Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 25, 2021

Drew McIntyre heads to the ring to start tonight's show. McIntyre says it feels good to be back, and thanks the fans for their get-well wishes before stating he is 100% right now and will be 100% on Sunday and proclaiming that COVID-19 will be beaten. McIntyre then focuses on Sunday's match, which he dedicates to those affected by COVID-19, saying he has not taken Goldberg lightly after first watching him rise to the top as a teenager. He says the last thing to go in a heavyweight fighter is power, but Goldberg is still the monster he once was. He says that Goldberg has started a new streak, but that he will be the one to break when he beats Goldberg to stay WWE Champion. Suddenly, The Miz and John Morrison show up. Miz says McIntyre vs. Goldberg will be WWE's "Kong vs. Goldberg," and Miz and Morrison says one of them, if not both of them, could end up injured by the end of the match and whoever is still standing will be a sitting duck as Miz cashes in to become WWE Champion. Suddenly, Goldberg shows up and says "You...me...Sunday...you're next," to McIntyre before he and McIntyre stare at Miz and Morrison, throw them into the ring and give them a Spear and a Claymore before continuing their staredown.

Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Charlotte Flair, who says she can perform under pressure and takes things day by day, and says that it is one thing to say you are queen, it is another to be one. She says she is defending the tag team tiles and entering the Royal Rumble, and says that she knows how to defy the odds. As for her father "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, he is in a dark place and she knows Lacey Evans' intentions, and while it is one thing to have her last name, it is another to carry it, and tonight, she has "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler.

Charlotte Flair beats "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler by disqualification after Nia Jax hits Charlotte Flair with a leg drop soon after the match begins. After the match, Nia and Shayna continue to attack Charlotte, then Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke run in and fight Nia and Shayna. As Charlotte joins in, Lacey Evans shows up to make the brawl three-on-three.

Charlotte Flair, Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke beat Nia Jax, Lacey Evans and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler by count-out after Shayna gets Charlotte in the ring but fails to get back into the ring in time...almost. The match is restarted by Adam Pearce during the commercial break.

Nia Jax, Lacey Evans and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler beat Charlotte Flair, Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke after Charlotte chases Lacey over the barricade and to the back.

In footage from last week, we hear from Mustafa Ali, who says that he does not want to be a reminder of reality for Kofi Kingston instead of an escape from reality. In footage from earlier today, Mustafa says Kofi's greatest moment came in the wake of his worst, and says that Kofi took everything away from him.

Xavier Woods beats Slapjack after T-Bar's distraction backfires. After the match, Woods gets blindsided with a big boot from T-Bar, and T-Bar and Mace hit Woods with a double choke slam. Mustafa Ali then sends Slapjack to get a steel chair, and Mustafa teases hitting Woods with the chair only to not do it, sit in the chair instead and demand a microphone. Mustafa tells Woods looks like a peasant despite wanting to be a king of the ring, and says he will show mercy upon him like a real king as he becomes Kofi Kingston's replacement in the men's Royal Rumble match.

Backstage, Matt Riddle meets with R-Truth, who says The Hurt Business is throwing him a surprise party in The VIP Lounge.

It is announced that Bad Bunny will perform "Booker T" live at Royal Rumble.

It's time for The VIP Lounge. MVP mentions tonight's Gauntlet Match, saying that while Matt Riddle might not be bright, he has luck on his side. Lashley says that you have to believe in someone else's belief in you, and says that despite holding the United States and Raw tag titles, The Hurt Business (MVP, Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander) have just begun. As Shelton speaks, Cedric talks over him, then MVP is presented with a gold "THB" necklace. MVP is a loss for words, then Cedric and Shelton are about to argue when R-Truth shows up. As an angry MVP asks why Truth is here, R-Truth mentions the surprise party, but MVP says he is not on the list. R-Truth thinks "THB" means "Truth Happy Birthday" and not "The Hurt Business" and says he was promises twenty-four gold carrots, then Lashley admits he forgot about his birthday and makes it up for him with a gift that he has in the ring. Before R-Truth can get in the ring, a host of Superstars chase after Truth, and these Sueprstars get attacked by The Hurt Business. Suddenly, MVP is hit from behind with a Final Flash by Matt Riddle.

We look back on Edge's return in last year's Royal Rumble match as it is announced he will be here tonight.

Backstage, R-Truth talks with Adam Pearce when "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles and Omos show up. Styles says he would love to help Truth get in the Royal Rumble match, and Adam Pearce makes a match where if Truth wins, he can earn his way into the match. R-Truth then thinks "benevolent" is an astrology sign, saying he is a Capricorn before asking Omos if he is a Taurus.

It is announced that WWE Network will launch on Peacock in the United States on March 18th, and that more details will be soon to follow.

Sheamus beats John Morrison. After the match, Miz proposes Sheamus face him and Morrison in a two-on-one handicap match. Sheamus accepts.

The Miz and John Morrison beat Sheamus in a two-on-one handicap match.

Backstage, Lacey Evans gets some wrestling pointers from "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair shows up when Charlotte Flair shows up and asks Lacey to leave. Ric says he will always be himself, but Charlotte says she is the only one protecting him right now. She tells Ric that he is going from "legend" to "old man" as she confronts him for spending his money on everything but his family back in the day, and says that she is not the bad guy. As she leaves, she is sucker punched by Lacey.

"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles beats R-Truth with the Calf Crusher. (Had R-Truth won, he would have entered the men's Royal Rumble match.)

We hear from Alexa Bliss, who says that last week was so much fun before laughing at the burning of Randy Orton's face along with her invisible friend. She says she wanted to have fun with Asuka, but Asuka did not want to play nice. She then says that she did not want to play nice with Asuka either, and says that The Fiend taught her the track from last week along with some other things before saying she cannot wait for him to come back so she can thank him. As for tonight, she has the opportunity to win a shiny new toy, and just like last week, she does not feel like playing nice. She then says "Let me in" in Bray Wyatt's voice.

Matt Riddle beats The Hurt Business (MVP, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander) in a Gauntlet Match to earn a shot at the WWE United States Championship. Shelton is eliminated after Cedric's interference attempt backfires, and when MVP tries to stop Shelton and Cedric from arguing, Riddle quickly beats him via submission. After the match, Bobby Lashley attacks Riddle from behind and puts him in the Hurt Lock.

It is announced that Peacock will be the new home of the WWE Network in the United States and that the Network will fold into Peacock in that region.

We hear from Edge, who says that if 2020 taught him anything, it is that you cannot sleep on tomorrow, for it is not guaranteed. He talks about how he went to bed ten years ago as World Heavyweight Champion only to forfeit the title within a week when his wrestling career was suddenly over. Edge also talks about how he told his mother he wanted to be a wrestler for her to respond "Just go do it," which he says was the jet fuel to get his dream back, then mentions Randy Orton tearing his triceps at Backlash. He says that one must fight, and with this in mind, he is entering the men's Royal Rumble match, and this time, the stakes are higher as the window closes for him more and more every day and he must take back what he never lost. Edge goes on to say that a world without dreamers is a much less magical place, and quotes Harrison Ford, saying "If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right" before saying he can.

Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka for the WWE Raw Women's Championship ends in a no-contest. Asuka retains the WWE Raw Women's Championship. During the match, Alexa Bliss is seen on a rocking horse. Later on in the match, Alexa transforms twice, first into a pre-Fiend "Goddess" state before undertaking a darker transformation. As Alexa locks in the Mandible Claw, Randy Orton suddenly shows up and hits Alexa with an RKO to end the show.

Raw Talk: Charlotte Flair gets honest about Lacey Evans.

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