The post-Royal Rumble edition of WWE Monday Night Raw opens up with a video package on last Saturday’s big event. We are live from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma as Kevin Patrick welcomes us and he’s joined at ringside by Corey Graves.
Here The WWE Monday Night Raw Full Results
– Tonight’s WWE Monday Night Raw opened with the winner of 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble match, Cody Rhodes making his way to the ring. Rhodes, wearing a suit, marches to the ring and poses in the corner. Fans chant “Cody!” as the music stops. Before he can speak, a “you deserve it!” chant starts up as Cody looks at the WrestleMania 39 sign. Rhodes stops and opens his arms to the crowd again.
Cody Rhodes asks the fans what they want to talk about now. It goes without saying there’s someone new watching the show each week. He says he’s not the same person who started this journey over 15 years ago. He’s thought a lot about 19 year old him, first day on the job, pulling up to OVW and how a sign that said “Tomorrow’s Superstars Today” was on the door. He vividly thought to himself he will be WWE Champion inside two years. He was ambitious and delusional as he thought he’d become the next John Cena. Some fans boo.
Cody says if he could write a letter to 19 year old him… would he tell him it’s not going to go down like that, would he tell him he’d get smacked live on TV so hard his knees buckled, or that he’d be Dashing and give out grooming tips, that he’d win the WWE Intercontinental Title, that he’d paint his face and be less than, and so on, including that he’d marry the ring announcer. That he’d do what everyone told him not to do in 2015 – take an excursion to focus on the industry’s health but lose focus of his own health, or that he’d punch the Royal Rumble ticket on January 28, 2023 to make it to the biggest damn stage at WrestleMania 39.
Fans cheer and chant “Cody!” again. Cody says truth be told, he wouldn’t tell 19 year old him a single thing because every piece of the road had been unequivocally 100% worth it. Cody mentions fans singing his Kingdom theme song and says it will go everywhere with him. He brings up how the song starts off with his own words, “Wrestling has more than 1 royal family,” and says actually WWE has more than 1, but for that to be true, he has to stand across from another, from an entire Bloodline, from The Head of The Table, a man who has held the title for more than 800 days… he has to stand across from Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. A “Roman sucks!” chant starts up now.
Cody says he has a great deal of respect for Reigns but this with the same sincerity – WrestleMania is in 62 days and that may just be 62 days to Reigns but it’s 62 days for the rest of Cody’s life. Cody goes on and tells Reigns to pull up a chair because on that night, someone else will be eating and after WrestleMania, Reigns can be the biggest Superstar in the world, the Tribal Chief and the Head of The Table, but he will not be the Undisputed WWE Universals Champion. The music starts back up as Cody salutes the crowd. The music interrupts and here comes The Judgement Day – Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and Dominik Mysterio.
Balor takes the mic and says he’s confused – is Cody returning to do something original or is he going to knock off all Balor’s old stuff like before? Dominik says Cody ruined The Judgment Day’s plans at The Rumble. He says Rhea Ripley did what she was supposed to do and later tonight we will have the privilege of hearing her pick her WrestleMania opponent. Dominik says he was supposed to win the men’s match. Balor asks what happened to Rey Mysterio that made him unable to get to the ring. Dominik says Cody put his hands on him, and ruined his Rumble moment.
Dominik Mysterio says if that happened in prison, Cody Rhodes would’ve got got. Damian Priest says Dominik Mysterio should be the only generational Superstar to headline WrestleMania, not some suck-up who gets what he wants. Damian Priest praises Rhea Ripley for her performance and says she earned her spot, unlike Cody Rhodes, who was handed #30. Dominik Mysterio says Cody Rhodes owes him now, and he owes an apology for what he did.
Rhodes asks if Dominik is trying to scare him straight. Rhodes gives props to The Mysterio Family, and Rey specifically. Dominik doesn’t have respect for his dad, anyone’s dad here, or for Cody’s dad. Fans chant “kick his ass!” now. Cody says he’s got 62 days until WrestleMania and he could play it safe or be himself and kick Dominik’s ass. Cody doesn’t care who it is, he’s ready to fight with The Judgment Day tonight. Cody drops the mic and The Judgment Day yells at him from the stage.
