Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage & discussion for tonight's episode of WWE Raw.
We'll be bringing you full, match by match coverage of every bout on the card and you can watch along with us, sending in your feedback on our Disqus boards below!
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We begin this week's show with last night's male Royal Rumble winner: Seth Rollins! He's got a microphone in hand and soaks up the crowd's adulation before reminding the audience of his promo from last week. He then ignored his better judgment and pointed to the WrestleMania sign, next discussing his main event options. He mentions Daniel Bryan before transitioning to Brock Lesnar, and concluding that this is a decision that he's going to have to think about. In response, Triple H arrived, referencing Seth's sign pointing as well as his recent challenge for Seth. He credits Rollins for excelling in response before bringing things back to Seth's decision. Triple H makes it clear that Rollins has to make his decision by the end of the night and both Bryan and Lesnar will be here to find out who it will it be.
Dean Ambrose cut Rollins off though, mocking Seth's relationship with Triple H. A verbal confrontation commenced from there as in the end, Ambrose claimed that no matter what, Rollins has never been able to beat him. After being goaded by Ambrose, Triple H then made the match for right now.
Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose
At the first bell Rollins jumped all over Ambrose, going to work with strikes and sending his foe to the outside. He continued the assault there too, hitting a big clothesline off the barricade before being cut off in center ring. Ambrose was now in control, working Seth over in the corner until he was suddenly floored by a superkick. Dean avoided the stomp though, returning to the outside and sending Rollins flying into the ring-post. Ambrose then grounded things in-ring, applying the STF and halting Seth's attempted comeback too. Back from the break and Dean is still in control but Rollins eventually fired back, avoiding a Super Dirty Deeds and hitting a crossbody to reset the action.
A strike exchange came next and Rollins was the victor, soon scoring with Slingblade and then a trio of his big dives too. Ambrose avoided Rollins' frogsplash though, almost catching a quick roll-up win but then eating a knee and buckle bomb for his troubles. The stomp followed and Rollins had emphatically closed the show.
Winner: Seth Rollins
Post-match, Ambrose was enraged by his loss as in the meantime, the Women's Tag Titles were set up at ringside. Back from a break and Dean is still in-ring, seemingly preparing to announce something before Nia Jax and Tamina interrupted. Nia got directly in Dean's face and eventually pushed him out of the ring too. In the end, Ambrose bailed, heading backstage. At the same time, Alexa Bliss and Mickie emerged for this qualifying match. This included a short promo in which Mickie and Bliss made their title intentions clear.
Nia Jax and Tamina vs. Alexa Bliss and Mickie James
Alexa immediately taunted Tamina, quickly succumbing to her power before countering and hitting insult to injury too. Tamina soon made the tag though, bringing in Nia who wiped out both of her foes. As we returned from the break, Tamina floored Bliss with a superkick, next grounding things and grabbing a hold too. Before long, Bliss fired back but was quickly cut off again, with Tamina bringing in Nia who went right to work with strikes. Another hold then followed, with Bliss soon fighting back and then making a tag to James too.
Mickie run wild, hitting a Lou Thesz press off the top and unleashing strikes as well as a neckbreaker for 2. Nia then returned though, cutting Mickie off and then hitting a double Samoan Drop to get the win.
Winner: Nia Jax and Tamina
Off backstage now as we get a recap of Angle's November loss to McIntyre before a promo from Kurt in which he discussed his recovery from that match before moving onto tonight's bout with Corbin.
Baron Corbin vs. Kurt Angle
Before the first bell, Corbin promised to humiliate Kurt but ate a right hand for his troubles. Angle then followed up with a German suplex but was quickly cut off nonetheless. He went right to work from there, controlling Kurt with some ground and pound before grabbing a hold. Angle fired back though, evading Corbin and flurrying with his trademark German suplexes for 2. Baron then quickly turned the tide, scoring with a big boot when out of nowhere, Kurt landed the Angle Slam for 2. The Ankle Lock followed but Corbin fought free, next hitting Deep Six for the win.
Winner: Baron Corbin
Post-match, Corbin returned to hit End of Days too.
Backstage, Finn Balor headed to the ring while embracing Heavy Machinery and Sasha and Bayley. With that in mind, we next see a video recap of Balor's match with Lesnar before transitioning to an in-ring promo from Finn. Balor says that he has no excuses before conceding that Brock was unlike anyone he'd faced before. While he's hurt though, Balor has his head held high as last night, he made Brock Lesnar believe. This brought out Lio Rush and Bobby Lashley. Lio says that it's a disgrace Finn even got a shot last night and more than that, Balor wouldn't stand a chance against Lashley. Balor responded by mocking Bobby's Rumble showing and Lashley immediately lashed out, slamming Finn to the mat multiple times to leave him laying.
This was followed by a reminder of the group attack on Braun Strowman from November, the set-up to tonight's match with Drew McIntyre.
The Revival vs. Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder
Pre-match, we got a brief reminder of Hawkins and Ryder's past as in-ring, the renewed duo took immediate control. They initially sent Revival to the floor but was then cut off, with Ryder finding himself suddenly isolated. After some tandem offense, Wilder slowed things down and grabbed a hold before Ryder used a neckbreaker to create some space. He then brought in Hawkins who run wild, taking out both of his foes and almost catching a quick roll-up win too. The tide soon turned though, with The Revival hitting Shatter Machine for the win.
Winners: The Revival
Backstage, Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan were here. Bryan scoffed at Charly Caruso's questioning of his Rumble tactics before promising that he'll end Seth's WrestleMania plans tonight.
