Welcome to the “I’m taking a break from the Olympics to watch Raw” edition of The Wrestling List. Fun Raw show tonight with the set up for Elimination Chamber continuing so let’s get right into it.
Show got off to a great start for me with the AJ Lee return! I liked the backstage reveal of showing that she was there and also the background shot of Becky losing her mind behind AJ and Punk. Becky cuts a complaining promo and AJ interrupts it. Becky continues to show that AJ has completely gotten under her skin. Becky wants a match. AJ is good with the match but wants the title on the line which Becky hesitantly does. I’m all for AJ vs Becky at Elimination Chamber in Chicago. Speaking to the Chamber, we had other qualifying matches to set who will be in the chamber. On the women’s side, Rhea defeated Lyra and Ivy to qualify for the women’s Chamber match. The men’s side closed Raw with LA Knight vs Penta vs Austin Theory. Logan and Reed get involved wrecking havoc. Pearce shows up with security and gets rid of them. Theory hits the stomp on to Knight but Penta pulls Theory out to break up the count. As Theory and Penta battle, the masked man shows up and stomps Theory on the the floor. This leads to LA Knight getting the victory and qualifying for the chamber. I really liked the segment with Finn Balor showing up wanting his match with Punk. Punk goes to the ring with purpose sick of Balor. Balor wants his match. Pearce isn’t having it with having his WrestleMania event possibly messed up. Punk steps up and says he’s using his own pull as champion to accept this match and he wants it tonight. Pearce however sets the match for the Elimination Chamber. Looking forward to that rematch as I really enjoyed their first match. We had the Usos talking tag team championship but also Jimmy telling Jey to go win his match and get in that WrestleMania match. Maxinne and Nattie had their match but the match doesn’t go long as Nattie ends up putting a sharpshooter on to Maxinne on the table. Ref calls for a double count out. AJ Lee runs out to back up Maxinne as AJ had said she was there to support her earlier. Nattie is ran off. As AJ is helping Maxinne to the back, Becky runs in and sends AJ into the post. Liv Morgan is still teasing on her opponent for WrestleMania and had a back and forth with Stephanie.
Other notes from Raw. I still can’t stand Stephanie’s new music. LOL. Kudos to the Cleveland crowd! They were really good tonight especially when we’ve had some weaker crowds in recent weeks. Cleveland brought it tonight.
Gotta say that I’m excited for Elimination Chamber. Probably more excited for this show so far than I was the Royal Rumble. I like the lineup so far and Chicago will be a great host for it.
Two injuries. Bron Breakker had hernia surgery done after he injured it from flipping that table last week and will be out indefinitely. Chelsea Green also posted a brutal picture of her swollen ankle that she injured on Smackdown Friday night so she’ll be out of action too.
TNA Impact is building an audience on AMC. Shows tend to start higher and then slide down. Not Impact on AMC. The first two weeks were mostly even. Then went up for week three. The show had its best audience so far this past Thursday night for week four. So, people are definitely tuning in and watching. Hoping they keep it up.
AJ Styles was on the Stephanie McMahon podcast last week and she asked him about putting the gloves moment post match where he picked them up. She asked what it meant and he paused giving a straight up honest answer of “I don’t know”. He talked of the never say never thing with doing another match but he was very honest with his I don’t know in what the meaning of all that was with the gloves.
Kelly Kincaid announced on her social media that she will no longer be with WWE as of February 14th. Wishing her the best in whatever she does from here! I really enjoy her work.
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