This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Atlanta, Georgia! We break it all down in this week’s Raw recap!
We Hear From Gunther & Cody Rhodes
Corey Graves and Michael Cole open the show in the ring, noting tonight is a celebration of AJ Styles. Gunther interrupts and tells them to leave the ring. The crowd boos Gunther. Gunther says it is disgraceful that WWE is celebrating Styles, a loser. Gunther calls Goldberg and John Cena losers too. He recalls ending all their careers, so he calls for tonight to be a celebration of himself. Adam Pearce cuts off Gunther, and asserts that that is enough from him. Pearce says the people will celebrate Styles tonight, while Gunther gets escorted out of the building. Gunther says he will leave on his own accord because he is disgraced at what is happening tonight.
Gunther heads up the ramp with security surrounding him. Dragon Lee jumps on Gunther from behind. Gunther eventually breaks free and heads to the back, only for Lee to attack him again. Officials separate the two. Cody Rhodes enters the frame and briefly stares down Gunther.
Rhodes heads to the ring. Rhodes says we’re all here to talk about Styles. He’s cut off by The Vision. Austin Theory says he can’t stand this place for disrespecting Paul Heyman and The Vision. Logan Paul says just like everyone from Atlanta, Rhodes has zero common sense. Logan asserts that the The Vision is taking over and Rhodes will be the first out the door. Logan adds that Bronson Reed will win his Elimination Chamber qualifier tonight. Rhodes says there is someone who will disagree with that. Jey Uso emerges from the crowd with Jimmy Uso.
Men’s Chamber Qualifier: Jey Uso vs. Bronson Reed vs. OG El Grande Americano
OG Grande and Jey fire off strikes on Reed. Reed runs them over with clotheslines. Reed then flattens OG Grande in the corner. Jey connects with an enziguiri. Reed blasts him with a forearm in response. OG Grande wipes out both men with a moonsault to the outside. OG Grande and Jey drive Reed into the ring post.
Back from break, Reed stacks Jey and OG Grande onto his shoulders, then drops them onto the mat. Reed rocks Jey with a right hand. He knocks OG Grande off the apron next. Reed slams Jey down. OG Grande lands a headbutt and wheelbarrow bulldog to Reed. Jey uppercuts OG Grande and Reed. OG Grande German suplexes Jey across the ring. OG Grande German suplexes Reed as well.
Back from another break, medical officials check on Reed as he appears injured. OG Grande and Jey meet up top. Jey pushes OG Grande off. OG Grande blocks an Uso Splash with his knees, He rolls up Jey for a two count. OG Grande cinches in the ankle lock. Jey escapes and lands a superkick. OG Grande connects with a rolling liger kick. Jey answers with a spear and Uso Splash for the win.
Winner: Jey Uso
We Hear From Liv Morgan & Dominik Mysterio
Liv Morgan comes out to the ring with Dominik Mysterio, appearing sad. Mysterio says the people are in the presence of the greatest IC Champion and Royal Rumble winner of all time. Mysterio calls for Stephanie Vaquer and Jade Cargill to come out to the ring so Morgan can announce her WrestleMania decision. Vaquer and Cargill do as such.
Morgan says she’s not used to getting vulnerable, but she thought about what Vaquer said all week. Morgan says she didn’t realize how selfish and privileged she really was. Morgan says she didn’t know much about Vaquer’s story of struggling to get to WWE. Morgan says she’s sorry for judging Vaquer. She adds that it’s clear why Vaquer is champion. Morgan says it’s time to focus on her own story, then clocks Vaquer in the face. She fires off punches on Vaquer. She follows with an Oblivion to Vaquer.
Backstage, Je’Von Evans celebrates his Chamber qualifier win from last week. Rapper Offset joins Je’Von Evans. The New Day enter the frame and call out Offset for turning down their invites for him in the past. Offset says New Day sucks. Kingston and Evans set up a match for later tonight.
Maxxine Dupri vs. Nattie
Maxxine leaps off the barricade and wipes out Nattie on the outside. Nattie kicks Maxxine away, causing Maxxine to collide with the ring post. Nattie fires off right hands on Maxxine until the referee pulls her off. Maxxine lies motionless on the floor. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner (via referee stoppage): Nattie
Backstage, JD McDonagh says he wants Finn Balor to be world champion. Balor says they will see him as world champion, but at Elimination Chamber, he wants to do his match alone. Dominik Mysterio asks if he can counts on Balor and McDonagh in his title defense next week. Balor suggests that Mysterio does it on his own so he can grow up. McDonagh says he’ll be there for Mysterio.
