WWE Raw live results: Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
Date: February 19, 2024
Location: Honda Center in Anaheim, CA
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Show Recap —
Jey Uso and Judgment Day (minus Rhea Ripley) were each shown arriving at the arena earlier today.
There was a quick video package hyping the opening match.
They announced that Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins would be on the Grayson Waller Effect at Elimination Chamber and said Roman Reigns has given marching orders to Waller.
Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes (19:40)
Rhodes got a big ovation. They aired the wrestlers’ ratings from WWE 2K24 and Michael Cole said they’d be doing this throughout the night. (Rhodes’ rating is 93, McIntyre is 89.)
Rhodes used a dragon screw and applied a figure four early in the match but McIntyre reversed it. Rhodes rolled out of the ring and they went to break with Cole saying Rhodes was “in trouble” even though he was just on offence moments earlier.
McIntyre was on offence after the break and used his boot to squeeze Rhodes’ head into the ring post. McIntyre used chops but Rhodes fired up and demanded more. McIntyre kicked his leg out of his leg to regain control but Rhodes came back with a bulldog, forearm, powerslam and Disaster Kick for two, followed by a Cody Cutter for two. McIntyre blocked a Cross Rhodes but Rhodes sent them both over the top with a clothesline, leading to a second break.
Rhodes hit jabs and a bionic elbow but McIntyre hit a spinebuster for two and a sit-out powerbomb for two. McIntyre went for the Claymore but Rhodes hit a superkick and Pedigree. McIntyre headbutted Rhodes out of mid-air and hit a Future Shock DDT for two. Rhodes came back with a superplex and a Cody Cutter off the top rope for a nearfall.
Jimmy Uso ran out but Rhodes knocked him off the apron. As the referee got rid of Jimmy, Rhodes set up McIntyre for a Cross Rhodes but Solo Sikoa caught him from behind with the Samoan Spike. McIntyre followed with Claymore Kick for the pinfall win. (The Bloodline and the finish got a lot of heat.)
McIntyre looked somewhat conflicted upon celebrating, likely because, as Cole noted, he benefited from the help of the Bloodline, whom he blamed for his past failures.
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There was a video package for Gunther vs. Jey Uso.
There was a video package for Andrade El Idolo. He controls his destiny.
A trainer and Adam Pearce checked on Rhodes in the back. Pearce assured him that Jimmy and Solo were gone and they’d be given a huge fine. Pearce asked if he needed anything and Rhodes said he was fine. Seth Rollins appeared and they gave each other a knowing look.
There was another (quick) video package, this time highlighting the women who have already qualified for the Chamber match.
And there was another (sponsored) video after a break, recapping the angle between Judgment Day and R-Truth last week.
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Raquel Rodriguez won the Last Chance Battle Royal to qualify for the Women’s Elimination Chamber (13:58)
Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, Zelina Vega, Chelsea Green, Natalya, and the returning Raquel Rodriguez got televised entrances.
Maxxine Dupri almost eliminated Green but Valhalla eliminated Dupri first. Rodriguez quickly dumped Valhalla before also eliminating Xia Li and Isla Dawn.
They went to break just two and a half minutes into this battle royal. Four women got eliminated in the first two and a half minutes but conveniently, nobody got eliminated during the three-and-a-half-minute commercial break.
Tegan Nox tried to surprise Natalya by eliminating her but Natalya countered and chucked out Nox. Stark and Baszler eliminated B-Fab. Green avoided elimination once again which led to Elektra Lopez eliminating Vega. Michin eliminated Lopez as she celebrated. Vega chased Lopez to the back.
Green eliminated Candice LeRae and Baszler eliminated Indi Hartwell. Baszler, with an assist from Stark, also eliminated Katana Chance. Rodriguez eliminated Alba Fyre and Ivy Nile eliminated Natalya.
The “final four” were Baszler, Stark, Michin and Rodriguez. Baszler and Stark eliminated Michin. Rodriguez fought off Stark and Baszler and managed to eliminate both women.
Rodriguez thought she won but, of course, Green reappeared from under the ring. Green tried the surprise elimination but Rodriguez countered and tossed her out to win the match.
The crowd was fairly quiet for the match but popped for the last bit.
(They crossed into the second hour during the last portion of the battle royal.)
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Jey Uso cut a quick promo saying he would bring down an empire and win the Intercontinental Championship.
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Rhea Ripley and Nia Jax interview
Ripley and Jax sat in separate rooms for an interview hosted by Cole. I think he just asked one question and they took it from there.
Ripley said she didn’t have butterflies. This was what she had been working for. When she got to WWE, all she wanted to do was fit in and please people but she wasn’t comfortable in her own skin. There were times she wanted to quit. But she reminded herself just who the hell she was. She was Rhea Bloody Ripley and was the most dominant woman in WWE.
