WWE Monday Night Raw Review – February 20, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Raw with a video recapping the events of the Undisputed WWE Universal Title match at Elimination Chamber.
Sami Zayn says he’s overwhelmed with emotion but the one feeling that’s more prominent than any other is gratitude. He thanks the crowd for their ovation but says he feels guilty for coming up short against Reigns in front of his family, friends and hometown. He says he’s realized that around his parts in Canada, the story is never over, but the final chapter is about to begin. He says there’s one person he needs to talk to tonight more than anyone, then calls Kevin Owens out to the ring.
Kevin Owens’ music hits and he heads to the ring. Zayn says there’s so much he wants to say to Owens, but now that he’s here, he doesn’t know what to say. He thanks Owens and apologizes to him, but says they are beyond the point of words. He says he doesn’t know if they can come back from what they’ve said to one another over the past few months, but he knows Owens wants to take down The Bloodline and he won’t stop until he does so. Zayn says his mission is to see The Bloodline crumble just like he does, but neither of them could do it on their own. He proposes that they join forces to complete their shared goal, and Owens says he doesn’t need Zayn’s apology. He says he didn’t help out Zayn at Elimination Chamber for him, but for his own family who was watching from the front row. He says his family had to watch The Bloodline attack him at Royal Rumble while Zayn did nothing, and says he’s been trying to take down The Bloodline for months. He says he meant it when he told Zayn he wanted nothing to do with him, and if he wants help, then he should ask Jey Uso. He then storms off and heads to the back.
Sami Zayn looks to head to the back, but Baron Corbin appears out of nowhere and blindsides him with an attack.
We are back from the break, Corbin is ragging on Sami Zayn as officials and Adam Pearce check on him. He brags about being the last person to beat Reigns and says Zayn embarrassed himself in front of Canada. Zayn wants to get his hands on Corbin, and Pearce tells him to go for it. Zayn runs into the ring and takes down Corbin then fires off right hands as a referee gets in the ring. Zayn clotheslines Corbin to the outside, then sends his head bouncing off the announce desk and tosses him into the ring post.
Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin
Sami Zayn & Baron Corbin get back in the ring and the bell sounds. Corbin rains down right hands on Zayn, then delivers a right hand to his spine. Zayn manages to deliver a forearm, then looks for an elbow off the middle rope. Corbin catches him and delivers a backbreaker that takes us to a break.
After the break Corbin has Zayn on his shoulder. Zayn escapes and delivers an elbow to Corbin’s ear, then hits an elbow off the middle rope and follows it up with a kick to his midsection and a Springboard DDT. he goes for a pin, but Corbin kicks out. Zayn then tosses Corbin to the outside and goes flying, leveling Corbin.
Zayn gets him in the ring and charges at him, but Corbin catches him with a lariat. He rains down right hands on Zayn’s back, then follows it up with Deep Six and goes for a pin. Zayn kicks out and Corbin delivers a splash to him in the corner. Corbin sets up to charge at Zayn again but Zayn catches him with the Helluva Kick for the win.
Winner: Sami Zayn
After the break Byron Saxton welcomes 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble Winner Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio. Saxton asks Ripley about her and Finn Balor’s loss to Edge & Beth Phoenix at Elimination Chamber and Ripley says she’s done with the two of them. She says her sights are currently on WrestleMania 39. Saxton pushes Ripley but Mysterio cuts him off and firmly tells him to stop. Saxton then asks Ripley about Charlotte Flair, and Ripley says Flair only wants to keep talking about her because she knows Ripley is the best. She says she doesn’t make the same mistake twice, and she will topple Flair’s kingdom. Saxton then asks Ripley what the WWE Universe can expect when she shows up on Smackdown on Friday, and Ripley says they will have to watch to find out. Mysterio says he will tag along since his father is set to have a match against Karrion Kross.
We then head backstage to Cathy Kelly is with the United States Champion Austin Theory. Kelley asks Theory how he feels heading into his United States Title defense against Edge. Theory says that while he’s banged up, he still won the Elimination Chamber Match. He vents his frustrations about John Cena being in headlines rather than he is then adds that he is confident he will retain his United States Title tonight.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Mustafa Ali
Mustafa Ali mockingly shakes Dolph Zigger’s hand. Ziggler takes him down, then delivers a pair of right hands and a back elbow. She follows it up with a splash in the corner and a neckbreaker, then sets up for Sweet Chin Music. Ali rolls out of the ring, then sends Ziggler’s head bouncing off the top rope. He mocks him, then hits a kick to his eyes. Ziggler fires back with a DDT and the Famouser, then goes for a pin but Ali reverses the momentum to pin Ziggler himself for the win.
Winner: Mustafa Ali
We head backstage to Cathy Kelley, The Miz & Maryse. Maryse says she got him an anniversary gift, but it’s too big to cross the border. She instead hands Miz an envelope, and Miz opens it, then asks her if this is real. Kelley asks Miz what the envelope has inside it, and Miz brushes her off. He says he will tell the WWE Universe what it is next week on MizTV.
