WWE Raw Results
January 24, 2022
Toledo, Ohio (Huntingdon Center)
Commentary: Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
We go live into the Huntingdon Center to see WWE Official Adam Pearce in the ring with Corey Graves. There is a large scale in the ring. Adam Pearce introduces Bobby Lashley first, who comes out with his manager, MVP.
Corey Graves goes to introduce WWE Champion Brock Lesnar, but Paul Heyman cuts him off. Heyman says he’s tired of everyone stealing his shtick. Heyman does a loud and exciting introduction for Brock Lesnar. The WWE champion comes out in a flannel jacket and a cowboy hat. Lesnar is wearing heavy clothes, while Lashley is wearing light clothes.
Corey Graves sheepishly says to “Mr. Lesnar” that he is not wearing proper attire for a weigh-in. Lesnar asks if he’d like him to do this naked. Graves turns away. Graves asks Lashley to stand on the scale. Lashley removes his jacket and stands on the scale. Lashley’s official weight is 273 pounds. Lashley has a nasty cut on his bottom lip.
MVP says that’s 273 pounds of an All Mighty killing machine, closer to a god than a man. 273 pounds of bottled lightning that Brock Lesnar will have to contend with at the Royal Rumble. This is the match that everyone has wanted and written off as impossible. Lashley knew this match was inevitable. After the Royal Rumble, Lashley will gain a little weight, the exact amount as the WWE Championship.
Graves asks “Mr. Lesnar” to stand on the scale and recommends he remove some clothing. Lesnar takes his cowboy hat off and stands on the scale. Lesnar’s official weight is 286 pounds.
Lashley says this is pissing him off. Lesnar is laughing. Lashley says Lesnar is acting like a fool because he knows Lashley will beat him for the WWE Championship this Saturday. Lashley says this will be the shortest title run of Lesnar’s career. Lashley says, “And that’s not a prediction… that’s a spoiler.”
Lesnar says Lashley is a comedian now. Lesnar puts his arm on Heyman’s shoulder and asks if he can see this headline: Bobby Lashley beats Brock Lesnar with the Hurt Lock and there’s a new reigning, defending, WWE Champion… Bobby Who? Lesnar walks off and heads up the ramp alongside his advocate, Paul Heyman.
Footage is shown of Bianca Belair winning the 2021 Royal Rumble. They then show footage of Belair defeating Sasha Banks in the main event of WrestleMania 37.
Bianca Belair makes her way to the ring. She’ll be in action against Queen Zelina.
-Commercial Break-
Later tonight, we’ll celebrate Maryse’s birthday. We’ll also see Damian Priest defend the WWE United States Championship against Kevin Owens, the man who ended Priest’s yearlong undefeated streak. Raw Tag Team Champions Alpha Academy will battle RK-Bro in a Spelling Bee, as well.
Bianca Belair vs. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Queen Zelina
Belair quickly scoops Zelina up and dumps her over the top rope onto the apron. Belair pulls her into the ring and tosses her before hitting a handspring. Belair goes for a suplex, but Zelina counters into a sit-out jawbreaker. Zelina punches away at Belair before kneeing her in the face. Zelina bows before the crowd. Belair pushes Zelina to the corner and charges, but Zelina drops her into the turnbuckles. Zelina goes to the top rope, but Belair punches her. Belair presses Zelina above her head, but Zelina counters into a sleeper hold. Belair backs her into the corner, but Zelina elbows her in the neck a few times. Belair drops to her knees, but she soon fights up. Belair throws Zelina off and flips out of a head-scissor takeover. Belair shoulder blocks her before hitting a dropkick. Belair kips up and gets the crowd going. Belair hits a suplex and rolls through into a delayed vertical suplex. Belair kips up again and hits a handspring moonsault, but Zelina gets the knees up. Zelina goes for Code Red, but Belair fights her. Belair connects with the KOD for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Bianca Belair
A replay is shown of Kevin Owens faking a knee injury to defeat WWE United States Champion Damian Priest in a singles match for the first time in a year.
Kevin Owens is warming up when Kevin Patrick comes in. Patrick insinuates that Owens cheated to win, but Owens says he’s never been in the ring and doesn’t understand. Owens just keeps fighting. Owens has a WWE United States Championship opportunity and will just keep fighting until he wins the title.
