WWE Monday Night RAW
January 2, 2017
Tampa, Florida
Commentary: Michael Cole, Byron Saxton and Corey Graves
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
We go straight into the arena to be welcomed to the first RAW of 2017. We’re kicking off the show with the return of Goldberg. Goldberg was last seen the night the night after beating Brock Lesnar in 1:26 at Survivor Series. We’ll also see Sami Zayn take on Braun Strowman in a Last Man Standing Match.
Mick Foley kicks off the first RAW of 2017
Mick Foley is already in the ring with a completely crazy haircut and a goatee. Foley welcomes us to the show and says it’s a New Year. It’s a new year and he had a few resolutions. One of them was to show off a bold new look on live television. He also made the important resolution to write the name of the city he’s in on his hand so he never forgets. Foley says he’s doing that right here in Jackson… he looks at his hands and confirms he’s in Tampa to a big reception. Foley also wanted to ensure Kevin Owens would defend his WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble on his own against Roman Reigns by having his best friend, Chris Jericho, suspended above the ring in a shark cage. The shark cage is seen at the top of the ramp.
Kevin Owens’ music hits, and he makes his way to the ring with Chris Jericho. Jericho is wearing a neck tie with no shirt. Owens asks if Foley thinks he’s funny. Does he think it’s funny to take his best friend, stick him in a shark cage, and hang him 100 feet above the ground? Jericho says he’ll look like a “sexy piñata.” Jericho says Foley’s constant abuse of power is funny. It’s worse than his fancy pants haircut. Owens says he looks ridiculous. Exhibit A of abuse of power is him giving Roman Reigns another match for his title at the Royal Rumble PPV when he’s already beaten him. Jericho gives Exhibit B by saying Seth Rollins gave him a Pedigree in the parking lot on top of the car like a barbarian. The crowd roars in approval, and Jericho calls them barbarians. Jericho says Rollins was rewarded. Jericho, being the genius he is, pulled off the greatest move in WWE history to help his best friend retain his title. Instead of being rewarded, he’s being put in a cage. Foley wants to put him in the “Cage of Jericho” and “lock him in, mannnn.” Owens says it’s obvious that Foley has a personal issue with them. It’s a new year, and they won’t stand for it anymore.
Foley says he’s right. He’s made mistakes and it’s time to wipe the slate clear. We’ve heard a lot about “The Kevin Owens Show,” but we don’t know what kind of talk host he’ll be. The first ever “Kevin Owens Show” will happen tonight with his first official guest: Goldberg! The crowd roars and starts up a “Goldberg” chant. Owens says it’s weird that it’s his talk show, but he can’t pick his own guests. They have a lot of questions for him, like where he’s been for ten years. As for Foley, what makes him think he’s allowed to abuse his power?
Stephanie McMahon’s music hits, and the commissioner of Monday Night RAW makes her way to the ring. McMahon says Foley is not abusing his power. He had every right to put Owens in that match at Royal Rumble, as well as putting Jericho in the shark cage. She only wishes he consulted her for that move. Foley says he wishes he was consulted before Sami Zayn was put in a Last Man Standing Match against Braun Strowman. Owens says he doesn’t care who consulted who. They’re national treasures! McMahon says that’s a bold statement. Usually they are on the same page. That’s why she knows he’ll support the match she’s about to make. Roman Reigns will defend the WWE United States Championship against Chris Jericho. To ensure that there’s a decisive winner, should Reigns be disqualified or counted out, he will lose the United States Championship. There must be a winner. Jericho looks pleased. Jericho says Rollins has been on his case for months. Owens says Rollins should be banned from ringside. Foley says Jericho should be banned from ringside. Foley actually meant Owens, which is quickly called out. Foley quickly covers. McMahon says she’s sick of everyone right now. For the first time in history, Smackdown Live defeated Monday Night RAW in the ratings. She’s tired of hearing that Smackdown Live is the land of opportunity. This place is the land of opportunity. Kevin Owens will face Seth Rollins tonight. The loser will be banned from ringside for the United States Championship match. McMahon orders Jericho to go to the locker room to get ready. As for Foley, he needs to get his act together because they’ve got a ratings war to win. She then tells Owens his match is next.
