WWE Raw Results (1/18/16) – Columbus, OH

Results by Dan Fappiano, rajah.com reader

The show started off with a video package revolving around Martin Luther King Jr’s dream as well as other groundbreaking black Americans to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr day.

The opening Monday Night Raw video then started and we were taken inside the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Roman Reigns’ music hit and he appeared in the crowd. There were mixed reactions to his entrance but it seemed as if there were more cheers than boos.

A video was then shown of the beat down Reigns took in the “One vs All match” culminating with an F5 from the Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar.

Reigns started a promo discussing how the Royal Rumble is truly “one vs all”. He discussed how Sunday will be the fight of his life. He then called out Brock Lesnar.

Instead of Brock Lesnar, Y2J himself Chris Jericho appeared. A Y2J chant started and Jericho gave his famous, “Welcome to Raw is Jericho!”

Jericho tells Roman that while he is waiting for Lesnar, he got something better in Jericho.

Reigns is not amused and says while he is happy Jericho is back, he wants Lesnar.

Jericho claims that Lesnar will be on Raw, and plugs the Highlight Reel. He then states how he wants this night’s Highlight Reel to be the best ever.

The Highlight Reel will now feature not only Lesnar but also Reigns.

The League of Nations then appears.

Sheamus asks, “When did the Royal Rumble match become Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar?”

A “you look stupid” chant breaks out. Sheamus tells the crowd to “shhhhhh, the grownups are talking”

Sheamus says that there are 28 other men in the Royal Rumble, including the League of Nations. And that they will win back what is rightfully theres, the WWE Heavyweight championships.

Sheamus then welcomes Jericho back and makes fun of his jacket before telling him not having the League of Nations on the Highlight Reel is “plain stupid”.

Jericho makes fun of Sheamus’ use of the word “stupid” and his skin color. He says that he doesn’t want Sheamus but will take his Mohawk to talk about how stupid it makes him look.

Alberto Del Rio then talks about how he won the biggest Royal Rumble of all time, therefore the LON deserves to be on the show.

Jericho calls Del Rio a jackass and tells him he doesn’t want to have them on the show.

Rusev then speaks and discusses how his life has been the Royal Rumble. He talks about how the LON will win the Royal Rumble and deserve to be on the Highlight Reel. Rusev gets the “What?!” treatment from the fans.

Jericho reminds Rusev that Reigns threw out Rusev to win the Rumble. Jericho pokes fun at Rusev.

Rusev starts talking again, Reigns tells him to shut up. Then challenges Rusev to a fight.

Jericho asks the crowd if they want Rusev vs Reigns to a huge pop from the crowd. A “Yes!” chant breaks out.

The League of Nations walks down to the ring.

Jericho states that since Rusev has the LON outside the ring, he will even up the score inside the ring and he is the special guest referee!

Raw cuts to a commercial.

After the commercial break the first match of the night begins.

*Rusev vs Roman Reigns*

Rusev goes for the Superman Punch but Rusev rolls out of the ring.

Rusev has the early advantage with a barrage of punches. But Roman starts to fight back with punches of his own.

Reigns is sent out of the ring and the LON surrounds him. Rusev takes advantage. Clearly the numbers game will be big in this match.

Rusev puts Reigns in a headlock as the match slows down.

Rusev goes for a flying head butt but Reigns rolls out of the way. He has the advantage now.

Reigns goes for a Samoan drop, Rusev gets out, Reigns hits a neck breaker and goes for a pin. 2 count.

The LON goes up on the apron, and Reigns is distracted. Rusev hits Reigns in the corner and goes for the pin. 2 count.

Raw cuts to a commercial.

Raw returns as Rusev has been dominating Reigns during the commercial break, but Reigns fights back.

Rusev puts Reigns in a headlock. Reigns refuses to tap. Jericho taunts Rusev as Reigns fights back and slams Rusev.