WWE United States Champion Damian Priest makes his way to the ring. He’ll face Kevin Owens with the title on the line next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE United States Championship
Damian Priest (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Owens immediately goes for Stunner at the start of the match, but Priest pushes him off. Owens chops away at him in the corner, but Priest turns him around and punches away at him. Owens reverses a whip to the corner and blocks a boot from Priest. Owens knocks Priest back, but Priest hits the ropes. Owens hits a back elbow and a senton splash for a two count. Owens sets up for a cannonball, but Priest pops up and goes for South of Heaven. Owens gets out of it, so Priest big boots him out of the ring. Priest goes for a somersault plancha, but Owens moves. Priest goes outside the ring and sends Owens into the barricade. Owens superkicks Priest getting into the ring and goes for a Swanton Bomb off the apron, but Priest gets the knees up! Priest hits Owens with South of Heaven on the apron and is fired up!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Priest kicking away at Owens and connecting with a back elbow in the corner. Priest blocks a strike from Owens and hits a headlock DDT for a near fall. Priest puts Owens on the top rope, but Owens fights him. Owens head-butts away at him and hits a tornado DDT. Owens goes to the top rope and connects with a frog splash, but Priest kicks out! Owens is in shock and checks the count with the referee.
Owens attacks Priest and goes for a Pop-up Powerbomb, but Priest big boots him. Priest hits a flapjack and absolutely rocks him with a spin kick for a near fall! Owens signals that he has a shoulder injury. The referee tries to wave Priest off, but Priest bypasses him and attacks Owens. Owens rolls to the apron and snaps Priest off the top rope. Owens schoolboys him with a handful of tights for a near fall. Owens goes for a Stunner, but Priest blocks it and turns him inside out with a clothesline. Priest punches and kicks away at Owens. The referee warns Priest to stop or be disqualified. Priest won’t stop, so he’s disqualified. The crowd loudly boos.
Winner by Disqualification: Kevin Owens
Damian Priest remains the WWE United States Championship
Priest is furious as he stomps up the ramp.
Replays are shown of Nikki A.S.H. viciously attacking Rhea Ripley before they could have a match last week on Raw.
Rhea Ripley is backstage and says the Royal Rumble is consuming her mind. It’s every woman for herself and she’ll win at any cost. It’ll be a nightmare for 29 other women when she wins. Elsewhere backstage, WWE 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke says she’s going to continue riding the wave and win the Royal Rumble. Liv Morgan says everyone has seen her go from a girl just living her dream to someone that pushed the Women’s Champion to the edge. She’s going to win the Royal Rumble and go on to WrestleMania to win the title.
Rhea Ripley makes her way to the ring. She’ll team with Dana Brooke and Liv Morgan to face Nikki A.S.H., Carmella, and Tamina.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Official Sonya Deville is backstage with Damian Priest and says he’s out of control. He could be suspended or worse. She warns him to get control.
6-Woman Tag Team Match
Rhea Ripley, WWE 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke, and Liv Morgan vs. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Carmella, Tamina, and Nikki A.S.H.
Tamina starts against Dana Brooke and takes her down hard. Tamina quickly applies a neck vice. Brooke fights up and elbows her, but Tamina fights it. Brooke flips through a back suplex and tags Rhea Ripley in. Ripley takes Tamina down and wipes out Carmella and Nikki. Ripley takes Tamina down and hits a pair of short-arm clotheslines followed by a head-butt. Ripley hits a low dropkick. Tamina knocks her back, but Ripley kicks her before hitting a northern lights suplex. Carmella breaks up the pin. Morgan runs in and takes her out. Nikki hits Morgan with a neckbreaker. Brooke dropkicks Nikki out, and Tamina dropkicks her. Carmella tags in and taunts Ripley. Ripley takes her down and applies the Prism Trap for the submission.
Winners by Submission: Rhea Ripley, Dana Brooke, and Liv Morgan
After the match, Nikki A.S.H. wipes Ripley out from behind and runs off. Ripley is furious.
A replay is shown of Alpha Academy challenging RK-Bro to an Alpha Academy Academic Challenge.
