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Here is the Fightful Raw post-show podcast:
- WWE Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss runs into Raw GM Kurt Angle backstage, she questions him about facing Asuka tonight. Bliss also complain about Asuka competing in the women’s Royal Rumble, Angle says the match is on as his music plays.
- WWE Raw GM Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring and he has a microphone in hand, Angle wishes everybody a Happy New Year. Angle says that 2017 was one of the greatest years of his career, Angle promises that 2018 will be greater than 2017. Angle also mentions the Raw 25th Anniversary before saying John Cena is in the men’s Royal Rumble Match, Angle says that the same rules will apply for the women’s Royal Rumble as the men’s Royal Rumble. Angle says he expects Raw to win both Royal Rumble matches, The Bar interrupts and they have microphones.
Sheamus says The Bar was robbed of the WWE Raw Tag Team Titles last week, Cesaro says that Angle is playing favorites with his son Jason Jordan. Cesaro shows footage of Angle celebrating with his son after he won the titles with Seth Rollins last week, The Bar says they want their rematch tonight and Angle turns them down. Jason Jordan makes his way to the ring with a microphone in hand, Jordan says he got the title shots due to his track record in the WWE.
Angle gets in between everybody before making Jason Jordan versus Cesaro, Seth Rollins comes to the ring with a microphone. Rollins says that Jordan needs to be smarter as a tag team partner, Rollins then tells Jordan to stop being self absorbed. Rollins says he will be in Jordan’s corner tonight to watch him lose, Cesaro then attacks Jordan from behind to knock him out of the ring.
Jason Jordan w/Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro w/Sheamus
The match began during the commercial break and we see Jordan nail Cesaro with a drop kick as the break ends, Jordan corners Cesaro before nailing him with shoulder thrusts. Cesaro fights back and he cracks Jordan with European uppercuts, Cesaro drops Jordan before applying the chin lock. Jordan catches a leaping Cesaro before driving him into the corner a few times, Sheamus interferes and the distraction allows Cesaro to send Jordan into the ring post. Cesaro then nails an injured Jordan with a chop block, Cesaro traps the leg of Jordan in the ropes before nailing him with a drop kick.
Cesaro rolls out of the ring before smashing the injured leg of Jordan on the ring apron, Cesaro applies a modified single leg crab to Jordan. Jordan gets free and Cesaro nails him with a European uppercut to the injured leg, Cesaro then drops on Jordan’s hurt leg before wrenching away on it. Jordan gets free and he has a striking exchange with Cesaro, Jordan eventually drops Cesaro with a clothesline. Jordan then knocks Cesaro out of the ring, Jordan looks to follow him out there when Cesrao nails him in the injured leg.
Cesaro then drops Jordan knee first on the ring apron as we go to a commercial break, we return from the break to see Cesaro knocking Jordan back out of the ring with a basement drop kick. Cesaro gets Jordan back in the ring and he nails him with European uppercuts, Cesaro then applies the single leg crab to Jordan. Jordan gets free and he kicks at Cesaro with his good leg, Cesaro goes back to attacking Jordan with European uppercuts. Jordan eventually drops a charging Cesaro with a boot to the face, Jordan drops Cesaro multiple times with forearm strikes and overhead release suplexes. Jordan then hits Cesaro with a spear in the corner followed by multiple northern lights suplexes for a near fall.
Jordan look for his finisher and Cesaro gets to the ropes before kicking him in the knee, Sheamus catches Jordan with a cheap shot and Cesaro rolls him up for a near fall. Cesaro quickly applies the Boston crab to Jordan and Jordan gets to the ropes, Rollins then attacks Sheamus as he tried interfering again. Jordan hits a distracted Cesaro with his finisher for the three count.
Winner: Jason Jordan w/Seth Rollins
- Renee Young interviews Roman Reigns, who says that Samoa Joe got exactly what he deserved last week and Reigns says it will be an ugly match out there tonight.
- Sasha Banks says her New Years Resolution is to win the women’s Royal Rumble match before winning the Raw Women’s Title at WWE Wrestlemania 34.