Goldberg will be the special guest on “The Kevin Owens Show.” We’ll also see Sami Zayn take on Braun Strowman in a Last Man Standing Match.
-Commercial Break-
Winner is banned from ringside for the main event
Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins
The bell rings, and Rollins quickly connects with some right hands. Rollins knees him out of the ring and takes him down at ringside with a plancha. Rollins quickly gets him in the ring, but Owens just as quickly rolls out. Rollins floors him with a second plancha. Rollins chops the chest and puts him in the ring before pulling him back out. Owens fights back, but Rollins continues chopping him. Owens quickly knees him and sends him into the barricade. Owens gets in the ring and stomps Rollins while he comes back in. Owens taunts the crowd before punching Rollins in the back of the head. Owens chops the chest, but Rollins comes back with more chops. Owens kicks him and punches him in the midsection. Rollins kicks him back and hits a snapmare. Rollins hits the ropes and kicks him in the chest for a one count. Rollins wrenches the arm and snaps it. Owens punches him down and kicks him in the back. Owens talks some trash and stomps him before taunting the crowd some more. Owens chops him to the corner before sending him to the opposite corner. Rollins quickly boots him in the face and comes off the second rope with a blockbuster neckbreaker for a two count.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Rollins trapped in a chin lock. Rollins fights up, but Owens takes him down and connects with a senton splash for a two count. During the commercial, Owens gave him a big DDT. Owens stomps Rollins’ midsection and kicks him in the face. Owens continues to talk trash to him. Rollins punches back at him and hits the ropes, but Owens gives him a back body drop over the top rope. Owens tells the referee to count Rollins out. Rollins gets on the apron, but Owens punches him back to ringside. Owens goes outside and tries for a cannonball against the barricade, but Rollins moves. Both men get back in the ring at six.
They trade chops, punches, and kicks before Owens kicks Rollins in the knee. Owens tries for the Pop-up Powerbomb, but Rollins flies over him and gives him an enzuigiri. Rollins punches some feeling into his knee. Rollins hits a pair of running forearms before Owens avalanches him. Owens goes for a cannonball, but Rollins gives him a reverse STO into the turnbuckle. Rollins then follows up with the Sling Blade. Rollins kicks him and goes for a Pedigree, but Owens counters out. Rollins pulls the top rope down to get Owens out of the ring. Rollins then connects with a suicide dive. Rollins knocks Owens into the timekeeper’s area and punches away at him. Rollins gets into the ring and leaves to break the count. When Rollins returns, Owens hits him in the midsection with the ring bell. The referee immediately disqualifies Owens.
Winner by Disqualification: Seth Rollins
Kevin Owens will be banned from ringside for the WWE United States Championship match. Owens is furious over the call. Rollins gives him an enzuigiri and goes for a Pedigree, but Owens gets out of it.
-Commercial Break-
Sheamus will be on commentary for the next match.
Cesaro vs. Karl Anderson w/ Luke Gallows
They lock up, and Anderson applies a waistlock. Cesaro hooks a side headlock, but Anderson whips him off. Cesaro shoulder blocks him down for a one count. Cesaro goes back to a side headlock. Anderson whips him off, drops down, and connects with a clothesline. Anderson goes for a monkey flip, but Cesaro lands on his feet. Anderson hits an arm drag, but Cesaro hooks the head and kips up. Cesaro uppercuts him down and stands over Anderson. Cesaro uppercuts him before having a whip to the corner reversed. Cesaro stomps him in the corner before doing a deadlift gutwrench suplex for a two count. Cesaro hits him in the back of the head for another two count. Anderson drops him on the apron, but Cesaro punches him away. Luke Gallows distracts Cesaro, so Anderson kicks him to the floor.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Cesaro fight up from a chin lock and elbow out. Anderson clubs him and goes for a suplex, but Cesaro blocks it and deadlifts him up for a suplex. Cesaro uppercuts him back before sending him to the corner. Anderson sidesteps him and kicks him in the chest for a near fall. Anderson immediately hits the ropes for a clothesline to pick up another near fall. Anderson then goes back to the chin lock. Cesaro fights up and sends him to the corner before giving him an uppercut. Cesaro hits a second uppercut before hitting a flurry of them. Anderson reverses a whip, but Cesaro scales the ropes and hits an impressive springboard cross-body block for a near fall!
