3 fresh booking decisions on RAW this week (21 January 2018)

In the last few episodes of 2018, owing to the consistent low rating on USA Television, Vince McMahon promised us that we would see something fresh in 2019.

Even though some of the matches are being repeated, like AJ Styles vs Daniel Bryan, WWE has been mixing up things since then.

This mixing up includes bringing back banned moves like the Canadian Destroyer, and newer match-ups. WWE has also 'promoted' a few more superstars from NXT to the main roster as a part of this. EC3, Heavy Machinery (Otiz Dozovic and Tucker Knight), Lacey Evans, Nikki Cross, and Lars Sullivan.

On the latest episode of RAW, there were fresh segments. For example, Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins, formerly known as the Edgeheads, reunited for the first time since their one-off match in 2018.

Similarly, a few things happened on the latest episode of RAW for the first time in a long while. In this article, we take a look.

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#3 Drew McIntyre pinned clean for the first time since his return

Seth Rollins gave Drew McIntyre his first clean loss since his return

Ever since returning to WWE, Drew McIntyre has been in terrific form. WWE clearly has interest in pushing the Scottish Psychopath. Until yesterday, Drew McIntyre had not lost a single match cleanly. His pinfall losses against Andrade 'Cien' Almas, Dolph Ziggler, and Finn Balor involved shenanigans.

However, his pinfall loss to Seth Rollins was clean as a whistle.

Even though it was a roll up, it is still a clean loss. It had been more than four and a half years since he was last pinned in a WWE ring cleanly, but Seth Rollins broke the streak.

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#2 Brock Lesnar and Finn Balor shared the ring for the first time

Reports say Brock Lesnar asked WWE to allow him fight Finn Balor at the 2019 Royal Rumble.

Brock Lesnar is known to work well with in-ring technicians - this has been proven against the likes of CM Punk, AJ Styles, and Daniel Bryan. Lesnar respects Balor as a competitor. His "advocate", Paul Heyman, has put Balor over several times.

Of all the champions crowned since the inception of the Universal title, Finn Balor and Brock Lesnar are the only guys who have never shared the same ring before. Balor also never shared a moment with Bill Goldberg, since the latter made his return during the former's injury.

Lesnar had moments with Kevin Owens, Goldberg, and Roman Reigns - but not Finn Balor. This episode of RAW served as the first-ever platform to have these two superstars share the same segment.

#1 Ronda Rousey's first WWE loss

Sasha Banks and Bayley defeated Ronda Rousey and Natalya

Ronda Rousey made her debut during the last Royal Rumble, as she interrupted Asuka's rumble victory.

The former UFC fighter had never lost a single match in WWE before - be it singles or multi-women matches. The RAW women's champion was always on the winning side ever since she made her in-ring debut at WrestleMania 34.

However, on the latest episode of RAW, the team of Rousey and Natalya lost to the team of Sasha Banks and Bayley. Banks put Natalya through a backstabber, followed by a Bank Statement for the submission win.

Even though Natalya took the submission, it counted as a loss for the 'Baddest Woman on the planet'.

However, Rousey is still unbeaten in singles matches.

She is yet to be pinned or submitted by any WWE wrestler. Can Banks do the seemingly impossible by beating Rousey at the Royal Rumble?