WWE RAW Results: January 18, 2016By Cassidy| January 19, 2016 WWE Raw Previous Page Detailed Results After getting laid out with the F-5 by Brock Lesnar on last week’s RAW, RAW kicks off with the man who will be forced to put the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the line in the Royal Rumble Match this Sunday night, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns. The champion says that he will be the first Superstar in history to defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the Royal Rumble Match. Roman then says that, tonight, there’s one man he cares about and that is Brock Lesnar before the champion calls out “The Beast”. However, Roman does not get Lesnar as, instead, he gets another Royal Rumble Match participant as Chris Jericho makes his way to the ring. Reigns says that he’s glad that Jericho is back, but Jericho is not Brock Lesnar and that is who he wants in the ring right now. Jericho says that Lesnar will be in the ring later in the night when “The Beast” is a guest on The Highlight Reel. Jericho then says that he has a “proposition” for the champion, suggesting that they have three of the favorites to win the Royal Rumble Match in the ring at the same time, inviting Roman Reigns to be a guest on The Highlight Reel in addition to Brock Lesnar. The champion gladly accepts this invite, saying that if Lesnar is going to be there, then he will be there. The League of Nations then interrupt the proceedings as Sheamus, Rusev, King Barrett, & United States Champion Alberto Del Rio come out to the stage. Sheamus asks when the Royal Rumble Match became about Roman Reigns versus Brock Lesnar, saying that there are 28 other competitors in the Royal Rumble Match, including The League of Nations. Sheamus then says that one of them intends on taking back what is theirs and that is the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Sheamus then asks how Jericho can have The Highlight Reel featuring the favorites to win the Rumble and not include The League of Nations, calling the decision “stupid”. Jericho says that he doesn’t want Sheamus on The Highlight Reel because he wants the show to be “entertaining”. Del Rio then speaks up, saying that Jericho would not understand because he’s never won a Royal Rumble Match. The United States Champion then reminds everyone that he won the biggest Royal Rumble Match in history, saying that if anyone deserves to be on The Highlight Reel, it’s him. Jericho responds by saying that he just doesn’t feel like having Del Rio on The Highlight Reel. Rusev then steps up, saying that, in Bulgaria, every day is a “rumble”, saying that his trainer used to throw a steak in the middle of the ring so he could “fight to eat”. Rusev then says that it doesn’t matter how many Superstars there are in the Rumble because one of them is going to win. Jericho then reminds Rusev that Roman Reigns won the Rumble last year and the competitor he eliminated last was none other than “The Bulgarian Brute” himself. Jericho then says that, when it matters, Rusev “comes up just a little short”. An irate Rusev begins to shout at Roman Reigns, but the champion cuts him off, saying that he’s not meeting up with Brock Lesnar until later in the evening, challenging Rusev to a one-on-one match right now! Rusev’s League of Nations cohorts then accompany Rusev to the ring so Jericho adds the stipulation that he will be the Special Referee for the match! The opening match of the night would be an impromptu match as WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns would go one-on-one with “The Bulgarian Brute” Rusev, with his League of Nations cohorts Sheamus, King Barrett, & Alberto Del Rio in his corner, and Chris Jericho serving as the Special Referee. During the match, Roman Reigns would size Rusev up for the Superman Punch, but Alberto Del Rio would get on the ring apron, distracting Chris Jericho while Sheamus pulls Reigns out of the ring, tossing him into the barricade. Jericho then turns around to see Sheamus standing over Roman and the Special Referee would put the pieces together and Jericho would eject Sheamus from ringside! Jericho would then get back into the ring to officiate, but King Barrett would get on the ring apron, arguing with Jericho, so the referee would eject Barrett as well! Del Rio then makes the same mistake that King Barrett made and, as a result, gets the same treatment as the United States Champion is eject as well! Behind Jericho’s back, Rusev was sizing up the Special Referee, but Reigns would intervene, catching Rusev with the Superman Punch and following it up with the Spear, pinning Rusev for the win. Backstage, Chris Jericho is confronted by WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon, who takes issue with Jericho making matches without her approval. Stephanie says that, when Jericho makes changes to an advertised promotion like The Highlight Reel, then the responsibility falls on her to make sure it goes smoothly. Stephanie then says that, now, she has to go negotiate with Paul Heyman and has to pay Brock Lesnar even more. Stephanie then admits that having both Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar on The Highlight Reel is “best for business” and Jericho responds by saying that he kind of knows what he’s doing. Stephanie then tells Jericho that, if he ever messes with her show again, she will make sure that Jericho is “never, ever the same again”. RAW would feature the return of two Divas as Natalya would return to action and, with former rival Paige in her corner, Natalya would go one-on-one with Brie Bella, with Alicia Fox in her corner. In the end, it was Natalya locking in the Sharpshooter, making Brie Bella tap out to pick up the win. After being put through tables by The Wyatt Family on SmackDown, The Dudley Boyz would join forces with “The Big Guy” Ryback to face The Wyatt Family’s Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, & Erick Rowan, with Braun Strowman in their corner, in a 6-Man Tag match on RAW. At the end of a wild match, it was Luke Harper catching Bubba Ray with a super kick, following it up with the Discus Clothesline, pinning Bubba Ray to pick up the win for his team. The largest participant in the Royal Rumble Match this Sunday was in action on RAW as “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show would face one of The Social Outcasts, Heath Slater, with Adam Rose, Bo Dallas, & Curtis Axel in his corner. It was an easy win for the giant as it would not take long for Big Show to level Heath Slater with the Knockout Punch before pinning Slater for the win. After the match, Big Show would single-handedly dismantle The Social Outcasts, knocking out Curtis Axel, Adam Rose, and Bo Dallas in succession. Backstage, Stephanie McMahon confronts The League of Nations’ Sheamus, King Barrett, & Alberto Del Rio, talking up the past accomplishments of the three Superstars before suggesting that they were “scared” of Chris Jericho. Sheamus says that they are not afraid of anyone and Stephanie encourages them to “prove it”. WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon and his daughter, WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon, would then make a special appearance on RAW as The McMahons would spin the tumbler to reveal who will enter this Sunday’s Royal Rumble Match at the unenviable #1 spot. Stephanie says that, to defeat 29 other competitors, it takes “strength” and a “lot of luck” and Mr. McMahon chimes in, saying that he won the Royal Rumble Match in 1999 and that was “no luck”. Stephanie responds by calling her father an “unbelievable human specimen”. Flattered, the Chairman suggests that they find out who will be entering the Rumble Match at #1. Stephanie then spins the tumbler before Mr. McMahon reaches in to grab a name. However, the container holding the name would not open so the Chairman would grab a second ball and, after not being able to open that one either, McMahon has his daughter open it as Stephanie does so with ease. Unsurprisingly, Stephanie reveals that the name they pulled out of the tumbler was none other than “Roman Reigns”. The Chairman admits that it might be quite the “coincidence”, suggesting they do the whole thing over. Stephanie then puts the ball back in the tumbler before spinning it again. McMahon would then pull another container, but the same problem would persist as the Chairman was unable to open any of the containers and would try a couple of them before again having Stephanie do the honors. The ruse then becomes clear as Stephanie again reveals the name to be “Roman Reigns”. The tumbler is then spun again and, this time, McMahon is able to open the container with Stephanie predictably pulling Roman Reigns’ name for a third time. The Chairman then announces that Roman Reigns will be entering the Rumble Match at #1, but, after this Sunday, Roman will no longer be #1 in WWE. Divas Champion Charlotte and her two-time Hall of Fame father Ric Flair would then be seated at ringside as Charlotte’s former best friend Becky Lynch would go one-on-one with Tamina, with Naomi in her corner. In the end, it was Becky Lynch locking in the Dis-Arm-Her, making Tamina tap out to pick up the win. After the match, Becky Lynch says that nothing would mean more to her than winning the Divas Championship at the Royal Rumble, challenging Charlotte to put her title on the line this Sunday. The Divas Champion says that Becky earned a title match and she lost that title match, but Becky reminds Charlotte that the only reason she lost was because of Charlotte’s “title match-stealing, obnoxiously wooing father” Ric Flair. Charlotte shouts back that her father is a two-time Hall of Famer and Becky asks what Flair’s fellow Hall of Famers would think if they saw his daughter denying her a rematch for the title. Becky continues, saying that Flair “never backed down” from a challenge before saying that the “apple fell far from the tree” and saying that, maybe, Flair has become as much of a “coward” in his old age as his daughter. This gets the two-time Hall of Famer out of his seat and, much to the surprise of Charlotte, Flair says that Charlotte has already beaten Becky twice and, this Sunday, the third time will be the “charm” before “The Nature Boy” accepts the rematch on his daughter’s behalf! Charlotte and her father then leave the ringside area, arguing on their way to the back as Becky celebrates in the ring, having manipulated Ric Flair into getting another shot at the Divas Championship. With his challenger at the Royal Rumble, Kevin Owens, a guest on commentary, Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose would team with Kalisto to face The League of Nations’ Sheamus & United States Champion Alberto Del Rio, with King Barrett in their corner, in tag team action. During the match, a face-off between Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens on the outside would give Alberto Del Rio the opening to deliver a kick to the head of Ambrose. Meanwhile, in the ring, Sheamus would counter the Salida del Sol, scoring with the Brogue Kick and pinning Kalisto to pick up the win for his team. Before The Usos challenge The New Day for the WWE Tag Team Titles this Sunday at the Royal Rumble, Jey Uso, with Jimmy Uso in his corner, would go one-on-one with WWE Tag Team Champion Big E, with Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston in his corner. In the end, it was a distraction from Xavier Woods that would allow Big E to take advantage as Big E hits the Big Ending, pinning Jey Uso for the win. Eight of the thirty participants in the Royal Rumble Match this Sunday were in action on RAW as Neville, R-Truth, Titus O’Neil, & Mark Henry would face Stardust, Tyler Breeze, & The Ascension in an 8-Man Tag match. In the end, it was Mark Henry flattening Tyler Breeze with the World’s Strongest Slam, followed up with the Red Arrow from Neville, who pins Breeze to pick up the win for his team. Then it was time for potentially the biggest edition of The Highlight Reel in WWE history as Chris Jericho would welcome his guests, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and “The Beast” Brock Lesnar. Before introducing his guests, Chris Jericho says that the top three favorites to win the Royal Rumble Match will all be in the ring at the same time. However, before Jericho can do the proper introductions, he is interrupted by Brock Lesnar’s advocate Paul Heyman. Jericho impatiently asks Heyman about his client’s whereabouts with Heyman assuring Jericho that “The Beast” will be there. Heyman then reminds Jericho of his last run-in with Brock Lesnar, but Heyman says that Lesnar is not focused on Jericho tonight, he is focused on WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns. Jericho then brings up Heyman’s failure to get Lesnar his desired main event spot at WrestleMania without having to enter the Royal Rumble Match. Jericho continues, saying that Brock is a “conqueror” and is, probably, the most “physically dominating performer” in WWE history. Jericho then suggests that Lesnar has made a lot of “enemies” and a lot of those enemies will likely be gunning for Lesnar in the Royal Rumble Match. Jericho then asks the advocate if Heyman tried to get Brock to WrestleMania without having to compete in the Royal Rumble Match because Heyman doesn’t like Brock’s “chances” in the Rumble. Heyman laughs off the accusation, saying that, at last year’s WrestleMania, Lesnar was never pinned or made to submit to lose the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and, in his mind, this fact should have entitled Lesnar to a championship match at this year’s WrestleMania. Heyman continues, saying that, in addition to The Authority’s “intended victim” Roman Reigns, there are 28 other participants in the Royal Rumble Match, but there will be only one “Beast”. Heyman then says that Brock Lesnar will fight whoever is put in front of him and he will eliminate all of them, saying that Lesnar will turn the Royal Rumble into “Suplex City”. Jericho then closes in on Paul Heyman, asking what would happen if it came down to himself and Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble and what would happen if he throws Lesnar over the top rope to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. This brings out the first of Jericho’s two guests on The Highlight Reel as “The Beast” Brock Lesnar makes his way to the ring. In signature Brock Lesnar fashion, “The Beast” would walk around the ring, but before Lesnar can enter the ring, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns interrupts. The champion quickly makes his way through the crowd as Reigns joins Jericho in the ring, both men keeping a close eye on Brock Lesnar. Roman then symbolically lays the WWE World Heavyweight Title belt down in the ring before “The Beast” enters the ring. However, as soon as Brock Lesnar steps foot in the ring, he is blasted with a Spear from Reigns! The champion then begins to deliver right hands to Lesnar before The League of Nations gets involved with all four men focusing on beating down Roman Reigns. This would give Brock Lesnar the opportunity to get back to his feet as “The Beast” would first pick off Rusev, dropping “The Bulgarian Brute” with a suplex! Sheamus & Alberto Del Rio would then try to beat down Lesnar, but Brock would battle back, rattling Del Rio with a suplex before planting Sheamus with the F-5 before Lesnar turns right around into another Spear from Roman Reigns! With Roman the only one able in the ring, The Wyatt Family would appear, surrounding the champion on all sides. Roman would try his best to fight the odds, but a Discus Clothesline from Luke Harper would put Reigns down. Bray Wyatt then picks Reigns up, dropping the champion with Sister Abigail, but The Wyatt Family then turns their attention to a recovering Brock Lesnar. At the orders of Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper would catch Brock with a big boot, followed with a spinning heel kick from Erick Rowan and a big clothesline from Braun Strowman. Harper & Rowan then pick Lesnar for their leader before Bray Wyatt grabs “The Beast”, planting Brock face-first with Sister Abigail! Bray then screams that the Royal Rumble is his before kneeling next to the downed Brock Lesnar and shouting “follow the buzzards”! What did you think of this week’s RAW? Post your comments in the box below.
