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This week's Monday Night Raw emanated from Memphis and it promised to be an explosive affair with a host of returns and matches announced in the build-up to Royal Rumble.
Reunions, a volatile showdown, title match and some interesting Royal Rumble additions; Raw was stacked with potential with all the goods to deliver. But did WWE learn from last week's mistakes and put on a more satisfying show this week around?
Find out as we take a look at this week's results and video highlights:
Balor Club is here to stay!
Roman Reigns opened this week's show to a 50-50 reaction. The fans were in a split as the Big Dog marched his way to the ring with the IC title on his shoulders. He cut a promo directed towards Samoa Joe, who he branded a failure.
He based his violent actions on Joe's attack on his brother Dean Ambrose. Jason Jordan came out next and began sucking up to The Big Dog. He put over the anointed face of the WWE in a segment that totally reeked of cringeworthiness. He said that Reigns proved he this was really his yard before audaciously whipping out his fist for the iconic Shield fist bump.
Thankfully, Rollins interrupted. Rollins told Jordan not to step on Reigns' moment. Jordan responded by claiming to be currently part of the strongest 3-man faction in WWE.
The Demon King didn't agree! Finn Balor came out with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson and officially confirmed the formation of the Balor Club. The trio joked around before Kurt Angle booked the two stables for a novel main event six-man tag match.
Balor Club vs. The Shield and Kurt Angle's Son. Not bad.
Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Mandy Rose & Sonya DeVille
As expected, Paige was kept off in-ring action owing to the injury suffered at a recent live event. Her Absolution stablemates had a great opportunity to shine in their leader's absence.
Mandy Rose & Bayley go at it to begin the proceedings. Mandy outpowered Bayley, who even fought back, but The Golden Goddess Mandy Rose continued to overpower her.
Mandy got a little too overconfident as she allowed Bayley hit a well-placed knee on her head, sending her rolling out of the ring. Paige and DeVille helped Mandy get it together outside the ring. Mandy was in the ring with Sasha and started talking trash, but Sasha slapped her till her mouth dropped!
Mandy Rose got back in and she distracted the referee enough to let DeVille strike Sasha from behind. Bayley managed to take DeVille out and Sasha quickly transitioned Mandy into a Bank Statement. This was Mandy Rose & Sonya DeVille's first defeat on the main roster.
A Woken in-ring debut
The Woken One made his entrance for what was hyped as his in-ring debut in the new Woken persona. His opponent you ask? Curt Hawkins. You knew this one wasn't going to last long.
The former tag team champion was on a 152-match losing streak and Hardy added another one onto the streak that seems like it may never end. Sadly for Hawkins, his clean slate for 2018 was tarnished by the WOKEN Brilliance of Hardy.
Matt was aggressive from the get-go as he worked on Hawkins' neck with a neck breaker to begin with. Hardy executed his trademarked moves and finished Hawkins off with the Twist of Fate.
The lights went off and Bray Wyatt was in the ring! The Woken One and The Eater of Worlds had a manic staredown as the two laughed in each other's face. As twisted and awkward as it seemed, the segment was quite entertaining nonetheless.
Matt Hardy def. Curt Hawkins
Elias has a special one for Memphis as The Miz returns
It was time for the fans in Memphis to walk with Elias whether they liked it or not. Elias worked the crowd like a boss as he began with a smooth solo.
He followed it up with a special song for the fans on attendance as he introduced The Miz in the process. Elias proved yet again why he deserves a wholesome push with another consistent performance.
The A-Lister came down to a voracious reception. 'Welcome back' chants reverberated across the arena as it felt like the perfect babyface return for an earnest heel.
Miz got right into the scheme of things as he said that his two guests for the night were none other than Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel themselves. Dallas attempted to kickstart a Thank You Miz chant as both the Miztourage members begin to bicker among themselves over the gifts they had brought for their boss.
Miz's hand went up and both their mouths went shut. The legendary IC Champion then cut a promo on the 2017 he had and said he had done it all in the year that just went by. He said that while he was by far the most successful superstar, his IC title loss to Reigns was one moment that he still regrets.
He said that a title doesn't make the champion but the champion makes the title by proclaiming that Daddy's Home, a clear warning to The Big Dog.
Miz vows to become the greatest IC Champion of all time while he welcomes his baby girl in 2018 and said the coming generation will see him as the measuring stick in the IC division. He concluded by challenging Reigns and promising to take back what rightfully is his.
Enzo Amore vs. Cedric Alexander (Cruiserweight Championship match)
Amore cut one of his usual promos before he defended his title against the talented Cedric Alexander. Cedric was hot from the opening bell as he stunned the champ with his pace and explosiveness. Amore, however, capitalized on a rash decision of Cedric by sending him crashing into the mat on the outside as Nia Jax was shown watching the match backstage.
The champ grounded Alexander from there on with countless headlocks as Cedric looked to fight back. He created separation but Enzo continued to shut him down. Amore dominated with a few strikes followed by a basement dropkick for a two count.
A massive mid-air dropkick by Cedric on Amore shifted the momentum. Everything was going fine until a kick from Cedric may have accidentally created a nasty gash on Enzo's eye.
