With just six days until the Royal Rumble, we have a big main event in store for this edition of Raw. The three World Heavyweight Title contenders(Bray Wyatt, Rusev and Goldberg) will meet in a triple threat match. On the line is a Royal Rumble spot, but remember that should the winner become champion on Sunday, their spot will go to another Raw roster member based on the results of a random lottery. A six-man battle royal, the New Day and more on this episode of Raw!
Universe Mode
Monday Night Raw
January 23rd, 2017
Location: Houston, TX
Brock Lesnar Promo
Before we could get the show underway, the World Heavyweight Champion made his way to the ring, mic in hand. It is very rare to hear Brock Lesnar speak: such is the enormity of tonight's main event and this Sunday's championship match. Lesnar went on a tirade against his competition, the Raw roster and GM Shane McMahon. A fired up Brock Lesnar is the last thing anyone needs, but it appears that the Beast is on the loose.
Alberto Del Rio vs Zack Ryder vs Jack Swagger vs Stardust- Royal Rumble Qualification Match
This was a Last Chance match, giving four competitors their final chance to qualify for the Royal Rumble. Ryder and Swagger got into it early on, and would battle for most of the match. The sadistic Stardust took full advantage of this, hitting Del Rio with a Dark Matter while Ryder and Swagger were distracted to punch his ticket to the Rumble.
Winner: Stardust
Enzo and Big Cass vs The Dudley Boyz- Royal Rumble Qualification Match
This was a rematch after a questionable end to the first encounter between these teams, and this time it would be in an Extreme Rules match. Extreme Rules are the Dudleyz' forte, but Enzo and Cass were undeterred. This was a chaotic wild match, with quite a few near falls and nasty attacks from foreign objects, like ladders and tables, but Enzo and Cass came out on top in the end, Cass pinning D-Von with an East River Crossing.
Winners: Enzo and Big Cass
Kofi Kingston vs Kalisto- Royal Rumble Qualification Match
Both The New Day and the Lucha Dragons were offered the chance to qualify for the Rumble, with the catch being that the opportunity would only go to one member of the team, as chosen by the team. Kofi and Kalisto were the two men who were nominated, and had a very entertaining match, ended when Kofi hit a Trouble in Paradise on Kalisto to head to the Royal Rumble.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
Two More Matches for the Royal Rumble
After the events of last week, we will see Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn square off in the opening bout at the Rumble. This time, it will be an Extreme Rules match, and if Sami wins, he gets Owens' Royal Rumble spot. Also, Sasha Banks will defend her Raw Women's Title in a triple threat match against Bayley and Nikki Bella.
Six-Man Battle Royal- Royal Rumble Preview
This match featured six already confirmed participants from Raw, fighting for momentum heading into this Sunday. They were: Samoa Joe, John Cena, Mark Henry, Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.
Straight off the bat, Mark Henry scored an elimination, tossing out Dean Ambrose, sending the Lunatic Fringe into a rage. Seth Rollins would put himself on the board a few minutes later, eliminating Samoa Joe. Roman Reigns would score a huge elimination of his own, taking out John Cena. Reigns and Rollins would form a temporary alliance to take out big Mark, and it worked, both men getting their second elimination. Rollins was thinking two steps ahead, sticking the sword in Roman's back, tossing him out to win the battle royal and pick up a huge amount of momentum ahead of the Royal Rumble match.
Winner: Seth Rollins
Bray Wyatt vs Rusev vs Goldberg- Royal Rumble Qualification Match
There was definitely the proverbial "big fight feel" around this main event, as three unstoppable forces squared off. All three men went to war, a chance to be in two high profile matches at Royal Rumble at stake. There were plenty of near falls and lots of power, but none of the three could ever truly take control. Rusev impressed the most, pulling out some crazy offense, including an inverted Alabama Slam and a huge Fireman's Carry Side Slam(Kenny King's Royal Flush). In the end, though, it was the calculating Bray Wyatt that would be triumphant, ejecting Rusev from the ring and pinning Goldberg with a Sister Abigail. With two chances at a world title now, the odds have to be in favor of Bray this Sunday.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
Join me tomorrow for SmackDown, where we finalize the participants for the Royal Rumble.
