This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Cleveland, Ohio! We break it all down in this week’s Raw recap!
We Hear From Becky Lynch
Lynch says there is only so much disrespect a woman can take. Lynch adds that she came out here with a big announcement, but she saw that AJ Lee has come back to her show. Lee comes out and says she’s not here for Lynch, but to support Maxxine Dupri tonight. Lynch says Lee is not cute; she’s like a chihuahua that keeps barking and yapping. Lynch claims that Lee is ruining her life. Lee questions how she’s ruined Lynch’s life, but then remembers beating Lynch at Wrestlepalooza and WarGames, then costing her the Women’s IC Title. Lee says it’s all water under the bridge now. Lynch says that it’s not, then asks what it will take to get Lee to go away. Lynch asks if a match at Elimination Chamber is what Lee wants. Lee points out that Lynch is either having a nervous breakdown or she wants to go one-on-one with her. Lee says that’s flattering, but she hasn’t had a singles match in over a decade.
Lee agrees that Lynch is one of the greatest of all time, but if she beats Lynch, than that might make Lee better than her and the number one contender to Lynch’s title. Lynch says Lee has done nothing to deserve a title shot. Lee suggests she’ll go back to Chicago then. Lynch finally gives in and grants the match. Lynch welcomes Lee to the big time.
WWE World Tag Team Titles: The Usos (Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso) (c) vs. Alpha Academy (Akira Tozawa & Otis)
Otis runs over Jey with a shoulder tackle. Jimmy and Tozawa tag in. Jimmy fires off chops on Tozawa. Tozawa answers with a hurricanrana and a roundhouse kick. Otis launches Tozawa onto to the outside so he wipes out Jimmy and Jey.
Back from break, Jimmy connects with an uppercut and kick to Otis. Otis drives Jimmy into the mat with a slam. Otis flattens Jimmy in the corner with a splash. Jey blasts Otis with a superkick, then knocks Tozawa off the apron. Jimmy and Jey nail Otis with doubler superkicks. Otis responds with a double clothesline. Tozawa follows with a double missile dropkick. Tozawa wipes out Jey and Jimmy with dives through the ropes next. Tozawa leaps off the top with a senton for the win. Jimmy superkicks Tozawa, then Otis. Jimmy and Jey deliver a double spear. They follow with a 1D for the win.
Winners (And Still): The Usos
After the match, Byron Saxton asks Jimmy and Jey what’s next for them. Jey shout outs Otis and Tozawa. Jimmy says he and Jey will remain the best tag team in the game. Jimmy says he needs Jey to qualify for then win the Elimination Chamber.
We Hear From Liv Morgan & Dominik Mysterio
Dominik presents a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates to Morgan. Morgan says the fans are now in the presence of the greatest IC Champion and Royal Rumble winner of all time. Morgan says she put Stephanie Vaquer and Jade Cargill on notice last week. She claims they’re afraid because they know they’ll lose to her at WrestleMania. Vaquer comes down to the ring.
Vaquer and Dominik exchange words in Spanish. Vaquer says she hopes Morgan picks her for WrestleMania so she can kick Morgan’s ass. Morgan says she’s not going to rush her decision. and if Vaquer doesn’t like it, she can cry about it. Morgan calls Vaquer a b*tch in Spanish. Vaquer slaps Dominik.
Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Rhea Ripley vs. Ivy Nile vs. Lyra Valkyria
Nile shoves Valkyria to the outside. Ripley rocks Nile with a dropkick. Valkyria gets back into the ring and rolls up Ripley for a two count. Nile delivers a double German suplex. Ripley drops Nile onto the apron. Valkyria sends Ripley flying across the floor with a hurricanrana.
Back from break, Nile delivers a German suplex-superplex combo on Valkyria and Ripley off the top. Ripley clotheslines Nile, then slams her to the mat. Ripley follows with a basement dropkick. Valkyria stacks up Ripley for a two count. Ripley slams Valkyria to the mat. Nile German suplexes Ripley across the ring. Valkyria rolls up Nile for a near fall. She connects with a step-up enziugiri next. Valkyria spikes Ripley with a DDT. Nile dumps Valkyria to the outside. Valkyria returns and takes a spinning uranage from Nile. Ripley breaks it up, only to eat a backstabber from Nile. Valkyria drops Nile with a Night Wing. Ripley breaks up the pinfall attempt. She delivers the Riptide on Valkyria for the win
Winner: Rhea Ripley
Backstage, Dominik Mysterio tries cheer up Finn Balor. Balor makes it clear that he wants the world title. Dominik points out that Balor’s window for that might have closed. Balor says he’s tired of being an afterthought.
Finn Balor Crashes CM Punk’s Interview
Out in the ring, Michael Cole previews Roman Reigns vs CM Punk for WrestleMania. Finn Balor interrupts. Balor says everyone is too focused on the future, but he left Punk laying in the ring like a wounded dog two weeks ago. Balor says he’s not going to let Reigns take advantage of his kill. Balor asserts that he’s done being pushed around, and he wants a title match against Punk at Elimination Chamber in Punk’s hometown. Adam Pearce says they already had a conversation about this. Pearce says it’s too late for Balor to get another shot. Pearce then politely asks Balor to leave the ring or the WWE security guards will escort him out.
