Tag: wwe results

WWE SmackDown live results: Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes undisputed title match

Posted on by Marc Quill

On tonight’s WWE SmackDown, Cody Rhodes finally gets his shot at Drew McIntyre and the undisputed WWE Championship, two months after he lost the title in the Three Stages of Hell match.

SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis put this into motion after McIntyre once again got involved in Rhodes’ business inside last weekend’s men’s Elimination Chamber match. McIntyre’s interference allowed Randy Orton to pin Rhodes to earn a shot at the undisputed WWE Title at WrestleMania 42. The winner of tonight’s title match will face Orton in Las Vegas.

After Rhea Ripley won the women’s Elimination Chamber, she will challenge Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s title at WrestleMania 42. After a notable war of words on social media, Ripley will appear on tonight’s show.

WWE United States Champion Carmelo Hayes will host another open challenge in hopes of yet another successful title defense.

Our live coverage begins at 8 pm Eastern.

********************

– Our night kicked off with a recap of everything that went down in Chicago last Saturday at Elimination Chamber, from Rhea Ripley’s victory, to Danhausen’s debut, Randy Orton’s victory, and finally Nick Aldis’s decision to put Drew McIntyre in a big title match tonight.

– After the recap, the voice of Joe Tessitore set the stage for tonight’s show, which will be main evented by Rhodes vs. McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Randy Orton opens SmackDown

The winner of the men’s Elimination Chamber match, and the man who will face either McIntyre or Rhodes at WrestleMania 42 made his way to the ring to a huge ovation from the Portland crowd. Once Orton was done taking in the cheers of the crowd, he took a mic.

Orton welcomed the Portland crowd to the show before he talked about how he got to the venue early in the morning and he saw that the WrestleMania sign was already up in the arena. Orton said that he started thinking about each individual WrestleMania he had performed in — about twenty of them. He said that he realized that he only main evented two of those Mania shows. It doesn’t matter how many records set or titles won, as there was no guarantee anyone was going to WrestleMania, let alone main event one. But now, here we are and Orton can officially say that he’s going back to the main event of WrestleMania.

Orton said that he’s not the kind of guy who stands in the ring and tells everyone he’s the best. He does let his peers do the talking and they say that he’s the best. Orton called out The Undertaker, Ric Flair, JBL as individuals who put him over, as he then turned his attention to the locker room filled of the amazing talent that he shared it with. He said he’s proud that he’s still in the spot that he’s in to this day. Orton tallked about how he earned his spot, nobody handed it to him.

As for who Orton will face at WrestleMania, he said that we’ll know in a couple of hours. If it’s either Cody Rhodes or Drew McIntyre, Orton said that he wouldn’t be leaving Vegas without the Undisputed WWE Championship around his waist. Orton said that he planned on accomplishing that in one way, with the most dangerous letters in sports entertainment.

However, before Orton could finish that statement, he was interrupted by the music of Trick Williams. The man himself emerged from the back amidst the loud “WHOOP THAT TRICK!” chants before he spoke. Williams introduced himself as the “sexiest and most entertaining superstar alive”, as he talked about the voices in his head, which told him that he had a bone to pick with Orton. Williams said that we all know he should be in the main event of WrestleMania getting that title shot. However, there was a bigger problem than that. Williams said that on Saturday, Orton came to his Chamber pod and said he wasn’t 6’5″. As Williams entered the ring to talk smack to Orton, he got hit with an RKO out of nowhere.

Standard opening segment with Orton outlining his Mania plans, and Williams managing to be entertaining as ever, even if he was just there to eat an RKO. I imagine things will shift towards something for the WrestleMania title match once we get our winner in the McIntyre/Rhodes main event.

********************

– Earlier today, Carmelo Hayes met with Nick Aldis in his office. Aldis said that the U.S. Title Open Challenge has been catching the eyes of everyone across the world, including one person in particular. Hayes said that he’d see this person out in the ring, setting the stage for our opener.

U.S. Title Open Challenge: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr.

The AAA Latin American Champion was revealed to be Hayes’ opponent for this Open Challenge. A short primer on Dr. Wagner Jr. was shown prior to this match.

Wagner immediately hit Hayes with a shotgun dropkick, followed by a cannonball into the corner. As Hayes went on the apron, Wagner hit him with a kick, as he then leapt at him to take the U.S. Champion down at ringside. Back in the ring, Hayes was still on the backfoot as Wagner hit a missile dropkick from the top rope for an early pin attempt.

Hayes recovered with a rolling dodge over Wagner, followed by a dropkick of his own. As Hayes tried to go for a suplex, Wagner used his size to block it, but got rolled up for a pin attempt for a count of two. Hayes targeted Wagner’s leg as he then hit his backward springboard leg drop on the challenger, which took us to commercial.

When we returned from commercial, Wagner had just hit a superplex on Hayes for a near-fall. As both men recovered to their feet, they exchanged strikes and chops. Hayes hit an enzuigiri on Wagner, who immediately responded with a hard clothesline. One, two… NO! Wagner Jr. remained on the offensive, but Hayes stopped that with his trademark springboard clothesline. Hayes kipped up and chopped at Wagner’s chest, followed by La Mistica (referred to by Tessitore as a “Dirty Diana”).

Wagner countered Hayes’ First 48 attempt with a deadlift powerbomb for a close near-fall. Wagner exposed his right arm, as he hit a discus elbow strike. Hayes escaped a Wagner Driver attempt, as he then intercepted a middle turnbuckle dive with a First 48, One, two… 2.99999999!!!!!! Hayes headed to the top and missed with Nothin’ But Net. Wagner got ahead of this and put Hayes on his shoulders before he hit yet another powerbomb. Again, Hayes refused to lose.

Hayes dodged a Wagner piledriver and made no mistake with Nothin’ But Net this time for the pin and win in this Open Challenge match.

After the match, Hayes and Wagner showed respect to one another for a heck of a match.

Carmelo Hayes def. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. via pinfall to retain the U.S. Championship

Probably not one of the stronger Open Challenge matches, but still a solid little match to kick off SmackDown’s in-ring action. Wagner Jr. had a good showing in this one and kept up well with Hayes in this contest. I enjoyed it.

********************

– Ilja Dragunov was interviewed about his refusal to answer Carmelo Hayes’ offer to face him for the U.S. Title. He said that he learned this warrior mindset from his mother, stating that he was fighting like how she would. The Miz interrupted to talk some trash to Dragunov, before Kit Wilson showed up to call him “toxic”. Dragunov said that maybe fighting was the answer to get it all out of his system as he left.

– Balloons were being set up around the ring for The Irresistable Forces’ WWE Women’s Tag Title celebration which was coming up next.

– Damian Priest was talking with Nick Aldis about a match he had tonight, as R-Truth joined in on the conversation. Aldis decided to put Truth and Priest as a team for Tag Team Turmoil later tonight as the two left. Drew McIntyre confronted Aldis, and stated that he had time to calm down after Elimination Chamber. McIntyre said that Cody Rhodes didn’t earn tonight’s title shot, but Aldis saw it differently. Aldis said that McIntyre went back on his word and told him it was put up or shut up time. Put the title on the line or forfeit it. McIntyre concluded that the only way taht Rhodes would get the Undisputed WWE Title was from his cold, dead hands.

The Irresistable Forces’ Championship Celebration

Nia Jax and Lash Legend, our new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, made their way down to the ring, which was suitably decorated for their big celebration. As Jax and Legend entered the ring, the two told the Portland crowd to soak it all in, as they were getting a good look at two six-foot-two thoroughbred stallions. Jax said that with the Women’s Tag Titles, they had the entire women’s tag division on lock as the two most dominant women in WWE.

Jax said that any and all challengers were welcome, but it wouldn’t make any difference. Legend added that if anyone was brave enough to challenge them, that if they ran up, they’d get done up. Legend declared that the Irresistable Forces were here and they were not going anywhere. Legend talked about how it was fitting to have a toast to the most grand and dominant WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Jax and Legend toasted as pyro went off on the stage. They were interrupted by the music of Charlotte Flair, who was accompanied by partner Alexa Bliss.

With mics of their own in hand, Bliss said that she was really happy for Nia Jax that she finally found a coattail to ride off her back. She pointed out how they only lost the Women’s Tag Titles to the Kabuki Warriors due to Jax and Legend’s cheating ways. Flair said the two were looking at the next challengers for the Women’s Tag Titles. That was when Giulia and Kiana James made their way.

James pointed out how she won the in a match against Lash Legend and Charlotte Flair, and how she pinned Bliss in the Elimination Chamber. James talked about how she and Giulia would get themselves to WrestleMania one way or another. With the two teams in the ring talking trash to one another, NIck Aldis interjected and said that Portland deserved a little action, as we’d get Giulia and James vs. Bliss and Charlotte, and we’d have that match right now… or at least after this commercial break.

Pretty much a standard segment to set up challengers for the Womens’ Tag Titles. Not really much else to point out here. I will say that Jax and Legend are pretty entertaining now at the moment.

Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia & Kiana James

This match was joined in progress after the break as Bliss and Giulia were fighting it out in the ring. Bliss tagged in Flair as the two did an unconventional double team move with Bliss being lifted by Flair to kick Giulia to her corner. James tagged in and seemed to hold her own against James and Giulia. On the apron, Flair barreled into both of them with a senton to the two of them. James recovered and threw Flair into the ringpost to regain momentum for her team.

James punched at Flair before she dropped an elbow right across the chest. Giulia re-entered the match and hit a jumping dropkick to the back of a seated Flair for a two-count. James once again joined the match and drove her shoulders to Flair’s midsection in the corner. As James went for a standing moonsault, Flair used her knees to block it as both women were down in out in the middle of the ring. Bliss and Giulia entered the match for their teams after tag as the latter showed a furious offense against the former. Giulia tried to recover, but Bliss countered it with a basement dropkick after an attempted roll-up.

Bliss kicked Giulia to the outside and leapt from the apron. James caught Bliss and dropped her across the apron as Giulia then hit her with a big boot, which took us to a break.

Once we returned from commercial, Bliss fought hard as she tagged in Flair for the hot tag. Flair took Giulia and James out with a double cross body before lighting the two up with chops. She had things in full control with a fallaway slam on Giulia after catching her. Flair went to the top rope and hit the moonsault on both Giulia and James, the latter of whom managed to kick out at two. James hit Flair with a boot as Giulia blind tagged herself in. Back suplex by Giulia on Flair kept the advantage for her team, but she couldn’t get the three. Giulia willed herself back up and grabbed at Flair’s hair to try for a slam. Flair countered that into a German suplex as Bliss hit James with a DDT. Flair connected with Natural Selection on Giulia for the victory.

Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss def. Giulia and Kiana James via pinfall

A fun sprint in this tag match. I enjoy all four competitors in this match and it was a treat seeing these teams.

********************

– We got remarks from Jelly Roll, who congratulated Randy Orton on his Elimination Chamber win as he teased showing up next week.

– Cody Rhodes was interviewed as he got a mixed reaction from the crowd. Rhodes said that one obstacle after another, the one that remained constant was Drew McIntyre. Sami Zayn interrupted things as Rhodes seemed annoyed. Zayn said that he let Rhodes beating him go to qualify for the Elimination Chamber, as he talked about how Rhodes lost at Elimination Chamber, but he still got a chance.

Rhodes saw it differently and thought Zayn was trying to politic his way to a WWE Title match, even though he hadn’t won a damn thing just yet. Zayn backed off again and said that he was actually out here to wish Rhodes luck for his title match later. “Go become WWE Champion, again” Zayn said sarcastically as Rhodes walked off. Zayn once again flipped out afterwards.

– Trick Williams appeared on The Breakfast Club to talk about his recent successes.

Tag Team Turmoil (Winners Become No. 1 Contenders for WWE Tag Team Championships): Motor City Machine Guns vs. Fraxiom vs. The Wyatt Sicks vs. Damian Priest & R-Truth vs. Los Garza

Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley entered first for this match, as they got set to face Fraxiom.

Shelley and Nathan Frazer squared off to start with a bit of chain wrestling. Shelley chopped at Frazer’s chest, but got hit with a jumping kick. Frazer went flying with a forearm strike on Shelley as Axiom entered with a tag. Some fast back and forth action between Sabin and Axiom saw the masked man gain the upper hand with a snap dragon suplex. Frazer and Shelley entered the match as things quickened with Fraxiom showing some nice chemistry against the MCMGs. Frazer and Axiom shelled Shelley and Sabin with repeated suicide dives as we took a break here.

We returned from commercial as Axiom avoided the Machine Guns’ offense to tag in Frazer, who leapt at Sabin and Shelley with springboard double dropkick, followed by a dive through the ropes. Showing great agility, Frazer had the match in hand until a blind tag allowed the Machine Guns’ to respond with their tandem offense. Skull and Bones attempt was stopped by Axiom, as he then tagged in and hit a dropkick on Sabin before he got a pinfall. Shelley put Sabin’s foot on the rope, but that eliminated the Machine Guns from Tag Team Turmoil.

Motor City Machine Guns have been eliminated

Los Garza stormed into the ring and went right on the offensive against Frazier with a double team assaut. Angel hit a a knee to the face of Frazer, who kicked out at two. Frazer recovered and hit a superplex on Angel, as Axiom then hit a kick on him as well. Berto broke up the pinfall as he attacked Axiom. Angel found himself stunned in the corner, while Berto pushed Frazer from the other corner. This left Fraxiom alone to fall victim to the MTY and the pin.

Fraxiom has been eliminated

The Wyatt Sicks were the next to enter the Tag Team Turmoil fray, with Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis representing the team as usual. The Wyatts’ stinger took us into commercial on the USA Network, while the action kept going on the Netflix feed.

Once the match returned from commercial, Lumis was sent barrelling out of the ring after Angel pulled down the middle rope. Berto tagged in and hit Lumis with a dropkick, but couldn’t get the pin. Berto then had Lumis in a single-leg crab submission, but he couldn’t keep the hold. Gacy was knocked out of the apron as Los Garza kept Lumis isolated with a Doomsday Device. As Angel made the pin, Gacy stepped in to break the count. Lumis kicked Angel away, which gave him an opening to tag Gacy in.

Gacy hit Angel with a pump kick as he then powered into a back suplex on Berto. Lumis tagged in and as Tonga Loa pulled out Gacy, followed by Tama Tonga causing a distraction. This led to Berto rolling up Lumis for the shock pin thanks to the M.F.T.s’ involvement.

The Wyatt Sicks have been eliminated

Damian Priest and R-Truth entered the ring as the final competitors of Tag Team Turmoil while Gacy and Lumis brawled with the M.F.T.s up the ramp. We got another break in the action following this.

As we returned from commercial, Priest was on fire and taking it to both Angel and Berto quite easily. Berto rolled out of the ring just as Priest was going to hit his rolling elbow. Outside the ring, Priest sent Angel flying over the announce table, as Berto took advantage with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Berto countered South of Heaven and hit a springboard enzuigiri. Berto headed up top and hit an amazing moonsault for the near-fall. Truth entered the match and then went into John Cena’s Five Moves of Doom against Berto. Five-Knuckle Shuffle hit its mark, as he then locked in the STF after an unsuccessful AA attempt. Angel broke up the submission, as Priest blind tagged into the match. All four men were in the ring as Priest hit South of Heaven while Truth hit the AA for the victory.

R-Truth & Damian Priest def. Los Garza, Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, & The Wyatt Sicks to win Tag Team Turmoil

This was a decent match for the most part, but the fact that a lot of it was interrupted by commercials and a thrown-together tag team got the win in this match really does put a damper on things, I’m sorry to say. The SmackDown tag division is already facing an uphill battle in terms of getting TV time, so them essentially playing second fiddle to this Priest and Truth odd couple just won’t cut it.

********************

– Randy Orton was confronted by Sami Zayn, who again was apoplectic about how Orton took advantage of Cody Rhodes getting distracted at Elimination Chamber, wondering how he did it. Orton said that sometimes, you had to be selfish, as it made me a 14-time world champion. Orton told Zayn that he believed in his ability of becoming a world champion, stating that he maybe needed to listen the voices in his head.

As Orton left, Aleister Black told Zayn to not worry about it, as it was just the “nature of the beast.”

Rhea Ripley & Jade Cargill face off

The winner of the women’s Elimination Chamber match walked to the ring as the crowd cheered loudly for Rhea Ripley.

Ripley said she was going to come to SmackDown, and here she was. She then told Jade Cargill to come face her at this moment, since she clearly had a lot to say. This prompted the WWE Women’s Champion to make her way down to the ring, as confident as ever.

Once Cargill got into the ring, she sized up Ripley before offering a handshake. Ripley reluctantly accepted as Cargill said that she gave the handshake because she respected Ripley. Cargill respected all of Ripley’s accomplishments and how the people loved her. She respected how Ripley how hard she worked to earn the opportunities… but Cargill was not impressed. Cargill then boasted about her physical beauty as being more powerful than Ripley’s own physique. Cargill declared that she was going to beat the hell out of Ripley at WrestleMania and that there was nothing she could do about it, because she was “that bitch”.

Ripley responded with another handshake as she then had her turn on the mic. Ripley said that she respected the honesty Cargill was showing and what she really thinks about her. Ripley told Cargill that she respected her physically. Ripley said that even if Cargill gave her best shot at her, she would not stay down. But, if Ripley delivered a shot of her own, there was no way Cargill would get back up. Ripley declared that Cargill’s body was built for show, while her own body was built for fighting. When that bell rings, Cargill could flex all she wants, but Ripley was going to fight and take the WWE Women’s Title from her with force, and there was nothing Cargill could do about it. Ripley then threw Cargill’s own catchphrase back at her before doing a mic drop.

Well, if you were wondering if they were going to lean in on Cargill’s apparent shoot comments about Ripley that got the SmackDown women’s locker room all upset, they didn’t seem to go that route. Meanwhile the route they chose instead was a bit baffling, and it led to kind of a disappointing promo segment between Cargill and Ripley as a result. Not really a promising start to the build for their WrestleMania 42 showdown. Hopefully they can get it together as the feud progresses.

********************

– Backstage, Johnny Gargano was still lying down on a crate, as Alex Shelley was showing sympathy to his plight. Chris Sabin seemed upset at Shelley showing more care for Gargano’s situation as the two argued. When the Motor City Machine Guns left, Candice LeRae wanted for Gargano to show that old “Johnny Wrestling” fire, which seemed to get through to Gargano.

– We got a video from the Wyatt Sicks that once again addressed the M.F.T.s. Uncle Howdy said that Solo Sikoa would have no choice but to run when all was said and done.

– Inside the ring, Gargano said that he was one of the best professional wrestlers in the world, and that he needed to be Johnny Wrestling once again, and it starts tonight. He issued an open challenge for anyone to face him right here, right now. On cue, Oba Femi made his way down to the ring.

Oba Femi vs. Johnny Gargano

Gargano went after Femi right away as he tried to go for a strike. A chop from Femi sent Gargano for a loop as he then unleashed his barrage of running forearms to the corner. Femi then tossed Gargano across the ring before he put an end to him with a Fall From Grace and the three. That’s all she wrote.

Oba Femi def. Johnny Gargano via pinfall

I dunno how to feel about Gargano, who used to feel like a big deal in his NXT days, being used as essentially enhancement talent, but I will say I do enjoy Oba Femi hitting his high-octane offense like he did here. Letting Oba be Oba is doing him a world of wonders, and it’s getting him over quite well with the fans.

********************

– Jade Cargill was once again confronted by Michin and B-Fab. We found out that Cargill would defend her WWE Women’s Title against Michin next week.

– Nick Aldis was walking backstage and met by Danhausen, who had a list of demands, which included giving him a mentor. As Aldis walked forward, Danhausen was seen stalking behind him while The Miz was talking on his phone. Aldis said that Miz was in need of someone to mentor, and he found that someone in the form of Danhausen. Miz didn’t want to listen, as Danhausen warned that if he didn’t listen to his demands, he would be cursed. “Remember what happened to Dom on Monday,” threatened Danhausen before he left Miz alone.

Next Week on SmackDown

  • WWE Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Michin
  • We’ll Hear from Jelly Roll
  • WrestleMania Contract Signing: Randy Orton and Winner of Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes

Undisputed WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Cody Rhodes

This match got underway with McIntyre trying to make a quick exit, but Rhodes ran after him and threw him into the video board. McIntyre was pummeled by Rhodes outside the ring, as he then was thrown over the crowd barricade at ringside. Rhodes took a cup of water from a fan and hit McIntyre across the face with it. As the action got back into the ring, McIntyre got the momentary advantage before he got hit with the drop-down uppercut from Rhodes, followed by a Disaster Kick.

In the corner, Rhodes teed off on McIntyre with bunches of punches. McIntyre found a way to gain momentum by kicking at Rhodes’ chest, as he then connected with an overhead suplex, followed by one more. As Rhodes headed out of the ring, he planted McIntyre into the steel steps and looked like he was going to hit a suicide dive. McIntyre rocked him with an elbow as he then pushed him into the ringpost. McIntyre had Rhodes in position for a drop onto the hardest part of the ring.

McIntyre re-entered the ring as he hit Rhodes with a back elbow for a near-fall. The Undisputed WWE Champion hit a suplex on Rhodes to keep his control of this match. McIntyre’s arm hold was broken up by Rhodes, who began to fight back with strikes to the face. The pace quickened as Rhodes connected with a Randy Orton-style snap powerslam. This was the opening for Rhodes to connect with a Cody Cutter on McIntyre. Rhodes stalked his foe and looked like he was going to hit Cross Rhodes, but McIntyre rolled out of the ring. McIntyre drove Rhodes’ shoulder into the ring post outside the ring as he then targeted that damaged left arm with ruthless intent.

Rhodes tried to fight back, but McIntyre again went for the hurt arm with knees across it, followed by a stomp. McIntyre pointed at the WrestleMania time as he headed for the top rope. Unfortunately for the champ, this gave Rhodes time to recover to intercept him at the pass. McIntyre and Rhodes duked it out on the top rope, as the latter won out and connected with a massive superplex. Both men struggled to their feet and traded strikes until Rhodes locked in the figure-four leg lock on McIntyre. The champion escaped the hold by going after Rhodes’ hurt arm as he rolled out of the ring. Rhodes recovered and hit a suicide dive to knock McIntyre down.

Rhodes took a look at the commentary table and cleared it aside, as he looked for a big risk maneuver. Rhodes took McIntyre on top of the table and was about to hit Cross Rhodes. McIntyre broke out of it as the table collapsed under the sheer weight of both men. Rhodes got up and pulled a table from underneath the ring. McIntyre attacked from behind and set up the table. He put Rhodes trhrough the table with a powerbomb, somehow not being disqualified for it.

In the ring, McIntyre put Rhodes in position to be hit with a Cross Rhodes of his own. One, two…. NOT YET! McIntyre set Rhodes up for a Claymore, but was blocked at the last second. Rhodes decided to pull a page from McIntyre’s playbook and hit the Claymore kick for a very close near-fall. The referee twice avoided calamity, but couldn’t avoid it a third time as McIntyre pulled him in the way of Rhodes’ Disaster Kick. With the ref down and out, the fight still continued as McIntyre avoided a running splash and chopped at Rhodes’ chest. The challenger pulled an amazing counter of McIntyre’s attempted slam for Cross Rhodes. But, the referee was out cold. As a second referee was coming down, McIntyre hit the Claymore on Rhodes in the process. One, two…. 2.999999999!!!!!

McIntyre threw Rhodes shoulder-first into the ring post twice as he then turned his attention to the referee and hit him with a headbutt out of frustration. McIntyre went out of the ring to grab a chair and looked like he had evil intentions for Rhodes. However, before he could do anything, Jacob Fatu appeared out of nowhere and ripped the chair away from him. Rhodes rolled up McIntyre, but there was a kickout at two. McIntyre hit the Future Shock DDT and had Rhodes in position for the Claymore. Rhodes moved out of the away and hit a super Cody Cutter before one final Cross Rhodes and that’s it, over. Cody Rhodes is your Undisputed WWE Champion once again and will face Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42.

Cody Rhodes def. Drew McIntyre to win the Undisputed WWE Championship

********************

I’d assume that this sudden title change was likely to set up a more tantalizing (in WWE’s eyes) Orton vs. Rhodes title match, as well as McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu for WrestleMania 42. I’m just going to get out and front and say that I’m kind of not of a fan of this title change. The whole story of McIntyre “fooling around and finding out” by antagonizing everyone leading to a potential multi-man title match seemed like the better play for WrestleMania.

As for this match itself, it was a decent TV main event and both men looked pretty good in the process, so I can’t complain about the actual match, even if the finish was a bit off for me.

This week’s SmackDown was again a decent show, with the main event, Giulia/James vs. Bliss/Flair, and Hayes vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. being my favorites of the night. I wasn’t a fan of Tag Team Turmoil at all and the main event finish did leave me a bit cold as it seemed to throw away the possibilities teased in prior weeks.

All in all, we’re set up for what seems to be a “safe” Road to WrestleMania, and I don’t know if the safe, predictable route will be one that gets fans flocking to Vegas next month.

WWE NXT live results: Vengeance Day go-home show

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Tonight’s live WWE NXT is the go-home for this weekend’s Vengeance Day premium live event.

After turning on Sol Ruca last week, Zaria will challenge NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne for the title. Zaria confronted Jayne last week after her attack on Ruca helped Jayne retain, saying that if she didn’t grant her a title match, what happened to Ruca would happen to her.

Ricky Saints will make an appearance for an Absolute Experience segment. Starks will face NXT Champion Joe Hendry this Saturday.

The women’s Speed title tournament continues with Wren Sinclair taking on Nikkita Lyons with the winner advancing to face Thea Hail.

Before their match at the PLE, NXT Women’s North American Champion Izzi Dame and challenger Tatum Paxley will have a face-to-face while Jaida Parker and Blake Monroe will have their own confrontation ahead of Saturday.

In a trios bout, Hank Walker, Tank Ledger and Shiloh Hill will take on the Vanity Project (Jackson Drake, Ricky Smokes and Brad Baylor).

**********

NXT is back in the air in front of a live studio audience from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando.

Opening the show is the new NXT North American Champion Myles Borne, and he enters wearing a suit and holding his recently won title belt over his shoulder. Borne gets into the ring for an opening monologue. He would eventually be confronted by former champ Ethan Page, who is looking for a rematch with Borne. But first, the studio audience chants “you deserve it” at Borne.

“Damn it feels so good to hold this title and hear my name announced as champion,” Borne begins his address.

Borne remarks how a new champ will usually will soak up the moment and tell a sob story, but not this time. Borne says instead of thanking the fans and his family for their support, he wants to thanks his biggest haters. Borne thanks Ethan Page, who remarked in their feud that Borne lacked a “killer instinct” within himself. That poured gasoline on a fire inside of Borne and unleashed a demon.

If you push him, Borne says he will push back. He is no Boy Scout, and Borne says his is no angel. If you had to show that demon side of himself to keep the title, then so be it.

Borne ended his monologue by posing with the title after ending with his new catchphrase: “Can you hear me now?”

Ethan Page then interrupts and confronts Page. The former champ says he can hear Borne, but all he heard was Borne thanking him. Page insists Borne should repay him with a rematch for the title. Page claims Borne got lucky last week in winning the title. Page brags about himself and his accolades since arriving in NXT.

“If there is anybody in this locker room that deserves a rematch, it’s the guy that carried this brand for the last two years,” Page boasts.

Borne tells Page he knew Page would come out here. If Page wants a rematch, Borne says he will go talk with NXT General Manager Robert Stone. Page wants the match tonight.

Out comes GM Stone, and he is happy to book a rematch, but they should take the time to put on wrestling gear. Page roars with a challenge to fight right now, as Borne is taking off his suit jacket and unbuttoning his sleeves. Stone agrees to book the impromptu match, and he calls for a referee as a hockey fight breaks out.

Myles Borne vs. Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship

—

They fight is on with him dressed in slacks and dress shoes. They at least both remove their jackets. The fighting soon spills outside the ring, and the roll onto the broadcast booth. Borne is fired up as he pummels Page on the desk, while the show itself cuts to its first commercial break.

The fighting continues through a split-screen break, and the show returns to the break with a production snafu that took a few seconds to swipe away from picture-in-picture. Meanwhile, Borne rips Page’s clothing trying to keep Page from fleeing the ring. Page eventually had his pants torn away, and he was wrestling in his boxer briefs.

Page with a loaded punch for a near fall. Borne kicks out and a moment later counters Page’s finisher as they go home. Borne applies an ankle lock, which is a callback to an injury angle in their feud. Page kicks free, and his shoes come off in Borne’s hands.

For the finish, Page fumbles with his ripped pants. Borne still has one shoe in his hand that he conceals from the ref, while giving Page’s pants to the referee. The ref goes to get rid of the pants by tossing what is left out of the ring with his back is turned to Borne. He smacks Page with his own shoe, and Borne executes his Borne Again finisher. Borne then hooks a leg to pin him. Great match. And still…

Match result: NXT North American Champion Myles Borne defeated Ethan Page via pinfall to retain his title.

— Sarah Schreiber is a roving reporter who tries to interview Zaria, but she does not want to talk while arriving at the building. Also outside are Darkstate, who are waiting for Tony D’Angelo. Robert Stone convinces them to go inside the building. Great timing because Tony D’Angelo arrives in a sports car, and he retrieves a crowbar from the trunk before heading inside.

Jaida Parker brawls with Blake Monroe

—

Out comes Blake Monroe to cut a promo on Jaida Parker, who then interrupts Monroe and confronts her. That leads to a brawl where Parker stands tall when the smoke clears.

Monroe claims that Parker interfering in Monroe’s speed match last week was reassurance for Monroe. She was reassured because Parker still needs her. Monroe remarks that worst thing anyone can do in NXT is interrupt her. Monroe keeps cutting a promo on Parker until Parker confront her.

