WWE Monday Night Raw Review February 6, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Raw with Edge & Beth Phoenix heading to the ring. We then head to a video recapping the feud between them & Judgment Day, including the events that happened at Extreme Rules between them during the I Quit Match between Finn Balor & Edge.
Edge jokes he is becoming the king of comebacks then says they are in Orlando because of Judgment Day. He says the creation of the group is his fault, but the whole point was to elevate talent and that ended up being successful. He puts over each member of the group and says he knew that Balor could never beat him 1 on 1 but the minute Rhea Ripley attacked Phoenix at Extreme Rules he felt helpless. He says he never lost his I Quit Match with Finn Balor and will sink to any level to exact his pound of flesh. Phoenix calls out Ripley & Balor and says she and her husband are here to finish this thing.
Judgment Day’s music hits and Finn Balor,Dominik Mysterio & Damian Priest head out. Balor asks if he’s the only person to notice that as soon as Edge returns to the ring, Judgment Day gets the better of them. Mysterio says they must have heard that he’s done hard time in prison since they’ve been gone and they should run along before he does something to them. Priest chimes in and says the next time Judgment Day beats them down it will make Extreme Rules look like child’s play. He says he will beat Angelo Dawkins later tonight to secure his place in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match and win back the United States Title.
Dominik says he wishes Ripley were here but Edge cuts him off. He tells Priest that he didn’t want a leader but here he is following Balor around like a labradoodle. He says the difference between them and him & Phoenix is they actually have each other’s backs, then adds he can’t wait to see Rey Mysterio kick Dominik’s teeth in. Phoenix says the real reason Ripley isn’t in Orlando is because she speared her soul out. She says she didn’t come to talk, but to fight. She then challenges Ripley and Balor to a match at Elimination Chamber and Balor accepts on behalf of both of them.
Judgment Day encircles the ring and looks to attack Edge & Phoenix. Phoenix and Edge fight them off before Street Profits head down to provide some back up. Phoenix then delivers the Glam Slam on Mysterio in the center of the ring.
United States Title Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Angelo Dawkins vs. Damian Priest
Damian Priest delivers a right hand then Angelo Dawkins fires back with a dropkick, then sends Priest to the outside. He tosses Priest over the announce desk then gets him back in the ring and charges at him. Priest catches him with a right hand then tosses him into the top turnbuckle and delivers a chop. He follows it up with a back elbow and a Broken Arrow then goes for a pin. Dawkins kicks out and delivers a pair of right hands then follows it up with a kick. He low bridges Priest to the outside then follows him out there. Priest catches him with a clothesline then delivers a kick off the ring steps that sends us to a break.
Back from the break Dawkins delivers a pair of clotheslines and a jumping back elbow. He delivers a slash in the corner, then follows it up with a kick to Priest’s head and an Exploder. He ascends to the top but Priest meets him up there and sets up for South Of Heaven. Dawkins jumps off the top before Priest hits him with an elevated Flatliner.
He sets up for South Of Heaven but Dawkins reverses it into a Silencer and climbs back to the top. He hits a Swanton Bomb then goes for a pin but Priest kicks out. Dawkins delivers a pair of right hands but Priest fires back with one of his own. He follows it up with South Of Heaven for the win.
Winner & Gets Into The United States Title Elimination Chamber Match: Damian Priest
After the break we see Maximum Male Models talking to Adam Pearce. Chelsea Green walks in and interrupts them. Pearce dismisses Maximum Male Models before Green asks for the manager and complains about her accommodations not being to her liking. She requests a match for tonight because her family is in the audience and she will talk to his manager if she doesn’t get her way. She tells Pearce that with one call she can cost him his job.
We then head to a video recapping what happened between The Bloodline & Sami Zayn from this past Friday on Smackdown.
Baron Corbin vs. Dexter Lumis
Baron Corbin wastes no time and attacks Lumis from behind then the bell rings and Corbin rains down hammer and anvil elbows. Lumis delivers a series of right hands then plants Corbin and delivers a back suplex. He hits a leg drop but Corbin fires back with some back elbows. Lumis delivers a sit down uranage for the win.
