WWE Raw live results: Randy Orton speaks
Date: February 3, 2020
Location: Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, UT
The Big Takeaway —
Ricochet beat Lashley and Rollins in a triple threat match to earn a WWE Title match against Brock Lesnar at Super ShowDown (with the winner defending against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania). Lesnar made a surprise appearance at the end, taking out Ricochet with an F5.
Rhea Ripley appeared to challenge Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, Angel Garza debuted with Zelina Vega to attack Humberto Carrillo before having a match with Rey Mysterio, and Ruby Riott returned to attack Liv Morgan.
Next week, Asuka gets a title rematch against Becky Lynch.
Show Recap —
They’re only showing one side of the arena, but they appear to have a good number of fans considering the snowstorm.
Randy Orton entered after a long recap of last week’s angle. Tom Phillips said Edge was at home beginning the recovery process as he awaits test results. Phillips said we could hear an update from him as early as next week. Jerry Lawler and Byron Saxton were appalled at Orton’s actions and Lawler couldn’t believe he would even show his face.
They cut Orton’s music before he hit the ring and the crowd loudly booed and chanted “you suck.” He took his time getting to the ring, taking moments to stop, perhaps doubting himself. He stood on the middle rope but didn’t do his usual pose.
It was at least ten minutes past the hour by the time Orton spoke. The crowd booed as soon as he did, then chanted for Edge. Every time Orton tried to start talking, they booed. Orton said, “I can’t do this,” put the mic down and left the ring.
They aired a replay of Drew McIntyre eliminating Brock Lesnar and winning the Royal Rumble, then announced a triple threat match between Ricochet, Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley to determine Lesnar’s title challenger at Super Showdown. Also, Kevin Owens teams with the Viking Raiders to face Buddy Murphy and AOP.
Liv Morgan defeated Lana (1:20)
Morgan had new gear, with “Liv Forever” written across her top. Morgan shoved Lana down, then Lana feigned an injury long enough to bait Morgan. Morgan quickly recovered and hit a flatliner off the middle rope for the easy pinfall win.
Ruby Riott entered to her music and Morgan was delighted to see her. Riott’s hair is green and black. The crowd chanted for Ruby, who of course attacked Morgan. Riott gave her a clothesline from behind, then left as the crowd booed. Lana then gave Morgan an X-Factor as the crowd booed some more. Morgan had tears in her eyes.
They probably shouldn’t have done this so soon after the Orton-Edge thing.
They showed some pictures of the snowy roads in the surrounding areas. Saxton thanked the fans for showing up tonight and said, “Kudos for being passionate about all things WWE!”
Drew McIntyre defeated 24/7 Champion Mojo Rawley (w/Riddick Moss) in a non-title match (0:07)
McIntyre grabbed a mic and thanked the fans for fighting through the blizzard. McIntyre warned Rawley that he would Claymore his head off three seconds after he puts the mic down.
McIntyre wanted to talk about Lesnar, who attacked him from behind. That was fine with him, because it showed that Lesnar was apprehensive of the sexy Scottsman. McIntyre said he was just as big and fast as Lesnar, and had a secret weapon in the Claymore. He would kick Lesnar’s oversized head off at Mania and finally win the WWE Championship. The crowd popped.
McIntyre said he forgot about Rawley and told the referee to start the match. The ref called for the bell as Rawley put his belt down then, sure enough, McIntyre hit the Claymore kick three seconds later for the pinfall win. The crowd liked McIntyre and seemed to get more into him as this segment went on.
Charly Caruso interviewed Murphy and AOP. Murphy said a few lines before Seth Rollins showed up and gleefully encouraged them to go get ready for their match and he would take care of the interview. Rollins reminded us that he’s beaten Lesnar twice and said McIntyre should start preparing for the Monday Night Messiah.
Six-man elimination tag match: AOP & Tag Team Champion Buddy Murphy (w/Tag Team Champion Seth Rollins) defeated Kevin Owens & The Viking Raiders (22:15)
They went to break 49 seconds into the match. Ivar took out Rezar with a dive, then Erik nailed Akam with a dive. (Both guys grazed the middle rope on the dives.) Ivar missed a charge and crashed into the ring’s video board. On the other side of the ring, Rollins gave Erik a curb stomp, then Murphy pinned Erik for the elimination at 8:09.
Following that, Owens and two referees checked on Ivar, who “injured” his shoulder. The referees escorted Ivar to the back, so he was eliminated due to injury. The Viking warrior left on his own power and left his partner to fight by himself. Owens faced off with his three opponents as they went to break.
