Welcome to Ringside News’ live results coverage of Monday Night Raw.
Tonight’s Raw features the fallout from WWE TLC, but truth be told there isn’t much known about the show ahead of time, which has been the case the last few weeks. Will The Kabuki Warriors vacate the Women’s Tag Team Championships after successfully defending them last night? If Kairi Sane’s injury is as serious as rumours suggest, then that is surely the only outcome, but it’s not as though there are many teams waiting to challenge for the belts.
Randy Orton Vs. AJ Styles is the only known match announced for tonight’s show, and it’s like to be the main event. This WrestleMania rematch should deliver between the bells but I wouldn’t be surprised if a screwy finish postpones the real thing until Royal Rumble next month.
Seth Rollins asserts himself atop the food chain tonight with Author’s of Pain at his side; that’s the only other segment that has been announced ahead of time. However something tells me we can expect Kevin Owens to show-up in some capacity.
And that’s literally it. That’s all we know. Hopefully that’s a good thing and we get some nice unexpected match-up’s and new feuds. That said, we’re officially on the road to WrestleMania, so we can expect lots of pointing. Remember to download the Ringside News app, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Enjoy the show!

WWE Raw

Raw opens with a look back at last week’s “shocking” heel turn from Seth Rollins, and subsequent attack on Kevin Owens.

We go live to the arena in Des Moines and out comes the hometown boy Seth Rollins, making his way to the ring alone. Seth says he wants to introduce the first two men who chose to live on the right side of history, Akam and Rezar. The Author’s of Pain make their entrance, wearing suits, and shake Seth’s hand.
Seth says that, when he debuted in NXT, everyone said he was the future of WWE. And when he showed up on the main roster, people said he was the future. And this past year he did the unthinkable, twice, in pinning Brock Lesnar, and people said Seth Rollins is the future. And it wasn’t just fans, it was other Superstars, it was corporate, everybody. But then something changed, and people started to question his leadership. He says he needs to explain something; being a leader is not about being cool, it’s about making decision for the sake of progress. Rollins says Kevin Owens doesn’t get that and what happened to him was a tragedy.
Seth says he tells us the truth every step of the way and that isn’t going to change, so here it is; he is a leader. He says he is going to lead WWE and the industry into the next decade, and he will do so kicking and screaming if he has to. He will impose his will. And if you resist, AOP will enforce his will. Now, there’s something he needs to address. This is something that isn’t going to be popular but he has a score to settle and it will be settled tonight. So he’s going to apologise right now, for what he’s going to do tonight.
The Raw Tag Team Champions, The Viking Raiders, make their way to the ring. They will face The O.C. in a rematch from last night, after the break.
*Commercial Break*
The O.C. come out and Karl Anderson tells the crowd to shut up. He says they will be the first to admit that The Viking Raiders are the most unstoppable tag team to hit the WWE in decades, but there’s only one tag team that holds a victory over them: The O.C. He continues, last night, the Viking Raiders sacrificed themselves with dangerous dives out of the ring to make sure they didn’t lose twice to them. Gallows says the ugly sumbitches in the ring may be the Raw Tag Team Champions, but they’re not the best tag team in the world.

The Viking Raiders vs. The O.C.

Luke Gallows starts against Ivar, and Gallows kicks him and applies a side headlock. Ivar whips him off, but Gallows shoulder tackles him. Ivar shoulder tackles him right back, so Gallows responds with an uppercut. Karl Anderson tags in, so Ivar picks him up and slams him into the corner. Erik tags in and viciously knees Karl in the face. Erik knees Anderson in the gut and applies a crossface.
Ivar tags in, and he scoop slams Anderson, then Erik scoop slams Ivar onto Anderson. Ivar clubs Anderson in the face before clubbing the back. Ivar wrenches the arm and tags Erik again. Erik takes Anderson down and hits a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. Erik applies an armbar but Anderson rakes the eyes and makes the tag to Gallows.

