Raw Review 01/23/2017

Tonight we see the go home edition of Monday Night Raw. What will happen with one of the biggest Rumbles in history 6 days away. We will see what Goldberg has to say heading into the rumble and how he feels about Brock Lesnar taking everyone out last Monday night. Plus who else will declare for the Rumble? Will Bayley be able to gain an edge heading into this Sunday and make her girlhood dream come true? Who else will be able to gain an edge heading into this Sunday. Some people who need it include the likes of Seth Rollins and The King of the Cruiserweights Neville. All this and more as we head towards The Road to Wrestlemania!

Raw is live tonight from the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio,

Raw kicks off with us being welcomed to the show by Michael Cole, Corey Graves & Byron Saxton.

In Ring Segment: Roman Reigns
Roman starts with talking about the Rumble. He says in the middle of the storm Jericho with be in the shark cage. Reign says he will win the Universal Championship. Out comes Owens.
Owens says Reigns sounds delusional. Owens says something happened to Roman. Owens talks about how he put Reigns through the announce table. He says he is the only one who can say that. Roman says Owens is the one who is going to get whooped. Jericho says Reigns is a stupid idiot. Jericho mentions how he beat Reigns for the United States Championship. Roman plays to the crowd and says Jericho just gaive him a rematch. He says they should have the match tonight. Owens says he has got the match. Owens says that Roman is going to be the one in the shark cage tonight. Roman says he has a feeling he is going to win the title. Roman says he also has a feeling he win the Universal title at the Rumble. He finishes by saying he is the guy.
My Opinion:
A normal start to Raw with these three out here. It was a good kick off though. Roman had the fans on his side and he really hammered home his points. It was a good way to get people excited and I love when Owens and Reigns go back and forth. However I do wish there was more emphasises on the importance of the Universal Championship match.

Match 1: Cesaro vs Luke Gallows
The two lock up and Gallows catches cesaro with an elbow. Cesaro is able to hit a corkscrew upper cut on Gallows. Cesaro picks gallows up from the ground and slams him. Cesaro hits a forearm to the face but doesn’t get the three count. Gallows gets on the offense with a back body drop. Cesaro hits a running upper cut but is distracted by Anderson. Gallows hits a big boot but doesn’t get the three on the pin attempt as we head to break.
As we return Gallows has Cesaro in a chinlock. Gallows is able to hit a side slam on Cesaro but still can’t put him away. Cesaro gets Gallows up and hits a vertical suplex. Cesaro hits a big upper cut and follows up with a few more. He continues to pound on Gallows in the corner and is able to hit a tornado ddt. Cesaro looks for the swing but Gallows rolls out of the ring. Cesaro hits a big boot as gallows tries to enter the ring. Cesaro locks in the sharpshooter and Gallows taps but the ref is distracted by Anderson. Gallows plants Cesaro and picks up the win.
Winner: Luke Gallows
My Opinion:
A good back and forth between the two. I liked Anderson being a factor in the decision because it shows they will do anything to win. The Club has been looking very good as of late and I think they have all the momentum heading into this Sunday. It will be good showdown again between these teams and as announced tonight there will be two refs for that match this Sunday.

Backstage Segment:
Foley is on the phone with Stephanie. Zayn comes in and asks to talk to Mick. Sami asks Foley how to announce his entrance into the Rumble. Stephanie says he will have to earn his way in. He says Zayn has to defeat Rollins to get in. Stephanie gives Foley a message to deliver to Seth Rollins.

Corey Graves sit down with Bayley:
Corey asks for one word to describe Bayley’s feelings heading into the Rumble. She says wow is the word to describe her experience. She says it still gives her goosebumps to be her. He asks why she thinks Charlotte uses her fandom against her. Bayley says it is what got her here. He asks what it means to her to be a rolemodel. Bayley says she is just her and she remembers being on the other side of the barricade. She says she feeds off the crowd and it makes her feel like she can do anything. Corey asks if anything means defeating Charlotte Sunday. Bayley says some people say she can’t do it but she does have two victories over her and this Sunday she will walk out with the Championship.

Backstage Segment:
Mick comes in to greet seth. Foley says that Stephanie said that he has a match next on Raw. Foley tells seth that Sami has to beat Seth to qualify. He informs Seth that if he loses Sami gets his spot. Rollins says he has to beat sami and win the Rumble and go to mania and throw it in Stephanie and her coward of a husbands face.

