We see an extended introduction chockful of thirty years of great Raw moments.
The Bloodline head to the ring. There is a table in the ring, and everyone except Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman sit at the table, with Sami Zayn a seat's distance away as opposed to The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) and Roman sitting right at it. Heyman addresses the ECW chants by saying ECW is dead and that he wishes the same for Sami Zayn. He proceeds to call Sami "a Judas," "a traitor to the island of relevancy" and "a conspiracist with Kevin Owens since day one." He says that Sami Zayn has been leading the rest of The Bloodline on to make them feel good "like fans of the Philadelphia Eagles" and make them believe he belongs, and says they will feel good when the Eagles after they get conquered by Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers. Heyman says that this is an open-and-shut case with four pieces of footage which show that Sami Zayn is guilty as charged. Exhibit A is from August 12, 2022, where Drew McIntyre attack The Usos while Sami runs away. Exhibit B is from August 29, 2022 when Sami Zayn failed to help against Kevin Owens. Exhibit C is from Survivor Series, where Sami Zayn is on top of the cage after the match, showing the "4 Lyfe" hand signal. Exhibit D is from December 23, 2022, where Sami brushes against Roman Reigns during his promo. Heyman calls this "character assassination" of Roman Reigns and a plot to become "The Head of the Table," and begs everyone to find "this rat bastard" guilty as charged. Heyman drops the microphone in Sami's lap before Heyman declares that the prosecution rests. Sami says he had a defense all laid out, but he never took into account how he would feel, and says that Heyman's words hurt. He says that the people have seen it for the last nine months, then says that his defense is that he has no defense. Roman is amazed that Sami has no defense and questions Sami's ego, then has Solo go up to Sami. All of a sudden, Jey Uso stops Solo from using the Samoan Spike on Sami. Jey shows Exhibit A for the defense from June 3, 2022, where Sami Zayn helped him defeat Matt Riddle. Exhibit B is from August 19, 2022, where Sami takes the Claymore Kick from Drew McIntyre. Exhibit C is Sami Zayn taking a Drew McIntyre chairshot in September 9, 2022, and Exhibit D is from December 9, 2022, where Sami helped them win against The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus and Pete Dunne). Exhibit E is Sami helping The Bloodline win at Survivor Series. Jey says Sami has taken bullets for The Bloodline and "is basically bulletproof." Jey admits he despised and distrusted him at first, but he saw the good in him and never gave up. Jey says that this is what family does, and that Sami has demonstrated loyalty and love to The Bloodline. He then says that he loves Sami like a brother, and asks the fans to "throw [their] ones to the sky" if they want Sami to stay in The Bloodline. Roman Reigns stands up, and says that as Tribal Chief and Head of the Table, he finds Sami Zayn not guilty...for now. He then tells Sami Zayn to look at Jey Uso and thank him for buying him time, then tells him to make The Bloodline proud tonight. He then tells him to stay home until Royal Rumble, when he will deliver his final test and everyone will see if Sami Zayn really is The Bloodline or not. Sami embraces with The Usos in the ring while everyone else leaves.
The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) retain the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships against The Judgment Day (Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio). During the match, Jimmy Uso gets hurt. Medical staff tend to Jimmy Uso as he clutches his left knee, and Jimmy has to be helped to the back. WWE official Adam Pearce shows up and says that the match and the titles must be forfeited. Sami says Jimmy may be out, but he is good to go, and offers to take Jimmy's place. Adam Pearce approves of this, and lets the match continue. After the match, Roman Reigns tells Paul Heyman that Sami Zayn has made it through the night and that he does not want to see Sami again until Saturday.
Backstage, JBL and Baron Corbin meet The Godfather, who calls Corbin JBL's "stooge." Corbin finds out he is not on the list, then The Godfather knocks on the Acolytes Protection Agency's door. Ron Simmons shows up and also calls Corbin a stooge. Corbin bribes his way in with two big stacks of money, and is allowed into the APA's poker tournament, where legends and Superstars alike are playing poker.
We see a slideshow of some more Raw moments.
LA Knight is in the ring. Knight brings up Bray Wyatt bringing back the Firefly Fun House and says he is not scared while Wyatt is living on past glory. He then says the legends are also living on past glories, and challenges any Legend to face him in the ring so he can give a preview of his Pitch Black match. The Undertaker shows up in his "Biker Taker" persona, complete with Kid Rock's "American Badass" as his entrance theme, and rides his bike around the ring. LA Knight says he has heard what The Undertaker has said about the locker room being soft on Joe Rogan and that he agrees with him, then says he does not fit under that umbrella. LA Knight asks The Undertaker to think about the irony of the headline they are about to make "LA Knight sends The Undertaker to The Undertaker," then gives him a pass and allows him to live another day and enjoy retirement. He then tells him to watch his Pitch Black match, because everyone will be calling him The Lord of Darkness, then says that it is his game before the lights go out and Bray appears behind him. LA Knight backs down the ramp while Bray Wyatt walks towards him, then Wyatt gets in the ring only to get choke slammed by The Undertaker. Bray then gets in the ring, and The Undertaker tosses Knight to him for a Sister Abigail. The Undertaker picks up his sunglasses as he and Bray Wyatt have a staredown, then The Undertaker whispers something to Bray before leaving.
At the APA Poker Invitational, Corbin plays poker with Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis), Alundra Blayze and Diamond Dallas Page. Alundra has a straight, but DDP has a straight flush.
Becky Lynch vs. Bayley in a steel cage match ends before it can begin. Before the match, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai attack Becky Lynch before she can get into the ring, then lock the cage from the inside to allow a three-on-one cage beatdown. WWE official Adam Pearce shows up, and the lock is cut with a pair of bolt cutters as Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky) climb to the top of the cage. Becky Lynch is checked on in the middle of the ring.