Cesaro signals for a swing, but Gallows gets on the apron. Sheamus flies off commentary to run down. Anderson hits Cesaro with a spinebuster for a near fall. Anderson lift him up, but Cesaro slides off, ducks a clothesline, and hits a springboard corkscrew uppercut for a near fall. Cesaro goes for the Neutralizer, but Anderson counters out. Cesaro counters that into a swing attempt, but Anderson gets to the bottom rope. Cesaro boots him back, but Anderson takes him down with a running knee. Anderson sends him to the corner, but Cesaro places him on the top rope and connects with a dropkick. Cesaro then hits an uppercut that sends him to the mat for a near fall. Cesaro goes for a superplex. Gallows gets on the apron, so Sheamus pulls him off. This shakes the ropes, which crotches Cesaro on the ropes. Anderson follows up with a flying neckbreaker off the top rope for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Karl Anderson
A video package hypes up Braun Strowman vs. Sami Zayn. The Last Man Standing Match is next.
-Commercial Break-
Members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shown at ringside.
Video Package: Goldberg’s defeat of Brock Lesnar in 1:26 at Survivor Series. Both men will be in the Royal Rumble match.
Goldberg will be the guest on the first ever “Kevin Owens Show.”
JoJo gives the rundown of the rules of a Last Man Standing Match.
Last Man Standing Match
Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman
Sami Zayn is sporting a black eye. Zayn quickly ducks Strowman and jabs him in the face. Strowman slowly approaches him, but Zayn punches him again. Zayn gets out of the ring and runs over to the timekeeper’s area. Strowman follows, and Zayn starts smacking him with a kendo stick. Zayn beats him into the ring before Strowman takes it away from him and breaks it over his knee. Strowman throws him across the ring and yells. Zayn falls out of the ring. Strowman follows him out, and Zayn finds a second kendo stick and starts beating him with it. Strowman takes it away from him. Zayn runs to the barricade and leaps up to do a moonsault block, but Strowman catches him and drops him onto the barricade. The referee begins counting Zayn down, but he’s up at six. Strowman charges, but Zayn moves, causing him to hit the ring post. Strowman is stunned. Zayn sends him into the ring post two more times. Welts are covering Strowman’s back. Zayn dives through the bottom and middle turnbuckles for his patented DDT, but Strowman forearms him in the face! Zayn gets up and in the ring at six. Strowman avalanches him in the corner, and the count begins again. Zayn soon gets up, but Strowman punches him back down. Zayn slowly gets up, but Strowman clotheslines him back down. Zayn gets up, but Strowman just as quickly runs him over with a shoulder block. Strowman sends him into the ropes, but Zayn comes back with a clothesline. Strowman doesn’t go down. Zayn hits the ropes again, but Strowman clotheslines him down. Strowman maniacally smiles while Zayn writhes around on the mat. Zayn rolls out of the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Strowman throw Zayn off the ramp in front of the commentary table. Strowman talks some trash before sending him face-first into the table. Strowman swats him back and clubs away at the chest. Strowman rolls a crate into him and throws him backstage. Zayn grabs a lead pipe and smacks him with it a few times before Strowman grabs it and throws it away. It doesn’t clang on the ground. Strowman throws him onto some equipment boxes and throws one, but Zayn moves. Zayn boots him in the face, hits a flying forearm, grabs a steel chair and smacks him with it a few times. Zayn follows him back out to the arena and peppers him with more chair shots. Finally, Strowman grabs him and throws him onto the stage. Strowman steps on the chair and sends him into the LED boards a few times. Strowman scoops him up, but Zayn slides off and hits him with the steel chair again. Zayn stumbles him to the edge of the stage. Strowman grabs the chair, but Zayn boots it into his face and takes him off the stage and through some tables with a cross-body block! The referee is counting Strowman down, but he’s up at four.
Zayn hits him with some more chair shots before Strowman lifts him up to the stage by the chair. Zayn goes flying. Strowman runs him over with a weak looking shoulder block. Strowman then powerslams him at ringside! Zayn somehow gets up at nine. Strowman immediately knees away at him to take him back down. Zayn makes like he’s going to get up, so Strowman continues to punch away at his midsection. At six, Zayn seems like he’s going to get up, so Strowman grabs him. Strowman viciously powerslams him on the floor again. The referee finally counts Zayn down.
