Raw Deal - Raw recap for December 13, 2021

MVP and Bobby Lashley head to the ring to start tonight's show. Lashley says that last week, he showed what happens when people disrespect him. MVP says Lashley is the single most terrifying man in all of WWE because people are afraid to say his name like the Candyman. MVP says there is an issue with respect in today's Superstars, and that there are guy like Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins who show up week after week whining, complaining and backstabbing to get into a WWE title match, then says Lashley does none of that. He says that Lashley makes statements, and that he made a statement to multiple persons last week that he be added to the WWE Championship match at Day 1, for there is no better way to start off the new year than with Lashley as WWE Champion. Suddenly, Kevin Owens shows up, and says he has not mentioned MVP or Lashley and fails to see the disrespect, then accuses Lashley of trying to weaseling his way into a WWE Championship match that he has earned his way into. Owens says he is doing this to give the fans a WWE Champion they can believe in, then says nobody wants Lashley in the match and that he will go to Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville to ensure he does not enter it. Suddenly, Seth Rollins shows up and says the show cannot start without its star, and says that as much as he despises Owens, he has to agree that Lashley should not be in his title match much like Owens should not be in it. MVP says Rollins and Owens are terrified, and Lashley dares them to get into the ring and do something about it. Owens proposes that they work together against Lashley, saying Lashley cannot take them. As Owens and Rollins argue over who enters the ring first, Big E shows up.Big E says Owens and Rollins may be quaking in their boots at the thought of being in the ring with Lashley, he has already beaten Lashley to become WWE Champion and again inside of a steel cage, and he has no problem beating Lashley one more time. Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville show up, and Pearce says there will be severe consequences if anyone lays a hand on anyone else. Deville says they have decided a Fatal 4-Way is a good idea, and that Lashley will be in the WWE title match at Day 1. Pearce then says he will be added to the match, but only if Lashley can defeat Big E, Owens and Rollins in no particular order tonight. Lashley accepts.

In backstage footage from earlier today, Randy Orton meets with Matt Riddle. Riddle says he has been watching a lot of tape, but Riddle admits some of it has been himself in the blazer. Orton tells Riddle that his broadcast career was over before it began, but Riddle is more interested in podcasting and being a shaman. Orton tells him to focus more on the tag team titles, and tells him to focus 100% on Otis so that maybe one day, he can put the blazer back on.

Backstage, Sonya Deville and Adam Pearce has to remind Seth Rollins that he, Kevin Owens and Big E all have to be beaten for Lashley to get a title shot, and tell Kevin Owens that he will have to face Lashley first because he was last added to the match. After Rollins and Owens complain and leave, Big E says that while this will make it harder for him to retain the WWE title, he will still walk out champion.

Otis beats Matt Riddle. After the match, Randy Orton attacks Otis and Chad Gable, but Otis lays Orton out.

Bianca Belair beats Doudrop. After the match, Doudrop attacks Bianca Belair from behind on the stage.

Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews Kevin Owens, who says the current situation and St. Paul, Minnesota is "trash," and that he plans to put an end to Lashley's WWE Championship endeavor quickly.

WWE announces it's new "Next In Line" program, which serves as a pipeline from other sports to professional wrestling, then USA Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson is seen in the front row. MVP and Bobby Lashley both fist bump Steveson before the next match.

Bobby Lashley beats Kevin Owens with the Hurt Lock before he can even fully lock it in. After the match, WWE official Sonya Deville tells a livid Seth Rollins that he is up next.

We see another vignette for Veer Mahaan. This time, we get to hear Veer Mahaan speak. Veer says the lion is the king of the jungle, and in order to survive, the lion must deftly hunt its prey, kill it and eat it. He also mentions that other times, the lion hunts just for fun.

Becky Lynch heads to the ring. Becky says last week was a big night for Liv Morgan, but she is still standing as Raw Women's Champion like she said she would. She then says that if Liv became champion, the fans would find reason to doubt her as they do not know what they want. She says that people wanted her to come back but then had opinions about her afterwards despite never being in her shoes, and says one has to evolve or else they will disappoint the fans. As she shows a photo of a disappointed young female Liv Morgan fan from last week ad tells people to get used to being disappointed when they see their favorites lose to her because she will stay champion for a very long time, Liv Morgan shows up. Liv says she is not getting used to anything and that the fans are sick and tired of hearing Becky's broken record, and that the only person doubting Liv Morgan is Becky. Liv says Becky doubting her is the only reason she nearly lost to her last week and had to cheat to win, which she says is the only thing Becky is the best at while providing a photo of Becky Lynch grabbing the bottom rope on the pinfall. She admits she cried a little last week, not because she was weak, but because she was human, but she snapped out of it and believed she could beat her. Liv says she will not give up until she makes the Raw Women's title mean something again. Liv also says that if Becky really is "big time," she will accept a title rematch at Day 1. Becky tells Liv to blame herself for not being ready for her grabbing the rope, then says she is not ready and does not have the killer instinct. After Becky says that Liv did absolutely nothing like she always did, Liv charges the ring and attacks Becky, but Becky shoves her into the ring steps on the outside, traps her hand in the steps and stomps the arm and elbow. Multiple referees have to stop Becky and check on Liv. Becky then tells Liv Morgan that if she still wants the match, it is on. She then says that with no other able-bodied opponents opposing, she he will go home to her family and train.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, who admits he and Omos were not at their best and that Omos was disrespectful for walking out on him, then says he will not give up on their team. Styles says he has been in the business for a long time and has never seen someone like Omos, and if things go off the rails, that is on him. He says that Omos was not a way to boost his career, but a way to give back to the business. He realizes that Omos is "a good kid" and wants to see him succeed in this business, then Omos shows up and asks "Are we good?" Styles says "We're golden," and says he will not give up on the team. Omos says he will not give up on the team, either.

