WWE Raw Results
February 20, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Canadian Tire Centre)
Commentary: Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
A video kicks off the show that highlights the main event of the WWE Elimination Chamber event as Roman Reigns defeated Sami Zayn to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. After the match, Kevin Owens saved Zayn from a Bloodline beatdown.
Sami Zayn’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring to a huge ovation! Zayn looks fired up as the crowd sings his song. Zayn gets in the ring and just stands there. The crowd chants for him and sings, “Ole.” Zayn looks humbled and nods in approval. The crowd chants, “Sami,” and he waves to them. Zayn looks pretty emotional and shakes his head. Zayn says, “Wow.” Another “Sami” chant picks up. Ottawa is electric.
Zayn says he’s feeling a lot of feelings here. After these past couple of days, the one feeling that comes to the front more than anything is gratitude. The ovation he’s been given over the last few days and the one he received now mean so much to him. They have no idea how much. The crowd chants, “You deserve it.” Zayn can only put the microphone down and smiles. Zayn says for him as much as anybody, another thing he’s feeling is guilt after nearly putting a storybook ending on this. Zayn feels like he let a lot of people down. Everyone told him to finish the story. Zayn feels like he did it, but after the last few days and after hearing this, the story is NEVER over. However, they are entering the final chapter. The final chapter is not just about him. There’s one person that he needs to talk to tonight more than anyone else. Zayn calls Kevin Owens out to the ring.
Kevin Owens’ music hits, and he comes out to the ring to a good ovation. Owens has his head down and looks unsure. The crowd buzzes as they stand in the ring. Zayn says he has so much to say, but now that Owens is here he doesn’t know what to say. Zayn is emotional. Zayn wants to thank him and apologize to him. Zayn knows they’re way past words. Things got messy, and things have been done that there might be no coming back from. Owens has said for months that he only cares about taking down the Bloodline. Zayn knows Owens that when he has something in his head, nothing will stop him. Zayn has a mission. Zayn will not rest until Roman Reigns and the Bloodline come crumbling down. Owens couldn’t do it alone. Neither could Zayn. There is only one way to get it done: together. The crowd loudly cheers.
Owens walks around and thinks about it. Owens says he doesn’t need an apology or gratitude. Saturday had nothing to do with Zayn. Owens did it for his family. Saturday they were in the front row. At the Royal Rumble, they had to watch him get the hell beat out of him from home while Zayn stood by and watched. Owens did it for him, as well as Zayn’s family, so they didn’t have to watch him get the hell beat out of him as his family did. Owens has been fighting the Bloodline for months on his own. As far as he’s concerned, that’s fine, and he’ll keep doing that. Owens still means everything he said in November after Survivor Series. Owens told Zayn he was done with him and meant it. If Zayn needs help, he can ask his buddy Jey Uso. Owens walks off on Zayn.
Austin Theory will defend the WWE United States Championship against Edge. Bayley will host Ding Dong Hello with special guests Damage CTRL. Seth “Freakin” Rollins will battle The Miz. We’ll hear from Cody Rhodes later tonight as well.
We go back into the arena to see Sami Zayn waving to the crowd. All of a sudden, Baron Corbin attacks him from behind!
-Commercial Break-
Picture-in-Picture Commercial Break: Baron Corbin continues to attack Sami Zayn on the ramp, bouncing him off the metal guardrails. Zayn mounts a bit of a comeback, but Corbin quickly takes him down. WWE referees and security run out to separate them. Corbin breaks through and sends Zayn into the LED wall. Corbin walks down to the ring. Zayn is helped to his feet.
Baron Corbin is in the ring and asking Sami Zayn how that felt. Last week, Zayn interrupted his segment. Zayn didn’t deserve to be in the ring with Roman Reigns. Corbin does since he is the last person to beat Reigns. Reigns destroyed Zayn in front of his family and friends. This was pathetic. Zayn begged Kevin Owens and got nowhere. Zayn is being held back by the WWE officials. Corbin says Zayn’s story is over. Zayn embarrassed himself, his hometown, and Canada. Zayn is a complete and utter failure. WWE Official Adam Pearce steps aside and allows Zayn to charge the ring.
