WWE was live for the weekly Raw show from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. We saw the aftermath of the Royal Rumble and the start of the Road to WrestleMania. Also, Gunther defended the UC Title against Kofi Kingston, and DIY challenged for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships. Let’s look at everything that happened on Monday Night Raw after Royal Rumble.
CM Punk addressed his Royal Rumble loss
Pat McAfee joined the commentary, and Wade Barrett was not there. CM Punk came out with his arm in a sling.
The fans were chanting his name. Punk looked at the WrestleMania sign in disappointment. He said he came close on Saturday night.
Punk congratulated Cody and wished he would finish his story at WrestleMania in Philadelphia. Punk then talked about his injury. He claimed he tore his tricep and will not be on the Elimination Chamber or WrestleMania card.
Punk delivered a very passionate promo about being the Best in the World. He said that maybe his dream of main-eventing WrestleMania never gets fulfilled.
WrestleMania always scared him he said. But he ended with the line, “There’s always a next year!”
Drew McIntyre came out. He said that he wished for Punk’s injury and accomplished his mission. McIntyre said he will try to get into a World Heavyweight Title match at WrestleMania.
Punk said that his heart hurts more than his arm. McIntyre tried to attack Punk, but he ducked and kicked him.
Drew delivered a Glasgow Kiss and attacked the injured arm. Sami Zayn made the save, and McIntyre retreated. Zayn and the doctors checked on Punk.
Grades: A-
Analysis: Sadly, Punk wouldn’t make it to WrestleMania. Punk’s promo abilities were on full display in this segment. McIntyre has become more villainous.
WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship Match
Finn Balor and Damian Priest vs. DIY
Gargano and Ciampa started aggressively. They sent Balor and Priest out of the ring and delivered stereo planchas. Back in the ring, Balor and Priest dominated Ciampa.
Damian sent him face-first into the apron while Balor delivered a scissor kick. Ciampa came to life when he countered a falling elbow drop from Finn into a Reverse DDT.
Gargano was tagged in, and he delivered clotheslines to Balor and a bulldog to Priest. Ciampa delivered an assisted Sliced Bread for a near fall.
Balor landed a slingshot double stomp on Ciampa. Leg drops by both Balor and Priest, but Ciampa is kicked out.
Ciampa escaped the South Of Heaven chokeslam twice. Johnny delivered a slingshot DDT on Priest, and Ciampa landed an air raid siren for a two-count.
DIY successfully delivered Meet in the Middle on Balor. Gargano covered for the pin, but Priest put Balor’s foot on the rope.
At one time in the match, both DIY members used their submissions. Gargano had Balor trapped in the Gargano Escape while Ciampa had Priest locked in a Sicilian Stretch.
Priest sidelined Gargano with a flat liner at the commentary table. Damian came with a Razor’s Edge on Ciampa, followed by a Coup de Grace from Balor to retain the titles.
The Judgment Day members celebrated after the match. Priest called out R-Truth and said that Truth didn’t attack him at Royal Rumble and stayed to his word. Truth said that Judgment Day is a family.
Priest is like his elder brother, Balor is an uncle, McDonagh is stepbrother. Priest said Judgment Day is a family, but R-Truth is not a part of it.
McDonagh attacked Truth from behind. The Miz tried to save but got outnumbered.
Winners: Finn Balor and Damian Priest
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a fun match. The Judgment Day looked violent with the post-match angle. The Awesome Truth seems to be next in line for the Undisputed Tag Team Titles.
Tag Team Match
Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark vs. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven
Stark delivered a jawbreaker early on on Niven. Baszler delivered punches to Niven. Green escaped the Kirifuda Clutch and a crossbody block. Ultimately, Z-360 brought the win for Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler.
Winners: Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark
Grades: C-
Analysis: It was a very short match. Baszler and Stark can be an excellent team. They should come for the women’s tag team titles shortly.
Cody addressed his back-to-back Royal Rumble victory
Cody Rhodes arrived to a huge ovation from the crowd. He again requested Samantha Irvin to introduce him and posed on the ropes. Rhodes said, “Let’s make WrestleMania XL Official!”
Seth Rollins came out. He said the crowd was right when they chanted “You deserve it” to Cody. Rollins told Cody to choose him as his opponent at WrestleMania because he is the guy.
Seth said that Cody choosing Roman made sense last year because Reigns had the world title. Now, we have the World Heavyweight Title.
Rollins shared his journey of defending his title every night. He said this was for the people tired of Roman’s part-time schedule. Rollins claimed that they don’t need Roman Reigns.
Rollins gave Cody time to make the biggest decision of his entire life. Rhodes said that he’ll think about it and tell Rollins soon.
Grades: B+
Analysis: A great segment for the 2-time Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes. Seth Rollins’ involvement made the segment more interesting.
