WWE Raw Results, Highlights, and Grades: January 27, 2020

The WWE Raw after WWE Royal Rumble 2020 is set to take place tonight on January 27 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT live on the USA Network. Here are some results, highlights, and grades for the longest running weekly episodic television show in history.

On tonight’s episode of WWE Raw, there are three scheduled matches: (1) Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe in a Raw Tag Team Championship Match, (2) Lana vs. Liv Morgan, (3) Andrade (c) vs. Humberto Carrillo for the United States Championship. These matches are representative of the rivalries taking place on Raw each week, so it will be intriguing to see who comes out on top in these bouts.

In terms of segments, both Royal Rumble winners, Drew McIntyre and Charlotte Flair, will make their decisions as to who they will battle on the grandest stage of them all: WWE WrestleMania 36. While Drew McIntyre has to choose between WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and Universal Champion Bray Wyatt, Charlotte Flair has to choose between Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley.

Also, Edge made a miraculous return to the WWE at WWE Royal Rumble 2020. He will be on WWE Raw tonight to address his return of the decade and potentially address his recent interactions with his former Rated RKO tag team partner, Randy Orton.

With that being said, it’s now time to bleed red and plunge into a slew of surprises for WWE Raw, starting with the 2020 Royal Rumble Winner Drew McIntyre officially selecting his opponent at WrestleMania 36 to be WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and announcing an open challenge, which Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson from the O.C. answered.

Drew McIntyre vs. The O.C. [Handicap Match]

After beginning the match with some ground based offense, Drew McIntyre makes quick work of the best tag team in the world. He delivers a Belly to Belly Suplex to both Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. After kipping up, he delivers a Glasglow Kiss headbutt to Gallows and a Future Shock DDT to Anderson.

McIntyre then counts down 3…2…1 with the crowd to deliver a picture perfect Claymore to both members of the O.C. for the 1…2….3. After the match, Brock Lesnar runs to the ring to deliver an F-5 to Drew McIntyre, avenging him for eliminating him in the Royal Rumble last night as well as making a statement to his official opponent at WrestleMania 36.

Result: Drew McIntyre

Grade: 2.5/5.0 Stars

Analysis: The O.C. barely got offense in, but this match was merely a way to make the new #1 contender for the WWE Championship look strong. Not a fan of the Raw Tag Team Division taking a hit but McIntyre evidently needs to continue his momentum on his road to WrestleMania 36. Next up: Rey Mysterio vs. MVP.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1221966876969848837

Rey Mysterio vs. MVP [Grudge Match]

Rey Mysterio and MVP start off the match with some ground based offense. MVP delivers some Belly to Belly Suplexes and Big Boots, to which the crowd reacted that MVP ‘still got it.’ WWE Raw goes to commercial.

Back from commercial, MVP has Mysterio in the electric chair but Mysterio counters with a Hurricanrana. He rallies with a springboard moonsault, but MVP catches Mysterio and delivers a side slam, setting Mysterio for his Ballin’ elbow drop.

MVP hits it and pins Mysterio for the two-count. His offense is not enough as Mysterio dials MVP up for the 619 and pins MVP for the three-count.

Result: Rey Mysterio

Grade: 2.5/5.0 Stars

Analysis: Not sure why MVP lost his first match back, but the match was pretty good. It was fun seeing MVP back in the ring and there’s hope that he regains some sort of momentum in the weeks to come. Maybe such loss to a fellow babyface like Mysterio will somehow lead to an MVP heel turn in the near future that will reward him with more meaningful victories. Next up: Aleister Black is in action!

Aleister Black vs. Kenneth Johnson [Grudge Match]

Aleister Black delivered a Black Mass to jobber, Kenneth Johnson, for the three-count and the victory. He then cuts a promo about being eliminated in the Royal Rumble.

He does not want to blame Buddy Murphy and Seth Rollins for getting eliminated because he should have finish what he started. He asserts that he will no longer be waiting inside a dark room for someone to pick a fight with him.

Instead, he will be looking to a pick a fight with anyone he sees fit. In other words, he will hopefully be battling more challenging competitors.

Result: Aleister Black

Grade: 1.5/5.0 Stars

Analysis: The match was a waste but it’s nice to know that Aleister Black will finally be pursuing his own challenges rather than waiting for them. Next up: Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy will defend their Raw Tag Team Championships against Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe!

Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe [Raw Tag Team Championships]

Seth Rollins was happy to eliminate both Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe in the Royal Rumble and is now ready to retain the Raw Tag Team Championships against them with Buddy Murphy. Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe come out to say that Rollins still talks too much and are wary that AOP would interfere in this tag team championship match.

