The 01/14/19 edition of WWE Raw, out of the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, just wrapped up. We’ve got the WWE Raw results, as well as our overall thoughts on the show, for you to check out below. Let us know what you thought about episode #1338 of WWE Raw by tweeting us, @TheRumbleRamble.
Strowman Flips Out
This won’t only cost @BraunStrowman 💵…
— WWE (@WWE) January 15, 2019
He just LOST his #UniversalChampionship opportunity against @BrockLesnar at #RoyalRumble! #RAW pic.twitter.com/8EyDzdirmP
The Chairman of WWE, Vince McMahon, was shown exiting a pristine limousine (this detail will become important soon).
Inside, Braun Strowman opened the show by addressing The Beast (although Paul Heyman’s favorite client wasn’t present at the time). He said that he knew Lesnar has always been afraid of him and would get the Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble… after Lesnar got those hands.
Baron Corbin put a stop to a massive “get these hands” chant, to which Strowman responded by starting a “you got fired” chant. Corbin told The Monster to stop lying to the audience – they both knew Strowman could never beat Lesnar.
Strowman wasn’t going to take the insult lying down and took off at a sprint toward Corbin, prompting the former future permanent GM to run as fast as he could in the opposite direction. In the form of
Metal pipe in hand, Strowman first knocked a window out, then ripped a door off with his bare hands. Corbin took off again, but before Braun could take chase, Mr. McMahon approached with a less than pleased look on his face.
Vince insulted The Monster before telling him that he owed WWE $100,000. When Braun didn’t take it well, McMahon removed him from the match against Brock Lesnar as further punishment. In a fit of rage, Strowman flipped the limo to get back at The Chairman and was escorted from the arena shortly after.
Ronda Rousey and Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax and Tamina
😴😴😴 time for @NiaJaxWWE?#RAW @SashaBanksWWE pic.twitter.com/EdBmrJaycm
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 15, 2019
Ronda Rousey and Sasha Banks basically ran circles around Nia Jax and Tamina for the majority of the match. Banks used her agility to overtake Jax, while Rousey used her power and speed to cement their advantage.
Jax and Tamina had a brief surge of offense but were soon taken down once again, Sasha Banks ultimately tapping out Tamina with a Banks Statement.
Things took a turn for the worse during the post-match interview, however, when Ronda put her foot in her mouth, first by telling Charly that she would be tapping Banks out next Sunday, then calling her
An enraged Banks told Rousey that she would be the one to tap out come Royal Rumble weekend, and would see that Banks wasn’t someone to mess with. Rousey chased after her, attempting to apologize, but Banks wasn’t having it and brushed the champ off before marching backstage.
Winner: Sasha Banks and Ronda Rousey
Lucha House Party vs. The Revival
Throw on the party hats!#RAW @KalistoWWE @LuchadorLD @WWEGranMetalik pic.twitter.com/jA5GXvm1pr
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 15, 2019
Gran Metalik and Kalisto represented Lucha House Party in a fun match against The Revival. Following their unfortunate, unjust loss to Bobby Roode and Chad Gable last week, Dawson and Dash were intent on ending their losing streak. And with some hard work – and just a touch of foul play – they succeeded.
Winner: The Revival
Lesnar’s Opponent (Might Be) Revealed
That strut though…#RAW @VinceMcMahon pic.twitter.com/PTXHPITIJp
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 15, 2019
Since banning Braun Strowman from the Universal Championship match against Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble, Vince McMahon faced a constant barrage of superstars vying to take The Monster’s place.
Finally, McMahon revealed that he would be announcing his decision. Before he could speak, however, John Cena joined him. Cena reminded Vince that, years ago, he promised that he would eat sleep and breathe WWE, and to this day, has never broken it. Because of this, he asked McMahon for a chance at the Universal Championship.
Vince grinned at his golden
Baron Corbin and Finn Bálor joined to throw their hats in as well, and it was then that Vince finally spoke. He essentially told Bálor that he didn’t fit in with the rest of the “beefy” men – he was small and, therefore, could never beat Brock Lesnar.
In an attempt to prove the boss wrong, Bálor attacked all the other men in the ring but was eventually laid out by Drew McIntyre. Vince McMahon liked what he saw and announced that they would all face each other for a shot at Lesnar and his Universal Championship later in the evening.
Backstage, Jinder Mahal gave his list of reasons as to why he should be included in the conversation of Lesnar’s pay-per-view opponent. Vince agreed and gave him his choice of a match against any of the four men from the previous segment. If he was able to defeat the opponent, he would take that man’s place against Cena, McIntyre, and Corbin in the main event of the evening. And, to no one’s surprise, he chose Finn Bálor.
