WWE Raw went live on 12 February from Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Cody Rhodes talked for the first time after the WrestleMania Kick Off press event. The build to the Elimination Chamber continued with some more qualifying matches. Let’s review everything that happened on the show.
Six Man Tag Team Match
Imperium vs. Jey Uso and New Day
It was a 6-man tag match with Gunther in action. Early on, Jeyand the New Day dominated Kaiser with chops and kicks and a hip attack by Uso in the corner.
Gunther tagged in but tagged out quickly without doing anything. Then Imperium took out Jeywith their heel tactics.
Gunther chopped him and laid him out with a big boot at ringside. Later, Kofi delivered a crossbodyblock on Kaiser.
Kofi hit a famouser on Vinci. Woods delivered the tornado DDT, followed by a splash by Kingston for a near fall. Kingston landed a Boom Drop on Vinci. Kaiser pulled him out of the ring and ran him into the steel steps.
Gunther tagged in and assaulted Kingston. The Ring General applied the Boston Crab while talking trash to Jey. Uso entered the ring and slapped the IC Champion. Gunther was irate, and both threw their hands at each other. The referee separated them.
Jey was in full action, delivering Samoan Drops, hip attacks, and superkicks to Ludwig and Giovanni. Gunther got a tag, and he laid out Jey with a chop.
Gunther delivered a short-arm clothesline for a two-count. Uso replied with a Spear to Gunther, but Kaiser made the save.
Uso and the New Day delivered 1-D on Vinci. Kofi landed a somersault senton on Kaiser, followed by a Uso Splash for the win.
Winners: Jey Uso and New Day
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was an awesome match to start the proceedings on Monday Night Raw. Jey Uso needed that win to challenge Gunther for the title in the upcoming weeks.
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Bobby Lashley vs. Bronson Reed
It was an Elimination Chamber qualifying match. Lashleylooked better in the start as he delivered two violent clotheslines. Reed avoided a spear and sent Lashley shoulder-first into the ring post.
Reed then knocked Bobby into the timekeeper’s area. Back in the ring, Lashley delivered a Vertical Suplex for a two-count.
Bobby went for the neckbreaker, but Reed countered into a Death Valley Driver for a two-count. Lashley connected with a spine buster for a near fall. In the end, a Spear was enough for Lashley to get the win.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Grades: B
Analysis: Bobby Lashley won and joins Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton in the Elimination Chamber match lineup.
Backstage: Sami Zayn was interviewed backstage, where he was determined to win the world title. Nakamura interrupted with a Titantron promo.
Cody Rhodes Promo
Cody Rhodes came out to a huge fan reception. Cody thanked fans for the WrestleMania match with Roman Reigns.
He mentioned the “We Want Cody” trend and the term “Cody Crybabies” coined by The Rock. Rhodes gave a callback to Rock slapping him at the WrestleMania press event and asked the crowd about him hitting back at Rock. The crowd cheered.
Seth Rollins came out to a great pop. He said that he respects Cody’s decision to challenge Roman Reigns. Rhodes thanked Rollins for the help at the press event. Seth then motivated Cody by saying that he had to finish the story for his dad, for Rollins, and for the fans.
Rollins asked about Cody’s plan. He made it clear that this time, it would be Paul Heyman, Solo, and Jimmy, as well as the most powerful Man in the sports entertainment industry, The Rock, against Cody.
Rollins promised Cody to help him on this challenging path. Seth talked about his history with Reigns and about being a Shield for Cody. A nod to when Seth, Roman and Dean Ambrose rose through the ranks as the Shield stable.
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a great promo segment. Things are going the way they were expected. Rollins and Rhodes will work together to battle The Bloodline and the Rock.
Backstage: Jey Uso and New Day were celebrating. We discovered that Jey will challenge Gunther for the IC Title next week.
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Liv Morgan vs. Zoey Stark
Morgan and Stark faced off in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match. Liv started with a roll-up for a two-count. After some action, Morgan delivered a hurricanrana and a springboard dropkick to send Zoey to the floor.
Zoey landed a Death Valley Driver on the apron. We saw Liv delivering a diving codebreaker from the middle rope for a near fall. Stark bounced back with a powerbomb and a missile dropkick for a two-count.
Stark hit a superkick and went to the top rope for a corkscrew. Liv Morgan avoided it and delivered a codebreaker. Morgan successfully hit the Ob-Liv-ion for the win.