Winner: Dexter Lumis
We then head backstage to Byron Saxton is with Becky Lynch. Saxton asks Lynch what her Steel Cage Match with Bayley tonight means to her and Lynch says Bayley seemed sweet and kind when she first met her 10 years ago. She says Bayley has since attacked her, separated her shoulder and talked about her family. She says she made her fatal mistake as soon as she uttered a word about them then tells Bayley she can bring her friends because it won’t matter.
Back from the break Brock Lesnar heads to the ring.
Lesnar greets Orlando Florida then asks them if they caught Royal Rumble. He says it wasn’t a pleasant night for him because not only was he eliminated but he was eliminated by Bobby Lashley. He says he wasn’t on Raw last week because he needed to clear his head. He said he hasn’t stopped thinking about Lashley since then no matter what he does. He says he eventually came up with a resolution, and it’s a violent one. He says inside his jacket pocket is a multi million dollar contract. He pulls it out and reads it Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar at Elimination Chamber. He calls Lashley out and tells him to sign the contract.
Lashley’s music hits and he heads to the ring. He says it was nice of Lesnar to grace the WWE Universe with his presence, then says he won the first of their two matches, laid Lesnar out after their second won, and eliminated him in the Royal Rumble. He says things will be done on his terms, then says he’s going to have his agent, manager, and lawyer look over it before he signs it. He taunts Lesnar and asks him if he’s surprised that he has one up on him.
Lesnar loses his temper and delivers a F5 to Lashley. He places the contract on his chest as fans call for him to deliver a 2nd F5. Lesnar obliges and leaves Lashley laid out in the center of the ring.
We then head backstage to Candice LeRae, Johnny Gargano & Dexter Lumis. Gargano says Lumis drew a picture to wish her good luck in their match and hands it to her. LeRae says she is touched that he drew their family, then notices a woman and asks if it’s Nikki Cross. Lumis takes notice of a lurking Cross & LeRae asks her what she’s doing there. Cross maniacally laughs and runs off.
Fatal 4 Way Raw Women’s Title #1 Contenders Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Michin vs. Candice LeRae vs. Piper Niven vs. Carmella
Piper Niven levels Candice LeRae & Michin. She scares Carmella out of the ring, then delivers a splash to Michin & LeRae in the corner. Carmella jumps her from behind but Niven pulls her off her back. Michin & LeRae get Niven tangled up in the ropes then deliver a double dropkick that sends her to the outside. They then set their sights on one another. Michin powerbombs LeRae into the corner then gets her up on her shoulders.
LeRae counters it into a poisonrana and looks to pin her but Carmella swoops in and pushes her off. LeRae kicks out, and Carmella then pins Michin. Michin does the same as LeRae, and a frustrated Carmella pins LeRae once again. LeRae kicks out, and Niven runs in out of nowhere to deliver a crossbody to all 3 women that sends us to a break.
Back from the break Niven delivers a splash to LeRae in the corner. Carmella catches her with a superkick but Niven delivers a clothesline. LeRae looks to go flying but Niven catches her. Michin plants Niven with a cutter to help out LeRae. LeRae & Niven land on the outside, leaving Carmella & Michin in the ring.
They go back & forth with forearms before Michin delivers Eat Defeated. She goes for a pin but Niven pulls her out of the ring. LeRae goes flying to take Niven out then delivers a moonsault off the ropes. She goes for a pin but Michin pushes her off.
Niven then plants Michin and goes for a pin, but LeRae breaks the fall up. Niven looks to level her with a senton but LeRae moves out of the way and delivers a step up senton.
Carmella rolls up LeRae but LeRae kicks out. She delivers a series of kicks in the corner, then follows it up with a Bronco Buster. Niven hits LeRae with a cannonball but Carmella sends her to the outside and pins LeRae for the win.
Winner & Gets Into The Raw Women’s Title #1 Contenders Elimination Chamber Match: Carmella
We go backstage to JBL & Baron Corbin. Corbin turns to JBL for advice about his recent losses and JBL says Corbin is channel changing television. He says he doesn’t give a damn about Corbin and says his reputation is losing credibility because of him. He calls him a clown, then says he belongs nowhere near him. Corbin says he can do better but JBL says you can’t polish a turd.
