[intro music playing]
-[glass shattering] -[The Rock] If you smell…
[bell tolling]
-[Triple H] The king of kings… -[Cena] You can't see me…
[announcer] The following is a Fatal 5-Way match.
Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins,
Bobby Lashley, the champion, Big E, and--
["Next Big Thing" playing]
Roman Reigns has tested positive for Covid-19,
not able to compete tonight.
[Jimmy] But Brock Lesnar is still hungry for a championship.
Brock Lesnar was added to this Fatal 5-Way matchup
hours ago.
None of the other competitors have had any chance
to prepare for the storm that is Brock Lesnar.
-[loud thuds] -[audience roars]
[Jimmy] The All Mighty just speared the holy hell
out of The Beast Incarnate.
Here comes Rollins.
-[Jimmy] Owens. -[Saxton] Oh!
[Jimmy] Guys, this is brilliant strategy.
Lesnar is down.
Both Lashley and Lesnar have been neutralized.
[audience clamors]
[Saxton] Oh, Rollins. Rollins is in position now.
[Corey] What? Where did Lesnar come from?
[Jimmy] F-5!
[Jimmy] Three in a row.
[Corey] I thought Lesnar was out.
Oh!
[Jimmy] Spear by Bobby Lashley.
Hurt lock.
Lashley has Lesnar.
The Beast is fading.
Big E saving his championship.
[Jimmy] Big Ending.
Now for Lesnar!
Oh, beautiful escape by Brock.
Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh.
[audience] One, two, three.
-[audience cheers] -[bell rings]
As surreal as it sounds,
Brock Lesnar is once again
WWE champion.
[Saxton] We are beginning 2022
thrust back into the era of The Beast Incarnate,
Brock Lesnar.
[triumphant music playing]
[fireworks bursting]
[crowd cheers]
[Jimmy] Welcome, everyone, to the first Monday Night RAW of 2022.
We're all still reeling from Day 1,
but we are kicking it off with a must-see card.
The only way we can do it,
with the main event we thought we were going to see at Day 1.
That's right, a Fatal 4-Way
between the best in WWE.
That's right, Big E
and "The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley,
not just that but "The Master Manipulator" Seth "Freakin" Rollins
and The Liar, Kevin Owens.
Why? Because the winner gets an opportunity at Royal Rumble
against the champion, Brock Lesnar.
The only thing that has changed are the stakes, gentlemen.
[Saxton] We are truly tearing the house down tonight.
The United States title will be on the line and the champion,
Damian Priest, had best be on his best behavior
and protect the Damian side
by keeping it in check,
as he defends against the former United States champion,
"The Showoff", "The Cunning",
Dolph Ziggler.
[Jimmy] That's not the only one.
How about the women's Tag Team championship?
The question is, can Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H.
finally put it together to regain the women's Tag Team titles
against queen Zelina
and the most beautiful woman in WWE, Carmella.
[Corey] We talk about superstars who have accomplished it all.
No one has done more than AJ Styles,
but The Phenomenal One faces the biggest challenge of his career
when he takes on his former Tag Team partner,
the towering giant he once called his personal colossus, Omos.
It's the teacher versus the former student, tonight.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd boos]
Ladies and gentlemen,
my name
is Paul Heyman.
And tonight
as an advocate,
I'd like to introduce you
to my client…
and new reigning,
defending, undisputed
WWE heavyweight champion
of the world…
Brock Lesnar.
["Next Big Thing" plays]
[Corey] Oh, my God.
The Beast Incarnate went to Day 1 last Saturday
to win a championship and did exactly that.
Albeit a different title than we may have expected.
Well, I will add to that.
He didn't just win a championship,
a Fatal 5-Way with four other superstars,
all odds stacked against him, he still won.
We're not even talking about the fact that Paul Heyman is back
and apparently he's representing Brock Lesnar again?
[fireworks]
[Saxton] Well, due to the free-agent status,
allegedly negotiated by Paul Heyman himself,
that allowed Brock to challenge for Monday Night RAW's
WWE Championship.
[Corey] The surprises continue.
I saw he look on your face
when Paul Heyman was out there, Byron. You looked like you'd seen a ghost..
[Saxton] I couldn't believe it. It's the same look I had
on Saturday night at Day 1
when that man right there,
"The Beast Incarnate" Brock Lesnar,
captured the WWE title.
He's scary when he's smiling, gentlemen.
[Corey] Right now, Lesnar is grinning from ear to ear
as your new WWE champion.
[Saxton] I think, basically, at Day 1,
the table was set, dinner was served.
Brock Lesnar stormed to the living room and took the entire entree.
[Corey] Forget the entree, Saxton--
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
The Beast turned the table completely upside down
to kick off 2022.
No one saw this coming.
[metal banging]
[Jimmy] I am staying back, gentlemen.
-[Corey] With good reason. -[Jimmy] Yeah.
[crowd cheers]
[Corey] Looks as though Lesnar's fashioning himself a bit of a podium.
[crowd cheers]
[Corey] Brock enjoying the moment.
Enjoying the spotlight.
[Lesnar] Thank you very much.
Before we get this party started tonight,
I'd like to give a big shout-out
to my good buddy…
Roman Reigns.
[crowd cheers and boos]
He's probably sitting at home, more than likely,
tuned into Monday Night RAW,
tuned in to the new
WWE heavyweight champion, the real champion,
Brock Lesnar.
[laughs]
Get well soon, buddy.
Now,
South Carolina…
[crowd cheers]
…acknowledge me.
[laughs]
I would also like to acknowledge…
my advocate…
for advocating my free agency,
for advocating all the strings you pulled Saturday to make--
to help make me the WWE champion.
Paul…
thank you.
If you think it's interesting out here,
you should see the things that go on behind the scenes
in WWE. Like,
when I negotiated for Brock Lesnar to be a free agent.
Allegedly did that in advance.
And then, Saturday at Day 1,
when Brock Lesnar showed up looking to win a title from a champion,
and one champion simply could not make it,
but the other champion,
the other champion was in a Fatal 4-Way, and what--
What's better than a Fatal 4-Way
than a Fatal 5-Way,
featuring Brock Lesnar?
So all the behind the scenes machination and the strings were pulled,
and Brock Lesnar gets to enter the Fatal 5-Way.
And now,
what does Brock Lesnar do as your WWE heavyweight champion?
Well, he concentrates not only on reigning,
but… defending.
So at the Royal Rumble, Brock Lesnar will defend the championship
against the winner of the originally scheduled Fatal 4-Way,
which takes place tonight, right here, in this very ring.
Let's run down the challengers, shall we?
First, there's Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens,
and you have to lump them in together because they are a team.
They're a team in a match where every man is for himself,
these two figured out to be jackals,
to be hyenas, to go after the lions of the jungle.
Because then, if they win it together, they have to figure it out.
It's up to WWE, and screw management as far as they're concerned.
And it's a smart thing
for someone who's pretty damn dumb, like Seth Rollins.
Because Seth Rollins likes to tell everybody that he's the visionary,
and he's too stupid to realize that he's not a visionary,
because if he had a vision for the future,
he realized that his wife is going to leave him
if he doesn't beat Brock Lesnar for the WWE title.
And he can't.
So who's she going to leave him for?
Well, I don't know, but it sure as hell won't be Kevin Owens,
because Kevin Owens
can't beat Brock Lesnar for the WWE title either.
Maybe the two of them
should ask to be-- have to be traded to SmackDown,
because I understand, there's a certain tribal chief
who's a little vulnerable without his special counsel nowadays.
Oh, don't go, "Ooh."
It's a historical fact.
Want me to prove it to you?
One week without me as special counsel, Roman Reigns already has Covid.
Yeah, you can get over the rona,
but karma can be really bitchy.
Speaking of bitchy, let's talk about MVP.
Actually, let's not talk about MVP
since nobody else does anyway.
Let's talk, however, about Bobby Lashley.
There's a worthy challenger.
Brock Lesnar has never met Bobby Lashley.
There's a historical fact.
Brock Lesnar never ran into Bobby Lashley in the back,
they never shook hands, said hello to each other.
It's like the two were avoiding each other,
which I know is not the case,
because neither one avoids anything or anybody in life.
The first time Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar met,
Bobby Lashley speared Brock Lesnar through that wall.
The second time Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley met,
in the very same match 48 hours ago,
Brock Lesnar hit an F-5 on everybody in the match,
with the exception of Bobby Lashley
who speared Brock Lesnar and damn near pinned him.
The third time Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar met,
in the same match 48 hours ago,
Bobby Lashley put Brock Lesnar in the hurt lock,
and I've said this to Brock Lesnar's face,
it didn't look like Brock Lesnar was going to get out.
This is all a testament to how damn good Bobby Lashley is.
Except, on all three of these occasions,
Bobby Lashley was hitting Brock Lesnar from a blindside or behind,
so if Bobby Lashley wins tonight,
and he faces Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble,
he's going to have to face Brock Lesnar
face-to-face.
And that… is a whole different story.
The story between jacking someone from behind
and just going down in history
as "The All Mighty" Brock Lesnar wannabe.
There's one more man in the match tonight.
He's the adds-on favorite, he's the former champion,
and it's Big E.
We have nothing bad to say.
Yes, he deserves your applause.
That is a great champion.
Big E did WWE justice.
Big E is a credit to World Wrestling Entertainment,
to the company, to the audience,
to the WWE universe, to the viewers at home,
to the people live here tonight,
to the lineage of the WWE title.
Big E is all that and more,
and he would still be WWE champion
if he didn't have to step into the ring with Brock Lesnar.
We have nothing but respect
and admiration for Big E.
So if Big E wins tonight,
and he gets the rematch at the Royal Rumble,
sir…
it will an absolute honor to witness that match.
You're going to lose, which is no shame,
but it would still be an honor to watch you lose
to the greatest WWE champion of all time,
the winner of the Fatal 4-Way,
the winner of the Fatal 5-Way, excuse me,
and your new reigning,
defending, undisputed
WWE heavyweight champion of the world,
Brock
Lesnar.
["Next Big Thing" playing]
[Saxton] A newly hired advocate.
Rehired, I should say, Paul Heyman, covering a lot of ground there.
[Corey] What a brilliant play it was
by Paul Heyman, going back to the WWE Draft,
to maintain Lesnar's status as a free agent.
A total game-changer.
It's Brock's world, we're just living in it.
[crowd cheers]
[Corey] Randy Orton, one half of the RAW-- what the?
-[Corey] What is Riddle wearing? -[Jimmy] He's feeling Atlanta swag.
[Jimmy] A little bit of Migos hangover
-[Jimmy] is going on. -[Corey] I get it.
[Jimmy] We'll find out what he has in the ring
other than gold chains when RK-Bro takes on the Alpha Academy.
That's right, the genius and his tree-trunk take on RK-Bro, next.
[Riddle] What's up, Randy?
[Randy] First of all, where have you been?
Second of all, no, no, no to all of this.
[Riddle] What do you mean?
Wasn't it awesome hanging out with Migos at Day 1, dude?
You've got to admit it, I got some pretty sweet connections.
Dude, I can't get their music out of my head.
I was thinking maybe we should start our own rap group.
Think about it, dude. I could be the notorious
R-I-double-D-to-the-L-E.
You can be little Ran-Dog,
and word on the street is Swim Shady,
my pet fish, he's available, bro.
Oh, come on, Randy.
Are you trying it on?
Riddle-- no, I'm not going to try on this crap on.
I don't know
how you have all these connections with celebrities,
and frankly, I don't care.
What I do want to know is what happened
to all of the new year's resolutions that we had been talking about?
Hmm. Well, we talked about going to the Grand Canyon together.
We talked about going grocery shopping because we need a couple of things.
We talked about getting on that Farmville because it's blowing up.
And then…
Oh, yeah. And listen to Randy more.
Exactly.
Look, last week on Monday Night RAW,
we're on the same page and you listened to me,
and look what happened.
You beat Gable and I beat that…
tree-trunk named Otis.
