Posted on 2/17/126 by Bob Magee
An establishing shot of Beale Street in Memphis was followed
by shots of Gunther, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, Liv Morgan
(greeting Michael Cole for a scheduled interview), CM Punk
(wearing a Cubs hat) and AJ Lee hanging around the arena in
Memphis earlier today.
Jey and Jimmy Uso entered the crowd, but their energetic
entrance was cut off by the voice of Paul Heyman, who
entered with The Vision. (The Usos remained in the crowd.)
Logan Paul wanted the fans to listen to Heyman, because his
words of wisdom were as valuable as the most valuable
trading card in the world—which Logan just sold for $16-
million.
They showed a replay of a masked man costing Austin Theory
his qualifying match last week. Theory complained about it
until Adam Pearce interrupted. Pearce wanted them to go to
his office to talk like adults. Theory wanted justice right
now.
Pearce said Theory screwed himself. If it weren’t for
Theory’s stablemates tying up his security, they would have
handled the masked man before he could get involved.
Heyman wanted Pearce to put Bronson Reed in the Elimination
Chamber match. Pearce said he knew about the phone calls
Heyman was making to go over his head. Pearce had no problem
with Reed in the Chamber—so long as he wins his qualifier
next week.
Pearce urged them to leave the ring so they could continue
with the show, but LA Knight interrupted next. Knight said
the Vision screwed themselves. Theory wasn’t going to
WrestleMania, and Reed was next on his list. Knight wanted
Reed to qualify for the Chamber so Knight could kick his
ass.
Logan mocked Knight for getting put through a car by Reed,
so Knight mocked Logan’s voice and called him a broccoli-
haired bitch. Knight suggested to Pearce that he make a six-
man match right now, and he would gladly team with The Usos,
even though he doesn’t particularly like them either. Pearce
made it official.
The Usos (who waited patiently in the crowd this entire
time) had their music played again, and they entered. A
brawl broke out during a break, and the match commenced once
things settled down. (I’m curious why the Usos were coming
out to begin with.)
It appears Logan Paul is the de facto leader of The Vision
with Bron Breakker out.
Six-man tag team match: LA Knight, Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso vs.
Logan Paul, Bronson Reed & Austin Theory (w/ Paul Heyman)
Reed and Theory used a double-team to take control over
Knight, and they had the heat on him for a good 6-7 minutes,
including the full duration of a commercial break. Knight
fought to make a tag, but Reed cut him off and hit a senton
for two after Jimmy broke up the cover.
Knight dodged another senton and made the hot tag to Jey
Uso. Jey hit Paul with clotheslines, right hands and a
running hip attack for two as the fans Yeeted along. Jey
speared Paul, but Theory broke up the cover. Knight posted
Theory and gave him a BFT outside the ring before Reed
tackled Knight through the timekeeper’s barricade.
Paul blocked a Jey superkick and hit a Zig Zag for two. Jey
superkicked Paul as Jimmy tagged himself in. They hit
superkicks and a 1D, but Reed broke up the cover. Reed
headbutted Jey out of the ring and wiped out both Usos with
a great-looking suicide dive.
Paul punched Jimmy with his loaded right hand, and Reed
followed with a Tsunami for the pinfall win.
(So Knight challenged them to a fight, got beaten up for
most of it, and his team lost.)
— Paul grabbed Cole’s headset to brag about the win when the
masked man suddenly appeared and gave him a curb stomp onto
the announce table. Reed and Theory chased the masked man
away through the crowd.
Match result: Bronson Reed, Logan Paul & Austin Theory
defeated Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso & LA Knight (12:53)
********
Next week, there will be two more Chamber triple threat
qualifying matches. Iyo Sky, Raquel Rodriguez, and Kairi
Sane on the women’s side. Reed, Jey Uso, and The Original El
Grande Americano (Chad Gable) on the men’s side.
A delivery guy named Eli alerted Pearce to a large wooden
crate with “Deliver to WWE” and “Do not open until 02/28/26”
(the date of the Chamber) written on it. Pearce was annoyed
that Eli seemed to know nothing about its contents and told
him to send it to SmackDown so Nick Aldis could deal with
it. (Eli had a clipboard with nothing but a blank piece of
paper on it.)