Raw Tag Team Champions Alpha Academy make their way to the ring. They’ll face RK-Bro in a Spelling Bee, next.
-Commercial Break-
Spelling Bee Academic Challenge Part I
Raw Tag Team Champions Alpha Academy are in the ring. Kevin Patrick welcomes everyone to the Spelling Bee. Chad Gable says he needs to explain this to the idiots in Ohio. This is a triad of events, which means three. It’ll prove that he’s not only an Olympian but a genius with a Master’s Degree and a 4.0 GPA. Gable tells Ohio not to boo education since they need it so badly. The crowd loudly boos. Gable says his prized pupil Otis will prove he has not only the brawn but the brains when they pound RK-Bro into mental submission. Gable wants to officially announce that Otis and Master Gable are officially in the Royal Rumble match. One of them will win and Alpha Academy will headline WrestleMania.
RK-Bro makes their way to the ring. Kevin Patrick says this is the first event of the Academic Challenge. Tonight’s winners will get to choose next week’s challenge. They’re starting with the champions of Alpha Academy. Otis is the first one up. Otis looks a little nervous. The word is “Emmental.” Otis wants it used in a sentence, and Patrick says it’s a cheese. Otis knows it and correctly spells it. Riddle must spell, “Calibration.” Riddle thinks it’s “Cali-bro-tion.” Riddle wants it in a sentence, but he doesn’t know it. Riddle wants it put into letters. Riddle finally (and correctly) spells it.
Chad Gable steps up to the microphone. His word is, “Disillusion.” Gable laughs and says he wanted a challenge. Gable asks for the definition and cuts Patrick off before defining it. Gable then spells, “Dissolution,” which isn’t the correct word! Gable flips out and says he can’t understand Kevin Patrick. Randy Orton stands up and tells Gable to take a freakin’ seat. Patrick says Orton’s word is the most frequently misspelled in the English language: “Dumbbell.” Orton thinks about it and spells it correctly. RK-Bro is victorious in the first Academic Challenge.
Gable is furious and says Orton’s partner is a dumbbell. Orton flips out and says he wants to shut Gable up in a challenge in a match right now. Orton is going to spell out how he’ll beat him: R-K-O! Orton is fired up!
-Commercial Break-
Raw Tag Team Champion Chad Gable w/ Otis vs. Randy Orton w/ Riddle
The bell rings, and Orton avoids Gable going for a takedown. Orton hooks a side headlock, but Gable twists out and applies an overhead wristlock. Orton quickly takes Gable down and applies a front facelock. Orton backs away from Gable and sizes him up. Gable goes after Orton’s shoulder, but Orton knocks him away. Gable applies a hammerlock, but Orton transitions into one of his own before going to a side headlock. Gable whips him off, but Orton shoulder blocks him down. Orton hits the ropes, but Gable hits a pair of arm drags. Gable applies an armbar, but Orton gets to his feet and backs him to the corner. Orton whips him to the corner, but Gable slingshots over him. Orton knocks him back and goes for an RKO, but Gable pushes him off and gets out of the ring. Gable stands with Otis.
Gable gets back in the ring and locks up with Orton. Orton wrenches the arm, but Gable rolls through and kips up. Gable rolls around him and hits a drop-toe-hold. Orton rolls out of the ring to regroup. Orton takes a moment before getting in the ring. Gable chops him in the throat before knocking him to the corner. Orton uppercuts Gable a few times before sending him into the ropes for a back elbow. Gable rolls out of the ring to recover, but Orton follows him out and hits a back suplex on the commentary table! Otis sneers nearby.
Orton gets Gable in the ring. Otis gets on the apron to distract him, so Orton knocks him to the floor. Gable clips the knee and goes to the top rope for a moonsault, but Orton kicks out!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Gable applying a leglock to Orton before snapping it off the ropes. Orton is limping around the ring. Gable goes for a whip, but Orton collapses in pain. Gable sends him to the corner, but Orton pops out with a clothesline. Orton clotheslines him a second time and hits a back body drop. Gable tries to fight back, but Orton turns him inside out with a headlock backbreaker. Orton puts him on the apron and connects with a draping DDT. Otis is not pleased.
