Posted on 2/10/126 by Bob Magee
Show Recap —
Michael Cole kicked off by saying Cleveland was known, among
other things, as the city where the Monday Night Wars came
to an end. He announced there would be over 10,000 in
attendance tonight.
CM Punk arrived and, surprise surprise, was joined by AJ
Lee.
Becky Lynch arrived moments later just behind them (they
didn’t notice). She freaked out and ran off the other way.
Cole announced that Bron Breakker was injured while
training. He had surgery and would be out indefinitely.
Becky Lynch and AJ Lee kick off Raw
A frantic Becky Lynch marched to the ring. She wondered when
the disrespect would end. She planned to talk about the
injustice at the Royal Rumble, but instead saw who decided
to return to her show.
The crowd chanted for AJ Lee, and she entered. Lee said she
was there to support her girl, Maxxine Dupri, who had a
match tonight. Maybe she would hang out in catering when it
was over.
Lynch cut her off. Lynch said Lee tried to act all cute, but
she saw through it. Lynch didn’t like her eyebrows and
compared her to a chihuahua that kept barking at her,
keeping her up at night and ruining her life.
Lee called that a tad dramatic because she hadn’t done
anything to her—besides beating her at Wrestlepalooza and
WarGames. She also cost her the IC title against Dupri at
Madison Square Garden. But it was water under the bridge now
that Lynch was champion again.
Lynch acted maniacally (or tried to) and asked what it would
take to get rid of her. Lynch noted that Elimination Chamber
would be in Lee’s hometown of Chicago. Lynch asked if Lee
wanted her to ruin Lee’s life the way Lee ruined hers.
Lee acted like she wasn’t sure because she hadn’t had a
singles match in over a decade. It had to be special. Lee
said she beat Lynch already, which should really make her
the number one contender. Lynch repeatedly said no while the
crowd chanted, “Yes.”
Lee said, “No title, no match,” so Lynch begrudgingly
agreed. Lynch said if Lee felt like she had been held down
by “the man” before, she had no idea what she was in for
now. Lynch welcomed her to the big time before storming out
of the ring. Lee was happy.
(Can’t say I was a big fan of the acting in this segment. To
the point where it was almost hard to watch. The match makes
sense, and they were obviously headed here eventually. It’s
fair to wonder why Lee waited this long. Maybe she wanted to
wait until Lynch was champion again, but she’s the one who
cost her the belt in the first place.)
********
World Tag Team Championship match: The Usos (c) vs. Otis &
Akira Tozawa
Otis and Tozawa were all over Jimmy and Jey early on, and
Otis press-slammed Tozawa over the top and onto both Usos
ahead of a break. The Usos took control during a break,
almost in a heelish manner. Tozawa knocked Jey off the apron
before getting hit with a Samoan drop by Jimmy. Moments
later, Jey punched Tozawa behind the referee’s back.
Tozawa absolutely planted Jey with a DDT before making the
hot tag to Otis, who ran wild on both guys before hitting
Jimmy with a World’s Strongest Slam for two. Jey made a
blind tag and cut off a Caterpillar attempt with a superkick
(which missed completely). The Usos superkicked Otis, but
Tozawa made a tag and delivered multiple suicide dives. He
even mocked Jey’s “run it back” gesture while doing so,
which was great.
Tozawa hit Jimmy with a diving senton for a close nearfall.
Otis tagged in, but Jimmy superkicked both Tozawa and Otis.
The Usos gave Otis a double spear, and they followed with a
1D for the pinfall win (Jey pinned Otis).
— Byron Saxton interviewed The Usos post-match and asked
what was next as we headed to WrestleMania. Jey gave Alpha
Academy a shout-out first. Jimmy said they would continue to
be the best tag team in the game, but what he wanted next
was to see Jey qualify for the Chamber, win the match, and
go on to being Main Event Jey Uso. Everyone said “Yeet,” and
they hugged.
Match result: The Usos defeated Otis & Akira Tozawa to
retain the World Tag Team Championships (10:01)
(I suppose the last few moments were exciting—once Tozawa
got in—but the Usos looked really off.)
*******
There was a recap of the CM Punk-Roman Reigns promo segment.