Parker cuts a good promo on Monroe, and Monroe tries to retort. Parker cuts her off, and basically says without her gimmick Monroe is a “mediocre bitch.”

Jaida then slaps Blake hard across the face, and they begin to brawl. Monroe is sent packing as the studio audience chants for Miss Parker.

— The Vanity Project trio (NXT Tag Team Champions Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes along with WWE Evolve Champion Jackson Drake) approach Ricky Saints and Ethan Page in a locker room skit. The heel trios apologizes for not having Page’s back in his impromptu match. They are told that is okay, and they can leaves. Saints then leaves after saying he must get ready for his performance tonight. This was a dumb and unnecessary skit.

— Another skit sets up Jasper Troy against Eli Knight and Sean Legacy in triple threat match. The winner meets Speed Champion Elio LeFluer in a title match.

Nikita Lyons vs. Wren Sinclair in the Speed tournament match

—

Sinclair won with Cattle Mutilation with seconds remaining in the three-minute time limit. In winning, Sinclair moves on to the tournament final to face Thea Hail. Whoever wins that match challenges WWE Women’s Speed Champion Fallon Henley.

Match result: Wren Sinclair defeated Nikkia Lyons via submission to advance to the tournament final.

— NXT Champion Joe Hendry and North American Champion Myles Borne interact in a backstage skit. Hendry makes a joke about being deaf and immediately apologizes for it. Borne mocks Hendry with his pose and they laugh it off.

— Kelani Jordan goes to Shayna Baszler’s dojo to train for her Underground match. This was a cool cameo for Baszler, and it builds up the gimmick match between Jordan and Lola Vice at Vengeance Day.

Tatum Paxley and Izzi Dame face-to-face

—

Paxley and Dame face off in a pre-taped segment where they sit across from each other in front of a dollhouse. Dame first cuts a promo on Paxley, but Paxley responds with a confident response. Paxley then walks away before Dame flips out and wrecks the dollhouse in a fit of rage.

Shiloh Hill, Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes & Jackson Drake) in a six-man tag team match

—

Good match that goes through two commercial breaks. Vanity Project jumps the babyface trio during their entrance. The trios match unofficially begins before the bell, and the match gets underway during a commercial break. Much of it airs in picture-in-picture, and what started as a brawl settles into a traditional six-man tag when the show returns from the break.

Heat on Walker as the heel trio works him over. Hot tag to Tank, and he cleans house on Vanity Project. At ringside, Hank is posted by Jackson Drake. Nevertheless, Tank fights off the heels. As the fighting against spills outside the ring, Tank is trapped in the ring steps by the team formerly known as Swipe Right. Drake then dropkicks Tank from behind, and Tank looks dead as the show cuts to another commercial break.

Hot tag after the show returns from the break, and Shiloh Hill runs wild. Hill is soon cut off and Vanity Project gets a near fall on him. Hank and Drake tag in and face off. Drake lifts Hank to deliver a Burning Hammer.

Parade of high spots in the closing moments. Hank with a Bossman slam on Drake to set up a tandem spot where Hank & Tank sandwich Drake with stereo splashes. Hank & Tank then sail through the ropes with a tope each. Meanwhile, Hill leaps through the ropes to spear Drake in the ring. Hill then executes his combo finisher where he does Saito suplex into a falling neckbreaker. Hill then covers Drake for the deciding pinfall. In winning the match for his team, Hill gets a pin on the Evolve champ. That should set up a title match in the near future.

Match result: Shiloh Hill, Hank Walker & Tank Ledger defeated Jackson Drake, Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes via pinfall when Hill pinned Drake.

— Before the six-man competitors can exit, Blake Monroe pounces on the announce desk for a promo. She is now dressed in all black as she broods over Jaida Parker. Monroe announces a street fight with her and Parker for Vengeance Day.

Out comes Jaida Parker to once again confront Monroe. They are pulled apart by the winners of the six-man a tag and a slew of referees.

— Darkstate is backstage and they are livid. Osiris Griffin is down selling an apparent ambush by Tony D’Angelo. Darkstate all yell at Robert Stone. Saquon Shugars and Cutler James stay with Griffin while Dion Lennox vows to call out D’Angelo. Lennox is heading to the ring as the show heads into a commercial break.

— Dr. Martin talks with Lola Vice about a fracture in her right hand. The doctor points to an x-ray as he explains the injury to Vice. Dr. Martin advises Vice to not compete, and he says there is great risk in Vice doing the Underground match. Vice shakes her head and tells the doctor she cannot be out that long. She is the most reliable wrestler on the roster, and she vows to continue. Vice promises not to hurt her hand again, and Vice says she signed away any liability to WWE. The doctor reluctantly agrees with Vice, but he insists she come see him again after her match.

— Dion Lennox is headed to call out Tony D’Angelo. Lennox does just that from the ring. Instead of being the hunter, Lennox is now the hunted, as pointed out by D’Angelo when he addresses Lennox. D’Angelo is standing in a perch overlooking the ring as he cuts a promo on Lennox and Darkstate.

D’Angelo no longer has the over-the-top Italian accent. D’Angelo proceeds to cut a good promo on him seeking vengeance against Darkstate. Fittingly enough, D’Angelo clashes with Lennox this Saturday at Vengeance Day.

Lennox threatens to meet D’Angelo in the parking lot, and D’Angelo responds by saying bring it on. D’Angelo threatens to beat him up in the parking lot before dragging his lifeless body back into the ring to beat him.

— Sarah Schreiber interviews NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, alongside her stablemates Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid of Fatal Influence. Jayne cuts a promo where she mentions the breakup between Sol Ruca and Zaria. Jayne teasing interference by Fatal Influence as she vows to retain the title. Jayne wants “smooth sailing” heading towards Stand & Deliver.

— NXT Champ Myles Borne talks with Charlie Dempsey and Tavion Heights in a backstage skit. Borne thanks them for his time as stablemates in No Quarter Catch Crew. Borne leaves and Dempsey laments how unsuccessful they are compared to Borne. In walks Lexis King and his cohorts Uriah Connors, Arianna Grace and Stacks. They are still trying to recruit Dempsey into their faction, much to the chagrin of Heights.

Jacy Jayne (with Fatal Influence) vs. Zaria for the NXT Women’s Championship

—

Despite me hating the finish, this was a great to watch before a run-in. They had a good, long match that went through a commercial break. Before the show cut to commercials, Jayne sandwiches Zaria in the ring steps with a cannonball senton on the floor. Zaria was in control beforehand, as she looked strong at the start of the match. Henley and Reid interfere, which allows Jayne to gain an underhanded advantage ahead of the commercial break.

Superplex spot soon after the show returns from the break. Jayne takes the superplex from Zaria, and a slugfest soon develops. They trade strikes and momentum rises for Zaria. They then trade near falls.

Near fall after Zaria lands a lariat. Jayne runs into a knee before taking German suplexes from Zaria, and Zaria runs into a flying knee from Jayne for another near fall. Zaria ducks Jayne’s finisher and delivers a spear. Zaria goes for her finisher, but Jayne escapes and waffles Zaria with a Rolling Encore.

Double down as Sol Ruca runs down to the entrance ramp. Ruca clotheslines Reid and superkicks Henley at ringside. Ruca then jumps into the ring and springboard into a dual Sol Snatcher that drops both Jayne and Zaria. The referee calls for the bell. No official word, but I assume a no-contest. The mach this thrown out. Really good match until the interference by Sol Ruca. The finish seems to set up a triple threat, which must be one of the most over-booked gimmick matches in modern wrestling.

Match result: NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne and Zaria wrestled to a no-contest after interference by Sol Ruca.

— Ricky Saints is heading to the ring for his concert performance.

— Robert Stone is interviewed in his office. Glitch in the feed on my local CW affiliate, so I missed much of this interview.

Ricky Saints’ Absolute Experience

—

Spoofing the concert segments made famous by The Rock from years past, Saints gets in the ring and sits down. He pick up a guitar and hypes up the concert to come. He proceeds to do a terrible rendition of Joe Hendry’s theme song, with new lyrics from Saints. This was deliberately terrible. It was also hard to watch. It was dying a death.

Saints orders a roadie to get him a different chair. That failed to save the segment. Saints next complains about the microphone, and he orders a roadie to fix the mic. The segment drags on with Saints complaining about his guitar. He wants another guitar as well. Saints is handed a different guitar by a roadie, but the roadie will not unhand the guitar. Surprise, it’s Joe Hendry! He saves the segment with a guitar shot on Saints. The guitar shatters on the back of Saints.

Vanity Project runs in to save Ricky Saints from Hendry’s finishing move. Myles Borne runs down to help Hendry clean house and clear the ring of heels.

The NXT Champion and the North American Champion stand tall and celebrate in the ring in the final scene on the go-home episode ahead of Vengeance Day.

WWE Raw live results: Elimination Chamber fallout

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: March 2, 2026
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN

The Big Takeaway —

CM Punk and Roman Reigns had their latest war of words. Reigns got the last word in their first encounter, while Punk got it here. After Reigns threatened to retire Punk, Punk threatened to bury Reigns next to his father. 

Also, Penta won the Intercontinental Championship. 

**********

Show Recap — 

There was a full recap video of all four matches at Elimination Chamber, plus the debut of Danhausen (no crowd reaction included, of course).

CM Punk and AJ Lee, Judgment Day (minus Finn Bálor), and Gunther arrived at the arena. 

They abruptly cut to Paul Heyman as he led Logan Paul and Austin Theory to the ring. Heyman wasn’t interested in starting the show the same way as always. So he gave us a talking segment. Heyman said, “I hate to piss on everyone’s parade, but excuse me while I whip this out. We are here to talk about Seth freakin’ Rollins.” 

Heyman hated Rollins and his song. He said Rollins stole the credit for co-founding the Vision. He stole the credit for co-founding the Shield. He didn’t deserve credit for the Shield, but that wasn’t Heyman’s problem. Rollins stole the Elimination Chamber and the WrestleMania main event from Logan Paul. 

Heyman said Rollins thieved oxygen from every human being on the planet that was worthy of living, and Mr. Lynch (Rollins) was not one of them. They planned on stomping Rollins’ ass the next time he stepped into a ring. That wasn’t a spoiler—that was a personal guarantee from the Vision. 

Theory grabbed the mic to cut a useless promo. Fans drowned him out with “You suck” chants, and he responded, “Rollins ain’t in the ring right now, so you can’t chant that,” which is not a good comeback. Paul was pissed because he had eliminated three people in the Chamber, and the last person to do that was Brock Lesnar. 

Paul called out Rollins, but he got Adam Pearce, who was not interested in hearing them complain. Pearce also accused them of taking out Jey Uso last week. Heyman didn’t appreciate that. Heyman remarked about Rollins, but Pearce said he would deal with Rollins personally because he wasn’t cleared to compete. 

If you thought they were done with the masked men, you were wrong. Three different masked men appeared in the crowd, and they were chased away by the two idiots, Theory and Paul, as well as Pearce’s security. 

That left Heyman alone in the ring. A fourth masked man appeared in the aisle, now abandoned by Pearce, who also fell for Rollins’ trick. Heyman pleaded with him as a fifth masked man appeared behind Heyman. 

Rollins unmasked and hit Heyman in the back with a steel chair (like he did to Roman Reigns). Rollins curb stomped Heyman as the crowd went wild. Rollins left through the crowd as medical staff checked on Heyman. 

Heyman was dragged away during a break, and his face was covered in fake blood. After the break, Theory and Paul ran to check on Heyman as he was being loaded into an ambulance. Paul left to get their car while Theory remained. 

Theory wanted the ambulance to leave, but it didn’t. Theory checked on an SUV that pulled up, thinking it was Paul, but it was actually Jimmy Uso. Jimmy punched Theory and tossed him into some equipment boxes. Jimmy checked on the ambulance driver, who was LA Knight. Knight said he’d take great care of Heyman, and he drove off. 

********

Gunther vs. Dragon Lee

Dragon Lee attacked Gunther from behind during his entrance. He blindsided Gunther a few weeks ago, got beaten up, and it happened again here. Gunther fought him off and gave him a back body drop into the timekeeper’s area. 

The match started during a break, and Gunther dominated throughout the break, when they came back from break, and through a second break. (Dragon got a brief flash of offence, but Gunther blocked his dive attempt and cut him down with a chop.) 

Dragon fired back in time from them to return from break. He hit an enziguri and a low dropkick, but Gunther cut him off with a powerslam and hit two consecutive powerbombs. Gunther covered Lee and had it won, but lifted him up at the two count. 

Gunther rolled Lee outside the ring before powerbombing him into the edge of the ring and onto the announce table. Gunther could have taken a count-out win, but he left the ring to try another powerbomb, but Lee countered into a sunset flip. Lee followed with a suicide dive and Operation Dragon. 

Lee almost won by count-out, but Gunther slipped back in at nine. Lee managed to drop Gunther with a clothesline (after trying unsuccessfully a few times earlier). 

Lee fired up and went for Operation Dragon again, but Gunther caught him in a sleeper. As they started going down to the mat, Gunther ripped Lee’s mask off (and you could see his face for a split second). Lee immediately tapped out as a result. 

Match result: Gunther defeated Dragon Lee (14:19)

This was pretty fun by the end. Dragon Lee firing back after getting powerbombed on the apron and the table was a bit much, though. The crowd was into this, and it already seems like a much better crowd than they’ve had the past few weeks. 

********

Asuka admonished Kairi Sane backstage until Sane was stunned into silence. AJ Lee walked by and checked on Sane, who was frozen and staring out into space until Asuka called her away. AJ made her way to the ring. 

AJ Lee segment 

Lee said she wasn’t sure how they got here. She returned to snatch the pretty hair off Becky Lynch’s big-ass head, but she wound up snatching her title. There was a modest, “You deserve it” chant. 

She said the fans thought she could still go. They believed in her and had her back for a decade. They remembered her when some people wished that they would forget. They made her believe that she could still fight the very best. 

That’s exactly what Lynch was. She was the best of the best, but Lee beat her. Lynch gave her the fight of her life—and she had the scars to prove it—but she proved to herself she could still be championship material. She was still who she thought she was. But now that “Becky boo-boo” was behind her, WrestleMania was ahead of her. 

She wanted to be a fighting champion. It’s been 12 years since she won a title, and she wouldn’t waste any time. She called on anyone who wanted a shot because she planned on defending the Intercontinental Championship the next time she stepped into the ring. 

********

The Original El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) wished Penta luck on his IC title match, but said he’d be first in line for a title match if he won. Penta was cool with this. 

El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) and the other two confronted the Original after Penta left. Kaiser referenced their upcoming match on the next AAA show on March 14th. Gable wanted to fight tonight, but would gladly face Bravo or Rayo instead. 

Liv Morgan promo 

Liv Morgan cut a pre-taped promo on Stephanie Vaquer. She said Vaquer didn’t know anything about her or her struggles. But Vaquer was right about her being privileged. She got signed to WWE when she was 20 years old, while Vaquer was rejected in her first tryout. She had the best of the best, while Vaquer grew up with mud hut wrestling in flea-infested rings. That all happened because Morgan was a star. 

Morgan didn’t dwell on her past as Vaquer did. Despite everything that’s happened, she sees some of herself in Vaquer. She was hard-working, talented, and a great champion. So Morgan would give her something at WrestleMania—the privilege of facing the Liv Morgan. 

********

Original El Grande Americano vs. Rayo Americano (w/ El Grande Americano & Bravo Americano) 

Gable Americano had control until a Kaiser Americano distraction allowed Rayo to hit a dive and take control through a break. Gable fought back in time for them to return from break. Gable tried ripping off the masks of Bravo and Rayo, but the distractions allowed Kaiser to hit a headbutt. Rayo followed with a running headbutt and a diving headbutt for a nearfall. 

More distractions and more interference led to a schoolboy and nearfall for Bravo. Gable came back with a Chaos Theory suplex for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Original El Grande Americano defeated Rayo Americano (10:10) 

It’s about time they move on from this gimmick for Gable. I know Kaiser has a good thing going in AAA, but the American crowds aren’t into this anymore, and Gable in particular feels miscast. Not to mention the other two guys. 

********

Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez played darts backstage. Morgan suggested that Rodriguez challenge AJ Lee for the IC title, win the belt, and go into Mania as champion. Rodriguez liked that idea (and acted like she never thought of this). 

Dominik Mysterio was stressed out about his title defence. JD McDonagh said they had his back. Finn Bálor entered the room. He wasn’t happy about the result on Saturday, but he was at peace with it. 

Dom said they could now focus on his title match. Bálor said this was something he had to do on his own, like he said last week. Dom simply meant that he wanted to celebrate with them post-match. Bálor said they could count on him to celebrate together.

******* 

Rusev and Oba Femi segment 

After a clip of Oba Femi beating The Miz on SmackDown, Rusev marched out through the crowd and stood on the announce desk. Rusev was tired of hearing about Femi and called him out for a fight right now. 

Femi entered the ring and told Rusev to join him. They traded right hands, and Femi got the better of it, but Rusev avoided a chokeslam and hit consecutive kicks. Femi dropped him with a chokeslam anyway and clotheslined him out of the ring. 

********

Bayley and Lyra Valkyria spoke backstage. They had one of those conversations that makes you wonder if they ever talk outside of the show. Bayley was frustrated that they both missed out on the Chamber, and she felt stuck. 

Valkyria didn’t want to see Bayley miss Mania again. She suggested that Bayley go after AJ Lee and her title. Like Rodriguez earlier, Bayley somehow never thought of this idea. Valkyria told Bayley to go talk to Pearce and get a title match. Bayley was about to leave, but she recalled costing Valkyria her IC shot with Lynch, so she invited Valkyria to join her. 

Bayley and Valkyria walked to Pearce’s office, which happened to be around the corner. Iyo Sky left his office the moment they arrived, and she was not in a good mood. 

******** 

Jimmy Uso vs. Austin Theory

This ended quickly by DQ. Jimmy set up Theory for a splash through the table, but turned his attention to Paul, who slipped into the ring. Jimmy attacked Paul as the referee watched. Theory tried to save Paul but was tackled by Jimmy, and the referee finally called for a DQ when Paul attacked Jimmy from behind. 

— The Vision hammered away on Jimmy until Jey Uso’s music hit. Jey appeared from behind (like Rollins earlier) and slid a crutch to Jimmy. They attacked Paul and Theory with crutches and laid out Theory with a 1D. 

Match result: Jimmy Uso defeated Austin Theory via disqualification (2:41)

They don’t want Theory to lose, but they’re afraid to have him beat anybody. 

********

Danhausen approached Pearce backstage. (He only received a modest pop, but at least he wasn’t booed.) Danhausen said he debuted to thunderous applause, so he had a list of demands written on a napkin. He wanted a blimp, his face on all the trucks, a Hall of Fame induction this year, a personal assistant, and a Triple H pointing photo. Pearce asked why the napkin was soggy. Danhausen said it fell in the toilet. 

Judgment Day walked by, and Pearce took the opportunity to bail so they could deal with Danhausen instead. Danhausan was happy to see them, but didn’t know McDonagh’s name. Danhausen also liked the look of Dom’s IC title belt. 

Danhausen cursed Dom, and they laughed him off. But when they turned their attention back to Danhausen, he was gone. 

********

Rhea Ripley interview 

Jackie Redmond interviewed Rhea Ripley, accompanied by Iyo Sky, on the stage. Ripley said it’s been a whirlwind couple of days. Losing the tag titles on SmackDown sucked. It especially sucked because Sky meant a lot to her, including being her best friend. Ripley thanked her for always being there for her and pulling her out of a dark situation. 

Sky said Ripley did the same for her. Sky said Ripley won the Chamber and showed everyone why Mami was always on top. Sky told Ripley she would be fine on Raw and told Ripley to go handle her business and win the title at WrestleMania. They hugged. (In fact, they held each other the entire segment until the end.) Ripley said she would win the title for Sky. 

Ripley told Sky to hold down Raw because she was headed to SmackDown on Friday to see Jade Cargill face-to-face, and at WrestleMania, she would leave as champion. Sky leaped into Ripley’s arms. 

********

Next week on Raw in Seattle: 

  • Women’s Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Gauntlet Match: IYO SKY, Lyra Valkyria, Bayley, Raquel Rodriguez, Asuka and Ivy Nile 
  • Oba Femi vs. Rusev 

******** 

Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) (w/ Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh) vs. Penta

Penta hit a flip dive, and they went to break one minute into the match. (I wish I kept track of how many times that’s happened in a Penta match.) Bálor and McDonagh watched peacefully while seated at ringside. Penta took too much time staring them down, which allowed Dom to take over. Even Michael Cole noted this was Penta’s own fault. 

Dom cut off Penta’s comeback attempt after a break and hit an Edge-o-matic. (Cole had a new name for it, but I’m not sure what he said.) Dom went for three amigos, but Penta countered the last suplex into one of his own. Dom cut him off again, this time with a DDT onto the apron. After Dom used a dive to take out Penta outside the ring, Dom also hit a running crossbody, sending them both over the barricade and into the timekeeper’s area. (Cole said Penta was once again staring over at Bálor and JD as this happened.) 

During a break, Dom tied Penta’s mask to the bottom rope and stomped away at him. (For whatever reason, they always seem to do this spot to Penta, and sometimes Dargon Lee, only during commercial breaks. It’s happened multiple times.) 

Penta fought back in time for them to return from break (again). Penta hit a superkick with Dom trapped upside down in the corner, followed by a backstabber for two. Penta went for a Destroyer, but Dom countered into a Michinoku Driver for two. 

Dom went for a frog splash, but Penta blocked it and snapped his arm, followed by a Penta Driver for a close nearfall. A frustrated Penta repeatedly booted Dom in the corner until the referee made him stop. Penta tried driving Dom into the corner, but Dom ducked, and Penta went shoulder-first into the post. 

Penta sold like he was hurt, so the ref checked on him as Dom told McDonagh to grab the ring bell hammer. McDonagh grabbed it, but Bálor stopped him, and the fans cheered. As McDonagh and Bálor argued, Penta wiped them out with a dive. 

Back in the ring, Penta set up a Destroyer, but Dom tripped him onto the middle rope. However, Penta ducked a 619 and hit a Canadian Destroyer for the pinfall win. Penta is the new champion. The crowd was happy. 

— Penta posed with his new belt as fireworks went off. 

Match result: Penta defeated Dominik Mysterio (16:24)

This was the right call here. Penta was long overdue for a win like this, and frankly, Dom isn’t much of a champion. 

******** 

Roman Reigns and CM Punk main event segment 

Roman Reigns entered. He told Indianapolis to acknowledge him. They did. Before he could say anything else, CM Punk entered. They both got big reactions. 

Punk asked why Reigns why he was mean-mugging him. Punk was just feeding his ego and acknowledging him. Punk hoped Reigns would say more than “acknowledge me” because they pay a lot of money for one of Reigns’ dates, and that could’ve been a tweet. 

Reigns asked “Phil” if his tweet (following Elimination Chamber) hurt his feelings because, for a champion, Punk had thin skin. 

Punk said the tweet didn’t hurt his feelings. He didn’t care what people tweeted. He didn’t hold grudges about what people said about him on podcasts (like Reigns did). Reigns’ tweet was accurate, though, because Punk was tired. It was a good thing Punk had bags under his eyes because he had to carry Reigns’ bullshit all the way to WrestleMania. 

Punk said they had history here in Indianapolis. This was where the Shield debuted and where Punk brought him to the dance. Reigns corrected him because Punk only brought in the other two, not him. 

Punk said they remembered things differently. But if Punk didn’t pick him, Reigns certainly picked Punk for the main event of WrestleMania. If you ask the fans, they’d tell you he (Punk) already won. The last time they were face-to-face, Reigns told him that he hated him. Now, Punk said, “I got you right where I want you. I made you this emotional lady.” (An odd thing to say, but not the first time Punk’s had a line like that.) Punk said he was in Reigns’ head—as empty as it was. 

Reigns reiterated that he hated Phil. But if he didn’t have the title, Phil wouldn’t even be on his radar. Reigns said we brought Phil back to entertain the 30- to 40-year-old virgins who lived with their parents. To sell a few t-shirts and maybe draw a house in Chicago. But not to be the champion. That was too much responsibility and power for Punk. It was above his paygrade. 

Reigns said we can’t trust Phil because he is a liar. He lied to the people. He has them thinking that he was having a good time, that he was a leader, that he was smiling as he made every town, hanging out with his cousins (the Usos). But we knew the truth. His cousins told him all about Phil’s bitching and moaning. He wasn’t CM Punk—he was just a punk-ass bitch. 

Reigns would end Punk’s backup plan (his WWE return) at WrestleMania. After taking his title, Reigns would put him on a John Cena retirement tour. They would make as much money off Punk as they could until they sent him to NXT, where Punk would teach the next generation until they sent them to the main roster so the Tribal Chief could snatch everyone of them. 

Reigns was about to leave, but Punk pulled him back. Punk said they weren’t done. Punk wondered who Reigns meant when he kept saying “we” because he was all alone. Alone on his bus, alone in his room. His cousins weren’t with him. The Shield couldn’t help him. The wiseman was gone because Punk took him away. This all illustrated Reigns’ entire career: “You chasing me.” 

Punk was the champion, and Reigns was in the main event because Punk was in the main event. This was Punk’s show. He was in the locker room and hanging out with the Usos while Reigns was alone. Reigns could hate him all he wanted, but Reigns would not disrespect him. 

Punk took particular offence to Reigns saying he would retire him. Because now, Punk said, he wouldn’t just beat Reigns at Mania, he’d bury him. “And then you won’t be all alone anymore because I’m going to bury you next to your father.” 

Punk slammed the mic down and left as Reigns was left speechless.

WWE Elimination Chamber live results: CM Punk vs. Finn Balor, AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch

Posted on by Steve Khan

WWE presents Elimination Chamber tonight at the United Center in Chicago.

Four matches are scheduled for the show, including both the men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber matches.

In the women’s Elimination Chamber match, Tiffany Stratton faces Rhea Ripley, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Kiana James, and Raquel Rodriguez. The winner will challenge Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42.

The men’s Elimination Chamber match features Randy Orton, LA Knight, Cody Rhodes, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, and Logan Paul. Paul replaces Jey Uso, who was written out of the match via an injury angle on SmackDown. The winner of this match will go on to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42.

Elsewhere on the show, Becky Lynch defends the women’s Intercontinental Championship against AJ Lee, while CM Punk defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor in his hometown of Chicago.

A mystery crate is also scheduled to be opened.

Our live coverage begins at 7 p.m. Eastern, with the pre-show at 5 p.m.

Show Recap — 

COUNTDOWN SHOW 

Joe Tessitore, Big E, and Wade Barrett hosted the pre-show surrounded by fans outside the United Center in Chicago, where the temperature was just below freezing.

Peter Rosenberg talked about the men’s Chamber match and referred to Trick Williams and Je’Von Evans as rookies. 

They showed footage from the first Elimination Chamber match in 2002, including new and old interviews from those who were in the match. Notably, the only person they did not show was Chris Jericho, even in the old interviews. 

Rosenberg interviewed Paul Levesque about the 2002 match and the matches tonight.

Cathy Kelly interviewed Alexa Bliss about the match. She enjoyed the Chamber match, hoped to win tonight, and knew Charlotte Flair would be cheering her on. 

AJ Lee sit-down interview 

AJ Lee sat down with Michael Cole for an interview. She didn’t think she would be back because she tends to move on from things once she is done with them. But one day she woke up, and the idea of returning became a “maybe,” and once it was “maybe,” it became a “yes.” She retired because she was injured and didn’t have time to take care of it. The physical aspect took a toll on her mental health, and she wasn’t taking care of either. 

Becky Lynch was Mount Everest for her. Lee wanted to prove that she could exist and dominate in two different generations. She could have gone home after beating Lynch at Wrestlepalooza, but she saw Lynch continue to be a bully. Seeing her face made Lee want to beat her face in. It would be great to win the IC title in front of her friends and family, take the belt home and sleep with it. 

Evolution meant fighting to make the world better, but you didn’t necessarily get to enjoy the seeds and sit under the trees. She felt like she built this house and never got to live in it. She knew what she did for the division, and maybe they got here in small part because of her. She wanted to prove to herself more than anyone else that she was championship material in this generation and even the next. 

********

They showed wrestlers arriving when the pre-show started, including CM Punk and AJ Lee. They showed a few more here, including the same footage of Punk and Lee, even though it’s been less than an hour. 

Big E said Je’Von Evans will be the first Chamber participant who is younger than the match itself.

Finn Bálor sit-down interview 

Finn Bálor sat down with Corey Graves for an interview. Graves asked about critics who claim Bálor peaked ten years ago. Bálor said he didn’t do this for the critics. He did this for himself, his family and his supporters. He had more supporters than detractors. You can put him in the main event any night, and he’d show he belongs, because he does. 

Bálor has proven himself time and time again in this business, and he was taken for granted. Good ol’ reliable Finn. He might be guilty, too. He was raised to show up, stay quiet and not ask any questions. But the more time he spent around here, the more he realized the squeaky wheel got the grease. Maybe it was time for Bálor to get some grease. 

Belfast was Punk’s night, but it could have been his. He’s proven time and time again that he can stand toe-to-toe with the so-called best in the world. Bálor respected Punk. He respected almost everyone he stepped in the ring with. But Punk wanted to face the real Finn Bálor alone, and that’s what he’s got. 

One match did not define a legacy. That was based on a career. But his career had a stain on it (the SummerSlam shoulder injury). Bálor didn’t need to finish his story—he needed to rewrite the entire narrative and prove that he can be champion.

******** 

There was footage of Kevin Owens and Logan Paul arguing on some show (Paul joined via video). It started as bickering over their video game ratings until Paul gave Owens a hard time for being out. Owens said he took time off because he couldn’t feel his legs, but he was still better than Paul. 

Trick Williams and Kiana James did quick interviews on their Chamber matches.

Chicago-native Hannah Heavin sang the anthem. (Lots of booing in the live YouTube comments.) 

**********

ELIMINATION CHAMBER 2026 MAIN CARD

The show intro was narrated by CM Punk and was followed by a big fireworks display inside Chicago’s sold-out United Center. Michael Cole claimed an attendance of 19,346. 

Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Finn Bálor, Becky Lynch, AJ Lee and CM Punk were shown at the arena earlier today. 

Women’s Elimination Chamber match: Asuka vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Kiana James vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Tiffany Stratton

This is the fifth year in a row that the women’s Chamber match will precede the men’s. 

Entrances took 13 minutes. The opening match began at 7:19 pm ET. 

WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill watched the match from a suite. 

Kiana James and Tiffany Stratton started the match. They set up for a test of strength, and Michael Cole didn’t think that was a good idea for Stratton (a professional bodybuilder). 

Stratton tried a handspring elbow into James as she leaned against a pod, but James moved, and Stratton fell awkwardly into the pod. The pod is rectangular, but Stratton went toward it at an angle that didn’t allow her to hit flush. It was Raquel Rodriguez’s pod, and she laughed at Stratton for falling. 

Asuka was in next. She beat up both women and hit a double missile dropkick. Bliss was in next and took out Asuka and James before having a face-off with Stratton. Stratton gave her a rolling senton and went for PME, but Bliss knocked her off the ropes. Bliss had an exchange with Asuka until James knocked them both down and slingshotted Stratton into a pod. 

Rhea Ripley was in next (to a good reaction), and she gave Stratton a Razor’s Edge into Asuka. Ripley and Bliss traded counters until they wound up outside the ring on the steel (which is covered by padding). Bliss climbed the cage to avoid Ripley as a brawl saw everyone else wind up outside the ring. This led to Bliss wiping out everyone, minus James, with a Twisted Bliss off the pod. 

Bliss set up James for Sister Abigail, but Asuka misted her in the face, and James rolled up Bliss for the pinfall elimination about 13 minutes into the match. 

Rodriguez entered next and went after Ripley, but was targeted by the other three women. She shoved them away and proceeded to woman-handle everyone. Ripley tried a hurricanrana, which was a bad idea. Rodriguez caught her and slammed her into the cage and into the ring. (Rodriguez got no reaction on her way out, but got a round of applause here.) 

They continued to make Rodriguez look very strong. She gave James a running powerslam through a pod (Cole gave a shout-out to British Bulldog), which got a big reaction. Rodriguez then gave Asuka a Tejana Bomb onto James, and covered them both for the double pinfall elimination about 16 minutes in. 

Rodriguez, Ripley, and Stratton were suddenly the final three. Rodriguez was in full control of Stratton and set her up for something off the top rope. However, Ripley, who found herself atop a pod, flew off of it and nailed Rodriguez with a cannonball. Stratton followed with a PME on Rodriguez for the pinfall elimination about 20 minutes in. 

Ripley and Stratton were the final two. Stratton slipped out of a Razor’s Edge and hit an Alabama Slam for two. Ripley avoided a senton bomb and hit an electric chair facebuster for two (Stratton’s face was bloodied following this spot). Ripley went shoulder-first into the steel post, and Stratton followed with a senton bomb for two. 

Stratton set up for PME, but Ripley shoved her off the top and into a pod. Ripley followed with a Rip-tide for the pinfall win. The crowd was happy.

Ripley faces Cargill for the title at WrestleMania. Fireworks went off as Ripley pointed at the sign and as Cargill posed with her title belt. 

Match result: Rhea Ripley defeated Tiffany Stratton, Raquel Rodriguez, Asuka, Kiana James and Alexa Bliss to win the Women’s Elimination Chamber match (23:43) 

There were a few good spots, but this match was just alright. They go on and on about how dangerous the Chamber match is, but this didn’t really feel that way. 

******** 

By the way, if you’re a YouTuber ripping off the recaps from this website without giving credit, cut it out. Simply take your own show notes, assuming you know how. 

The second match of the evening started at 7:59 pm. 

Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. AJ Lee

Lynch wore new gear, which included a top with full-length, baggy sleeves. 

Lee had a few moments to shine early in the match until Lynch booted her to take over. Lynch paced around the ring in between hammering away at Lee and repeatedly kicking her while she was down. 

Lynch hit an exploder, but Lee fought back with forearms and a bulldog. Lynch tried to cut her off, but Lee continued with a tornado DDT and a shining wizard for two. Lynch fought back and hit a superplex before immediately applying an armbar. Lee countered into a cradle for two, followed by a kick to the head. 

Jessika Carr chose this moment to reapply the turnbuckle cover, which was removed earlier. (They don’t have anyone else who can do this mid-match?) Lynch booted Lee into Carr and applied a schoolboy. Carr was able to count the fall, but Lee kicked out. 

Lynch tried a roundhouse kick, but Lee ducked, and Lynch knocked out Carr. Lee put Lynch in the Black Widow, and Lynch tapped out, but Carr was down. 

Lee went to check on Carr and was decked from behind by Lynch. Lynch tossed her around ringside, but Lee fought back. However, Lynch dropped her off the top rope and hit a DDT. (Both spots were meant to hit a steel chair that was in the ring, but both spots missed.) 

As Carr got to her feet, Lynch hit Lee with a Man-handle Slam, but Lee kicked out. Lynch was stunned. Lynch tried ramming Lee into the exposed buckle, but Carr stopped her. 

Lynch went for a Man-handle Slam again, but Lee slipped out of it. Lee avoided a charge, and Lynch went into the exposed buckle. Lee applied the Black Widow, and Lynch quickly tapped out. The crowd liked Lee, so they popped big for the win. 

Match result: AJ Lee defeated Becky Lynch to win the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (15:27)

Another fairly ordinary match, but it was laid out well, and the crowd got what they wanted. Lynch has had to do some heavy lifting the past few months, working almost exclusively with Maxxine Dupri and AJ Lee. I thought Lee did just fine here, considering it was her first singles match in over ten years. 

******** 

R-Truth met with Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis near the mystery crate backstage. Truth had a pizza because it was actually a pizza ad. The world title match is up next.

Members of the U.S. Air Force were shown in the crowd. Cole thanked them and the many other men and women around the world protecting our freedoms, “especially with what’s going on today.” 

******** 

World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Finn Bálor

Finn Bálor entered to his original WWE theme song as he did in Belfast. He did his usual theatrics, and a lot of fans posed along with him. 

CM Punk had a special entrance. He walked through the back to the sound of ‘Sirius’ by The Alan Parsons Project, a nod to the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls, as well as being introduced by former Bulls PA announcer Ray Clay. Punk entered the arena to ‘Cult of Personality’. His gear was in the style of the Blackhawks.

Punk had the early edge until Bálor dropped him ribs-first onto the top rope, and followed with a knee strike to the midsection. Bálor targeted Punk’s midsection from there. Punk fought out of an abdominal stretch, and both guys went down with a double clothesline spot. 

They traded strikes until Punk hit a clothesline and a bulldog. Bálor slipped out of a potential GTS, but Punk followed suicide dive and a flying clothesline back in the ring for two. Bálor responded with a headblock elbow drop for two. Bálor reversed a GTS into a small package before Punk hit a neckbreaker for two. 

Bálor knocked Punk off the top, but Punk avoided a Coup de Grace and followed with a knee strike and a flying elbow drop. Punk was bleeding from the mouth and took too long to make a cover. Bálor countered his cradle to one of his own for two, and he followed with a slingblade. 

Bálor went for a running dropkick, but Punk clotheslined him and applied an Anaconda Vice. Bálor fought out and hit repeated elbow strikes. Bálor hit an elevated reverse DDT and Coup de Grace for a nearfall. 

Bálor looked out toward the stage to see if his Judgment Day buddies would enter, but he seemed happy that they didn’t. He turned around, and Punk hit a GTS, but Bálor fell out of the ring. 

Punk went after him, but Bálor hit a slingblade and drove Punk through the barricade with a running dropkick. Bálor went for Coup de Grace, but Punk got his leg up and transitioned into a Sharpshooter until Bálor got a rope break. 

Punk repeatedly booted Bálor, hoisted him to his feet and into position to hit a GTS for the definitive pinfall win. 

— Bálor shook Punk’s hand after the match. 

AJ Lee ran out with her new IC title belt to embrace Punk. 

Match result: CM Punk defeated Finn Bálor to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (20:23)

A perfectly fine match that also suffered greatly from Bálor being a very weak challenger. 

******** 

Michael Chandler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Lil Yachty were in the crowd. 

The box is up next.

Danhausen debuts 

The mystery crate was on the stage and was pried open by Aldis and Pearce with crowbars. There was a wooden coffin inside the crate. About eight women dancers ran out of the coffin, and they were followed out by Danhausen. (The box was set up by the stage to make this work.) 

Danhausen marched to ringside and handed Cole a jar filled with teeth. The dancers surrounded Danhausen in the ring, and he did his little pose. The lights went out, and people booed. Danhausen disappeared when the lights came back on. 

(This went over like a lead balloon. He seemed to get a decent pop on the way out, but people were not pleased with this reveal.) 

********

Cole mentioned the reveal of the masked man on SmackDown and said, “It was nobody!” Wade Barrett thinks it was a copycat. 

The first 2.5+ hours of the show have included 59 minutes of wrestling. 

Men’s Elimination Chamber match: Je’Von Evans vs. LA Knight vs. Randy Orton vs. Logan Paul (w/ Paul Heyman & Austin Theory) vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Trick Williams

The men took even longer to enter than the women earlier. Entrances for this lasted 19 minutes. 

Cody Rhodes and Je’Von Evans started. As Big E noted earlier, Evans was not born when the first Elimination Chamber happened in 2002. So, he’s also younger than Shawn Michaels’ brown tights.

Evans took down Rhodes with consecutive hurricanranas, but Rhodes responded by slamming him into the side of the cage. They got to their feet moments later as Trick Williams entered. 

Williams immediately dropped Rhodes before facing off with Evans. Williams blocked an OG Cutter before hitting a big backhand slap to Evans’ face. Williams caught both Evans and Rhodes on each side of his body and hit a double Book End/Rock Bottom. The announcers compared him to Booker T.  

Logan Paul entered next to a chorus of boos. The other three guys immediately pummeled him as the crowd cheered. The three guys wrestled for a bit until Paul hit Rhodes with a Buckshot lariat. 

LA Knight entered next. Knight stomped a mudhole on Paul, with whom he’s been feuding on Raw. Knight hit Williams with a neckbreaker before turning his attention back to Paul, driving him into a pod. Paul returned the favour by yanking Knight into a pod and into the cage. 

Paul climbed atop a pod, and Evans and Knight joined him there. Evans and Knight chucked Paul off the pod and into the ring, knocking over Rhodes and Williams. Knight then gave Evans a BFT on top of the pod. There isn’t a lot of room up there, so it sounded better than it looked. 

Randy Orton entered last. Orton handed out powerslams to Williams and Paul before dropping both with a double draping DDT. Orton set up for an RKO, but Knight dropped him with a DDT. 

Evans nailed Williams with a frog splash off the top of the pod, but Paul immediately caught Evans and hit Paulverizer for the pinfall elimination (so Evans was out first). 

Knight went for a step-up diving elbow drop, but slipped off the top, and the previously quiet crowd groaned. Knight followed by hitting Orton with a regular elbow drop. Moments later, Paul gave Knight a low-blow and a schoolboy for the pinfall elimination. Boy, that sequence could not have gone worse for Knight. 

Williams avoided a Paulverizer but landed in the arms of Rhodes, who hit a Cross Rhodes. Paul chucked Rhodes out of the way and covered Williams for the pinfall elimination. So Paul has now pinned Evans, Knight and Williams. 

The masked man tried scaling the outside of the cage, but was pulled down by security and escorted up the ramp. Pearce unmasked him, but it was a different random guy. They took him to the back. 

As Williams was taken out of the cage, a new masked man entered the open door of the cage. He dropped Paul with a thrust kick and a curb stomp. Rhodes pinned Paul for the elimination. 

The masked man revealed himself to be Seth Rollins, and the crowd went nuts. Heyman loudly shrieked. Rollins left through the crowd as the fans sang his song. 

Rhodes and Orton were the final two. The door was still open for some reason, so Drew McIntyre hit Rhodes from behind with his title belt. Rhodes recovered seconds later and fought back, but McIntyre dropped him with a headbutt. 

As McIntyre hammered away at Rhodes, Orton turned him around and hit an RKO. Rhodes grabbed McIntyre as Orton encouraged him to hit a Cross Rhodes. Rhodes hit the move, but Orton immediately nailed Rhodes with an RKO for the pinfall win. The crowd popped. 

Randy Orton is going to WrestleMania to face Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship. 

— The story here, obviously, was Orton pulling the trigger on his old friend to cash his ticket to WrestleMania. Orton looked on as Rhodes left the ring, but Rhodes did not look back. 

Match result: Randy Orton defeated Cody Rhodes, Logan Paul, Trick Williams, LA Knight and Je’Von Evans (24:55)

Another pretty average match with even fewer spectacular spots than the women’s Chamber match. There was more stuff going on in this one with the interference spots and Orton’s surprise win, so it’ll make for an interesting video package at least. 

WWE SmackDown live results: Elimination Chamber go-home show

Posted on by Marc Quill

Ahead of the men’s Elimination Chamber match tomorrow night in Chicago, tonight’s SmackDown from Louisville, KY’s KFC Yum! Center will feature all six competitors meeting for a final summit before the big match tomorrow to decide Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre’s WrestleMania opponent.

Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Jey Uso, LA Knight, Je’von Evans, and Trick Williams will all be in the same building tonight with tensions sure to erupt in advance of tomorrow’s Elimination Chamber PLE.

Meanwhile, a night before she’s set to enter the women’s Elimination Chamber, Rhea Ripley and her tag partner IYO SKY will defend their Women’s Tag Team Championships against Nia Jax and Lash Legend in a return match from two weeks ago.

The battle for the Wyatt Sicks’ coveted lantern heats up as group leader Uncle Howdy will battle the head of the M.F.T.’s, Solo Sikoa in one-on-one action.

In other action tonight, Oba Femi takes on The Miz, while Jordynne Grace faces Candice LeRae.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.

***********

– Immediately after the WWE signature, we went to a hectic scene backstage as Jey Uso was being loaded onto an ambulance after a backstage ambush. It was chaos everywhere as Cody Rhodes was arguing with Nick Aldis. Meanwhile, Trick Williams & Je’von Evans were arguing as we cut to the arena and Drew McIntyre addressing the crowd.

Drew McIntyre opens SmackDown

The Undisputed WWE Champion again insisted that he wasn’t behind the attack of Uso, but Nick Aldis appeared at the stage and threatened McIntyre. Aldis demanded that McIntyre head to his office now so they could discuss. Cody Rhodes stormed to the ring and wanted a piece of McIntyre as he challenged him to fight right now. McIntyre refused to answer his challenge.

“You disengaging witless Scottish oaf,” Rhodes shouted, as he then called him a little bitch. Rhodes vowed that after he wins the Elimination Chamber, he will finally get his rematch. That was when Randy Orton interrupted proceedings.

Orton said that while what happened to Jey Uso earlier sucked, his only concern was winning the Chamber and going to WrestleMania to face McIntyre. As Orton headed into the ring, he directly addressed Cody Rhodes. Before he could say much, Trick Williams then paced his way down to the ring, lemon pepper steppers and all.

Williams said that tonight, as he was looking at Rhodes and Orton. Since they were in the KFC Center, he figured he’d add a little something to the menu. Just as Williams was going to continue speaking, Je’von Evans cut in. He said that he was going to win the Chamber, and beat Randy Orton’s record as the youngest World Champion ever.

The parade of promos continued as L.A. Knight sauntered his way down to the ring. Knight said that he heard a lot of things, but that everyone in the Chamber belonged to him, and that meant Drew McIntyre’s title belonged to him. Williams cut in on Knight’s “with everyone saying L.A. Knight” catchphrase, saying “Whoop that Trick.” Knight obliged Williams’ statement and punched him in the face. This led to Knight and Williams brawling to the back. As Rhodes, Evans, and Orton were looking on, The Viper hit Evans with an RKO as he stared Rhodes down before leaving.

The promo parade was halfway entertaining, but the bigger story was the angle to write Jey Uso out of Elimination Chamber since it was apparent that Bronson Reed was meant to win the qualifier on Monday’s Raw. It’s another mystery attacker angle, yes, but it is something that had to be done on short notice. That said, it’ll be curious to see who they get to fill out Jey’s vacant spot.

***********

– As Tiffany Stratton was being interviewed, Asuka interrupted her and we got a match between the two set for tonight.

– At the commentary table, Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett set up the night as we got the usual backstage shots of wrestlers arriving to the arena. Tonight, we’ll see RHIYO vs. The Irresistable Forces for the Women’s Tag Team Titles, plus The Miz vs. Oba Femi.

Solo Sikoa vs. Uncle Howdy

This match started as Sikoa motioned towards the lantern before we got a test of strength between him and Howdy. Sikoa shoved Howdy and missed with a strike, as Howdy then did Bray Wyatt’s corner psyche-out taunt to him. Sikoa locked in a resthold on Howdy, but was forced out of it. The two then traded strikes as Howdy took down Sikoa with the running flying forearm. Howdy attempted to go for Sister Abigail, but Sikoa rolled out of the ring. At ringside, Sikoa missed with the Samoan Spike as Howdy dodged, which caused Sikoa’s thumb to make impact with the ring post. Howdy clothesline Sikoa over the timekeeper’s barrier as he stared at the prized Wyatt lantern sat on a podium at ringside.

Back in the ring, Howdy got hit with a punch from Sikoa, who then threw his foe into the middle turnbuckle to put Howdy out of commission as we took a break.

We returned from the break as Howdy was back in the ring trying to mount a comeback, but he fell victim to a Sikoa Samoan Drop for a near-fall. Howdy targeted Sikoa’s hurt thumb to break out of a hold, as he then pummeled his foe in the corner with strikes. An attempted clothesline was blocked by Sikoa, who dropped Howdy with the Spinning Solo. On the top rope, Sikoa soared and hit a diving splash on Howdy for another two-count.

As Howdy was trying to recover, Sikoa stalked him and picked him up as he put him in position for a Sister Abigail of his own. Howdy countered that into the Mandible Claw instead. Sikoa got out of it with a Samoan Spike on Howdy, which sent him stunned in the corner. Sikoa managed to hit two running hip attacks, but a third was intercepted by Howdy, who finished Sikoa off with Sister Abigail.

After the match, as Howdy tried to reclaim the lantern, the M.F.T.s ambushed him and took the lantern from Howdy. The Wyatt Sicks ran them off, but it was too late.

Uncle Howdy def. Solo Sikoa via pinfall

I think I’ve made it clear week in and week out at how much I hate this M.F.T.s/Wyatt Sicks feud, and this boring stinker of a match didn’t help shake things at all. It just felt like a match that plodded towards a dull conclusion, and the post-match bit with the M.F.T.s retaking the Wyatts’ lantern means that this feud is going to be continued even further, and let me just say that is a frightening thought — but not in the way WWE is intending.

***********

– While Nick Aldis was arguing with Drew McIntyre, what was left of The Vision confronted the SmackDown GM. Paul Heyman advocated to Aldis to put Logan Paul in the Elimination Chamber in the injured Jey Uso’s place. Aldis didn’t take the bait as he suggested that it was very convenient that The Vision benefitted from Uso’s injury. Aldis said that he had to make some calls, as there was a lot of politics and business involved.

– Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY were interviewed ahead of their Women’s Tag Title defense against Nia Jax & Lash Legend. Ripley said that she had to take things one at a time and was focused on beating Jax & Legend tonight. SKY then continued stating that after tonight, Ripley would win the womens’ Elimination Chamber and go on to WrestleMania to become a champion. Ripley put herself and SKY over as a team that wins because they have each other’s backs.

– Aldis was taking a call until Jacob Fatu faced off with him. Fatu proposed that he be put into the Chamber match to replace Jey Uso. He promised to take care of the Drew McIntyre problem at WrestleMania. Aldis told Fatu that he was taking that under advisement.

– They showed an NXT Origins video focused on Damian Priest.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Kairi Sane (w/ Asuka)

Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre made their way to ringside just before this match, as Jelly Roll was shown in the crowd. Green joined Tesssitore and Barrett on commentary for this match.

As Asuka entered the ring, she stated that she wanted to keep fresh for the Elimination Chamber as she announced Kairi Sane was taking her place.

As the match started, Stratton hit a springboard moonsault in the ring, before she showed some nice acrobatic dodges to get ahead of Sane. She hit a running hip attack on a prone Sane as she then dove to the outside to take her out. As Stratton was entering the ring, Asuka distracted her, which allowed Sane to take advantage as she sent Stratton face first into the ring post. This took us into the break.

The match returned from break as Stratton had Sane on the ropes and connected with her cartwheel-into-Alabama Slam on her foe. Sane managed to kick out just before two. The rolling senton from Stratton on Sane, but the Prettiest Moonsault Ever was blocked, which put Stratton in an unenviable position in the corner. Sane took advantage and hit the double-stomp from the top rope to the face of Stratton for the near-fall. With Stratton down and out in the corner, Sane hit her with a running elbow. Sratton avoided a dive, as another cartwheel Alabama Slam was attempted. Sane’s counter of that was turned into a dropkick by Stratton.

Sane had Stratton for a move on the apron, but that was reversed into a suplex attempt. Sane showed nice wherewithal and turned it into a spiking DDT onto the apron instead. In the ring, Sane hit a diving spear, but couldn’t put Stratton away. Sane attempted an Insane Elbow, but Stratton recovered and pushed Sane out of the ring and into Alba Fyre. Green got up from her wheelchair and yelled at Stratton, who moved out of the way at the last minute to cause a diving Sane to barrel into Green.

Stratton threw Sane back into the ring and hit the rolling senton on her before she put an end to this one with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the pin and win.

Tiffany Stratton def. Kairi Sane via pinfall

That was a decently entertaining match. I will say that Stratton and Sane worked well here and the antics with Green and Stratton did add a bit to the proceedings.

***********

The Vision were waiting for Nick Aldis in his office. Aldis informed that he spoke with Adam Pearce and that Logan Paul will be in the Elimination Chamber, provided that he wins his match against Jacob Fatu set for later tonight.

Oba Femi vs. The Miz

As the bell rang, Miz rolled out of the ring and grabbed a microphone. He told Femi that they didn’t have to fight. Femi told Miz to get his own mic. Miz said that they didn’t have to fight, but as the self-proclaimed locker room leader, they could use this as a teaching moment. Miz talked about how many years ago, he made the mistake to go after locker room leaders like The Undertaker and Triple H. He offered to Femi to be his guide, stating he wanted to be his “Undertaker”.

“You don’t have a striking resemblance, but you look like a deadman to me,” said Femi in response.

Miz continued to butter up Femi, but was soundly rejected. Femi gauged interest from the Louisville crowd on whether or not he wanted to accept the offer, but Femi declared that Miz was “dying tonight”. Again Miz tried to beg off, but that didn’t work out for him.

The match finally started proper with Femi hitting Miz with a hard clothesline. Femi took down a diving Miz with a punch to the gut. He blocked Miz’s attempt at a Skull-Crushing Finale with his strength as he threw him halfway across the ring. Femi won after a Fall From Grace powerbomb on the hapless Miz.

Oba Femi def. The Miz via pinfall

Like the Kit Wilson stuff from before the match last week, the promo with Femi and Miz before the actual match feels like they’re doing a bit too much right now when it’s clear just letting Femi wreck foes without any sort of extracurriculars like what we saw tonight and last week. I know I’ll probably on an island on my own about this, but that’s just how I feel.

***********

– Carmelo Hayes was surprised to see Ilja Dragunov in a suit, as he was hoping to face him in the U.S. Title Open Challenge. Dragunov said he didn’t feel worthy after losing to Tama Tonga last week. Hayes said that he didn’t need the pep talk from Dragunov, but that Dragunov needed to remind himself who he was, because if he didn’t take his shot now, someone else would.

U.S. Title Open Challenge: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Matt Cardona

The former U.S. Champion (as Zack Ryder) was revealed as Hayes’ Open Challenge opponent before the match started.

Cardona and Hayes engaged in a bit of chain wrestling early as the two engaged in a bit of friendly trashtalk in the midst of it. Cardona hit a running shoulder block on Hayes, followed by a big dropkick. Early pin attempt, but Hayes easily kicked out. Cardona had Hayes in a headlock, but he couldn’t maintain it as Hayes hit Cardona with a dropkick of his own. Cardona bounced back with a big boot to the face of Hayes, followed by the neckbreaker. Hayes threw Cardona onto the apron, as the two fought briefly. After Cardona got sent out of the ring, he avoided Hayes’ splash from the apron, which sent him careening to the side of the announce table instead. This brought us to a break in the action.

We returned from commercial as Cardona had Hayes in the corner and hit his running Broski Boot. He then catapulted Hayes’ face into the bottom part of the middle turnbuckle for added damage. Despite that, however, Hayes kicked out at two. Cardona deposited Hayes to the outside and hit his rope-assisted dropkick to Hayes on the outside. As Cardona entered the ring, Hayes fought back and got him in a compromising position draped over the middle rope. This gave Hayes the opening to hit the no-look leg drop on Cardona.

Once both men recovered to their feet, Hayes got a head of steam and connected with the springboard clothesline. Hayes absorbed a big boot from Cardona and bounced into the ropes to hit his take on La Mistica for a close near-fall. Cardona blocked a First 48 attempt as he then dropped him with a double-underhook powerbomb. One, two… NO! Hayes avoided a Broski Boot from Cardona and tossed him over head with the back body drop. As Hayes headed up top, Cardona woke up and caught him for the Frankensteiner. Cardona’s Rough Ryder was countered by Hayes, but the pin was unsuccessful.

Hayes headed to the top and went for his Nothin’ But Net legdrop. Cardona dodged Hayes’ best weapon and finally landed the Rough Ryder on his foe. One, two… 2.999999!!!!!!! After a rolling pin exchange, it was “case closed” as Hayes retained after finally hitting the First 48 on Cardona.

Carmelo Hayes def. Matt Cardona via pinfall to retain the United States Championship

A bit different from the usual high-octane defenses from Hayes, but I still enjoyed this one a great deal. This was the best that Cardona has looked since his WWE return. Like the current U.S. Champion himself, these Open Challenges don’t miss.

***********

– SmackDown’s tag division stood in front of the Mystery Crate wondering what was inside, as R-Truth explained how to order the ESPN app to watch Elimination Chamber tomorrow (for viewers in the United States). Candice LeRae rolled a crate with depressed Johnny Gargano on top of it past the group. Kit Wilson then rolled up and called everyone in the room “Toxic” for laughing at Gargano’s plight.

Jordynne Grace vs. Candice LeRae (w/ Sad Johnny Gargano)

Johnny Gargano, as sad as ever, was lying on top of the announce table.

Grace got things going with a spinebuster followed by a clothesline on LeRae. That advantage was momentary as LeRae fought back and hit a running senton to a prone Grace. After some stomps to the head of Grace, LeRae locked in a sleeper that she held on to until Grace powered out of it. This led to a back-and-forth pin exchange between Grace and LeRae until the former was hit with a single-leg Codebreaker by the latter. Up and over to the apron went LeRae, who headed up to the top rope. Grace hit LeRae with a single shot as she then turned that into a powerful stalling superplex from the second rope. She followed that with a modified Jackhammer, but LeRae kicked out.

LeRae hit Grace with a boot as she saw Johnny Gargano sit up. This got her attention as Gargano ambled about with head down. Grace took advantage as she won this match with a pumphandle German suplex on LeRae.

Jordynne Grace def. Candice LeRae via pinfall

This seemed a bit too short and looked more focused on continuing the “Sad Gargano” stuff more than re-establishing LeRae as a credible threat. I feel that LeRae could be a good addition to the SmackDown women’s division with a few more reps, so I hope that continues.

***********

– Jade Cargill warned Raquel Rodriguez that she would put her down if she won the Elimination Chamber and went on to face her at WrestleMania. After Rodriguez left, Michin and B-Fab once again taunted Cargill.

– A recap of AJ Styles’ retirement ceremony from Raw this past Monday was shown. We learned that Styles would be inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame this year alongside Stephanie McMahon.

– Jacob Fatu was warming up for his match as Cody Rhodes approached him and said that he hoped Fatu would win the match later tonight. Sami Zayn appeared in front of Rhodes and got a quick handshake. Zayn talked to Fatu and decided to make indirectly make an accusation that Fatu might’ve been responsible for what happened to Jey Uso. Fatu didn’t take too kindly to Zayn’s words. Fatu shouted that McIntyre directly screwed him out of the Chamber qualifier by Claymore kicking him, as well as Cody. Fatu noted that Zayn may have been helped out by McIntyre’s involvement. Zayn tried to apologize as Fatu left to go get ready for his match. In a fit of rage, Zayn flipped a table angrily.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: RHIYO (Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY) (c) vs. The Irresistable Forces (Nia Jax & Lash Legend)

Jax and Legend had an official new team name and specialized lower-third graphics, as well as a new theme when they made their entrance.

This match got underway as SKY took on Legend in the ring. The strength of Legend allowed her to lift SKY, but she couldn’t capitalize on it. A dropkick by SKY allowed her to tag in Ripley, who then used a nice tandem move on Legend. After the pin attempt, Legend recovered and punched Ripley, as Jax tagged into the match. Ripley tagged in SKY as the Women’s Tag Champs showed some nice teamwork with double sliding dropkicks on Legend and Jax. Their attempt at a double dive was caught by Jax and Legend who slammed their opponents against the barricade as we took a break.

This title match returned from commercial as Legend absolutely flattened SKY with a massive big boot for the near-fall. Legend took advantage as she used her feet to choke SKY across the bottom rope. The newly-minted Irresistable Forces looked to have the advantage, but SKY escaped her fate with a rolling dodge, followed by a kick to the side of Legend’s head. This allowed SKY to get to her corner to finally tag in Ripley.

Ripley escaped a Samoan Drop attempt by Jax, as she held her own against Jax and Legend. A missile dropkick from Ripley to Jax got a near-fall. SKY was looking for the tag, but Legend pulled her down from the apron. This gave Jax the opening to hit a Samoan Drop on Ripley, as she then pulled her foe into the corner. Jax got on the top rope and hit the Annihilator. Ripley escaped and hit a Cheeky Nando’s Kick on Jax, as she lifted her up for the powerbomb. One, two… NOT YET! Ripley floored Jax with a Shining Wizard, followed by the cannonball from the apron as a sports-style replay of that move took us to another break.

We returned from the break as Jax threw Ripley out of the ring as she and Legend had their way with one-half of the Women’s Tag Champs. Jax slammed Ripley across the top of the commentary table with a Samoan Drop, as she then threw her into the ring and into a running splash from Legend for the two-count. Legend connected with a Chokeslam as Jax followed that up with a leg drop. SKY made the save to break the count. Legend had SKY in a powerbomb position, but she used precision to avoid that fate and sent her out of the ring. Meanwhile, Ripley avoided Jax’s running attack to cause her foe to crash shoulder-first into the ring post. SKY got the hot tag as she used her speed to hit legal woman Legend with a double stomp.

SKY was lifted in the air by Legend, as she then used the momentum to hit a DDT-like move on Jax behind her. SKY then followed it with a missile dropkick on Legend, followed by the suicide dive to Jax outside the ring. With Legend stunned in the corner, SKY connected with the Bullet Train Attack on her. SKY hit the Over the Moonsault on Legend, but Jax broke up the pin. Jax got SKY in position for the Annihilator and made no mistake. SKY was saved as Ripley pulled Legend out of the ring to break the pin up

Back in the ring, Ripley hit Riptide on Jax, but Legend — who was the legal woman — snuck up and got the Lash Extension on her unaware foe. The three and we got new Women’s Tag Champs.

The Irresistable Forces def. RHIYO via pinfall to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships

This was a good match, and giving Jax and Legend the Women’s Tag Titles was the right call here. No complaints here.

***********

– Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss were seen commiserating with one another as the latter was eating ice cream. While the two were discussing, Giulia and Kiana James mocked them as the two reiterated their goals of being double champions. Flair, while still sadly eating ice cream, said that neither James nor Giulia could have any. Jade Cargill then appeared to sarcastically wish James and Bliss luck tomorrow.

– The M.F.T.s met with Nick Aldis, complaining about something being need to be done with the Wyatt Sicks. Aldis said that the it was the M.F.T.s who were causing all of the commotion and suggested that maybe it was time to do something about the WWE Tag Team Championships held by the group, which hadn’t been defended in quite some time. Aldis stated that next week on SmackDown, they were going to determine challengers for the Tag Titles.

– The new Women’s Tag Champions were interviewed about their big victory as they declared that next week, they’d celebrate in the biggest and baddest way possible.

– Backstage, Randy Orton was confronted by Aleister Black and Zelina. Black said that he hoped Orton may have woken up after the Black Mass last week, but Orton wanted none of it, as he promised to find Black after the Chamber. After Orton left, Black stated that’s because he supposedly planned for it.

Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Jacob Fatu vs. Logan Paul (w/ The Vision)

Austin Theory distracted Fatu early, which allowed Logan to get the advantage with running forearms on opposite corners. Fatu tanked a boot from Logan, as he then took him down with a running attack in the corner, followed by punches to the face. Fatu struck down Logan with an elbow and kept the assault going. With Logan literally on the ropes, Fatu flattened him with strikes to the throat. Another running corner attack by Fatu on Logan rattled him nicely for a clothesline over the top rope. Fatu then soared through the middle ropes to take Logan down with a suicide dive as we took one final commercial break.

Our main event returned as Logan slammed Fatu down for a near-fall. Logan avoided a running corner splash from Fatu as he hit a jumping neckbreaker afterwards. Logan headed to the top and missed with the frog splash and walked right into the superkick from Fatu. The handspring moonsault from Fatu only got a two. Fatu headed to the top rope, but Logan intercepted him and struck with clubbing blows. Logan tried for the superplex, but Fatu blocked it successfully and shoved his opponent down. Swanton by Fatu was blocked by Logan’s knees, as he then hit a Blockbuster followed by a rough-looking springboard moonsault for a near-fall.

Logan set Fatu up for the Paulverizer, but he couldn’t connect. Fatu caught Paul with the running hip attack. Distractions from Austin Theory and Paul Heyman allowed Logan to hit a low blow on Fatu followed by the titanium loaded punch to the face. Frog splash by Paul on Fatu only got a two-count. Meanwhile outside the ring, the Masked Man attacked Theory outside the ring as Logan intercepted him. The Masked Man got unmasked to be revealed as some unknown person.

Back in the ring, Fatu had Logan dead to rights with the moonsault, but Drew McIntyre blasted him with the Undisputed WWE Title, which allowed Logan to roll him up for the three to qualify for the Elimination Chamber.

Logan Paul def. Jacob Fatu via pinfall to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber match

***********

It just isn’t a Paul Levesque-booked main event without some weird overbooked shenanigans, but I suspect having a Vision member was always the plan so we get the true Masked Man reveal in the Chamber tomorrow, with the “reveal” tonight just being a red herring for the presumed Seth Rollins reveal tomorrow. That said, given how creatively dull WWE has been with their main storylines, I don’t blame people for assuming that the “reveal” was them quietly killing the Masked Man story, especially with injuries putting half of The Vision on the shelf.

It’s clear that with McIntyre continually antagonizing everyone, they’re building to something perhaps better than just him strictly fighting Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania. I do wonder if they can make the build to this potential multi-man match interesting, on account of the aforementioned struggles of keeping main event stories exciting.

As far as tonight’s SmackDown is concerned, other than the dreadful Sikoa vs. Howdy match to open the show, it was again an entertaining show, even in spite of the big storylines not really being that engaging. The in-ring action with the U.S. Title match and the Women’s Title matches were both good to see, and I am finding the tease to a heel turn for Sami Zayn to be quite interesting — perhaps more interesting than the main Cody vs. Drew story — so it’s not like this show is terrible as a whole.

WWE NXT live results: Four championship matches

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Title matches are the theme of WWE NXT tonight with four championships set to be defended.

Sol Ruca has the chance to become NXT Women’s Champion for the first time ever when she faces off against Jacy Jayne, who Ruca eliminated from the Royal Rumble last month. The ongoing tension between Ruca and Zaria could end up playing a role in tonight’s match with WWE continuing to tease a split between the two friends.

One week after setting the record for most successful defenses of the North American Championship, Ethan Page puts his title on the line again tonight against Myles Borne. Page is now officially tied with Oba Femi for the longest reign in the title’s history.

The NXT Tag Team titles will be defended as well, with DarkState facing off against Vanity Project.

A triple threat match for the men’s WWE Speed Championship will see Eli Knight and Elio LeFleur challenge Jasper Troy.

Rivals Blake Monroe and Thea Hail will meet as they face off in a women’s Speed tournament match. Plus, Sean Legacy takes on Keanu Carver.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

NXT is on the air in front of a live studio audience from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando. Vic Joseph voices over a live introduction, and he throws it to NXT GM Robert Stone. He plays carny barker as he hypes tonight’s card. Opening the card is a tag team title match.

Vanity Project (Ricky Smokes & Brad Baylor with NXT Evolve Champion Jackson Drake) vs. Darkstate (Saquon Shugars & Osiris Griffin with Dion Lennox & Cutler James) for the NXT Tag Team Championship

—

The tag title bout goes through a commercial break. Darkstate tosses Baylor & Smokes around like ragdolls before the show cuts to picture-in-picture. Drake interferes during the break, which allows Vanity Project to gain an advantage by the time the show returns from the commercials.

Heat on Shugars as Vanity Project work him over. This builds to a hot tag, and Griffin cleans house. Griffin is fired up like Robert Gibson getting the hot tag from Ricky Morton. Wacky to see since Darkstate have been heels during their run. Griffin goes on to chokeslam both members of Vanity Project, leading to a near fall.

Darkstate go for a Doomsday Device, and Shugars delivers a missile dropkick. Shugars goes for a cover, but Drake interferes by putting Baylor’s foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Cutler James and Dion Lennox then confront Drake, and referees pour out to separate them at ringside. Griffin leaves the ring to join the melee with a flying crossbody.

With the melee going on the side of the entrance ramp, Shugars is outside the ring on the opposite side. Tony D’Angelo suddenly runs in to slam Shugars on the apron. Tony D then rolls Baylor into the ring so he can cover Shugars for a three count. And new…

Match result: Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes defeated NXT Tag Team Champions Saquon Shugars & Osiris Griffin to win the titles when Baylor pinned Shugars after interference by Tony D’Angelo.

— Sarah Schreiber interviews Myles Borne about him challenging tonight for the NXT North American Championship. Borne cuts a good promo about how he can beat Ethan Page for the title.

Keanu Carver vs. Sean Legacy

—

Carver looked good here despite being green in the ring. Legacy was a great opponent for Carver, who was able to look very strong with Legacy bumping for him. Carver is getting a monster push, so he pummeled Legacy during much of the match. Legacy started strong until Carver cut him off and began to pummel him. Carver also used moves like slams and backbreakers, while he also heaved Legacy across the ring.

Carver went to spear Legacy through the barricade, which is a callback to a spot they did weeks ago to set up this bout. Legacy countered with a superkick that put Carver on rubber legs. Springboard 450 splash by Legacy for a near fall. Springboard into a missile dropkick, and Legacy attempts sliced bread. Carver cuts off Legacy, and Carver hit him with a Monty Brown Pounce. Carver then lifts Legacy with a vertical suplex, and Carver drives Legacy into the mat with a powerslam. Carver covers Legacy for a pinfall.

Match result: Keanu Carver defeated Sean Legacy via pinfall.

— WWE Women’s Evolve Champion Kendal Grey is giving Wren Sinclair a pep talk ahead of her match tonight. Kelani Jordan enters to gloat about herself before bad mouthing Lola Vice. Chaos erupts as Vice rushes in trying to kick Jordan. Security and referees try to separate everyone.

Jasper Troy vs. Eli Knight vs. Elio LeFleur in a triple threat match for the WWE Speed Championship

—

They had a great fast-paced match. Troy looked strong and powerful throughout the seven-minute time limit, despite him dropping the fall. Just before they go home, LeFleur what looked like an awkward tilt-a-whirl trying to counter a black hole slam. LeFleur does not panic, as he simply takes takes Troy down with a leg lariat. Knight then moonsaults off the top rope on Troy, but Knight sells the impact. That allows LeFleur to rush in and covers Troy for a three count in the closing minute of the time limit. And new…

Match result: Elio LeFleur defeated WWE Speed Champion Jasper Troy and Eli Knight in a triple threat match to win the title when LeFleur pinned Troy.

— NXT North American Champion Ethan Page is the trainer’s room getting his ankle taped, which plays on the cliffhanger from last week that set up tonight’s main event. Ricky Saints is talking with Page in the trainer’s room when in walks the new NXT Tag Team Champions Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes. They brag on them winning the title before Saints vows to add to that when he wins the singles title at Vengeance Day. Saints also says they will ensure Page retain his title tonight.

— NXT Champion Joe Hendry is the focus of “NXT Chronicle”, which was a great personality profile hyping up Hendry.

— Damian Priest is featured in a video package that highlights his run in NXT, and he talks about what he learned in developmental.

— Lola Vice storms into Robert Stone’s office, and Vice demands Stone book her and Kelani Jordan in an Underground match. That was easy enough, as Stone books the match for Vengeance Day.

Sol Ruca (with Zaria) vs. Jacy Jayne (with Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid) for the NXT Women’s Championship

—

Turns out this was more an angle than a match. After the ring introductions, the referee holds up the title belt to display what is at stake. Suddenly, Zaria spears Sol Ruca. Zaria then delivers a F5, and Ruca is out on her feet. The bell rings to start the match. Ruca gets to her feet, only for her to walk into a Rolling Encore from Jayne. She covers Ruca for a pinfall in seconds. And still…

Match result: NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne defeated Sol Ruca via pinfall to retain her title.

In a post-match attack, Zaria gives Ruca another F5. This time it was on the announce desk. Zaria then taunts Ruca as the show cuts to a commercial break.

— Back from commercial and Tatum Paxley is cutting a promo alongside the studio audience. She puts over the fans for having her back, as they did not want her to change. They accepted Paxley for being herself, and she truly felt love from them.

Paxley then talks about regaining the NXT Women’s North American Championship from Izzi Dame. She wants Dame to come out, and Dame does enter the sound stage to confront Paxley. Dame goes into the crowd to confront Paxley, and the house lights in the sound stage go dark so we are left to wonder. Instead, we get the entrance of Blake Monroe.

Blake Monroe vs. Thea Hail in a Speed tournament match

—

After about a minute into the match, Jaida Parker runs down to ringside where she hits Monroe with a hip attack. Neckbreaker by Hail in the ring, and she covers Monroe for a three count. In winning, Hail advances in the tournament to meet the winner of Wren Sinclair vs. Nikkita Lyons to decide the next contender for the WWE Women’s Speed Champion Fallon Henley.

Match result: Thea Hail defeated Blake Monroe via pinfall to advance in the tournament.

— “NXT Chronicle” continues with more about NXT Champion Joe Hendry. He talks about his theme music becoming a hit song. That was the final puzzle piece to him becoming a superstar.

Kale Dixon (with Andre Chase) vs. Uriah Connors (with Lexis King, Arianna Grace & Stacks)

—

Two former teammates meet in this bout, albeit in somewhat of a filler position. The match begins soon as the show returns from a commercial break with both already in the ring. They had a good match with lots of flying and high spots.

For the finish, Connors counters a moonsault with knee up. Dixon follows up by landing a running knee strike to set up the pin.

Match result: Uriah Connors defeated Kale Dixon via pinfall.

— Zaria confronts the Fatal Influence trio in a locker room skit, and Zaria says Jacy Jayne owes her a favor. Zaria wants a title shot for the NXT women’s title next week, or Zaria warns she will do to Jayne what she did to Sol Ruca.

— In another locker room skit, Ricky Saints invited Vanity Project to his concert next week. This plays on Joe Hendry’s gimmick of doing live musical performances, with Saints promising an “Absolute” concert experience of his own.

Enter Shiloh Hill alongside Hank & Tank. They have what they claim is a steering wheel, as they apparently took apart Jackson Drake’s car. With that, a brawl erupts backstage. Referees pour in as the camera shakes.

— Myles Borne is the focus of a personality profile ahead of him challenging for a tile in the main event, which is up next on tonight’s card.

— Sarah Schreiber interviews GM Robert Stone. He confirms Jacy Jayne defends her NXT Women’s Championship against Zaria next Tuesday on NXT. Also next week is Shiloh Hill teaming with Hank & Tank in a six-man tag team match with Vanity Project. Stone also confirms Ricky Saints will have an “Absolute” concert next week.

NXT Women’s North American Champion Izzi Dame enters the office to say she would agree to meeting with Tatum Paxley. Stone is skeptical but seemingly agrees to the segment.

Myles Borne vs. Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship

—

The match begins with a tale as old as time in pro wrestling psychology. Borne even had white flames on his trunks in his role as the white hot babyface. That babyface challenger shines at the outset until the veteran champ cuts him off and turns the tables — almost literally with the table. Page sends Borne crashing into the announce desk. Page then executes a Razor’s Edge that plants Borne hard on top of the desk. The match then goes through a commercial break.

Comeback by Borne, and he fires up on Page. Fisherman’s buster by Borne for a near fall. Page cuts Borne off again, and they trade near falls. Razor’s Edge in the middle of the ring, but Borne kicks out. Slug fest as they duke it out. They do a suplerplex that led to Page getting a near fall.

In the closing minutes they trade big moves, with Page hitting a codebreaker, and Borne answers with a zig-zag a moment later. Vanity Project runs down to ringside. New tag champs Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes distract the referee while Jackson Drake hits Borne with Drake’s Evolve title belt. Page goes for a cover, but Borne gets a shoulder up. Hank & Tank, along with Shiloh Hill, run down to brawl with the Vanity Project at ringside. Meanwhile, Ricky Saints runs in and goes to climb the turnbuckles. Joe Hendry with a save as he runs in to shove Saints off the turnbuckles. Hendry and Saints brawl at ringside.

For the finish, Page goes for a Razor’s Edge. Borne escapes his clutches, and Borne sends Page into an exposed turnbuckle (which has the padding removed earlier in the bout). Page blocks it at first and goes for Twisted Grin (Twist of Fate), but Borne counters to send Page smashing into the exposed turnbuckle. Borne then executes a zig-zag (called “Borne Again”), and Borne hooks a leg while covering Page for the deciding pinfall. This was a great television main event, and they pulled the trigger and strapped a rocket to Borne. No wonder we wore flames on his trunks. He’s on fire. AND NEW…

Match result: Myles Borne defeated NXT North American Champion Ethan Page via pinfall to win the title.

Borne celebrates his title win by posing with the belt and hugging his family, who were watching from the front row.

WWE Raw live results: AJ Styles tribute, Elimination Chamber go-home show

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: February 23, 2026
Location: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA 

The Big Takeaway —

The highlight of Raw, by far, was the tribute to AJ Styles. He will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2026. 

See more below. 

**********

Show Recap — 

Instead of the usual start to Raw with everyone arriving at the arena, Michael Cole and Corey Graves stood in the ring to welcome us to the show in Atlanta (as everyone sat calmly in their seats). 

They were about to speak about AJ Styles, but they were interrupted by Gunther, who entered through the crowd. He sent Cole and Graves back to the announce desk as he entered the ring. 

Gunther called it disgraceful that they were honouring a loser. The fans liked the losers. Losers like Bill Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles. Gunther ended their careers, so tonight should be a celebration of him. (It really sounded like they were piping in fake booing.) 

Adam Pearce interrupted. Pearce claimed he knew Gunther would pull this, so he brought out security to escort him out of the building. (If he knew this would happen, perhaps he should have addressed it earlier.) 

Gunther said he would leave under his own accord because what was happening tonight was disgraceful. As Gunther was escorted up the ramp by security, he turned around to boast to the crowd when he was suddenly attacked from behind by Dragon Lee. They were quickly separated, but Dragon attacked him again backstage. 

After Dragon Lee was taken away by security, Cody Rhodes appeared and gave Gunther a look before making his way to the ring. 

Rhodes entered to a big reaction and his hometown fans sang his name. He was about to talk about Styles, but like the announcers earlier, was interrupted, this time by The Vision. 

Austin Theory said he was ashamed to be from Atlanta. Logan Paul knew Rhodes wasn’t ashamed to be from Atlanta because he lacked common sense, and he was insane for showing up to Raw. Paul said Bronson Reed would win the Elimination Chamber and win the title at WrestleMania, meaning The Vision would take over SmackDown, too, and Rhodes would be the first one out the door. 

Rhodes wasn’t sure about that and knew someone here who would disagree with them. That brought out Jey Uso (and Jimmy Uso) for their Chamber qualifying match. 

They went to break after The Usos entered, and the entire break was Jey doing his entrance and Yeeting with the crowd. 

(This was a typical opening segment. Except it was actually two opening segments in one. They cleared the ring after the first one and did another.) 

********

Cole called tonight a sell-out with over 12,000 fans. 

Triple threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Bronson Reed vs. Jey Uso vs. The Original El Grande Americano 

The opening match began at 8:20 pm, and they went to commercial two minutes later.

Gable (El Grande) wiped out both guys with an Orihara moonsault ahead of the break. Jey and Gable did their best to keep Reed out of the ring through the break, but Reed re-entered, stacked up both guys on his shoulders and hit an impressive double Samoan drop. 

After Reed gave Jey a World’s Strongest slam, he tried dumping Gable onto Jey, but Gable countered by giving Reed a bulldog while simultaneously leg-dropping Jey. Gable gave Jey a Chaos Theory and went to the top. 

Gable went for a flying headbutt, but Jey was all the way on the other side of the ring, so he missed and landed face-first on the mat. Gable sold it like he hit the move because he made a cover, but Reed broke it up. (I’m guessing this will end up on Jey’s lowlight reel for being out of position. But he was lying stationary when Gable took off, so I don’t know how this got messed up. Graves tried to cover for it on commentary.) 

Gable gave Reed a great-looking German suplex ahead of another break. After a break, Jey and Gable continued wrestling while medical staff checked on Reed outside the ring. (Reed never got back in, so he may have been hurt.) 

During the break, Graves acknowledged that Original El Grande was detested in AAA, while El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) was a hero.

Jey went for an Uso splash, but Gable got his knees up and applied an ankle lock. Jey fought out of it, and they traded kicks until Jey hit a spear and an Uso splash for the pinfall win. 

(They likely had to adjust the finishing sequence with Reed injured. During the next break, Cole said he hoped to get an update on Reed.) 

Match result: Jey Uso defeated The Original El Grande Americano and Bronson Reed to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber (15:32)

******** 

They showed AJ Styles’ debut at Royal Rumble 2016. Bobby Roode and Shinsuke Nakamura were shown talking backstage. 

CM Punk entered the arena in the passenger seat of a Toyota Camry NASCAR driven by Tyler Reddick (owned by Michael Jordan’s team). Reddick sped in and did donuts around the lot. When Punk exited the car, he looked like he just got off a roller coaster. 

******** 

Liv Morgan’s WrestleMania decision 

Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio entered. There was a replay of Stephanie Vaquer accosting Morgan during her interview last week. Morgan looked distressed in the ring upon seeing the replay, but she cheered up when Dominik Mysterio introduced her as the greatest Rumble winner ever. 

Dom said Morgan was ready to make her decision, so he called out Vaquer and Jade Cargill (whose name he mispronounced), and they each entered. 

Morgan wanted to get something off her chest before announcing her decision. She told Vaquer that her words caught her by surprise last week. She wasn’t used to being so vulnerable, and she thought about what Vaquer said all week.

Morgan said Vaquer was right. She didn’t realize how selfish she’d been or how privileged she really was. She had ten years of the best coaches and facilities, and still thought that she was struggling. She didn’t know much about Vaquer’s story, that she had to scratch and claw for ten years just to get to WWE. 

Morgan apologized for judging her and knew Vaquer was the champion that she was because of what she had to go through. But now it was time to focus on her own story. 

Morgan turned her attention to Cargill, but it was a swerve. She turned around and smoked Vaquer on the head with the microphone. Cargill smiled and left the ring. Morgan hammered away at Vaquer, hit a Codebreaker, and an Oblivion. Morgan dumped the world title belt onto Vaquer before leaving with Dom. 

********

Byron Saxton was about to interview Je’Von Evans backstage, but he was quickly greeted by rapper Offset. New Day and Grayson Waller interrupted. Xavier Woods was offended that they weren’t honouring him tonight in his town. New Day also wondered why Offset showed up tonight, given that they had repeatedly invited him in the past. Offset said because New Day sucks. Evans challenged them to a fight. Woods (arm in a sling) reminded him that he was injured, and Kofi Kingston accepted the match instead. 

During a break, they showed quick clips of wrestlers talking about how much Styles meant to them (Rhodes, Charlotte Flair, Sami Zayn, Kurt Angle, Finn Bálor, R-Truth, Tyson Kidd, Xavier Woods, and Roman Reigns). 

Michin, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa greeted Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows backstage. 

********

Nattie vs. Maxxine Dupri 

They fought outside the ring until Nattie booted Dupri into the post. It was the same post spot you see in every match, but Dupri sold it like she was dead. Nattie attacked her wildly as the ref tried checking on her. The ref eventually got Nattie to stop and called off the match. Nattie was announced the winner. 

Match result: Nattie defeated Maxxine Dupri via referee stoppage (1:38)

I guess this was meant to show how dangerous Nattie is, but the damage was done by a simple post spot, not because of anything she did in the ring. 

********

Backstage, JD McDonagh apologized to Finn Bálor (wearing a suit) for being a hot head last week. All he wanted was to see Bálor become champion. Bálor accepted his apology. He said brothers fought, but they always made up. He planned on becoming champion, but he had to do it alone. 

Dom was upset that they left him on his own last week. He knew Bálor wanted to do things on his own, but he didn’t. He wanted their help when he defended the IC title against Penta next week. 

McDonagh had his back, but Bálor quickly cut in. He said nobody had his back when they (Dom and JD) were hurt. He didn’t blame them, and he held his own while they were gone. It was time for Dom to do the same. Take some responsibility and grow up. 

********

Cathy Kelley interviewed Trick Williams on the stage during a break. He planned on winning the Chamber on Saturday. (The crowd seemed into him, but this crowd isn’t that hot for anything so far tonight except for Rhodes’ entrance.) 

Tyler Reddick, 2 Chainz, and Lil Yachty were in the crowd. 

******** 

Adam Pearce told an unfortunate delivery person to load up the wooden crate and ship it to Chicago so he and Nick Aldis could open it together on Saturday. 

Rusev approached Pearce before Rusev was confronted by Oba Femi. Pearce told them to save it for another day because tonight was about Styles. 

******** 

Brock Lesnar segment 

Brock Lesnar entered with Paul Heyman. Heyman said, traditionally, there were always two main events at WrestleMania. The world title match and the Undertaker’s streak. That was until Lesnar ended his streak. Now, the only dead man walking in WWE was the one who would walk down the aisle to face Lesnar. 

Heyman rambled on and on, but long story short, the question was now who would face Lesnar at WrestleMania. Heyman pointed at the screen and showed a list of dates (five dates after tonight) of Lesnar’s upcoming appearances “on the road to WrestleMania” and invited somebody to make the challenge so they could get their ass kicked. 

This felt like a pretty lazy setup for a Lesnar Mania match. But they got the dates out there so people could buy tickets. 

******** 

There was a pre-taped Becky Lynch promo. She reminded AJ Lee how much she’s accomplished and wondered what Lee ever did besides hold a butterfly belt. 

There was a clip of Royce Keys (Powerhouse Hobbs) on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast. He spoke about his brother, who sacrificed his life for him. 

******** 

Je’Von Evans (w/ Offset) vs. Kofi Kinston (w/ Xavier Woods & Grayson Waller)

Kingston tried using a distraction to catch Evans off guard, but Evans didn’t fall for it and clocked him with a running knee strike for a nearfall early in the match. Kingston used a separate distraction moments later to hit a PK and take control. Offset checked on Evans as they went to break. 

Kingston held control through a break until Evans made a comeback and attempted a moonsault. Kingston dodged the moonsault, and Evans landed on his feet, but sold it like he hurt his leg on the landing. Kingston followed with an SOS for two. 

Evans sent Kingston out of the ring and hit a leaping dive while selling the leg. Waller punched Evans with the ref distracted, and Kingston hit a Fameasser for two. Offset chucked Waller over the announce table and backed off Woods. 

Kingston yelled at Offset for getting involved, so Evans flew in with an OG Cutter for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Je’Von Evans defeated Kofi Kingston (10:14) 

This match was ok. They played it up as a big win coming against an all-time great, and a big win headed into the Chamber. 

*******

They aired more messages for AJ Styles from different wrestlers, this time from Bayley, Rey Mysterio, Nattie, The Miz, Robert Roode, Abyss, Booker T, Randy Orton, CM Punk, and Shinsuke Nakamura (who said, “I miss him already.”) 

Frankie Kazarian walked backstage and stopped upon seeing the boiler room. He opened the door to find Abyss (who doesn’t look quite so imposing anymore). They walked off together. 

There was a highlight video of AJ Styles beating John Cena at SummerSlam 2016. Earlier, they showed Styles beating Jinder Mahal for the WWE title on SmackDown. 

******* 

Finn Bálor pre-taped promo 

Bálor said CM Punk wasn’t the only one with people mad at him. He had people mad at him, too. But they needed to understand why he needed to do this. He needed to prove to the doubters, the critics, and Judgment Day that he can be the champion. It’s been ten years of “What ifs.” 

You can learn a lot from a win, but you can learn a lot more from a defeat. When he lost to Punk, he learned to stop asking “What if?” He learned to tell himself “When.” When you beat Punk, when you become World Champion, and when you go on to main event WrestleMania, there would be no more “What ifs,” because everyone would know there was a new best in the world.  

******** 

Dwight Howard, Jermaine Dupri, Funny Marco, and Bow Wow were in the crowd. 

CM Punk promo

Punk entered to a big reaction. The fans chanted his name, but he wanted the fans to chant for Styles instead. 

There were a few things he wanted to address before they head to Chicago. Punk had his own “What ifs” for Bálor. What if Bálor didn’t jump him in Toronto? What if Bálor didn’t interrupt his last match against Styles? Well, Bálor wouldn’t be getting a title match. 

People wondered what Punk was doing, but he was doing the best he could. He was giving the fans the fighting champion they deserved, following in the footsteps of Terry Funk, Harley Race, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Triple H, and the list went on. Punk didn’t like dealing in What ifs. 

