Date: January 26, 2026
Location: Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio
Commentary: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, and Corey Graves
Opening: The Road to WrestleMania Legacy Begins
The camera sweeps through a thundering Columbus crowd as red pyro ignites across the stage. Fans wave “WRESTLEMANIA LEGACY BEGINS” and “THE VIPER IS BACK!” signs while Cole’s voice punches through the excitement.
Cole: “Two nights removed from one of the most unforgettable Royal Rumbles in WWE history, we welcome you to Monday Night Raw! The road to WrestleMania Legacy officially begins tonight!”
McAfee: “Cole, I’m still buzzing! We saw shocks, we saw legends, and we saw the return of the Apex Predator himself—Randy Orton! My goosebumps have goosebumps!”
Graves: “The Viper didn’t just come back, Pat—he changed everything. The question now isn’t what’s next for Orton—it’s who’s ready for Orton to come for them.”
As the commentators talk, a video recap airs of Orton’s #30 return: his stare, his RKO on Cena, his final elimination, and his triumphant point toward the WrestleMania Legacy sign—followed by clips of The Rock retaining his titles against Batista. The crowd pops anew when the highlights end.
“Voices” Echoes Through the Arena
The crowd erupts as Randy Orton steps onto the Raw stage for the first time. Dressed for action, his expression is calm, dangerous, focused. He doesn’t pose immediately—he just stands still, surveying the crowd like a predator confident in his claim.
Cole: “What a sight—Randy Orton, the 2026 Royal Rumble winner!”
Graves: “He’s deep in this game, former EWA Champion and somehow, he still looks like he’s got ice in his veins.”
Orton climbs the turnbuckle, raises his arms, and the fans roar again before he brings a microphone to his lips.
Randy Orton: “You all saw what happened Saturday night. The Royal Rumble was about reminding this business… who built it brick by brick alongside the best of ‘em.”
“For years, people have whispered about legends. They put names like Jesse, Splinter, Dragonfly, Duxen, and now The Rock on a pedestal—talked about ‘The Great One.’ Well, guess what?”
Orton steps closer to the camera, his smirk curling into a venomous sneer.
“Greatness doesn’t need a movie deal. Greatness doesn’t need a catchphrase. Greatness lasts, through every era, every name, every so-called icon—and it’s still here.”
The crowd begins chanting, “R-K-O! R-K-O!”
Orton: “So to make this crystal clear—come Friday night, The Viper to SmackDown. And when I get there… I’m going to look The Rock dead in the eyes and tell him what nobody’s ever had the guts to say—his time is up. WrestleMania Legacy belongs to me.”
The arena explodes. Cole yells over the noise: “Oh my God, Orton just made it official—he’s calling out The Rock!”
Raw’s Locker Room Reacts
The camera cuts backstage, where wrestlers watch from the monitor: Seth Rollins smirks knowingly, Natalya (with her new Women’s World Title) nods in respect, and Braun Strowman crosses his arms, stone‑faced.
McAfee: “Our reigning champs are on edge tonight—Randy Orton’s back, he’s fired up, and he’s coming for a double champ legend!”
Cole: “But while The Viper sets his sights on Friday, tonight’s Raw is loaded with fallout!”
The Raw graphic flashes as fans chant “Randy! Randy! Randy!” one last time before the broadcast transitions to its first match of the evening.
Backstage
Cathy Kelley stands in the interview area. Nikki Bella, in gear, stands confident with a smirk.
Cathy: “Nikki, tonight you face Roxanne Perez with the winner heading to Elimination Chamber to challenge Natalya for the Women’s World Championship. Thoughts?”
Nikki: “Roxanne calls herself The Prodigy. Cute. I respect her talent, but I’ve been breaking barriers in this division since before she graduated high school. I’ve beaten the best, I’ve carried divisions, and I am not here to be anyone’s stepping stone. Natty, enjoy that title while you can. Tonight I punch my ticket to Elimination Chamber, I take back my spot on top.”
Roxanne Perez speaks from the locker room.