Erik slingshots over Gallows, ducks a lariat, and forearms him in the face to knock him out of the ring. Erik hits the ropes for a suicide dive, but Gallows uppercuts him. Gallows then connects with a fallaway slam into the barricade.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back live and Karl Anderson has Erik in a sleeper. The Viking fights up and looks for a tag but gets caught with a spinebuster for a two-count. Gallows tags in and unloads on Erik in the corner, before delivering a big boot. Gallows drops elbows to the neck of Erik, then applies a sleeper.
Erik fights to his feet but gets hit with a belly-to-back suplex and tags Karl. Anderson continues the beat down and takes his time to talk trash. Erik fights back and counters a back suplex to tag Ivar, who comes in like a wrecking ball. Ivar knocks Gallows from the apron and clotheslines Anderson down. Ivar hits a seated senton in the corner but Luke breaks the pinfall attempt.
Ivar lifts Anderson and puts him in the corner, only to get caught with a neckbreaker. Gallows tags in and they hit a double-team neckbreaker for a near-fall. Anderson tags-in again and they look to double clothesline Ivar but he runs through it to hit a handspring back elbow to both. Erik returns and they hit stereo suicide dives to Gallows and Anderson on the floor.

*Commercial Break*
Back live and Gallows is beating on Ivar in the ring. Tag made to Anderson and they hit a double team boot of doom for a near-fall. Ivar hits a senton to Anderson and tags Erik, who comes in against Gallows and slams him. Erik hits a float-over knee to Anderson that knocks him from the ring.
Ivar tags in and gets thrown into Gallows by Erik for a near-fall. Gallows avoids The Viking Experience and tags Anderson, who rakes the eyes of Erik on the ropes. Anderson hits a running European uppercut, then looks for a kick in the corner but gets caught and hit with a spinebuster. Ivar takes to the top rope and looks for a moonsault but Gallows pulls Anderson out of the way. Anderson knocks Erik from the apron and hit the Magic Killer to Ivar for the win!

Winners: The O.C.

We see a video from last week when Sara Schreiber tried to find out what was in inside Erick Rowan’s cage – he told her it’s a loved one he would go to the ends of the earth for. Rowan is making his way ringside, next!
*Commercial Break*
The O.C. are backstage, celebrating with AJ Styles, who says he’s going to take-out Randy Orton tonight and complete the night. He says he wants to take care of this on his own. He’s being looking forward to this and he plans on ending Randy’s career.

Erick Rowan Vs. Dante Leon

Leon leaves the ring right away and looks to run around it but Rowan goes out after him. The kid crawls under the ring and goes around the side of the cage but Rowan runs at him and he turns tail. Rowan catches him and hits a big body tackle. Rowan throws Dante back in the ring and hits a facehugger chokeslam, then another, and wins.

Winner: Erick Rowan

Charly Caruso interviews Andrade backstage, and Zelina Vega is with him. Caruso says Andrade would be the favourite in a gauntlet match tonight, but Humberto Carrillo is also in the match. Andrade speaks Spanish, so Zelina steps in and mocks Charly. Vega says they know Humberto has beaten Andrade twice and it was the best thing that ever happened to Carrillo, but it was also the worst thing. Because now they take him seriously. Andrade speaks more Spanish and they walk off.
Bobby Lashley & Lana will have a victory party next.
*Commercial Break*

Bobby Lashley and Lana come to the ring, hand-in-hand. We see replays of last night’s tables match, which they cheated to win over Rusev.
Lana says that she knows we were all busy scrolling through her Instagram yesterday, so in case we didn’t see what happened, she will tell us how her hot, hot boyfriend destroyed Rusev in a tables match. She announces Lashley as the winner and he goes to pose on the ropes. She talks about how beautiful Lashley is, and how he gives her the butterflies every single day. The fans chant “Rusev Day.”
Lana asks the fans to stop because they’re trying to move on and Rusev Day is dead. She continues talking about how beautiful and wonderful Bobby is but the fans keep chanting, so Lashley tells them to respect her. Lana says she wants Bobby to tell the world how much he loves her. So she has an engagement ring and she hands it to him to propose to her. Lashley looks weirded out by it.

