WWE Raw live results: Royal Rumble fallout
Date: February 3, 2025
Location: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, OH
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The Big Takeaway —
CM Punk will join John Cena in the men’s Elimination Chamber match in Toronto after beating Sami Zayn in a qualifying match. Kevin Owens laid out Zayn with a package piledriver after the match.
The main event match and post-match were both really good but tainted by a significant amount of glitching of the Netflix feed (which hadn’t really happened before tonight).
Jey Uso and Charlotte Flair both appeared, but neither announced which champion they would face at WrestleMania. Jey will be on Friday’s Smackdown to address Cody Rhodes, while Charlotte will be on NXT and Smackdown to address Giulia and Tiffany Stratton, respectively.
Drew McIntyre was not on the show.
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Show Recap —
Sami Zayn, CM Punk, Judgment Day, Iyo Sky, and Charlotte Flair were shown arriving. There was a long video package highlighting the Royal Rumble.
Michael Cole announced a crowd tonight of 13,432.
Jey Uso segment
Jey Uso entered to a huge reaction. He really kept the crowd going, and his entrance lasted a good five minutes. His music cut and fans chanted, “One more time.” So they played his music again, and he Yeeted along with them again. They followed with loud “You deserve it” chants.
An emotional Jey Uso caught his breath and removed his shades to address the fans. He took an additional moment to gather himself as the fans chanted, “Yeet.” He thanked the fans. Jey said, “To be honest, I don’t even know what to say.” Everyone yelled, “Yeet,” and he responded, “Man, besides that!”
He said he came into the game about 15 years ago. He and Jimmy tried to make a good living and carry on their family legacy. They did that. He went through the pandemic era and the Bloodline. They were cool chapters of his career. But, after that, he was scared because he didn’t have the confidence to be a singles star. But after coming out here tonight, he realized: “I got it now.”
Jey said, “I worked really hard to get to this spot, man. I worked hard to get to this position.” He began tearing up as he thanked the fans. He even struggled to get the words out because he was so emotional. He thanked the fans because, thanks to them, he was the 2025 Royal Rumble winner, and he was going to the Mania main event.
Gunther entered. He wanted to offer his congratulations, but really, he was disappointed. This possible matchup didn’t appeal to him. Jey couldn’t even lace his boots. Gunther learned box office and learned how to make the fans think he was barely holding onto the title. But the reality was he was always in control.
Gunther refused to do this with Jey again. Beating him at Mania would add nothing to his legacy, unlike beating John Cena, Roman Reigns or CM Punk. Jey had everything to gain, while Gunther had everything to lose. Gunther said, “If you choose me, Jey, every week is going to be hell, with WrestleMania being the most horrible display of violence this business has ever seen. I’m going to hurt you, Jey. I’m going to put you down like a diseased dog.” Gunther said Jey had options, and he would be wise to consider them.
Jey asked if Gunther wasn’t tired yet. Jey was tired. He was tired of everyone telling him what he can and cannot be. Jey said he would go to Smackdown and holler at Cody Rhodes. But no matter who he chose, he would go into Mania as the Rumble winner, and he would walk out of Mania as the champion.
(It’s always nice seeing guys show genuine emotion, and I thought Jey came across great here.)
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There will be an update on Roman Reigns tonight after getting stomped repeatedly by Seth Rollins on Saturday.
They aired a clip of John Cena declaring for the Elimination Chamber in Toronto. (The reporters in the room clapped for him when he left.)
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Kaiser entered during a break and cut a quick promo on Penta. This was a first-time-ever match.
Penta defeated Ludwig Kaiser (9:58)
Kaiser hit a rolling DVD onto the apron, which led to a break two minutes into the match. Kaiser maintained control through the break, but Penta fired up with chops and a clunky backstabber for two. They exchanged chops before Penta wiped out Kaiser with a flip dive, followed by a flying crossbody for two.
Penta hit consecutive superkicks, but Kaiser came back with a Finlay roll for two. Penta snapped the arm of Kaiser and hit Penta Driver for the pinfall win. This was fine.
