'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Seth Rollins, The Authors of Pain, and Buddy Murphy kicked off RAW and Seth Rollins said that everyone out there in the WWE Universe had played a part in making him who he is today. Seth describes how Buddy Murphy now stood on the right side of history, with a video package showing how he joined them last week.
Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens showed up and Seth proposed a 4 on 2 match but The Viking Raiders had a bone to pick with the AOP and they joined team KO. A brawl broke out and Seth and his cronies ducked out.
Segment rating: A
Backstage in a promo, Seth Rollins said he has had enough and they were challenging the Viking Raiders for their RAW Tag Team Titles. Rollins and Murphy would be facing Erik and Ivar tonight!
Andrade (c) vs. Rey Mysterio - Ladder Match for the United States Championship
Both men started on the outside, Andrade tried to get the ladder but it was kicked into his own mouth as Rey hit him with a low missile dropkick. Andrade caught Rey on the outside and dropped him. He perched him on the top rope inside the ring, with the ladder set up in the ring.
Andrade set up a ladder between the ropes and a ladder in the middle of the ring. They both went to the top rope. Rey tried to hit Andrade with a Hurricanrana on the ladder, but Andrade stopped him and hit him with a Powerbomb on the ladder.
Rey Mysterio hit the 619 and Andrade was down. Rey was climbing the ladder but Zelina was at the top of the ladder stopping him before she slapped Rey. The distraction was enough for Andrade to hit Rey with the Hammerlock DDT through the ladder set up bellow.
Andrade (c) vs. Rey Mysterio - Ladder Match for the United States Championship (contd...)
The ladder was broken in half and so was Rey. Andrade climbed the ladder slowly and then got the gold.
Result: Andrade def. Rey Mysterio to retain the United States Championship
Match rating: A+
Rate this match here.
Zelina dragged the padding off the concrete on the outside and Andrade set up Rey for the DDT. It appeared that there was a fan who jumped the barrier in a Rey Mysterio mask but then it turned out to be Humberto Carrillo and the heels retreated.
Aleister Black vs. Promotional talent
The match never got the chance to start. Aleister Black hit the Black Mass before anything else, ending the match and picking up the easy win.
Result: Aleister Black def. Promotional talent
Match rating: C
Rate this match here.
Brock Lesnar was out next and Paul Heyman said that Brock Lesnar was the one to defy all the odds week-in and week-out. He said that Lesnar will eliminate 29 others at the Royal Rumble. Ricochet came out to prove that he wasn't afraid of Brock and stepped in the ring.
Ricochet was looking for a fight but Brock ignored him and was walking out but returned to hit a low blow before making fun of him.
Segment rating: A
Randy Orton was backstage and said Drew McIntyre wasn't on-par with him in any way before walking out to the ring.
Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre charged at Randy on the outside but hit the timekeeper accidentally who was knocked off his chair. Randy Orton got back into the match with a sudden Dropkick taking out McIntyre.
AJ Styles and The OC attacked Randy as the match was in full swing and Randy used a steel chair to fend them off. AJ and Co. retreated the ring as Drew and Orton looked like they could partner up but Randy hit an RKO out of nowhere and left. Drew regretted not hitting the Claymore and vowed to defeat him in the Rumble.
Result: DNF
Match rating: B
Rate this match here.
In her backstage interview, Charlotte was interrupted by Becky Lynch, but declared that she will win the Women's Royal Rumble match this year.
Becky Lynch was out next and called out Asuka saying that she was ready for her, and the tag champs came out.
Becky Lynch vs. Kairi Sane
Becky punched Kairi in the throat as the match started but was distracted by Asuka on the outside and Kairi took advantage. Becky hit a top rope leg drop on Sane for a near-fall. She went for the Disarm-her, but Kairi gets free. She hit Kari with a Suplex but Kairi reversed it into a DDT.
Becky Lynch vs. Kairi Sane (contd...)
Becky hit a Bexploder and locked in the Dis-Arm-Her for the win. Asuka attacked her after the match and hit the Asuka lock, knocking her out.
Result: Becky Lynch def. Kairi Sane
Match rating: B
Rate this match here.
Viking Raiders (c) w/Kevin Owens & Samoa Joe vs. Seth Rollins & Buddy Murphy w/AOP - RAW Tag Team title match
Rollins and Murphy were in control early on and a brawl broke out outside the ring between AOP and KO-Joe. Ivar got the tag and went through his opponents like a semi-truck. The Raiders hit dives to the outside before they hit the Viking Experience on Murphy but Rollins broke the pin.
Erik was in and hit hit a powerbomb on Murphy but Rollins dropped Ivar from the top rope. Erik was in trouble and Rollins hit the stomp on the apron while the referee was distracted to win the match.
Result: Seth Rollins & Buddy Murphy def. Viking Raiders and befcame the new RAW Tag Team champions!
Match rating: A
Rate this match here.
Backstage, Rollins and team were ready for a party. He also announced that he will be entering the Royal Rumble match and will be looking to win two years in a row.
The Street Profits were back with a news update and cut to R-Truth who was at the Rumble venue but gave us nothing of use. Dawkins made fun of reboots and talked about Mandy and Otis before closing the segment.
Erick Rowan vs. Matt Hardy
Rowan was about to show what was in the cage to Hardy but it bit him in the hand. Rowan slammed the cage onto the steel steps before hitting the Iron Claw in the ring for the win.
Result: Erick Rowan def. Matt Hardy
Match rating: C
Rate this match here.
Owens and Joe were backstage and the two of them entered the Royal Rumble and their temporary alliance ended for now.
Mojo Rawley was in an interview when the Singh Bros tried to pin him but were wiped out instead.
Lana got on the mic before their match saying that the fans should be thanking her and Lashley while trashing on Liv and Rusev. Rusev and Liv were out next before the match began.
Bobby Lashley & Lana vs. Rusev & Liv Morgan
Morgan and Lana kicked us off and Liv was in control early on. Rusev came in and hit a huge suplex on Lashley before Lana interrupted him but Rusev was smart. Lana hit a cheap shot, letting Lashley get the advantage but Liv broke the pin.
Morgan took out Bobby with a cheap shot and Lana held Rusev back letting Lashley hit the spear and get the three-count.
Result: Bobby Lashley & Lana def. Rusev & Liv Morgan
Match rating: B
Rate this match here.
Episode rating: A
A good episode overall but the main event was disappointing. The Tag Title match, Randy vs. Drew and Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade stole the show.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
