Match Ratings For WWE Raw 1/13/20 From Sean Ross Sapp

Drew McIntyre defeated AJ Styles and Randy Orton
6/10

• Randy Orton comes out to the ring and immediately calls out AJ Styles.
• AJ Styles does that and gloats about hitting an RKO next week.
• Drew McIntyre interrupts Styles and says people want to see them have a triple threat match, not talk.
• The match gets underway and OC attacks, but Orton and Drew take them out with their finishers.
• Somehow this takes up the first 15-16 minutes after a commercial.
• You see them setting up the Glasgow Tower Of Doom from a mile away.
• McIntyre hits his signature moves, but gets taken out by stairs from Orton.
• Styles can’t hit an RKO, but Orton hits a Styles Clash.
• RKO hits on Styles, but Drew steals the pin after hitting a Claymore on Orton.
• Drew’s pin was a little lazy for my liking.
• AJ and Orton actually made me forget Drew was in the match.
• This is worth seeing for the Orton Styles Clash alone.

Ricochet defeated Mojo Rawley
5/10

• It’s good to see Mojo getting more of a shot on WWE TV.
• They do the old “IF THIS WAS THE ROYAL RUMBLE, MOJO WOULD BE ELIMINATED” spot.
• They also do the same tope con hilo we see ten times a week.
• Mojo hits a Pounce, but ends up losing to the Recoil and 630.
• Not much of a reaction to this, even though Ricochet is a Kentucky boy. Lexington and Paducah are four hours apart, this was not a homecoming for Ricochet.

Charlotte Flair defeated Sarah Logan
SQUASH

• Well the push for Sarah Logan was fun. It lasted a solid week.
• Charlotte Flair submits her with a Figure Eight and puts her robe back on.
• She throws Logan over the top rope.
• I like the new Sarah Logan gimmick and gear.

TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES

• Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman come out to the ring and Heyman trolls Kentucky.
• They tease leaving.
• Paul Heyman cuts a promo about Brock Lesnar winning the Royal Rumble and says only the truth flows from his mouth.
• This brings out R-Truth. He says his childhood hero is John Cena and it taught him to never give up.
• Watching Brock Lesnar being entertained by all this is great.
• Truth says he’s going to eliminate Paul Heyman. Brock Lesnar busts out laughing.
• Truth undeclares from the Royal Rumble and say Paul Heyman talks way too much and he gives away spoilers.
• Heyman says nobody likes Truth. Brock Lesnar hits him and F5’s him.
• Mojo Rawley comes out and pins Truth for the title as he’s being helped to the back.

Bobby Lashley (w/ Lana Lashley) defeated Rusev
4.75/10

• Lashley and Lana Lashley say that everyone is jealous of them.
• Rusev beats Lashley’s ass pretty thoroughly. He hits a cannonball in the corner, too.
• Lashley takes over and sends Rusev over the top rope, then spears him big time. This was a big one.
• Lashley posts himself. This is a very 1991 WWF big man match.
• Rusev rolls through a German suplex and hits a Machka Kick.
• A distraction gets Lashley back into it.
• No Liv Morgan in sight until they’re both down. Lana throws a drink in her face and darts Liv into the barricade.
• Spear, and Lashley gets the win.
• Lana Lashley is upset about this. She challenges Rusev and Liv to a mixed tag match. Bobby Lashley isn’t happy about this.

Viking Raiders defeated Bollywood Boyz
SQUASH

• Viking Raiders cut a really terrible promo and make an open challenge.
• It’s the Bollywood Boyz, who get lawn darted into one another.
• Viking Experience wins it.

Contract signing

• Becky Lynch comes out, as do Asuka and Kairi Sane.
• Becky signs the contract and says to let the best woman win.
• Asuka spits mist in her face. Becky Lynch and WWE play it up like a million bucks. Officials ran out with water and helped her.
• The officials all tending to Becky Lynch desperately plays up the “golden goose” angle of the story too. That ruled, man. One of the better contract signing angles in a while.
• Becky Lynch cuts a great promo about coming for Asuka. This is such an amazing segment. So effective and good.

Backstage Crappenings

• Andrade vs. Mysterio for the United States Championship is set for next week. Zelina says they’ll press charges against Mysterio because he’s a criminal. Andrade cuts a promo in Spanish, and it works. Rey Mysterio responds in a promo. He says he’s ready to sacrifice for it and he knows the dangers.

Aleister Black defeated Buddy Murphy
7.75/10

• I REALLY think this should have been stretched out. Buddy Murphy should have asked for a match last week, been denied it. While Aleister keeps crushing people, it consumes Murphy and they take each other out of the Rumble match, leading to a third.
• There’s a good strike trade, as is tradition.
• We go to a commercial after a nice Murphy suplex outside the ring.
• Murphy tries to hold on to the tights, and gets a big foot to the face instead.
• Black does a run up kick, and the two come eye to eye and slug it out.
• They have maybe the best chemistry of anyone in WWE.
• Buddy kicks Black mid-moonsault and lands Murphy’s Law. When he hooks the leg, it put Black’s other leg on the ropes.
• Murphy tries Black Mass, but misses it. Black hits one, but the ref completely fucks up and acts like Murphy kicked out.
• Black hits another and wins.
• Murphy is broken and he’s rejecting an interview with Charly. This is great.

Erick Rowan beats Jobber
SQUASH

• Murphy is still ringside.
• He reaches in his crate and whatever it is makes his hand bleed.
• Iron Claw Slam. Win.

FIST FIGHT
Seth Rollins & AOP defeated Big Show, Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe
6/10

• It’s already breaking down into a hardcore match.
• Owens does an outstanding dive by running up the stage wall and dives off!
• Joe does a big senton onto Akam.
• BUDDY MURPHY IS STILL THERE! This is amazing!
• Buddy Murphy punches Big Show in the dick and helps throw him through a table.
• AOP Bonsoir KO through a table and Joe.
• Big Show tosses Buddy out, but AOP powerbomb him. A Stomp wins it.
• Buddy Murphy embraces Seth Rollins after the match.

Rating Guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor

Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a “star rating,” which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive “TV match” lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don’t take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!