Then, Saturday at Day 1, we retained our Tag Team titles.
Do you know why we did that?
Because our name is--
What?
Our name is--
Who?
Our name is--
Check it, check it. RK-Bro.
Yes, Randy. That's awesome, dude.
It's going to be so sick when we're rappers, dude.
[Corey] You got a real kick out of that, Saxton?
[Saxton] Little Ran-Dog has a ring to it.
[Corey] Little Ran-Dog and the notorious D-U-M-B.
Oh, stop it.
[Jimmy] Argue all they want, when they have chemistry,
they are on fire.
That's why they are the RAW Tag Team champions.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is a Tag Team match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
they are the RAW Tag Team champions,
Riddle and Randy Orton,
RK-Bro.
[Saxton] Let's be real,
it's not going to be long before-- wait, look out!
[Corey] Whoa, the flops are flying, the doves are soaring.
[Saxton] I've to figure out that trick.
[Corey] One of these days, Riddle's going to go completely off the deep end
and he's going to pay for it.
[Jimmy] The reason for the swagger in their step,
their performance though at Day 1.
[Saxton] The RAW Tag Team title match.
The Street Profits, RK-Bro.
Oh!
Migos at Day 1 alongside the RAW Tag Team champions.
[bell rings]
[Corey] Look at the confidence of The Street Profits.
[Saxton] That's the strength of RK-Bro.
[Jimmy] When you think you know them, and the script changes immediately.
-[Corey] Oh, wait a second. -[Jimmy] Oh!
[Jimmy] Look at that RKO.
[audience] One, two, three.
[Jimmy] The champions retain.
Maybe Migos was a factor, they had some energy in there tonight.
[Corey] The Street Profits brought their a-game,
but at this point in time, RK-Bro quite simply undeniable.
Student is here.
["Shoooosh" playing]
The master is here.
I brought my Olympic pedigree.
I brought my master's degree
that I achieved with my immaculate 4.0 GPA.
Don't do that. Don't boo education, that's gross.
And tonight,
I'm handing out free lessons and new year's resolutions,
and I'm doing it with my protégé,
this tree trunk of a man, my number one guy,
Otis.
Look at that face.
[crowd boos]
And the first resolution is for you, Riddle, and you, Randy.
You're going to learn the meaning of acceptance.
You're going to accept
that your title reign is coming to an end
at the hands of Alpha Academy.
And it's going to be courtesy of Master Gable
and the four most dangerous letters in all of sports entertainment,
O…
T…
I…
S.
[Corey] The Alpha Academy, prior to the opening bell,
bringing the fight to the champions.
[Jimmy] The match hasn't started,
-look at the power of Otis. -[Saxton] Oh, my.
[Jimmy] All the way to the outside.
[Corey] That's a game-changing power possessed by Otis
of the Alpha Academy.
Master Gable's number one guy.
[Jimmy] He's not-- oh.
Not content to just clear the ring!
[Corey] Look at this.
Good god!
[Jimmy] The match hasn't started and the champs
already on their heels.
[Jimmy] Welcome back, and the match has officially started
between RK-Bro and the Alpha Academy.
[Corey] Riddle now-- oh my goodness!
Just ran into a hellacious right from Gable.
Tiger suplex…
-[Jimmy] To his back. -[Corey] …that's it.
[Jimmy] Oh, just before three.
Now, I'll remind you here, titles not on the line tonight,
but that doesn't matter to the Alpha Academy.
[Saxton] What matters is the declaration that Gable made
moments before the match began,
that RK-Bro's championship reign would come to an end
at the hands of the Alpha Academy.
[Jimmy] Yeah, what a message that would be to win tonight, Byron.
[Saxton] You know the Alpha Academy was watching very closely at Day 1,
they were biding their time.
As soon as RK-Bro got past The Street Profits,
they knew their opportunity would come to your point
[Jimmy] If they capture that victory,
you cannot deny a Tag Team title opportunity
for the Alpha Academy.
[Corey] Riddle able to free himself.
A tag is made. Here comes Otis.
[Jimmy] Look at the teamwork. Look--
[Saxton] Gable doing just enough…
to keep Riddle from tagging out.
Now, he's in big trouble.
-[Saxton] Effortless. -[Jimmy] Gosh.
[Saxton] Superhuman power.
[Jimmy] To the cover.
Out just in time.
[Corey] We heard Gable affectionately refer to Otis
as his tree trunk of the Alpha Academy.
I can't think of a more appropriate nickname.
Think about it, Otis truly is an immovable object.
-[crosstalk] -[Corey] Exactly. You're not-- oh!
[Corey] You're not moving Otis without the help of a backhoe.
[Jimmy] Great teamwork so far.
Great strategy, keeping Riddle in the ring.
[Corey] I thought we're using rap names.
I was going to start calling him Ice Rube.
[Jimmy] Hopefully, none of that tonight.
[Corey] Oh, my goodness. Watch Otis.
[Jimmy] Oh!
[Corey] Just flattened Riddle.
[Jimmy] The moment this match started catching RK-Bro off guard.
The Alpha Academy has maintained control of the RAW Tag Team champions.
[Corey] If this goes on any longer,
Riddle's going to need a regular flat bush zombie.
See, I can do it all night, Saxton.
Why did you start, Byron? I don't appreciate it.
-[Saxton] It's not funny anymore. -[Corey] I can't believe he didn't-- oh!
[Jimmy] Great move by Riddle. He needs to tag out.
[Saxton] It is pure desperation time for Riddle to make the tag.
[Corey] Oh, Otis, just in time,
-thwarting Riddle's attempts. -[Jimmy] A beautiful escape.
-[Saxton] Oh. -[Corey] Big kick on the jaw
of big the man.
The viper hungry to join the action.
[Jimmy] Look at Gable.
[Saxton] Orton doesn't realize where Gable's at.
[Jimmy] Oh, right behind and just in time to prevent the tag.
[Saxton] Riddle is crushed in the corner by Otis.
It is breaking down on the outside.
[Jimmy] Otis mowing down Randy Orton.
This has been a near-perfect game plan by the Alpha Academy.
[Saxton] The running knee connects. Otis down to one knee.
[Jimmy] Riddle's now thinking RKO.
No.
Can you believe it?
[Corey] Oh, no.
-Oh-ho. -[Jimmy] Into the canvas.
-One, two, three. That's it. -[bell rings]
Believe it.
["Shoooosh" playing]
[announcer] Here are your winners,
Alpha Academy.
[Saxton] What a performance by Alpha Academy.
The master Chad Gable and the tree trunk Otis.
[Jimmy] Powered Riddle into the air.
-Powered into the air. -[Saxton] If Riddle
would have just paid attention to Randy Orton,
and the struggles that Randy has had,
delivering an RKO to Otis,
Riddle would have known it's damned near impossible.
But instead, the Alpha Academy with a decisive win
over the RAW Tag Team champions.
[Jimmy] Once again, Riddle too ambitious.
This is what Randy Orton was worried about in this match.
[Corey] The girth of Otis.
[host] Ladies and gentlemen,
with me right now, accompanied by MVP,
"The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley.
Bobby, if you were to win the Fatal 4-Way tonight,
-you'll be-- -Whoa, sorry.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
I mean… [sighs]
If we're talking about the future,
or perhaps the inevitable future,
The All Mighty has to overcome insurmountable odds to beat…
Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens…
and Big E.
This is a herculean task.
Bobby?
Brock Lesnar
fears…
me.
[Jimmy] What a gargantuan.
[Saxton] What a colossal athlete.
Poor Kevin Patrick.
[Corey] Speaking of fear, we'll have an interview
with "The Colossus" Omos, on RAW, next.
[Saxton] Welcome, everyone, to Monday Night RAW.
Look, breakups happen,
but the breakup between AJ Styles
and Omos in the WWE has serious consequences.
[AJ Styles] Have you met my own personal colossus, Omos?
[Saxton] Seven foot, four-- 400 pounds,
incredibly agile and fast.
It almost makes me even more…
-Phenomenal. -[laughs]
[AJ Styles] We are like peanut butter and jelly.
[Jimmy] Everything Omos does is colossal.
[Saxton] We may be looking at the most dominant Tag Team
of the modern era.
[Jimmy] Omos had a great idea.
[Omos] We should be RAW Tag Team champions.
[referee] One, two, three.
[Corey] We have new Tag Team champions.
[Saxton] The RAW Tag Team division
continues to be owned by AJ Styles
and his colossus, Omos.
[Jimmy] Omos has spent the better part of the last year
learning from "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
I can't help but notice, as of late, you've been a little out of sync.
[Jimmy] Omos just tagged himself in.
Omos and AJ Styles have been counted out.
[AJ Styles] When Omos and I are on the same page,
we are unstoppable.
What if I told you I heard otherwise?
You tell me, is this what's going on?
[Saxton] Discussions will have to continue later.
[Corey] AJ's obviously got a great deal on his mind
in the wake of Miz TV.
[intense music playing]
[Jimmy] 619 right to the face.
[Saxton] AJ with the knees up just in time
and Styles needs to make a tag badly.
[suspenseful music playing]
[suspenseful music building]
[Saxton] Oh, Rey Mysterio from behind.
[Jimmy] Omos just cost them the match.
[Saxton] Maybe there is some truth to what The Miz said.
I should have never took you under my wing
because you're a piece of trash!
[audience exclaiming]
[Corey] Omos completely manhandling Styles.
[Jimmy] Going straight at Omos.
Not going to end well for Styles.
-[body thuds] -[audience gasping]
[Corey] There is some deep rooted disdain.
You can just feel it from Omos.
[Saxton] The student has overtaken the master.
[music intensifying]
[music fades]
Omos, how do you react to AJ's comments?
He said he regrets taking you under his wing.
He also called you a piece of--
That's how I react.
[Corey] A dangerously confident Omos heading into a matchup tonight.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following is a 24/7 Championship
mixed Tag Team match.
[Jimmy] There's Akira Tozawa and Tamina.
Tamina looking laser-focused.
Or just angry as always.
-[Saxton] Or upset. -[Corey] Nobody meaner.
["See You" plays]
[announcer] Making her way to the ring, she is
the 24/7 Champion, Dana Brooke.
[Jimmy] She's always a dangerous athlete,
but now so much more confidence as champion.
[Saxton] We have a unique situation. We never had a 24/7 mixed Tag Team match.
[announcer] And her partner, Reggie.
[Corey] Here comes Reggie who pulled himself away
from the hamburglar and grimace to compete in this mixed Tag Team match.
This is a very risky,
maybe borderline insane decision by Dana Brooke
to accept this matchup because if Dana Brooke gets pinned
or submits in this matchup, she loses her 24/7 championship.
[Saxton] It is a gamble, Corey, but you got to admire the confidence
and the moxie of Dana Brooke to actually put herself in this situation.
The reason why they have so much confidence,
they've been Tag Team partners before, and it worked out, Corey.
[Corey] It was last week
Dana Brooke and Reggie against Tamina and--
[Saxton] 200-time 24/7 Champion, R-Truth.
Not a accurate fact, but sure enough.
A beautiful maneuver at the end of the matchup from Reggie,
plants R-Truth
much to the surprise of basically everyone watching.
[Corey] Reggie and Dana made a solid team,
but the same could not be said
for the tandem of Tamina and R-Truth.
Tamina's night would only get worse
courtesy of the 24/7 champion, Dana Brooke, and Reggie.
[Saxton] Luckily, our night is going to continue to get bigger and better
because tonight a blockbuster Fatal 4-Way match
originally scheduled for WWE Day 1
has come to Monday Night RAW,
and the stakes can't get much higher.
The winner will face "The Beast Incarnate" Brock Lesnar
for the WWE championship at the Royal Rumble.
We will see Kevin Owens,
Seth Rollins, "The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley
and former WWE champion, Big E.
Fatal 4-way still to come tonight.
