Monday Night RAW – 7/1
Opening Credits + Born for Greatness by Papa Roach
The first episode of television presented by World Wrestling Entertainment for 2019, was rather fittingly an episode of Monday Night RAW. Which began with the current reigning and defending WWE Universal Champion, that being Roman Reigns©. Making his way out to the squared circle, once inside the ring he proceeded to welcome the WWE Universe to the show. He wouldn’t end up getting a chance to say anything else as a result of three other WWE superstars making themselves known. The superstars in question were the “Lone Wolf” Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre who despite having come out separately, they all had the same idea. That idea being to be the man to challenge Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble ppv.
Reigns replied that he had no issue taking anyone on at the Rumble pay per view, but only if they did it the right way an earned a title shot. The trio of Corbin, McIntyre and Ziggler didn’t like what they heard and proceeded to make their way to the ring. However just as they reached the ring the calvary came in the form of the “Monster Among Men” Braun Strowman and Finn Balor to even the playing field.
Commercial
Roman Reigns & Braun Strowman & Finn Balor
VS
Baron Corbin & Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre
Back from commercial and the impromptu opening contest of the evening a six-man tag team match. Saw WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns© join forces with both Braun Strowman and Finn Balor, to take on the trio of Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre. The match proceeded like most six-man tag team matches before it until it reached its halfway mark.
As two of the six participants that being the pair of not legal Corbin and Strowman who proceeded to brawl way into the crowed. Where they were forcibly separated by a massive force of security guards, back in the ring Reigns got the better of Ziggler with a Spear for the win.
Winners: Roman Reigns & Braun Strowman & Finn Balor
Backstage
Pre-recorded promos from the WWE RAW Tag Team Champions Bobby Roode & Chad Gable©. And the former champions that being the pair of Akam and Rezar aka the Authors of Pain aired ahead of their rematch. With the current set of champions hyping each other up, while the AOP promised to destroy their opponents to reclaim the gold.
Back to the Ring
Commercial
RAW Tag Team Championship – Lumberjack Match
Bobby Roode & Chad Gable© VS Authors of Pain
The pair of Bobby Roode and Akam kicked things off for this rematch over the WWE RAW Tag Team Championship. With the two men going back and forth trading blows for the first five minutes of the match. Then each of them would successfully make the tag to their respective tag team partner.
For Roode that meant Chad Gable and for Akam that meant the equally menacing Rezar. Despite finding himself in a David versus Goliath type of situation, Gable would end up getting the better of Rezar.
Winners & Still WWE RAW Tag Team Champions: Bobby Roode & Chad Gable
Backstage
A recording from earlier in the day saw Alicia Fox get in the face of WWE RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey©. By stating very loudly that if she faced her, we would have a new WWE RAW Women’s Champion. Rousey smirked and said she would take to MNR GM Kurt Angle and get Fox a chance to back up her words. As the champion walked off a visibly distressed Fox started panicking despite getting what she wanted.
Commercial
Championship Eliminator
WWE RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey© VS Alicia Fox
Now the WWE RAW Women’s Championship did not end up being on the line in this women’s division singles match. As WWE Hall of Famer & MNR GM Kurt Angle instead made it a non-title championship eliminator match.
Meaning if lightening struck and Fox somehow got the win she would earn a future title opportunity. Of course, that didn’t end up being the case as Rousey trapped her opponent in a cross-arm breaker and Fox tapped out.
Winner: Ronda Rousey
Backstage
Inside his office WWE Hall of Famer and MNR General Manager Kurt Angle made two huge matches for next week’s show. First up a number one contender fatal four way between Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Finn Balor and a returning John Cena.
Where the winner of the match would challenge Roman Reigns© for the WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble. Next up a triple threat match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Between the winner of tonight’s main event and the pair of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Commercial
Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush VS Heavy Machinery
Back from break and the duo of the self-proclaimed “Walking Domination” Bobby Lashley and his hype man Lio Rush teamed up. To take on the fan favourite duo of Otis Dozovic and Tucker Knight aka Heavy Machinery. Which saw Lashley damn near tear through Knight in the form of a Spear which was enough to get the victory.
Winners: Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush
Post-Match
Lashley proclaimed that he would enter the men’s Royal Rumble and win the whole thing.
Commercial
Backstage
WWE RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey© issued a warning to both Bayley and Nia Jax ahead of the number one contender match. That being that she had beaten each of them before and she would do it again at the Rumble no matter which one became N1C.
Back to the Ring
Number One Contender – RAW Women’s Championship
Bayley VS Nia Jax with Tamina Snuka
Fan favourite Bayley had her work cut out for here in her attempt to become the Number One Contender to the WWE RAW Women’s Championship. Because the woman staring at her from the other side of the ring took the form of the “Roadblock” Nia Jax.
The latter was also trying to earn herself a future shot at the title, Jax also had her Samoan Slaughterhouse tag team partner Tamina Snuka in her corner. Despite a heartfelt performance from Bayley, she would fall victim to a distraction at ring side from Snuka which allowed Jax to roll her up with a handful of tights.
Winner & Number One Contender: Nia Jax
Commercial
WWE Intercontinental Championship – No Dq
Dean Ambrose© VS Seth Rollins
The show closed out with a one-on-one men’s division rematch for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Which saw reigning and defending champion Dean Ambrose© go to war quite literally with the former champion Seth Rollins. In match type that fitted the storied history between the two men who had been as close as brothers, to tag team partners and eventually enemies, a no disqualification encounter.
Which may well have began inside the squared circle but it wouldn’t reach its conclusion within the ring but instead in the ringside area. With Ambrose sending his opponent through the announce table with a one-man variation of the Shield’s triple powerbomb for the deciding pinfall.
Winner & Still WWE Intercontinental Champion: Dean Ambrose
WWE Royal Rumble – 27/1
2019 Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Bobby Lashley and 29 Others
WWE RAW Women’s Championship
Ronda Rousey© VS Nia Jax with Tamina Snuka
2019 Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Alicia Fox, Bayley and 28 Others