Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 2, 2023

The show starts prematurely with The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn) attacking a security guard outside of the ring and taking over the announce table and timekeeper's area in an effort to take over the show. As the announce table is toppled and Sami Zayn proclaims that The Bloodline runs the show, Kevin Owens shows up. Sami Zayn warns him that The Bloodline is not in a good mood and that they are in the process of a hostile takeover of the show. Sami also warns that people are going to get hurt because of Kevin Owens. Owens says he had something to say, but now he wants to punch Sami in the face. WWE official Adam Pearce shows up with security, then forces The Bloodline to leave the ring. Pearce has security remove The Bloodline, but Solo Sikoa levels everyone who gets in the ring. Kevin Owens gets in the ring, but the numbers game quickly takes over. Meanwhile, security walks away, and the locker room has to empty and fight The Bloodline. The Bloodline is forced to climb over the barricade and escape, but Pearce says that if The Bloodline wants to get to work, he will put them all to work in a match tonight. Sami says what happens next is on Pearce's hands. (One of the security guards is independent wrestler Manny Lemons, who is also on this week's AEW Dark Elevation, making him the sixth wrestler to appear on both shows on the same night.)

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Bianca Belair. Bianca says she is no victim and that she does not want to talk about Alexa Bliss because their relationship is far beyond repair. She says that Alexa is her own person and that she will do what she wants when she wants, and she is ready to defend her title.

Backstage, WWE official Adam Pearce meets with the rest of the locker room. Montez Ford says he and Angelo Dawkins want a match, and Kevin Owens says The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn) are here for him. Elias says he wants a fight with Solo Sikoa for ending his career. Elias gets Solo in a street fight, and Dawkins, Ford and Owens get The Usos and Sami Zayn in a six-man tag match.

Hardy, whose music is the theme for this year's Royal Rumble event, is seen in the front row.

Alexa Bliss vs. Bianca Belair for the WWE Raw Women's Championship ends in a no-contest. During the match, a man in a black Uncle Howdy mask stares down Alexa Bliss on the outside. As Alexa goes up top after bringing Bianca back into the ring, she sees another person in a black Uncle Howdy mask. The TitanTron then glitches, and Bray Wyatt's symbol can be seen as Alexa starts getting headaches before attacking the referee. Alexa Bliss then mercilessly attacks Bianca Belair before throwing her into the ring steps. Bianca is busted open, and Alexa hits Bianca with a DDT into the steps before leaving. A stretcher has to be brought out for Bianca.

It is announced that Bianca Belair is currently being evaluated and recieving medical attention.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Austin Theory. Theory says his confidence is at an all-time high as 2023 will be his year like 2022 was, then brags about his actions towards Seth "Freakin'" Rollins two weeks ago while declaring himself the present and Rollins the past. He says he has all the cards and that he is outplaying Rollins on every turn, and that his forever reign is just beginning.

Before the next match, Elias says he will smash his guitar across Solo Sikoa's face and that Solo will find out that WWE stands for "Walk With Elias." Elias is about to perform a pre-fight song before Solo makes his entrance.

Solo Sikoa beats Elias in a Music City Street Fight with a Spinning Solo into a piano after Hardy gets in the ring and hits Solo in the back with his own guitar to no effect.

The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn) beat Kevin Owens and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) after Solo Sikoa shows up and distracts Owens. After the match, all four members of The Bloodline gang up on Kevin Owens. Solo Sikoa gets the chair, and Sami Zayn takes it only for Sheamus and Drew McIntyre to suddenly show up and attack Solo and Sami. Sheamus and Drew McIntyre then brawl with The Usos and come out on top.

It is announced that "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles has suffered a broken ankle during a house show in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Dexter Lumis beats Chad Gable by countering a pinfall attempt with one of his own after Otis goes after Dexter only to run into the ring post.

We see a video package of "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes' return to WWE in 2022 and his road to recovery.

Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky) head to the ring. Bayley brags about beating Becky Lynch and says that she did it all by herself, then says that she has beaten everyone before Becky Lynch shows up. Becky says Bayley speaks like she invented the wheel, but she has been on a hamster wheel since her return before calling her a liar and a fraud who cannot do anything by herself. She says it took Bayley years and years to get out of someone else's shadow, but it only took one year to get back in one, then says Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai are doing all the work while Bayley gets all the glory and says it is only a matter of time before someone turns on someone else. Becky says she does not get mad, she gets better, then says that she and Bayley can end everything tonight, but Bayley refuses, saying she has already beaten Becky fair and square. Bayley prefers that Becky face Dakota and Iyo in a tag team match with a partner of her choice, but Becky decides to take her chances in a two-on-one handicap match instead.

Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky) beat Becky Lynch in a two-on-one handicap match that turns into a tag team match when "Michin" Mia Yim shows up and becomes Becky Lynch's tag team partner. Bayley gets involved by putting Dakota Kai's foot on the rope during a Mia Yim pinfall attempt, and while Becky attacks Bayley, Iyo Sky hits Mia Yim with Over The Moonsault for the win.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Seth "Freakin'" Rollins. Rollins says 2023 is looking a lot like 2022, but as long as he is here, Monday nights belong to him, and in just a few minutes, so will the United States Championship, and as good as Austin Theory is, he will never be him.

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jimmie Allen is seen in the crowd.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Alexa Bliss, who says that she has gained control over Bianca's headspace and that Bianca knows the only threat is her, and now, the Raw Women's Championship belongs to her.

We hear from Dominik Mysterio, who says that sadness is not a bad feeling. He then says the cold emptiness from being in a prison cell is bad, but he has survived a prison cell and that he is just getting started as he puts a toothpick in his mouth.

We see a vignette for Bronson Reed.

Austin Theory retains the WWE United States Championship against Seth "Freakin'" Rollins. During the match, Rollins gets shoved into the referee, knocking the referee down. A second referee shows up after Rollins hits the Pedigree, but Theory kicks out. Soon after this, Theory nearly runs Rollins into the second referee, then hits a low blow and a chop block before nailing Rollins with the A-Town Down to retain.

This week on Raw Talk: Sami Zayn! The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley)! Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis)!

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