Lashley says he doesn’t like when people tell him what to do…except her. He gets down on his knee and says she is the most gorgeous woman in the world, and the best female wrestler in the history of WWE. He knows they will be the best power couple WWE has ever seen. He pops the question and Lana says she can’t believe it, she’s shocked. She accepts and says he can marry her. Lana is brilliant just FYI. She raves on about how great their wedding will be, and says it will take place on Lana Day. They kiss and leave the ring.
A gauntlet match will take place next to determine the number one contender to Rey Mysterio and his United States Championship.
*Commercial Break*

Number One Contender

Six-man Gauntlet Match

R-Truth Vs. Akira Tozawa
The first bout of the gauntlet gets underway and they lock-up, with Tozawa taking a headlock. Truth shoots him off but Tozawa clings to the ropes. They lock-up again and Truth drops Akira with two shoulder tackles. Tozawa whips Truth to the ropes but this time the 24/7 Champ clings to the ropes.
Truth runs at Tozawa in the corner but hits the ring post hard. Tozawa jumps to the apron and hits a running cannonball to Truth on the outside. Tozawa sends Truth back inside and heads to the top rope for a missile dropkick and a near-fall. We see Rey Mysterio watching on a monitor backstage. Truth kicks Tozawa and looks for a spin kick but Tozawa counters with an innovate pinfall for the win!
R-Truth Eliminated
As soon as the bell rings, Eric Young, Zack Ryder, and a few others come running down and chase R-Truth through the crowd. Ricochet is joining the match.

*Commercial Break*
Ricochet Vs. Akira Tozawa
The match kicks-off as we come back from the break and the high-flyers trade lightning fast reversals until Ricochet catches Tozawa with a headscissors and a dropkick that knocks him from the ring. Ricochet looks to dive out of the ring but Akira slides in and hits a Trouble In Paradise, followed by two suicide dives.
Tozawa puts Ricochet in the ring and heads to the top where he jumps but gets caught with a dropkick. Ricochet chops Tozawa in the corner, then applies a modified gory submission, then slams him for a near-fall. Tozawa catches Ricochet in a Black Widow submission but the one and only fights out and connects with an enziguiri.
Tozawa counters Ricochet a few times and hits a deadlift German suplex for a near-fall. Tozawa looks for the German suplex again but Ricochet counters this time and hits a springboard clothesline. Ricochet looks for a running shooting star press but Tozawa gets the knees up. Tozawa with a superkick, then he takes to the top rope but Ricochet dodges the dive and superkicks him and hits the Recoil.
Akira Tozawa Eliminated
Ricochet gets no time to rest as the non-broken Matt Hardy makes his way to the ring.
*Commercial Break*

Matt Hardy Vs. Ricochet
The bell rings and Hardy immediately hits a Side Effect for a near-fall. Hardy lifts Ricochet and drills him with forearms repeatedly into the corner. Hard whip to the corner from Hardy, followed by multiple head slams into the buckles.
Suplex from Matt earns a two-count. Ricochet starts to fight back but gets caught with a back body drop for another near-fall. Hardy unloads some ground and pound, then applies a neck crank. Ricochet scales the ropes but Hardy grabs him and hits a crucifix sit-out powerbomb for a near-fall.

Ricochet connects with an enziguiri, followed a rolling dropkick and both men are down. They get up and exchange shots, then a tilt-a-whirl headscissors from Ricochet, followed by a tackle in the corner. Ricochet looks for a springboard clothesline but gets caught with another Side Effect! Near-fall!
Hardy takes to the top rope for a moonsault but nobody’s home, and Ricochet follows-up with a running shooting star press for a close two-count. Ricochet heads up top and looks for the 450 but Hardy moves. Hardy kicks Ricochet and grabs him for the Twist of Fate but Ricochet rolls him up for the pinfall.
Matt Hardy Eliminated
The fans booed that finish quite loudly, meanwhile the announcers were unsure of the finish because the announcer didn’t say anything.
*Commercial Break*

Humberto Carrillo Vs. Ricochet
Back live and the match gets underway. Ricochet and Carrillo exchange some quick reversals but Carrillo connects with a dropkick. Irish whip from Carrillo, followed by a leap-frog and a sunset flip, more reversals, and an enziguiri. Carrillo starts targeting the shoulder of Ricochet, and slams him into the buckles.
Carrillo takes a wristlock as Mysterio watches on backstage. Ricochet fights up but gets slammed right back down. Again he fights up and this time Ricochet unloads some chops. Ricochet looks to hit a handspring but Carrillo kicked his arm when he was upside down. Another arm submission from Humberto and he holds Ricochet down.
Carrillo stomps on Ricochet and whips him to the corner but its reversed and Ricochet gets flipped to the apron. Sunset flip pin from Ricochet earns a two-count. Big kick from Carrillo but Ricochet catches him with a fireman’s bomb for a near-fall. Zelina Vega makes her way onto the stage and watches the match.

