WWE RAW January 23: Becky-Bayley Steel Cage, 2 Title Matches Added
WWE has announced RAW Tag Team Championship, United States Championship and a steel cage match between Becky Lynch and Bayley for WWE RAW episode of January 23, 2023.
Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest became the #1 contender for RAW Tag Team Championship last week when they won the #1 contender tag team Gauntlet match. Finn Balor started the match with Priest, but Dominik Mysterio had to step in his place when he was injured before the final part of the match.
Dominik and Priest will challenge Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos, but only the RAW tag titles will be on the line during this match. WWE is holding a tag team tournament on SmackDown to identify the #1 contender for the blue belts.
Austin Theory will also defend WWE United States title against Bobby Lashley at “RAW is XXX” edition. Lashley won the six-pack elimination match to earn the title shot. Seth Rollins eliminated The Miz, Dolph Ziggler and Finn Balor from the match before Omos and MVP came out. Omos then helped Lashley with a distraction on Corbin to allow him to hit a spear and eliminate Corbin.
Seth Rollins hit a stomp on Omos over the announce table before he headed to the ring. MVP once again ran a distraction which allowed Lashley to hit a spear to pin Rollins to win the match.
Becky Lynch was back on RAW this week and called out Bayley. Bayley came out with WWE Tag Team Champions Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky and tried to get them to attack Becky. Becky then accused Bayley of hiding behind Kai and Sky, which prompted Bayley to step in front of Becky.
Becky then goaded Bayley into accepting a match against her next week. When Bayley said she has no problem with that, Becky asked if she has a problem if that match would be a Steel Cage match. Bayley hesitated a bit, but then accepted the challenge.
January 23, 2023 episode of WWE RAW will be the 30th Anniversary Specail episode of RAW along with being the go-home episode for Royal Rumble. An Acknowledgement Ceremony for Roman Reigns and several WWE legends like The Undertaker, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels and more are advertised to appear on the show.
Why is Triple Zero so intent on keeping Becky and Bayley in the spotlight? Each of them had programs with Bianca in 2022 but could not wrest the RAW womens title from the EST!! Asuka however earned a 1 on 1 matchup with Bianca at HIAC by virtue of defeating Becky in the original contenders match, but Vince reneged 1 week later and added Becky to a 3-way match and of course Asuka had to take the pin? And newly Evil Alexa will not defeat Bianca at the Royal Rumble – she is just a filler! The word on the street is that Rhea will win the Royal Rumble and face Bianca at WM 39 and defeat her! So it’s a done deal?