WWE Raw results, recap, grades: Becky Lynch's Royal Rumble opponent determined in main event

Doudrop earned a shot at the Raw women's championship by winning a triple threat match

With the Royal Rumble fast approaching, Monday's episode of WWE Raw continued the build to one of the promotion's biggest annual events. That included a main event to determine who would challenge Becky Lynch for the Raw women's championship.

Doudrop was ultimately able to outlast Liv Morgan and Bianca Belair to secure her shot, though not without a little help from Lynch. It was a decision Lynch quickly was forced to regret when she came face-to-face with the powerhouse to close the show.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Royal Rumble continues to take shape

Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar came to the ring to open the show with a promo only to be interrupted by Bobby Lashley and MVP before Lesnar could speak. Lashley said it was an honor to be in the ring with Lesnar before claiming that Lesnar had ducked him for 20 years and the ducking would stop at the Royal Rumble. Lesnar said it was Lashley's fault that the challenger hadn't climbed the ladder of success to get to his level earlier and if he had, Lesnar would have beaten him already. Lesnar walked off after saying it was impossible to beat him and even more impossible for "a Brock Lesnar wannabe." After Lesnar left, The Hurt Business team of Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander attacked Lashley after having been told to stay out of Lashley's business. Lashley easily fought off both men.

On the women's side of things, Becky Lynch was ready to find out her opponent for the Royal Rumble. Before the triple threat main event to determine her challenger, Lynch said all three women competing for the shot were delusional and the only one she respected was Doudrop.

Doudrop def. Liv Morgan and Bianca Belair via pinfall when she pinned Morgan with a Bonzai Drop to win the title shot. Belair had the match won after hitting Morgan with the K.O.D., but Lynch jumped in the ring to break up the pin, leaving Morgan vulnerable to be finished off by Doudrop. After the match, Lynch entered the ring and offered to shake Doudrop's hand before pivoting to an attack, which Doudrop was able to easily shrug off.

This was the rare episode of Raw with no storyline running through the entire show. That's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you, but it is out of character for the show. Lesnar and Lashley is a pairing so long in the making that any time they come face to face feels somewhat special. As for the women's title situation, it's unfortunate, but the match was a bit clunky and the crowd was not providing much by way of reactions for anything that happened. Still, Doudrop is a fresh opponent for Lynch and it's good to not see the lackluster feud between Lynch and Morgan extended any further. Grade: B

What else happened on WWE Raw?

• Raw Tag Team Championship -- Alpha Academy def. RK-Bro (c) via pinfall to win the titles. Randy Orton was on a roll when he was distracted by Otis taking out Riddle outside the ring. This allowed for a blind tag from Chad Gable to Otis and Otis hitting the front slam on Orton to win the titles.
• Apollo Crews, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode def. The Street Profits & Damian Priest via pinfall when Ziggler pinned Angelo Dawkins with a Zig Zag.
• Seth Rollins def. Big E via pinfall after a stomp. The match came about after Big E interrupted a Rollins promo about his planned Royal Rumble match against universal champion Roman Reigns. Big E wanted a chance to beat Rollins in a matchup that was originally scheduled for Day 1 before the match became a triple threat, then a four-way and finally a five-way, which Lesnar won to take the WWE championship from Big E.
• Nikki A.S.H. turned on Rhea Ripley, ending their tag team. Nikki tried to announce that they would challenge Zelina Vega and Carmella to a rematch, which Ripley said she didn't want. After agreeing to part ways and "stay friends," Nikki turned on Ripley, attacking her with a series of punches.
• Omos def. Nick Sanders via pinfall after a chokebomb. Sanders was a scrawny enhancement talent who Omos easily squashed in short order. Omos will meet Reggie in a match next week.
• Edge and Beth Phoenix won a war of words with Miz and Maryse. After both men showed videos touting the careers of their wives, Edge started to point out how much stronger and more physical Phoenix is, Maryse ended up walking off as Miz was still talking.
• AJ Styles def. Austin Theory via disqualification after Grayson Waller attacked Styles during the match. Styles and Waller are scheduled for a match on Tuesday's NXT card.