WWE Monday Night Raw Preview for 01.18.2016: Royal Rumble 2016 Go-Home, Brock Lesnar on Jericho’s Highlight Reel, Big Dog, Charlotte Responds to Becky Lynch

Previews, Top Story

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WWE has the go-home edition of Monday Night Raw tonight for the Royal Rumble 2016 live from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH.

The main story is the final hype for the Royal Rumble match. Only 13 wrestlers are officially announced for the Rumble match, with two added on Smackdown, so more are expected to be added on Raw.

Here is the official list of entrants for the 2016 Royal Rumble heading into Raw:

  • Big Show
  • Curtis Axel
  • Chris Jericho
  • Ryback
  • Dolph Ziggler
  • Bray Wyatt
  • Braun Strowman
  • Erick Rowan
  • Luke Harper
  • Roman Reigns
  • Brock Lesnar
  • Stardust
  • Sheamus

Both AJ Styles and Finn Balor have teased possible Rumble appearances. Styles made mention of his availability at an indie appearance.

And Finn Balor posted this on Twitter:

The 2016 Royal Rumble is on WWE Network and PPV on Sunday January 24, 2016.

Two of the main participants in the match will meet up on a talk show. Brock Lesnar, along with Paul Heyman, is booked to appear on the Highlight Reel with Chris Jericho. This should almost certainly be some sort of angle to build heat for the Rumble.

WWE.com:
As if Mr. McMahon hadn’t stacked the deck against Roman Reigns already, forcing The Big Dog to defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against 29 other Superstars in this year’s historic Royal Rumble Match, one of those challengers will be the returning Brock Lesnar.

As The Beast Incarnate and his vocal advocate, Paul Heyman, join Chris Jericho on “The Highlight Reel” Monday night, what’s going through Reigns’ mind?

Stephanie and Vince McMahon have been tormenting WWE Champion Roman Reigns since he won the title, and will continue to do so on Raw. The big question is whether HHH will appear on Raw, the Rumble PPV or both? Either way, the Authority will likely utilize the League of Nations to take on Roman Reigns in some kind of match.

On Smackdown, Becky Lynch challenged Charlotte to a WWE Divas Title match at the Royal Rumble PPV. Charlotte promised to respond to the challenge on Raw. Given there are very few official matches for the PPV, it should be something featured on Raw.

The only singles match thusfar for the PPV is a Last Man Standing match between Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens for the WWE Intercontinental Title. They are both expected to appear on Raw to cut promos and build tension for the match at the show.

New Day is likely to be back on Raw as well, with a lengthly promo segment. They are not yet officially booked for the Royal Rumble OR a Tag Team Title match. On Raw, the role of the New Day at WWE Royal Rumble 2016 should be revealed, whether its the Rumble, a tag title match or even both.

Could WWE provide any more teases for surprise entrants in the Rumble? Despite tons of teases, not even half of the 30 man roster for the Rumble match has been confirmed by WWE.

Here is the WWE.com Five Points Preview:

  1. Will chaos erupt on “The Highlight Reel”? – What questions will Y2J have for The Beast and his calculating advocate?
  2. Social distortion – what impact will this newly formed group have on this year’s Royal Rumble Match?
  3. Will Charlotte accept Becky Lynch’s Royal Rumble challenge? – Will the daughter of Ric Flair respond to her former friend?
  4. Can Kalisto reclaim the U.S. Title?
  5. Last Lunatic Standing – For weeks now, The Lunatic Fringe and The Prizefighter have torn apart each other — and their surroundings — in the name of the Intercontinental Title. Who will be left standing on Raw, less than a week removed from what will no doubt be their most savage battle yet?

Vote in our Royal Rumble poll!
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Check out the video:

“The Boss” Sasha Banks hits the canvas: WWE Canvas 2 Canvas

Artist Rob Schamberger goes for a bank statement with this week’s painting of Team B.A.D. member and former NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Bank!

Jonathan Widro is the owner and founder of Inside Pulse. Over a decade ago he burst onto the scene with a pro-WCW reporting style that earned him the nickname WCWidro. Check him out on Twitter for mostly inane non sequiturs