Monday Night Raw TV Report for February 1st, 2016
Introduction Segment: Video Promo and Welcoming
The regular Raw video plays and we go live to the arena in Birmingham, Alabama, where Michael Cole greets us.
Segment #2: Arena Promo
Brock Lesnar’s music starts and “The Beast” himself enters with Paul Heyman in tow. Heyman announces himself and Lesnar, then gets to business regarding what Bray Wyatt and The Wyatt Family tried to do to him at the Royal Rumble. Heyman says this did not phase Lesnar, and he is now focused on Fastlane, where he will be in a Triple-Threat Match with Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose to face WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H at WrestleMania on April 3rd.
Heyman declares that Brock will be the winner of the Triple-Threat, then he will defeat “The Game” at WrestleMania and regain the WWE World Heavyweight Title. He puts Reigns over though, as Roman did already take on Lesnar at last year’s WrestleMania, so he knows who he’s going against. However, Heyman tells Reigns that he needs to talk to his “brother” more, as Dean has not faced Lesnar.
“The Lunatic Fringe” interrupts and challenges Brock to give him all he’s got because he’s “the ironman of WWE.” Ambrose says he wanted to say that for “respect,” and apologies to Heyman for interjecting then walks away.
Later tonight, Dolph Ziggler will wrestle Kevin Owens again, and up next, United States Champion Kalisto meets Rusev!
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – United States Champion Kalisto VS. Rusev (with League of Nations member/manages Lana)
(Note: League of Nations member Alberto Del Rio is on commentary and it is made known that he and Kalisto will wrestle again for the United States Title at Fastlane)
Rusev locks up with Kalisto and pushes him into the corner; he does the same in another but Kalisto ducks a punch and kicks. Rusev pushes Kalisto back and he rolls out of the ring and runs around, then dropkicks Rusev as they went back in the ring. Kalisto hops out of a scoop-slam try, but is caught from a hurricanrana-attempt. Kalisto hops off again and kicks, but is hit with an elbow as he ran off the ropes. Rusev goes for a powerbomb, but Kalisto reverses into a hurricanrana over the ropes. He follows with a dive, but Rusev counters with a kick!
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Rusev is in control for a bit, but Kalisto counters with an elbow and boots-to-the-face, then a leaping Tornado DDT from the corner! He springboards from the top rope with a senton, and hits a corkscrew-elbow, but is slammed to the mat out of a crossbody. Rusev almost takes this! Kalisto is in the corner and moves as Rusev ran at him. Kalisto rolls him up but only gets two! He jawbreaks Rusev then dropkicks him at his knee, and hurricanrana-facebusters Rusev for another two-count!
Rusev rolls to the outside, where Kalisto baseball-slides him, then ascends the turnbuckle. He soars with another crossbody but is caught. Kalisto gets out of this one and dropkicks Rusev into the steel steps. Rusev gets up before the ten-count, then tosses Kalisto onto the announce table. Kalisto lands on his feet and runs at Rusev with a hurricanrana that sends Rusev into the barrier! Kalisto slides in and Rusev doesn’t make it!
Winner via Count-Out – United States Champion Kalisto
Later tonight, The Miz will interview new WWE Superstar A.J. Styles!
Commercials.
Segment #3: Office Promo
Roman Reigns and Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose are in The Authority’s office when Stephanie McMahon walks in. She insinuates that Fastlane will breakup the pair, much like Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels, and Evolution and Randy Orton, and even them and Seth Rollins. They laugh off her strategy, but she also books them in the main-event to face Tag-Team Champions The New Day.
Segment #4: Arena and Backstage Promo
The three commentators give an update on Nikki Bella, who had neck surgery last week; the procedure was successful. We go backstage to Rene Young, who interviews Brie Bella about her sister’s injury and recovery. Before she can answer too much, Divas Champion Charlotte and her father Ric Flair interrupt. Charlotte gives Brie her sympathies for Nikki, and Brie says she will let her sister know. Charlotte takes credit, however, and says she is “well on her way” to breaking Nikki’s Divas Title reign record. She walks off to a disgusted Brie.