[Jimmy] How about also still to come, the women's Tag Team titles
will be on the line. We're going to find out
if Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H. can put their problems aside
and finally regain the women's Tag Team titles
from Queen Zelina and the most beautiful woman in all of WWE,
Carmella.
[Corey] Up next, the 24/7 title on the line in a mixed Tag Team match.
Reggie and Dana Brooke versus Akira Tozawa and Tamina
on RAW next.
[Saxton] It's a unique title and it's on the line
in very unique circumstances.
A 24/7 mixed Tag Team match.
If Dana Brooke gets pinned, she loses the 24/7 title.
-[referee] Ring the bell. -[Saxton] It's risky
for Dana to accept this matchup.
[Corey] We're starting with Akira Tozawa and Reggie.
[Saxton] Reggie's been-- whoa!
Lending his knowledge to Dana Brooke
the last couple of months.
[Corey] A bit of creativity. Shoulders down already.
[Saxton] Expect the unexpected, ladies and gentlemen.
Former 24/7 champion, Reggie,
has got some dance moves in and out of the ring.
[Corey] Leave it at that.
[Corey] Also knows exactly what the secret sauce is consistent of.
[Saxton] Listen, I love Reggie's outfit.
I'd wear that every week when I do my grocery shopping if I could.
[grunts]
[Corey] Big right hand from Tozawa.
[Saxton] Reggie to the corner.
Tozawa with words for the 24/7 champion.
-[Saxton] Oh, god. -[Corey] Gosh. Tozawa just run.
Unintentional contact from Tozawa, but--
[Saxton] Tozawa, just leave now.
[Saxton] He just booted
his tag partner, Tamina, right in the face.
Tamina already doesn't like you. This did not help your cause.
[Tamina screams]
-[Tamina slaps] -[commentators] Oh!
[Corey] See, I told you. Why no one listens to me?
[Saxton] I'm a foodist, just slapped the taste out of Tozawa's mouth
with that shot.
-[thuds] -[Saxton] Oh!
-[Corey] Whoopie cushion. -[Saxton] Cover.
-[Jimmy] That's three. -[bell rings]
[announcer] Here are your winners.
The team of Reggie and still the 24/7 champion,
Dana Brooke.
[Corey] Give Reggie credit for the win because Reggie did earn the pinfall,
but I don't know if I fully trust this…
relationship if that's what you call it.
[Saxton] You're a pessimist, Corey.
How do we know Reggie isn't just setting Dana Brooke up
and waiting?
There are actually good people
and, in this case, with tremendous moves in the world.
Reggie with good intentions, and securing the victory
for his team, his partnership with the 24/7 champion.
[Corey] I just got a note from my source
that Reggie's ice cream machine's broken.
Well, enough with the food talk.
Day 1, one of the most anticipated matchups
was Liv Morgan versus Big Time Becks
and I have to say, it did not disappoint.
[announcer] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the RAW Women's Championship.
[Jimmy] The opportunity to live her dream
as a champion, that's what Liv Morgan gets tonight.
She has what it takes to make it come true.
[Saxton] The fact is Becky knows how to win.
[Corey] Sunset flip.
[Jimmy] Shoulders down.
[Saxton] And Becky Lynch kicks out.
Somehow, the RAW women's champion survives.
[Corey] Lynch wants the disarm-her. It's in.
[Jimmy] Leg on the rope.
[Saxton] Becky's got to break it.
[Jimmy] I think it is truly
Becky Lynch feels threatened by Liv Morgan.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Saxton] Liv Morgan wants to return the favor.
[Saxton] Liv wants to break the arm of the RAW Women's Champion.
[Jimmy] Back into The Rings of Saturn.
[Saxton] Liv screaming in agony.
[Corey] She just reversed. She's on her back.
Oblivion.
[Jimmy] Oh, Manhandle Slam, counter.
[triumphant music playing]
[Corey] She is what she says she is.
The GOAT, Big Time Becks.
[Saxton] The RAW Women's Champion survives.
["Celtic Invasion" plays]
[Corey] For the first time on Monday Night RAW in the new year,
welcome to the Big Time.
[Saxton] She didn't just survive, she thrived at Day 1,
that's how she got her nickname, Big Lights, Big Match.
[Corey] Great performance.
[Saxton] A great performance can also be said for Liv Morgan
who once again pushed Becky Lynch,
the RAW women's champion, to the limit.
[Jimmy] Big smile on her face for a good reason
after kicking off 2022 with a successful defense
of her RAW women's championship
against Liv Morgan at WWE Day 1.
Big Time Becks looks forward to a new year as champion.
We'll hear from her here on Monday Night RAW
where she reigns, next.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
the RAW women's champion,
Big Time Becks, Becky Lynch.
[crowd cheering]
[Lynch] Here we are, huh? 2022.
There's something about the new year
that inspires so much hope in people.
It doesn't matter if you failed the whole of last year
or you failed the whole last five years.
Hell, it doesn't matter if you've failed your whole life.
When that clock strikes midnight, everything can change for the better.
New year, new you, huh?
[audience shouts "Becky"]
Yeah, I know. I know for a fact
that all those women in the back
they have at the top of their new year's resolutions
become the new RAW Women's Champion.
And I admire their ambition. I really do.
But unfortunately for them at the top of mine is
remain the RAW Women's Champion.
[crowd cheering]
I know, I know if we have learned anything
from the past three, four years is that
I am the consistent unrelenting homeostasis
that is unyielding to their brittle willpower.
Sorry, what I mean is they can't beat me.
Many have tried, many have failed, they cannot…
beat me.
But I, I would be remiss if I said
I haven't taken the time to sit down and think about the last year,
think about the decisions that I've made, were they the right ones,
were they the wrong ones?
Three hundred and sixty five days,
three hundred and sixty five blank canvases,
and what have I done, what have I become?
And I realized…
I've become a work of art.
[audience applauding]
Now, now. Stay with me here if you can.
Say you go to a--
You go to a museum, I don't know if you people do that,
but if you go to a museum
and you see, you see a famous Vincent van Gogh,
and you look at it, you stare at it in awe and you can't look away.
And you may not understand the details, the nuances, the complexities,
but it makes you feel,
I make you feel,
because that's what good art does.
I make you feel.
[crowd cheering]
And the other…
the other thing about fine art is that it reveals the truth.
So, I'm standing here as WWE's Vincent Van Goat
to let you know that, well…
you're not gonna finally lose those last ten pounds.
You're not going to get that job promotion that you were always looking for.
And you're not gonna finally get the hell out of South Carolina!
[crowd booing]
And all those girls back there,
they're not gonna finally win the RAW Women's Championship.
And if you don't believe me, look no further than Liv Morgan.
She swore to all of you that she was gonna win the RAW Women's Championship,
and on the very first day of the new year,
she broke her promise to herself
and to all of you.
Until--
-["Watch Me" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Corey] I tell you what, having witnessed that match first hand, as we all did,
Liv Morgan has nothing to be ashamed about.
Wow!
New year, new ugly jacket,
and same delusional Becks.
[Becky Lynch] I like this jacket.
Oh, I don't. I don't think anyone does.
Um, but Becks,
I was back there listening to you say how I came up short at Day 1.
So, let me tell you something,
there is no one harder on me than myself. So, please…
please, you don't need to worry about me.
But I was thinking…
I know, and I know that you know,
just how close I was to winning that title on Saturday.
Yeah, but you did… you did get one thing wrong, Becky.
The only thing I ever promised myself, from the moment that I was old enough
to dream about being in a WWE ring,
is that I would give it my all and leave everything that I have
in this ring every single time I got the chance to step in it!
And that's exactly what I did at Day 1.
That's… that's lovely and all, Liv.
And maybe, one day, you might win the RAW Women's Championship,
but that'll be when I retire.
Because this isn't going anywhere.
I'm holding on to this. 'Cause this is what happens
when you're Big Time, and there's only one "Big Time" Becks,
and it sure as hell ain't you.
[crowd cheering]
["Watch Me Shine" playing]
-[Corey laughing] -[Jimmy] Oh!
[Saxton] I think someone else would like to join
the RAW Women's Championship conversation.
[Corey] The EST has entered the chat!
[crowd cheering]
Dialing only like she can. Bianca Belair!
Oh!
Just like you ain't The EST of WWE.
And you know what, Beck? I am sick and tired of hearing you come out here
week after week, acting like you untouchable.
Look, Liv ain't buying your hype, and neither am I.
And I…
I don't trust you as far as I can throw you.
Which… Oh, wait… [chuckles]
Actually, that really doesn't make any sense
because you and I both know that I can throw you pretty damn far.
[crowd cheering]
Now, I may have taken a little Doudrop detour.
You know, I graciously stepped aside.
I stepped aside to allow,
you know, other people time to catch up. But, now,
Bianca Belair, The EST of WWE…
[crowd cheering]
Oh, now I'm right back in line for "Big Time" Becks!
No, no, no! Look, look, look!
The two of you have just fallen victim to my routine,
beat, sleep, repeat.
But, hey! Hey, hey, hey! Maybe the two of you can get together
and do something constructive. You know, start a support group.
We can talk about how, you know,
you almost beat me, but you came up short.
Oh, no, wait! Hang on. That already exists.
It's called the women's locker room.
-[laughs] -What do you-- [mocks laugh]
What do you know about the locker room?
You haven't been in there in years.
And you know what, Bianca? Um…
No offense, but Becky and I are kinda in the middle of something.
So, if you could please just maybe go to the back.
You know what, Liv? You know what, Liv? [chuckles]
No offense taken.
But, at the end of the day,
Becky and I got a score to settle that goes back way before yours.
I mean…
I mean, this is interesting and all,
but it sounds like you guys gotta figure this out one-on-one.
And I've shared the spotlight enough for tonight.
So, why don't the two of you get the hell out of my ring
and just decide who it's gonna be and let me know.
Let me know a bit later, okay?
[man in crowd] Get on with it!
-[Jimmy] Whoa! -[Corey] Wait a second!
This is uncalled for!
[Jimmy] A double-team on "Big Time" Becks!
[Saxton] Corey, did you really think Bianca Belair
and Liv Morgan were just gonna leave the ring?
[Corey] I hoped that maybe Liv Morgan or Bianca Belair had an ounce of class
and wouldn't attack the RAW Women's Champion without pause!
[Saxton] Look at this face-off.
[Jimmy] Oh! They're going at it!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Belair and Morgan!
[Saxton] Both these ladies want the next opportunity
at the RAW Women's Championship!
They're taking it to each other right now!
[Jimmy] Oh, a beautiful step-up shot by Liv Morgan!
[Saxton] Oh, Belair responds! Nasty shot!
And now… Uh-oh! Belair…
[Jimmy] Thinking KOD!
[Corey] And "Big Time" Becks from behind!
[Jimmy] Taking advantage. No surprise there.
Man-handle Slam!
[Corey] Well, déjà vu for The EST.
[Saxton] That's just the way Becky Lynch wants it.
She wants the spotlight all to herself with the RAW Women's Title.
[Corey] If any other woman on the roster wants Becky Lynch's spotlight,
they're gonna have to step up and take it from her!
[Jimmy] You see the strategy, let your opponents fight one another.
-Smart move by "Big Time" Becks. -["Celtic Invasion" playing]
[Corey] And "Big Time" Becks had the last laugh.
We'll see how far I throw you next time!
[crowd booing]
[Owens] There he is!
There he is, Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
-Mmm! [chuckles] -You like that?
I said it nice and loud for you.
-Kevin! Kevin! -That's my name.
You know what? I'm glad you showed up.
I was actually hoping you could help me with a problem.
I'm trying to figure out exactly what to do about Paul Heyman.
See, do I staple his lips shut,
or do I just rip his tongue out of his mouth?
I mean, I'm not exactly sure. I debated castration.
Truth be told, though, I don't think he uses it much anyway.
-Right, um… -Thoughts?
Well, yeah, I like the staple thing. It'd probably take a lot of staples.
But, you know, we can figure this out later.
Why don't we…
Why don't you and I figure out what we're gonna do tonight?
I'm listening.
