WWE Raw Review – February 26, 2024
Kicking off this week’s Raw with a recap of Elimination Chamber.
Dominik Mysterio demands that fans welcome Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and she makes her way down to the ring.
Ripley welcomes fans to Monday Night Mami then says she walked into her home country as Women’s World Champion and walked out the same. She says Nia Jax might’ve been the biggest threat to her title reign at Elimination Chamber but she’s still on top.
Becky Lynch’s music hits and she makes her way down to the ring. She says The Man has come around to San Jose and WrestleMania 40 to fight Ripley. She congratulates Ripley on retaining her Women’s World Title and says they both had a big night on Saturday. She says Ripley got to share a special moment with her family and friends and says they now don’t have to fly out to WrestleMania to watch her lose. Dominik says no one talks to Ripley that way and Lynch tells him to pipe down. She tells Mysterio she’ll put him in his place and tells Ripley she’s been on quite the run. She says while Mysterio has been feeding her grapes, she’s been the backbone of this company all while writing a book.
Ripley asks Lynch if she’s done then warns her against disrespecting Mysterio again and congratulates Lynch on winning the Women’s Elimination Chamber. She says it’s time Lynch stops disappointing her and get on her level and says the man always thinks that they’re the backbone of everything but in reality, the man is always behind one great woman. She reminds Lynch who’s on top and slides out of the ring along with Mysterio.
Nia Jax then attacks Lynch from behind and hits a leg drop to her then stares down Ripley and hits a 2nd leg drop to Lynch. She drags Lynch into the corner then ascends to the middle rope and looks to land A Nia Lator. Adam Pearce and other officials run down before she can do so, and Pearce demands that she get down unless she wants to receive a fine. Jax complies.
A video package recaps The Rock’s last appearance on Smackdown and touted his next appearance this Friday.
After the break we head backstage to Jackie Redmond is with Nia Jax & Redmond asks Jax why she attacked Lynch & Jax explains that it should be her going to WrestleMania instead of Lynch. She promises to do everything in her power to make sure Lynch doesn’t make it to The Showcase Of The Immortals.
Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Match starts off with a lock up then Sami Zayn hits an arm drag before Shinsuke Nakamura hits a knee to his midsection as Zayn slides out of the ring and Nakamura follows.
He looks to send Zayn crashing into the barricade but Zayn stops his own momentum and hits a moonsault off it as we go to a break.
After the break Nakamura drapes Zayn across the top turnbuckle and hits a knee to his midsection. Zayn responds with a clothesline then follows it up with a Michinoku Driver.
Nakamura fires off shoulders on Zayn’s midsection in the corner but Zayn responds with a tornado DDT that sends Nakamura crashing to the outside.
He looks to fly out of the ring but Nakamura catches him with a knee to his midsection inside and sends him crashing into the apron face first as we go to a 2nd break.
After the 2nd break Zayn connects with a Blue Thunder Bomb on Nakamura.
Nakamura hits a knee to Zayn’s head then connects with a 2nd one to the back of it off the middle rope.
They end up on the outside and Nakamura connects with a 3rd knee to the back of Zayn’s head off the ring steps. Nakamura slides in the ring and the referee begins a 10 count.
Zayn beats it and Nakamura pins him but Zayn gets his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold and a frustrated Nakamura fires off stomps on Zayn.
He sets up for Kinshasa but Zayn sends him colliding with the turnbuckles and hits Helluva Kick to the back of Nakamura’s head then connects with a 2nd one for the win.
Winner: Sami Zayn
Michael Cole & Pat McAfee sets up a video package on the Imperium & New Day feud.
Cole listed Post Malone, Jade Cargill, The Dudley Boyz, Nia Jax, Diamond Dallas Page & Pat McAfee as being added to WWE 2K24. A CM Punk video aired with him praising the fans for making it known they wanted him in the game and he said they would get it. McAfee said it was an honor to be in the game and said his guys would also be in the game.
Chelsea Green stood in the ring and said that after issuing a formal complaint with management, she was competing in protest. Green said she would have won the Last Chance Battle Royal and won the Elimination Chamber match had Adam Pearce not added Raquel Rodriguez. Green said she’s the star and people wanted her. She mocked Rodriguez flying all the way to Australia and losing. She worked in a jab at the San Jose Sharks. Green said she would prove that Rodriguez is a big loser. Rodriguez made her entrance.
Raquel Rodriguez vs. Chelsea Green
Chelsea Green draws a line warning not Raquel Rodriguez to cross but she does and Green slaps her.
