WWE Raw rolled into Memphis with Elimination Chamber spots on the line, rising tensions around the mysterious masked attacker, and a chaotic six-man tag team match. Several rivalries escalated as the Road to WrestleMania 42 continued, with major names jockeying for position ahead of the February 28 pay-per-view.
The Vision looked to assert control over WWE Raw, while both the men’s and women’s divisions saw key Elimination Chamber qualifiers take place. Elsewhere, AJ Lee and Becky Lynch came face to face in a heated war of words, and the identity of the masked attacker remained a looming mystery.
The Vision (Austin Theory, Logan Paul & Bronson Reed) vs. LA Knight & The Usos
Raw opened with The Usos making their way through the crowd to a loud ovation. Before they could even reach the ring, The Vision interrupted, with Paul Heyman attempting to address the audience. The Memphis crowd refused to let him speak, prompting Logan Paul to demand silence and “listen to Heyman’s wisdom.”
Heyman then rolled footage of the masked attacker costing Austin Theory a recent opportunity, fuelling the group’s frustration. Adam Pearce appeared on the stage, but before he could speak, LA Knight’s music hit, to another big reaction.
Knight addressed the fans before turning his attention to The Vision, referencing the recent attack that put him through a car at the hands of Bronson Reed. He proposed a six-man tag team match, teaming with The Usos against The Vision. Pearce agreed, and the match was set.
Once the bell rang, the action started with Logan Paul and LA Knight. Paul immediately targeted Knight’s midsection with a series of punches. The Usos soon tagged in, using quick double-team offence to wear down Austin Theory and build momentum for their side.
The pace shifted when Bronson Reed entered the match. Reed and Theory isolated Knight, delivering heavy strikes and power moves. Reed flattened Knight with a slam and a crushing elbow drop, continuing the punishment through the commercial break.
Back from the break, Knight fired back with a flurry of right hands. He knocked Theory and Paul off the apron, but Reed stopped the comeback with a running senton. Jimmy Uso broke up the pin attempt, only to be sent shoulder-first into the ring post moments later.
Knight eventually escaped another Reed attack and tagged in Jey Uso, who exploded into the match. Jey dropped Paul with a clothesline and followed up with a series of strikes. He delivered a Hip Attack and went for a cover, but Paul kicked out. Jey then caught him with a spear, only for Theory to break the fall.
The action spilled to the outside, where Knight clotheslined Theory and planted him with a BFT. Reed answered by crashing through the barricade with Knight in a massive splash near the timekeeper’s area.
Back in the ring, Paul managed to take control of Jey, but Jimmy tagged in. The Usos delivered the 1-D on Paul, and Jimmy went for the cover. Reed broke up the pin at the last moment, then wiped out Jey on the outside with a suicide dive.
Reed tagged himself in and climbed to the top rope, crushing Jey with the Tsunami for the decisive victory.
Winners: The Vision
After the match, Logan Paul grabbed Michael Cole’s headset and confronted him at ringside. The mysterious masked attacker suddenly appeared from the crowd, planting Paul with a Curb Stomp before escaping through the audience as Theory and Reed gave chase.
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Asuka vs. Bayley vs. Nattie
The first of two Elimination Chamber qualifiers featured three of the division’s most experienced competitors. The match began with Asuka being knocked to the outside, allowing Bayley and Nattie to briefly square off.
Nattie applied a Bow and Arrow on Bayley, but Asuka returned to break it up. Moments later, Nattie suplexed Asuka and sent Bayley into the ring post on the outside.
During the commercial break, Nattie controlled Bayley with an abdominal stretch. Asuka broke the hold and nearly stole the match with a quick roll-up.
The pace picked up as the three women traded strikes. Nattie connected with a German suplex on Bayley, only for Asuka to sneak up and apply the Asuka Lock. Nattie escaped and transitioned into the Sharpshooter, but Bayley broke it up with a running knee.
Bayley then hit a hanging neckbreaker on Nattie and followed it with a Bayley-to-Belly on Asuka. She went for the cover, but Asuka kicked out.
In the closing moments, Asuka locked in the Asuka Lock once again, this time on Bayley. With no escape, Bayley tapped out, sending Asuka to the Elimination Chamber.
Winner: Asuka
After the match, Maxxine Dupri attacked Nattie on the entrance ramp, unloading with punches before officials pulled them apart.
CM Punk Appears As Tensions Build Backstage
Backstage, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce was seen attempting to recruit Oba Femi to the brand, saying he wanted to bring him in after seeing Nick Aldis try the same on SmackDown. The conversation was cut short when Rusev appeared and silently stared down Femi, creating an uneasy atmosphere in the office.