The Usos make their entrance, and unfortunately, ring announcer Lillian Garcia announces them as “Grammy” Tag-Team of the Year; it should be Slammy.
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Match #2: Tag-Team – The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) VS. The Social Outcasts (Adam Rose and Curtis Axel (with Social Outcasts partner Heath Slater)
(Note: poor Lillian gets ribbed on her “Grammy” mistake, as it is replayed and the commentators make a few jokes.) Axel and Jey start, with Curtis giving Jey many kicks. He sets up the twin and tags in Rose, who dives off the turnbuckle with a knee drop. Adam chokes Jey with the middle rope, then clotheslines him three times in the corner. He switches with Axel, who also chokes Jey against the rope, then knees him in the face. Curtis wears Jey down with a grounding rear chinlock. The Outcasts control for a bit until Jey counters with a spinning-enziguri. He makes the hot-tag to his brother and hits a couple of superkicks. Both Usos hit a double-superkick on Rose, then Jey rockets off the top with a splash for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pinfall: The Usos
Up next, The Miz will have chat with A.J. Styles!
Commercials.
Segment #5: Arena Promo
The Miz is in the ring and says “it’s guests like A.J. that are the reason that I provide a public service like MizTV.” He says that MizTV is to be a place for their life to be told, and then brings him out. A.J. shakes Miz’s hand then sits down.
Miz asks Styles who he is, then pulls the mic away quickly as A.J. went to answer. Miz sums up Styles’ life, which is a “rags-to-riches/underdog/hard-worker,” then recaps his WWE week in the Royal Rumble and on Raw. A.J. tries to answer again, but Miz continues to talk, comparing Styles to Daniel Bryan, who Miz also “trained.” Miz wants to do the same for A.J. and offers, but the fans are all over him negatively, so he rips on them. Miz proclaims “there is no chance in hell” that A.J. will be a big star in WWE without his help.
Miz turns around and is punched by “The Phenomenal One!” A.J. continues to hit Miz with fists and kicks until Miz escapes to the ramp. A.J. yells “you know me now? Huh? I’m A.J. Styles and I belong here!”
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Michael says that WWE will celebrate Black History month all February.
Match #3: Single – Brie Bella (with Team Bella mate Alicia Fox) VS. Divas Champion Charlotte (with Ric Flair) (Non-Title)
An elbow-collar tie-up begins, as does many punches from Brie. She kicks Charlotte to her knees, then repeatedly kicks her in the chest and dropkicks her. She goes for her “Brie Mode” running-knee, but Charlotte catches and tosses her to the floor.
She rolls Brie back in the ring and slams her face to the canvas a few times. Charlotte works her over with a neck lock and knees, then snapmares her and rams her face into the mat while her legs are wrapped around Brie’s neck in a Figure-4. brie ducks a boot then clotheslines Charlotte a couple times, and bulldogs her. Brie goes for her sit-down facebuster, but it is blocked.
Brie reverses into a backslide for two, then knees Charlotte in the face. She goes to the top turnbuckle and drops into a sleeper with her legs around Charlotte’s stomach. Flair goes to the apron and tries to distract. Alicia yells at Ric, and Charlotte spins around for the Figure-8, but Brie reverses into a small package to take this one!
Winner via Pinfall: Brie Bella (with Alicia Fox)
Up next, Big Show goes against Erick Rowan of The Wyatt Family.
Commercials.
The announcers talk about Hall of Famer Bret Hart’s revelation of his battle with prostate cancer. Bret posted on his Instagram, “I’ve had a great lifelong dance and I’m a survivor of many hard battles. I know face my toughest battle. With hesitation and fear, I openly declare myself in my fight against prostate cancer. In the next few days, I will undergo surgery with the hope of defeating this nemesis once and for all.” Jerry Lawler, Triple H, Natalya, the announcers, all give prayers and well-wishes for Bret to beat this. I also acknowledge and pray that Bret will be cured and continue living a very long while.
