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WWE RAW opened up with a tribute to the late Jon Huber, formerly known as Luke Harper in WWE. Various members of the roster continued to acknowledge Huber throughout the night. The final WWE RAW was filled with star-studded matches, including a huge clash between Sheamus and Keith Lee. The winner of this bout earned a shot at the WWE Championship.
Meanwhile, Shayna Baszler reestablished her dominance, and Charlotte Flair sought revenge in a match with Nia Jax. Elsewhere, The Miz still hoped that he’d get his Money in the Bank briefcase back. Ricochet continued to defy Mustafa Ali and Retribution. He took on the stable's leader in a match between two high-flying stars.
Finally, Alexa Bliss appeared for another episode of Alexa’s Playground, and the former WWE RAW Women’s Champion challenged Randy Orton to face her in the ring. The show ended with an explosive confrontation between the two enemies.
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This week's episode of WWE RAW was jam-packed with dynamic developments. Here's a look at five things WWE RAW got right on Monday night.
#5 The Miz got his Money in the Bank briefcase back on WWE RAW
The Miz faced Gran Metalik from the Lucha House Party on WWE RAW. Before the match, Lucha House Party made fun of The Miz. They called him delusional for thinking that he could convince the higher-ups to give him his Money in the Bank briefcase back.
This disrespect infuriated The Miz, and he took this frustration out on Metalik throughout the match. He even mocked Metalik, and this attitude allowed Metalik to stay in the fight.
"The King of the Ropes" rallied and took The Miz down with a shocking roll-up to gain the victory. "The A-Lister" was devastated by this stunning loss, but he got some good news near the end of the show.
Adam Pearce gave the Money in the Bank briefcase back to The Miz. The WWE official claimed that John Morrison cashed in at WWE TLC. As a result, the contract remained valid because The Miz didn't cash it in himself.
While The Miz continues to lose too many matches on WWE RAW, Metalik should benefit from this win over a former WWE Champion. On the other hand, regaining the Money in the Bank briefcase only helps "The A-Lister." With the briefcase back in his possession, The Miz will remain one of the red brand's most relevant stars heading into 2021.
#4 Elias got a match against AJ Styles on WWE RAW
Jaxson Ryker appeared backstage on WWE RAW alongside Elias. The musician was preparing for a performance, but AJ Styles and Omos were frustrated by the racket. Styles challenged Elias to a match, and the former WWE 24/7 Champion thrived in the spotlight.
Elias hasn’t pinned a Superstar in seven months. But in a match with one of the greatest performers in WWE, Elias held his own. Elias got a chance to shine, and he proved that he's more than a simple comedy wrestler.
Elias nearly defeated the former WWE Champion several times throughout the match. The ringside presence of Omos helped Styles take control of the match, as Elias was distracted by the big man. Eventually, "The Phenomenal One" rallied and hit his signature forearm for the win over "The Drifter."
This contest was a fun match that allowed Elias to compete against a top competitor. Heading into the new year, "The Drifter" should be in a better position on WWE RAW, and fans could watch him climb the ladder in the weeks to come.
#3 Mustafa Ali pushed Ricochet to the brink on WWE RAW
This week on WWE RAW featured a replay of Ricochet’s interview on RAW Talk. There, he explained that something about his career needed to change. Then, in a video message, Mustafa Ali again told "The One and Only" that he needed help, so he should join Retribution.
Ricochet was outmanned by the group's presence at ringside. It was a constant factor in this match, as T-Bar interfered right away. But Ricochet persevered, and he continued to fight. He almost single-handedly took down Ali and his stablemates.
Ricochet almost won the match with the Kickback, but Mace saved Ali from the pinfall. The former United States Champion tried to take down all the members of Retribution at ringside, but the numbers game proved to be his undoing.
Ali got his knees up just in time to avoid a Shooting Star Press. He then locked in the Koji clutch, and he made Ricochet pass out.
After the match, Ali told Ricochet to join Retribution. But Ricochet rejected the offer once again. This rivalry still has some steam left, but WWE will need add some excitement to it. Otherwise, the fans might start to permanently lose interest in Ali and his faction.
#2 Keith Lee earned a shot at the WWE Championship on WWE RAW
To kick off this week's episode of WWE RAW, Drew McIntyre discussed his potential challengers, Sheamus and Keith Lee. "The Celtic Warrior" then joined his friend to discuss why he Brogue Kicked Lee last week.
"The Limitless One" came to the ring, and after the three men exchanged some words, Sheamus once against Brogue Kicked Lee. Lee and Sheamus then clashed in a remarkable match.
"The Celtic Warrior" delivered yet another exceptional performance in the ring. But Lee was booked as the stronger man, as he kept no-selling several big moves from the former WWE Champion.
Sheamus showed off his own strength when he floored Lee with the White Noise. But Lee went on to win the match with the Spirit Bomb. As a result, Lee will face McIntyre for the WWE Championship next week. Lee's performance made him look like a main event player on the red brand.
While it seemed like AJ Styles would remain in the WWE Championship picture, Lee has replaced him as McIntyre's top contender. WWE is taking a gradual approach to the eventual rivalry between McIntyre and Sheamus. So Lee's victory was the right choice here. Next week's WWE Championship match should kick off 2021 on a strong note.
#1 Alexa Bliss stole the show on WWE RAW
"Alexa’s Playground" took center stage on WWE RAW, as Alexa Bliss invited Randy Orton to play with her. But "The Viper" opted to go to the Firefly Fun House instead. There, Orton attacked Bray Wyatt's puppets, hoping to deliver a violent warning to Wyatt and Bliss.
Bliss was upset by Orton's disrespect, so she challenged "The Viper" to face her in the ring. Bliss was incredible in this segment. Her performance, along with her cinematic acting, perfectly told the story WWE was trying to deliver.
Later in the show, Orton came out to the ring because he wanted Wyatt to show his face. Instead, Bliss brought a massive present into the ring. After she took out a can of gasoline and a book of matches, she dared Orton to set her on fire.
Bliss both surrounded and covered herself with gasoline. She begged Orton to burn her, but the lights went out. When they came back on, Orton smiled while he lit the match. He was seemingly ready to set Bliss on fire, but the lights went out again, so WWE RAW ended on a cliffhanger.
Orton and Bliss managed to make this storyline even more powerful with this dynamic segment. These two stars, along with Wyatt, are making their share of WWE RAW must-see programming every single week. This segment was a fantastic conclusion that left many viewers excited to see what happens next.
