The WWE RAW episode began with a dynamic opening as Gunther interrupted announcers Michael Cole and Corey Graves during the introduction of the tribute to A.J. Styles. Gunther’s appearance enhanced anticipation by teasing a future match against Dragon Lee, though notably, this bout is not slated for WrestleMania, leaving Gunther’s WrestleMania opponent unknown. Added to the excitement was the special presence of Cody Rhodes, who hinted at an upcoming contest with The Vision, while the night’s opening match was positioned as an Elimination Chamber qualifier.
Unexpected Injury Affects Elimination Chamber Qualifier
The Elimination Chamber qualifier match featuring Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, and El Grande Americano came undercut by an injury to Reed, which forced a sudden change in outcome favoring Jey Uso. Despite the alteration, the match suffered from some confusion, including a missed diving head butt spot from Americano. Jey Uso’s positioning oddities during the maneuver and subsequent pin attempt by Chad Gable, which lacked impact, detracted from the match quality. Additionally, the El Grande Americano character continues to receive criticism for diminishing the overall performance.
Liv Morgan’s Storyline Falls Short of Convincing
Liv Morgan’s ongoing storyline involving a feigned apology to Stephanie Vaquer failed to resonate convincingly with the audience. The emotional display from Morgan the previous week did not feel authentic, and this week’s nervous behavior appeared scripted to deceive Vaquer. The subsequent surprise attack immediately following the staged apology lacked impact as the recurring “swerve” tactic has become predictable, particularly in women’s storylines, undermining the credibility of those involved.
Feud Between Maxxine Dupri and Nattie Lacks Momentum
The matchup between Maxxine Dupri and Nattie was unconvincing, largely due to a questionable spot where Dupri appeared knocked out after hitting the ring post, a scenario made less believable since the post no longer consists of metal. WWE has yet to provide a complete match between these two, and the feud’s weak start has led to minimal fan investment, with the rivalry seeming to lose traction as it progresses.
Brock Lesnar’s Open Challenge Sparks Anticipation
Paul Heyman delivered a somewhat repetitive promo discussing Brock Lesnar’s potential WrestleMania opponent but succeeded in creating intrigue around Lesnar’s open challenge. The concept that Lesnar will appear multiple times before WrestleMania to test potential challengers adds suspense to his storyline. There is strong fan support for Oba Femi to answer the challenge, which aligns logically, though it remains uncertain how long WWE will delay the official acceptance of Lesnar’s challenge before WrestleMania.
Je’von Evans Outshines in Face-Off Against Kofi Kingston
The match between Je’von Evans and Kofi Kingston delivered a compelling contest, a refreshing change from Evans’ usual involvement with Los Americanos. Expectedly, Evans secured victory as part of his Elimination Chamber qualification, successfully fending off interference from New Day and executing an impressive OG Cutter to seal the win. While the outcome was foreseeable, the match provided solid in-ring action and momentum for Evans heading into the Chamber event.
Underwhelming Promotion of Elimination Chamber Event
In contrast to expectations, WWE missed an opportunity to effectively promote the upcoming Elimination Chamber pay-per-view during the go-home episode of RAW. CM Punk’s promo was satisfactory but lacked focus on his WrestleMania opponent Finn Balor, whose appearance was limited to a brief segment expressing his desire to forge his own path. The event’s build-up also suffered from the absence of promos from other qualified participants such as LA Knight and Rhea Ripley, whose motivations for a Chamber victory went unexplored. Although a pre-recorded message from Becky Lynch addressed her Intercontinental Title defense against AJ Lee, the overall promotion heavily favored WrestleMania storylines over generating anticipation for the imminent event.
Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier Delivers Quality and Surprises
The women’s qualifier for the Elimination Chamber stood out as a highlight, featuring Sky, Raquel Rodriquez, and Sane in a competitive match that surpassed the earlier men’s qualifier. With no established tag teams competing together, the match avoided predictable storytelling and allowed Rodriquez to emerge victorious, positioning her as a challenger to Jade Cargill. This outcome, along with Liv Morgan’s ongoing feud with Stephanie Vaquer, offers potential narrative depth for the Chamber event, making it less predictable. The performers showcased solid chemistry and teamwork, contributing to a satisfying in-ring experience.
WWE Pays Respect to A.J. Styles with a Thoughtful Tribute
The tribute to A.J. Styles was one of the evening’s highlights, featuring well-produced video montages highlighting significant moments from his career. WWE’s partnership with TNA allowed for the inclusion of talent and footage from Styles’ earlier years outside WWE, adding a layer of authenticity and respect to the homage. Though announcers might have provided additional context for some appearances, such as Abyss, the tribute maintained a strong emotional impact. Styles’ retirement speech resonated with sincerity, and the surprise involvement of The Undertaker announcing Styles’ WWE Hall of Fame induction provided a memorable conclusion to the segment and the show as a whole.
Looking Ahead to WrestleMania and the Elimination Chamber
This episode of WWE RAW balanced emotional moments and ongoing storyline developments as the company moves closer to WrestleMania and the Elimination Chamber. The tribute to A.J. Styles underscored the significance of honoring veteran talent, while Brock Lesnar’s open challenge injects excitement into WrestleMania’s buildup. Although certain matches and storylines underdelivered, the women’s Elimination Chamber qualifier and Je’von Evans’ performance offered promising momentum. Fans will be watching closely to see who accepts Lesnar’s challenge and how the narratives unfold in the coming weeks.
