WWE Raw live results: Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
Date: February 8, 2021
Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL
The Big Takeaway —
Drew McIntyre will defend his WWE title inside Elimination Chamber against five men who are at least 40 years old: AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, The Miz and Sheamus. Shane McMahon returned briefly to make the announcement with Adam Pearce. In storyline, McIntyre and Sheamus were both confused by the decision considering they basically agreed to have a singles match. The McIntyre vs. Orton main event ended in a DQ after Sheamus interfered.
Keith Lee defeated Riddle clean but both men will have a shot at Bobby Lashley’s US title in a triple threat match at EC. Lashley laid out both men after their match.
Lacy Evans earned herself a title shot against Asuka at EC after beating Charlotte by DQ after Charlotte was beating her up in the corner and wouldn’t stop.
Alexa Bliss and Bray Wyatt were not on the show.
Show Recap —
They aired a memorial graphic for “The Natural” Butch Reed. RIP.
There was a Drew McIntyre/Sheamus video package. It included old pictures of the two of them together to help establish their long friendship.
Adam Pearce was in the ring and welcomed back Shane McMahon. Shane was sweating. He said they had a big announcement: Drew McIntyre will defend the WWE title inside Elimination Chamber. All other wrestlers in the match are former world champions: Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, The Miz and Sheamus.
Shane said Pearce was doing an amazing job. As Shane left, AJ Styles and Omos entered. They glanced at each other before Shane went to the back.
Styles liked Pearce’s idea of McIntyre defending the title in the chamber even though he previously thought Pearce was kind of a dumbass. Styles was ready to become a 3-time WWE Champion heading into WrestleMania. Styles wanted to give a preview right now and told Pearce to leave. Jeff Hardy entered.
(Shane might as well have not been in this segment. He said he had an announcement but Pearce was still the one who did most of the talking.)
Shane was about to leave the stadium, but McIntyre stopped him. McIntyre said he would’ve appreciated a heads up about the match especially considering Sheamus is in it. Shane said they needed a big match and McIntyre in the chamber was big. Shane left in his limo.
AJ Styles (w/Omos) defeated Jeff Hardy (14:33)
Hardy landed awkwardly on his leg and escaped the ring to regroup but Styles chop-blocked him before chucking him leg-first into the post.
Styles applied the Calf Crusher after commercials but Hardy got a rope break. Styles went for the Phenomenal forearm but Hardy knocked him off the rope. Hardy mounted a comeback and hit a facebuster for two.
Hardy countered a Styles Clash attempt into a Twist of Fate. Instead of going for a cover, he struggled to the top rope and missed a Swanton Bomb. Styles applied the Calf Crusher again and Hardy eventually tapped out.
Bad Bunny will be with Damian Priest tonight when he faces Angel Garza. Riddle faces Keith Lee. We’ll also be hearing from Edge.
Riddle approached Lee in the back. Lee noted Riddle’s black eye. Riddle blamed it on Bobby Lashley but said he went home and got toasty and watched all the Air Bud movies.
Lee wondered if Riddle should change his plan considering he keeps getting beat up by Hurt Business. Riddle said Air Bud taught him not to give up. Lee thought he himself had what it took Lashley. Lee also knew he could beat Riddle. Riddle wished him luck.
Sheamus confronted Pearce in the back. He said McIntyre agreed to a one-on-one title match but Pearce and Shane put them in the chamber. Sheamus wondered if Pearce thought he wasn’t a draw. Pearce said it wasn’t like that. Sheamus said he’s seen officials like Pearce come and go but they’re all the same and just like McIntyre — full of lies. Sheamus said he would unleash brutality inside the chamber and what happens to everyone will be on Pearce.
They’re continuing the new trend of randomly announcing things throughout the show. Lana vs. Nia Jax in a tables match was announced during the next match.
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods defeated T-Bar & Slapjack (w/Mustafa Ali & Mace) (10:34)
Ali joined commentary. He was very angry. He said he was surprised they let him on commentary considering some of the things he could say. He ranted about New Day getting plenty of opportunities while he and Retribution were starving for some. He also mentioned having to promise management that he wouldn’t break Kingston’s jaw to get this opportunity.
New Day won after Kingston kicked T-Bar off the apron and they hit Daybreak on Slapjack for the pinfall win.
As soon as the bell rang, T-Bar, who was selling outside the ring, suddenly woke up and sprinted in the ring with Mace to chase away New Day. Ali admonished Retribution as Woods kept yelling from the ramp, “where’s Reckoning?!”