The heels worked over Owens who attempted a few comebacks but kept getting cut off. Owens kicked Murphy’s leg out of his leg and spiked him with a DDT, but Akam cut him off again. Owens knocked both AOP members off the apron, took out Akam with a cannonball and sent Rezar into the steps.
Owens gave Murphy a superkick then tried a senton, but Murphy got his knees up. Owens followed soon later with a pop-up powerbomb for the pinfall elimination at 19:19. Akam worked over Owens who suddenly nailed a stunner for the elimination about a minute later.
Rezar missed a charge and went shoulder-first into the post, then Owens followed with superkicks, a cannonball, and senton for a nearfall. The crowd chanted for Owens. Rollins hopped on the apron, so Owens went after him like an idiot. This allowed Rezar to catch him with a clothesline, followed by consecutive spinebusters for the pinfall win.
The finish felt weak but the crowd was really behind Owens. After Rollins and his buddies left, Owens stood up and received a big standing ovation.
Ricochet told Caruso that the WWE Championship was the dream and he wanted to prove that he was one of the best. He said he wasn’t as big and strong as Lashley and didn’t have a crew like Rollins, but tonight meant everything to him. This wasn’t good.
Aleister Black defeated Eric Young (1:14)
Black won after a series of strikes and a Black Mass. Young was bleeding from the mouth (I think).
Black cut a weird promo after the match. He said people should be whatever they choose to be, and when he was done making his way through the Raw roster, they would all know that they were defeated by a person who was told he could be whatever he wanted to be.
They aired a replay of Humberto Carrillo taking out Andrade with a hammerlock DDT. They said Andrade was “out indefinitely,” which will explain his absence over the next month. It’s silly they want us to pretend we don’t know that he’s suspended.
Humberto Carrillo vs. Angel Garza (w/Zelina Vega)
There was no actual match. Vega explained that Garza wasn’t just a hired gun, but Carrillo’s cousin (which the announcers also acknowledged), which made Carrillo vulnerable. As she spoke, there was a great moment where Garza faked out a fan on a high five. Garza said Carrillo must answer to him and called his actions a disgrace.
Carrillo snatched the mic away and the crowd chanted, “Si!” As Carrillo yelled at them, Vega slapped him, then Garza attacked. He hammered away and hit a Wing Clipper. Vega removed the black mats to expose the concrete floor (I think Vega might be addicted to pulling up those mats) and Garza set up for a DDT, but Rey Mysterio ran down to chase them off.
Officials checked on Carrillo and the crowd chanted 619 as Mysterio turned his attention to Garza.
Rey Mysterio defeated Angel Garza (w/Zelina Vega) via DQ (13:10)
Mysterio was getting the better of him until Garza ripped off his pants and chucked them at Mysterio as a distraction. Garza blocked a 619 and dropped Mysterio on the apron which led to commercial. After the break, Garza missed a moonsault, then Mysterio used a roll-up for two, followed by a kick to the head for two. Mysterio followed soon later with a DDT for another two.
As Mysterio ran to the ropes, Garza grabbed him by the leg and hit a knee strike for two. Mysterio hit a Canadian Destroyer and went for a 619 but Vega pulled Garza from the ring. Mysterio followed with a dive. Vega yelled at Mysterio, then Garza flew in with a superkick. Garza launched him into the barricade, then gave him a DDT onto the exposed concrete.
The ref called for the bell, presumably for a DQ. (They never officially announce disqualifications if it’s not a title match.) Garza smirked as the crowd booed. Officials checked on Mysterio as Garza left with Vega. I thought Garza came off well here.
[Third hour]
They aired more footage of the blizzard and bad roads.
Charlotte Flair promo
Charlotte said she’s held the Raw championship multiple times and has beaten Becky Lynch. She has also held the Smackdown title multiple times and beaten Bayley. There were some chants for Rhea Ripley. Charlotte stopped when she heard them, then said she has love for NXT, just like NXT has love for their queen.
Right on cue, Rhea Ripley came out. The crowd chanted for NXT. Ripley said Charlotte may have beaten Lynch and Bayley, but she hasn’t beaten her. “As a matter of fact, I’ve actually beaten you.” Ripley said Charlotte could fight for any title at Mania, then held up her NXT belt. The crowd chanted “Yes.” Charlotte smiled at her and left without answering.