Right, because essentially, tonight,
we have the same problem we had before Day 1.
'Cause now we're back to the original Fatal 4-Way,
and Big E and Bobby Lashley are still in our way.
-Mmm. -You know, they're obstacles, if you will,
to the WWE Championship.
Or at least now, tonight, they're obstacles to the opportunity
of the WWE Championship match.
So, I think we… we…
we stick to the plan,
you and I, together,
take care of those two.
One of us wins, it really doesn't matter which one does.
But one of us wins
and, then, goes on to face Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title at Royal Rumble.
And whichever one of us didn't win helps the guy who did win
become WWE champion. And, then…
and, then, we go on to WrestleMania. Huh?
Me and you, for the WWE Championship.
How does that sound? Sounds like a huge match.
-[grunts] -You like it.
It's a great plan.
-I love it. -You love it!
-That's even better. -I love it.
-I love that-- -This is a great plan.
Thank you.
-I can trust you. -Absolutely.
-You can trust me. -I trust you implicitly.
Sounds like a plan.
-It does sound like a plan. -[laughs]
Oh. Hey.
Hey, you're not lying, are you?
[Jimmy] What do they say? If you have to ask…
-[Corey laughing] Yeah. -[Jimmy] …it's a bad omen.
[Corey] Fatal 4-Way still to come.
The winner will challenge Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship
at the Royal Rumble!
[Jimmy] We know about momentum.
We know in sports and sports entertainment,
you're only as good as your last match,
your last game, your last fight.
[Saxton] Or your partner!
-Oh, here we go. Here we go. -[Jimmy] Well, that's kind of the point.
I hate to say it, but that's the point I was making.
Nikki A.S.H., a great run up until this point, but…
not performing well her last few times.
-How is that fair, Byron? -[Byron] Listen, Jimmy.
Nikki A.S.H. has been in a funk, okay? That's what's been going on.
She's been in a funk the last few weeks.
But this is a chance.
The Women's Tag Team Titles on the line to turn it around.
New year, new opportunity.
And I believe Nikki A.S.H. could do just that.
[Corey] Well, Saxton, I got news for ya!
When you're facing off with the reigning WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
that's not the moment where you finally figure it out
and turn it all around.
Let's be perfectly honest, the "A" in Nikki A.S.H.
has stood for "Anchor" lately.
As in a massive, heavyweight anchor
dragging Rhea Ripley to the bottom, to the death--
-20,000 feet-- -[Saxton] And it's comments like that…
comments like that, Corey, that continue to inspire Nikki A.S.H.
to give Nikki all the motivation she needs to turn it around here tonight.
[Corey] What the hell am I supposed to do? Start lying out here?
[Saxton] You never done that before, huh?
-["Princess Of Staten Island" playing] -[Corey laughing] Oh, my!
Be still, my beating heart!
The most beautiful woman in all of WWE
is gracing Monday Night RAW
for the first time in the new year.
[Saxton] This would be a great time for Corey's mute button.
-["Royal Doll" playing] -[Jimmy] Remember, she's not alone.
[crowd cheering]
[Saxton] These two ladies who are like-minded, egotistical…
No wonder they get along so well.
[Corey] They're winners, Saxton, something you wouldn't know about.
[Saxton] Well, there's something I know about,
something I'm amped up about!
It's the massive, blockbuster Fatal 4-Way Match
that was originally scheduled for WWE Day 1.
Well, it now comes to Monday Night RAW!
And check out the stakes.
The winner… the winner of this match
will earn a WWE Championship opportunity at the Royal Rumble
against The Beast Incarnate, the WWE champion,
Brock Lesnar.
[Corey] That match, no doubt, will be epic, Saxton.
But, perhaps, that might be more apropos for this match,
possibly the biggest challenge of AJ Styles' phenomenal career,
as he takes on his former tag team partner,
the towering giant, the colossal Omos, tonight!
[Jimmy] But before that, the Tag Team Titles on the line.
The champions, Queen Zelina and Carmella,
defending against the former champions,
Nikki A.S.H. and Rhea Ripley, on RAW, next!
-[Corey] Isn't Carmella beautiful? -[Saxton groans]
[Jimmy] The Women's Tag Team Championships on the line!
Carmella and Queen Zelina defending against Rhea Ripley and Nicky A.S.H.
[Saxton] Nikki A.S.H. looking to change her fortunes in the new year.
[Corey] Unfortunately for Nikki and Rhea,
Queen Zelina has seemed to have the number of both competitors, both opponents,
over the past several weeks.
[Jimmy] Now, Rhea Ripley did get a victory over Queen Zelina a couple of weeks ago,
and for this reason.
[Corey] Look at the bravery of Queen Zelina!
[Saxton] Uh, her stupidity, actually.
[Jimmy] In terms of physical strength, no comparison.
-[laughing] -[Corey] Rhea Ripley is laughing.
[Jimmy] Look at that!
[Saxton] Laughing at the ease that she is dominating Queen Zelina.
[Corey] One-arm suplex!
[Jimmy] About a minute of hang time on that.
-To the cover! -One! Two!
[Jimmy] Oh! Trying to become champion again won't be that easy.
[Saxton] What did I just witness?
[Corey] What are you talking about, Saxton?
[Saxton] That thing on the face of the most beautiful woman.
[Corey] It is a medically prescribed protective face apparatus,
thank you very much.
[Jimmy] Well, she's gonna have to get it going quickly! Cover!
Queen Zelina, so far, all alone.
[Corey] Wait a minute! You mean to tell me you have a problem with Carmella's mask,
but not Nikki A.S.H.'s mask?
[Saxton] No, because it matches her outfit.
[Corey] So does Carmella's, you color blind idiot!
[Jimmy] Oh, beautiful clothesline by Nikki A.S.H.
When she's at her best…
Cover! Hooking the leg!
Kick-out by Queen Zelina.
…is when she's confident, she's feeling good,
and she has that momentum right now.
[Saxton] I know Rhea has gone to great lengths
to try to boost up the confidence of Nikki A.S.H.
-To my point earlier, I think all the-- -[Corey exclaiming]
[Corey] Listen, Byron, it's just a fact of life.
Some people are winners and some people are wannabes.
Rhea Ripley is a winner.
Nikki A.S.H. has proven herself just to be a wannabe.
[Saxton] Some people have setbacks, Corey. It happens in every sport,
every great athlete, you have a funk, you fight your way out of it.
[Jimmy] We're talking about a former RAW Women's Champion.
Remember her momentum at the beginning of last year?
A spectacular run, Corey.
[Corey] It might as well have been 200 years ago, Jimmy.
It may as well be ancient history, 'cause sports entertainment is about,
"What have you done for me lately?"
And lately, all Nikki A.S.H. has done is dragged Rhea Ripley to the bottom.
[Saxton] That is your opinion. That is your opinion you share
with Queen Zelina and Carmella.
[Jimmy] And Queen Zelina has made a lot of this. So has Carmella,
calling her the anchor, calling her a weak link,
trying to get inside her head and ruin her confidence.
They've been after her psychologically. I think it's smart.
[Corey] And once again, Queen Zelina is leading by example.
-Bravery, intelligence… -[Saxton] Intelligence?
"Let's incite Rhea Ripley further." That's really intelligent.
[Jimmy] Going fireman's carry… Beautiful escape to the roll-up!
-Almost… And the champs retain! -[bell rings]
[Corey] Oh, my God! Again!
[announcer] …and still the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Carmella and Queen Zelina!
[Jimmy] Can't take it away from Queen Zelina.
That was a great performance, all alone!
[Corey] Man, I'm tired of being right!
[Saxton] Congratulations.
[Corey] What're you gonna say, superhero apologist?
[Saxton] Congrats to the Women's Tag Team Champions.
Obviously, there's still a bump, there's still an issue going on with Nikki A.S.H.
[Corey] What sort of spin are you gonna put on this one?
What we all just witnessed collectively
was a one-sided, incredible victory for the RAW WWE…
I'm so excited, I can't even talk!
[Saxton] How about you just don't talk.
All right, speaking of overcoming the odds,
a man who actually fought Butterbean in a boxing match in a department store…
Look it up, it actually happened.
…has taken on, I think, the biggest challenge of his career.
I fought Butterbean once. I did.
Right, it's New Year's Day,
and I've been thinking about all the things I want to do in 2022.
Of course, Jackass Forever comes out February 4th,
and I'm happy about that.
But I wanna do something else.
Something big.
That's right. I wanna make a run for the Rumble.
I am talking about the WWE's Royal Rumble.
30 men enter.
One guy is left standing.
That's me.
But I sincerely hope you are auditioning bigger, tougher talent
for the 2022 Royal Rumble,
because I don't wanna hurt anyone.
So, just like the shirt says,
Johnny Knoxville, world champ. [whoops]
[Corey] Well, you would have to be a jackass
to miss Johnny Knoxville's final stunt!
Because, let's be honest, he's not getting up after this.
It's the Royal Rumble!
We kick off the Road to Wrestlemania
Saturday, January 29th,
streaming live, WWE Network on Peacock!
You are not gonna wanna miss this one.
And if you can get there, head to The Dome in St. Louis.
You can be there live in person.
It is gonna be unbelievable!
[Jimmy] Byron, I know you're depressed watching Queen Zelina pin Nikki A.S.H.
-But come on, Solo Cups! -[Saxton] I feel better already.
It's smoke season here in South Carolina,
and I just placed my order on Amazon for a red Solo Cup, just so you know.
[Corey] It's sold in literally every store on Earth!
[Saxton] I don't know what to say to that. But online shopping.
[Jimmy] They had an amazing performance on Day 1 against RK-Bro.
They're capable of just about anything.
Street Profits, they do it all in the ring.
[Corey] The Street Profits must be riding high
after their performance at Day 1.
Unfortunately, they did not capture the RAW Tag Team Championship.
But Montez and Angelo were feeling good. We caught up with 'em earlier today.
["Bring The Swag" playing]
Dawkins, we are currently on the Road to Wrestlemania,
so you know what that means.
We are exactly four weeks away from being in St. Louis
for the Royal Rumble match!
-[whoops] -And surprise, surprise!
The Street Profits are officially entering in the Royal Rumble match!
Yeah!
We're gonna make sure there ain't no business
-with anybody that stands in our way. -Even if it's against each other!
What? It's every man for themselves, fam.
It don't even matter because the Street Profits are up…
[both] And we want the smoke!
[Jimmy] The Road to Wrestlemania for the Street Profits
pretty much gets started tonight.
Street Profits versus Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez.
Can they take on Apollo and the giant that comes with him on RAW, next?
[crowd cheering]
I've been in this business for a very long time,
and not only after taking out 29 opponents at the Royal Rumble
after only entering second.
As a father, I've had the honor to watch my son, Dom,
enter his first Royal Rumble match last year.
-Gracias, jefe. -Hey, I mean it. Lo siento.
And this year, both Dom and I enter the Royal Rumble,
showing the world that it may be every man for himself,
but despite that,
The Mysterios are an unstoppable duo!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey laughing]
[Saxton] Look what Johnny Knoxville started. First Knoxville,
now The Street Profits
declare their entrance into the Royal Rumble,
in addition to Rey and Dominik Mysterio.
["The Best Is Yet To Come" playing]
[Jimmy] Well, what do you want heading into Royal Rumble?
You want momentum. You want juice.
Who's there to stop that?
I would say this man.
♪ Yeah, I made it I made it ♪
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is a tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring, the team of Commander Azeez
and Apollo Crews!
[Corey] We heard before the match
that The Street Profits want the smoke, as usual.
Ford and Dawkins looking ahead to the Royal Rumble,
as the entire roster is.
But make no mistake about it,
no one can derail momentum quite like Apollo Crews
and the massive Commander Azeez.
[Saxton] We saw Apollo Crews a couple of weeks ago
have an incredible outing, one-on-one, against AJ Styles.
It's not often that you see Crews team up with the towering Commander Azeez.
Very curious about what these two can do as a team here in a tag team ring.
