WWE Raw Results
February 5, 2024
St. Louis, Missouri (Enterprise Center)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Pat McAfee
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
Video: Highlights from the final segment of Friday Night SmackDown is shown. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes wondered if finishing the story meant taking the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship from Roman Reigns or taking EVERYTHING from Roman Reigns. Rhodes wants the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, but not at this year’s WrestleMania. The Rock then came out and appeared to challenge Reigns for WrestleMania.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins wants answers about WrestleMania
World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins makes his way to the ring to a big ovation. The knee brace is prominently displayed on his knee. Rollins is not medically cleared to compete. Rollins welcomes St. Louis to Monday Night Rollins. The crowd loudly sings his song. Rollins introduces himself. Rollins says it’s been a great week for WWE. After last Friday on SmackDown, he certainly smells what’s cookin’. The crowd loudly boos and starts to chant for Cody Rhodes. Rollins says he senses they want Cody. Good news for them: Rollins wants Cody Rhodes as well. After last Friday, he’s got more questions than answers. Rollins calls Rhodes out.
“Wrestling has more than one royal family.”
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes comes out to a MASSIVE pop! The crowd loudly cheers for him and chants his name. Rhodes says, “So, World Heavyweight Champion Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, and St. Louis, whattaya wanna talk about?” A “Rocky sucks” chant fires up. Michael Cole wonders if it’s 1996 again. Rollins says he wasn’t expecting to hear that chant. A loud “We want Cody” chant picks up. Rhodes poses to a loud ovation. Rollins says he’ll cut right to the chase. Rollins understands what Rhodes is going through, but we need answers. Last week, Rollins said the World Heavyweight Championship is the most prestigious championship in this entire industry. Rollins stands by those words. The crowd is booing. Rollins says he needs this match as much as Rhodes does. Rollins has to know if he’s better than he was the last time they did the dance a few years ago. Rollins has to know if he’s the best. The only way for him to know that is to test himself against the best. Cody Rhodes is the best. Is Rhodes going to fight Rollins at WrestleMania? The crowd loudly boos and starts to chant, “NO!”
Before Rhodes can say anything, Drew McIntyre makes his way to the ring. McIntyre gets in the ring and the crowd boos. McIntyre thinks he speaks on behalf of everyone when he says, “What the hell?” McIntyre set them up perfectly for WrestleMania, and now they’re going to screw it up. Rollins is the only other person who hates CM Punk as much as McIntyre. Rollins knew how bad Punk would be for this place, and McIntyre took Punk out. They should be talking about their main event match for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. The crowd cheers that. McIntyre says he even had a t-shirt commissioned. McIntyre removes his jacket to reveal a black t-shirt with a meme of McIntyre smiling by a grave that says, “CM Punk’s WrestleMania Main Event Dream: 2024-2024.” McIntyre says Rollins’ extra small is in the back. Why did Rollins have to get into Rhodes’ head? McIntyre tells Rhodes not to listen to Rollins. Rhodes has to finish the story. Rhodes has been talking about it for two years. Think about everything he’s done in the ring and outside. McIntyre tells Rhodes not to let him or the people around the world down. McIntyre doesn’t want to go here, but he feels he has to. McIntyre was his father’s Florida Champion. Rhodes shouldn’t let his father down.
Rollins tells McIntyre not to be a prick. What makes McIntyre think if Rhodes doesn’t accept his challenge for WrestleMania it would be Rollins vs. McIntyre? They did that twice, and McIntyre lost. McIntyre says there were outside reasons for why he lost. Isn’t this the pot calling the kettle black? Didn’t Rollins lose to Rhodes three times? McIntyre says Rollins has done an amazing job as champion. It is the true workhorse championship. Ignore what everyone else has to say. That’s the title that everyone wants to see defended. No one wants to fight for Reigns’s title because they know the finish. Reigns’s family will interfere. This is a case of “let the best man win,” except for McIntyre, who got screwed a few times. Rhodes goes to speak, but McIntyre cuts him off. If this is the workhorse championship, they’d have shot Rollins dead after the first injury. 17 injuries later, it’s time for someone to do the job. Rollins has done an amazing job, but it’s time for McIntyre to take it from here. McIntyre then lays Rollins out with a Glasgow Kiss! Rhodes quickly attacks McIntyre and knocks him out of the ring. McIntyre smiles and backs up the ramp.