– Patrick and Graves hype tonight’s show, including three qualifying matches for the WWE United States Title Elimination Chamber match – Seth Rollins vs. Chad Gable, Baron Corbin vs. Johnny Gargano, and Bronson Reed vs. Dolph Ziggler.
– The Judgment Day is still barking at Cody Rhodes from the stage but suddenly the music of WWE Hall of Famer Edge hits to a big pop. Edge rushes out and attacks Finn Balor. Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest join in as Edge fights back. Officials rush out to try and restore order on the entrance-way. Cody Rhodes exits the ring and helps Edge.
– We see some stills from the Royal Rumble.
– We see footage of WWE United States Champion Austin Theory arriving earlier today. He will be on The VIP Lounge with MVP later tonight.
– WWE Cody Rhodes vs. Finn Balor is confirmed for tonight’s main event.
– Seth Rollins defeated Chad Gable via pinfall and qualified for the US Title Elimination Chamber match. After the match, Seth Rollins stands tall. Rollins and WWE United States Champion Austin Theory will be joined by four other Superstars to be determined inside the Elimination Chamber.
– Still to come, Candice LeRae looks for revenge from IYO SKY.
– IYO SKY defeated Candice LeRae via pinfall with some interference of Damage CTRL. After the match, Mia Yim joins Candice LeRae in the ring as Damage CTRL’s music hits and they celebrate at ringside. IYO SKY taunts them with the title.
– We see Rhea Ripley walking backstage.
– We get a video package on the Women’s Royal Rumble, won by Rhea Ripley.
– The 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble winner, Rhea Ripley making her way to the ring by herself. Rhea ipley says it’s been a while since she came out alone, without The Judgement Day, but really she just wanted all the attention on herself. Ripley says on Saturday night she disrupted the status quo, she did the unthinkable and went the distance, she outlasted 29 other women to win the Royal Rumble and now she gets to go to WrestleMania 39.
Ripley recalls how three years ago she was just getting her career started, she was WWE NXT Women’s Champion, and she came to Raw to challenge the Women’s Royal Rumble – current SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. Ripley says Flair put her in her place. She says the funny thing about Flair is she’s always in the title picture, she’s always at the top of her game and Ripley hates to give her credit but Flair seems to get better every year. Ripley says the natural flow in WWE is that Flair is at the top, but Ripley is the one who disrupts, she doesn’t like the natural flow, and doesn’t like things being overplayed.
Rhea Ripley advises Charlotte Flair to enjoy everyone rising and bowing down to The Queen because they’re about to rise to Rhea Ripley. Fans pop. She says at WrestleMania 39 she will put Charlotte Flair in her place. Rhea Ripley says she chooses Charlotte Flair. Rhea Ripley drops the mic as fans pop. The music starts up and she looks up at the WrestleMania sign.
– Cathy Kelley at backstage with Seth Rollins now. He gives a shout-out to Tulsa and brags about tonight’s Elimination Chamber qualifier win over Chad Gable. Seth Rollins says he will go to the Chamber and win the WWE United States Title back, then he’s going to WrestleMania 39. Kelley asks about Logan Paul eliminating Rollins in the Royal Rumble. Rollins is suddenly serious, no longer laughing. He walks away without answering the question.
– We see more stills from the Royal Rumble.
– Johnny Gargano defeated Baron Corbin via pinfall. After the match, Johnny Gargano joins Dexter Lumis at ringside. The announcers confirm that Gargano will join Seth Rollins, WWE United States Champion Austin Theory, and three other Superstars in the Elimination Chamber. Gargano and Lumis look on as JBL and Corbin regroup.
– Still to come, Austin Theory appears on The VIP Lounge.
– WWE touts the viewership/gate for the Royal Rumble.
-We go back to the ring and MVP is out for the return of The VIP Lounge. MVP gives himself a grand introduction and says The VIP Lounge is still for people better than you. MVP says tonight’s guest is a man brave enough to defend his title inside the Elimination Chamber. The music hits and here comes WWE United States Champion Austin Theory. We see how Brock Lesnar helped Theory retain over Bobby Lashley at the Raw 30th Anniversary special last week.