*Commercial Break*
Ricochet is chopping Humberto in the corner as we return, then goes to the apron and hits a springboard clothesline, followed by a standing shooting star press for a near-fall. Ricochet reverses a suplex and misses a pump kick to get caught in the ropes. Carrillo dropkicks Ricochet on the ropes for a near-fall.
Carrillo heads to the top and leaps for his moonsault but Ricochet isn’t there. Ricochet hits an enziguiri, but Carrillo comes back with a pump kick, followed by another kick from Ricochet. They take turns in chasing each other to the ropes but Ricochet then tackles Carrillo over the ropes and to the floor.
Both get back in the ring at the count of nine. They get to their feet and Ricochet runs at Carrillo but gets caught with a double stomp. Carrillo climbs to the top rope but gets punched by Ricochet, who joins him on the ropes and hits a superplex. Ricochet covers with one arm and Humberto literally just lifts his shoulder to kick out.
They climb up, punching each other along the way, and Ricochet hits a suplex, float-over, and another suplex for a near-fall. Ricochet climbs up top but Carrillo kicks him and climbs up behind him. Carrillo hits the reverse hurricanrana but Ricochet lands on his feet. Carrillo hits a springboard disaster kick, followed by an incredible running Canadian Destroyer and the Asai moonsualt for the win!
Ricochet Eliminated
Andrade’s music hits, insulating he is the next entrant, but he comes in from behind Humberto and attacks him.
Andrade hits double knees in the corner and throws his jacket on him. Double knees again from Andrade, then he throws him from the ring. Andrade lifts the padding from around the ring and yells at Carrillo to look at his cut eye from last night.
Andrade tosses Humberto into the barricade, then lifts him and hits the Hammerlock DDT on the exposed concrete floor. Rey Mysterio comes running down and Andrade leaves through the crowd with Vega. It seems this match is over.

No Contest

*Commercial Break*

We return from the commercial break to see Humberto Carrillo being put on a stretcher and wheeled from the arena with Rey Mysterio in tow. Seth Rollins music hits as Humberto’s stretcher is halfway up the ramp.

Rollins comes out with the Author’s of Pain and Rey gets back in the ring. Seth has Rey’s steel pipe and he instructs the AOP to attack Rey. They crush Mysterio and Seth gets in the ring, saying he didn’t want this. He sets the pipe down beside Rey and says he remembers last week when Rey gave it to Kevin Owens. Rey tries to grab the pipe but Akam stands on it, then they lift Rey and hit a double team move. Seth lifts the pipe again and says it didn’t have to be this way but it’s Mysterios’ fault. But he’s a merciful leader. Tonight is Rey’s lucky night and he owes him one. Rollins starts to leave but then comes back in and hits Rey with The Stomp.
*Commercial Break*
Rollins is walking backstage with AOP when Charly Caruso approaches him. She asks why he attacked Rey Mysterio and Seth says he made it clear, he had a score to settle. He says the real question is why he didn’t put Rey in the hospital, but that’s because Rey wouldn’t be able to answer his challenge. Charly asks what that is, and Seth says he challenges Rey to a one-on-one match next week on Raw, for the United States Championship.
We get a promo from Randy Orton, who says he gets a match against AJ Styles. The man who beat him at WrestleMania a few years ago. The man who built SmackDown. But this is Raw and if he needs a reminder on who he is, he’ll remind him with an RKO.
We see highlights from the main event of TLC last night, where The Kabuki Warriors defeated Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair. Asuka comes to the ring alone, because Kairi Sane is not cleared to compete. Later tonight we’ll hear from Becky Lynch in an interview.
Asuka’s opponent, Deonna Purrazzo from NXT, comes to the ring following a video package. It seems she’s a part of Raw now. She gets in the ring and immediately kicks Asuka through the ropes to the floor.

*Commercial Break*

Asuka Vs. Deonna Purrazzo

We’re back and the bell rings, with Asuka taking the fight to Purrazzo. Asuka chokes Deonna down with her boot in the corner. Asuka hits a running hip attack, then another. Asuka looks for a running cutter but Purrazzo pushes her off and takes her down for a Fujiwara Armbar. Asuka screams in pain but manages to escape.
Asuka goes for an armbar of her own, but Purrazzo keeps her grip to prevent it. Asuka transitions to a kneebar before going to a rear chinlock. Purrazzo elbows her way out, ducks a spinning back fist, and hits a reverse STO for a two count. Asuka comes back with some kicks to the face before applying the Asuka Lock and Purrazzo taps.

