. JD with a wrist lock and leg trip. JD with an arm bar. JD with a kick and Irish whip but Johnny floats over and Johnny with a head scissors take down. JD rolls to the floor. Dom pulls the ropes open and Johnny goes to the floor. Ciampa knocks Dom off the apron with a forearm. Ciampa with a pescado. JD misses a baseball slide and Johnny with a suicide dive to send JD over the announce table.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ciampa with a clothesline and they bump heads and go down. Ciampa and JD exchange punches. Johnny tags in and Ciampa with a chop. Johnny with a forearm and Ciampa with a running clothesline. Johnny with a chop and Gargano with a back elbow. Dom hits Johnny from behind when the referee checks on JD. JD with a forearm and Dom tags in and punches Johnny. Dom kicks Johnny. JD tags back in and he kicks Johnny. Dom tags in and Johnny with a kick and rollup into a round kick. Ciampa tags in but JD distracts the referee and the referee disallows the tag. JD and Dom double team Johnny. JD tags in and JD goes through the ropes. Johnny with a slingshot spear to Dom. Johnny crawls to the corner but JD pulls Ciampa off the apron.
Dom with a drop kick for a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ciampa with clotheslines to Dom and JD as he goes back and forth. Ciampa with a flying double clothesline to finish the sequence. Ciampa with a back body drop to JD followed by a reverse DDT for a near fall. Ciampa sets for Fairy Tale Ending but JD gets to his feet and Dom tags in. JD trips Ciampa and Dom with a slingshot senton. JD and Dom go for a double suplex but Johnny with a spear to JD and Ciampa gets a near fall. Johnny with a spear when Ciampa hits a suplex and Johnny gets a near fall. Ciampa and JD exchange punches. JD with a head butt. Johnny super kicks JD and Dom super kicks Johnny. Johnny bounces off the ropes with a clothesline and everyone is down.
JD and Ciampa tag in and JD with Spanish Fly and he goes up top for a moonsault for a near fall. Dom punches Johnny and Johnny punches back. Dom drop kicks Johnny into the ropes and Johnny blocks the 619. CIampa with a knee to send Dom to the floor. JD with a rollup for a near fall. Ciampa counters Devil Inside with a DDT. Johnny tags in and they hit the super kick and running knee for the three count.
Winners: DIY
Backstage:
We see Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae talking to Adam Pearce. They are interrupted by Chelsea Green. She says she pinned Kayden Carter last week but the referee did not do his job. They demand a rematch. Adam says they had a rematch already. Since Indi and Candice want a match, they can face each other tonight. They accept the match.
– We have a video package for Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae.
Back to commercial.
Chelsea Green and Piper Niven vs. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae
Green kicks Candice to the floor and Piper with forearms to Indi. Piper with a shoulder breaker to Indi. Piper knocks Candice off the apron to the floor. Piper with a cobra clutch and she tags in Green. Green with an elbow and Piper with a clothesline. Green gets a near fall. Green with forearms to the back. Indi sends Green to the apron and Indi with an uppercut and boot to the head. Green misses a kick from the apron and Indi trips Green and kicks her in the head. Green tags in Piper. Piper blocks a kick and connects with a head butt. Piper sends Indi into the turnbuckles sternum first. Piper misses a Vader Bomb when Indi moves.
We see Kayden and Katana watch MONITOR in LOCKER ROOM.
Candice tags in and hits an enzuigiri and step up back senton. Candice with a codebreaker to Green. Indi tags in and Indi drops Candice onto Piper but Green breaks up the cover. Green with a kick to Candice but Indi with a spinebuster to Green. Piper with a slam to Indi and she misses a cross body but Green tags in. Indi with a drop kick to send Piper to the floor. Candice tags in and Indi escapes an UnprettiHER. Indi holds Green for a quebrada and Candice gets the three count.
Winners: Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae
– Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser walk in the back as we go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and we go to THE Judgment Day Clubhouse and they wonder who Nia was talking about in her video package. Rhea says she has some business to deal with. Priest shows up and he says he is dealing with Drew and has talked to Adam Pearce about it. Priest and JD have words about Truth and Priest shows his cut of the R Truth merchandise. Priest says since JD’s name isn’t on the shirt, he doesn’t get a cut
In the Arena:
It is time for Ludwig Kaiser to hype the return of Gunther with his special introduction.
Gunther says they are two weeks away from the Royal Rumble and he can feel the desperation in this place and he can smell it. He says he can smell other stuff being in Arkansas. When he was away, he saw his fellow superstars argue about who is going to win the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania. Gunther says last year he entered the Royal Rumble at number one and made it to the end. He says he was one elimination away from winning.
