Last night, Monday Night Raw hosted Roadblock: End of the Line, which was the last Pay-Per-View of 2016. With the Road to WrestleMania right around the corner, we look towards the Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View, which could be the biggest Royal Rumble match in recent history. With several weeks before the big event, this is the beginning of some huge storylines.
Opening Segment
Mick Foley announces that Kevin Owens will defend the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns again at the Royal Rumble, with Chris Jericho suspended over the ring in a shark cage. Later tonight, Reigns and Seth Rollins will face Jericho and Owens in a tag team match.
Big Cass (w/Enzo Amore) vs. Rusev (w/Lana)
On the Kickoff Show of Roadblock: End of the Line, Rusev managed to get a count-out victory over Big Cass. Since it was a “cowardly” win, they’re having a rematch tonight.
Cass starts beating Rusev down in the corner and ignores the referee’s five count to get disqualified. Winner (via disqualification): Rusev
In-ring Segment
Sasha Banks lost the Raw Women’s Championship to Charlotte in overtime of an Iron Man Match last night, and she calls Charlotte out to congratulate the champion. Instead, Nia Jax enters the ring. Jax kicks out the crutch next to Banks’ injured leg, and tosses her across the ring to make a statement.
Cedric Alexander (w/Alicia Fox) vs. Noam Dar
A couple weeks ago on 205 Live, Noam Dar picked up a win over Cedric Alexander. After the match, Dar would dedicate his victory to Alexander’s girlfriend, Alicia Fox.
Tonight, Alexander almost completely squashed Noam Dar in a decisive victory. Dar says now that they’ve traded wins, they should be even. However, Dar wants Alicia Fox. Winner: Cedric Alexander
Kofi Kingston, Big E, Cesaro, & Sheamus vs. The Shining Stars, Luke Gallows, & Karl Anderson
Before this match was made, a brawl ensued when Cesaro ripped up brochures for the Shining Stars Resort in Puerto Rico. To organize the chaos, the face teams (including Sheamus) face the heel teams (a la Teddy Long).
After the Cesaro Swing, Cesaro would lock in the Sharpshooter on Epico to pick up a swift victory. Winners (via submission): Kofi Kingston, Big E, Cesaro, & Sheamus
In-ring Segment
Neville, who attacked Rich Swann and TJ Perkins last night, says that he is going to obliterate the entire Cruiserweight Division. Rich Swann interrupts and tells him that no matter what, he is the best Cruiserweight since he holds the Cruiserweight Championship. Brian Kendrick comes out to defend Neville and tell Swann to show some respect. They beat down Swann, and TJ Perkins tries to come out and help but inevitably fails.
Sin Cara vs. Titus O’Neil
As soon as the match starts, Braun Strowman interferes. Strowman powerslams Titus O’Neil outside the ring, then send Sin Cara flying through a Christmas tree and some tables. Result: No Contest
In-ring Segment
Charlotte takes her turn at gloating her victory last night, when she became a 4-time Raw Women’s Champion in an 8-month span. After she says no one is on her level, Bayley interrupts to say otherwise. Bayley has two wins over Charlotte, and after Charlotte attacking her way back at Survivor Series, Bayley is ready to start her rivalry with the champion. The Hugger challenges the Queen to a match, and the challenge is surprisingly accepted.
Bayley vs. Charlotte
If Bayley can prove herself against the Raw Women’s Champion tonight, she can immediately put herself in the title picture, since Sasha Banks is feuding with Nia Jax. Since Bayley has two wins already over the champ, it is entirely possible for her to have a third.
The two go back and forth for the entire match, and a backslide (which Charlotte kicks out of but the referee doesn’t see) puts Bayley up 3-0. Winner (via referee blindness): Bayley
Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins
These four Superstars have been involved in each other’s business for quite some time, and this is only a stepping stone in their feuds. These two teams competed in a triple threat match against The New Day last week, and failed to end their title reign before Cesaro and Sheamus did last night. Now all men are focused on the WWE Universal Championship (because Roman Reigns doesn’t care about his own dang United States Championship) and the Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View.
Braun Strowman is still angry from not being able to face Sami Zayn, and interrupts the match to attack anyone in his sight. Anyone in this case happens to mean Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Result: No Contest