The scene then shifted to a sit-down interview with Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio. As Michael Cole attempted to ask questions, Stephanie Vaquer suddenly interrupted and confronted Dominik in Spanish. The heated exchange ended as quickly as it began, with Vaquer storming off. When Cole tried to continue the interview, Morgan became emotional and began to cry, prompting both her and Dominik to leave the set.
Moments later, CM Punk made his way to the ring to a loud reaction from the Memphis crowd. With the World Heavyweight Championship over his shoulder, Punk soaked in the atmosphere before addressing his upcoming defence against Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber. He said it felt good to be alive on a Monday night in Memphis and suggested the fans were happy to see him. Punk acknowledged that Adam Pearce believed the title match was jeopardising the WrestleMania main event, but he disagreed.
Punk reminded the audience that he had promised to be a fighting champion and said Balor had earned the beating that was coming to him. He also blamed Balor for ruining his recent match with AJ Styles, adding that he had never been afraid to upset people, whether it was the fans or those in the office.
Balor’s music interrupted him, and the Judgment Day leader walked out with Dominik Mysterio and a returning JD McDonagh at his side. The trio surrounded the ring, but Balor insisted they were not there to fight. Instead, he delivered a measured response, declaring that to be the best in the world, one must train across the globe, survive the toughest dojos, and defeat top stars. By that definition, he claimed, he was the true “Best in the World” and said he would make the WrestleMania main event even bigger.
Punk fired back, questioning why Balor needed Dominik and McDonagh in the ring with him. He said the Bálor he once respected achieved everything on his own, but Judgment Day had become an anchor around his neck. Punk mocked Dominik for not defending his championships and then turned his back on the group, daring them to attack him if they wished.
McDonagh looked ready to strike, but Balor held him back, allowing Punk to leave the ring unscathed as the tension lingered.
The show then transitioned back into in-ring action as Los Americanos made their entrance for the next match, followed by Penta.
WWE Intercontinental Title No. 1 Contender’s Match: Penta vs. El Grande Americano
The night’s next match determined the number one contender to the Intercontinental Championship. Penta and El Grande Americano began with a series of lockups and chops, with Americano retreating to the outside to regroup.
Outside interference soon played a role, as Americano’s allies distracted the referee and created openings. During the break, Americano regained control and targeted Penta with strikes and power moves.
Back in the ring, Penta fired back with an enzuigiri and a modified Bronco Buster. The interference returned, with one of Americano’s associates attempting to hand him a piece of metal.
Before it could be used, the original El Grande Americano emerged from under the ring. He attacked the interfering allies, suplexed one of them, and cleared the ringside area.
The distraction gave Penta the opening he needed. He hit a springboard Mexican Destroyer on Americano and scored the three-count.
Winner: Penta
After the match, the original Americano attempted to unmask his rival, but the entourage returned to pull him to safety before the mask could be removed.
AJ Lee, Becky Lynch Confrontation
AJ Lee made her way to the ring and addressed the crowd, noting that she had left Raw the previous week as the number one contender to the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. She reminded fans that her upcoming title match would be her first singles bout in a decade.
Lee reflected on her time as Divas Champion and said she still knew her self-worth. She called out Becky Lynch, saying all roads currently led back to her.
Lynch came to the ring and mocked Lee’s return, saying the title match would simply be an opportunity for her friends and family to watch her retire. She refused to engage in a fight, claiming she does not fight in Memphis, and left the ring while Lee stood her ground.
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Dominik Mysterio vs. Gunther vs. Je’Von Evans
The main event featured Dominik Mysterio, Gunther, and Je’Von Evans battling for a spot in the men’s Elimination Chamber.
Dominik immediately rolled out of the ring, allowing Gunther and Evans to go at it. Evans used his speed to land dropkicks on both men and a hurricanrana on Dominik.
Gunther soon regained control, throwing Dominik into the barricade on the outside. Evans responded with a high-risk dive over the top rope to take down Gunther.
Back in the ring, Dominik targeted Evans with stomps and strikes, but Gunther returned to the action and levelled both opponents with heavy chops. Evans fought back with a Blue Thunder Bomb on Dominik, but Gunther broke up the pin.
Gunther then powerbombed Dominik onto Evans and looked for another powerbomb. Evans countered with a reverse hurricanrana, nearly scoring the win.
In the closing stretch, Gunther locked Evans in a sleeper hold, but Dominik broke it up with a Frog Splash. Dominik attempted to use a ring bell hammer, but outside interference from Dragon Lee backfired.
Dominik went for the 619 and a Frog Splash, but Evans avoided the impact. Evans then connected with the OG Cutter to secure the victory.
Winner: Je’Von Evans
Evans celebrated his hard-fought win as Raw went off the air, with the Elimination Chamber field continuing to take shape and tensions rising across multiple storylines heading into the next pay-per-view.
Next week’s episode of WWE Raw will take place on February 23 and is set to take place at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
