On February 19, WWE presented its final WWE Raw episode before Elimination Chamber from Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The show featured a mega match between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes. Gunther defended his title against Jey Uso. There was a last chance to qualify for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. Let’s take a look at everything that happened on the show.
Singles Match
Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
The show kicked off with this huge match. The crowd was chanting for Cody. McIntyre was on top in the beginning, delivering some brutal chops.
Rhodes bounced back with a dragon screw over the ropes. Cody applied the Figure Four Leglock. Later in the match, Cody hit Drew with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall.
McIntyre’s chop fest continued, but Cody replied with a running bulldog. Cody got fired up. He delivered a Snap Powerslam and a Disaster Kick for a two-count. Rhodes had the Cody Cutter for another near fall.
After the break, Cody hit the famous Bionic Elbow. Drew delivered a spinebuster for a two-count. Rhodes landed a Pedigree, and both men were down.
Drew delivered a Glasgow Kiss in mid-air, followed by a Future Shock DDT for a near fall. Drew climbed to the top rope, but Cody met him there and delivered a massive superplex.
Cody Cutter by Rhodes again, but McIntyre still kicked out. Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso from The Bloodline appeared.
Solo delivered a Samoan Spike to Cody. McIntyre took the advantage and delivered a Claymore Kick for the win.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Grades: A
Analysis: It was a brilliant match. McIntyre finally got a much-needed victory. Road to WrestleMania seems hard for Cody with continuous interference from The Bloodline in his matches.
Backstage: Adam Pearce checked on Cody Rhodes. Seth Rollins arrived, too, and patted Rhodes’s knee.
The Last Chance Battle Royal
It was a Battle Royal to determine the last Women’s Elimination Chamber participant. Raquel Rodriguez was back after a long hiatus due to injury.
Valhalla eliminated Maxxine early on. A notable moment came when Alba Fyre delivered a tornado DDT on Raquel.
Natalya and Tegan Nox embraced in the ring, and Natalya eliminated Nox. Elektra Lopez eliminated Zelina Vega with a bicycle kick before getting eliminated herself.
Raquel continued her dominance and eliminations. Baszler, Stark, Michin, and Rodriguez were the final four. Zoey and Shaynaworked as a team and eliminated Michin.
Raquel then eliminated them and celebrated. Apparently, Chelsea Green has not been eliminated so far, and she tried to eliminate Raquel.
Instead, Rodriguez eliminated Green for the win.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
Grades: B-
Analysis: It is great to see Raquel back in action. She delivered a dominant performance to earn her spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.
Ripley/Jax Sit-Down Interview
Rhea Ripley and Nia Jax participated in a sit-down interview. Rhea discussed the opportunity to compete in her home country as the Women’s World Champion. Nia aimed to squash Ripley and send her home crying.
Video Package: R-Truth was interviewed. He said that Damian Priest and the Judgment Day broke his heart. Truth talked about his new friends, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa.
Truth hilariously named Gargano as “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels and Ciampa as “The Cerebral Assassin” Triple H.
– We saw Michael Chandler from UFC at ringside. He grabbed a microphone and called out Connor McGregor.
Six Man Tag Team Match
The Judgment Day vs. R-Truth, The Miz, and DIY
Next up was an 8-man tag team match. In the beginning, an all-star brawl broke out, with the Babyface team standing tall.
They paid homage to DX. DIY dominated Finn Balor for a bit. Gargano suffered a short arm clothesline from Priest.
Balor delivered a slingshot stomp. Gargano hit a suplex on Balor. There were chants for R-Truth this whole time, and he got a tag to a huge ovation.
Truth delivered the John Cena shoulder tackles, back suplex powerbomb, and a 5-knuckle shuffle on McDonagh. Damian tagged in and laid out Truth at ringside.
Back from the break, Ciampa received a hot tag from Truth. Tommaso removed Balor and McDonagh with clotheslines and delivered a corkscrew plancha on Priest.
Dominik came in and suffered a reverse DDT. Ciampa covered it, but JD saved the match. Gargano delivered his signature slingshot spear on McDonagh.
Dom superkicked Gargano before suffering a kick from Miz. Balor laid out Miz with a Sling Blade. Balor and Ciampa crashed into each other with double crossbody blocks. Everyone was down, and the crowd chanted, “This is Awesome ”.
