5 Biggest Takeaways from Monday Night Raw(January 17th, 2022)
I like to keep things as positive as possible.
I like WWE.
I like AEW.
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No Brock, no problem. Monday Night Raw took a step back from the previous week’s showings but was still able to deliver a solid show. As we inch closer to the Royal Rumble it is becoming glaringly obvious that this show is possibly going to be a contender for the best show of the year… and it’s still January. A stacked card that is being built from top to bottom through both shows and it just continues to grow. The Nikki A.S.H. evolution to villain continued when she left Rhea Ripley laid out, again. Bobby Lashley and Seth Rollins delivered a solid main event that ended when Bobby was attacked by the guys he left behind(Cedric and Shelton) while Seth was jumped by his Royal Rumble opponent’s henchman(Usos). Austin Theory continued his upward momentum with a big win over Finn, Omos squashed another poor soul all while a lot more people declared themselves as entrants for the upcoming Royal Rumble.
With all that, we still have the 5 biggest takeaways, so let us waste no more time and jump right into what they were from this week’s Raw!
#5: The Tease
For over a year now, the fans have been expecting a turn by Dom on his own father. It would be the final stamp to his young career that would show that the WWE believes that he is ready to take the next step. But here we are, months later, and it still hasn’t happened. It was teased for a few weeks on Smackdown with Sami Zayn being the agitator but once the Mysterio’s were moved to Raw, that whole story came to an end. Back on Mondays, the father/son team seemed to be back on the same page as they floated around the bottom of the tag division, not doing much. Now, with the Royal Rumble just weeks away, they have teased us yet again with the seeds that will surely be planted in the big 30 man rumble. After the 8 man tag, the Mysterio’s tossed the Street Profits over the top rope in a playful “we got you” moment after their victory but as Dom and Rey celebrated this gag, Rey then did the same to his younger son to let it be known that Dom still has some learning and that the main event at Mania is not something he plans on taking lightly. A young and not so long ago frustrated Dominic will surely not take it lightly if this happens at the Royal Rumble. Will it be enough to push him over the edge? We’ll find out on the 29th when one of these two will most definitely be eliminating the other as Wrestlemania season officially kicks off.
#4: Academically Challenged
A week after winning the Tag Team titles, Gable and Otis were ready to celebrate the big occasion with a graduation ceremony while dressed in cap and gown. Gable talked up the achievement while Otis stood by awaiting his moment as Valedictorian to give a speech of his own. And when his moment arrived it would be interrupted by Riddle, also dressed in a cap and gown of his own. Gable and Riddle would engage in a back and forth that would end with Gable challenging Riddle and Orton to an academic challenge in which RKBRO would receive a tag title shot if they were able to defeat Alpha Academy. As this challenge was thrown out, Otis seemed to be a little worried about how this might end and would drive him to go after Riddle. As this happened, Randy Orton would sneak attack Gable with a RKO which would then allow Riddle to attack Otis. RKBRO would stand tall once Randy would throw on a cap and gown and give everyone a look into how this academic challenge will end next week which will lead to the tag team championship rematch at Royal Rumble.
#3: Doudrop Stands Tall
In just two weeks, WWE has been able to make everyone forget that Doudrop’s run prior to winning the #1 contendership was anything but lackluster. After securing a victory by pinning Liv Morgan last week, Doudrop would find herself in a tag team with Becky Lynch as they took on both of Doudrop’s opponents from last week, Bianca and Liv. As Becky tried to force herself as the victor in the match, it would be Doudrop that would get the final say. After a Manhandle slam, Doudrop would drop on Becky and Liv and then drag Becky over to the corner so she could tag herself in. Doudrop would then pin Liv Morgan herself to have her hand raised and would follow it up by dragging Becky into position to hit the Dou-Drop on her tag team partner. Standing tall over her Royal Rumble opponent would be the lasting image from this match, painting a picture for the world that Doudrop should not be taken lightly in this match and that Becky Lynch will be tested like never before.
#2: Maryese with the Save
The Edge versus Miz feud has been a little underwhelming since the first week. Since Beth Phoenix has arrived, the feud has not been elevated much as they shifted the focus to a mixed tag match. Last night, Maryese was able to do something for this feud that neither Edge nor Miz has been able to accomplish to date… make me invested. As Maryese stood in the ring by herself, she pleaded with Beth Phoenix to call this mixed tag match off. Miz got her in this predicament without consulting her, and that as women who helped build the division up to what it is today and as mothers and husbands, they should stick together and rise above this nonsense. Beth would hear none of this and would enter the ring.
NO CLASS!@MaryseMizanin@TheBethPhoenix#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/6Vo8di1iYO
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2022
Edge had mentioned he knew this was a trap, yet he and Beth would still manage to fall for it. As Beth approached Maryese, Miz would jump Edge on the outside causing a distraction for Beth Phoenix. Once her attention was diverted, Maryese would smack her in the back of the head with a purse that would leave Beth Phoenix knocked out cold. As Miz and Maryese left, they would show the brick that they had hidden inside the purse and the plan had been revealed. They would then announce Maryese’s birthday celebration for next week that surely will not be ruined in a revenge plot for their Royal Rumble adversaries. So far, Maryese has been the MVP of this feud and for the first time I am looking forward to next week when Edge and Beth will find a way to wish Maryese a Happy Birthday.
#1: For the First Time
Everyone who has paid any attention to Damian Priest since his arrival would agree, he has been booked great. Almost a year since his arrival to Monday Night Raw and he had yet to take a pinfall or submission loss. A high profile match at Wrestlemania, winning the United States title and amounting the best winning percentage in all of WWE for the year 2021. Recently, we had seen a different side of Priest that was resulting in count out and disqualification losses that were starting to show small kinks in the armor. Last night, the big one finally happened when he ate his first pinfall courtesy of Kevin Owens.
Looks like @FightOwensFight just outsmarted @ArcherofInfamy and the entire @WWEUniverse!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/qnLgL3OPOU
— WWE (@WWE) January 18, 2022
Some would say this is a sign of bad things to come for Priest but I don’t think that is the case at all. Kevin Owens is a main event WWE Title contender guy. This was more of a test. How does Damian Priest look in defeat against a top talent? I think he passed the test as Kevin Owens and Damian Priest put on the match of the night. This might end up being a sign of his United States title run coming to an end but it could very well be the beginning of a main event push and a possible WWE Championship later this year. At Priest age, his window is small so if WWE sees any potential in him, they will have to strike soon or miss out on the opportunity to capitalize on him. With his look and style, he is a stand out performer and could bring something new to the main event scene right now.
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