Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 8, 2018

Roman Reigns shows up to start tonight's show. After all the talk, attacks and hype, he says that Samoa Joe would have been ready for him last week, but he wasn't, and he got silenced as a result. He says he is still Intercontinental Champion not because he was better, but because he was fighting for a purpose: his brother, Dean Ambrose. He then says if anybody messes with one member of The Shield (Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Reigns), they mess with all of them. After Roman says that that was last week and this is this week, Jason Jordan shows up. Jordan says that when he watched Roman's match with Joe, he got goosebumps and felt like he was part of something meaningful. He tells Roman that he proved that this is his yard, then thanks him. He then proposes a fist bump, then Seth Rollins shows up. Rollins says he appreciates what Jordan is trying to do, but he still has a lot to learn. Last week, he taught him about teamwork, which went pretty well, but this week, he has to work on his timing, as he tells Jordan that he is walking on Roman's moment. Jordan says they all have legitimate issues with Samoa Joe and Roman took care of them like he and Seth took care of Sheamus and Cesaro, and now they are all champions. Jordan then starts saying they can take on multiple guys and that they are the best three-man group in WWE. Suddenly, Finn Balor and Gallows & Anderson (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) show up. Balor says Jordan may be excited to be part of something is, but questions if Jordan really is part of the best three-man group in WWE. Balor then tells him he has ran with Gallows & Anderson long before Jordan knew his father. Anderson says he and Gallows have ran with Balor for a long time, and Gallows says that when they came to WWE, they had to stand alone. By doing that, they became champions in their own right. They went and did their own thing, but they knew one day they would have to join forces and take WWE over. That day was last week, and they are excited, as 2018 is the year of Balor Club. Jordan is not impressed, saying he glad to be part of the champions' club. Anderson asks if that is "some cute new version of The Shield," and Balor says he doesn't see Ambrose anywhere. Balor, Gallows and Anderson proceed to call Jordan a nerd. Jordan slaps Gallows in the face, and Rollins and Reigns have to hold Jordan back. Suddenly, General Manager Kurt Angle shows up, and says he has just found his main event for tonight. He doesn't know who would win between the two teams, but he would love to find out, and makes a six-man tag match between the two teams official.

Sasha Banks and Bayley beat Absolution (Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville) with a Banks Statement to Mandy Rose. Before the match, it is announced that Mickie James is entering the Women's Royal Rumble.

We look back on Mankind's hospital visit to Vince McMahon on October 25, 1998...as well as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's attack on Vince afterwards.

In the locker room, Cedric Alexander has a meeting with Goldust, who does his best impression of Rocky Balboa's boxing coach Mickey Goldmill. Cedric says he is close to becoming a champion, but Goldust says there is one thing standing in his way: himself. He tells Cedric that he is control, not them. Cedric says he'll be okay, but Goldust says Enzo Amore won't be.

It is reported that Goldust will be teaming with Alicia Fox for WWE Mixed Match Challenge on Facebook Watch one week from tomorrow.

Matt Hardy - now with new entrance music to reflect being "woken" - beats Curt Hawkins. After the match, Bray Wyatt is in the ring behind Matt Hardy. Hardy turns around, and both men have a staredown where they laugh at each other.

Elias is in the ring. He plays guitar, then asks the fans to admit it was good before asking who wants to walk with him. Elias says he has been everywhere, and that he has met a million people and heard a million people, and that only one truth remains: WWE stands for "Walk With Elias." He says that today is a very special day, and that there is no better place to celebrate the occasion than in Memphis, Tennessee. He then plays a song written for tonight. Elias proceeds to sing about Elvis Presley and Graceland, then proceeds to ask why he should even care about any of it. He then says there is a star on the way of taking over the entertainment biz...then says it is The Miz. The Miz shows up with The Miztourage (Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel), who all enter the ring. Miz asks the fans if they miss him, which results in an ovation from the crowd. It is now time for Miz TV, and The Miz says that The Marine 6 filming has wrapped and he is back. The Miz may have been go for a while, but he has not been forgotten as Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel have kept his name alive as he is the glue that keeps Raw together and must-see. He then makes Bo and Axel tonight's guests as he says they have turned themselves around in 2018. Bo and Curtis show their appreciation for The Miz for helping them make 2017 their best year yet, then start a "Thank You Miz!" chant before Bo gives Miz a framed photo of himself. Curtis then gives Miz the sportscoat off his back. Bo gives Miz his watch, and Curtis tries to give Miz his shoes. Bo and Curtis argue until Miz tells them to shut up and sit down. Miz goes on to say 2017 was a great year for him, but he has a lot more planned. He held the Intercontinental title for 200 days while elevating Bo, Curtis and Raw, but he has not forgotten getting beaten up by The Shield two months ago. Miz calls this "an indignity not befitting someone who has done as much for WWE as he have." He says that he has merely let Roman Reigns borrow the Intercontinental title so it could be represented week after week and become bigger than him. In 2018, he will witness the birth of his daughter and he will become the greatest WWE Intercontinental Champion of all time, with children of this generation picturing only him carrying the title. He hopes Roman Reigns has enjoyed the spotlight, for it is coming to an end and he is taking the Intercontinental Championship back.

In the locker room, Finn Balor tells Gallows & Anderson (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) are focused on their six-man tag team match. The situation may be different, but the tactics are the same: eyes open, feet moving. Tonight, they have a real opportunity to show everyone that 2018 is the year of Balor Club.

