The most exciting time of the year in the world of WWE, and it’s no different in my own WWE Universe. The road to WrestleMania begins at the ROYAL RUMBLE… But before we get there, lets see HOW we get there with my Raw and SmackDown shows from the month of January, as well as a stop off at a Saturday Night’s Main Event!
RAW ‘DAY 1’ – JANUARY WEEK 1
NEW World Heavyweight Champion Drew McIntyre opens the show with an in-ring promo
CM Punk defeated Seth Rollins
Rey Mysterio backstage interview, Dragon Lee comes in to shot and they go back and forth, showing mutual respect for one another
Asuka (with Kairi Sane) backstage interview, and she is NOT happy with Iyo Sky
Iyo Sky (C) defeated Kairi Sane (with Asuka) to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship
R-Truth and Sheamus backstage
Wyatt Sicks vignette, led by Nikki Cross
‘The New Day’ (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) (C) defeated R-Truth & Sheamus to retain the World Tag Team Championship
Bron Breakker attacks Rey Mysterio backstage, Dragon Lee and the rest of the LWO run to make the save, as Breakker is led away by security and officials
Damian Priest backstage interview, Penta comes in to shot, and they show mutual respect
Nikki Cross defeated Liv Morgan (with Raquel Rodriguez) – Liv and Raquel attack Cross after, until ALEXA BLISS comes out to make the save!
Gunther backstage interview.
Penta defeated Damian Priest & Gunther in a triple threat match to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship
SMACKDOWN – JANUARY WEEK 1
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes comes out for an in-ring promo, until LOGAN PAUL interrupts! They go back and forth, and they set up a match for the main event of the show!
Carmelo Hayes defeated Aleister Black (C) to win the United States Championship
‘DIY’, ‘Pretty Deadly’ and ‘Street Profits’ go back and forth backstage, ahead of a tag team title number one contender’s match next week
Giulia (C) defeated Candice LeRae to retain the Women’s United States Championship
Bayley backstage interview, she is unsure what the deal is with Charlotte Flair, as she has not been able to reach her since they lost the women’s tag titles at Payback
LA Knight backstage promo (on the Royal Rumble match), and then… LA Knight defeated Shinsuke Nakamura
Kevin Owens & Randy Orton backstage interview
Jade Cargill backstage… she runs into Bianca Belair & B-Fab, they talk and go back and forth, and they are all cool with one another, but they are looking ahead to the Women’s Royal Rumble match
Lash Legend defeated Michin
Cody Rhodes defeated Logan Paul
Bayley comes out for an in-ring promo. She asks Charlotte Flair to come out, which she eventually does. After a long and emotional back and forth promo, they appear to be on the same page again, but agree it’s best if they ‘part ways’ as a team. They hug it out as the crowd applauds… until CHARLOTTE ATTACKS BAYLEY!
RAW – JANUARY WEEK 2
Drew McIntyre comes out and cuts a PASSIONATE in-ring promo, until Seth Rollins runs out and irrationally challenges Drew to a world title match RIGHT NOW, which Drew accepts! And then… Drew McIntyre (C) defeated Seth Rollins to retain the World Heavyweight Championship – Penta makes his way out after, and locks eyes with Drew from the entrance rampway
Wyatt Sicks vignette – Uncle Howdy welcomes Alexa Bliss to the family
Sheamus backstage, R-Truth comes in to shot and they go back and forth, they’re fine about the tag title match loss, as Truth says Sheamus should still go and get his, and maybe one day Truth can win a tag title with another friend, ‘you mean, like little Jimmy maybe?’ says Sheamus, ‘yeah, see you get it!’ Truth replies, and they dap up, and go their separate ways
Nia Jax defeated Lyra Valkyria – she cuts a promo on Rhea Ripley after
Iyo Sky backstage interview, Stephanie Vaquer comes into shot and they talk back and forth, Zoey Stark comes into shot and does the same, but not quite as friendly as Vaquer…
Bron Breakker defeated Dragon Lee – Rey Mysterio runs out after and stops Breakker beating down Lee after the match
The New Day come out and cut a promo, before… Alpha Academy (Otis & Akirs Tozawa with Maxxine Dupri) defeated The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
Bron Breakker backstage interview, and when he is done he runs into R-Truth and pushes him out the way, Sheamus runs up to him and asks him what his problem is? Security then quickly get in between them to break things up
CM Punk is backstage on his way to the ring, until… Seth Rollins defeated CM Punk in a Backstage Brawl
SMACKDOWN – JANUARY WEEK 2
Aleister Black appears backstage, he cuts a promo saying “tonight, there WILL be vengeance!”