They aired a clip of AJ Styles on Stephanie McMahon’s
podcast. It included backstage footage from after his loss
to Gunther, getting hugs from Shane Helms and Xavier Woods.
Liv Morgan and Stephanie Vaquer segment
Liv Morgan entered with Intercontinental Champion Dominik
Mysterio. Morgan was about to speak, but Dom cut her off. He
presented her with flowers and chocolates to congratulate
her on winning the Rumble. Morgan was thrilled. She thanked
him and said his gift would come later.
Morgan announced we were in the presence of the greatest IC
champion and Rumble winner of all time. She said she put
Stephanie Vaquer and Jade Cargill on notice. They were
afraid of her because they knew they would lose at Mania if
she chose to face them.
They stalled for a moment until Dom was about to speak, but
he jumped when pyro suddenly went off (like Kane’s
fireworks) for Stephanie Vaquer’s entrance. (A week later,
her new music still sounds awful.)
Vaquer told Morgan she talked too much. She said something
in Spanish, and Morgan wanted Dom to translate. Dom didn’t
want to repeat what she said, so he responded to Vaquer in
Spanish instead. Morgan wanted to know what he said.
Stephanie responded, “He said, He’s a little bitch.”
Morgan called her a liar. She accused Vaquer of wanting Dom
and offered her a “Hot Girls Love Dominik” shirt, but didn’t
think she was qualified to wear it. Vaquer told Morgan to
pick her so she could kick her ass at WrestleMania.
Morgan said she didn’t plan to rush into making a decision.
Morgan stated, “If you don’t like it, you can cry about it,
puta.” Vaquer was pissed at this line and slapped Dom for
getting between them. Vaquer stormed off instead of just
going after Morgan right now.
********
Rhea Ripley, Ivy Nile, and Lyra Valkyria cut pre-taped
promos ahead of their qualifying match.
Triple threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Tag Team
Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Ivy Nile vs. Lyra Valkyria
After a break, Nile was upside down in the corner while
Valkyria climbed over to set up Ripley for a superplex.
However, Nile managed to bring them both down with a double
suplex. Ripley cut off Nile’s offence moments later and hit
a low dropkick.
Ripley and Valkyria traded counters until Ripley got her in
the electric chair drop position. It seemed like they were
setting up for Nile to hit a flying crossbody to knock down
Valkyria, but Ripley dropped Valkyria before she could. Nile
went for the move anyway and missed as a result, but she was
smart enough to go for a cover on the prone Valkyria for
two.
Nile gave Ripley a snap German suplex, and Ripley almost
landed badly on Valkyria. Nile gave Valkyria a spinning
Uranage for two before applying a dragon sleeper, but Ripley
broke that up with a headbutt. Ripley went for Rip-tide, but
Nile countered with a backstabber.
Valkyria hit Nile with a Nightwing, but Ripley flew in and
clonked her with a running knee strike. Ripley followed with
a Rip-tide on Valkyria for the pinfall win.
Ripley joins Tiffany Stratton in the Chamber.
Match result: Rhea Ripley defeated Lyra Valkyria and Ivy
Nile to qualify for the Women’s Elimination Chamber (9:29)
This match had pretty good action, but the crowd was dead
and seemed less interested as it went on. I think they were
just waiting for Ripley to win, but Nile was the one who got
the most offence in before Ripley ultimately won. (Nile was
also protected over Valkyria in the finish.)
*******
Morgan checked on Dom backstage. He was still selling
getting slapped. Morgan tried to console him by saying he
had a Chamber qualifying match next week. Dom wasn’t happy
because he still had to defend the IC title.
They saw a dejected Finn Bálor nearby, and Dom tried to
console him, saying JD McDonagh would be back soon and that
they could go after the tag titles. Bálor said he wasn’t
done with Punk or the world title. Dom said his window might
be closed with Punk facing Roman Reigns at Mania.
Bálor told him, “You know what, Dom? I’m tired of being an
afterthought. I thought we were supposed to be a family.”
Bálor left.
********
Finn Bálor and CM Punk segment
Cole was in the ring, ready to interview Punk, but Finn
Bálor slid into the ring and grabbed the mic. He reminded us
that he left Punk lying in the middle of the ring like a
wounded dog two weeks ago. Punk was hurt, and Bálor knew it
because he was the one who hurt him.
