We return and Hardy’s opponent, Curt Hawkins, is already in the ring. We get a pre-taped promo from Hardy in which he says he will DELETE 29 other combatants in the Royal Rumble. Then he will head to WrestleMania and, with the help of his WOKEN Warriors, he will become King of the Multiverse.
Matt Hardy Vs. Curt Hawkins
Hawkins tries to stay away from Hardy before kicking him with a cheap shot. Hardy bites his hands to pry them off his face, then punches away at him in the corner. Hardy elbows him in the neck and hits a neckbreaker. Hardy clubs him and hits a German Suplex into the turnbuckles.
Hawkins elbows him back and goes for a springboard cross-body, but Hardy moves. Hardy then bounces him off the turnbuckles before clotheslining him in the corner. Hardy hits a Side Effect before connecting with a Twist of Fate for the win.
Winner: Matt Hardy
Bray Wyatt’s video flashes, and the lights go out. It flashes again, and Bray Wyatt is standing behind Hardy in the ring. Hardy turns and stares at Wyatt. Hardy then laughs wildly and says, “YES!” Wyatt starts laughing, and they’re engaged in a laugh-off. This goes on for way too long before we head to commercial.
After the break, Miz TV returns to grace us all!
*Commercial Break*
Elias is in the ring on a stool. Elias plays a riff, and the crowd gives him a hand. The former Drifter asks Memphis “who wants to walk with Elias?” He has walked all across this earth and heard a lot of stories, but one truth always remains the same: WWE stands for Walk With Elias. The crowd shouts it along with him. Today is a very special day and there is no better place to celebrate this than Memphis. Elias acknowledges Elvis Presley’s birthday, and the crowd boos it for some strange reason. Elias then sings a mostly nice song about Memphis before saying he doesn’t care about any of it. A star is on the way that is taking over the entertainment business. Elias asks them to welcome The Miz. That gets a great reception from Tennessee.
The Miz’ music hits, and he makes his entrance, returning to WWE after a six week hiatus. The Miztourage is at his side. A “Welcome back” chant fires up. Miz asks if they missed him, and they loudly cheer. Miz says he’s back, but he wasn’t forgotten. Miz is the glue that holds Monday Night RAW together. Miz makes this show “must see.” Mostly he wasn’t forgotten because of two people, his guests at this time: Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel, The Miztourage. They turned their careers around in 2017. After sitting under the learning tree, they are living embodiments of a New Years’ Resolution done right. Axel thanks Miz. Dallas says Miz’ wisdom is like winning The Mizzies every single day. Dallas and Axel start a “Thank you Miz” chant. Dallas got Miz a framed photo of him. Dallas says it’ll be tough to sleep without that tonight. Miz seems weirded out. Axel then takes off his coat and gives it to The Miz. Dallas takes off his watch and gives it to The Miz. Axel takes off his shoes, and they’re competing to give Miz the better gift. Miz raises his hand and tells them both to shut-up.
Miz says 2017 was an incredible year for him, but he has a lot more planned. In 2017, he held the Intercontinental Championship for 200 days, elevated The Miztourage’s career, and held up this show. Everything he touched turned to gold. Hell, he’s Rollins Stone’s Superstar of the Year. Still, he hasn’t forgotten about this: a replay is shown of The Shield viciously attacking Miz and giving him a Triple Powerbomb through the commentary table to take him out for six weeks. Miz says that was an indignity not befitting someone who has done so much for WWE. Miz let Roman Reigns borrow the Intercontinental Championship, but the title doesn’t make the champion. The champion makes the title, and Daddy’s home.
In 2018, he’ll celebrate the birth of his daughter and in 2018 he will become the longest reigning, single greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time. When children grow up in this generation, they’ll think of him with the title like Ultimate Warrior and Shawn Michaels before him, but now he’ll be the only person they think of. Miz hopes Reigns enjoyed the spotlight he allowed him to have. It’s all coming to an end. He’s back and is coming for the title. Reigns can believe that.
Finn Balor is talking with Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. The Good Brothers are talking about Japan but Finn says tonight is not about reminiscing; they need to talk strategy. Anderson explains that the situation may be different, but the tactics remain the same. They have an opportunity to show everyone that 2018 is the year of the Balor Club. They do the Too Sweet.
Later tonight, we’ll hear from WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar. Coming up next, Enzo Amore will defend his WWE Cruiserweight Championship against Cedric Alexander.
*Commercial Break*
We return and out comes the Cruiserweight Champion, Enzo Amore. Last week, the doctors said he couldn’t compete, which makes that the luckiest day in Cedric Alexander’s life. Enzo was in the hospital for New Year’s Day with chicken soup and a soda. Enzo watched RAW with Nia Jax last week and saw Cedric Alexander teaming with Goldust. That’s the closest he’ll get to gold in 2018. There’s only one word to describe Alexander: S-A-W-F-T!
WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match
(C) Enzo Amore Vs. Cedric Alexander
The bell rings, and Enzo quickly puts himself through the ropes to keep Alexander back. Alexander then takes him down with a right hand. Enzo looks surprised and gets out of the ring. Enzo says Alexander doesn’t deserve to be in the ring with him. Alexander chases Enzo into the ring and kicks him in the head. Nia Jax is seen watching backstage. Alexander pulls Enzo to the center of the ring, but Enzo quickly crawls out. Alexander grabs him and goes to the second rope, but Enzo shoves him off the turnbuckles to the floor.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Alexander trapped in a chin lock. Alexander fights up, but Enzo takes him down down quickly. Alexander fights up and runs him into the turnbuckles. Enzo quickly boots him down for a two count. Enzo continues to attack before coming off the second rope, but Alexander dropkicks him out of mid-air. Alexander makes a comeback culminating with a handspring kick for a near fall.
Enzo’s eye is busted open bad and he’s bleeding pretty bad – makes Alexander’s handspring kick look pretty devastating. Enzo holds the ropes to prevent a Lumbar Check. Alexander knees him in the face and hits a springboard clothesline, but Enzo rolls out of the ring. Alexander hits him with a summersault senton and actually lands on Enzo’s ankle. Enzo grabs his ankle in pain and may be legitimately hurt. The referee counts Enzo out.
Winner Via Count-Out: Cedric Alexander
The count-out result means Enzo retains his Cruiserweight Championship. The doctors are checking on Enzo and we see Nia Jax watching the monitor backstage and she looks concerned for Enzo.
We get another commercial for the Raw 25th Anniversary show, which will feature Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Triple H, The Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin!! Weirdly enough, The Bella Twins were listed along with those names as legends…
*Commercial Break*
We return and see Enzo in the trainers room and he won’t let them touch his ankle. Nia Jax walks in and asks how he’s doing and he says fine. She leaves and he screams in pain.
Kurt Angle is on the phone in his office when in walk The Bar. Sheamus says he doesn’t get it, why is Jason Jordan booked in a prominent match again tonight. Cesaro says it’s favouritism, and asks if they will get a rematch or not. Angle says they will get that opportunity at the Royal Rumble. The Bar’s attitude changes and now they’re happy. Sheamus asks if they can compete tonight, to which Angle tells them to head to the ring now. The Miz walks in and re-introduces himself to Angle. He talks about having an unscripted TV show on the USA network, in which both he and Maryse will star. He asks if Kurt knows how to run a show and says he can prove that if he gives him a shot at Roman Reigns title at the 25th Anniversary show. Angle likes the idea and says he will have it.
We see a video of The Miz finding out who his Mixed Tag Match partner is…Asuka! He is incredibly happy that she is his partner because she’s undefeated. The Mixed Match Challenge begins next Tuesday on Facebook Watch.
Asuka is backstage stretching when in walks Alexa Bliss. Asuka stiffens but Asuka stops her and says that she should enjoy this while it lasts, because Nia Jax will have something to say.
The Bar make their way to the ring for tag team action.
*Commercial Break*
The Bar vs. Titus O’Neil & Apollo Crews W/Dana Brooke
The Bar squares off against Titus Worldwide. Cesaro is in the ring with Apollo Crews, who takes him down with a dropkick and a standing moonsault for a two count. Sheamus tags in, and he pulls the top rope down to get Crews out of the ring. Sheamus attacks Crews and gets him in the ring before tagging in Cesaro. Cesaro attacks the knee and punches him down. Cesaro then applies a chin lock. Sheamus tags in, and they hit a double-team clothesline. Sheamus drops a knee for a two count. Sheamus then applies an overhead wristlock. Crews fights up and rolls Sheamus up for a two count. Crews then sends him shoulder-first into the ring post.
Cesaro and O’Neil are tagged in. O’Neil clotheslines Cesaro and avalanches Sheamus. O’Neil clotheslines Cesaro and gives him a big boot. O’Neil avalanches Cesaro and slams him down for a two count. O’Neil is distracted by Sheamus, so Cesaro uppercuts him. Sheamus knees O’Neil in the face and is tagged in. Crews shoulders Cesaro out of the ring and avoids a Brogue Kick by giving Cesaro a moonsault off the apron. O’Neil then rolls Sheamus up for the win!
Winners: Titus O’Neil & Apollo Crews
Crews, O’Neil and Brooke can’t believe it after the fact, and neither can Sheamus and Cesaro. What a win for Titus Worldwide.
Brock Lesnar will be out after the break.