Seth Rollins proves to Owens and Joe that AOP is indeed backstage in his private dressing room. Owens and Joe slyly call Rollins a liar since titantron clips can be pre-recorded. Rollins reveals that it is indeed live. Thanks to this revealed info, Owens and Joe realized that they no longer need to find them and set AOP up to get attacked by the Viking Raiders. The show goes to commericial.

Back from commercial, Samoa Joe delivers a shoulder block and Senton Splash to Buddy Murphy for the two-count. He tags in Kevin Owens, who delivers a drop toe hold and backbreaker to Murphy, keeps him down and preventing him from performing any aerial maneuvers as well as tagging in Seth Rollins.

Owens tags in Joe, who delivers a Russian Leg Sweep to Murphy. Murphy gets out of Joe’s grasps and tags in Seth Rollins. Rollins gains control of Joe and tags in Murphy, but Joe counters the charge of Rollins and tosses him outside the ring while side stepping Murphy’s aerial maneuver and clotheslining him outside the ring.

Seeing Rollins outside the ring, Owens flies off the apron with a CannonBall to Rollins. Meanwhile, Joe performs a Suicide Dive to Murphy for some babyface momentum. WWE Raw goes to commercial.

Back from commercial, Samoa Joe is no longer medically cleared for the match and Owens delivers a picture perfect DDT to Murphy. Murphy tags in Rollins and Owens has no one to tag so he counters Rollins’ charge and delivers a Frog Splash to Rollins for the two-count.

Rollins tags Murphy back in and Murphy delivers a calf kick to Owens for the two-count. Murphy tags Rollins back in but Rollins runs into a Pop Up Powerbomb by Owens for the two-count. Rollins tags Murphy back in.

Murphy puts Owens on the top rope, looking for a Superplex. However, Owens counters with headbutts and delivers a front suplex and a senton bomb for the two-count as Rollins break up the pinfall. Owens delivers a suicide senton bomb to Rollins outside the ring and focuses on Murphy inside the ring but run into a knee strike by Murphy.

Just like last week, Murphy attempts to grab Owens near the ropes but the referee backs up Murphy, permitting Rollins to deliver a Curb Stomp on the apron. However, Owens counters the curb stomp and punches Rollins. He tries to stun Buddy Murphy but Murphy counters and Owens ends up stunning Rollins. Murphy capitalizes on the distraction and rolls up Owens for the three-count and the victory. Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy are still the Raw Tag Team Champions.

Result: Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy

Grade: 4.0/5.0 Stars

Analysis: Although it was unfortunate that Samoa Joe was not there to help Kevin Owens, it was an amazing tag team championship match. Owens fought his heart out as a babyface truly defying the odds. However, the numbers game was too much for him to bare. Well done by all contestants in this match. In a backstage interview, Becky Lynch is asked about potentially battling Royal Rumble Winner Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36 and she responds that it won’t be the first time Charlotte challenges her but it will definitely be the last. Next up: Andrade vs. Humberto Carillo for the United States Championship!

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1221981952552718337

Andrade (c) (w/Zelina Vega) vs. Humberto Carillo [United States Championship]

Andrade makes his way to the ring with Zelina Vega, awaiting Humberto Carillo for their Royal Rumble 2020 championship rematch. Andrade starts the match off strong with knee strikes and stomps to Carillo. Carillo rallies back with a Suicide Dive to Andrade, and WWE Raw goes to commercial.

Back from commercial, Humberto Carillo delivers an Enziguiri and Standing Moonsault for the two-count. It looks as if Andrade was gonna deliver the Double Knees but he attempts the Hammerlock DDT. Carillo counters with an Enziguiri and a Moonsault for the top rope for the two-count since Zelina Vega broke up the pin and forced a Disqualification.

Carillo is livid that his championship opportunity was ruined. He reveals the concrete pavement outside and delivers a Hammerlock DDT to Andrade to avenge Andrade for what he did to him last month. The storyline continues.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1221987383219978241

Result: Humberto Carillo (by DQ)

Grade: 3.0/5.0 Stars

Analysis: Although this match ended inconclusively, this storyline got more interesting with Carillo’s aggressiveness after the match. The medics are checking up on Andrade, so it will be interesting to see what happens next between him and Carillo. Next up: Royal Rumble Winner Charlotte Flair will let the WWE Universe know who her WrestleMania 36 opponent will be!

Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka [Grudge Match]

Charlotte Flair brags about her Royal Rumble victory last night, especially in which she eliminated the two superstars who has the most eliminations in the Royal Rumble Match: Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler. Now, she plans to choose her opponent at WrestleMania 36 but she won’t reveal it just yet because she only knows that she will battling for a championship.

The Kabuki Warriors come out to challenge Charlotte. Asuka declaims that she would have won the Royal Rumble (just like she did in 2018), if she were in the match with Charlotte last night. It looks like there will be a match between Charlotte and Asuka next! WWE Raw goes to commercial.

