Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 7, 2019

In memory of "Mean" Gene Okerlund, 1942 - 2019.

The show begins with a brawl between Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley being broken up by referees, officials, security members of the Raw roster and even announcers. The brawl spills out onto the stage, where Seth and Lashley continue brawling. More people have to get involved, but both men are eventually separated.

John Cena shows up to start tonight's show. He welcomes everyone to the show as well as to the road to WrestleMania. He says that on that road, you either step up or get left out, and he refuses to be left out again this year. He plans to step up right now, for on the road to WrestleMania, there is one match where anybody can grab the golden ticket to a main event match at WrestleMania: the Royal Rumble Match. He says that in life, nothing is given away or handed out; every inch much be earned, and he wants to earn that golden ticket. Cena then officially enters himself into this year's Royal Rumble Match. Suddenly, Drew McIntyre shows up, and says that he has waited for his moment for years, and unlike everyone else, he does not care who Cena shares his bed with or about his stupid haircut; all he cares about is his sixteen World championships. He cares that Cena has headlined multiple WrestleManias and that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon called him the greatest, as he agrees with Vince when he says that Cena is the greatest of all time. McIntyre says he has a history of taking out the greats such as The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns), Dolph Ziggler, and Kurt Angle, and that he is the most dangerous man in WWE and that he is coming for Cena. Cena says he was having a great time until now, and says that it is sad that he has heard the same thing every week from every other Superstar to the point that he had to leave so everyone could come up with a different promo. He asks McIntyre what makes him different from anyone else, and McIntyre replies by simply stating that everyone else is all talk and that he will show Cena what he is capable of first-hand. Suddenly, Lio Rush and Bobby Lashley show up, and Lio Rush says that if something is not done about Seth Rollins, he and Lashley will get a lawyer. As Lio Rush says that tonight's show is officially cancelled, Seth Rollins sneaks up on Lio and Lashley to attack the latter, and Dean Ambrose rushes in to attack Lashley. Cena fights off Ambrose, and McIntyre attacks Cena. This leads to a brawl at ringside, and Finn Balor runs in to fight McIntyre in the ring before taking everyone else out with a hands-free tope con hilo.

John Cena, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor beat Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley and Dean Ambrose. After the match, Triple H is seen talking with Bayley and Sasha Banks backstage on the TitanTron. Seth Rollins, noticing this, heads to the back immediately, while John Cena and Finn Balor high-five some front row fans. Backstage, Rollins knocks the cup of coffee out of Triple H and demands Dean Ambrose and the WWE Intercontinental Championship tonight. Triple H says he's got it, and it will be in a Falls Count Anywhere Match. He then says "Welcome back."

WWE honors the life of WWE Hall of Famer "Mean" Gene Okerlund with a ten-bell salute. Afterwards, Hulk Hogan shows up. Hogan says he came out in character because it is how "Mean" Gene would have wanted it, as he loved entertaining the fans more than anything else. We then see a video package celebrating "Mean" Gene Okerlund's life and career. Hogan says that Okerlund was one of a kind, and that he can speak for everybody when he says "Mean Gene...we love you, brother." He says that Okerlund may no longer be with him, but he is always in his heart. As the crowd chants "Thank you, Mean Gene," Hulk looks at the "In Memoriam" picture on the TitanTron and says he knows what exactly he was doing in Heaven and asks the Hulkamaniacs in Heaven "Whatcha gonna do when Mean Gene-O-Mania runs wild on you, brother?"

Bobby Roode and Chad Gable retain the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships against The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) in a Lumberjack Match despite Scott Dawson's foot being on the bottom rope when he is pinned by Chad Gable.

Elias is in the ring. He plays guitar, then says that as he looked back on 2018, he wept at the level of stardom he has and how quickly he had reached it. He dropped a debut album and performed all around the world, and it has brought him here to Orlando, Florida. He then says that if 2018 was great, it is nothing compared to what he has in store for 2019, for on January 27th, he will enter and win the men's Royal Rumble Match. However, as much as he has enjoyed his success, he has enjoyed the failures of Baron Corbin, as he went from being on top of the world as Raw General Manager-Elect to being a joke. He is about to perform a song where he makes fun of Corbin's failures when Corbin shows up, saying nobody can stand another mind-numbing performance from Elias and that nobody knows what is like to have had a job like General Manager-Elect. He says he should have everyone's respect and admiration after all he has done, but nobody gets it or understands and everyone disrespects him and wants him to disappear as a result. He says that won't happen, and like Elias, he will enter the men's Royal Rumble Match and go on to WrestleMania. Elias tells Corbin to shut his mouth before Corbin can say much else.

Baron Corbin beats Elias.

We hear from Dean Ambrose, who asks what the world is coming to before saying he never liked six-man tag team matches due to being "unnatural" and that it hurts him to hurt Seth. He says that he sacrificed everything to take the Intercontinental Championship from Seth Rollins and bring balance back to the WWE, and tonight, he will burn Seth Rollins down no matter where he has to do it.

Braun Strowman shows up. He considers talking on the microphone, but instead, he dares Brock Lesnar to get in the ring. Paul Heyman and Lesnar are seen backstage, and Heyman introduces Lesnar. Heyman says he knows how much money has been spent to hype Lesnar and Strowman's face-to-face confrontation, but the card is subject to change and that if Lesnar were in the ring right now, Strowman would be on his back looking up at him. Lesnar and Strowman smirk, then Strowman says he is waiting in the ring for Lesnar to get in his face like Heyman said he was going to do. He then accuses Lesnar of being a coward, and says Lesnar should thank Heyman for keeping in the back so he won't get these hands. Lesnar hands the WWE Universal Championship to Heyman and heads to the ring to hear what Strowman has to say, with Heyman following close behind. Lesnar circles the ring, then heads back to the back. Strowman tells Lesnar to turn around, and says he will be crowned WWE Universal Champion at Royal Rumble.

Before the next match, Jinder Mahal asks everyone to meditate with him, and asks Alicia Fox to lead the way. Jinder then chews out the front row for not meditating before verbally disrespecting Orlando, Florida. This is interrupted by the entrance of Ember Moon and Apollo Crews.

Apollo Crews and Ember Moon beat Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox.

It's time for A Moment Of Bliss. After announcing that Orlando, Florida will become known as the place where her new segment started, she then introduces tonight's guest, "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey. Ronda says she wants to look forward and not back when asked about her 2018, and says she needs to test her limits with a vengeance. She says one woman has taken her to her limits and is the unsung hero of Raw: Sasha Banks. All of a sudden, Nia Jax shows up making fake vomiting noises, and says Ronda has a girl crush on Sasha before asking if she forgot about her. She says that is Seth Rollins is getting a title rematch, she should get one, too. Suddenly, Sasha Banks shows up and agrees with Ronda, and says she would love to face her for the Raw Women's Championship and teach her how to lose with dignity and class. Nia Jax reminds Sasha she is a 300+ pound Samoan woman who can break her face, and Sasha immediately challenges Nia Jax to a match where the winner gets Ronda when Nia tells her to go to the back of the line.

Sasha Banks beats Nia Jax with the Banks Statement to face "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey for the WWE Raw Women's Championship at Royal Rumble.

Dean Ambrose retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Seth Rollins in a Falls County Anywhere after interference by Bobby Lashley. After the match, Lio Rush and Lashley pull a table out from underneath the ring before putting Rollins through it.

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