Nia Jax thought that was cute. She was twice Ripley’s size and had three times the talent. Jax would squash Ripley again and she would go crying to her mommy. Ripley said Jax would crumble when she heard everyone chanting for Mami. Jax would lose all her momentum and would realize she was just not good enough.
Ripley ripped off her mic as Jax put on a mean face.
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There was a comedy segment — an exposé hosted by Jackie Redmond where she interviewed Truth and tried to determine whether or not he was ever actually a member of Judgment Day. The crowd chanted for Truth when it was over.
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Cole put over the corporate synergy between WWE and UFC which led to Michael Chandler cutting a promo in the front row. He called himself the most entertaining UFC fighter on the planet. He called out Conor McGregor.
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Chad Gable cut a serious promo in the back. He was tired of Ivar trying to tear down Alpha Academy. He said he would leave his crew in the back and invited Ivar to do the same. Ivar accepted and said his path went through Gable.
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Eight-man tag team match: Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh & Tag Team Champions Damian Priest & Finn Bálor defeated R-Truth, The Miz, Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa (15:31)
Based on the length of entrances, you could tell they’d be going to break quickly, and they did — about 50 seconds into the match. All the babyfaces did crotch chops based on Truth thinking they were part of DX.
The crowd popped big for Truth getting the hot tag and he did John Cena’s comeback sequence on McDonagh. Priest tagged himself in before Truth could go for an AA. McDonagh headbutted him and Truth sent him into the ring post leading to another break (just three minutes after the last one).
The crowd was less enthused when Ciampa made a hot tag after the break. They got into him though as he fired up and took out two guys with a double clothesline. Ciampa hit McDonagh with a draping DDT before wiping out Priest with a corkscrew dive.
Ciampa hit Bálor with a reverse DDT but McDonagh broke up the cover. That led to everyone trading moves until Ciampa and Bálor knocked each other down with running crossbody attempts. (Pat McAfee said 16 abs just collided.)
The crowd chanted “This is awesome” and got louder for Truth as he ran wild on Priest and hit a scissors kick. Truth knocked Dom off the apron and gave Priest a flatliner for two. Miz and DIY hit dives to take out the rest of Judgment Day.
Truth countered a chokeslam into a cradle for a nearfall. (The crowd would’ve gone nuts if he won.) Priest came right back with the chokeslam for the pinfall win.
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There was a video package showing Rock’s promo from Smackdown. They really turned up the booing and took out any cheers.
Becky Lynch was shown walking through the back. (She saw a Raw banner with a few wrestlers on it, including herself, and she blew herself a kiss, which was funny.)
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Jackie Redmond interviewed Sami Zayn in the back. Zayn has made a difficult decision. Zayn has hit the pause button on his issues with McIntyre because it’s become an obsession. He’s gotten this way before but he needed to focus on his path to WrestleMania. He needed to trust the feeling in his gut that not only was there a path to WrestleMania but a chance to do something historic. “I will be a champion.”
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[THIRD HOUR]
Becky Lynch segment
Lynch said she’s done so many great things in her career that there weren’t many new things to do. But for the first time in her career, she would be inside the Elimination Chamber with the need to win. Lynch said it was inevitable that she and Ripley would collide and it would be the fight of their lives.
Ripley has been the talk of the town the last year but she’s been propped up by her band of merry men, the Judgment Day. Lynch was the biggest threat to Ripley and, as of this very moment, “I’m the best I’ve ever been.”
Lynch was the best she’s ever been but so was everyone else. Five of WWE’s most promising stars would also be in the Chamber. Lynch didn’t have anything against the other women — except maybe Tiffany Stratton who was kind of annoying. They were all fighting with a spot at WrestleMania hanging in the balance.
Liv Morgan interrupted. Morgan was tired of hearing Lynch explain why she should be the one to face Ripley. Morgan didn’t care who the best was, this was about her revenge. Ripley used to be her partner but Ripley injured her shoulder and took her out for months. Morgan reminded Lynch that she was the last one to beat Ripley.
Rodriguez entered. She reminded them that Jax could be the champion after Saturday. She knew she was the only woman big enough and strong enough to take out either woman.
Naomi entered next. Lynch welcomed her back. Naomi said she didn’t return just to return. She returned to climb her way to the top because that’s where she belonged.
Stratton entered next. Stratton said Naomi left an empty space when she left and the only space Stratton wanted was to be the centre of the universe. She didn’t care about the past and that’s what she saw when she looked at the rest of them.