2023 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes is about to ask Ottawa what they want to talk about, but before he can, Paul Heyman appears on the Titan Tron in a neck brace. He looks to introduce himself, but Rhodes cuts him off and asks where he is. Heyman says he’s in the arena, and Rhodes tells him to come to the ring. Heyman says he can’t due to the fact that he is injured following the Stunner delivered to him by Kevin Owens on Saturday, and says this is as close as he’s willing to be. He says man to man, Rhodes can’t beat Reigns. Heyman poses a hypothetical and says that if some miracle Rhodes does in fact defeat Reigns, he hasn’t thought about how it will affect his life. He says he will be on the road 200 days a year defending the Undisputed WWE Universal Title, spend 50 days doing charity, spend 30 days doing media, and have 20 days spent promoting Premium Live Events. He says all of that doesn’t include other meetings and media calls, and Heyman says even when his father was home, he wasn’t really home. Heyman asks if he’s willing to do that for his wife and his daughter, then says that while Reigns may be happily married, he isn’t and he will spend that spare time helping Rhodes find out why his WrestleMania dreams will become his own personal hell.
Rhodes then addresses Reigns. He says that while Reigns is great, he has seen this play before. He tells Reigns not to send Heyman his way again, then says he is without a doubt, he is the best Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. He says he has to finish the story, then says he will beat him at WrestleMania.
Asuka vs. Nikki Cross
Asuka looks for a kick to Cross’ head. Cross trips Asuka, then fires off right hands. Asuka delivers a series of kicks to Cross’ head through the middle rope, then hits a knee. Asuka looks for a kick, but Cross ducks it and Asuka collides with the ring post. Cross takes advantage and delivers a reverse DDT that takes us to a break.
After the break Asuka delivers a series of backfists Cross. She follows it up with a spinning back heel kick and 3 German suplexes, then goes for a pin but Cross kicks out. Cross rolls to the outside, and Asuka follows her out there, but Cross traps her in the ring skirt and beats her down.
She gets her back in the ring and ascends to the top, but Asuka meets her there and plants her with a DDT. She goes for a pin, but Cross kicks out. Asuka then delivers a series of kicks across Cross’ chest, then hits a kick to her head. Cross fires back with a Samoan Driver but Asuka locks in a shoulder & arm submission for the win.
Winner By Submission: Asuka
After the match Raw Women’s Champion Bianca BelAir gets in the ring and stares down Asuka.
We go backstage to Cathy Kelley is with Carmella. Kelley asks Carmella if she’s thought about her road to WrestleMania, and Carmella says she hasn’t thought of a new game plan yet. She says Asuka won’t get off the hook for beating her on Saturday in the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match. Kelley then runs into Seth Rollins and asks for his thoughts on everything that’s gone down between him and Logan Paul. Rollins says Paul thinks this is all a game, and Paul wants to call him a clown. He says the joke is on him because there is a certain side of him you don’t want bring out. He says he will find him and hunt him down.
Back from the break we head to a video from MVP. He calls Brock Lesnar a coward, then says he couldn’t escape The Hurt Lock, so he had to low blow him. He then says MVP will formally extend a challenge to face him at WrestleMania 39 next week in-person.
Seth Rollins vs. The Miz
Seth Rollins wastes no time. He delivers a back elbow then fires off right hands. The Miz rolls to the outside, and Rollins tosses him into the apron and the announce table. Rollins gets him back in the ring, then clotheslines him back to the outside and hits a baseball kick that sends Miz crashing over the announce desk. They get back in the ring, and Miz delivers a DDT that sends us to a break.
We are back from the break Rollins delivers a series of right hands to Miz’s head. Miz whips Rollins into the corner, then delivers a few kicks to his chest. Rollins fires back with a flying clothesline, then follows it up with a series of right hands and chops. He delivers a kick to Miz’s midsection, then delivers a clothesline and a kick to his head. Rollins sets up for the Curb Stomp but Miz moves out of the way. He then looks for the Pedigree, but Miz avoids it and hits a Codebreaker out of the corner.
Miz sets up for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Rollins avoids it. Miz then hits a running knee and goes for a pin, but Rollins kicks out. Miz hits the Yes Kicks, but Rollins catches one of them and hits a rolling elbow. He delivers several more elbow shots then delivers the Curb Stomp and gets fired up. He sets up for another one as the referee tries to get him to stop, but Rollins doesn’t listen. He delivers 2 more Curb Stomps and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner By Referee Stoppage: Seth Rollins
After the break Damage CTRL are waiting in the ring on the Ding Dong, Hello set. Bayley says that even though she didn’t earn her spot in the Raw Women’s Title #1 Contenders Elimination Chamber Match, she decided that she would spend the day with her family since it’s Family Day in Canada. She then asks Dakota Kai how it feels to be one half of the greatest Women’s Tag Team Champions of all time. Kai says her & Iyo Sky wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Bayley, then says they have dominated for 100 days and will continue dominating for another 100 more.
