Here are the results from Raw at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennesee
We hear from Jey Uso
The Royal Rumble winner has another electric entrance to open Raw. During his encore, he is attacked by the World Heavyweight champion Gunther! Jey gets some licks in but the champion dominates. He powerbombs Jey and warns him not to choose him for Wrestlemania. Gunther hits another powerbomb, security usher him away. Jey grabs a mic as he lies in pain, he officially challenges Gunther. The champion is mad, he runs back to the ring and we get a brawl. Jey with a huge dive out onto Gunther and the security! Security separate them both once again.
Analysis
B+ Grade – A hot start to the show. A short but effective way to set up a marquee Wrestlemania match. The intensity has risen a lot in a short amount of time. We will see how their feud continues as we head to Wrestlemania.
-Rhea Ripley is remorseful to Iyo Sky about how last week played out. She claims Charlotte Flair is wasting peoples time to try and remain relevant. Iyo Sky warns Rhea she is coming for her after last week.
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky)
First match of Raw here. Liv and Iyo start but Liv runs and tags out. Damage CTRL double team Raquel to wear down ‘Big Mami Cool’. Raquel drops Kai with a clothesline. Liv tries to take advantage but she gets taken out with a dropkick by Iyo. Raquel hits a big boot. Liv and Raquel double team Iyo, isolating her from Kai. Powerslam by Raquel gets a 2. Iyo manages a tag to Dakota who throws a plethora of strikes at Rodriguez. Running face wash in the corner by Kai for a 2. Kai tries a big boot on the outside, Raquel dodges and throws her into the ring post.
After the break, Kai fights back and gets the tag to Iyo Sky. She sends both of her opponents to the outside. Suicide Dive on them both! Iyo with a HUGE missile dropkick on Morgan. Bullet Train knee strike by Iyo for a 2. Iyo counters Liv’s counter for the moonsault, hitting a backbreaker for a near fall. Raquel saves Liv from a second Bullet Train. Liv hits an assisted codebreaker from the top rope with Raquel holding her up! It looked brutal, Iyo kicks out! Iyo manages a tag, Dakota hits the Kairopractor to Liv for a near fall. Raquel uses Liv as a weapon on both women. Morgan hits Oblivion on Kai for the 1-2-Iyo Sky breaks it! Liv Morgan has been busted open. She hits a codebreaker to Kai. Liv and Iyo exchange strikes and reversals. Iyo with a stomp, a kick and a moonsault. She pins Liv to win.
Analysis
B Grade – A hard one to rate because the first half was not very good. Raquel botched some moves and some of Liv’s also didn’t look great. After the break though, the match went absolutely nuts and it was awesome. I think Raquel was responsible for Liv getting busted open, accidents happen. Liv seemed okay. Iyo gets a big win and hopefully she gets another opportunity to enter the Elimination Chamber.
Bayley vs Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria, Elimination Chamber Qualifier
Roxanne Perez is at ringside once again for Bayley’s match on Raw. The match is a stalemate as both women attempt to out wrestle each other with grappling. The fans are chanting for both women, it is a split crowd. Bayley gets control with an elbow strike, but Lyra counters a running knee. They counter each others finishers. Lyra with a huge dropkick through the ropes to the outside.
Back from the break, Lyra fights back with a strike combination. A lot of counters and reversals, they’re really showing this to be an even contest. Big spin kick by Lyra for a 2. Bayley goes for a sunset flip bomb in the corner but they’re too close and it looks iffy. Lyra counters the diving elbow drop. Bayley hits the Bayley the Belly for a 2. Both women trade strikes, running knee by Bayley. Bayley goes for a move but again it looks awkward and didn’t land very well. Lyra hits a tornado DDT then a fisherman’s suplex on the outside. Another suplex in the ring for a near fall. Diving leg drop by Lyra to Bayley hanging from the ropes. More reversals and counters, Bayley catches Lyra in a flash pinfall for the win.
Analysis
C+ Grade – I liked how even this match was and I think the finish was good to show Bayley as the more experienced veteran. Plus it means she can get a title shot down the line maybe. This match was solid, but again there was a few moments where moves didn’t quite land how they would have liked.
-Hype package for Penta. He has no fear of anyone. He plans to teach Pete Dunne and Ludwig Kaiser a lesson. (This looked awesome, Penta looks like an absolute star). Backstage, Ludwig says he is not going to stop until Penta is done. Dunne says he wasn’t helping Ludwig, he simply got in the way. Next week, Dunne is going to break him and tells Ludwig to stay out of his business.
-Ivy Nile and American Made mock Lyra Valkyria for hanging out with Alpha Academy. Lyra wants a fight. Nile says she will see her soon.
We hear from AJ Styles
Styles returns to Raw and gets a huge ovation from the crowd. He is emotional. 4 months ago he came to Tennessee but got injured. He still has something to prove and he is ready to get back on track. He has put in the work to come back and he has a long to-do list. Styles is interrupted by Dominik Mysterio and Carlito. Dom says it has been a while since Styles has been on Raw, but this is the Judgement Day’s show. Styles mocks Carlito’s purple skinny jeans and Dom for being hated by everyone. Styles tells Dom he will always by Rey Mysterio’s punk ass kick. They beat down Styles but AJ fights back, hitting the Phenomenal Forearm to Carlito.
Analysis
B Grade – Simple but effective. The crowd were very hot for this. Styles spent a lot of time wrestling in Tennessee it makes sense. Styles is back and I am excited to see what is in store for him.