[Corey] And what Commander Azeez lacks in experience,
he more than compensates for in raw power and aggression.
Apollo Crews, from bell to bell,
one of the most spectacular athletes in all of WWE.
The same has to be said for both of The Street Profits.
This one is exciting.
[Jimmy] Montez Ford going to kick things off,
looks like, with Commander Azeez!
[Jimmy] Commander Azeez starting. Bit of a surprise.
[Corey] Yeah, short night for The Street Profits.
No fear from Montez Ford,
but perhaps there should be a little bit.
[Jimmy] Although Commander Azeez, fast for a big man,
-but right now, he's taking the shots! -[Saxton] No intimidation whatsoever
for Montez Ford.
Unleashing!
[Corey] Apparently, Azeez owes Montez a few bucks.
[Jimmy] Oh.
When it comes to pure strength, Montez Ford has to stay out of the corner,
stay fast.
-[Corey] This is smart! Sticking-- -[Jimmy] Oh!
[Corey] Then, you hit a brick wall.
[Jimmy] Apollo Crews hasn't been as vocal as AJ Styles
about what he's been teaching Commander Azeez.
Hasn't been out there talking about it a lot.
He's kept his cards very close to the vest.
[Corey] That's the best way to do it.
Big-time headbutt from the Commander.
Rocks Montez Ford. Into the cover!
[Jimmy] To the cover, hooking the leg!
Just in time, is Angelo Dawkins.
[Corey] This just goes to show you the the professional respect
that Dawkins has for what Azeez is capable of.
This early into matchup, a standard lateral press cover,
and Angelo felt the need to come to Montez's aid.
[Jimmy] Look at the height on that enzuigiri.
[Corey] Tag is made.
Here comes Dawkins! Here comes Crews!
[Jimmy] Takes time to lay out Commander Azeez.
Bad move, taking his eyes off Apollo Crews.
-[Saxton] Dawkins showing his agility. Oh! -[Jimmy] Look at that! Beautiful elbow!
[Corey] Apollo all out of sorts in the corner!
Dawkins not making it any easier!
-[Jimmy] Oh! -[Corey] Silencer strikes!
[Jimmy] To the cover!
Now, it's Commander Azeez not just getting him off Apollo Crews,
but trying to do some damage of his own.
Beautiful move by Angelo Dawkins.
[Corey] That wasn't enough to get rid of Commander Azeez.
Well, this might be enough to get rid of Angelo Dawkins!
[Jimmy] Beautiful escape and offense!
[Corey] Azeez eats the steel!
[Jimmy] Look at that!
[Saxton] Trying to do an enzuigiri, from Apollo Crews.
Tag made, Montez Ford.
[Corey] I don't know if Apollo is aware.
[Jimmy] Montez Ford, now the legal man.
He's about to find out!
[all exclaiming]
[Corey] Frequent flyer miles! To the cover!
And The Street Profits victorious!
[announcer] Here are your winners, The Street Profits!
[Saxton] You gotta feel this is exactly what The Street Profits needed,
especially coming out of Day 1.
Look at the incredible height… Oh!
…on the frog splash from Montez Ford.
[Corey] Give frequent flier miles!
Give Montez Ford his own damn airline!
[Jimmy] How high is the roof here?
[Corey] Less cancelations, more accuracy than anyone can ask for!
Look at that!
I need to get a measurement on that!
That is absurd!
[Saxton] Absolutely sick athleticism from Ford.
[Jimmy] And they leave the ring as cool as the other side of the pillow.
But if someone's had trouble keeping their cool recently,
I gotta say Damian Priest, US Champion.
[Saxton] Looking back to two weeks ago, as Damian Priest,
one-on-one with Dolph Ziggler. Robert Roode was at ringside.
And Robert Roode would insert himself.
Well, he would find out that was a grave mistake,
as he would bring out the Damian side of Damian Priest.
The more wicked, the more rageful side of Priest,
who ended up getting himself counted out
because he was so blinded with rage,
and also sending a message to Dolph Ziggler.
[Corey] Last week, what we'd see is the veteran Ziggler
attempting to draw out the Damian side of the United States Champion.
Dolph Ziggler would succeed,
and paid for seeing Damian live in the flesh,
which is how we arrived here.
Damian Priest would lose the match via disqualification.
But tonight, if Priest gets himself disqualified or counted out,
Dolph Ziggler will be your new United States Champion!
[crowd cheering]
[Schreiber] Excuse me, Damian Priest.
What are your thoughts on the unique stipulation
placed upon your United States Championship match against Dolph Ziggler?
Yeah, the champion's advantage is not a thing tonight, huh, Sarah?
You know, everybody knows that there's this side of me that's furious.
That's exactly the side that Ziggler wants.
But if I can keep this cool, calm, collected Priest side,
I'll beat him.
I mean, I'm gonna beat him anyway.
It's just a matter of, if it's gonna be with mercy,
or if Damian will erupt in rage.
You know, that's up to him.
If he fights me straight up like a man, no problems.
He'll get his fair fight.
If not, well, he's well aware what can happen.
Either way,
either side,
Damian Priest remains United States Champion.
["Sinister" playing]
[Saxton] Appreciate the confidence from the United States Champion.
And, guys, as much as we talk about how red-hot Damian Priest has been,
this is one of those rare occasions where I do believe
Damian Priest's rage, his temper, could be a liability.
[Corey] It always pains me when I agree with you, Saxton,
but you hit that one right on the head.
We are about to see what the United States Champion
is truly capable of,
and whether or not Damian can keep his composure,
[Jimmy] Well, he has been red-hot, but all of his losses since coming to RAW,
by disqualification or count-out.
If he loses by disqualification or count-out in this match,
Damian Priest versus Dolph Ziggler,
Damian Priest will lose his United States Championship.
Can he stay cool?
We'll find out on RAW, next!
[crowd cheering]
This is the first RAW of 2022.
-And a Fatal 4-Way main event. -Yeah, who saw that coming?
You two have got to be kidding me on! Is this some kind of joke?
[crowd booing]
Bianca Belair and Liv Morgan want another chance
at a title match with Becky Lynch?
How is this happening?
I am not being cut in line again!
Come on!
-So… -Whoa.
I think I can safely speak for the both of us
when I ask, respectfully,
what in the hell are you yelling about?
-What is the issue? -Are you deaf, Grandpa?
I'm tired.
The WWE Universe is tired.
Everybody is tired of seeing the same woman
get chance after chance after chance
at the RAW Women's Championship.
Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan.
-I demand… -Whoa.
…demand that Doudrop be given her first chance.
-Doudrop, let's breathe. -Yeah.
Let's just relax.
We don't just give out title opportunities, as you know.
But we are in the business of giving opportunities
to people wanna prove themselves.
So why don't we do this?
Next Monday night on RAW in Philadelphia,
why don't we have a Triple Threat Match?
Liv Morgan versus Bianca Belair…
versus Doudrop.
And then, the winner of that match will take on Becky Lynch
for the RAW Women's Championship
-at the Royal Rumble event. -That's it.
That's it.
-That's more like it. -Okay.
-"Grandpa"? -What was that?
Yeah.
[Corey] What an opportunity next week.
I wonder what Becky Lynch thinks about that announcement.
["Sinister" playing]
[Jimmy] Doudrop will get her chance, but it won't be an easy one.
Speaking of Triple Threat Matches…
["Here To Show The World" playing]
…in this match, Dolph Ziggler versus Damian Priest,
special stipulations, count-out or disqualification,
the champ can lose his title.
[Saxton] Damian Priest is well aware who he is dealing with in Dolph Ziggler.
A former World Heavyweight Champion, a multiple-time Tag Team Champion,
former Intercontinental Champion,
and former United States Champion!
Priest knows that if he makes one mistake tonight,
it's gonna cost him against The Showoff.
[Jimmy] Follow me a little here, Byron. It's almost like a Triple Threat Match,
in that Damian Priest is not only taking on Dolph Ziggler,
but that side of himself, that Damian side,
that tends to come out and cost him matches. Am I wrong?
[Saxton] Priest didn't express concern before the match,
but I think there's more than meets the eye.
[announcer] The following contest, scheduled for one fall, is for
-the United States Championship! -[crowd cheering]
In this match, if Damian Priest is disqualified or counted out,
Damian loses the title.
Introducing the challenger,
representing The Dirty Dawgs, weighing 218 pounds,
-Dolph Ziggler! -[crowd cheering]
And his opponent, from New York City,
weighing in at 249 pounds,
he is the United States Champion,
Damian Priest!
[crowd cheering]
[Saxton] As popular as Priest was before this match,
he had to think in the back of his mind.
Priest knows, "I can't just be myself.
I can't just react how I normally would
because, if I do, I could lose the United States Title."
And that could force Priest to alter this offensive gameplan.
[Corey] And trust me, Dolph Ziggler knows exactly what the scenario is.
I imagine Dolph is gonna try to draw the Damian side
-out of the United States Champ. -[Saxton] Oh! With moves like that!
[Corey] I am so good!
[Jimmy] But that could happen, as well.
[Saxton] Priest has gotta be careful here.
[Corey] The official made it to the count of four.
One more second, and we would already have a new United States Champion.
[Jimmy] That's what I'm talking about. Priest needs to hold himself back a bit.
But I guess that's the balance, right?
If you're Dolph Ziggler, you want an upset Damian Priest
who will lose his mind, maybe get counted out, get disqualified.
But you don't want a guy who's gonna
absolutely level you with that anger, as well.
[Corey] Again, on the outside, Priest has gotta tread carefully!
-[Jimmy chuckles] -[Corey] Uh-oh! Uh-oh!
Ziggler in trouble!
Ziggler!
[Jimmy] DDT!
Tornado DDT!
[Corey] If Dolph makes this before "Ten," we're gonna have a new champion!
[Jimmy] And we are back! United States Championship on the line.
Damian Priest versus Dolph Ziggler.
Champion's advantage negated for this match!
DQ, count-out, he can lose the title.
[Saxton] Priest had a close call before the break, but so far…
[Jimmy] Oh!
[Saxton] …good job keeping his temper in check.
[Jimmy] That's why he's getting fired up, though.
Is that good or bad? I don't know! Oh!
[Corey] Elbow right on the chin of Ziggler.
[Jimmy] That was bad for Ziggler, for sure!
[Corey] Champion looking for the Broken Arrow, potentially.
-[all exclaiming] -[Jimmy] Beautiful escape and counter.
[Corey] Running knee! Down goes Priest!
[Jimmy] Cover! This might be over! Might see a new champion!
Just in time with the kick-out, Damian Priest!
When you talk about offensive creativity in the locker room,
who do they talk about? Dolph Ziggler, 'cause of moves like that.
[Corey] The reason Dolph Ziggler is one of the longest-tenured Superstars
on the roster, because Dolph does not take days off.
And on any given night, Dolph Ziggler can upset anyone on the roster,
as Damian Priest nearly just found out.
[Saxton] And to that point, Corey, you can only give Ziggler
so many opportunities. Eventually, he's gonna capitalize.
He had a chance last week at the title.
To have back-to-back chances really feeds into the gameplan of Dolph.
[Corey] You're right. And Dolph Ziggler is a competitor who, rarely, if ever,
falls for the same mistake twice.
Dolph is highly intelligent.
But right now, Dolph, again,
trying to draw the Damian side out of Damian Priest.
[Saxton] This is where Damian Priest has to have some semblance of pause
as he attacks Ziggler.
[Corey] Carefully measured martial arts kicks back and forth.
[Jimmy] Yeah, Thai kicks over and over to both sides!
Look at that! Straight to the chin!
[Corey] Dolph is down!
-Hoisted up by the champion! -[Saxton] Uh-oh!
[Corey] Cliffhanger DDT by Priest!
[Jimmy] That might be it! Shoulders down for Dolph Ziggler!
Oh!
[Saxton] Ziggler's still got more left in the tank.
[Jimmy] Lot of guts behind that kick-out, Corey.