Backstage Segment
Becky Lynch is shown walking into the arena earlier today. She’ll face Shayna Baszler in a Qualifying Match for the Elimination Chamber. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter are also shown walking into the arena.
Coming up next, The New Day will battle #DIY, Imperium, and the Creed Brothers in a Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Championship Qualifier Match.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of Kofi Kingston coming up short in a WWE Intercontinental Championship match against Gunther last week on Raw. After the match, Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci attacked Kingston and Xavier Woods.
Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Championship Qualifier Match
The Creed Brothers (Brutus and Julius Creed) vs. Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
Xavier Woods will start the match against Tommaso Ciampa. Only two men will be in the match at any time. Ciampa shoulder tackles Woods and hits the ropes, but Woods quickly dropkicks him down. Kofi Kingston tags in and hits Ciampa with a springboard cross-body block for a two-count. Woods tags back in. The New Day runs over Ciampa with strikes and splashes for another two-count. Kingston tags back in and comes off the top rope with a double stomp to the arm. Ciampa soon elbows Kingston in the face and hits the ropes, but Kingston leapfrogs him twice. Ciampa big boots Kingston, and Giovanni Vinci blind tags off Ciampa’s back. Ciampa punches Vinci off the apron. Kingston dropkicks Ciampa down. Ludwig Kaiser drives Kingston into the ring post and dropkicks him to the floor. Imperium taunts the New Day.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Kaiser punches away at Kingston’s face and stomps the back. Kingston tries to fight back, but Kaiser elbows him in the back of the head. Kaiser whips Kingston to the corner, but Kingston springboards off the ropes with a dropkick.
Woods and Vinci tag in. Woods hits a clothesline on Vinci and knocks Kaiser off the apron. Woods hits Vinci with a side kick. Ciampa runs in, but Woods takes him down. Julius Creed runs in to attack Woods, but Woods hits him with an Honor Roll. Woods then takes Vinci down. Woods hits the ropes, but Gargano hits him with a slingshot spear. #DIY hit Brutus Creed with a double-team Sliced Bread #2. #DIY hits the Creed Brothers with stereo planchas and pats themselves on the back. Kingston then dropkicks #DIY off the apron. Kingston hits the ropes, but Imperium pulls him out of the ring and beats him down. Gargano takes out Imperium with a suicide dive. Julius then comes off the top rope with a somersault senton. Woods climbs the ropes, but Ciampa chops the chest. Ciampa clubs the back and lifts Woods. Ciampa then hits Woods with a WILD Air Raid Siren off the ropes and onto the competitors at ringside! Wow!
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Vinci flips Brutus off the top rope onto Gargano and Julius. Ciampa grabs Vinci, but Vinci stuns him with some elbows and a chop. Imperium sets up for a double-team superplex on Ciampa, but The New Day cuts them off. We get a Tower of Doom spot. The New Day powerbombs Imperium as Imperium hits Ciampa with a superplex. Brutus hits Kaiser with a moonsault and covers, but Kingston and Woods break it up.
Vinci crushes Brutus with a running cross-body block. Julius hits Vinci with a high knee. Gargano hits Julius with a running enzuigiri. Kingston runs in and hits Gargano with a famouser. Kaiser hits Kingston with a clothesline. Woods hits Kaiser with a gutbuster. Ciampa knees Woods out of the ring. Ciampa hits the ropes, but Brutus shoulder tackles him. Vinci hits Brutus with a cross-body block, but Brutus rolls through and applies an ankle lock. Julius hits Kaiser with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and kips up. Gargano and Kingston meet the same fate. Ciampa jumps on Brutus’s back, but Julius grabs him and Woods before hitting them with a double northern lights suplex. Everyone then takes Brutus out before Vinci taps out to the ankle lock.
Kaiser sends Woods out of the ring, and Kingston hits Kaiser with a cross-body block over the top rope. Imperium and New Day brawl at ringside. Brutus then takes the two teams out with a Brutus Ball off the top rope to the floor! Brutus gets Vinci in the ring. Ciampa tags off Brutus. The Creed Brothers hit Vinci with a Brutus Ball. Ciampa knees Brutus in the head, and Gargano kicks Julius in the face. #DIY hit Vinci with Meet in the Middle! Ciampa covers for the win!