Want to follow the series, but missed a few posts? No problem! Check out my brand new Universe Mode Wiki, constantly updated to keep you up to speed with the latest Universe Mode happenings.
Universe Mode
Monday Night Raw
January 23rd, 2017
Location: Houston, TX
Brock Lesnar Promo
Before we could get the show underway, the World Heavyweight Champion made his way to the ring, mic in hand. It is very rare to hear Brock Lesnar speak: such is the enormity of tonight's main event and this Sunday's championship match. Lesnar went on a tirade against his competition, the Raw roster and GM Shane McMahon. A fired up Brock Lesnar is the last thing anyone needs, but it appears that the Beast is on the loose.
Alberto Del Rio vs Zack Ryder vs Jack Swagger vs Stardust- Royal Rumble Qualification Match
This was a Last Chance match, giving four competitors their final chance to qualify for the Royal Rumble. Ryder and Swagger got into it early on, and would battle for most of the match. The sadistic Stardust took full advantage of this, hitting Del Rio with a Dark Matter while Ryder and Swagger were distracted to punch his ticket to the Rumble.
Winner: Stardust
Enzo and Big Cass vs The Dudley Boyz- Royal Rumble Qualification Match
This was a rematch after a questionable end to the first encounter between these teams, and this time it would be in an Extreme Rules match. Extreme Rules are the Dudleyz' forte, but Enzo and Cass were undeterred. This was a chaotic wild match, with quite a few near falls and nasty attacks from foreign objects, like ladders and tables, but Enzo and Cass came out on top in the end, Cass pinning D-Von with an East River Crossing.
Winners: Enzo and Big Cass
Kofi Kingston vs Kalisto- Royal Rumble Qualification Match
Both The New Day and the Lucha Dragons were offered the chance to qualify for the Rumble, with the catch being that the opportunity would only go to one member of the team, as chosen by the team. Kofi and Kalisto were the two men who were nominated, and had a very entertaining match, ended when Kofi hit a Trouble in Paradise on Kalisto to head to the Royal Rumble.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
Two More Matches for the Royal Rumble
After the events of last week, we will see Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn square off in the opening bout at the Rumble. This time, it will be an Extreme Rules match, and if Sami wins, he gets Owens' Royal Rumble spot. Also, Sasha Banks will defend her Raw Women's Title in a triple threat match against Bayley and Nikki Bella.
Six-Man Battle Royal- Royal Rumble Preview
This match featured six already confirmed participants from Raw, fighting for momentum heading into this Sunday. They were: Samoa Joe, John Cena, Mark Henry, Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.
Straight off the bat, Mark Henry scored an elimination, tossing out Dean Ambrose, sending the Lunatic Fringe into a rage. Seth Rollins would put himself on the board a few minutes later, eliminating Samoa Joe. Roman Reigns would score a huge elimination of his own, taking out John Cena. Reigns and Rollins would form a temporary alliance to take out big Mark, and it worked, both men getting their second elimination. Rollins was thinking two steps ahead, sticking the sword in Roman's back, tossing him out to win the battle royal and pick up a huge amount of momentum ahead of the Royal Rumble match.
Winner: Seth Rollins
Bray Wyatt vs Rusev vs Goldberg- Royal Rumble Qualification Match
There was definitely the proverbial "big fight feel" around this main event, as three unstoppable forces squared off. All three men went to war, a chance to be in two high profile matches at Royal Rumble at stake. There were plenty of near falls and lots of power, but none of the three could ever truly take control. Rusev impressed the most, pulling out some crazy offense, including an inverted Alabama Slam and a huge Fireman's Carry Side Slam(Kenny King's Royal Flush). In the end, though, it was the calculating Bray Wyatt that would be triumphant, ejecting Rusev from the ring and pinning Goldberg with a Sister Abigail. With two chances at a world title now, the odds have to be in favor of Bray this Sunday.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
Join me tomorrow for SmackDown, where we finalize the participants for the Royal Rumble.
Want to follow the series, but missed a few posts? No problem! Check out my brand new Universe Mode Wiki, constantly updated to keep you up to speed with the latest Universe Mode happenings.
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