Here are my Raw Thoughts:
I'm still working on my 2022 Year In Review, which should be up this weekend.
Awesome. They cut the opening video with The Bloodline taking over Raw. I'm getting nWo vibes again.
What an opening segment. I love the Raw Roster running out to attack The Bloodline. Adam Pearce was great.I love everyone in action tonight. I hope this 2023 will be like this all year.
I love everyone wanting a piece of The Bloodline. Elias VS Solo Sikoa in the 1st Street Fight of 2023 & the 1st match to take place in 2022 & 2023 &
The Street Profits & Kevin Owens VS The Usos & Sami Zayn in the 1st 6-Man Tag of 2023.
Bianca Belair VS Alexa Bliss was a very good match. I love all of the Bray Wyatt stuff that made Bliss go crazy. I don't mind the finish & the 1st DQ of 2023 as it continues their feud. I don't mind the blood. I love that Montez Ford came out to check out Bianca.
Solid promo by Austin Theory.
Elias VS Solo Sikoa was fun. People will be complaining soon about WWE destroying all of those instruments while there are schools that do not have a music program. Hardy whoever he is was unnecessary. I guess the Music City Street Fight was a Falls Count Anywhere Match.
The Street Profits & Kevin Owens VS The Bloodline was an awesome 6-Man Tag. I love how Montez's mind wasn't into the match worrying about Bianca Belair. I love the surprise attack by Drew McIntyre & Sheamus. This was the 185th time that Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn wrestled each other in their Career & the 61st time in a Tag Team Match. In those 185 matches, Zayn won 87 times, Kevin Owens won 69 times, & neither won 29 times. In the 61st Tag Team Matches, Zayn won 44 times & Owens won 17 times. This was the 130th time they wrestled in WWE against each other & 45th time in a Tag Team Match. In those 130 times, Zayn won 66 times, Owens won 46 times, with neither won 18 times. In the 45 Tag Team Matches, Zayn won 37 times & Owens won 8 times. (For their full list, check out
my Page here.)
It's never good to get injured but it really sucks to be injured this time of the year on the Road to WrestleMania. Get well soon AJ Styles.
Dexter Lumis VS Chad Gable was a short but really good match.
Cool segment on Cody Rhodes. I can't wait for his comeback.
I love the Easter Egg of Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin, & MVP talking to Adam Pearce. The Hurt Business needs to come back.
OK segment with Damage CTRL & Becky Lynch. I love Becky not caring about being outnumbered. I love Mia Yim coming out to rescue Becky.
Becky Lynch & Mia Yim VS Damage CTRL was really good. But is Mia Yim going by Michin again? They better not change it again because then I have to move her all around in my Records. She's still listed as Mia Yim on WWE's Roster Page.
Very good Seth Rollins promo.
Great promo by Alexa Bliss.
I love the Dominik Mysterio segment. I love him getting arrested. The only thing that I didn't like which is more of my OCD kicking in is that Dominik said "Call Finn & Priest, not Finn & Damian or Balor & Priest."
Unless they say something as Raw is going off the air, there has been no mention of Sasha Banks & Brie Bella on Barmageddon next. But I do find it funny that USA Network referred to Sasha as a WWE Icon in the commercial. She is not an Icon.
Seth Rollins VS Austin Theory was an awesome match & my favorite match of 2023. The shenanigans with the 2nd Ref bump of the night was a little silly, but makes sense given Theory's character and it just means more of them against each other.
Here are my Raw Match Rankings:
1) Seth Rollins VS Austin Theory
2) The Street Profits & Kevin Owens VS The Bloodline
3) Elias VS Solo Sikoa
4) Bianca Belair VS Alexa Bliss
5) Dexter Lumis VS Chad Gable
6) Becky Lynch & Mia Yim VS Damage CTRL
A great way to start 2023. I like that all of the matches were given multiple segments except for Lumis VS Gable. I guess a lot of the Raw Roster were still off following New Year's. So, things will be back to normal next week.