Bray Wyatt vs. Apollo Crews w/Titus O’Neil & Dana Brooke
The match begins with Wyatt backing Crews in the corner before playing mind games with him, Crews applies the headlock to Wyatt. Wyatt breaks free and he mauls Crews with some strikes, Crews gets to the ring apron before dropping Wyatt with an enzaguri. Crews then hits Wyatt with a slingshot swanton bomb followed by an elbow drop for a near fall, Crews applies another headlock and Wyatt breaks free to hit him with a headbutt. Wyatt drags Crews to the ropes before choking him on the middle rope, Crews gets free and he drops a charging Wyatt with a drop kick.
Crews goes to the top rope and Wyatt crotches him, Wyatt gets Crews off the ropes with an inverted stunner. Wyatt stands on the hand of Crews while staring at Brooke and we go to commercial break, we return from the break to see Wyatt holding Crews in a chin lock. Crews gets free and Wyatt drops him with a running cross body block for a near fall, Wyatt goes back to mauling Crews with strikes. Crews recovers and he drops Wyatt with a running kick to the face, Crews then hits Wyatt with another kick to the face followed by a flying clothesline.
Crews follows that up by nailing Wyatt with a standing shooting star press for a near fall, Wyatt rolls out of the ring and Crews follows him before dropping him with a moonsault from the ring apron. Crews gets Wyatt in the ring and Wyatt drops him with a clothesline, Brooke jumps on the ring apron and Wyatt causes her to fall on O’Neil. Crews hits Wyatt with an enzaguri, Wyatt quickly recovers and hits Crews with Sister Abigail for the three count.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
- Matt Hardy appears after the match and he says he transformed the fireflies into woken warriors, Hardy then says he will turn Wyatt’s darkness into light. Hardy then says he is the ghost that haunts Wyatt’s dreams, Hardy then promises to delete Wyatt.
- Nia Jax is backstage when Alexa Bliss finds her, Jax says Enzo Amore is sick and she is trying to go to the hospital to see him. Bliss says she needs Jax to help her out with Asuka, Bliss then makes her choose and she chooses Enzo before leaving the arena.
Non-Title Match
Alexa Bliss (WWE Raw Women’s Champion) vs. Asuka
The match begins with Bliss going to the ropes to avoid Asuka, Asuka attempts some spinning back fists against Bliss. Asuka starts working over the arm of Bliss and Bliss does the same to her, Asuka gets Bliss down before working a front face lock. Bliss gets free and Asuka goes for a knee bar before Bliss escapes, Asuka grabs Bliss and she applies a headlock. Bliss gets to the ropes and Asuka drops her with a shoulder tackle a short time later, Asuka follows that up by nailing Bliss with a hip attack. Bliss rolls out of the ring and she refuses to get back in the ring, Bliss gets back in the ring and Asuka drops her before landing a kick to the back.
Asuka follows that up by cracking Bliss with a few hip attacks, Bliss gets out of the ring again as we go to a commercial break. We return from the break to see Bliss holding Asuka in the body scissors, Asuka gets free and she applies an ankle lock to Bliss. Bliss eventually gets to the ropes before sending Asuka into them, Bliss rolls out of the ring before bending Asuka on the ring post. Bliss gets back in the ring to attack Asuka with multiple strikes to the back for a near fall, Asuka recovers and catches Bliss with a roll up for a near fall. Asuka goes for a kick and Bliss counters with a back breaker, Bliss mounts Asuka and assaults her with strikes.
Bliss slows things down again by holding Asuka in a body scissors, Asuka gets freeand Bliss catches her in a guillotine choke. Asuka gets free again and she looks for a kimura against Bliss, Bliss gets free and she attacks Asuka with a plethora of kicks. Bliss charges at Asuka before a slapping exchange breaks out, Asuka then nails Bliss with multiple drop kicks. Asuka gets Bliss in the corner before landing a running hip attack, Asuka then hits a downed Bliss with another hip attack. Asuka then cracks Bliss with an elevated knee strike, Asuka then catches Bliss with a roll up for a near fall.
Bliss gets up first and she knocks Asuka out of the ring with a drop kick, Asuka kicks Bliss in the head before getting back in the ring. Asuka kicks Bliss again before applying the arm bar to force a tap out.
Winner: Asuka
- Highlights are shown from last weeks match between Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe.