Winners by Pinfall: #DIY
#DIY will head to Friday Night SmackDown to face Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate in an Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Match.
Backstage Segment
Shayna Baszler is preparing for her match against Becky Lynch. Baszler says the last time she was in an Elimination Chamber match, she went through five other women to get to Becky Lynch.
Elsewhere backstage, Becky Lynch says the last time she faced Baszler, she needed to beat her because her title was on the line. Now, she needs to beat Baszler because her future is on the line.
“The Man” Becky Lynch makes her entrance. She’ll face Shayna Baszler in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match next.
-Commercial Break-
The WrestleMania XL Kickoff Press Event is coming to Las Vegas this Thursday at 7 p.m. Eastern/4 Pacific.
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
“The Man” Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler
They circle the ring, and Baszler quickly grabs the arm. Lynch fights out, but Baszler grabs the arm and twists it. Baszler hits a waistlock takeover. Lynch soon grabs the arm and sets up for a Dis-Arm-Her. Baszler fights it and rolls her up for a two-count. Baszler pushes off a Dis-Arm-Her attempt. Zoey Stark is shown watching backstage. Baszler knocks Lynch to the corner and hits a running knee to the face. Baszler sets up for a Kirifuda Clutch, but Lynch runs her out of the ring and hits a baseball slide. Lynch comes off the apron, but Baszler grabs her in a Kirifuda Clutch attempt. Lynch fights out, but Baszler kicks her down. Baszler wedges Lynch’s hand into the steel steps and kicks it. Lynch grabs her hand in pain.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Lynch kicks away at Baszler. Lynch hits the ropes, ducks a clothesline, and hits a running shoulder tackle. Lynch clutches her injured arm in pain. Lynch avalanches Baszler in the corner and goes for a Bexploder, but Baszler fights it. Baszler connects with a German Suplex, followed by a running knee for a two-count. Baszler taunts the crowd and goes to stomp the arm, but Lynch avoids it. Lynch goes for a Manhandle Slam, but Baszler gets out. Baszler soon slings Lynch down and gets her on the apron. Lynch knocks Baszler back and comes off the top rope with a missile dropkick. Lynch covers her: 1… 2… Baszler kicks out. Lynch immediately applies a Dis-Arm-Her, but Baszler powers out. Lynch is knocked throat-first into the ropes.
Baszler goes for a shoulder, but Lynch avoids it and kicks her in the face. Lynch goes to the top rope, but Baszler kicks her in the head and slams her onto the mat. Baszler hits a running knee for a near fall. Liv Morgan is shown watching this match backstage. She’ll face Zoey Stark next week on Raw in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match. In the ring, Lynch gets out of a German Suplex and hits a reverse DDT for a two-count. Lynch looks at the WrestleMania XL sign and gets the crowd fired up. Lynch goes for a Manhandle Slam, but Baszler gets out and picks the ankle before applying an ankle lock. Lynch screams in pain and crawls to the ropes, but Baszler pulls her away. Lynch rolls through the ankle lock and sends Baszler to the apron. Lynch kicks and clubs away at Baszler. Lynch goes to the second rope and leaps, but Baszler avoids it. Baszler snaps the left arm off the top rope. Baszler snags Lynch’s hand in her tights and goes to the second rope. Lynch attacks and connects with a superplex. Lynch immediately goes for a cross-arm breaker, but Baszler fights it. Baszler hits an inverted gutwrench suplex for a near fall. Baszler cannot believe it.
Baszler talks trash to Lynch, so Lynch slaps her. They exchange slaps in the center of the ring. Baszler goes for a Kirifuda Clutch, but Lynch fights it. Lynch rolls through and nearly pins her for a two-count. Lynch soon catches her with a lame-looking Manhandle Slam for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: “The Man” Becky Lynch
“The Man” Becky Lynch will appear in her first Elimination Chamber match in two weeks.
Backstage Segment
Cathy Kelley is backstage with Liv Morgan. Morgan says she thinks Zoey Stark is a great competitor, but she is not her business. Morgan lost almost a year of her career. Next week is about her revenge. Morgan’s revenge is about Rhea Ripley. Morgan says, “Watch me.”
Video: This past weekend, Shinsuke Nakamura spit mist into Cody Rhodes’ face and hit him with a Kinshasa backstage at a WWE Live Event.
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes will battle Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bull Rope Match later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce’s Office
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is in his office with Drew McIntyre. Pearce says it’s two weeks in a row that he has attacked guys that aren’t medically cleared. First, it was CM Punk. Now, it’s World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins. Pearce says he’ll be fining McIntyre. Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley makes her way to the ring. She’s not scheduled to, which upsets Pearce.
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley addresses Nia Jax
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley says Becky Lynch has qualified for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. She’s here because she wants Nia Jax one-on-one so she can rip her bloody head off. Ripley calls out Nia Jax, but Raw General Manager Adam Pearce comes out. Pearce says this is not the time for this. Pearce gets that she’s upset, but they’re not doing this right now. Pearce gets in the ring. Pearce says he’ll give Ripley a match against Nia Jax for the championship at Elimination Chamber.
Nia Jax’s music hits. Jax quickly makes her way to the ring. Pearce tries to get in her way, but Jax sidesteps him. Ripley and Jax brawl in the ring and knock Pearce off the apron. Pearce shouts for security. Security guards run down and try to separate them, but Jax avalanches them all. Jax then hits Ripley with an Annihilator! Jax slaps Ripley in the face and walks off with a smile on her face.
Video: Bayley reveals that she knows The Kabuki Warriors and IYO SKY have been talking about her behind her back. The Kabuki Warriors attacked Bayley, but Bayley attacked them with a steel pipe. Bayley announced she would face IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania XL.
Backstage Segment
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors are warming up backstage. They’ll put their titles on the line against Kayden Carter and Katana Chance.
“SHOOSH!”
Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri will be in a Mixed Tag Team Match against Ivar and Valhalla next.
-Commercial Break-
Headlines coming out of the SmackDown segment with Roman Reigns and The Rock are shown. Michael Cole says this match is not official yet, but we’ll find out at the WrestleMania XL Kickoff Press Event. Either they turned the crowd mics off, or they didn’t show this to the crowd.
Mixed Tag Team Match
Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri vs. Ivar and Valhalla
Tozawa avoids Valhalla and hits Ivar with a suicide dive. Maxxine hits Valhalla with a really slow motion and sloppy roll-up for a two-count. Tozawa goes for a cross-body block on Ivar, but Ivar catches him. Maxxine then helps take Ivar down by also jumping onto him with a cross-body block. Valhalla soon head-butts Maxxine down on the apron. Tozawa goes for a sunset flip powerbomb, but Ivar doesn’t go down. Ivar pulls Tozawa up and hits a big slam off the second rope for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Ivar and Valhalla
Replay: Last week on Raw, Damian Priest told R-Truth that he wasn’t in the Judgment Day. JD McDonagh then attacked R-Truth until The Miz made the save.
The Judgment Day’s Clubhouse
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Finn Bálor and Damian Priest are talking with JD McDonagh and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio. R-Truth comes in and asks what they’re talking about. McDonagh says R-Truth is lucky that he has a match right now or he’d wipe the floor with him. R-Truth says he should wipe the windowsills and earn his keep. McDonagh and Mysterio walk off. R-Truth says he’s officially in after the beating because that was his initiation. Bálor says he cannot handle R-Truth and walks off. Priest looks conflicted and tells R-Truth to make himself at home. R-Truth smiles.
JD McDonagh makes his entrance alongside “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio. McDonagh will face The Miz next.
-Commercial Break-
Gorilla Position
Jackie Redmond is in the Gorilla Position with The Miz. She asks about how he’s approaching his match with JD McDonagh. Miz says R-Truth still thinks he’s in the Judgment Day. He’s either crazy or a genius. R-Truth thinks last week was an initiation, but Miz thinks it was a declaration of war.
