Here are some notes from night two of WWE WrestleMania 39 from Los Angeles, California.
Gunther’s reign continues
Going into the three-way Intercontinental title match between Gunther, Sheamus and Drew McIntyre, it was understood that it would be physical and hard-hitting.
Then, there was what we got which went beyond that.
In the end, Gunther got the pin on McIntyre following power bombing Sheamus onto McIntyre’s back and then a second power bomb onto the mat for the win.
His title reign now stands at 297 days and he continues to chase the Honky Tonk Man’s 454-day reign which would be roughly just over five months from now.
Bobby Lashley appearance
The Andre The Giant memorial battle royale winner made an appearance on the stage with the trophy during the show, but there was no in-ring action or angle or anything involved with it or his appearance. He was slated to take on Bray Wyatt at one point, but Wyatt has been dealing with an illness and hasn’t been heard from in weeks.
LA Knight non-appearance
Despite the Los Angeles crowd getting behind him on SmackDown, there was no LA Knight appearance Sunday.
The Bianca Belair dancers
The young dance troupe that performed before Belair’s entrance were from the Divas of Compton who have performed on big stages before like at the 2022 Super Bowl and America’s Got Talent.
Belair retained her Raw Women’s title and celebrated one year as champion in doing so, outlasting Asuka in an outstanding match that was physical in its own right.
Mark Briscoe recognizes Zayn & Owens
After new undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens gave respect to Jay and Mark Briscoe in the post-event press conference, Mark took to Twitter Sunday to pay his own respects to the new champions and even the old ones:
Was on the red eye last night..@SamiZayn@FightOwensFight just watched the match..tag team action at its finest!! Congrats my brothers LOVE YALL@WWEUsos …can’t wait to do it on the other side! ✊🏽 #RESPECT
Legendary sports broadcaster Al Michaels and NFL star George Kittle (who got involved in the Pat McAfee/Miz match Saturday) were recognized on camera. Also in the front row: Endeavor head (and possible future WWE owner) Ari Emanuel and famed music producer/wrestling fan Rick Rubin.
Sponsorship
Before the Hell in a Cell match, actor Russell Crowe did a video hyping it up as part of a sponsorship deal with a new horror movie he is in.
As was the case throughout the weekend, there was an increased sponsorship and ad presence. Another example Sunday was Mike Hard’s Lemonade sponsoring the aforementioned Gunther/Sheamus/McIntyre match which included a pre-match ad.
Everything else:
Attendance was announced as 81,395 for Sunday and 161,892 combined for the two nights.
Tonight marked Brock Lesnar’s 12th WrestleMania match and Nattie’s 11th match and 13th appearance which she said was a “world record for a female in WWE.”
Bobby Lashley may be in action at WrestleMania 39 after all.
After winning the Andre the Giant Battle Royal on Friday’s SmackDown, Bobby Lashley tweeted out a video issuing a challenge for WrestleMania. Lashley said his weekend is free — and he wants to see who’s willing to step up to him.
I’ll say it once again…
I AM FREE SATURDAY & SUNDAY!!
You can’t have #WrestleMania without the All-Mighty. You just can’t!
“Surprise, surprise. Look who just won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal. Was there any doubt in anybody’s mind who was going to win that? The Almighty,” Lashley said. “You can’t have a WrestleMania without The Almighty. My weekend is free. Let’s see who’s really ready for a real challenge. Let’s see who wants to step up and get some from The Almighty.”
Lashley was originally slated to face Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania, but Wyatt hasn’t appeared on WWE television in recent weeks.
Lashley, Bronson Reed, and Braun Strowman were the final three wrestlers left in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal on Friday night. After Reed eliminated Strowman, Lashley eliminated Reed to get the victory.
WrestleMania 39 is taking place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California this Saturday (April 1) and Sunday (April 2).
Bobby Lashley is the winner of the 2023 Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
The battle royal took place on Friday’s edition of SmackDown, the go-home show for WrestleMania 39. Lashley won the match by last eliminating Bronson Reed.
After LA Knight was eliminated by Reed, the match came down to Lashley, Reed, and Braun Strowman. Reed eliminated Strowman and went to hit a Tsunami on Lashley, but Lashley moved out of the way. Lashley followed that up by giving Reed a spear. Reed then countered when Lashley tried to throw him out of the ring, but Lashley was able to hang on and throw out Reed.
