WWE Monday Night RAW
January 9, 2023
Legacy Arena
Birmingham, AL
Welcome to our live coverage of Monday Night RAW, which is emanating from Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL. Announced is an update from the unexplained actions of Alexa Bliss after her attack on Bianca Belair in last weeks RAW Women’s Championship match. We will also hear from United States Champion Austin Theory to tell us what his plans are headed towards The Royal Rumble. All of this and more tonight on Monday Night RAW!
Kevin Owens opened the show with the crowd chanting K.O. Owens said he will be challenging Roman Reigns at The Royal Rumble. JBL appeared at the top of the ramp and ran down Birmingham. He said he is introducing the only man who has the only pinfall victory over Reigns in the last three years, Baron Corbin. Corbin said if he is in the Royal Rumble, he will go to WrestleMania and beat Reigns again. Owens challenged Corbin to a match right now.
Kevin Owens vs Baron Corbin
Corbin gave Owens a devastating chokeslam on the ring apron as we go to the first commercial break. We return to the break to find Owens in control and gave Corbin a Cannon Ball in the corner. Corbin hit the D6 but Owens kicked out. After a few punches from Corbin, Owens hit the Stunner for the pinfall. After the match, Jey Uso came from the crowd to attack Owens. Jay Uso quickly joined in. Solo Sikoa then appeared and it was a three on one attack on Owens. Owens got a few punches in, but Sikoa superkicked him. Owens got back up hitting all three members of the Bloodline with a steel chair to send them back up the ramp.
When we return from the commercial break, we will get an update on the condition of Bianca Belair.
We’re back from the break. Adam Pearce was in the back with The Bloodline. They said that was a message from The Tribal Chief. Adam Pearce said tonight there will be a tag team tourmoil match and the winners will be the first ones to get their hands on them and maybe win the RAW Tag Team Titles. Pearce told the Usos they are going but Sikoa is staying as he has a match with Dolph Ziggler. Pearce said that he took care of Owens as he is out of here and he understands the ramifications if he sticks his nose in the Sikoa-Ziggler match.
We return to the arena as Alexa Bliss cuts an interview standing on top of the announcer’s table. She said because she busted her Bianca Belair’s face open a week ago, she decided to run and hide. She knows it’s not Bray Wyatt or Uncle Howdy, but rather, her that she’s afraid of because she is the face of evil. She said she hasn’t felt this good in a long time because she finally has taken control and she’s in charge. She said she will take the RAW Women’s Championship. Uncle Howdy appeared on the Titan Tron. He then appeared at the top of the ramp as we go to a commercial break.
Bayley vs Michim
Before the match started, Bayley said Becky Lynch is jealous of the bond Damage Control has because Lynch has no friends and that Lynch isn’t here tonight because she can’t stand that she lost to her. Bayley gave IYO SKY and Io Shirai the night off and they can go to the back. Michim gave Bayley a kick to the shoulder outside the ring as we head to the commercial break.
We are back from the break. Bayley gave Michim a suplex outside of the ring. Bayley got a backslide on Michim with her feet on the ropes to score the pinfall.
At the announcer’s table, Kevin Patrick told us that Johnny Gargano will not be in action as he has a Grade 2 AC-Sprain
In the back, Candace LeRae said Johnny is bummed that he can’t compete in the tag team turmoil match, but he will be back at 100%. LeRae said she wants to win the Royal Rumble and go to WrestleMania when Rhea Ripley showed up. Ripley ran down LeRae. LeRae said that they don’t have to wait until the Rumble and challenged her tonight. Ripley said that will make a great homecoming gift for Dominik watching Mommy squash her like a bug. Austin Theory is up next when we return from a commercial break.
We are back and we see that it will be Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, The Street Profits, Finn Balor and Damian Pries, and Otis and Chad Gable will compete in the Tag Team Turmoil match with the winner to get a shot at the RAW Tag Team Championship.
Austin Theory came to the ring, raised his United States belt, and said, ‘The champ is here.’ He asked where Seth Rollins is. The crowd started chanting, ‘What’, followed by ‘We want Rollins.’ He said Rollins was taken to school by Austin ‘Freakin’ Theory. This brought out Rollins who was on crutches. Rollins got in the ring and Theory told Rollins he surpassed him and will win The Royal Rumble and go on to headline WrestleMania and walk out not only the United States Champion, but also the Undisputed Universal Champion. Rollins said his knee is not 100%, but will be just in time for him to win the Royal Rumble and main event WrestleMania. Rollins called Theory, ‘Kid’, handed him the crutch and started to walk up the ramp. This brought out Bobby Lashley. He walked by Rollins, headed to the ring, and speared Theory. He then threw Theory out of the ring and said it doesn’t matter who’s in the Rumble because he’s back from his suspension and he can’t wait to manhandle every Superstar in the Rumble. Up next after the commercial break is Candice LeRae vs Rhea Ripley.
