WWE Raw results, live blog (Jan. 4, 2016): Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus, special referee Vince McMahon

WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Jan. 4, 2016) from the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, featuring all the latest build to the upcoming Royal Rumble pay-per-view (PPV) next month in Orlando, Florida.

Advertised for tonight: Roman Reigns defends the WWE world heavyweight championship against Sheamus with Vince McMahon as special guest referee.

Come right back here at 8 p.m. ET when the Raw live blog kicks off once the show starts on USA. It will be below this line here. (REMINDER: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED.)

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WWE RAW RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR JAN. 4

Chris here. Let's see what the new year brings...

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WWE Signature and a recap of last week's main event angle.

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Stephanie McMahon comes out t.....wait a minute, Roman Reigns interrupts her entrance. She is displeased.

Reigns takes the mic and says that we don't need Steph out here tonight. Instead, Reigns calls out Vince McMahon....you read that correctly.

Steph tells Reigns that he needs to get used to disappointment because Vince isn't here yet. However, Steph says that the odds are stacked against him tonight. Reigns responds by saying that if he loses tonight, he loses his life and family, and no one is going to take that away.

Steph scoffs and mocks Reigns' little speech and laughing at hope and all that good stuff. Hope is not a strategy, and no one competes against Vince and wins. Tonight, we'll see who laughs last tonight.

Steph makes things clear: she's the boss, and Reigns is the help. Steph makes it clear that she won't fire Reigns if/when he loses tonight. Instead, she is going to use Reigns until he can't go anymore.

She makes a barb at Sika (Reigns' father), and Reigns fires back saying that Steph will be picking up Vince from a hospital tonight if he gets screwed.

Believe that.

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WWE's resident beast and mayor of Suplex City, Brock Lesnar, returns to Raw next week.

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Kevin Owens vs Neville

Dean Ambrose is gracing the commentary table for this one.

This was a really fun and physical match with Neville demonstrating his flippy nature and Owens being Owens. The end came when Owens gave Neville a cannonball as he was hung in the tree of woe. A huge pop-up powerbomb seals the deal for Owens.

Kevin Owens def Neville

Afterward, Owens teases an apron bomb on Neville, but Ambrose makes the save and eventually sends Owens through the announce table with an elbow drop.

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Backstage, the black limo pulls in, and daddy's home. Jojo approaches Vince for a comments, and Vince says that all charges have been dropped. This week, Vince IS the law.

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Titus O'Neil vs Stardust

This happened. Titus wins with Clash of the Titus

Titus O'Neil def Stardust

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Backstage, Becky Lynch is warming up for her match when Charlotte approaches and asks her if she asked for their upcoming match. Becky says no, but is doing this in the spirit of competition. The two do their pinky thing until Ric Flair approaches for a WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Also backstage, Vince goes over the prematch instructions with Sheamus

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Becky Lynch vs Charlotte

These two decided to go out and steal the show, and that is exactly what they did. Becky and Charlotte had themselves one hell of a back-and-forth match that saw Charlotte embrace her inner heel very well and Becky play a very good babyface (the crowd was definitely behind Becky). The ending comes when Ric Flair tries to distract Becky again. Charlotte goes for the cheap roll-up, but Becky escapes, rolls up Charlotte, and grabs her tights to win.

Becky Lynch def Charlotte

Afterward, Charlotte finally makes her heel turn official by beating down Becky to the happiness of Ric.

MORE PLEASE!

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Ryback vs Big Show

Nothing notable. Big Show chokeslammed Ryback and eliminated him from the ring. A Wyatt interruption ensued, causing a DQ.

Ryback def Big Show

Afterward, The Wyatts destroyed Ryback and turned their attentions toward Big Show. A staredown between Braun Strowman and Big Show happened for about five seconds to the excitement of the crowd. This ended when The Wyatts continued their attack.

Oh, and Bray Wyatt says that they will rise at the Royal Rumble.

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Rusev and Alberto Del Rio vs The Usos

Although it start slow, this match started to get really good toward the end, especially after a nicely executed false finish where an Uso hit the splash on Del Rio, who was only saved when Rusev broke the pin. They went on for another couple minutes until Del Rio hit the other Uso with an absolutely VICIOUS stomp to win.

Rusev and Alberto Del Rio def The Usos

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Dolph Ziggler vs HEATH SLATER

SOMEONE HIT SLATER'S MUSIC, AND HE'S OUT WITH CURTIS AXEL, BO DALLAS, AND ADAM ROSE!!! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!? WHERE ARE MY PANTS?!?

This was a match, and....oh hell, why should I go on?

HEATH SLATER WON A MATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OUR LONG INTERNATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER!!!!!!