The count goes to 4 before both men get up. Reigns hits 2 running clothesline before a clothesline splash.

He tries to hit Rusev in corner, Rusev reverses before being hit by a big boot.

Then he hits Rusev with 10 clothesline-much like Sheamus- in the corner. Followed by an uppercut.

Rusev hits a super kick followed by a very slow count by Jericho. Rusev and Jericho argue. A Y2J chant breaks out.

Rusev puts Reigns on his shoulders and climbs to the second rope. Reigns breaks out followed by a sit out power bomb. 2 count.

Reigns loads up the superman punch before Del Rio distracts Jericho and Sheamus throws Reigns into the barricade.

Sheamus is banned from ringside! Wade Barrett starts arguing and he is tossed as well! Del Rio follows suit and argues before he too is thrown out by Jericho. A loud Y2J chant starts.

The match is now Rusev vs Reigns with no League of Nations ringside.

Rusev eyes down Jericho when…

Reigns hits a Superman punch! And then the Spear!

1, 2

And your winner is: Roman Reigns

Raw goes to commercial

Raw returns with Jericho looking smug, but Stephanie McMahon is not happy.

She is mad at states that Jericho did not have the right to make the match and appoint himself the special guest referee.

McMahon scolds Jericho but commends Jericho having Lesnar and Reigns on Highlight Reel.

She then tells Jericho that if he messes with her show again he will “never be the same again”

Out comes Brie Bella accompanied by Alicia Fox. Cole plugs Total Divas.

In somewhat of a shock, Natalya gets some TV time and makes her first appearance on Raw in what seems like forever.

Out next comes Paige! Who has been off TV nursing a concussion. Paige evens up the battle with Fox.

A Total Divas promo is shown showing that Paige and Fox have beef.

*Brie Bella vs Natalya*

Natalya gets the upper hand before Brie hits Natalya with a knee and chants Brie Mode! The knee gets a 2 count.

Brie puts Natalya in a headlock before Brie takes advantage and throws her to the floor. She blows a kiss to Paige and starts hitting the patented “Yes Kicks”. Brie has been taunting all match.

Brie misses a kick and Natalya puts Brie in the Sharpshooter!

And your winner is: Natalya

The tumbler is shown and Byron Saxton says tonight we will find out who drew number 1 in the Royal Rumble!

The Wyatt family is now entering, as they prepare to battle with the Dudley Boyz and Ryback.

The Dudley Boyz enter next.

A video is shown of Smackdown where the Dudley Boyz won the match but were then brutalized by the Wyatt Family.

Ryback enters.

Another video is shown of the Wyatt Family beating up Ryback, driving home why the Dudleys & Ryback have beef with the Wyatts.

Raw goes to commercial.

*The Wyatt Family vs The Dudley Boyz & Ryback*

The match started during the commercial break. When Raw comes back on Harper is hitting Bubba Ray in the corner before Bubba reverses it and hits Harper with a big back drop.

Harper then hits Bubba with a big boot and tags in Rowan.

Rowan goes for a splash but Bubba rolls out and tags in Devon.

Fast paced match, Devon hits a couple shoulder dives before Rowan throws him into the corner followed by a spinning kick. 2 count.

Rowan then tags in Bray who hits a big corner splash on Devon. 2 count.

Bray tags in Harper who kicks Devon and then taunts the crowd. He flings Devon up to the second rope and taunts again.

The match goes outside the ring and Bubba starts a Devon chant, to fail.

Harper slaps Devon and then tags in Rowan. Rowan puts double fists to Devon’s head as the fans chant “We want Tables!”

Rowan gets in another kick and Harper is in. Bubba calls Harper a troll.

Devon starts fighting back before being slapped in the head by Harper. 2 count.

Headlock by Harper before slamming him into the corner. Bray Wyatt tags himself back in.

Both men slam into each other. Bray hits Bubba with a cheap shot and goes for a senton.