Candice LeRae vs Rhea Ripley
Somewhat competitive match until the action went outside the ring. Ripley slammed LeRae against the ringside barrier. Ripley threw LeRae back in the ring and gave her the Riptide and pinned her.
In the locker room, Byron Saxton was about to interview Bobby Lashley when MVP came in and toldy Bryon that he and Lashley have business to discuss. MVP offered Lashley his hand, but Lashley didn’t shake it. MVP said tensions are still high, but he thought Lashley would thank him for getting him reinstated to RAW. Lashley told him he appreciates him. MVP asked him if we’re good. Lashey said that he hasn’t punched him in the face. MVP told Lashley that he’s trying to mend fences and that mistakes were made, but he should know this works best when they’re all on the same page. MVP said he’s trying to get Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander the mistakes they made. Lashley said he’s not going to forget what went down between us. Lashley said we’re good, but it’s not happening now. MVP told him ok and to run his business the way he sees fit, but if at some point he decides to expand that business, his number is the same.
Back from the commercial break, Money in the Bank is announced for Saturday, July 1st in London, England at The O2 arena.
Video recap of Cody’s injury and match at Hell in Cell. Cody said he thought he was bulletproof because he never had an injury before his torn pec. He said nobody could have kept him from going to the ring with his injury at Hell in a Cell. He said he is proud of the match, but he can’t watch it back. They showed footage of the operation with Brandi Rhodes looking in from the outside of the room. Cody said he knows the road begins now.
Dolph Ziggler backstage said that The Bloodline went too far and that he will get revenge and payback. Mustafa Ali interrupted and said that he just came from Pearce’s office. Pearce told him that he offered Ziggler a chance to be in the Tag Team Turmoil match, but Ziggler declined. Ziggler said it’s not personal. Ali said he owes him because he cost him the United States Championship and now he’s costing him an opportunity at the tag titles. When we come back from the commercial break, it’s Ziggler vs Sikoa.
Backstage, Bronson Reed why he helped The Miz in the winner take all Ladder match. Before he could answer, The Miz asked Bronson Reed as a friend to appear on Miz TV. Reed said there is no us and if he wants something, he needs to pay him.
Solo Sikoa vs Dolph Ziggler
The announcers stressed several times that Sikoa is undefeated. Ziggler hit the Zig-Zag on Sikoa for a near fall. Ziggler went for the superkick, but Sikoa bloked it. Ziggler then went for the famouser, but Sikoa caught him, brought him up on his shoulders, and threw him down into his Samoan Spike and pinned him. The Usos came down to celebrate with Sikoa.
Backstage, Bayley was being interviewed when Michin showed up. Michim told Bayley that she is a fraud and a cheat. Damage Control then jumped Michim and left her laying
Next up is Miz TV with Judgment Day. Dominik was there to talk about what prison life was like when he got locked up. Dominik said when life comes at you with crazy changes, you have to grab it by the balls, kind of like what Maryse does to him. The Miz pointed out that he was only held in prison for two hours. Judgment Day all stood up and was mad at Miz for saying that. Miz said maybe he was misinformed. When it seemed like they were going to go against the Miz, Gallows and Anderson’s music hit and the tag team turmoil match will start after the commercial break.
Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows vs Damian Priest and Finn Balor
Gallows got the pump handle slam on Balor, but Balor kicked out. Gallows made the tag to Anderson. Anderson went to hit the ropes, but Dominik outside the ring tripped him by hooking his leg. Balor then rolled up Anderson for the pinfall.
Damian Priest and Finn Balor vs Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander
Alexander hit the Neurolizer on Priest, but Priest kicked out. He followed it with a dropkick. He then went for a running knee in the corner where Priest was, but Priest caught him and set him up for the chokeslam. While Priest had him up, Balor made the tag, Priest finished the chokeslam, Balor gave him the coup de grace and pinned him.
Damian Priest and Finn Balor vs (The Alpha Academy) Otis and Chad Gable
Otis hit the Caterpillar on Priest. Balor jumped off the top rope and Balor powerslammed him. Otis went to the second rope to give Balor a splash, but Balor caught Gable and held him on top of him. Otis came off the top rope, not knowing Gable was on top of Balor, and Otis splashed Gable. Priest hit Otis with a clothesline for the pinfall. After the match, The Judgment Day was outside the ring with the doctors and Adam Pearce checking on the injured Balor. The doctors said that Balor is unable to continue. Adam Pearce said that they will either have to forfeit the match or have Dominik take his place
Damian Priest and Dominik vs The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford)
Ford did a flying dive over the turnbuckle on to Priest who was on the floor. Ford then climbed to the top rope and did 450 splash onto Dominik, but Priest pulled him off. Dominik then rolled up Ford and pinned him using the ropes for leverage to become the number one contenders to the Tag Team championship. The Usos then came out and had a staredown with Judgment Day as the show went off the air.
