Tonight is the last episode of Monday Night Raw before the Road to WrestleMania kicks off with the Royal Rumble. There could be more entrants announced, Roman Reigns cashes in his United States Championship rematch, and Goldberg will be here.
Opening Segment
Roman Reigns kicks off the show, talking about his Universal Championship match against Kevin Owens at the Royal Rumble on Sunday. Owens and Chris Jericho immediately interrupt the Big Dog, and after a war of words, Reigns wants his United States Championship rematch. Jericho clearly doesn’t want to defend his belt, but Owens accepts the challenge on Y2J’s behalf.
Cesaro (w/Sheamus) vs. Luke Gallows (w/Karl Anderson)
Last week, Sheamus and Cesaro successfully retained the Raw Tag Team Championships against Gallows and Anderson, but only because Sheamus inadvertently hit the referee, causing a disqualification. Since Gallows and Anderson won the match, they get another championship opportunity on the Royal Rumble Kickoff Show. Because of the end of the last championship match, there will be two referees around for the next one.
Cesaro has Luke Gallows tapping out from the Sharpshooter, but Karl Anderson distracts the referee (something he can’t do at the Rumble). Gallows takes advantage, hitting Cesaro with a spin-out flapjack to put the tag champ away. Winner (via shenanigans): Luke Gallows
Seth Rollins vs. Sami Zayn – Royal Rumble Qualifying Match
Seth Rollins is already an entrant in the Royal Rumble match. However, if Sami Zayn defeats him tonight, Rollins will have to give his spot to Zayn. If it were up to Mick Foley, Zayn would get one of the several open spots still left.
Seth Rollins hits a Pedigree on Zayn onto the ring apron, but Triple H’s music hits so Rollins never makes the cover. Triple H never comes out, and when Rollins turns around, Zayn rolls him up and takes his Royal Rumble spot. Winner: Sami Zayn
Ariya Daivari, Tony Nese, & Drew Gulak vs. Mustafa Ali, TJ Perkins, & Jack Gallagher
Jack Gallagher and Ariya Daivari finished up their rivalry when Gallagher won the first-ever “I Forfeit” match last week on 205 Live. Everyone else in this match has competed regularly on both 205 Live and Raw, but tonight is the Raw debut of Mustafa Ali. Ali debuted on regular WWE television just a few weeks ago, but he has been impressing with his agility and high flying ability.
TJ Perkins and Jack Gallagher knock Ariya Daivari and Tony Nese out of the ring, giving Mustafa Ali the opportunity to hit Drew Gulak with the Inverted 450 Splash. Winners: Mustafa Ali, TJ Perkins, & Jack Gallagher
In-ring Segment
The New Day are about to talk about the Royal Rumble match, when they are interrupted by Enzo and Cass, Rusev, Jinder Mahal, and Titus O’Neil. Rusev, Big Cass, and Titus O’Neil announce they will be in the Rumble match, and O’Neil announces that there is going to be an 8-man tag team match: The New Day, Enzo, and Cass facing Titus O’Neil, Rusev, Jinder Mahal… and Braun Strowman.
The New Day, Enzo Amore, & Big Cass vs. Titus O’Neil, Rusev, Jinder Mahal, & Braun Strowman (w/Lana)
Almost everyone in this match is going to be in the Rumble match on Sunday, so it’ll give us a sneak peek of what’s to come.
New Day, Rusev, Big Cass, and Titus O’Neil are all laid out outside the ring, when Braun Strowman tags himself in and destroys Enzo Amore. One running powerslam to Muscles Marinara and Strowman gets the pin. Winners: Titus O’Neil, Rusev, Jinder Mahal, & Braun Strowman
After the match, Big Show (who announced his Rumble entrance earlier today), makes a surprise appearance and walks down to the ring. Show approaches Strowman, but the “mountain of a man” retreats and wants that fight on his time.
Chris Jericho (w/Kevin Owens) vs. Roman Reigns – United States Championship
A couple weeks ago, Chris Jericho (alongside Kevin Owens in a handicap match) pinned Roman Reigns to win the United States Championship. Tonight, Reigns cashes in his rematch clause in hopes to become a dual champion if he also wins the Universal Championship from Kevin Owens. Hopefully after the Rumble, we won’t get Reigns vs. Jericho for a while.
Chris Jericho gets hit by a Superman Punch, and Kevin Owens rushes the ring and attacks Roman Reigns. Jericho doesn’t seem to mind since he’ll still be US Champ, and JeriKO look to put Reigns in the shark cage. However, Reigns escapes and locks Owens in the cage instead. Winner (via disqualification): Roman Reigns
Nia Jax vs… Somebody
Jax squashed someone in about 30 seconds, and that’s about it. Winner: Nia Jax
After the match, Jax says she killed the career of Sasha Banks, then Banks makes her way down to the ring. The Boss hits Jax several times with her crutch, and finishes Jax off with double knees from the ring apron to the floor.
Rich Swann vs. Noam Dar (w/Alicia Fox)
In six days, Rich Swann will defend his Cruiserweight Championship against Neville. Tonight, he competes in non-title action to get ready for the Rumble against Noam Dar. Dar has been pursuing Alicia Fox for weeks, and since Cedric Alexander broke up with her, she doesn’t seem to mind pairing herself up with the Scottish Supernova.
Fox doesn’t provide her new man any assistance, and Swann hits one swift spinning heel kick to pick up the win. Winner: Rich Swann
In-ring Segment
Goldberg returns to Raw to “send a message” to his 29 opponents in the Royal Rumble match. Of course, he is interrupted by Paul Heyman who says he will be conquered by Brock Lesnar. This time, Lesnar is actually here and gets in the ring with Goldberg. It looks like they’re about to throw down, when the Undertaker appears out of nowhere. The three men stare down, and Raw fades to black.