- Renee Young interviews Samoa Joe, who says he will beat Roman Reigns tonight and Joe says that he has destroyed The Shield before insulting the injured Dean Ambrose.
- Bayley appears to announce she has entered the women’s Royal Rumble match.
Braun Strowman vs. Rhyno w/Heath Slater
The match begins with Strowman throwing Rhyno across the ring a few times, Strowman then drops a charging Rhyno with a shoulder block. Strowman then kicks a dazed Rhyno right in the face, Strowman goes out the ring to grab a microphone and he threatens Slater. Slater distracts Strowman so Rhyno can jump him from behind, Slater hits the ring to attack Strowman until Strowman corners both men. Strowman then hits both men with avalanches, Strowman then hits Rhyno with a running power slam for a three count.
Winner: Braun Strowman
After the match, Heath Slater attacks Braun Strowman again and Strowman nails him with a running power slam. Strowman also catches Rhyno with another running power slam as well.
- Seth Rollins checks on Roman Reigns in the locker room, Reigns calls Samoa Joe a joke and he says that nobody messes with The Shield. Jason Jordan walks in the locker room and he says that if The Bar interferes, then he and Rollins will deal with them.
- Braun Strowman is walking backstage when he runs into Kane, who says that he just wants to talk with him about Brock Lesnar. Kane suggests that they work together to take out the WWE Universal Champion, Strowman says he doesn’t care because he is the alpha monster of the WWE.
- Raw GM Kurt Angle is talking on his phone backstage when Finn Balor arrives, Balor then announces that he is in the men’s Royal Rumble match. Balor says he found some partners for tonight to battle Elias and The Miztourage, the partners turn out to be Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows.
WWE Intercontinental Title Match
If Roman Reigns Gets Disqualified, He Loses The Title
Roman Reigns (Champion) vs. Samoa Joe
The match begins with Joe immediately peppering Reigns with jabs in the corner, Joe also attacks Reigns with a few other strikes in another corner. Reigns fights back by nailing Joe with punches and kicks, Reigns gives Joe a short break before assaulting him with more strikes. Reigns talks with the referee and Joe nails him with a back suplex for a near fall, Joe pops Reigns with more strikes before landing a suplex as we go to a commercial break. We return from the break to see Joe holding Reigns in a chin lock, Reigns gets free and he attacks Joe with elbow strikes.
Joe recovers and drops a charging Reigns with a back elbow strike for a near fall, Joe then strikes away at a downed Reigns. Joe looks for a suplex and Reigns winds up nailing him with one, Reigns charges at Joe and crashes into the ring post as Joe gets out of the way. Joe again assaults Reigns with a plethora of strikes, Joe then wrenches away on the arm of Reigns. Reigns gets free by attacking Joe with some strikes, Reigns then drops Joe multiple times with clotheslines. Joe recovers by trapping Reigns in the corner before landing an enzaguri for a near fall, Joe gets angry and he chokes Joe on the middle rope.
Joe traps Reigns in the corner again before landing some more strikes, Joe then drops Reigns with a few hard Irish whips in the corner. Joe holds Reigns down before applying a modified scarf hold, Reigns gets to his feet and Joe nails him with a knee strike. Reigns recovers and he drops Joe with a leaping clothesline, Reigns gets Joe in the corner before attacking him with clothesline strikes. Reigns then knocks Joe out of the ring with a running boot to the face, Reigns goes out of the ring to hit Joe with the Drive By. Reigns gets Joe back in the ring for a near fall on a pin attempt, Reigns gets Joe in the corner to attack him with strikes.
Joe gets Reigns to the ring apron before propelling him into the barricade with a shoulder tackle, Joe then hits Reigns with a suicide dive. The wrestlers get back in the ring as we go to a commercial break, we return from the break to see Joe nailing Reigns with a headbutt. Reigns falls down and Joe attacks him with even more strikes, Reigns gets up and he attacks Joe with a ton of strikes. Reigns catches a charging Joe with a Samoan drop for a near fall, Reigns looks for a superman punch and Joe rolls out of the ring. Reigns goes out of the ring and he goes for the superman punch, but Joe blocks it and smashes Reigns into the ring steps a few times.