After the break Piper Niven confronts Candice LeRae backstage and says she should be going to WrestleMania 39. Michin intervenes, and Nivens warns them that if either of them get in her way when it comes to the Raw Women’s Champion, she will stop at nothing to take them out.
Tag Team Match
Alpha Academy vs. Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin
Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin starts this match off with a lock up then they go back & forth with submission holds before Gable delivers a German suplex. Otis tags in and delivers a splash. Benjamin tags in and delivers a series of forearms then looks for a running knee but Otis catches him and plants him with a powerslam. He delivers a splash then whips Benjamin into the corner.
Cedric Alexander & Gable tag in. Alexander delivers a dropkick to the back of Gable’s head, then follows it up with a Neutralizer. He sends him to the outside then looks to go flying but Gable catches him with an exploder. He gets him back in the ring then ascends to the top and delivers a diving headbutt.
He goes for a pin but Benjamin breaks the fall. Otis looks to level him, but Benjamin takes him down. Gable sends Benjamin to the outside then looks to go flying. Alexander moves out of the way and hits Lumbar Check for the win.
Winners: Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin
We head backstage to Cathy Kelley & The Miz are outside of Adam Pearce’s office. Kelley asks Miz for his reaction to his match with Rick Boogs last week, and Miz says he wants to be reimbursed for his suit. Boogs walks out of Adam Pearce’s office, and Miz asks how he got an appointment before he did. Boogs says he’s happy to be here, and Miz tells him he got lucky as Pearce comes out of his office. Miz says Pearce is a lazy official, and Pearce tells him how he really feels. He says if Miz wanted a match, he should’ve just asked and makes it official for next week. He looks to go back in his office but Chelsea Green catches him before he goes in. She tells him she’s going to the ring and he better find her an opponent.
Asuka vs. Chelsea Green
Chelsea Green delivers a dropkick to Asuka. She sends her head into the mat repeatedly as we see Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan, Carmella & Natalya watching at ringside. She plants Asuka with a flatliner facebuster combination then says she should be in the Raw Women’s Title #1 Contenders Elimination Chamber match. Nikki Cross out from under the ring and Green yells at her. She taunts all the women on the outside as Asuka sneaks up behind her and rains down right hands. She delivers a spinning heel kick then follows it up with a release German suplex and a kick to her head. Asuka locks in a modified armbar and Green taps out.
Winner By Submission: Asuka
After the match Raw Women’s Champion Bianca BelAir heads to the ring with a mic in hand. She tells everyone to take a good look at one another and asks them what they see. She says she sees 6 of the best women in WWE then asks who has what it takes to win. She says she was in their position last year and she knows what it takes to win then wishes all them good luck because she will be waiting for the winner at WrestleMania 39.
2023 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes says he used his time last week to talk about Roman Reigns ahead of their Undisputed WWE Universal Title match at WrestleMania 39. He says the path is a wee bit conky at the moment, as Reigns will be defending against Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber. He says it looks more and more like he will be facing Zayn at WrestleMania, and wishes both men the best of luck.
Paul Heyman then heads down to the ring and introduces himself. He says that Rhodes will one day find out given that he is at the top of the wrestling industry that the only week busier than the week leading into a major event is the week coming out of it. He congratulates Rhodes on winning the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble.
He says that despite the fact his father and brother had a nickname for him but he will call him Mr. Heyman out of respect. He says he wants to pull back the curtain for a moment, and tells a story about his family. He says that in the early 2000s, his family hit hard times and were broke.
He says Heyman called him up and offered him a chance in ECW. He says not only did Dusty Rhodes receive money, but he got his confidence back and he could never repay Heyman for that. He says from one disruptor to another, Heyman showed him the way and thanks him.
Heyman gets emotional and tells Rhodes he got him. He says if they’re going to peel back the curtain then they should go all the way. He says it’s not about Dusty Rhodes but about him. He says he has fought from the bottom all the way to the top and is now main eventing WrestleMania against Reigns. He says Rhodes has no one prepared him for the spotlight, then says the Performance Center is down the road.
He says that is the place where Dusty Rhodes prepared the biggest stars of this generation, including Reigns. He says Dusty never prepared him and says maybe he wanted him to make it on his own and step out of his shadow. He says he can’t convey how much he loved Dusty, but he knew Dusty loved him. He says in his last conversation with Dusty, Dusty told him that he was his favorite son but Reigns was the son he wanted.