— Jackie Redmond went to interview Penta in the ring, but they were interrupted by Pete Dunne as he entered to his music. Kaiser took the opportunity and laid out Penta from behind. Dunne looked surprised but not upset.
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They showed pictures but not video of JD McDonagh’s dive last week that resulted in broken ribs and a punctured lung. Cole said this is why you don’t try this at home.
An annoyed Finn Bálor approached Judgment Day. He said he’s been gone for two weeks, and everything has fallen apart. Dominik stole his tag title match and got his partner injured. Bálor thought they might need a babysitter for Dom.
Liv Morgan interjected to stick up for Dom. She informed Bálor that Adam Pearce would have given their tag title match to another team if Dom hadn’t stepped in. She blamed the War Raiders for McDonagh’s injury.
Morgan had good news. She had a qualifying match for the Chamber, and Dom got her and Raquel Rodriguez a tag title shot. On top of that, Dom got Bálor a qualifying match in the Chamber.
Bálor was surprised to learn it was Dom. Dom said they were family. An excited Carlito (with an apple) asked Dom what he got for him. Dom shrugged and said, “I got you that apple.”
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Charlotte Flair segment
Charlotte entered to a mixed reaction. There were people booing as she began speaking, although it wasn’t that loud. She said that booing would have bothered her a year ago. But she missed them. She’s been gone over a year and missed the fans booing and cheering her.
She said last year sucked. She thought she was unbreakable, but last year broke her mentally and physically. People booed. There was a point where she didn’t think her knee would get better. People booed. She said she would embrace the booing because she loved the fans. Their reaction didn’t change the fact that she was the greatest superstar in the history of this business. People booed. Last year broke her, but she fought because this ring was her passion. This was the thing she wanted to be the very best at.
Rhea Ripley interrupted. The crowd chanted, “Mami.” Ripley said this was her show, and they had the opportunity to go to war again. Ripley respected Charlotte and hoped she picked her because the last time they fought at Mania, “I beat you.” Charlotte reminded Ripley that she won the first time they wrestled at Mania. Ripley said she was just a kid back then.
Charlotte said she had plenty of time to make her decision. She planned to attend NXT tomorrow to see if Giulia inspired her and planned to attend Smackdown to see if Tiffany Stratton inspired her. Charlotte said Ripley jumped the gun by coming out here, which just showed her that Ripley was still just a kid.
Ripley said Charlotte didn’t respect her and told Charlotte to pick her so she could beat the respect into her.
(This wasn’t good. Charlotte didn’t come across well in any fashion. She was booed but didn’t get a ton of heat, and she played it off poorly.)
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Redmond interviewed Sami Zayn backstage about facing CM Punk for the first time ever tonight. Zayn said it was tough losing the Rumble because he thought this was his year. He didn’t have time to think about that because he could have another shot at the Chamber, and Punk was all he had on his mind.
Redmond asked about Kevin Owens but Zayn ended the interview upon seeing Jey Uso offscreen. Jey tried to tell him that he wasn’t trying to eliminate him from the Rumble. Zayn didn’t want to hear that. He hugged Jey and told him this moment was his. Zayn said, “You did this, you got here, now go all the way.” Jey wished him luck against Punk.
Karrion Kross approached Zayn and asked what it was like to see everyone else live out his dream. Zayn was tired of seeing him and said they would have a problem soon if this didn’t stop. Kross issued a warning.
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New Day entered to new music. They cut a promo during a break. Kofi Kingston said a crime was committed when they were excluded from the Rumble. Kingston has given them more memorable Rumble moments than anyone. Xavier Woods said the fans were booing the truth, which made them liars. Kingston said they couldn’t wait to get out of Cleveland, just like Myles Garrett.
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Ripley bumped into Iyo Sky backstage. Sky said she might see her at Mania. After Ripley left, Morgan attacked Sky until Ripley ran back in to chase her away, but Rodriguez tackled Ripley over some equipment boxes.