HEATH SLATER DEF DOLPH ZIGGLER

Afterward, Slater celebrates, and we are treated to one of the most entertaining yet outlandish promos that you will ever see on a wrestling program.

#SocialOutcasts

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To hype SmackDown moving to USA, we get some announced matches: Kevin Owens vs Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Championship, and Becky Lynch vs Charlotte for the Divas Championship

Vince McMahon goes over the prematch instructions much as he did with Sheamus earlier.

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Before the match, Big E proclaims 2016 as the most magical year of our lives. They diss The Dudley Boys before making fun of Mike Tyson busting his ass on a hoverboard.

They also have a present for us as a countdown goes from 10. We get to give, and the counter changes into Chris Jericho's countdown.

Y2J is in the house, ladies and gentlemen. *Cue obligatory "Raw is Jericho" reference.

Jericho introduces himself, and says that he's here to save WWE. Xavier Woods interrupts and says that The New Day has already saved WWE via the Power of Positivity. Jericho calls them "three unicorn-horn wearing jackasses", calling the horns "stupid." He shoots a bit on the sinking ratings and such, saying that they need some Y2J.

Jericho calls The New Day "rooty tooty booty", and this, of course, sparks a chant.

Jericho has a little announcement: he is officially entering the Royal Rumble, and he's gonna win. He puts himself and his resume over before telling everyone that they will never, EEEEEVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR be the same again.

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The New Day vs Kalisto and The Dudley Boyz

This happened. The New Day wins with their double team finisher.

The New Day def Kalisto and The Dudley Boyz

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Sheamus vs Roman Reigns (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

• Full blog mode for this one as I do with every WWE WHC match. Also, remember that Vince McMahon is our special guest referee for this.
• Vince. In his referee get-up. W.T.F.?!?
• Vince and Reigns have a tug-of-war with the WWE WHC until Sheamus attacks to start the match. Note that there have been two pin attempts by Sheamus, and Vince has fast-counted both.
• The two battle in the corner as Vince demands decorum. Sheamus gets Reigns down for a pin attempt, and there is another fast count from Vince.
• Reigns hits Sheamus with a few strikes and goes for a Samoan Drop. Sheamus fights out and eats a right-hand for his troubles. After some corner clotheslines, Reigns clotheslines himself and Sheamus out of the ring. The two battle outside as Vince piddles about. Sheamus tells Vince to piddle some more as he throws the ring steps at Reigns. We go to break as the crowd gets annoyed as the shenanigans.
• We come back and Sheamus is in control of Reigns and is beating him mercilessly as Vince enjoys it. A rolling senton gets him a fast two count again. Sheamus goes for a sleeper, but Reigns powers out and both men end up down as Vince begs Sheamus to roll over onto Reigns.
• Reigns and Sheamus trade strikes as they get up until Reigns makes it up and hits his comeback flurry, complete with the drive-by on the apron. Reigns hits a Samoan Drop and Vince counts a VERY slow two count. Reigns is not amused by this. He works over Sheamus despite eating a running-knee. The school-boy powerbomb is hit, but Vince gives up counting after he sudden realizes his desire for eyedrops.
• As Vince and Reigns argue, Sheamus goes for a roll-up that Vince counts a VERY quick 2 3/4. Reigns responds with a Superman Punch, but Vince doesn't count at all...Reigns is very unimpressed and gets in Vince's face until he goes for a spear, but changes direction and SUEPRMAN PUNCHES VINCE.
  
• A spear follows and Reigns covers to no avail. Reigns barks for another referee, but no referee comes. Reigns is annoyed so he starts taking his frustrations out on Sheamus. Reigns cleans the announce table off until he notices Vince getting up. Reigns gets on the ring apron and gets physical with Vince again and has some words with him.
  
• Reigns drags Vince up until Stephanie comes out. Steph barks at Reigns until he shoves Vince into the rope, knocking Vince down and flipping Steph in. Steph slips out of the ring and, to Steph's chagrin, lines up for a spear. Reigns bolts right into a Brogue Kick. A second Brogue Kick follows and Sheamus covers. Vince doesn't count the pin...but Scott Armstrong does the count.
• After Reigns kicks out at two, Sheamus demands Armstrong drag Reigns up for a third Brogue Kick. Reigns escapes and kills all. Sheamus is speared again, and Office Referee John Come comes out to count the three.

Roman Reigns def Sheamus; retains WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Vince is butthurt, so he punches John Cone. He then takes a mic and says Reigns will be defending his title at Royal Rumble.

IN. THE. ROYAL. RUMBLE. MATCH.

No chance in hell...