Roxanne: “Nikki Bella is a legend, and I grew up watching her. But respect doesn’t mean fear. I’ve been fighting my whole life to be here. I’m faster, I’m hungrier, and I’m going to prove that The Prodigy is ready for the big stage. Nikki, if I have to hit Pop Rox twice, three times, I will. I’m not just coming for you, I’m coming for Natalya and the Women’s World Championship.”
Ad Break: Hit and Spear Podcast Segment
Sound of a guitar riff and a quick explosion sound effect
Bret Hart: Welcome back to Hit and Spear, the only podcast where one of us can talk for ten minutes about wrist locks and the other prefers to tackle walls for fun.
Goldberg: You say that like it’s a bad thing, Bret! You’ve never tried a pre-match wall tackle—it clears out the sinuses!
Bret: Yeah, Bill, because I like to wrestle people, not drywall. Everyone laughs as upbeat theme music plays again before guests join in.
Chad Gable: American Made! Ready… willing… and—
Goldberg: Hold it right there, Gable. You sound like you’re announcing a car sale.
Bret: Depends—does the car come with matching tracksuits and synchronized wrestler yelling?
The Creed Brothers: (in perfect unison) YES!
Bret: I walked right into that one.
Goldberg: I’m just impressed they said it together. I tried that with Bret once, but he told me to stop breathing that close to him.
Bret: You headbutted the microphone. Twice.
Chad Gable: Gentlemen, tonight we’re talking teamwork! Creed Brothers, you two are synced like Bluetooth. How do you do it?
Brutus Creed: Easy. We share protein powder and guilt trips.
Julius Creed: Plus, we have a “no suplex left behind” policy.
Goldberg: I like that. When I tag in, I follow a “no wall left standing” policy.
Bret: Yeah, we noticed, Bill. The studio drywall noticed too.
Goldberg: …Worth it.
Bret: Hit and Spear! reminding you all—never skip leg day, and never let Bill near your renovation projects.
Outro music plays with a voiceover: Announcer: “Hit and Spear — available wherever fine wrestling grudges are converted into podcasts!”
Cole: “We’re back live on Monday Night Raw, we have just gotten word that Jey Uso sustained light injuries from his car wreck and will indeed defend the Intercontinental Championship against his cousin Roman Reigns at the Elimination Chamber, the chamber match itself will feature 6 participants to determine the next number one contender for Seth Rollins World Championship and it’s time to decide who faces Natalya for the Women’s World Championship inside the Elimination Chamber next month!”
Corey Graves: “Two very different stories colliding tonight: a trailblazer in Nikki Bella and the future of the division, Roxanne Perez.”
Roxanne’s music hits first. She runs out, slapping hands with fans, full of energy. She kneels ringside, touches the mat, then slides in and climbs a turnbuckle, raising her arms to a strong ovation.
Michael Cole: “There she is, The Prodigy, Roxanne Perez. Quick, resilient, and unshakable.”
Nikki Bella’s theme hits. The crowd reaction is mixed but loud. She walks out accompanied by her security detail, Joey Mercury, with trademark swagger, hat backward, doing her familiar twirl at the top of the ramp before pointing toward the Elimination Chamber graphic on the tron.
Corey Graves: “Say what you want, Nikki Bella is a force. Big-fight feel every time she walks down that aisle.”
The referee, John Cone explains the stakes to both women, then calls for the bell.(Bell rings)
They circle, lock up. Nikki immediately powers Perez into the corner, pressing her forearm into Roxanne’s face on the break. The ref counts to four before Nikki backs off, hands raised.
Wade Barrett: “Nikki already using that size and strength advantage to dictate the pace.”
Roxanne responds with speed: she ducks a lockup, hits the ropes, and nails a running back elbow, sending Nikki back a step. She adds a Lou Thesz press with punches, forcing Nikki to cover up until the ref pulls Roxanne away. Nikki rolls to the apron, shaking out the cobwebs. Roxanne charges and hits a shoulder to the midsection, then uses the ropes for a sunset flip attempt; Nikki blocks, drops down, and swings a heavy forearm across Roxanne’s chest to break it.
Michael Cole: “That forearm smash has put away many opponents in the past for Nikki Bella.”
Nikki drags Roxanne up and plants her with a spinebuster, hooking the leg.
1… 2… Roxanne kicks out!
