WWE Raw Results, Grades & Opinion: January 11, 2021

WWE Raw Results: January 11, 2021

A.K.A. The One Where Hunter Shows Up

Results:

• Lacey Evans def. Charlotte Flair
• Jaxson Ryker def. Jeff Hardy
• Jeff Hardy def. Elias
• Keith Lee & Sheamus def. Miz & Morrison
• Keith Lee def. Sheamus
• T-Bar def. Xavier Woods
• Bobby Lashley (c) def. Matt Riddle to retain the United States Championship
• Matt Riddle def. MVP by DQ
• A.J. Styles def. Drew Gulak
• Nia Jax & Shayna Baslzer def. Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke

Main Event: Great Balls of Fire

Once it was announced that Drew McIntyre had COVID-19, WWE also announced that Randy Orton would still get a match. The man who filled in: Triple H. He and Orton have had plenty of beef over the years, and Orton came out to confront Triple H at the start of the show. They had words over Orton being a “Legend Killer”. Orton then said he wanted to face Triple H later in the show, and he accepted.

The match wasn’t even a match, as there was no referee. Orton & Triple H brawled around ringside, and HHH went for his signature sledgehammer. When he did, it was on fire. 

Out goes @TripleH, in comes @AlexaBliss_WWE … and she brought the 🔥🔥🔥 to @RandyOrton!

What did we just witness on #WWERaw?! pic.twitter.com/kjTUvfXO1F

— WWE (@WWE) January 12, 2021

The lights went out, and when they came back up Triple H was replaced with Alexa Bliss in the ring. Bliss held up the PAIN glove, and hit Orton with a fireball to the eyes. This is.. an interesting development. 

The Undercard:

Even with a potential COVID-19 outbreak among the talent, Ric Flair appeared on Raw. Flair appeared and for some reason turned on his daughter Charlotte to align with Lacey Evans. Evans had flirted with Flair last week, and Flair is classic Flair and may have fallen in love.

The #DirtiestPlayerInTheGame is at it again…#WWERaw @RicFlairNatrBoy @LaceyEvansWWE @MsCharlotteWWE pic.twitter.com/UUQDmUsOcR

— WWE (@WWE) January 12, 2021

Drew McIntyre couldn’t be there, but he did give us two video messages. The first was to take COVID seriously (which yes, of course all of us should) and the second was to accept Goldberg’s challenge. It’s great news that McIntyre will be back for the Royal Rumble, but less great news that we have to watch a Goldberg match.

"You don't know anything about being #WWEChampion, do you, Billy?" 😬😬😬@DMcIntyreWWE ACCEPTS @Goldberg's challenge for a match at #RoyalRumble! pic.twitter.com/YMPLwNM9pu

— WWE (@WWE) January 12, 2021

Keith Lee and Sheamus teamed to beat Miz & Morrison. Then immediately afterwards, they fought each other. WWE may have been shorthanded because of testing the roster, but this still was a strange way to double up matches. In more exciting news, Keith Lee broke a turnbuckle on the show.

WHAT THE WHAT! 🤯#WWERaw @RealKeithLee @TheRealMorrison pic.twitter.com/Q23vmkDap5

— WWE (@WWE) January 12, 2021

In bad news, Jaxson Ryker got a surprise win over Jeff Hardy. You hate to see it.

That's foul, @IAmEliasWWE!#WWERaw @JaxsonRykerWWE @JEFFHARDYBRAND pic.twitter.com/2fLiQzcFrT

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 12, 2021

Grade: C+

Lots of this show felt repetitive, and the ending felt absurd. There were definite bright spots for in-ring action, like Lee & Sheamus and Xavier Woods versus T-Bar. Still, the Flair-Evans angle just feels like something of a bygone era, and the fireball was maybe even absurd by wrestling standards. Triple H appearing always is a fun time, but overall this show wasn’t anything to write home about.