R-Truth landed a Scissor Kick on Priest, followed by Lie Detector for a near fall. DIY and Miz laid out the other three men with superkicks and hit stereo planchas. In the ring, Priest pinned Truth after South of Heaven.
Winners: The Judgment Day
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a decent match with plenty of fun sequences. Judgment Day is a proper faction, and their win further solidified their dominance.
Elimination Chamber Mayhem
Becky Lynch came out with a great audience reaction. They were chanting her name.
Lynch talked about her first-ever Elimination Chamber match. She aimed to win it and challenge Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania.
Liv Morgan came out. She delivered her point and said she was out for revenge as Ripley injured her shoulder months ago. Morgan declared it a redemption and a story for her life.
Raquel Rodriguez came out. She said that Becky and Liv are focusing on Rhea, but Nia Jax could be the one with the title after Elimination Chamber. Rodriguez said that she has the strength to match with both Jaxand Ripley.
Naomi arrived and said she was back with a purpose and would climb back to the top.
Tiffany Stratton came out and declared that it was Tiffy’s time and that she was the future. Bianca Belairwas the last to enter. She said that she’s the EST. She had been on top for so long and even won an Elimination Chamber match previously.
Liv and Tiffany started the brawl. Out of nowhere, Nia Jax arrived and took out everyone with Samoan Drops and some leg drops.
Grades: B+
Analysis: Each participant from the Elimination Chamber made valid points in this promo battle. Nia Jax got the last laugh to make a statement before her match with Ripley at Elimination Chamber.
Singles Match
Ivar vs. Chad Gable
Ivar was dominant initially with a big boot and a spinning calf kick. Gable bounced back with a diving clothesline off the top rope.
Ringside action continued, and Ivar delivered a massive powerbomb onto the barricade. Back from the break, Ivar delivered a Tiger Bomb for a near fall.
Ivar attempted another powerbomb, but Gable countered it with a sunset flip. Ivar escaped the ankle lock and sent Gable to the ringside. Gable tried a German Suplex, but Ivar hit a spin kick.
In the ring, Gable delivered a seated senton for a two-count. Ivar went for the Doomsault, but Gable moved away.
Ivar finally hit a massive German Suplex and a moonsault for a near fall. Gable applied the ankle lock, and Ivar had to tap.
Winner: Chad Gable
Grades: B
Analysis: Chad Gable got the necessary win. It is great to see Ivar getting enough TV time.
Backstage: The New Day announced that they will face Imperium in a Street Fight next week on Raw.
Intercontinental Championship Match
Gunther vs. Jey Uso
The main event was the match for the Intercontinental Championship.
Jey slapped Gunther to begin. An irate Guntherviciously chopped Jey. He continued the assault and returned suplexes on the barricade and the apron.
Jey tried some offense from the top rope, but the Ring General chopped him mid-air. Gunther delivered a backbreaker.
Jey finally came to life at ringside with a backdrop on the floor, followed by a Samoan Drop on the commentary desk.
Uso delivered back-to-back uppercuts in the ring. Gunther replied with a Tyrannosaurus Kick and a Powerbomb for a near fall.
Gunther laid out Jey with a violent lariat for another near fall. The IC Champion applied Boston Crab, but Jey somehow reached the bottom rope to break the hold.
Jey sent Gunther out of the ring, followed by a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Gunther delivered more chops and talked trash. Uso delivered a Spear for a two-count.
Jey started a Spear Fest. He delivered a Spear in the ring, one in the ring, and one on the floor at ringside. Back inside, Jey delivered two more Spears. Covered by Jey, but the bell rang at one count.
We saw that Jimmy Uso was there. Jey laid out Jimmy with a suicide dive. Back to the match, Jey went for the splash.
Gunther got his knees up and rolled Jey for the pinfall. Jimmy superkicked Jey and delivered a Uso splash to close out the show.
Winner: Gunther
Grades: A
Analysis: It was a fun main event. Gunther’s matches are always awesome, and Jey got a moment to shine. The Brother vs Brother feud that was teased at the Royal Rumble has officially started.
It was an excellent WWE RAW Episode before Elimination Chamber. We got the final participant in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. The Bloodline caused problems for Cody. Also, the build-up to the dream match between Jimmy and Jey Uso is officially underway.
