WWE Raw: Bobby Lashley wins main event and is number one contender

WWE Day 1 kicked off what’s already been an action-packed start for wrestling in the New Year. Brock Lesnar is the new WWE Champion and set to make waves on WWE Monday Night Raw. But who will be the first man to challenge him? That question and others were answered on the first edition of Raw in 2022.

The night started off with Paul Heyman to introduce his client, Brock Lesnar. Lesnar started the night sending a “shout out” to Roman Reigns before Heyman went on his normal tangent about what is next for Lesnar. Heyman went down the list of Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Bobby Lashley and Big E – highlighting how each man would fall to Lesnar.

The first match of the night was tag team contest between Team RKO and Alpha Academy.

Otis and Chad Gable jumped Team RK-Bro before the bell rang, forcing the tag team champions from the ring. Otis launched Riddle over his head with ease, suplexing him to the floor outside the ring.

Back from commercial and Gable remained all over Riddle, hitting him with a suplex of his own before focusing on his leg. Gable tagged in Otis who put his power on display with a press slam for a two-count. They continued to isolate Riddle on their side of the ring, including Otis hitting an elbow drop before using a chin lock.

Riddle avoided a charging Otis and countered another suplex to stay on his feet before hitting a kick to the head. Gable stopped Riddle from making the tag and Otis flattened him outside the ring. Back inside Riddle tried an RKO but Otis countered with a World’s Strongest Slam to get the win.

Alpha Academy defeated Team RK-Bro via pinfall.

Another tag team match was next with Akira Tozawa and Tamina taking on Dana Brooke and Reggie.

Tozawa and Reggie started out the match with Reggie planting Tozawa with a dropkick. Tozawa fought back but accidentally kicked Tamina in the face. Tamina laid him out with a slap to the face, allowing Reggie to hit the flipping splash for the victory.

Dana Brooke and Reggie defeated Akira Tozawa and Tamina via pinfall.

Becky Lynch was out next to talk about her run as WWE Raw Women’s Champion before Liv Morgan interrupted her. Lynch dismissed Morgan but that was followed up with Bianca Belair. Belair and Morgan jousted around who is up next for the champion before tossing Lynch out together. They ended up fighting in the middle of the ring.

The Women’s Tag Team titles were on the line next as Nikki A.S.H and Rhea Ripley were back together to face off against Carmella and Queen Zelina.

Zelina and Rhea started out the match slapping each other before Ripley planted her with a big suplex. Zelina was able to kick out of the pinfall attempt. Ripley tagged into Nikki her tried another pin to no avail. Nikki landed a clothesline before going into another pinfall for a one-count.

Zelina was able to take control of the match, locking in a rear-naked choke. Nikki fought out of the position, but Zelina used a handful of hair to snatch her back to the mat. Zelina was able to roll Nikki up out of a crucifix to get the victory.

Queen Zelina and Carmella defeated Nikki A.S.H and Rhea Ripley to retain via pinfall.

The Street Profits were out to battle Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez.

Montez Ford started out first against Azeez and ran into a wall when it came to his power. Azeez attempted a pin but Angelo Dawkins broke it up. Both men made tags with Dawkins taking over. After a back elbow, he hit a splash and a Silencer for a two-count before Azeez broke it up. However, Azeez pulled him out of the ring and Dawkins had to reverse the position.

Crews didn’t see the blind tag and that led to Ford hitting a big frog splash for the win.

The Street Profits defeated Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez via pinfall.

Damian Priest had to defend his United States title against Dolph Ziggler with a stipulation that if he’s disqualified, he will lose the title.

Ziggler tried to irk Priest early, slapping him but that only resulted with getting tossed outside. However, he was able to reverse the situation and DDT Priest on the floor.

Back from commercial and they were back in the ring where Priest was winning until Ziggler sent him into the turnbuckle. He followed that up with a stiff running knee for a two-count. Ziggler continued to try and fire Priest up but that resulted in him taking multiple shots to the body and face. Priest dropped him with a kick then hit the Cliffhanger for a two-count. https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1478197233556373507?s=20

Ziggler caught Priest on the top rope but Priest fought out of the position, landing another kick to the face. Bobby Rhode broke up the attempt and Ziggler nearly won with the Fameasser but Priest kicked out at two. Priest went outside to attack Roode as the count continued. He jumped back in the ring with the chair but hit Roode in the head. However, Ziggler hit the Zig Zag for another close two-count.

Ziggler went for the superkick but Priest countered with The Reckoning to win and retain the title.

Damian Priest defeated Dolph Ziggler via pinfall.

Miz and Maryse were out with a lot to say about their match with Edge at WWE Day 1, but they were joined by Edge and Beth Phoenix. That led to The Miz accepting the mixed tag match much to the anger of Maryse.

AJ Styles and Omos were up next in singles action.

Styles tried to stick and move while avoiding the power that Omos brings to the ring. That was working until Omos landed a big boot to the face. He then slung Styles across the ring with ease causing him to crash into the steel post.

Back inside the ring and Styles went to the legs and landed some strikes to the head that angered Omos. Styles landed some kicks out of the corner and went for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Omos countered with a shot to the midsection while he was in midair. Omos lifted Styles up with a press slam to the mat. He followed that up with the two-handed choke slam to pick up the victory.

Omos defeated AJ Styles via pinfall.

The main event fatal four-way match was up with Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, Big E, and Bobby Lashley competing for a shot at Brock Lesnar and the WWE Championship.

The match started with Lashley knocking Rollins from the ring while Owens and Big E battled inside. The first big moment saw Big E spear Owens from the apron while Lashley bounced Rollins off the steel post. That left Lashley and Big E standing in the ring. Lashley was the one left after a big clothesline followed by a suplex. Owens jumped in the ring and took a neck breaker and suplex for his troubles.

Lashley went to spear Owens through the barricade but Rollins pulled him out the way. He stepped right into Big E who launched him overhead with ease. Before he could uranage Rollins through the table, Owens made the save. Together they ran Big E into the steel post face first. They even put Big E through the table with a tandem powerbomb.

Back from commercial with Rollins and Owens well in control. Rollins launched Owens into Lashley with the cannonball. Their teamwork was going well until Lashley and Big E decided to work together. All four men ended up running into the concourse where Big E put Owens through a table.

The four men continued to battle back by the ring where Lashley and Big E started to go at it after working together briefly. Owens suddenly landed on all three men with a senton bomb from the level above. Rollins and Owens then hit a big senton bomb and frog splash combination on Big E for a two-count. Owens hit the Pop-up Powerbomb on Big E but Lashley broke up the pin.

Lashley then went on a rampage against all three men, hitting a spear on Big E, Rollins, and then Owens. Lashley then pinned Owens to pick up the victory and move on to face Brock Lesnar at Royal Rumble.

Bobby Lashley won the Fatal Four-way main event against Seth Rollins, Big E, and Kevin Owens.