Punk asked, “What if Roman Reigns was here tonight?” The fans chanted for Reigns, but Punk said this was why he didn’t like dealing in What ifs because they weren’t rooted in reality, and Reigns wasn’t there. The fans booed, but Punk said they couldn’t be booing him because he was there. Boots on the ground every Monday night, making every town on every tour. 

Punk asked, What if Bálor beat him? Well, no risk and no reward. Reigns would be on Raw next week. What if Punk didn’t wait until Mania and punched Reigns in the face next Monday? 

He didn’t deal in What ifs—he dealt in facts. He didn’t have to ask “What if he was the champion” like Bálor did, because he was the champion. He was the best in the world. He was the main event of WrestleMania. He was CM Punk. 

*******

Omos greeted Petey Williams and Jeremy Borash backstage. 

Triple threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Tag Team Champion IYO SKY vs. Kairi Sane vs. Raquel Rodriguez

As in the earlier triple threat match, the two smaller wrestlers tried working together against the bigger wrestler, but that only lasted so long. Rodriguez caught both women and nailed a double fallaway slam. Also, like in the earlier match, one wrestler wiped out the others with a moonsault ahead of a break (this time an Asai moonsault by Sky). 

Sky hit Sane with a missile dropkick, and the crowd got behind her until she was levelled by Rodriguez. Sky saved Sane from a Tejana Bomb moments later, and they drove her into the ring post. Sky hit Rodriguez with a suicide dive, and Sane followed with an Insane elbow on Rodriguez to the outside. Sky dropkicked Rodriguez into the timekeeper’s area before Sane hit Sky with a spinning backfist. 

Sky avoided an Insane elbow in the ring and hit a moonsault. She had it won, but Rodriguez broke up the cover by yanking Sane out of the ring. Sky hit Rodriguez with a missile dropkick and meteora. Rodriguez tried fighting her off, but Sky nailed a tornado DDT. She set up for a moonsault, but Sane shoved her out of the ring. 

Sane went for an Insane elbow, but she missed. Cole said Rodriguez got her knees up, but that’s not what happened. Rodriguez was already rolling out of the way as Sane was coming down. Anyway, Rodriguez followed with a Tejana Bomb for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Raquel Rodriguez defeated Kairi Sane and IYO SKY to qualify for the Women’s Elimination Chamber (10:53)

********

Next week on Raw in Indianapolis: 

  • Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Penta for the Intercontinental Championship 
  • Gunther vs. Dragon Lee 
  • Roman Reigns “returns” 

Kelley interviewed Jade Cargill during a break, but she was cut off mid-sentence as they returned from break. 

********

AJ Styles tribute 

They started with a terrific AJ Styles video package set to “Higher” by Creed (quite the throwback). Steve Austin called him the best wrestler on two feet, Kurt Angle called him the most talented wrestler been in the ring with, and Undertaker said he couldn’t think of a better person to have his last match with. There were also kind words from Bayley, Miz, Orton, and his wife, Wendy. This was all set to footage of Styles wrestling in TNA and WWE. 

AJ Styles entered. (I guess he’s a little rusty, because he actually bumped into some staging equipment on the way out.) Styles took a deep breath in the ring as the fans and announcers gave him a standing ovation. Fans chanted, “Thank you, AJ.” 

Styles joked that he thought about wearing a suit tonight, but the last time he did, he beat the piss out of Cody Rhodes, so he thought the better of it. Styles thought this would be easier, but if he got choked up, he wanted the fans to know it wasn’t because he was sad. 

Styles was so grateful to be in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up 45 minutes down the road in Gainesville. People usually didn’t get to have a moment like this when they retired, so he was grateful. But at his core, he was still that kid from Gainesville who fell in love with professional wrestling. 

He wrestled in Gainesville, in the TNA Asylum in Nashville, in the Tokyo Dome in Japan, and under the bright lights at WrestleMania. He wrestled some OGs in TNA — (Christopher) Daniel, (Samoa) Joe, and Frankie Kazarian. They made a mark on pro wrestling. 

He went to Japan and met some good brothers. Gallows and Anderson showed him how to have fun in pro wrestling. It didn’t have to be serious all the time. If he was having fun, so were the fans. 

He’s done almost everything. Almost. The one thing he hadn’t done was be a full-time father. (He pointed at his family in the front row.) He missed birthdays, anniversaries, and games. He missed it all, and that was tough. 

His flex should be that he won all those world championships. But his biggest flex was having the best wife in the world. She never slowed him down or told him to stop. She kept pushing him forward. She held the family together even though he had to watch them grow on FaceTime. She was the one. He told her, “I love you,” and he thanked his kids for being there tonight. 

He said things didn’t go the way the fans wanted to against Gunther at Royal Rumble. It wasn’t the way he thought it should go either. But it was poetic. Not many people got to go out where they started. He debuted in WWE at the Rumble in 2016, and his last match was the Rumble in 2026. 

He didn’t leave his gloves in the ring that night, but he was a man of his word. He removed his leather vest and placed it on the ring. He said he didn’t remove his gloves because he wanted to take them with him, bring them to Atlanta, and leave them here at home. 

He removed his gloves and placed them down on his vest in the ring. 

He told the fans, “From the bottom of my heart, I would have been nothing without you. Thank you for your love, and I love you right back. Thank you.” 

(The closing trademark graphic aired at this point, but the segment continued.) 

Wrestlers and personnel filled the stage, and they all gave Styles a standing ovation as the fans chanted, “Thank you, AJ.” 

The lights went out, and Undertaker’s music hit. Taker entered on his motorcycle (and to his Kid Rock theme song). Taker entered the ring with a microphone and looked down at Styles’ gloves. Taker remarked, “You’re just gonna leave your stuff here and leave?” 

Taker said they had unfinished business. Styles looked surprised. Taker told him there was a saying, “If you see me coming, you’re already gone.” Well, Taker wanted to change it. Taker stated,  “If you see me coming, that means you’re going.” The fans figured out what was coming, and so did Styles. 

Taker announced that AJ Styles was the newest inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame. (This actually got the biggest pop of the night.) 

Styles had a huge smile on his face as he appeared to be learning this for the first time. Styles’ family, now at ringside, all hugged as the fans chanted, “You deserve it.” Styles hugged Taker. 

Styles’ family entered the ring, and they all embraced. Styles was pumped up as his music played and the show ended.

[The show was dedicated to the memory of Kerwin Silfies.] 

**********

(As mentioned above, the Styles tribute was the highlight of the show. This was another dull show outside of that, but that won’t matter much this week. It is notable that this was another big city crowd that was quiet all night, as Toronto and Philadelphia were too.)

WWE NXT live results: North American title on the line

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Ethan Page will look to make history as he defends his NXT North American Championship tonight.

A title match between Page and Shiloh Hill is scheduled to take place on tonight’s WWE NXT episode. Page has now been champion for 266 days — and a victory tonight would ensure that he becomes the longest-reigning North American Champion in history. Oba Femi currently holds the record at 272 days.

There will be a fatal four-way match tonight with Hank & Tank vs. The Culling vs. OTM vs. The Vanity Project determining which duo gets the next shot at NXT Tag Team Champions DarkState.

In another match with title implications, Eli Knight and Elio LeFleur meet in the men’s WWE Speed tournament finals. The winner earns a title shot against champion Jasper Troy.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Cutler James and Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice have also been announced, with the latter bout kicking off tonight’s show. Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

NXT is back on the air in front of a live studio audience from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando.

Opening the show is a grudge match set up a few weeks ago after an injury angle. Kelani Jordan attacked Lola Vice in a bout on a previous episode, and Jordan ran in to smash Vice’s right hand with a ladder. That would cost Vice a chance to become the number one contender for a championship. Vice is seemingly out for retribution.

Vice enters the sound stage on this episode for her match against Jordan, and Vice is wearing a brace on her right hand. The hand injury would be a story in the opener on tonight’s card. Vice also enters with her AAA Mixed Tag Team title belt, which she holds alongside Mr. Iguana.

Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan

—

Their fight begins immediately, with Vice meeting Jordan on the floor to brawl. The hand injury played into the match from the start, with Vice mostly using kicks as strikes. Vice tries to strike with her left hand, but Jordan blocks it. Jordan then targets the injured hand. Vice fights back with kicks, but Jordan keeps targeting the hand.

The fighting spilled outside again, where Jordan takes off the brace on Vice’s injured hand. The show cuts to a commercial break with Vice in peril. Back from the break with Jordan still working the hand. Vice fires up with a comeback throwing left hands and kicks. Vice on a roll with an Umaga splash and her take on the Rikishi stink face. V

ice eventually gets near falls on Jordan, before Jordan powders. Vice follows her and leaps off the apron with a seated senton. That got them on the floor for a stunt where Vice crashes through a section of the set on a missed spinning back fist with her injured hand.

Trying to capitalize on the stunt, Jordan goes for a 450 splash in the ring. Vice counters and traps Jordan in a triangle. Jordan escapes and applies an arm bar, and Jordan cranks on the injured hand. Vice taps out and Jordan wins via submission.

Match result: Kelani Jordan defeated Lola Vice via submission.

— Tony D’Angelo cuts a promo on Darkstate. D’Angelo signals out Cutler James, and he wants to make sure the leader (Dion Lennox) is watching tonight. D’Angelo says they took everything from him, and he starts taking back tonight against Cutler James.

— NXT Champion Joe Hendry attacks Ricky Saints as Saints is arriving at the building. Security pours out to separate them.

— Sarah Schreiber interviews Shiloh Hill about his match tonight with Ethan Page. They are interrupted by Hank & Tank, who hype up Hill as he cuts a promo. As Hill leaves, Tank remarks to Hank that Hill is “weird”, but “good weird.”

Joe Hendry and Ricky Saints set up NXT title match

“Stone Cold” Joe Hendry storms to the ring with his NXT title belt. Hendry gets the house microphone and calls out Ricky Saints for jumping him last week. Hendry is not in the mood for singing and dancing. He is in “kicking Ricky Saints’ ass all around the arena type of mood!”

Hendry wants to settle this right here and now. Saints appears on a perch overlooking the ring, and Saints cuts a promo on Hendry. Saints rants about Hendry not being good enough. Saints basically says Hendry’s reign brings down the prestige of the NXT title.

“This place creates and builds stars, yet we have a meme as champion,” Saints says.

Saints then heels on the studio audience by saying they can relate to Hendry because he is a loser. Being an “ever-man” does not make Hendry worthy of being champion. Saints rants that having talent and being attractive makes you a champion.

Hendry tries to salvage the segment by saying he deals in facts. Hendry is the NXT champ, and that makes him the best. Saints retorts that Hendry is best at marketing, and Saints claims Hendry parlayed that into success. Saints mocks Hendry as this segment is getting long in the tooth. Saints eventually challenges Hendry to a NXT title match at NXT Vengeance Day on March 7. Hendry of course accepts the challenges.

Hendry concludes the segment with a final promo threatening to kick Saints’ ass at Vengeance Day.

— NXT Women’s North American Champion Izzi Dame talks strategy with The Culling on Dame keeping the title for a long time. Shawn Spears and Niko Vance also talk about their goal of becoming number one contenders for the tag team titles.

Cuter James vs. Tony D’Angelo

—

James put up a fight, but not much of one. This was a glorified squash, with James getting some brief offense before D’Angelo pummels him. D’Angelo with a series of German suplexes, followed by cutting off James with a spear. D’Angelo then delivers a spinebuster, and he covers James for a three count. Short match, but good for getting D’Angelo over as a killer.

Match result: Tony D’Angelo defeated Cutler James via pinfall.

Dion Lennox ambushes D’Angelo after the match, but D’Angelo fights off both Lennox and James. D’Angelo smashes Lennox on the barricade. D’Angelo then sends Lennox crashing into the ring steps. The steps are separated as D’Angelo looks to smash Lennox’s leg with the metal step. James pulls Lennox to safety as D’Angelo comes crashing down with the step. Referees pour out to restore order in a pull-apart brawl.

— NXT North American Champion Ethan Page cuts a promo on Myles Borne in a locker room confrontation. Page says Borne had enough chances at taking Page’s title. Page insists there is nothing that would convince him of that, and Borne says “we’ll see about that” before he leaves.

The skit continues with Ricky Saints entering the locker room to chat with Page and The Vanity Project.

— Up next is a four-way tag match to determine the number one contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championship. OTM and Swipe Right (who were only billed as “The Vanity Project”) enter before a commercial break. The Culling are in the ring after the break. Hank & Tank then get a full entrance.

OTM (Bronco Nima & Lucien Price) vs. Vanity Project (Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes with Jackson Drake) vs. The Culling (Niko Vance & Shawn Spears) vs. Hank Walker & Tank Ledger in a fatal four way number one contender’s match

—

Lots of action in the four-way bout. The match goes through a commercial break. OTM with stereos chokeslams send Swipe Right to the outside as the show cuts to commercials. Back from the break, and bedlam ensues.

They build to a spot with four superplexes simultaneously, or nearly simultaneous. High spots galore at times in the match with so many wrestlers in there.

Spears with a C4 (DVD) finisher and a pining attempt, but Jackson Drakes interferes at ringside to break the count. Spears grabs Drake, only for OTM save Drake by stomping Spears. Hank & Tank then do a stunt with OTM where they crash through the announce desk. Vance speared Drake on the floor. Meanwhile, Smokes shoves Baylor, who is on rubber legs. Baylor collapses on top of Spears, and Baylor pins him to win the match.

Match result: Ricky Smokes & Brad Baylor won a fatal four way tag team match to become the number one contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championship.

Baylor & Smokes get their title shot next Tuesday on NXT.

— Keanu Carver is the focus of personality profile. Carver meets Sean Legacy in a singles match next week on NXT.

— NXT Champion Joe Hendry is talking with General Manager Robert Stone, and Hendry wants to know the whereabouts of Ricky Saints. Stone says he had Saints kicked out of the building for the rest of the night, and Stone asks Hendry to also leave.

— Zaria cuts a fiery promo in Sol Ruca’s face before saying Ruca can “go to hell!” Their split is complete I guess, or is it? After all that, they definitive split comes in a backstage skit before a commercial break. Sure. Whatever. Stay tuned.

— The Fatal Influence trio enters the sound stage for an in-ring promo with NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne. She rambles and rants about Sol Ruca. Just what this show needs is another talking segment after that confrontation with Hendry and Saints that seems to last hours.

Jayne brags about herself as the champ, as does Fallon Henley. Lainey Reid looks on in approval. They roast Sol Ruca, who the comes out to confront them. Ruca is set to challenge Jayne for the women’s title in an upcoming bout next week on NXT.

Ruca remarks that deep down in her heart, Jayne knows that Ruca is better than her. With that, Jayne slaps Ruca across the face. The heel trio then beat down Ruca. Zaria runs down to seemingly make a save, but Zaria pauses. Fatal Influence think that Zaria wants to attack Ruca. They hold Ruca for Zaria, but it was a swerve. Zaria attacks the heel trio instead, and Zaria cleans house.

After Zaria press slams Jayne out of the ring, Jayne is caught by Reid and Henley. The heels are down selling on the floor. Zaria and Ruca then hug in the ring. What?! They broke up, did they not? Now they are back together as a team? Make it make sense.

Eli Knight vs. Elio Lefleur in the finals of the Speed tournament

—

They go Broadway, albeit shorter than a typical Broadway in pro wrestling. The wrestled to a time-limit draw in an exciting three minutes. NXT GM Robert Stone comes out to rule they both are getting a title shot because they had such a great match. I cannot argue with that.

Stone announces a triple threat match for the WWE Speed Championship with Jasper Troy defending against both Knight and Lefleur. For the special gimmick match, the time limit is extended to seven minutes. The triple threat title match is set for next week.

Match result: Eli Knight and Elio Lefleur wrestled to a time limit draw in the tournament final.

— Myles Borne and Shiloh Hill have words in a backstage skit.

— Uriah Connors and Charlie Dempsey talk about the offer from Lexis King. Connors tries to convince Dempsey to join the faction. After Dempsey leaves, in walks King and company. The main point of the skit was announcing Connors has a singles match against his former stablemate, Kale Dixon, next week on NXT.

— In another skit, Robert Stone is with WWE Women’s Speed Champion Fallon Henley and potential challenger Blake Monroe. Stone announces a speed tournament starts next week to determine the next challenger, and the tournament opens with Monroe against Thea Haul. That plays on past history between Hail and Monroe (which involved an unexpected title change).

— Darkstate cut a promos on their enemies.

— Sol Ruca and Zaria are talking backstage in skit where they make up as a team. Ruca asks Zaria what changed her mind from earlier, and Zaria says she realizes they make a great team. They would not be where they are without each other. Zaria thinks that things have not been the same since Ruca’s knee injury cost her a double championship. If they want to get back to how things were between them, Zaria insists that Ruca must win the women’s title.

— Myles Borne storms past Ruca and Zaria. They ask if he is okay, and Borne remarks he knows what he is going to do now. With that comes the entrance of Shiloh Hill into the sound stage, and the main event is next.

Ethan Page vs. Shiloh Hill for the NXT North American Championship

—

Vanity Project enters the scene at ringside as the show cuts to a commercial break. Page is in control as the show returns from the break. The heel faction at ringside pulls back the floor mats to expose concrete. Page attempts a Razor’s Edge on the floor, but Hill escapes.

Late in the match, Hill pulls out his false teeth. That is like Jerry Lawler pulling down the strap on his singlet. Business is about to pick up, as Jim Ross might say. Page poses as Hill pops up to pose behind him. This is such riveting television.

Comeback by Hill as he hulks up on Page. Jackson Drake jumps on the apron , only to get knocked out. Ricky Smokes is sent barreling into the ring, and Hull sends him packing. Brad Baylor then takes a back drop on the floor. Drake is also side-slammed by Hill on the broadcast booth. Page then rushes in to cut off Hill by giving him Twisted Grin (Twist of Fate) on the exposed concrete floor. Hill takes another Twisted Grin in the ring, and Page covers him for the deciding pinfall. And still…

Match result: NXT North American Champion Ethan Page defeated Shiloh Hill via pinfall to retain his title.

In a post-match angle, Page and Vanity Project attack Hill. The heel faction is stomping on Hill when Myles Borne runs in for a save. Borne cleans house on the heels. Hill does a flip dive to the outside despite having been knocked unconscious on the floor and attacked by a gang. He was a house of fire again.

In the ring, Borne is pounding on Page. In between punching Page, Borne yells at him that Borne wants a title shot. Hill slid a metal folding chair into the ring, and Borne looks to Pillmanize the ankle of Page. Borne threatens to stomp on Page’s foot with it sandwiched in the chair. In fear, Page agrees to defend the title against Borne next week.

Borne turns away and Page smirks. Page yells he knew Borne would not do it. That prompts Borne to slowly turn around before jumping into the air and coming down with a stomp. Pillmanized in the chair, Page screams in agony after Borne stomps on the chair. The show ends with Borne holding the title belt while standing over Page, who writhing in agony.

WWE Raw live results: Elimination Chamber qualifiers continue

Posted on by Steve Khan

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. 

**********

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)

********

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.

WWE Raw live results: Elimination Chamber qualifiers continue

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: February 9, 2026
Location: Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH 

The Big Takeaway —

AJ Lee is back and will face Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship at Elimination Chamber in her new hometown of Chicago. In his hometown as well, CM Punk will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Bálor. 

Rhea Ripley qualified for the Women’s Elimination Chamber, while LA Knight qualified for the Men’s Chamber. 

**********

Show Recap — 

Michael Cole kicked off by saying Cleveland was known, among other things, as the city where the Monday Night Wars came to an end. He announced there would be over 10,000 in attendance tonight.

CM Punk arrived and, surprise surprise, was joined by AJ Lee.

Becky Lynch arrived moments later just behind them (they didn’t notice). She freaked out and ran off the other way. 

Cole announced that Bron Breakker was injured while training. He had surgery and would be out indefinitely.

Becky Lynch and AJ Lee kick off Raw 

A frantic Becky Lynch marched to the ring. She wondered when the disrespect would end. She planned to talk about the injustice at the Royal Rumble, but instead saw who decided to return to her show. 

The crowd chanted for AJ Lee, and she entered. Lee said she was there to support her girl, Maxxine Dupri, who had a match tonight. Maybe she would hang out in catering when it was over. 

Lynch cut her off. Lynch said Lee tried to act all cute, but she saw through it. Lynch didn’t like her eyebrows and compared her to a chihuahua that kept barking at her, keeping her up at night and ruining her life. 

Lee called that a tad dramatic because she hadn’t done anything to her—besides beating her at Wrestlepalooza and WarGames. She also cost her the IC title against Dupri at Madison Square Garden. But it was water under the bridge now that Lynch was champion again. 

Lynch acted maniacally (or tried to) and asked what it would take to get rid of her. Lynch noted that Elimination Chamber would be in Lee’s hometown of Chicago. Lynch asked if Lee wanted her to ruin Lee’s life the way Lee ruined hers. 

Lee acted like she wasn’t sure because she hadn’t had a singles match in over a decade. It had to be special. Lee said she beat Lynch already, which should really make her the number one contender. Lynch repeatedly said no while the crowd chanted, “Yes.” 

Lee said, “No title, no match,” so Lynch begrudgingly agreed. Lynch said if Lee felt like she had been held down by “the man” before, she had no idea what she was in for now. Lynch welcomed her to the big time before storming out of the ring. Lee was happy.

(Can’t say I was a big fan of the acting in this segment. To the point where it was almost hard to watch. The match makes sense, and they were obviously headed here eventually. It’s fair to wonder why Lee waited this long. Maybe she wanted to wait until Lynch was champion again, but she’s the one who cost her the belt in the first place.) 

******** 

World Tag Team Championship match: The Usos (c) vs. Otis & Akira Tozawa

Otis and Tozawa were all over Jimmy and Jey early on, and Otis press-slammed Tozawa over the top and onto both Usos ahead of a break. The Usos took control during a break, almost in a heelish manner. Tozawa knocked Jey off the apron before getting hit with a Samoan drop by Jimmy. Moments later, Jey punched Tozawa behind the referee’s back. 

Tozawa absolutely planted Jey with a DDT before making the hot tag to Otis, who ran wild on both guys before hitting Jimmy with a World’s Strongest Slam for two. Jey made a blind tag and cut off a Caterpillar attempt with a superkick (which missed completely). The Usos superkicked Otis, but Tozawa made a tag and delivered multiple suicide dives. He even mocked Jey’s “run it back” gesture while doing so, which was great.  

Tozawa hit Jimmy with a diving senton for a close nearfall. Otis tagged in, but Jimmy superkicked both Tozawa and Otis. The Usos gave Otis a double spear, and they followed with a 1D for the pinfall win (Jey pinned Otis). 

— Byron Saxton interviewed The Usos post-match and asked what was next as we headed to WrestleMania. Jey gave Alpha Academy a shout-out first. Jimmy said they would continue to be the best tag team in the game, but what he wanted next was to see Jey qualify for the Chamber, win the match, and go on to being Main Event Jey Uso. Everyone said “Yeet,” and they hugged. 

Match result: The Usos defeated Otis & Akira Tozawa to retain the World Tag Team Championships (10:01) 

(I suppose the last few moments were exciting—once Tozawa got in—but the Usos looked really off.) 

*******

There was a recap of the CM Punk-Roman Reigns promo segment. 

They aired a clip of AJ Styles on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast. It included backstage footage from after his loss to Gunther, getting hugs from Shane Helms and Xavier Woods. 

Liv Morgan and Stephanie Vaquer segment 

Liv Morgan entered with Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio. Morgan was about to speak, but Dom cut her off. He presented her with flowers and chocolates to congratulate her on winning the Rumble. Morgan was thrilled. She thanked him and said his gift would come later. 

Morgan announced we were in the presence of the greatest IC champion and Rumble winner of all time. She said she put Stephanie Vaquer and Jade Cargill on notice. They were afraid of her because they knew they would lose at Mania if she chose to face them. 

They stalled for a moment until Dom was about to speak, but he jumped when pyro suddenly went off (like Kane’s fireworks) for Stephanie Vaquer’s entrance. (A week later, her new music still sounds awful.) 

Vaquer told Morgan she talked too much. She said something in Spanish, and Morgan wanted Dom to translate. Dom didn’t want to repeat what she said, so he responded to Vaquer in Spanish instead. Morgan wanted to know what he said. Stephanie responded, “He said, He’s a little bitch.” 

Morgan called her a liar. She accused Vaquer of wanting Dom and offered her a “Hot Girls Love Dominik” shirt, but didn’t think she was qualified to wear it. Vaquer told Morgan to pick her so she could kick her ass at WrestleMania. 

Morgan said she didn’t plan to rush into making a decision. Morgan stated, “If you don’t like it, you can cry about it, puta.” Vaquer was pissed at this line and slapped Dom for getting between them. Vaquer stormed off instead of just going after Morgan right now. 

******** 

Rhea Ripley, Ivy Nile, and Lyra Valkyria cut pre-taped promos ahead of their qualifying match. 

Triple threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Tag Team Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Ivy Nile vs. Lyra Valkyria 

After a break, Nile was upside down in the corner while Valkyria climbed over to set up Ripley for a superplex. However, Nile managed to bring them both down with a double suplex. Ripley cut off Nile’s offence moments later and hit a low dropkick. 

Ripley and Valkyria traded counters until Ripley got her in the electric chair drop position. It seemed like they were setting up for Nile to hit a flying crossbody to knock down Valkyria, but Ripley dropped Valkyria before she could. Nile went for the move anyway and missed as a result, but she was smart enough to go for a cover on the prone Valkyria for two. 

Nile gave Ripley a snap German suplex, and Ripley almost landed badly on Valkyria. Nile gave Valkyria a spinning Uranage for two before applying a dragon sleeper, but Ripley broke that up with a headbutt. Ripley went for Rip-tide, but Nile countered with a backstabber. 

Valkyria hit Nile with a Nightwing, but Ripley flew in and clonked her with a running knee strike. Ripley followed with a Rip-tide on Valkyria for the pinfall win. 

Ripley joins Tiffany Stratton in the Chamber. 

Match result: Rhea Ripley defeated Lyra Valkyria and Ivy Nile to qualify for the Women’s Elimination Chamber (9:29)

This match had pretty good action, but the crowd was dead and seemed less interested as it went on. I think they were just waiting for Ripley to win, but Nile was the one who got the most offence in before Ripley ultimately won. (Nile was also protected over Valkyria in the finish.) 

******* 

Morgan checked on Dom backstage. He was still selling getting slapped. Morgan tried to console him by saying he had a Chamber qualifying match next week. Dom wasn’t happy because he still had to defend the IC title. 

They saw a dejected Finn Bálor nearby, and Dom tried to console him, saying JD McDonagh would be back soon and that they could go after the tag titles. Bálor said he wasn’t done with Punk or the world title. Dom said his window might be closed with Punk facing Roman Reigns at Mania. 

Bálor told him, “You know what, Dom? I’m tired of being an afterthought. I thought we were supposed to be a family.” Bálor left. 

******** 

Finn Bálor and CM Punk segment 

Cole was in the ring, ready to interview Punk, but Finn Bálor slid into the ring and grabbed the mic. He reminded us that he left Punk lying in the middle of the ring like a wounded dog two weeks ago. Punk was hurt, and Bálor knew it because he was the one who hurt him. 

Bálor wouldn’t let Reigns take advantage of his kill. It wouldn’t be the first time Reigns did. Reigns took advantage when the top rope snapped on Bálor, while he had Reigns beat in the middle of the ring for the title. Bálor was tired of being an afterthought and tired of being pushed around. He wanted Punk and the World Heavyweight title at Elimination Chamber. Punk beat him on his home turf, so Bálor would beat Punk on his. 

Adam Pearce walked out with security. Pearce said they had already had this conversation. Bálor had his shot, and it was too late to get another. The world title was spoken for. Pearce said he’s known Bálor a long time and didn’t want this to get ugly. He asked Bálor to leave the ring or else security would get involved. 

Punk entered and chased Bálor out of the ring. Security got between them as Bálor stood on the announce table. Punk said Bálor wasn’t an afterthought. He was his first thought, and he deserved an ass-beating. Punk invited him into the ring for a fight. 

Bálor said he wasn’t fighting for nothing. He wanted Punk to put the title on the line. Punk accepted and wanted the match right now. 

Pearce declined the match because he didn’t want to risk the WrestleMania main event. Punk demanded he make the match because, as the champion, he deserved to have a say. If not, he would chase Bálor around the arena all night. Pearce reluctantly made the match official for the Chamber show. (The crowd cheered the match but booed the location.) The crowd chanted for Punk as security followed Bálor to the back. 

Punk invited Cole to go on with his interview. Cole asked why he would jeopardize one of the greatest main events in history for this match (against Bálor). Punk said he wasn’t jeopardizing anything. He was building something. He was chasing greatness. He was being the fighting champion the people deserved to see every Monday night. 

The greatness he was chasing was a story that he told ten years ago, when he was champion for over 400 days. He tried to be just 1% better every day. He would fight anybody, anywhere, to prove that he was what he said he was—the best in the world. 

He wasn’t jeopardizing anything. He was brave enough to know there was no reward without risk. He was humble enough to know it could end at any time. But he was also confident enough to know, “That shit ain’t gonna happen.” 

Punk didn’t believe Reigns when he said he hated him. Punk was building something, and Reigns hated that he couldn’t stop it. WrestleMania would only end one way—with his hand getting raised.

(It really feels like they’re killing time with this Bálor feud, but Punk was great again here. He comes across like a rightful world champion, and certainly isn’t shy about telling us about it.) 

******** 

Pearce thanked security for escorting Bálor out of the building. He was confronted by Paul Heyman and The Vision (no Bron Breakker). Heyman said Pearce pushed Breakker to the point that he went home and deadlifted weights until 5:00 AM when he popped a hernia. It was a career-ending injury for anyone but Breakker. Heyman put the blame squarely on Pearce. 

