WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW - January 30th, 2017

PREVIEW

THE HEADLINER
Unusual that the big angle for the fallout show from a pay-per-view (PPV) is something that didn’t happen the night before, but this is a Triple H storyline we’re talking about here.
Saturday night, at “the creator’s” NXT TakeOver: San Antonio show, Seth Rollins tried to hijack the proceedings. The Architect finally made good on his promise to track his former mentor down, and headed to a show where he knew Haitch was guaranteed to be. Unfortunately, NXT security was actually up to the task of kicking Rollins out of the building, so while he forced Hunter to go on record about their beef in a post-show promo, Seth didn’t actually get his hands on the boss.
As a Raw brand Superstar, Rollins still answers to the folks who run things on Monday nights - and unfortunately for him, one of those people is Trips’ wife, Stephanie McMahon. The commissioner announced before Royal Rumble that he was banned from the Alamodome. Shockingly, the ban stuck and there was no sign of the former Shield member on the PPV.
The Game wasn’t there, either, so while the NXT angle was designed to set up the eventual WrestleMania match between the two, follow-up will have to wait until tonight, where Steph will address Rollins’ actions in a face-to-face meeting.
Maybe Seth can get Undertaker (more on him in a minute) to show up to save his job like General Manager Mick Foley (we’ll be talking about him below, too) did a few weeks back?


THE TITLE SCENE

► Even with his best friend Chris Jericho locked in a shark cage above the ring, Kevin Owens survived his no disqualification match with Roman Reigns, and is still the longest-reigning Universal champion in history. With Roman probably focused on Braun Strowman, whose interference cost him the title (and a certain Dead Man focused on Reigns) - what’s next for KO? And was Strowman in league with JeriKO, or just looking to get back at the Big Dog?

► Jericho still holds the United States title, and has pretty much only feuded with Roman over that, as well. If he’s off to deal with (literally, physically) bigger problems, Y2J will need something to do also. Would be a shame if something came between KO and him...

► Not only is Charlotte Flair still the Women’s champ, but her PPV win streak stands at 16 singles wins. Bayley gave it her all in San Antonio, but lost clean. Can she justify another shot? And if not the Hugster, who? Nia Jax has the logical claim, especially after her win over Charlotte’s old rival, Sasha Banks on last night’s Kickoff.

► We did get two title changes at Royal Rumble. Along with Nia’s win, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson finally won the tag belts when they used the extra referee to call their win over Cesaro & Sheamus. And Neville can now officially call himself King after he defeated Rich Swann to become Cruiserweight champion.


OTHER STUFF TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

► The advertised showdown between Brock Lesnar and Goldberg was essentially a repeat of Survivor Series. The Beast Incarnate got speared, and then he got eliminated. Lesnar is advertised for the show tonight, and it should be interesting to hear how he and his advocate, Paul Heyman, address their latest setback.

► Undertaker closed Raw in a staredown with those men last week, but his Rumble story was more about Reigns. The surprise 30th entrant eliminated the Phenom, and then told him that the ring was his yard now. Can’t imagine Taker won’t want to respond to that.

► Despite for some reason slapping the no DQ stip on the Owens/Reigns match, Mick & Steph really wanted a clean finish - so they’re mad Strowman interfered. Foley will confront the Monster Among Men and demand answers tonight.

► The King of Swing and the Celtic Warrior looked like they might staying on the same page despite their title loss after they eliminated New Day from the Rumble, but then Sheamus tried to toss Cesaro, they both ended up on the floor and back in each other’s faces. I smell a new best of seven series (joking... I think).

► Sami Zayn had a nice run in the Rumble, but he still annoyed everyone he interacted with backstage, which is either his new gimmick, a sign the brass hates him, or both.

► Emmalina?

RED VAGINA