Charlotte Flair comes out for an in-ring promo (she’s now 100% a heel), she calls out WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, who then comes out, and they set up the main event match tonight, FOR THE TITLE!
Carmelo Hayes comes out, he announces he’s issuing an open challenge for his newly won US Title… and then… LA KNIGHT comes out to answer it! Then: Carmelo Hayes (C) vs LA Knight for the United States Championship ends when ALEISTER BLACK runs in and hits Hayes with a Black Mass!
Carmelo Hayes backstage interview, he’s not happy at all, and then Ethan Page comes in to shot and they go back and forth
Jade Cargill defeated Piper Niven (with Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre) – B-Fab and Bianca Belair come out to make sure Green and Fyre don’t and can’t interfere
Giulia vignette
Street Profits backstage interview
‘DIY’ defeated ‘Pretty Deadly’ and ‘Street Profits’ in a triple threat tag team match to become number one contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championship
Sami Zayn is found attacked backstage, The Usos and Cody Rhodes appear on the scene first, as medical officials attend to him
Lash Legend backstage interview
Cody Rhodes backstage finds The MFTs, he asks them if they attacked Sami? Solo Sikoa says they didn’t, but that Cody should watch his tone, throwing around acquisitions like that, “watch yourself”… Cody walks away and then gets hit with the poison mist and a black mass from Aleister Black!
Aleister Black defeated Apollo Crews – Cody runs out after the match, even with mist still in his face, Black retreats, laughing at Rhodes as he does so…
Tiffany Stratton (C) defeated Charlotte Flair to retain the WWE Women’s Championship – Bayley comes out and distracts Charlotte, which then leads to the finish.
RAW – JANUARY WEEK 3
Seth Rollins comes out to the ring, no music, he just walks to the ring. He frantically gets hold of a microphone, and demands that CM Punk comes out here right now and gives him a re-match! Punk does then come out, he goes nose to nose with Seth, and calmly accepts his challenge, for Saturday Night’s Main Event, FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE!
The New Day walk up to Alpha Academy backstage. They go back and forth, and New Day eventually agree to give them a title match, but only if Maxxine wins her match tonight, against an opponent that they will pick!
Nia Jax defeated Zelina Vega – Nia once more cuts a promo on Rhea Ripley, she even invites her to come out… Ripley does not appear…
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez backstage, they call out Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross!
Bron Breakker defeated R-Truth – Sheamus comes out after to confront Breakker, as does Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee, Bron flees, and that sets up a 4-way for the IC title at SNME!
Wyatt Sicks vignette – Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross accept the challenge from Morgan and Rodriguez, FOR the Women’s Tag Titles!
‘Kabuki Warriors’ & Zoey Stark / Iyo Sky, Stephanie Vaquer and Becky Lynch are all shown backstage ahead of their match later
Maxxine Dupri defeated Natalya – meaning Otis & Tozawa now get a tag title shot!
