SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE RAW TV REPORT
FEBRUARY 26, 2024
SAN JOSE, CALIF. AT SAP CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON USA
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
Ring Announcer: Samantha Irvin
Attendance: WrestleTix reported yesterday that 11,665 tickets were distributed; arena set up for 11,707.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with an aerial view of the stadium in Philadelphia hosting WrestleMania in 40 days. They cut to an exterior shot of SAP Center in San Jose, Calif, the site of this show. They showed Elimination Chamber winners Drew McIntyre and Becky Lynch arriving (separately) earlier in the day.
-A five minute video package aired with highlights of the Elimination Chamber event.
-Dominik Mysterio was standing mid-ring and introduced Rhea Ripley. Michael Cole talked about her surviving against Nia Jax. Cole said she is a nominee for the 2024 South Australia’s Woman of the Year. She spoke about beating Nia Jax. She said it doesn’t matter how big you are, because she’s always on top. Becky’s music then played and she came out.
Becky congratulated Ripley on her win. “What a night you had on Saturday,” she said. “What a night we both had, hey?” When Becky mentioned she won the Chamber, it was a mild response with scattered boos. When Becky brought up Ripley’s title win, same mixed and mild response. Becky brought up Ripley’s family seeing her win and said they won’t have to fly to WrestleMania to see her lose. Dom said nobody should talk to Ripley like that. Becky told him to shut up.
Becky said Ripley has been the face of the company and was being “fed grapes by this loser,” in reference to Dom. She said she’s a grand slam champion “while writing a best-selling book.” She said she can do it all. She said she’ll be beating Ripley next.
Ripley asked if she was done, and then told Becky not to ever disrespect Dom again. She referred to him as “my Latino Heat.” She said it’s about time she stop disappointing her and won something to get closer to her level. She said she says she’s the backbone of the division. She said behind every great man is a greater woman. She said she’s not behind her because Mami is always on top. She tossed the mic down. Her music played as Becky and Ripley yelled at each other. Cole said it’s four years since they last met and Becky has never defeated Ripley.
Ripley left the ring, Becky kept yelling down at her. Nia Jax then attacked Becky, including a legdrop. When she set up an Annihilator, Adam Pearce and other officials came out to stop her. Pearce threatened her with a heavy fine. Jax backed away.
(Keller’s Analysis: Becky still seems to be lacking something. It doesn’t help that Ripley is a popular heel with fans. Jax can help get fans behind Becky again, though. Ripley was good here. Becky was good, too, but her character just doesn’t seem to have the same mission she once did that built her popularity. The segment was solid overall, though.)
-They went to Cole and Pat McAfee at ringside. Cole plugged Cody Rhodes vs. Greyson Waller would take place later.
-Sami Zayn made his ring entrance. [c]
-Cole read a Tweet from The Rock saying he’ll be at Smackdowns on March 8 in Dallas, Tex. and March 15 in Memphis, Tenn. He wrote: “You can feel the uptick, excitement, energy, and disruption happening now in pro wrestling. It’s super cool to see.” Cole wondered if Rock would accept Cody’s challenge for a match. Cole said Rock will be part of three straight Smackdowns starting this Friday.
-Jackie Redmond interviewed Nia Jax backstage. She asked why she attacked Becky. Jax said Becky won the Chamber, but she shouldn’t be going to WrestleMania. She said she beat Becky clean and she’ll be sure she doesn’t make it to WrestleMania. She asked about her match later with Liv Morgan. Jax said whatever happened to Becky, expect it ten times for Liv.
-Cole and McAfee commented over a clip of Nakamura beating Sami two weeks ago on Raw after a distraction by Drew McIntyre. Cole said tonight is about retribution, but also building a resume to get to WrestleMania.
