WWE Monday Night Raw is live from the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
Commentary: Michael Cole and Pat McAfee.
WWE Raw Results:
Jey Uso and Gunther Segment
“Main Event” Jey Uso returned to Raw as the Royal Rumble winner, sharing an emotional moment with the WWE Universe, but World Heavyweight Champion Gunther interrupted.
He entered the ring with the World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther, said he is going to come out there to congratulate Jey, but not really happy, because according to him, he cannot even lace his boots up and he has always been in control despite them thinking that he is barely hanging on to that title. The champion claimed victory over Jey would not improve his legacy; instead, one over Cena, Roman, or CM Punk will do better. Gunther said Jey has everything to gain, but he has everything to lose. He warned Jey that if he chooses him, every week would be hell and WrestleMania would be brutal. He said he’d put Jey down like a dog and asked Jey to consider his options.
Jey stopped him, saying he’s tired of being told what he’s supposed to be. He’s a tag team guy, but he won the Royal Rumble. Jey said he’d talk to Cody on SmackDown and guaranteed he’d walk out of WrestleMania as champion. Then, Jey left.
Penta def. Ludwig Kaiser
Penta earned another major win on Raw, this time defeating Ludwig Kaiser with his vicious Sarcafice/Penta Driver. It appeared to be the perfect way to put an end to their long-standing Royal Rumble dispute, leaving Penta believing that the rivalry was finally over.
But, just as Penta basked in the moment and enjoyed his hard-won victory, Pete Dunne suddenly interrupted him, changing the focus of the ring. It was the perfect distraction for Kaiser. Kaiser used the distraction to his advantage. He started with a vicious post-match attack on Penta. Penta found himself reeling as he was blindsided and overwhelmed by the vicious assault.
Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley
Women’s Royal Rumble Winner Charlotte Flair made a promo in the ring, talking about her life and career. She spoke of her recent breakup with Andrade, reminding everyone that this happens to her family constantly of marrying and then getting divorced. She missed the fans’ interaction and shared some of her problems last year, from doubts about knee injuries to possible future matches. Despite the boos, she branded herself the best WWE superstar in history.
The Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley interrupted her, saying that this is her show. She talked about their battles, reminding Flair that Ripley defeated her at WrestleMania. Flair retorted by saying that she defeated Ripley the first time they had fought and that she was still a kid. She said she wants to be inspired and she would go around visiting NXT and SmackDown and see if there is anybody that can motivate her. With increasing frustration, Ripley challenged Flair, telling her comments meant Flair did not respect her. The segment ended with Ripley’s music playing.
The New Day def. Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee
Things quickly escalated into a heated exchange between Rey Mysterio and Logan Paul. Logan Paul saw an opportunity to take advantage of the situation by attacking Rey at ringside, then throwing him back into the ring. It was the perfect opportunity for Kofi Kingston to deliver his signature Trouble in Paradise to Rey to secure the pinfall victory with a three-count.
Now, Mysterio will have the opportunity to bounce back from this loss when he takes on Logan Paul in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match next week. It is a must-win match for both participants as they look to book themselves a berths in the “show-stealing” Elimination Chamber.
Liv Morgan def. IYO SKY by disqualification to qualify for the Elimination Chamber
Liv Morgan, accompanied by Raquel Rodriguez, came out and faced IYO SKY in what turned out to be a very heated match. Throughout the contest, Raquel interfered multiple times, and that had Rhea Ripley come out to ringside to tell her to stop. That escalated the tension between the two, and Liv grabbed Ripley’s hair during the chaos. Rhea retaliated by punching her and referee saw the punch, resulting in a disqualification victory for Liv..
After the match, IYO SKY was visibly upset and furious about losing in such a manner. She started panicking and expressing her frustration over the disqualification. Rhea Ripley, trying to smooth things over, attempted to apologize to Sky for the situation. However, IYO SKY was clearly angry and not willing to accept the apology. She stormed off, leaving Ripley standing at ringside.
Seth “Freakin” Rollins Pumps Up Sami Zayn Before Elimination Chamber Qualifier Against CM Punk
Seth Rollins congratulated Jey Uso on winning the Royal Rumble and mentioned how CM Punk lost and his future at WrestleMania is uncertain. He took a shot at Punk, celebrating his elimination by Logan Paul, and then talked about Roman Reigns, claiming Reigns may not make it to WrestleMania due to injury, and that he had hurt Reigns in the past. Rollins said Reigns loves his limited schedule, and Rollins had done him a favor.
Rollins acknowledged his own loss in the Royal Rumble but focused on his future, saying his path to WrestleMania goes through the Elimination Chamber. He also mentioned an upcoming match with Finn Balor. Rollins then called out Sami Zayn, leading the crowd in a chant. He expressed sympathy for Zayn’s tough month and noted Zayn’s immediate future was with CM Punk. Rollins, despite hating Punk, told Zayn he needs to give his best and defeat Punk, encouraging him to prove himself in the Chamber. Rollins left while Zayn, fired up, prepared for his upcoming fight.
CM Punk def. Sami Zayn to qualify for Elimination Chamber Match
CM Punk took his spot at the Elimination Chamber after winning over Sami Zayn in a tight and closely fought match. Both warriors battled, giving a good contest that kept the audience engaged with high stakes. Zayn, being fired up and determined, did his signature Helluva Kick to try to take down Punk. But in the last instance, Punk, being so alert, countered expertly, caught Zayn mid-air, and gave his devastating Go to Sleep finisher. The pinfall was secured, and Punk emerged victorious to get himself a spot in the Elimination Chamber match, which was excitingly cheered by the crowd. This was a fantastic display of both men’s resilience and strategy, but Punk’s quick thinking and experience gave him the upper hand in this high-pressure match.
After their hard-fought match between CM Punk and Sami Zayn, they shared a handshake, respecting each other in the ring. The crowd went wild as they seemed to be putting their differences aside. Then, the atmosphere changed.
Out of nowhere, Kevin Owens rushed into the ring, full of anger. He blindsided Zayn with a brutal attack, catching him off guard. Owens then delivered a vicious Package Piledriver, leaving Zayn lying motionless on the mat. The crowd was shocked. What was once a friendship was now shattered in an instant. Punk, watching from the sidelines, was left in disbelief as chaos took over the ring.