Gunther says he lasted longer than any other man in the history of the Royal Rumble. This year, he will win the Royal Rumble and main event Wrestlemania.
Gunther says it is time to focus on Kaiser.
We see footage of what happened last week with Kaiser and Kofi.
Gunther says what he saw there, he loved to see that. You showed a side of himself that Gunther wanted to see. He tells Kaiser well done and he wants a hug.
They hug.
They are interrupted by Xaiver Woods.
He tells Ludwig they have a problem. Last week, you took it ten steps too far when you drop kicked Kofi’s head into those steps. Kofi says Kaiser is the reason why Kofi is not here tonight. Woods says that he is here and he will extract his pound of flesh from him. Woods says they will have a match tonight. You can step up and accept the challenge or do you have to ask your daddy for permission?
Kaiser is handed the mic by Gunther and Gunther leaves the ring.
Kaiser asks if Woods dares to challenge him after what he did to Kofi last week. Kaiser says what he did to Kofi last week is nothing compared to what he will do to Woods tonight. He says he will take his head and he accepts.
Woods with a shoulder and a back drop to the floor. Woods with a clothesline off the apron and he punches Kaiser.
We go to commercial.
Xavier Woods vs. Ludwig Kaiser
The match is joined in progress and Woods with chops and forearms. Woods with punches in the corner. Kaiser with a kick to the knee and a clothesline. Kaiser punches Woods. Woods with punches but Kaiser sends Woods into the turnbuckles. Kaiser with a chop and kicks. Woods with punches and a chop. Kaiser chops back and then they continue the exchange. Kaiser kicks and punches Woods in the corner. Kaiser chokes Woods in the corner and connects with forearms. Woods with punches and a cross body for a near fall. Kaiser with a running European uppercut for a near fall. Kaiser with punches and kicks to Woods. Woods slaps Kaiser and connects with a forearm in the corner. Woods with punches on the turnbuckles but Kaiser gets free and hits Woods in the back of the leg.
Kaiser chokes Woods. Kaiser chokes Woods in the ropes and kicks the ropes. Kaiser with a running kick to the chest for a near fall. Woods with a head butt to the midsection and chops. Kaiser with a kick but Woods with a flying forearm. Woods with chops and an Irish whip. Woods is sent to the apron and Woods kicks Kaiser and goes for a springboard move but Kaiser with a punch and clothesline. Kaiser sends Woods shoulder first into the ring post and Kaiser follows with a drop kick.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Woods drops Kaiser on the top rope and Woods with a kick. Woods with a springboard tornado DDT. Woods and Kaiser exchange chops until Woods takes control. Woods with punches and kicks. Woods clotheslines Kaiser over the top rope and hits a drop kick through the ropes that sends Kaiser over the announce table. Woods avoids being hit by the chair and Woods with punches. Kaiser with a fishhook. Woods with a super kick. Woods throws the chair onto Kaiser and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Ludwig Kaiser (by disqualification)
After the match, Woods gets a steel chair but Kaiser with a flying boot into the chair and it hits Woods in the head.
Kaiser puts Woods’ head on the ring steps and Kaiser with half a lap and Woods with a double stomp to Kaiser. Woods picks up the ring steps and he throws them at Kaiser but misses and hits the ring post. The referee keeps Woods from chasing Kaiser into the crowd.
– Bronson Reed is in the back and he says there is a man right now who holds a championship who doesn’t realize that sooner, rather than later, it will belong to him.
We go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Byron Saxton asks Xavier Woods where his emotions are. Woods says we saw what Kaiser did to Kofi last week. Kaiser attacks Woods and Jey Uso shows up to stop Kaiser. Kaiser is escorted away and Jey checks on Woods.
– We take a look at how we got Seth Rollins versus Jinder Mahal tonight.
Back to commercial.
Akira Tozawa vs. Ivar
Ivar with a clothesline. Ivar pie faces Tozawa in the corner. Tozawa slaps Ivar followed by a back heel kick and a few spinning heel kicks to stagger Ivar. Ivar blocks an Irish whip. Tozawa counters a pop up move with a DDT. The shirt rips off and Ivar with a spinning power slam and cross body. Ivar goes to the turnbuckles and Maxxine climbs the turnbuckles and distracts Ivar with her feminine wiles. Tozawa with a kick and a sunset flip power bomb for the three count.
Winner: Akira Tozawa
After the match, Valhalla attacks Tozawa and Maxxine. Ivar with a spin kick of doom. Valahlla with a fishhook and pop up head butt to Maxxine. Ivar with a moonsault.
