Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage & discussion for WWE Monday Night RAW's 30th-Anniversary Show (1/23/23)!
We will bring you the full results of tonight's episode of Monday Night Raw.
Here's what's on deck:
Preview
WWE Raw XXX (1/23)
- Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Ric Flair, The Bellas, Kurt Angle, Road Dogg, X-Pac, Jerry "The King" Lawler, Theodore Long, and more are set to appear
- RAW Tag Team Championship: The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) (c) vs. The Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio & Damian Priest)
- No DQ Match For The WWE United States Championship: Austin Theory (c) vs. Bobby Lashley
- Tribal Court for Trial of Sami Zayn
- Steel Cage Match: Bayley vs. Becky Lynch
- Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Hart kick off the show. Hulk Hogan gets a cheap pop by mentioning the Philadelphia Eagles.
- The intro highlights 30 years of memories of Monday Night Raw.
- The Bloodline starts the show as it's time for the trial of Sami Zayn. Alicia Taylor appears to be filling in for Mike Rome tonight.
Tribal Court for Trial of Sami Zayn
Paul Heyman kicks off the trial by acknowledging the ECW chants from the Philadelphia crowd and then says, "ECW is dead. I wish the same for Sami Zayn." Another Philadelphia Eagles reference comes from Paul Heyman, who says Sami Zayn has been manipulating them and making them feel like the Eagles fans. Heyman says The Bloodline will feel like the Eagles fans after they get decimated by Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers. Finally, Paul Heyman presents several pieces of evidence made to make Sami Zayn look like a conspirator.
Sami Zayn says Paul Heyman's prosecution hurts him. Sami Zayn says the fans have seen his loyalty to Roman Reigns for the last nine months. Sami Zayn says he has no defense, and Roman Reigns releases the hound that is Solo Sikoa on Sami. However, before Solo can deliver the Samoan Spike, Jey Uso comes to the defense of Sami Zayn and shows his evidence displaying how many times Sami Zayn has helped the group.
Jey Uso says Sami Zayn has taken so many bullets for the group he's basically bulletproof. Jey credits Zayn for never giving up on him, despite Uso not trusting him. Jey said he loves Zayn like a brother. Both Jimmy and Jey Uso vote for Zayn to stay in the group as the Philadelphia crowd chants for "Sami Uso."
Roman Reigns finds Sami Zayn not guilty, for now. Roman Reigns says Jey Uso bought Sami Zayn more time. Roman tells Zayn to finish out the night and make the group proud, and then he doesn't want to see him until Saturday night at the Royal Rumble.
Verdict: Sami Zayn is not guilty (for now)
- A rundown of everything happening tonight shows Triple H added to the list of legends scheduled to appear. The Bella Twins have yet to be featured on a graphic since the original promotional graphic was shown last week.
RAW Tag Team Championship: The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) (c) vs. The Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio & Damian Priest)
The Usos get an early fall on Priest. Finn Balor gets ejected trying to stop Jey Uso from hitting a Splash. Both Usos hit a Splash, but Priest kicks out. Jimmy Uso gets hurt on a dive, and Sami Zayn takes his place.
Sami Zayn hits his old-school tope. Then, he throws Mysterio into the ring. Mysterio tries to get a cheap roll-up victory, but Zayn kicks out. Sami Zayn goes for the Helluva Kick, but Ripley distracts the referee, and Priest hits the South of Heaven. Mysterio pins, but Jey kicks out. In the end, Zayn and Jey hit the 1D on Mysterio for the victory.
Winners and still champions: The Usos (Jimmy, Jey, Sami Uso) by pinfall.
- JBL and Baron Corbin are looking to get into the poker game hosted by Ron Simmons in the APA office. The Godfather and Robin Simmons both call Baron Corbin a stooge. Still, he pays his way into the poker tournament, which features legends and modern Superstars, including the first sighting of Johnny Gargano since he was announced to be injured.
- LA Knight challenges any legends with any tingle left in their groins to come out for a fight. The Undertaker accepts the challenge. He enters to Kid Rock's American Badass. LA Knight brings up Undertaker's comments on The Joe Rogan podcast. Knight says he agrees with Undertaker. Knight tries to escape, saying that he will allow the Undertaker to survive tonight. Bray Wyatt arrives, and Knight cowers away back into the ring where The Undertaker feints a Chokeslam to Knight but tosses him to Bray Wyatt, who hits Sister Abigail. Undertaker then says something to Bray Wyatt.
- Backstage, Diamond Dallas Page, Alundra Blayze, Baron Corbin, and Alpha Academy are all playing poker. DDP won the hand they were playing. The Steel Cage Match is next.
Steel Cage Match: Bayley vs. Becky Lynch
Before the match starts, Dakota Kai and IYO Sky attack Becky Lynch before she enters the cage, and all three members of Damage CTRL attack her before the match starts. Damage CTRL locks themselves inside the cage with Becky Lynch. They all keep attacking her. Finally, Adam Pearce comes down to try and help the situation, demanding bolt cutters. Meanwhile, Damage CTRL continues to beat Lynch up.
Referees check on Becky Lynch as Damage CTRL climbs out of the cage. Unfortunately, this match won't be happening right now.
Winner: No Contest
- Back from a commercial break, no mention of the Steel Cage Match, but here comes D-Generation X… and Kurt Angle tags along for some reason. Road Dogg pitched Kurt Angle when he thought he was throwing to Billy Gunn. Kurt Angle is here because he wants to be in DX. Shawn Michaels said he had to pass a test. Triple H asked him if he was ready. Triple H finishes his shtick, and out comes GUNTHER with Imperium.
Ludwig Kaiser and the rest of the group say shame on D-Generation X for all their filth and nonsense. Gunther says they are here to restore the honor of wrestling, and they're going to kick D-Generation X out of the ring. Then, one by one, they all make excuses as to why they can't face GUNTHER.
Seth Rollins comes out to make the save as Philadelphia comes unglued for The Messiah. X-Pac and Shawn Michaels sing along with Seth's theme song. The Street Profits show up, and we have ourselves a six-man tag situation. Teddy Long makes it official. Holla! Holla! Holla! Kurt Angle's going to be the referee just because he has an idea and just so happens to have a red, white, and blue referee shirt.
Seth Rollins & The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. Imperium (GUNTHER, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci)
Jerry Lawler is on commentary for this one. He asks where Michael Cole is, and Corey Graves quips that he's probably in his pool drinking whiskey.
Seth Rollins starts off the match with Vinci but quickly tags out to Montez Ford. Imperium takes over, Montez Ford takes over control and makes the tag to Angelo. They hit a double-team move for a two-count. Eventually, Seth Rollins and GUNTHER become the legal men. Throughout the commercial break, Imperium has control over Seth Rollins.
Back from a commercial break, Seth Rollins makes the hot tag Montez Ford who starts lighting up Giovanni Vinci. Ford and Dawkins are able to apply simultaneous ankle locks to Ludwig and Giovanni. Giovanni makes the tag to GUNTHER, who gets in Kurt Angle'sface because Kurt Angle did not force Angelo to break up the hold despite not being a legal man. Kurt Angle briefly shoves GUNTHER, but Seth Rollins comes out to attack him and then directs traffic as The Street Profits deliver topes to Giovanni and Ludwig. Gunther gets a near fall on Seth Rollins with a Powerbomb. Seth Rollins counters a German Suplex by landing on his feet, hitting an Enzugiri, a Superkick, and an Angle Slam.
The action breaks down as Seth Rollins hits a Superplex on Ludwig, followed by a Doomsday Blockbuster from The Profits. Finally, Rollins hits Pedigree on GUNTHER. Next, the Street Profits hit Ludwig with Spinebuster/Frog Splash combination. Seth Rollins finishes with Curb Stomp on Kaiser for the victory.
Winners: Seth Rollins & The Street Profits by pinfall.
