Posted in Raw

WWE Raw Results – January 8, 2018

   January 8, 2018

WWE Raw
January 8, 2018
FedEx Forum
Memphis, Tennessee

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Transcription by Josh Lopez

Roman Reigns, Jason Jordan, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson and Kurt Angle In-Ring Segment: 

After all the hype, you would think that Samoa Joe would have been ready for the big fight. When it was time to put up or shut up, Joe was silenced. That’s why Roman Reigns is still the Intercontinental Champion. It isn’t because he’s better than Joe, he was fighting for a purpose. He was fighting for Dean Ambrose. Reigns has a message for everyone. If you mess with any member of the Shield, you mess with all of us. That was last week. Jason Jordan comes out to interrupt Reigns. Jordan got goosebumps watching Reigns match last week. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was part of something meaningful. On  behalf of his partner Seth Rollins, Reigns proved that this is his yard. Seth Rollins joins the conversation.

 Rollins appreciates Jordan, but he has a lot to learn. Last week, you learned about teamwork. This week, you have to work on your timing. Jordan is basically stealing Reigns spotlight. This is everyone’s moment. The all had issues with Samoa Joe and Roman Reigns took care of it. Rollins and Jordan took care of the Bar. They are all champions and they run the show. Reigns tells Jordan that he’s, THE GUY! Jordan is subtly saying that he’s part of The Shield. Finn Balor, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson appears on the stage. 

Balor says that Jordan is excited to be part of something big, but are you really part of the most dominant three man group in WWE? Balor was running with Gallows and Anderson for ten years before Jordan knew that Kurt Angle was his dad. When Gallows and Anderson arrived to WWE, they became WWE Raw Tag Team Champions. Finn Balor made history becoming the very first  WWE Universal Champion. 

Sooner or later the good brothers would get back together and take over this place. 2018 is the Year of Balor Club. Jordan is happy to be part of The Champions’ Club. Is that the cute new version of The Shield? Balor doesn’t see the Lunatic Fringe. The Architect and The Big Dog are here.  Gallows calls Jordan a nerd.  Jordan slaps Gallows in the face. Reigns and Rollins are pissed at Jordan. Tonight’s main event will be, The Balor Club vs. Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan. 

First Match: Sasha Banks & Bayley w/Mickie James vs. Absolution w/Paige 

Rose and Bayley will start things off. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Bayley applies a side headlock. Rose drops Bayley with a shoulder tackle. Rose is talking smack to Bayley. Rose throws Bayley to the corner. Bayley repeatedly stomps on Rose chest. Rose responds with multiple haymakers. Bayley kicks Rose in the gut. Bayley follows that with a straight right hand. Rose bodyslams Bayley for a two count. Rose applies a Cravate. Rose drives Bayley’s head to the canvas. Bayley explodes out of the corner with a running clothesline. Rose responds with a knee lift. Bayley with a Belly to Back Suplex to Rose. Bayley follows that with a running knee strike. Deville drags Rose out of the ring.

Coming out of the commercial break, Rose is in the ring with Sasha Banks. Sasha leapfrogs over Rose. Rose SomerSaults over Sasha. Sasha with a Hip Toss TakeOver to Rose. Sasha connects with a Double Knee Strike for a two count. Sasha is distracted by Deville.  Rose fires up with a series of forearm smashes. Sasha slaps Rose in the face. Sasha knocks Deville off the ring apron. Rose drops Sasha with a Jumping Knee Strike for a two count. Rose tags in Deville Absolution are cutting the ring in half.

Following a snap mare takeover, Deville applies a body scissors hold. Deville with multiple bodyshots to Sasha. Rose is applying pressure to the back of Sasha’s neck. Rose kicks Sasha in the back. Deville with the cover for a two count. Sasha kicks Deville in the chest. Both ladies are knocked after a double clothesline. Rose sends Bayley crashing to the outside. Deville attacks Sasha behind the referee’s back. Sasha with the inside cradle for a two count. Bayley tosses Deville out of the ring. Bayley transitions into a ground and pound attack. Sasha connects with The Back Stabber. Sasha locks in The Bank Statement which forces Rose to tap out. 

