Monday Night Raw – January 2, 2017: I Love it When WWE Trolls Us
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Night Raw
Date: January 2, 2017
Location: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves
Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins
Rollins gets backdropped to the floor for a big crash but the Cannonball only hits the barricade. Back in and Rollins scores with an enziguri but has to get some blood back into his leg. The Sling Blade drops Owens again and Owens is sent outside where he hits Rollins with the bell for the DQ at 11:49.
Karl Anderson vs. Cesaro
Sheamus is on commentary. They trade some big power shots to start with Cesaro getting the upper hand as you might expect. We take an early break and come back with Cesaro suplexing him down, giving us a discussion of how strong Cesaro is. Anderson kicks him in the chest so Cesaro uppercuts him in the chin over and over. This prompts a Paula Abdul reference from Saxton, which just makes me want to go watch some old MTV.
Recap of Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman.
Video on Goldberg vs. Lesnar plus Goldberg entering the Royal Rumble.
Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman
Last man standing, meaning Sami is about to die. Sami gets in a jab and tries some kendo stick shots but Braun just breaks it over his leg. Another stick gets about the same treatment and the moonsault off the barricade is pulled out of the air. A few rams into the post have Strowman staggered until he punches Sami to block the diving DDT. Some clotheslines drop Sami, whose offense is shrugged off over and over again.
Sami cracks him in the back with a chair as they stagger back into the arena. That just earns Zayn a toss onto the stage, followed by a whip into the screen. Zayn chairs him again and Braun is staggered, followed by a crossbody to put Strowman through some tables for a six count but Strowman is reeling.
Sami swings again but Braun grabs the chair and drags him up onto the ramp in another scary power display. The powerslam on the floor gives Braun a seven so Strowman just unloads on him with knees to the head and right hands. Another powerslam on the floor ends Sami at 15:48.
Sami does a stretcher job but Strowman turns it over.
Cedric Alexander and Alicia Fox run into Noam Dar, who apologizes but hits on Alicia even more.
Cedric Alexander vs. Drew Gulak
Gulak takes him down to start as the announcers talk about how tough Drew is for his lack of kneepads. Cedric gets in a quick dropkick to take over but Tony Nese goes after Alicia, setting up a rollup with trunks to give Gulak the pin at 2:25.
US Title: Roman Reigns vs. Chris Jericho
Owens is banned from ringside, Reigns is defending and loses the title if he gets counted out or disqualified. The champ runs Jericho over to start as the fans are split on Reigns. A middle rope dropkick gets two for Jericho so Reigns comes back with his string of clotheslines. Reigns tries the apron dropkick but crashes into the post instead, giving Jericho a near countout as we take a break.
Back with Reigns fighting out of a chinlock and hitting his modified belly to back suplex for two. The Superman Punch is blocked but the Lionsault hits knees. The other finishers are broken up until Jericho grabs the Walls. That lasts as long as you would expect the Walls to last until Jericho goes up top again, only to dive into the Superman Punch for a near fall.
TJ Perkins vs. Brian Kendrick
Neville is watching in the back. Perkins gets two off an early dropkick but Kendrick snaps the throat across the top rope to take over. Back up and a hurricanrana off the top drops Kendrick. The Detonation Kick into the kneebar makes Kendrick tap at 2:39.
Video on the UK Title tournament.
Rusev/Jinder Mahal vs. Big Cass
This was supposed to be a tag match but Enzo is still injured. Cass fights them off without much effort to start before Jinder goes after Enzo. The distraction sets up a superkick from Rusev for the pin at 1:32.
Bayley vs. Nia Jax
Undertaker and Shawn Michaels are here next week.
Results
Seth Rollins b. Kevin Owens via DQ when Owens used the ring bell
Karl Anderson b. Cesaro – Top rope neckbreaker
Drew Gulak b. Cedric Alexander – Rollup with a handful of trunks
TJ Perkins b. Brian Kendrick – Kneebar
Rusev/Jinder Mahal b. Big Cass – Superkick
Bayley b. Nia Jax – Super Bayley to belly
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