[Corey] What I'm focusing on is the composure on the face,
at the moment, of Damian Priest, who realized that didn't finish the job.
But Priest is doing a fine job of keeping himself in check to this point.
[Saxton] Damian Priest looking to up the ante right now.
[Jimmy] He's looking to put this one to bed by going airborne!
[Corey] Ziggler! Catlike agility!
[Saxton] Oh, boy!
-[Jimmy] Oh, wow! -[Saxton] From the top!
[Jimmy] He lands this, we might see a new champion!
[Corey] Dolph doesn't have it hooked deeply enough.
[Saxton] Priest repositioning himself and getting out of that predicament.
[Corey] Right in the mouth of Dolph Ziggler!
[Saxton] I think Priest is gonna try this one more time.
On the top floor, ready to--
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
[Jimmy] Robert Roode, the other half of The Dirty Dawgs!
-[Corey] Famouser! -[Jimmy] Oh! Famouser! Face down!
One! Two!
[Saxton] Oh, no, no, no, no! Not over yet!
[Jimmy] I don't believe it!
[Saxton] It's not over yet!
[Corey] Robert Roode is beside himself, with good reason!
That was a textbook outside interference.
[Saxton] A dirty plan is what it was from Dolph Ziggler.
And it still it wasn't enough to put Damian Priest away!
[Corey] But look in the eyes of the champion now!
[Saxton] Oh, gosh.
[Corey] Priest, now, shifting his focus to Robert Roode on the outside!
[Jimmy] And he's lost a match previously by count-out for exactly this!
[Corey] This is exactly what Dolph wanted, though!
This is what Dolph wants!
[Saxton] Pay attention to the count, Damian!
[Corey] Oh, no.
[Saxton] The official's up to "Four." Damian Priest has a steel chair!
[Jimmy] Halfway there! He's at "Five!"
[Corey] This is totally legal! Roode's not in the match!
-[Jimmy] Unfortunately… -[referee] Seven!
[Saxton] Official's up to "Eight!" Priest is gonna lose this title
if he doesn't get back in the ring!
[Jimmy] One second and a half! And he's back in!
-[Saxton] Put the chair down! -Hit me! Hit me!
Hit me, please!
Hit me!
[Corey] Dolph is begging for it,
realizing that disqualification will cost Priest the title!
Hit him! Hit him.
[Jimmy] Oh! The smart move!
-But Zig Zag from behind! -[Corey] New champion! New champion!
-[Jimmy] One! Two! -[Saxton] No!
-How in the world? -[Jimmy] What? Another miracle kick-out!
[Corey] You're absolutely right, Jimmy! That was nothing short of miraculous!
And I think Damian is flirting
with an appearance right about now.
[Jimmy] Dolph Ziggler cannot believe it!
And Damian Priest,
he's seeing Damian crawl to the surface, gentlemen.
[Saxton] Two extremely close calls for the United States Champion.
-[Corey] Superkick incoming! -[Saxton] Oh!
-Priest has-- -[Jimmy] Reckoning!
-[Saxton] Cover! -[Jimmy] Shoulders down!
One! Two! Three!
-[bell rings] -[crowd cheering]
[announcer] Here is your winner, and still the United States Champion,
Damian Priest!
[Corey] It didn't seem likely
and, at moments, seemed downright impossible.
But Damian Priest was able to keep the darkness at bay tonight.
[Jimmy] And show his technical superiority!
That was an amazing match, Byron.
[Saxton] Congratulations, Damian Priest!
You earned the right to still be the United States Champion!
-[crowd cheering] -[speaking indistinctly]
-[knocking at door] -Who is it?
[Austin Theory] Mr. McMahon!
I'll hit you back.
[crowd booing]
I said, "Who is it?"
I didn't say, "Come in."
-I'm sorry. I'll… I'll leave. -No, you won't, either.
When people say, "I'm sorry,"
that's an apology.
That's a weakness.
I never apologize!
Sorry. I…
I didn't mean to interrupt.
-I-- -Hang on a second. Whoa!
You didn't interrupt. When people say, "I didn't mean to interrupt,"
yes, they did! They meant to interrupt!
Why else would they do it?
I'm just in here to ask about my rematch with Finn Bálor.
Your rematch?
-You lost to the guy. -I know--
But then, you made up for it, and then some.
You attacked him from behind in the hallway.
You beat the holy hell out of Finn Bálor.
-We haven't seen him since. -No.
That's an admirable quality in a man.
And, uh…
it goes, if you can't beat 'em one way,
you find some other conniving, clever way to…
You always beat them in some way or another.
It's like they don't expect it, like you taught me.
-That's right. -"Expect the unexpected."
And it was…
See what happened to Finn. That was a surprise for him.
-Ah! "Surprise"! -[Austin Theory] Yeah.
Have a seat on that one, man.
Yeah. You know, I have a surprise for you.
And, uh…
Move that chair back.
So, I have a surprise for you.
At the Royal Rumble,
one of the participants is going to be you.
-You're in the Royal Rumble! Yeah! -Okay!
Okay! And, by the way, if you win the Royal Rumble,
you're going all the way to WrestleMania
to face the champion of your choice
in the main event of WrestleMania!
Uh…
["I Came To Play" playing]
[Jimmy] Lost for words. You know who's never lost for words?
You guys gonna have a guess? Byron?
[Saxton] Tell me, Jimmy. Tell me who it is.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Maryse and The Miz!
[Corey] Please, Mr. Smith, enlighten us.
Who is it that you were implying is never at a loss for words?
[Jimmy] I mean, he never runs out of things to say,
The Miz, along with Maryse.
It seems like they always have a mouthful of insightful things to say.
[Corey] Maybe so, but it's always must-see!
And it's next on Monday Night RAW!
[Jimmy] There's Edge and Maryse--
[Corey] That's Miz and Maryse, Jimmy! This is Miz,
the most must-see superstar in WWE!
[Jimmy] Reason I was thinking Edge, of course, Day 1!
Strategy on display in that match.
[Corey] Miz made it known that, in Miz's mind, the old Edge is gone!
Tonight is about Edge proving that the old Edge still exists!
[Jimmy] Edge certainly, so far, the stronger man.
[Saxton] Crossface is locked in!
Wait, wait, wait! Maryse!
[Jimmy] She just put his foot on the rope!
[Corey] There's the benefit to The Miz of having Maryse at ringside.
[Jimmy] Oh!
[Corey] Miz might have tweaked his knee!
[Jimmy] Maryse just hit him over the head!
Skull-Crushing Finale!
-[crowd cheering] -Oh, what?
Unbelievable resilience by Edge!
[Saxton] Maryse has gotta get off that apron.
Oh, my God!
-[Jimmy] Beth Phoenix is in the house! -[crowd cheering]
[Saxton] WWE Hall of Famer!
The wife of Edge!
[Corey] Making a beeline for the ring!
[Saxton] The Miz has no idea what to do!
[indistinct shouting]
Spear!
[bell dinging]
A victory that's gotta feel so sweet.
Edge out-strategized Miz.
[rock music playing]
I stand before you. No…
We stand before you outraged over the outcome that happened at day one.
I had Edge right where I wanted him,
one skull crushing finale away from defeat.
A defeat which would have made it impossible for you to deny me
the respect I deserve.
I find it amazing that I have to repeatedly remind you that
I am the first and only two-time Grand Slam champion
in the history of this company.
[crowd cheering]
Making me both an all-time great and someone who has surpassed
my so-called "peers" and legendary predecessors.
But yet I still have to "prove myself" in a match against Edge.
A one-time Grand Slam champion.
That's one, uno, in French.
Ehh…
-Un. It's Un. Un. Yes. -Un. Un. Oui.
So that Un-time Grand Slam champion's resilience and some questionable calls
by the ref kept Edge alive throughout that entire match until that last kickout.
That's when I saw it.
The look of defeat in his eyes, the look when all hope is gone.
The look of despair, the look of a young boy
asking for his mommy, or in Edge's case, his wife.
I was going to lay Edge to rest, then his wife showed up.
You know her as WWE Hall of Famer, Beth Phoenix.
[all cheering]
I know her as the woman who interfered
in my match and allowed Edge to cheat fate
and steal a pathetic victory.
Edge deserved to lose. You know it and I know it.
He deserved to lose and you know that because I know that
because of what he did to us last week.
Oh, you forgot?
Allow me to remind you with our wedding vow renewal ceremony.
Wait, you didn't want this to be a white wedding, did you?
[exhales]
[laughs]
[speaking indistinctly]
[laughs]
It's still fun to watch again.
[Miz] You're kidding me!
-[exclaims] -My wife!
A mud bath for Miz and Maryse.
I love it.
[speaking indistinctly]
Oh, you find that funny?
Oh, you like that?
[all] Yeah!
You enjoy that?
[all] Yeah!
See, I think the reason you enjoy it is because your lives and relationships
are so miserable, you like to see bad things happen to good people.
But your disgusting aura does not affect us,
because we know that true love always wins.
[man booing]
You see, after that wedding vow, I vowed…
that I would end Edge's career, it would be his final farewell.
But when I got into that ring at day one, it wasn't old Edge,
it wasn't brood Edge, it wasn't the rated R superstar.
It wasn't WWE Hall of Famer Edge that I respected and I wanted respect from.
It was Edge who hid behind his wife.
What kind of man does that?
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
No, not you, Michael.
What kind of man does that, Maryse?
Let me tell you, he doesn't deserve your respect
and he certainly doesn't have my respect.
What kind of man relies on his wife to fight his own battles?
Who would do that?
[crowd exclaiming]
No, you would never, Michael.
And you will never, because you are strong,
you are brave, you are courageous, you are handsome.
And that's the reason why I married you.
I love you, babe. I love you so much.
And I know that Beth Phoenix took your moment.
And if that girl was here tonight, I'd punch her right in the face.
["Glamazon" playing]
[Saxton] Oh! Oh, wait a minute.
Wait a minute, Maryse. What were you just saying?
[Jimmy] Speak of the devil, is that the expression?
[Saxton] WWE Hall of Famer, the Glamazon herself, Beth Phoenix is here.
[Jimmy] Phoenix and she will appear.
And now Maryse has her chance to punch Beth in the face, right?
♪ You think you know me? ♪
-Oh! -["Metalingus" playing]
[Corey] Not alone, here comes the Rated-R superstar.
Fresh off his victory over Miz at day one.
[Jimmy] It's completely uncalled for.
What kind of couple comes out in black and gloats just two nights
after a massive win at the day one pay-per-view?
[Saxton] You're clearly on the same planet as the Miz and Maryse right now.
[Corey] I happen to be a big fan of love. I love romance.
I love beautiful couples who respect one another.
Couples who don't put one another in harm's way.
[Saxton] But you must love the entrance of Edge and Beth Phoenix.
Right?
[Corey] I like my luck to be a little more understated, much like Miz and Maryse.
[Jimmy] You like the love that lies. Those clothes are understated to you?
[Saxton] Very good point, Jimmy. Wow.
Miz was out here desperately trying to be a spin artist, trying to save face.
But The Miz cannot ignore the fact that he was outsmarted in a loss
to Edge at day one.
[Corey] Or some would say the match was interrupted by a WWE Hall of Famer
by surprise.
You were saying, Maryse?
Yeah, that's what we figured.
Yeah.
You know, Mike, most people would take the L and move on.
Fortunately, actually, unfortunately, I know you better than that.
I knew that you'd come out here and you'd bitch and moan and whine
and complain and make every excuse in the book as to why I beat you at day one.
I mean, it could have been the Browns lost last week.
What else is new?
You need your socks starched.
You dropped a deuce in your drawers the minute you heard Beth's music.
[all exclaiming]
Do I need to illustrate to everyone here in South Carolina…
[crowd cheering]
…exactly what a hypocrite you are?
[babbles mockingly] You got nothing?
For once, The Miz is at a loss for words.
[crowd cheering]
Did not know that was possible.
And by the way, I don't ask Beth to help me fight my battles.