Winner: Sasha Banks & Bayley via Submission 

Cedric Alexander & Goldust Backstage Segment: 

Second Match: #WOKEN Matt Hardy vs. Curt Hawkins 

Hawkins backs himself in between the ropes. Hawkins kicks Hardy in the gut. Hawkins applies an arm-bar. Hardy is biting Hawkins fingers. Hardy HeadButts Hawkins. Hardy is mauling Hawkins in the corner. Hardy connects with a neck breaker. Hardy with a clubbing blow to the back of Hawkins.

Hardy follows that with a German Suplex that sends Hawkins crashing into the turnbuckles. Hardy eats a back elbow strike from Hawkins. Hawkins goes for a Crossbody Block, but Hardy ducks out of the way. Hardy repeatedly bounces Hawkins head on every turnbuckle pad. Hardy with a Corner Clothesline to Hawkins. Hardy connects with The Side Effect. Hardy plants Hawkins with The Twist of Fate to pickup the victory.

Winner: #WOKEN Matt Hardy via Pinfall 

#WOKEN Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt Segment: 

Miz TV: 

Miz welcomes everyone to MizTV. The Marine 6 has wrapped and The USO Holiday Tour is over so he’s back on Raw. Miz was not forgotten. He’s the glue that holds Monday Night Raw together. He was not forgotten because of the efforts of two people, The MizTourage. These two men turned their careers around. They are the living embodiments of a New Year’s Resolution done right. 2017 was the best year of his life. It felt like every day was Mizmas. Miz’ wisdom in his life was like winning the MIzzies every day. Dallas starts a Thank You Miz chant.

The MizTourage gives Miz some gifts to make up for lost time. When Miz hands goes up, The MizTourage mouths goes shut. Miz held the Intercontinental Title for 200 days. He elevated the careers of Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel. He elevated Raw and Smackdown. He was The Rolling Stone’s Wrestler Of The Year. We see a clip of The Shield putting The Miz through the announce table.

What you witnessed was an indignity on someone who did so much for WWE. Miz allowed Roman Reigns to borrow his championship. He wanted the title to be more important when he was gone. Daddy is home. Miz will celebrate the birth of his daughter in 2018. In 2018, he will be the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time. Miz wants to be compared to Ultimate Warrior, Shawn Michaels, and Bret Hart. The Intercontinental Championship is coming home and you can believe that. 

Third Match: Enzo Amore (c) vs. Cedric Alexander For The WWE CruiserWeight Championship 

Enzo backs himself in between the ropes. Alexander drops Enzo with a big haymaker. Enzo rolls himself out of the ring. Alexander chases Enzo around the ringside area. Nia Jax is watching the match on a tv monitor. Alexander lands an enzuigiri from the ring apron. Alexander drives Enzo back first to the canvas. Alexander grabs Enzo by his hair. Enzo sends Alexander crashing to the outside.

Coming out of the commercial break, Enzo applies a side headlock. Alexander gets back to a vertical base. Enzo drives his boot across the chest of Alexander for a two count. Enzo with vicious crossfaces to Alexander. Enzo lands a Basement Dropkick for a two count. Enzo goes back to the rear chin lock. Enzo kicks Alexander in the chest. Enzo goes for a Flying DDT, but Alexander counters with a dropkick in mid-air.

Alexander fires up with two clotheslines. Alexander decks Enzo with a HandSpring RoundHouse Kick for a two count. Enzo is busted open. Alexander goes for the Lumbar Check, but Enzo blocks it. Alexander delivers another enzuigiri from the outside. Alexander with a SpringBoard Clothesline to Enzo. Alexander follows that with a SomerSault Plancha. Enzo is being attended to by Doctor Chris Aman in the ringside area. Enzo unfortunately gets counted out by the referee.