The Champion began to bleed profusely, so much so that doctors came out and the match was stopped mid-way after the referee counted him out. Cedric may have picked up the W, but Enzo retained the title while becoming a complete mess in the process.
We hope the Certified G is doing fine.
Cedric def. Enzo via count out
The Bar vs. Rollins and Jordan for the Raw Tag Team Championships was made official for the Royal Rumble. The Miz got his title rematch too after negotiating with the General Manager backstage. However, he would not have to wait for the Rumble as he could dethrone Reigns on the 25th Anniversary episode itself.
The Bar vs. Apollo Crews & Titus O'Neil (w/ Dana Brooke)
Nope. This one wasn't a blink-and-you-miss affair. This wasn't a match to make the Bar look strong before their title opportunity against the champs.This turned out to be the biggest upset of the night and the year thus far.
Titus O'Neil and Apollo Crews somehow managed to defeat the 3-time tag team champions after a chaotic end. A distracted referee and a smart move from Apollo Crews at the end gave O'Neil the chance to roll-up Sheamus for a shock win. The unexpected outcome garnered quite the pop, the best of Crews' career.
All aboard Titus Worldwide!
BRRRRROOCK LESNARRR? Nah! BRAUUUUUN!
The Universal Champion somehow found his way to the Raw ring this week. forget about what Paul Heyman said about old school challengers and his Royal Rumble title defense. just forget about the first half of today's segment. Yes, there was an all-out brawl in the second half. No, it was not predictable at all!
One word, BRAUUUUN!
Just as The Beast Incarnate was going back to the locker room, Kane blindsided him and the brawl ensued between the two veterans. They retreated backstage as lefts and rights flew in from both ends. That was until the Monster Among Men just decided he wanted to murder both his Rumble opponents.
He rag-dolled both the legends as if they were fresh off a 205 Live debacle. He wasn't done yet. Strowman hooked the hook onto a massive steel structure that stood atop the wriggling bodies of Kane and Lesnar. In a moment of brutal awesomeness, Strowman pulled it with all his might and it came crashing down on Lesnar and Kane. The look on Heyman's face said it all as Strowman may have taken things a little too far this time around.
Who cares? That was some of the best TV we've seen in a while. And who is responsible again? BRAUUUUN! Give this man the Universal title or we turn into the RIOTT SQUAD!
The Beast Incarnate was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after surviving the near-death experience.
Samoa Joe vs. Rhyno
On paper, this one had all the making of a really physical throwdown between two of the most intense wrestles out there.
Joe began with a host of elbows. He hit a stiff kick and unleashed a chest slap barrage. Rhyno, though, hit back. Joe still continued to squash him.
It didn't take a long time for Joe to wrap his arms around the Man Beast's neck and put him to sleep. A dejected Heath Slater looked on as his partner passed out to the Coquina Clutch.
Joe def. Rhyno
Joe officially announced his entry into the Royal Rumble after the match and revealed the man who is on top of his hit list, John Cena!
It seems WWE is building up to a Cena vs. Joe WrestleMania match! Ohh hell yeah!
She's not like most girls...Asuka
Asuka was scheduled for what seemed like a squash match against a local enhancement talent before things went south for the Empress of Tomorrow.
Nia Jax appeared outta nowhere and interrupted Asuka's pre-match rituals. She effortlessly picked her up for her shoulder from the middle turnbuckle and dropped her into the mat with an electric chair drop.She followed it up with a rolling senton.
Nia wasn't messing around as she put Asuka and the entire roster on notice. Barring the pink dreads, she does look to be getting back to ger menacing best while also possibly going through an identity crisis.
Asuka vs. Nia Jax was later on confirmed for next week's Raw.
Finn Balor, Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows (Balor Club) vs. Seth Rollins, Jason Jordan & Roman Reigns
The first-ever Universal title contenders, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor kicked things off with a fast-paced sequence. Balor tagged Anderson in before all hell broke loose. The 'Champion Club' took out all the members of the club as Raw went into a commercial break.
Balor club took control of the match as they worked on Rollins, who was the fighting babyface looking for that hot tag all match. Gallows, Anderson, and Balor took turns to wear down the former WWE Champion. Reigns too took a lot of punishment.
The best moments of the match included a picture-perfect spine buster by Anderson on Rollins. Triple H would be proud.
A moment of confusion led to the babyfaces losing the match and it all came down a what was termed as a 'rookie mistake' made by Jason Jordan as per the commentators.
In a bid to stop Gallows from interefing in the match in the closing stages, Jordan came in and the referee went on to stop Angle Jr. while he missed the legal tag made by Rollins to Reigns.
Outside the ring, Gallows & Anderson got punched and speared by Roman Reigns.Inside the ring, Jordan tried to help Rollins up but instead moved when Balor hit a running dropkick.
Balor used this to his advantage and hit the coup-de-grace. Kurt Angle's son cost his team the victory!
Balor Club def. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns & Jason Jordan
The Miz attacked the babyfaced after the match and laid out all three of them in convincing fashion. Roman Reigns bore the major brunt of the assault as he took two Skull Crushing finales and a Shield Triple Bomb from Miztourage as a ruthless Memphis crowd chanted once more after two successful attempts!
