This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Indianapolis, Indiana! We break it all down in this week’s Raw recap!
We Hear From The Vision
Paul Heyman comes to the ring with Logan Paul and Austin Theory. Heyman says they’re there to talk about Seth Rollins, whom he hates. Heyman claims that Rollins stole the credit for finding The Vision. Heyman adds that Rollins stole the Elimination Chamber win from Logan Paul, which in turn, also stole a WrestleMania main event from Logan. Heyman warns that the next time Rollins is in a WWE ring, he will get stomped by The Vision.
Logan calls Rollins a scumbag. Logan recalls eliminating three men in the Chamber. He then demands that Rollins come down to the ring. Adam Pearce interrupts and asserts that The Vision will not take the show hostage. Heyman apologizes in advance for what they will do to Rollins. Pearce says Rollins is not medically cleared to compete. A hooded figure is chased through the crowd by security. Another hooded figure distracts Logan. A third one causes Theory to chase them next, leaving Heyman alone in the ring. Rollins appears on the apron with a chair in hand, then slams it against Heyman. Rollins lines up for a stomp, they hits it on Heyman.
Backstage, Logan and Theory comfort Heyman as he’s escorted out in an ambulance. Jimmy Uso attacks Theory and Logan. LA Knight reveals himself as the driver of the ambulance.
Gunther vs. Dragon Lee
As Gunther heads to the ring, Lee ambushes him from behind. Lee dropkicks Gunther. Gunther sends Lee crashing into the timekeeper’s area.
When the action returns to the ring, Gunther runs over Lee with a big boot. Gunther taunts Lee about where AJ Styles is. Lee answers with a kick and series of chops. Gunther turns Lee inside out with a clothesline. Lee takes Gunther off his feet with a hurricanrana. Lee covers Gunther for a two count. Lee stuns Gunther with another kick, then dropkicks him to the floor. Gunther catches Lee mid-dive, then chops him.
Back from break, Lee lands a basement dropkick in the corner. Gunther slams Lee into the mat for a two count. Gunther delivers two additional powerbombs. He follows with two more off the apron and off the announce desk. The referee begins counting. Gunther returns to the outside, where Lee connects with a sunset flip. Lee follows with a dive that sends Gunther to the announce desk. Lee hits an Operation Dragon. The referee counts. Gunther makes it back in at the count of nine. Lee clotheslines Gunther. Lee goes for an Operation Dragon, but Gunther counters into a sleeper hold. Gunther rips off Lee’s mask as he taps out.
Winner: Gunther
AJ Lee Women’s IC Title Celebration
AJ Lee heads to the ring with her newly-won Women’s Intercontinental Championship. AJ says she’s not sure how we got here. She admits that she didn’t know if she could still go in the ring. AJ says the people made her believe that she could still fight the very best, though. AJ says Becky Lynch is the best of the best, but she beat her.
AJ believes she’s proved that she can still be championship material and still who she is. AJ says Lynch is behind her, and WrestleMania is ahead of her. AJ asserts that she will be a fighting champion. She then lays out an open challenge for sometime in the near future.
Original El Grande Americano vs. Rayo Americano
Rayo fires off stomps on OG Grande. OG Grande rolls up Rayo for a two count. OG Grande sends Rayo flying across the ring with a spinning hurricanrana. Bravo dances on the apron to distract OG Grande. Rayo connects with a knee drop on OG Grande’s arm. They trade chops. OG Grande delivers an arm drag and hip toss. He follows with a cannonball to the outside. Rayo tosses OG Grande into the ring post.
Back from break, OG Grande hits a side Russian leg sweep. OG Grande goes up top and descends with a moonsault. OG Grande lands on his feet, then cinches in an ankle lock. Rayo rolls through it. Rayo charges into the corner with a meteora. OG Grande suplexes Rayo off the top turnbuckle for a near fall. While the referee is distracted, the new Grande headbutts OG Grande. Rayo follows with a flying headbutt for a near fall of his own. OG Grande tries unmask the new Grande, but Bravo blasts him with a kick. OG Grande delivers a German suplex for the win.
Winner: OG El Grande Americano
Backstage, Finn Balor says he’s at peace about Elimination Chamber. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh promise to celebrate with Dominik Mysterio after his IC Title defense tonight.
We Hear Rusev & Oba Femi
Rusev appears with a microphone in hand. As he stands on the announce table, he says he is tired of hearing about Oba Femi. Rusev challenges Femi to a fight right now. Rusev says he is not moving from the table until Femi shows up. Femi makes his way to the ring. Femi challenges Rusev to come into the ring and make something happen. Rusev hops off the announce desk and enters the ring. He and Femi stare down one another. Rusev and Femi trade blows. Femi charges into the corner with a back shoulder. Rusev returns fire with a pair of kicks. Femi slams Rusev to the mat before sending him to the outside.
Backstage, Lyra Valkyria and Bayley contemplate their future. Valkyria encourages Bayley to pursue an IC Title shot against AJ Lee. Bayley suggests that Valkyria come with her. When they head to Pearce’s office, IYO SKY comes out.
Jimmy Uso vs. Austin Theory
Jimmy leaps off the top with a clothesline. Theory blasts Jimmy with a right hand. Jimmy wipes out Theory with a dive to the outside. Logan Paul enters the ring. Jimmy knocks him down with a crossbody. Jimmy fires off right hands on Theory. Logan lays in strikes as well, prompting the referee to call for the bell.
Winner (by DQ): Jimmy Uso
Jey Uso’s music plays. Jey appears with a crutch and hits The Vision members with it. The Usos send Logan to the outside. They follow with a 1D to Theory.
Backstage, Danhausen appears with a list of demands for Adam Pearce. The Judgment Day meet Danhausen. Danhausen puts a curse on Dominik Mysterio.
We Hear From Rhea Ripley
Jackie Redmond introduces Rhea Ripley. Ripley comes out to the stage with IYO SKY. Ripley says the last few days have been a whirlwind of emotions. She says it sucked to lose the women’s tag titles with SKY because SKY has been her best friend. Ripley thanks SKY. SKY says Ripley showed everyone why Mami is always on top. SKY says she will be okay on Raw. She encourages Ripley to win the Women’s Title at WrestleMania for the SmackDown brand.
Ripley wants SKY to hold down Raw, while she goes to see Jade Cargill on SmackDown. Ripley vows to leave Mania as the new champion.
IC Title: Dominik Mysterio (c) (w/ Finn Balor & JD McDonagh) vs. Penta
Penta takes down Dominik with a hurricanrana. Dominik answers with a kick to Penta’s face. Penta dropkicks Dominik the outside, then wipes him out with a dive.
Back from break, Penta delivers a slingblade. Dominik hits two suplexes. When he goes for a third, Penta counters with one of his own. Penta rocks Dominik with a kick. The two meet up top. Dominik boots Penta away, the spikes him with a DDT on the apron. Dominik and Penta trade strikes. Penta kicks Dominik. Dominik answers with a big forearm and a crossbody to the outside. Dominik sends himself and Penta into the timekeeper’s area.
Back from another break, Dominik lands a Michinoku driver to Penta for a near fall. He follows with a 619. Penta blocks the splash attempt that follows, then delivers The Sacrifice. Penta hits the Penta Driver for the win. Penta fires off stomps on Dominik. Dominik drives Penta into the ring post. Penta groans in pain, pointing to his shoulder. Dominik asks McDonagh to get him the ring bell hammer. Balor insists that Dominik do the match by himself. Penta wipes out Balor and McDonagh with a dive. Penta dodges a 619, then delivers a Mexican Destoyer for the win.
Winner (And New): Penta
We Hear From Roman Reigns & CM Punk
Reigns tells Indianapolis to acknowledge him. CM Punk heads out to the ring. Reigns asks Punk if his tweet offended him. Punk says the tweet didn’t offend him. Punk admits that he actually is pretty tired because for seven weeks, he has to carry Reigns to WrestleMania. Punk recalls bringing Reigns to the dance and The Shield debuting in the city they’re in. Punk adds that he has already won when it comes to Reigns.
Punk says he’s made Reigns emotional, with Reigns saying he hates Punk as proof. Punk claims that he’s getting under Reigns’ skin. Reigns admits that he does hate Punk, but if Punk didn’t have the world title, he wouldn’t even be on Reigns’ radar. Reigns claims that WWE brought back Punk to sell a few shirts and sell out Chicago, but they didn’t bring him back to be champion. Reigns says WWE can’t trust Punk because he’s a liar. Reigns claims that Punk is complaining backstage and not really happy to be there. Reigns says when he wins the world title, he will put Punk on a retirement tour, then send him down to NXT to teach the young stars. Reigns drops his mic and walks away. Punk grabs his shoulder, then says he’s not done talking.
Punk points out that Reigns is alone. He adds that Reigns is chasing him, who is the champion. Punk claims that Reigns can’t get things done when he’s by himself. Punk says he doesn’t care if Reigns loves or hates him, but he can’t stand Reigns disrespecting him. Punk vows to bury Reigns at WrestleMania. He claims that Reigns won’t be alone because he’ll be buried next to his father.