Bayley and Natalya vs. The Riott Squad
LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY LET NIKKI PLAY#RAW @NikkiCrossWWE pic.twitter.com/XOiJVi8cHQ
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 15, 2019
Earlier in the evening, Natalya and Bayley were arguing over who was in the right between Sasha Banks and Ronda Rousey, when they were approached by The Riott Squad and subsequently challenged to a match.
Instead of one Riott Squad member sitting out, a third member joined Bayley and Natalya – a debuting Nikki Cross! Nikki wasted no time proving her worth to her team, catching The Riott Squad off guard and demolishing all three members. The Riott Squad quickly got their feet back under them, however, and put the boots to Bayley, separating her from her corner.
The action evened out a bit more from here, all six members of the match doing their part to keep the victory from the opposing team. Nikki Cross showed off a bit more (which we thoroughly enjoyed) before assisting Bayley in a perfect landing of her diving elbow drop, finishing off Liv Morgan and taking the victory.
Winner: Bayley, Nikki Cross, and Natalya
Finn Bálor vs. Jinder Mahal
THIS is how The #ModernDayMaharaja @JinderMahal does things! #RAW pic.twitter.com/9QFfXu0bh3
— WWE (@WWE) January 15, 2019
As Finn Bálor made his way to the ring, he was viciously attacked by Jinder Mahal and Samir Singh. Bálor somehow managed to power through and agreed to move forward with the match.
Understandably, Mahal held the upper hand through much of the match, but Bálor was able to shift the momentum with a Pele kick to the face of the Maharaja.
After taking down Samir Singh for good measure, Bálor snagged the victory with a dropkick followed by a Coup de Grâce
Winner: Finn Bálor
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Bobby Lashley
Intercontinental Championship Match
THIS is why they call @fightbobby THE ALL MIGHTY. #RAW pic.twitter.com/epPpgGw89o
— WWE (@WWE) January 15, 2019
Seth Rollins attempted to get things off to a hot start but had barely got going when Dean Ambrose talked Bobby Lashley into a temporary alliance and the two worked together to put a beatdown on Rollins.
When Rollins refused to stay down, however, Ambrose changed his allegiance, working with Rollins to wear Lashley down. With Lashley out of the way, Rollins and Ambrose focused on each other, Rollins nearly defeating Ambrose, but Lio Rush broke up the pin.
Rollins and Ambrose put the smackdown on Rush, and Lashley tried to steal the win while they weren’t expecting
Winner: Bobby Lashley
A Moment of Bliss: Women’s Tag Championships
MAJOR NEWS on A #MomentOfBliss:
— WWE (@WWE) January 15, 2019
THREE teams from #RAW and THREE teams from #SDLive will step inside the Elimination Chamber in FIVE weeks to determine the first-ever @WWE Women’s #TagTeamChampions! #RAW pic.twitter.com/sU9uDyJnVA
In a slightly anticlimactic moment, Bliss unveiled the brand new Women’s Tag Team Championships. Although the moment could have been done better, the titles look amazing and will be up for grabs at Elimination Chamber. With the new titles on display, Bliss welcomed her guest for the evening, Paul Heyman, to join her.
Heyman said that, regardless of who won the main event of Raw, Brock Lesnar would be walking out of the Royal Rumble pay-per-view with the Universal Championship in hand. The Advocate proceeded to give a rundown on all of his client’s possible opponents – until he was interrupted by Otis Dozovic of Heavy Machinery. Luckily, his tag partner, Tucker Knight, was there to drag him away before he did anything too embarrassing.
Finn Bálor vs. John Cena vs. Baron Corbin vs. Drew McIntyre
“For what it’s worth, you got one more person that believes in you.”
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 15, 2019
ULTIMATE respect from @JohnCena to @FinnBalor. #RAW pic.twitter.com/o6nbhD6vhh
With a chance at the Universal Championship on the line, all four men came into the match guns blazing. Baron Corbin tried to gain the upper hand early, and was not only unable to do so, but was teamed up against by John Cena and Finn Bálor.
For a moment, it appeared that Drew McIntyre was going to beat down all of his opponents, but couldn’t maintain the momentum against the three of them for long. Disregarding their previous alliance, Cena hit Bálor with an AA from the top rope. Corbin stole the pin hoping it would be his ticket to the Rumble, but Bálor kicked out.
Out of frustration, Corbin grabbed a steel chair from ringside, beating down his opponents with it and once again attempting a pin on Bálor (which once again failed). Cena took Corbin out of the picture with an AA, then McIntyre floored Cena. Bálor took his opportunity to hit a Coup de Grâce on Cena, winning the match and the title shot against Brock Lesnar.
Post-match, John Cena told Bálor that he believed in him, and wished him luck against The Beast.
Winner: Finn Bálor
What letter grade would you give tonight's show? #RAW
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) January 15, 2019
