1/4 Raw Notes – WWE Title match, Lesnar returning, Jericho returns, no Cena, Social Outcasts, more

WWE Raw TV News & Notes 1/4

– Roman Reigns retained the WWE World Title against Sheamus with Mr. McMahon as special referee. A third referee in the match, John Cone, counted the fall after McMahon was knocked out and crooked referee Scott Armstrong was knocked out by Reigns.

Raw ended with McMahon booking Reigns in the Royal Rumble match, where he will defend the WWE Title.

– WWE hyped the return of Brock Lesnar next Monday on Raw, which is going opposite the college football National Title game.

– Chris Jericho returned to Raw to interrupt a New Day promo. Jericho announced himself for the Royal Rumble match.

Jericho started with a copy of his 1999 WWF debut promo opposite The Rock talking about needing to jumpstart WWE’s business.

– John Cena did not appear on Raw the week after not winning the U.S. Title against Alberto Del Rio due to outside interference. Cena is advertised locally for the first Smackdown on USA Network this Thursday, but, during Raw, WWE did not draw attention to Cena appearing on Smackdown.

– WWE hyped two title matches for the first Smackdown on USA throughout the second-half of Raw: Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental Title and Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch for the Divas Title.

– Heath Slater formed a new group called the “Social Outcasts” with Adam Rose, Curtis Axel, and Bo Dallas.

– In the Divas division, Charlotte officially turned heel with a post-match attack on Becky Lynch after Lynch used Flair Family tactics to beat Charlotte. Charlotte was joined by Ric Flair.

– WWE announced Ambrose for Tuesday night’s ESPNews SportsCenter segment with Jonathan Coachman.

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WWE Raw TV Preview 1/4

WWE is kicking off this year’s Raw campaign with a WWE Title match.

New WWE World champion Roman Reigns will defend the title against Sheamus on Monday’s Raw from San Antonio, Texas. The added hook is Reigns’s new enemy, Mr. McMahon, will serve as special referee.

Sheamus lost the WWE Title to Reigns on the December 14 Raw following the TLC PPV. This will serve as Sheamus’s re-match.

WWE is also teasing a possible U.S. Title match for John Cena against Alberto Del Rio, who retained the title last Monday on Raw due to a DQ loss.

Also advertised for Raw are IC champion Dean Ambrose, Kevin Owens, Bray Wyatt & The Wyatts, WWE tag champions New Day, Prime Time Players, and Kane.

Torch Reader Alert: We’re looking for a correspondent at the TV taping. Email us at pwtorch@gmail.com if you plan to attend.