(1) SAMI ZAYN vs. SHINSAUKE NAKAMURA
The bell rang 25 minutes into the hour. They showed Sami’s rating of 87 and Nakamura’s rating of 84 on the WWE 2K24 video game. Cole said the ranking system is “always controversial.” They fought to ringside a minute in where Sami leaped off the ringside barricade and moonsault-pressed Nakamura. As Sami clutched his abdomen area, they cut to a break. [c]
Back from the break, they used the cool angle of the camera approaching the ring from the aisle with the full-to-the-last-row arena in the background. They battled back and forth for a few minutes after the break. Sami landed a tornado DDT out of the corner. Nakamura rolled to the floor, but returned to the ring and kneed a charging Sami. He then face-planted him on the ring apron. They cut to a break at 7:00. [c]
Back from the break, they were exchanging strikes mid-ring. Nakamura dropped Sami with a spin wheel kick to the head. Sami collapsed. Nakamura set up a Kinshasa. Sami countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall at 11:00. Nakamura landed two knees to the back of Sami’s head and scored a near fall. A frustrated Nakamura watched Sami roll to the floor to recover a bit. Nakamura went after him including another flying knee to his head. He rolled into the ring to beat the ref’s count. Cole said it was “becoming a sickening assault.” The ref began counting out Sami. Sami barely beat the ten count. Nakamura immediately kicked him and scored another near fall.
Nakamura set up a Kinshasa, but Sami side-stepped him and landed a Helluva kick. Sami got fired up and played to the crowd. He landed another Helluva kick as soon as Nakamura stood and that led to a three count.
WINNER: Sami in 15:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: A helluva match. Nakamura has become a useful second-tier heel who can give babyfaces tough fights and also ultimately credible wins.)
-They went to Cole and McAfee who talked about Sami’s losing streak being turned around. McAfee said he’s over the hump.
-A video package aired on the rivalry with Imperium and New Day.
-They showed New Day arriving earlier in the afternoon. [c]
-Cole listed people being added to WWE 2K24: “Diamond” Dallas Page, Post Malone, Jade Cargill, Jade Cargill, The Dudleys, Nia Jax, Pat McAfee, and more. C.M. Punk then announced he’s also been added.
-McAfee said he’s honored and he hopes he doesn’t slip on the top rope in the video game.
-Chelsea Green stood mid-ring and said after filing a formal complaint with WWE management, she’ll be competing in protest. She said last week she would have won the Last Chance Battle Royal and would’ve gone on to win the Chamber if Pearce hadn’t added that “secret stupid last entrant, Raquel Rodriguez.” She called it “a fraudulent decision.” She said the people wanted to see her because she’s a star. She took a dig at the San Jose Sharks which drew the loudest boos of the night. She said tonight, after the fans quiet down, she’ll prove she’s a loser by kicking her ass. Rodriguez’s music then played.
(2) RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ vs. CHELSEA GREEN
The bell rang 51 minutes into the hour. Green drew a line in the sand, so to speak, with her boot and dared Raquel to cross it. Raquel did. Green drew a new line. Raquel stepped past it again. Green slapped her so Raquel then dropped her with a lariat. She followed with an overhead slam. She finished Green with a Tahana Bomb.
WINNER: Rodriguez in under 2:00.
-Backstage, Redmond asked Sami what that win meant. Sami said it meant everything. He said if he hadn’t won, he can’t even say what it would have done to him. He said he still believes he can be a contender for any title. He said his win tonight reaffirmed that belief that he can be a champion and he’ll find his path to WrestleMania. In walked Ludwig Kaiser and Gionvani Vinci. Kaiser eyed him and sneered past him. Vinci shook his head and smiled. Gunther then laughed in his face silently and walked away. [c]
-Cole plugged the WWE 2k24 video game.
-A video package aired on the Elimination Chamber in Perth including headlines from big corporate media entities.
[HOUR TWO]
-Redmond interviewed Cody backstage. She asked about his strategy challenging The Rock. She said a lot of people are questioning it because of his match at WrestleMania. Cody defended the decision and said he’ll await his response this Friday on Smackdown. She asked about his match later against Grayson Waller. Cody said Waller has tons of skills. He said Waller should like him because he gave him big moments on the Grayson Waller Effect twice and now he gets to main event Raw against him.
-Imperium made their way to the ring. Cole talked about how he sent out his first tweet in two years when he posted a photo of McAfee kissing up to Gunther while explaining why he embarrassed Gunther by dancing on the table to Jey Uso’s music. McAfee said he can’t help but dance when he hears that music, but the eye contact Gunther gave him “made me want to poop my pants.” (The streak is three weeks of poop references by McAfee.) Gunther stood between Vinci and Kaiser. Gunther talked about people making requests for who will challenge him including Sami Zayn, Chad Gable, The Miz, “and even R-Truth.” The Judgment Day’s music played and they marched to the ring. Cole said, “This just got interesting.”
