WWE Raw Results (01/02) - United States Championship Match, Women's Championship Match And More

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results of "WWE Raw" on January 2, 2023, coming to you live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee!

The United States Championship will be on the line during the first "Raw" of the year, as current titleholder Austin Theory will be squaring off with Seth "Freakin" Rollins. The pair have been at odds with one another for the past several months, and Rollins has been looking to get his hands on Theory once again after Theory dethroned him at "Survivor Series: WarGames". He became one step closer to achieving his goal after defeating Bobby Lashley a few weeks ago to become the number one contender. Will Theory be able to hold on to his title, or will Rollins become a three time champion tonight?

Another title will also be on the line, as current "Raw" Women's Championship Bianca Belair defends against number one contender Alexa Bliss. Bliss earned herself the opportunity after defeating Bayley on the December 12 "Raw". Moments after winning the match, Bray Wyatt's logo flashed on the Titan Tron and a seemingly possessed Bliss got Belair into position to hit Sister Abigail, but snapped out of it and rushed away from ringside. Tensions between the pair only grew after Bliss smashed a vase across Belair's head following a sit down interview between the pair the following week. What will happen when the former allies collide?

Additionally, "The Man" Becky Lynch, Damage CTRL leader Bayley, and former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley are all slated to appear on tonight's show, as per WWE's event page.

We are live! Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick greet audiences at home as The Bloodline are decimating ringside. Solo Sikoa attacks a security guard. They flip over the announce desk before Kevin Owens' music hits and makes his way to the ring. Sami Zayn tells Owens not to open his mouth because The Bloodline are not in a good mood. He announces they are taking over "Raw" because of him beating them on "SmackDown" this past Friday. 

Owens says that all he really wants to do is come punch him in the face instead of saying what he had to. Adam Pearce cuts him off and tells The Bloodline they've gotten away with this kind of thing for far too long. He then tells security to escort The Bloodline from the ring and they oblige, but Sikoa takes them all out. 

Owens gets in the ring and The Bloodline attacks him as Pearce calls for the locker room to come out and take them out. The Bloodline tries to escape, but Pearce doesn't let them and tells them they will all be in a match tonight.

We head backstage to Byron Saxton and Bianca Belair. Saxton asks them about the state of her relationship with Bliss and Belair tells her there's no turning back. She says Bliss won't be able to pry the title from her hands. 

Back from the break, we head backstage to the locker room yelling at Pearce about The Bloodline. Elias, Kevin Owens, and Street Profits all volunteer to be in matches with the four men, and he tells Elias he can go one-on-one with Sikoa while Owens and The Profits can take on Zayn and The Usos.

Back at ringside, Alexa Bliss heads down followed by Bianca Belair.

The bell rings and Belair clocks Bliss. Bliss tries to fire off right hands, but Belair catches her and delivers an uppercut. She follows it up with a headbutt, all the while Bliss gets angrier. Bliss delivers a dropkick that sends Belair to the outside, then looks for a baseball slide. Belair catches her and whips her into the barricade.

Back from the break, Bliss fires off several forearms. Belair fires back with a right hand, but Bliss manages to deliver an arm drag. Belair hits a dropkick, then charges at her and looks for a shoulder to her midsection. Bliss moves out of the way and sends her into the ringpost, then delivers a series of stomps and steps on her back. She sends her head into the mat, but Belair gets her up for a vertical suplex. Bliss escapes and trips her, then sends her into the top turnbuckle face first and delivers some offensive moves. Belair manages to deliver a delayed vertical suplex, then fires off several open palmed strikes. She whips Bliss into the corner face first, then hits a trio of bodyslams. She hits a standing moonsault, then goes for a pin but Bliss kicks out. Bliss sends Belair to the outside, then delivers a cannonball off the apron.

Back from another break, Bliss delivers a dropkick. She whips her to the mat, then delivers the double knees. She looks for a cannonball, but Belair moves out of the way and gets her up for the KOD. Bliss escapes before Belair delivers a backbreaker. She fires off several right hands, but Bliss pulls her to the outside.

