Here are my Raw Thoughts:
And I will not be posting any Facts & Stats, since I had a long day at work & just want to relax & enjoy the show.
I love the idea that all 6 contenders in the 6-Way are all former US Champions. It makes the match more important when there is a reason why people are in the match & it's not just random guys. Awesome. The Wild Samoans, Rikishi & Samu will be on Raw. next week. I hope Manu is there too. RIP Yokozuna, Umaga, & Rosey.
Awesome segment with The Bloodline & The Judgment Day I love that The Usos brought up that they beat Dom & Rey Mysterio to start their Tag Reign. Love the face off with Solo Sikoa & Rhea Ripley. The Tag Title Match will be awesome next week.
Mustafa Ali VS Solo Sikoa was excellent. I love them showing Ali's promo while the match was going on. But Ali should have been counted out. He was out of the ring for more than 10 seconds. I love Kevin Owens coming out & everything that happened afterwards. Good promo by Bobby Lashley.
They should have done Raw's 30th Anniversary this week, as Raw's Anniversary was on January 11. Why are they waiting a week?
Another great Cody Rhodes' video. I can't wait to see him in the Royal Rumble. Everyone knows that he will be back in the Rumble, so why make it a surprise. Let us anticipate his entrance.
An OK Elias promo with MVP. I have a bad feeling about who Elias' opponent will be later. But, it's awesome that Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin will be teaming up again, next against The Street Profits.
The Street Profits VS Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin was an awesome match. I'm glad that Alexander & Benjamin are in high profile matches on Raw instead of being in great matches on Main Event which few people watch.
I like how they are doing different things with the US Title #1 Co. Participants. The promo by Bobby Lashley, the video on Baron Corbin, & now the interview with Finn Balor leading to The Alpha Academy calling out Dominik & Priest.
Awesome. They are showing the WrestleMania 21 movie parodies. They need to do updated versions with the current roster. Wow, The Big Show was on WWE TV. The only vignette they won't be showing will be the Basic Instinct one because of you know who. Incredible segment. Becky Lynch's promo was awesome, as was Bayley's response. RAW 30 will be amazing, with Becky VS Bayley in a Steel Cage Match.
Good segment continuing the story with Dolph Ziggler & Mustafa Ali.
Damn it. Omos is back. Why couldn't he be the 1st wrestler that Triple H released as head of Creative?
Elias VS Omos was a horrible match. And Omos breaking the Guitar wasn't a big deal. Anyone can break a Guitar like that. And now we got Omos in the Royal Rumble, which will be horrendous.
Good segment with Byron Saxton & Adam Pearce. Pearce said that not everyone can just say they're in the Royal Rumble. Yet, that's all that has happened this year besides 1 match. So, why can't Akira Tozawa just say he's in the Rumble? That's not fair.
It looks like The Alpha Academy are the faces for this match, as their corner is facing the camera. And that's how wrestling works.
The Alpha Academy VS The Judgment Day was a phenomenal wrestling match. Gable is an amazing athlete. I'm glad that it was a clean finish & there was no shenanigans with The Usos.
Instead of having NXT wrestlers as surprises in the Royal Rumble, they should do a Royal Rumble Qualifying Battle Royal on either tomorrow & or next week's NXT or several Qualifying Matches.
Mia Yim VS IYO SKY was short, but a great match. I am happy that they gave Mia a big win. Mia & Candice LeRae VS Damage CTRL will be a great feud for the Women's Tag Titles. I love Nikki Cross in the crowd.
Damn the Royal Rumble is in less than 2 weeks. The time has flown by. Why have they announced only 4 Women for the Women's Rumble? How come no one else has been announced.
Good segment with Bianca Belair & Alexa Bliss to set-up another match between them at Royal Rumble. Fun brawl between them too. Loved the shadow of Uncle Howdy.
Damn. Poor Akira Tozawa, but it was a good way to showcase Bronson Reed. It will be fun seeing him in the Royal Rumble hopefully.
Fun interview with Seth Rollins.
Raw's 30th Anniversary will be awesome. I can't wait to see all of those legends except for Ric Flair. I really wish they brought back people that we never see. They should do a Legends Battle Royal for a Royal Rumble Spot.
Unless I missed it, they didn't interview or showcase Thw Miz tonight as they did the other 6-Way Participants.
I love how the Elimination Match started out with everyone pairing off. They all have history too, even Bobby Lashley & JBL. Also, I like that Austin Theory has wrestled everyone in the Elimination Match except for Baron Corbin. And that's why they didn't showcase the The Miz. He was the 1st eliminated. Goodbye Dolph Ziggler. Seth Rollins is on a roll. The other eliminations were good. The match was awesome, even with the winner being obvious from the start, but it was ruined with Omos getting involved. There was no need for that idiot to be there.
Updated Royal Rumble Participants
Men's Rumble (11)
RAW (6): Corbin, Lashley, Omos, Rhodes, Rollins, Theory
SD (5): Escobar, GUNTHER, Kingston, Mysterio, Ricochet
Women's Rumble (4)
RAW (2): LeRae, Ripley
SD (2): Morgan, Rodriguez
Here are my RAW Match Rankings
1) Finn Balor VS Baron Corbin VS Bobby Lashley VS The Miz VS Seth Rollins VS Dolph Ziggler
2) The Street Profits VS Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin
3) Mustafa Ali VS Solo Sikoa
4) Akira Tozawa VS Bronson Reed
5) Mia Yim VS IYO SKY
6) Elias VS Omos
Another fun Raw. I loved every match & segment except for Elias VS Omos. I can't wait for next week's Raw's 30th Anniversary & the Royal Rumble.