WWE Raw live results: Elimination Chamber qualifiers continue
The build to WWE Elimination Chamber continues on tonight’s Raw from the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Elimination Chamber qualifiers will continue on the show. There will be a triple threat match on the women’s side between Rhea Ripley, Lyra Valkyria, and Ivy Nile. On the men’s side, a triple threat will feature LA Knight, Penta, and Austin Theory. So far, Randy Orton has qualified for the men’s Chamber match, while Tiffany Stratton has qualified for the women’s Chamber for the February 28 PLE in Chicago.
The Usos will defend their WWE World Tag Team titles against Alpha Academy’s Otis and Akira Tozawa. Alpha Academy won a fatal four-way tag match to earn the shot while The Usos are defending their titles for the first time since winning them from Dragon Lee and AJ Styles just over a month ago.
Maxxine Dupri will get her hands on Nattie in the ring for the first time since she cost Dupri the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Becky Lynch.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Show Recap —
Michael Cole kicked off by saying Cleveland was known, among other things, as the city where the Monday Night Wars came to an end. He announced there would be over 10,000 in attendance tonight.
CM Punk arrived and, surprise surprise, was joined by AJ Lee.
Becky Lynch arrived moments later just behind them (they didn’t notice). She freaked out and ran off the other way.
Cole announced that Bron Breakker was injured while training. He had surgery and would be out indefinitely.
Becky Lynch and AJ Lee kick off Raw
A frantic Becky Lynch marched to the ring. She wondered when the disrespect would end. She planned on talking about the injustice that happened at the Royal Rumble, but instead saw who decided to return to her show.
The crowd chanted for AJ Lee, and she entered. Lee said she was there to support her girl, Maxxine Dupri, who had a match tonight. Maybe she would hang out in catering when it was over.
Lynch cut her off. Lynch said Lee tried to act all cute, but she saw through it. Lynch didn’t like her eyebrows and compared her to a chihuahua that kept barking at her, keeping her up at night and ruining her life.
Lee called that a tad dramatic because she hadn’t done anything to her—besides beating her at Wrestlepalooza and WarGames. She also cost her the IC title against Dupri at Madison Square Garden. But it was water under the bridge now that Lynch was champion again.
Lynch acted (or tried to) maniacally and asked what it would take to get rid of her. Lynch noted that Elimination Chamber would be in Lee’s hometown of Chicago. Lynch asked if Lee wanted her to ruin Lee’s life the way Lee ruined hers.
Lee acted like she wasn’t sure because she hadn’t had a singles match in over a decade. It had to be special. Lee said she beat Lynch already, which should really make her the number one contender. Lynch repeatedly said no while the crowd chanted, “Yes.”
Lee said, “No title, no match,” so Lynch begrudgingly agreed. Lynch said if Lee felt like she had been held down by “the man” before, she had no idea what she was in for. Lynch welcomed her to the big time before storming out of the ring. Lee was happy.
(Can’t say I was a big fan of the acting in this segment. To the point where it was almost hard to watch. The match makes sense, and they were obviously headed here eventually. It’s fair to wonder why Lee waited this long. Maybe she wanted to wait until Lynch was champion again, but she’s the one who cost her the belt in the first place.)
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World Tag Team Championship match: The Usos (c) vs. Otis & Akira Tozawa
Otis and Tozawa were all over Jimmy and Jey early on, and Otis press-slammed Tozawa over the top and onto both Usos ahead of a break. The Usos took control during a break, almost in a heelish manner. Tozawa knocked Jey off the apron before getting hit with a Samoan drop by Jimmy. Moments later, Jey punched Tozawa behind the referee’s back.
Tozawa absolutely planted Jey with a DDT before making the hot tag to Otis, who ran wild on both guys before hitting Jimmy with a World’s Strongest Slam for two. Jey made a blind tag and cut off a Caterpillar attempt with a superkick (which missed completely). The Usos superkicked Otis, but Tozawa made a tag and delivered multiple suicide dives. He even mocked Jey’s “run it back” gesture while doing so, which was great.
Tozawa hit Jimmy with a diving senton for a close nearfall. Otis tagged in, but Jimmy superkicked both Tozawa and Otis. The Usos gave Otis a double spear, and they followed with a 1D for the pinfall win (Jey pinned Otis).
— Byron Saxton interviewed The Usos post-match and asked what was next as we headed to WrestleMania. Jey gave Alpha Academy a shout-out first. Jimmy said they would continue to be the best tag team in the game, but what he wanted next was to see Jey qualify for the Chamber, win the match, and go on to being Main Event Jey Uso. Everyone said “Yeet,” and they hugged.
Match result: The Usos defeated Otis & Akira Tozawa to retain the World Tag Team Championships (10:01)
(I suppose the last few moments were exciting—once Tozawa got in—but the Usos looked really off.)
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There was a recap of the CM Punk-Roman Reigns promo segment.
They aired a clip of AJ Styles on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast. It included footage from after his loss to Gunther, getting hugs from Shane Helms and Xavier Woods.
Liv Morgan segment
WWE Raw and PLE recapper/reviewer. Contributed to WrestlingObserver.com as the SmackDown reviewer in the 2000s before turning to WONF4W in 2015.