In the main event of Monday Night Raw on January 15th, 2024, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins successfully defended his title against Jinder Mahal in a thrilling match that captivated the audience. This high-stakes bout headlined an action-packed episode that also saw the return of Gunther and an appearance by WWE legend R-Truth.
Lead Up To The Match
Rollins won the title on December 29th, 2023 in a Fatal 5-Way match. Since then, he has taken on all challengers as the fighting champion. Mahal earned this title opportunity by winning a contender’s match on the New Year’s Day edition of Raw.
The Modern Day Maharaja felt overlooked and frustrated with his position in WWE despite being a former WWE Champion. Going into this match, Mahal made it clear this was likely his last chance to regain the prestigious world title. Meanwhile, Rollins aimed to continue his dominant title reign.
The Match
Rollins and Mahal put together an exciting 20+ minute match that enthralled the North Little Rock crowd. It was a back and forth affair showcasing the resilience of both men. In the closing moments, Rollins hit a Curb Stomp but Mahal shockingly kicked out at two. Moments later, Rollins connected with a second Stomp to finally put Mahal down for the three count.
| Match Highlights |
|---|
| Rollins hits a suicide dive early on |
| Mahal counters the Stomp into a sitdown powerbomb |
| Rollins flies off the top rope with a Frog Splash |
| Mahal kicks out of the first Stomp at two |
| Rollins hits a second Stomp for the win |
Rollins continues to find ways to win, showing the heart and determination of a fighting champion. For Mahal, he once again came agonizingly close to regaining the gold. While he gave it his all, on this night the champion proved too much to overcome.
Fallout From The Match
Rollins was elated with the hard-fought victory, having now defeated another top challenger. He will likely have a new opponent lined up soon as contenders look to dethrone the conqueror.
Despite losing, Mahal earned respect for the grit and passion he showed. Fans appreciated seeing Mahal featured in such a high profile position after he voiced feeling overlooked. This match showed Mahal still has plenty left in the tank. While his championship pursuit continues, Mahal reminded everyone the fire still burns inside him to reach the top of WWE once again.
What’s Next
With WrestleMania season approaching, Rollins will surely have more big-name contenders coming for his title in the weeks ahead. Top stars like Bobby Lashley and Gunther figure to be in the title picture soon. An opponent like Cody Rhodes could also emerge as a top challenger. Rollins welcomes any opponent as he plans to headline WrestleMania as the champion.
For Mahal, this opportunity restored passion and added motivation. While the title eluded him this time, Mahal proved he deserves to be in the main event mix. Don’t be surprised if the fired-up Maharaja works his way back into championship contention. With the right storyline, he could challenge Rollins or the new champion for the belt at WrestleMania.
This was just one memorable chapter in Rollins’ title reign and Mahal’s quest to regain the gold. Their story captured fan interest and delivered a payoff ending that keeps fans wanting more. The wrestling world buzzed about this Raw main event showdown. Moving forward, anticipation builds to see what thrilling matches and moments come next on WWE’s flagship show.
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