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The road to Royal Rumble began with the New Year's Eve special episode of Monday Night RAW. The first match of the night was a steel cage match between former teammates, Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler, both of whom have come to hate each other in recent weeks.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Drew Mcintyre - Steel Cage Match
Ziggler landed a blow on McIntyre and tried to get out of the cage but was brought back inside. The Scottish Psychopath landed a huge chop and then a vertical suplex. McIntyre dominated at the start but Ziggler countered with a nice DDT and both men were down.
Ziggler tried to take control with a few punches, but McIntyre landed a huge headbutt as Ziggler went down. McIntyre tried to escape the steel cage but Ziggler followed him and tried to bring his opponent back inside. The two then exchanged a few punches before Ziggler threw McIntyre's face into the cage, as we headed into a break.
Ziggler landed a headbutt on McIntyre and once again tried to get out through the door. McIntyre pushed the door onto Ziggler's head as both men were down. Ziggler tried to crawl out of the door, but McIntyre rushed to grab Ziggler and bring him back to the middle of the ring. Ziggler landed another Famouser and McIntyre kicked out once more.
Ziggler climbed up to the top of the cage, but McIntyre followed him and landed a HUGE superplex from the top. McIntyre threw Ziggler face first into the cage as he once again went on to taunt Ziggler and then fling him onto the cage as he demanded a fight. Ziggler countered somehow with a ZigZag.
Ziggler tried to set up a superkick, but McIntyre landed a huge Claymore Kick and admired what he'd done to Ziggler, smiling devilishly. He then landed another Claymore Kick before getting the three count and the win.
Result: Drew Mcintyre def. Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler asked McIntyre "is that's all you got", to which McIntyre returned to the ring with a steel chair, placing it between Ziggler's face and the cage. He landed another Claymore Kick to Ziggler's face.
McIntyre got on the mic and said that the Ziggler "chapter" was over. He added that he is the King of RAW and that he will become the King of the WWE when he wins Royal Rumble, and then win the Universal Championship. McIntyre returned to the ring once again to land the fourth and final Claymore Kick on Ziggler.
Seth Rollins is confronted by a familiar face
Seth Rollins made his way to the ring and said he was not keen on New Year resolutions. He said that he wanted his Intercontinental Championship rematch against Dean Ambrose, but instead of Ambrose, it was Triple H who made his way to the ring.
The Game said that nothing was going to be handed to anyone, any more in WWE. Triple H added that his automatic rematch for the Intercontinental title is not going to happen, and told Rollins that he didn't deserve a rematch.
Triple H said that he believed in Rollins because he made him believe it, and asked where that guy is. Rollins said that he has been carrying WWE for the last 12 months and told Triple H that he wanted to earn his opportunities.
Triple H announced a match between Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley for later in the night. Rollins said he would take down anyone who came in his way, including Triple H and his family. Shane McMahon came in to defuse the situation. Shane announced a "fresh start battle royal" match, and the winner was to face Dean Ambrose on the same night.
'Fresh Start' Battle Royal
We had a host of RAW Superstars in the ring, including Baron Corbin, who was the last man to enter the ring. Corbin and Balor were at it; Apollo Crews eliminated Viktor and No Way Jose before landing a few dropkicks on Konnor.
The B Team tried to eliminate Finn Balor, but Balor fought back. Zack Ryder made his first appearance on RAW in 2018 on the last show of the year. Titus O'Neill was eliminated by all three members of the Lucha House Party.
Back from the break, the Lucha House Party were eliminated by Finn Balor. Corbin went head first into the ring post. Apollo Crews eliminated both members of the B Team followed by Konnor and then Mojo Rawley. Tyler Breeze was eliminated by Crews.
Balor was thrown out by Corbin; Ryder, Corbin, Hawkins, and Crews were the remaining four in this battle royal. Ryder was now eliminated by Corbin, as Hawkins, Crews and Corbin were the remaining three.
Hawkins was mocked by Corbin and almost eliminated him but was thrown out by the former RAW GM-elect. Crews and Corbin were the final two in this battle royal. Crews landed an Enzugiri which threw Corbin out of the ring.
Result: Apollo Crews won the Battle Royal and became the #1 contender for the Intercontinental Championship
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In the ring, Baron Corbin said Apollo Crews' win was not fair and went on to speak about the boos that he got every week and that his job as RAW GM was hard. Elias interrupted Corbin and said Corbin's time was up.
Elias sang his usual song, but Corbin was annoyed after hearing it for a while. Elias and Corbin attacked each other, brawling in the audience area. Corbin rushed backstage following his brawl with Elias.
Riott Squad vs. Bayley, Sasha Banks & Ember Moon - Six-Woman Tag
Team match
The Riott Squad went to work on Bayley, landed a crossbody and tagged Banks, who went for the pinfall, as Sarah Logan had just kicked out. Banks landed Logan's head on the turnbuckle; Bayley was tagged in and then Ember Moon was tagged in.
Ruby Riott tagged in and Moon went to work with some quick moves followed by a dropkick. Moon put Riott in a headlock, while Liv Morgan tagged in and went for the pinfall on Moon, who kicked out.
Logan tagged in and Ruby was then tagged in. All three went to work on Moon with some kicks. Bayley and Banks entered to retaliate. Back from the break, Bayley used an arm drag to take Ruby Roitt down. Riott countered but Bayley landed kicks to the face of Riott. Morgan was now tagged in, and Banks and Moon exchanged tags.
Banks went for the cover but Morgan kicked out. A distraction from the Riott Squad helped Morgan to take advantage. Ruby Riott went for the pinfall on Banks, but she kicked out. Sasha was isolated by the Riott Squad as they double teamed her, but she still kicked out. Logan landed a running knee on Banks, and looked to be down and out, but just about kicked out.
Morgan was tagged in and threw Banks' face head first. She tried to go for the pinfall thrice, but Banks kicked out. Banks countered with a kick to the face of Morgan, who tagged in Logan, but Banks couldn't get the cover. Another distraction helped Riott Squad take advantage. Bayley tagged in and landed a huge elbow from the top rope and got the pinfall.
Result: Bayley, Sasha Banks & Ember Moon def. The Riott Squad
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Seth Rollins vs. Bobby Lashley
Rollins landed a dropkick and a few punches on Lashley at the start of the match before he was thrown to the ground. Rollins landed a few chops and then a kick to Lashley's head before he kicked him outside and then hit a perfect crossbody.
Lio Rush tried to distract Rollins, which allowed Lashley to take advantage. Lashley landed a few elbows on Rollins; he then got a clothesline as Rollins was thrown out.
Lio Rush threw Rollins into the ring post as Lashley distracted the referee, as we headed into a break. Back from the break, Lashley was in control but Rollins fought back. Lashley used his incredible power to throw Rollins into the turnbuckle, and he went for the pinfall, but Rollins kicked out.
Rollins countered with a few chops and punches, and then a Slingblade; he then landed two suicide dives on Lashley, on the outside. He went to the top rope to land a flying clothesline, and then a kick to the midsection. Rush held onto Rollins' leg which almost helped Lashley win the match.
Rollins got a roll-up cover, but Lashley kicked out; he then landed a kick to the neck of Lashley. Rush tried to interfere once again and this time Rollins followed him and threw him into the barricade. The distraction once again helped Lashley attack Rollins. An infuriated Rollins attacked Lashley with a steel chair, disqualifying himself.
Result: Bobby Lashley def. Seth Rollins by disqualification
Rollins landed blow after blow with a chair on Lashley's back and even hit Rush with the chair. Rollins stood true to his word of being ruthless once again.
WWE announced that John Cena will return to RAW on next week's show as well as on this week's SmackDown.
Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers vs. Heath Slater & Rhyno - 3-on-2 handicap match
Slater kicked things off with Jinder in the 3 on 2 handicap match against the Singh brothers and The Maharaja.
Slater landed a few punches, but Mahal hit a clothesline. The Singh Brothers traded tags and went to work on Slater. Rhyno was tagged took down both brothers with a huge double belly to belly suplex before Jinder tagged himself in and caught a spinebuster. One of the brothers distracted the referee while Jinder hit the Khallas on Rhyno in the middle of the ring and got the three count.
Result: Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers def. Heath Slater & Rhyno
Dean Ambrose vs. Apollo Crews - Intercontinental Championship match
Apollo started on the offence and kept the heat up until Dean was knocked outside. Crews then hit a big flip from the apron. We returned from commercials to see Ambrose with a rest hold locked in on Apollo.
Apollo hit a standing shooting star press and Dean was pinned but it was a two count. Apollo tried for a pin again after a few big moves but Ambrose found the bottom rope. Ambrose hit the dirty deeds and somehow rolled himself over for a pin and got the win.
Result: Dean Ambrose def. Apollo Crews and retained the Intercontinental Championship
Quite an incredible showing for Apollo Crews. The commentators put him over big.
Alexa Bliss praised herself in a backstage segment over the job she had done in her brief run managing the women's division. She announced a new show "Moment of Bliss" that begins next week. Her first guest? Ronda Rousey
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Ronda Rousey & Natalya vs. Nia Jax & Tamina
Ronda and Nia started off the match and Ronda went for the armbar right out of the gate. Natalya was tagged in after Nia freed herself and Tamina was in trouble this time. Nia was ringside and dragged Tamina out of the ring before Ronda tagged in and hit a huge dive on the two women.
After the break, Natalya was in trouble in the ring as Nia dished out her usual style of hard-hitting offence. Tamina was tagged in again and she got a chin lock in before they both hit each other with crossbodies. Rousey got the tag and Nia came in as well and got a huge right hand and then an elbow strike before falling over.
Nia dropped Rousey after recovering and then went for a Samoan drop from the middle rope before Tamina tagged in. Rousey hit the armbar and Nia hit a leg drop to separate the two. Natalya got involved and Tamina went up to the top but Nia got her feet up. Rousey followed up with an armbar on Tamina for the win.
Result: Ronda Rousey & Natalya vs. Nia Jax & Tamina
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