Ahead of their WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble, Bobby Lashley and champion Brock Lesnar will come face-to-face on the 1/24 Monday Night Raw for a weigh-in. Lashley main evented tonight’s show with Seth Rollins, who is challenging Roman Reigns for the Universal Title at the Royal Rumble. Lashley and Rollins’ match was interrupted when Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin ambushed Lashley. While Rollins was alone in the ring, he was attacked by SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso).
THROUGH THE BARRICADE go @fightbobby, @Sheltyb803 and @CedricAlexander … and here come The @WWEUsos?!#WWERaw @WWERollins pic.twitter.com/Jwv4BEvQFH
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2022
Kevin Owens competed against United States Champion Damian Priest and scored a pin fall victory. Owens pretended that he was injured which drew sympathy from Priest. Owens capitalized and hit a ‘Stunner’ to secure the victory.
Maryse invited Beth Phoenix to the ring ahead of their mixed tag match at the Royal Rumble. While Edge was on the outside of the ring, The Miz attempted to blindside him. This situation on the outside caught Beth’s attention and when she fully turned around, Maryse hit her with a brick that was inside of her purse. Maryse is scheduled to appear on the 1/24 show to celebrate her birthday which is on 1/21.
A MUST-SEE set-up just went exactly as planned for @mikethemiz & @MaryseMizanin.#WWERaw @EdgeRatedR @TheBethPhoenix pic.twitter.com/Ml10KNdAyb
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2022
Looks like @MaryseMizanin just bricked @TheBethPhoenix! 🧱@mikethemiz#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/fmXQknGIWz
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2022
RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle) will be receiving a rematch for the Raw Tag Team Titles if they can best Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis) in a ‘Academic Challenge’.
To open the show, Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and challenger to her title, Doudrop, took on Bianca Belair and Liv Morgan. Lynch had Morgan beat after hitting her with the ‘Manhandle Slam’. Doudrop pulled Lynch off the cover so she could pin Morgan herself.
Breaking up her own partner @BeckyLynchWWE's pin attempt?!@DoudropWWE wants ALL the glory for herself. #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/N21ye5FT8s
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2022
Nikki A.S.H. was supposed to go one-on-one with Rhea Ripley. The match did not get underway due to Nikki attacking Rhea before the bell rang. The current WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Queen Zelina and Carmella took Ripley’s attention off of Nikki.
The theme song for the 2022 Royal Rumble event is ‘Ballin’ by Logic.
