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WWE Raw 1/25: Results and Match Ratings

by Robby Steven 0 Comments

Robby Steven
Latest posts by Robby Steven (see all)

The WWE Monday Night Raw review moving forward will no longer be a recap of every segment on the show. Those recaps are widely available across the internet. Instead, the Raw review will analyze each wrestling match, complete with a star rating. Then each match will be ranked with a recommendation of Must-Watch, Worth a watch, Skim it, or Take a Pass.

WWE Raw: Women’s Action

Charlotte Flair vs Shayna Baszler
Charlotte and Asuka will defend their tag team titles at the Royal Rumble against Shaya Baszler and Nia Jax. In a preview, Charlotte and Baszler went head-to-head in singles competition on WWE Monday Night Raw. Baszler was quick to get the advantage, attempting to lock in a rear-naked choke. Charlotte was able to reverse it and put on the figure-four until Jax came in to break up the hold leading to a DQ. Mandy Rose, Dana Brookes and Lacy Evans hit the ring after the match causing a brawl between all the women leading into a 6-woman tag team match.

6-Woman Action

Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax and Lacey Evans defeated Charlotte Flair, Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke
Lacey Evans and Mandy Rose lock up with Rose getting the advantage. A tag into Brooke who continued to hold the advantage. Charlotte is then tagged in before Evans runs off to tag in Baszler. Both women exchange blows, leading to a series of chops by Charlotte followed by a fallaway slam. Rose is tagged back in before a double team dropkick along with Brooke gets a 2-count. Charlotte returns and takes Baszler to the outside. In a confusing ending, Charlotte makes it in before the 10-count to gain the win for her team.

During the commercial break, WWE Offical Adam Pearce is convinced to restart the match in an obvious attempt to salvage the segment. Nia Jax comes in the ring and has her way with Dana Brookes before a hot tag is made to Mandy Rose. Rose cleans house before Brooke returns to get beat down by Jax and pinned after a chokeslam and leg drop.

Match Analysis: The entire segment from the singles match to the 6-woman tag was a cringe-worthy embarrassment. The action was mostly sloppy and a half-step slow. None of this is worth watching unless you are a glutton for punishment on WWE Raw. Take a Pass, 1/2 *

Singles Action

Slapjack vs Xavier Woods
Xavier Woods starts the match off quickly with a running dropkick into the corner on Slapjack. A backdrop out of the corner keeps Woods in control until Slapjack again to turned the tables. The Slapjack advantage was short-lived as Woods fired back with a series of chops and a side Russian leg sweep into a spin kick. An honor roll lariat by Woods gets only a two count, leading to an attempted distraction by T-Bar from Retribution. Woods was able to focus and hit a shining wizard leg lariat for the win. After the match, Mustafa Ali and Retribution beat down Woods.

Match Analysis: Mustafa Ali is doing his best to get the Retribution faction over, but it remains flat and uninteresting. It just smells of nWo b-team that was a mainstay on WCW Saturday Night and Worldwide in the mid to late 1990s. The match was decent enough though and at least better than the women’s disaster. Skim It **

WWE Raw: Sheamus’ battle

Sheamus defeated John Morrison

In a battle between two entrants in the WWE Royal Rumble, former Rumble winner Shemus took on John Morrison. Morrison attempted to use his quickness, but Sheamus slowed him down with a series of power moves. Ever the veteran, Morrison’s athletic nature was enough to get him the advantage but it didn’t last long. Sheamus then made a mistake by going to the top rope, only to be met with a dropkick by Morrison. John Morrison attempted to ground the big Irishman by targeting the knee, resulting in Sheamus screaming in pain in the middle of the ring. Sheamus then got his second wind and fought back into locking Morrison in a cloverleaf followed by White Noise for the win on WWE Raw.

The Miz quickly grabbed the microphone and called Sheamus’ bluff and challenged him to a handicap match. Sheamus, as expected, excepted the challenge.

Sheamus defeated The Miz and John Morrison

Following the commercial break, but The Miz and John Morrison double-teamed Sheamus in and out of the ring. Sheamus appeared to be done for until he made a comeback with a closeline to The Miz. After The Miz and Morrison went to the outside, they were met with a double close line from Sheamus from the top to the outside. Sheamus appeared to have gotten momentum on his side until the double team became too much to overcome. The Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale for the win.

