Raw results, Jan. 18, 2021: Alexa Bliss transforms into a horrific presence to defeat Asuka

Randy Orton reflects on being burned by Alexa Bliss and vows that, despite the pain, nothing will stop him from winning the Royal Rumble Match. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

A disfigured Randy Orton sent fiery message to The Fiend
In the wake of a shocking fire assault at the hands of Alexa Bliss last week, Randy Orton emerged in the darkness wearing a protective mask that covered the injury on his face. Calling the incident the “damnation [he] received for showing compassion,” The Viper explained the last bit of compassion was now gone and that he would wear the mask, not only to protect himself, but also to shield everyone else from the horror he endured.

Rather than blaming Alexa, Orton put the blame on The Fiend for giving her the idea. But despite his brutal experience and the pain he felt, The Legend Killer proclaimed that nothing would now stop him from doing what The Fiend didn’t want him to do – namely winning the Royal Rumble Match and going on to main event WrestleMania.

Lacey Evans and Ric Flair look on as Charlotte Flair takes out her frustrations in one-on-one action against Peyton Royce. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Charlotte Flair def. Peyton Royce
After two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair caused his daughter to lose last week to Lacey Evans, Charlotte Flair had an opportunity to get payback against Lacey’s calculating tag team partner Peyton Royce.

Royce went on the attack as Charlotte made her entrance and lit the fuse on a pre-match brawl that singled just how aggressive and personal their subsequent showdown would be. Then in a key moment, Lacey emerged alongside "The Nature Boy" and wearing Ric's robe, which momentarily drew Charlotte's focus and allowed Peyton to nearly pick up the pin. Despite the distraction, however, The Queen simply used her anger to raise the stakes. She made her opponent tap out to the Figure-Eight Leglock and didn't let go with the sound of the bell in order to send a definitive message to Lacey.

Xavier Woods looks to get back in the win column as he goes toe-to-toe with RETRIBUTION member MACE. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

MACE def. Xavier Woods
Last week, Xavier Woods gave a valiant effort, but he was defeated at in the hands of RETRIBUTION's powerhouse T-BAR. But with Kofi Kingston still out with a broken jaw, Woods brought the full Power of Positivity against MACE.

Before the contest, Woods laid out Mustafa Ali with a fierce punch. When the always-menacing RETRIBUTION members began to spread out on all sides of the ring in the final moments of the matchup, though, MACE used the distraction to lay out Woods on the canvas for the three-count.

Raw Women’s Champion Asuka has a creepy experience in “Alexa’s Playground” ahead of meeting Alexa Bliss in a match on Raw. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Asuka stepped inside Alexa Bliss’ Playground
Prior to her match against Alexa Bliss, Raw Women’s Champion and one-half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Asuka accepted her opponent’s invitation to step inside the creepy environment, “Alexa’s Playground.”

Inside that twisted domain, Bliss declared for the Royal Rumble Match. But when Bliss became distraught while talking to an empty swing, The Empress attempted to comfort her. Asuka made a huge mistake, though, of mentioning The Fiend’s name. In response, Bliss became suddenly enraged, and she quickly set the titleholder straight before returning to her creepy smile.

Looking to build momentum toward the Royal Rumble Match, Shayna Baszler squares off against Mandy Rose on Raw. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Shayna Baszler def. Mandy Rose 
After declaring for the Royal Rumble Match last week, the dynamic duo of Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke was overpowered by the dominant pair of Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler after “The Queen of Spades” tagged herself in to steal the pin from her partner.

Though Mandy was out to prove herself as a worthy competitor and needed payback against Baszler en route to the coming Royal Rumble Match, she was no match for her opponent's Kirifuda Clutch. 

After the match, tension was high between Jax & Baszler. After declaring for the Royal Rumble, The Queen of Spades had made it clear that it was every woman for herself, including when it comes to her and her partner. And as Shayna and Nia argued at ringside, Dana Brooke jumped onto both of them, sending them crashing into one another and the ring post.

A rivalry is renewed as Ricochet looks to pick up an important win over AJ Styles. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

AJ Styles def. Ricochet
Sick of being overlooked on Monday Night Raw, Ricochet renewed his rivalry with AJ Styles as he looked to pick up a huge victory over The Phenomenal One and earn an opportunity to take part in the Royal Rumble Match. But despite Ricochet's incredible efforts throughout the match, Styles emerged victorious when he dropped his opponent on the ring ropes, caught him on the rebound and delivered an earth-shattering Styles Clash.