Sami Zayn runs into the ring and spears Corbin down. Zayn wildly punches away at him before hitting a clothesline over the top rope. A referee is in the ring. Zayn agrees to a match.
Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin
The bell rings, and Zayn knocks Corbin off the apron. Zayn bounces Corbin off the commentary table before driving him headfirst into the LED ring post. Corbin gets in the ring and stumbles to the corner. Zayn sets up for a Helluva Kick. Corbin quickly goes to the apron and shoulders him. Corbin takes Zayn down and punches away at him. Corbin rips Zayn’s shirt off. Zayn’s back is still bruised from the vicious chair shots Roman Reigns gave him this past Saturday. Corbin attacks the injured back. Zayn tries to fight back, but Corbin blocks him and knocks him back. Zayn comes back with some punches, but Corbin reverses a whip to the corner. Zayn sidesteps Corbin and comes off the second rope, but Corbin catches him. Corbin hits a chokeslam backbreaker for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
Picture-in-Picture Commercial Break: Zayn rolls out of the ring, holding his back in pain. Corbin grabs him and drives him into the barricade. Corbin gets Zayn back in the ring and continues to attack the back. Corbin pulls him up to his feet by his beard and puts him in the corner. Corbin whips Zayn hard into the corner, and Zayn collapses in pain. The cuts on Zayn’s back appear to be opening up. Corbin elbows Zayn’s spine and puts him on the top rope. Corbin goes for a superplex, but Zayn punches him down to the mat. Zayn connects with a diving cross-body block for a two-count. Zayn gets to his feet and is still holding his back. Corbin lifts him up and slams him into the corner. Zayn clutches his back in pain.
We come back from the break to see Corbin applying a torture rack. Zayn fights out and slides down to the mat. Zayn elbows and boots him back before going to the second rope for a diving elbow to the face. Zayn goes back to the second rope and hits another leaping elbow to the head. Corbin quickly cuts him off, but Zayn grabs the wrist, climbs the ropes, and hits a springboard tornado DDT for a near fall. Corbin quickly spikes the throat and sends him into the ropes. Zayn holds onto the ropes and sends Corbin over the top rope. Zayn then hits a somersault senton plancha!
Zayn puts Corbin in the ring and sizes him up. Zayn charges for a Helluva Kick, but Corbin turns him inside out with a clothesline. Corbin viciously clubs away at the injured back. Corbin sends him into the ropes and catches him with the Deep Six for a near fall! Zayn pulls himself up in the corner. Corbin catches him with two avalanches. Corbin retreats to the opposite corner for a third avalanche, but Zayn follows him and hits a Helluva Kick for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Sami Zayn
Video Package: Edge and Beth Phoenix defeated Finn Bálor and Beth Phoenix at WWE Elimination Chamber
Later tonight, Edge will battle Austin Theory for the United States Championship.
Rhea Ripley is sitting alongside Dominik Mysterio. There will be an exclusive interview with Ripley next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Raw is live in Ottawa.
Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio sitdown interview
Byron Saxton is backstage with Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio for an exclusive interview. Saxton asks about the Judgment Day coming up short against Edge and Beth Phoenix. Rhea Ripley says after they went toe-to-toe, Phoenix said that Ripley is the real deal. Ripley says they have unfinished business, but she’s fully focused on WrestleMania. Saxton goes to ask a follow-up question, but Dominik Mysterio cuts him off. Mysterio says Edge and Beth Phoenix are has been like his deadbeat dad: they’re not worth talking about. Mysterio warns Saxton if he asks stupid questions he’ll find out what he did to people he was locked up with who talked too much.
Saxton says they can talk about SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. How does Ripley respond to Flair saying she taught Ripley a lesson three years ago and this time she will put her in her place? Ripley says Flair can keep living in 2020. The only reason Flair talks about three years ago is that she refuses to believe what everyone else can see. In the present, Ripley is the best bloody woman in WWE. As for lessons being learned, the only lesson is that Rhea Ripley doesn’t make the same mistake twice. If Flair wants to put Ripley in her place at WrestleMania, then good. Ripley’s place is standing on Flair’s crumbled queendom as SmackDown Women’s Champion. Saxton asks what they can expect on Friday when Ripley goes face-to-face with Flair. Ripley says he’ll have to wait to find out. Mysterio says his father has a match that night, so he’ll tag along. Ripley says that’s a good idea and ends the interview.
