Winners And Grades With Royal Rumble Fallout

WWE Raw advertised the Raw return of Cody Rhodes, who won the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble, in addition to women’s Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley, who was to declare her WrestleMania opponent. Raw also advertised Elimination Chamber qualifying matches with Seth Rollins taking on Chad Gable and Baron Corbin facing Johnny Gargano. This year’s Elimination Chamber will be competed for the United States Championship.

Last week’s broadcast of Raw XXX drew WWE’s biggest Raw audience in almost three years with 2.344 million viewers.

WWE Raw Results on January 30, 2023

• Seth Rollins def. Chad Gable
• Iyo Sky def. Candice LeRae
• Johnny Gargano def. Baron Corbin
• Rick Boogs def. The Miz
• Bronson Reed def. Dolph Ziggler
• Cody Rhodes def. Finn Balor

WWE Raw Ratings

• January 23, 2023 | 2.344 million
• January 16, 2023 | 1.489 million
• January 9, 2023 | 1.693 million
• January 2, 2023 | 1.605 million
• December 26, 2022 | 1.075 million

• WWE Raw Venue: BOK Center (Tulsa, OK)
• WWE Raw Tickets Distributed: 6,909
• WWE Raw Tickets Available: 156

WWE Raw Winners And Grades

Cody Rhodes Challenges Roman Reigns for WrestleMania

Cody Rhodes came out to a rousing ovation, and cut a babyface promo where this sold-out crowd chanted “thank you Cody” and “you deserve it.” There was not a hint of anybody turning on him. It’s becoming more and more clear that the narrative of fans possibly turning on Cody Rhodes is a fake controversy.

Finn Balor made a Bullet Club reference and it flew over the heads of the live crowd. You love to see it, because it suggests that it’s not only casuals watching the product anymore.

Dominik Mysterio took a messy shot at Dusty Rhodes, and fans responded by chanting “kick his ass!”

Seth Rollins def. Chad Gable

Seth Rollins and Chad Gable had a predictably good match, though I was hoping both would get more time.

With The Elimination Chamber being competed for the United States Championship, the US Title might mean more than it has since the days of the John Cena Open Challenge.

Seth Rollins surprisingly won this match with a Pedigree. A possible hint that he may not be all the way done with Cody Rhodes.

Seth Rollins vs. Chad Gable Grade: B

Iyo Sky def. Candice LeRae

Iyo Sky performed a very scary bump where she over-rotated, but thankfully, Candice LeRae caught her before she could land.

Iyo Sky picked up another victory with help from Damage CTRL as Candice LeRae is stuck in a groundhog day situation of repeatedly losing to Damage CTRL.

Iyo Sky vs. Candice LeRae Grade: B-

Rhea Ripley Challenges Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39

Rhea Ripley challenging Charlotte Flair was a surprising choice given WWE already did that match at WrestleMania 36, and WWE has been teasing Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair dating bak to November. WWE must have something really good for Bianca Belair.

Rhea Ripley winning a Royal Rumble from No. 1 with a rib injury already made her a de facto babyface. Challenging Charlotte Flair will only force Ripley further in that direction.

Johnny Gargano def. Baron Corbin

Johnny Gargano walked out with the returning Dexter Lumis, just in time for WrestleMania season. Lumis’ timing couldn’t be any better.

The match’s finish came when an axe-wielding Lumis spooked Baron Corbin into defeat. Corey Graves was the only person on commentary concerned about a serial killer-type character carrying a deadly weapon.

Johnny Gargano will be a great hand in the Elimination Chamber, but I’d be shocked if he actually won. The presumed Cena vs. Theory match will likely be competed for the United States Championship, and Theory should retain.

Johnny Gargano vs. Baron Corbin Grade: C+

MVP’s VIP Lounge with Austin Theory

MVP was a heel—right down to taking shots at the fans in attendance—until Austin Theory came out. Then fans sided with the devil they know.

This segment went on way too long as MVP and Austin Theory took turns interrupting each other. The segment began to get interesting when Bobby Lashley showed up, only to accidentally spear MVP.

Rick Boogs def. The Miz

It’s great to see Rick Boogs, but he returned four days early. It would have been a much better return alongside Shinsuke Nakamura with Pat McAfee freaking out.

Rick Boogs now wears fringes on his boots, and I’ve always been a big fan of that.

Poor Miz lost a squash match while still wearing a double-breasted suit. It seems WWE is going to be doing a storyline where Miz feels he is getting screwed by authority.

Miz vs. Rick Boogs Grade: C-

Becky Lynch and Bayley Face Off

The fan heat just isn’t there for these Becky Lynch vs. Bayley exchanges, which continue to veer in a personal direction. Bayley called Lynch overrated, while mocking her marriage to Seth Rollins. The response was lukewarm at best.

The heelish birthday girl Becky Lynch held Dakota Kai hostage in order to get what she wanted, which was a Steel Cage match for next week. Lynch and Bayley will finally have the match that was cut for time at Raw XXX.

Hopefully the plan isn’t for Becky Lynch to face Bayley or Damage CTRL at WrestleMania. Something about Bayley and Lynch’s chemistry has been off since they started their feud.

Bronson Reed vs. Dolph Ziggler

Backstage, Mustafa Ali continued his whiny “where’s my opportunity” gimmick, this time at the expense of Dolph Ziggler.

Bronson Reed should be a lot of fun inside the Elimination Chamber, where I expect him to dive off the top of a pod.

Backstage, Carmella made her return and confronted Asuka. It was also revealed that both Street Profits will be in Elimination Chamber qualifying matches. Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins will take on Elias and Damian Priest, respectively.

Bronson Reed vs. Dolphs Ziggler Grade: B-

Cody Rhodes def. Finn Balor

Cody Rhodes is every bit the beloved babyface he wanted to be in AEW. Fan temperament is never to be trusted in WWE, but his return couldn’t be going any better through tonight.

Predictably, the story of this match was Finn Balor working over the pec of Cody Rhodes.

Edge made the save for Cody Rhodes by coming through the crowd like he did when he was OG Edge during the Attitude Era. This bought out Beth Phoenix, who hit another stiff spear on Rhea Ripley.

Cody Rhodes vs. Finn Balor Grade: B+