WWE RAW headed to Memphis, Tennessee and the FedEx Forum for another show packed with Elimination Chamber ramifications.
Let’s get into the results:
The Vision def. The Usos and LA Knight
Elimination Chamber qualifier: Asuka def. Bayley and Natalya
Intercontinental title number one contender match: Penta def. El Grande Americano
Elimination Chamber qualifier: Je’Von Evans def. Gunther and Rey Mysterio
Notes:
The show started with The Usos coming out, but The Vision interrupted them before they even got down the stairs. Paul Heyman started to talk, but an interesting wrinkle saw Logan Paul take over. Eventually, Adam Pearce revealed that Bronson Reed is in a Elimination Chamber qualifier next week.
LA Knight then came out and after some barbs, Adam Pearce made a six-man tag.
After The Vision won, Logan Paul was cutting a promo on the commentator’s headset when he became the latest Vision memeber to suffer a Stomp from the mystery man.
Adam Pearce receieved a big crate that said “do not open until 28th of February”. The GM was puzzled, so he told the courier to send it to SmackDown.
Maxxine Dupri attacks Nattie after her loss.
Oba Femi is presented with a contract for RAW. As he leaves to think it over, he shares an intense staredown with a returning Rusev.
Liv Morgan does a sit down interview with Michael Cole but is promptly interrupted by Stephanie Vaquer who dresses her down in Spanish so bad – with Dirty Dom translating – that Morgan ends the segment crying.
Finn Balor interrupted CM Punk’s textbook babyface promo in the ring and was joined by Dirty Dom and the returning JD McDonagh in a show of strength for the Judgment Day.
The Original El Grande Americano costs El Grande Americano the IC number one contenders match.
AJ Lee and Becky Lynch have another promo together. AJ Lee talks up her legacy, Becky reminds her that she was making history in the 10 years Lee was selling comic books. Lee tries to goad Lynch into fighting, but Lynch shows some restraint to decline.
Dragon Lee costs Gunther his Elimination Chamber spot.
Analysis:
Rumours that Logan Paul will face Bad Bunny and more rumours that his brother Jake may end up being involved down the line does make one wonder if The Maverick is going to be in The Vision long. Lest we forget, he spoke for the group when saying Bron Breakker should win the Rumble, only for a ‘masked man’ to cost the Steiner descendent.
Could the ultimate reveal by Jake has been doing Logan’s bidding and sabotaging the group? Maybe WWE are just planting some seeds that won’t ultimately grow, but Paul’s uptick in presence/activity on the show has not gone unnoticed.
Receiving a Stomp could be his way to throw people off the scene. Or maybe it is Seth Rollins… eventually.
Decent promo from Balor weaving in plenty of truth opposite Punk. Balor talks about all of his accomplishments and how he’s the real best in the world. Punk’s rebuttal was the kind of Punk many longstanding fans like myself want to see. He replies that Balor ‘was’ great. He did all those things before the Judgement Day.
Balor has less than zero chance of winning. Punk vs Reigns is WWE’s marquee match. But, this will likely lead to him wanting to ditch the Judgement Day and possibly clash with Mysterio at WrestleMania.
The crowd isn’t that into the battle of the El Grande Americanos. Assuming the end goal is a mask vs mask match at WrestleMania or around that time, WWE should be concerned.
It made sense for Gunther to lose the qualifier if he’s not going to be in a title match at WrestleMania. All signs point to him facing another legend with their career on the line and given that it was Dragon Lee that cost him tonight, one has to think Rey Mysterio eventually sticks up for him and there’s your WrestleMania match.
A good option would have been to put Gunther in the Chamber and then he and Randy Orton start a feud. Career killer vs Legend killer has a nice ring. I also think Dominik should be the one to retire Rey and take his mask, so lots of mixed feelings on this one at the moment.
Overall, a pretty progressive RAW that laid some good roads to ‘Mania and a really enjoyable main event.