They aired a great video of Bianca Belair’s parents freaking out when she won the Rumble. Belair will be on Raw tonight.
[Second hour]
They congratulated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on winning the Super Bowl.
Damian Priest was shown speaking with Bad Bunny in the back.
Charlotte Flair / Lacy Evans face-to-face
Ric Flair and Lacy Evans entered. Ric said he didn’t take orders from any woman, particularly not his own daughter. He was tired of people talking about Charlotte instead of him. Everyone knew Charlotte was great and didn’t need his help, but he wanted something for himself.
Ric saw all the potential in the world in Evans and he was going to teach her. He warned Asuka that Evans was coming for her. Evans called Ric the greatest “sports entertainer” of all time and she couldn’t believe how Charlotte spoke to her own father.
Charlotte interrupted. She said if Evans really wanted to learn she would head to the Performance Center in Orlando. Charlotte told Ric that she never said that she didn’t want his help. All she wanted to do was add to their legacy. She didn’t care who he managed, she just didn’t want him taking her down with him.
Evans said she would be a better partner for Charlotte than that nasty feral animal Asuka. Ric liked the idea of them as a team. Charlotte said she didn’t need them and she already had a partner in Asuka.
Evans heard from management that if she can beat Charlotte, she’ll be next in line for Asuka. Charlotte wanted to fight her now. Ric didn’t like that idea.
Evans hit Charlotte with the microphone before chucking her into the steel steps. Evans accepted the match.
Miz and John Morrison spoke with Angel Garza in the back.
Lacy Evans (w/Ric Flair) defeated Charlotte Flair via DQ (11:32)
Byron Saxton was skeptical that Evans was told she would get a title match if she could beat Charlotte.
There was a clunky spot where Charlotte stopped herself from doing a dive because Evans pulled Ric in front of her, then Evans dropped Charlotte on the apron which led to break.
(There was a graphic for McIntyre vs. Orton which I believe was the first mention of the match, over an hour into the show. They claimed that these two have unfinished business.)
Evans tried a step-up moonsault but Charlotte got her legs up and Evans landed awkwardly on her leg. Charlotte came back with chops and a big boot for two.
They went to the outside and I’m pretty sure Charlotte challenged her own dad to a fight. Evans used the distraction to wrench Charlotte’s “injured” shoulder into the mat. Evans got a two count in the ring but Charlotte kicked out of a Figure Four attempt and hit a spear.
Charlotte attacked Evans in the corner and shoved the referee away so he called for a DQ. Charlotte continued the attack until Ric got in the way.
This was rough, to say the least.
There was a Black History Month video with Sasha Banks. They also showed a tweet by Bianca Belair honouring Rosa Parks.
Edge segment
Edge said he has to dig deep before making a decision about WrestleMania. He had to finish his business with Orton last week first. He went to NXT and almost made his decision right there. And now things have changed with McIntyre having to defend his title inside the chamber.
He knew that Finn Bálor was the NXT Champion, he knew that Roman Reigns was the Universal Champion, but he didn’t know who would win the chamber. He liked his odds against any of those men but didn’t like McIntyre’s odds of retaining. Edge wanted to wait until after the chamber to make a decision. (How does he know Bálor and Reigns will remain champions?)
Miz, Morrison and Garza interrupted. Miz warned Edge that he would be there with his MITB briefcase if Edge did indeed complete his goal of becoming champion at Mania.
Edge reminded him that he was the one who put the briefcase on the map. He knew he’d have to have eyes in the back of his head at Mania, but if he didn’t already know that, Miz just reminded him for some reason.
Edge was out here playing high stakes poker while Miz was playing old maid. Edge said Miz talked about being champion but he needed to be champion. Edge dropped the mic and left. Edge was good here.
Damian Priest (w/Bad Bunny) defeated Angel Garza (w/The Miz & John Morrison) (3:46)
Garza used a distraction by Miz and Morrison to take control. Garza also distracted the ref so Miz could take a cheap shot on Priest. Garza chucked his pants at Bad Bunny who was complaining to the referee.
Priest came back with strikes and a clothesline. Priest chased Miz and Morrison from the apron so Garza clotheslined him out of the ring. Miz and Morrison attacked Priest as Garza distracted the ref.
Bad Bunny grabbed the briefcase and chucked it in the ring. Morrison went in the ring to get it so the ref tossed him and Miz from ringside. Bad Bunny was amused. Priest caught Garza in Reckoning for the pinfall win.