A man in an Uncle Howdy mask appears behind Bliss from the crowd and she stares at him before snapping back into it and tossing Belair in the ring. A second man in the same mask catches her eye as she ascends to the top. The Titan Tron then glitches as Bliss grabs her head and starts shaking it. She then jumps the referee and fires off right hands.

Winner (and still): Bianca Belair (via disqualification)

She then sets her sights on Belair and does the same, then sends her into the ring post and the ring steps. She delivers a DDT to Belair on the ring steps, then stands above Belair. She looks to head to the back, but changes her mind and delivers a second DDT to Belair on the ring steps. She walks away as a stretcher meets Belair at ringside.

Back from the break, we then head to a video hyping up the United States Championship match later tonight. We then head backstage to Austin Theory and Cathy Kelley. Kelley asks Theory how confident he is going into his match tonight and he says he's not worried at all. He says Seth "Freakin" Rollins is the past while he is the now, and says his "forever reign" is just beginning.

Back at ringside, Elias is in the ring with his guitar. He introduces himself and begins playing his song, but Solo Sikoa's music cuts him off and he heads to the ring as the camera pans to several musical instruments set up on the outside. 

The bell rings and the two lock up. Elias looks for a shoulder tackle, but Sikoa blocks it. He delivers a shoulder to his midsection, followed by an open palm strike to his face. Elias sends Sikoa to the outside, then looks for a dropkick through the middle rope. Sikoa moves out of the way and delivers an open palm strike, then sends him face first into the apron. He grabs a cowbell, but Elias grabs it from him and hits him in the back with it. He sends him into the ring post, then grabs an acoustic guitar. He looks to hit Sikoa, but Sikoa moves out of the way and Elias hits the ring post. Elias then sends Sikoa into the ring post, then sends him into the timekeeper's area after hitting him with a cymbal.

Back from the break, Elias hits Sikoa with a guitar. Sikoa then sends him into an amp on the ramp, then hits him a couple of times with a mic. He follows it up with a kick, then sends him crashing into a drum set. He grabs part of the drum set, then hits Elias with it. He follows it up with a headbutt, then tosses Elias back in the ring. Elias hits Sikoa with an electronic keyboard, but Sikoa plants him with a Samoan Drop.

The two men spill to the outside before Elias delivers a tambourine and gets him back in the ring. He then hits him with an electronics keyboard and smashes it across his spine. Sikoa manages to deliver a belly-to-belly suplex, then whips him into the corner and looks for a splash. Elias moves out of the way, then hits him with a tambourine and delivers a series of splashes. He follows it up with a spinebuster, then hits him with the tambourine and clotheslines him to the outside. He grabs the electronic keyboard and smashes it across his back, then grabs an acoustic guitar from HARDY in the crowd. He gets back in the ring, but Sikoa catches him with a superkick and fires off several right hands. HARDY gets into the ring and grabs the guitar he gave Elias. He smashes it across Sikoa's back, but Sikoa no-sells it. HARDY quickly retreats, allowing Elias to hit a running knee and ascend to the top. He goes flying, but Sikoa catches him with the Samoan Spike. He then delivers Spinning Solo through the piano on the outside for the win.

Winner: Solo Sikoa

We then head to a video recapping the tag team match between Kevin Owens, John Cena, Roman Reigns, and Sami Zayn on this past Friday's "SmackDown".

Back from the break, The Usos and Sami Zayn head to the ring, followed by Kevin Owens and The Street Profits.

The six men begin to brawl with one another. Jimmy and Dawkins get in the ring before the bell rings and Dawkins delivers a back elbow. He hits a splash in the corner, then follows it up with an enziguri. Ford tags in and plants Jimmy. Dawkins and Jey tag in and Jey delivers several stomps to Dawkins. Zayn tags in and delivers a pair of right hands to Dawkins. Jimmy tags back in and beats down Dawkins. Jey tags in and Dawkins hits him with a vicious right hand. Owens tags in and delivers a series of right hands to Jey, then follows it up with a senton. Jey fires back with a right hand, then tags in Jimmy. Jimmy continues firing off right hands, then tags in Zayn. Zayn delivers a series of stomps.