She realizes her mistake and tries running away but Rodriguez prevents her from doing so and hits her with a clothesline.
She follows it up with a fallaway slam then a Texana Bomb for the win.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
Backstage Sami Zayn was interviewed by Jackie Redmond & Zayn said it was an understatement to say that he needed the win he got over Shinsuke Nakamura. Zayn said he doesn’t know what a loss would have done to him. Zayn said his win reaffirmed his belief that he is a contender and will be a champion. He said that if a path to WrestleMania doesn’t find him he will go out and find it.
Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci shows up causing Redmond to make her exit. Kaiser & Vinci both smirked at Zayn while walking past him. Intercontinental Champion Gunther follows and laughs in Zayn’s face before walking past him.
Somewhere else backstage Cody Rhodes was interviewed by Cathy Kelley & he recalls challenging The Rock to face him any time, any place. Rhodes also spoke about facing Grayson Waller. Rhodes recalls bringing Jey Uso to Raw the 1st time he was on Waller’s talk show then challenging Rock on his most recent appearance. Cody said he’s giving Waller his 1st Raw main event and added that he gets to find out.
Intercontinental Champion Gunther says he’s standing in the ring as still the greatest and longest reigning Intercontinental Champion following his successful defense against Jey Uso last week. He says Jey almost had him beat and he felt his title slip away from him for the 1st time throughout his reign. He says he got lucky, and while no one is perfect, he’s close to it. He then says before Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser beat New Day in their Street Fight, he needs to address his future.
Gunther says he’s put his heart, soul and body into making the Intercontinental Title prestigious. He says he’s beaten everyone and questions who he will defend his title against at WrestleMania. He says he reads and listens to what fans think should happen and who he should face from Sami Zayn to Chad Gable to The Miz to R Truth.
Judgment Day’s music hits and they all make their way down to the ring. Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Mr Money In The Bank Damian Priest tells Gunther that while he’s been a dominant champion, he’s 2nd to Judgment Day’s championship reign. He says Elimination Chamber was just a preview of WrestleMania, and says they plan on bringing home more gold to the group. He says that includes Gunther’s title. Gunther asks which Judgment Day will challenge him at WrestleMania since Priest isn’t cashing in his Money In The Bank briefcase and Dominik Mysterio steps up. He says when he and the rest of Judgment Day say they’ll do something, they mean it. He says that means the Intercontinental Title belongs to them and Gunther shoves Mysterio. Priest looks to attack Gunther but the rest of Judgment Day holds him back.
Judgement Day walks backstage as Priest told the others that he was calmed down. Rhea Ripley shows up and questioned Mysterio confronting Gunther. Mami, I got this Mysterio said. Ripley said he better then walks away.
Mysterio left the group and approached Andrade & told him it was good to see him again. Mysterio said maybe he would see him around. Andrade said he was going to meet with Adam Pearce to discuss his next opponent. Andrade told Mysterio he would see him soon. Mysterio said maybe and walks away.
Tag Team Street Fight
New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. Imperium (Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser)
New Day & Imperium begin brawling on the ramp as Giovanni Vinci tosses Xavier Woods into the Titan Tron and Kaiser fires off right hands on Kingston’s head.
Vinci joins him but Woods emerges from backstage with the trombone in hand.
He hits Kaiser with it as Kingston and Vinci brawl back down to the ringside area.
Woods and Kaiser do the same and Kingston grabs a table from under the ring.
He looks to set it up with Woods but Imperium attack them from behind before they can.
Vinci dumps New Day back into the ring but New Day clock them on the apron and hits a dropkick through the ropes as we go to a break.
After the break New Day & Imperium are brawling in the crowd before both teams end up back in the ringside area, and Woods hits a chop to Vinci.
Kaiser lands an elbow on Kingston and Vinci sends Woods crashing into the ring apron spine first.
Kaiser then grabs a table from under the ring but puts it back when he hears fans cheer and instead opts to grab a chair. He hits Woods’ midsection with it then cracks it across his spine.
Kingston hits an enzuigiri to Kaiser and ascends to the top rope & hits a crossbody to both Kaiser & Vinci then lands a side Russian leg sweep on Vinci and bodyslams Kaiser on top of him.
He connects with Boom Drop on Vinci and grabs the table on the outside then sets it up.
He looks to suplex Kaiser through it from the apron but Vinci comes to Kaiser’s aid and they suplex Kingston back into the ring.
Kaiser then hits Woods with a pair of kendo sticks then hands one over to Vinci then they unload on Woods & Kaiser charges at him.