Pearce got in Heyman’s face. He knew Breakker was the future, and nobody besides the Vision wanted Breakker back faster than him. He warned the Vision not to get involved in Austin Theory’s qualifying match tonight—and that was a threat. 

Logan Paul wondered what Pearce would do about it if they didn’t get involved. Logan said he was the biggest star to come out of Cleveland, and Pearce would do nothing. Bronson Reed backed off Logan and told him that Pearce was his problem now. 

********

Nattie vs. Maxxine Dupri 

Dupri caught Nattie in an ankle lock immediately. Nattie escaped, and Dupri applied the move again outside the ring. However, Nattie booted her into the ring steps and shoved her into the ring post. Nattie dropped Dupri onto the announce table, mounted her and pounded away with right hands until the referee called for a double count-out. 

Nattie applied a sharpshooter while on the announce table as officials tried to stop her. Nattie only let go when AJ Lee ran out (to her music). 

Lee checked on Dupri and started helping her to the back when Lynch suddenly decked Lee from behind. Lynch was proud of herself. 

Match result: Nattie vs. Maxxine Dupri ended in a double count-out (1:36)

******** 

LA Knight cut a pre-promo. His focus was on taking out the Vision, and it started tonight with Theory (in their qualifying match). 

Bravo & Rayo Americano (w/ El Grande Americano) vs. Je’Von Evans & “The Original” El Grande Americano 

Je’Von Evans had a mystery partner, and the crowd popped when it was “The Original” El Grande Americano (Chad Gable). 

Evans and Gable had control but lost it during an early break. Gable made a hot tag after the break and gave the Americanos a double German suplex. However, El Grande (Ludwig Kaiser) tripped Gable off the top. 

With Gable down, Rayo came flying off the top rope, but Evans met him mid-air with an OG Cutter, which looked awesome. (I guess the director knew this was coming because they cut to a special camera angle in the middle of this live wrestling match.) 

Evans wiped out Rayo with a dive before Gable hit Bravo with a diving headbutt for the pinfall win. 

— El Grande attacked the babyfaces post-match and tried to unmask Gable, but Gable turned it around and almost unmasked Kaiser until his buddies helped him out of the ring. 

Match result: The Original El Grande Americano & Je’Von Evans defeated Bravo & Rayo Americano (7:42) 

The finishing sequence was cool, and Gable and Evans could certainly make for a great team if they wanted to go in that direction. 

******** 

Penta, Theory, and Knight cut pre-taped promos ahead of their qualifier. 

During a break, Bayley said she would beat Nattie and Asuka in a qualifier next week. She had a chance to redeem herself after what happened at WrestleMania last year. 

******** 

Saxton interviewed Gunther backstage after they showed a replay of him choking out Dragon Lee last week. Gunther knew Saxton was going to ask about Dragon, but he couldn’t care less because his focus was solely on WrestleMania. 

Saxton mentioned his qualifying match next week. Gunther was well aware. His road to WrestleMania should have been cemented when he retired Goldberg, John Cena and AJ Styles. Instead, his road to Mania starts next week. But no worry, the result would be the same, and he would walk out of Mania the new WWE Champion. 

******** 

Next week on Raw in Memphis: 

  • Elimination Chamber triple threat qualifying match: Gunther vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Dominik Mysterio 
  • Elimination Chamber triple threat qualifying match: Asuka vs. Bayley vs. Nattie 
  • AJ Lee appears 

******** 

Triple threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match: LA Knight vs. Austin Theory (w/ Paul Heyman) vs. Penta 

Even though it was a triple threat match, the lone heel Theory took control through a break, which meant the match slowed to a crawl. Knight fought back after the break and hit a neckbreaker, but Penta broke up the cover. Penta knocked Knight out of the ring before Theory gave Penta a brainbuster. 

Knight hit Theory with a slingshot shoulder tackle, clotheslined him out of the ring, and bounced his head repeatedly off the announce desk. Knight cut off a Penta dive attempt and bounced him off the table, too. 

Theory dropped Knight into the middle turnbuckle, but Knight countered a rolling dropkick into a belly-to-back suplex. Penta nailed both guys with a flying crossbody before superkicking Theory and giving Knight a slingblade. Penta gave Theory a backstabber, but Knight broke up the cover. 

Knight set up Penta for a superplex, but Theory got underneath them and brought down both men with a double powerbomb (yes, we saw essentially the same spot in the women’s triple threat earlier). Knight responded with a reverse DDT and diving elbow drop on Theory. 

Logan and Reed ran out, so Knight knocked them both off the apron. Knight went after Logan, but Reed ran over Knight and gave him an elbow drop. Logan distracted the referee (there are no DQs in this match) as Reed gave Knight a Tsunami. Pearce ran out to confront the Vision, and they were escorted up the aisle by security. 

Theory curb-stomped Knight and was about to win, but Penta broke up the cover by yanking Theory out of the ring. I thought this might be setting up a Penta win (after Knight took both a Tsunami and a curb stomp), but Theory dumped Penta over the announce desk, and that was the end of him. 

The masked man suddenly appeared, superkicked Theory and hit a curb stomp. The masked man chucked Theory back in the ring before he was chased away through the crowd by the Vision. Knight gave Theory a BFT for the pinfall win. 

Knight joins Randy Orton in the Men’s Chamber. 

Match result: LA Knight defeated Austin Theory and Penta to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber (9:29) 

The show was dedicated to the memory of Jim Shank, a long-time company employee.

AAA on Fox live results: Chelsea Green & Ethan Page vs. Lola Vice & Mr. Iguana

Posted on by Jeff Moss

AAA presents its second live episode on Fox tonight.

Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio is set to kick off the show. His next title defense has been announced for Rey de Reyes on March 14 in Puebla, where he will be challenged by number one contender El Hijo del Vikingo.

AAA Mixed Tag Team Champions Ethan Page and Chelsea Green will defend their titles live tonight against Mr. Iguana and Lola Vice.

Rey de Reyes qualifying matches will continue on Saturday’s episode, with El Grande Americano vs. Rey Fenix vs. Octagón Jr. vs. Dragon Lee. La Parka became the first wrestler to qualify for the Rey de Reyes match at last month’s taping. This year’s Rey de Reyes winner will also receive a future title shot for the Mega Championship.

Tonight’s show is set for the Auditorio José María Arteaga in Querétaro, QUE, Mexico.

Our live coverage, courtesy of Jeff Moss, begins at 9 p.m. Eastern.

*******************

It’s liver than live, it’s Lucha Libre! And it’s, well, Live! AAA is building to the massive Rey de Reyes, the premiere sword-focused event in wrestling and it begins with one of the biggest, baddest and dirtiest stars in the game. The AAA Mega Champion Dominick Mysterio!

Dom was shown hanging out with his Mega Championship and Intercontinental Championship belts while taking selfies. Mr Iguana and Lola Vice were shown canoodling in the stands, but then things switched to Ethan Page, one half of the AAA Mixed Tag Champions. He got on his phone and said “what? You’re WHERE?!” presumably to his partner Chelsea Green.

Mysterio walked down to the ring in a Mexican football shirt, glasses and as always the greatest moustache in wrestling. Rey Mysterio on commentary called Dom his “bastard son” (I knew it, Eddie!) and Dominick grabbed a mic.

Dominick addressed the crowd in Spanish with Rey translating. He said that he didn’t want to see the old men on the flags in AAA because he makes the rules around AAA now. Dom said that no one has ever taken the Mega Championship to RAW and when he beat John Cena at Survivor Series, every could see his Mega Championship.

Dom said that AAA is exploding in popularity and do you think that’s because of Vikingo? No, it’s thanks to Dom. This is a new Era, the Era of The Dirtiest. Dom said that he is the King of the Luchadores and that brought out el Hijo de Vikingo, the #1 contender to the Mega Championship. He was joined by Omos and Dorian Roldan.

Roldan said that he has invested his money very well by investing it in Vikingo. Vikingo grabbed a mic and said that Dom’s days are numbered. On the 14th of March, at Rey de Reyes, the “worst Mysterio” will face the best in the world (aka, him).

Dom said that he is going to kick Vikingo’s ass in front of his whole family. Vikingo congratulated Dom on his confidence, but there is no way that he will beat him. He then suggested a stipulation for the match to kick it up a notch.

Vikingo suggested a career match, then maybe a hair vs hair match. Then he said that he’ll let Dom decide and he has two weeks to think about it. Then they will sign the contract for their match, removing any doubt that this is a WWE show.

-Backstage, it was revealed via Facetime that Cheslea Green is in a walking boot and can’t defend her and Ethan’s AAA Mixed Tag Titles. Suddenly, La Hiedra appeared and took Page’s phone away to lead him to the ring.

AAA Mixed Tag Team Championship Match: Ethan Page & La Hiedra (c) vs. Mr. Iguana & Lola Vice

Iguana Vice (my new favourite show on NBC this fall) arrived in matching sparkly green gear. Page and Hiedra came to the ring with a look of worry. Page’s partner Chelsea Green was injured on Smackdown, but had time to Fed Ex her belt to Page for tonight’s defense. Heidra lost a match to Vice last week to see who would be Iguana’s partner for this match.

Iguana and Page started the match with Page grabbing a headlock off the bell. Iguana got out of it and brought Page down with a drop toe hold. Page picked up Iguana, but Iguana turned it into a ddt, sending Page over to get a tag to Hiedra.

That brought in Vice who doubled teamed them with Iguana before the men exited and Vice grabbed a suplex followed by an armdrag. Hiedra left the ring and Voce followed backside first as she does. Hiedra grabbed her hand and slammed it onto the steel steps before throwing her back into the ring.

Hiedra hit a dropkick for a two count and then went back to smashing the hand of Vice on the mat. Hiedra sent Vice off the ropes, but Vice grabbed her in a waistlock take down and got a tag to Iguana. Page ate a few shoulder blocks and a hurricanrana, but kicked out of the cover at two.

Hiedra grabbed a blind tag on Page and tried to kiss Iguana. He dodged and flew over the top rope to take out Page on the outside. Hiedra hit a flatliner on Vice in the ring and Iguana popped up with Liesa. Page pulled him off the apron and grabbe Liesa, but Vice threw Hiedra into Page, knocking him off the apron.

Vice rolled up Hiedra and got the pin 1-2-3 to make her and Iguana the new AAA Mixed Tag Team Champions!

Match Result: Mr. Iguana & Lola Vice defeated Ethan Page and La Hiedra

-Backstage, Dominick Mysterio approached El Grande Americano. Mysterio chided him for being a fan of his deadbeat Dad. That must have upset Rey, because he stopped translating the Spanish, but whatever was said didn’t matter as Americano was attacked by… Americano! The “Original” el Grande Americano handcuffed him to a pole and then the show cut to commercial.

Rey de Reyes Qualifying Match: El Grande Americano vs. Rey Fenix vs. Dragon Lee vs. Octagón Jr.

Octagon, Fenix and Lee all came out to big ovations, but it was the entrance of el Grande Americano that everyone was waiting for. When it was time, out came The Original el Grande Americano, officially taking the place of the, uh, other? el Grande Americano? el Grande Ameri-fraudo? Only time will tell which one I end up trademarking.

Lee, Fenix, Octagon and the audience all motioned for Americano to be thrown out of the match, but the ref didn’t think those results were conclusive enough and Americano stayed as the bell rang.

Americano took some punishment from the other three and was tossed to the outside. Octagon sent sent Lee out and Octagon and Fenix faced off. Octagon charged, but Americano grabbed his ankle and pulled him outside. Amaricano was then double superkicked by Lee and Fenix.

Lee and Fenix ran the ropes, each trying to land kicks and ‘ranas but neither being able to land anything. Americano climbed the turnbuckle and took them both out with a double clothesline. Octagon appeared and took out Americano with a tornado to the outside.

Octagon went up top, but Fenix knocked him into an electric chair and powerbombed him. Fenix then hit a tornado dive of his own onto Lee on the outside. Fenix went up top, but Americano grabbed him and executed a superplex. Octagon broke up the cover at two though.

Backstage, el Grande Amaricano (the other one) was shown being released from his bonds by security, which is the most productive thing a security guard has done at a wrestling show in decades.

In the ring, OG Americano was trying to force Fenix’s mask off. He was unsuccessful and hit a cliffhanger DDT instead. He went to the outside and knocked Lee’s head off the announce table before taking Octagon out with a dropkick. He then went back in and stepped on Fenix’s face before climbing the turnbuckle.

Americano went for a moonsault, but Fenix moved and Octagon and Lee came back into the ring. Lee went to the turnbuckle, but Octagon stopped him. They went back an forth on the turnbuckle until Lee hit a massive double stomp before diving onto Fenix on the outside.

Lee went back into the ring and hit a dropkick on Octagon in the corner. Americano rolled up Lee trying to steal one, but no dice. Lee then grabbed Americano and hit a Styles clash in tribute to his former tag partner.

Fenix and Lee took a mutual respect breather in the ring and then started throwing hands. Lee sent Fenix off the ropes who hit a spinning kick on him. Octagon appeared up top, but Fenix kicked him off the turnbuckle. Octagon popped up with a poisonrana on Fenix, but then Americano started throwing German suplexes on anyone he could grab.

Americano then launched Lee into the turnbuckles and grabbed an Ankle Lock on Fenix. American grapevined it in, but Octagon then hit a 450.

Backstage, security had NOT been able to free the other Americano (which makes way more sense) so Los Americanos tried to no avail.

In the ring, Fenix ran the ropes and hit a high knee on Americano. By that, I mean he RAN ACROSS THE TOP ROPE LIKE HE WAS CROSSING OVER NIAGRA FALLS! Unbelievable!

Americano was sent to the outside and Fenix grabbed him to try and take off his mask. Americano got away in time for Lee to hit a headscissor on Fenix. Americano loaded up his mask with a steel plate and headbutted Lee. He did the same to Octagon and then went up top for a diving headbutt. He grabbed Octagon and pinned him to advance to the Rey de Reyes.

Match Result: (the Original) El Grande Americano defeated Rey Fenix, Dragon Lee, Octagón Jr.

After the match, The other Americano, who going forward I’ll call Venti Americano, now free of his bonds, ran down to the ring to run off Grande Americano. With that the episode came to a close. Next week, La Parka takes on Jack Cartwheel and there will be a triple threat tag team match with the winners becoming the #1 Contenders for the AAA Tag Team Championships.

WWE SmackDown live results: Elimination Chamber qualifiers begin

Posted on by Marc Quill

The stars of WWE SmackDown begin their road to WrestleMania 42 tonight from Charlotte, NC, with the Undisputed WWE Championship title picture now even more volatile following last Saturday’s Royal Rumble.

That picture, and the WWE Women’s title picture, will become a bit more clear with the kickoff of Elimination Chamber three-way qualifying matches. One will feature Randy Orton vs. Aleister Black vs. Solo Sikoa while the other will see former Women’s World Champion Tiffany Stratton vs. Lash Legend vs. Chelsea Green.

Women’s Rumble winner Liv Morgan will also make an appearance as she has yet to decide who she will face at WrestleMania 42.

The WWE Women’s Tag Team titles will be on the line as Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY defend against Women’s United States Champion Giulia & Kiana James.

WWE men’s United States Champion Carmelo Hayes will continue with his title defense open challenge seres.

Shinsuke Nakamura will take on Tama Tonga to round out the show that kicks off at 8 pm Eastern.

**********

– Over a shot of Charlotte’s skyline, Joe Tessitore introduced us to tonight’s show as he tossed to a recap of last Saturday’s Royal Rumble event.

Drew McIntyre opens SmackDown

The Undisputed WWE Champion arrrived to the arena with a smile on his face, but before he can even be properly introduced, Drew McIntyre was attacked from behind by a vengeful Cody Rhodes. McIntyre’s hated foe wanted to get revenge for the champion’s involvement in the Royal Rumble that got him eliminated. As a gaggle of officials came out to separate the bitter rivals, McIntyre was forced to retreat as Rhodes stood tall inside the ring.

Rhodes took the mic and said that things would never be the same, despite McIntyre’s best efforts. He said that for the first time, he can’t in good conscience point at the WrestleMania thanks to McIntyre’s interference. Rhodes discussed CM Punk and Roman Reigns making their WrestleMania main event official this past Monday, stating that the two of them were both glad that he wasn’t in their “you-know-what measuring contest”, because he didn’t get the nickname of “Raheem” for no reason. He talked about how much WrestleMania meant to him, and how he was born in Charlotte. “Imagine my discomfort returning here without the championship,” said the hometown boy. Rhodes said that McIntyre wasn’t mad that he wasn’t champion, but rather because Rhodes was the champ. He concluded by promising that his shame and discomfort would be McIntyre’s downfall, and that the Undisputed WWE Champ wouldn’t make it to WrestleMania.

I quite liked that Rhodes was understandably fired up after getting screwed out of the Royal Rumble by McIntyre and responded in kind with the attack. I am curious if this means we’ll see some kind of ultimate blowoff to this at Elimination Chamber instead of WrestleMania. What I didn’t like, however, was the “Raheem” meme being acknowledged, and the context it was mentioned in. To put it simply, it doesn’t take much to put two and two together to know that having the top babyface imply what he said, even in a joking manner, is a huge no-no. And that’s especially given the implications (the “you-know-what measuring contest”) coming from what was said by Rhodes and the timing of when it was said — this being Black History Month. Really, just a bad call all around.

**********

– Backstage, Giulia and Kiana James were interviewed ahead of their Women’s Tag Title Match against RHIYO coming up next. James again made it clear that winning the tag titles was part of the plan of making Giulia a triple champion.

– Elsewhere, Nick Aldis was admonishing Cody Rhodes for his attack on McIntyre, as he told him to control his emotions because he was set for an Elimination Chamber qualifier match for next week. Rhodes promised to control his emotions before leaving for the night, led by a group of referees.

WWE Womens’ Tag Team Championships: RHIYO (IYO SKY & Rhea Ripley) (c) vs. Giulia & Kiana James

Ripley and James started off this match with a test of strength, as the challenger flinched when Ripley was about to punch her. Giulia stepped up to Ripley as the legal woman, but wanted to face IYO SKY. Ripley obliged that request and tagged SKY in as we got some joshi action here early.

Giulia stomped at SKY’s head and mocked her taunt as she grabbed at her hair. SKY dodged an attempt at a throw by Giulia and hit her with an impressive shotgun dropkick. SKY got slammed down by Giulia, but couldn’t capitalize, so Kiana James involved herself by dropping SKY’s throat across the top rope. James tagged in and took over against SKY on the outside. James held SKY in position outside as Giulia hit her with a dropkick from the apron, which sent us to a break in the action.

This Papa Johns-sponsored match returned from commercial as SKY got blasted with a missile dropkick from Giulia for a near-fall. James tagged in as she and Giulia failed to hit a double team move on SKY. James tried to get the sneaky entry back into the ring to stop SKY from tagging Ripley, but couldn’t get it done. SKY tagged Ripley in, who was a house of fire as she cleared house on Giulia and James. SKY dove to the outside to take Giulia out right in front of the annunce tables.

Back in the ring, Ripley slammed James face-first like a pancake, but that wasn’t enough. James escaped a Riptide attempt and powerbombed SKY right on Ripley. Giulia and James hit a combination of their signature moves — the Arrivederci Knee and 401K — on SKY, but couldn’t capitalize. Giulia attempted a Northern Lights Bomb, but SKY reversed it. Ripley with the blind tag as she headbutted Giulia, followed by the Riptide. SKY finished this match off with the Over The Moonsault to pick up the win and retain the Women’s Tag Titles.

RHIYO def. Giulia & Kiana James via pinfall

This was a fun opening contest from start to finish. The brief glimpses we got of IYO SKY and Giulia facing off was a good appetizer for when we do get these two in one-on-one action down the line. There’s just something about the SKY/Ripley pairing that works so well, and it translates to their tag matches being really entertaining.

**********

– Ilja Dragunov was interrupted by the Miz, who claimed that he went to Nick Aldis and got a U.S. Title Open Challenge match. Carmelo Hayes then appeared, and stated that Miz didn’t deserve a shot at the U.S. Title, as he then offered to face him in a non-title match coming up next.

Carmelo Hayes vs. The Miz

Hayes started off hot as he hit his springboard clothesline on Miz. However, the former WWE Champion got the advantage as he flattened Hayes with an elbow afterwards. Miz worked over Hayes in the corners, but got hit with a kick to the back of the head, followed by a springboard leg drop. Hayes battered Miz with a chop in the corner, as he then stomped away on him for a bit before the referee backed Hayes off. Miz clipped at Hayes’ legs as another springboard clothesline attempt, before he hit him with a running clothesline, which took us to an awkwardly-placed ad break.

We returned from commercial as Hayes attempted to fight back against Miz with a series of furious strikes that forced his foe into the corner. Hayes connected with La Mistica on Miz, which sent him out of the ring. Hayes hit a dive from the ring to the outside on Miz, as he then attempted a frog splash. Miz got his knees up to block Hayes’ splash and nearly got the win on the pin, but only got two instead.

Miz teed off with his kicks, but failed to hit the last one as Hayes dodged it. The U.S. Champion countered a Skull-Crushing Finale attempt and cracked him right in the jaw with a superkick for the near-fall. Hayes pulled himself back up and headed to the top, as Miz turned that around and hit a slingshot sitdown powerbomb. One, two…. NO! Miz sized Hayes up, but couldn’t connect with the Skull-Crushing Finale. Hayes tried for First 48, but got countered into another Skull-Crushing Finale attempt. Somehow, Hayes avoided the impact at the last second and finally hit FIrst 48 to pick up the victory.

Carmelo Hayes def. The Miz via pinfall

That was a great match, yes, but that ending sequence where Hayes reversed the Skull-Crushing Finale into a First 48 was silky smooth and highlights why I enjoy watching Hayes in action every week. He just doesn’t miss.

**********

– Tiffany Stratton was interviewed about nearly winning the Royal Rumble, as she promised to get herself back on the winning track by way of qualifying for the Elimination Chamber. Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre showed up and taunted Stratton, but were told off as the former WWE Women’s Champion got ready for her Chamber qualifier coming up next.

– The Wyatt Sicks interruption played as Bo Dallas talked about Solo Sikoa’s theft of the lantern. Dallas said Sikoa was scared of being left in the dark all by himself, which is why he stole the lantern. Dallas mentioned that fear doesn’t show up when everyone’s together, it shows up when you’re all alone. He chuckled as the video ended.

Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Chelsea Green (w/ Alba Fyre) vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Lash Legend (w/ Nia Jax)

Green slapped Stratton and Legend to start this match off, which led to her getting bashed around by both the women she slapped. Stratton and Legend stood face-to-face and got ready for their own battle. Stratton leaped at Legend but was grabbed and used as a battering ram of sorts to take Alba Fyre out of the apron. Stratton recovered and forced Legend to the outside, as she then dove onto both Legend and Nia Jax.

Back in the ring, Green tried to steal Stratton’s pin and yelled at her. Legend tried to get involved, which forced a temporary alliance between Green and Stratton to clothesline her out of the ring. That alliance ended as it began as she headed to the top and took out Stratton and Jax with a dive to the outside. Green did her salute, but got rocked by a big boot from Legend, which took us into the break.

We returned from commercial as Legend lifted Stratton over her head and slammed her onto a prone Green before she splashed onto both women, but couldn’t get the win off of this. Stratton recovered and used Green as an impromptu stepping stone to kick Legend in the corner. Stratton caught Legend with a rough dropkick as she reversed an Un-Pretty-Her attempt from Green. On the top rope, Stratton hit Green with a superplex, as she rolled through with the uranage. Legend broke up the pin and tried for the Lash Extension, but couldn’t capitalize.

Legend caught Stratton and hit a buckle bomb, followed by the chokeslam for the near-fall. Meanwhile, Green leapt from the top rope and hit a Coast-to-Coast dropkick on both Stratton and Legend. Nia Jax pulled Green out as she made the pin, which led to a scuffle between her and Fyre at ringside. Things broke down as Green and Stratton heaved Legend over the timekeeper’s area with a toss. In the ring, Green attempted an Un-Pretty-Her, but was reversed by Stratton, who finished this match off with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever.

Tiffany Stratton def. Chelsea Green & Lash Legend via pinfall to qualify for Elimination Chamber

That was a bit of a rough match to watch. Moves looked rough and it seemed like nobody really clicked with anyone in this contest.

**********

– As Randy Orton was being interviewed about his Elimination Chamber qualifier, Aleister Black interrupted and talked about how we’ve said goodbye to two great wrestlers in John Cena and AJ Styles, and it was fortunate that Orton was still around.

– A video package highlighting the stars of NXT and their performance in the men’s and women’s Royal Rumbles was shown.

Kit Wilson’s Lesson in Toxic Masculinity

Kit Wilson made his way to the ring and got ready to teach us all a lesson in toxic masculinity. He talked about being in the Royal Rumble last week, and it disgusted him. He called everyone in the Rumble “toxic”, and stated that “they” didn’t want him in the Royal Rumble because of what he represents. Wilson called himself a man who moisturizes and a man who listens, as well as a man who moves his hips in a particular way. Wilson called the Charlotte crowd toxic as he then challenge anyone who was in the Rumble to face him right now to prove themselves.

Oba Femi made his way to answer Wilson’s challenge, garnering a great reaction from this crowd.

Oba Femi vs. Kit Wilson

Wilson yelled at Femi, and got met with a hard strike from the former NXT Champion. Femi repeatedly hit Wilson in the corner with running elbows a-plenty before he put an end to this match with a Fall From Grace.

Oba Femi def. Kit Wilson via pinfall

Not much to say here other than if Femi is booked as strong as he’s been booked, then he’ll be a cornerstone of WWE’s main event scene for years to come.

**********

– Damian Priest and R-Truth were seen watching Femi’s match as Drew McIntyre rudely bumped into Truth. Priest said that McIntyre have had their problems, but it seems like the champ has his own problems to deal with, so he wasn’t going to add to that.

Drew McIntyre, Interrupted

The Undisputed WWE Champion made his way down to the ring and got ready to speak his mind, at least until Jacob Fatu attacked him in the ring. Fatu flattened McIntyre with a running hip attack as he then clotheslined him out of the ring. Fatu hit a suicide dive on McIntyre and battered him at ringside. Officials tried to stop Fatu, but found themselves in the path of his destructive force. Fatu struck at McIntyre, and forced him to run away through the crowd. Fatu stood on the announce table and taunted his foe in victory.

After the break, Nick Aldis told Fatu that he’d be in an Elimination Chamber qualifier match next week if he desperately wanted to get a shot at Drew McIntyre.

McIntyre getting attacked by both Fatu and Rhodes tonight seems to make it clear that their business with the champion is far from done, so I do wonder how that will play into Elimination Chamber, assuming both men qualify.

**********

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tama Tonga (w/ J.C. Mateo & Tanga Loa)

Tama hit Nakamura in the ribs and got the early advantage with strikes to the head of his opponent. Tama missed with a running strike into the corner, which allowed Nakamura to hit him with a knee to the ribs while Tama was prone on the top turnbuckle. On the opposite corner, Nakamura did his signature “stomp” on Tama, but he got hit with a modifed Flatliner afterwards. Outside the ring, Tama slammed Nakamura across the announce table and draped him on top of it. Tama got on the timekeeper’s area barricade and hit Nakamura with an elbow drop, which took us to a break in the action.

This match returned from break as Nakamura hit Tama with a sliding dropkick, followed by a set of strong-style kicks that rocked his foe. Nakamura then hit a nice enzuigiri to Tama, before he connected with the sliding German suplex in the corner. Nakamura continued momentum with the diving knee strike, but couldn’t get the win just yet. Tama found momentum with a reverse DDT, as he then hit the running splash into the corner. Tama hit a double underhook facebuster on Nakamura for the near-fall as he then had him in position for a move of some sort.

Nakamura reversed that attempt into a suplex, that sent Tama scurrying out of the ring. Nakamura took J.C. Mateo out with a baseball slide, but fell victim to a jumping DDT from Tama back in the ring. Tama lifted Nakamura on his shoulders, but got countered into a side suplex from the King of Strong Style. Both men struggled to their feet and went back and forth with clubbing blows. Nakamura got the best of Tama with his trademark spinning wheel kick, and delivered a Michinoku Driver for the near-fall. As Nakamura had Tama in sight for Kinshasa, J.C. Mateo distracted the referee long enough for Tanga Loa to grab at his legs. Tama recovered and hit an unelevated Cutthroat, followed by one last one for the victory.

Tama Tonga def. Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall

That was an alright match, but the inevitable M.F.T. interference put a damper on things.

**********

– Fraxiom and the Motor City Machine Guns were walking backstage, as Candice LeRae approached the four and told them to look at what happened to Johnny Gargano lying on a box marked “NXT”. LeRae talked about what Axiom did to Gargano after he beat him last week, but didn’t get any sort of sympathy from Fraxiom and the MCMGs.

– As RHIYO talked about their victory earlier tonight, they were interrupted by Nia Jax and Lash Legend, who appeared to call their shot for the Women’s Tag Titles.

– A defeated Kit Wilson sauntered about backstage and noticed Matt Cardona, as he blamed him for his shortcomings. Cardona, who was chatting with Apollo Crews, told Wilson that he was always ready for a challenge.

Liv Morgan makes her presence known

The 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble winner was introduced by Nick Aldis in the ring, as she made her way alongside fellow Judgment Day cohort Raquel Rodriguez.

