After a week’s hiatus, the WWE Raw roster will be back for a live episode that also serves as the first one for 2023. One of the main events of the night will see Alexa Bliss challenging for the Raw Women’s Title against Bianca Belair. In the other top match, Austin Theory will defend his United States Title against Seth Rollins when Raw airs from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
On the December 12 episode of WWE Raw in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Alexa Bliss defeated Bayley in a number-one contender’s match for Bianca Belair’s Raw Women’s Championship set for tonight. Besides, she has also hinted at going back to her old gimmick when she used to be captivated by Bray Wyatt and his dark powers.
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WWE Raw Preview (02/01/23): Alexa Bliss teasing a heel turn
Upon winning that match, Belair entered the ring for a warm embrace when Wyatt’s moth logo flashed on the tron. Upon seeing the logo, Bliss was seemingly hypnotized as she locked Belair in position for Sister Abigail, the same move she was using as a finisher during her alliance with Wyatt. However, she quickly got back to her senses and the move was never performed.
A week later on WWE Raw, Byron Saxton conducted an interview with Bianca Belair and the new number-one contender for the Raw Women’s Championship, Alexa Bliss. After the conversation, Wyatt’s moth logo flashed on the screen after which Bliss smashed a flower vase over Belair’s head. The announcers expressed shock as Bliss hinted at a heel turn ahead of her title match opportunity.
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WWE Raw Preview (02/01/23): Rollins vs. Theory Title Match
On the December 12 episode of WWE Raw, Bobby Lashley and Seth Rollins were featured in a one-on-one encounter in the main event with the stipulation being that the winner will get the next shot at the United States Championship held by Austin Theory.
Rollins claimed the number-one contender’s spot for himself by defeating Lashley after pinning the All-Mighty with a Pedigree and thereby confirmed the title match set for the first WWE Raw episode of 2023. Rollins lost the US Title during November’s Survivor Series in a Triple Threat Match also featuring Theory and Lashley.
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Speaking of Lashley, he was irate about losing the title match opportunity and he vented out his frustrations on the WWE Officials in order to get fired by Adam Pearce on the spot. However, Pearce has since informed that Lashley is still there on the WWE Raw roster and there’re expectations that he could be back on the red brand in the New Year.
Speaking of returns, comebacks from Cody Rhodes have also been reported for the inaugural 2023 episode of WWE Raw so that he could cost Rollins the title match against Theory. If that’s true then the speculations of his comeback getting preponed from Royal Rumble 2023 will turn out to be true.