Kingston catches Kaiser with a jumping knee but Vinci levels him and hits a crossbody to Woods back in the ring.
He then cracks the kendo stick across his spine and Kaiser then cracks a chair across it as we go to a 2nd break.
After the 2nd break Kingston throws one of the desk chairs at Kaiser and sends Vinci crashing into the ring steps.
He gets Kaiser back in the ring and picks up one of the kendo sticks as Woods grabs the other.
They then take turns hitting Kaiser with them and Kingston grabs a table from under the ring.
New Day set it up and Kingston holds Vinci on top of it as Woods flies off the top rope to send him crashing through it.
Kingston gets Vinci in a backbreaker position and Woods hits a double stomp off the ropes.
He goes for a pin but Kaiser pulls the referee out of the ring.
Kingston hits a tope suicida to take him out and gets him back inside.
Woods then gets Kaiser on one shoulder as Kingston ascends to the top rope but Vinci sends him crashing through a table set up on the outside.
He hits Woods with a chair and Kaiser then sends him crashing into a 2nd one set up in the corner before rolling him up while grabbing onto his jeans for the win.
Winners: Imperium
A Grayson Waller video aired.
Adam Pearce was on the phone with Bronson Reed and said he would take something under consideration. Pearce ends the call when Chad Gable enters the room. Gable said Gunther is looking for a challenger for WrestleMania. Gable said he’s haunted by Gunther reducing his daughter to tears then laughed at her misery before referring to him as a terrible father. Gable said this means more to him than the other potential challengers. Pearce said he would take it under consideration.
Footage aired from earlier in the day of Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark complaining about Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae getting a Women’s Tag Team Titles match at Elimination Chamber just because Hartwell is from Australia.
Tag Team Match
Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark vs. Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae
Candice LeRae hits an enzuigiri to Shayna Baszler then follows it up with a senton and a hip attack in the corner then flies off the apron to level Zoey Stark on the outside.
She then hits a knee to the side of Baszler’s head as she’s draped through the middle rope but Baszler responds with a knee of her own back in the ring and tags in Stark.
Stark whips LeRae into the corner then hits a half nelson suplex.
Hartwell tags in and hits a boot to the side of Stark’s head.
She hits a pair of clotheslines and a right hand then follows it up with a spinebuster.
Unbeknownst to her Baszler has made the blind tag & locks in Kirifuda Clutch on Hartwell & Hartwell taps out.
Winners By Submission: Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark
R Truth was shown sitting inside the Judgment Day clubhouse before DIY & The Miz joins him inside the room and wondered what he was doing there. Truth said Judgment Day was gone for the night and he was thinking about the good old days. Ciampa said he had a plan and then asked Truth Are you ready? Truth took his small television out of the clubhouse.
Drew McIntyre thanks fans for their support and prayers and says it’s because of them he can say that he’s facing Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 40. He says he’s not feeling his best and says he suffered a blown eardrum in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match. He says he was told by doctors that he not make WrestleMania but he told them that there’s no way he’s missing the event and says he’s not like CM Punk. He takes a seat down in the ring a la Punk and says he thought about him after the match. He says he wanted to do something special for him and drank twice as much for the both of them on his way back home from Australia then calls Rollins out to the ring.
Rollins’ music hits and he makes his way down. He welcomes fans to Monday Night Rollins and says McIntyre finally has his opportunity to become a World Champion in front of a capacity crowd at WrestleMania. He says the only thing standing in McIntyre’s way is him and McIntyre tells Rollins to stop what he’s doing with Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns & The Rock. He says he wants Rollins at 100%, and questions why he’s going to fight battles on Smackdown when they need him on Raw. He says his responsibility would be Raw and the World Heavyweight Title if he were the World Heavyweight Champion and warns him about The Bloodline. He says they’ll cost him his title at WrestleMania and tells him to back off.
Rollins says he respects everything McIntyre just said but some risks are worth taking. McIntyre shakes his head and Rollins says McIntyre has known him for a long time. He says McIntyre knows that he’s thought about everything he just said, and has thought about every single outcome. He says while McIntyre might be right, and while his injuries or The Bloodline could get in his way of retaining the World Heavyweight Title McIntyre could be wrong. He says having his daughter made him realize that not everything is about him. He says some things including the World Heavyweight Title and taking down The Bloodline are bigger than everyone. He says The Bloodline want power and it’s only a matter of time before they come for the title he currently holds.