Rhea Ripley will challenge Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania.
Replays are shown of Logan Paul interfering in the United States Championship Elimination Chamber Match. Paul attacked Seth “Freakin” Rollins with a Buckshot Lariat and a Stomp. Theory defeated Rollins to retain the title.
Later that evening at the Elimination Chamber press conference, Theory made an open challenge for the United States Championship. Edge accepted the challenge.
Cathy Kelley is backstage with United States Champion Austin Theory. She asks how he feels about heading into a match against Edge after just winning an Elimination Chamber match. Theory says he’s the champ. On Saturday, he defeated five other superstars inside the Elimination Chamber. Everything Theory says happens. What bothers him is the headline. It should be about him, but instead, it says John Cena is coming back to Raw in two weeks. Where is the respect for Theory? Tonight, he’ll defeat a Hall of Famer in Edge in his home country of crappy Canada. Theory will never lose this title.
Dolph Ziggler makes his way to the ring. He’ll face Mustafa Ali next.
-Commercial Break-
Dolph Ziggler vs. Mustafa Ali
Mustafa Ali grabs Dolph Ziggler’s hand and forces him to shake. Ziggler takes him down and hits some punches. Ziggler connects with a neckbreaker and sizes him up. Ali quickly gets out of the ring to avoid a superkick. Ziggler pulls Ali to the apron, but Ali snaps him off the top rope. Ali attacks Ziggler in the ring and talks trash. Ali rips at the face before going for a suplex, but Ziggler slides out. Ali avoids a splash in the corner and kicks him in the face. Ali slingshots into the ring, but Ziggler catches him with a spike DDT for a near fall. Ziggler kicks Ali in the midsection and goes for a famouser. Ali counters by doing a handstand and rolls Ziggler up for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Mustafa Ali
The Miz is kissing Maryse backstage. Cathy Kelley wants an interview and runs up when they finally stop locking lips. Maryse quickly returns with a golden envelope. Miz looks shocked and says he’ll reveal what is inside next week. This is almost as big as his half-court shot at the Celebrity All-Star Game. Kelley reminds him that it didn’t count. She asks about the Rick Boogs matches. Miz says they are controversial. Miz is happy that his former protege Logan Paul took out Seth “Freakin” Rollins.
We’ll hear from Cody Rhodes next.
-Commercial Break-
“Wrestling has more than one royal family.”
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring. The winner of the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble match shakes hands with fans. The crowd loudly chants “Cody” as he stands in the ring. Rhodes begins to speak…
“Ladies and gentlemen!”
Paul Heyman, in a neckbrace, appears on the big screen with the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Rhodes asks Heyman where he is. Heyman says he’s backstage, so Rhodes invites him into the ring. Heyman says he isn’t sure if Rhodes is aware of this, but he was mauled by a “K-O-tiac” and has been victimized by the Canadian Health Care System. What should have been a celebratory weekend for the Tribal Chief wound up being a tragedy for the Wise Man. However, the true tragedy of the story that Rhodes wants to finish will befall upon him. Heyman asks Rhodes to hear him out. Heyman says Rhodes cannot beat Roman Reigns. The crowd can boo all they want, but let’s go on the hypothetical and play to the fantasy. Let’s say the gods smile upon Rhodes and the devil collects Heyman’s debt. Let’s say Rhodes beats Reigns for the title. What will his life be like? Has Rhodes ever heard the phrase “indentured servitude?” People think that isn’t the life of Roman Reigns. Reigns has special counsel. Reigns has Paul Heyman. If Rhodes beats Reigns for the title, he won’t have Paul Heyman with him.