Rhodes gets in Heyman’s face and says he’s just trying to win a wrestling championship. He says everyone wants to make it personal and now that Heyman has done that, he will pay for it when he takes the Undisputed WWE Universal Titles from Reigns.
United States Title Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Montez Ford vs. Elias
Match starts off with a lock up before Elias delivers a shoulder tackle but Montez Ford fires back with a dropkick. Elias sends Ford bouncing off the top rope then delivers a chop and a back body drop. They spill to the outside before Elias sends Ford into the barricade and the ring steps that sends us to a break.
After the break Elias ascends to the top. Ford meets him there but Elias pulls him off and gets him in an electric chair position before planting him. Ford then ascends to the top and delivers a horizontal crossbody followed by a pair of clotheslines and a back suplex.
Elias fires back with a pair of chops and several shoulders to Ford’s midsection but Elias delivers a right hand that sends him to the outside.
He goes flying over the ring post and levels Elias then tosses him back in the ring and delivers a From The Heavens for the win.
Winner & Gets Into The United States Title Elimination Chamber Match: Montez Ford
After the match Theory holds up his United States Title and stares down Ford but Seth Rollins blindsides him with an attack and delivers a Curb Stomp.
Steel Cage Match
Becky Lynch vs. Bayley
Bayley tries escaping the cage. Lynch pulls her down and they go back & forth with forearms. Lynch gains the upper hand and trips Bayley before Bayley tosses her into the side of the cage.
She delivers a series of stomps then looks to escape the cage once more. Lynch dropkicks the cage, causing Bayley to loose her grip. She tosses Bayley into the sides of the cage, then delivers a dropkick to Bayley and several stomps.
She pushes her face into the grates of the cage then whips her across the ring and looks to escape the cage. Bayley meets Lynch where she is on the top rope and pushes her off, then delivers an elbow drop and goes for a pin. Lynch kicks out that takes us to a break.
Back from the break, Lynch delivers a leaping shoulder tackle. She delivers a series of forearms and uppercuts then delivers a kick to her face. Bayley looks to escape but Lynch sends her leg bouncing off the side.
She pulls her off and sends Bayley crashing into the mat and looks for a Manhandle Slam but Bayley counters it into a belly 2 back suplex. Lynch looks for a leg drop but Bayley counters it into a knee bar. Lynch grabs the bottom rope to break the hold then looks to escape the cage. Bayley pulls her back in and is then sent into the middle turnbuckle face first.
Lynch climbs to the top rope, and Bayley meets her there before hitting a Bayley 2 Belly. She goes for a pin but Lynch kicks out. Bayley then looks to escape the cage and makes it to the top, but Lynch meets her up there.
They battle it out on the top with forearms, and Lynch sends Bayley crashing off the top. Iyo Sky climbs to the top of the cage and sends Lynch back in as Dakota Kai hands Bayley a crutch then she hits Lynch with it.
Lita’s music hits and she runs down. She pulls Sky off the cage then wrestles the crutch from Kai and hits Sky with it. She follows it up with the Twist Of Fate. Bayley looks to escape the cage but Lita hits her with the door. Lynch then delivers the Manhandle Slam for the win.
Winner: Becky Lynch
After the match Lita & Lynch embrace one another. Lita then holds Lynch’s hand up.
Next Week’s Raw
The Miz vs. Rick Boogs
6 Woman Tag Team Match
Team Raw (Asuka,Nikki Cross & Carmella) vs. Team Smackdown (Raquel Rodriguez,Liv Morgan & Natalya)
Elimination Chamber Card (Feb 18th)
United States Title Elimination Chamber Match
Austin Theory (c) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Bronson Reed vs. Damian Priest vs. Montez Ford
Raw Women’s Title #1 Contenders Elimination Chamber Match
Raquel Rodriguez vs. Asuka vs. Liv Morgan vs. Nikki Cross vs. Natalya vs. Carmella
Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Sami Zayn
Mixed Tag Team Match
Judgement Day vs. Edge & Beth Phoenix
Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley
