Cook’s WWE Raw Review 2.16.26

Hey kids! Steve Cook here with you for the latest episode of WWE Raw on Netflix! We’ve got more Elimination Chamber Qualifying matches on tap, along with appearances from the likes of AJ Lee, Liv Morgan & CM Punk. Could be a good time, let’s find out!

Don’t forget to subscribe to the 411Mania Wrestling Newsletter! Click here to do so, and then tomorrow (Tuesday) you’ll get some exclusive insight from your humble Chef on everything you need to know about the latest and greatest pro wrestling happenings! I guarantee it’ll be a good time, so make sure you check it out.

Cook’s WWE Raw Review 2.16.26

Then. Now. Forever. Together!

Raw is in Memphis! The camera takes us down Beale Street to the FedEx Forum. Gunther is WALKING! Bayley & Lyra are WALKING! Liv Morgan SITS DOWN FOR AN INTERVIEW! CM Punk & AJ Lee are SITTING! Michael Cole & Corey Graves are our hosts.

The Usos make their entrance through the crowd. Paul Heyman is heard trying to introduce himself, and tells them to cut the damn music. Paul is on stage with the three healthy members of the Vision. Heyman is shouted down by the crowd, then Logan Paul brags about spending $16 million on a baseball card. Logan’s vision is to host Raw in the most beautiful city in the US, and Memphis ain’t it. The Vision enter the ring while the Usos remain standing in the crowd. Heyman introduces footage from last week showing a masked man attacking Austin Theory. Theory says we all knew that was his match to win. Adam Pearce appears on stage and tells them to come backstage. Theory says they’ll do it right here & now. Pearce shuts down his points and tells them to come backstage. Heyman says he wants Bronson Reed in the Elimination Chamber match right now. Pearce says that Reed can earn his right next week in a qualifying match.

LA Knight’s music hits and he comes down the aisle past Pearce. Knight says that Theory got screwed by himself and won’t be going to the Chamber or WrestleMania. Reed is the next one, and Knight prays that Reed makes in the Chamber match so he can kick him square in the ass. Logan reminds LA of the car that he put him through. Knight calls him a broccoli haired bitch. Knight suggests that Pearce make a match with the Vision against him & the Usos since they’re all out there. The Usos yeet their approval, and we’ve got a six man tag!

LA Knight, Jimmy & Jey Uso vs. Logan Paul, Bronson Reed & Austin Theory (w/Paul Heyman): LA stomps Paul in the corner with Yeah kicks. Theory tags in to get some arm work, and Jimmy tags in and comes off the top on the arm. Theory fights back, Jimmy up and over in the corner, Jimmy with a kick. Jey tags in for the double elbows & the Best Friends elbow drop for two. Knight tags in and we see some teamwork from him & Jey. Theory boots LA, tags Bronson and they go high-low on Knight. Bronson pounds Knight in the corner and tags Logan. Logan goes to work on Knight and calls him the worst. Side slam gets two for Logan. Theory tags in and talks some trash to the Usos. Knight clubs at all three Vision members but gets squashed in the corner. World’s Strongest Slam by Bronson, he keeps working on Knight as we go to commercial.

Knight tries to tag but Bronson’s stopping him. Bronson Rock Bottoms & sentons him for two thanks to Jimmy. Bronson misses another one, tags Theorty who misses in the corner. Logan pulls Knight away, gets kicked away & Jey tags in with some Yeet blows. Jey backs it up on Logan, covers for two. Jey spears Logan and Theory makes the save. LA clotheslines Theory over the top, then drives him into the ringpost before a BFT on the floor! Before LA can celebrate he gets speared through the barricade by Bronson. Logan hits Jey with a Zig Zag for two. Jey flips over Logan, superkicks Logan and tags Jimmy. Usos hit 1D on Logan, but Bronson breaks up the count. The Usos are sent outside, then Bronson dives onto them! Jimmy thrown inside. Logan with the punch, Bronson with the TSUNAMI for three.

Winners: The Vision (9:06 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: **3/4
This was pretty solid work, nothing spectacular but certainly not bad.

Logan takes Michael Cole’s headset and yells at Cole for running his mouth. The Masked Man runs up and stomps Logan’s head on the announce desk! He runs off through the crowd before Theory & Reed can get to him.

Next Monday: Raquel vs. IYO vs. Kairi! Bronson vs. Jey vs. Original Americano!

Pearce goes down to the loading dock and sees a giant crate meant to be opened on February 28. Pearce tells Eli, the dock attendant, to send the crate to SmackDown and let Nick Aldis deal with it. Los Americanos are not happy with being left out of the Chamber qualifying matches. El Grande would like an Intercontinental Championship match. Pearce says he can earn one tonight.

Nattie talks about how things have changed since being in a Chamber match, mostly her. Bayley says she won’t hold herself back. Asuka says she always makes history. Natalya had your back, Nattie will break it.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Asuka vs. Nattie vs. Bayley: Asuka getting down with her bad self, it’s been awhile since she’s entered the ring alone. Nattie goes at Bayley until being sent outside. Bayley with a snap mare & running clothesline on Asuka. Nattie attacks Bayley from behind. Nattie puts Bayley in a surfboard until Asuka breaks it up. Nattie Germans Asuka after some fisticuffs between the two. Nattie gets sent outside by Asuka, who gets sunset flip powerbombed in the corner. Bayley dropkicks Nattie one time, the second time Bayley gets caught and monkey flipped into the ringpost. We go to commercial!

Bayley hits an elbow drop to Nattie’s back for two. Bayley places Asuka up top, Nattie in the Tree of Woe. Bayley elbows Nattie, then superplexes Asuka for two. Nattie breaks the count. The women punch each other while on their knees. Nattie tosses Bayley outside, then trades shots with Asuka strong style. Nattie discus lariats Asuka, Bayley back suplexes Nattie. Bayley up top, elbow drop on Asuka gets two. Nattie rolls Bayley out onto the apron, then Germans her on it! Asuka gets Nattie in the Asuka Lock! Nattie rolls out. Asuka kicks Nattie, they roll around and Nattie hits a Liger bomb for two. Nattie goes to the Sharpshooter. Bayley breaks it up with a knee to Nattie’s head. Asuka with the hip attack on Nattie. Bayley hits the Bayley to Belly for two on Asuka. Bayley with a backslide for two. Rose Plant reversed, Bayley sent into Nattie. Asuka with the Asuka Lock on Bayley in the middle of the ring, and Bayley submits!

Winner: Asuka (7:25 shown via submission)
Match Rating: ***
Three veterans that know what they’re doing here, nothing to hate about it.

Maxxine Dupri attacks Nattie from behind on the stage! The referees pull them apart while the fans chant “Whoop that Trick”. I’m told that was a thing in Memphis before Trick Williams started doing it. I’m also told the NBA has a team there called the Grizzlies, and I’m not convinced. Seems kinda silly.

Adam Pearce offers Oba Femi a contract. Oba says he needs time to decide, and Pearce tells him to take all the time he needs. Rusev appears! He stares down Oba Femi before Femi walks off.

Up next: Michael Cole interviews Liv Morgan!

Cole asks Liv Morgan who she’ll pick, then Dominik Mysterio joins them. Liv says she won’t rush the decision, she’s having so much fun making everybody wonder and messing with them. Stephanie Vaquer comes in, takes a seat and speaks in Spanish with Dom. Dom whispers what Stephanie’s saying into Liv’s ear. Stephanie went through hell to be champion, while Liv never made any sacrifices in her life. If Liv picks Stephanie, she won’t win. She’ll show Liv what a real world champion looks like. Liv gets pretty emotional over all of this and cries as she heads off. Not sure if it was Stephanie’s words, or Dom saying the words that got to her. Of course Dom was just translating, but hearing your lover’s voice say such cruel words can’t be easy unless you’re into that kinda thing.

LIKE MUSSOLINI! CM Punk marches down to the ring. He’s happy to be alive on a Monday night in Memphis. The office is not happy to see Punk since he’s jeopardizing the main event of WrestleMania. Punk says to boo Adam Pearce and he’s just making everything better. Sports franchises qualify for the playoffs, that doesn’t mean they quit showing up and stop playing games. Punk thought Finn deserved a title shot last month because he deserved it. This time, he deserves the ass beating he’s about to give him. Finn ruined the last time he’ll get to face AJ Styles. Punk wouldn’t be who he is if he didn’t piss people off. People wouldn’t love him if he wasn’t that way. He’s the best in the world. It’s not Roman or Finn.

