Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 3, 2022

At the start of the show, the lights go out, and when they come back on, Paul Heyman is in the ring. Heyman then introduces Brock Lesnar to the ring. Lesnar throws some ring steps into the ring, then stands on them like a podium with the WWE Championship on his shoulder. He gives a big shoutout to Roman Reigns, who he says is sitting at home watching Raw and seeing "the real champion" before telling Roman to get well soon. Lesnar then says "South Carolina...acknowledge me," before acknowledging Paul Heyman for advocating his free agency and pulling some strings to make him WWE Champion. Heyman brags about the behind-the-scenes machinations to put Brock Lesnar in the WWE Championship picture, then says that Lesnar is focused on defending and retaining. Heyman then goes on to talk about how Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens teamed up to go for the title, then says Seth Rollins is no visionary and that Becky Lynch might leave Rollins if he doesn't beat Lesnar for the title. Heyman says Rollins and Owens might as well get traded to SmackDown, as Roman Reigns is vulnerable without special counsel these days, then talks about Lesnar's history with Bobby Lashley, saying that if Lashley wins tonight, he will have to face Lesnar face-to-face, not from behind. Heyman then says that Big E was a great champion and that he would still be champion if it were not for Lesnar, and that he and Lesnar have nothing but respect for him. He says that if Big E won tonight, it would be an honor to see Big E vs. Lesnar.

Backstage, Matt Riddle meets with Randy Orton wearing gold chains and sunglasses, then proposes they create their own rap group as he talks about his celebrity connections. Orton takes the chains and sunglasses away and asks what happened to their new year's resolutions. When Riddle mentions listening to Orton more, Orton says that when Riddle listened to him, they got on the right track. The two of them make an Eminem reference.

Before the next match, Chad Gable says he will be handing out free lessons with the help of Otis tonight, and that their first resolution is to teach RK-Bro the meaning of acceptance when they learn their tag team title reign is coming to an end at their hands.

Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) beat RK-Bro (Matt Riddle and Randy Orton) after Gable keeps Orton from tagging in.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews MVP and Bobby Lashley. MVP says Lashley has to overcome insurmountable odds to beat Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins and Big E, saying it is a Herculean task. Lashley says Brock Lesnar fears him.

Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews Omos, who puts his hand across Kevin Patrick's face and says "That's how I relax."

Dana Brooke and Reggie retain the WWE 24/7 Championship against Akira Tozawa and Tamina after Tozawa inadvertently boots Tamina in the face and gets nailed by Tamina for it.

Becky Lynch heads to the ring. Becky says there is something about the new year that inspires people, because when the clock strikes midnight, everything can seemingly change for the better, and while she admires the locker's room ambition, she plans on remaining Raw Women's Champion. She says that if the last three or four years have proven anything, it is that the locker room cannot beat her. Becky then says she has looked back on her decisions in the past year and realized she has become a work of art. She says that a good work of art makes one feel, and that she makes the people feel. She also says that fine art reveals the truth, then tells the fans that their wishes will not come true and that the rest of the locker room will not beat her to become Raw Women's Champion.Becky says to look no further than Liv Morgan, and as Becky says that Liv broke her promise to herself and the fans to become champion, Liv shows up and says there is nobody who is harder on herself than herself and that they both know how close she came to winning. Liv then says that the only thing she ever promised herself was that she would give it her all and leave it all in the ring, and she did exactly that at Day 1. Becky says Liv will win the Raw Women's title when she retires, then Bianca Belair shows up. Bianca says she is sick and tired of seeing Becky act like she is untouchable, saying she not Liv Morgan believe her hype and that while she may have taken a detour, she is coming back for the Raw Women's title. Becky says both Liv and Bianca have fallen for her "beat, sleep, retreat" pattern and says they can both form a support group for people who almost beat her. Bianca and Liv then argue over who wants to face Becky, then Becky tells them to sort it out between themselves. Liv and Bianca toss Becky out of the ring, then the two of them go at it with each other. As Bianca goes for a K.O.D. on Liv, Becky gets back in the ring, breaks the hold and hits Bianca with a Manhandle Slam.