Riddle goes after Otis at ringside, but Otis hits an exploder on the floor. Orton fights Gable off and hits a snap powerslam. Orton is in too much pain to follow up. Orton sets up for a Punt, but Gable counters into an ankle lock. At ringside, Riddle hits Otis with his scooter and takes him down! In the ring, Orton gets out of the ankle lock and CRUSHES Gable with an RKO for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Randy Orton
Riddle gets in the ring and congratulates Randy Orton. Riddle says since they won the Spelling Bee, they get to choose the challenge. It’s time to go old school to gym class with a scooter race! Otis looks worried at ringside.
WWE promotes Bad Bunny’s World’s Hottest Tour.
A replay is shown of the psychiatrist triggering Alexa Bliss by insinuating that Lilly is imaginary. Alexa Bliss’ journey back to Raw continues next.
-Commercial Break-
Alexa Bliss is back with the psychiatrist. He asks when he met Lilly. Bliss says Lilly has always been there. When she was a child, she was picked on because she had glasses. Some girls pushed her off a ride and she got hurt. When she came to, there was Lilly. Lilly told her not to worry about those girls and they had fun that day. The scene fades away.
Austin Theory defeated Finn Bálor last week on Raw.
Earlier today, Austin Theory was with Mr. McMahon. Theory says he’s going to win the Royal Rumble and face the champion of his choosing in the main event of WrestleMania. Theory tries to get McMahon to put him in at a later number like 27 or 28. McMahon says he has no influence on the numbers. Theory needs to be concerned about his opponent tonight, AJ Styles. Theory looks worried about facing Styles, who is a future Hall of Famer. Theory says he can do it. McMahon reminds him to take his phone and bring back a really good selfie.
AJ Styles makes his entrance.
-Commercial Break-
AJ Styles vs. Austin Theory
They lock up, and Theory powers him to the corner before taunting him. They lock up, and Styles puts him in the corner. Theory quickly turns him around and taunts him again. Styles applies a side headlock. Theory tries to whip him off, but Styles hangs on. Theory eventually whips him off, but Styles rolls him up for a two count. Theory lifts him, but Styles counters into a roll-up for a two count. Styles rolls him up again for a two count before dropkicking him out of the ring. Styles connects with a forearm plancha.
Styles puts Theory in the ring and chops the chest. Theory blocks a kick and forearms him back. Styles quickly kicks him in the leg, but Theory pulls him into the turnbuckles. Theory takes him down and hits a slingshot stomp followed by a suplex. Theory covers, but Styles has the shoulder up. Theory applies a chin lock, but Styles fights up. Styles chops the chest and takes him down for a knee drop. Styles hits a snap suplex for a near fall. Theory hits a snapshot off the top rope and stomps the midsection. Theory forearms him into the corner and whips him hard sternum-first into the corner.
Theory continues to take it to Styles, but Styles takes him down with a forearm. Theory counters a suplex with a front suplex. Theory puts Styles on the top rope and climbs, but Styles knocks him back. Theory rolls and connects with a dropkick that sends Styles to the floor.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Styles hit a step-up enzuigiri. Theory quickly comes back with a spinout backbreaker for a near fall. Theory continues to attack Styles, but Styles comes back with a forearm. Theory reverses a whip and hits a back body drop for a two count. Styles avoids an elbow drop and elbows him back. Styles springboards off the second rope into a reverse DDT!
Styles makes a comeback with a big strike combo. Styles clotheslines him in the corner and hits a suplex into a neckbreaker. Styles hits a sliding forearm for a near fall. Theory hits a nasty elbow and connects with a back suplex for a near fall. Styles fights back, but Theory hits him with a standing blockbuster for a near fall. Theory puts him on the top rope, but Styles gets out and sweeps the feet. Theory elbows him and goes for a slam, but Styles gets out and hits a Pele Kick! Styles goes for a Styles Clash, but Theory counters out. Styles applies a Calf Crusher, but Theory gets to the bottom rope.
Styles knocks Theory back and goes for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Theory hits the ropes to make him crash and burn. Theory rolls him up with his feet on the ropes, but the referee catches him. Styles knocks him back and hits a Phenomenal Forearm for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: AJ Styles
Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and Doudrop will be interviewed coming up next.