Before the next match, Enzo Amore says the doctors could not let him compete last week after he was in the hospital. He then mentions Goldust in last week's cruiserweight division match, and says Cedric is teaming him Goldust because it's the closest he'll get to gold in 2018. Enzo plans to end this year like he ended last year: with gold around his waist.

Cedric Alexander beats Enzo Amore by count-out. Enzo Amore retains the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Nia Jax is seen watching the match from backstage.

In the trainer's room, Enzo Amore is met by Nia Jax.

General Manager Kurt Angle is talking to someone who hasn't been in the ring in years who may be in the Women's Royal Rumble. He is then met by Sheamus and Cesaro, who are demanding their tag team title rematch. Sheamus accuses Angle of putting Jason Jordan in a six-man tag team match and accuses him of favoritism. Angle tells Sheamus and Cesaro they will get their rematch at Royal Rumble. As for tonight, they want competition. Angle tells them to head to the ring so he can find them some competition. He is then met by The Miz, who says that he will be starring in his own unscripted series along with Maryse. He then demands a rematch for the Intercontinental title on Raw's 25th Anniversary. Angle tells Miz he will have his rematch for the title in two weeks.

It is reported that The Miz's partner in WWE Mixed Match Challenge is none other than Asuka.

In the locker room, Alexa Bliss meets up with Asuka. She tells Asuka to enjoy her luck while it last, for it will run out when she faces Nia Jax.

Titus O'Neil and Apollo Crews get a surprise win on Sheamus and Cesaro when Apollo Crews distracts Sheamus with a moonsault on Cesaro, allowing Titus to win the match with a schoolboy pin.

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman show up. Heyman says there is a credo in the business called "old school," which he and Lesnar have a lot of respect for, but they never let it blind them to the fact that wrestling is always a progressive industry that is ever-changing in terms of presentation. He asks the crowd to forgive him for being a hypocrite, as he has gotten away from the old school that is not for the betterment of the product and detracting towards the Universal Championship reign on Brock Lesnar. They are always looking for that one person who can step up and beat Brock Lesnar to become the new Universal Champion, but they have gotten away from that, as the Universal title is now marketed as "How can Brock Lesnar survive this predicament?" Heyman doesn't like it, and he admits Lesnar does not like the concept. Last week, Lesnar took Kane's best shot and laughed in his face, just like he will at Royal Rumble when he faces both Kane and Braun Strowman with the title on the line. This time, however, Brock Lesnar will walk into Royal Rumble with only one cliffhanger in mind: "Will he pin Kane, Braun or both?" Heyman then says that Brock Lesnar is the most dominant champion in WWE, and says he has yet to see anyone who can outmatch Lesnar and put him down. As Lesnar and Heyman leave, Lesnar is attacked from behind by Kane, and both men brawl next to the stage. The brawl spills to the backstage area, and Braun Strowman quickly joins in, tossing Lesnar around and attacking Kane with a large storage case. Braun finds a grappling hook, then tosses it into a nearby set structure and pulls it down with the grappling hook in an attempt to crush both Kane and Lesnar as everyone nearby begs him not to do it.

We see footage from during the break where doctors help Brock Lesnar onto a stretcher and into an ambulance while Kane tries to get back up under his own power.

Samoa Joe beats Rhyno with the Coaquina Clutch. Charly Caruso interviews Samoa Joe after the match. He says Roman Reigns' win last week was a Pyrrhic victory, and he has beaten years off his career every time they have squared off, and the cracks in the foundation are coming. When it all comes tumbling down, he will be there to finish the job. He is looking to greater things, and he is going to enter the Men's Royal Rumble. As for future challengers, when it comes to his career, John Cena will be a name he will never forget, and he will be the first man he eliminates in the Rumble.

Backstage, Nia Jax is met by Alexa Bliss, who asks about Enzo Amore. Alexa tells Nia Jax she cares, but she is worried that Enzo is holding her back. Nia Jax says Enzo has inspired her to become a champion, and she is entering the Women's Royal Rumble. Alexa tells Nia that if she can take out Asuka before the Women's Rumble Match, they can go on to WrestleMania. Alexa also tells Nia that Asuka has been saying things about, and whispers something into Nia's ear. Nia is shocked, then asks Alexa if she can speak Japanese, because Asuka can't speak English.

The Rawls Family is the winner of the Little Caesars Seat Upgrade this week.

Nia Jax assaults Asuka from behind before Asuka's match can even happen.

You can vote for Bayley's partner in WWE Mixed Match Challenge on the Mixed Match Challenge Facebook page. The winner will be announced at noon Eastern.

Next week: Asuka vs. Nia Jax!

Finn Balor and Gallows & Anderson (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) beat Jason Jordan and The Shield (Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) after Jason Jordan gets in the ring illegally, distracting the referee and keeping him from seeing Rollins tag Reigns in. This leads to an argument between Jordan and Reigns. Gallows & Anderson hit Rollins with Magic Killer, and while Jordan checks on Rollins, Balor hits Rollins with the drop kick before connecting with Coup De Grace for the win. After the match, The Miztourage (The Miz, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel) attack Reigns, Rollins and Jordan, and The Miz hits Reigns with the Skull Crushing Finale. The Miztourage teases leaving the ring, then they go back into the ring so they can hit Roman Reigns with The Shield's signature three-man powerbomb.

Here are the top 10 moments from tonight's show!