Devon tags in Ryback, Bray tags in Harper.

Ryback goes to town on Harper and hits him with a barrage of moves before hitting the spine buster and leading the crowd in a feed me more chant. Both teams exchange moves before Wyatt hits Ryback from behind after a distraction from Strowman outside the ring.

The Dudley Boyz call for the 3D before Rowan breaks it up.

Harper hits a big boot and the discus clothesline, 1, 2

And your winner is: The Wyatt Family

After the match, Wyatt yells to the crowd and tells them the apocalypse is here, Follow the Buzzards

Raw goes to commercial

Big Show music hits and here comes the giant, the crowd seems very uninterested.

Out come the social Outcasts, Heath Slater is announced as Big Show’s opponent.

Slater tells the crowd that #SocialOutcasts will be trending tonight and at the Royal Rumble when one of the social outcasts win the rumble.

Adam Rose says that with Aladdin’s magic carpet will never hit the ground.

Axel says he was never eliminated in the 2015 Royal Rumble match.

Slater then tells Big Show that tonight he will eliminate him.

*Big Show vs Heath Slater*

Heath hides in the ropes repetitively.

Big Show goes for the slap and Heath slides out of the ring, he taunts with the other outcasts and then Big Show pulls him back in the ring. Big Show throws him across the ring

Big show hits the knockout punch, 1, 2

And the winner is: Big Show

After the match Big Show takes out all of the Social Outcasts finishing off Bo Dallas with a knockout punch.

Big Show then celebrates with the crowd in an apparent face turn.

The League of Nation minus Rusev is shown arguing backstage and Stephanie McMahon recaps the opening segment before asking who Jericho thinks he is.

McMahon then talks up all members of the League of Nations present.

She asks the LON how they can let Jericho scare them away.

The League of Nations say they aren’t scared. She tells them to prove it.

Raw goes to commercial.

Raw returns and the tumbler is shown. Vince McMahon’s music hits and the boss is here.

Vince and Stephanie appear doing the infamous McMahon walk.

The McMahon tandem start questioning who will win the Royal Rumble, she mentions multiple names currently on the roster as well as someone the WWE universe has never seen before (AJ Styles anyone?)

Vince then compares Roman Reigns winning the Royal Rumble to one of the member in the crowd winning the Powerball.

Stephanie states how the match takes skill, but also luck.

Vince says it does, except in 1999 when he won it all.

Stephanie starts spinning the tumbler and a name is chosen.

Vince doesn’t like the first ball and puts it back.

Roman Reigns is the first entrant in the Royal Rumble.

They re-spin the spinner just to prove everything is fair and they pick another ball.

Once again Vince doesn’t like the first ball and puts it back.

And once again Roman Reigns is the number one entrant.

Vince still thinks that this is unfair and spins the tumbler one more time.

And finally: Roman Reigns is the Number One Entrant in the Royal Rumble

Charlotte music hits and she is on to the ring followed by Ric Flair. Chants of Woo rain down.

Charlotte and Ric take a seat ringside and Becky Lynch is in action next.

Team B.A.D’s music hits and Tamina comes out with Naomi, Sasha Banks must still be nursing and injury.

Out next comes Becky Lynch sporting a new jacket, Charlotte laughs during her entrance.

A video is shown of Becky and Charlotte’s brawl on Raw as well as Becky’s Diva Championship challenge on Smackdown

*Becky Lynch vs Tamina*

Both divas lock up and break, then lock up again, the fans chant “we want Sasha”

Becky unloads a barrage of kicks before Tamina picks her up and slams her into the turnbuckle.

Tamina kicks Becky and covers. 2 count.

Tamina puts Becky into a headlock. Fans are chanting Woo.

Becky fights back before Tamina throws her down by her hair. Followed by a kick.

Tamia chokes Becky in the ropes. And then slams her on the mat. Pins, 2 count.