Match #4: Single – Erick Rowan (with Wyatt Family members Luke Harper and Braun Strowman) VS. The Big Show
Rowan goes for a punch but is blocked and Show punches a few times instead. He whips Erick into the corner, but Rowan hits back with an elbow. He attempts a suplex, but Big reverses into his own and takes over. He splashes Erick in the corner and gives him a shoulder-block. He goes for the chokeslam, but Harper gets up on the apron for the distraction. Show fends him and Strowman off, as well as Erick, then chokeslams him and picks up the W!
Winner via Pinfall: The Big Show
Post-match, the three Wyatt Family members put the boots to Show and slam him on the steel steps.
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Match #5: Single – Titus O’Neil VS. Tyler Breeze
Tyler goes from a lockup into a headlock, but is caught off a diving crossbody from the second turnbuckle. Titus gives him a couple rib-breakers, then chucks him around. Breeze hits O’Neil in the knee and takes over. He locks in a half-crab, but Titus power-lifts and crawls to the ropes. Chants of “let’s go Titus” ring out as O’Neil hurls Breeze. He soon finishes with the Clash of the Titus sit-down spinebuster!
Winner via Pinfall: Titus O’Neil
Segment #6: Locker Room Promo
Heyman is talking with Brock Lesnar when WWE World Heavyweight Champion and C.O.O. Triple H walks in. he orders Paul to leave, then wonders if “Suplex City” is “soft” because Dean Ambrose confronted him and walked away. Brock says “I guess we’ll find out at WrestleMania, won’t we?” and taps Trips on the shoulder. HHH replies, “looking forward to it.”
Commercials.
Match #6: Single- Dolph Ziggler VS. Kevin Owens
Dolph tries the superkick but Owens goes to the outside. Dolph follows and they punch away, then in the ring, Kevin takes over. Dolph hits back with a dropkick, but is tossed over the timekeeper’s area after trying a leaping-DDT on the floor.
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Owens is in firm control, harshly whipping him into the turnbuckle. Kevin follows with the Cannonball splash in the corner and covers but only gets two! Owens stomps on Dolph and kicks at him, but Dolph punches back, however gets a hard elbow to put him back to the mat. Kevin dominates again and taunts/yells at him as he punishes “The Show-Off.” He misses the running-senton and running shoulder-block, allowing Ziggler to splash him in the corner a few times. Dolph is put back to the canvas with a clothesline, but grips the ropes when Owens tries the Pop-Up Powerbomb. Kevin runs at him, but Dolph yanks the ropes down,. Dolph superkicks him to the floor then plants him with the Fameasser! Both men are down as the referee counts.
Dolph puts Kevin back in the ring, but Kevin raises his shoulder before three! Owens hits a superkick of his own, but Dolph also gets his shoulder up! Owens climbs the turnbuckle and Dolph jumps up there a couple times. Owens trips him up and Ziggler hangs upside down as Owens hits him with a second Cannonball splash! Dolph hops over another Pop-Up Powerbomb attempt and brings Kevin down with a Zigzag for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Dolph Ziggler
Segment #7: Video Promo
A montage on Mark Henry’s career is shown to celebrate Black History Month.
Commercials.
Match #7: Single- Sasha Banks VS. Becky Lynch
Prior to the bout, Sasha takes the microphone and she has dismissed herself from Team B.A.D. “Nothing and no one is going to stop me from becoming Divas Champion.” She says that Becky Lynch and Brie Bella can’t “hold a candle” to her, because “I’m ‘The Boss,’ legit!”
Tamina and Naomi walk out and claim to be happy for Sasha, and say they are there for her anyway. They all signal unity, then Becky makes her entrance.