Nikki transitions into a grounded headlock, grinding her forearm across Roxanne’s face.
She talks trash: “You’re not ready for my world.”
Roxanne fights to a knee, to her feet, hits body shots, but Nikki yanks her down by the hair behind the ref’s back.
Corey Graves: “Veteran instincts from Nikki Bella, whether you like it or not.”
Nikki whips Roxanne into the corner and hits a running clothesline, then grabs her wrist and pulls her into another, following with a running forearm smash that drops Perez to a seated position. She drags Roxanne out and delivers a punishing Alabama Slam, bouncing Roxanne off the mat.
Another cover: 1… 2… Perez gets the shoulder up!
Nikki looks mildly frustrated. She hoists Roxanne up for a fireman’s carry, teasing the Rack Attack 2.0, but Roxanne elbows out and lands behind her.
Perez shoves Nikki into the ropes, ducks a clothesline, and connects with a running back elbow followed by a Russian legsweep.
Both women are down briefly as the crowd rallies. Perez fires back. They rise simultaneously and trade forearms. Roxanne switches to quick strikes, then hits the ropes and nails a handspring back elbow that staggers Nikki back into the corner.
Michael Cole: “The Prodigy firing on all cylinders right now!”
Roxanne charges with a running uppercut in the corner, then steps onto the middle rope and hits a Frankensteiner, throwing Nikki toward the center of the ring.
She crawls to a cover:1… 2… Nikki kicks out!
Roxanne wastes no time, rolls to the apron, and slingshots in for Pop Rox, but Nikki drops to one knee and blocks the momentum.
Roxanne rolls through, lands on her feet, but Nikki immediately cuts her down with another big forearm smash.
Corey Graves: “Every time Roxanne starts to roll, Nikki finds a way to shut it down.”
High-risk moment Nikki lines Roxanne up and whips her into the ropes. Perez ducks a clothesline and hits a suicide dive through the ropes, crashing into Nikki on the outside as Nikki leaned through the ropes to follow.
Both spill to the floor.
Michael Cole: “Roxanne risking it all for a championship opportunity!”
Perez beats the count and rolls Nikki back in. She climbs to the top rope, waiting as Nikki slowly stands. Roxanne leaps for a crossbody—Nikki catches her, staggers, and powers her up into an argentine backbreaker position, teasing the classic Rack Attack before letting her drop to her feet, the neck too risky to commit to the full impact.
Nikki clutches her own neck, snarls, and instead snaps Roxanne into a sit-out facebuster as a callback to her old Bella Buster.
Cover:1… 2… Roxanne kicks out again!
Wade Barrett: “Roxanne Perez refuses to stay down. This kid’s got heart.”
Frustrated, Nikki drags Roxanne to the corner and seats her on the top rope. She climbs up, perhaps thinking superplex. Roxanne fires back with body shots and a headbutt, knocking Nikki down to the mat.
Perez steadies herself on the second rope, the crowd on their feet. She leaps off, hitting a second-rope Pop Rox, flipping through into a sunset-bomb style impact!
Michael Cole: “Pop Rox from the second rope! This could be it!”Roxanne crawls into the cover, clutching her ribs.1… 2…
Nikki gets her foot on the bottom rope! The crowd gasps. Roxanne’s eyes widen in disbelief. She thought she had it.
She pulls Nikki to the center and looks for another Pop Rox, but Nikki collapses to one knee. Perez hesitates for a split second, showing concern, and that’s all Nikki needs. Nikki suddenly pulls Roxanne forward, sending her face-first into the middle turnbuckle.
Nikki drags her out, hooks the leg over her shoulder, and muscling her up into the fireman’s carry cutter position—Corey Graves: “She’s got her! Rack Attack 2.0!”
Nikki hits a picture-perfect Rack Attack 2.0 in the center of the ring.
She hooks both legs, leaning all her weight in.
1… 2… 3!
Ring Announcer: “Here is your winner, and the number one contender… Nikki Bella!”
Winner: Nikki Bella
Nikki rolls off, exhausted but triumphant. Roxanne lies on the mat, breathing heavily. The referee raises Nikki’s arm as pyro bursts from the stage graphic for Elimination Chamber.
