If you haven’t heard by now there’s a big winter storm brewing on the east coast… They’re saying it could be a potentially historical snow storm, and not in a good way… Most states have called for a state-wide traffic ban, preventing all vehicles besides emergency vehicles, from being on the road. For that reason, Raw from Connecticut has been canceled tonight. However, Raw will still air from WWE Headquarters.
During a brief preshow update Michael Cole announced that tonight’s Raw will be covering the “already controversial” Royal Rumble PPV. Tonight Raw will be airing the WWE Title match and 30-Man Rumble match from last night’s PPV… I feel bad for everyone who specifically paid for the show last night at this point.
Also on the show will be live interviews from Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Reigns has already tweeted that he heard the fans last night, now tonight they can listen to him….
I’ll be monitoring Raw tonight as a courtesy to the loyal readers here at Crazymax, but I will not be reviewing the Rumble matches. The Rumble match reviews will be covered from another party who already reviewed the show live as it happened…
For those interested in reading how Raw plays out tonight with the promos and whatever else that may go down at WWE HQ, please stay tuned as I’ll be updating this report as the show goes on… This could wind up being an interesting and unique episode of Raw…
WWE Raw 1/26/15 from WWE Headquarters in Stamford, CT
– Michael Cole and Booker T kick things off by talking about the upcoming storm and snow ban. JBL will join shortly. Because the Royal Rumble PPV was so “awesome”, they decide to do a comedy bit with JBL up on the roof working as a weather man. How….. funny???
– We’re sent to our first match tonight. It’s the Triple threat match for the WWE Title. Match starts with Lilian’s introduction of the participants. I’m including a review of this match as written by wrestling reporter Marc Middleton…
Triple Threat Match For The WWE Title
Champion Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman) vs. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins (w/J&J Security)
The bell rings and Rollins goes to the floor. Lesnar takes Cena out with a German suplex. Lesnar stares down at Rollins. Lesnar with another German on Cena. Rollins runs in but Lesnar stops him. The Stooges make the save but Lesnar dumps them both on their head at the same time. Cena goes for an Attitude Adjustment on Lesnar but it’s blocked. Cena gets sent into a shot from Rollins. Lesnar drops Rollins and goes to work on him. Lesnar with a German to Rollins and another German to Cena as Heyman smiles and fans cheer. Lesnar tosses Cena across the ring with just a standard suplex. Lesnar drops Rollins with another nasty German suplex. Lesnar tosses Cena across the ring again. Lesnar with another regular suplex on Rollins that’s more devastating than your average suplex. Lesnar goes back to work on Cena. Lesnar drops Cena in the Kimura Lock in the middle of the ring. Cena tries to power to his feet and does, with Lesnar still attached to him. Rollins springboards in and nails a knee on both Cena and Lesnar at the same time. Rollins with kicks to Lesnar’s knee now. Rollins with rights on Lesnar now. Lesnar fights to his feet but Cena runs over and beats on Lesnar as fans boo. Cena and Rollins double team Lesnar and hit a double suplex. Cena with an AA on Lesnar. Rollins tosses Cena out of the ring and covers Lesnar for a 1 count. Lesnar goes back to manhandling Cena now. Lesnar clears the ring and fans cheer. Lesnar comes to the floor but Rollins runs up with a kick to the shoulder, sending Lesnar into the ring post or the steps. Cena goes to work on Lesnar while he’s down now. Cena and Rollins end up in the ring. Fans boo as Cena hits his usual comeback moves. The Five Knuckle Shuffle is blocked but Cena counters the block. Rollins lands on his feet but Cena slams him. Cena goes for the Shuffle again but Lesnar runs in with a big German suplex out of nowhere. Lesnar with another German. He holds it but Rollins runs over and kicks Lesnar in the head, saving Cena from another German. Rollins sends Lesnar to the floor. Cena comes from behind on Rollins for a 2 count. Rollins turns it around and goes for a pin but Lesnar breaks it up. Rollins gets tossed back to the floor. Cena brawls with Lesnar but it doesn’t phase him. Lesnar takes two clotheslines like it’s nothing but goes down on the third. Rollins takes Cena out from behind. Rollins springboards in but Lesnar catches him in mid-air and turns it into a huge F5 for a close 2 count as Cena breaks the pin. Lesnar comes back with another German on Cena and drops him on his head. Lesnar goes to the floor and takes apart the Spanish announce table.