Priest stepped up to Gunther and said, “Big, bad Gunther, we don’t sweat you.” He said Gunther’s hot run is second to only theirs. He said they ran the table at Elimination Chamber and they plan to do the same thing at WrestleMania. He said they plan to add more gold. He said that includes his gold. Gunther asked who it’s going to be challenging him. He asked if it’s Finn Balor or “the one with the big head right there,” a reference to J.D. McDonagh. Dom stepped forward, chomping his gum. Gunther seemed amused. Fans loudly booed. Gunther shoved Dom. Priest had to be held back by McDonagh and Balor as a result.
-They showed New Day marching backstage to the entrance area for their match. [c]
-Rhea Ripley walked up to Dom and asked, “Of all people, Gunther?” Dom said he’s got it. She said he better. Balor told him to go sooth that over. He bumped into Andrade and said, “Long time, no see.” He said he’d see him around. Andrade said he is meeting with Pearce to determine his first opponent.
(3) GIOVANI VINCI & LUDWIG KAISER vs. THE NEW DAY (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) – Street Fight
The New Day made their ring entrance. Kaiser and Vinci met them in the aisle and the bell rang 18 minutes into the hour. New Day were wearing the jerseys of the local pro hockey team, the San Jose Sharks. At 2:00 New Day leaped from the ring and knocked Vinci and Kaiser down. They cut to a break. [c]
Imperium took over. Kaiser jabbed Xavier in the gut with a chair. Kaiser and Vinci had lower 2k24 ratings than New Day. The announcers said Kaiser dismissed them. Cole said it’s a point of controversy online and in the locker room. Kofi kicked Vinci and then leaped off the top rope and hit both Vinci and Kaiser with a crossbody. He followed with an S.O.S. on Vinci and then he slammed Kaiser onto him. Kofi legdropped Vinci. He set up a table at ringside, which fans cheered. Kofi tried to suplex Kaiser onto the table, but Vinci and Kaiser suplexed him back into the ring.
Kaiser and Vinci bashed Xavier with kendo sticks at ringside. Vinci bashed Xavier with the kendo stick in the ring. Kaiser followed with a chairshot. They cut to a break at 11:00. [c]
Back from the break, New Day were in control and bashed Kaiser with kendo stick shots. Kofi put Vinci on the table and then Xavier leaped off the top rope and splashed him through the table. The crowd popped. A minute later, Vinci shoved Kofi off the top rope through a table below. The crowd chanted, “This is awesome!” Kaiser threw Xavier head-first into a chair wedged in the corner, then rolled him up and yanked on his jeans to get a leverage three count.
WINNERS: Vinci & Kaiser in 18:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good match. What you’d expect from these four. The crowd was into it. Good to see Vinci and Kaiser being rebuilt with some solid wins over a legendary team like New Day after being marginalized last year.)
-A vignette aired on Grayson Waller talking about himself. “History is nothing but a set of lies everyone agrees to,” he said. He said the entire locker room knows he’s the future and don’t believe them if they disagree. He said they paint him as a villain and he autographs the artwork.
-Backstage, Pearce was on his phone and told Bronson Reed that “it’s on the forefront of everyone’s mind and I will definitely take it into consideration.” He congratulated him. Chad Gable walked in and said he knows Gunther is looking for his opponent at WrestleMania. He said he is coming to him as a competitor and a father. He said he came close last time to beating Gunther, but what haunts him is that he brought his daughter to tears. He said to anyone else, a match against Gunther is about just the title, but to him it means more. Pearce shook his hand and said he’s given him a lot to think about.
(Keller’s Analysis: Getting nervous here that Gunther is going to be part of some gimmick match – a three-way or four-way or even a gauntlet match at WrestleMania. Hopefully just a tournament to get down to one challenger.)
-Cole commented on a photo he took of McAfee chatting with Gunther backstage that he posted on TwitterX.
-Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark made their entrance. [c]
-A soundbite aired with Baszler and Stark from earlier saying that it makes them stick that Candice and Indi got a title shot in Australia and they didn’t. She said it’s just because Indi is from there. Baszler told the Kabuki Warriors to watch closely what they do tonight.