Punk marches down the ramp and argues with Pearce. As Punk rolls into the ring, Balor rolls out and stands atop the announce desk. Punk says Balor deserves an ass beating, but not a title shot. He then challenges Balor to get into the right and fight him. Balor says he’ll bite if Punk puts his world title on the line. Punk agrees, but Pearce does not. Punk says as champion, he should have some say. He demands that Pearce make the title match official. Pearce eventually gives in and circles the match for Elimination Chamber.
WWE officials escort Balor through the crowd. Back in the ring, Cole asks Punk why he would jeopardize his WrestleMania main event for that match against Balor. Punk says he’s chasing greatness. Punk asserts that he will fight anyone at any time to prove that he is indeed the best in the world. Punk says he’s brave enough to put it all on the line because he loves the people. Punk addresses Roman Reigns, telling him that he doesn’t believe that Reigns truly hates him. Punk thinks Reigns hates that he can’t stop Punk. Punk vows that Mania will end with him still being the world champion.
Backstage, Pearce warns The Vision not to get involved in Theory’s match tonight.
Nattie vs. Maxxine Dupri
Maxxine cinches in an ankle lock. Nattie escapes. Maxxine knocks Nattie back down with a spinning kick. Nattie kicks Maxxine away on the floor, sending her crashing into the steel steps. She then launches Maxxine into the ring post and announce table. Nattie clears the table and drops Maxxine onto it face-first. Nattie fires off right hands. The referee calls for the bell, ruling the match as a double countout.
Double Countout
After the match, Nattie locks in a Sharpshooter on top of the announce desk. AJ Lee runs down to make the save. Nattie retreats through the crowd. Lee helps Maxxine walk to the back. Becky Lynch attacks Lee from behind.
Je’Von Evans & OG El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) vs. Rayo & Bravo Americano (w/ El Grande Americano aka Ludwig Kaiser)
Evans dropkicks Rayo, then dazes him with a stunner. Evans rocks Bravo with a right hand and a dropkick. Rayo drags Evans the outside. Bravo nails Evans with a baseball slide. OG Grande wipes out Bravo and Rayo with a dive off the top. OG Grande and Evans send their opponents up and over the top rope.
Back from break, OG Grande German suplexes Rayo across the ring. He delivers a back body drop to Bravo as well. OG Grande German suplexes both of them next. OG Grande cinches in an ankle lock on Rayo. Rayo sends OG Grande into the turnbuckle. Evans takes down Rayo with a clothesline. Rayo headbutts Evans on the apron. OG Grande rocks Rayo with a kick. New Grande pushes OG Grande off the top turnbuckle. Evans catches Bravo with an OG Cutter. He then wipes up Rayo with a dive to the outside. OG Grande finishes off Bravo with a flying headbutt.
Winners: OG El Grande Americano & Je’Von Evans
After the match, new Grande attacks OG Grande from behind. OG Grande fights back and looks to rip off new Grande’s mask. Rayo and Bravo pull new Grande to safety before he can.
Backstage, Gunther says his focus is on WrestleMania. Gunther confirms that his road begins next week with an Elimination Chamber qualifier. Gunther asserts that he will walk out of Mania as WWE Champion.
Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier: LA Knight vs. Penta vs. Austin Theory
Penta and Knight double team Theory. Penta surprises Knight with a roll-up for a two count. Knight returns the favor. Knight runs over Penta with a shoulder tackle. Penta answers with a hurricanrana. Penta wipes out Knight with a dive to the outside. Penta fires off forearms on Knight next. Theory drags Penta to the floor. He delivers a dropkick to Knight before driving Penta into the steel steps.
Back from break, Theory nails Penta with a big boot. He follows with a spinebuster for a near fall. Knight delivers a flying shoulder tackle to Theory before sending him crashing to the floor. Knight bounces Theory off the announce desk. Knight does the same to Penta. Knight drives Theory into the mat with a side slam. Penta lands a sling blade on Knight. He follows with a backstabber to Theory. Knight breaks up Penta’s pin attempt on Theory. Knight descends off the top with a superplex to Penta while Theory powerbombs Knight. Knight spikes Theory with a DDT. Knight goes up top and connects with an elbow drop to Theory.
Logan Paul and Bronson Reed run down. Knight kicks them away, then wipes out Paul with a dive. Reed runs over Knight on the outside, then crushes him with a senton. Paul distracts the referee, allowing Reed to flatten Knight with a Tsunami next. Adam Pearce and security guards rush down to escort Paul and Reed away. Theory stomps Knight. Penta pulls Theory to the outside, then superkicks him. Theory drops Penta across the announce desk. A hooded figure nails Theory with a stomp before dumping him back into the ring. Paul chases off the figure. Back in the ring, Knight drops Theory with a BFT for the win.
Winner: LA Knight