Lesnar comes in and eats two AA’s from Cena. He keeps getting up and takes a third AA but Rollins breaks Cena’s pin. Rollins sends Cena into the steel steps on the floor. Rollins nails a Curb Stomp on Lesnar but he kicks out at 2 somehow. Lesnar rolls to the floor while Cena and Rollins are inside the ring. Lesnar gets to his feet on the floor but Cena runs and tackles him through the barrier. Fans chant “holy s–t” as Cena is laid out on top of Lesnar and equipment. Cena gets up and sends Lesnar into the steel steps. Cena signals that it’s over but he can’t believe that Lesnar is still getting up. Cena rams part of the steel steps into Lesnar’s head and he’s positioned on the announce table now. Rollins takes Cena down on the floor. Rollins goes to the top as the crowd goes crazy. Rollins leaps out and puts Lesnar through the announce table with a huge elbow drop. Cena, Lesnar and Rollins are all down at ringside. Fans chant “ECW” and “this is awesome” as they try to recover. Cena brings Rollins in the ring as fans boo. Cena goes in but Rollins rolls him up for a 2 count. Rollins with a big kick to the face for another 2 count. Cena manages to try for an AA in the middle of the ring but it’s blocked. Cena counters that and slams Rollins with a powerbomb for a very close 2 count. Heyman is at ringside calling for a doctor to come check on Lesnar. Cena pulls Rollins to the top for a superplex. Lawler informs us two doctors are working on Lesnar. Rollins blocks the superplex and tries to powerbomb Cena across the ring into the turnbuckles. Rollins nails it for a close 2 count. Cena dodges a Curb Stomp and goes for the STF in the middle of the ring. Rollins crawls for the rope until The Stooges make the save and attack Cena. Noble and Mercury mount Cena with punches in the ring now. We see EMT’s bringing a stretcher out for Lesnar. Rollins calls for the triple powerbomb on Cena and they nail it. Rollins covers Cena but he kicks out at 2. Rollins grabs his briefcase and waits on Cena to get up. Cena ducks it and backdrops Rollins over the top to the floor. Cena hits a double AA on Mercury and Noble. Rollins runs back in with the briefcase but Cena ducks and hits an AA for a very close 2 count. We see Lesnar still being loaded onto a stretcher. Cole says Lesnar has at least a broken rib, according to the doctors at ringside. Fans do dueling chants for Cena now. Cena and Rollins trade shots in the middle of the ring. Rollins blocks an AA twice. Rollins nails a big enziguri and a Curb Stomp but Cena kicks out at 2. Rollins goes to the top and hits an awesome corkscrew 450 but as soon as he lands it Lesnar runs right in and nails a German on Rollins. Lesnar is hype as he hits a German on Cena. Lesnar with a German on Rollins but he lands on his feet. Rollins hits Lesnar with the briefcase twice. Rollins puts Lesnar’s head on the briefcase for a Curb Stomp but Lesnar catches him in mid-move and turns it into a big F5 for the win.
Winner: Brock Lesnar
–Commercial Break–
– We learn that on Smackdown live this Thursday it’s Daniel Bryan vs. Kane in a Casket match….. Seriously???
– We’re back in WWE Headquarters with a special interview with Seth Rollins conducted by Michael Cole… Rollins talks his match last night, everything he delivered to Brock Lesnar…. Two Curb stomps, the flying elbow through the table, and Lesnar still came back… Rollins talks about curb stomping Cena and landing the Phoenix Splash to win the match, but Lesnar ruined it… Cole asks Seth what would happen if Rollins met Lesnar one on one. Rollins said he underestimated Brock last night, but Brock also underestimated Seth. Rollins talks about his MITB briefcase and refers to it as Plan B….
Michael Cole says Brock Lesnar is next on the show and says goodbye to Rollins. Seth says he isn’t leaving, Brock can remove him if he wants him gone…
–Commercial Break–
– Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman arrive for an interview. Seth Rollins stands up and offers Brock his seat. Rollins then dumps the seat over and slowly walks away…. Cole now interviews Lesnar & Heyman. Brock talks about overcoming the “broken rib” to win the title match. He says he’s overcome many injuries. Heyman takes over the interview, talking about what Lesnar has done and will do. We get a video clip of the Lesnar vs. Undertaker Mania match with Brock going over. Brock talks about being the beast and says he respect no one.
Michael Cole brings up Roman Reigns meeting Brock at WrestleMania. Lesnar says he’s happy for Roman, and he hope Reigns is ready for the challenge. Brock refers to himself a steamroller, and with his momentum, get out of his way… Cole asks Heyman if Reigns could stop Brock. Heyman replies “No”.
Cole says he will be speaking with Reigns later tonight on Raw. Lesnar says he would like to meet the guy…
– Up next, will be the Royal Rumble Match of total crap. I won’t be covering that part of the show in detail, so check back around 10:15pm est when they’ll return to WWE Headquarters for more of this dog and pony show…
–Commercial Break–
30-Man WWE Royal Rumble Match
Brass Ring Officials figure out how to piss the fans off halfway through the match, and never look back… The Bryan elimination was just the beginning… It was the two crappiest active roster members Kane and Big Show destroying every wrestler liked by the smart mark community and dumping them like complete garbage that really was the icing. The Rock comes out and helps Roman Reigns who tosses Rusev for the win. The was so poorly booked that not even the Rock could save it…
I feel for whoever paid $55 for this show, or even $9.99 for this show.