Everything that went down at day one, let's be clear, that was all my idea.
And my idea is this, you wanna rectify this travesty
that happened at day one with a victory for yourself, right?
Even though you picked this fight with me,
even though what happened at day one would have happened
whether Beth was involved or not,
I'm just crazy enough to give you what you want.
Actually, we're gonna give you what you want.
[crowd cheering]
See… Bear with me here.
Imagine a huge marquee, lights, huge letters.
The Miz and Maryse,
the It Couple versus
the Rated R Superstar
and the Glamazon,
the Grit Couple at the Royal Rumble.
What do you say?
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Miz! Miz! Miz!
Are you serious?
[mouthing] Yes.
Maryse, gorgeous, vivacious, intelligent, star and executive producer
of USA Network's hit reality show, Miz and Mrs, the sexiest alchemist.
Owner of her own moisturizer line that sells out everywhere,
president of Mad Row Productions,
WWE superstar, one of the longest reigning Divas champions
in the history of this company.
My wife, the mother of my children,
teaming together to go against you
and the Glamazon Beth Phoenix.
Miz, a simple yes or no would suffice.
So what's it going to be?
[crowd chanting] Miz! Miz! Miz!
We accept!
[crowd cheering]
[indistinct conversation]
[Corey] Whoa!
I don't know if we accept, and Miz accept for the both of them.
♪ On this day ♪
Yeah, and Maryse clearly wasn't happy with
the Miz's decision to accept the challenge.
[Jimmy] Well, another superstar looking to bounce back from day one.
Of course, the former champion, Big E, looking to bat now.
[Corey] He's got some big enough to do.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Big E.
Big E, at day one, the odds were clearly stacked against you,
making it almost impossible for you to retain the WWE Championship.
So how motivated are you to win this fatal four-way match
and earn the opportunity to regain the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble?
Um…
being WWE Champion meant a lot to me.
And it meant something to… to a lot of people too.
Now, there's no shame in losing to Brock Lesnar.
But what we don't do is get kicked and stay down.
What we don't do is wallow in self-pity
because what we do is we make sure that
our next chapter is our best chapter, you feel me?
And tonight,
I have the opportunity to right all those wrongs because tonight,
tonight I start my path back to reclaiming what is mine.
[man] Yeah!
My WWE championship.
And I'll be damned if there's a soul on earth who can stop me.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] That is exactly the attitude you want to see from Big E.
His path tonight to regaining the WWE title starts.
Another man with a very tough path tonight.
The phenomenal one, AJ Styles.
A unique challenge in front of him to say the least.
♪ Ain't nobody man enough to feel the pain ♪
Not only is it unique, it may be the biggest challenge
that AJ Styles has ever faced in his phenomenal career.
The challenge in the form of his former personal colossus, Omos.
One on one, next.
♪ No, they don't want none They looking scared ♪
♪ No they don't really want none ♪
Ladies and gentlemen, WWE Royal Rumble is presented by Cricket.
Everything you want, including the price.
Look at this gargantuan human being.
[roars]
-[bell dinging] -The following contest is scheduled for
one fall.
Making his way to the ring, weighing in at 400 pounds,
Omos!
This industry has seen many giants throughout the years,
but perhaps none as athletic and highly intelligent as Omos.
Omos is the complete package,
and you can tell by the look in AJ Styles' eyes.
I was about to say I've called enough matches
with AJ Styles to say I've never seen fear in that man's soul.
I think I'm seeing it now.
I don't know if AJ Styles has ever felt fear outright,
but there's got to be some trepidation.
And that means something for AJ Styles, a Grand Slam champion in WWE.
Styles has been around the globe multiple times,
has seen and done it all, except encounter someone like Omos.
You talked about the resume, the extensive resume of AJ Styles.
Yeah, there's going to be concern when you look at a guy like Omos,
but I guarantee you, AJ Styles knows exactly what he is doing
as he faces off against his former personal colossus.
I have no doubt AJ Styles has a strategy.
I loved you like a brother and this is what you do to me.
[crowd chanting] AJ Styles! AJ Styles! AJ Styles!
[man shouting indistinctly]
[Jimmy] Oh! Disrespect pointing out the size disparity.
[Saxton] Here comes the trademark tenacity of AJ Styles.
The tenacity of a pit bull will continue to soldier forward
and bring the fight to Omos no matter what size.
And here's the advantage for AJ Styles.
He knows every trick in the book.
-He has every strategy in his back pocket. -That's a great point.
-Remember, Styles taught Omos, guided-- -Come down here.
…guided the career of Omos.
He understands what weakness there may exist for Omos.
Yeah, right as he was stepping over the top rope, went after the knee.
[all exclaiming]
AJ taught Omos everything Omos knows, but it remains to be seen
if AJ taught Omos everything AJ knows.
This isn't a trademark Styles maneuver, just Omos nearly kicking the features off
of AJ's face.
Omos' strength is his strength.
If AJ Styles has any hope in this,
he's gotta be the thinker in the ring tonight.
I just wonder when this all started for Omos.
When did Omos start feeling like AJ Styles was holding him back?
-Oh, my God. -Oh!
Oh, my goodness, Styles might have cracked a rib.
-Has rolled him into the ring post. -This malice in the eyes of Omos.
What?
That again, tremendous impact to the midsection of AJ Styles.
-Look at the fury on the face of Omos. -Gentlemen, I'm not joking.
Did you feel the thud when he jumped out of the ring under our feet?
-Absolutely. -Our desk just shook.
But here's the agility of Omos, hopping nimbly up onto the ring,
stepping over the top rope and looking to continue his assault of his former mentor.
AJ Styles, he told me, he says, I'm always the smaller guy in the ring.
I'm always underestimated. I'm always underappreciated.
He's taken all of that into the ring tonight.
-It's been the story of Styles for years. -Oh, my, look at this.
Nothing fancy, just raw power from Omos, just dumping Styles.
Styles kind of slipped behind.
-Two boots to the face of Omos. -Daring Omos, come on.
Getting Hyde on it again.
Look at where Styles is.
Obviously, AJ wants a phenomenal forearm. He's got it queued up.
Ready to execute is AJ Styles. Oh!
Nope.
Beautiful counter by AJ Styles. That was pure ring smarts.
Maybe, yeah, Styles is gonna try this one more time.
-Phenomenal. -Oh!
-He gets swatted midair by Omos. -He's had his sternum cracked.
Like being chopped in the heart by a flat iron.
Look at this, AJ Styles once again soaring through the skies
into that big frying pan size hand of Omos.
Are you sad? I told you. I told you.
Omos reminding AJ Styles, keeping AJ in the moment, making sure AJ suffers.
Oh! For what, nine feet up.
Not just on his head, but on his right leg.
AJ Styles is suffering plenty after that one.
And right now, let's be honest, guys, Omos could end this one at the moment
of his own choosing.
Unfortunately, I don't think he will.
[grunts]
Brutal chokeslam from the heavens.
Mercifully, I believe this one's over.
-One, two, three. -Easy cover, no doubt here,
-[bell dinging] -ladies and gentlemen.
[announcer] Here is your winner, Omos.
[Saxton] And a hush has fallen over the arena here at Monday Night Raw.
Everyone just trying to digest what we just witnessed.
One sided dominance from the former
personal colossus of AJ Styles.
Tonight, it's Omos wrecking AJ Styles.
-[roars] -Unbelievable.
Omos is full of confidence.
Earlier tonight, another superstar, another giant,
absolutely full of confidence, Brock Lesnar.
Brock Lesnar would actually kick off Monday Night Raw
right after shocking the entire WWE Universe at day one
this past Saturday and becoming WWE Champion,
The Rock would have a strong message for the entire WWE Universe.
Acknowledge me.
-[all cheering] -[chuckles]
[Jimmy] And that was directed at Roman Reigns.
[clears throat]
I would also like to acknowledge
my advocate…
for advocating my free agency,
for advocating all the strings you pulled Saturday
to help make me the WWE Champion.
Paul.
[crowd cheering]
Thank you.
-["Fight" playing] -Imagine wanting a shot at that man.
-That's what's on the line. -We don't have to imagine it, Jimmy,
because we are moments away from it.
The following contest is a fatal four-way match.
Introducing first, from Marieville, Quebec, Canada,
weighing in at 266 pounds, Kevin Owens.
[Corey] And Kevin Owens looking focused, but he is just one of four
in a fatal four-way match.
The winner faces Brock Lesnar at Royal Rumble.
That's right, it is Big E, Bobby Lashley, Kevin Owens, and Seth Freakin' Rollins.
There'll be one winner next.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Welcome back to Monday Night RAW.
Earlier, we've seen Big Time Becks. We saw Liv Morgan.
We saw Bianca Belair.
One name noticeably absent from the roster, Alexa Bliss.
Let's look back and watch.
And the last time we saw Alexa Bliss, she competed in
a Raw Women's Championship match against Charlotte Flair.
And Charlotte would take the opportunity to absolutely destroy that doll,
that doll Lilly that had a major sentimental connection to Alexa Bliss.
And as you see in the process, Alexa would have a complete breakdown.
We have yet to see Alexa Bliss since this heartbreaking moment she suffered.
But beginning next week right here on Monday Night RAW,
we will catch a glimpse into the journey of Alexa Bliss
as she makes her way back to the red brand beginning next week.
[rock music playing]
There's a very intense Kevin Owens.
That's right. Next Monday, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Alexa Bliss will find out her fate on Raw.
We'll find out so much more, I think, after tonight.
♪ We are going to go big this evening, hey! ♪
["Feel the Power" playing]
Here comes the impassioned former WWE Champion.
[announcer] Next from Tampa, Florida,
weighing in at 285 pounds, Big E.
[Jimmy] Byron, you and I have both known Big E for many years,
and I can likely count on one hand the amount of time I have seen the fire
we see in Big E's eyes that we see tonight.
[Saxton] A great competitor finds victory in defeat.
I think that's what he did.
He was overlooked in the fatal five way, and now it's about coming back.
No one's better at that than Big E. Look, he had 48 hours to digest that loss,
and he is back with a fury here tonight.
[heavy metal music playing]
Speaking of fury…
[announcer] From Davenport, Iowa, weighing in at 217 pounds,
Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
[Corey] He is a visionary. He is a revolutionary.
He is Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
And if luck goes his way, he may be
the next challenger to the Beast Incarnate.
This is familiar territory for Seth Rollins.
If you go back to all the way in October,
when Seth won that Fatal 4-Way ladder match
to become number one contender for the WWE title.
Could history in some ways repeat itself here tonight?
[Saxton] And we saw glimpses of it this past Saturday,
the temporary alliance of Seth Freakin' Rollins and Kevin Owens
worked extremely effectively on both their behalf.
I imagine we'll see something similar tonight.
But in the end, there can only be one.
[Jimmy] But I asked the question that Kevin Owens asked earlier on tonight,
-can Kevin Owens trust Seth Rollins? -Look, look.
[Saxton] Kevin Owens is a guy who struggles with the truth worse than
Tristan Thompson does, okay?
But that doesn't mean that Kevin Owens could potentially walk out of here
as the new contender for the WWE title.
Although this man may disagree.
["All Mighty" playing]
[Jimmy] This man made the bold claim Brock Lesnar fears me.
[announcer] Making his way to the ring,
accompanied by MVP,
The All Mighty Bobby Lashley.
[Jimmy] Now, I don't know if I believe that,
but I believe he believes that.
[Corey] Do you not have eyes, Jimmy Smith? Did you not see what the hell happened?
What The All Mighty did to the beast incarnate
this past Saturday at Day 1?
Brock Lesnar.
Brock Lesnar was driven through the ringside barricade.
Brock Lesnar found himself trapped in the Hurt Lock,
and we may see much more of the same as this match continues tonight.
The Fatal 4-Way, the winner earning the right to challenge Brock Lesnar
for his newly won WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
We'll find out who earns that right next.
We knew we were gonna tear the house down to begin the new year on Monday Night Raw.