-Seth Rollins is interviewed in the Raw crowd by Jackie Redmond. He feels great and he sees the path to Wrestlemania. He will defeat Finn Balor next week, then he will win the Elimination Chamber to get a match against Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania. Balor comes out and says everyone is witnessing the downfall of Seth Rollins. The cracks are starting to show and Rollins is standing in Balor’s way of winning the WWE championship. Rollins says he has unfinished business and loose ends to tie up. He says Balor is standing in his way, but next week Balor won’t be standing at all. (Not a long segment, but a brilliant one.)
War Raiders (c) vs The Creed Brothers w/Ivy Nile, World Tag Championships
Erik and Brutus start the match with some mat wrestling, Ivar tags in to fire off some big elbows. Creeds double team Ivar in their corner. Erik with a dead lift German suplex to Julius. Erik bodyslams Ivar on top of Brutus. Ivar with a running crossbody to Julius against the ring apron. Sit-out powerbomb by Erik for a 2. The commentary are stuck talking about scientists for some reason.
After the break, The Creeds are beating down Erik. Impressive rolling slam by Brutus. After being worn out, Erik manages to get the tag and Ivar hits his comeback. Sit-down splash by Ivar and a spinning heel kick. He hits the Broncobuster on Brutus. Double-underhook sit-out powerbomb by Ivar for a 2. Assisted powerslam for a near fall. Brutus hits an Angle Slam on Ivar for a 2. Ivar hits a double handspring elbow to the Creeds. Ivy Nile causes a distraction. Brutus hits a superplex and Julius with a moonsault for a great near fall. Erik and Brutus duel forearms. War Raiders go for War Machine, Julius grabs a title and uses it as a weapon to cause a DQ. They attack them again with the titles before holding them up in the air.
Analysis
C+ Grade – A solid tag match, the final few minutes were great. The finish was fine, I understand why it was a screwy one to continue it.
-Judgement Day regroup and say things are going to turn around on Raw. Balor says Styles made Dom look like a fool. Dom says Balor is a fool for not getting involved. Dom says they should consider adding a new member. Balor does not like that idea. He will fix things next week.
-Rhea tells Iyo that in 3 weeks on Raw after Elimination Chamber, they will face each other with the title on the line. (I am gassed for that one.)
We hear from CM Punk
He didn’t win the Royal Rumble but he isn’t mad at Jey Uso. He likes his peers accomplishing their goals. Punk speaks to Cody Rhodes. He has qualified for the Elimination Chamber, but someone decided to just enter the Chamber because they want to. John Cena is a legend and deserves to call his shot, but they’re going to cross paths and Punk will beat his ass. Punk talks about Drew McIntyre running away to Smackdown. He defeated him in Hell in a Cell, he will beat him in Elimination Chamber. Punk doesn’t care who else qualifies because he is going to win. Wrestlemania 41 belongs to CM Punk.
Out comes Logan Paul, CM Punk says he didn’t recognise who’s music this was. Punk sits on the turnbuckle and laughs at him. Logan says he can come up with other names to call Punk that he cannot say on TV. He doesn’t understand why they boo him but cheer Punk. Punk mocked Owens for losing to Logan, but 24 hours later Logan eliminated him. Paul says he had his number at the Rumble and he will have it at the Chamber. Punk says he totally forgot Logan was in a match. He tells him to worry about Rey Mysterio first, but if he comes out on top them Punk will put him to sleep in Toronto.
Analysis
B Grade – It is a CM Punk promo, always captivating and entertaining to watch. Logan Paul seemed to be putting on a voice which was weird. He is a heat magnet.
Logan Paul vs Rey Mysterio, Elimination Chamber Qualifier
The Raw main event. Rey attacks Logan early, he slides out of the ring and complains. A couple of miscommunications as they run the ropes. Logan hits a tilt-a-whirl gutbuster to Rey. He pummels Rey with punches in the corner. A bunch of arm wringer knees to the mid section and a powerslam for a 2. He continues to throw punches, taunting Rey and the crowd. There is a pause in the ring when they’re clearly calling a spot. Rey fights back, he takes out Paul with a corkscrew plancha on the outside. Logan hits a Moonsault & Battery from the middle rope which was admittedly cool.
Back from break, Rey fights back and Logan keeps wearing down Rey’s ribs. Rey baits Logan to the outside and they brawl. Logan drops Rey on the barricade. Rey ranas Logan into the steel steps. Rey hits his baseball slide splash to the outside onto Logan. Diving senton by Rey, then a springboard moonsault for a 2. Rey hits 10 mounted pounches in the corner, Logan hits Rolling Thunder into a springboard moonsault for a 2. He counters Logan with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Rey sets up the 619, Logan hits a running big boot. Rey hits Logan with a sit-out powerbomb for a 2. He hits the 619, Logan gets the knees up for the splash. Logan hits a titanium punch. He hits Rey with what I assume is his new finisher. I Paulveriser? Whatever it was it looked awesome. A half and half suplex flipped into a DDT.
The New Day emerge and attack Rey Mysterio as Raw ends.
Analysis
B Grade – Another solid match that also had some hiccups. Logan seemed off his game here. He hit his spots really well but the first third again looked quite shakey. Logan winning was without doubt unfortunately as he becomes the 4th man to enter the Elimination Chamber.
Final Thoughts
B- Overall Grade – One of the weaker Raws I have watched in a little while, but still not bad. A lot of in-ring mistakes on this one. It happens, wrestling isn’t perfect. It is rough when a lot happens in one show though because its a lot more noticeable. The hype train continues towards the next 2 PLEs.
(Be sure to check out the recent Pro Wrestling Rant. Nick talks about the John Cena Farewell tour as well as the recent WWE releases. Click here.)
