2025-01-20 WWE RAW - REVIEW
2025 Malapert Smark Podcast Review System:
🤯 - Mind Completely Blown!!! [+10]
🔥 - This Was Fire!! [+5]
❤️ - Loved It! [+3]
👍👍 - REALLY Liked It! [+2]
👍 - Liked It [+1]
1/2 👍- Kinda Liked It [+0.5]
👊 - Indifferent [0]
👎 - Didn’t Like it [-1]
👎👎 - Hated It [-2]
🤮 - Made Me Sick [-5]
🙋♂️- Chris Jericho Bad [-10]
We reviewed this edition of Raw on episode #145 of the Malapert Smark Podcast with Vlad "The Wrestling Expert." Link:
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STORYLINES:
(1) Rhea, Nia, Pierce
-Footage is shown to open the show of Nia Jax ambushing Rhea on her way to the arena and fighting until officials intervene. Pierce runs in and intensely calls for a medic for Rhea.
-Later in the night, right after Nia defeats Bailey, Rhea hits the ring to exact revenge on Nia. The two fight through an intense pull apart and Rhea declares the two will face off this Saturday at Saturday Night’s Main Event!
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👍
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👍
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👍
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Vlad: I don't like Nia but this was good.
⭐️Kayhan: Two of the biggest names in WWE. I’m not surprised this was good.
⭐️Robert:
(2) Jey Uso, Gunther
-Jey Uso heads to the ring to cut promo but is quickly interrupted by Gunther. Gunther says he was excited to face Jey but then saw Jey come out to the ring looking like a dork. Gunther calls Jey a funny little man and a useful idiot who is there for his friends but never backs up his words. Jey says Gunther will put respect on his name and says of the two, only he has main evented WrestleMania. Gunther then attacks Jey but Jey gets the best of the altercation.
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 1/2 👍
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 1/2 👍
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 1/2 👍
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Kayhan: Only giving this a half-👍 for the dork line😆. Otherwise. I guess it’s obligatory to give the world heavyweight title storyline some time on the show. No way it’s Jey Uso’s time. So i’m taking points off for this not having any unpredictability factor.
⭐️Robert:
(3) Kofi, Xavier, JBL, Rey Mysterio
-New Day bump into JBL backstage and think they’ve found someone who will understand them. Kofi slips JBL $10 asking him to put them over on commentary. New Day mention that JBL also dropped a tag partner to get big. JBL sarcastically agrees that dropping a charismatic muscular partner was a good idea. New Day Walk off angrily after the backhanded compliment. JBL asks if he gets to keep the $10 as New Day are walking away.
-New Day cut promos on the way to the ring, rueing Big E’s voice on their entrance theme, expressing anger at the crowd for their disrespectful jeers and Kofi also takes his $10 back from JBL.
-Xavier attempts to help Kofi cheat against Rey but is caught by the refs and is ejected from ringside. Rey defeats Kofi. Xavier hits the ring to attack Rey. Rey is saved by LWOs Jauquin and Cruz. Kingston drives Juaquin into the ring post before New Day run off.
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 1/2 👍
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 1/2 👍
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 1/2 👍
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Vlad: I think New Day is getting booked as too comical. Hard to take this seriously. Kinda disappointing.
⭐️Kayhan: I don’t know about New Day losing here. But i’ll give a half point just because it’s nice to see JBL and the $10 thing is pretty damn classic.
⭐️Robert:
(4) Bailey, Nia, Royal Rumble, Roxanne
-Bailey is interviewed backstage, announces she has moved to Raw and is declaring for the Royal Rumble. Nia comes in and declares she will win the Royal Rumble. There is tension but no altercation.
-Roxanne is shown at ringside prior to Baileys match.
-During Baileys match with Nia, Bailey jaw jacked with Roxanne at ringside. Roxanne tried to slap Bailey but got countered and nailed in the face! Security pulled a kicking and screaming Roxanne away… Nia proceeds to defeat Bailey.
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 1/2 👍
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👊
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👍
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Kayhan: Bailey sure been losing a lot lately. I liked the interaction with Roxanne. Roxanne already using her best strengths up on the main roster. Her flailing, kicking and screaming while being pulled away looked great.
⭐️Robert:
(5) Chad Gable & American Made, Dom
-Gable is interviewed backstage after being seen yelling at his crew. He says he will be seeking the help of Dominik Mysterio for advice wrestling against the lucha libre style. Ivy Nile and The Creed Brothers also declare their intentions to try to win gold in their respective divisions.
-Later, Gable is shown asking advice from Dom. Dom slips him a piece of paper… Dom thinks it might be good to have an ally for Judgement Day.
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 1/2 👍
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 1/2 👍
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 1/2 👍
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Kayhan: Interesting little alliance. I wonder what advice DOM could give on how to face luchadors😆. I would love to see what’s on that note.
⭐️Robert:
(6) Sami Zayn, Royal Rumble, Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre
-Sami Zayn cuts an in ring promo declaring for the Royal Rumble, and says he’s the only top tier talent already declared for the Royal Rumble that hasn’t been world champions. He says he doesn’t need it to complete him but he wants it! Owens heads to the ring with winged eagle belt and a Bret Hart jacket. Zayn tells Owens he knew this moment would come, after teaming with Roman. But Owens says after thinking about it, he’s not upset with Zayn the way he is with Cody since Zayn had a history with Roman and Zayn forgave Roman just as he forgave Owens. Owens calls Zayn a good person and talks about main eventing WrestleMania with his friend if Zayn wins the Royal Rumble. Owens tells Zayn they will both win at the Royal Rumble because they’ll both have each other’s backs, because they’re friends. Zayn looks conflicted as he walks off.
