“Woken” Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt briefly joined forces during the Men’s Royal Rumble Match to cancel Rusev Day before eliminating each other, but their rivalry does not appear to be ending in a stalemate.
The Reaper of Souls cost The Woken One the chance to compete in the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match, handing the honor instead to Elias, whose attack of The Woken One’s shoulder led to a spirited rally from the former Raw Tag Team Champion. Wyatt’s gruesome imagery flashed across the TitanTron right as Hardy was commencing the deletion process and, with Matt distracted, Elias struck from behind and executed Drift Away to punch his ticket. Wyatt himself appeared on the TitanTron after the pinfall, cackling uncontrollably at Hardy’s misfortune.
Credit: WWE.com
Gallery Links:
WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > RAW > January 22nd
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > RAW > 2018 > January 29th
Elsewhere, Kofi Kingston was saved from elimination by his eliminated New Day compatriots, who broke Kingston’s fall with their own bodies (Xavier Woods) and a plate of pancakes (Big E). “Woken” Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt joined forces to eliminate overwhelming sentimental favorite Rusev, only to eliminate each other moments later as their heated rivalry continued.
Gallery Links:
Screen Captures > WWE & TNA Pay-Per-Views > WWE Pay-Per-Views > 2018 > Royal Rumble
Gallery Links:
WWE Photos > Public Events > 2018 > January 22nd – WWE & Make-A-Wish Celebrate RAW 25
WWE.com has some photos of Matt and Jeff backstage at RAW’s 25th anniversary. I’ve added them to our gallery.
Gallery Links:
WWE Photos > WWE.com Exclusives/Features > Behind the Scenes > Backstage at RAW 25
After weeks of taunts and mind games, Bray Wyatt finally got his chance to go one-on-one with “Woken” Matt Hardy and made good on the opportunity, defeating his multi-dimensional nemesis inside The Manhattan Center.
The Woken One did not go quietly into defeat, of course. In his first bout with Wyatt since the former WWE Champion pushed him past his breaking point, Hardy proved to be all but impervious to Wyatt’s typical mind games. When Wyatt hung upside down off the ropes, Matt looked him dead in the eyes and screamed “Wonderful!”
Less than wonderful, however, was how “Woken” Matt met his end: At the hands of a ruthless Sister Abigail after The Eater of Worlds tied him up in the ropes. Hand the skirmish to Wyatt, but with both Superstars confirmed as competitors in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match, The Great War remains undecided.
Credit: WWE.com
Gallery Links:
WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > January 22nd
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > RAW > 2018 > January 22nd
