It’s another RAW In A Nutshell, and this week we will be prepping for next week’s big anniversary show.
And, by prepping for the big anniversary show? I mean let us get some matches booked.
Last week, we already learned that it will be the Judgement Day battling Jimmy and Jey for tag team gold in Philly.
What else will be featured on the big show?
Considering it is also our go-home show, next week should be pretty stacked, and I have faith in my Philly fans for a lively show.
But tonight? Tonight we are in Cincy and things should be plenty fun.
Lots of matches to be made ahead of the Rumble, and of course, prepping for the big 30th anniversary show.
So, without any further delay…let us get into…
RAW In A Nutshell: Prepping For Big Anniversary Show
It’s time to crack open this Nutshell and get to prepping!
Best Match of the night:
I really liked the six pack challenge.
Could complain that you had 2 guys from Ohio…and they lost early…in Ohio…but other than maybe making Dolph the last guy out, no complaints.
Love the teasing of the Hurt Business. MVP was out with Cedric and Shelton earlier, and now with Omos to tilt things in Lashley’s favor.
Which, in a manner, delivered the win to Bobby Lashley.
Giving us a Lashley-Theory US Title match next week.
Worst match of the night:
Hmm…which way to go?
I think I’d say Omos and Elias.
Of all the folks who did well in NXT…or even earlier in their main roster runs…something is off with Elias now.
Star of the Night
What direction for here?
Probably Lashley, for winning the main event.
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot
But a nod for Bayley and Becky on the mic, too.
Lots of good performances, I think.
Spot of the Night:
I mean…this is just painful.
OMG! @BRONSONISHERE#WWERAW pic.twitter.com/AEsIjB0NgJ
— WWE on BT Sport (@btsportwwe) January 17, 2023
And, not kidding here, but the sequence where Theory used the table to get out of the choke slam?
Followed by Rollins’ stomp of Omos?
And then, a little later, Rollins’ big super kick? Nice sequence.
Jobber of the Night:
Man oh man…did Elias get jobbed out or what.
But then, Tozawa was like “hold my beer”. Poor guy was fed to Bronson Reed.
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
Iyo Sky got her old entrance back. Missed that.
Commentary of the night:
Speaking about Dom, Graves was giving KP some grief. One nugget?
“Give Dom a bar of soap, let’s see if you walk the next day”
Also? I have to say that that, right there, is proof Vince still is not touching the on-air product.
LOL Moment of the night:
Graves, on Otis during his gradual face turn: “I expect him to burst through a brick wall and offer me a cold beverage”.
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot
If ever they re-cast the Kool-Aid Man…
Also, Graves in particular helping to sell Dom’s “hard time”. Like learning to make tattoo ink from a saltine box…
Noteworthy Moment:
I think we all knew he’d be in it, and there were many who thought he’d be an expected surprise.
Change it to just expected.
The Nightmare returns at #RoyalRumble@CodyRhodes #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/IqeqeaiLEP
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 17, 2023
People love to rave about “long term story telling”. And, under certain leadership, it seemed like what talent did in NXT was ignored.
Like, it was there, we all knew it, but it wasn’t factored in often, other than in vague talk (or, too often).
Now…this is long term story telling…
Everything about this promo, from the insults to all the 4HW tea that was spilled about 2015 to the fiery intensity that Becky spoke with = I can’t wait for next week! #WWERaw
pic.twitter.com/8VPKCwFAEI— Deadly Alex (@HurriKane_Jr_88) January 17, 2023
It’s not where’s Waldo…but how about “Where’s Nikki”
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot
Overall lowlights:
I thought the show was not bad…but either what I saw wasn’t what the crowd saw…or the crowd was just flat?
And, it wasn’t just me, plenty on Twitter felt something was a bit out of sorts for most of the show.
Then again, RAW was up against a (bad) NFL playoff game this week, and it’s a limbo show.
Ya know…prepping for next week’s big anniversary show…so maybe they held back?
Overall highlights:
I still think we had good action.
Love Bronson Reed, though maybe the match went too long? But…it was a squash, without being a total squash, I guess.
Lots of legends in Philly next week.
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot
Curious how they are positioning this acknowledgement ceremony. All generations of the Bloodline“…I mean…would WWE really do The Rock setting up ‘Mania before the Rumble?
CURIOUS to see what goes down during The Bloodline’s Acknowledgment Ceremony! #RAWXXX #WWERAW pic.twitter.com/15FzFBhdKU
— Denise ‘Hollywood’ Salcedo (@_denisesalcedo) January 17, 2023
Then again, having The Rock on the 30th Anniversary show…does make some sense. But…no way WWE spoils the Rumble like that, right?
Otherwise…there’s a tag title match…a US title match…Becky and Bayley in a steel cage? I am in.
Call me crazy, but with us basically on the Road to WrestleMania…and the show is in Philly…can we have Heyman announced for the WWE Hall of Fame already?
After the final bell:
Not a bad show, but next week looks seriously loaded.
It’s your go-home show for RAW prior to the Rumble.
Loads of legends announced for the RAW 30th anniversary show.
United States title match, tag title match, women’s steel cage match…and a curious acknowledgement ceremony.
That might “only” build toward the Rumble title match between Reigns and KO. But it could be a bigger tease.