What will Rhodes’ life be like? 200 days on the road defending the titles. After 50 days of charity events, now we’re at 250. Another 30 days of overseas tours. Another 20-25 days of promotional events. That leaves about 60 days of Zoom and Skype calls for more. Even when he’s home, he’ll never be home, just like Dusty Rhodes. Is that the sacrifice he’s willing to make for these titles? Is Rhodes willing to sacrifice his family? Rhodes probably thinks that Heyman is going to say something vile like Roman Reigns will keep his wife warm on those cold nights, but he won’t. Roman Reigns is a happily married man, but Heyman isn’t. Rhodes will find out that his WrestleMania dreams will become his own personal nightmare. Heyman takes his microphone clip off and throws it.
Rhodes seethes in anger in the ring and paces around. Rhodes says Roman Reigns is great, but he has seen this play before. Do not sin this man again. They haven’t come face-to-face yet, but it will probably be very soon. Rhodes will say the same thing now as he will then. Reigns is without a doubt the greatest Undisputed WWE Universal Champion ever and the best champion in sports, but that doesn’t change anything. Rhodes has to finish the story and beat him at WrestleMania.
Replays are shown of Asuka making Carmella tap out inside the Elimination Chamber to win a Raw Women’s Championship match against Bianca Belair at WrestleMania.
Asuka makes her way to the ring. She’ll face Nikki Cross next.
The Seth “Freakin” Rollins and Becky Lynch Joker and Batman movie parody airs.
-Commercial Break-
Asuka vs. Nikki Cross
The bell rings, but before anything happens, Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair comes out to ringside. Cross takes Asuka down and clubs away at her. Asuka shoves her off, so Cross chops the chest. Asuka avoids a running cross-body and hits a sliding knee. Asuka knees away at her before Cross puts her on the apron. Asuka viciously kicks away at the chest and pulls her to the apron. Cross shoves her off, but Asuka knees her in the face. Asuka goes for a kick, but she hits the ring post when Cross moves. Cross then hits a reverse DDT on the apron.
-Commercial Break-
Picture-in-Picture Commercial Break: Cross whips Asuka hard into the barricade and talks trash to the fans before getting in the ring. Bianca Belair looks shocked by Cross’s behavior. Cross shoves Asuka into the ring post and gets in Kevin Patrick’s face. Cross gets Asuka in the ring and picks up a two-count. Asuka kicks Cross back and attacks her in the corner. Asuka bounces her off the top turnbuckles of three corners. Cross blocks the fourth and applies a front facelock before hitting a swinging neckbreaker for a two-count. Asuka kicks Cross away, but Cross quickly cuts her off and applies an overhead wristlock. Asuka fights out, but Cross hits a throat thrust. Cross attacks her in the corner and whips her to the opposite corner, but Asuka takes her out with a springboard missile dropkick.
We come back from the break to see both women down. Asuka gets to her feet and hits Cross with a vicious strike combination. Asuka hits a pair of big kicks to the head followed by a German Suplex. Asuka follows up with two more and bridges for a near fall. Cross rolls to the apron to recover. Asuka goes for a baseball slide, but Cross pulls the apron out and beats Asuka down. Cross goes to the top rope, but Asuka cuts her off. Asuka hits a DDT off the second rope for a near fall. Belair, who is seated at ringside, looks impressed. Asuka gets to her feet and kicks Cross in the chest a few times. Cross ducks a big kick and lifts her, but Asuka slides off. Asuka kicks her in the head and goes for an Asuka Lock. Cross counters into a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Asuka applies the Asuka Lock for the submission.
Winner by Submission: Asuka
Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair gets in the ring and faces off with Asuka. Belair points at the WrestleMania sign. Asuka looks like she’s going to throw up and spits out a blue liquid before laughing. Belair looks frightened.
Cathy Kelley is backstage with Carmella and asks about her WrestleMania plans. Carmella says she hasn’t come up with a new game plan in 48 hours. Carmella says she’ll deliver a hell of a receipt to Asuka because Mella is Money. Carmella walks off.
Kelley sees Seth “Freakin” Rollins and asks for a comment on Logan Paul. Rollins says Logan Paul has now ruined his WrestleMania plans twice, even hitting him with his own move. The joke is on Paul. Logan Paul may not be familiar with a certain side of Rollins, but anyone who has gotten in his way knows that side all too well. Rollins will find Logan Paul and hurt him. Since Logan Paul isn’t here tonight, the man who wants to take credit for all of Paul’s success, The Miz, seems like a perfect surrogate for suffering. Rollins cackles and walks around.