The Miz & John Morrison use “The Dirt Sheet” to host a heated pre-Royal Rumble confrontation between “Goldberg” and “Drew McIntyre.” Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

The Dirt Sheet welcomed Gillberg and the phony “Drew McIntyre”
With the WWE Championship Match pitting Drew McIntyre against WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg set, the narcissistic duo of The Miz and John Morrison made it seem as if they would welcome Goldberg to a can’t-miss special edition of their talk show, “The Dirt Sheet.”
 
However, instead of the expected WWE Hall of Famer, Gillberg emerged to be interviewed, paving the way for The A-Lister and The Shaman of Sexy to mock the absent legend. As if that wasn’t enough, a phony “Drew McIntyre” from New Jersey soon clashed the party in full Scottish Attire, which only increased the mockery. After Miz & Morrison had had enough, they took it home by proclaiming that both Goldberg and McIntyre would lose at Royal Rumble since he would cash in his Money in the Bank contract!
 
Later in the evening, the real Drew McIntyre addressed the WWE Universe from his home, quarantining with COVID, and he announced he would return on Raw next week!

Riddle, Lince Dorado & Gran Metalik join forces to try and take down The Hurt Business’ Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

The Hurt Business def. Riddle & The Lucha House Party in a Six-Man Tag Team Match
Last week, following a defeat at the hand of the “All-Mighty” United States Champion Bobby Lashley, Riddle shocked The Hurt Business with an impromptu challenge to take on MVP. Riddle did not fare any better the second time around, as this one-on-one showdown resulted in a second beat down at the hands of MVP and Lashley.

Tonight, “The Original Bro” teamed with the high-flying Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado in hopes to knock The Hurt Business off their high horse by handing them a huge loss in Six-Man Tag Team action. Throughout the matchup, they was noticeable dissension between Raw Tag Team Champions Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander. However, when Lashley had enough of it, he tagged himself, ripping through The Lucha House Party before finishing Metalik with the full nelson.

Jeff Hardy squares off against Elias’ newest confidant, Jaxson Ryker, on Raw. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Jeff Hardy def. Jaxson Ryker by Disqualification 
Last week, Jeff Hardy lost to Jaxson Ryker, Elias’ surprise last second replacement in a scheduled contest. After the match, The Charismatic Enigma dared Elias to step in the ring and came out on top.

This week, Elias’ devoted follower promised to finish what he started and beat Hardy until he accepted the universal truth of Elias. But when Hardy started to climb to the top rope to deliver a Swanton Bomb, Elias knocked him off the ropes and forced the official to call for the bell. Ryker was upset at the disruption when, out of nowhere, Hardy hit Elias with a dropkick through the ropes. When he came at Ryker again, the irate Superstar laid him by driving him hard into the canvas. 

Raw Women’s Champion Asuka goes one-on-one against unpredictable Alexa Bliss in a non-title match. Catch WWE action on WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.

Alexa Bliss def. Raw Women's Champion Asuka
Last week, the unpredictable Alexa Bliss interrupted the sinister Randy Orton’s matchup against Triple H and threw a fireball that burned the Viper’s face. Then, she snapped again this week when Raw Women’s Champion Asuka dared to speak The Fiend’s name on "Alexa’s Playground."  

As a result, Bliss looked to punish The Empress of Tomorrow in Raw’s main event. But in a crucial moment of the matchup, the lights suddenly began to shut down, as Bliss looked up to the sky with a frightening smile on her face. And when the lights returned, she had been completely transformed into a different, ominous figure. As she moved methodically around the ring, she seemed able to resist all of Asuka's offensive, almost absorbing it only to come back stronger each time. The spectacle unnerved the Raw Women’s Champion, and the strange incarnation of Bliss caught her in Sister Abigail with a frightening smirk and pinned the Raw Women’s Champion in a non-title match.
 
And, as the dust cleared, she once again transformed into the Alexa Bliss the WWE Universe has come to know in recent weeks. Then, in the voice of The Fiend, Bliss uttered the words: “LET ME IN!”