Becky Lynch’s music hits and she heads to the ring. Lynch expresses her disagreement with Kai’s comments, then says she wants to take the Women’s Tag Team Champions at WrestleMania. Damage CTRL laughs at her, and Lynch says she has a person in mind.
Lynch’s partner is Lita & She heads to the ring and high 5s Lynch before they head down to the ring. Bayley asks why Lita is here, then says Lynch must be desperate. She asks if she remembers the last time they encountered one another, and Lynch says she already apologized for that. Lita says Bayley brought up a good point about wanting a 5th title run, then says if she can’t win the Title from Lynch, then she likes the idea of teaming up with her. She then challenges Sky & Kai to a match, and Bayley says they aren’t even close to winning the match. Lynch says Lita & her are both accomplished, and says Damage CTRL claimed to be the greatest, so why not prove it unless their scared. Bayley says Kai & Sky aren’t scared and accepts the challenge on their behalf. Lita & Lynch take the Women’s Tag Team Titles off Kai & Sky’s waists and hold them up.
We head backstage to Byron Saxton & Candice LeRae. Saxton asks LeRae for an update on Johnny Gargano, but before she can answer, she spots an upset Nikki Cross following her loss earlier tonight. LeRae asks Cross why she’s been following her, and says she has a match to worry about next week. She says she can’t worry about that and Cross, then asks Cross why she’s been following her. Cross whispers something in her ear, then runs off. Saxton asks LeRae what Cross just said to her, and LeRae says she’s all alone and has no friends. She then answers Saxton’s initial question and says Gargano will be back soon.
Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed
Match starts off with a lock up. Bronson Reed delivers a shoulder tackle, then tosses Chad Gable to the outside and delivers a shoulder tackle off the apron. He stares down Otis, then tosses Gable back in the ring and sends him into the top turnbuckle face first. He ascends to the top and looks for the Tsunami but Gable counters it into an Ankle Lock. Gable escapes and delivers a shoulder tackle, then ascends to the top and delivers a diving headbutt. He goes for a pin, but Reed kicks out.
Maxxine Dupri appears at ringside to watch on as Gable delivers a German suplex to Reed. Dupri gives Maximum Male Models’ business card to Otis as Gable asks what she’s doing. Otis begins talking to Dupri, allowing Reed to deliver a powerslam and the Tsunami for the win.
Winner: Bronson Reed
After the break Elias is in the ring. He introduces himself and says he hopes Rick Boogs is in the back taking notes. He says this is the time that legends come out, and there is no bigger legend than him. He asks who wants to Walk With Elias at WrestleMania then says someone out there must want to face him.
Bobby Lashley’s music hits and he heads down. He delivers a chokeslam, then tosses Elias to the outside and sends him crashing into the ring post. He gets in back in the ring and delivers a Spear, then cinches in The Hurt Lock. Lashley then grabs a mic and says everyone has a plan until he cinches in The Hurt Lock. He says no one can escape the maneuver and says he is tired of being disrespected.
United States Title Match
Austin Theory (c) vs. Edge
Match starts off with a lock up. Edge trips Theory and pulls him out of the ring, then sends him crashing into the floor. He tosses him back in the ring, then delivers a side Russian leg sweep that takes us to a break.
Back from the break, Theory delivers a kick to Edge’s midsection. Edge slides to the outside and Theory follows him out there. Edge hits a back body drop and a flying elbow off the apron. They get back in the ring, and Theory rains down right hands.
He sends Edge face first into the turnbuckle then delivers a splash and a fallaway slam. He trips Edge and sends him into the middle turnbuckle face first, then follows it up with a dropkick that sends us to a another break.
Back from another break Theory fires off a series of right hands and sits Edge on the top turnbuckle. Theory joins him up there, but Edge sends him crashing down and delivers a splash to his back. He follows it up with a back elbow and a flapjack, then goes for a pin but Theory kicks out. Theory delivers a forearm to Edge’s back, then looks for a dropkick. Edge counters it into a powerbomb and goes for a pin but Theory kicks out.
Edge charges at Theory but Theory rolls out of the way and Edge collides with the middle turnbuckle. Edge then locks in a crossface, but Theory gets his boot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Theory rolls up Edge, but the referee catches him with his feet on the ropes. Theory sets up for A Town Down but Edge escapes and delivers the Edgecution. Finn Balor runs down to the ring and delivers a kick to Edge’s head, allowing Theory to hit A Town Down for the win.
Winner & Still United States Champion: Austin Theory (STILL CHAMPION!!!!!)
After the match Balor launches an attack on Edge. He delivers a series of stomps and follows it up with 3 Coups De Grace.
Next Week’s Raw
Carmella vs. Asuka
Candice LeRae vs. Piper Niven
Women’s Tag Team Titles Match
Damage CTRL (c) vs. Becky Lynch & Lita