– We learn there will be an exclusive interview with Daniel Bryan later in the show…. Interesting.
–Commercial Break–
– Back in the studio, it’s Cole, JBL, and Booker talking the Royal Rumble.
– Byron Saxton stands by to interview Roman Reigns. We’ve got a bad buzzing feedback during the interview. Saxton acknowledges that the fans don’t think he’s ready for Mania. Reigns admits he’s not the most experienced guy in the locker room but is elated for the shot. Saxton again brings up the crowd booing him. Reigns says he wanted a better response, but the fans paid their hard earned money and have the right to cheer or boo whoever they want. Saxton AGAIN brings up the crowd backlash. Reigns talks about having to capitalize, because right now this is only an opportunity.
Now we move on to discussion of The Rock. Reigns finally openly admits his heritage. He talks about his father Sika, uncle Afa, cousins Rikishi, Usos, etc… He talks about Rock in his bloodline, Peter Maivia, etc…. So now they’re working the family angle to get him over. Reigns says he’s ready.
I guess Lesnar opted not to meet him after all….
–Commercial Break–
– We get a replay from Royal Rumble Fallout when John Cena and Rusev go nose to nose… Apparently the crowd shook up creative at least a little bit because to quote Michael Cole “The Authority had this match scheduled for WrestleMania, but it’s been pushed up to Fast Lane”. Let’s hope that they don’t rematch at Mania…
– We then see a clip of Sting from last week’s Raw and they announce that HHH has called out Sting for a face to face confrontation at Fast Lane…
–Commercial Break–
– Arnold Schwarzenegger is the next inductee into the 2015 Class of the WWF Hall of Fame. We get an Arnold video… Well, he was on a Raw and a Smackdown… So… I guess….
– We see Dean Ambrose wandering around outside in the blizzard… He enters WWE Headquarters because the door is unlocked… Is it really that easy??? 😛
–Commercial Break–
– Ambrose is fidgeting with the thermostat. Saxton catches up with Ambrose. Dean says he hitch hiked and walked his way from Hartford to Stamford in the blizzard. Ambrose talks about the Road to WrestleMania. Twist, turns, dangerous conditions. Dean says he’s going to make it to WrestleMania, matter what…
– Renee Young interviews Daniel Bryan in a sit down interview. They talk about last year and the YES! Movement. Bryan’s ride to Mania and winning the gold. Bryan talks about the fans having the power over the Authority, enabling him to realize his dream. They move on to Bryan being stripped of the title after his injury. Bryan says he felt like he let the fans down, but he worked hard to get healthy so he can win the title one more time for the people. They talk about the fans being disappointed in the Rumble outcome, Bryan says he was disappointed too… Bryan says he failed last night while Reigns seized his opportunity.
They move on to talk the Casket Match with Kane on Smackdown. Bryan says he needs to end this thing with Kane on Smackdown because he still plans to move on to the WWE Title once again…
– Apparently we’ll be back with a confrontation between Reigns and Brock Lesnar…
–Commercial Break–
– Michael Cole in a sit down interview with Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, and Paul Heyman… Heyman offer a handshake with Reigns. Heyman asks if he can conduct the interview and questions… Heyman dismisses Michael Cole….
Heyman talks about his long history with the Anoa’i Samoan family… He talks about knowing Afa & Sika since he was a kid, taking Yokozuna’s first promo pictures, managing Fatu, seeing the Usos as kids… Heyman talks about meeting Reigns when he was a kid as well… Heyman brings up the Rock.
He talks about the Rock being the man, until he was defeated by Brock Lesnar… Rock never even asked for a rematch… Heyman doesn’t understand why the Rock wouldn’t warn Reigns what he’s up against…
Heyman asks Reigns how he’s going to handle disappointing his family when he loses at Mania…
Reigns stares intently… Roman says he will answer it to Lesnar, then pulls his seat up to look Brock directly in the face… Reigns says he knows who and what Brock is, but Brock doesn’t know what he’s signed up for… Reigns says he will win the title at WrestleMania, and Lesnar knows it… Reigns says if he can’t beat Lesnar, he will take a big piece of him down with him… Believe that….
Lesnar jumps up out of his seat pissed off and the two go face to face…. Brock grabs Reigns hand…. Lesnar says he doesn’t respect Reigns, but Reigns will respect Brock…
Michael Cole and company close the show…