Back to the headlock for Tamina. Becky fights back and backs Tamina back into the turn buckle before Tamina hits Becky down.

A roll up from beck, 1 count.

Followed by a barrage of punches from Becky and a big kick to Tamia. Becky yells to the crowd and delivers three splashes in the corner.

Becky gives two leg drops. 1 count.

Becky goes to throw Tamina in the corner, reversed and Becky is on the top ropes.

She rolls Tamina up and does the Disarmer.

And your winner is: Becky Lynch

After the match Becky talks about how bad she wants to win the Divas championship and asks Charlotte for an answer.

She asks the crowd if they’d like to see that and they all chant yes.

Charlotte then says she isn’t going to hand over a title match just because a ton of people are cheering at her.

Becky then states how Charlotte needed her father to help and asked if the Hall of Famers would be proud of his daughter for denying a challenge.

Becky Lynch then calls Ric as much of a coward as Charlotte.

Ric questions Becky and then accepts Becky’s challenge for Charlotte at the Royal Rumble.

Becky Lynch vs Charlotte for the Diva’s Championship is now booked for the Royal Rumble.

Next up is a tag team match seeing Dean Ambrose and Kalisto vs Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio

Raw goes to commercial.

Miz TV with Dean Ambrose & Kevin Owens is plugged for Smackdown as well as Roman Reigns vs The League of Nations.

Kevin Owens is on commentary for the next match.

Ambrose makes his entrance to a pop from the crowd, Ambrose is from Ohio.

Owens says that the Rumble will be a bad night for Ambrose.

Out next comes Kalisto with his famous flip over the ropes.

The video of Kalisto winning the United States title on last week’s Raw.

The League of Nations music hits and out come Del Rio, Sheamus and Barret

The video of Del Rio winning the United States title back is aired.

*Sheamus and Del Rio w/ King Barrett vs Dean Ambrose and Kalisto*

Ambrose and Sheamus start the match with Ambrose loading on punches before taking him out with a forearm.

Then an Ambrose/Kalisto double team take place with Kalisto splashing on Sheamus.

Kalisto then throws Sheamus out of the ring followed by Kalisto kicking Del Rio off the apron. Ambrose then kicked Del Rio again to send him down. Kalisto runs off the ropes and Ambrose back body drops him over the ropes onto Sheamus and Del Rio.

Raw goes to commercial.

Raw returns to Alberto Del Rio applying some kind of submission to Kalisto. Kalisto then throws Del Rio off the ropes.

Kalisto goes for a top rope move but Del Rio kicked him in midair.

Sheamus is tagged in and uppercuts Kalisto twice before taunting the crowd.

Michael Cole and Kevin Owens discuss Owens upcoming match against Ambrose.

Sheamus slams Kalisto before putting him in a headlock and taunting the crowd.

Owens tells Byron to be quiet.

Kalisto tags in Ambrose, Sheamus tags in Del Rio.

Ambrose is like a rocket hitting Del Rio with multiple forearms before hitting the running bulldog.

Ambrose goes for a top rope maneuver, misses, but then hits a swinging neck breaker. He throws Del Rio out of the rings before hitting a suicide dive through the middle rope.

Sheamus throws Ambrose into the barricade and Del Rio goes for the cover, 2 count.

Sheamus is tagged in.

Sheamus hits Ambrose into the corner and then slams him onto his knee, 2 count.

Owens keeps mocking Byron as Sheamus puts Ambrose into a headlock. Let’s go Ambrose chants roar across the stadium.

Ambrose takes a running knee to the guy and Del Rio is tagged in.

Kick to the back of the head from Del Rio and a 2 count. Del Rio then taunts Kalisto.

Sheamus gets an illegal kick on Ambrose, 2 count. Headlock from Del Rio. Kalisto is calling for the tag.

Ambrose fights back before Del Rio hits Ambrose with the backstabber, 2 count.

Del Rio taunts the crowd and goes to set up his finisher.