Austin Theory sits on MVP’s couch and puts his feet up on the table. He then takes the mic and stands up as fans boo. MVP tells the crowd to just hear Theory out. Theory thanks MVP for inviting him while he’s dealing with all this disrespect. Theory says he watched The VIP Lounge when he was a kid, and that was a long time ago, so he’s here to help MVP out and make the show relevant again, and make MVP relevant again. Theory suggests they re-name the show after him. Fans boo. MVP says hot trends come and go, but classics never die.
MVP goes on and brings up Elimination Chamaber, asking Theory where his head is at. A “you suck!” chant interrupts but Theory fires back at the crowd. Theory brings up how MVP said Lashley would beat him last week. Theory asks MVP if he thinks Lashley can beat him. MVP says he knows Lashley can beat Theory. Theory brings up how tough the Chamber is and how Lesnar delivered the F5 off the pod last year. Theory says he’s still here, he’s what the new generation needs and no amount of aggression can stop him. MVP likes that. MVP brings up how he was in the Chamber and WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker threw him off the pod, so he knows Theory is very afraid right now, but is doing a damn good job of not showing it.
MVP says you never know who will be in the Chamber. Theory asks if that’s a threat. MVP says no, just a warning, and he’s putting Theory up on game. Theory asks if MVP is trying to compare Lashley to Taker? MVP says Lashley is more dangerous than Taker to Theory. Theory is glad because he’s already beaten Lashley twice. Theory says he will defend the title in the Chamber but Lashley won’t be in there, so let’s talk something besides the past. MVP says he and Lashley are no longer business partners so he can’t discuss Lashley’s plans, but with Elimination Chamber, Theory should worry about his health.
Theory takes issue with this and says MVP should be worried about his health, and Lashley’s health because everyone knows Lashley is MVP’s meal ticket, and he’s about to get chewed up by Lesnar. The music interrupts and here comes Lashley to a pop. Lashley knocks over the red rope, then enters the ring. MVP gets in the way, and says Lashley wasn’t supposed to be here. Theory tells Lashley to listen to his daddy, you’re not supposed to be here.
Lashley attacks and sends Theory into the corner. Lashley tosses a small table out of the ring but Theory charges. Lashley drops him. Lashley knocks a few couches out of the way, then readies for a Spear as fans chant his name. Lashley charges but Theory pulls MVP in the way, and MVP gets hit with the Spear as Theory retreats to the floor. Lashley looks on at Theory while MVP sells the Spear. Theory yells back at the ring and says he’s done with Lashley, Lashley is his past, and Lashley is just trying to ruin his night because he’s jealous.
– Byron Saxton at backstage with The Judgment Day. He asks Finn Balor about WWE Hall of Famer Edge. Balor says he thought Edge would’ve had enough by now but clearly not. Balor says he’s not hard to find, so Saxton can tell Edge he can find him on Mondays. As far as Cody Rhodes goes, Balor points to The Judgment Day and says this stuff is his. The #30 Royal Rumble spot should’ve been his. Balor says Cody has been stealing from him for years, so tonight he’s getting taxed because Balor is coming to collect. Saxton leaves and Balor fist bumps his stablemates.
– Still to come, Cody Rhodes vs. Finn Balor in the main event.
– The Miz is in the ring with a mic. An angry Miz says he’s got something to get off his shoulder tonight. Miz starts ranting about how he wasn’t given the proper spotlight for his stature at Raa 30, then he had to deal with Kevin Owens, then he was given a terrible number in the Royal Rumble, then everyone teamed up on him because they realized he was a threat, then he was eliminated first.
Miz says he went to the airport and received chants of “first man out!” and this causes a chant to break out in the arena. Miz tells them to shut up or he will treat them like children. Miz says instead of giving him an Elimination Chamber qualifier tonight, he was given nothing. Miz demands to be treated with respect and until he is given matches that deserve his star power… out comes Adam Pearce to interrupt. He knows Miz is always upset but luckily a guy has been beating his door down asking for these same opportunities. Pearce welcomes Rick Boogs back and introduces him as the newest member of the Raw roster.