Match 2: Seth Rollins vs Sami Zayn
Rollins backs Zayn into the corner. He gets Zayn locked up in the middle of the ring. Rollins goes for a quick roll up but Zayn kicks out. Rollins gets a side headlock and brings Zayn to his knees. Zayn throws Rollins off the ropes but Rollins hits a shoulder tackle. The two lock up again and Zayn gets the upper hand. He works the left arm of Rollins but Rollins fights out. Sami goes for the quick cover but Rollins kicks out. Rollins hits a big forearm. Zayn takes him down and delivers right hands. The two exchange them. Zayn hits a hard clothesline and Rollins rolls out. Zayn looks for a suicide dive but Rollins stops him in his tracks and tosses him out of the ring. Rollins hits a suicide dive of his own and is in control as we head to break.
As we return Rollins is still in control with an armlock. Zayn fights out and Sends Rollins into the corner. Rollins catches him and goes for the knee off the ropes but misses. Zayn hits the blue thunder bomb but Rollins kicks out. Rollins hits a right but Zayn gets an elbow of his own. Sami flies with cross body but Rollins rolls throw. Sami is able to hit Rollins with the michinoku driver but Rollins still kicks out. Rollins hits the blockbuster but Zayn kicks out. Rollins catches zayn with a kick to the jaw but Zayn still won’t go down. Rollins hits the falcon arrow but Zayn is out again. Rollins and Zayn battle with forearms. Rollins hits the sling blade and measures Zayn. He looks for the pedigree but Zayn gets out. Zayn hits a ddt and then misses the helluva kick. Rollins is then dumped over the top rope. Rollins comes back in and catches Zayn on the top rope. Rollins looks for a pedigree from the top but zayn fights out. Zayn hits a sunset flip powerbomb but Rollins is able to kick out on the pin attempt. Rollins hits an enziguri but Zayn comes back with an exploder suplex. Sami looks for the helluva kick but Rollins counters with a kick. Rollins hits a pedigree on the apron and rolls zayn in. Triple H’s music plays and Rollins gets distracted. Zayn capitalizes and rolls up Rollins for the win.
Winner: Sami Zayn
My Opinion:
What a match between these two. They battled and that is the type of match we want to see. It was fresh and new and these two tested each other. Triple H’s music playing was a perfect way to build up Rollins and Triple H. Rollins should be in the rumble but give credit to Zayn as he does too. We will see if Rollins is still out of the rumble by the end of the night.

Backstage Segment:
Rollins is backstage iratte. Foley says he had nothing to do with it. Rollins says somebody knows something and Foley says he will get answers.

Match 3: Jack Gallagher & Mustafa Ali & Tj Perkins vs Tony Nese & Drew Gulak & Ariya Davari
Gallagher and Davari start off. Davari quickly gets out and Gulak comes in. Gallagher gets Gulak in a side headlock. Gallagher slides out and Perkins gets the tag. He hits a crossbody and gets Gulak tied up. Gulak drives Perkins to the mat. Nese gets the tag. Perkins hits a neckbreaker and goes to the top. Nese knocks him off. He then hits a gutbuster. He locks Perkins up with the body scissors. Nese misses on a move and Gulak gets the tag as well as Ali. Ali lands a nice kick and then follows up with a neck breaker. Ali goes to the top and hits a reverse 450 and picks up the win for his team.
Winners: Jack Gallagher & Mustafa Ali & TJ Perkins
My Opinion:
A good match. The crowd was very dead but it was a change of pace form what we normally see. Ali is very exciting and the reverse 450 is an awesome move. I liked mixing it up and getting more Cruiserweights involved. I feel the division is failing and the crowd shows it. They were not into it and it doesn’t feel special. It will be interesting to see what happens to the cruiserweights.

In Ring Segment: The New Day
Xavier says The New Day will win the Rumble go and win the Universal Championship at Wrestlemania. Out comes Enzo and Big Cass.
Cass says that this Sunday he is throwing 29 bodies over the top and he is entering the Royal Rumble match. Out comes Rusev.
Rusev says questions Big E and Big Cass’s names. He asks why they have big in front of their names. Rusev says he is officially entering the Royal Rumble. Out comes Titus.
Titus says he didn’t come out for trouble. Big E questions why he is out there. Xavier says it is disrespectful and to catch him outside. Titus says he has been informed there is an 8 man tag team match. Xavier says his math isn’t right. They asks Titus who his 4th person is and out comes Braun Strowman.
My Opinion:
I like the segment but I miss the days when everyone would go at it heading into the rumble. Everyone would come out and say they were going to win and we got to see a preview of it. I didn’t mind this but find it a little pointless. Braun being in this makes it better because to me Braun is becoming a big part of Raw. I feel he should have a bigger role tonight but at least this adds some excitement to it.