Del Rio climbs to the top rope but Ambrose reverses and throws him off the top rope. Ambrose is on the top rope, jumps, and double kicks Del Rio.

Sheamus is tagged in and Ambrose hits his patented in rope clothesline.

Kalisto chants Lucha and gets the tag.

Kalisto hits the head scissors on Sheamus before a multitude of kicks.

Sheamus lines up the Irish curse before kicking Sheamus then Del Rio.

Sheamus misses the Brogue Kick and Kalisto DDTs him.

Kalisto hits the Salida Del Sol and gets to a 2 count before Del Rio breaks it up.

Ambrose goes after Del Rio before getting kicked in the head by Del Rio after being distracted by Owens.

Kalisto goes for another Salida Del Sol but misses and gets Brogue Kicked by Sheamus.

1, 2

And the Winner is: Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio

A video is aired of Roman Reigns calling out Brock Lesnar to start the show.

Raw goes to Commercial.

A recap of WWE’s trip to India is aired.

A video is then aired of New Day vs the Usos match on Raw last week and Jericho’s snapping of Xavier Wood’s precious trombone.

A video from earlier today of the funeral for Francesca the Trombone was aired. You can’t make this up.

Woods is hysterical and clearly misses his trombone, is sad he couldn’t say goodbye to Francesca to Trombone.

Big E tells Woods that Francesca resides in his heart. Woods says that Big E will beat Jey Uso in honor of Francesca. They start a Fran Ces Ca clap.

A Royal Rumble promo by the numbers is shown.

The Usos make their entrance.

Raw goes to commercial.

The New Day make their debut, but instead of their happy go lucky nature, Kofi and Xavier are in button down shirts and ties and have a moment of silence for Francesca.

They have a very serious clap as they look to honor the trombone.

*Big E vs Jey Uso*

Big E starts the clap and then flips Jey Uso before throwing him in the corner.

Big E tries to throw Jey to the other corner but Jey slides and slaps Big E

Uso then hits Big E in both corners before Big E backs him into a corner and stomping on him.

Big E throws Jey into the corner which Jey reverses and then hits the nae nae.

Jey slams Big E and goes for the pin, 2 count

Jey hits an enziguri and Big E rolls out of the ring.

Big E plays possum and back body drops Jey

Raw goes to commercial

As Raw returns Big E has Jey Uso in the abdominal stretch

Uso fights back before taking a shoulder to the head. Big E chokes Jey in the ropes before Kofi kicks him illegally.

Big E steps on Jey’s neck before attempting a big splash on the outside. Jey rolls out of it before kicking Big E through the ropes and then into the barricade.

Jey goes to the top tope and hits a cross body splash into a super kick, upper cut, Samoan drop combo.

He then starts the U-so chant and before kicking Big E and getting the 2 count.

Big E throws Jey out of the ring onto the apron, Big E goes for a spear but Jey evades and hits a suicide dive over the top rope. The rest of the New Day is helping Big E up.

Jimmy Uso hits Kofi and Jey hits a huge super kick on Big E.

Xavier distracted Jey and allowed Big E to hit a clothesline. Jey looked like he tweaked his knee when he fell off the top rope.

Big E picks up Jey Uso and hits the Big Ending.

1, 2

And your winner is: Big E

After the match, R Truth, Mark Henry and Titus O’Neil are in the back. They put their hands in the middle and are joined by Neville.

R Truth says that Neville has a dream too and allows him to stay in the middle.

They all say Keep the Dream alive, disband from the huddle and Raw goes to commercial.

After the break the League of Nations are shown backstage.

*Mark Henry, R Truth, Titus O’Neil and Neville vs Tyler Breeze, Stardust and the Ascension*

Titus O Neil gets the upper hand over Konnor before he reverses and hits a chop in the corner.

Titus hits a few chops and Viktor is tagged it.