Elias is here next and he did his usual introduction before claiming that the audience had let him down. Hoping for a better reaction, Elias eventually incited some "we're not worthy" chants but even still, claimed that his songs are for him rather than them. He then told the audience to "shut their mouths" when Jeff Jarrett suddenly arrived. He told Elias to "listen up slap-nuts" before bringing up last night's interaction and spelling out his name in trademark fashion. ROAD DOGG was out next, doing his usual introduction and telling Elias to "suck it." This then transitioned into a live rendition of 'With My Baby Tonight" which resulted in Elias striking Road Dogg with his guitar and then attacking Jarrett too.
Jeff fired back though, scoring with some big punches and looking to land a guitar shot of his own when suddenly, Elias broke it over Jeff's back instead.
Backstage, Dana Brooke sold herself to Natalya and claimed that she's better than the person she's replacing (Ember Moon) as well as Natalya herself. Refusing to fire back, Natalya simply joined Brooke's side and headed to the ring.
Before that though, Mojo Rawley cut a brief promo on himself, talking into a mirror about his recent struggles. Mojo called himself the greatest combination of size, strength, speed and intelligence in WWE history before promising change.
Natalya and Dana Brooke vs. The Riott Squad (Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan)
A brief chemistry issue aside, Dana and Natalya immediately took control, scoring offense on both of their foes for an early advantage. Logan soon cut Brooke off though, sending her head first into the turnbuckle and then bringing in Liv for some tandem offense. Dana quickly made a tag though, bringing in Natalya who run wild on both Liv and Logan until Ruby Riott distracted her. Even still, Natalya caught Morgan in the sharpshooter but as Brooke removed Ruby from the apron, Logan pushed her into Natalya to break the hold.
Following that, Morgan caught Natalya with a quick roll-up for the win.
Winners: The Riott Squad
Ronda Rousey is here next, laying down an open challenge. She talked about her dreams upon arriving in WWE before transitioning to last night's match with Sasha Banks. Rousey thanked Banks for the match but the crowd only wanted Becky. Speaking of such, Ronda pointed to the WrestleMania sign and discussed Lynch's upcoming choice. Stalled by the crowd's reaction, Rousey didn't finish her statement when Bayley suddenly arrived. She mentioned last night's match with Sasha and then accepted the open challenge while making her way to the ring.
RAW Women's Title
Ronda Rousey (C) vs. Bayley
The champion immediately went to work, landing a throw and looking for the armbar as Bayley scurried to the ropes. Bayley then fired back too, cutting Ronda off before being caught in an armbar within the ropes. In response, Bayley used the ropes to her own advantage and then targeted Ronda's seemingly injured leg. Back from the break and Bayley is continuing that attack, working over Rousey's leg and even landing some strikes in the corner too. Nonetheless, Ronda soon made a comeback, fighting through the pain and scoring with some judo throws before collapsing in agony.
Regardless, Rousey flurried with strikes before being suddenly caught in a kneebar. Ronda escaped though, scrambling to the floor but then eating a Bayley to Belly on the outside. Bayley continued to dominate too, throwing Rousey back to the floor and hitting her trademark dropkick also. She then headed up top, hitting the elbow drop and applying Bank Statement, forcing Rousey to grab the bottom rope. In an instant, Ronda turned the tide, bringing Bayley down from the top rope and forcing her to submit with the armbar.
Winner and STILL Champion: Ronda Rousey
Post-match, Rousey brought Bayley to her feet and shook hands when suddenly, Becky Lynch emerged. Becky limped to the ring and grabbed a microphone, reminding Ronda of their last interaction on RAW. She says that Rousey never came after her revenge so she's here instead, looking to prove she's 'The Baddest.' With that in mind, Becky announced that she chooses Ronda for WrestleMania and it's there that she'll "take her title" and "kick her ass" too. Rousey responded, making it clear that she wants to beat the best version of Becky and threatening to re-break Lynch's face. She then reminded everyone of her own resume and promised to "own" Lynch at WrestleMania.
Backstage, Seth was congratulated by Braun, shaking hands with 'The Monster Among Men' who then told him to make his choice count at WrestleMania.
Braun Strowman vs. Drew McIntyre
An intense lock-up got this one started as they met in the middle of the ring, soon trading strikes until Braun powered Drew to the floor. Strowman followed him there but was quickly cut off, being sent flying into the barricade out of nowhere. Back from the break and Drew was firmly in control, applying a sleeper-hold as Strowman fought to his feet and landed a back suplex. Some big strikes came next as Braun was back on top but his comeback was brief, next being sent hard into the ring-post before yanking Drew to the floor with him.
Strowman then grabbed the steel steps, looking for redemption when Baron Corbin suddenly emerged to jump him from behind. He then assaulted Braun with a chair but Strowman fought back, launching Corbin around and then taking out Drew too. The steps were now his focus again, positioning Baron on top of them before turning into McIntyre's sudden Claymore. They then went to work on Strowman, using the numbers game and slamming him onto the steps.
Winner: Braun Strowman by Disqualification
In the middle of Seth Rollins' apparent introduction, Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman arrived. Paul did his usual introduction before claiming that tonight should be the easiest decision of Seth Rollins' life. He says that Rollins has only one choice: challenge Daniel Bryan. Heyman says that this is what's best for Seth's health but in response, Rollins indeed made his way to the ring. Following a brief head to head confrontation, Rollins exploded with strikes but then quickly ran into Lesnar's F5. Brock then picked him back up, landing another four emphatic F5's as well. The last of these took place directly onto Lesnar's title, with Rollins still daringly asking for more. Brock responded violently, landing one final F5.
Thanks for following along folks, now be sure to tune into our post-show podcast!