This was the ninth edition of the Andre the Giant Battle Royal and the third straight year the match has taken place on SmackDown instead of WrestleMania. Cesaro, Big Show, Baron Corbin, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy, Strowman, Jey Uso, and Madcap Moss won the battle royal in previous years.
A match between Lashley and Bray Wyatt was originally planned for WrestleMania 39, but Wyatt hasn’t been on WWE television in recent weeks. Dave Meltzer reported when Lashley was announced for the Andre the Giant Battle Royal:
The announcement of Lashley confirms what has been expected since it’s not been talked about for weeks, that Lashley vs. Bray Wyatt is off [WrestleMania] due to health issues regarding Wyatt. There have been teases in recent weeks of a Wyatt return.
As mentioned by Dave Meltzer in both his Sunday daily update and appearance on Sunday Night’s Main Event, Bray Wyatt is dealing with an illness that has kept on the sidelines in WWE.
He was supposed to be on Friday’s SmackDown, but missed the show due to the unspecified illness.
On SNME, Meltzer said that when he asked WWE about whether the planned match between Wyatt and Bobby Lashley was still on for WrestleMania 39, he didn’t get a definitive answer either way.
Meltzer said Wyatt is still with the company and that his gut instinct is the match is “up in the air” for whether it actually happens with less than two weeks to go before WrestleMania weekend.
The match hasn’t been mentioned on WWE TV since the Monday, March 6th Raw.
Wyatt was pulled from a Madison Square Garden house show earlier this months with no reason given. Since returning last year, Wyatt has wrestled on TV just once, that being at January’s Royal Rumble against LA Knight in a Pitch Black match. He has been working with Knight in SmackDown dark matches and house shows, but hasn’t been in action since February 26th.
Despite a recent absence from WWE events, it looks like Bray Wyatt is still planned to face Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania.
Wyatt hasn’t been on WWE television in two weeks and missed WWE’s house show at Madison Square Garden this Sunday. Though neither Wyatt nor Lashley appeared on Raw last night, Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that — from what he understands — their match is still on for WrestleMania.
“From what I understand, the match is still on for WrestleMania,” Meltzer said. “And [Wyatt] should be back very soon, so we’ll see. That’s pretty much all I can say. There is something to it, but I’m not at liberty to discuss it. As far as I know, everything that I’ve been told is that it’s not a creative issue or anything like that.”
Amid rumors about Wyatt’s status, Lashley tweeted before Raw on Monday: “I’ve worked too hard to be denied. I will be ready to fight on the biggest stage of them all, #WrestleMania. I don’t care who it is, somebody will feel the wrath of the All-Mighty.”
A Firefly Fun House segment with Wyatt aired on SmackDown on February 24. The next Monday, there was an angle on Raw where a clip from Wyatt interrupted Lashley.
The March 3 episode of SmackDown included an angle where Lashley fought off an attack by Uncle Howdy.
Wyatt has had one televised match since returning to WWE last October. He defeated LA Knight in a Mtn Dew Pitch Black match at the Royal Rumble.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California is hosting WrestleMania 39 on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2.
Brock Lesnar did not want to have a WrestleMania match against Bray Wyatt.
As first reported by Fightful, Lesnar is said to have turned down wrestling against Wyatt on the show. This has led to Lesnar vs. Omos being scheduled instead and Wyatt now working a program with Bobby Lashley.
Our own Dave Meltzer addressed the situation on Wrestling Observer Radio and noted that the finish of Lesnar vs. Lashley at The Elimination Chamber had to be changed as a result of the modified WrestleMania plans.
Meltzer said:
Fightful reported this and I checked it out and it’s definitely accurate.
This was also not the original idea but an idea for Brock Lesnar was Brock Lesnar and Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania and Brock said no to that, which doesn’t surprise me in the least. When I heard that story, it made all the sense in the world to me because for Brock Lesnar to be involved in that hocus pocus with the aura that he has…
Originally, what was going to happen was Brock was beating Bobby Lashley at Elimination Chamber and that was going to lead to Brock against Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania and that’s why Bray Wyatt did that interview but after they did that, they had to change the finish.
That’s why we ended up with Lesnar and Omos. Remember I said that this has just changed and it changed from Wyatt but Wyatt had also been the change so I don’t know who the original one was, but it was not Gunther, I know that. So, they had two changes in that one in the last few weeks.
