Credit: WINC
– Tonight’s WWE RAW opens up on the USA Network live from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jimmy Smith welcomes us to a packed house. He’s joined at ringside by Corey Graves and Byron Saxton. Jimmy hypes the Road to the Royal Rumble.
– We go right to the ring and out comes RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch. The announcers hype tonight’s RAW line-up as Lynch hits the ring to pose for the crowd. We see how Lynch helped Doudrop win last week’s #1 contender’s Triple Threat for a title shot at the Royal Rumble, and how Lynch slapped Doudrop after the match but had her Man-Handle Slam blocked before retreating to the floor.
Lynch welcomes us to the Big Time. She says we’re less than 2 weeks from The Rumble and the RAW women’s division has never been hotter, and she’s responsible for that. The division is so hot we have stars from older generations coming back, including WWE Hall of Famers Lita and The Bella Twins, and Mickie James, all hoping they can win and then challenge Lynch at WrestleMania 38. Lynch says WWE needs her because she makes stars, just look at Doudrop. Lynch goes on about Doudrop and how she got Doudrop the title match because that’s what she does – she makes people better and then beats them. Lynch does admire Doudrop’s tenacity, but not really. She goes on but the music interrupts and out comes Doudrop.
Doudrop circles the ring and stares Lynch down before entering. Doudrop says Lynch didn’t get her anything, she got herself this title match at Royal Rumble, but if it was Lynch’s plan to face Doudrop instead of the others, then she’s made a big mistake. Doudrop warns Lynch to stay out of her way tonight. Lynch says if Doudrop follows her lead, she will get her another win this week. The music interrupts and out comes Bianca Belair.
Belair announces that she will be in The Rumble and says she will win again this year, like last year, and will go back to WrestleMania and just might challenge Lynch or Doudrop. Belair goes on until the music interrupts and out comes Liv Morgan. Morgan says she is also entering The Rumble, but she will be the one to win. Liv goes on with her promo but Doudrop drops a loud snore into the mic, saying Belair and Morgan are boring. Doudrop calls for a referee so she can shut them both up. The referee hits the ring and a scuffle breaks out as we go to commercial.
Becky Lynch and Doudrop vs. Bianca Belair and Liv Morgan
Becky nails the Man-Handle Slam out of nowhere for a close 2 count as Doudrop runs in and nails a splash to Liv and Becky to break kit up. Doudrop goes for a pin but she’s not legal. She goes over and lifts Becky’s arm to tag herself in. Doudrop then comes back over and hits the big splash to Liv for the pin to win.
Winners: Doudrop and Becky Lynch
– After the match, Doudrop goes to the second rope and nails the big Bonzai Drop to Lynch. We go to replays. Doudrop taunts Becky and talks some trash while she’s down.
– Reggie and WWE 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke are backstage with WWE Hall of Famers Edge and Beth Phoenix. Reggie asks Edge for some pointers against Omos tonight. Edge doesn’t think Reggie has a chance but he wishes him good luck. Beth tells Dana she’s so proud of her hard work, and the fact that she is a champion after working hard these years. Reggie runs off and Brooke chases after him. Beth and Edge walk away and Edge greets WWE United States Champion Damian Priest, who wants to pick Edge’s brain about the Royal Rumble Match. Edge is giving Priest some advice when a staffer walks up and hands a note to Phoenix. It’s a note from Maryse, who wants to meet her in the ring, woman-to-woman. She says that’s suspicious and Edge agrees. Edge says he’s coming with her. They walk off and Kevin Owens approaches Priest, saying he’s looking forward to their match tonight. Priest isn’t buying what Owens is saying, about looking forward to a good, clean match to show off their technical sides. Owens says he has an announcement to go make, so he will see Priest later.
– We go back to the ring and out comes Kevin Owens for another must see episode of The Kevin Owens Show. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and Owens is in the ring. He welcomes us to The Kevin Owens Show and says he would like to say he’s glad to be in Tulsa, but that would be a vile lie because this place is bad. Owens goes on and introduces his best friend, who will become WWE Universal Champion after defeating Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble. Owens continues with the grand introduction and out comes Seth Rollins.
We get a look back at what happened on SmackDown with Rollins and The Bloodline as he enters the ring. Owens takes the mic and welcomes Rollins, and goes on about how much he admires Rollins for his look, his suits, and also for how she went to SmackDown and confronted Reigns last week. Owens says Rollins is the guy who set The Table. Rollins says truth is – Reigns is rattled, a little nervous, and scared. Rollins goes on and says he’s playing chess while Reigns is playing checkers, and it will be like taking candy from a baby at the Royal Rumble if Reigns keeps it up.
Rollins reveals he will turn the WWE Universal Title back to red if he wins it. Owens and Rollins go on about the match until Owens has some big news to reveal. Owens announces his spot in the 30-Man Royal Rumble. Owens says he and Rollins get to give fans the biggest match ever, for the Universal Title. Rollins seems hesitant at first but they are on the same page when the music interrupts and out comes WWE United States Champion Damian Priest, telling them to shut up. Priest says not one person on the planet thinks Rollins can defeat Reigns at the Royal Rumble. Priest goes on with trash talking from the stage and says he just spoke with Sonya Deville and Adam Pearce, who ruled that their match starts right now. We go back to commercial.
