{"id":112035,"date":"2021-01-25T09:26:22","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T15:26:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=112035"},"modified":"2021-01-25T09:26:22","modified_gmt":"2021-01-25T15:26:22","slug":"wwe-monday-night-raw-primer-1-25-final-royal-rumble-hype-drew-confronts-goldberg-bliss-aims-for-gold-riddle-to-run-the-gauntlet-charlotte-vs-shayna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2021\/01\/25\/wwe-monday-night-raw-primer-1-25-final-royal-rumble-hype-drew-confronts-goldberg-bliss-aims-for-gold-riddle-to-run-the-gauntlet-charlotte-vs-shayna\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW PRIMER 1\/25:  Final Royal Rumble Hype, Drew Confronts Goldberg, Bliss Aims for Gold, Riddle to Run the Gauntlet, Charlotte vs. Shayna"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1301984790\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><h3>WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW PRIMER<br \/>\nJANUARY 25, 2021<br \/>\nTAMPA, FL. AT THE THUNDERDOME IN TROPICANA FIELD<br \/>\nAIRS ON USA NETWORK, 8:00 p.m. EST<br \/>\nBY FRANK PETEANI (@FrankPeteani), PWTORCH.COM CONTRIBUTOR<\/h3>\n<p><em>Announcers: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, and Samoa Joe<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Match Results and Segments from Last Week<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Randy Orton opened the show wearing a mask, showing some of his burns, and what it did to him mentally. He declared for the Royal Rumble.<\/li>\n<li>Charlotte Flair defeated Peyton Royce. Ric Flair and Lacey Evans made their presence felt mid-match with Lacey wearing one of Ric\u2019s robes.<\/li>\n<li>Mace of Retribution defeated Xavier Woods of New Day.<\/li>\n<li>Alexa Bliss had Raw Women\u2019s Champion and Women\u2019s Tag Team Champion Asuka on Alexa\u2019s Playground. Alexa got very stern with Asuka when she tried to comfort Alexa by saying the Fiend is still here.<\/li>\n<li>Shayna Baszler defeated Mandy Rose. Shayna &amp; Nia Jax admitted they never got along, but still want to pursue the Women\u2019s Tag Team Championship.<\/li>\n<li>A.J. Styles defeated Ricochet.<\/li>\n<li>The Miz &amp; John Morrison hosted an episode of The Dirt Sheet. Their guests were Gillberg, not Goldberg as was advertised. They also had someone imitating WWE Champion Drew McIntyre.<\/li>\n<li>The Hurt Business (Raw Tag Team Champions Cedric Alexander &amp; Shelton Benjamin and U.S. Champion Bobby Lashley) defeated Riddle and Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik &amp; Lince Dorado). Benjamin and Cedric bickered during the match.<\/li>\n<li>WWE Drew McIntyre announced, from his home gym, that he would be at Raw next week (tonight).<\/li>\n<li>Jeff Hardy defeated Jaxson Ryker (w\/Elias) via DQ when Elias got involved. Elias and Ryker bickered about Elias getting involved.<\/li>\n<li>Alexa Bliss defeated Asuka in a non-title match. \u201cThe Fiend\u201d Bray Wyatt\u2019s effects played mid-match. When the arena lights came back on, Alexa was in black lipstick and different gear. She no sold a lot of Asuka\u2019s offense during the match.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Here are the WWE exclusives from last week:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"RETRIBUTION want to bring The New Day back to reality: WWE Network Exclusive, Jan. 18, 2021\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZnbtyQn85zc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Gillberg is ecstatic after returning to Raw: WWE Network Exclusive, Jan. 18, 2021\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8C0A8pSBspo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Peyton Royce declares for the Royal Rumble Match: WWE Network Exclusive, Jan. 18, 2021\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zH1Rb-_Ln34?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jeff Hardy declares for the Royal Rumble Match: WWE Network Exclusive, Jan. 18, 2021\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KyPuYyRmlV4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h4>Items Advertised by WWE<\/h4>\n<p>Tonight\u2019s edition of Raw will be the final before heading towards the Royal Rumble which comes to us this Sunday. Thus far, twelve men have been entered\/declared for the rumble. I\u2019m certain we\u2019ll get more tonight, during the week via social media and other outlets, and on Smackdown. NXT wrestlers could find their way in as well. Here\u2019s the hype video for tonight\u2019s show:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Drew McIntyre set to confront Goldberg in Raw return\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0bObTt2uNwc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>As was reported here at PWTorch yesterday, WWE announced the following segments and matches via Twitter:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and Goldberg meet face-to-face.<\/li>\n<li>Alexa Bliss Challenges Asuka for the Raw Women\u2019s Championship.<\/li>\n<li>Riddle looks to run the Hurt Business Gauntlet and earn a U.S. Championship opportunity against Bobby Lashley.<\/li>\n<li>Can Charlotte Flair stay focused in a one-on-one encounter with Shayna Baszler just six days before the Royal Rumble?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong>WWE Champion Drew McIntyre Returns to Confront Goldberg<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>After testing positive for COVID-19 several weeks ago, Drew McIntyre is set to return to Raw and confront WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg against whom he will defend the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.<\/p>\n<p>This all started at Legends Night on January 4, when Goldberg confronted Drew at the end of the show and challenged him to a title match at the Rumble. Drew accepted via video the following week. This will be Goldberg\u2019s third chance at a world title since returning to WWE in 2016. He defeated Kevin Owens for the Universal Championship in 2017 and did the same only it was against \u201cThe Fiend\u201d Bray Wyatt last year in Saudi Arabia. Goldberg has never challenged for the WWE Championship, but did hold the World Heavyweight Championship back in his first WWE run in 2003.<\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: It would not be good if Goldberg beats Drew this Sunday. Let\u2019s not forget the Miz is in play with the Money in the Bank contract. It makes for some scenarios that I don\u2019t think are good the WWE Championship picture. The best case is Drew decisively wins the match and we move forward.