Bianca Belair entered (to a good reaction). Belair said they would never be her and reminded them that she was the only one out of them who has won the Chamber. She planned on continuing her undefeated streak and would beat them all because you can’t spell WrestleMania without “E.S.T.” They bickered for a bit until a brawl broke out.
Jax appeared and took out everyone single-handedly.
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Gunther cut a promo. He wanted Jey Uso to know he was the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time. Gunther would make Jey understand that he did not belong in the main event and he would have to keep dreaming.
Shinsuke Nakamura cut a promo on Zayn. He accused Zayn of whining and if Zayn wanted to be the underdog, Nakamura would ensure he stayed that way. Nakamura wanted to beat him again and Zayn could bask in everyone’s sympathies.
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Boxer Callum Walsh was shown in the crowd.
Chad Gable defeated Ivar (8:20)
Ivar slammed Gable onto the barricade and they went to break a minute into the match. After the break, Ivar hit a sit-out powerbomb for two. Gable ducked a kick and chop-blocked Ivar’s leg. Gable failed to hit a German suplex but applied a sunset flip cradle for two. Gable tried an ankle lock but Ivar kicked out of it.
Gable drove Ivar out of the ring but Ivar shoved him into the side of the ring. Gable tried a German again but Ivar blocked it again and hit a spinning kick. Ivar followed with a crazy seated senton for a nearfall.
Gable avoided a moonsault and hit an impressive German suplex. Gable hit a moonsault of his own for two. Gable transitioned immediately into an ankle lock and Ivar tapped out.
Otis, Dupri and Akira Tozawa entered to celebrate with Gable. (I’m glad Gable finally got a win but the finish felt a bit abrupt.)
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The announcers ran down the Elimination Chamber card.
Cathy Kelley interviewed McIntyre. He said Rhodes has been on a hell of a run the past year and only one person had beaten him until tonight. McIntyre was now the second. McIntyre knew people were calling him a hypocrite (for winning tonight thanks in part to the Bloodline) but he had no issue with what happened.
Of course he wanted to attack Sikoa and Jimmy on the spot but he couldn’t think like that anymore. He was thinking big picture. He was doing this for the world title, doing this for Raw and doing this for the fans. He just beat Rhodes and would face LA Knight on Friday before winning the Chamber on Saturday. He was the true workhorse of WWE and the future champion.
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New Day cut a serious promo in the back. Xavier Woods said Jey Uso would beat Gunther tonight and their turn would come next week. Kofi Kingston said Imperium tried to end his career and take his head but they didn’t get the job done.
New Day were the industry standard which is why everyone came for them. There was nobody better than them. Imperium might’ve thought it was over but it wasn’t over until New Day said it was. Woods announced their tag match next week would be a street fight. (Kingston tapped a kendo stick to the tune of “New Day rocks” and Woods couldn’t help but smile.)
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Professional bull rider John Crimber was shown in the crowd.
Next week on Raw in San Jose, CA:
- New Day vs. Imperium in a street fight
- Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
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Gunther defeated Jey Uso to retain the Intercontinental Championship (18:58)
Like the previous match, Gunther slammed Jey into the barricade and they went to break about a minute into it. Jey fought back after the break but Gunther chopped him out of mid-air. Gunther also did the neck twist spot and hit a backbreaker. Gunther tried a powerbomb on the announce table but Jey hit a backdrop and a Samoan drop onto the table.
Jey set up for a running up attack but Gunther hit a running dropkick and powerbomb for two. Gunther blocked a superkick and hit a clothesline for two. Gunther applied a Boston Crab but Jey got a rope break. Gunther hit an uppercut but Jey knocked him out of the ring and hit a suicide dive, leading to a break.
They traded strikes until Gunther dropped Jey with a chop. Gunther followed with three more hard chops before he began mocking Jey. Jey slipped out of a powerbomb and hit a spear for two. Jey went to the top but Gunther slammed him down and hit a splash for two.
Jey fought back and hit another spear. Gunter rolled to the apron but Jey ran around and speared him on the apron (which was cool) before spearing him again outside the ring. Jey hit one more spear in the ring and an Uso splash.
Jey seemed to have it won but as he made the cover, the bell randomly started ringing too early. It was Jimmy Uso in a hood. Jey superkicked Gunther anyway as security tried dealing with Jimmy. Jimmy wasn’t leaving so Jey wiped him (and security) out with a suicide dive.
With the fans on their feet, Jey went for another splash but Gunther got his knees up and applied rollup for the pinfall win.
— Jimmy attacked Jey after the match and laid him out with an Uso Splash. They showed some replays and Jimmy hit one more splash and posed as the show went off the air. (Jimmy got a lot of heat.)
(They showed a replay of the finish and it looked pretty ridiculous that the referee abruptly stopped his count at two when he heard the bell ring.)