JD McDonagh w/ “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio vs. The Miz
Miz is quickly distracted by Mysterio, so McDonagh takes him down. McDonagh punches and stomps Miz down in the corner. McDonagh sends Miz into the ropes for a back elbow. McDonagh chops the chest and sends him into the ropes. Miz blocks a dropkick and catapults McDonagh into the corner. Miz hits the ropes and turns McDonagh inside out with a clothesline. Miz knees him in the midsection a few times and turns him inside out with a whip to the corner. Miz connects with a back body drop and clotheslines him over the top rope. Miz knocks McDonagh into the timekeeper’s area and gives him a vertical suplex on the floor. Miz bounces McDonagh off the commentary table and puts him back in the ring. Miz kicks McDonagh back. The referee checks on McDonagh. Mysterio grabs Miz’s ankle, and McDonagh knocks Miz off the apron.
-Commercial Break-
We return from the break to see McDonagh hit Miz with a uranage, followed by a standing moonsault for a two-count.
R-Truth’s music hits, and he comes out to the stage to a big ovation. R-Truth throws some Judgment Day t-shirts (the ones with his name on them) to the crowd. In the ring, McDonagh goes for a moonsault, but Miz gets the feet up. Miz punches away at McDonagh and kicks him to the corner. Miz hits McDonagh with his patented corner clothesline. Miz follows up with a diving cross-body block for a two-count. Miz sets up for a Skull Crushing Finale, but McDonagh fights it. Miz sends McDonagh out of the ring and hits Mysterio with a baseball slide. Miz connects with a hurricanrana on McDonagh and points at Mysterio. R-Truth appears at ringside and forces a t-shirt onto Mysterio. Miz then big boots Mysterio down.
In the ring, McDonagh boots Miz down. McDonagh hits Miz with a moonsault for a near fall. R-Truth gets on the apron and waves some money at McDonagh. This is McDonagh’s cut of the t-shirt sales. McDonagh looks pleased. Miz then hits McDonagh with a Skull Crushing Finale, and all the money goes flying. Miz covers for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: The Miz
R-Truth and Mysterio are trying to collect the money in the ring. Miz then celebrates with R-Truth on the stage.
Replay: The Kabuki Warriors defeated Katana Chance and Kayden Carter two weeks ago on SmackDown to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce’s Office
Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci of Imperium are in Adam Pearce’s office. Kaiser wants to make sure the celebration of Gunther will be spectacular. Pearce says it will be everything they discussed. Bron Breakker then walks in. Kaiser and Vinci look unimpressed and walk off. Pearce shows a Raw contract to Breakker.
-Commercial Break-
Video: CM Punk undergoes surgery on his torn triceps.
Gunther celebrates 600+ days as WWE Intercontinental Champion
Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci of Imperium are in the ring. The ring is decorated with four columns and a black carpet. Kaiser demands the attention of the crowd for the greatest Intercontinental Champion. It’s been 600 days of “The Ring General” Gunther.
WWE Intercontinental Champion “The Ring General” Gunther makes his way to the ring with a smile on his face. He is on the 605th day of his record-breaking Intercontinental Championship reign. Gunther says to the surprise of no one, he is celebrating the jubilee of his 600 days as champion. Gunther appreciates Kaiser setting up this ceremony, but he doesn’t want it anymore. What’s the difference? 700 days, 800 days, and 1,000 days are a given. One thing will never change: The Ring General will be the greatest and longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time. Gunther is running out of competition. There is no man worthy of challenging him for this great championship.
“Main Event” Jey Uso makes his way to the ring! Jey Uso comes out to a huge ovation and has the crowd (and Pat McAfee) bouncing their arms. Imperium does not look impressed. Jey says, “‘Main Event’ Jey Uso is now in your city!” Gunther says he gets it and mocks the gestures. Gunther says it’s simple gestures for a simple audience. The last time he saw Jey, he eliminated him from the Royal Rumble. Gunther expected he’d have a word with him, but this is not the way to do it. This is a celebration. Gunther is sensing some disrespect.
A “YEET” chant picks up. Jey says there was no disrespect. He sees the work he’s put in. 600 days as the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history. Gunther says Jey is a very accomplished man himself. He’s one of the most decorated Tag Team wrestlers of all time. YEET. He was part of the best Tag Team in WWE history. YEET. He holds the record as the longest-reigning Tag Team Champion of all time. YEET. Gunther says Jey only had to put in 50% of the work. Gunther achieved all this on his own. Jey says Gunther is going to get 100% of this whooping. Jey says he was 1,000+ days as Tag Team Champion and the first tag team to main event WrestleMania. It’s 2024. If you want Jey Uso to be Intercontinental Champion, then he wants to hear the crowd say, “YEET!” The crowd loudly says, “YEET!”
Gunther says, “Well, good for you. After 15 years, you finally developed the guts to step out of the shadow of your family and achieve something for yourself.” Jey Uso is not the first and will not be the last to ride on The Ring General’s coattail. When he beats Jey, he’ll beat him worse than his own family ever did. He’ll beat him so badly, he’ll long for the good old days when people couldn’t tell him and his brother apart. Gunther shoves him. Jey tackles Gunther, but Kaiser and Vinci quickly attack. Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston of The New Day run down for the save. Imperium gets out of the ring before any action happens.
The WrestleMania XL Kickoff Press Event will happen on Thursday from Las Vegas.
Video: Shinsuke Nakamura says Cody Rhodes wants to fight him so badly that he chose a Bull Rope Match, thinking he’d have an advantage. The only thing it will do is embarrass his family name. Rhodes will receive pain, loss, and shame from this match. Nakamura says he sees people saying, “We want Cody.” No… Nakamura wants Cody!
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes will battle Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bull Rope Match later tonight.
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance make their entrance. Next, they’ll face The Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
-Commercial Break-
WrestleMania XL is 61 days away.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c’s)
Asuka will start against Katana Chance. They lock up, and Asuka takes her down. Asuka soon hits her with a shoulder tackle. Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, Natalya, Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae, and Indi Hartwell are all watching backstage. In the ring, Chance slaps Asuka in the face, but Asuka just smiles. Asuka kicks her in the face a few times before taking her down. Asuka goes for a German Suplex, but Chance gets out. Chance bends under a spin kick and kicks Asuka in the ribs. Asuka’s ribs are injured from Bayley’s attack on SmackDown with the pipe. Carter and Chance attack the Kabuki Warriors at ringside.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Asuka tags back in. The Kabuki Warriors double-team Kayden Carter. Asuka picks up a two-count. Carter boots Asuka back. Kairi Sane quickly tags in and comes off the top rope with an attack on Carter. Carter was apparently supposed to move, so that looked pretty awful.
Chance tags in and trips Sane. Chance knocks Asuka off the apron and dropkicks Sane. Chance puts Sane in the corner and stomps away at her. Chance hits a corner clothesline and puts Sane through the ropes. Chance comes off the ropes with a double stomp to the neck for a near fall. Chance sends Sane into the ropes, but Asuka blind tags in. Chance blocks a codebreaker from Asuka, but Sane quickly attacks her. The Kabuki Warriors sandwich Chance with kicks for a near fall. Chance sweeps Asuka’s feet and covers for a two-count. Chance knocks Sane off the apron and attacks Asuka. Carter tags in and sends Chance onto Asuka, who is hung up in the corner. They connect with the After Party, but Sane (BARELY) breaks up the pin. They go for the Keg Stand, but Sane pulls Carter out of the ring, and Chance lands hard in the ring. Sane sends Carter into the steel steps. Asuka gets in the ring and kicks Chance in the head. Sane tags in. Asuka and Sane hit a stereo reverse DDT/In-Sane Elbow Drop for the win.
Winners by Pinfall and still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions: The Kabuki Warriors
Interview Segment
Earlier today, Jackie Redmond sat with Sami Zayn in the stands. She asks what is going through his mind and how much has to do with Drew McIntyre. Zayn says he’s had a really good year. He learned to not let the loss to Roman Reigns eat him up. After that match, Triple H pulled him aside after the match and told him he had nothing to be down about. Zayn is Rocky, the ultimate underdog. Rocky didn’t win the title in the first movie. Zayn will fight like an underdog every single night. It’s life or death for him. Zayn is not an underdog, though. He’s a contender who will be a champion. She asks if he still has something to prove. Zayn says he needs to prove it to himself and the people in the seats. It’s proving they didn’t get into him for nothing. Zayn will prove them right.
Cody Rhodes will battle Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bull Rope Match next.
-Commercial Break-
Next week on Raw, Jey Uso will team up with the New Day to take on Imperium. JD McDonagh will battle R-Truth. Liv Morgan will also battle Zoey Stark in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match.
