Raw Deal - Raw recap for December 20, 2021

MVP and Bobby Lashley head to the ring to start tonight's show. MVP talks about what Bobby Lashley did last week, saying it would be considered "impossible," and yet Lashley beat Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens and Big E to earn a shot at the WWE Championship at Day 1. He says the fans would not understand the Herculean feat that Lashley performed, saying that Lashley makes doing the impossible "routine" and comparing it to winning a marathon, a basketball game and a boxing match back-to-back-to-back. As MVP says that everyone is living in "The All Mighty Era," Big E shows up. Big E congratulates Lashley on doing everything he said he would do, but says that while the Lashley he knows is strong, dominant and has a lot of sisters, the Lashley he knows does it all on his own. He mentions MVP hitting him with his cane last week, then says Lashley does not have "the plums" that he thinks he does. Lashley says he did not need help from anyone and that he would have beaten him anyway. Lashley says he did not need MVP's help to win his matches last week, and while he is no saint, he did what he did to get the win. He then says the fans are questioning whether he would have won on his own. He mentions MVP saying that he would beat Big E if Lashley could not, then Lashley puts MVP to the test in a match against Big E while he watches from ringside. MVP raises his cane against Big E, then all of a sudden, Lashley is attacked from behind by Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens. Big E fights Owens and Rollins, but they gang up on him. Owens and Rollins throw Big E into the barricade, the go after Lashley again. Owens holds Lashley down for The Stomp, but Big E stops The Stomp and Lashley plants Rollins in the center of the ring.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Bianca Belair. Bianca says she stays in her line and minds her own business, yet Doudrop is obsessed with her. She says their match will be the final match where Doudrop will find out not to mess with her.

Backstage, Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins agree that they have to get Bobby Lashley out of their WWE Championship match. Suddenly, Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville show up and puts them in a tag team match against Big E and Lashley.

Bianca Belair beats Doudrop.

Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews Austin Theory. Theory says he feels like the luckiest Superstar in the world, and says Vince McMahon is proud of him either because of his selfies, because he sees promise in him or because he sees him as a future champion.

Finn Balor beats Austin Theory after reversing a pinfall attempt with a selfie into a crucifix pin attempt before hitting the Coup De Grace for the win.

Backstage, The Miz is taking with Omos. "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles shows up and meets with The Miz, who mentions a "revealing conversation" before leaving. Styles says he hopes to win tonight and be back in the tag team title picture by year's end.

It's time for Miz TV. Tonight's special guests are "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles and Omos. Before introducing his guests, The Miz tells Maryse that he loves her and not to mention their relationship on Cutting Edge. Omos throws his chair out of the ring before The Miz mentions that Styles and Omos have been "out of sync" as of late. Styles says that describes Miz and Maryse before chalking it up to "growing pains." He says that he meant what he said last week and that he and Omos are unstoppable when they are on the same page, and says that he not only noticed his potential, but feels Omos can be a tag team champion on his own. He says that they got off the rails, but it happens, and he is proud of their tag team before saying that they two of them should take all the titles. Miz likes the idea, but says he has heard otherwise from Omos. Styles asks Miz what kind of man puts the mother of his children in harm's way, and Miz accuses Styles of deflecting before saying that Omos does not feel the same way as he does, telling him that Omos confided in him that he is sick and tired of carrying him. He says that Omos also told him that he was the biggest and brightest star when he showed up and that Styles has does nothing but hold him back, and that the mutual respect between them is one sided and that Omos had WWE begging him to come while Styles had to toil to get there. Miz also says that Omos had WWE begging him to come while Styles had to toil to get there. As Styles asks Omos for the truth, Rey and Dominik Mysterio show up for the next match.

Rey and Dominik Mysterio beat "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles and Omos after Omos refuses to let Styles tag out. After the match, Styles says that he should never have taken Omos under his wing bcause he is a piece of trash. Omos shoves Styles, and Styles attacks Omos only to be shoved out of the ring. Styles goes for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Omos grabs him and drops him down. Omos then tells Styles that the next time he sees him will be in a match between them.

Backstage, Austin Theory almost knocks on Mr. McMahon's door, but cannot bring himself to do so.

Randy Orton beats Chad Gable. After the match, Otis gets in the ring, and after two RKO attempts, Otis pushes Orton out of the ring.

Backstage, MVP meets with Bobby Lashley in the locker room. MVP asks Lashley if he is alright and if he can trust Big E. Lashley says no on both counts and says he will beat Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins, and if Big E looks at wrong, he will beat him, too. Lashley asks MVP to get him some water after MVP asks Lashley if he still needs him.

In footage from earlier today, Dana Brooke and Reggie check out some lit-up Christmas trees in a local park. As they do, Akira Tozawa - dressed as an elf - looks for R-Truth but is stopped by Tamina. Dana Brooke and Reggie soon meet R-Truth dressed as Santa Claus, and Tamina chases after Dana Brooke before the two of them fight in strings of Christmas lights. Dana and Reggie are able to get away. Tamina gets mad at R-Truth and Tozawa, who both run off.