Sarah Schrieber asked Lashley what his battle plan was tonight and if he would be distracted by Lana’s loss earlier. Lashley said no, because that was Lana’s match, and they would have plenty of time to celebrate after he beats both Rollins and Ricochet at the same time. Lashley gave us a spoiler — that he would defeat Lesnar and go to Mania as the champion and defeat McIntyre.
Tag Team Champion Asuka (w/Tag Team Champion Kairi Sane) defeated Natalya (12:01)
Natalya wore a purple and yellow armband in honour of Kobe and Gianna Bryant. She also gave her hairband to a very happy fan in the front row.
Natalya hit a sit-out powerbomb for two, then tried a sharpshooter, but Asuka blocked it, rolled to the outside, then went to break. During the break, Asuka took over after a kick to the head. Asuka followed with Yes kicks but Natalya ducked the last one and used a schoolboy for two. Asuka then kicked Natalya right in the jaw (and they showed a slow-motion replay).
Asuka tried a few submissions but Natalya countered each one and finally turned a guillotine into an impressive vertical suplex. They traded rollups for nearfalls, then Natalya hit a discus clothesline. Natalya applied the sharpshooter but Asuka got a rope break.
Natalya was distracted by Sane on the outside (who wasn’t really doing anything), then Asuka applied the Asuka Lock and Natalya tapped. This was good until the finish. Natalya was the third babyface to get distracted by someone on the outside tonight.
After the match, Asuka called out Becky Lynch and said she wanted a title rematch. Lynch entered wearing Deal With It sunglasses (I assume that’s what they’re called). Lynch said beating Asuka at the Royal Rumble damn near gave her superpowers, and if Asuka thought she wanted to drink from that fountain again, she’d be right.
Lynch said she probably shouldn’t risk her title so close to Mania, but the only thing better than beating Asuka was beating her twice. Lynch accepted. Sane was about to attack from behind but Lynch tossed her out of the ring. Lynch joked that her new superpowers let her see from behind. Lynch sauntered off full of confidence. Lynch came across like a star.
Goldberg was announced for Smackdown.
Charlotte will appear on NXT this week to answer Ripley’s challenge.
Lynch vs. Asuka for the title will be on next week’s Raw.
Triple threat match: Ricochet defeated Bobby Lashley and Tag Team Champion Seth Rollins to earn a WWE Championship match against Brock Lesnar at Super ShowDown (13:24)
(I probably don’t have to mention this but they never explained why Ricochet deserves to be in this match. Especially over, say, Aleister Black. Excluding the Rumble, Ricochet has one televised match in 2020 before tonight, and has a losing record in his matches going back to before Survivor Series.)
Rollins cut a pre-match promo, congratulating his buddies on their win earlier. He also said he would once again dethrone Lesnar. He pointed out that the crowd gave him a much different reaction this time than they did last year when he made the same proclamation. He said he went on to defend the title across the world and they crucified him for it.
He thanked them for that because he was proud of the man he’s become. He would defeat Lesnar again, but it wouldn’t be for them, it would be for the greater good and it would be something remembered for 100 years. He reiterated that McIntyre would be facing the Monday Night Messiah at Mania, not Lesnar.
Early in the match, Ricochet wiped out both opponents with dives. He went to the top but was attacked by Buddy Murphy. AOP joined in and attacked Lashley. Kevin Owens’ music hit and he decked Murphy. The Viking Raiders then jumped AOP. Owens attacked with a chair and they brawled through the crowd, leading to a break.
Back from break, Lashley went to work on Rollins until Ricochet took him down with a high cross. (Phillips reminded us that Ricochet assisted in eliminating Lesnar from the Rumble, which I suppose is meant to explain his inclusion in this match.) Ricochet gave Rollins a standing shooting star but Lashley broke up the cover and gave him a spinebuster.
Lawler didn’t give Ricochet a fighting chance and said Ricochet looks like Brock Lesnar’s skeleton.
Rollins gave Lashley a blockbuster but Ricochet broke up the cover. Rollins gave Ricochet a buckle bomb, but Ricochet came back with an enziguri. With all three guys fighting on the turnbuckle, they brought Rollins down with a big double superplex (at least I think that’s what they were going for, Lashley just sort of fell down and Ricochet did most of the work).
The impact sent Rollins out of the ring, then Ricochet gave Lashley a 630 splash for the pinfall win. Ricochet faces Lesnar at Super Showdown.
As soon as it ended, Lesnar sprinted to the ring and gave Ricochet an F5. The crowd went nuts for this. There was a loud mix of cheering and booing and they promptly went off the air at the top of the hour.