(4) SHAYNA BASZLER & ZOEY STARK vs. CANDICE LERAE & INDI HARTWELL
The bell rang 47 minutes into the hour. Stark and Baszler beat up LeRae at first. A minute later after a blind tag in by Baszler, she finished Hartwell quickly with a Kirafuda Clutch.
WINNERS: Baszler & Stark in 2:00.
-They showed Drew walking backstage with a big smile. [c]
-More highlights aired from Elimination Chamber.
-Backstage Miz, Johnny Gargano, and Tomasso Ciampa joined R-Truth. Truth said Judgment Day were gone for the night. He said he was reminiscing about the good old days, looking at his Judgment Day t-shirt. Ciampa asked Truth if he’s ready. Truth though they were ready to do Regeneration X. Miz said it’s D-Generation X. Truth then picked up a tube TV and carried it away. Cole said that monitor is probably better than the ones they have at ringside.
-Drew McIntyre made his entrance. Cole and McAfee talked about McIntyre’s Chamber win. “This Drew McIntyre feels different,” McAfee said. Drew said, “We did it.” Some fans cheered. Drew said you don’t achieve success alone, so he thanked everyone for praying harder than they ever prayed in their lives. He said because of them, he’ll be facing Seth Rollins at WrestleMania. He said he feels like hell and is jet-lagged. He said he got hurt in the match with a burst ear drum. He said he had a bit of an incident after the show. He said the doctor told him there was a chance he might not make WrestleMania. He said he looked at the doctor and said, “Who do you think I am? C.M. Punk? Nothing is going to stop me making Mania.”
[HOUR THREE]
Drew sat cross-legged mid-ring like Punk. Fans gasped. He said he knows it hurt Punk not to make WrestleMania and it probably kills him that he’s facing Seth at WrestleMania. He said he thought about him after his win. He said knows Punk is straight edge, so he drank twice as much for both of them to celebrate. He laughed. He asked Seth to come to the ring. He did.
Seth let the fans sing his song. He addressed the crowd and welcomed them to Monday Night Rollins. Drew asked Seth why he’s making things so hard for himself getting involved with Cody and The Rock. He said he wants him 100 percent. He said he wouldn’t pee on Smackdown if it was on fire. He said he doesn’t want his win over him to be tainted, “so for God’s sake, back off.” Seth removed his sunglasses and fans sang his song as Seth milked the moment. Seth said he respects everything he just said, but some risks are worth taking.
Seth said Drew has known him for a long time and he knows what he’s all about. He said he knows he’s thought about it all, all the possible negative outcomes. He said that’s why he’s the architect and the visionary. He said he might be right. He said his knee might not be ready and his back might give out and The Bloodline might leave him broken in their wake, so it might be an easy night for him. He said he might be right, but what if he’s wrong. He said some risks are worth taking. He said he’s been selfish at times in his life and he felt the goal at the end of the road would fill a void, but every time when he got to that point, he felt empty inside. He said it was when he had his daughter that he realized not everything is about him. He said there are some things in his life that are bigger than all of them. He said, “Taking down The Bloodline is bigger than us.”
He asked Drew what happens if they don’t take down The Bloodline before WrestleMania. He said The Bloodline want power and it’s only a matter of time before they come for the World Hvt. Championship. “You might be right, but what if you’re wrong?” he said again. He said if they can rip the Bloodline apart once and for all and then secure the future of the industry. “Because if we can do all of that, then at WrestleMania, Drew, it’s just you, me, and the World Heavyweight Title,” he said. He added, “May the best man win. Some risks are worth taking.” He dropped the mic and left to his music.
(Keller’s Analysis: I liked that. Both of them made sense from their perspective and it builds more curiosity how Seth plans to try to take out The Bloodline before WrestleMania.)
-Cole analyzed Drew’s comments. He pointed out that The Bloodline helped Drew beat Cody last week, yet he’s expressing concern about a tainted victory over Seth. McAfee said Drew acts like he’s a savior or a hero, but none of them understand “what the man in the kilt thinks.” Cole then commented on a brawl last week among the women in the Chamber match, including Nia Jax attacking all of them.