Morgan said that we were now in the presence of the “greatest Royal Rumble winner of all time”. She said she wasn’t just the greatest, as she called herself the hottest, funniest, smartest, and most iconic woman in the history of WWE. Morgan said that all of that came with a lot of power, but she didn’t have a lot of time to make a certain decision. Morgan said she could choose Stephanie Vaquer or face Jade Cargill. Morgan said that WrestleMania wasn’t the only thing on her mind, but that there was a huge elephant in the room. Before she could say what that was, Rodriguez took her mic and said that she had something to say instead. However, they were both interrupted by the arrival of WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill.

Cargill said that she didn’t care if Morgan won the Royal Rumble, and that she didn’t care if she was on SmackDown. Cargill said that if Morgan chose her, she’d beat her ass at WrestleMania before she turned her attention to Rodriguez. Morgan interrupted and talked about how she could pick Stephanie Vaquer and ensure Raquel Rodriguez would beat Cargill instead. This led to Jordynne Grace interrupting proceedings.

Grace said that Morgan did what she had to do to win the Rumble, but if she could get Cargill to defend her title, maybe it’ll be Grace who Morgan might end up facing at WrestleMania. Morgan interrupted and got told to shut up by both Cargill and Grace. Mr. Aldis talked about how if Morgan was available to talk, she was available to fight, which led to a tag match between Cargill and Grace versus Morgan and Rodriguez to be booked.

Not really my cup of tea, with this style of segment, mainly because of how Morgan’s style of promos isn’t really for me.

**********

Jade Cargill & Jordynne Grace vs. Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez

This match started in progress after the commercial break, as Rodriguez was battering Grasce with elbows to the chest. Grace got lifted by a back suplex from Rodriguez, but she avoided a diving bomb. However, Morgan tagged in and tried for the Three Amigos. Grace countered on the third of the Amigos and delivered a suplex of her own. Grace flattened Morgan with a series of lariats, followed by repeated scoop slams. The cover by Grace, but Rodriguez interrupted the count. As Grace sent Rodriguez out of the ring, Morgan attempted ObLIVion, but was blocked by the strength fo Grace.

Cargill “accidentally” hit Grace with a superkick after Rodriguez got out of the way. Meanwhile, Rodriguez had an accident of her own as she hit Morgan with a kick as Cargill got out of the way. As Cargill and Rodriguez were staring down, Grace pushed the latter onto the former and pulled off the roll-up for the win.

Jordynne Grace & Jade Cargill def. Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan via pinfall

This match was a bit on the short side, but the friendly fire finish playing into Grace and Cargill’s feud, as well as a potential Judgment Day rift worked well.

**********

– Sami Zayn was met by Rey Fenix, who consoled him after his Royal Rumble loss, but both were interrupted by Trick Williams, who called himself the Michael Jordan to Zayn’s Charles Barkley. Williams talked about how he was the guy who gets things done around here. Fenix told Williams that he had a big mouth and he’d shut him up if he kept it up. Williams responded to Fenix, saying he’d do it “any time, any place.”

– Elsewhere, Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace were at each other’s throats following their tag match, as Nick Aldis told the two there’d be a WWE Women’s Title match next week on SmackDown, with Cargill set to defend against Grace.

– A recap of Roman Reigns & CM Punk’s fiery confrontation on Raw was shown, as we got official confirmation of Punk defending the World Title against Reigns at WrestleMania in ten weeks time.

Drew McIntyre has something to say

Now with seemingly no interruptions to hamper him, Drew McIntyre talked about how both Jacob Fatu & Cody Rhodes should be banned from the Elimination Chamber qualifiers for what they did to him earlier. He also took credit for dashing Sami Zayn’s dreams at the Royal Rumble before he finally turned his attention to Reigns and Punk’s promo from Monday night.

McIntyre talked about how he was been through hell to get the Undisputed World Title and that he’d never go part time. He put over the heritage of his Undisputed WWE Title, and that he didn’t blame Reigns for choosing Punk. McIntyre said that while Reigns and Punk were busy aura farming, he has the entire roster climbing the Elimination Chamber for the right to be the Undisputed WWE Champion.

As McIntyre was making his exit, Trick Williams interrupted to a huge ovation of “Whoop That Trick” chants. Williams said maybe he was just here to watch the main events and kicking up his lemon pepper steppers. Willams said that maybe McIntyre was worried about the wrong people, when he should be worried about him, the man who will take the WWE Title at WrestleMania.

McIntyre warned Willaims to walk before running, because if he interrupted him again, McIntyre promised he’d stick Williams’ “lemon pepper steppers” where the sun didn’t shine.

So, how was McIntyre’s response to essentially being treated as a third wheel on Monday by Reigns and Punk? He tried his best, yes, but it’s still an uphill battle to get ahead of it given how big the Punk vs. Reigns match is being sold as. Meanwhile, it’s nice seeing Trick Williams get into these big main event situations, as it’s clear as day that he’s being viewed as a big star.

**********

Next Week on SmackDown

  • WWE Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Jordynne Grace
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: RHIYO (IYO SKY & Rhea Ripley) vs. Lash Legend & Nia Jax
  • Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia vs. Zelina
  • Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn vs. Jacob Fatu
  • Trick Williams vs. Rey Fenix

Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Solo Sikoa vs. Randy Orton vs. Aleister Black

Prior to the match, Sikoa was seen wondering where his M.F.T.s allies were, but they were nowhere to be found, as he made his way down to the ring alone.

Sikoa tried to get Black to team up on Orton, but it was a double-cross. Orton went for the RKO early, but couldn’t connect. Sikoa pulled Orton out of the ring and threw him into the ring post. Black hit his moonsault from the apron on Sikoa, as he then countered an attempted back suplex to the announce table and instead took Orton out with a clubbing blow. This took us into the break.

We returned from break as Orton stomped on Black while he had Sikoa trapped in an ankle submission. This opened both men up to Orton’s Garvin-style stomps, as Sikoa found himself in the corner being battered by punches. Black stopped Orton from attacking further, but got himself in the crosshairs of Orton’s punches in the corners instead. Black escaped his predicament and hit Orton with kicks across the chests, followed by punches to the ribs.

Black pulled Orton to the middle of the ring and worked him over until he was pulled out of the ring and thrown into the barrricade by Sikoa, who briefly stared Trick Williams down before he entered the ring. Sikoa kept Orton grounded with chops and punches as he pointed at the WrestleMania sign. Orton recovered and hit Sikoa with a series of clotheslines, but couldn’t hit the scoop powerslam, as Sikoa dodged it. Black entered the fray and got dropped with a pop-up Samoan Drop by Sikoa for the near-fall, as we took one more break in the action.

We returned to our main event as Orton hit a superplex on Black, but it put him in prime position for Sikoa to drop down on him with a splash for the near-fall. Black and Sikoa got themselves on their feet and traded strikes, but it was the Samoan who got the upper hand. Sikoa missed with the running hip attack, as Black hit him with the top rope Meteora. Orton got back in the ring and hit Black with clotheslines. Sikoa avoided the draping DDT from Orton, but he couldn’t avoid being dropped across the commentary table by Orton. Black also got dropped with the back suplex for his troubles.

Back in the ring, Sikoa was left stunned long enough to fall victim to Orton’s draping DDT. Orton had Sikoa in sights for the RKO, but Black kicked him hard. Sikoa recovered and caught Black with the Spinning Solo. One, two… NO! Sikoa attempted a Samoan Spike, but Black avoided it and got Sikoa with a big knee, followed by a bridging suplex for the two. Black hit Sikoa with a running knee, and almost got caught with the RKO. Black reversed it and attempted Black Mass. Orton dodged and got Black with the RKO, but the momentum sent him rolling out of the ring.

Sikoa snuck up on Orton and looked like he was going to get him with the Samoan Spike, but he got hit with an RKO instead. One, two, three. This one’s done.

Tonight’s show ended with Orton celebrating his win.

Randy Orton def. Solo Sikoa & Aleister Black via pinfall to qualify for Elimination Chamber

**********

Weird opening promo from Cody Rhodes aside (and I’ve said my piece on it above), this was an entertaining SmackDown, and a hot Charlotte crowd really added to it. The matches tonight were all at least decent and the Elimination Chamber build is taking shape well, even though it’s early on.

The Women’s Tag Title Match was my pick for top match of the evening. There’s just something really enjoyable about the Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY tag team and it brings out the best in both women, as well as the people they face in the ring. Lots of exciting action to be had there. The other matches were good and nothing really dragged.

WWE Raw live results: Royal Rumble fallout

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: February 2, 2026
Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA 

The Big Takeaway —

Roman Reigns will face CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42.

**********

Show Recap — 

Instead of the usual start, Raw kicked off immediately with a shot of Bron Breakker marching around ringside. He tore up the announce table and confronted the announcers, who begged off. Breakker tossed the announce table over and demanded a mic. 

Breakker entered the ring as his Vision teammates frantically made their way down. Breakker called out Adam Pearce as the Vision and Paul Heyman urged him to calm down. Breakker accused Pearce of ruining his Rumble appearance, and he threatened to ruin Raw. 

Heyman took the mic as the Vision continued to talk down Breakker. Heyman said this was all Pearce’s fault. Pearce has to approve every Visa for the trip, so he had to know who the masked man was. He also accused Pearce again of making Bron the number two entrant. 

Breakker grabbed the mic and demanded that Pearce come out. Pearce entered and was guarded by security. Pearce was in no mood for this. Pearce reminded them that the Rumble drawing was random. He said he would give Breakker a gift and let him keep his job after that piss-poor performance on Saturday. 

Breakker snapped and scrambled out of the ring (tripping over in the process because he was so upset), but he was stopped by Bronson Reed before he could try to get through security. Pearce bailed. 

LA Knight’s music hit. He appeared from the crowd and blindsided Austin Theory and Logan Paul with a steel chair. Reed chased him off. An upset Breakker went to the back.

(This was a good start to the show. The only negative was Theory and Paul got up almost right away and weren’t selling the Knight chair shots.) 

******** 

There was a Royal Rumble recap video. Liv Morgan, Stephanie Vaquer, and Gunther were shown at the arena earlier today. 

They let us know Je’Von Evans lasted the longest in the men’s Rumble match with a time of 40:58.  

Je’Von Evans vs. El Grande Americano (w/ Bravo & Rayo Americano) 

Evans’ shoulder and ribs were taped up. He was off to a good start until he missed a Stinger splash. El Grande took over, and there was a modest, “We want Gable” chant. Evans came right back and hit a crazy leaping dive to the outside, almost flying right over El Grande. 

Evans was distracted by Rayo, so El Grande nailed a dropkick on the apron and lawn-darted him into the ring post. El Grande had control through a break, and it was really dull. (Perhaps they need to be reminded that much of the world can see what they’re doing, or not doing, during commercials.) 

Evans fought back with chops, forearms, kicks, and a satellite DDT. Evans fought out of a submission hold, and with El Grande lying on the other side of the ring, Evans went to the top and hit a senton leg drop all the way to the other side. It was a long way to go, so he didn’t quite nail it. 

Rayo distracted the referee, allowing Bravo to trip Evans off the top rope. Rayo handed El Grande the metal plate while the ref dealt with Bravo. The original El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) entered to his music and posed in the aisle. 

The distraction allowed Evans to hit a running knee strike and OG Cutter for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Je’Von Evans defeated El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) (12:30)

This match was ok. It was a bit more deliberately paced than I expected, with a lot of striking. The crowd liked Evans, but they were pretty quiet during the bulk of the match.  

********

Michael Cole announced an attendance of 13,746. 

There was a Rumble video package, this time highlighting some of the newer faces from NXT, recent callups, and Royce Keys (Powerhouse Hobbs). 

Jimmy and Jey entered during a break. Jimmy’s back after being gone for a few weeks as the company was out of the country. They issued a warning shot to Alpha Academy, who they would be defending their tag titles against next week. They shouted out Roman Reigns for winning the Royal Rumble, and that was that. 

Cole congratulated Bad Bunny and Jelly Roll on their success at the Grammy Awards. 

******** 

Gunther segment

AJ Styles’ music hit, and the crowd cheered, but Gunther excitedly walked out instead and did Styles’ pose. The crowd booed as Gunther tried to speak. Eventually, he said Styles found out what Goldberg and John Cena did. When you step in the ring with the career killer, your career and legacy die. 

Dragon Lee ran out as Gunther spoke. He attacked Gunther, nailed a great-looking suicide dive, and sent him into the ring post using a hurricanrana. 

Dragon Lee charged at Gunther while he was in the timekeeper’s area, but Gunther popped up and nailed him with the ring bell. Gunther put him in the dreaded sleeper hold until officials quickly broke it up. 

Gunther went into the ring and picked Dragon Lee up by his mask (while Lee was ringside). Gunther put him in the sleeper again, this time with Dragon dangling over the side of the ring. Officials desperately tried to pull Gunther away (including Shawn Daivari, who grabbed Gunther by the hair), but he only let go after Lee passed out. Gunther put his coat on and left. 

********

There was a replay of Reed and Logan trying to kill Knight weeks back when Reed gave him a Tsunami on top of a car. 

Heyman approached Pearce and asked him to make a match between Breakker and Knight. Pearce said no. Pearce didn’t appreciate Breakker interrupting his show. He told Heyman to escort Breakker out of the building and tell Reed he has a match against Penta. 

Heyman asked Pearce if he knew who he was talking to and in which city. (Fans chanted “ECW.”) Pearce told Heyman, “F.A.F.O” (a line Heyman used on Pearce on Saturday). Heyman chuckled, and he left. 

*******

During a break, Maxxine Dupri told Byron Saxton she was still shocked over what Nattie did. But just like there was a new Nattie, there was a new Maxxine. She beat the greatest women’s wrestler of all time to become the IC champion. This Maxxine was breaking ankles and taking names. 

She was sick and tired of being walked over. Nattie didn’t elevate her, she elevated herself. Nattie taught her how to train, but Dupri taught herself how to survive. Dupri would give Nattie a lesson next week: that no one can decimate this Maxxine. 

********

Breakker was still pissed and tossing stuff around backstage. Heyman tried to calm him down by telling him that Pearce had plenty of ammunition against him already. Breakker screamed at Heyman that he didn’t care. Breakker barged through a door and left.

Oba Femi destroys The War Raiders 

Erik and Ivar entered, presumably for a match. They were surprised upon hearing the music of Oba Femi. The announcers were surprised too, as they were expecting a tag match. 

Femi entered the ring and destroyed both guys. He gave Ivar a chokeslam and gave Erik a powerbomb. Femi posed as fans chanted his name. 

(This was a cool segment for Femi. Not so much for the other guys.) 

********

Finn Bálor video promo 

Finn Bálor said this was a business based on respect. He always gave respect in the indies and on the main roster. But he was realizing that the respect was not returned to him. He was taken for granted over and over. What happened in Belfast was not a one-off. 

He’s been showing up and showing off his entire career, but Pearce still tried to tell him the Rumble was full. It turns out, respect only gets you so far. He wanted the world title. He didn’t think of himself as a bad guy, but warned CM Punk he was willing to do bad things. 

******** 

Nikki & Brie Bella segment 

The Bellas entered. The crowd was chanting something that sounded like booing, and Nikki asked if that was for the Eagles not making it to the Super Bowl. Brie said they were probably saying “Coop,” and Nikki bragged that she had good taste. He was a pro bowler, after all. (I guess she’s dating Eagles player Cooper DeJean.) 

Nikki said the Bella twins haven’t appeared on Raw together in over seven years. Nikki shared everyone’s excitement that Brie was back. There were light “Yes” chants. 

Brie was happy to be back home. She joked that she didn’t return because Nikki was getting her butt kicked every week. She returned because they were the “original tag team.” The division was better than ever, and they wanted in. It was time for the Bella twins to go for the tag titles. 

(This was not a good promo, and this segment was a reminder as to why people don’t like the Bellas.) 

********

Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Dupri had a backstage segment with Bret Kreischer. Otis was in a good mood seeing Kreischer, but Dupri was all business. She planned on breaking Nattie’s ankle next week. Dupri left. Otis and Kreischer were excited, and Kreischer took his shirt off. 

******** 

The first hour of the show included just the one 12-minute match. The second match of the evening started a full 40 minutes later… 

Penta vs. Bronson Reed (w/ Paul Heyman, Logan Paul & Austin Theory) 

…and this match went to commercials after 2 minutes. 

Penta hit a dive ahead of the break, but it didn’t matter because Reed got the heat moments later. Like the opening match, not much happened during the break. (I guess all these guys did just fly halfway across the world.) 

Penta came back and hit a springboard tornado DDT for two. Reed hit a powerslam for two, and Penta came back with a backstabber for two. 

Theory jumped on the apron, so Penta kicked him off. Penta also knocked Logan off the apron and wiped out both guys with a dive. Penta accidentally knocked the referee out of the ring when he attacked Logan. 

Penta took too much time dealing with the Vision, so Reed hit him with a Jagged Edge (DVD) and Tsunami, but the referee was still out. 

Reed went outside and grabbed a chair, but was attacked by LA Knight, who gave him a BFT onto the chair. Knight was chased away by Logan and Theory (who quickly recovered again, as they did in the opening segment). 

Reed couldn’t get back in the ring by ten, so Penta won by count-out. 

Match result: Penta defeated Bronson Reed via count-out (12:55)

******** 

The Americanos were interviewed by Saxton during the break. This included Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate doing bad accents. 

********

Liv Morgan, Dominik Mysterio, and Raquel Rodriguez segment 

Dominik Mysterio entered. He’s back after being gone for a few weeks with an injury. His mustache is even thicker than before. The crowd chanted “Dirty Dom.” Dom said the only reason he would come back to a place like Philly was to celebrate the winner of the women’s Rumble. He introduced Liv Morgan. 

Morgan entered and jumped into Dom’s arms. The crowd chanted, “You deserve it,” (not that loud), and she responded, “I know!” Morgan said they were all in the presence of the greatest Royal Rumble winner of all time. 

Morgan wasn’t sure who she wanted to face at WrestleMania yet. She planned to attend SmackDown on Friday to assess her options. What she did know was that we were going to crown a new Women’s World Champion tonight. Morgan introduced her best friend and sister, Big Sexy Raquel Rodriguez. 

Rodriguez entered. She said Judgment Day celebrated Morgan’s big win all weekend, but they never addressed something else that happened during the Rumble. Rodriguez asked Morgan why she eliminated her from the match. 

Morgan said she knew Rodriguez wasn’t a selfish person. Rodriguez had a title opportunity, and now she did too. A win for one Judgment Day member was a win for them all. 

Rodriguez agreed with that sentiment, but told Morgan to stay in the back for her match. Beating Vaquer on her own would make winning the world title that much sweeter. Morgan was on board with this (and relieved Rodriguez didn’t seem upset with her anymore).

Philly Street Fight for the Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez 

Vaquer has new generic-sounding music, and it seems like an immediate downgrade. She also wore new gear, which included long pants. It is a street fight, after all. (Rodriguez wrestled in ripped jeans.) 

Vaquer grabbed a table early on to the crowd’s delight, but was unable to use it. Rodriguez powerbombed her through the table moments later. During a break, Rodriguez wrapped a chain around Vaquer’s previously injured ankle, dragged her around ringside and slammed her leg into the barricade and into the side of the ring. 

After the break, Rodriguez booted the steel steps into Vaquer’s ankle. Vaquer avoided a steel chair shot and attacked Rodriguez with a kendo stick. Rodriguez attacked Vaquer with the cardboard cover from the announce table, before lawn-darting her into the ring post (second time we’ve seen that spot tonight). 

Vaquer came back with a kendo stick shot and a back suplex. She set up for Devil’s Kiss, but Rodriguez powered up to her feet with Vaquer still on her shoulders and dropped her onto the top rope. Vaquer managed to respond with a thrust kick for two. Rodriguez hit Vaquer on the head with a trash can for a two count. Fans chanted for the Eagles. 

Rodriguez tossed a bunch of chairs into the ring, and Corey Graves gave Terry Funk a shout-out. Rodriguez caught Vaquer’s crossbody attempt and hit a fallaway slam onto the chairs. Vaquer avoided a corkscrew elbow drop and hit Rodriguez with Devil’s Kiss onto a steel chair. Vaquer wasn’t done there. She rolled to the outside and hit Devil’s Kiss on top of the steel steps. The previous quiet crowd chanted, “One more time.” She didn’t do it. 

During a break, Vaquer attacked with the kendo stick and chucked the trash can in Rodriguez’s face. Rodriguez fought back and wedged a chair between the turnbuckles. She also set up a table outside the ring. 

After the break, Rodriguez tried to use the steel steps as a weapon, but Vaquer ducked it and dropped her onto the steps instead. Vaquer placed the trash can over Rodriguez and hit a running meteora in the corner for two. Rodriguez booted the can into Vaquer’s face moments later for two. 

Rodriguez took her time setting up a table while the ref checked on Vaquer, who was favouring her ankle. Rodriguez tried a Tejana Bomb through the table, but Vaquer slipped out. Rodriguez hit a clothesline instead. 

19 minutes into the match, Morgan entered through the crowd and handed Rodriguez the title belt, urging her to use it as a weapon. Vaquer used the distraction to chuck Rodriguez into the wedged chair, and knocked Morgan off the apron. Roxanne Perez tried to interfere too, but Vaquer knocked her off the ropes, through the outside table. 

Vaquer set up Rodriguez for a hurricanrana off the top and through the table, but Rodriguez blocked it and set up for a powerbomb. Vaquer blocked that and hit the hurricanrana anyway. The move sent Rodriguez through the table, but it didn’t look good. 

Vaquer followed with a Spiral Tap (corkscrew splash) for the pinfall win. 

— After some replays, Morgan laid out Vaquer with an Oblivion. She posed with the title belt before dropping it onto Vaquer. 

Match result: Stephanie Vaquer defeated Raquel Rodriguez in a Philly Street Fight to retain the Women’s World Championship (21:55) 

This was mostly a good match, but it dragged at times and felt really long, and the lack of crowd reaction really brought it down. 

******** 

Next week on Raw: 

  • Maxxine Dupri vs. Nattie 
  • The Usos vs. Alpha Academy for the tag team titles 
  • Elimination Chamber qualifying matches begin 

********

Roman Reigns and CM Punk main event segment 

Roman Reigns arrived in a Range Rover (he had a driver), and he immediately made his way to the ring. Reigns said he’s had highs and lows in Philly. He won his first championship here on his daughter’s birthday, but he also lost his last championship here. He won his first Rumble here, too. (He acknowledged the fans booed him at the time.) 

He won his second Rumble on Saturday, and the next city on the schedule was Philly. This was the perfect city to be in, because he had a decision to make. He was about to pose the question of which title he should go after, but stopped as the crowd chanted for CM Punk. Reigns said, “So you don’t want me to go after Drew McIntyre?” Reigns asked if they preferred Punk, and they cheered. 

Punk entered. The crowd chanted for Punk as the two men stared each other down. Punk looked into the camera to address Finn Bálor. Punk said Bálor wasn’t sure if he was a bad guy, but Punk warned him that when he was pushed, he was the baddest guy, and he would get his hands on Bálor soon. 

Reigns was perplexed at Punk interrupting his segment to talk about Bálor. Punk said he wasn’t interrupting anything. Reigns was a visitor on his show. “I’m the champ, CM Punk, and I call the shots.” 

Punk said Reigns had a big decision to make. Punk saw that Reigns was asking for the fans’ help. He mentioned McIntyre, and the fans booed. Punk proposed Reigns vs. McIntyre at WrestleMania, and they booed again. Punk proposed Reigns vs. the best in the world, CM Punk, and they cheered. 

Punk told Reigns to take the easy way out and pick McIntyre. Reigns scoffed at the idea that McIntyre was the easy way out. McIntyre was four times Punk’s size, and the last time they fought, he had Punk crying over a little plastic bracelet. 

Punk told Reigns to be careful. The last time he wrestled McIntyre, they ran out of staples putting his dumb ass back together. Punk knew that Reigns had beaten McIntyre in the past, but Punk beat him in the most dangerous match this company had to offer, Hell in a Cell. 

Reigns said he beat McIntyre for three years straight. Punk said he did, along with all of his cousins. Reigns warned him against talking about his family. They were the only reason this company was where it was today. And the only reason Punk had a company to come back to. 

Punk said Reigns manipulated his family and a great number of people into thinking he was this great messiah who put the company on his shoulders and held it high, but all he really did was hold it hostage. Punk heard what Reigns said on Pat McAfee’s show. He laughed at the idea that Reigns took mini-vacations to give others an opportunity, and he had the audacity to say nobody stepped up during that time. 

Punk reminded Reigns that he was once champion for 434 days with Paul Heyman by his side. That must sound familiar, because Reigns followed in his footsteps and was champion with Heyman for 1300 days. Punk said he may have done it longer, but that doesn’t mean he did it better. 

Punk said Reigns earned the right to call his shot and show up when he wanted. Punk wasn’t mad about it. Reigns chose to be a part-timer. Punk chose to go to ten countries in three weeks. He chose to see the fans worldwide. He chose to go to Poland, Scotland, Denmark, Belgium, London, Toronto, and Philly. 

Punk chose to be a fighting champion, just like he chose to bring Reigns into the company along with the rest of The Shield. Reigns followed in his footsteps, and he learned from the best. 

Punk said Reigns had a decision to make. Reigns could face the guy he thinks he can beat (McIntyre), or the guy who, on Reigns’ best day, he couldn’t touch. He could face McIntyre or climb Mount Everest with no Sherpa and face the best in the world. 

Reigns said Punk made all these towns because he took a ten-year vacation and wanted to get in as much as possible. Reigns laughed at the idea that he learned from Punk. The only thing he learned from Punk was what not to do. Punk wouldn’t be here without him. 

When they re-signed Punk, they asked Reigns first. He made a promise to Paul, and he did the best he could. But he would never forget ten years ago when Punk went on his friend’s podcast and made Reigns’ life way harder than it should’ve been. Punk came back, took his wiseman, and brainwashed his cousins. Punk almost brainwashed him, too. Reigns shook his hand like a man (at Survivor Series), but Punk mocked him behind his back. 

Reigns made his choice. He could pick Punk because he was the biggest star available. He could pick Punk because he was on the “best show.” But no. 

Reigns said, “I’m picking you because I hate you. I’ve always hated you. And WrestleMania is going to be the best day of my life, because in the main event, you will acknowledge me.” 

Reigns dropped the mic and left. Punk smirked as Reigns walked away.

(This was a very good setup for WrestleMania, and they gave us plenty to chew on with the show still more than two months away. The rest of the show mostly felt like filler in front of another quiet, big city crowd.) 

WWE Raw live results: Royal Rumble go-home show in Toronto

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: January 26, 2026
Location: Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON 

The Big Takeaway —

CM Punk and AJ Styles had their first WWE singles match, and it was for the World Heavyweight Championship. It ended in a DQ. Finn Bálor attacked Punk and laid him out, solidifying him as a heel again. 

Bron Breakker’s suspension has been lifted, and he will enter the Men’s Royal Rumble. The entire Vision will join him, and they’ve made it clear their goal is for Breakker to win. Adam Pearce granted them all a spot in the match, which seemed to surprise Paul Heyman. So there’s more to come there. 

This has not been a particularly strong build to the Royal Rumble, particularly the Rumble matches themselves. Nobody came off like a strong contender except Bron Breakker and maybe Rhea Ripley.

**********

Show Recap — 

There were shots of the stadium being built in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ahead of Saturday’s Royal Rumble, followed by a shot of fans lined up outside Scotiabank Arena in my hometown of snowy Toronto for Raw. 

Stephanie Vaquer, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods (getting their hair done), The Vision (including Bron Breakker) were shown at the arena earlier today. 

Michael Cole claimed Scotiabank Arena was sold out with an attendance of 17,853. 

AJ Styles kicks off Raw in Toronto

Styles entered to a big ovation. He said Gunther claimed he would end his career at the Rumble. That was Gunther’s plan, but Styles didn’t plan on going anywhere. (There was a light, “F—k you, Gunther,” chant.)  

Styles acknowledged that 2026 would be the year that he retired. He wasn’t saying that to upset anyone—he was saying it so they could enjoy it together. John Cena showed him how he could say goodbye. 2025 was Cena’s year, and there was no reason 2026 couldn’t be his. 

There were men in locker rooms all over the world that he would love to wrestle one more time. (Interesting phrasing.) He also wanted to be world champion one more time. 

CM Punk entered to a big reaction. Punk said he’s known Styles for more than 20 years. They’ve been friends and enemies, but there was nothing but respect between them now. (Styles agreed.) 

Punk didn’t understand what he was doing by putting his career on the line against Gunther. Guys like them still had a lot left in the tank, and the stakes on Saturday were too high. Styles accused Punk of thinking that he couldn’t beat Gunther. 

Punk wasn’t saying that. He knew Styles could beat Gunther, but the last time they wrestled, Styles did not get his hand raised. And if Styles did retire, that meant the two of them never got to wrestle one-on-one in WWE. (They wrestled in a three-way with Chad Gable last year.)

Styles knew what Punk meant (about facing Gunther), but thought he was being disrespectful. Styles had an idea, and the crowd chanted, “Fight tonight.” Styles told Punk, “I know I can beat Gunther, and I know I can beat you.” Punk said Styles can’t prove that if he loses on Saturday. They both looked around at the crowd. 

Styles said if they did fight tonight, and he won, he should be number one contender for the title after he beats Gunther. Punk said if they were going to wrestle tonight in Toronto, it would be for the belt. Everyone cheered. Punk made the match, and they shook hands.

(Punk vs. Styles for the title was made official during the next match.)

******** 

There was a video package recapping Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Six-woman tag team match: Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer & Women’s Tag Team Champions Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY vs. Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez

The Judgment Day women all wore matching black-and-red gear. Ripley came out to a huge pop, and the crowd sang Iyo Sky’s name as the match began. 