El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) and his buddies
confronted Pearce about giving the other Americano a Chamber
qualifier. El Grande wanted something else if he couldn’t be
in the Chamber and suggested an IC title shot. Pearce
offered him a chance to earn a shot tonight. (So, a second
impromptu match tonight.)
********
Triple threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Asuka
vs. Nattie vs. Bayley
Nattie was introduced as being from “Calgary… Alberta,
Canada” and representing the Hart Family dungeon. To show
off her aggressive side, she got right in Asuka’s face upon
entering, but they were separated by referee Jessika Carr.
The announcers talked about Nattie’s lineage and called her
the only woman to survive the dungeon.
Nattie was allowed to shine early, and she had control going
into a break. Bayley fought back after the break and hit a
diving elbow drop to Nattie’s back for two. Nattie was
trapped in the tree of woe, but instead of a convoluted
three-way spot, Bayley elbow-dropped Nattie and gave Asuka a
superplex. Nattie broke up the cover.
Nattie gave Asuka a discus clothesline before Bayley gave
Nattie a back suplex. Bayley gave Asuka a diving elbow drop,
but Nattie broke up the cover again. Nattie gave Bayley a
German suplex on the apron but spent too much time admiring
her work, so Asuka caught her in the Asuka Lock. Nattie
broke free and hit a sit-out powerbomb. (An announcer said
Nattie was adding moves to her arsenal, but she’s done that
many times before.)
Nattie applied a Sharpshooter but Bayley broke it up with a
running knee. Asuka knocked Nattie out of the ring with a
running hip attack before Bayley hit Asuka with Bayley-to-
belly for a close nearfall. Bayley and Asuka traded counters
until Asuka shoved Bayley into the ropes, and she knocked
Nattie off the apron in the process.
Asuka caught Bayley in the Asuka Lock, and Bayley quickly
tapped out. Asuka advances to Elimination Chamber.
— Maxxine Dupri attacked Nattie from behind on the stage as
the fans began chanting “Whoop that Trick.” They were pulled
apart by officials.
Match result: Asuka defeated Bayley and Nattie to qualify
for the Women’s Elimination Chamber (10:28)
A pretty good match that the fans did not care about at all.
They got into the Bayley-to-belly nearfall, but that was
about it. Nattie’s character obviously hasn’t connected on
any level yet and probably won’t. She’s winless since
introducing this side of her.
********
Backstage, Pearce handed Oba Femi a contract and told him
that SmackDown won’t be able to beat it. Femi said he’d need
time to decide. Femi was confronted by Rusev (who barely got
a reaction). Rusev wore his old “Happy Rusev Day” shirt
under his jacket. They stared at each other for a while
until Femi left.
Liv Morgan sit-down interview
Morgan sat down with Cole for a sit-down interview earlier
today, but they were immediately joined by Dominik Mysterio,
who pulled up a chair next to Morgan.
She said she would not rush her WrestleMania decision. She
did not grind for ten years to let this moment pass her by.
Stephanie Vaquer joined next and pulled up a chair next to
Cole. Vaquer cut a very long promo in Spanish, and Dom was
aghast at what she was saying. He quietly translated into
Morgan’s ear, and she broke out into tears after Vaquer
left. Cole was perplexed. This was… something.
********
CM Punk and Finn Bálor segment
Punk entered to a big reaction. He said the fans seemed
happy to see him, but the office wasn’t. Pearce claimed he
was jeopardizing the WrestleMania main event. (Fans booed,
so Punk responded, “Yeah! Boo Adam Pearce!”) Punk said he
was doing what he always did, and that was make everything
better. Sports teams qualify for the playoffs, but they
still show up to play their regular season games.
The fans deserved a fighting champion, just like Finn Bálor
deserved a title shot in Belfast for everything he’s done in
his career. Now, Bálor was getting a title shot because he
earned it—earned to get an ass-beating. Bálor jumped him in
Toronto a few weeks ago and ruined the last time he’d get to
share the ring with AJ Styles.
Punk often said things that pissed people off. He wouldn’t
be who he was if he didn’t often say things that pissed
people off. The fans wouldn’t love him, either. Punk was a
fighting champion and the best in the world. That wasn’t
Roman Reigns or Finn Bálor.