Back from commercial, Charlotte Flair and Asuka lock it up but Charlotte gains early control with a big boot. Asuka regains momentum with a German Suplex and Missile Dropkick for the two-count. Charlotte regains control with a dropkick and she rallies with knife edge chops, shouting out that she already beat Asuka.

Charlotte lifts Asuka to the top rope for a Spanish Fly, but Kairi Sane gets on the apron to distract Charlotte and Asuka shoves Charlotte off the top rope as Charlotte lands hard on the floor outside the ring. WWE Raw goes to commercial.

Back from commercial, Charlotte attempts the Moonsault but Asuka counters and locks in the Asuka lock as well as the triangle lock. Charlotte counters with a powerbomb for the two-count. She attempts Natural Selection but Asuka counters with a Double Knee Code Breaker for the two count. Charlotte rallies back with a Spear for the two-count and Kairi Sane is beside herself outside the ring.

Charlotte locks in the Figure 4 and bridges it into the Figure 8 but Kairi Sane goes on the top rope and delivers an Insane Elbow to stop the match. Charlotte defeats Asuka by disqualification, thanks to Kairi Sane’s interference. Sane then delivers a flurry of punches to Charlotte after the match but Charlotte counters with a Big Boot, looking strong in the post-match attack.

Result: Charlotte Flair (by DQ)

Grade: 3.5/5.0 Stars

Analysis: As expected, this match was stellar despite the inconclusive finish. It was quite lucid that Charlotte had to win this match to continue her momentum and look strong on the road to WrestleMania 36. Meanwhile, The Street Profits are backstage as Angelo Dawkins calls himself Darth Vader while flirting with the returning Kelly Kelly. It’s nice to know that Kelly Kelly wants the smoke. Next up: Mojo Rawley hosts a 24/7 Championship Open Challenge with RIddick Moss in the ring with him!

Mojo Rawley (c) vs. No Way Jose [24/7 Championship]

Mojo Rawley makes quick work of No Way Jose with a 24/7 Championship retention. R-Truth was apparently in the Conga Line and runs in the ring to roll up Rawley for the three-count. R-Truth is the new 24/7 Champion but not for long as Rawley quickly pins Truth for the three-count to take it back and become a three time 24/7 Champion.

Result: Mojo Rawley

Grade: 1.5/5.0 Stars

Analysis: It is nice to see Rawley do something new with the 24/7 Championship, but the star power in these matches are mediocre, to say the least. Next up: Liv Morgan vs. Lana!

Lana vs. Liv Morgan [Grudge Match]

Lana and Liv Morgan perform some ground based offense early on. The match was dominated by enzigiuris and dropkicks by Liv Morgan until she eventually delivered a Flatliner DDT from the side ropes to Lana for the three-count and the victory.

Result: Liv Morgan

Grade: 2.0/5.0 Stars

Analysis: It’s about time Liv Morgan picked up an emphatic victory. She dominated Lana in this match, as she should. Next up: Erick Rowan’s reckoning!

Erick Rowan vs. Branden Vice [Grudge Match]

Erick Rowan delivers a big boot to Branden Vice and a running crossbody to him outside the ring. He delivers a splash in the corner and a powerslam for the two-count as he continues to manhandle him and deliver an Ironclaw Chokeslam for the three-count and the victory.

Result: Erick Rowan

Grade: 1.5/5.0 Stars

Analysis: The usual with Erick Rowan. Nothing special, but what’s in that cage?

Edge Live Promo

Edge comes out with a huge pop from the crowd. The crowd chants that Edge still got it and Edge agrees. He is amazed at how he is still standing inside this ring after being forced to retire nine years ago. He started to feel pretty good and wondered what if he came back home.

He’s glad he came back home and he hopes to see some of the superstars he encountered in the Royal Rumble down the road. More importantly, he wants the WWE Universe to go down this road with him because he does not know how long it will last.

He knows he’s older but he has one thing that one cannot fabricate: grit! If someone knocks him down, he gets back up. Randy Orton enters the arena to interrupt Edge and takes a trip down memory lane with Edge, reflecting on their very close friendship and brotherhood.

Randy Orton suggests reuniting with Edge as Rated RKO. Before Edge could answer, Randy Orton delivers an RKO to Edge and whacks him with a steel chair. Orton then locks Edge’s neck inside the steel chair and goes on the top rope to potentially deliver a high knee onto Edge to close the segment and WWE Raw. However, he decides against it.

He has an alternative idea. He grabs two chairs and puts one of the chairs below Edge’s neck. He gets another chair and whacks Edge’s neck with full force to close the show. Why Randy? Why?

Result: Randy Orton strikes again

Grade: 4.5/5.0 Stars

Analysis: What a way to close Raw. Usually, matches should main event Raw but this heel turn was perfectly executed. On this day, we see clearly that Randy Orton strikes again.