Match 4: The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) & Big Cass and Enzo vs Braun Strowman & Rusev & Jinder Mahal & Titus O’Neil
Kofi and Rusev start off the match. Kofi takes it to Rusev but Rusev gives it back. Mahal comes in and takes it to Kofi. he drops Kofi but only gets a one count on the cover. Titus gets the tag and slams Kofi. Titus locks in a bear hug but Kofi fights out. Titus keeps Kofi away from the corner. Titus picks up Kofi and slams him again Kofi sends Titus over the top rope but Titus is thrown back in by braun. Mahal and Big cass gets the tags. Cass slams Mahal and then lands a splash followed up by a boot. Enzo gets the tag and hits the bada boom shakalaka but Titus breaks up the pin. Cass takes everyone out and Kofi follows up with a dive over the top rope. Enzo hits an enziguri on Mahal but Braun makes a tag. Braun lands a big shoulder tackle and picks up Enzo. Enzo fights back and lands a kick to the face. Braun gets back on offensive and lands a running powerslam for the win.
*** Big Show comes out and has a standoff with Strowman. Strowman rolls out and says he does what he wants when he wants how he wants.
Winners: Braun Strowman & Rusev & Jinder Mahal & Titus O’Neil
My Opinion:
A good match between the teams. There was some humor and great moves. I loved Strowman picking up the win, the more he can pick up wins and look dominate the further he will go. It was awesome to see The Big Show. he looks amazing and I can’t wait to see them go at it in the Rumble. It was a good way to showcase what will be in the rumble and it outs it in perspective with all the big men that were out there.

Match 5: Chris Jericho (c) vs Roman Reigns: United States Championship
Roman quickly takes down Jericho and sends him through the ropes. He then drives Jericho into the barricade. He bounces Jericho off the apron and is able to hit the drive by as we head to commercial break.
As we return Jericho is on top. He gets Roman in a chinlock. He lands a right hand to the gut of Jericho. Jericho hits a missile drop kick but Roman kicks out of the cover. Jericho slaps Reigns but gets slapped back. Jericho lands rights but gets caught by a right from Reigns as he attempts to jump off the top rope. Reigns hits a couple clotheslines and Reigns takes down Jericho again. Jericho stays on Reigns with right hands. Reigns is able to hit the Samoan Drop but it only gets him a two count. Reigns loads up for the SuperMan punch but is met with a dropkick. Jericho sizes up Reigns and goes for the codebreaker but is caught by Reigns. Reigns hits a sit down powerbomb and goes for the cover but Jericho kicks out. Reigns goes for the spear but Jericho leap frogs over it. Reigns hits the SuperMan Punch and then is attacked by Owens.
*** After the match Owens calls for the shark cage to be lowered. They put Reigns in but Reigns fights out of it. Reigns throws Owens inside and locks him in. the cage rises and Jericho grabs onto it and starts to rise with it. Reigns hits a SuperMan Punch to Jericho and then hits a spear.
Winner: Roman Reigns via DQ: Jericho is still Champion
My Opinion:
I loved this match. Roman showed why he is the big dog but Jericho also showed why he is the G.O.A.T. These two always have a good matches and tonight was no different. I liked the ending with Owens in the cage. Roman laid out Jericho and Owens had to watch what is in store for him this Sunday. It showed that Roman is ready. I do wish Owens would have been put over more. I know the focus of the event is the Rumble but SmackDown makes Cena vs Styles look so big and this doesn’t feel like it. I think these guys have gone at it for so long now that it would takes something really special to give it that feel. Although funny I don’t think that the shark cage is the best way to do it.

In Ring:
Owens is lowered down and Jericho gets him out of the cage. The two bang on the cage and Owens is told by Charly that his match against Reigns will now be a No Disqualifications match. Owens freaks and says it is not fair and he already beat reigns and the match should be canceled.