Winner: Asuka

Charly Caruso is backstage with Becky Lynch for a sit-down interview. Charly asks how Lynch is handling the loss at TLC last night. Lynch says she’s been off her game for the last few months. She was taken out of singles competition and put in tag team competition and, at first, she thought the powers-that-be were trying to bury her, but they were trying to protect her, which is worse.
She says she saw the merchandising and the advertising; they’re protecting her from Asuka because she’s the real cash cow. However the title on her shoulder proves she’s still the best. Becky says you could say she is handling the loss by looking at things honestly. Charly asks what she would say to the people who think Asuka should be champion. Lynch says her opponents usually need her, but she needs Asuka; the one person she hasn’t been able to beat. She needs to face Asuka.
Randy Orton makes his entrance. He’ll face AJ Styles in the main event, next.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Rey Mysterio sitting backstage in the trainer’s room. He says a lot of bad people are coming for him and his championship. He’d face Andrade anytime, but he tried to end Humberto Carrillo’s career and doesn’t deserve it. As for Seth Rollins’ challenge, he’s never faced him one-on-one, but next week he will. The match is official.
The Phenomenal AJ Styles makes his way to the ring for the main event, in a match we’ve been told would be a main event anywhere. Which is true, but they’ve really been hammering it home all night.

Randy Orton Vs. AJ Styles

The bell rings and Orton takes the fight to AJ, punching him into the corner. Styles puts himself through the ropes to force the break. Styles clubs Orton and whips him to the corner. AJ runs but Orton sidesteps him and goes for an RKO, but Styles gets out of the ring to regroup.
Orton chases after but Styles gets back in the ring. Styles kicks Randy as he gets back in the ring. Styles goes out after Orton, but Orton gives him a back suplex on the apron. Orton bounces him off the steel steps, and Styles gets in the ring.
Orton stomps the legs before raking his boot on Styles’ face. Styles quickly comes back by snapping him off the top rope. Styles goes for a springboard, but Orton chops the leg. Orton attempts the draping DDT but Styles counters into a Calf Crusher attempt. Orton crawls to the bottom rope, but Styles drags him right back to the centre of the ring.
Styles keeps the Calf Crusher applied and Orton feigns tapping, but then manages to pull himself to the bottom rope to break the hold. This time Orton rolls out of the ring to prevent the reapplication, but Styles goes outside and chop blocks him on the floor.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Orton writhing in pain. Orton fights back with some right hands, but Styles kicks him in the knee to stop him. Orton swings a kick but AJ catches it, so Randy pokes him in the eye to cause some separation. Orton then drops Styles on the ropes with a front suplex.
Orton punches Styles, who responds with a right hand that drops Orton to a knee. Orton kicks Styles back and hits a European uppercut. Styles kicks Orton in the leg and hits the ropes, but Orton hits him with a snap powerslam. Orton then hits his headlock backbreaker but goes back to selling the leg.
Orton puts Styles on the top rope and punches him. Styles is barely hanging on. Orton goes for a superplex, but Styles slides through and pulls him down. Styles then chop blocks the knee. Styles his a scary springboard moonsault for a two count. The crowd are starting to get jazzed.
Styles looks for a Styles Clash but Orton backdrops him onto the apron. Orton hits a draping DDT and starts coiling-up to strike. Orton goes for an RKO but Styles counters into the Calf Crusher again. Orton escapes and Styles goes to the apron and readies himself. Styles goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Orton hits an RKO out of mid-air for the win.

Winner: Randy Orton

As soon as the bell rings, Gallows and Anderson come running down the ramp and attack Randy Orton.

Randy is thrown from the ring but The Viking Raiders run out and a huge brawl erupts in the ring. Gallows and Anderson manage to get Ivar out and hit Erik with the Magic Killer. The O.C. stand tall to end the show.
And that’s it for tonight’s WWE Raw. Let us know what you thought and be sure to come back to Ringside News tomorrow. Until then, safe travels.