Bull Rope Match
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
The last Bull Rope Match occurred nearly 17 years ago with “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes participating. Rhodes lost to Randy Orton in a Texas Bull Rope Match at the Great American Bash in 2007. The Bull Rope they are using tonight is the same one that Dusty Rhodes used in 1977 against “Superstar” Billy Graham at Madison Square Garden.
Cody Rhodes is hooked to the Bull Rope. Nakamura hooks up to it and throws the cowbell at Rhodes before kicking him down. Rhodes soon kicks him and drops down for an uppercut. Rhodes sends Nakamura into the ropes and turns him inside out with a kitchen sink knee to the midsection. Rhodes rings the cowbell, but Nakamura gets out of the ring. Rhodes follows him out (Nakamura cannot escape since they’re tied to each other). Nakamura goes into the crowd, but Rhodes uses the rope to pull Nakamura ribs-first into the barricade.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Rhodes is using the rope to pull Nakamura face-first into the ring post. Rhodes does this three times. Nakamura slowly gets into the ring, and Rhodes punches him in the forehead. Rhodes hits the ropes for a Disaster Kick, but Nakamura uses the rope to pull him out of midair. Nakamura puts Rhodes in the corner and kicks away at him. Nakamura connects Bad Vibrations. Rhodes rolls out of the ring, but Nakamura pulls him into the apron. Rhodes grabs his knee in pain. Nakamura drops a knee on Rhodes’ neck for a two-count. Nakamura kicks away at Rhodes and digs his boot into his face. Nakamura whips Rhodes with the Bull Rope and lays him on the top turnbuckle. Nakamura hits a running knee to the ribs and covers for a two-count. Nakamura kicks away at the chest. Rhodes blocks a big kick, but Nakamura quickly cuts him off with an enzuigiri. Nakamura hits the ropes, but Rhodes dropkicks him in the knee. Rhodes applies a Figure Four Leglock in the center of the ring. Nakamura grabs the cowbell to hit Rhodes in the head and break up the hold.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the final break of the evening, Rhodes makes a comeback and hits Nakamura with a snap powerslam. Rhodes hits a Disaster Kick for a near fall. Rhodes punches Nakamura, but Nakamura reverses a whip to the corner. Nakamura quickly puts Rhodes on the ropes and hits a sliding German Suplex. Nakamura knees away at Rhodes’ ribs and sets up for a Kinshasa. Rhodes kicks him and hits a Cody Cutter!
Rhodes gets the crowd going and punches Nakamura. They trade punches in the center of the ring. Rhodes hits some stinging left jabs. Nakamura goes for a kick, but Rhodes avoids it and hits a Bionic Elbow. Nakamura quickly comes back with a kick to the skull. Nakamura connects with an inverted back suplex. Rhodes avoids a Kinshasa and rolls him up before hitting a Pedigree. 1… 2… Nakamura kicks out! Rhodes grabs the cowbell and rings it for a nice ovation. Rhodes sizes Nakamura up, but Nakamura spits Red Mist in Rhodes’ face! Nakamura grabs Rhodes, but Rhodes instinctually flips him over and hits Cross Rhodes! 1… 2… Nakamura barely kicks out!
Rhodes struggles to get to his feet and rubs his eyes. Nakamura beats him down with the cowbell. Nakamura charges for a Kinshasa, but Rhodes blocks it. Rhodes low blows Nakamura with the rope between his legs. Rhodes flips him over using the ropes and hits the Cross Rhodes for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes
Michael Cole says this doesn’t end the controversy, but it has to feel good for Cody Rhodes. Rhodes stands victorious in the ring, but all of a sudden Drew McIntyre attacks him from behind! McIntyre counts down and hits Rhodes with a Claymore Kick! McIntyre kips up and stands over Rhodes. McIntyre looks at the WrestleMania XL sign.
Quick Match Results
— #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) def. The Creed Brothers (Brutus and Julius Creed), Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci), and The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) in a Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Championship Qualifier Match
— “The Man” Becky Lynch def. Shayna Baszler in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
— Ivar and Valhalla def. Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri in a Mixed Tag Team Match
— The Miz def. JD McDonagh
— The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) def. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
— “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes def. Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bull Rope Match
Email – mike@wrestleview.com
X – @MikeTedescoWV
Thanks for reading!