Winner: Braun Strowman
The referee calls EMTs down. Mick Foley is with them. Foley angrily looks at Strowman before going over to Sami Zayn, who hasn’t moved since the powerslam. Replays are shown of the highlights of the match. The EMTs load him onto the stretcher, so Strowman knocks it over. Strowman scoops him up and swings him into the barricade. Foley looks furious.
The commentators talk about the shocking nature of this match. They tell the viewing audience to stay tuned to WWE’s social media for updates on Zayn.
Roman Reigns will defend the WWE United States Championship against Chris Jericho tonight. If Reigns is disqualified or counted out, he’ll lose the title. Kevin Owens is banned from ringside.
Video highlights are shown of the Gentlemen’s Duel between Jack Gallagher and Ariya Daivari on WWE 205 Live.
Jack Gallagher is backstage teaching the New Day how to duel with an umbrella. Xavier Woods says this is their New Year’s Resolution. They then start gyrating. New Day will be out next.
-Commercial Break-
Peter Rosenberg is hosting a new show on the WWE Network immediately following RAW.
The New Day will give their New Year’s Resolutions.
“OHH TAMPA — DON’T YOU DARE BE SOUR! CLAP FOR YOUR LONGEST-REIGNING TAG CHAMPS AND FEEL THE POWER!”
The New Day makes their way to the ring. The crowd showers them with praise. Xavier Woods says 2016 was a great year for them. There were some ups and downs, but in the course of the year, they became the longest-reigning WWE World Tag Team Champions! Big E says they’ll be in the 2017 Royal Rumble match. Kingston asks what would the New Year be without some resolutions.
“OHH NEW DAY — DON’T YOU DARE BE SOUR! CLAP FOR YOUR WORLD FAMOUS TITUS BRAND AND FEEL THE POWER!”
Titus O’Neil comes out to the stage gyrating. O’Neil says in order for them to reach their goals, he knows what they need: a new member of The New Day. Everyone is wondering who (said like an owl) that could be. O’Neil offers his services. O’Neil says he has rhythm and starts a “New Day rocks” chant with some bad dancing. Not only does he have rhythm, he has some musical talents. Woods stops him and says, “Oh honey, nobody touches my girl but me!” O’Neil says he respects Francesca, so he always comes prepared. O’Neil blows a whistle and gyrates. They put a stop to this. Big E says everyone knows he blows. O’Neil says his face should be on Booty O’s. Woods says everyone would rather see his face on a milk carton, which gets a good laugh. Woods says no one wants to see his face in the morning. O’Neil says that’s a good joke coming from the weakest link in The New Day. Woods challenges him to a match if he’s man enough. O’Neil punches him down and accepts the challenge.
-Commercial Break-
Xavier Woods w/ The New Day vs. Titus O’Neil
The bell rings, and Woods dropkicks him in the knee before kicking away at him. O’Neil cuts him off and sends him into the ropes, but Woods comes back with some right hands. O’Neil big boots him down before putting him in the corner for some strikes. O’Neil scoop slams him down for a two count. O’Neil talks trash to The New Day at ringside while applying a chin lock. Woods fights up, but O’Neil slams him down. O’Neil puts a foot on the chest for a one count. O’Neil reapplies the chin lock, but Woods fights up, kicks him, and hits a body block. Woods kicks away at him, but O’Neil sends him to the apron. Woods kicks him in the face and pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. Woods hits the ropes and hits a summersault senton! Woods gets him into the ring for a two count. The crowd is distracted by a Hulk Hogan impersonator. Woods comes off the top rope with a cross-body block, but O’Neil catches him and hits some ring breakers. Woods comes back with a sunset flip for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Xavier Woods
The New Day mocks Titus O’Neil from ringside before walking off.
