Tonight’s Royal Rumble go-home edition of WWE Monday Night RAW was live from Toronto, Canada, in the Scotiabank Arena.
AJ Styles kicked off the opening segment of tonight’s RAW with his match against Gunther on Saturday, positioned as the most significant storyline on the card given that “The Phenomenal One” is using his career as collateral. The stakes play into the narrative that suggests Gunther is a ‘career killer’ taking out one legend at a time— defeating John Cena in the ‘GOAT’s’ final match back in December only after pinning Goldberg months prior in his final appearance as a performer (both on SNME).
As AJ acknowledged his current predicament heading into the Rumble, CM Punk’s music hit, and he attempted to drive home the importance of Saturday’s stakes. Of course, AJ took that as Punk saying ‘he can’t beat Gunther.’ By the time Punk was able to walk it back, the two were planning a world title match—the first singles match between the two in a WWE ring despite a long rivalry prior to their time in the company.
It would be a very interesting storyline to see AJ lose to Gunther this weekend, only to be contractually obligated to defend his title at Mania, thus you create a narrative where the moment he loses the title, he loses his career. But it would serve the Royal Rumble as an attraction if AJ loses on Saturday only to sneak into the main event at Mania.
Later in the show, Gunther was heard from in a pre-recorded sit-down interview with Michael Cole. The uber heel said he is ‘tired of the old timers’ strutting around trying to stay relevant before burying both Cena and Goldberg. The stage is set for the Rumble, but how long AJ’s farewell tour lasts will be determined in Saudi Arabia.
CM PUNK(c) VS AJ STYLES
Punk has known AJ for 20-plus years, with a storied rivalry far behind them, but they find themselves in similar circumstances with the end of their careers much closer than their respective beginnings. Styles seemed noticeably emotional in his entrance, perhaps considering the chances that this is his final appearance on RAW.
The creative team did an excellent job raising the stakes for Styles-Gunther without altering the match in the slightest. Instead, they committed to the golden rule of storytelling: show us, don’t tell us. Beginning with the opening promos between champion and challenger, Punk helped set the stage for the potential of AJ’s ‘final days.’
There was a significant bar set by last week’s title match between Punk and Balor, but the two veterans in tonight’s main event were determined to up the ante. They pulled out old moves from their repertoire, including a ‘Shining Wizard’ from Punk.
At one point, Punk hit the GTS on Styles outside of the ring, and AJ barely beat referee Jessica Carr’s 10-count. As the match continued, it seemed as though AJ was out of gas, but it was a veteran tactic from AJ who managed a near-fall off the ‘Styles Clash.’
In the end, the match did not get a clean finish, as Balor took the opportunity to beat down Punk, resulting in a DQ win for the champ. Balor, who seemed on the verge of a face turn away from The Judgement Day, doubled down on his heel status by nailing two consecutive ‘Coup de Grais’ on the champion—one of which landed directly on the ribs of Punk.
BRON BREAKKER UNSUSPENSION
Paul Heyman could barely utter a word without the Toronto crowd booing him relentlessly, showing the heat he is currently working with as The Vision’s play caller. The entire Vision was out there to support Bron for what effectively was an HR meeting held in the center of the squared circle. It took a minute before we got to business as Paul took his time going through the ‘evidence’ meant to exonerate Breakker.
By the time Pearce made his way out to the ring, he was ready to give Paul the world. He called Heyman a ‘master negotiator’ before reinstating Bron, entering him and the rest of the faction into the Rumble, and giving Austin Theory the right to run it back with Rey Mysterio Jr.
This segment really drove home the idea that whoever Heyman had call Pearce last week really put the fear of God into him, and he seems poised now to let this faction run roughshod.
AUSTIN THEORY VS REY MYSTERIO JR
Austin Theory picked up the win by utilizing the illegal interference, the same kind of illegal interference that granted him the rematch with Mysterio. After Theory picked up the victory, The Vision was allowed to beat on the luchadores that accompanied Rey in Penta and Dragon Lee.
In the entire history of Bronson Reed’s post-match Tsunami onslaughts, the entire WWE crew would rush out to (unsuccessfully) stop him, yet he was allowed to drop the move that stretchered Roman Reigns onto Penta without a single official attempting to prevent it. This is a new era of RAW, and it is unlikely we have heard the last from the mystery higher-up in Heyman’s phonebook.
THE VISION SEES BREAKKER AS RUMBLE WINNER
In a backstage segment before the main event, the entire Vision faction was heard strategizing for the Rumble that would include each member. They decided collectively (with Logan as the initial voice in favor of), deeming Breakker as ‘priority number one’ for winning the Rumble. The entire faction of Theory, Reed, and Paul agreed to do everything in their power to help Breakker win the right to challenge for the world title at WM in Vegas.
RHEA RIPLEY, IYO SKY & STEPHANIE VAQUER VS THE JUDGEMENT DAY—6-Woman Tag
The women of the RAW roster put on a great show in a very fun multi-woman tag match in which each of the six superstars took their turn showin’ out. The ‘big spot’ of the match saw Rhea Ripley turn herself into a rocket when she delivered a stiff missile dropkick onto Raquel Rodriguez.
The faces picked up the victory, but we saw continued backstage friction between the champ, Vaquer, and Rodriguez. Pearce booked Stephanie and Raquel for a ‘Philadelphia Street Fight’ for next week’s RAW.
FINN BALOR FACE TURN INCOMING
Finn Balor approached CM Punk tonight, a week removed from their epic world title match in Ireland on last week’s episode of RAW. Punk did not beat around any bushes when he suggested to Balor that he drop The Judgement Day, especially if he wanted to become the champion one day. Punk ended the segment by challenging Finn to win the Rumble, and then they would ‘meet in Vegas.’
Finn approached Pearce to declare himself for the Rumble before RAW’s GM explained the over-the-top event was filled up, something that Finn refused to accept as he walked away muttering to himself. He ran into Liv, who wanted to know what was going on between Balor and Punk, to which he responded, ‘It’s complicated.’
Liv did not seem satisfied with Balor’s response, and the two left things unsaid.
OTHER TIDBITS
- Royal Rumble’s preshow will begin at 1 pm ET/10 PT with the main show starting an hour later at 2 pm ET
- Otis and Tazawa won a fatal four-way tag team match to become number one contenders for The USO’s tag team titles. Tazawa showed off some very impressive offense tonight as Jey watched on from ringside—inevitably interfering in the match to prevent The New Day from cheating their way to victory.
- Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, a former Rookie of the Year, was in the building for tonight’s RAW.
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