It’s true, it’s true. The Raw Review is back and what a way to return than beginning the road to WrestleMania. At the Royal Rumble, 2 superstars punched their ticket to WrestleMania, winning their respective Royal Rumble matches. Who were the two superstars? Let us find out who has their date with destiny.
Raw kicked off with the winner of the 2019 Men’s Royal Rumble match, Seth Rollins. Seth Rollins outlasted 28 men and 1 woman to punch his ticket to a championship match at WrestleMania.
Rollins realized his dream to win the Royal Rumble and his opportunity to point at the WrestleMania sign. Rollins now has a choice to make. Does he choose to go to SmackDown and challenge Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship? Or, does he stay on Raw and challenge The Beast and Universal Champion Brock Lesnar?
Triple H came down to the ring and stated that not only was he was proud of Rollins’ journey to the top, but he knows that no matter who he faces, he knows Rollins can win. Triple H then stated that Rollins’s decision has to be made by the end of the night.
Dean Ambrose came out to try to rain on the parade of Seth. He stated that Rollins was a suck up and a sell out. He instigated Triple H to make a match with Seth to show Seth will crumble under the pressure.
Seth Rollins v. Dean Ambrose
Triple H made it official and the match was on. The former Shield brothers renewed their rivalry and had yet another good match. Dean continued to stay on the attack of Seth, but Seth was able to overcome the fight, just like he did for the last 2 ½ years and beat Dean with the Stomp.
Seth is on the Road to WrestleMania and there is nothing that is going to stop him from burning it down. But the question looms, who will Seth choose?
Nia Jax & Tamina v. Alexa Bliss & Mickie James: Qualifying Match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
At the Royal Rumble, Nia Jax made history. She competed in both the Women’s and the Men’s Royal Rumble Match in the same night. She is not only the first to compete in both Rumbles in the same night, but the second to compete in both (Beth Phoenix), and the fourth woman ever to compete in the Men’s Royal Rumble match.
She set out to make even more history as she set out to qualify to become one half of the first ever WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Herself and Tamina took on Mickie James and the returning Alexa Bliss.
Nia would dominate the duo, hitting a double Samoan Drop on both Alexa and Mickie for the win. Nia and Tamina will now go to Elimination Chamber to take on 5 other teams inside the Elimination Chamber to crown the inaugural WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Kurt Angle v. Baron Corbin
Since the shakeup late last year, Kurt is no longer the General Manager of Raw. However, the competitiveness in Kurt is still there. He set out to challenge the man who cost him his job and made his life hell, Baron Corbin.
The two slug out big shots and looked to release their pent up aggression. Kurt seemed to have the match in favor when he hit Baron with the Angle Slam and locked him in the ankle lock. However, Baron was able to defeat Kurt with the Deep Six for the pin and the win.
After the match, Baron hit the End of Days on Kurt and left Angle laying in the ring.
Finn Balor Responds
At the Royal Rumble, Finn Balor went toe to toe with The Beast, Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship. Finn ultimately came up short, but no one has put up more of a fight to Brock Lesnar than Finn. One slip up caused Finn’s opportunity to be dashed.
Intercontinental Champion Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush came out and to crush Finn Balor’s heartfelt statement. Bobby would go on to attack the already battered Finn. Lashley would lay out Finn and left him laying in the middle of the ring.
The Revival v. Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder
The Revival sought out revenge on Curt Hawkins for stealing their opportunity to become Raw Tag Team Champions. The Revival did get their revenge by defeating the duo in short work, hitting the Shatter Machine on Hawkins for the pin and the win.
Elias Turns His Back on the WWE Universe
Elias came out like he does every week to play a song for the WWE Universe. However, he feels betrayed by the WWE Universe because the one time he stuck his hand out to them, they turned their back on him.
Elias ranted on the Phoenix crowd until WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett and the Road Dogg came out to interrupt the Elias Concert. At the Royal Rumble, Jeff Jarrett made his return to a WWE ring for the first time in 20 years. Jeff sought out revenge on Elias alongside his good friend the Road Dogg. Jarrett and Road Dogg sang “Alone with my Baby Tonight.”
Elias heard enough and attacked both Road Dogg and Jeff Jarrett and left them laying with a shot from a guitar. The old Elias is back.
Dana Brooke & Natalya v. The Riott Squad: Qualifying Match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
The Riott Squad look to continue their dominance of Raw by qualifying for Elimination Chamber to try to become the first ever Women’s Tag Team Champions. In a relatively short contest, Liv Morgan rolled up Natalya for the win after a distraction from Ruby Riott. The Riott Squad are now one step closer to making their own, destructive history.
Ronda Rousey’s Raw Women’s Championship Open Challenge
At the Royal Rumble, Ronda Rousey outlasted Sasha Banks to retain the Raw Women’s Championship. The Champion now her eyes set on the next challenger heading towards WrestleMania. Ronda also has her awareness on high alert knowing that rival Becky Lynch won the Women’s Royal Rumble match.
The WWE Universe had their attention focused on one woman, Becky Lynch. This made Ronda physically shook. She seemed really startled and confused by the WWE Universe.
Bayley interrupted Ronda and answered the challenge. The two women put it all on the line for the Raw Women’s Championship. Bayley pulled out all the stops to try to reclaim the Championship. However, the gutsy performance was not enough as Ronda was able to lock in the armbar for the win.
After the match, Becky Lynch came out to the ring and went face to face with Ronda Rousey. Becky announced that she will challenge Ronda Rousey for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania.
Drew McIntyre v. Braun Strowman
These two behemoths set out to destroy everything in their path including each other. The two were beating each other down until Baron Corbin came out to interrupt the match.
Baron sought out to take down the Monster. However, that was not the case. Braun looked to get his revenge on Baron for putting him on the shelf back in December. Braun looked to do the same to Baron, but Drew McIntyre attacked Braun. Drew and Baron laid out Braun with a chokeslam on the steel steps.
Seth Makes his Decision
Before Seth could come out to make his decision, Paul Heyman and the Universal Champion Brock Lesnar came out to state that Seth should decide to go to SmackDown and challenge Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship. For the sake of his health and body, he should not challenge Brock.
Seth hears enough and steps up face to face to Lesnar. He brings the fight to Lesnar, but Lesnar picks Seth out the air and nails him with not 1, not 2, not 3 but 6 F5s. Seth never made his decision, but the decision has been made, Seth versus Brock at WrestleMania.
Conclusion
This was a fairly entertaining episode of Monday Night Raw. Becky making her decision to fight Ronda is must-see TV. Seth eyeing the Beast is best for Monday Night Raw. Also, with 10 weeks until WrestleMania, the road is beginning to heat up.
David Jacobus
Staff Writer