Such has been the case all night
and we're about to learn who will challenge the beast incarnate
Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble for the WWE Championship.
-[bell dinging] -Whoa!
Monday night all over again, day one except the stage now.
Who's gonna head to the Royal Rumble?
Who's gonna challenge Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship?
Bobby Lashley right now making a statement,
no one's gonna double team me, no one's gonna outsmart me
like they tried to do with the Fatal Five.
[Saxton] They're in no pin-- I'm sorry, pinfalls or submission only,
the first superstar to earn a pinfall or submission will be the winner
of this Fatal Four-Way matchup.
-No disqualification, no count out. -[Jimmy] Oh!
Seth Rollins just helicoptered off the shoulders of The All Mighty.
[Jimmy] Bobby Lashley, just where he left off on Saturday night,
continuing more destruction, more carnage.
-Here comes Big E. Snow. -Gosh.
-Only caught part of it. -That was only a glancing ball.
That just goes to show you how powerful Big E is with his massive deltoids.
Caught enough of KO to drive them both,
but look at this power from The All Mighty.
Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
Ricocheting off the ring post, and here we go.
Big E took the title from Bobby Lashley, cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.
Bobby hasn't forgotten that.
Absolutely, no love lost between Bobby Lashley and Big E.
[indistinct conversation]
Two of the most powerful superstars in the world
trading right hands in the center of the ring.
And two of the most intense competitors stepping back is failure to these men.
-Biggie up high. -Look at that athleticism.
Elbow rock the All Mighty.
-Oh! -And Lashley answers with
a thunderous clothesline.
Not many can go toe to toe with Biggie in the power department.
Bobby Lashley can't look at that.
Vertical suplex.
Here comes Kevin Owens, his fate won't end too well at all.
Beautiful neck breaker and trying to take advantage.
I see Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins doing a lot of that,
trying to take advantage when they believe someone is weak.
It's not working now.
That's the name of the game in a Fatal 4-Way Matchup.
You have to take any opportunity as they present themselves.
You won't get many.
Bobby Lashley is owning the ring right now,
all by himself, waiting for his next victim.
[crowd chanting] Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!
And the chants of Bobby are now breaking out here on Raw.
Look out!
Oh, yeah!
Out of the way, just in time, and Bobby Lashley
just leveled the entire timekeeper's area.
The barricade, the entire corral just disintegrated.
Under the impact of the All Mighty.
But now if you're Seth Rollins, if you're Kevin Owens,
if you're Big E, you gotta go. You gotta go now.
Kevin Owens shouting orders out.
You got this.
-Oh, look! -Bobby Lashley is down,
Big E is recovering.
-I mean, recovered. -[all exclaiming]
-And now Big E. -Oh!
Uh-oh, Big E is rearranging the furniture here.
We saw what Big E did to Lashley this past Saturday.
Oh, get the hell out of the way.
Look at the fire in the eyes of the former WWE Champion.
Big E is on a mission tonight.
And he doesn't like the label of former. He wants that title back.
-Oh! -Owens just in time.
Possibly saving Seth Rollins chances in this one.
[Jimmy] We wondered if Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins would really be a team.
[Corey] So far they have been.
[Saxton] The circumstances dictate that this is necessary.
[Corey] Oh!
Rollins and Owens have worked together extremely well to, oh!
Rather impressive success.
Look at this, trying to make sure that Bobby Lashley
is no longer a factor in this match.
Come on, help me, help me.
You see Rollins and Owens trying to work together.
The last thing you wanna hear if you're Big E.
Come on. Come on.
Are these two working together?
Oh, God. Oh, no.
Oh, no!
Whoa! Powerbomb right through the table!
Can Big E continue?
Welcome back, this Monday Night RAW crowd on their feet with good reason.
Right now, teamwork making the dream work for Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins.
It's a Fatal 4-Way to determine the next challenger to Brock Lesnar's
WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
First competitor to gain a pinfall or submission will advance,
but you're right, Jimmy, Rollins and Owens have worked
exceptionally well as they did this past Saturday tonight.
First, Rollins and KO driving Big E through our announce table,
but it continued throughout the commercial break.
Kevin and Seth working in unison with
the steel stairs to neutralize the All Mighty.
And just for insurance purposes, Kevin Owens from the apron crushing
the All Mighty on the outside.
[Jimmy] Highly reminiscent of what we saw on Saturday night at day one,
except this time there is no Brock Lesnar in this matchup.
[Corey] Owens and Rollins worked extremely effectively against Brock
as well this past Saturday. Brock and Lashley particularly.
[Jimmy] I think right now the team is like an experienced tag team right now.
[Saxton] Look, and I question whether or not these two can trust each other,
but clearly this plan is paying dividends for Kevin Owens.
[Jimmy] Byron, it's not about trust.
These two are doing what they need to do to survive under the circumstances.
There can only be one.
Only one person can advance to Royal Rumble.
-Uh-oh. -Oh!
Sit down.
-[Saxton] That one may be Big E. -[Jimmy] Beautiful super kick.
But now Bobby Lashley laying waste to Kevin Owens.
[Corey] Somehow, someway, Lashley's recovered enough to get back
on the offensive side of the matchup.
Disrespecting…
[Saxton] How many times have we said that, though, Corey?
Every time we think Bobby Lashley's done for,
he seems to just never run out of gas.
Big E and Lashley.
-You don't think? -[Jimmy] Uh-oh.
-Oh, yes. -[Saxton] I do think.
You wanna work as a team?
That cuts both ways, gentlemen.
[Corey] Rollins and Owens high tailing it out of here,
with The All Mighty and Big E are giving chase.
[Jimmy] Big E's going after him, so is Bobby Lashley.
Up into the stands here.
[Saxton] The middle of the WWE Universe.
This match continues on, as we said earlier, there's no counter.
[Corey] This is absolutely unbelievable.
[Saxton] They're headed to the concession stand.
[Corey] Remember, no count outs, no disqualifications.
All of this perfectly legal.
[Jimmy] Officials trying to catch up to the action here.
You have Big E and Kevin Owens going at it.
The concourse.
Look at the message, gentlemen. You got nowhere to run.
Hurt Lock.
The Hurt Lock applied to Seth Rollins.
Now submission means nothing outside of the ring, gentlemen.
Owens with, I believe, a trash can.
-Oh, big mistake, Kevin Owens. -That just pissed Lashley off.
Bobby Lashley is staring to hold Kevin Owens.
There's no way out through Big E, gentlemen.
Oh!
This battle is happening everywhere right now on Monday Night RAW.
-He's trying to get back in the ring. -[laughs]
And welcome back to an epic, Fatal 4-Way Match
for the right to face Brock Lesnar at Royal Rumble.
Big E, Bobby Lashley, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and the alliances here
have been, as you put it, Corey, temporary.
[Corey] Temporary, completely out of necessity.
What we have witnessed since the opening bell has been nothing
short of chaos all over the arena, quite literally.
Now you see Rollins attempting to regain control, fighting with Lashley
and Ian.
One of the vomitoriums here in the arena.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Remember, no count out, no disqualification.
-Oh, my gosh! -Oh!
-Kevin Owens! -Oh, my gosh!
A lot in the field!
I do not believe it!
Kevin Owens completely sacrificing his health and well-being
to take out Seth Rollins, to take out Bobby Lashley,
to take out Big E.
The opportunity at hand requires such guts, such risk.
The opportunity to challenge the beast in power for the WWE Championship,
and Kevin Owens will stop at nothing to punch his ticket to St. Louis.
[crowd cheering]
It looks like Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens working together again.
They've been affected this entire time when they work as a team.
Seth now depositing Big E back here to ringside.
Kevin Owens joining the fray.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome.
I gotta agree with this crowd, this is awesome, this is unbelievable.
Once again from the top.
Oh!
And Rollins right behind him.
From the top, bro, this might be it.
Oh! Kick out just in time by Big E.
Maybe Kevin Owens and Rollins were being honest with one another.
'Cause Kevin Owens was celebrating as Rollins delivered the pinfall attempt.
Maybe these two think they're gonna be co-champions.
Kevin Owens talked about this grand plan.
One superstar goes on to defeat Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble,
and then these two face off at WrestleMania.
Maybe Owens isn't as big of a liar as we all thought.
You know what breeds trust?
Success, and right now they are having success,
and it could be that success that is making this partnership work.
I don't know if anyone's looking ahead to the future right now.
Right now Big E, the former WWE champion…
-Oh! -…super kicks on the jaw.
-Oh, Owens. -Now setting up for the stop.
-That's Big E. -This could be it. Oh!
Big E hoisting up Rollins.
Not having the strength right now to finish a big ending.
KO wanted a pop-up powerbomb and then a stunner,
but Big E still too strong.
Second time.
-Oh! That'll do it. -That might be it.
One, two…
And Bobby Lashley just in time.
Lashley just launched Rollins into the pinfall attempt
and knocked over the whole pile.
Number one pinner submission in the ring, and it's over.
Winner take all.
And right now, Bobby Lashley is striking at will.
First Owens, then Rollins.
Gotta keep this team separated. He knows that.
-Oh! -As powerful as he is,
he doesn't want to take on Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins together.
Isolate and destroy.
I think it's whoever Bobby Lashley sees next,
that's who Lashley will destroy.
Oh! Rollins with a rolling elbow.
Oh! Big E looking for the big ending.
-Spear! -Spear! Might have been intended
for Rollins, but it doesn't matter.
Anybody in the way is going to get it from Bobby Lashley.
Watch Owens.
Oh, beautiful super kick.
What's a stunner?
Shrugged off by Lashley.
And a spear for Kevin Owens.
-The All Mighty cleaning house. -One, two,
-three! -And he wins it.
-[bell dinging] -Oh, my goodness.
Oh.
[announcer] Here is your winner,
The All Mighty Bobby Lashley.
Do you realize what this means?
It is official for the first time ever.
The Royal Rumble.
The All Mighty Bobby Lashley will challenge the Beast Incarnate.
Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship.
A dream matchup. There's no other way to say it, Byron.
The mask Bobby Lashley has wanted for years.
And now Lashley has officially punched his ticket to the Royal Rumble
in a date with the Beast Incarnate.
They better reinforce the ring in St. Louis
because we've got a super fight on our hands come the Royal Rumble.
But Bobby Lashley had to go through hell and earn this.
Kevin Owens sacrificing his own well-being
for the right to challenge Brock Lesnar.
But the closing moments opened the door for the All Mighty
to spear first Big E.
One for Seth Freakin' Rollins.
And the third time, the charm.
Ashley dodging a stunner attempt with Kevin Owens, delivering a speeder,
and this is the pinfall that would send Bobby Lashley to the Royal Rumble.
[bell dinging]
The road to WrestleMania
will kick off with a WrestleMania-caliber
WWE Championship match.
The All Mighty Bobby Lashley,
one-on-one with The Beast, Brock Lesnar.
My God, it doesn't get any bigger than this.
I've got serious goosebumps just thinking about what's gonna happen
when Lashley and Lesnar collide at the Royal Rumble.
They are the two most physically dominant forces in the WWE, no doubt,
especially after tonight.
Two certifiable badasses. Two combat sports champions.
The reigning defending WWE champion…
-Excuse me, Brock. -The Beast, Brock Lesnar.
Do you have a comment?
A comment?
I do have a comment.
Tell Roman Reigns I'll see him this Friday on SmackDown.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] No concern, no fear,
no acknowledgement from Brock Lesnar about the victory of Bobby Lashley.
That says everything you need to know.
[Saxton] Lesnar focused on Roman Reigns, but Brock will have no choice
but to shift his focus sooner than later
to St. Louis, the Dome, Royal Rumble.
Brock Lesnar had better be ready because the All Mighty is coming for
-the Beast and the WWE Championship. -[bell dinging]
[Jimmy] It may be one of the most physically intensive contests
we have ever witnessed in the history of WWE.
Lashley, Lesnar, WWE title at the Royal Rumble. ensive contests