Charly Caruso asked McIntyre about Elimination Chamber. McIntyre knew to expect the unexpected this time of year. McIntyre mentioned that Sheamus could have just asked for a title match if he wanted one. However, McIntyre needed to fully focus on Orton tonight.
McIntyre had a lot on his plate between Orton, Miz, Edge and the chamber, but when he was backed into a corner he was like a wild animal and dared anyone to come after him because he’ll rip your damn face off.
They said Asuka would defend the title against Lacy Evans at Elimination Chamber because Evans won tonight… by disqualification.
Caruso interviewed Belair in the back. She said it was a wild week but the honeymoon period was over. Her time was now. She was a smart challenger so she wasn’t going to reveal her cards just yet.
Asuka joined the segment and congratulated Belair on winning the Rumble. Asuka added, “that does not mean you are ready for Asuka.” Belair said Evans wasn’t ready for Asuka either and let her know that if she retained the title, she might be seeing more of Belair on Raw.
[Third hour]
Keith Lee defeated Riddle (7:53)
MVP joined commentary. He had Lashley’s US title belt with him.
They bumped fists to start the match. Riddle immediately went for a flying armbar but Lee blocked it and hoisted him up with one arm until Riddle escaped. Riddle hit strikes and almost gained the advantage but Lee knocked him down with a pounce.
Lee nailed a forearm but Riddle came back with a Pelé kick. Riddle tried an exploder but Lee didn’t budge. Riddle slipped out of a Spirit Bomb attempt and hit a knee strike. Riddle followed with a Floating Bro for a nearfall. Riddle hit three consecutive sentons but Lee blocked his knee strike.
Riddle countered a Spirit Bomb into an armbar but Lee hoisted him up again and chucked him into the turnbuckle. Riddle managed to hit a knee strike but Lee came right back with a Spirit Bomb for the pinfall win. Fun match.
Riddle and Lee shook hands after the match. Lashley attacked Lee from behind and Lee bumped into Riddle. Lee confronted Lashley but Lashley brought him down with a great-looking chokeslam.
Riddle tried helping his buddy but Lashley easily put him down with the Hurt Lock. Lashley knocked Lee out of the ring and hit him in the head with the steel steps. Lashley posed with his belt standing on top of the announce table.
There was a McIntyre/Orton video package.
Orton cut a promo in the back. He said he and McIntyre had unfinished business and he planned on taking the title back in the chamber. The title meant everything to him and he would stop at nothing to get it, even if it meant attacking legends or setting the Fiend on fire. Orton planned on walking into Mania as WWE Champion again.
Tables match: Lana (w/Naomi) defeated Nia Jax (w/Shanya Baszler) (4:43)
They replayed all nine times that Jax put Lana through a table months ago.
Jax was in complete control and Lana was basically begging her to stop. They spilled over the top rope on Jax landed on the apron. Lana tried kicking her off the apron and through a nearby table but Jax knocked her down. Jax missed an apron leg drop. (Jax completely over-sold this by screeching and yelling, “My butt! My hole!”)
As Jax walked around in pain, Lana shoved her into a table that leaning against the corner for the win. This was bad.
Baszler attacked Lana so Naomi took out Baszler.
Naomi defeated Shayna Baszler (3:20)
Naomi was on offense until Baszler caught her in the Kirifuda Clutch but Naomi got to the ropes. Baszler decided to leave the ring and beat up Lana for some reason. Upon re-entering the ring, Naomi caught Baszler in a small package for the pinfall win.
There was an Elimination Chamber video package. (They said Orton will be entering his eighth chamber match.)
Lashley will defend his US title in a triple threat match against Lee and Riddle at EC.
Randy Orton defeated WWE Champion Drew McIntyre via DQ in a non-title match (12:21)
Sheamus ran out to his music one minute into the match. He stayed at ringside and the distraction allowed Orton to attack McIntyre from behind. Orton chucked McIntyre into the post and they went to break two minutes into the match.
Orton remained in control after the break until McIntyre came back with overhead suplexes and a neckbreaker. Orton countered a DDT into a jackknife cover for two and McIntyre followed with a spinebuster for two. Orton hit a superplex for two. McIntyre hit a headbutt but Orton came right back with a draping DDT. McIntyre avoided an RKO and hit a Future Shock DDT.
Sheamus suddenly jumped in the ring and tried a Brogue Kick but McIntyre moved and Sheamus hit Orton instead for the DQ. McIntyre immediately laid out Sheamus with a Claymore Kick. This was a terrible finish.