Match Analysis: The bar for match quality has been pretty low tonight, but this entire segment went over fairly well. Sheamus came out looking like a badass, while The Miz and Morrison continued to be slimy little SOBs. Worth a Watch, **3/4

WWE: 24/7 Title

AJ Styles defeated R-Truth
In a non-title match, R-Truth took on AJ Styles. AJ was able to get his offense in early but R-Truth made a surprising comeback. Though momentum was on his side, R-Truth fell victim to a leg lock from Styles as the Phenomenal One got the win.

Match Analysis: Short and to the point. Pretty fun to see two former TNA stars going at it. Take a Pass *

WWE Monday Night Raw: Gauntlet Match

Matt Riddle vs The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander, and MVP)
Matt Riddle started off the gauntlet with Shelton Benjamin. Both men are two of the most athletic wrestlers on Monday Night Raw so it was a good choice to start the match. Benjamin had the advantage and seemed to have Riddle beat, but the “bro” was able to use miscommunication of the Hurt Business to get a roll-up for the pin.

MVP was up next but was too busy arguing with the rest of the Hurt Business. Riddle grabbed MVP in a quick ankle lock for the submission victory. Cedric Alexander came in like a house of fire and with a point to prove, taking Riddle out with a variety of moves. Riddle did make a comeback, hammering Alexander with several kicks before being on the receiving end of a dropkick. Alexander continued to beat down Riddle and seemed to have the match in control but Riddle fought back with several kicks and forearm blows. Both men went back and forth until Riddle rolled up Alexander for the quick win, earning himself an IC Title shot at Lashley in the process. After the match, Lashley ran out to beat down Riddle.

Match Analysis: All men involved can work and that’s what they did. Riddle has a goofy gimmick but he’s a good wrestler, and pairing him with a hot faction like The Hurt Business is the right way to go. The match is the best of the night for sure, and the one thing you should check out from this week’s Monday Night Raw. Must Watch (all things considered) ***1/4

WWE Raw Women’s Title Match

Asuka vs Alexa Bliss
Earlier in the night, Alexa Bliss recaps the previous two weeks in her feud with Randy Orton. Bliss warns of the return of The Fiend, while promising “not to play nice” against Asuka. After proper in-ring introductions, Asuka was able to get the upper hand and manhandle Alexa. A miscue from Asuka led to Alexa knocking the champion to the outside. After Asuka regained her focus, she looked into the ring only to find Alexa in the ring a rocking horse.

Following the commercial break, Asuka made her way back into the ring to continue her attack on Alexa until missing a top rope dropkick. Alexa locked in a reverse chin lock but Asuka was able to power out. As Alexa seemed all out of luck, she once again transformed back into her previous look from her earlier WWE days. The lights went out and when they were turned up, Alexa was once again in her dark-themed Fiend gear. Asuka applied the Asuka-lock but Alexa was able to reverse it and lock in the mandible claw. Randy Orton then appeared with a burnt face before hitting the RKO as the show closed.

Match Analysis: It’s hard to rate anything within the Randy Orton/The Fiend/Alexa Bliss feud. It’s essentially a cinematic feud that needs to be looked at independently. If you are into this sort of thing, then you’ll dig it. If not, take a hard pass. Alexa Bliss, however, plays her role very well. Worth a Watch, depending. **1/2

Other news and notes

WWE Champion Drew McIntyre came to the ring to kick off WWE Monday Night Raw. He praised Goldberg leading to their title match at the Royal Rumble on Sunday night. Despite his praise, McIntyre warned Goldberg that he would walk out a winner at the PPV. The Miz and John Morrison then came out to cause tension between the two, but it only promoted Goldberg to come down to the ring. Goldberg starred down McIntyre and told him that he was “next.” The Miz and Morrison were then hit with a spear and claymore before the champion and challenger left the ring.

The Hurt Business took part in an MVP Longue on WWE Raw in an attempt to ease tension within the group. The WWE 24/7 champion R-Truth then made a surprise appearance and claimed he heard that the Hurt Business was throwing him a surprise party. After some miscommunication, the Hurt Hisiness confronted R-Truth before Matt Riddle snuck in to attack MVP.

Ric Flair was shown in the back teaching Lacey Evans how to apply a hammerlock. Charlotte confronted her dad and wasn’t pleased, but was quickly blindsided by Evans.

Edge addressed the WWE Universe after being out of action for over 6 months due to his triceps injury. Edge announced that he will be making a comeback and entering the Royal Rumble.

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