Michael Cole: “Nikki Bella is headed to challenge Natalya for the Women’s World Championship!”
Corey Graves: “What a fight by Roxanne Perez.
She took a Hall of Famer to her absolute limit.”
Nikki glances down at Roxanne. For a moment, the crowd hushes, unsure of what she’ll do. She extends a hand. Roxanne slowly takes it, and Nikki helps her to her feet. They share a brief hug before Nikki quietly says, “You’re gonna be champ someday,” and then turns to the hard cam, pointing to the Elimination Chamber logo.
Roxanne exits to a strong ovation, holding her neck but acknowledged as a future star.
Natalya’s live reaction Backstage, a camera cuts to Natalya in a leather jacket, Women’s World Championship on her shoulder, watching a monitor. The crowd boos as they see her on the tron.
Cathy Kelley approaches. “Natalya, you’ve just seen your Elimination Chamber challenger crowned: Nikki Bella. Thoughts?”
Natalya smirks. “You know, everyone talks about Nikki like she’s the embodiment of this so-called ‘Women’s Revolution.’ I’ve been here since before that, and I’ll be here after. Nikki’s had neck injuries, time away, reality shows with nerdy refs, red carpets… I’ve been in this ring, night after night, perfecting my craft.
”She taps the title.“Two veterans. But only one of us is the best technical wrestler in this company, and that’s me. Nikki can hit Rack Attack 2.0 all she wants, but once I get her legs or that neck, I’ll twist her into a shape she hasn’t seen since her late nights with John Cena and make her tap out.”
She leans closer to the camera.“Nikki, at Elimination Chamber, I’m not just defending a championship. I’m defending my legacy. And I won’t let you rewrite my story.”
Final in-ring stare-down As Natalya finishes backstage, Nikki is still in the ring, leaning over the ropes, looking up at the tron. Natalya’s music hits. She walks out onto the stage, holding the Women’s World Championship high. The two lock eyes: Nikki points to the title, then to herself, mouthing, “That title is mine”
Natalya pats the belt, then traces a line around her waist, signaling it’s not leaving her.
Michael Cole: “The stage is set. Natalya versus Nikki Bella for the Women’s World Championship at Elimination Chamber. Only one walks out with the gold.”
The camera takes a final wide shot of Nikki in the ring and Natalya on the stage, title raised, then suddenly the arena darkens and we get a sudden video on the tron.
Video Segment
The screen fades in from black to an empty, narrow city street. It’s night, the sky a heavy, clouded black, and the only light comes from a few flickering, sickly-yellow streetlamps spaced far apart. The camera is low to the ground, handheld and slightly shaky, giving everything a raw, voyeuristic feel.
In the middle of the road lies a crashed moped on its side, one wheel still barely spinning. Its small headlight is smashed, one turn signal blinking on and off in an irregular rhythm, casting intermittent flashes across the asphalt. The engine gives weak, dying sputters before finally cutting out, leaving an even deeper silence.
The camera slowly creeps closer. Shards of glass glitter in the weak light. A helmet lies a few feet away, cracked down the side, rocking gently as if it just came to rest. There’s no rider in sight. No movement. No voices. No passing cars. Just the distant hum of the city, muffled and far away, like this place has been forgotten.
Then the camera tilts down. On the asphalt, starting near where the moped is, there is a dark, wet pool that quickly resolves into blood. From that pool, a thin trail of blood stretches away, a jagged red line snaking down the road. It continues under the glow of the next street lamp, then disappears back into shadow, only to reappear further ahead, each pool a little more smeared, a little more desperate.
The only sound now is a low, distant rumble, like far-off thunder or a subway train deep underground, underscored by a faint, slow heartbeat-like thump in the audio track. With every “thump,” the image subtly darkens and then returns, as if the street itself is pulsing.
The camera starts to follow the trail, staying low, moving slowly forward. As it passes the moped, the blinking indicator light reflects off the blood, making it look almost black. The trail leads past an overturned trash can, past a brick wall layered with torn posters, and toward a stretch of road that’s almost completely swallowed by darkness.
