Backstage: Vince McMahon & Sheamus
Backstage, Vince was talking with a man when Sheamus entered the room. Vince dismissed the man. Vince spoke about his role as the referee and said there would be no outside interference, biting, gouging, foreign objects, and Sheamus will obey his command. Sheamus looked concerned. Vince smiled and said may the luck of the Irish be with him. Sheamus smiled… [C]
4. Big Show vs. Ryback. Cole noted that Ryback and Show are both in the Royal Rumble match. Show chokeslammed Ryback and then shoved him to the floor. The Wyatt Family video flashed. When they cut back to the ring, the family surrounded Ryback on the floor. Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, and Braun Strowman attacked Ryback while Bray Wyatt watched. Wyatt then shoved Ryback into Strowman, who applied his finisher.
Big Show fought Ryback to an apparent no-contest.
After The Match:
Once the Wyatt Family took care of Ryback, they turned their attention to Show and surrounded the ring. Show kneed Wyatt to the floor and knocked down Harper and Rowan. Show and Strowman had a staredown, but the other members recovered and attacked Show from behind.
[Q6] Wyatt took a bow and the family left the ring. Wyatt yelled at ringside that the Wyatt Family will rise in the Royal Rumble match and they will all fall down… [C]
5. Alberto Del Rio and Rusev vs. The Uso Brothers. Lana did not accompany Rusev to ringside. Rusev and Del Rio were in control heading into the break. [C]
[Q7] The Uso Brothers had a nice run of offense after the break. One of the brothers performed a top rope splash on Del Rio and had him pinned, but Rusev broke up the pin. Rusev took out Jimmy on the floor, but Jey took him out with a suicide dive. Del Rio caught Jey with a kick as he tried to enter the ring. He followed up with his double stomp finisher moments later and got the pin…
Alberto Del Rio and Rusev defeated The Uso Brothers in 13:30.
6. Dolph Ziggler vs. Heath Slater (w/Bo Dallas, Adam Rose, Curtis Axel). Cole noted that all four heels were tweeting about change throughout the day. Slater ducked an early superkick.
[Q8] Ziggler threw a dropkick and a splash in the corner, then dropped an elbow for a two count. Later, Rose stood on the apron and Ziggler went after him. Slater rolled up Ziggler for two. Rinse and repeat with Dallas on the apron, only this time Slater rolled up Ziggler and pinned him. Afterward, the heels took turns talking. Rose said they are four unique flowers. Axel yelled the chains are off. “Trending worldwide, hashtag social outcasts,” Slater said. “Bo-lieve,” Dallas said awkwardly…
Heath Slater pinned Dolph Ziggler in 4:35.
The New Day & Chris Jericho Returns
New Day made their entrance wearing unicorn horns. Big E said 2016 will be the most magical year of their lives. They did a spoof on Mike Tyson falling off a hoverboard that got no reaction from the live crowd. Kofi said they had a present. He set up a countdown clock on the big screen.
[Q9] The New Day clock turned into Chris Jericho’s countdown clock instead. New Day was not pleased. JBL said “Lionheart has returned to Monday Night Raw.” The fans roared after the music stopped and then they chanted Y2J. Jericho welcomed viewers to Raw is Jericho. He said he’s the party host and one of the most charismatic performers in WWE history.
Jericho said all the metrics such as live event attendance and television ratings need a boost, and said they all need a little Y2J. Jericho mocked New Day, then announced that he is entering the Royal Rumble match. Jericho said he’s going to throw out 29 men, including New Day if necessary. Jericho said he’s going to win the match and go on to the main event of WrestleMania. Jericho ran through some of his credentials and then dubbed himself the best in the world at what he does. Jericho said that now that the Y2J problem has returned, no one will ever be the same again…
Cole hyped New Day vs. Kalisto and The Dudley Boyz for after the break… [C]
7. Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E vs. Kalisto and The Dudley Boyz. Kalisto had to bring his stupid Slammy to the ring with him.
[Q10] The fans wanted tables. They always want tables. Bubba Ray pressed Kalisto over his head and then threw him onto all three New Day members at ringside. All three babyfaces celebrated in the ring going into the break. [C] New Day isolated Kalisto until he made a hot tag to D-Von, who worked over Woods and then performed a spilebuster on Kingston. Bubba checked in and had Woods pinned, but Big E broke it up.
E caught Kalisto and ran him into the barricade. In the ring, Bubba and Devon went for the Whassup spot on Kingston, but Woods shoved D-Von off the top rope. However, New Day came back and Big E and Kofi hit a two-man version of Big Ending on D-Von and pinned him…
New Day defeated The Dudley Boyz and Kalisto in 16:35.