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Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods defeated Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee (11:18)
Logan Paul entered to his music about three and a half minutes into the match. He was booed in his hometown and later received loud “F*ck you, Logan” chants. They did their best to censor it. Cole said Paul has a Chamber qualifying match against Rey next week.
Paul’s entrance distracted the good guys. Kingston used Dragon Lee’s mask to yank him off the top rope. Rey, who has been wrestling for 36 years, turned his back completely to the ring to watch Paul walk out, so Woods shoved him off the steps and into the barricade.
Rey made a hot tag after a break, but Woods saved Kingston from a 619. Rey hit Kingston with a seated senton outside the ring. Paul got in Rey’s face, so Rey shoved Paul on his ass. He also posted Kingston, while Dragon Lee gave Woods a hurricanrana off the apron.
As Kingston distracted the referee, Paul yanked Rey out of the ring onto the black mats. Kingston followed with Trouble in Paradise for the pinfall win.
(Cole reminded us that Paul will face Rey in a qualifying match next week. Perhaps Kingston should be in that match now, too?)
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Cole gave us a non-update on Reigns. He said they could only share what Reigns would allow them to share, and that was that he’ll be out “for the foreseeable future.”
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Cathy Kelley interviewed CM Punk. Punk said the silver lining from last night was that Rollins and Reigns did not win the Rumble. Punk apologized to the Zayn fans because Punk was going to the Chamber. He set a goal to go to Mania, and the pressure was on everyone else.
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During a break, there was a confrontation between Alpha Academy and A-Town Down.
McAfee put over Cleveland but said their teams all stink. Cole reminded him that the Cavaliers are good this year.
They aired a Rumble clip of IShowSpeed assisting in Otis’ elimination before getting killed by Bron Breakker. They claimed this clip had more than 300 million views in less than 24 hours on social media.
There was a video package for Lyra Valkyria vs. Bayley next week. They were both shown in the audience.
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Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Liv Morgan (w/Raquel Rodriguez) defeated IYO SKY via disqualification (12:12)
Morgan has a higher rating (91) than Sky (89) in WWE 2K25.
They were having a really good match until the finish.
Sky hit a suicide dive ahead of a break, but Morgan took control after knocking her off the top rope. Morgan hit three amigos after the break, but Sky came back with a knee strike. Sky hit a great-looking missile dropkick and double-foot stomp for two. Morgan hit a backstabber (Cole said she learned the move from Carlito, but she’s been doing it a long time.)
Sky went to the top but a distraction by Rodriguez allowed Morgan to knock her off. Sky fought her off and hit a springboard moonsault. Sky tried something off the top but Morgan countered into a Codebreaker for a nearfall. Sky came back with a Frankensteiner and double knee strike in the corner.
Sky went for a moonsault, but Rodriguez distracted her again, allowing Morgan to get her knees up on the moonsault. Morgan went for Oblivion, but Sky countered into a German suplex.
Ripley ran out to take out Rodriguez. Morgan grabbed at Ripley’s hair, so Ripley turned around and punched her. The referee called for a DQ, and they announced Morgan as the winner. This was so stupid.
Ripley tried reasoning with Sky, but Sky left.
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Kelley interviewed the War Raiders. They said JD McDonagh earned their respect. Chad Gable and American Made interrupted. Gable called them pathetic for injuring a stud like McDonagh and running away just barely clinging to their belts. He said they weren’t championship material, unlike his boys, the Creed Brothers. Ivar told them to be prepared to go to war if they wanted the titles. The War Raiders left.
Gable told his team, “Guys, I have to leave you for a bit. I’m going on a quest on my own to conquer the dark arts of Lucha libre.” When he got back, he wanted to see Ivy Nile with the IC title and the Creeds with the tag titles.
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There was a video package for AJ Styles. Pearce said he made one more move before the transfer portal closed and announced that Styles was now a member of Raw. He’ll be on next week.