Vaquer entered to a modest applause and went to work on Morgan, but her Devil’s Kiss attempt was broken up by Rodriguez, which upset the fans. Morgan had actually tagged out to Rodriguez moments earlier, but Vaquer didn’t see it because she was distracted by Perez. The referee did see it, but made no attempt to get Morgan out of the ring besides yelling vaguely at her. She remained in the ring for well over 10 seconds before Rodriguez got in. 

Judgment Day maintained control over Vaquer throughout a break. Morgan yanked Sky off the apron, while Rodriguez attacked Ripley from behind. The referee was ok with all of this. 

Vaquer finally did make a hot tag to Sky, who hit Perez with uppercuts, a flying dropkick, and a corner meteora. Morgan saved Perez from a moonsault, but Sky followed with a butterfly backbreaker. Morgan distracted the ref by messing up the ring skirt while Perez raked Sky’s eyes. Perez and Morgan hit a combo Russian leg sweep/Codebreaker for two. 

Sky made the next hot tag to Ripley, who gave Morgan a Razor’s Edge into Rodriguez. Ripley blocked a Pop Rox and clobbered Perez with a clothesline. Ripley followed with a missile dropkick to Rodriguez (who was in the ring a long time despite not being legal, but this referee obviously does not care). 

Morgan fought back with a tornado DDT on Ripley, but Sky broke up the cover. Everyone traded moves until Vaquel wiped out Rodriguez with a diving splash to the outside. 

Morgan went for Oblivion, but Ripley blocked it. Perez had made a blind tag, and they tried their combo move again, but Sky wiped out Morgan with a flying dropkick. Ripley finished off Perez with a Rip-tide for the pinfall win. 

The three winners celebrated. (Corey Graves noted that Vaquer was limping by the end of the match, which was the same injury she’s been selling the past several weeks.) 

Match result: Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY & Stephanie Vaquer defeated Roxanne Perez, Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez (12:54)

A fun TV match despite the dumb referee. Ripley was the most over person in the match, and she got another win ahead of the Rumble, where she’ll be one of the favourites. 

********

There was a dramatic recap of Punk successfully defending his title over Finn Bálor last week in Belfast. 

Bálor approached Punk backstage. Bálor initially seemed in a bad mood after coming up short last week, but said Punk was part of the most memorable night of his career. Punk picked him up after the match and gave him his flowers, but Bálor didn’t return the favour, so he will now. Bálor thanked him. 

Punk thanked him, too. Punk said he couldn’t be the best in the world unless he beat the best. Punk considered Bálor one of the greats, and he earned the shot. Cena was gone, and there weren’t a lot of guys like them left. Punk advised him that he might want to ditch Judgment Day if he really wanted to be champion. Punk told him to win the Rumble, and maybe he’d see him again. Punk left, and Bálor nodded. 

********

There’s a commercial specifically for the special Triple H edition of WWE 2K26. I’m not even sure they’ve advertised the actual game yet. 

Bron Breakker and Adam Pearce face-to-face 

The Vision entered. Paul Heyman did his usual bit, called Toronto a second-rate city, and introduced each member of The Vision. Logan Paul got a lot of heat, of course. Heyman gave special attention to Bron Breakker. 

Heyman noted that Breakker was there because Adam Pearce wanted a face-to-face, but Heyman wanted to examine why this was happening first. Heyman showed a replay of Pearce putting his hands on Breakker first (before Breakker tried to kill him). Heyman said that was not appropriate behaviour for the Raw general manager. Heyman also showed a replay of Rey Mysterio pinning Austin Theory last week, thanks to Pearce planting the brass knuckles on the apron. 

Pearce entered. He admitted that things got out of hand, and he put his hands on Breakker first. He apologized. Breakker laughed. Pearce pledged to them all that it would not happen again. Pearce knew what Heyman was going to say next, and he already made it official: Breakker’s suspension was over, and he was in the Royal Rumble match. 

Heyman was happy and asked for a handshake. Pearce called Heyman a master negotiator, so he willingly entered Logan Paul, Bronson Reed and Austin Theory into the Rumble. Heyman was caught off guard by this. Pearce also knew that Theory felt cheated after last week, so he put him in a match against Rey Mysterio—tonight. 

When the segment was over, all members of The Vision were happy, while Heyman was confused. Cole did not know what to make of Pearce’s decision. 

Austin Theory (w/ The Vision) vs. Rey Mysterio (w/ Penta & Dragon Lee)

Theory held control with a chin lock and tried to get some heat by going for Rey’s mask, but the crowd didn’t bite. The fight spilled to the outside, and Rey sent Theory flying into the ring post. As the outside parties argued, Rey hit Theory with a seated senton off the barricade. Rey smacked Reed’s head before heading back into the ring. 

This led to a second commercial break (the match started during a break), so about 5 of the first 8 and a half minutes of the match happened during commercials. 

Rey went after Theory outside the ring, but Theory dumped him onto the ring steps and placed him in another rest hold in the ring, just long enough to bring us back from break. Rey tried a springboard crossbody, but Theory nailed him with a mid-air forearm and an Ataxia (flatliner variation) for two. 

Dragon Lee checked on Rey outside the ring, so Logan shoved him. Penta superkicked Logan. Dragon Lee tried to take out Reed, but Reed caught him and drove him into the barricade before Logan yanked Penta off the apron. 

Rey kicked Logan, but the distraction allowed Theory to hit the ring with a curb stomp for the pinfall win. 

— Breakker attacked Penta and Dragon Lee after the match, and The Vision laid out the two men. Paul gave Dragon Lee a frog splash, while Breakker speared Penta, and Reed finished off Penta with a Tsunami. 

(Notably, it seemed like they were trying to set up Rey for a spear, but the referee frantically got between them and got Rey out of the ring. So perhaps after taking the curb stomp, they wanted to be safe with Rey.) 

Match result: Logan Paul defeated Rey Mysterio (11:23) 

This was a nothing match just to get Theory a win, finally. 

It turns out Rey may have gotten injured, so hopefully it isn’t serious. He seemed fine all match until they got him out of the ring for the post-match angle. 

*******

There was a Natalya video promo. She said she made Maxxine Dupri, but Dupri failed. Dupri didn’t fail herself, she failed Natalya. Rolling with a legend didn’t mean she could roll like a legend. There was a whole new Natalya, and when she was done with Dupri, was coming for it all (the IC title). “Because Natalya elevates, but Nattie decimates.”

Rodriguez marched around backstage, loudly screaming for Vaquer. Bayley was nearby and called her an idiot because she (Bayley) was on the phone. Lyra Valkyria got between them, so Rodriguez continued on her way until she was attacked by Vaquer. Officials quickly separated them. 

Byron Saxton interviewed Je’Von Evans during a break. Evans made the mistake of wearing a Boston Red Sox toque, so he was greeted with a “Let’s go Blue Jays” chant. Evans’ goal was to main event WrestleMania, which first meant winning the Rumble. He declared himself for the match. 

********

Gunther sit-down interview 

Cole interviewed Gunther in the Toronto Raptors locker room. Gunther said he agreed to Saturday’s match because he had something to gain by ending Styles’ career. He was sick of the old-timers overstaying their welcome, chasing one moment after another. Those moments belonged to him. 

Goldberg chased after a moment, but Gunther took it away. Cena chased moments for a full year, but all anyone would talk about now was that he gave up to him in his last match. Now, Styles had this idea of a long, emotional farewell tour, but Gunther wasn’t interested. 

Gunther noted that Cole was an old-timer, too. He asked Cole how long he planned on sticking around chasing a moment. He could kick the chair out and end Cole’s career right now, but he told Cole not to worry. Gunther wanted Cole at ringside on Saturday so he could say the career of the Phenomenal AJ Styles was over. 

This was really good. 

********

Bálor approached Pearce to declare himself for the Rumble. Pearce said Bálor already had his shot at the title last week, so he filled Bálor’s Rumble spot with someone else. He said the Rumble was full. Bálor said the Rumble couldn’t be full without him. Pearce reiterated that the match was full. Bálor left while contemplating what to do next. 

Morgan confronted Bálor. She accused Punk of giving him a participation trophy, and Bálor thanked him for it. She heard Punk say he should leave Judgment Day, but Punk didn’t really want him to be champion, while his family in Judgment Day did. Bálor said this wasn’t as straightforward as she thought. He said he would take care of it. 

********

Jey Uso entered ahead of a break to watch the next match. (No Jimmy again. They are in Canada, after all. Cole said he was dealing with personal issues.) Jey tried to run back his entrance music, but was cut off by American Made. 

Scottie Barnes was shown in the crowd, and he got a nice ovation.

Fatal four-way to determine tag team title number one contenders: The New Day (w/ Grayson Waller) vs. Alpha Academy vs. American Made (w/ Ivy Nile) vs. Los Americanos 

It doesn’t say much about the tag division (or more specifically, having two sets of tag titles) that this was the field to determine number one contenders. 

During a break, Xavier Woods confronted Cole at the desk and loudly told him, “I am Xavier, and that’s Kofi. Get it right from here on out!” Cole responded, “What was that all about?”  

The crowd didn’t react to anything until Otis got in, and then they were into it. (Amazing Otis can have this effect after all this time of being a background character.) Otis hit a Caterpillar elbow, but the cover was broken up. Everyone attacked Otis, so Akira Tozawa made the stave and hit Bravo Americano with a German suplex. Tozawa then wiped out all three teams with suicide dives. 

Tozawa set up Kingston for a diving senton, but Woods distracted the referee, so Waller tripped Tozawa. The referee admonished Waller until Jey superkicked Waller over the barricade. 

Otis beat up the other teams single-handedly and slammed Julius onto Brutus. Tozawa followed with a diving senton on Julius for the pinfall win. 

Alpha Academy will face The Usos for the tag titles. Jey bumped fists with Otis and Tozawa post-match. 

Match result: Akira Tozawa & Otis defeated American Made, Los Americanos & The New Day (10:53)

******** 

Jackie Redmond, wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jacket, interviewed Becky Lynch. Lynch called her win last week monumental, but Redmond wouldn’t know anything about monumental wins wearing a jacket like that. 

Lynch noted Natalya went after the match. Lynch understood, because Natalya trained Dupri from nothing, and she remained nothing. She compared it to training loser Lyra. Now Natalya was coming after her title, but Natalya would have to win the Rumble first, and that was laughable. 

Lynch said she was entering the Rumble match. Kairi Sane and Asuka interrupted. Sane said Lynch would not win the Rumble because Asuka would, and Lynch was not ready. Lynch said she was ready because she’s already beaten Asuka. Sane tried to explain this to Asuka, who was standing right there. Asuka cut her off and told Lynch she would see her in the Rumble. 

******* 

Je’Von Evans approached Styles as he warmed up. Evans hoped to see him after Saturday. Styles shook his hand. (Evans turned his hat around to hide the Red Sox logo.) 

Elsewhere, Vaquer told Pearce she didn’t want a match against Rodriguez—she wanted a fight. Pearce made a street fight for the title next week in Philadelphia. 

******** 

Royal Rumble card (start time 2 pm ET/11 am PT): 

  • AJ Styles vs. Gunther with Styles’ career on the line 
  • Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship 
  • 30 Woman Royal Rumble match 
  • 30 Man Royal Rumble match 

********

The Vision met backstage to discuss what their plan was now that they were all in the Rumble. Logan got up and said they should go into the match with one goal and one vision. He said they should ensure a victory for one man: Bron Breakker. Reed and Theory were both in full agreement. (Breakker had no discernible reaction to this.) 

******** 

There was an Oba Femi video package. He will be in the Rumble. 

World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. AJ Styles

There were modest duelling chants as they got started, and each man went for their finishers early on, but a series of counters led to Styles applying a cradle for two. Punk got the better of their next exchange and hit Styles with an elbow and chop to the upper back. Styles came back with a dropkick. Punk fell outside, and Styles nailed a sliding knee. 

Styles was in control through a break until Punk whipped him hard into the corner after the break. The crowd chanted for tables. Punk followed with a neckbreaker, a lifting knee strike, a bulldog, and a shining wizard for two. Styles came back with a series of strikes, a running forearm, and a corner splash, but Punk fired right back with a clothesline for two. 

Styles blocked a GTS and followed with a fireman’s carry neckbreaker for two. Punk knocked Styles off the middle turnbuckle and hit a flying elbow drop for two. Punk immediately applied an Anaconda Vice until Styles countered out of it. Styles tried setting up for a Styles Clash, but Punk drove him into the turnbuckles. 

Punk tried a shining wizard again, but Styles caught him and set up a Styles Clash. Punk avoided it again, so Styles dumped him from the ring. Punk blocked a sliding knee and hit a GTS (outside the ring). Punk initially tried getting Styles into the ring, but it was taking too long, so Punk slipped back into the ring at an eight count, while Styles got in at nine. 

Styles was down selling, and Punk wasn’t sure what to do next, so Styles suddenly caught him in a Styles Clash for a nearfall. Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Punk knocked him off the top rope. They exchanged strikes until Styles hit a Pelé Kick. 

Styles tried setting up the Clash again before Punk got him on his shoulders to try a GTS. Styles held the top rope, and as the two men struggled for position, Finn Bálor suddenly popped in the ring and dropkicked Punk into the corner (knocking Styles out of the ring) for the DQ. 

Bálor dropkicked Punk into the barricade and gave him a Coup de Grace in the ring. Punk rolled to his side, so Bálor hit the Coup de Grace again, this time on his ribs. Bálor hit the move one more time and stood tall as the show ended. 

Match result: CM Punk vs. AJ Styles ended in a disqualification — Punk retains the World Heavyweight Championship (18:11)

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event live results: Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu

Posted on by Jeff Moss

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event is set for the Bell Centre in Montreal on January 24, 2026.

Four matches are set for the show, including a four-way match where the winner will earn the right to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. Randy Orton, Trick Williams, Damian Priest, and Sami Zayn all won qualifying matches to secure their spots in the four-way.

Also on the card, former New Japan Pro Wrestling stars face off as AJ Styles wrestles Shinsuke Nakamura. The match was added to the lineup on Friday’s SmackDown.

For the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY will defend against Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez of The Judgment Day.

Additionally, Cody Rhodes will take on Jacob Fatu after Fatu interfered in the Three Stages of Hell match, causing Rhodes to lose his title.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.

***************************

The night is Saturday. The event is Main. The time is now!

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event from Montreal, Quebec, Canada (mere literal steps from my own door) kicked off with Stephanie McMahon on the host’s desk solo because Joe Tessitore was apparently stuck in an airport due to weather. Speaking of weather, she mentioned that it was dang cold (-7f) but hot in the building! She then asked if Montreal was ready in French. I think that’s a legal thing. 

After the opening video package, the traditional footage of wrestlers arriving to work was shown, but with a twist. In this footage, most were shown in the building having coffee or looking at Montreal Canadien’s Stanley Cup trophies. 

Cody Rhodes vs Jacob Fatu

The first match of the evening looked to set a brutal tone early with a shirtless Fatu yelling at Rhodes through the camera before stomping down to the ring. Rhodes arrived to a huge ovation wearing the skull mask/helmet he borrowed from HHH. All of my heart wishes he’d start wearing it all the time and revert back to “Dashing” Cody, but we can’t all get what we want. 

Fatu jumped Rhodes as he climbed into the ring (See? Should have kept the helmet on, Cody!) and the two started brawling. The ref was knocked over right away and the bell hadn’t even rung yet. Officials flooded the ring and tried to calm it down for some reason. Then security arrived to pull apart the guys who were about to fight anyway, confirming, as always, that there is no one as inept as a WWE security guard.  

Fatu went into a zone formerly held by Ken Shamrock and leapt off the ringpost, taking out Rhodes, the officials and security. Rhodes got to his feet and the two brawled up the ramp. Rhodes threw Fatu back into the ring to clothesline him right back out again. Rhodes landed a suicide dive and then posed on the announce desk. 

He cleared the desk, but Fatu tried to get out through the crowd. Rhodes followed and they brawled in the crowd. Fatu backdropped Rhodes on the concrete, but Rhodes got up and tossed him into some road cases. Fatu dumped Rhodes into the lower bowl seats and the fought up the steps towards the dreaded concessions area. 

Rhodes threw a garbage can or three at Fatu while Jaime Noble begged them to stop. Fatu started choking Cody and a poor security guard who got in the way ate a slam through a table from Fatu. Rhodes fought back and the fight moved back into the stands. They brawled back down the steps with Fatu bending Rhodes around the railing. 

They made it back to the floor with “twenty security guards” in tow. They climbed up on some boxes and another guard who got in the way got tossed to the floor. Suddenly, Drew McIntyre appeared and did what twenty guards could not and took out Fatu. He then powerbombed Rhodes off the boxes and through a table. 

McIntyre then wandered over to the ring and climbed inside, taking in the fruits of his labor. 

Match Result: Cody Rhodes vs Jacob Fatu never got started, so no contest? I guess?

Fun brawl, but I was kinda looking forward to the match. Also, I have to ask, why didn’t someone just ring the bell? Is there some rule I don’t know about where everyone has to be calm and cool before a match can officially start? Any way, a great, raucous start to the nights festivities.

-Back from break, we got a promo for WWE2K6 that will have a “Monday Night War” edition as well as an “Attitude Era” edition. I’ll just come out and say it: AREN’T THEY THE SAME THING?!?!

They recapped the brawl we all just saw (for all) and Drew McIntyre stomped through the back to talk with Cathy Kelly. McIntyre said that anyone coming for his title can expect the same treatment he just gave Fatu and Rhodes.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY [c] vs Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez

RHIYO got a big pop as expected, but surprisingly, given her heelish nature, so did Liv Morgan. LIllian Garcia did her thing as only she can do and All seemed right with the world for a moment or two. 

Sky and Morgan kicked things off literally as Morgan ate a dropkick. She bounced back though, throwing a back elbow out of the corner. Perez tagged in and they went for a double suplex, but Sky fought them off and took out Perez with a chop block. 

Perez tried to crawl out of the ring, but Sky caught her. The ref took a moment to fix the ring apron for some reason and Morgan snuck in a quick choke of Sky on the ropes. Morgan tagged in and hit a codebreaker, but Sky kicked out at two in the ensuing cover. 

Morgan threw Sky around with some Three Amigo’s suplexes, but again, Sky kicked out while Ripley salivated on the apron. Perez came back in and laid some elbows into the back of Sky’s head. Sky reached for a tag, but Perez held her back, stomping her ankle. 

Sky counted with a rollthrough double stomp, and two hot tags were made. A smiling Ripley stepped into the ring with Morgan and immediately threw her at the ground a lot. She hit a fallaway slam and let out a scream before dropkicking Morgan clear across the ring. 

Ripley went for a Riptide, but Morgan countered into a codebreaker. Ripley caught her though and picked her up for a Razor’s Edge. Morgan wiggled free and tagged in Perez, but Ripley did not care. She headbutted Morgan and then dropped a big boot into Perez’s face. 

Ripley dragged Perez up the turnbuckle, but Perez fought back and Morgan grabbed a blind tag. She ran across the ring to knock Sky off the apron and Perez countered Ripley into a headscissor from the top rope. Morgan then hit a codebreaker, but Ripley kicked out at two. 

Morgan and Ripley stayed legal with ripley getting Morgan up and landing a Razor’s Edge. Sky punctuated it with a missile dropkick, but Perez snuck by Ripley and broke up the pin. Perez went for an around the world head scissor that put Ripley on the mat head first. 

Sky tagged in with a prone Morgan in the corner and charged for a Bullet Train, but Morgan dodged it and hit a spinning crucifix for a two count. With Ripley on the outside, Perez and Morgan double teamed Sky until she fought back and took out Morgan. Perez went for a sunset bomb, but Sky countered with a kick to the face. 

Sky went up top for Over the Moonsault, but Perez got her feet up and hit a Pop Rocks. Perez went for the cover, but Sky kicked out at 2.75.

Ripley came back in and picked up Perez. She head butted her and then hit a Rip Tied. She tagged Sky who naked her over the moonsault and went for the pin. Before the ref could count to three though, Raquel Rodriguez arrived and dumped Ripley on him. 

She dragged Sky to the outside for a powerbomb and then suddenly Stephanie Vaquer hit the ring and got the best of Rodriguez with a kick over the barricade and then a splash in the crowd. 

Back in the ring, Perez tried to steal one by pinning Sky, but Sky kicked out. Perez tagged in Morgan who it an Oblivion. Ripley tagged in blind and nailed her with a Riptide before stacking her up and getting the 1-2-3 to retain the titles. 

Match Result: Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY defeated Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez

That was a killer match! Everyone got a chance to shine and the interference was minimal and made sense. The crowd has hotter than fresh poutine and it was a joy to watch. 17 Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwiches out of 10.

-Back from a commercial, they went right into the next match which by process of elimination was:

AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura

It’s likely you’d be hard pressed to find anyone in the wrestling world not looking forward to this match. AJ arrived with his special Japan mask and Nakamura made his entrance like it was Black & Gold NXT, both popping the crowd huge. 

The bell rang and they took it in, taking their time to lock up. Nakamura grabbed a headlock, but Styles shot him off the ropes and they locked up again. This time, Nakamura went for a side headlock takedown. They wrestled through a few technical exchanges before Styles went for a leapfrog off the ropes, but Nakamura hit him with a dropkick. 

They reset and locked up again, with Nakamura pushing Styles to the ropes. He backed off at the ref’s request and the two eyed each other. Nakamura told Styles to “come aaaaaaaahnnnnn!” and he did, landing a dropkick and a backbreaker. 

Styles pushed Nakamura to the corner and Nakamura punched him in the gut. Styles responded with an elbow, sending Nakamura to the outside. Styles then leapt over the ropes onto him, squishing him into the floor. Styles tossed Nakamura back into ring and caught a kick to the back of the head. 

Nakamura laid Styles over the ropes and hit him with a running knee. Nakamura then dropped a knee onto Styles face, keeping control of the pace of the match. Nakamura grabbed a headlock and shoved Styles into the corner and stood on his neck. Nakamura went for a stomp, but Styles rolled though and popped up with a clothesline. 

Styles hit a sliding forearm and then hit a neckbreaker, but Nakamura kicked out of the cover at two. Styles went for the Styles Clash, but Nakamura was having none of it and countered with a running knee. He started kicking Styles in the chest until he dropped to the mat. 

Nakamura hit a sliding German suplex off the second rope and then nailed Styles with a flying knee. Styles kicked out of the cover though. Nakamura set up for Kinshasa, but Styles got out of the way and pulled him down for a calf crusher. Nakamura screamed in pain and crawled to the ropes to break the hold. 

Styles wrapped Nakamura’s knee around the ropes and wrenched it before dragging him to the middle for another calf crusher. Styles held it on for what seemed like 10 minutes, but Nakamura wouldn’t tap. Nakamura almost made it to the ropes, but Styles pulled him back and tried to reset the calf crusher. Nakamura used that to turn the tables slap on a triangle choke. 

Styles lifted Nakamura up for a Styles Clash, but Nakamura got out of hit. Styles then hit a massive knee into the chin of Nakamura, knocking him senseless. Styles got to his feet first and limped over to Nakamura on the mat. 

Styles picked him up and the two started trading forearms. Styles hit a Pele kick, but that opened him up to a Kinshasa to the back of the neck. Nakamura went to the corner and went for another Kinshasa, but his knee gave out. Styles hit one of his own, but Nakamura grabbed the ropes to stop the count. 

Styles hoisted Nakamura up on his shoulders and hit a spinning slam for a two count. Styles went for a a suplex, but Nakamura countered and tried another sliding German, but again his knee gave out on him. Styles hit him with a running knee to send him to the outside. Styles pulled him back in and went for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Nakamura caught him and hit a driver for a 2.5 count on Styles. 

Styles threw a back elbow, but Nakamura took him down with a sling blade. Styles hit another Pele kick, sending Nakamura back to the mat. Both men were down, with Nakamura clutching his leg. 

Styles got to his feet and so did Nakamura. The two traded chops and forearms and kicks to the hamstrings. Nakamura threw a headbutt and when Styles lunged he caught him in an armbar. Styles rolled it through into a pinning combination, but Nakamura kicked out, then kicked Styles. 

Nakamura went for a Kinshasa, but Styles blocked it and set him up for the Styles Clash. Nakamura got out of it and went for another Kinshasa, but Styles dodged and Nakamura hit the ringpost. Styles leapt up and landed a Phenomenal Forearm followed by a Styles Clash to finally put an end to it, 1-2-3.

Match Result: AJ Styles defeated Shinsuke Nakamura

Holy crap in a hat that was amazing! What a match! I’m so glad these two had a chance to have this match after some of their lesser ones. It was back and forth the whole way and told an incredible story the way that only these two could tell. If some of the newer talent in the back wasn’t taking notes on that match, I bet HBK has them doing it on Monday. 57 Montreal Road Work Pylons out of 10.

-The scene shifted back to the Host desk and Stephanie McMahon. She caught everyone up on what’s happend so far in the show. She then set up the Fatal Four Way Main Event and threw to footage of Sami Zayn arriving to work to a huge ovation. She then threw to the match that started right–

— after a promo for Wrestlemania in Las Vegas and then some commercials.

Undisputed WWE Title No. 1 Contender’s Fatal 4-Way Match: Randy Orton vs. Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest vs. Sami Zayn 

Orton made his way to the ring first, ensuring us that the people in his noggin were still talking to him. Priest took one look at Orton’s entrance and said “you call that sauntering?” and walked with purpose to the ring. Williams was next, but really he was just the cooldown entrance for Sami By God Zayn. 

I’m not selling this short when I say that when the “let’s go” in Zayn’s music hit, the Bell Centre and most of downtown Montreal shook like the stands at a Metallica show at Olympic Stadium (google it). Zayn made his way to the ring, soaking in every bit of hometown energy he could. 

At home, Kevin Owens silently watched, a single tear forming in the corner of his eye as he fondly reminisced about all the times he powerbombed Zayn onto the ring apron (the francophonest part of the ring!) 

The bell rang and Williames bailed from the ring. Orton went for an early RKO, but missed, sending Priest out. That left Orton and Zayn to kick things off while the crowd screamed. Williams grabbed Zayne by the ankle and dragged him out of the ring. Orton followed and took out Williams. Priest launched himself off the steps and took out Orton and Williams. 

In the ring, Priest and Zayn fought, with Priest tossing Zayne from corner to corner. He went for a suplex, but Orton got involved with a headbutt, sending him back out. Orton and Zayn locked up with Orton throwing him into the corner. Zayne reversed it, feeding Orton some punches of his own. 

Williams chose then to make his presence known, stomping on Orton and shoving him out of the ring. He then turned his attention and fists to Zayn, punching him and soaking up the boos. Williams threw Zayn into Orton then hit a neckbreaker on Zayn for a two count. He threw Zayn into the corner, bouncing him off the turnbuckle. 

Zayne then fired up and threw some chops, but Williams hit him with a spinning kick. That allowed Priest to slam Williams for a two count. Priest then set up Zayn for a piledriver, but Zayn countered with a tornado DDT. The ole’s started in earnest as Zayn caught a returning Orton in a blue Thunder Bomb attempt. Orton blocked it though and landed a powerslam before clotheslining Williams out of the ring. 

Orton grabbed Priest and dropped him with a dripping DDT. Williams came back in just in time to get kicked in the gut, which allowed Zayn to hit the Blue Thunder Bomb on Orton for the legally required two count. Orton crawled to the corner and Zayn charged for a Helluva kick, but Williams interrupted him. 

Priest threw feet at Williams who slid out of the ring. Priest followed and charged, but Williams hit a Book End on the barricade, which gave Zayn a chance to land a dive on both of them through the ropes. 

Orton picked up Zayn on the outside and Zayne countered it, slamming him on the announce table. Zayne scrambled back into the ring and hit a Helluva Kick on Priest, but Williams pulled the ref out of the ring before the three count could fall. 

Orton then grabbed Williams and slammed him onto the announce table. Then he grabbed Zayne and did the same. Then he grabbed Priest and they shared a nice soda pop. NO! He slammed him on the table as well. Then for good measure, he did it again to Williams. 

Orton tossed Williams back into the ring, but Williams rolled away. That left Orton open for a rollup from Zayn, but only a two count. Orton then hit the ring post off of a charge as Zayn got out of the way. Zayn went up top, but Orton moved. Orton went for an RKO, but Zayn dodged it. Zayn fired up and went for a kick, but Orton landed an RKO. Williams ran in and grabbed Orton, tossing him out to try and pin Zayn, but Priest broke it up before the ref could count to three. 

Priest and Williams traded shots on the ring apron, with both knocking each other silly so Orton could hit a double draping DDT off the ropes. Orton got pumped up for an RKO, but Williams blocked it and threw Orton at Priest who hit a chokeslam. Williams tried to steal one again, shoving Priest out of the way for a two count. 

Priest rolled out in time for Zayn to hit Williams with an exploder in the corner. Zayn ran for the helluva kick, but Williams moved and Zayn tweaked his knee on the ropes. Williams went up top, but Zayn ran up and grabbed him. Priest then hit Zayn and got him with a Razor’s Edge. Priest then turned his attention to Williams, which left Priest open for the Helluva kick and Zayn made the pin to get the victory and head to the Royal Rumble against Drew McIntrye for the WWE Undisputed Championship! 

Match Result: Sami Zayn defeated Randy Orton, Trick Williams and Damian Priest

After the match, Drew McIntyre tried to get the drop on Zayn, but Zayn saw it coming (probably becuase he’s seen wrestling before) and tossed him out of the ring. Zayn then stood tall with fireworks and a massive crowd ovation as the show went off the air.

That was one of the best Saturday Night Main Events they’ve done so far. Four great fights, three great matches two awesome outcomes and the one and only Sami Zayn. 107 Canadiens Stanley Cups out of 24!