Corey Graves sit down with Charlotte:
Corey asks what it means defending her title at the Rumble. She says it is a family tradition and her family dominates at the Rumble. Corey asks the truth to Charlotte getting in with one phone call. She says it is true but no one complains because she is the greatest. Corey asks what has changed between her and Bayley. Charlotte says she respects her but says that she wanted everyone to know who they were rooting for. She says that Bayley is not in the same league as her. Corey says Bayley seems confident. Charlotte says everyone will be looking at her and when the bell rings she will punish Bayley and see Bayley crying because she will still be the queen afterwards and bayley will continue to be the fan.

Match 6: Nia Jax vs Ray Lyn
Nia blasts her into the corner and drops on her. She goes for the cover and gets the win.
*** Nia grabs the mic from and dedicates her victory to the dead career of Sasha Banks. She says banks is forgotten and that EsPN should do a 30/30 on it. Out comes Sasha.
Sasha unloads on Nia with the crutch. She sends Nia through the second rope and hits double knees from the apron.
Winner: Nia Jax
My Opinion:
Obviously the match meant nothing and not even worth mentioning. On the other hand Sasha and Nia took a good turn in their rivalry tonight. It felt like real hate and these two will be going at it hopefully soon. I thought sasha looked great and she just has to stay afloat until her time comes to be champ again.

Match 7: Rich Swann vs Noam Dar
Swann flips Dar to start. Dar looks for the hip toss but Swann lands on his feet. He is able to hit a dropkick and Dar goes to the outside. Alicia saves Dar from being taken out by Swann. Swann is able to kick dar right in the face. Dar hits a nice dropkick but only gets a two count on the pin attempt.
As we return Dar is in control. Swan lands some rights and then a clothesline. He is able to land a kick to the gut but is stopped by a kick from Dar. Swann gets back on the offensive and lands a huge kick for the win.
*** Swann calls out Neville. He calls him a jester and tells him to come on out. Out comes Neville.
Neville steps half way through the ropes but backs off. Swann lands a suicide dive to take him out. He hammers on neville. Neville tries to run away and gets away from Swann.
Winner: Rich Swann
My Opinion:
Swann was very impressive tonight. His kicks were a thing of beauty and he looks ready for Sunday. Swann and neville are doing a good job to make the cruiserweight Title match look important. They both are fired up and look ready to fight. I have been critical of the division but I am actually looking forward to this match. It was a nice touch having Swann get the upperhand on Neville after the match.

Backstage Segment:
Charly asks Cedric’s thoughts on his match with neville tomorrow. He says it is the time to prove what he came here to do and show he can be a champion. Alicia interrupts and says he will never be anything without her. Dar says he will always be a winner as long as he has his Alicia fox. Dar asks Cedric if they are good. Cedric knocks down Dar. Alicia says he is jealous.

In Ring Segment: Goldberg
Goldberg! Goldberg! Goldberg! Goldberg thanks the crowd and says the Universal Championship runs through the Rumble match. He says he will stop at nothing to obtain the championship. He says he will spear and jackhammer 29 guys he will. Out comes Paul Heyman.
Heyman says that he figured they should rename the Rumble match imagine the possibilities. He lists off a couple possibilities and then says you could see Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar. Out comes Lesnar!
Heyman says that this Sunday Goldberg will be beaten and conquered. He says then Goldberg will be thrown over the top rope and eliminated. Goldberg cuts off Heyman. Goldberg asks if Lesnar is going to come down here or sit there. The two face off and Undertaker’s music hits. Undertaker now stands in the ring with lesnar and Goldberg as Raw goes off the air!
My Opinion:
Loved it! It was intense and exciting and made me remember why I truly love Pro wrestling. You don’t get this excitement anywhere else! What a way to end the show. Those three facing off. That is perfect because now you have to watch the Rumble to see what will happen if they do square off again. A very good call and for the first time in awhile i’m on the edge of my seat as raw goes off the air!!!

Final Thoughts:
Not a bad Raw before the Rumble. We saw an epic faceoff to end the show. It was perfect and it made the Rumble this Sunday must see with just these three guys. I am still confused on to what will happen with Rollins in the rumble. He should be in there and I will be very disappointed if that doesn’t happen. I loved Rich Swann and neville tonight as well. I thought they did a great job of hyping the match and they are making it a must see. Reigns stood tall tonight and the stakes got even higher with the no DQ stipulation added. They did a great job to wrap everything up and I am very excited for The Rumble. The Road to Wrestlemania looks beautiful and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out!!!
Overall Rating: 7/10