Bálor wouldn’t let Reigns take advantage of his kill. It
wouldn’t be the first time Reigns did. Reigns took advantage
when the top rope snapped on Bálor, while he had Reigns beat
in the middle of the ring for the title. Bálor was tired of
being an afterthought and tired of being pushed around. He
wanted Punk and the World Heavyweight title at Elimination
Chamber. Punk beat him on his home turf, so Bálor would beat
Punk on his.
Adam Pearce walked out with security. Pearce said they had
already had this conversation. Bálor had his shot, and it
was too late to get another. The world title was spoken for.
Pearce said he’s known Bálor a long time and didn’t want
this to get ugly. He asked Bálor to leave the ring or else
security would get involved.
Punk entered and chased Bálor out of the ring. Security got
between them as Bálor stood on the announce table. Punk said
Bálor wasn’t an afterthought. He was his first thought, and
he deserved an ass-beating. Punk invited him into the ring
for a fight.
Bálor said he wasn’t fighting for nothing. He wanted Punk to
put the title on the line. Punk accepted and wanted the
match right now.
Pearce declined the match because he didn’t want to risk the
WrestleMania main event. Punk demanded he make the match
because, as the champion, he deserved to have a say. If not,
he would chase Bálor around the arena all night. Pearce
reluctantly made the match official for the Chamber show.
(The crowd cheered the match but booed the location.) The
crowd chanted for Punk as security followed Bálor to the
back.
Punk invited Cole to go on with his interview. Cole asked
why he would jeopardize one of the greatest main events in
history for this match (against Bálor). Punk said he wasn’t
jeopardizing anything. He was building something. He was
chasing greatness. He was being the fighting champion the
people deserved to see every Monday night.
The greatness he was chasing was a story that he told ten
years ago, when he was champion for over 400 days. He tried
to be just 1% better every day. He would fight anybody,
anywhere, to prove that he was what he said he was—the best
in the world.
He wasn’t jeopardizing anything. He was brave enough to know
there was no reward without risk. He was humble enough to
know it could end at any time. But he was also confident
enough to know, “That shit ain’t gonna happen.”
Punk didn’t believe Reigns when he said he hated him. Punk
was building something, and Reigns hated that he couldn’t
stop it. WrestleMania would only end one way—with his hand
getting raised.
(It really feels like they’re killing time with this Bálor
feud, but Punk was great again here. He comes across like a
rightful world champion, and certainly isn’t shy about
telling us about it.)
********
Pearce thanked security for escorting Bálor out of the
building. He was confronted by Paul Heyman and The Vision
(no Bron Breakker). Heyman said Pearce pushed Breakker to
the point that he went home and deadlifted weights until
5:00 AM when he popped a hernia. It was a career-ending
injury for anyone but Breakker. Heyman put the blame
squarely on Pearce.
Pearce got in Heyman’s face. He knew Breakker was the
future, and nobody besides the Vision wanted Breakker back
faster than him. He warned the Vision not to get involved in
Austin Theory’s qualifying match tonight—and that was a
threat.
Logan Paul wondered what Pearce would do about it if they
didn’t get involved. Logan said he was the biggest star to
come out of Cleveland, and Pearce would do nothing. Bronson
Reed backed off Logan and told him that Pearce was his
problem now.
********
Nattie vs. Maxxine Dupri
Dupri caught Nattie in an ankle lock immediately. Nattie
escaped, and Dupri applied the move again outside the ring.
However, Nattie booted her into the ring steps and shoved
her into the ring post. Nattie dropped Dupri onto the
announce table, mounted her and pounded away with right
hands until the referee called for a double count-out.
Nattie applied a sharpshooter while on the announce table as
officials tried to stop her. Nattie only let go when AJ Lee
ran out (to her music).
Lee checked on Dupri and started helping her to the back
when Lynch suddenly decked Lee from behind. Lynch was proud
of herself.
Match result: Nattie vs. Maxxine Dupri ended in a double
count-out (1:36)
********
LA Knight cut a pre-promo. His focus was on taking out the
Vision, and it started tonight with Theory (in their
qualifying match).