Finn Balor’s music plays! Finn’s still doing the classic poses with the classic theme, nice to see. He looks backstage, and Dirty Dom appears! JD McDonagh has returned! The Judgment Day three make their way to the ring and surround Punk, who has a microphone ready to strike. Finn tells Punk to relax, they didn’t come out to fight. Finn wanted to make something crystal clear. To be the best in the world, you have to train with the best catch wrestlers from Europe, the best luchadores in Mexico, the best dojos in Japan, and you have to beat Roman Reigns on your first night on Raw. Finn says that’s him. Finn’s not jeopardizing the main event of WrestleMania, he’s making it better. Punk asks what the two idiots are doing there. He knows who Finn was. He knows about all the great things he did, but Finn did them by himself. Finn used to mean something! The Judgment Day has been an anchor around Finn’s neck, and Finn has been drug down to their level. Dom wears two titles and never defends them, and JD needs help getting in the ring because his head’s too big. Punk has been said to be a smart man that does dumb things. He knows they came out here to jump him, and turns his back on them. Finn holds Dom & JD back while Punk says he doesn’t need everyone’s help to prove he’s the best in the world, but maybe Finn does. Punk leaves the ring and bounces the microphone off Finn.

Cole & Graves mention that SmackDown will be on SyFy again this week and show clips of Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY going to a no contest with Nia Jax & Lash Legend.

Byron Saxton talks to Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY. He says they have the most difficult road to WrestleMania out of anyone. Rhea says its always a battle. Nia & Lash thought they could just take the tag titles, but all they did was light a fire that will be put out. IYO starts talking before Kairi cuts her off and talks about how Asuka will win in the Chamber. Asuka says they’re not ready for it and storms off. IYO tries to talk to Kairi before Asuka screams for her.

Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Match: El Grande Americano (w/Rayo & Bravo Americano) vs. Penta: Grande wearing the red, white & blue here, which is the opposite of his AAA vibe these days. Penta was a mystery opponent not named until his entrance if you’re scoring at home, or even if you’re alone. Corey talks about how Penta adopted a Cero Miedo mindset when he was young & struggling on the streets. It was a good story to help build Penta’s background. Penta shoves Grande, then they exchange chops. Penta with a superkick then a backstabber. Penta jumps into a clothesline from Americano and they both go down. We go to commercial!

Penta hits a crossbody off top, a kick and a sling blade. Penta with the handstand into a dropkick for two. Penta driver is blocked, Grande plants Penta and locks in a reverse straitjacket hold. Penta gets out, but gets DVDed for two. Grande chops Penta. Penta Driver only gets two! Rayo gets kicked off the apron, Grande hits a running headbutt for two. Bravo gives Grande the steel plate, but gets drug under the ring! Rayo sees and comes over, then is pushed by Original Americano! German on the floor to Rayo, Bravo gets tossed over the announce desk. Grande yells at Original, then Penta takes advantage to hit a Mexican Destroyer for three!

Winner: Penta (4:55 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: **3/4
Penta gets another shot at the title, and one thinks he has to be the one to take it off Dirty Dom for a long run. Dude’s over and can go. I think he’s got to hold some sort of gold pretty soon or the fans might lose interest.

Original enters the ring and shows Penta respect. Original attacks Grande! Original hits the Chaos Theory! He wants to take Grande’s mask off! He almost gets it before Rayo & Bravo drag Grande away.

Back in the Judgment Day locker room, Dom tells Liv to take the rest of the night off, and she leaves with Raquel. JD says that Finn is playing into Punk’s hands. Finn says he needs to prove it to himself. JD wants to help Finn become World Champion, but Finn says he can help by being left alone. JD & Finn both leave, while Don is all like “but guys, what about my match?”

LET’S LIGHT IT UP! AJ Lee skips down to the ring. Last week she walked into Raw for moral support and walked out the #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Championship. Becky reminded her this is serious business when she smashed her face into the ringpost. She hasn’t had a title shot in 11 years. All they had to fight for was a sparkly pink butterfly, but she loved it. She made that title. There was a Women’s Division before her, and one was after her, and that was her gift to everyone. She wants to fight Bayley, Lyra, Rhea, IYO, Kabuki Warriors, Charlotte, Alexa & everyone else, but she’s stuck on Becky. Becky’s mad because people like her more, but AJ gave her a 10 year head start and she still hasn’t caught up. Becky gave her a gift, without her AJ might not have come back and show that she can still be a champion. She can walk into WrestleMania as the Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Becky’s here, and AJ has something for her ass.

Becky Lynch’s music hits and the Man makes her way to the aisle. Becky knocks the idea of an AJ Lee title run. It’s an opportunity for her to gather all of her friends & family and have a sendoff. She’ll get the retirement match that she never had or deserved. AJ’s gift was leaving, for the last ten years Becky’s been making history & AJ’s been making comic books. After the Chamber, AJ can dictate to a computer about the one time she faced off with the greatest of all time, and maybe that comic book would sell. AJ invites Becky into the ring so they can throw hands. Becky teases going in before asking if she looks stupid. She knows AJ’s going to suckerpunch her. AJ says she’ll let Becky take the first swing. Becky gets in the ring, and AJ yells at her to swing. AJ puts her hands behind her back. Becky knows the game AJ’s playing. AJ wants to get beat up so she can have an excuse and not even make it to Elimination Chamber. Becky says no, and she leaves. She doesn’t fight in Memphis! Play Becky’s music!

