Why Ronda Rousey Was Not on Raw
Ronda Rousey was not on Raw because she flew right back to Colombia to continue filming the movie “Mile 22.” Rousey flew back from Colombia the day before the Royal Rumble.
Triple H was also interviewed by USA Today and said that Rousey will be training with WWE “every day” at the WWE Performance Center after she’s done with the movie.
“She’ll finish up this movie, and then she’s in. She’ll be at the Performance Center, she’ll be training and working with us every day. And we’ll see where it goes. It is not for lack of desire or motivation, if anything. The two times she has been at the Performance Center training, we’ve had to try to get her to back off because she will train all day and all night if we let her.”
Adam Cole
Adam Cole was at one point set to answer Bobby Roode’s US title open challenge on the Royal Rumble Kickoff Show, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. However, the idea was obviously changed and Mojo Rawley wrestled against Roode instead and Cole entered the Royal Rumble at #23. Probably a good idea to not have Adam Cole show up just to job to Bobby Roode on a pre-show.
Dolph Ziggler was also a name that was scheduled to face Roode at one point, but he was also just moved to the Royal Rumble at #30.
Total Bellas Season 3
E! released a preview video saying that season 3 of Total Bellas is “coming soon,” likely at some point in the spring around WrestleMania.
Reality TV cameras were following the Bellas (and Cena and Daniel Bryan) backstage at the Royal Rumble, according to PWInsider.
Booker T
Booker T, who was replaced by Jonathan Coachman on commentary on Raw, seemed fine with the change.
Congratulations to @TheCoachrules for being back with the @WWE! Couldn’t be more happy to be back on the PPV kickoff shows with my girl @ReneeYoungWWE! Aww shucky ducky quack quack is back!!!!! #DigIt
— Booker T. Huffman (@BookerT5x) January 29, 2018