The road to Royal Rumble began with the New Year's Eve special episode of Monday Night RAW. The first match of the night was a steel cage match between former teammates, Drew McIntyre& Dolph Ziggler, both of whom have come to hate each other in recent weeks.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Drew Mcintyre - Steel Cage Match
Ziggler was destroyed by his former 'best friend'
Ziggler landed a blow on McIntyre and tried to get out of the cage but was brought back inside. The Scottish Psychopath landed a huge chop and then a vertical suplex. McIntyre dominated at the start but Ziggler countered with a nice DDT and both men were down
Ziggler tried to take control with a few punches, but McIntyre landed a huge headbutt as Ziggler went down. McIntyre tried to escape the steel cage but Ziggler followed him and tried to bring his opponent back inside. The two then exchanged a few punches before Ziggler threw McIntyre's face into the cage, as we headed into a break.
Ziggler landed a headbutt on McIntyre and once again tried to get out through the door. McIntyre pushed the door onto Ziggler's head as both men were down. Ziggler tried to crawl out of the door, but McIntyre rushed to grab Ziggler and bring him back to the middle of the ring. Ziggler landed another Famouser and McIntyre kicked out once more.
Ziggler climbed up to the top of the cage, but McIntyre followed him and landed a HUGE superplex from the top. McIntyre threw Ziggler face first into the cage as he once again went on to taunt Ziggler and then fling him onto the cage as he demanded a fight. Ziggler countered somehow with a ZigZag.
Ziggler tried to set up a superkick, but McIntyre landed a huge Claymore Kick and admired what he'd done to Ziggler, smiling devilishly. He then landed another Claymore Kick before getting the three count and the win.
Result: Drew Mcintyre def. Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler asked McIntyre "is that's all you got", to which McIntyre returned to the ring with a steel chair, placing it between Ziggler's face and the cage. He landed another Claymore Kick to Ziggler's face.
McIntyre got on the mic and said that the Ziggler "chapter" was over. He added that he is the King of RAW and that he will become the King of the WWE when he wins Royal Rumble, and then win the Universal Championship. McIntyre returned to the ring once again to land the fourth and final Claymore Kick on Ziggler.
Seth Rollins made his way to the ring and said he was not keen on New Year resolutions. He said that he wanted his Intercontinental Championship rematch against Dean Ambrose, but instead of Ambrose, it was Triple H who made his way to the ring.
The Game said that nothing was going to be handed to anyone, any more in WWE. Triple H added that his automatic rematch for the Intercontinental title is not going to happen, and told Rollins that he didn't deserve a rematch.
Triple H said that he believed in Rollins because he made him believe it, and asked where that guy is. Rollins said that he has been carrying WWE for the last 12 months and told Triple H that he wanted to earn his opportunities.
Triple H announced a match between Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley for later in the night. Rollins said he would take down anyone who came in his way, including Triple H and his family. Shane McMahon came in to defuse the situation. Shane announced a "fresh start battle royal" match, and the winner was to face Dean Ambrose on the same night.
Jinder and his crew stepped into the ring together for once
Slater kicked things off with Jinder in the 3 on 2 handicap match against the Singh brothers and The Maharaja.
Slater landed a few punches, but Mahal hit a clothesline. The Singh Brothers traded tags and went to work on Slater. Rhyno was tagged took down both brothers with a huge double belly to belly suplex before Jinder tagged himself in and caught a spinebuster. One of the brothers distracted the referee while Jinder hit the Khallas on Rhyno in the middle of the ring and got the three count.
Dean Ambrose vs. Apollo Crews - Intercontinental Championship match
Ambrose barely managed to hold on to his title
Apollo started on the offence and kept the heat up until Dean was knocked outside. Crews then hit a big flip from the apron. We returned from commercials to see Ambrose with a rest hold locked in on Apollo.
Apollo hit a standing shooting star press and Dean was pinned but it was a two count. Apollo tried for a pin again after a few big moves but Ambrose found the bottom rope. Ambrose hit the dirty deeds and somehow rolled himself over for a pin and got the win.
Result: Dean Ambrose def. Apollo Crews and retained the Intercontinental Championship
Quite an incredible showing for Apollo Crews. The commentators put him over big.
Alexa Bliss praised herself in a backstage segment over the job she had done in her brief run managing the women's division. She announced a new show "Moment of Bliss" that begins next week. Her first guest? Ronda Rousey.
Ronda Rousey & Natalya vs. Nia Jax & Tamina
Ronda and Nia started off the match and Ronda went for the armbar right out of the gate. Natalya was tagged in after Nia freed herself and Tamina was in trouble this time. Nia was ringside and dragged Tamina out of the ring before Ronda tagged in and hit a huge dive on the two women.
After the break, Natalya was in trouble in the ring as Nia dished out her usual style of hard-hitting offence. Tamina was tagged in again and she got a chin lock in before they both hit each other with crossbodies. Rousey got the tag and Nia came in as well and got a huge right hand and then an elbow strike before falling over.
Nia dropped Rousey after recovering and then went for a Samoan drop from the middle rope before Tamina tagged in. Rousey hit the armbar and Nia hit a leg drop to separate the two. Natalya got involved and Tamina went up to the top but Nia got her feet up. Rousey followed up with an armbar on Tamina for the win.
Result: Ronda Rousey & Natalya vs. Nia Jax & Tamina
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