RAW Results for 1-23-2017: Rumble Spot Up for Grabs, Unexpected Appearance
Hello, Sportswavers and those whom have come across this article. I know that I've been gone for a while, but I am back. Admittedly, this article isn't going to be as detailed as usual since I am getting back into the groove of things, but it's a good re-start. Get it, re-start, as opposed to simply start. Anyway, here is what happened on "Monday Night RAW."
Match 1 - Cesaro w/ Sheamus vs. Luke Gallows w/ Karl Anderson: Gallows won this match by giving the "Swiss Superman" a flapjack and pinning him for the three-count.
After the first match, Mick Foley was shown in his office talking to Stephanie McMahon over the phone. Sami Zayn asked to be put into the Royal Rumble Match, and Foley was going to, until Stephanie said he had to earn his way in. She then added that Zayn had to do it against Seth Rollins.
Match 2 - Seth Rollins vs. Sami Zayn for a Spot in the Royal Rumble: Rollins had taken control of the match and was ready to finish Zayn off, when Triple H's music hit. Rollins turned towards the ring entrance and awaited H's appearance. Zayn then rolled up "The Architect," and held on for the pinfall. Rollins was out of the Royal Rumble Match.
Match 3 - Ariya Daivari, Tony Nese, and Drew Gulak vs. T.J. Perkins, Jack Gallagher, and Mustafa Ali: Entertaining match that saw Perkins, Gallagher and Ali come away as the victors after Ali landed his inverted 450 splash on Gulak.
Match 4 - Big E, Kofi Kingston, Enzo Amore, and Big Cass vs. Rusev, Jinder Mahal, Titus O'Neil, and Braun Strowman: This match was ended by Strowman, whom gave Amore a running powerslam after everyone else had taken themselves out on the mats.
Match 5 - United States Championship, (c) Chris Jericho vs. Roman Reigns: Owens was doing commentary for the match, when he left the announce table and attacked Reigns. That gave the former Shield member the win by disqualification. However, a two-on-one beatdown ensued until Reigns was able to get Owens in the shark cage that had been lowered onto the ring. Once that happened, Jericho was given a Superman punch and a spear.
Match 6 - Nia Jax vs. Unnamed Local Talent: Jax destroyed the never-named talent in a couple of minutes, actually giving her a Banzai Drop.
Main Event - Rich Swann vs. Noam Dar: The Cruiserweight Champion defeated Dar with his spinning heel kick. At the conclusion of the match, Neville came out to confront Swann. However, he was the one that got beaten down, with only referees stopping the champ from doing further damage.
In the last segment of the night, Goldberg made his way to the ring and spoke about how he was going to win the Royal Rumble Match and face the Universal Champion at WrestleMania. As he did, he was soon interrupted by Paul Heyman, whom then brought out Brock Lesnar. "The Beast" made his way to the ring, and a face off followed. Within moments, however, a gong was struck and the lights went out. When the lights came back on, The Undertaker was in the ring. The three men faced off until the show went off-air.