In footage from earlier today, Dana Brooke and Reggie walk through a park. Reggie tells Dana he is willing to pass on some knowledge from when he was champion and proposes talking over some hot chocolate. Dana likes the idea. R-Truth and Akira Tozawa suddenly blow their cover, and as Reggie stops them from going for the 24/7 Championship, Dana Brooke is grabbed by Tamina, but she escapes alongside with Reggie after fending off Tamina. Tamina then tells R-Truth and Akira Tozawa to stay out of her way. R-Truth and Tozawa then argue over who Tamina warned.

Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode beat Finn Balor and Damian Priest following the distraction from Austin Theory. After the match, Theory takes a selfie with a downed Finn Balor, then runs out of the ring when Damian Priest chases him.

Before the next match, Queen Zelina says she feels it is her royal duty to grace "this frozen tundra" with her royal presence, then turns on the crowd for siding with Rhea Ripley before saying she will prove some deserve to be on top while others deserve to be buried under a snow pile in "a fly-over state like Minnesota."

Queen Zelina quickly beats Rhea Ripley after Carmella attacks Nikki A.S.H.

Backstage, Seth Rollins is met by Kevin Owens, who wants to be in Rollins' corner due to MVP being there. Rollins says Owens could not even help himself, but Owens says there is no escape from the Hurt Lock and admits he had to save himself. Rollins tells Owens to stay backstage while he figures out how to beat Bobby Lashley on his own, but Owens tells Rolins he is making a mistake.

Seth Rollins beats Bobby Lashley by disqualification after Kevin Owens shows up to attack him...almost. After the match, Owens and Rollins praise each other on a job well done, then Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville show up and restart the match as a no-disqualification match while making the match against Big E a no-disqualification match. Lashley hits Rollins with a Spear to advance to his match with Big E.

Backstage, Vince McMahon is meeting with Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez when Austin Theory barges into the room to show his selfie with Finn Balor. Vince is not impressed, but Austin says a match would be more impressive. Vince tells Austin that they are not friends and that he has not impressed him yet, then pulls out his most deadly weapon: a pencil. He then says that the eraser is the most important part.

It's time for another edition of Miz TV. This time around, however, Maryse is the host, and she says that the fans in Minnesota are not used to seeing a woman like her or a man like The Miz, whom she introduces. Miz says Maryse looks astonishing and says only a woman like her can make a cold Minnesota night feel like paradise, then formally endorses who he feels should be the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2022: himself. Miz tearfully raises a glass with Maryse to beating Edge at Day 1 and sending him back to permanent retirement while he highlights his resume, then Edge shows up. Edge says that sometimes, the squeaky wheel doesn't get the grease, and it just squeaks and squeaks. He repeats "squeaks" until Miz finds it annoying, then Edge says this is what it feels like when Miz opens his mouth. Edge says he would get all the adulation he craves if he could just shut up, and that while he knows how good he is, he has seen guys like him crash and burn and he knows Miz is hiding his insecurity. He says that Miz has been told so many times he is not good enough that he has become an "overbearing jackoff" that he has believed it, then says that he will have to teach him that he still has lessons to learn and knock the constipated look off his face at Day 1. Miz throws his champagne into Edge's eyes, but Edge hits Miz with the Edge-O-Matic before throwing all of the furniture out of the ring. He goes for a spear, but Miz uses Maryse as a shield and hits Edge with the Skull Crushing Finale. Miz and Maryse then argue, then Maryse smacks Miz and leaves, with Miz chasing her to the back.

Backstage, Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins meet with Big E, who tells them not to approach the ring if they want their match to stay a Triple Threat Match.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews MVP and Bobby Lashley. MVP says no extraordinary being could have beaten Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins in the same night, not even Hercules, and that a no-disqualification allows Lashley to unleash as much pain as he wants. Lashley says that in 2022, everyone will be bowing down to their new, All Mighty WWE Champion.

Bobby Lashley beats Big E in a no-disqualificatoin match to become part of the WWE Championship match at Day 1, making the match a Fatal 4-Way. Following interference from Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens that sees Rollins and Owens being put through tables, Bobby Lashley wins with a Spear after MVP hits Big E in the back of the knee with his cane.

This week on Raw Talk: Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode! Carmella and Queen Zelina! "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles and Omos!

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