This week’s Raw looked far different than what fans are used to seeing, but the decision to change the stage wasn’t entirely the company’s call.
The January 15, 2024, edition of Monday Night Raw saw the red brand continue toward the Royal Rumble PLE on January 27. The show saw the return of GUNTHER and Xavier Woods, while Becky Lynch vowed to win the Women’s Royal Rumble match and face Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40.
In the main event of the show, Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Jinder Mahal. There had been a lot of buzz going into the match, thanks in part to Tony Khan’s outburst on social media about the booking of Mahal. While Rollins retained the title, the Architect was seemingly hurt during the match and had to be assisted backstage.
Reason for Raw’s Staging Change
This week’s Raw saw the use of a new stage which was far different from what the WWE Universe is used to seeing. While some suspected that this was merely a cosmetic change, the move was one made of necessity. The Wrestling Classic reports that WWE had to ground rig everything for Raw, as there was a risk that attaching the usual stage to the ceiling would prove to be too much pressure.
The show took place at the Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas, which has been hit hard by recent weather. There was a concern that the traditional stage hung from the ceiling, in addition to the heavy snow on the roof of the venue, would have made the venue unsafe for fans.