Bálor interrupted, flanked by Dominik and the returning JD
McDonagh. They surrounded the ring like The Shield, but
Bálor said they weren’t out there to fight. Bálor wanted to
make something clear. To be the best in the world, you had
to train with the best catch wrestlers in Europe, learn with
the best luchadors in Mexico, survive the toughest dojos in
Japan, and show up to Raw and beat Roman Reigns on your
first night. So as far as Bálor was concerned, he was the
best in the world. Bálor wouldn’t be jeopardizing the
WrestleMania main event. He would beat Punk and make it
better.
Punk asked him what the two idiots were doing with him. Punk
said, “I know who you are. I’m sorry, I misspoke. I know who
you were.” All those great things that Bálor did, he did it
by himself. He didn’t see Judgment Day by his side when he
had all his past success. Bálor used to mean something.
Judgment Day has been an anchor around his neck. Normally,
someone like Bálor could elevate guys like them, but they
were just dragging him down. Dom had two belts and never
defended them. McDonagh’s head was so big that it made it
hard for him to get into the ring. (Fans chanted,
“Bobblehead.”)
Punk called himself a smart guy who sometimes did dumb
things. He turned his back and gave them a free shot. Punk
knew he was the best in the world, but didn’t need help to
prove it. But maybe Bálor did. (There were more random
chants of “Whoop that Trick” in here.)
Punk’s words got to Bálor. McDonagh was about to jump Punk,
but Bálor stopped him. Punk tossed the mic at them and left
the ring.
********
Byron Saxton interviewed Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky. He asked
how they were holding things together after everything
they’ve had to go through (tag title defences and Chamber
qualifiers). Ripley admitted that SmackDown was a battle.
Nia Jax and Lash Legend thought they could take the tag
titles, but they failed. They turned up the heat, so it was
time for Rhiyo to put them out.
Sky was about to talk about her qualifier, but they were
interrupted by Kairi Sane and Asuka. Sane said Asuka was in
the Chamber and they would make sure that Ripley and Sky
would never win it. Asuka wanted Sane to make it clear that
their goal was to make her (Asuka) the champion. Asuka told
Rhiyo they were not ready for the Chamber.
********
El Grande Americano (w/ Bravo & Rayo Americano) vs. Penta
They went to break one minute into the match. El Grande
tried going for Penta’s mask, so Penta tried the same. El
Grande used a distraction to take control, but Penta yanked
him off the top rope and hit a Penta Driver for a nearfall.
Penta knocked Rayo off the apron before El Grande hit a
running headbutt for two.
Rayo distracted the referee while Bravo attempted to give El
Grande the metal plate. However, the Original El Grande
Americano yanked him under the ring.
The Original El Grande gave Bravo a Chaos Theory and dumped
Rayo over the announce table. Penta flew in and gave El
Grande (Kaiser) a Canadian Destroyer for the pinfall win.
— After the match, Gable gave Kaiser a Chaos Theory. Gable
tried taking off Kaiser’s mask, but he was pulled to safety
by the other two.
Match result: Penta defeated El Grande Americano (Ludwig
Kaiser) (7:56)
You don’t need to watch this.
********
Backstage, McDonagh tried to talk sense into Bálor. He was
embarrassed watching what happened to Bálor in Belfast, and
thought they should injure Punk ahead of their match. Bálor
wanted to do this on his own. Bálor stormed off, and
McDonagh was not happy. Dom was concerned that they left
because he still had his own match tonight.
Kofi Kingston and Grayson Waller cut a promo during a break.
Kingston announced that Xavier Woods injured his shoulder,
and has been wrestling injured for months, but was no longer
cleared by medical. (The way he announced this was meant to
get a pop from the crowd, but they didn’t care.) Waller read
a prepared statement from Woods where he buried Memphis.
********
AJ Lee and Becky Lynch segment
Lee entered. She said she had fun getting under Becky
Lynch’s skin, and it was so easy. But Lynch reminded her
that this was serious business after ramming her into the
ring post. Lee hasn’t had a singles match in over a decade,
let alone a title shot.
The last time she had a title around her waist, the division
looked a little different. All they had to fight for was a
sparkly, pink butterfly, but she loved that title. She wore
that title proudly because she made that title. She wasn’t
modest—she knew exactly who the hell she was. There was a
Women’s division before her, and a Women’s division after.
That was her gift to all of them. (Meaning, there was no
longer a Diva’s division.)
Lee still wanted to get her hands on everyone back there.