-Nia Jax made her entrance. [c]
(5) NIA JAX vs. LIV MORGAN
Jax dominated early. Liv avoided a legdrop and dove onto Jax. Cole said Liv has a chance. They cut to an early break. [c]
Liv avoided a charging Jax in the corner, so Jax hit the ringpost. When Liv dove at Jax at ringside, Jax caught her and drove her into the ringpost. Becky then attacked Jax. The ref called for the bell. Jax fled as Becky’s music played. They showed Liv breathing heavily at ringside.
WINNER: No contest or a Jax win via DQ in 8:00.
-Redmond interviewed Waller and Austin Theory backstage. She asked if it backfired having Cody on his show. Waller said it was great for his show, but Cody disrespected him in his home and attacked his boy Theory. He claimed he did everything he could to defend Theory. Theory shot him a quizzical look. Waller said he’ll beat Cody and then The Rock and Roman Reigns will pick his bones. He said Cody will never finish his story.
-They showed Cody pacing backstage.
-They went to Cole and McAfee at ringside. Cole sent out condolences to the family of Ole Anderson who died earlier in the day at age 82. McAfee talked about him briefly. [c]
-Becky got in Pearce’s face backstage and defended her actions. She said she can’t move on until she gets Jax in the ring. Pearce said next week works for him. Liv barged in and said she was in the middle of something out there. “Not everything has to be about you,” she said.
-Cole hyped that Jey Uso would be the guest of Jackie Redmond on her podcast. Redmond then interviewed Jey backstage. She asked how he plans to get back into the championship picture. He talked about being really close to becoming Intercontinental Champion. He said he falls short of his goals when it comes to matches and family members. Drew walked up to him and said he knows he’s going through a tough time now. He said he can relate to what he’s going through. He said from the bottom of his heart, he deserves this. Jey punched him. They fought and were quickly pulled apart.
-Grayson Waller made his ring entrance. [c]
-Cole and McAfee hyped Drew vs. Jey and Becky vs. Jax next week on Raw. Cole said he’s excited Raw is in San Antonio next week because he doesn’t have to get on an airplane.
(6) CODY RHODES vs. GRAYSON WALLER
Cody made his ring entrance. Cole talked about Cody and Seth having enough of The Bloodline. The bell rang 43 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break at 2:00 as Cole said there are rumors all over the Internet that Paul Heyman is in the arena. [c]
Cole said they’ve just confirmed Heyman is in the arena. They battled back and forth. Cody blocked Waller’s finisher and hit a Cody Cutter. He played to the crowd and then finished Waller with a Crossroads.
WINNER: Cody in 8:00.
-Heyman walked out with three security guys. He introduced himself. He said he’s the only member of The Bloodline in the arena. He said the security guys were actually “my friends from the NYPD.” Some fans booed. He said they’re off-duty, but then corrected himself and said they’re actually suspended. “But that’s a whole different story,” he said. He said it must’ve been humiliating to get “Will Smithed across his face.” He said he has to take The Rock’s name “out of his frickin’ mouth.”
He said he can’t just ask for a match with The Rock. He said he can forgive Cody, but The Rock won’t. He said he understands he’s the main event of WrestleMania against Roman Reigns. He begged Cody “pretty please with a cherry on top” to withdraw his challenge to The Rock “or else.” He tone turned sinister.
Cody sat on a chair mid-ring and asked, “Or else what, Mr. Heyman.” He said he hasn’t trashed Dwayne in the media because they were fans of his at one time. “How could you not be?” he asked. He said he came from a family where every meal came as a result of tickets sold, and nobody sold more tickets than The Rock. He said he’s done being nice. “Come and get me,” he said. Heyman said he had a better idea.
Heyman began to enter the ring, joined by the three security guys. “May I?” asked Heyman. Cody said, “No, you may not.” The security guys surrounded Cody. Cody said if one more person takes a step toward him, he is dropping all of them. Heyman said that threat doesn’t apply if he’s that person, right? Cody said, “Wrong!” Security guys went after Cody. He beat them up with a chair and a Crossroads. Heyman then told his phone, “Call Roman Reigns.” He pulled out another phone and told it to “call The Rock.” Cody told him to call them “because The Bloodline isn’t hunting me, I’m hunting The Bloodline.” Cole said Cody is at a different level because The Bloodline has pushed and pushed. Cody went back to beating up the security guys and then threw two of them out of the ring. His music played to end the show.
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