Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 22, 2023

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Rollins is seen clearly wearing a knee brace over his pants as he welcomes everyone to the show. He says it has been a long week and appreciates the support, then mentions how he injured his left knee during a moonsault as he defended the World title against Jinder Mahal. After the match, when he went to the back, it set in that he would be gone for a long time, and he felt like a bit of a liar saying that all his successful title defenses only made him stronger. Rollins states that he was afraid that he would miss WrestleMania, causing a "No!" chant in the crowd, and that he has had his knee looked at and that he has a tear in his MCL and a partially torn meniscus, which means he may be gone for three to four months. He says that if it were up to him, he would be stomping people's heads next week, but he does not know what the future holds and he is taking this day by day and week by week. Suddenly, Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) shows up. Rollins tells Gunther to get things over with when Gunther gets in the ring, but Gunther says Vinci and Kaiser have The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) later and that Rollins should concentrate on him. He says they have avoided each other for some time, then says that Rollins has been in a tough spot and a workhorse champion from the beginning who has fought honestly and has brought respect and honor to a championship. He says that Rollins has become a champion everyone can be proud of just like him, and that it pulls on his heartstrings to see Rollins like this saying he may not be at WrestleMania. Rollins says Imperium should have let him finish, as he says he does not give a damn what the doctors tell him or how hard he has to rehab and push his knee, for he will keep his promise and take the title into WrestleMania. He also says he will do everything in his power to walk out of WrestleMania as World Heavyweight Champion. Gunther says this is great, as he thought everyone would see Rollins fall, but now, he admires and respects him as he would do the same thing in his position. Gunther also says that Rollins reminds him of himself, and says from one great champion to another that he will win the men's Royal Rumble on Sunday and choose Rollins as his opponent for WrestleMania. He also says that he will target his knee, back and everything that is not 100% and become World Heavyweight Champion. Rollins appreciates Gunther's honesty, but tells him to remember who he is coming after. Gunther tells Rollins to remember who is coming after him, then both men shake hands. As Gunther leaves the ring, The New Day jump over the barricade and attack Vinci and Kaiser at ringside.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci) ends in a double count-out as both teams brawl on the outside. At one point in the brawl, Woods has to stop Kaiser from hitting Kofi with a metal folding chair. The brawl ends with The New Day shoving Imperium off the top of a set of large equipment crates down through a nearby wooden table.

WWE 2K24 is officially announced on-air, complete with all three covers and the game's first trailer.

We see a video package for Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest later tonight.

Backstage, The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) meet. Rhea Ripley hopes that Drew McIntyre is the least of their worries, but Damian Priest takes offense to Rhea making matches for The Judgment Day and accuses her of having a big head after becoming a cover athlete for WWE 2K24, especially after Rhea tells him that he and Finn Balor will defending the undisputed tag titles against #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) next week. Priest leaves to clear his head, and Rhea tells Finn Balor to accompany Dominik and McDonagh for their match.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Ivy Nile and Maxxine Dupri. Maxxine says Valhalla is not ready for Ivy Nile as The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) show up, and Ivy Nile is ready to get in the ring.

Ivy Nile beats Valhalla with a top rope bulldog known as "The Pitbull."

Backstage, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) are met by "Main Event" Jey Uso, then Jackie Redmond interviews The New Day. Woods say they are tired of people walking into WWE and not taking them seriously, and Kofi says that they can get down when the time is right despite their image. Kofi says that they took out the henchmen and want the big boss, and he wants Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship next week. Meanwhile, Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Asuka, Kairi Sane) are seen in the background.

Nia Jax heads to the ring. Nia talks about how she squashed Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch for the first time and squashed them, then says that Rhea and Becky do not want to face her. She says that she will kill both of their WrestleMania dreams when Becky shows up. Becky tells Nia to shut up, then says she knows that she has a big target on her chest and that Nia has an even bigger one because the whole locker room does not like her. She says that she does know what she will enjoy more: winning the Royal Rumble for a second time, or watching Nia lose. Suddenly, Bayley shows up. Bayley says Becky and Nia are going to lose, then says she was looking for Rhea Ripley but could not help herself and make it clear that she will win the Royal Rumble before shoving Becky into Nia only for Nia to beat her up. This starts a three-way brawl where Becky hits Bayley with the Manhandle Slam only for Nia to toss Becky out of the ring and hit Bayley with a big leg drop.

We see a video package of Royal Rumble stats, by the numbers.

Backstage, Becky Lynch meets Rhea Ripley, who tells Becky that she should have other plans for WrestleMania.

"Dirty" Dominik Mysterio beats The Miz following JD McDonagh distracting the ref so that Finn Balor can hit Miz with a cheap shot. After the match, Finn Balor attacks The Miz, then #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) show up and clean house so that Miz can hit McDonagh with a Skull Crushing Finale. #DIY go for Meet In The Middle on McDonagh, but Finn Balor makes the save.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Damian Priest, who congratulates Dominik Mysterio for handling business before R-Truth shows up and hands Priest some money. Priest reminds R-Truth that this is not the right time, and R-Truth leaves before Drew McIntyre, who was one "the man" but cannot beat anyone anymore and wants to make sure he does not become champion. Priest says that he will become champion, and as far as McIntyre goes, he will receive his punishment tonight.

We hear from "Big" Bronson Reed, who says that he is fully aware of "Main Event" Jey Uso wanting to be a singles champion, and that he intends to do so, too. He says their paths will cross, and the sooner, the better, for nothing will stand in his way. He challenges Jey to a match next week so he can make an example out of him.

Ivar beats Chad Gable following the distraction by Valhalla.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring. Soon after this, CM Punk heads to the ring. CM Punk admits that he and Cody have taken different paths to get here. He says things will change on Saturday and that he hopes they are still friends on Sunday, and tells Cody that they should enjoy this moment. When Cody asks Punk what he wants to talk about, Punk wants to talk about Dusty Rhodes, and mentions how Dusty called him to tell him Cody was heading to Ohio Valley Wrestling to start becoming a wrestler and asked him to keep an eye on Cody. He says that when Dusty asks you for a favor, you say yes, and he stayed out of Cody's way and Cody never got into any trouble their contemporaries did, and Cody grew from a perennial competitor into a main event championship caliber Superstar. Punk says he is proud of Cody, and says he brings this up because on Sunday, he will feel like he is breaking a promise. He says that he will be looking out for him and will throw him over the top rope on Saturday, for he will win the Royal Rumble and go to WrestleMania. Cody tells Punk that he is not alone in that feeling, as he has worked with countless legends, luminaries and dignitaries in the business who cannot help but see his father in him, and that he has done all in his power to be the light in his father's shadow and be his own man. Cody says that he was at Ohio Valley Wrestler as "a nepotism hire," and while Punk could have treated him poorly, they became the best of friends. He then says that there are no friends in the Royal Rumble. Punk then asks about Sunday morning, as he can separate business from personal, and asks if Cody can do the same, as Cody grew up in the business as the son of one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. He also admits that he did not have a famous father in wrestling and say Cody as Cody and knew he had a burden in his last name, and that Cody has gotten to where he is now with flying colors. Punk says that despite their different paths, he and Cody have the same goal. He then says it is ironic that he is more of the American Dream than Cody is due to his own father being a blue-collar electrician. Cody then talks about "The Pipe Bomb," and Punk tosses the microphone cube off his microphone before Cody talks about how he sat on the stage and cut that promo, and says he was inspired by The Pipe Bomb only for Punk to "really leave" WWE. He says that Punk dropped the torch on the way out and that he picked it up and did everything that Punk talked about, which makes him "more CM Punk than [CM Punk]." Punk takes off his jacket and tells Cody that he has carried WWE on his back for two years and has become the WWE 2K24 cover star, and just when he is about to reach the top, he is here to take it away from him. Cody says Punk is looking out for him again, and while Punk talked about The American Dream, he was his best friend and said that "Courage is about being scared to death but saddling up anyway." He says he must go forward - and through Punk - and win the Royal Rumble. As Cody leaves, Punk grabs Cody and pulls him towards himself, leading to an intense staredown between the two men in the middle of the ring. Both men eventually back off and leave the ring from opposite ends before Cody heads to the back.

We see a video package of WWE and Hulk Hogan acknowledging the birth of Hulkamania 40 years ago, with Hulk Hogan saying he may have one more match left in him.

Katana Chance and Kayden Carter watch the next match from ringside.

"The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark beat Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae. After the match, Katana Chance and Kayden Carter have a staredown with Baszler and Zoey in the middle of the ring, but they are attacked from behind by The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane).

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Drew McIntyre. McIntyre says he had everything he had to say to CM Punk and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, but he has heard what Damian Priest has had to say. He says that things were not all right in the world when he was champion, but he stepped up and brightened everyone's lives up. He says that Damian Priest is not ready to become a world champion, and that he is the only "Chosen One."

Backstage, Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Asuka, Kairi Sane) is confronted by Natalya and Tegan Nox for their actions. General Manager Adam Pearce shows up and tells them to save it for the Royal Rumble, then tells Bayley he did not invite her here to go into business for herself. Bayley tells Pearce to get used to seeing them when Asuka and Kairi win the tag team titles. Damage CTRL leave, then Pearce runs into Jinder Mahal and Indus Sher (Veer and Sanga), who want to talk business. After this, Pearce says he needs a drink.

We see more Royal Rumble statistics.

Drew McIntyre beats Damian Priest after R-Truth shows up to hand Priest the stack of money from earlier. Priest finally gets fed up with R-Truth and beats him up, and that allows McIntyre to hit the Claymore Kick for the win.

This week on Raw Talk: Gunther! "Main Event" Jey Uso! "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark!

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