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The show began with a brawl between Bobby Lashley and Seth Rollins. All of a sudden, John Cena came out. Cena began hyping up the road to WrestleMania and announced his entry into the Rumble match before being interrupted by Drew McIntyre. McIntyre said he had waited for this moment for years.
McIntyre talked about how Vince McMahon himself called Cena the greatest of all time - and he agreed. He didn't care about who he shared the bed with, what his haircut is, or anything else. He cared about his 16 world championships.
Cena talked about how he's heard the same promo every week. McIntyre said the difference is they're all talk -.and that he'll show him. They got ready for a brawl and Lio Rush interrupted saying "We've got a situation".
He started complaining about Seth Rollins. Lio Rush wanted a lawyer, but he got Rollins instead. Rollins attacked Lashley but was then attacked by Dean Ambrose. Cena went for the save but was attacked by Drew McIntyre.
John Cena, Finn Balor & Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose, Bobby Lashley & Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre started aggressively pushing Finn Balor and taunted him while Rollins and Cena pushed Balor on. McIntyre taunted Cena and tagged Lashley in before they all started working on Balor. Lashley hit Balor with an elbow and took his time, but Balor tried to escape.
Lashley held him back with his power and threw him into his corner. Balor lifted his legs up and attacked McIntyre and Ambrose before attempting to jump to his side for the tag but he got held up again. Ambrose got tagged in this time.
Balor finally tagged in Cena, who knocked Ambrose down. He had Ambrose up on his shoulders and The Lunatic tagged in McIntyre before getting hit with an AA. McIntyre entered and knocked Cena down with a headbutt. McIntyre dominated Cena and held him down with the spine buster. Ambrose tagged in and had Cena locked in a sleeper hold. Ambrose continued to dominate Cena as RAW rolled on.
Back after the break, Ambrose was still in control of John Cena. They had been isolating Cena, who was trying to get the tag. Cena tried to power his way through and tagged Rollins, but Ambrose raked Cena's eyes and booted Rollins out. Balor urged the crowd to tag Balor in.
Balor finally tagged in and he was all fired up. He started knocking Ambrose down and hit a sling blade on Lashley. Balor countered the Dirty Deeds and stomped Ambrose's chest before landing the coup-de-grace. He tried to go for the pin but McIntyre hit the Claymore.
They both went for the tag and Rollins was finally in. It was Rollins vs McIntyre. He took McIntyre down and even hit a moonsault on Lashley outside. Rollins started with his transitions and countered McIntyre to take him down. He started pumping the crowd and feeding off their energy.
He hit a superkick but McIntyre countered immediately after. Cena took McIntyre and hit an AA before eating a spear from Lashley. Rollins super-kicked Lashley and realizing that McIntyre is the legal man, brought him in the ring. McIntyre evaded a frog splash and Ambrose tagged in. Rollins evaded the Dirty Deeds and counters it into a stomp before pinning the Intercontinental Champion.
Result: Seth Rollins, John Cena & Finn Balor def. Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley & Dean Ambrose
Rollins looked at the Titantron and Triple H was talking to Sasha Banks and Bayley. He went to confront Triple H, who told him that he has earned a title match. HHH set up a Falls Count Anywhere match for the IC title in the main event of the same night. Triple H also told Rollins "Welcome Back".
Hulk Hogan's tribute to the late "Mean" Gene Okerlund
A 10-Bell Salute and silence followed up to honour the late, great "Mean" Gene Okerlund. Hulk Hogan entered to a huge pop and started with "Let me tell you something, brother!" Hogan said that Mean Gene loved entertaining and that's why he came in character. Hogan signalled for a video package. He was clearly distraught and on the verge of tears.
Hogan's eyes were puffy as the video package ended. He told Mean Gene that everyone loved him. He started choking up a bit and told him that he missed him. The crowd chanted "Thank you Mean Gene". He cut a classic Hulk Hogan promo as if Mean Gene were there. He dropped the mic and the "Real American" song played as the crowd gave him an ovation.
RIP "Mean" Gene Okerlund.
Up next, the lumberjack match was set to make its return to WWE as the team of Bobby Roode & Chad Gable faced The Revival to defend the RAW Tag Team Titles.
Bobby Roode & Chad Gable (c) vs The Revival - Lumberjack match for the RAW Tag Team Championship
Scott Dawson started the action with Chad Gable. Gable managed to counter both Dash and Dawson and took them down along with Roode. The Lumberjacks threw them back in and The Revival got knocked out again and before they got sent back in and Gable jumped on them from the top rope. The champions were in advantage.
The champions were still in control after the break and Dawson was in a precarious situation on the outside. Dash tagged in while Gable hit a suplex on Wilder. Dash splashed on Gable but it was a two count. Gable and Dawson were back at it and it was counter vs counter. Roode assisted Gable with his roll up. Dawson's leg was clearly under the ropes but the referee's view was obstructed.
Result: Gable & Roode def. The Revival to retain the RAW Tag Team Championship
The controversial finish probably means we'll see this title match again.
Elias was in the ring talking about his big successes in 2018 and then confirmed that will be in the Royal Rumble. He then started trashing on Baron Corbin and called him a joke. He was about to start singing the song he wrote for the former GM when Corbin interrupted.
Corbin claimed no one got his genius and that he wasn't going away; he was joining the Royal Rumble instead.
Elias vs. Baron Corbin
Elias dominated early on and sent Corbin out of the ring before leaping off the top rope and wiping him out. After a break, Corbin was in control and went for a pin but it was a near fall. Corbin was mad at the referee while the crowd chanted 'you got fired'. Elias hit a flying knee from the top and a swinging neck breaker for a near fall of his own.
Corbin hit the End of Days and picked up a quick victory after Elias almost ran into the referee after an Irish whip.
Result: Baron Corbin def. Elias
The Beast refuses to confront The Monster Among Men
Braun Strowman was back after having recovered from his injury and showed up in the ring. Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar came on the Titantron and said that the card at Royal Rumble was subject to change since Lesnar didn't need another victim.
Braun taunted both of them for hiding backstage behind a screen and said if he came down to the ring, he wouldn't make it to the Royal Rumble. Brock handed Heyman the belt and headed to the ring against the best judgement of his advocate.
Lesnar made his entrance but then turned around before he entered the ring. Braun called for Brock and said that after the Royal Rumble, people will call Strowman the Universal Champion. Lesnar just turned around and looked at him, flashing his evil smile.
Still to come was the first ever episode of A Moment of Bliss featuring special guest Ronda Rousey.
Apollo Crews & Ember Moon vs. Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox
Apollo Crews and Jinder Mahal started off the match and Apollo hit a few quick moves before sending him over the top rope and leaping onto him, taking out the Singh Brothers as well. Alicia came in with the tag and Ember joined her in the ring, The Shenom hit the Eclipse right out of the gate getting the win within half a minute of stepping in the ring.
Result: Apollo Crews & Ember Moon def. Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox
A moment of Bliss with Ronda Rousey
Alexa Bliss played a hype package for Ronda Rousey and then introduced her. Ronda Rousey started talking about how there's a woman who put her love for the business in shame and who's the unsung hero of Monday Night RAW - Sasha Banks.
Alexa Bliss was shocked that it wasn't her. Nia Jax came out and made a puking noise. Nia Jax asked for a rematch but Rousey indicated that she's not going to get it. Sasha Banks then came out. Banks told Rousey that she was honoured, and would love to face her for the title in order to teach her how to lose with dignity. Rousey laughed but seemed welcoming of the challenge.
Sasha Banks called Nia a "b***h" and challenged her to a match, with the winner becoming #1 contender for the RAW Women's title. She stormed to the ring and Nia Jax sat down, calling herself "The b***h, not a b***h".
The match was sanctioned during the break and we returned to see both women in the ring as the match kicked off.
Sasha Banks vs Nia Jax - #1 Contender for the RAW Women's title
Sasha Banks started off on the offensive and went for a crossbody on the outside but was caught by Nia Jax. Tamina came out to interfere but Bayley came to the aide of Sasha. Banks got thrown on the boxes outside during the match while Bayley was taken down by Tamina. Nia Jax tried to pin Sasha early on but failed. Nia missed the Samoan drop off the top rope but dropped Sasha on the ropes throat first.
Outside Bayley managed to send Tamina into the barricades while Sasha was wiped out after attempting to drop Nia on the canvas. Sasha got back in before the ten-count and locked in the Banks statement, getting the submission victory.
Result: Sasha Banks def. Nia Jax and will face Ronda Rousey for the RAW Women's title at the Royal Rumble
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Seth Rollins - Fall Counts Anywhere Match for the Intercontinental Championship
Seth Rollins attacked Dean Ambrose as he was making his entrance and the match didn't officially start until the two brawled their way to the ring. Rollins sent Dean over the barricades and the match proceeded to the backstage area.
Rollins sent Ambrose into a ladder and almost took his head off with a shovel. Rollins sent lighting rails crashing towards his former teammate but he got out of the way. Ambrose went for a pin on top of a road case but Rollins kicked out.
Ambrose attacked Rollins with a ladder and went for a pin but yet again it was a near fall. We returned from commercials to see Rollins leap off the rails and go for a pin on the floor but Ambrose kicked out.
The fight returned ringside and Ambrose was sent repeatedly into the barricades. Ambrose fought back with a steel chair and then peeled off the padding from the cement floor. Rollins dropped Ambrose back first on the concrete and the hit a superplex and a buckle bomb followed by a kick to the face.
Rollins hit the stomp but Bobby Lashley dragged him out of the ring and then hit his inverted drop and a spear in the ring before Dean crawled in for the cover and got the win.
Result: Dean Ambrose def. Seth Rollins and retained the Intercontinental Championship
Lashley and Rush set up a table in the ring and sent Rollins through it before the show went off the air.
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