– We take a look back at what happened between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes at the start of the show.
– We see CM Punk challenge Cody to a face to face confrontation next week on Raw.
– Rhea Ripley walks in the back as we go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back with the Alpha Academy and Creeds. Ivy Nile shows up and says she will talk to Adam Pearce about Valhalla. Chad says what Ivar did was a sign of a coward. Chad says he will show Ivar what the difference is between an animal and an Alpha.
In the Arena:
Rhea Ripley makes her way to the ring.
Rhea says she is so sick and tired of people like Nia Jax running their mouth and claiming this is their division. Rhea says this is her division and this is her championship. Take this as a warning to whoever wins the Royal Rumble match. If you want to waste your Wrestlemania . . . she advises her to choose her. If you don’t want to waste that chance, choose someone else.
Becky Lynch interrupts.
Becky Lynch interrupts and makes her way to the ring.
Becky says here we stand. Two very different people with similar journeys. Women from foreign lands who dreamed about being the best. Spending time meandering. From being afterthoughts at Wrestlemania one year to the head of the industry the next. One went on to win the main event. The other did not. There is another difference. One has a natural ability in the ring and the other has a heart of a lion. A relentlessness that cannot be matched. The two best who do it. There is this thing that keeps her awake and it says to her.
I think you might be better than me.
Becky says she needs to prove that Rhea is not. To do that, she needs to take that title from Rhea. To do that, she needs to win the Royal Rumble. She needs to point to the sign. She needs to declare that at Wrestlemania, it will be Mami versus The Man.
Rhea tells Becky there is only one other person who wants Becky to win the Royal Rumble more than herself, and that is her. She says she will see Becky at Wrestlemania.
Backstage:
Jackie Redmond is in the back with Seth Rollins. Seth cackles and he says it is freezing cold but he welcomes everyone to Raw. Seth cackles some more. Jackie asks Seth about being champion into Wrestlemania, but why ask for the match against Jinder tonight.
Seth says he has been champion for more than 200 days and every defense, he gets stronger and better. The only way he can take this title into Wrestlemania is to continue to being a fighting and workhorse champion. Seth says this ain’t his first dance with Jinder Mahal, but this isn’t the same Jinder Mahal he beat to become the first NXT Champion. Jinder is a former World Champion. This is a deserving Jinder Mahal. Seth says he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Seth cackles and leaves as we go to commercial.
R-Truth & The Miz vs. Damian Priest & Finn Balor.
Truth drops his merch money before the bell rings and he gives it to Finn. Truth gives Dom his share and hugs him. JD wants his share and Truth says JD isn’t in the group.
Truth and Finn start things off and Finn with a clothesline. Finn sends Truth into the turnbuckles but misses forearms. Truth with a split and punch and he apologizes to Finn. Finn with a double leg take down and kicks to Truth. Truth rolls to the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Finn with a reverse chin lock on Truth. Truth with punches but Balor with a knee. Priest tags in. Truth with a jaw breaker and Finn stops Truth from making the tag. Truth wtih an enzuigiri to Finn. Truth crawls to Miz and he makes the tag. Miz with clotheslines to Finn and he clotheslines Priest over the top rope to the floor. Miz sends Finn to the apron and he slides through and sends Finn to the floor. Miz sends Priest over the announce table. Dom distracts Miz but Miz avoids a shoulder and hits a codebreaker in the ropes for a near fall. Miz sets for the Skull Crushing Finale but Finn escapes. Miz with an Awexome Clothesline. Truth tags in and hits a scissors kick on Finn. Dom gets on the apron and Miz knocks him off. Truth knocks JD off the apron. Priest kicks Miz. Priest wants to know why is Truth going to punch him. Finn with a rollup but Truth with a jumping leg lariat.
Priest gives Truth South of Heaven while the referee was distracted. Finn gets the three count.
Winners: Damian Priest and Finn Balor
Backstage:
Jinder Mahal is in the back and he is meditating. Jackie asks him for some thoughts on the match. Jinder says he has absolute clarity. A seven year drought but the whispers are pulling him in. HIs vision is singular. Twelve years for one moment. Tonight, everyone will be unified when he beats Seth Rollins to become World Champion.
We go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Shinsuke Nakamura says last week he could nto cause the damage he desired and that made him angry. Nakamura says that has left him hungry. Cody, you should keep an eye open because their story does not end until he says so. Until then, he turns his hunger towards the Royal Rumble. A hungry Shinsuke is a dangerous Shinsuke. Twenty nine other men all hoping to make it to the top. He will feast on their dreams.
Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark vs. Tegan Nox and Natalya
Tegan misses a knee and Zoey with a thrust kick. Zoey puts Tegan in the turnbuckles and she kicks Tegan. Shayna tags in and she hits a stomp to the chest for a near fall.
Kayden and Katana still remain in LOCKER ROOM watching MONITOR.
Shayna with a kick to the midsection and she chokes Tegan in the ropes. Shayna with punches and Zoey tags in. Zoey kicks Tegan in the corner. Shayna tags in and connects with punches and forearms. Zoey tags in and chops Tegan. Zoey with another chop but Tegan fights back with chops of her own. Zoey with a knee and she sends Tegan into the turnbuckles. Tegan with forearms and punches to Shayna and Zoey. Shayna with a jumping knee for a near fall. Shayna knocks Nattie off the apron. Shayna puts Tegan on the turnbuckles and sets for a superplex. Tegan sends Shayna to the mat and hits a cross body followed by a running European uppercut. Nattie makes the tag.
Nattie with punches to Zoey followed by a suplex. Nattie with punches in the corner. Nattie with a slingshot atomic drop. Natalya runs over Zoey and hits a drop kick. Nattie with a German suplex but she misses a discus clothesline. Zoey goes for Z360 but Nattie blocks it and goes for a Sharpshooter. Zoey kicks Nattie away and Shayna makes the tag but goes to the floor. Tegan tags in and they send Zoey to the floor. Nattie with a discus clothesline and a running kick by Tegan for a near fall. Nattie tags in and Zoey trips Tegan and pulls her to the floor. Zoey with a super kick. Nattie uses the ropes to lean back on a Kirifuta Clutch and get a near fall. Shayna holds on to the Kirifuta Clutch and Nattie taps out.
Winners: Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark
– Next week, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes have a face to face. Ivy Nile faces Valhalla. Chad Gable faces Ivar. Damian Priest faces Drew McIntyre.
World Heavyweight Championship Match
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Jinder Mahal
Sanga gets on the apron and Jinder attacks Seth from behind thanks to the distraction. Jinder with a slam. Seth blocks Khallas and Seth misses Black Out. Jinder sends Seth over the top rope to the floor. Jinder with a boot to the back of the head. Seth with chops to Jinder but Jinder with a chop. Seth avoids being sent into the ring post and Seth sends Jinder into the post. Seth with a running Harley Race knee to Jinder off the apron. Seth tells Sanga and Veer to try something.
Damian Priest makes his way towards the ring with the briefcase, but no referee.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Jinder with an abdominal stretch. Jinder with knee drops to Seth. Jinder returns to the abdominal stretch. Seth goes for a clothesline but Jinder blocks it. Seth with forearms and Jinder fires back. They continue to exchange forearms. Seth with a rolling elbow and a discus clothesline. Seth is sent to the apron and Seth with a forearm and he goes up top and hits a cross body for a near fall. Seth with a super kick and he goes to the apron in front of Sanga and Veer. Seth with a springboard senton and a quebrada for a near fall. Seth goes for a suplex but Jinder blocks it.
Jinder goes for a suplex and Seth blocks it and hits a Falcon Arrow. Seth with a super kick and he sets for a Pedigree and hits it but Seth reinjured his knee. Jinder has his foot placed on the ropes by Veer to stop the count. Seth goes up top and hits a cross body onto Veer. Seth goes up top again and misses a frog splash. Priest stands up and he has visions of cashing in running through his head.
Drew McIntyre shows up so that changes things up. Damian with a forearm and they go back and forth. Drew sends Priest into the ringside barrier. Priest sends Drew into the ring post.
While the referee was focused on two people not in the match, Jinder with a low blow to Seth. Jinder with a double knee gutbuster for a near fall. Jinder with punches. Veer gets on the apron and Sanga gives Jinder a chair. Seth punches Jinder and the referee takes the chair. Veer hits Seth with the briefcase. Jinder with Khallas for a near fall. Veer and Sanga get on the apron and the referee sends them to the back. Seth with a snap mare when Jinder goes for Khallas. Seth with Black Out for the three count.
Winner: Seth Rollins (retains championship)
We go to credits.
–– Here’s what’s in store for tonight’s show ––
- Cody Rhodes kicks off the show.
- World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) defends against Jinder Mahal.
- The return of Gunther.
- Tag Team Match: R-Truth & The Miz vs. Damian Priest & Finn Balor.
- #DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) takes on JD McDonagh & Dominik Mysterio.
Stay tuned to WrestlingAttitude, WA.Com On Twitter and Google News for more.
1/15 WWE RAW Results