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Banks shoves Lynch down out of a lockup, then armlocks her. They trade waistlocks, takedowns, and pin combos. Becky armdrags Sasha a couple of times, then armlocks her against the canvas; Sasha gets out of it and whips Lynch into the corner. She drops double-knees on Lynch’s stomach, then chokes her with her boot. She runs the turnbuckle ropes and armdrags her, then boots her to the floor. She talks to the referee while Tamina and Naomi go for an advantage. Banks meets them and wants to wrestle Becky on her own, then gets into a confrontation with her former teammates; this causes a DQ in Sasha’s favor.
Winner via Disqualification: Sasha Banks
Post-match, Naomi and Tamina beat on Banks, but Becky makes the save! The crowd chants “NXT” as Lynch and Sasha are in the ring while Tamina and Naomi back up the ramp.
Commercials.
Segment #8: Backstage Promo
After clips of Chris Jericho’s match with A.J. Styles from Raw last week, where Jericho lost, Rene Young talks to “Y2J.” Chris says Styles has been on his mind since then and he has lived up to the hype. He was happy about the match itself and puts A.J. over, but not the fact that Jericho lost. He will be watching A.J. Styles’ match with The Miz this week on Smackdown closely.
Segment #9: Backstage Promo
R-Truth goes into the bathroom, looking for Goldust who texted him. He finds “The Bizarre One” barefooted in a stall. Goldust hops down into the toilet; he wants to be Truth’s tag-team partner. Truth doesn’t because Goldust is strange. Goldust retorts, and implies the same because Truth had an “imaginary” partner in “Little Jimmy.” This hurts Truth’s feelings and he storms off.
Tag-Team Champions The New Day make their entrance and they will wrestle Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns, next.
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Match #8: Tag-Team – Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E.) (with Tag-Team Champion and New Day partner Xavier Woods) VS. Roman Reigns and Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose
(Note: Paul Heyman is on commentary.)
Kofi and Roman start evenly and Kofi taunts Reigns. He gets out of a Samoan Drop attempt, but Reigns uppercuts Kofi to the mat then switches with Dean. The IC Champ backdrops the Tag Champ, then runs at him with a low clothesline. Kingston chops away, but it has no effect on Dean. Reigns is back in and elbow-drops Kofi, then boots him directly in the face. Roman signals for the Superman Punch, but Woods and E. pull Kofi from the ring.
Commercials.
Kofi is now in control, pounding away with fists on Reigns. He tags in Big, who stomps on Roman numerous times. He runs on the apron but misses the splash, landing on the edge of the apron instead.! Reigns gets the hot-tag to Dean, who fast-fists E then bulldogs him out of the corner. He chucks Kofi to the floor and into the corner barrier. Big runs at Ambrose back in the ring, but Dean holds the ropes down and follows with a dive. He mocks Big’s power, but as Kofi is checked on by the referee, Xavier kicks Dean down.
Kingston is now the legal wrestler and he trades corner-kicks with Big E. he is whipped into Ambrose and lands a front-dropkick, then Woods celebrates with Francesca the Trombone. Kofi goes back to work on Dean, as does Big E.
Ambrose eventually slaps hands with Roman, who is all over New Day. He gives Kingston ten-consecutive clotheslines and surveys the fans. Reigns signals for the Superman Punch again, but has to knock Big E. off the apron first. Kofi kicks Roman then gets Big in, but he is quickly Samoan Dropped! Reigns tags Dean back in who jumps off the turnbuckle with an elbow. Kingston stops the count, then all hit each other. Big belly-to-belly suplexes Reigns onto the announce table (it doesn’t break) but both Roman and Ambrose comeback with their finishers to receive the victory!
Winners via Pinfall: Roman Reigns and Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose
Post-match, Brock Lesnar marches out, but Xavier and Kofi hit Roman and Dean. Lesnar enters and F-5’s Ambrose as Roman was fighting with Kofi on the outside. Lesnar and Heyman walk away to close the show.
End Of Raw.