WWE is playing with fans’ minds because The Rock’s match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania is not confirmed.
Backstage: New Day was backstage. Kofi made it clear that he will become a 5-time Intercontinental Champion tonight.
Singles Match
Jey Uso vs. Bronson Reed
In the beginning, Jey tried some moves to gain the advantage, but Reed powered out. Bronson countered a suicide dive and sent Uso into the ring post.
Reed dominated inside the ring and delivered a running hip attack before taunting the crowd. Jey bounced back with a crossbody block and a senton bomb for a near fall.
Jey connected three superkicks. Reed avoided the splash and delivered a Death Valley Driver for a two-count. In the end, Jey won with a spear and a splash.
Winner: Jey Uso
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a necessary win for “Main Event” Jey Uso. Bronson Reed must get a big match at the upcoming Elimination Chamber in his home of Australia.
Backstage: We saw Andrade signing a WWE Raw contract. Aldis was there, too, and received a phone call from Bron Breakker.
Intercontinental Title Match
Gunther vs. Kofi Kingston
Gunther dropped Kofi with a backbreaker and applied the Boston Crab. We saw Kofi trying to fight back for the first few minutes, but Gunther always laid him down.
We saw chops exchanged with one vicious Gunther’s chop, sending Kingston out of the ring. We saw a scoop slam by the Ring General, and Kingston looked lifeless.
A pendulum kick looked like an opening for Kofi, but Gunther soon turned the momentum with another backbreaker. Gunther applied the Boston Crab again and then delivered a German Suplex.
Kofi again fought back with a knee to Gunther’s face and a huricanrana. Kingston successfully hit the Trouble in Paradise, but Gunther wisely rolled out of the ring to escape the pinfall attempt.
Kofi landed the Boom Drop from the top rope for a near fall. Gunther shattered Kofi with a lariat. An angry Gunther charged towards Kofi but met with an SOS for a two-count.
Gunther delivered the lariat and a Tyrannosaurus Dropkick, followed by a powerbomb for the win. Vinci and Kaiser attacked Woods and Kingston after the match.
Winner: Gunther
Grades: B-
Analysis: Another great title defense by Gunther, and he continues his historic reign. Kofi always delivers the best when he is the underdog.
Non-Title Tag Team Match
Kabuki Warriors vs. Natalya and Tegan Nox
It was a non-title match. Nox was awesome in the start when she delivered an excellent uppercut and a cannonball.
Asuka applied the ankle lock on Nox. Natalya delivered a German Suplex and a Discus Clothesline.
Ultimately, Asuka and Sane were victorious with the reverse DDT/In-Sane Elbow combo.
Winners: Kabuki Warriors
Grades: B
Analysis: Asuka and Kairi Sane have a great chemistry. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance will get a title opportunity next week.
Bayley Addressed her Royal Rumble Win
Damage CTRL was in the ring. Bayley said that everyone thought she was done, but she won the Royal Rumble and also broke the record of Rhea Ripley by lasting 63 minutes.
Rhea came out on stage. She said Bayley did what she did at Royal Rumble because Ripley was not in the match. Nia Jax attacked Rhea from behind.
She got to the ring and told Bayley to choose Iyo Sky because Rhea wouldn’t make it to WrestleMania. Bayley declared that she would make her decision this Friday on SmackDown.
Grades: B-
Analysis: It was a cool segment with Bayley and Rhea Ripley. Jax seems to be Rhea’s opponent at Elimination Chamber next month.
Singles Match
Sami Zayn vs. Drew McIntyre
The match started at a quick pace. Zayn sent McIntyre to the outside. Drew caught Sami in a suicide-dive attempt and sent him over to the commentary desk.
McIntyre sent Zayn back into the ring and had a stare-down with Pat McAfee. Zayn took advantage and landed a suicide dive.
McIntyre chopped Zayn’s chest and went for the White Noise. Sami countered it into a sunset flip powerbomb for a near fall. Zayn came up with a tornado DDT for another near fall.
McIntyre countered the Helluva Kick into a spinebuster and a sit-out powerbomb for a two-count. Drew delivered the Glasgow Kiss and went to the top rope.
Zayn countered it into a top-rope superplex. Later in the match, Sami countered a Claymore Kick into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall.
Drew delivered the Super White Noise from the middle rope for a near fall. In the end, McIntyre was victorious with a Claymore Kick.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Grades: A-
Analysis: It was a pure, fun match in the main event. Sami Zayn and Drew McIntyre have developed great chemistry.
Drew is again searching for a big opportunity, and his Road to WrestleMania will be quite interesting.
That was the show! The Royal Rumble winners Cody Rhodes and Bayley addressed their victories and we heard a heartbreaking announcement from CM Punk.