Seth “Freakin” Rollins battles The Miz next.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of Brock Lesnar destroying Bobby Lashley and referee Chad Patton at WWE Elimination Chamber. Lesnar got himself disqualified to save himself from the Hurt Lock.
We go backstage to see MVP. MVP says Brock Lesnar is a coward. Lesnar couldn’t escape the Hurt Lock and got himself disqualified. Omos is shown standing next to MVP. MVP says Omos wants to challenge Brock Lesnar to a match at WrestleMania. MVP tells Lesnar to show up next week to accept the challenge if he has the intestinal fortitude. Omos looks intensely into the camera.
The Miz vs. Seth “Freakin” Rollins
The bell rings, and Rollins immediately takes Miz down. Rollins viciously punches and stomps Miz in the corner. The referee pulls Rollins back, and Miz rolls out of the ring to recover. Rollins follows Miz out of the ring. Miz kicks him, but Rollins quickly bounces him off the commentary table before sending him into the barricade. Rollins puts Miz in the ring and stomps the back before ripping at the face. Rollins waits for Miz to get to his feet and clotheslines him over the top rope. Rollins then hits a slingshot baseball slide that sends Miz over the commentary table. Rollins chases Miz into the ring. Miz quickly kicks Rollins and hits a kneeling DDT for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
Picture-in-Picture Commercial Break: Miz hits Rollins with a baseball slide and taunts the crowd. Miz puts Rollins in the ring and goes to the top rope for a diving double ax handle. Miz covers for a two-count. Rollins blocks a punch and punches away at him. Miz reverses a whip and hits the classic kitchen sink knee to the midsection. Miz boots him in the face for a two-count. Miz drives his knee into Rollins’ spine and pulls back on the arms. Rollins fights up and twists Miz’s arms behind him. Miz turns it and takes Rollins back down, applying a full surfboard stretch now. Rollins fights out and forearms Miz in the face. Miz quickly comes back with a Reality Check for a near fall. Miz chokes Rollins on the middle rope before avalanching him against the ropes.
We come back from the break to see Rollins fight back against The Miz. Miz quickly reverses a whip into the corner, and Rollins hits the turnbuckles sternum-first. Miz kicks away at Rollins’ chest. The crowd loudly boos him. Miz backs up and charges, but Rollins explodes out of the corner with a clothesline. Rollins gets to his feet and viciously punches away at Miz. Rollins hits a pair of clotheslines, a kick, and a stiff lariat. Rollins goes for a suplex, but Miz slides out and rolls him up. Rollins rolls through and hits a superkick. Rollins sets up in the corner for a Stomp, but Miz avoids it. Rollins instead tries for a Pedigree, but Miz counters into a jackknife pin. They trade pins. Rollins goes to the second rope, but Miz kicks his feet out and hits a lung blower for a near fall.
Miz sizes Rollins up for a Skull Crushing Finale, but he gets out. Miz flips through a back suplex and hits a Busaiku Knee Kick for a near fall. Miz starts up the IT Kicks to the chest. Miz talks trash and backs up for a big kick to the head. Rollins blocks the kick and hits a discus forearm to the mouth. Rollins forearms him in the face a few more times before elbowing him in the back of the head. Rollins hits an emphatic Stomp and falls into a trance. The crowd chants, “One more time!” Rollins shouts, “Come on, Mike,” and hits Miz with a second Stomp. Rollins still doesn’t go for the cover. The crowd wants another, and Rollins is intent on obliging them. The referee tries to talk some sense into Rollins. Rollins seems to agree before hitting a third Stomp. The referee calls for the bell!
Winner by Referee Stoppage: Seth “Freakin” Rollins
Carmella is walking backstage with WWE Official Adam Pearce. Pearce makes it official that she will face Asuka next week on Raw. She thanks him and walks off. Pearce’s phone rings. It’s Chelsea Green. Pearce looks upset. She’s upset with being sent to Ottawa, Illinois instead of Canada. How is he going to fix that? Pearce says they’re in Grand Rapids, Michigan next week, so he’ll book her on that show. Pearce then says he has a bad connection and hangs up.