Winner: Cedric Alexander via CountOut, but still WWE CruiserWeight Champion, Enzo Amore 

Nia Jax & Enzo Amore Backstage Segment: 

Programming Updates with Raw General Manager, Kurt Angle: 

Fourth Match: Cesaro & Sheamus vs. Titus WorldWide w/Dana Brooke 

Sheamus and Titus will start things off. Sheamus is playing mind games with Titus. Sheamus backs himself in between the ropes. Sheamus kicks Titus in the gut. Sheamus applies a side headlock. Titus drops Sheamus with a shoulder tackle. Titus tags in Crews. Crews with a Flying Double Axe Handle Strike to Sheamus. Sheamus tags in Cesaro. Cesaro delivers a series of European Uppercuts. Cesaro applies a rear chin lock. Crews gets back to a vertical base. Crews leapfrogs over Cesaro. Crews dropkicks Cesaro. Crews with a Standing MoonSault for a two count.

Crews goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Cesaro lands back on his feet. Crews ducks a clothesline from Cesaro. Sheamus lowers the top rope which sends Crews crashing to the outside. Sheamus with a Knee Lift to Crews. Sheamus sends Crews back first to the ringside barricade. Sheamus rolls Crews back into the ring. The Bar are cutting the ring in half. Crews eats a Double Clothesline. Sheamus with a Running Knee Drop for a two count. Sheamus applies an arm-bar.

Sheamus goes for a Suplex, but Crews counters with the inside cradle for a two count. Crews sends Sheamus shoulder first to the steel ring post. Crews tags in Titus. Titus runs through Cesaro with a Shoulder Block. Titus follows that with a Body Avalanche to Sheamus. Titus clotheslines Cesaro.

Titus drops Cesaro with a Big Boot. Titus lands a Stinger Splash. Titus connects with a PowerSlam for a two count. Sheamus attacks Titus behind the referee’s back. Crews with a Back Body Drop that sends Cesaro crashing to the outside. Sheamus misses on the Brogue Kick. Crews takes out Cesaro with a MoonSault off the ring apron. Titus rolls Sheamus over to pickup the victory.

Winner: Titus Worldwide via Pinfall 

Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman, Braun Strowman and Kane In-Ring Segment: 

People in Memphis should appreciate this. There’s a code in this industry called, old school. That’s something that he and his client, Brock Lesnar, has the utmost respect for. However, this is a progressive industry in need of new and fresh innovative ways to promote the product to the core audience and the general public. Heyman has to apologize for being a hypocrite because they need to deal with something old school that’s not for the betterment of the industry and the champion.

The old school way of promoting a title match was to find a challenger to step up and challenge the Universal Champion.  Someone worthy of facing the baddest man on the planet. A champion who can strive to be the NEW Universal Champion. The Universal Title is not marketed as who can step up to Brock Lesnar, it’s how can Brock survive this predicament?

Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar doesn’t like this marketing strategy, it sucks.  They are not here to whine and kvetch. Last week, Brock took Kane’s best shot and laughed in his face.  The same thing will happen at the Royal Rumble. Beast versus Monster versus Machine.

There’s only one cliffhanger. Will Brock pin Kane or Braun Strowman? Brock is the most dominant champion in WWE History. There’s no man on this earth who could take out the reigning, defending, undisputed, Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar. Kane attacks Brock Lesnar on the stage. The brawl spills to the backstage area. Braun Strowman connects with a Double Body Avalanche to Brock and Kane. Strowman starts throwing production crates. Strowman brings down the scaffolding on top of Kane and Brock. 

Fifth Match: Samoa Joe vs. Rhyno w/Heath Slater 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Joe is throwing a series of forearm shivers. Joe sends Rhyno back first into the turnbuckles. Joe decks Rhyno with a Wrap Around Enzuigiri. Joe and Rhyno are trading back and forth knife edge chops. Joe with multiple crossfaces to Rhyno. Joe delivers a stiff buzzsaw kick. Joe HeadButts Rhyno. Rhyno fires up with more knife edge chops.

Joe kicks Rhyno in the chest. Joe connects with a STO for a two count. Joe with an Inverted Atomic Drop. Joe drops Rhyno with a Big Boot. Joe follows that with a Running Senton for a two count. Heath Slater is cheering on Rhyno from the outside. Rhyno goes for a Samoan Drop, but Joe counters with the Coquina Clutch which forces him to tap out.