Bravo & Rayo Americano (w/ El Grande Americano) vs. Je’Von
Evans & “The Original” El Grande Americano
Je’Von Evans had a mystery partner, and the crowd popped
when it was “The Original” El Grande Americano (Chad Gable).
Evans and Gable had control but lost it during an early
break. Gable made a hot tag after the break and gave the
Americanos a double German suplex. However, El Grande
(Ludwig Kaiser) tripped Gable off the top.
With Gable down, Rayo came flying off the top rope, but
Evans met him mid-air with an OG Cutter, which looked
awesome. (I guess the director knew this was coming because
they cut to a special camera angle in the middle of this
live wrestling match.)
Evans wiped out Rayo with a dive before Gable hit Bravo with
a diving headbutt for the pinfall win.
— El Grande attacked the babyfaces post-match and tried to
unmask Gable, but Gable turned it around and almost unmasked
Kaiser until his buddies helped him out of the ring.
Match result: The Original El Grande Americano & Je’Von
Evans defeated Bravo & Rayo Americano (7:42)
The finishing sequence was cool, and Gable and Evans could
certainly make for a great team if they wanted to go in that
direction.
********
Penta, Theory, and Knight cut pre-taped promos ahead of
their qualifier.
During a break, Bayley said she would beat Nattie and Asuka
in a qualifier next week. She had a chance to redeem herself
after what happened at WrestleMania last year.
********
Saxton interviewed Gunther backstage after they showed a
replay of him choking out Dragon Lee last week. Gunther knew
Saxton was going to ask about Dragon, but he couldn’t care
less because his focus was solely on WrestleMania.
Saxton mentioned his qualifying match next week. Gunther was
well aware. His road to WrestleMania should have been
cemented when he retired Goldberg, John Cena and AJ Styles.
Instead, his road to Mania starts next week. But no worry,
the result would be the same, and he would walk out of Mania
the new WWE Champion.
********
Next week on Raw in Memphis:
Elimination Chamber triple threat qualifying match: Gunther
vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Dominik Mysterio
Elimination Chamber triple threat qualifying match: Asuka
vs. Bayley vs. Nattie
AJ Lee appears
********
Triple threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match: LA
Knight vs. Austin Theory (w/ Paul Heyman) vs. Penta
Even though it was a triple threat match, the lone heel
Theory took control through a break, which meant the match
slowed to a crawl. Knight fought back after the break and
hit a neckbreaker, but Penta broke up the cover. Penta
knocked Knight out of the ring before Theory gave Penta a
brainbuster.
Knight hit Theory with a slingshot shoulder tackle,
clotheslined him out of the ring, and bounced his head
repeatedly off the announce desk. Knight cut off a Penta
dive attempt and bounced him off the table, too.
Theory dropped Knight into the middle turnbuckle, but Knight
countered a rolling dropkick into a belly-to-back suplex.
Penta nailed both guys with a flying crossbody before
superkicking Theory and giving Knight a slingblade. Penta
gave Theory a backstabber, but Knight broke up the cover.
Knight set up Penta for a superplex, but Theory got
underneath them and brought down both men with a double
powerbomb (yes, we saw essentially the same spot in the
women’s triple threat earlier). Knight responded with a
reverse DDT and diving elbow drop on Theory.
Logan and Reed ran out, so Knight knocked them both off the
apron. Knight went after Logan, but Reed ran over Knight and
gave him an elbow drop. Logan distracted the referee (there
are no DQs in this match) as Reed gave Knight a Tsunami.
Pearce ran out to confront the Vision, and they were
escorted up the aisle by security.
Theory curb-stomped Knight and was about to win, but Penta
broke up the cover by yanking Theory out of the ring. I
thought this might be setting up a Penta win (after Knight
took both a Tsunami and a curb stomp), but Theory dumped
Penta over the announce desk, and that was the end of him.
The masked man suddenly appeared, superkicked Theory and hit
a curb stomp. The masked man chucked Theory back in the ring
before he was chased away through the crowd by the Vision.
Knight gave Theory a BFT for the pinfall win.
Knight joins Randy Orton in the Men’s Chamber.
Match result: LA Knight defeated Austin Theory and Penta to
qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber (9:29)
The show was dedicated to the memory of Jim Shank, a long-
time company employee.