Backstage, Rusev says Oba Femi talks too much for a rookie. Femi challenges Rusev to shut him up. Adam Pearce suggests they save their faceoff for another time and place.
We Hear From Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar heads out with the ring with Paul Heyman. Heyman introduces Lesnar. Heyman reminds the people of Lesnar conquering The Undertaker’s streak at WrestleMania. Heyman says the only Deadman left walking the man will be who comes down to face Lesnar. Heyman says there wasn’t anyone man enough who could step up when they surveyed the backstage scene recently. Heyman still invites someone to come down and get in Lesnar’s face. Heyman says the real main event is between Lesnar and whomever ass he kicks.
Je’Von Evans (w/ Offset) vs. Kofi Kingston (w/ Xavier Woods & Grayson Waller)
Kingston slaps Evans. Evans answers with a superkick. He then dumps Kingston to the outside. Waller distracts Evans, allowing Kingston to evade Evans’ dive to the outside. When Kingston returns to the ring, Evans blasts him with a running knee. Kingston pokes Evans in the eye, then sends him to the floor. Kingston lands a kick to Evans.
Back from break, Evans leaps off the top, but Kingston rolls out of the way. Evans rolls up Kingston for a two count. He lands a flying knee to Kingston’s face. Evans then wipes out Kingston with a dive to the outside. As the referee is distracted, Waller clocks Evans. Kingston delivers a leg drop for a near fall. Offset launches Waller over the announce table. Kingston argues with Offset. Evans lands the OG Cutter for the win.
Winner: Je’Von Evans
We Hear From CM Punk
Punk says tonight is about AJ Styles. Punk asks what if Balor hadn’t jumped him last month when he faced Styles. He says then Balor wouldn’t be getting a world title shot at Chamber. Punk asks what if Roman Reigns was there tonight. Punk also asks what if Balor beats him at Chamber. Punk also asks what if he punches Reigns on Raw next week and he doesn’t wait until WrestleMania. Punk says he doesn’t deal in what ifs, but he deals in facts. Punk says he’ll let Reigns asks what ifs. Punk asserts that he doesn’t have to ask what ifs because he is the best in the world and he is the main event of WrestleMania.
Women’s Chamber Qualifier: IYO SKY vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Kairi Sane
SKY and Sane fire off chops on Raquel. They both then blast her with kicks. Sane stomps on SKY, then delivers a hurricanrana. Raquel returns to the ring a lands a double fallaway slam. Raquel dump Sane to the outside. SKY wipes out Sane and Raquel with a moonsault off the apron.
Back from break, SKY delivers a dropkick to Sane. Raquel launches SKY across the ring. Sane and SKY toss Raquel into the ring post. SKY wipes her out with a dive through the ropes next. Sane follows with an Insane Elbow. SKY dropkicks Raquel into the timekeeper’s area. Sane connects with a backfist on SKY. She goes to the top. SKY moves out of the way on her descent. SKY delivers a backbreaker, then a moonsault. Raquel pulls Sane to the outside to break SKY’s pinfall attempt. SKY dropkicks Raquel. SKY slingshots Raquel off the top rope. She follows with a missile dropkick and double knees in the corner. SKY goes up top again and spikes Raquel with a DDT. Sane pushes SKY off the top, then descends off the top. Raquel catches Sane mid-air to deliver a Tejana Bomb for the win.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
AJ Styles Tribute
Styles comes out to the ring to a sea of applause. Styles warns that he might get choked up. He says he is so grateful to be in Atlanta. He says he is still the kid from Gainesville who fell in love with wrestling. Styles recalls his journey from TNA to Japan to WWE. He shouts out some of his famous rivals and friends, including Samoa Joe, Kazarian, and the Good Brothers. Styles says he’s done almost everything. The one thing he hasn’t done is be a full-time father. Styles recalls making sacrifices for wrestling. He says despite all the championships, his biggest flex is having the best wife in the world.
Styles says not many get to go out where they started. He points out that his first and last WWE matches were at the Royal Rumble. Styles says he is a man of his word. He lays down his jacket in the middle of the ring. He takes his gloves off and lays them down as well, citing his wish to leave his gloves at home in Atlanta. Styles says he would have been nothing without the fans. He says he loves fans, then thanks them. The WWE locker room fills the stage and claps for Styles.
The Undertaker’s gong goes off, as do the lights. When they flicker on, they reveal The Undertaker on his motorcycle. Undertaker drives down the ramp, then joins Styles in the ring. Undertaker asks if Styles is really going to leave his stuff and leave himself. Undertaker says they have unfinished business. Undertaker adds that if you see him coming, that means you are going. Undertaker announces that Styles is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Styles’ family joins him in the ring for a hug.