Lesnar vs. Omos was made official for WrestleMania on Raw this week when Lesnar accepted the challenge made by MVP and Omos the week prior. Also on Raw this week, a video featuring Wyatt doing “The Muscle Man Dance” aired following Lashley’s defeat of Elias.
Bray Wyatt has issued a challenge to the winner of Saturday’s Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley bout.
Appearing on Friday’s SmackDown, Wyatt and Uncle Howdy cleared the ring of Hit Row. Wyatt then took the microphone and said that now that he is in control of himself and of Howdy, that the winner of Lesnar vs. Lashley “should run.”
Wyatt last wrestled on WWE television at the Royal Rumble on January 28, defeating LA Knight in a Mountain Dew Pitch Black match. That bout remains Wyatt’s only televised match since returning to WWE on October 8, 2022 after being released on July 31, 2021.
Since the Rumble, Wyatt has also defeated Knight twice in dark matches at SmackDown tapings, and also in two Pitch Black matches at house shows.
Lesnar and Lashley’s contest on Saturday is their rubber match, as each has one victory in their two prior singles meetings.
Brock Lesnar has challenged Bobby Lashley for later this month in Montreal.
Lesnar challenged Lashley during Monday’s Raw in Orlando. Lesnar came to the ring and said that he had a contract for Lashley to sign. Lashley came out and said he would have his lawyers look at the contract for Elimination Chamber on February 18. Lesnar responded by giving Lesnar two F5’s.
Later in the show, it was announced that the two would meet in a contract signing on next week’s Raw.
Lesnar made his latest return to WWE at Raw is XXX last month, interfering in Bobby Lashley’s United States Championship match. At the Royal Rumble last weekend, it was Lashley who eliminated Lesnar from the match, causing Lesnar to throw a fit outside of the ring. On Monday, Lesnar said that he didn’t appear on Raw last week because he had to calm down. He also said that he couldn’t get ‘Bobby Who’ out of his mind, and thus wanted another match with Lashley at Elimination Chamber.
Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley will sign the contract for their Elimination Chamber bout on next week’s WWE Raw.
Lesnar appeared on Monday’s Raw to present Lashley with a contract for a match at the Saturday, February 18 Elimination Chamber event after Lashley eliminated Lesnar from the men’s Royal Rumble match. Lashley said that he would have his manager and agent look over the contract and would get back to Lesnar. The contract signing was officially announced later on Monday’s show.
A Miz TV segment has also been announced for next week. Miz’s guest will be Seth Rollins, who appeared on this week’s Raw to attack Austin Theory. Theory will defend the United States title against Rollins, Johnny Gargano, Damian Priest, Montez Ford, and Bronson Reed in an Elimination Chamber match on February 18.
Also set for next week, the participants in the number one contender’s Elimination Chamber match will square off in a six-woman tag, with Asuka, Liv Morgan, and Nikki Cross facing Raquel Rodriguez, Natalya, and Carmella.
Next week’s lineup:
WWE Raw, Monday, February 13 —
Brock Lesnar-Bobby Lashley contract signing
Miz TV with Seth Rollins
Asuka, Liv Morgan & Nikki Cross vs. Raquel Rodriguez, Natalya & Carmella
Brock Lesnar made his return to WWE television on Monday, attacking Bobby Lashley at the end of Raw.
The end of Monday’s show had Lashley putting Theory through a table when Lesnar’s music hit. Lesnar came to the ring and took out Lashley with an F5. He then took Theory and gave him an F5 as well. Theory fell on top of Lashley, effectively covering him for the three count.
Earlier in the show, Lashley had brought up Lesnar’s name, saying that the only reason he wasn’t United States Champion now was because of Lesnar. Lesnar hasn’t been seen on television since November, when he defeated Lashley at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia.
In recent weeks, MVP has been attempting to recruit Lashley to form The Hurt Business once again, including he and Omos helping Lashley on last week’s Raw. MVP asked him again this week, but Lashley remained uninterested, saying he didn’t need their help.
WWE has made a couple of announcements for tonight’s 30th anniversary edition of Raw.
Ahead of tonight’s Raw, WWE uploaded a video with Byron Saxton announcing that the first hour of the show will air commercial-free. It was also announced that a no disqualification stipulation has been added to Austin Theory and Bobby Lashley’s United States Championship match tonight.
