Tag: dominik mysterio

Date: February 16, 2026
Location: FedExForum in Memphis, TN 

The Big Takeaway —

A dull Raw show saw Asuka and Je’Von Evans win qualifying matches as they tread water towards Elimination Chamber. 

Next week’s show in Atlanta will feature a tribute to AJ Styles. 

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Show Recap — 

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)

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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.) 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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) 

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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.