Adam Pearce has his weekly meeting with the Vision. Theory yells at Pearce about Logan getting stomped on the desk. Heyman sends Theory & Logan off. Pearce says the masked man is a big problem for him too. Reed says he solves problems for the Vision. He’ll solve some problems when he qualifies for the Elimination Chamber. He says “No Problem” up in Pearce’s grill.

Raw is in Atlanta next week. We see an AJ Styles video package including some TNA footage! We’ll see A Tribute to AJ Styles next week! Bronson vs. Jey vs. Original, Raquel vs. IYO vs. Kairi and probably some other things. Cole says the Stephanie/Liv interview is up on social media with more of a translation of what Stephanie said.

Gunther, Dirty Dom & Je’Von Evans talk about how they’re going to main event WrestleMania after winning Elimination Chamber.

Elimination Chamber Triple Threat Qualifying Match: Je’Von Evans vs. Gunther vs. “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio: This probably already happened and I didn’t notice, but Evans has continued the John Cena tradition of shouting out and using Stu during an entrance. Dom exits the ring and invites Gunther & Evans to start. They wait him out, Gunther attacks Evans and Dom goes outside again. Gunther chops Evans, then Dom does one. Dom wants no part of Gunther, he leaves the ring again. Evans with dropkicks for both, Gunther catches one and locks in a Boston Crab before Dom breaks it up with a chop. Gunther chops Dom down. Evans kicks Gunther down with a few dropkicks. Evans ranas Dom, chops him in the corner. Evans jumps into a chop from Gunther, Gunther drags Dom to the floor and sends him into the barricade. One more time into the barricade for Dom. Gunther teases a powerbomb, Evans breaks that up with a dive! We go to commercial!

During the break, Dom got the ring bell hammer. Evans fights out of a chinlock. Dom goes for a 619, but Gunther breaks it up with a sleeper. Gunther gets knocked off the apron, Je’Von fights back on Dom. Evans hits a funky knee drop or something, then a twisting side suplex on Dom. Gunther chops a bouncing Evans. Dom gets powerbombed on Evans’ back. Evans turns a powerbomb into a rana for two, then gets clotheslined. Powerbomb hits this time but it gets two. Gunther strikes both his opponents with chops and raises his arms. Evans with some punches before getting chopped down again. Gunther runs into two kicks. Evans bounces into the Red Dot on Dom, can’t cover and Gunther chops him in the back of the head. Evans lands on his feet on a German and hits a running knee for two! Everybody down. Dom up top, fog splashes Gunther’s knees. Evans on the apron, springboard crossbody on Gunther. Evans goes up top for a cutter, Gunther follows him up. Evans knocks him off, moonsaults off the top into a sleeper. Evans tries the OG cutter, lands in a sleeper. Dom frog splashes Evans & Gunther to break it up, Gunther chops him down again. Dom gets the hammer, Gunther with a sleeper, Evans breaks it up with a sleeper, Gunther suplexes him. Dom kicked off the apron, Gunther follows. Gunther grabs the hammer and Dragon Lee appears and hits Gunther with the ring bell! Dom gets back in the ring, sends Evans into the ropes. 619 by Dom, he goes up top…misses the frog splash! OG Cutter! That gets the three count!

Winner: Je’Von Evans (12:10 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: ***1/2
Evans bouncing around the Chamber should be a pretty fun piece of business. This was pretty good with Dom playing the scaredy cat, Evans flipping around and Gunther chopping people. Everybody brought what they did best. I could have lived without the Dragon Lee involvement, but that sets up next week’s affairs so it’s cool.

Evans dances on the turnbuckle as our live event comes to an end. So long for now!

If you’d like to chime in with your own thoughts on today’s show, feel free to join your fellow 411 Maniacs down in the comment section! As the legendary Larry Csonka always said: Have fun and don’t be a dick. When I’m not here you can catch me on the social media from time to time.

7.5

The final score: review Good

The 411

Some good ol' fashioned Memphis walk & talk on this episode of Raw. We had pretty much the same talking segments for CM Punk & AJ Lee, and they both worked. The in-ring action was pretty good with a slight surprise in the main event. Should be an interesting show next week, see y'all then!