Bron Breakker entered and advised Pearce to keep Styles away from him. Bron also wanted to know what was next for him and didn’t think Pearce was showing him much respect. They left to discuss it.
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Seth Rollins/Sami Zayn segment
Rollins entered wearing his newest ridiculous outfit. He said it stung that he didn’t win the Rumble, but he was happy and proud of Jey Uso. He loved seeing good people get what they deserve. He also loved that Punk lost. He loved seeing a scumbag and a piece of trash get dumped by that idiot Logan Paul.
Rollins said Roman Reigns also lost and may not make it to Mania at all. Reigns was hurt, but Reigns and Paul Heyman wouldn’t admit it. WWE wouldn’t tell them the truth but Rollins knew that he hurt Reigns. Rollins wasn’t in the wrong because, for the past four years, Reigns has done nothing but hurt those closest to him. Reigns had a limited schedule, so if anything, Rollins did him a favour.
Rollins said his path to Mania now went to the Chamber, and he had a qualifier in a couple of weeks against Finn Bálor. Rollins wanted to talk to Zayn and called him out.
Zayn entered. Rollins led the crowd in a chant for Sami. Rollins admitted they haven’t seen eye-to-eye lately, but that was in the past. Their future could be the Chamber or Mania, but Zayn’s immediate future was Punk. Everyone knew Rollins hated Punk, but Rollins knew how much Zayn hated Punk, too.
Rollins said Zayn put on a brave face at War Games, but tonight was not the night for that. Rollins reminded Zayn that Punk said he wasn’t on his level. Punk was delusional if he thought that. Zayn main-event Mania. Zayn was also a good person, something Punk has never been. Punk wasn’t on Zayn’s level because Zayn was levels above.
Rollins wanted Zayn to keep Punk out of the Chamber. People like Zayn belonged in the match, not Punk. “Put his WrestleMania dream in the dirt for good, and come fight me in that Chamber.”
As Rollins was leaving, Punk’s music hit, and they met in the aisle. They tried to exchange fists, but referees quickly got between them. Rollins continued to the back while Punk went to the ring.
(Rollins gave the fans so many reasons to boo him here, but they never really did. He may not necessarily be turning, though.)
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Elimination Chamber qualifying match: CM Punk defeated Sami Zayn (14:57)
(The Netflix feed glitched a few times earlier tonight, mostly in backstage segments, but it happened a lot during this match, particularly toward the end.)
Zayn hit a superplex ahead of a break. He came off the top rope, but Punk caught him mid-air with a dropkick. There were duelling chants, which led to both men colliding with simultaneous crossbody attempts. After a break, Zayn hit a tornado DDT. Zayn wasn’t able to make a cover because of an injury to his elbow, which Punk worked on earlier.
Punk avoided a Blue Thunder Bomb and hit a kick to the head, followed by a shoulder tackle and running knee. Zayn countered a bulldog into a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Zayn avoided another tackle, and Punk went shoulder-first into the post. Punk kicked out of a cradle and applied an Anaconda Vice, but Zayn got a rope break.
Punk hit a knee strike and taunted Zayn, telling him to look at the Mania sign. Zayn tried to catch him off guard with a Helluva Kick, but Punk saw it coming and dodged it. Punk went for a GTS but Zayn countered into a small package for a nearfall. (This was one of those nearfalls where Punk may not have kicked out in time, but it wasn’t the planned finish.)
Zayn avoided the GTS again and hit an exploder into the corner. Zayn set up for Helluva Kick, but Punk caught him with the GTS for the pinfall win.
The screen glitched like crazy as Punk looked up at the Mania sign. The glitching was so bad post-match that I would’ve turned it off if I wasn’t writing this report.
This match was really good, glitching aside.
— Punk shook Zayn’s hand after the match.
Kevin Owens showed up out of nowhere and attacked Zayn from behind. (Zayn bumped into Punk, who fell out of the ring.) Owens gave Zayn a package piledriver as the crowd booed. The show ended with a shot of Owens wearing a “Sami Zayn Forever” t-shirt.