The post-Royal Rumble edition of WWE RAW opens up with a video package on last Saturday’s big event. We are live from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as Royal Rumble winner, Cody Rhodes, makes his way to the ring and he’s NOT ready to compete as he wear a suit.
Cody looks around and he looks at the Wrestlemania sign hanging from the rafters.
Cody asks the crowd what do they want to talk about. He says it goes without saying, but every week someone new is watching the show. Cody says he is not the same person he was when he started this journey on this show 15 years ago. He thought about driving up to Ohio Valley Wrestling at age 19. There was a sign that said ‘tomorrow’s superstars today’. He says he was getting ready to go inside and he thought to himself that he would be WWE champion within 2 years. I was ambitious and delusional because I also thought I would be the next John Cena. If he could go back and talk to 19 year old me, what would I say? Would I tell him it won’t go down that way? Would I tell him that he would get slapped so hard on live TV your knees will buckle? Would I tell him that he would be dashing and give out grooming tips? Would I tell him that he would put paint on his face? Would I tell him that the woman who calls out your names that she would become your wife? Would I tell him that he would get on fire? Would I tell him that he would go on an excursion that would take a toll on him? Would I tell him that on January 28, 2023 that he would win the Royal Rumble to punch a ticket to go on last on the biggest stage at Wrestlemania?
I wouldn’t tell him a single thing because every little piece on that road has been 100 percent worth it. I come out here tonight and I hear you singing along with the words to my music. The words at the start are mine. Wrestling has more than one royal family. WWE has more than one royal family. For it to be true and real and validated in my heart, I have to stand across from another. I have to stand across from an entire bloodline. I have to stand across from the Tribal Chief. I have to have to stand across from the biggest superstar on the planet. I have to stand across from Roman Reigns.
Cody says he has respect for Roman, but Wrestlemania is in 62 days. It might be 62 days for you, but it is 62 days for the rest of my life. On that night, it ends. Pull up a chair because someone else will be eating. You can be the Tribal Chief or the head of the table, but one thing he will not be is the WWE Undisputed Champion.
The lights go down and music plays for The Judgment Day. Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, and Damian Priest appear on the stage.
Finn Balor says he is a little confused. Are you going to return to do something original or are you going to knock off my old stuff like before. Dom says Cody ruined THE Judgment Day’s plans at the Rumble. Rhea won and you will get to hear her tell you who her opponent for Wrestlemania will be. Dom says he was supposed to win the Royal Rumble Match. Finn asks what happened to Rey that he couldn’t make it to the ring. Finn says Dom was lucky to find Rey’s mask.
Dom says Cody put his hands on him and ruined his night at the Rumble. Do you know what would have happened if you did it in prison? You would have gotten got.
Priest says Dom should be the only multi-generational star to main event Wrestlemania, not one who gets what they want. Rhea started at number one and won. Cody got given number 30.
Dom says Cody owes him. You owe him an apology for what he did last night [sic].
Cody says he doesn’t want to run the risk of pissing them off, but is Dom trying to scare him straight. Cody says this could be very different. He says he has respect for Dom’s dad.
Dom says that is really funny because he doesn’t respect his dad. Dom says he has no respect for anyone’s dad, especially Cody’s.
Cody says he gets this. We are 62 days to Wrestlemania. He could play it safe and try to stay healthy… or he could be him and kick your ass. He will do it to any of them. Let’s do it here and let’s do it tonight.
Patrick and Graves hype tonight’s show, including three qualifying matches for the WWE United States Title Elimination Chamber match – Seth Rollins vs. Chad Gable, Baron Corbin vs. Johnny Gargano, and Bronson Reed vs. Dolph Ziggler.
The Judgment Day is still barking at Cody Rhodes from the stage when the music of WWE Hall of Famer Edge hits to a big pop. Edge rushes out and attacks Finn Balor. Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest join in as Edge fights back. Officials rush out to try and restore order on the entrance-way. Cody Rhodes exits the ring and helps Edge as we go to commercial.
– Cody Rhodes will face Finn Balor tonight.
Backstage:
Byron Saxton waits to talk to The Judgment Day. Byron asks Finn about the latest altercation with Edge. Finn says he thought Edge would have enough by now. Finn tells Edge that he works Mondays. He says that everything Cody has done was his. Cody has been stealing from him for years. Finn is coming to collect.
Finn Balor vs. Cody Rhodes
They lock up and Cody backs Finn into the corner and they go around the ring to a stalemate. Finn taps Cody on the chest and Cody with a drop down uppercut. Cody with a delayed gourdbuster and Finn rolls to the floor. Finn gets back in the ring and they lock up. Balor with a side head lock and he holds on when Cody tries to send him off the ropes. Finn with a side head lock take down. Finn with a kick to the chest.
They lock up and Finn with a waist lock take down into an arm bar and back to a front face lock. Cody with a hammer lock. Finn gets to the ropes to force a break. Cody with chops to Balor. Cody with a forearm to the head and Cody with a sunset flip but you don’t sunset flip Balor. Balor rolls through and Cody blocks a kick. Cody punches Balor on the apron. Cody with an Irish whip and Finn tries to float over but Cody catches Finn. Finn avoids an Alabama Slam.
Finn with kicks to the chest. Finn with chops in the corner and he wraps the arm in the ropes and tries to aggravate the surgically repaired pectoral. Finn with a snap mare and kick to the chest for a near fall. Finn with springboard boots to the chest. Balor hangs Cody over the middle rope and kicks him from the apron. Cody blocks a kick and connects with a dragon screw in the ropes. Cody with Beautiful Disaster to send Finn to the floor. Cody with a suicide dive and they return to the ring. Cody stops Priest and Dom from interfering. Cody floats over Finn and hits a power slam for a near fall. Cody with a forearm to teh back of the head and Finn stops a Cody Cutter. Finn with an elevated elbow drop for a near fall. Finn with elbows to the clavicle.
Finn with an arm bar. Finn with an abdominal stretch. Finn with punches to the ribs and he holds on to an abdominal stretch. Cody with a hip toss to escape. Cody with an elbow drop and he gets a near fall. Cody with an Irish whip and he misses a splash in the corner. Balor with boots to the shoulder. Balor goes up top and Cody stops him. Cody with forearms and Finn fires back. Cody with a chop to the back and he sets for the superplex and hits it. Cody and Finn exchange punches and forearms. Finn with a kick and Cody with a Cody Cutter for a near fall. Cody sets for CrossRhodes but Balor counters. Cody with a kick and Balor with sling blade. Balor sets for the running drop kick but Cody with a super kick for a near fall.
Cody sets for a figure four leg lock but Balor with an inside cradle for a near fall. Cody is kicked through the ropes to the floor in front of THE Judgment Day. Priest, Dom, and Rhea surround Cody but Edge comes through the crowd and Priest goes after Edge. Edge sends Priest into the barrier. Edge punches Dominik. Edge spears Dom on the floor. Rhea attacks Edge with forearms. Beth Phoenix comes out and spears Rhea.
Meanwhile, back iin the ring, Cody gets back into the ring. Balor with a double leg take down and double stomp. Balor with a drop kick to send Cody into the turnbuckles. Balor goes up top and Edge gets on the apron. The referee tells Edge to get down but that allows Cody to get out of the way of Coup de Grace. Cody with not one, not two, but three CrossRhodes for the three count.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
We go to credits after various replays of the match.
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