Rollins questions what happens if his injuries are healed before WrestleMania and they manage to put an end to The Bloodline, and says if they can do all that then it’s just him, McIntyre and the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania. He tells McIntyre the best man will win and reiterates that some risks are worth taking.
Footage aired of Nia Jax attacking the women’s Elimination Chamber match entrants last week.
Liv Morgan vs. Nia Jax
Liv Morgan dropkicks Nia Jax into the corner then fires off right and left hands on her then hits a step up knee and looks to land a hurricanrana.
Jax catches her and gets her up on her shoulders then delivers a Samoan Drop.
She follows it up with a splash in the corner and a hip attack then sends Morgan’s face colliding with the middle turnbuckle and looks to land a leg drop on the apron.
Morgan moves out of the way and delivers a tope suicida as we go to a break.
After the break Jax runs over Morgan and looks to land a senton but Morgan rolls out of the way and hits a codebreaker off the middle rope then goes for a pin.
Jax kicks out and lands a headbutt on Morgan but Morgan sends her crashing into the ring post shoulder first and colliding with the ring post on the outside.
Becky Lynch then appears on the barricade and flies to hit Jax with a forearm causing the disqualification.
Winner By DQ: Nia Jax
After the match Lynch sends Jax repeatedly crashing into the announce table and continues to beat her down but Jax escapes and the referee holds her back.
Backstage Cathy Kelly is with A Town Down Under & she asked Grayson Waller if having Cody Rhodes on his show backfired. Waller said Rhodes disrespected him in his home and attacked Austin Theory. Waller said he did everything he could to protect Theory who was skeptical
Michael Cole & Pat McAfee then send their condolences to the family of Ole Anderson on behalf of WWE following the news of his death earlier today.
After the break we see Becky Lynch demand a match against Nia Jax from Adam Pearce. Pearce agrees to make it official for next week. Liv Morgan then appears and yells at Lynch for interfering in her match and tells her that not everything is about her.
We then head over to Jey Uso chatting with Jackie Redmond before Drew McIntyre enters and tells Jey he relates to what he’s going through. He tells Jey he deserves it and they begin brawling. Officials run in to separate them.
2024 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes vs. Grayson Waller
Match starts off with a lock up before Grayson Waller whips Cody Rhodes into the corner and hits a pair of knees to his head.
Rhodes responds with a open palm strike and a delayed vertical suplex.
Rhodes then sends Waller crashing out of the ring as Michael Cole announces that Paul Heyman is backstage as we go to a break.
After the break Rhodes hits a chop to Waller before Waller responds with a boot to Rhodes’ midsection then hits a scoop powerslam and follows it up with a Disaster Kick.
Austin Theory distracts Rhodes & Waller takes advantage by landing a right hand.
Rhodes then sends Theory crashing over the announce table with a tope suicida and Waller hits him from behind.
Rhodes hits Cody Cutter to Waller once they get back in the ring and follows it up with Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner: 2024 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes
After the match Paul Heyman appears on the ramp with 3 individuals in black suits as Rhodes grabs a chair. Heyman introduces himself but Rhodes interrupts him and says he doesn’t care. He tells The Bloodline to come and get him if it’s a set up and Heyman insists it’s not a set up. He says he’s the only member of The Bloodline in the SAP Center. He formally says the three men behind him are suspended NYPD officers and tells Rhodes to keep The Rock’s name out of his mouth. He pleads with Rhodes to withdraw his challenge for a match against The Rock.
Rhodes says he hasn’t spoken about The Rock on the microphone or trashed him in the media because he was a fan. He says no one sold more tickets than him and he’s done being nice. He reiterates to The Bloodline to come and get him if it’s a set up and Heyman asks him if he can get in the ring. Rhodes tells him he can’t, and the officers get inside. He says if one more person takes one step closer to him, he’ll drop everyone inside the ring.
Heyman asks if that applies to him and Rhodes says he’s wrong. He then goes after the officers and hits them with a chair landing a Cross Rhodes on one of them. Heyman then calls Reigns and The Rocks phones. Rhodes tells him to call them because The Bloodline isn’t hunting him because he’s hunting them. Rhodes then tosses 2 of the officers out of the ring and stands tall to close out this week’s Raw.
Next Week’s Raw
Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax
Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre
WrestleMania 40 Card So Far (April 6th & 7th)
Women’s Title Match
Iyo Sky (c) vs. 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Winner Bayley
Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match
Roman Reigns (c) vs. 2024 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes
World Heavyweight Title Match
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
Women’s World Title Match
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch
