Show: RAW
Location: Columbus, OH at the Nationwide Arena
Date: January 18th, 2016
Airing Live On The USA Network
Welcome to the WWE Raw pre-show, and we are live on the WWE Network. Scott Stanford, Booker T Corey Graves and David Otunga welcome us into the show. They hype what we will see tonight, which is Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman appearing on Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel. Also, we will find out who will be the first entrant in the Royal Rumble match. There is a recap video of last week’s episode of Raw. The panel discusses the recent feud between Kevin Owens and Dean Ambrose.
Welcome to WWE Monday Night Raw, there is a Martin Luther King Jr. video package shown. Roman Reigns walks down to the ring to kick off the show. Reigns cut a promo about the Royal Rumble. HE said tonight is all about Brock Lesnar because he’s ready to finish what was started last week. Instead, Chris Jericho walks out. Jericho said that he would be interview Lesnar later tonight. Reigns said no disrespect, but he’s not Lesnar. Jericho said that he has an idea, and that idea is to have Lesnar and Reigns on his segment. Reigns said that he is fine with that and that he would be there. The League of Nations come out. Sheamus said that the Rumble match is not all about Lesnar and Reigns. Sheamus said that the group plans on getting the WWE Title this Sunday. Sheamus mocked Jericho for what he was wearing. Sheamus was insulted that the LON were not invited to Jericho’s segment. Jericho said that he doesn’t want Sheamus on his show because it would be boring. Del Rio cut a Spanish promo then Jericho called him a jackass. Jericho said he doesn’t want Del Rio on his show either. Rusev then started to talk about his upbringing and how bad it was. Rusev promised that one of the LON would win the Rumble match. Jericho said that Reigns won the Rumble match last and threw out Rusev to do so. Rusev threatens to come down there and attack them. Reigns said he is not busy right now and would love to shut up Rusev now. This led to a match. Jericho mentioned that he would be the special guest referee for that match.
-Commercial Break-
Roman Reigns vs. Rusev with Chris Jericho as the Special Guest Referee
They lock up to begin the match. Reigns hit a right hand then a DDT for 2. Reigns was distracted by Sheamus and Rusev caught him with a heel kick.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with Rusev in control of Reigns. Rusev locked in a headlock and Reigns fought out of it. Reigns hit a series of clotheslines then a powerbomb for 2. Reigns went for the Superman Punch, but Sheamus pulled Reigns out of the ring and into the barricade while Jericho was distracted. Jericho threw Sheamus out and sent him to the back. Jericho also tossed Del Rio and Barrett to the back. Reigns got back in the ring and hit a Superman Punch to Rusev then a spear for the win.
Winner: Reigns
-Commercial Break-
Chris Jericho and Stephanie McMahon are shown talking backstage. Jericho said he wishes it was 1999 again because she was more fun then. She was upset that he made a change to the Highlight Reel segment.
Singles Match: Brie Bella vs. Natalya with Paige.
Brie tripped her and landed a knee strike to the face of Brie for 2. Natalya fought back and won with the Sharpshooter for the win.
Winner: Natalya
-Commercial Break-
Six-Man Tag team Match: Ryback and The Dudleys vs. The Wyatt Family
Both teams battled then got tags to each other. Quick tags early in the match. Rowan tossed Devon in the corner then hit him with a wheel kick. The Wyatts then beat down Devon. Moments later, Devon got the hot tag to Ryback, who cleared the ring. Ryback hit a series of clotheslines to Harper. Bubba hit a big boot then got the tag and hit a slam for 2. Rowan broke it up, and a brawl broke out. The Dudleys hit a reverse 3-D on Harper for 2. They then went for the 3-D, but Rowan took out Devon. Bubba took him out, and Harper hit a big boot then a clothesline to Bubba for the win.
Winners: Wyatts.
-Commercial Break-
Social Outcasts cut a promo about winning the Royal Rumble.
Singles Match: Heath Slater vs. Big Show.
Show hit the KO Punch for the win. Super short match.
Winner: Big Show.
Post-match, the Social Outcasts tried to attack The Big Show, but he fought them off and stood tall in the ring.
Stephanie McMahon is talking with the LON backstage. She told them to prove to her that they’re not scared of anyone and appear on the Highlight Reel tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Vince and Stephanie McMahon walks out to the ring for the drawing of the first entrant in the Royal Rumble match. The two hype it could be by saying that it could be Lesnar, Sheamus, or someone that the fans has not been seen before. The first entrant is…Roman Reigns. Vince wanted to pick again and did so. The next pick was Reigns again. For a third time, they picked again to make sure it was legit and once again it was Reigns. Vince promised that after Sunday, Reigns will not be number one.
-Commercial Break-
Singles Match: Becky Lynch vs. Tamina with Charlotte and Ric Flair on commentary.
They lock up, and Tamina hit her with a superkick. Tamina locked in a headlock then hit a clothesline. Lynch fought back with a series of strikes then a clothesline followed by a dropkick. Lynch with a series of strikes in the corner then a drop kick and leg drop. Lynch went for the Disarmer for the win.
Winner: Lynch.
Lynch cut a promo after the match about needing an answer for her challenge against Charlotte at the rumble. Charlotte said that Lynch lost her last title match and needs to get to the back of the line. Lynch called her a cheater and that’s the only reason she won her matches. Lynch said that Ric Flair never backed away from a challenge, but maybe the apple fell far from the tree. Lynch then called Flair a coward. Flair said that Charlotte already beat her once, and she’ll do it again at the Rumble.
-Commercial Break-
Tag Team Match: Kalisto and Dean Ambrose vs. Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus
Del Rio and Kalisto start things off. Del Rio knocked him down then put the boots to him. Moments later, Ambrose got the hot tag and hit a bulldog to Del Rio. Ambrose missed a drop kick but did hit a neck breaker. Ambrose clotheslines Del Rio to the floor and hit a dive through the ropes. Del Rio fought back and sent Ambrose into the barricade. Back in the ring, Sheamus hit Ambrose with a knee strike followed by Del Rio hitting a drop kick. Ambrose fought back and clotheslined Sheamus to get the hot tag to Kalisto. he hit a series of kicks to Sheamus then a big head kick. Kalisto ducked a kick and hit a botched DDT followed by the selena del sol for 2. Ambrose and Del Rio fought to the floor. Back in the ring, Kalisto went for his finisher, but it was blocked, and Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick for the win.
Winner: Del Rio and Sheamus.
-Commercial Break-
Eight-Man Tag Team Match: Neville, Titus O’Neil, R-Truth, and Mark Henry vs. The Ascension, Stardust, and Tyler Breeze.
Titus and Konnor started off the match. He fended off Konnor then hit a slam to the legal man Viktor. Neville was tagged in, but at a strike by Viktor. Truth was tagged in but ate a superkick by Breeze. Konnor locked in a headlock on Truth, which he would fight out of with a DDT. Neville got the hot tag, kicked Breeze in the face and hit the Red Arrow for the win.
Winners: Neville, Titus O’Neil, R-Truth, and Mark Henry
-Commercial Break-
Chris Jericho is in the ring hyping the Royal Rumble before being interrupted by Paul Heyman. This led to Heyman walking out and reminding that Lesnar destroyed Jericho when they last wrestled. Heyman said that Lesnar is not focused on Jericho, but rather Reigns. Jericho praised Lesnar for being such a beast, but he also has a lot of enemies and will have to face those enemies in the Rumble match. Jericho asked if Heyman tried to get Lesnar out of the match because he feels that Lesnar cannot win. Heyman reminded that Lesnar was never defeated for the WWE Title. Heyman thinks that Lesnar should have had a guaranteed WWE Title match at WrestleMania 32. Heyman said that Lesnar is a box office attraction and will fight anyone in the Rumble match. Heyman said that Lesnar would turn the match into Suplex City. Jericho asked what will happen if he throws Lesnar out of the match and wins it. This led to Lesnar walking down to the ring with Heyman looking concerned. Heyman left the ring when Lesnar entered it. Roman Reigns also walked down to the ring. This led to the League of Nations running down, and a brawl broke out. Lesnar started to suplex the LON then an f-5 to Del Rio. Reigns hit Lesnar with a spear. The Wyatt Family then come out and attack Reigns. Harper hit Lesnar with a big boot while Rowan took out Lesnar with a wheel kick and Strowman with a clothesline. Bray Wyatt would hit Lesnar with Sister Abigail to close the show.
