Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 20, 2020

Seth Rollins, Buddy Murphy and AOP (Akam and Rezar) show up to start tonight's show. Rollins says he wants the fans to know that every single one of them has played a small part in making him the man that he is today, and without the fans, there is no "Monday Night Messiah." After thanking the fans from the bottom of his heart for believing in him and giving him their support to lead Raw into the future as the premier program of WWE, he then introduces Buddy Murphy, who he says opened his eyes and embraced his fate last week. Rollins says that Murphy has courageous and brave enough to rise up and stand firmly etched in the right side of history following the end of last week's show, which is revisited on the TitanTron. Afterwards, Rollins declares Murphy his newest disciple, then says Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe tried to get in the way of progress and stop the future with the help of Big Show, but their plan failed because the future is inevitable. He calls his plans fate and "determinism at its finest," then says that now is a crucial time for the fans and the locker room to decide which kind of people they want to be, for the battle lines have been drawn. He says that everyone is with his group or against them, then Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe show up. Owens tells Joe that Rollins talks too much, then says Rollins and his group should be proud of taking out Big Show, who should be back to deal with them eventually, then says that they did not get rid of them. He says that he, Joe and the fans have gotten tired of hearing Rollins' voice, and demands "less talking and more fighting." Rollins says there will be no fighting, as there must be a proper time and place. Joe has none of this, calling Rollins "a lawyered-up asshat" as he says that he sees a self-professed messiah in the ring, and Rollins says that while he is forgiving, AOP is not, and if Joe and Owens want a fight, they might as well dance with destiny. Joe says one of the side effects of "being an asshat" is not having proper listening skills, and says that they were not the only ones wanting a fight. He then brings out The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik) to back them up, then they head to the ring. Rollins retreats and Owens, Joe and The Viking Raiders quickly clean house.

Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Seth Rollins, who says that Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe are hiding behind The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik) before challenging The Viking Raiders for the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships alongside Buddy Murphy later tonight.

Andrade retains the WWE United States Championship against Rey Mysterio in a ladder match. After the match, Zelina Vega tears off one of the floor mats at ringside to expose the concrete underneath, but when Andrade goes for a Hammerlock DDT, a man in a purple Rey Mysterio mask jumps the barricade and confronts Andrade. The man unmasks to reveal himself as Humberto Carrillo, who attacks Andrade and forces him to retreat before checking on Rey Mysterio.

WWE honors the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Aleister Black beats an unnamed opponent in seconds with a single Black Mass.

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman show up. Heyman says that the fans take what Lesnar does for granted, as he says what Lesnar will do and Lesnar does it to the point that the fans are no longer surprised, and says that Lesnar entering the men's Royal Rumble match at #1 is unprecedented. Heyman states that Lesnar will eliminate everyone in the men's Royal Rumble and stand victorious in the end, and that not one person in the locker room will be worthy of main eventing WrestleMania against him. After Heyman asks the booing fans if they think anybody is worthy of stepping in the ring with Lesnar, Heyman dares the fans to name a single person, then Ricochet arrives. Ricochet says that Heyman talks too much about what it means for Lesnar to be the first entrant in the men's Royal Rumble match, and while there is concern in the locker room, the word "afraid" is not in his vocabulary. Heyman simply calls Ricochet "lunch meat" and tells him to go back to the locker room before he gets hurt, but Ricochet says he is not afraid to fight for a WrestleMania main event. Ricochet then tells Lesnar that he is not afraid to step in the ring with him, then steps in the ring with Lesnar and challenges him to a fight right now. Lesnar waves Ricochet off and leaves with Heyman, but Ricochet asks Lesnar if he is scared. Lesnar gets back in the ring and kicks Ricochet in the groin, then says "not scared" into the microphone and leaves.

Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Randy Orton. Orton says Drew McIntyre is "a hell of a guy" with "a hell of a future" and "one hell of a chop," but that it is impossible to be on par with a man who can attack from anywhere at anytime without warning with the RKO.

Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton ends with The O.C. ("The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson) attacking both men only to be overpowered. After the match, both men have a stand-off, then Orton tosses the chair down, walks past McIntyre briefly after calling him a "tough S.O.B." and hits the RKO. As Orton walks away, McIntyre tells Orton that he should have Claymored him, that this will not happen again and that they are not even. He then hopes they are in the Rumble together so he can kick his head off, win the Rumble and main event WrestleMania.

Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Charlotte Flair. Charlotte says she is prepared to face anyone or anything, then she is joined by Becky Lynch briefly before asking if anyone is prepared to face her.

Becky Lynch shows up. She says that Asuka did her a favor by spitting green mist into her eyes, as she can see things more clearly and that Asuka is the one who should be worried about her. She says that Asuka should also be worried about beating her tag team partner Kairi Sane tonight, and while they may have fought before, she will soon teach Asuka that she is the real winner and that she cannot beat her anymore.

Becky Lynch beats Kairi Sane with the Asuka Lock, then is attacked by Asuka - who is sitting on the ring post for most of the match - afterwards.

WWE celebrates the life and accomplishments of "Soul Man" Rocky Johnson.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Asuka and Kairi Sane. Asuka says that at Royal Rumble, Becky Lynch will not be ready for her.

Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy beat The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik) to win the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships! Before the match, Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens show up with The Viking Raiders and AOP (Akam and Rezar) show up with Rollins and Murphy, and it is not longer after the match begins that AOP, Joe and Owens brawl in the crowd.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy. Rollins says tonight's tag team title win is a new beginning for the two of them, and on Sunday, they will cement their dominance when he wins the men's Royal Rumble.

Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) host another edition of Monday After Weekend Update. Angelo Dawkins takes the time to say he is sick of reboots, then says he love reboots following a graphic of John Morrison and The Miz. R-Truth then reports from the Minute Maid Park at Houston, Texas for the Royal Rumble report about Houston, Texas, and says "It hurt'z" about being F-5'd by Brock Lesnar. We then see footage of Otis with Val Venis' theme playing.

Erick Rowan beats Matt Hardy. During the match, Rowan reaches into the cage and apparently gets bitten again, then Rowan smacks the cage on the steel steps.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe. Owens says that Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy winning the Raw tag team titles is a problem they will take care of eventually, then declares himself for the men's Royal Rumble match to make sure Rollins does not win. Joe also declares that he is entering the men's Royal Rumble match, and while he will stand by Owens' side as far as Rollins is concerned, he will go through him during the Rumble.

Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Mojo Rawley. Mojo states that for too long, the 24/7 Championship has been carried by cowards who run at the first sign of danger. The Singh Brothers then show up try to pin Mojo, who overpowers them both.

Before the next match, Lana says that she and Bobby Lashley are trying to share their love, but everyone is jealous and envious of their love of a lifetime and love story of a millennium. She says that they have accepted that they must suffer the fans' ugliness. After mentioning that the fans are disrespectful, she demands a "Thank You, Bobby" from the fans before stating that she and Lashley will get their hands on Liv Morgan and Rusev, respectively.

Bobby Lashley and Lana beat Rusev and Liv Morgan after Lana grabs Rusev by the ankle, allowing Lashley to hit the Spear for the win.

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