Video: WWE 2K22 trailer
-Commercial Break-
Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and her opponent at the Royal Rumble, Doudrop, are shown on split-screen. Jimmy Smith addresses Doudrop first, so Lynch gets angry. Lynch has a story about a girl named Doudrop across the pond that idolized her. Lynch wants some gratitude for giving her this match. Doudrop says it’s going to be easy to break Lynch’s ribs. Lynch insults her, so Doudrop gets up and leaves. Lynch continues to talk until Doudrop barges into her dressing room and attacks her. Referees break it up.
The Mysterios are interviewed backstage. Rey Mysterio says he’s excited to be on the cover of WWE 2K22 but will be prouder when his son eventually is. Dominik says his legacy begins when he wins the Royal Rumble. Rey says that means his son will have to eliminate him. Dominik says after what Rey did last week, he’s the first one going over. Rey hopes he’s kidding.
The Street Profits make their entrance.
-Commercial Break-
Tag Team Match
The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) vs. The Mysterios (Rey and Dominik Mysterio)
Dominik Mysterio starts against Angelo Dawkins. Dominik takes him down with a hurricanrana and a top rope arm drag. Dawkins soon hits him with an elbow for a near fall. Dawkins sends him into the ropes, but Dominik hits a unique takedown to get him out of the ring. Rey holds the ropes open for Dominik to hit a suicide dive. Rey then hits Ford with a springboard moonsault. Ford knocks Rey over the top rope, but Dominik catches him. Ford then crushes The Mysterios with a somersault senton!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Dawkins grounding Dominik with a chin lock. Dominik eventually fights up and hits a tornado DDT. Rey tags in, as does Ford. Rey takes it to Ford before Ford hits a flapjack. Ford hits a rolling big splash for a near fall. Rey comes back with a kick to the face. Dominik lifts his father into a hurricanrana on Ford. They go for a double 619, but Dawkins pulls Dominik out of the ring. Rey knocks Ford into the ropes and goes for a 619, but Ford blocks it. Ford puts Rey in the electric chair, but Rey counters with a victory roll for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The Mysterios
The Mysterios celebrate their victory in the ring. Dominik goes to dump his father over the top rope, but Rey counters into a head-scissor to eliminate his son! Ford eliminates Rey, and Dawkins eliminates Ford. The Dirty Dawgz then eliminate Dawkins. The Mysterios and The Street Profits then attack The Dirty Dawgz and eliminate them.
We’ll hear from Seth “Freakin” Rollins next.
-Commercial Break-
Video: SmackDown Recap
Seth “Freakin” Rollins says he likes to deliver his messages in person and will see Roman Reigns this Friday on SmackDown.
The commentators run down the loaded Royal Rumble card for this Saturday.
The Miz makes his entrance. Maryse’s birthday celebration is next.
-Commercial Break-
Maryse’s Birthday Celebration
The Miz is in the ring and introduces his wife to celebrate her birthday. Security is in front of the ring. Maryse makes her entrance. There are pictures of their family in the ring. Miz tells her to open her first gift. There’s a painting of Miz and Maryse dressed as a king and queen. Maryse is in love with it and says she feels more special than the day she had her children. The second gift is a bejeweled bag.
There’s a box large enough to fit a human inside of it. Maryse wants to open that gift, but Miz doesn’t know where it came from. They’re nervous and call security to open it. Inside is the brick Maryse hit Beth Phoenix with last week. They laugh. Miz says they’ll always be a step ahead of Edge and Beth Phoenix.
Video: Maryse hits Beth Phoenix with a loaded purse last week.
Miz says it’s time to sing “Happy Birthday,” but the crowd boos. Miz has the music play and sings offkey.
Edge and Beth Phoenix interrupt. Edge says Miz and Maryse played this well, but they stepped in it after what they did last week. Edge and Phoenix charge the ring absolutely annihilate the security at ringside with clotheslines and body slams. They chase Miz and Maryse out of the ring. Phoenix and Edge each hit Spears on the guards. Edge and Phoenix hit a security guard with a Hart Attack and another with a 3D. Edge then powerbombs the security guard through a table and the birthday cake. Miz and Maryse run off furious.