Iyo Sky & Stephanie Vaquer & Becky Lynch defeated ‘Kabuki Warriors’ & Zoey Stark
Penta comes out and cuts an in-ring promo, he calls Drew McIntyre to the ring, who then does come out, and the two have an intense promo back and forth
Seth Rollins defeated CM Punk in a backstage brawl
SMACKDOWN – JANUARY WEEK 3
Cody Rhodes comes out to the ring, he calls out Aleister Black, who then comes out. They set up a title match for the Royal Rumble, Carmelo Hayes then comes out and says he wants a piece of Aleister Black too! Black proposes a tag team match for SNME, Hayes and Rhodes accept, but Black continues on, and says they can only have the match if Hayes puts his US Title on the line tonight, against the man Black will have as his partner, Hayes and Rhodes accept this too.
‘DIY’ defeated ‘MCMG’ – Ciampa and Gargano cut a promo on Orton and Owens (ahead of their tag title match next week)
Jade Cargill – B-Fab – Bianca Belair backstage segment
LA Knight defeated Grayson Waller
Bayley comes out for an in-ring promo, she calls out Charlotte Flair, but instead Tiffany Stratton comes out. Those two go back and forth, until Charlotte Flair comes out, They all go back and forth, eventually setting up a match for SNME: Bayley vs Charlotte Flair, with Tiffany Stratton as the special guest referee!
Giulia comes out and says she had taken inspiration from Carmelo Hayes, and announces her own US Title open challenge, which is answered by Lash Legend! – Giulia (C) defeated Lash Legend to retain the Women’s United States Championship
Chelsea Green and the rest of ‘The Secret Hervice’ backstage interview
MFTs vignette
B-Fab & Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill defeated ‘The Secret Hervice’
The Usos backstage interview. They are still unsure who attacked Sami Zayn, but are keeping their eyes locked on The MFTs, and the WWE tag team titles, AND the Royal Rumble match, where they will welcome EVERYBODY… TO THE USO PENITENTIARY!
Carmelo Hayes and Cody Rhodes come to the ring for Hayes’ US title defence… against… ETHAN PAGE! and then… Carmelo Hayes (C) (with Cody Rhodes) defeated Ethan Page (with Aleister Black) to retain the United States Championship
SATURDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT – SATURDAY JANUARY WEEK 3 (TAMPA, FLORIDA)
Bayley defeated Charlotte Flair – Special Guest Referee: Tiffany Stratton
Bron Breakker (C) defeated Sheamus & Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee in a fatal 4 way match to retain the Intercontinental Championship
‘Judgment Day’ (Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez) (C) defeated ‘Wyatt Sicks’ (Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross) to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Aleister Black & Ethan Page defeated Cody Rhodes & Carmelo Hayes
CM Punk defeated Seth Rollins in a falls count anywhere match
RAW – JANUARY WEEK 4
(Drew McIntyre and Penta have picked each other’s opponents for tonight)
Penta (PASSIONATE) backstage interview, leading to… Penta defeated Bronson Reed
‘Alpha Academy’ backstage interview. They are FIRED UP, in particular Maxxine Dupri!
‘The Kabuki Warriors’ vignette
Becky Lynch defeated Zoey Stark – Asuka and Kairi Sane come out after to attack Lynch, Stephanie Vaquer runs out to make the save, then Iyo Sky joins in to even the odds, and we get a huge brawl!
‘Wyatt Sicks’ vignette – Alexa Bliss tells Nikki Cross not to worry (about their loss at SNME), she adds there are always other goals they can aim for… Bo Dallas then says “we are always watching and waiting for OUR time”…
The New Day backstage interview…
Alpha Academy (Otis & Akira Tozawa) (with Maxxine Dupri) defeated The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) (C) to win the World Tag Team Championship
CM Punk comes out, he cuts a FIRED UP in-ring promo. He says he’s now done with Seth Rollins, and is looking forward to the Men’s Royal Rumble match on Saturday night, finally getting his WrestleMania main event and once more being YOUR World Champion!
Nia Jax vs Zelina Vega ends when Nia goes to put Vega through the announce table, when RHEA RIPLEY comes out and makes the save! Nia and Rhea brawl, and then Ripley challenges Nia to a match at Royal Rumble, LAST WOMAN STANDING!
