Wwe Raw January 26 2004 -

By the time the show went off the air at 11:05 PM EST, the WWE Universe was left speechless. Here is a deep dive into every major segment, match, and promo from that unforgettable night.

: Jericho and RVD utilized their speed to keep the numbers advantage at bay early on, but the power of Batista and the veteran savvy of Flair eventually overwhelmed them.

: Following a series of near-falls and a chaotic "Bonzo Gonzo" sequence, Randy Orton secured the victory for his team by pinning Jericho after an RKO at the 17:11 mark. Storyline Bombshell: Benoit Crosses the Border

The match was a wild brawl. Foley brought his signature barbaric style—pulling out Mr. Socko, using a steel chair, and even taking a brutal spinebuster from Batista through the announce table. The finish came when Ric Flair interfered, distracting the referee, allowing Batista to hit a thunderous Batista Bomb on Foley. wwe raw january 26 2004

Batista pinned Jericho after an RKO behind the ref’s back. Lita & Victoria def. Jazz & Molly Holly Victoria pinned the Women's Champion with a small package. Singles Match Bubba Ray Dudley def. Kane via DQ

The January 26, 2004 episode of , held at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, served as a pivotal aftermath to the previous night’s Royal Rumble. The broadcast was defined by the shocking brand-jump of Royal Rumble winner Chris Benoit and the intensifying psychological warfare between Mick Foley and the dominant Evolution faction. The Main Event: Evolution vs. Jericho & RVD

Eric Bischoff, the scheming General Manager of Raw, kicked off the show to address the controversy. In typical Bischoff fashion, he relished the chaos. While fans expected a decisive ruling or an immediate rematch, Bischoff’s actions set the tone for a night of political maneuvering. He placed the World Heavyweight Championship in a glass case in the center of the ring, symbolizing the vacancy and the stalemate. It was a powerful visual that drove home the brutality of the Rumble match—the title was literally up for grabs, yet no one could claim it. By the time the show went off the

Historians know this was the true beginning of the end for Evolution. Within six months, Randy Orton would win that very title from Chris Benoit at SummerSlam, leading to Triple H betraying him . But on January 26, 2004, the crack in the armor was just starting to show.

Lita hit a moonsault for a near-fall. Molly reversed a Twist of Fate into a roll-up, grabbing the tights for the win. Post-match, Molly tried to shave Lita’s head, but Trish Stratus ran out for the save. The segment was fun but served as a bathroom break before the chaos to come.

“Triple H, because of the controversial nature of your victory, you will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Shawn Michaels one more time… at WrestleMania XX.” : Following a series of near-falls and a

Post-match, Benoit didn't celebrate. He grabbed a microphone and looked directly at the Evolution locker room.

To understand the weight of the January 26 Raw, you must understand the chaos that preceded it 24 hours earlier at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in Philadelphia. In the main event, Triple H defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Shawn Michaels in a grueling Last Man Standing match.