Stephanie McMahon is backstage when Bayley comes in. Bayley says McMahon took away her win over Charlotte because her shoulders were up, which she gets, but why did she make Dana Brooke the guest referee in her rematch? McMahon says this is above her pay grade, but Charlotte has high-powered attorneys and left her no choice. McMahon says she never wanted Bayley on Monday Night RAW. Mick Foley fought for her, but she doesn’t see it. Charlotte has pedigree, power, and is the Queen of PPV. Bayley is just like all the people here tonight — ordinary. She’s just Bayley. Bayley looks upset. She says she may not have a famous last name or grown up in the business like her and Charlotte, but she belongs in WWE and on RAW. She might not be what McMahon thinks a champion should look like. She’s just Bayley and that’s good enough for her. Nothing is going to stop her from achieving her dreams. McMahon says she’s almost made her a believer, so she’ll give her a chance. She’ll compete in a number one contender’s match. The winner will face Charlotte at the Royal Rumble for the RAW Women’s Champion. Her opponent… is Nia Jax! McMahon smiles while Bayley walks off. McMahon then mocks the “Hey we want some Bayley” song.
Cedric Alexander is walking backstage with Alicia Fox. Noam Dar says it’s a New Year and a new him. Dar apologizes to him. Alexander says he should apologize to Alicia. Dar says, “I apologize… sweet cheeks.” Dar runs off.
-Commercial Break-
Austin Aries will be on commentary for the next match. Byron Saxton is off.
Cruiserweight Match Drew Gulak w/ Tony Nese vs. Cedric Alexander w/ Alicia Fox
They shake hands. Gulak wrenches the arm, but Alexander gets out. Alexander does a handspring head-scissor takeover and dropkicks him down for a one count. Alexander uppercuts him. Gulak head-butts him in the ribs and body slams him against the ropes. Gulak kicks away at him and punches him in the corner. Gulak whips him across the ring and hits a back body drop for a two count. Gulak applies an octopus stretch, but Alexander gets to the bottom rope. Gulak strikes away at him, but Alexander fights back. Alexander backflips over him and hits some clotheslines. Alexander elbows him and hits a handspring kick to the head. Tony Nese gets on the apron, so Fox pulls him off. Gulak quickly rolls up the distracted Alexander with a handful of tights for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Drew Gulak
Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho are talking backstage. Jericho will face Roman Reigns for the WWE United States Championship, next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE United States Championship Match
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Chris Jericho
If Roman Reigns is disqualified or counted out, he’ll lose the WWE United States Championship. Kevin Owens is banned from ringside following his disqualification loss to Seth Rollins earlier in the night. JoJo does the introductions in the ring.
The bell rings, and they circle the ring. Jericho surprises him with some right hands and punches him to the corner. Jericho sends him across the ring, but Reigns comes back with a clothesline. Reigns head-butts him and sends him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Reigns comes back with a Samoan Drop for a two count. Reigns sends Jericho to the corner, but he runs into a boot. Jericho connects with a missile dropkick for a two count. Jericho boots him in the back and chokes him on the ropes. Jericho clubs away at him and hits the ropes, but Reigns moves. Reigns hits a pair of clotheslines, but he has a whip reversed. Reigns then takes him down with a leaping clothesline. Jericho quickly drops him onto the apron and counters a Superman Punch with a springboard dropkick to the floor. Jericho taunts the crowd and goes for a baseball slide, but Reigns sidesteps him. Reigns goes for a Drive By Dropkick, but Jericho sidesteps him. Reigns crashes and burns against the ring post. Reigns gets in at nine. If Reigns were counted out, he’d lose the title. Jericho stomps away at him.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Jericho applying a chin lock. Reigns fights up and punches out. Jericho reverses a whip and turns him inside out with a knee to the midsection. Jericho slaps him in the back of the head a few times and calls him “boy.” Reigns angrily gets up and uppercuts him. Reigns sends him to the corner, but he runs into a boot. Jericho goes for a bulldog, but Reigns sends him into the corner. Reigns clubs him in the back of the head before hitting a back suplex powerbomb for a two count. Reigns sets up for a Superman Punch, but Jericho sidesteps it and hits a back elbow. Reigns gets the knees up for a Lionsault attempt and gets in the corner. Jericho counters a spear with a kick. Jericho goes for a Codebreaker, but Reigns holds him up and goes for a powerbomb. Jericho counters into a hurricanrana and rolls through for the Walls of Jericho. Reigns rolls through it eventually and rolls him up for a two count. Jericho kicks him, but Reigns sends him to the apron. Jericho goes to the top rope and leaps into a Superman Punch for a near fall! Reigns is stunned.