- Backstage, Baron Corbin wins the poker game but has to pay his taxes, and Irwin R. Schyster collects. Ron Simmons says, "Damn!"
- Charlotte Flair is next.
- Cathy Kelley interviews Bobby Lashley. Lashley says he's dealt with Brock Lesnar and will deal with Austin Theory and get his belt back. MVP says they can hit the VIP lounge and make"new friends" Bobby Lashley says he didn't need MVP last week and didn't need him tonight.
- Ric Flair introduces Charlotte Flair. Charlotte Flair says she may be the SmackDown Women's Champion, but Monday Night Raw will always be her home. First, Bianca Belair shows up and says that Monday Night Raw is her home. Then, Sonya Deville comes out and bashes both of them. Flair says that since Monday Night Raw is Bianca's show, she can take on Deville tonight.
Bianca Belair vs. Sonya Deville
The match goes back and forth briefly, with Sonya maintaining control going into a commercial break but shortly after the break, Bianca Belair hits the KOD for the victory.
Winner: Bianca Belair by pinfall.
- Bianca says she hasn't forgotten about Alexa, and Alexa can bring whoever she wants to the Royal Rumble, but nothing will stop her from retaining on Saturday. Alexa shows up on the Titantron and says nothing will get in her way from ripping Bianca's face off on Saturday.
- A Cody Rhodes vignette airs.
- The Miz comes out and complains about not being honored tonight. Kevin Owens is here, Stuns Miz, grabs the microphone from the fallen Miz. "Roman, you might have said Sami Zayn is not guilty but let me tell you what you're guilty of. You have held the WWE Universal Championship hostage for two years." Kevin Owens also says that he guarantees he will keep fighting until there is nothing left. he will take the title from Roman or die trying.
- Emma is shown as one of the entrants in the Royal Rumble during a video package.
No DQ Match For The WWE United States Championship: Austin Theory (c) vs. Bobby Lashley
Right off the bat, Bobby Lashley starts pounding on Austin Theory. The action spills to the floor, and Bobby Lashley throws Austin Theory into the barricade before running him into the steel post in the fireman's carry position. Throughout the commercial break, a picture-in-picture display shows Bobby Lashley continuing to just dominate Austin Theory.
Austin Theory finally starts to get a little bit of control as Bobby Lashley goes to grab a table. The action moves back into the ring, but Bobby Lashley quickly gains control once again. Back from break, Lashley drops Theory with a neck breaker, but Theory escapes a Superplex and hits a dropkick followed by a Cradle Driver for the count of two. Theory takes over and utilizes a chair on Lashley. Unfortunately for him, Lashley is once again able to overpower him, but Austin is able to use his quickness to reverse the momentum right back in his favor. Now, Austin Theory brings out a table of his own and slides it into the ring.
Bobby Lashley is able to use this break to regain his composure and locks Theory into the Hurt Lock before slamming him into a chair that Theory had placed wedged in between the turnbuckles. Theory escapes underneath the ring and uses a fire extinguisher to neutralize Bobby Lashley and send him into the steel steps.
In yet another picture-in-picture commercial break, Austin Theory cockily controls the momentum as Bobby Lashley continues selling the fire extinguisher's effects. Austin Theory tried to throw Bobby Lashley into a table that was propped up in the corner, allowing Lashley to fight back. However, Theory was quick on his feet and threw "The All Mighty" back to the outside and continued to control the former WWE Champion.
Bobby Lashley, back from the commercial break, hit a Superplex onto the champion. Lashley hit the Lift & Cutter and appeared poised to Spear Theory through a table. Theory counters it. Lashley is able to hit a Spinebuster slamming Theory through a table. Brock Lesnar appears. Lesnar hits an F-5 on Bobby Lashley and then one on Austin Theory. Lesnar perfectly slammed Theory onto Bobby Lashley and that is how the champion retained. The show immediately cut to the latest episode of Barmageddon.
Winner and still champion: Austin Theory by pinfall.