Pearce walks by Alpha Academy trying to model backstage. Chad Gable doesn’t get what the Maximum Male Models aren’t seeing in him. Bronson Reed says Gable can get ready to model a full-body cast when he’s through with him. Otis says no one talks to Master Gable like that. Reed walks off.
Ding Dong, Hello is next with special guests WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Dakota Kai and IYO SKY.
-Commercial Break-
Ding Dong, Hello! with special guests WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions IYO SKY and Dakota Kai
The doorbell rings and Bayley steps through the door to host another edition of Ding Dong, Hello! WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Dakota Kai and IYO SKY are already in the ring. Kai has a crutch still. The crowd boos Bayley. Bayley insults the crowd and says she could be sulking over not being in the Elimination Chamber match, but she’s here. Since it’s Family Day in Canada, she decided to spend some time with her family. These idiots don’t love Damage CTRL the way Bayley does. They’re underappreciated. That’s why Bayley wanted to have them on her show so people can hear their beautiful voices.
Bayley asks Dakota Kai how it feels to be the greatest WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions of all time. Kai says that’s an amazing question, but they wouldn’t be here without Bayley guiding the way. Because of her, they’ve been able to dominate the Women’s Division as Tag Champions for over 100 days. They’ve beaten the likes of Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and “The Man” Becky Lynch. They’ll continue dominating.
Becky Lynch’s music cuts her off. Lynch walks out to the stage with a big reaction. Lynch says it’s been 9 full moon cycles since they’ve defended the titles. They aren’t going to sit on those titles and coast to WrestleMania. Lynch says she wants to take those Tag Team Titles into WrestleMania. Bayley cackles and says Lynch is a jokester. Who will she team with? Roux, her daughter? Lynch has no friends. Lynch says there’s one person she was thinking of…
WWE Hall of Famer Lita walks out to stand alongside Lynch. They get in the ring. Bayley shouts that they never use the door to get on her show. Lynch and Lita come through the door. Bayley says Lita doesn’t even work here. Lynch must be really desperate to bring Lita in. A “Lita” chant picks up. Bayley says the last time they were in the ring together, they tried to end each other. Lynch says she already apologized to Lita. Lita says she likes weird and cute, but they’re past that. Lita had her sights set on a fifth title run, but if she can’t get that title against Becky Lynch, she likes the plan of walking into WrestleMania as the Tag Team Champions. This is an official challenge for a Tag Team Title match. Bayley says they are not even close to earning a match against them. Lynch says Lita is a Hall of Famer and a 4-time Women’s Champion. They’re both the greatest to ever do it. That’s enough. Lita says if they’re the greatest Tag Team Champions, they should want to prove it. Lita wonders if they’re scared. Lynch asks if they’re scared, so Bayley shouts that they accept. Kai and Sky don’t look happy. Lynch and Lita rip the titles from their hands and hold them up. They then throw the titles back at them and stand tall.
Byron Saxton is backstage with Candice LeRae. Saxton asks if she has an update on Johnny Gargano from the Elimination Chamber. LeRae says Gargano got banged up, but she runs off when she sees Nikki Cross. LeRae says Cross has been following her for months. Why? Cross doesn’t answer. LeRae says she has a match against Piper Niven and can’t worry about her. Cross mumbles something and walks off. Saxton asks what Cross said. LeRae says Cross told her all her friends are gone, and she’s alone. LeRae looks exasperated and says Gargano is fine before walking off.
Chad Gable makes his way to the ring with Otis.
-Commercial Break-
WrestleMania goes Hollywood in 40 days.
Chad Gable w/ Otis vs. Bronson Reed
The bell rings, and Gable quickly hooks a side headlock. Reed easily whips him off and hits an avalanche to take him down. Gable rolls out of the ring, so Reed comes off the apron with a diving shoulder tackle. Reed goes face-to-face with Otis before putting Gable in the ring. Reed attacks him and throws him down. Reed whips him hard into the corner sternum-first and goes to the second rope. Reed jumps, but Gable clips the leg and applies an ankle lock. Reed kicks him off. Gable punches and chops Reed. Gable flips through a back suplex and goes for a German Suplex. Reed fights it, so Gable takes him down with a clothesline. Gable goes to the top rope and hits a diving head-butt for a one-count. Gable hits the ropes, but Reed clotheslines him down.