<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Raw Women\u2019s Championship: Asuka (champ) vs. Alexa Bliss<\/h4>\n<p>On the heels of what happened in the main event of Raw last week, Alexa Bliss will challenge Asuka for the Raw Women\u2019s Championship.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2803082946\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Alexa will be vying for her sixth singles championship overall. She last held the Raw Women\u2019s Championship in 2018 after winning Money in the Bank and would lose the title to Ronda Rousey at SummerSlam. After sustaining various injuries, her in-ring time became limited before forming a tag team with Nikki Cross, where they would hold the Women\u2019s Tag Team Championship on two different occasions. Ironically, they lost the titles to and regained them from Asuka &amp; Kairi Sane.<\/p>\n<p>Alexa is sporting a different persona these days, having gone under the influence of the \u201cFiend\u201d Bray Wyatt.<\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: It\u2019s always tricky when you have one of these hocus pocus type of characters win a championship. If anyone has the range to pull it off, it\u2019s Alexa. I could see a title change tonight. The Raw women\u2019s picture needs a refresh overall. If that happens though, it would be interesting to see what happens with the partnership of Asuka and Charlotte Flair, who still hold the women\u2019s tag team championship.<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Gauntlet Match: Riddle vs. Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP to earn right to challenge for the U.S. Championship<\/h4>\n<p>Riddle came up short two weeks ago challenging Bobby Lashley for the U.S. Championship after a pre-match attack by Lashley. That was payback for Riddle doing the same the previous week. Riddle did make a comeback in the title match, but it wasn\u2019t enough. I mentioned in the recap what happened on last week\u2019s show.<\/p>\n<p>This week, Riddle gets another chance to earn a title match against Lashley. He must defeat Raw Tag Team Championship co-holders Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander as well as MVP in a Gauntlet Match. The bickering that\u2019s been going on between Cedric and Shelton will be a factor. It\u2019s not clear when the title match would take place, but the Royal Rumble is a rather good possibility.<\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: If everyone didn\u2019t wrestle each other in different iterations on a weekly basis, I would have more investment in this. I also don\u2019t like how badly they\u2019ve dumbed down Riddle\u2019s character. He shows signs of being serious, which I like, but the bad jokes backstage drag things down. The bickering between Cedric and Shelton makes no sense this early in the run of the Hurt Business, and I don\u2019t understand what it\u2019s about.<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Charlotte Flair vs. Shayna Baszler<\/h4>\n<p>Charlotte Flair goes one on one with Shayna Baszler in a battle of not just upcoming Royal Rumble participants, but the women who were the final two in last year\u2019s offering. Charlotte eliminated Shayna to win the rumble and would go on to defeat Rhea Ripley for the NXT Women\u2019s Championship at WrestleMania.<\/p>\n<p>Charlotte currently holds the Women\u2019s Tag Team Championship with Raw Women\u2019s Champion Asuka. They won the titles at TLC from Shayna and Nia Jax. Charlotte has had issues with Nia over the past year and defeated her via DQ a few days after this past Christmas on Raw when Shayna got involved. Nia will be lurking tonight for sure and is a participant in this year\u2019s rumble. Last week Shayna and Nia were bickering after Shayna defeated Mandy Rose and admitted backstage, they\u2019ve never gotten along but still want to pursue the tag titles with Charlotte having \u201cdaddy issues\u201d and Asuka having issues with Alexa Bliss.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-58696623\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: A year ago, I would have thought of this as a WrestleMania or SummerSlam type of match. Now it\u2019s a match announced on social media one night before Raw. With the bickering going on between Shayna and Nia, it\u2019ll likely lead to shenanigans. It\u2019s a shame if that happens because this match deserves a build and a satisfying finish.<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Other Expectations and Final Thoughts<\/h4>\n<p>I joined Torch columnist Greg Parks on Wrestling Night in America last night to preview the Royal Rumble. We went through many scenarios including potential surprise returns, the set up for the two-night WrestleMania, where characters go after the rumble, and a ton more. It\u2019s always a pleasure to join Greg and I hope you all listen!<\/p>\n<p><em>Follow Frank on Twitter @FrankPeteani. Thank you for reading!<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-958598476\"><div id=\"pwtor-1892734253\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW PRIMER JANUARY 25, 2021 TAMPA, FL. AT THE THUNDERDOME IN TROPICANA FIELD AIRS ON USA NETWORK, 8:00 p.m. EST BY FRANK PETEANI (@FrankPeteani), PWTORCH.COM CONTRIBUTOR Announcers: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, and <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2021\/01\/25\/wwe-monday-night-raw-primer-1-25-final-royal-rumble-hype-drew-confronts-goldberg-bliss-aims-for-gold-riddle-to-run-the-gauntlet-charlotte-vs-shayna\/\" title=\"WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW PRIMER 1\/25:  Final Royal Rumble Hype, Drew Confronts Goldberg, Bliss Aims for Gold, Riddle to Run the Gauntlet, Charlotte vs. Shayna\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":112046,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,52,4354,27,5893,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-112035","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prowrestlingnews","category-opnionandanalysis","category-raw-primer","category-specialists","category-tvprimers","category-news_wwe"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2021\/01\/20210118_Raw_MatchPreview_DrewGoldbeg_FC_Mon-37e5261337cb27d8ccc09455b16f0639.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112035","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112035"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112035\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":112047,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112035\/revisions\/112047"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/112046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}