EXCLUSIVE: @ByronSaxton is joined by a couple of legendary friends with some huge news ahead of #RawisXXX tonight!
The first hour will be COMMERCIAL-FREE and the #USTitle encounter between @_Theory1 & @fightbobby will now be a No Disqualification Match!
Tonight’s anniversary show is taking place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia and will include appearances by several WWE legends. The Undertaker, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, Madusa, Teddy Long, Ron Simmons, Road Dogg, X-Pac, Diamond Dallas Page, Jimmy Hart, Jerry “The King” Lawler, The Godfather, Ted DiBiase, and IRS have been announced for the episode.
Here’s the updated lineup for Raw:
No DQ match: United States Champion Austin Theory defends against Bobby Lashley
Raw Tag Team Champions The Usos defend against The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio)
Steel cage match: Becky Lynch vs. Bayley
The Bloodline will hold Tribal Court for Sami Zayn
Bobby Lashley will get a chance at Austin Theory next week on the 30th anniversary edition of Raw.
In the main event of Monday’s Raw, Bobby Lashley defeated Seth Rollins in a six-man elimination match to become the new number one contender for the United States title. The show closed with Theory, who had been at ringside, holding the United States title as Lashley stared him down.
MVP and Omos came to ringside towards the finish of the match. Theory struck Lashley with the United States title, causing Omos to attack Theory. Rollins laid out Omos with a stomp on the announce table and threw Theory over the barricade. He went back to the ring and laid out MVP but then walked into a spear by Lashley.
Last week, MVP had attempted to reconcile with Lashley, pointing out that Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin had recently reunited. Lashley thus far has not been receptive to a Hurt Business reunion.
Here is the updated lineup for Raw’s 30th anniversary:
WWE Raw is XXX, Monday, January 23 —
WWE United States Championship: Austin Theory (c) vs. Bobby Lashley
Raw Tag Team Championship: The Usos (c) vs. Dominik Mysterio & Damian Priest
Steel cage match: Becky Lynch vs. Bayley
Bloodline acknowledgement ceremony with Roman Reigns
WWE legends appearing: The Undertaker, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Jerry Lawler, The Bella Twins, Road Dogg, X-Pac, Theodore Long, Ron Simmons
Date: January 16, 2023 Location: Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, OH
Show Recap —
There will be a six-way elimination match tonight to determine Austin Theory’s next challenger for the US title between Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, Finn Bálor, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler and The Miz. The winner gets the shot on the 30th-anniversary show next week.
Opening segment
The Usos and Solo Sikoa entered to start the show. The Usos talked about the message they sent to Kevin Owens on Smackdown.
They also announced that every generation of the Bloodline will be on Raw next week to have a special acknowledgement ceremony for Roman Reigns. Jey Uso said they would also beat Judgment Day to retain the tag titles.
Judgment Day interrupted. Rhea Ripley told the Bloodline that they run Raw. Bálor thanked the “ex-con Dom” for taking care of business last week. (Bálor was still selling his ribs.) Damian Priest said they would take the Raw tag titles back to their show — permanently.
Priest wondered why the Bloodline never stepped to Judgment Day whenever they invaded Raw. Dominik Mysterio said they must be scared. The Usos laughed. Jimmy Uso mocked him and called him little machismo.
The Usos ran down every team they’ve beaten — including Dom and his daddy Rey Mysterio to begin their historic reign. Dom said they talked tough but they wouldn’t last a minute in the cell that he spent time in. Dom called them wannabes and the biggest wannabe was Sikoa who just stood in the background doing nothing.
Sikoa got in Dom’s face so Ripley stepped in and got in his face instead. Sikoa wouldn’t back down so Dom punched him. Sikoa took one step back before dropping Dom.
This led to a brawl and Ripley dared Sikoa to hit her. It seemed like he was about to but Mustafa Ali flew in and wiped out Sikoa. They have a match next.
Solo Sikoa defeated Mustafa Ali (5:30)
Sikoa was in firm control when the Usos decided to reappear and pose on the apron. This brought out Kevin Owens who fought off Jimmy and Jey. The distraction allowed Ali to hit a tornado DDT for a nearfall (pretty much the only offence he got). Sikoa avoided a 450 splash and hit a Samoan Spike for the pinfall win.
