WWE Raw Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights After Elimination Chamber (2024)

Drew McIntyre cashed his ticket to WrestleMania 40 and a shot at world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins by way of his victory inside the Elimination Chamber at the weekend.

Monday night, the Scot addressed his win and impending match with The Visionary on the first episode of Raw on the fast lane to The Showcase of the Immortals.

The latest from the self-proclaimed "Savior of WrestleMania" headlined a broadcast that also featured Cody Rhodes in action, the culmination of the rivalry between The New Day and Imperium, and a showdown between Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura.

Find out who emerged victorious, what it meant for the build to 'Mania, and what surprises WWE had in store for fans with this recap of the February 26 broadcast.

Announced in advance for the February 26 card were:

Dominik Mysterio was drowned out by the disdain of the WWE Universe as he introduced women's world champion Rhea Ripley, who entered the arena to a strong ovation just days after successfully retaining at the Elimination Chamber in her native Australia.

Becky Lynch interrupted in short order, sparking a verbal back-and-forth that saw each stake a claim to a victory in their title bout at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.

Nia Jax then attacked Lynch from behind, leaving a message to the wrestling world that she is not abandoning her goal of becoming champion.

This was an acceptable opening segment that highlighted one of the top matches on the 'Mania card while spotlighting two of the most buzzed-about athletes from Saturday's premium live event.

Furthermore, it also heated Jax up, ensuring fans that her loss to Ripley at the weekend was not a one-and-done.

A backstage promo after the break saw The Irresistible Force vow to defeat Liv Morgan, another interested party when it comes to Mami and her title.

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

A desperate Sami Zayn turned the tide of momentum back in his favor Monday night, withstanding a potentially broken rib and the attack of a game Shinsuke Nakamura.

Zayn repeatedly clutched at his ribs after appearing to injure them early on following a moonsault to the floor.

It slowed him down but did not extinguish his fire, which raged late as he launched himself across the ring with a Helluva Kick to the back of The Artist's head and then added another for the victory.

This was a step in the right direction for Zayn who may well find himself in a match of significance come WrestleMania.

Given his history with Drew McIntyre and desire to win the World Heavyweight Championship, it would not be out of the question for him to be added to that title match and inch closer to another unforgettable 'Mania moment.

Result

Zayn defeated Nakamura

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

Chelsea Green was seeking revenge for being eliminated a week ago in the Last Chance Battle Royal, but Raquel Rodriguez had other plans.

The former women's tag champ dominated the match and downed Green with the Tejada Bomb for an emphatic victory.

This was a nice showcase for Rodriguez but until Triple H and the creative team do more to give her character traits and a story fans can invest in, she is going to continue to be a star with potential that may go unrecognized to its fullest because of the lack of a connection with the audience.

It's not a stretch to say Green is in a better spot than Rodriguez because of her character work.

Result

Rodriguez defeated Green

Grade

C, purely because it added another women's match to the card and highlighted two talented competitors

Top Moments and Takeaways

Intercontinental champion Gunther took to the squared circle, alongside Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci, to address his future opponents.

He broke the unwritten rule of professional wrestling by claiming there was no one else to challenge him, only to find out The Judgment Day was interested in proving him wrong.

Not just any member of the faction, though. It was Dominik Mysterio who stepped up to The Ring General and stared him down.

Damian Priest was held back by his teammates while Gunther stood tall, raising the intercontinental title overhead as if to taunt his new rivals.

This was unexpected, to say the least, but the idea of Mysterio catching a beatdown at the hands of Gunther at WrestleMania will be appealing to fans.

There are also several other potential candidates, though, including Sami Zayn, who found himself face-to-face with Gunther moments earlier backstage.

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

The intense rivalry between Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston and Imperium's Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci wrote its latest chapter Monday night in a brutal Street Fight.

The match was appropriately punishing, with intensity from the babyfaces that was off the charts and the cerebral awareness of the heels.

There were big spots and even bigger bumps, and it looked as though Kingston and Woods would avenge months of torment by Kaiser and Vinci.

But that was not the case as an alert Vinci shoved Kingston off the top rope and through a table, before Kaiser sent Woods into a steel chair and rolled him up for the win.

This would have been right at home on a pay-per-view. The heels look even more potent because they weathered the emotional barrage of their opponents and never lost their methodical approach, ultimately taking advantage of the slightest openings to score the hard-fought victory.

Result

Imperium defeated The New Day

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler took another step toward challenging for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship by defeating Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae in what amounted to little more than an extended squash.

The bout wasn't exactly competitive, with the heels' victory never really in doubt.

However, there's been little in the way of character development or story advancement for the potential challengers, so the crowd has yet to develop a reason to care for Stark and Baszler beyond the fact that they are both physically imposing.

Result

Baszler and Stark defeated LeRae and Hartwell

Grade

C

Top Moments and Takeaways

On the heels of his (tainted) victory in the Elimination Chamber, Drew McIntyre wasted little time knocking CM Punk before calling out world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins.

The Visionary humored him, only to have the topic shift from Punk to WrestleMania. The Scot begged him not to go after Roman Reigns and The Rock, reminding him that it is always the same with The Bloodline.

Rollins contemplated the words of McIntyre before telling him that there were some things bigger than wrestling and titles, and putting an end to The Bloodline is one of them. He walked away on that note.

This was good stuff from both guys.

McIntyre was great as the antagonistic heel. The guy who once fought for honor and pride has allowed himself to be the thing he despises: a competitor who benefits from the interference of others to win and is perfectly content with it.

Rollins as the avenger seeking to end the bigger threat to WWE, even if it costs him the world title against McIntyre, also works. Would it work better without the dancing and wild outfits? Probably, but at least he has remained true to the persona he has created.

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

Liv Morgan and Nia Jax both sought a bounce-back following a disappointing night in Perth, Australia as they squared off in one-on-one action.

Jax looked like the unstoppable force she has been since her return to WWE. Morgan stayed in the match, doing just enough to avoid the one move that would end her night.

As the action spilled to the floor, Becky Lynch came from out of nowhere to attack Jax.

The match was solid if unspectacular, but it showcased two women who figure to remain in the title picture, even if a championship clash at WrestleMania 40 is not in the cards.

The idea that Morgan is angry at Lynch, who has the match with Rhea Ripley that she wants, is an interesting development and one WWE should explore as one of those side stories Triple H loves.

Result

Jax defeated Morgan via disqualification

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

Cody Rhodes continued his momentous run to WrestleMania 40 by defeating Grayson Waller in relatively short order Monday night.

The American Nightmare overcame interference from Austin Theory to put Waller away with a Cody Cutter and Cross Rhodes for the win.

It was an emphatic victory against a guy who will stay over despite the loss, thanks to his natural charisma and personality.

After the match, Paul Heyman appeared, flanked by suspended NYPD officers and attempted to threaten Rhodes to redact his challenge to The Rock. He refused and hit all three henchmen with a steel chair before proclaiming that The Bloodline is not hunting him, he is hunting The Bloodline.

This was excellent and finally gives the fans that one piece of the puzzle that had been missing: An aggressive Rhodes taking the fight to his opponents.

Result

Rhodes defeated Waller

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

WWE is in full WrestleMania mode right now.

There was a great sense of urgency in Monday night's show, with nearly every match and segment having some sort of implications for the biggest event of the year.

The most obvious one that did not was a feud-ending Street Fight that would have made for a terrific PPV match.

The ring work was good, the Intercontinental Championship scene was spotlighted with several Superstars staking claims to a shot at Gunther, and the women's division continued to show out.

This was another strong episode of the flagship, capped off with an intense Cody Rhodes finally fighting back against The Bloodline and anyone who stands between him and the conclusion of his story.

Overall Grade: B+