Lightning flashes in the distant sky without thunder, briefly illuminating the far end of the street. For a split second, the trail of blood seems to vanish into that black void. When the flash fades, the end of the trail is again hidden in shadow.The camera stops right at the edge of the deepest darkness, the blood disappearing beyond where the lens can see. The heartbeat sound grows louder. The street lamps behind flicker more violently, then one goes out with a sharp pop, plunging half the frame into near-total black.
The camera tries to adjust, inching closer, the noise from the mic picking up the faint sound of something wet being dragged, just barely audible, impossible to locate. The blood trail glistens one last time in the weak light, then the screen hard-cuts to black. A single, distorted sound — either a distant scream or a warped mechanical squeal — stabs through the silence. The squeal sounding mousy.
WWE Raw Main Event: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Rhea Ripley – Women’s Intercontinental Championship
Crowd: Thunderous “Mami!” chants mix with cheers for Lyra as both women stare each other down in the ring. The tension is thick — a champion versus a former Women’s World Champion.
Michael Cole: “This right here is what Monday Night Raw is all about! Two of the best in the business — Lyra Valkyria defending her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against The Eradicator herself, Rhea Ripley!”
Wade Barrett: “Lyra’s the real deal, but Rhea is a force of nature. Let’s see if the young champion can survive this storm!”
The bell rings. Rhea immediately charges, muscling Lyra into the corner. Lyra slips under, delivering a sharp forearm and a lightning-fast dropkick that sends Ripley reeling. Rhea smirks, nodding — the respect is there — but she responds with a blistering clothesline that flips Lyra inside out.
Cole: “Good lord! The power of Ripley—she nearly took Lyra’s head off!”
Barrett: “That’s a message, Michael. Rhea’s saying this is my ring.”
Rhea maintains control, grounding Lyra with a delayed vertical suplex that showcases her strength. But Lyra fights back, landing quick palm strikes, a spinning heel kick, and a diving crossbody from the top rope for a near fall.
Rhea rolls outside to regroup. Lyra attempts a suicide dive — but Rhea catches her midair, turning it into a devastating powerbomb on the barricade. The crowd erupts.
Cole: “Rhea Ripley just caught her out of the sky! That might’ve cracked a rib!”
Barrett: “And the champion has nowhere to run now!”
Back in the ring, Rhea mercilessly applies a standing cloverleaf, wrenching Lyra’s back. The champion screams but refuses to tap, dragging herself to the ropes. The crowd rallies behind her, chanting “Let’s go Lyra!”
Rhea sets up for Riptide, but Lyra counters with a DDT out of nowhere! Both women are down. The referee’s count climbs to seven before Lyra kips up, fiery-eyed. A running enzuigiri staggers Rhea, followed by a roundhouse kick. Lyra scales the top rope — hits the Phoenix Splash!
Cole: “Phoenix Splash! Phoenix Splash! She’s got her—no! Ripley kicks out at 2.9! What a war!”
Barrett: “That was as close as it gets, mate! Lyra can’t lose focus now!”
Lyra goes for another top-rope attack, but Rhea intercepts, climbing up and landing a superplex that shakes the ring. Ripley screams in frustration, lifting Lyra for the Riptide, but Lyra wriggles free — transitions into a Victory Roll! Two count!
Rhea stands up, seething — swings for a lariat, but Lyra ducks and lands the Nightwing kick flush. Rhea stumbles—Lyra hits the ropes for momentum and nails her signature spinning heel kick once more.
Cole: “Nightwing kick! Lyra got all of it! The cover—one, two, three! She did it! Lyra Valkyria has done the impossible—she’s beaten Rhea Ripley!”
Post-Match Scene
The crowd roars as Lyra collapses in relief, clutching her championship. The referee raises her hand. Rhea sits up, fuming but composed. She gets to her feet and, after a long stare, extends her hand. The arena buzzes — Lyra hesitates, then shakes it.
Cole: “That right there… that’s the next era of women’s wrestling on full display.”
Barrett: “Lyra Valkyria just proved she’s not only champion — she’s the best of the best.”
Camera fades out with Rhea walking up the ramp, nodding in grudging respect, while Lyra stands on the turnbuckle, title raised high.
End of show
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 