Maxxine Dupri appears at ringside. Otis notices her. Gable gets out of a powerbomb and hits Reed with an unreal bridging German Suplex for near fall! Otis goes over to Dupri. Gable shouts to Otis to attack Reed at ringside, but he’s too distracted. Reed avalanches Gable from behind and hits a snap powerslam. Reed crushes Gable with the Tsunami for the victory!
Winner by Pinfall: Bronson Reed
Otis takes a business card from Maxxine Dupri, and she walks off. Otis turns and notices that Gable has lost the match. Otis looks surprised and checks on Gable, but he can’t stop looking at the business card.
United States Champion Austin Theory is warming up backstage. He’ll defend the title against Edge later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Elias is in the ring and hopes Rick Boogs is taking notes. This is the time of the year when legends come out, and stars are made. There is no bigger star than Elias. Boogs is shown in the back, taking notes. The question that has to be on everyone’s mind right now is this: Who wants to walk with Elias… at WrestleMania? There’s got to be someone that wants to stand centerstage on the grandest stage with the grandest of them all.
Bobby Lashley’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring. Lashley gets in the ring and crushes Elias with a one-armed spinebuster. Elias rolls out of the ring. Lashley grabs him at ringside and sends him into the barricade. Lashley lifts him and drives him headfirst into the ring post. Lashley gets Elias in the ring and crushes him with a Spear. Lashley sizes Elias up and applies the Hurt Lock. Elias taps out, but this isn’t a match. Lashley throws Elias out of the ring.
Lashley says everybody has a plan until he slaps the Hurt Lock on. This past weekend, he put Brock Lesnar in the Hurt Lock. Lesnar panicked and had to resort to a low blow. Not Brock Lesnar, not Bray Wyatt, not Elias… nobody in that locker room breaks the Hurt Lock. Lashley will not be disrespected by anyone in the locker room. If you disrespect him, he’ll put you down. Lashley throws the microphone down and paces in the ring.
It’s official: Becky Lynch and Lita will battle Dakota Kai and IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship next week. We’ll also see Candice LeRae battle Piper Niven. We’ll also find out if Brock Lesnar will accept Omos’ WrestleMania challenge. Asuka will take on Carmella. Finally, there will be a WrestleMania edition of Miz TV.
Byron Saxton is backstage with Edge. Saxton congratulates him on his Elimination Chamber victory. How is he feeling just moments away from his United States Title match? Edge says the Judgment Day is in the rearview mirror. Beth Phoenix is back home with the girls. Now he can get back to his goals. Youth comes with ignorance. Nothing lasts forever. Edge says with age comes wisdom. More than anyone else in the locker room, Edge knows how all of this can be taken away. Edge will smack the duck face off his overly manscaped head tonight. Edge hasn’t held a title in a long time. That window is closing more and more every day. His second match in this company was here in 1997. Edge hasn’t performed here in 18 years. It’ll feel damn good to win it here and walk into WrestleMania as the United States Champion. Never say never.
United States Champion Austin Theory makes his way to the ring. He’ll defend the title against Edge next.
-Commercial Break-
United States Championship
Austin Theory (c) vs. Edge
The bell rings, and they circle the ring. They lock up, and Edge catches Theory with a takedown. The crowd gives Edge a nice ovation. They circle the ring and lock up. Theory applies a side headlock. Edge whips him off, leapfrogs him twice, and sweeps the feet. Edge pulls him out of the ring and hits a wheelbarrow flapjack on the floor! Edge gets Theory in the ring and applies a side headlock. Theory whips him off and goes for a leapfrog, but Edge holds the ropes and hits a side leg sweep for a two-count.