— Owens immediately dropped Sikoa with a stunner after the match. Owens put Sikoa on the announce table and was going to put him through it (to return the favour from Smackdown) but the Usos attacked.
Owens fought them off but Adam Pearce and a bunch of officials held him back allowing the Bloodline to back away. The crowd cheered as Owens posed on the table.
********
Bobby Lashley said he would put down five others tonight with the Hurt Lock and would end Austin Theory’s reign next week.
Cody Rhodes video
There was a new Cody Rhodes video package focusing on his recovery and rehab. They showed him at the Nightmare Factory training four months after surgery.
“At the Royal Rumble: I’m back.”
The announcers put this over as a big deal.
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Elias spoke to Byron Saxton about the Royal Rumble. MVP appeared and warned Elias not to enter the Rumble because the winner was already determined. Elias thought MVP was talking about himself and told him he hasn’t been relevant in years. MVP offered Elias a match against the eventual Rumble winner and Elias accepted.
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Angelo Dawkins entered wearing a Ja’Marr Chase Cincinnati Bengals jersey.
The Street Profits defeated Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander (9:16)
MVP sauntered out before a break.
Dawkins gave Benjamin a spinebuster and Montez Ford hit a frog splash but Alexander broke up the cover. Benjamin suplexed Ford off the top but Dawkins broke up that cover. Ford wiped out Benjamin with a dive before Alexander wiped out Ford with a suicide dive. That led to Dawkins taking out everyone with a flip dive.
Dawkins hit a spinning Stinger splash in the corner (MVP was supposed to yank Alexander out of the way but he was too late and Dawkins had to sell it anyway). MVP still distracted the referee which allowed Benjamin and Alexander to double-team Dawkins.
Alexander hit a knee strike and seemed to have it won but Dawkins countered his cover into a cradle for the pinfall win.
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Alpha Academy approached Judgment Day in the back. Chad Gable said they should have been medically disqualified last week.
Dom bragged about prison and lifting weights. Gable told Dom it was no surprise he wound up on the wrong end of the criminal justice system and told him that you need a strong mind to go with a strong body but it appeared Dom had neither of those things.
Gable told Dom that if he wound up in prison again he should take an online Alpha Academy course. Dom told Gable, “you don’t even want to know what they do to guys like you (in prison).” Priest advised them to leave.
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[SECOND HOUR]
Becky Lynch/Bayley segment
Lynch entered through the crowd and called out Bayley. Bayley was taking too long so Lynch wondered if “Karen” was yelling at a manager in the back.
Bayley (wearing a San Francisco 49ers jersey) entered with Dakota Kai and IYO SKY. The crowd booed so Bayley told them to “shoosh please.” She also didn’t understand what a Karen was.
Bayley claimed Lynch didn’t have any friends. Lynch called Bayley a sour dopey-looking goof who peaked in 2015. Bayley whined about Lynch repeatedly taking her spot.
Lynch said she wasn’t called up before Bayley (years ago) because WWE saw more in her. They wanted Bayley in NXT because she was the focal point and had the spotlight. Lynch was just another body on the roster.
Lynch said she wasn’t supposed to be The Man, she wasn’t supposed to change the game and she wasn’t supposed to be the first woman to main event WrestleMania. But she did all of those things because she worked for it. All Bayley did was whine and moan.
Bayley said Lynch only became “The Man” because she got punched in the face by another woman. (She didn’t name who it was.) Lynch thought that was a lazy comeback and threatened to punch her right now. Bayley had no issue with that because she already beat Lynch once.
Lynch challenged her to a match next week and Bayley accepted. Lynch then goaded Bayley into reluctantly accepting a cage match.
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Ali approached Dolph Ziggler in the back to complain. Ziggler told him that he didn’t have time for him today. Ali decked him and asked, “do I have your attention now?”
Omos (w/MVP) defeated Elias (2:34)
Elias tried attacking Omos outside the ring but MVP got in his way. MVP also threatened to hit Elias with his cane as the referee just stood around and watched. Elias was going to hit him with his guitar but Omos knocked him down with a headbutt and smashed the guitar. Elias tried fighting back in the ring but Omos hit him with a tree slam for the pinfall win.
(Officially, Omos is in the Rumble match.)
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Saxton asked Pearce for a preview of Raw 30. Pearce wouldn’t give any specifics but did say it would be big. Akira Tozawa appeared and told Pearce he wanted in the Rumble. Pearce put him in a match. Winning wouldn’t guarantee a spot but would help his case. Tozawa psyched himself up.
Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio (w/Rhea Ripley & Finn Bálor) defeated Alpha Academy (11:01)
Corey Graves said Priest was in the ring for over an hour last week. Moments later, Kevin Patrick said Priest was in the ring for 56 minutes. (The match was not longer than 50 minutes.)
Gable gave Dom a diving headbutt halfway across the ring and made the hot tag to Otis (who the crowd was very into for the third straight week). Priest booted Otis but Otis came back with the World Strongest Slam for a nearfall. Otis also gave Priest the caterpillar (sort of — he actually just fell over on top of Priest).
Dom tried (and failed) to attack Gable but the distraction allowed Priest to chokeslam Otis off the middle rope before Gable gave Priest a Chaos Theory suplex. Dom tried to catch Gable with a surprise schoolboy but Gable countered into an ankle lock.
The crowd cheered because they wanted Dom to tap but a distraction by Ripley and Bálor allowed Priest to chokeslam Gable. Dom rolled on top of Gable to get the pinfall win.
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There was a Martin Luther King Jr. tribute video set to “Never Break” by John Legend.
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“Michin” Mia Yim (w/Candice LeRae) defeated Tag Team Champion IYO SKY (w/Dakota Kai) (4:35)
They had a back-and-forth match. Yim went for Eat Defeat but stopped what she was doing when Kai jumped on the apron. LeRae yanked her down so SKY dropkicked LeRae. This allowed Yim to hit Eat Defeat for the pinfall win.
(Yim was announced as “Michin Mia Yim” but the graphics and commentators only referred to her simply as “Michin.”)
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There was an Alexa Bliss/Uncle Howdy video package.
[THIRD HOUR]
They ran down the Royal Rumble card.
Bianca Belair/Alexa Bliss segment
Belair entered to a good reaction. Belair said she’s only been out a couple of weeks but she really missed the crowd. She knew this job had risks, like getting her face smashed against the steel steps. Despite that, Belair would happily face Bliss again and again and again and again — because with any risk came the reward of being Raw Women’s Champion.
Belair called out Bliss. Bliss entered and said, “You fear me because you don’t know what to expect from me. No one does.” Bliss was about to speak about the Rumble but Belair cut her off.
Belair basically told her that she didn’t need to enter the Rumble match because she could face her for the title on the show instead. Bliss wondered what the catch was. Belair said Bliss wanted to be in control so she was giving her the choice. Bliss accepted.
Belair didn’t want to wait to fight so she went after Bliss. Belair tossed her around ringside and beat her up in the crowd.
Belair was going to give Bliss a KOD through two chairs but froze upon seeing Uncle Howdy appear in the arena vomitorium. Bliss slipped out of Belair’s grasp and gave her a DDT.
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Bronson Reed defeated Akira Tozwa (4:20)
This was a showcase for Reed. Tozawa had a flash of offence which included a suicide dive. He tried a senton off the apron but Reed caught him and powerbombed him on the edge of the barricade, which looked brutal. Reed hit a running shoulder tackle off the apron and Tozawa took a big bump for that too. Reed finished him off with a Tsunami for the pinfall win.
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Saxton interviewed Seth Rollins who cut a very Seth Rollins promo. Rollins was focused on the Rumble but WWE officials called him and begged him to be in the Raw main event. Rollins was happy to be in Cincinnati — a town that loves to party and sing his song. He said he would win tonight, win the US title, win the Rumble, and beat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.
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Raw XXX next week in Philadelphia:
Steel Cage match: Becky Lynch vs. Bayley
The Bloodline Acknowledgement Ceremony with Roman Reigns
Raw Tag Team Title match: The Usos vs. Judgment Day
US Title match: Austin Theory vs. Bobby Lashley
WWE Legends appear — Undertaker, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Teddy Long, Jerry Lawler, Ron Simmons, Sean Waltman and Road Dogg
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Theory entered to join commentary. He had a funny comment saying he felt like he grew up watching all of these six guys.
Six-way Elimination Match: Bobby Lashley defeated Seth Rollins, Finn Bálor, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin (w/JBL) (26:46)
Seth Rollins eliminated The Miz (8:43)
Seth Rollins eliminated Dolph Ziggler (16:36)
Seth Rollins eliminated Finn Bálor (24:20)
Bobby Lashley eliminated Baron Corbin (25:36)
Bobby Lashley eliminated Seth Rollins (26:46)
The bell rang to start the match and they went to break 12 seconds later.