-Backstage, Sami thanks Seth for their talk last week. Seth is happy that Sami is out for himself now, but says he will throw Sami over the top rope at the Royal Rumble if he has to. The two seem friendly.
-After the main event, Sami Zayn ran in to help Seth Rollins from getting beat down by Drew McIntyre, who just lost to Seth. Sami’s attempt to save Seth was unsuccessful as Drew left both Seth & Sami laying to end the show… Throughout the match and after, Drew seemed to detest Seth’s alliances, saying they should be working together…
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👍
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👍
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👍
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Kayhan: Although the main event was McIntyre & Rollins, this was the story of Sami Zayn today. I feel they’re telling a pretty solid story here as Sami is just too nice a guy, wanting deep down to focus on his own career but constantly distracted by fighting other people’s battles. First Roman, now helping Seth and taking a beating for him. And Kevin Owens is also asking for his help against Cody! If Sami ever wants to be champ, he needs to start saying no to some of these people.
⭐️Robert:
(7) Sheamus, Bron Breakker
-Sheamus is interviewed backstage regarding his upcoming IC Title match on Saturday. Says he will win the one title he’s never won. Breakker walks up and tells Sheamus this is as close to the title as he’ll get. Sheamus shoves Breakker away and Breakker walks away laughing.
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 1/2 👍
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 1/2 👍
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👊
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Kayhan: Im sure this will be another banger match. Nothing special here. Just a Very manly man segment.
⭐️Robert:
(8) Judgement Day
-Balor is out after losing to Priest last week. Dom & JD think Balor wouldn’t mind Dom filling in for him in tag title match against War Raiders. Liv jokes about how Finn has been losing a lot lately.
-JD & Dom set to face War Raiders next week.
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👊
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👊
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👊
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Kayhan: I don’t see how this group can go on much longer. But I’ve been wrong about that before. The difference is that now without any titles they just seem like a bunch of looosahs! I guess we’ll see if they break them up or try to keep them going. I guess I’d be good with them keeping it together if they can revive the group somehow. But if they’re just gonna be a buncha flunkies then Liv & Raquel should just be on their own.
⭐️Robert:
(9) Dom, Liv
-Liv praises Dom’s leadership in taking Finns spot in tag team against War Raiders, saying it’s a better plan than the one had when she lost to Rhea. Dom says he thought Liv wasn’t mad but promises he’ll make it up to her.
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👊
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👊
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 1/2 👍
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Kayhan: I guess this could lead somewhere. I’m hearing maybe a face turn for Dom. I could see that if Liv gets really mean to him. I don’t see Dom being so loved as a face, but maybe it’s time for him to evolve his career, start fresh and see if he can grow out of this silly character he’s been. In wrestling years, he’s had this gimmick long enough. I say it’s time for something new.
⭐️Robert:
(10) Lyra
-Video package has Lyra cutting promo promising to take on all comers.
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👊
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👊
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👊
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Kayhan: The contents of what she was saying was good but the delivery was ordinary to me. But it’s ok. Her in ring work is more important.
⭐️Robert:
(11) Penta, Pete Dunne
-Penta defeats Pete Dunne.
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 1/2 👍
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 1/2 👍
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👍
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Kayhan: I honestly didn’t watch this match that closely but I know they gotta get Penta wins and make him look good, so mission accomplished.
⭐️Robert:
(12) Logan Paul
-Video package has Logan Paul cutting a promo putting himself over as he will make his Raw debut next week.
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👊
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👊
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 👊
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Kayhan: 2nd week in a row with a promo for Logan Paul. He’s coming. All right. great. But I get nothing from hearing him talk. Not even hear. I just wanna forward because he sounds fake af.
⭐️Vlad:
⭐️Robert:
(13) CM Punk
-CM Punk is interviewed and says he will win the Royal Rumble. He also royally buries Hulk Hogan.
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 1/2 👍
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👍
Robert TheFrozenAsian - I MISSED THIS
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Vlad: Good promo.
⭐️Kayhan: Wth does Hulk Hogan have to do with anything? seems kinda messed up to throw someone under the bus if they’re not gonna be working a program together? I would like them to at least do something but I doubt that’s gonna happen… At this point, I think Punk said it for some shock value and because he just doesn’t care about heat from Hulk Hogan… I guess it gets him some cool points for anyone who doesn’t like Hogan.
⭐️Robert:
(14) Damage CTRL, PFC
-Damage CTRL defeats PFC in tag match.
🌪️REVIEWS🌪️
Kayhan TheMalapertSmark - 👊
Vlad TheWrestlingExpert - 👊
Robert TheFrozenAsian - 1/2 👍
➡️COMMENTS⬅️
⭐️Kayhan: This seemed a little anti-climactic given that Damage CTRL were supposed to be out to get even for dastardly backstage attacks. Just too much going on on today’s show for this to really stick out. I feel it could have used a tiny bit more build and maybe feature this match at SNME.
⭐️Robert:
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INTERNATIONAL SEGMENTS:
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A) Kaiser is interviewed.
B) War Raiders are interviewed backstage.
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