-Commercial Break-
Picture-in-Picture Commercial Break: Edge punches Theory in the corner and whips him hard into the opposite corner. Theory collapses in pain. Edge punches Theory in the face. Theory fights back with some left hands and gets him in the corner before talking trash to the crowd. Theory leans Edge against the ropes and clubs away at the back. Edge rolls out of the ring to recover. Theory follows him out and attacks, but Edge quickly gets the better of him. Edge beats him around ringside and gets him in the ring. Edge whips him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Theory charges, but Edge hits a back body drop. Theory lands on the apron but slips and falls to the floor. Edge attacks him at ringside and gets him in the ring for a two-count. Edge applies an armbar.
We come back from the break to see Edge still applying the armbar. Theory fights up and whips him, but Edge rolls out of the ring. Edge irritates him by getting in the ring as Theory gets out. Theory chases Edge around ringside. Edge catches him with a back body drop on the floor! Edge goes to the apron and hits a diving clothesline. Edge gets Theory in the ring and covers for a two-count. Edge applies a side headlock, but Theory fights out and clotheslines him down. Theory punches away at Edge and smiles as the crowd boos him. Theory attacks Edge in the corner and hits a fallaway slam for a near fall. Theory applies a chin lock. Edge fights up, but Theory powers him down by the hair for a two-count. Theory puts the chin lock back on. Edge fights up and forearms out. Edge charges, but Theory hits a drop-toe-hold into the turnbuckles. Theory connects with a rolling thunder dropkick for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
Picture-in-Picture Commercial Break: Theory punches away at Edge and taunts the crowd. Theory sends Edge out of the ring and poses for the crowd. Theory goes outside and grabs Edge. Edge turns him around and chops him. Theory quickly sends him into the ring post and gets him into the ring for a two-count. Theory applies an armbar. Edge fights up, but Theory knees him in the midsection. Theory hits a snap vertical suplex for a two-count. Theory continues to attack the WWE Hall of Famer and pins him with a foot on the chest for a one-count.
We come back from the final break of the evening to see Theory stomping away at Edge’s chest. Theory gets Edge to his feet and goes for a suplex, but Edge blocks it. Edge punches him in the midsection, so Theory tackles him into the corner. Theory puts Edge on the top rope and punches him. Theory climbs the ropes and goes for a top rope superplex, but Edge fights him off. Edge connects with a front superplex and comes off the top rope with a diving cross-body block to the back of the head!
Edge gets to his feet and hits a pair of clotheslines followed by a flapjack and an Edge-O-Matic for a near fall. Edge sets up for the Edgecution, but Theory fights out. Theory elbows him in the side of the head. Edge gets out of a fisherman’s neckbreaker and puts on on the apron. Theory forearms him back and snaps him off the top rope. Theory goes for a rolling thunder dropkick, but Edge counters with a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Edge gets to his feet and charges for a Spear, but Theory leapfrogs him. Theory goes for a monkey flip, but Edge lands on his feet! Edge then takes him down and applies a crossface. Theory screams in pain, but he gets a foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Theory sweeps the feet and rolls him up with his feet on the ropes, but the referee catches him. Edge rolls Theory up for a near fall. Theory quickly catches him for A-Town Down, but Edge counters into the Edgecution for a near fall!
We have just a few minutes remaining on Raw before the feed gets cut by the USA Network. Edge gets to his feet and looks intense. The crowd cheers him on. Finn Bálor runs down, so Edge punches him off the apron. Edge rolls Theory up, but he kicks out at two. Edge is knocked into the ropes, and Bálor kicks him in the face. Theory follows up with A-Town Down for the victory.
Winner by Pinfall and still United States Champion: Austin Theory
Bálor immediately gets in the ring and viciously stomps away at Edge. Bálor sets him up and hits the Coup de Grâce. Bálor warns Edge that this is not over. It’s just the beginning. Bálor goes to the top rope and hits another Coup de Grâce! Replays are shown of the vicious attack by Bálor. Bálor goes to the top rope and crushes Edge with a third Coup de Grâce as the show ends.
Quick Match Results
— Sami Zayn def. Baron Corbin
— Mustafa Ali def. Dolph Ziggler
— Asuka def. Nikki Cross via Submission
— Seth “Freakin” Rollins def. The Miz via Referee Stoppage
— Bronson Reed def. Chad Gable
— Austin Theory def. Edge to retain the United States Championship
E-Mail – mike@wrestleview.com
Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV
Thanks for reading!