Back from the break, Jimmy fires off several right hands on Owens. Jey tags in and Owens delivers a superkick. Ford looks distracted from the match after the events involving his wife, Bianca Belair, earlier. Owens tags him in while Jey tags in Zayn, and Ford delivers a crossbody off the top. He follows it up with a standing moonsault before the two men ascend to the top. Ford delivers a right hand to send Zayn crashing into the mat, then delivers a Frog Splash. He goes for a pin, but Jey breaks up the fall. Ford delivers a superkick to Zayn, then sends him to the outside and goes flying. Solo Sikoa heads to the ring and delivers a Samoan Spike to Dawkins. Owens charges at him, but Jey hits him with a superkick, all the while Ford tosses Zayn back in the ring. Zayn delivers the Helluva Kick for the win.

Winners: Sami Zayn and The Usos

After the match, Zayn and The Usos rain down right hands on Owens as Sikoa grabs a chair. Zayn takes it from him, but Sheamus and Drew McIntyre come out of nowhere to level them. They then get in the ring and begin brawling with The Usos before sending them to the outside.

Back from the break, Alpha Academy heads to the ring, followed by Dexter Lumis.

The bell rings and Lumis chases Gable around the ring. He tosses him to the outside, then crawls after him. Otis inserts himself between Gable and Lumis as Gable gets back in the ring. Lumis meets him there and pounces at him. He fires off several right hands, but Gable manages to send him bouncing off the top rope and clocks him from behind. He then whips him to the mat several times, then begins to manipulate his arm. He hits a Northern Lights suplex, then goes for a pin. Lumis kicks out and delivers a splash in the corner, followed by a bulldog and a Sidewalk Slam. He then delivers a leg drop before Gable fires back with a German suplex. He then knocks him to the outside and pushes him into the ring post, then gets him back in the ring and rolls him up. Lumis reverses the fall for the win.

Winner: Dexter Lumis

Commentary then throws it to a video of Cody Rhodes' return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 as Rhodes talks about his journey back to WWE. He says he has another shot at living the first dream he ever had as a series of pictures of him and his father, Dusty Rhodes are shown in the first of a two part "journey from recovery" video package. The video ends off with the reveal of Rhodes' torn pectoral at Hell In A Cell.

Back from the break, Damage CTRL heads to the ring.

Bayley wishes a Happy New Year to "Trashville", then tells them to be proud to be from the city Damage CTRL was born. She says she can't think of a better way to kick off 2023 than being next to Dakota Kai and IYO SKY. She then says she needs to address "The Irish Elephant" in the room, then gloats about beating Becky Lynch.

Lynch's music hits and she cuts her off. Lynch tells Bayley to shut up, then says she's been on the hamster wheel since coming back after doing the same thing week in and week out. She calls her a coward and a fraud, then says she feels comfortable in the shadow of someone else. She says Kai and SKY are doing the hard work while she takes the glory, and says it's only a matter of time before someone turns on someone. Lynch says when she loses, she only gets better and says she brought up a good point. She says they should end things where they started tonight.

Bayley declines her offer, but says since she has an obsession with Kai and SKY, she'll put them in a match with them and will let her pick her own partner. Lynch says she doesn't have her phone on her, but likes the odds of going 2 on 1.

Lynch and SKY start off the action. The bell rings and Lynch delivers a boot to SKY. She follows it up with an enziguri, but SKY sends her into the middle turnbuckle. Kai tags in and Lynch delivers a big boot to her chest. She hits a leg drop, then delivers a forearm. Kai delivers her signature running boot, then knocks Lynch to the outside. SKY hits Lynch with a clothesline and a dropkick, then gets her back inside and tags in Kai. Kai sends Lynch to the mat, then tags SKY back in. SKY sends Lynch into the barricade and the ring post, then hits her with a right hand. She gets her back inside the ring, then tags in Kai.