Drew McIntyre defeated Rey Mysterio – Drew attacks Rey after the match, Penta runs down to make the save!
SMACKDOWN – JANUARY WEEK 4
Bayley cuts a promo in the ring, Charlotte Flair comes out to interrupt, then does Tiffany Stratton, ‘The Secret Hervice’ then follow, then out come Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill and B-Fab come out, and they set up the main event match.
Kevin Owens & Randy Orton (C) defeated ‘DIY’ (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship
Cody Rhodes backstage interview
Giulia comes out and cuts an in-ring promo, Kiana James comes out and interrupts, they go back and forth setting up… Giulia (C) defeated Kiana James to retain the Women’s United States Championship
LA Knight backstage interview
Jacob Fatu defeated Shinsuke Nakamura
Paul Heyman backstage interview! He confirms Roman Reigns will be in the Men’s Royal Rumble match, and also talks about The Bloodline, The MFTs, The Final Boss, and how all of those entities will have a big part to play on the road to WrestleMania!
Logan Paul comes out and cuts an in-ring promo, until LA KNIGHT interrupts, leading to… LA Knight defeated Logan Paul
Cody Rhodes comes out, then Aleister Black, and they have an in-ring contract signing
Bayley & Charlotte Flair (& Tiffany Stratton) defeated ‘The Secret Hervice’ Chelsea Green & Piper Niven (& Alba Fyre) and Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill (& B-Fab)
And now… it is TIME… FOR THE ROYAL RUMBLE!!!
Now… before things get underway, I had some… ‘technical issues’ lets call them, during my Men’s Rumble match, and a little during the Women’s Rumble. It means a bit of a pause, and some dodgy camera angles during a section, and I had to think on my feet and change some things during the match, but I don’t think it ruins it too much. And both Rumbles had some really fun stories in them, so forgive my issues and do look past them, and I hope you enjoy watching just as much as I did playing it all out!
Anyway… LETS GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
ROYAL RUMBLE – SATURDAY JANUARY WEEK 4 (TAMPA, FLORIDA)
Naturally, given the show it is, the card is STACKED!!!
And so we begin with the WOMEN’S ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH!
BIANCA BELAIR WINS THE WOMEN’S ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH
And so for the second time (therefore making history as the second Woman to have won multiple Royal Rumbles), THE EST is going to wrESTlemania!
And from one superstar who has booked their ticket to WrestleMania, to two more who want to walk into the show of shows as WORLD champion…
Drew McIntyre (C) defeated Penta to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
The broken dreams of the Scottish warrior… CONTINUE!
And after Bianca Belair booked her ticket to WrestleMania, lets see who she COULD be facing, beginning with the WWE Women’s title on the line!
Charlotte Flair defeated Tiffany Stratton (C) and Bayley in a triple threat match to win the WWE Women’s Championship
And once more, CHARLOTTE FLAIR will go into WrestleMania season as CHAMPION!
And from one huge women’s title fight, to another!!!
Rhea Ripley (C) defeated Nia Jax in a Last Woman Standing match to retain the Women’s World Championship
A battle of titans won by the last woman standing, and STILL…!!!
And following that renewal of a rivalry, we have the latest chapter of the story between Cody Rhodes and… an old ELITE rival…
Cody Rhodes (C) defeated Aleister Black to retain the WWE Championship
Black had brought the fury in the build-up, but it was Cody Rhodes’ American Nightmare that prevailed on this night!
And with Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre retaining their titles, it’s time to see who COULD be facing them at WrestleMania!
THE ROCK WINS THE MEN’S ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH
Probably the nightmare scenario for the rest of the WWE, as The Final Boss, who didn’t really need MORE power, now has a first class ticket to challenge for a World Championship, at WRESTLEMANIA!!!
FINALLY… THE ROCK HAS COME BACK… TO WIN… THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP?…
Josh.