Reigns recovers and he launches Joe into the ring steps, Reigns grabs the ring steps and he puts them back down after the referee intervenes. Reigns launches off the ring steps before nailing Joe with a superman punch, Reigns gets Joe in the ring to land another superman punch for a near fall. Reigns goes for a spear and Joe kicks him in the face, Joe accidentally knocks Reigns into the referee. Reigns argues with the referee before Joe nails him with a uranage for a near fall, Reigns gets up and he attacks Joe with more punches. Joe counters a punch and he locks Reigns in the rear naked choke, Reigns escapes and hits Joe with a spear for a three count.
Winner: Roman Reigns, still the WWE Intercontinental Champion
- Raw GM Kurt Angle is watching a monitor in his office when Paul Heyman arrives, Heyman says that there is a conspiracy against WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar. Heyman declares 2018 the year of The Beast before leaving.
- Absolution says they will begin 2018 by showing the competitors in the women’s Royal Rumble that they will prove who really matters.
- Drew Gulak and Ariya Daivari are in the ring with a microphone in hand, Gulak says that WWE Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Amore has given him a message for the fans. Gulak reads the message and reveals there will be no WWE Cruiserweight Title Match tonight on WWE Raw, which eventually brings out Cedric Alexander. Alexander has a microphone and says he came here expecting a title match tonight, Alexander wants a match tonight and the Zo Train wants a tag team match tonight. Goldust comes out and he is willing to be Alexander’s partner tonight, Goldust calls the Zo Train low before wanting to be friends with Alexander.
The Zo Train (Ariya Daivari & Drew Gulak) vs. Goldust & Cedric Alexander
The match begins with Alexander taking Daivari down with a hip toss, Alexander follows that up by nailing Daivari with a head scissors takedown followed by a drop kick. Gulak distracts Alexander and Daivari sends him into the turnbuckles, Daivari then applies a chin lock to Alexander. Daivari releases the hold to drop Alexander with a punch, Alexander recovers and drops Daivari with a spinning elbow strike. Goldust and Gulak get the tags from their respective partners, Goldust goes to work on Gulak before landing a bulldog. Goldust then assaults Gulak with punches in the corner, Goldust catches Gulak with a power slam in the corner.
Goldust then takes out the Zo Train with a dive from the top rope, Alexander then hits the Zo Train with a top rope clothesline. Alexander hits Gulak with the Lumbar Check for the three count.
Winners: Cedric Alexander & Goldust
- Finn Balor, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows are walking backstage.
- Elias is in the ring and he wants to know “who will walk with Elias?” Elias says he will win the Royal Rumble and give the performance of a lifetime at Wrestlemania, Elias then brings out The Miztourage. Bo Dallas announces The Miz will be returning to WWE Raw next week, the trio then sing a song until they are interrupted by their opponents.
Elias & The Miztourage (Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel) vs. Finn Balor, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows
The match began during the commercial break and Axel works over Balor when the break ends, Elias tags in and he attacks Balor with strikes. Elias works over the arm of Balor before stomping away on him in the corner, Elias uses a rope assisted double kick to drop Balor for a near fall. Elias wrenches away on the injured arm of Balor, Balor drops Elias before nailing him with a double stomp. Gallows and Dallas get the tags from their respective partners, Gallows clans house on the opposing team. Gallows nails Dallas with a splash for a near fall, Gallows then nails a charging Dallas with a side kick. Anderson tags in and he works with Gallows to hit Dallas with a Magic Killer, Balor tags in and he hits Dallas with the Cupe De Grace for a three count.
Winners: Finn Balor, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows
- WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman make their way to the ring, Heyman grabs a microphone and talks about the deck has been stacked against Lesnar again. Heyman talks about how the champion would just defend the title in singles matches before the odds started getting stacked against him, which Heyman claims is a way for the WWE to get the title off of him. Heyman then says that nobody can defeat Lesnar for the WWE Universal Title, Heyman says the WWE can put anybody against Lesnar and Lesnar will beat them.
Heyman says nobody can beat Lesnar before tossing the microphone, Kane then makes his way to the ring. Kane grabs Lesnar and he nails him with a choke slam, Kane walks away and Lesnar gets up like The Undertaker did before knocking Kane out of the ring. Kurt Angle sends wrestlers to separate Lesnar and Kane as the show comes to an end.
