Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 17, 2022

Becky Lynch heads to the ring to start tonight's show. She says that with two weeks until Royal Rumble, the Raw women's division has never been hotter and it is all because of her. Becky says it is so hot that Superstars from the past are also showing up at the women's Royal Rumble, saying they need her because she makes stars. Becky says that while people were not clamoring for it, she got Doudrop a title shot and made Doudrop better before beating her, then admits that she loves Doudrop's tenacity before saying that someone like her will never be a champion while she is in the company. Doudrop shows up and says she got the title shot on herself, then tells Becky to stay out of her way, but as Becky tells her that she got her that title shot last week and can win again if she just follows her lead, Bianca Belair shows up. Bianca says Becky may see herself as the "greatest of all time," but you cannot spell "greatest" without "EST," and that she is "the EST." She also says Doudrop is only facing Becky because Becky is afraid of her. She then says that Becky has only bought herself some time, as she is entering the women's Royal Rumble and winning to to main event WrestleMania again. Suddenly, Liv Morgan shows up. Liv says she and Bianca may be a tag team tonight, she is also entering the women's Royal Rumble and winning it. She then says that for this to happen, she has to outlast Bianca. Suddenly, Doudrop snores, then demands a referee so they can have their match.

Becky Lynch and Doudrop beat Bianca Belair and Liv Morgan after squashing Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan with a low cross body. After the match, Doudrop hits Becky with a Banzai Drop.

Backstage, Reggie and Dana Brooke ask Edge and Beth Phoenix for advice in Reggie's match, to which Edge says he has no chance but wishes him luck anyway. Beth tells Dana that she is happy to see her wear gold after busting her butt in WWE for years. Edge and Dana then meet Damian Priest, who picks Edge's brain about the Royal Rumble match. Edge says cardio and continuing to do what he does is the most important thing. Suddenly, Beth Phoenix gets a note from Maryse, who wants to meet her face-to-face. After Edge tells Beth that he has her back and they both leave, Kevin Owens shows up and tells Damian Priest that they look forward to their match tonight. Damian refuses to believe him, but Owens insists he looks forward to a good, clean match.

Elimination Chamber is live on Peacock and WWE Network on February 19th from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

It's time for The Kevin Owens Show. Tonight's guest is Seth "Freakin'" Rollins. Owens thanks Rollins for accepting the invitation to his show, then admits he admires Rollins so much as well as the suits that he wears before giving him kudos for berating Roman Reigns by telling him he was the man who set the table. Rollins says that Roman is rattled and scared of him, saying that he is playing chess while Roman is playing checkers and that taking the Universal Championship and turning it back from blue to red will be like taking candy from a baby. Rollins says that he can get rid of Brock Lesnar and also get rid of Bobby Lashley tonight. Owens then announces that he is officially declaring himself for the men's Royal Rumble match this year. Owens then says that when he wins, he and Rollins will give everyone the greatest WrestleMania main event of all time. Suddenly, Damian Priest shows up. Damian Priest calls Rollins and Owens "delusional idiots" and says nobody believes that Rollins can beat Roman at Royal Rumble and that nobody believes Owens will win the men's Royal Rumble match before telling them not to wake his dark side up. He also announces that he has gotten with WWE officials Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville, and that his and Owens' match starts right now.

Veer Mahaan is coming to Raw.

Kevin Owens beats Damian Priest after feigning a knee injury, ending Damian Priest's undefeated streak on the main roster.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Nikki A.S.H., who says that she stands on her own and that Rhea Ripley should be down and out after last week, saying she is the one who broke up their team and flushed their friendship down the toilet. She says that she is the closest the people of Tulsa, Oklahoma have to a hero, and says that "almost superheroes" have to do things normal people do not understand and that Rhea will realize she needs someone like her whether she realizes it or not.

Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) show up for their graduation ceremony. After mocking the intelligence of the fans in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Chad Gable celebrates Otis passing his final exam by beating RK-Bro and earning the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships, and says it is his honor to present Otis with an Alpha Academy diploma. Otis says Chad Gable has helped him reach his full potential, then warns the rest of the locker room to expect pure carnage if they mess with them. Suddenly, Matt Riddle shows up, also in a cap and gown. Riddle says he had to make a very special speech when he got here, and as he reads a speech he wrote on a piece of paper at the breakfast buffet, Gable wants to know why Riddle is here. When Gable says Riddle is here for a rematch, Gable says Riddle cannot define the rematch before Riddle unintentionally proves him right before saying it is a good idea. Gable says he will give Riddle a chance at a rematch if he and Randy Orton can beat them in a series of academic tests. When Riddle entertains the idea, Otis rips off his cap and gown and confronts Riddle, then Orton shows up and hits Gable with an RKO. Riddle attacks Otis from behind, then Orton puts on Otis' cap and gown before telling Alpha Academy "We accept."

Backstage, Austin Theory meets with Vince McMahon, who wants Austin to beat Finn Balor and then beat him up, or else he will beat Austin Theory up and send the resulting selfie to Austin Theory's mom.

WWE acknowledges Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Austin Theory beats Finn Balor. After the match, Austin Theory proceeds to beat Finn Balor up again and hits him with another ATL.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Rhea Ripley, who says that she never intended to break up her friendship with Nikki A.S.H., but Nikki made up her mind, and if Nikki thinks her the villain, then she is more delusional than she thought. Tonight, she is going to show Nikki exactly who she is.

Before the next match, Carmella and Queen Zelina show up. Carmella says everything they predicted about Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H. came true, and Zelina fancies herself as Rhea's godmother after giving Rhea Ripley a bit of a push. Carmella says Rhea Ripley was an "almost threat" with an "almost superhero," then Zelina says Rhea Ripley will find someone else to leech off of as she does not have what it takes to be champion on her own. Nikki A.S.H. attacks Rhea Ripley before the bell can ring, and she slams Rhea Ripley into the ring steps.

Backstage, Dana and Reggie come up with strategies against Omos as R-Truth, Tamina, Akira Tozawa and a referee eat popcorn and watch.

Omos beats Reggie. During the match, Akira Tozawa, R-Truth and Tamina run into the ring, but Omos tosses Tozawa and Truth out before staring down Tamina. Reggie dives at Omos, but Omos hits him with a choke bomb for the win.

Maryse heads to the ring. Maryse says that The Miz is not here and has a very big mouth that agrees to things without his permission, and asks "The Glamazon" Beth Phoenix to head to the ring so they can talk. Beth shows up with Edge, and Maryse says she wants their match at Royal Rumble cancelled, saying nobody wants it and that she and Beth have been through a lot together and have paved the way for today's female Superstars, and that they should be on the same team. Beth tells Maryse to shut up, saying she and the fans are not buying it and that Maryse is taking acting lessons from The Miz. She says their match is not off, because she is not passing up teaming up with Edge in a match or Glam Slamming Maryse through the canvas. Beth then proposes they give the fans a preview, then gets in the ring with Maryse before The Miz shows up. Edge beats up Miz, but Maryse hits Beth with her purse before running off. Miz and Maryse run to the stage, where Maryse reveals she had a brick in her purse.

Backstage, we hear from The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford). They declare that they will be tossing bodies in the men's Royal Rumble match when Rey and Dominik Mysterio show up happy to be part of their team tonight and to be part of the men's Royal Rumble.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford), Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio The Dirty Dawgs (Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode), Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez in an eight-man tag match. After the match, Rey and Dominik Mysterio toss The Street Profits over the top rope before Rey does the same to Dominik.

We see a video package for Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble.

Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews The Miz and Maryse. The Miz brags about Maryse sending Beth Phoenix to a local medical facility, then says he will throw the most extravangant birthday party for Maryse before the two of them make out.

We see Alexa Bliss with a therapist again. The therapist does word association with Alexa, and every word is answered with the word "Lilly" until the word "imaginary" is reached. An angry Alexa stands up, and the therapist leaves. Alexa then sits back down.

Bobby Lashley vs. Seth Rollins ends with The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander) pulling Lashley out of the ring and attacking him. Lashley gets the last word with a double suplex on The Hurt Business before sending both of them into the ring post and Spearing Shelton Benjamin through the barricade. Meanwhile, The Usos show up from out of the crowd and superkick Rollins in the ring.

This week on Raw Talk: Matt Riddle! Rhea Ripley! Omos!

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