– Rick Boogs defeated The Miz via pinfall in a quick match. After the match, Boogs stands tall and celebrates, going to the corner to pose for the fans. Boogs is not like he was on SmackDown.
– We see Otis walking backstage, grunting and mumbling. Maximum Male Models are seen off to the side, watching Otis walk by. Mace says Otis is disgusting, Mansoor says he’s grotesque, but Maxxine Dupri says, “It’s perfect!”.
– We see what happened with The Bloodline, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn at the Royal Rumble.
– Bayley of Damage CTRL makes her way to the ring. We see how Damage CTRL took out Becky Lynch in the Steel Cage match at Raw 30 last week. Fans boo as Bayley takes the mic. Bayley says she wasn’t going to leave the arena without talking about last week’s Steel Cage match. She goes on about how they had so much momentum going into the Royal Rumble, they had elimination after elimination. Her personal favorite was when she single-handedly eliminated your favorite, Lynch. Bayley says finally she is done with Lynch, the story is done, Becky’s obsession with Damage CTRL has ended because Bayley beat her. The music interrupts and out comes Lynch to a pop.
Lynch takes the mic and tells Bayley to shut up, calling her a stupid fool. Lynch says they’re not done until The Man says so. Lynch says she’s already won the Royal Rumble, and she didn’t need to win The Rumble this year, she just needed to make sure Damage CTRL didn’t win it. Bayley says this sounds like an excuse. Lynch says an excuse is robbing people of that Steel Cage match, an excuse is attacking Lynch before the bell because Bayley was scared, doing whatever she has to do to avoid the one-on-one match because Bayley doesn’t want to admit Lynch is better. Bayley laughs.
Bayley says she’s smarter than Lynch. Bayley says she came to Raw to celebrate but Lynch only came out to be on her high horse. Lynch says this is her birthday. Bayley says Lynch doesn’t tell her what to do or when to be there, she’s not some idiot so she doesn’t suck up to Lynch. Fans boo. Bayley removes her glasses and says she knows Lynch and she doesn’t like her, she thinks Rebecca is over-rated, not good enough for all of this, not good enough to bee champion, not good enough to be in the ring with Bayley one-on-one, not even good enough for your husband, Seth Rollins.
Bayley laughs and says Seth Rollins only married Becky Lynch because he knocked her up. Becky Lynch says all this time she thought they were only fighting over wrestling but whatever this animosity and bitterness is, is started 10 years ago in NXT, so how about we end this next week where it began, in Orlando, and you give me that Steel Cage match.
Bayley asks if Becky is stupid, and says no. Lynch thought she’d say that, so she will be right back. Bayley continues ranting. Lynch comes dragging WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Dakota Kai out, with a chair wrapped around her injured ankle. Lynch asks Bayley what’s it going to be. Bayley is at ringside now, concerned. Lynch goes to smash Kai’s ankle with a steel chair but Bayley gives her the match. Lynch lets Kai go and says Bayley can bring her friends with her next week, but she probably needs to go check on WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion IYO SKY in the back. Lynch drops the mic and heads backstage. Bayley rushes up the ramp to check on Kai.
– Still to come, Bronson Reed vs. Dolph Ziggler in another Elimination Chamber qualifier.
– We get more Royal Rumble stills.
– Cathy Kelley at backstage with Adam Pearce, who has two announcements. He confirms Becky Lynch vs. Bayley in a Steel Cage for next week. He also announces that we will figure out the WrestleMania 39 opponent for Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair will be determined in a Women’s Elimination Chamber Match. The first 4 competitors have qualified as they were the final four competitors in the Women’s Royal Rumble – Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan, Nikki Cross, Asuka.
One of the final two competitors will be determined next week in a Fatal 4 Way with Mia Yim, Candice LeRae, Piper Niven, and the returning Carmella. Chelsea Green taps on Pearce’s shoulder and asks if he’s the manager. She wants to talk about the unacceptable accommodations she’s been given. She’s not just any returning Superstar, she’s Chelsea Green. She asks where her private locker room is, and where is the fresh spring water with Swiss chocolates. Green wants this resolved immediately. Pearce tells her to let’s go get you some Swiss chocolate.
