Raw Highlights – Seth Rollins And Buddy Murphy Become Champions (1/20/20)

Can you feel that feeling? I sure hope so as Royal Rumble is less than a week away, meaning it truly is “Royal Rumble Week”. Before getting to Houston this weekend, Raw stopped off in Kansas for the “go-home episode”. It gave the superstars of Raw one final chance to get an edge, momentum, anything really before an event that can change their career for the better. Here are the highlights.

First Ladder Match In 13 Years On Raw Between Andrade & Rey Mysterio

THIS is how you start a #LadderMatch.#RAW @reymysterio pic.twitter.com/3ugRfGDufU

— WWE (@WWE) January 21, 2020

Andrade won the United States Championship from Rey Mysterio last month, meaning it was time for them to have one final match to decide who would walk out as champ. But not just any match. A ladder match between the champion and the masked legend. To say these two put it all on the line would surprise no one. At one point in the match, Mysterio would hit an avalanche powerbomb from the top of the ladder into a ladder that was placed between the ropes and the ladder. All seemed to be going Mysterio’s way for him to recapture the gold, but it was Zelina Vega who climbed to the top and left Mysterio distracted long enough for Andrade to get onto the ladder and plant Mysterio with the Hammerlock DDT. They crashed through another ladder which allowed Andrade to retain.

After the match, the champion aimed to end the legend that is Rey Mysterio by driving his head into the concrete on the outside. But a “fan” from the crowd came to make the save, revealing himself to be Humberto Carrillo. He fought Andrade off, but this is sure to lead us towards a match between these two.

Drew McIntyre & Randy Orton Have Killer Match Ruined By The OC, McIntyre Puts Down Claim For Sunday

The Royal Rumble is a match that Randy Orton has won two times in his career and on Sunday will attempt to become the second man to win three. To do that, one of the men he will have to go through is Drew McIntyre. McIntyre, by all accounts, it a favorite among the WWE fans and for those wondering, he sits at second when it comes to betting odds to walk out the winner. So it was fitting for these two to have a singles match as they are among the favorites to win. And they put on a purely entertaining match, possibly the best WWE television match of 2020 to this point with both men really trying to one-up each other. There was one spot in the match where “The Scottish Psychopath” would chop Orton and he would react in a hilarious manner, seemingly getting stronger.

The finish was never had, however, as The OC came down and beat down McIntyre. Orton answered by attacking the three with a steel chair. After that, they stared at each other and Orton began to walk away. McIntyre then turned and was met with an RKO. He was not done, as he grabbed a microphone and blamed himself. And stated that he should have expected it and on Sunday, he hopes they are in the ring together so that he can make up with it using a Claymore. Then McIntyre informed the world that finally, it will be the moment that is long overdue. Drew McIntyre will solidify his spot in the main event of WrestleMania after all this time. Fans can hope.

Raw MVP: “The Monday Night Messiah” And His Disciples

“The Monday Night Messiah” has done it again, ladies and gentlemen. Seth Rollins, The AOP, and Buddy Murphy kicked off Monday Night Raw by talking about what happened last week. This led to Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens making their way out to let them know they are not done fighting, even if they sidelined the Big Show. The Raw Tag Team Champions, The Viking Raiders, announced they would be by their side for any fight and the brawl was underway. When they got to the back, Seth Rollins informed Charley Caruso that he would be challenging for the tag team titles with his newest Disciple, Buddy Murphy, later on in the night.

Raw Tag Team Championships: The Viking Raiders (c) vs Seth Rollins & Buddy Murphy

The match was on and all eight men that kicked off the show but that did not last. Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens fought the AOP to the back, leaving the champions and the challengers to decide who walked out as champion. The match came to a close when Rollins dumped Ivar from the top rope to the outside, allowing Murphy to hit a V Trigger Knee to Erik and get the refs attention. A Stomp by Rollins to Erik would give them the time to pin the champions and become the new Raw Tag Team Champions. This marks Seth Rollins’ sixth tag team championship reign with a fifth new partner. Interesting stat. But that was not all for Rollins, who announced after the match that he and Murphy would enter the men’s Royal Rumble match. Rollins will aim to win the match for the second straight year.

As you read this, we sit five days out from the Royal Rumble. For those wondering, the men’s Royal Rumble officially has 22 participants announced with SmackDown to go. The women’s Rumble sits at four participants announced. Make sure to check back all week long for special Royal Rumble coverage.