Viktor is thrown across the ring before Titus taunts.

Titus tags in Neville who kicks Viktor before working on his arm. Viktor uses his strength to push him into the corner.

Stardust is tagged in and puts Neville in a headlock before kicking him and hitting him with an uppercut.

He taunts the crowd before taking a clothesline from Mark Henry. He runs into Stardust in the corner and tags in R Truth.

R Truth kicks Stardust followed by an elbow. R Truth does a little dancing before a hip toss.

Stardust tags in Tyler Breeze and then kicks R Truth. Breeze goes for the pin, 2 count.

He then tags in Konnor who uses his strength to knock down R truth before taunting.

R Truth gets in a punch before Konnor slams him then drops an elbow, 2 count.

Konnor puts R Truth in headlock and hits a few punches, tackles Titus and then takes an uppercut from R Truth.

Neville is tagged in as Tyler Breeze.

Neville hits a couple kicks before a hip toss and another kick. Then Neville does a standing moon sault before R Truth breaks it up.

Titus O Neil throws Breeze onto Mark Henry who botches catching him. Then he hits Breeze with the World’ Strongest Slam.

Neville hits the Red Arrow.

And your winners are: Mark Henry, Titus O Neil, R Truth and Neville

Raw goes to commercial.

As Raw comes back on Jericho is in the ring ready for the Highlight Reel.

He talks how this will be the best Highlight Reel, because the top three options to win the royal rumble will be in the ring for the first time; Reigns, Lesnar, Jericho.

Paul Heyman interrupts and is at the top of the ramp, to which Jericho interrupts him.

Jericho asks where Lesnar is.

Heyman says there will be an F5 touching down in Columbus, Ohio and that Brock Lesnar is here.

Heyman reminds Jericho that the last time he went head to head with Lesnar that it was more of a match for the Lesnar highlight reel rather than Jericho highlight reel. He then says Lesnar isn’t focused on Jericho but more Reigns.

Jericho reminds Heyman that he couldn’t get Lesnar out of the rumble and into WrestleMania.

Heyman says what Jericho says wasn’t a question. Jericho says that Lesnar is one of the most dominant wrestlers of all time, but he has made a lot of enemies. Jericho then asks if Heyman wants Lesnar out of the rumble because he doesn’t like his chances.

Heyman reminds Jericho that since Lesnar was never beaten for the title he should’ve deserved the bye. But since there is only one conqueror, he likes the box office appeal due to the appeal of Brock Lesnar. Says Lesnar will fight any man in the Royal Rumble and will win because this Sunday Brock Lesnar will turn the Royal Rumble into Suplex City.

Jericho starts a Suplex City chant.

Asks Heyman what happens if it does come down to Brock Lesnar vs Chris Jericho in the Royal Rumble?

Brock Lesnar’s music hits and out comes the Beast Incarnate.

Roman Reign’s music interrupts and he’s coming down through the fans in double speed. Asks Lesnar to get in the ring.

Roman Reigns lays down the belt and spears Brock Lesnar. The two start brawling.

Out comes Sheamus and the rest of the LON and they all start beating up Roman Reigns.

Lesnar German Supplexes Rusev. Then starts kneeing Sheamus.

Followed up by a German supplex to Del Rio and an F5 to Sheamus. Reigns then hits Lesnar with another spear!

The Wyatt Family then appear and surround the ring.

Reigns punches Strowman, then Rowan before getting a discus clothesline from Harper.

Wyatt hits the Sister Abigail on Reigns. The Wyatt Family then turn their attention on Brock Lesnar.

Harper hits Lesnar and the Wyatt Family surrounds the beast. A high kick from Rowan followed by a clothesline from Strowman. The Wyatt Family pick Lesnar up before Bray hits him with a Sister Abigail.

Bray Wyatt shouts that the Royal Rumble is his.

Raw closes with the Wyatt Family all standing over Brock Lesnar’s lifeless body.