The WWE Raw Reaction for 1/13/20 by Kelly Dishnow
Welcome to The WWE Raw Reaction where I offer my take on this week’s show from Lexington, KY. You can check out John’s full in-depth review here.
The Raw opening and pyro starts the show off. We go right to the ring for our previously advertised match between Randy Orton and AJ Styles. Orton is out first for a quick promo to bring AJ out. AJ cuts a promo on Orton, which leads to Drew McIntyre coming out. Drew cuts another face promo before issuing a triple threat challenge and the bell rings to start the triple threat. The OC appear out of nowhere and gets taken out by an RKO and Claymore Kick, respectively. The match was really good for the time they were given. The finish was set up by AJ trying to RKO Orton, who drops AJ with a Styles Clash. AJ kicks out and then eats an RKO. Drew Claymore Kicked Orton out of the ring and covered AJ for the win. Clever finish to start off Drew’s face run. It’ll be interesting to see where he goes from here as a face.
Rollins cuts a promo to get over his new heel gimmick and throws us to another break.
Our next match is Ricochet taking on Mojo Rawley. Ricochet is announced as entering the Royal Rumble so he wins this quick match after the Recoil and 630 Splash.
Street Profits do a quick promo to hype the rest of the show and we get another commercial.
Charlotte Flair is up next to take on the hometown girl, Sarah Logan, who gets no reaction when announced from Lexington. Charlotte squashes Logan in quick fashion before disposing of Logan from the ring and leading into another break.
There was some quick hype from Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe, and Big Show before going back to the arena for Brock Lesner and Paul Heyman’s appearance.
Heyman hypes the Rumble before 24/7 Champion R-Truth comes out. Truth does his usual 24/7 title promo before declaring for the Royal Rumble to be the one to eliminate Paul Heyman and Brock laughs. Heyman corrects Truth that Brock is in the Rumble instead. Truth thinks it over and the mistake he made before undeclaring for the Rumble. As Truth goes to leave, Brock levels him and leaves him laying. This segment was just absolutely brilliant and if you missed it, seek it out you must.
Back from break and Truth is being helped to the back when Mojo Rawley levels him and wins the 24/7 title.
We are then reminded about the Bobby Lashley/Lana wedding and Charly Caruso tries to interview the happyish couple when they arrived at the arena. Lana complained about how the wedding was ruined and they entered the arena to lead into the Bobby Lashley and Rusev match.
The Lashley/Rusev match itself was OK and Rusev is really trying hard to make this angle work. Liv Morgan stomps down to the ring to set the finish up. Lana throws a fan’s drink into Liv’s face before tossing her into the barricade. Rusev was distracted by this and eats a spear from Lashley to take another loss. Afterward backstage, Lana issues a mixed tag (thank God) challenge to Rusev and Liv. The challenge would be accepted quickly right after the next match of the Viking Raiders destroying the Singh Brothers.
Up next had a table breaking out in cold sweats as Lawler hosted the contract signing between Becky Lynch and Asuka. The table was spared as they each signed the contact before Asuka green misted Becky’s eyes. Becky cut a good promo while being tended to by the WWE Medical Staff before being taken to the back.
There were dueling promos from Andrade and Rey Mysterio for their US Title Ladder Match next week before heading to another break.
Aleister Black and Buddy Murphy are up next to tear the house down. We get another awesome match from these two yet again and I don’t think you could ever get tired of watching these two against each other. Black picked up the win yet again and it looks like WWE finally figured out what to do with him. Let’s hope for big things in 2020 for Black.
After hyping next week’s show, Erick Rowan slaughters another hopeless scrub. The cage angle did advance though with it biting Rowan’s hand. Buddy Murphy was still sitting at ringside.
Main event time with Mike Rome explaining the Fist Fight rules. Big Show comes out first and gets attacked by Rollins and AOP as he comes down the ramp. Joe and Owens rush out with kendo sticks to start the fight off. Owens and Joe pair off with AOP on the stage and Show has Rollins in the ring. Rollins noticed Murphy is still sitting at ringside and asks him for help. AOP eventually take out Joe and Owens and Murphy helps Rollins get the upper hand on Show. The four of them take out Show to win the match to close out Raw.
Let’s look at tonight’s highs and lows:
The Highs:
Another amazing match between Black and Murphy. They keep getting better every time they square off. Black was the right choice for the win again.
R-Truth’s antics with Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar just have to be seen to be believed. I don’t know how R-Truth comes up with this stuff and keep a straight face. Even Brock was amused by it.
The Lows:
The Lashley/Rusev match just fell flat. Rusev is trying to get this over, but at least next week is a mixed tag instead of Lana and Liv. Lana is not that good of a wrestler and I don’t think Liv could carry the match.
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I think that face McIntyre and Black are getting positioned as good possibilities to eliminate Brock from the Royal Rumble match. There’s still another week to see where they are going with those two.
That’s all I’ve got for this week, until next time.