Reigns gets the crowd going and goes for a spear, but Jericho rolls him up and goes for the Walls of Jericho. Reigns rolls him out and goes for a shoulder thrust in the corner, but Jericho moves. Reigns hits the ring post shoulder first. The referee checks on Reigns. Jericho takes the top turnbuckle pad off. The referee sees this and admonishes him. The referee puts it back on. Jericho uses the distraction to get the WWE United States Championship from ringside. Jericho tosses it at him and takes a bump. This is the old Eddie Guerrero trick. The referee turns and sees Jericho down with Reigns holding the title. The referee doesn’t disqualify Reigns. Jericho pops up with a Codebreaker for a near fall! Jericho kicks away at him and stomps him down. The top turnbuckle pad falls off. Jericho stomps him down and charges, but Reigns sidesteps. Jericho hits the exposed turnbuckle headfirst. Reigns viciously runs him over with a spear to retain the title!
Winner and still United States Champion: Roman Reigns
Later tonight, we’ll see Bayley take on Nia Jax. The winner will be the number one contender. Goldberg’s dressing room is shown. He’ll be on “The Kevin Owens Show” later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Austin Aries is back to replace Byron Saxton.
Cruiserweight Match Brian Kendrick vs. TJ Perkins
Footage is shown of Neville defeating Rich Swann in a non-title match on WWE 205 Live.
The bell rings, and Kendrick immediately attacks Perkins. Kendrick clubs him down and goes for a back suplex, but Perkins lands on his feet. Perkins hits the ropes for a springboard cross-body block, but Kendrick kicks out. Perkins kicks him down and dropkicks him in the face for a two count. Neville is seen watching backstage. Kendrick uses the ropes to take Perkins down. Kendrick hits a modified back suplex for a two count. Perkins fights out of a submission and kicks him in the head. Perkins kicks him in the face and goes to the top rope, but Kendrick crotches him up there. Perkins slides away from him and hits a springboard super hurricanrana. Perkins somehow botches blocking a boot to the face. Perkins counters Sliced Bread #2 into a Detonation Kick. Perkins applies the TJP Special for the submission.
Winner by Submission: TJ Perkins
A video package showcases the upcoming tournament to crown the new WWE United Kingdom Champion. It’ll be live on the WWE Network January 14 and 15.
Big Cass is walking alongside Enzo Amore, who is in a scooter. This was supposed to be a tag match, but Enzo is injured.
-Commercial Break-
The Emmalina vignette airs again. She’ll debut soon.
Rusev and Jinder Mahal are already in the ring. Enzo and Cass come out to a big reception. Enzo goes through his usual shtick. Big Cass says Enzo cannot fight tonight, but he can. Big Cass says he’ll drop the two of them by himself and prove that there’s only one word to describe them. Cass helpfully spells it out for them: S-A-W-F-T.
Rusev and Jinder Mahal w/ Lana vs. Big Cass w/ Enzo
Jinder Mahal will start against Big Cass. They lock up, and Cass powers him to the corner. Cass punches away at him before sending him into the ropes. Rusev comes in, but Cass stops him. Rusev blind tagged in. Cass punches Mahal out of the ring. Cass big boots Rusev down. Mahal slaps Enzo before running away. Cass gets in the ring and blocks a kick. Mahal gets on the apron to distract him. Rusev kicks Cass for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Rusev and Jinder Mahal
Replays are shown of the vicious beating Braun Strowman gave Sami Zayn earlier in the night.
RAW Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair comes out to the commentary table to scope out her next opponent.
-Commercial Break-
#1 Contender’s Match for the RAW Women’s Title
Bayley vs. Nia Jax
Replays are shown of Nia Jax assaulting Sasha Banks two weeks ago. Jax swats her away at the sound of the bell. Bayley applies a headlock, but Jax shoves her off and hits a shoulder-breaker. Jax avalanches her and clotheslines her in the corner. Jax soon applies a cobra clutch. Bayley stomps the feet to get out, but Jax pulls the hair. Bayley shoves her into the corner. Bayley counters a shoulder thrust by sending her into the ring post. Bayley boots her in the face, but Jax soon powers her down and drops two elbows. Jax drops a leg and saunters around the ring. Jax goes to the top rope, and Sasha Banks’ music hits. Banks walks out with a knee brace on her left leg. Bayley surprises Jax with a Bayley-To-Belly superplex for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Bayley
Bayley will face Charlotte Flair for the RAW Women’s Championship at the WWE Royal Rumble in the Alamodome.