We see another slideshow of classic Raw moments.
D-Generation X ("The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, Triple H, X-Pac, "Road Dogg" Jesse James) and Kurt Angle head to the ring. Road Dogg does his usual entrance, then everyone suddenly notices that Kurt Angle - who was not announced - is in the ring. Road Dogg asks Angle why he is here, and Angle says he always wanted to be in DX before revealing he is wearing a DX shirt. Shawn says Angle has to pass a test, then Triple H asks Angle if he is ready. Angle asks if this is the test, then Triple H segues into the classic D-Generation X intro, which gets interrupted by Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci). Kaiser shames D-Generation X for all their "filth and nonsense," and Gunther calls them "a bunch of degenerates who celebrate themselves" for making a mockery of professional wrestling, while they are here to defend pro wrestling's honor and kick DX out of their ring. Triple H stares down Gunther, then says he is retired, and Shawn Michaels says he is too old. X-Pac says he has a bad case of shinsplint, and Road Dogg says he is not going to fight Gunther. D-Generation X then huddle together, look at Kurt Angle, then Triple H says that Angle will fight Gunther. Angle says he did not say that, then Triple H says he wishes there was somebody willing to fight them when Seth "Freakin'" Rollins shows up. X-Pac says they still need two more people and wishes there was a team to even the score, and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) show up. DX then ask Triple H to book the match, then Triple H says that booking isn't easy and wishes there was someone who could make sense of all this. Teddy Long shows up and makes the match official. Shawn then asks for somebody who can keep the match under control, then DX huddle before Kurt Angle takes off his DX shirt to reveal a red, white and blue referee shirt underneath. Triple H makes Angle the special guest referee, and the match is underway.
Jerry "The King" Lawler guests on commentary for the next match.
Seth "Freakin'" Rollins and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) beat Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci).
"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase is at the APA Poker Invitational. Corbin wins with four aces and gets a ton of money, but Irwin R. Schyster shows up, tells Corbin not to forget to pay his taxes, then puts all the money save for $100 in his briefcase and leaves. Ron Simmons then says "Damn."
We see a third slideshow of classic Raw moments.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Bobby Lashley. Lashley says his match is no-disqualification and that it means no excuses. He says that Austin Theory cannot get himself disqualified and that he cannot get disqualified for what he will do to Theory, then says he would still be United States Champion if it were not for Brock Lesnar. He then says he has dealt with Lesnar as well as a brief suspension, and now he is going to tear Austin Theory apart. Suddenly, MVP shows up to invite Lashley to the MVP Lounge, but Lashley says he did not need his or Omos' help and tells him to let him handle his business.
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair shows up to celebrate thirty years of Raw and thank the fans for their support over the years, then says diamonds are forever and so is Monday Night Raw. He says WWE has given him so much as well as the ability to watch his daughter Charlotte Flair surpass all his goals, then introduces Charlotte Flair as the greatest female champion in WWE history. Charlotte heads to the ring and says that Raw is where she evolved from a diva to a 14-time Women's Champion after facing a who's who of competitors, and says it is because of them that she is the most decorated women's athlete of all time. She says that while she is currently Smackdown Women's Champion, Raw will always be her home. Suddenly, Bianca Belair heads to the ring. Bianca says she respects everything Charlotte has done for the business and keep doing what she is doing, but not to do it her because Raw is her home and she wants to make sure Raw is the greatest show on television. Suddenly, Sonya Deville shows up. Sonya says tonight is a historic night and yet Bianca and Charlotte are talking about themselves, then asks Charlotte if it was necessary to fly her father out for an introduction on a show she is not even wanted on. She also asks Bianca if she really thinks people tune in to Raw to watch her, then asks about people like her who work hard and do not get the spotlight every week. She says she used to run Raw as a general manager for over a year and wants her recognition. Charlotte says that Raw is Bianca's show, then asks Bianca to handle this. Bianca obliges, then Bianca dares Sonya to face her in the ring and be the center of her attention.
Bianca Belair beats Sonya Deville. After the match, Bianca says that what she did to Sonya is only a preview of what she will do to Alexa Bliss. She says Alexa can bring whoever she wants, because nobody will stop her from leaving Royal Rumble as Raw Women's Champion. Alexa then shows up on the TitanTron and says she is Bianca's only obstacle, and says that if everyone left her alone, she would not have to remind her of that. She says that she does not need anyone to tear Bianca's face open with her bare hands, then says she will spare her eyes so she can see her leave as champion.
We see a video package of "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes' plan to come back at Royal Rumble and win the men's Royal Rumble match.
We see a fourth slideshow of classic Raw moments.
We see a trailer for WWE 2K23.
The Miz is in the ring. The Miz wants to know where his Miz TV segment, championship match and celebration of his accomplishments on Raw are. All of a sudden, Kevin Owens shows up and hits The Miz with a Stunner. Owens then takes the microphone from Miz's hand and tells Roman Reigns that he might have said Sami Zayn is not guilty, but Roman is guilty of holding the Universal Championship hostage for over two years. He then gives his word that this Saturday at Royal Rumble, he will do everything he can to change that, take the title and give the fans a champion they can be proud of. Owens also guarantees that he will just keep fighting until he has nothing left, and that he will take the Universal title or die trying. Before he can leave, The Miz is back on his feet, and Owens hits him with another Stunner.
Austin Theory retains the WWE United States Championship against Bobby Lashley in a no-disqualification match after Brock Lesnar shows up, hits Lashley with an F-5, then hits Theory with an F-5 that leads to Theory landing on top of Lashley and pinning him to retain the championship.
This week on Raw Talk: Kurt Angle! The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford)! Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky!)
Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!
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