Damian Priest vs. Kevin Owens
Owens fakes a knee injury before surprising Priest with a Stunner for the win.
Winner: Kevin Owens
– After the match, Owens quickly exits the ring and laughs as his music hits. Owens looks on from the ramp as Priest tries to recover in the ring.
– We see how Alpha Academy won the RAW Tag Team Titles from RK-Bro last week. We go back to the ring and “Pomp And Circumstance” plays, but this is no tribute to WWE Hall of Famer Randy Savage. New RAW Tag Team Champions Otis and Chad Gable appear on the ramp. They head to the ring for a special graduation ceremony as we go back to commercial.
– Back from the break and the announcers hype Bobby Lashley vs. Seth Rollins for tonight. We also see how Nikki A.S.H. turned heel on Rhea Ripley last week. Nikki is backstage with Sarah Schreiber now. She says she stands on her own now and feels great about the future and how everything went down. She blames Ripley for what happened last week, and says she should be down and out after what happened. Nikki says Ripley flushed their relationship down the drain. Nikki goes on and snaps at Schreiber for saying she caused the break-up last week, blaming it all on Ripley. Nikki also says she is the closest thing to a hero that the people of Tulsa will ever have. She says Almost Superheroes have to do things normal people don’t understand, and Ripley will realize she needs an Almost Superhero, whether she likes it or not.
We go back to the ring and RAW Tag Team Champions Alpha Academy are in the ring for a graduation ceremony. They’re wearing cap & gowns, and there’s a podium with some fake plants and their titles on display. Gable brags about his recent real-life graduation and then knocks the people of Oklahoma. Gable says tonight is about celebration, the celebration of not just an institution, but an individual. Gable says he could go on talking about his long list of achievements, but this is about a man who overcame the odds. He’s talking about his prized pupil, his protege – Otis. Gable is so proud of Otis. He talks about how Otis applied the final lessons from the master, and decimated Randy Orton and Riddle. Gable says tonight it is his esteemed honor and great pleasure to present to us… fans start chanting for RK-Bro. Gable goes on and presents Otis with the highest graduating honors. “Pomp and Circumstances” starts up again as Gable congratulates Otis. He steps up to the podium and thanks Gable, then says he has a warning to issue.
Otis says they will bring nothing but pure carnage to anyone who messes with their titles or the Alpha Academy. They’re never stopping and won’t stop… the music interrupts and out comes Riddle, also wearing a cap & gown. Riddle does some comedy and says he had to come out and give a very special speech, which he wrote at the breakfast buffet this morning. Riddle says it felt like just last week when he and Randy were champions, just a couple of young, wild stallions running free, but today is graduation day and their lives will change forever. He goes on but Gable yells at him, asking why he’s here and what he’s talking about. Gable knocks Riddle and the people of Oklahoma, and tells Riddle to be on his way. Riddle says he actually came out to say how proud he is of Alpha Academy, and their giant necks. Gable assumes Riddle is here for a rematch but he’s not even sure Riddle can define the word. Riddle struggles to define the word and tries some more comedy.
Riddle finally says a rematch sounds like a pretty sick idea. Gable says it’s no wonder Orton left Riddle high & dry. Gable laughs at Riddle for Orton leaving him and not being here tonight. Gable says Riddle has to prove he’s worthy for a rematch in an Academic Challenge. Gable says this will be a series of tests between the two teams, to prove which is superior mentally. Gable says they’ve already proved who is physically superior. Riddle goes on running his mouth and rambling. Otis has heard enough, and he’s ready to fight. He takes off his robe and slowly walks up the ramp, trash talking Riddle. Orton hits the ring out of nowhere and drops Gable with the RKO. Otis turns back to go to the ring but Riddle runs down to ringside and attacks him for a pop. Riddle hits the ring and helps Orton put on the cap & gown Otis previously had on. Orton says they accept the challenge while Otis is tending to Gable at ringside. We go to replays as Alpha Academy looks on from the stage and RK-Bro poses in the corners.
Austin Theory vs. Finn Balor
Balor goes to the top for Coup de Grace but Theory moves. Theory with a big dropkick to the face. Theory scoops Balor for the ATL and this time he nails it for the pin to win in the middle of the ring.
Winner: Austin Theory
– After the match, Theory stands tall as the music hits and we go to replays. Theory grabs his phone and stands over Balor for a selfie now as some fans boo. Theory immediately mounts Balor and starts pounding him, then delivers another ATL. Theory goes on talking trash as the boos continue. Theory stands up and wipes his feet to disrespect Balor while he’s down. Theory makes his exit.
– We get another replay of what happened between Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H. last week. Ripley is backstage warming up when Sarah Schreiber approaches and asks her thoughts on Nikki’s earlier comments, saying the break-up was all Ripley’s fault. Ripley says she never intended on breaking up their friendship, they could’ve supported their solo careers, but Nikki made up her mind. Ripley doesn’t forgive easy, but what kind of person attacks their friends? Ripley says Nikki is more delusional than she thought if she thinks Ripley is the villain here. Ripley goes on and says she’s headed out to remind everyone who she really is. She walks off.