Winner: Samoa Joe via Submission 

— Asuka was supposed to have a match with a local independent competitor. Nia attacks Asuka from behind. Nia drops Asuka with the Electric Chair Slam. Nia runs through Asuka with a Body Avalanche. Nia follows that with a Running SomerSault Senton. Nia finishes the beatdown with a Running Splash in the center of the ring. 

Seventh Match: Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan vs. Finn Balor, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows

Rollins and Balor will start things off. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Balor with a side headlock takeover to Rollins. Rollins responds with a HeadScissors Leg Lock. Rollins kicks Balor in the gut. Following a snap mare takeover, Balor connects with a Basement Dropkick for a two count. Balor applies a wrist lock. Balor tags in Anderson. Anderson with a back breaker for a two count. Anderson applies an arm-bar. Anderson and Gallows goes for a Double Back Body Drop, but Rollins lands back on his feet. Rollins tags in Reigns.

Rollins ducks a clothesline from Gallows. Reigns with a Samoan Drop to Gallows. Balor is throwing multiple haymakers to Reigns and Rollins. Reigns and Rollins responds with a Double Shoulder Tackle. Rollins tosses Balor out of the ring. Reigns delivers the Drive By to Anderson and Gallows. Rollins follows that with a SlingShot Crossbody Block to Balor.

Coming out of the commercial break, Balor applies an arm-bar. Rollins knocks Gallows off the ring apron. Rollins with a Flatliner that sends Balor face first to the middle turnbuckle. Rollins crawls under Balor. Rollins tags in Reigns. Reigns with three clotheslines to Balor. Reigns fires up with The Never Ending Story. Reigns drops Balor with a Big Boot. Reigns uppercuts Anderson. Balor connects with a SlingBlade. Balor tags in Anderson. Anderson transitions into a ground and pound attack. The Balor Club are cutting the ring in half.

Gallows decks Reigns with a Leg Lariat for a two count. Gallows applies a rear chin lock. Gallows drives Reigns head to the canvas. Anderson stomps on Reigns chest. Anderson with a Knee Drop for a two count. Anderson is wearing Reigns down with the reverse chin lock. Reigns creates distance with a Tilt-A-Whirl PowerSlam. Gallows blocks Reigns from making the tag. Gallows stomps on Reigns back. Gallows with a Vertical Suplex for a two count. Gallows is ramming his elbow across the chest of Reigns. Reigns uppercuts Gallows. Gallows responds with a Big Boot. Reigns clocks Gallows with the SuperMan Punch. Reigns makes the hot tag to Rollins.

Rollins clears the ring. Rollins with a BlockBuster to Anderson. Rollins follows that with a Suicide Dive. Rollins connects with a SlingBlade. Rollins with a forearm smash to Anderson. Rollins hits the Roll Through Falcon Arrow for a two count. Rollins goes for The King’s Landing, but Anderson blocks it. Rollins kicks Anderson in the jaw. Jordan clotheslines Gallows over the top rope. Anderson connects with a SpineBuster for a two count. Gallows knocks Jordan off the ring apron. Rollins levels Gallows with an enzuigiri. Gallows tags in Balor.

Balor goes for The SlingBlade, but Rollins counters with The Deep Six. Rollins tags in Reigns but it’s to no avail because the referee was distracted by Jordan. Gallows and Anderson drops Rollins with The Magic Killer. Reigns sends Gallows and Anderson out of the ring. Reigns starts arguing with Jordan. Reigns whips Gallows face first to the steel ring post. Reigns with a SuperMan Punch to Anderson. Reigns Spears Gallows on the floor. Balor delivers the ShotGun Dropkick which sends Rollins crashing into the turnbuckles. Rollins knocks Jordan off the ring apron. Balor lands The Coupe De Grace to pickup the victory. After the match, The MizTourage starts beating down Reigns. Miz connects with The Skull Crushing Finale. The MizTourage ends the show with The Shield PowerBomb.

Winner: Finn Balor, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows via Pinfall 

Author: Josh Lopez