– We see earlier video id Byron Saxton interviewing Ziggler backstage, where his head is at before this match. Mustafa Ali interrupts and takes over the mic to show Saxton how to do his job. Ali turns the sarcasm up a few notches and mentions how Ziggler was handed another opportunity. Ali asks Ziggler how he keeps doing it. Ziggler says he didn’t make the match but he will steal the show. Ali says he can’t wait. Ali walks off.
– Bronson Reed defeated Dolph Ziggler via pinfall and qualified for the US Title Elimination Chamber match. After the match, Reed stands tall. Reed joins Seth Rollins, Johnny Gargano and WWE United States Champion Austin Theory in the Elimination Chamber. Two more spots remain. Reed stands tall and growls to end the segment.
– Still to come, Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair is here.
– Cathy Kelley is with the returning Carmella backstage. Carmella needs Cathy to have more excitement and enthusiasm for her return. She says she is the moon-walking, trash-talking, Princess of Staten Island and she is back, and about to be back on top where she belongs because she will win the Fatal 4 Way next week, then earn her Elimination Chamber spot and win the Raw Women’s Title because Mella Is Money. She says there’s not a single woman in the locker room who… Asuka walks up to interrupt. Carmella asks if she came to welcome her back.
Carmella mocks the “not ready for Asuka!” line and says Asuka isn’t ready for her. She says Asuka can paint her face all she wants but it doesn’t change the fact that Carmella isn’t scared. Asuka smiles and we see the mist in her mouth. Carmella says that’s gross, then she walks off. Asuka is still smiling as the mist starts seeping out of her mouth.
– We see how Rick Boogs returned earlier to defeat The Miz. Boogs and Elias are backstage with The Street Profits now. Byron Saxton asks Boogs how it feels to be back. He says it’s like climbing a mountain in a loin cloth, he just wants to scream to the top of his lungs. Boogs screams out. He says being back in front of the WWE Universe is electric, it feels like he’s riding lightning. Boogs says he had a long road to recovery but now it’s official – Rick Boogs is back. Boogs screams again and unfortunately he’s nothing like he was on SmackDown. Montez Ford loves how crazy Boogs is now, calling him a maniac and the one to keep your eyes on. Boogs screams some more.
Elias says anyone can shred but it takes true talent to be an artist, and he thinks Boogs has all the potential to be a great artist. Ford tells Elias to not be a hater. Ford tells Boogs to go put some clothes on so thy can hit the town and bring it down. Boogs gets hyped up, then says he’s “Booging Out!” and Ford says that’s the new phrase. Saxton announces Elimination Chamber qualifiers for the final two spots on next week’s show – Angelo Dawkins vs. Damian Priest, and Elias vs. Ford. Ford says he and Elias go way back but he will win next week to advance. Elias says just like Elvis and Johnny Cash, he is an American Icon so next week things will turn around for him at the expense of Ford because Elias says he must become the next WWE United States Champion. Ford, Dawkins and Elias argue over who will become champion.
– Still to come, Cody Rhodes vs. Finn Balor. Kevin sends us to another preview for “Knock at the Cabin” with WWE Legend Batista, in theaters this Friday.
– Cody Rhodes defeated Finn Balor via pinfall. At the closing moments, Damian Priest suddenly rushes into the crowd to meet WWE Hall of Famer Edge, who is running down the stairs in the crowd. Edge takes out Priest, then meets Dominik at the barrier and takes him out. Edge with a big ringside Spear to Dominik. Ripley attacks Edge but WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix runs down and takes her out with a Spear. Rhodes gets back on his feet but Balor trips him and nails a double stomp to the mid-section. Balor with the missile dropkick into the corner.
Balor goes on and returns to the top for a Coup de Grace. However, Edge distracts him from the apron. The referee orders Edge off the apron. Balor straightens back up and goes for the Coup de Grace but Rhodes dodges it. Rhodes takes advantage and hits a pair of CrossRhodes to Balor. Rhodes then hits the third straight CrossRhodes for the pin to win his Raw return match.
After the match, Rhodes stands tall as the music hits. Edge and Phoenix look on at The Judgment Day’s suffering. Cody Rhodes continues his celebration and plays to the crowd as the post-Royal Rumble edition of Monday Night Raw goes off the air.