Dolph Ziggler beats Damian Priest in a WWE United States Championship Contender's Match by count-out when Robert Roode trips Damian Priest off the ring apron and Priest responds by attacking him. After the match, Priest gets in the ring, and when Ziggler drop kicks him, Priest chases him out of the ring before grabbing Roode again and hits him with The Reckoning. Priest then chases Ziggler to the back.

Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews Finn Balor, who is soon attacked from behind and slammed into a road case by Austin Theory. Theory ten takes a selfie with Finn Balor.

Backstage, Austin Theory meets with Vince McMahon and apologizes for losing the way he did tonight before getting Finn Balor back. Vince notes that Theory still lost and considers firing people, saying firing people before the holiday gives him a warm feeling in his stomach. Vince puts him in a rematch against Finn Balor, then says that he did not become a ruthless billionaire by making minor adjustments before erasing marks on his paper and blowing eraser scrapings in his face.

It's time for The Cutting Edge. Tonight's guest is Maryse. Maryse says she is not here to be Edge's friend and that she is here to use The Cutting Edge to talk, as The Miz will not even let her speak. She says that most people know here as this larger-than-life character who has everything figured out, but at the end of the day, she is a human being who wants respect and wants a big thank you for everything she does for the family. Maryse admits she is tired and exhausted, and she admits that Edge could have hurt her badly but did not, and at the end of the day, she is a woman with a family and two children, and if something were to happen to her, no one would be there to take care of her kids. Maryse almost breaks down before asking if Edge would ever have done this to his wife, and Edge says he is sorry that Maryse's life is a sad country song and that The Miz trotted her out to lead him to a false sense of security. After Edge calls The Miz out, saying that this is low even for him, Edge says he would not do this to his wife Beth Phoenix, because he respects her. The Miz's music hits, and Miz attacks from behind, but Edge is ready. Maryse then slaps Edge, and Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale. Miz and Maryse then laugh and kiss, revealing that this was part of their plan all along.

We see another vignette for Veer Mahaan.

Before the next match, Queen Zelina says that Rhea Ripley is not royal enough to end the reign of the one true queen in WWE.

Rhea Ripley beats Queen Zelina.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Big E, who says that tonight is not about whether he or Bobby Lashley can co-exist, but whether he can set the tone for Day 1. Bobby Lashley shows up and says he will not need MVP or anyone's help to become WWE Champion. He says that tonight, he is focused on Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins, and asks Big E if he can trust him. Big E tells him to leave MVP in the back, and Lashley says not to worry about that.

Liv Morgan heads to the ring. Liv talks about how she challenged Becky Lynch to a rematch at Day 1 and how Becky tried to injure her before accepting it, and says that as she laid on the steel steps, she knew she could not let Becky get the upper hand. She says that with Becky heading home to "her try-hard husband's" gym in Iowa to train, she decided to follow her over there this past weekend. We see footage of Liv Morgan in the training ring where Becky is training with somebody. Liv produces a Kendo stick and smashes it into Becky's back, but the person she did not strike is Becky, who is really behind her. Becky takes Liv's Kendo stick, and the two women fight. Liv hits an enzuigiri before smacking the real Becky Lynch in the back, leaving Becky livid. Liv admits that Becky may have been a step ahead, but says Becky is so threatened by her that she had one of her student disguise herself as Becky, and while she did not want to hurt an innocent person, she cannot help but laugh at Becky's behavior. She says that is is disgusting that Becky is willing to sacrifice someone like that, and says that while she knows Becky will try to cheat again, she welcomes it, because she knows she will win and become the champion. Liv says that Becky can try to break her arm, but she will break her face and win the Raw Women's title. Suddenly, Becky Lynch heads to the ring. Becky says you have to crack a few eggs to make an omelette and that her students know they have to pay their dues, then says it takes more than a Kendo stick to keep her down, for when one is big time, there's no time to be down. As Becky mentions Liv's arm, Liv says it took one arm to kick her ass. Becky tells Liv she got lucky before telling her she stepped up more than she thought she would and made a spotlight for herself. She then says it gets hot under those lights and that Liv cannot handle the heat, but Liv says she will become Raw Women's Champion and that her spotlight is bright and feels just fine. Liv dares Becky to get in the ring, and Becky says that as much as she wants to finish what they started, she will not go in there with the Kendo stick in her hands. Liv says she brought it for Becky, not for herself, and tosses it to her. Becky becomes insulted, and says that Liv should be lucky she has a private jet to catch.

Big E and Bobby Lashley beat Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins after Lashley inadvertently hits Big E with a Spear meant for Rollins. After the match, Rollins attacks Lashley, and he and Owens pull Lashley out of the ring and gang up on him before grabbing some rings steps and hitting Big E with them before nailing Lashley. Rollins and Owens then powerbomb Lashley on the ring apron before Rollins hits The Stomp on Lashley on the ring steps. Owens and Rollins then hug in the ring.

This week on Raw Talk: Miz and Maryse! Rhea Ripley! Austin Theory!

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