Backstage, Kevin Owens meets with Seth Rollins. Rollins wants to know what he should do about Paul Heyman, but Owens is more focused on what to do about Bobby Lashley and Big E, saying that if one of them wins, they can go at it for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. Rollins says he loves the plan and that they can trust eac other.

Queen Zelina and Carmella retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships against Nikki A.S.H. and Rhea Ripley with a schoolgirl from Zelina Vega to Nikki A.S.H.

Before the next match, The Street Profits announce that they are officially in the men's Royal Rumble match.

We hear from Rey and Dominik Mysterio. Rey says that they will be in the men's Royal Rumble match this year.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) beat Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Damian Priest, who says that Dolph Ziggler wants his furious side, but if he can keep cool, he can beat Ziggler. He says that whether he wins with mercy or after giving a beating is all up to Ziggler.

Backstage, Doudrop confronts WWE officials Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville over Liv Morgan and Bianca Belair getting another shot at the WWE Championship, saying the fans are getting tired of the same women getting shot after shot at the Raw Women's Championship as she demands a title shot. Sonya makes a Triple Threat Match next week between Liv, Bianca and Doudrop, with the winner getting a shot at the title at Royal Rumble.

Damian Priest retains the WWE United States Championship against Dolph Ziggler after throwing a chair at Robert Roode and kicking out of the Zig Zag. (In this match, the title could have changed hands by disqualification or count-out.)

Backstage, Austin Theory meets with Vince McMahon, who says that who say sorry show weakness and that those who don't mean to interrupt mean to interrupt. Vince shows he is impressed with Austin for beating Finn Balor from behind. Vince then tells Austin Theory that he is in the men's Royal Rumble, and that if he wins, he faces the opponent of his choice at WrestleMania.

The Miz and Maryse head to the ring. Miz says he and Maryse are outraged after what happened at Day 1, saying he had Edge where he had him and that he still had to prove himself against him despite being a two-time grand slam champion. He says that he saw the look of defeat in his eyes and was about to lay Edge to rest until Beth Phoenix showed up and allowed Edge to steal the victory when he deserved to lose. Miz says Edge deserved to lose after he ruined their wedding vow renewal last week, and says the fans enjoyed it because their relationships are so bad that they want bad things to happen to good people like them. Miz then says true love always wins, then says Edge hid behind his wife and that he does not deserve respect for relying on his wife to fight his battles, asking who would do it only for the fans to tell him that he would. Maryse disagrees, saying Miz does not need her to fight her battles and that he is strong, then says that if Beth Phoenix were here, she would punch her right in the face. Beth then shows up, followed by Edge. Edge says most people would take the loss and move on, but he knows Miz better than that and knew he would make every excuse in the book about why he lost and proving what kind of hypocrite he is. After Edge says that he did not ask Beth to fight his battles for him and after Beth says what happened at Day 1 was her idea, Edge then decides to give Miz what he wants: Miz and Maryse vs. Edge and Beth Phoenix at Royal Rumble. Miz accepts the challenge, much to the chagrin of Maryse, who wants nothing to do with this. Maryse then falls back when Beth psyches her out.

Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews Big E. Big E says being WWE Champion meant a lot to him and a lot of people, and while there is no shame in losing to Brock Lesnar, he will not get kicked and stay down or wallow in self-pity, and he wants his next chapter to be his best chapter. Tonight, he has an opportunity to right all those wrongs and get on the path to reclaiming what is his, and he says will be damned if there is a soul on Earth who can stop him.

Omos beats "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.

Next week: Alexa Bliss' journey back to Raw!

Bobby Lashley beats Kevin Owens, Big E and Seth Rollins in a Fatal 4-Way Match to face Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble. After the match, Kevin Patrick interviews Brock Lesnar backstage. Lesnar says he will see Roman Reigns this Friday on SmackDown.

This week on Raw Talk: Edge and "The Glamazon" Beth Phoenix! Becky Lynch! Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis)!

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