Goldberg will be on “The Kevin Owens Show,” next.
-Commercial Break-
Shawn Michaels will be live on RAW next week. The Undertaker may appear on the show.
The Kevin Owens Show w/ special guest Goldberg
There is a man in the ring wearing a sign on his head that says, “The Kevin Owens Show.” Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho make their way to the ring. Owens welcomes the crowd to the show. They sit behind a desk. There is a lawn chair in the ring. Earlier in the night, Seth Rollins prevented him from being ringside for his best friend. Roman Reigns kept them from being the Universal and United States Champions. They’re still main eventing RAW. They high five. His first guest needs no introduction. “Goldberg” chants are firing up. This man dominated the Attitude Era and redefined greatness. All he has to do is stand in the ring and the crowd chants his name. Owens introduces… Chris Jericho!
Jericho says a few seconds ago, they were all chanting for Goldberg. Do they want to see him and chant his name? Jericho asks if they know happens when you chant that name during “The Kevin Owens Show?” Owens sends him to the center of the ring for this. Jericho says, “Tampa Bay… you just made the list!” Owens says they deserved that. Owens goes to introduce Goldberg, but Jericho stops him and says he has a bombshell big enough to be told on this show. The first two entrants are Brock Lesnar and their guest tonight, but the third entrant is Chris Jericho! Owens doesn’t look happy. Owens says if he wins, they’ll have to fight at WrestleMania. Jericho says either way, they’ll be the Universal Champion. Owens says he doesn’t want to fight his best friend.
Goldberg’s music hits to interrupt this. We see him walking backstage. The crowd is loudly chanting his name. Goldberg stands in the sparks and blows out smoke before the pyro goes off. Goldberg gets in the ring and soaks in the cheers. Goldberg wants to see if he has this straight. Chris Jericho is an entrant in the Royal Rumble Match. That means Jericho is first! Owens says they don’t need this hostility and invites him to have a seat. Goldberg throws the lawn chair out of the ring. Jericho asks if he knows what happens when you throw chairs around? Goldberg says, “Yeah! Spear? Jackhammer? That’s what happens?” Owens asks if he’s supposed to be intimidated. Owens throws a table and two chairs out of the ring. Goldberg gets in his face and tells him to take his shot. Goldberg calls him a child.
Paul Heyman walks out to the stage. Heyman points at the stage and says his client Brock Lesnar… is not here. Heyman is going to give a spoiler for the Royal Rumble: Eat, sleep, elimination, repeat. Heyman says he could go on… Goldberg says he won’t. Goldberg will take care of his client at the Royal Rumble. Then whether it’s Owens or Roman Reigns, they’ve got a date at WrestleMania.
Roman Reigns’ music hits, and he comes out to the ring looking quite serious. Reigns says Owens and Jericho must be delusional. They won’t win anything at the Royal Rumble. That brings him to Goldberg. Goldberg gets in his face, and Reigns drops the microphone. Braun Strowman’s music hits, and he comes out to the ring. Strowman appears to be limping a bit. Strowman takes the microphone from the cowering Heyman. Strowman says if anyone is winning the Royal Rumble, it’s him. Strowman gets in the ring and stands between them. Owens and Jericho disappear. Goldberg and Reigns hit a double spear on Strowman. Reigns walks off while Goldberg’s music plays. Goldberg poses on the turnbuckle to end the show.
Quick Match Results
* Seth Rollins def. Kevin Owens via DQ (non-title)
* Karl Anderson def. Cesaro
* Braun Strowman def. Sami Zayn in a Last Man Standing Match
* Xavier Woods def. Titus O’Neil
* Drew Gulak def. Cedric Alexander
* Roman Reigns def. Chris Jericho to retain the WWE United States Championship
* TJ Perkins def. Brian Kendrick via Submission
* Rusev and Jinder Mahal def. Big Cass
* Bayley def. Nia Jax