With the announcement that the Royal Rumble will be for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and Brock Lesnar has returned, how will this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw shape the Royal Rumble?
Opening Promo
The show starts with Vince and Stephanie McMahon speculating who could be the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. All the potential Superstars (excluding Brock Lesnar) are in the arena. Roman Reigns will be in the first ever “1 vs All” match, where he will face essentially everyone who won’t compete the rest of the night. He could even face Dean Ambrose… Nope! Ambroe is attacked by Sheamus from behind, and becomes the first match of the night.
Sheamus vs. Dean Ambrose
Sheamus and Dean Ambrose beat the hell out of each other, and Sheamus gets busted wide open. The action is outside the ring, Dean Ambrose is in control and, just like the past few weeks, Kevin Owens interferes and attacks Ambrose. Owens would have powerbombed Ambrose, but officials got there in time to stop it. Winner (via disqualification): Dean Ambrose
Backstage Segment
We go check on Dean Ambrose after the beatdown from Kevin Owens, and he furiously bursts out of the locker room, and he’s looking to get back at Owens.
We change gears to Vince McMahon and Stephanie McMahon who run into Paul Heyman who mentions that Brock Lesnar doesn’t want to be in the Royal Rumble. Heyman and both McMahons go into Vince’s “office” to negotiate the situation.
Stardust vs. Titus O’Neil
Stardust enters wearing “Ziggy Stardust” facepaint, a tribute to the late David Bowie. This is a rematch from last week, and I wouldn’t mind seeing it again, but there has been no story behind why these two are feuding anymore. Stardust misses an attack from the top turnbuckle, and Titus O’Neil hits the Clash of the Titus for the victory. Winner: Titus O’Neil
After the match, Titus goes around the ring to celebrate with the fans, when Stardust takes his frustration out on him, throwing him into the barricade.
Talk is Jericho feat. New Day
The promo is gold as expected between Jericho and the New Day, and it’s interrupted by a surprisingly entertaining Usos. This ends up leading to a match: New Day vs. The Usos with Chris Jericho in their corner.
The Usos (w/Chris Jericho) vs. The New Day
The Usos would benefit greatly from a win in this match, since they would become the Number 1 contenders for the Tag Team titles. After some great action, as usual from the teams, Jericho breaks Xavier Woods’s trombone, distracting Kofi Kingston. This leads to a roll-up victory for the Usos, who are next in line for a WWE World Tag Team Championship shot. Winners: The Usos
The Wyatt Family vs. The Social Outcasts
“Get your penicillin, because we’re going viral!” I was genuinely interested in this match, and now Ryback has to come in and attack the Wyatts. The Social Outcasts join in, and that’s the end of the segment. Winners (via DQ): The Wyatt Family
Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio – United States Championship
This is probably the only US Title match where chanting “USA” doesn’t make any sense. It also seems like WWE is definitely building Kalisto up to be the “next Rey Mysterio”. Not with the Salida Del Sol, but with a roll-up pin, Kalisto puts Del Rio away! Winner, and NEW United States Champion: Kalisto
Brie Bella vs. Charlotte
Ric Flair’s daughter takes on Brie Bella, the jobber of the Divas division. A wild Becky Lynch appears! She attacks Charlotte mid-entrance: “I’m taking your championship, I’m taking your arm!” Ric announces that since Becky attacked Charlotte, she won’t be wrestling tonight. That’s the entire Divas portion of the three hour show. #DivasRevolution…
Kalisto will defend his US Title against Del Rio on Smackdown!
Roman Reigns vs. …well pretty much everybody – 1 vs. All Match
Roman must compete against everyone involved until “he can no longer move”. First up is Kevin Owens. Other Superstars in the lineup are The Ascension, the New Day, Tyler Breeze, Stardust, Sheamus, The Wyatt Family, and Alberto Del Rio. I’m glad they showed what happened during commercial, because Kevin Owens did a frog splash onto Roman Reigns from the apron to the floor, which was incredible. Roman Reigns starts attacking everybody when Brock Lesnar’s music hits. Lesnar proceeds to murder everyone in the ring, and leaves Monday Night Raw as the only wrestler standing.