Michin's music hits and she joins Lynch. Lynch tags her in and delivers a superkick to SKY's face. She delivers a dropkick, then sends SKY to the outside and delivers a tope suicida.

Back from the break, SKY delivers a dropkick to Michin. SKY locks in a crossface, but Michin escapes. Kai tags in and Michin delivers a series of right hands, followed by a neckbreaker to SKY and tags in Lynch. Kai grabs her ankle, but Lynch pushes her off and delivers a bulldog before sending her into the ring post and the barricade. She gets Kai back in the ring, then ascends to the top rope and delivers a missile drop kick. Michin tags in and gets Kai on the top rope with the help of Lynch. The pair deliver a superplex, and Michin goes for a pin. Michin looks for a pin on Kai, but Bayley puts Kai's foot on the bottom rope. Kai makes the blind tag to SKY as Lynch charges at Bayley. SKY takes advantage and delivers Over the Moonsault for the win.

Winners: Damage CTRL

Back from the break, Byron Saxton catches up with Alexa Bliss. He asks her about her actions earlier tonight. Bliss says she gained control rather than lost it and says Belair now knows that.

We then head to a video of Dominik Mysterio being arrested at the Mysterio family household. We then see Mysterio reflecting on his stay in prison and asks if he thinks this is a game. He says prison changes a man and he says he's just getting started. He tells Rhea Ripley he'll see her soon.

Back at ringside, Austin Theory heads down, followed by Seth "Freakin" Rollins.

Back from the break, we head to a video hyping up Bronson Reed.

The bell rings and Theory delivers a kick to Rollins' midsection. Rollins fires back with a sling blade, then clotheslines him to the outside and hits a baseball dropkick. He follows it up with a senton on the apron, then drapes him on the barricade and delivers a jumping knee off the announce desk.

Back from the break, Rollins fires off several rapid chops on Theory on the outside. He tosses him back in the ring, then delivers a knee off the top rope. Theory fires back with a dropkick, then fires off a series of right hands, He delivers a stomp, then sends him face first into the top turnbuckle. He whips him into the corner, then delivers a backbreaker. Rollins looks for a splash in the corner, but Theory rolls out of the way and Rollins collides with the top turnbuckle. He tosses him to the outside, then sends his head crashing into the announce desk and tosses him over it. He grabs his title and gloats, then fires off a few right hands.

Back from the break, Rollins delivers a series of chops and right hands, followed by a shoulder tackle that sends him to the outside. He hits a suicide dive, then gets him back in the ring and delivers a backbreaker. Rollins ascends to the top, but Theory meets him there. Rollins pulls him off and sets up for a powerbomb, but Theory escapes and delivers a back elbow. Rollins gets him up for another one, but Theory escapes and lands on the middle rope. Rollins meets him there and delivers a superplex. Theory rolls through and reverses it into a brainbuster, then goes for a pin. Rollins kicks out and delivers a superkick, followed by an enziguri.

The two men exchange right hands before Theory delivers a boot to Rollins' midsection. Rollins fires back with a forearm, then looks for the Curbstomp. Theory rolls out of the ring and grabs his title. He goes to walk away, but Rollins goes after him and gets him back in the ring. He hits a superkick, then ascends to the top rope and delivers a Frog Splash. He goes for a pin, but Theory kicks out. Rollins sets up for the Curbstomp, but Theory sends him into the referee. Rollins delivers a Pedigree, then goes for a pin as another referee heads down. He starts his count, but Theory kicks out at two. He sets up for the Curbstomp and while the referee checks on the other referee, Theory delivers a low blow to Rollins, followed by a chop block and A-Town Down for the win.

Winner (and still): Austin Theory