She wanted to fight Bayley, Valkyria, Ripley, Sky, Asuka,
Sane, Judgment Day, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, but for
now, all roads led back to Lynch. Lee wasn’t sure why Lynch
was so bad. Maybe because she came back, or that her merch
does better, or that the fans like her more. But she gave
Lynch a ten year headstart, and she still hasn’t caught up.
(It’s good to show confidence, but that’s a lie.)
Lynch gave Lee a gift. Without her, maybe Lee would not have
come back. But she had a chance to show she can still be a
champion. If she walked out of Chicago victorious, she’d get
to walk into Mania as IC champion. Lee called out Lynch.
Lynch entered. She was amused that Lee thought this was her
chance to get a title run. This was an opportunity to gather
all of her friends and family and give her a send-off. The
retirement match she never got or even deserved. They could
all cry while Lynch shoves away Lee’s hearse. Lee’s gift to
them was when she left. Lynch has been making history for
ten years, while Lee made comic books.
Lee invited her into the ring to fight right now. Lynch
wasn’t biting, so Lee took a page from Punk’s book and
offered her the first shot. Lee put her hands behind her
back, but Lynch still wouldn’t hit her. Lynch acted
frustrated (another less-than-stellar acting performance)
and said she knew Lee was just trying to have an excuse
ready for when she lost. Lynch declined and left the ring.
(There was another “Whoop that Trick” chant when Lee
challenged Lynch for a fight, so the crowd was chanting
anytime there was a chance at a brawl.)
********
The Vision confronted Pearce backstage. Theory was pissed
that Pearce let his brother Logan be attacked by the masked
man. Theory was getting in Pearce’s face, so Heyman urged
Theory and Paul to head to the jet. Pearce said the masked
man was a problem for him, too. Reed said he would solve the
masked man problem when he got his hands on him. Pearce
thanked him for this.
********
Cole said the segment with Morgan and Vaquer would be
uploaded online with English translations.
They announced a tribute to AJ Styles next week on Raw in
Atlanta.
Raw next week:
AJ Styles tribute
Elimination Chamber triple threat qualifier: Iyo Sky vs.
Raquel Rodriguez vs. Kairi Sane
Elimination Chamber triple threat qualifier: Bronson Reed
vs. Jey Uso vs. The Original El Grande Americano (Chad
Gable)
********
Triple threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Gunther
vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Intercontinental Champion Dominik
Mysterio
Dom repeatedly bailed to avoid Gunther as the match got
started. Evans went right after Gunther and was taken down a
few times until he managed to come back with a dropkick.
Gunther dropped him moments later before chopping down Dom.
Gunther chopped Evans out of mid-air and drove Dom
repeatedly into the barricade.
Gunther was about to powerbomb Dom outside the ring, but
Evans ran across the ring and flew right over the top rope
with an impressive dive to wipe out Gunther. (Dom grabbed
the ring bell hammer and left it on the steel steps.)
Evans shined over Dom as they returned from break, but
Gunther powerbombed him on top of Dom. Evans caught Gunther
in a cover after a hurricanrana, but Gunther kicked out and
hit a powerbomb for two. Gunther chopped Evans in the back,
but Evans avoided a powerbomb and hit a running knee strike,
and Dom broke up the cover.
Gunther got his knees up on a Dom frog splash before Evans
hit Gunther with a springboard clothesline. Gunther caught
Evans in a sleeper, but Evans quickly used a jawbreaker to
break out of it. Evans went for an OG Cutter, but Gunther
caught him in a sleeper. Dom broke that up with a frog
splash on Gunther’s back. Dom went for a 619, but Gunther
planted him with a clothesline.
Dom grabbed the ring bell hammer as Evans put Gunther in a
sleeper. Gunther hit a back suplex and booted Dom out of the
ring. Gunther grabbed the hammer away from Dom, but Dragon
Lee suddenly appeared and hit Gunther with the ring bell (as
revenge for getting beaten up two weeks ago).
With Gunther out, Dom hit Evans with a 619, but Evans
avoided a frog splash and hit an OG Cutter for the pinfall
win.
Match result: Je’Von Evans defeated Dominik Mysterio and
Gunther to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber (14:40)
This match was ok. The crowd was quiet for most of it, but
they really got into the OG Cutter (and his earlier attempts
at it) and popped huge for Evans’ win. It ultimately came
across like a big win for Evans in the end.