There was a tower of doom spot fairly early on which saw Lashley convincingly powerbomb Bálor, Corbin and Rollins. Ziggler gave Lashley a fameasser and Miz hit Skull Crushing Finale but Lashley kicked out. Miz put Ziggler in the figure four but Ziggler turned it over and Rollins gave Miz a curbstomp for the first elimination at 8:43.
Rollins took out Corbin and Lashley with a suicide dive, Bálor took out all three men with a flip dive, and Ziggler took out all four men with a dive off the top. Ziggler superkicked Corbin, gave Lashley a Zig-Zag and superkicked Bálor out of mid-air. However, Rollins jumped in and gave Ziggler a Pedigree for the second elimination at 16:36.
Lashley beat up everyone and gave Rollins a Dominator for two. Lashley gave Bálor a delayed vertical suplex and set up for the Hurt Lock but stopped for some reason upon seeing Omos and MVP enter. Corbin and Rollins took each other out while Bálor gave Lashley a dropkick and Coup de Grace.
Before Bálor could go for a cover, Rollins flew in and stomped him for the third elimination at 24:20.
Omos chucked Rollins over the announce table. Corbin was distracted by Omos so Lashley speared him for the fourth elimination at 25:36.
Theory hit Lashley with the title belt and tried to brag to Omos but Omos grabbed him for a chokeslam. Before he could do it, Rollins stomped Omos before knocking down Theory.
Rollins superkicked MVP off the apron and went for a stomp but Lashley speared him for the final elimination. Fun match.
Lashley faces Theory for the title next week. The announcers ran down the Raw XXX card one more time.
Several WWE wrestlers who missed a December 26 house show in Columbus were able to make it to an event the following day in Atlanta.
Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins revealed on Monday that they would be unable to make that night’s house show event due to their tour bus breaking down. Alexa Bliss and Bobby Lashley were also unable to make the show due to travel issues described as “a complete nightmare.”
Lynch, Rollins, and Lashley performed on Tuesday’s house show from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Bliss was not on the show.
The full results from the December 27 house show in Atlanta are as follows:
Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch went to a no-contest
Bobby Lashley defeated Omos w/ MVP
Madcap Moss & New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) defeated Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, & Giovanni Vinci)
Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett defeated Drew Gulak
Braun Strowman & Ricochet defeated WWE Unified Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) via DQ
Braun Strowman, Ricochet, & Kevin Owens defeated The Bloodline (The Usos & Sami Zayn)
Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) w/ Zelina Vega defeated The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus & Ridge Holland)
Bray Wyatt defeated Jinder Mahal
United States Championship Steel Cage match: Austin Theory retained against Seth Rollins
Less than 24 hours after Raw ended with Adam Pearce “firing” Lashley, Pearce posted an update announcing that Lashley is no longer fired. Pearce said Lashley putting his hands on officials is unacceptable and will be addressed, but Pearce admitted that he allowed emotion to get the better of him when he fired Lashley.
Pearce said he and Lashley will meet later this week to discuss the ramifications of what Lashley did and how they can move forward and work together with respect.
“I formally rescind Bobby Lashley’s termination, and I sincerely apologize for my part in escalating an already volatile situation,” Pearce announced.
The show-closing angle of last night’s Raw saw Bobby Lashley confront a referee after losing a United States title number one contender’s match to Seth Rollins. Lashley hit a spear on Rollins during the match, but the referee was slow to make the count after trying to avoid getting knocked down when Lashley had Rollins in The Hurt Lock. Rollins then defeated Lashley after reversing a spear into the Pedigree.
When the referee tried to walk away from Lashley after the match, Lashley shoved him into the corner. Lashley also knocked down another referee and shoved Pearce.
The angle was a continuation from last week, where Lashley accidentally speared a WWE producer during a brawl with Rollins. Pearce later warned Lashley about putting his hands on officials.
Lashley has been going through an attitude change since being attacked by Brock Lesnar on Raw this October. The two faced off at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia last month, with Lesnar pinning Lashley while Lashley had him in The Hurt Lock. Lashley put Lesnar in The Hurt Lock again following the match.