Winner: Liv Morgan
Grades: B-
Analysis: Liv Morgan is running her own revenge story on Rhea Ripley. She has qualified for the Elimination Chamber alongside Bianca and Becky Lynch.
Backstage: Judgment Day was walking backstage. Priest told Truth that he liked him, but the joke was over. Priest made it clear that every beating was real and there was no initiation. Later, R-Truth called The Miz to come to Lexington. Truth told Miz that Judgment Day wanted to kill him.
Singles Match
R-Truth vs. JD McDonagh
Truth started strong. He delivered a hip toss and an Attitude Adjustment on JD, but Dominik pulled McDonagh out of the ring to save the matchup. Truth did a few John Cena moves. He delivered running shoulders, a back suplex powerbomb, and a five-knuckle shuffle.
In the end, Truth went for the Scissor Kick, but McDonagh countered it into the Devil Inside for victory. Judgment Day attacked Truth after the match. DIY made the save.
Winner: JD McDonagh
Grades: C
Analysis: R-Truth’s stint with Judgment Day seems over. He was sad after the match. The Miz will make an impact in the upcoming weeks.
Becky Lynch’s Promo
Becky came out to a huge crowd ovation. The Man talked about her journey as a professional wrestler. She talked about how she met her husband in this business.
Lynch addressed her difficulties throughout the journey as she missed birthdays, weddings, and even her dad’s funeral. Then, she talked about Rhea Ripley.
Becky agreed that Mami was a dominant champion. But Lynch claimed to take the title when she won the Elimination Chamber and challenged Ripley at WrestleMania.
Nia Jax came out to talk. Jax acted like she was very emotional. Nia told Becky that with this passion, no one can stop her.
She will do it for her little girl. Even Becky was confused by Nia’s behavior. Jax suddenly changed the mood and made it clear that she would beat Rhea at the Elimination Chamber.
Rhea Ripley ran down to the ring. A brawl broke out between Ripley and Jax. Becky got involved, and Nia was sent out of the ring. Lynch and Ripley had a little staredown.
Grades: B+
Analysis: Becky is slowly building herself to WrestleMania. Rhea will face Nia Jax at the Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia. While it’s unlikely Rhea is booked to lose in her home country, It is good that WWE had many options for Ripey’s championship.
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
LA Knight vs. Ivar
It was another Elimination Chamber qualifying match. Can you imagine LA Knight losing this one though?
Ivar quickly started with heavy punches, but Knight replied with a DDT. At ringside, Knight bounced Ivar off the commentary table. Ivar sent Knight to the barricade and delivered a running crossbody block.
Knight delivered an amazing superplex off the top rope in the ring for a near fall. Ivar delivered the spinning World’s Strongest Slam and an underhook powerbomb for a two-count. Knight delivered the powerslam.
Valhalla’s involvement allowed Ivar to deliver the spin kick. As Ivar went for the Doomsault, Knight wisely moved away. Knight connected Blunt Force Trauma for the pin.
Winner: LA Knight
Grades: B
Analysis: LA Knight will be in the Elimination Chamber match. Ivar had a good performance. He deserves some reward for his outstanding performance.
Singles Match
Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Zayn sent Nakamura to the outside early on in the match. Sami went for the dive. Nakamura tried to move away, but Zayn landed on his feet and did Shinsuke’s “Come On” taunt.
Back in the ring, Nakamura delivered a knee to Sami Zayn’s chest and some stiff kicks. Shinsuke connected with a sliding German Suplex for a near fall. Zayn with a Michinoku Driver for a two-count. Sami hit Shin with a somersault senton.
Later, after the punch exchanges, Sami delivered a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Sami tried for the DDT, but Nakamura landed a diving knee to the head for a two-count.
Nakamura caught Zayn by his hair and slapped him several times. Zayn bounced back with an exploder suplex.
Drew McIntyre ran down to the ring and distracted Sami. This allowed Nakamura to hit Kinshasa for the win.
McIntyre and Nakamura double-teamed on Sami after the match. Cody Rhodes made the save and delivered a Cody Cutter on McIntyre and a Cross Rhodes on Nakamura.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Grades: B+
Analysis: Nakamura is getting good TV Time. Sami’s path keeps getting difficult. Let’s see what the future holds for him heading into WrestleMania. McIntyre and Cody will face each other next week on WWE Raw.
It was a solid show to build the Elimination Chamber. Participants are getting revealed one by one. The Road to WrestleMania just keeps getting interesting.
