WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 02.16.26

Elimination Chamber is a mere 20 days away and we have another 77 days on the road to WrestleMania. Tonight, Elimination Chamber matches continue to shape up plus we’ll hear from AJ Lee. Let’s get Raw!

Week in review: Raw / NXT / Evolve / Impact / SmackDown / No Surrender

Then, Now, Forever, Together

This is historic Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee and down the road is the FedEx Forum, the home to tonight’s Raw live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash.

Arrivals! Gunther has arrived as has Bayley (with Lyra Valkyria), both in Chamber qualifiers tonight. Liv Morgan is here; she’ll sit down with Michael Cole. WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk and AJ Lee are having cute conversations; they’ll both join us tonight.

We head to the concourse and WWE World Tag Team Champions The Usos (Main Event Jey Uso and Big Jim Uso), yeeting through the crowd before the voice of Paul Heyman interrupts and he, Big Bronson Reed, Logan Paul and Austin Theory interrupt on the stage yelling for the music to be cut. Okay, I kind of dug the execution there. The fans are especially mad at Heyman for prematurely ending the yeeting. Logan tells us that he sold a Pokemon card for sixteen million bucks last night before taunting the fans and saying he has a vision for Raw, that being hosting it in the most beautiful city in the U.S… “and this is not it.” Heyman throws us back to footage from last week with The Masked Man striking again.

Theory yells about the originality of the masked man and here comes Raw General Manager Adam Pearce to interrupt, saying they should go talk about this in his office like adults. Heyman counters with wanting Reed in the Chamber match and references the phone calls going above his head. Pearce puts Reed in a qualifier next week and wants to continue the show. L.A. Knight interrupts and I’m afraid we’re on the way to our 4838584th Knight/Usos//Vision main event. Knight makes fun of Theory for not making it into the Chamber and wants to kick Reed’s ass in the Chamber. Knight sees the three of them and if the Usos want to come on down, he sees partners. Pearce makes it official but we’re starting it right now.

WWE World Tag Team Champions The Usos (Main Event Jey and Big Jim) & L.A. Knight vs The Vision (Austin Theory, Logan Paul & Big Bronson Reed with WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman)

After break, we come back to Knight stomping Logan. Knight hits a neck breaker on Theory for a two. Vision works over Knight in the corner as Cole wonders what his trading card is worth. Lots of Vision working over Knight and honestly not much of it worth reviewing, because we’re going to another ad break and I’ve written little about it. A whole segment of L.A. Knight being beaten down.

Back from that break, Knight is trying to fight back against Reed and reaching for that hot tag. He still can’t get it with Reed slamming him and following with a Senton for a two count. Reed shoves Jimmy into the ring post. Reed misses another Senton and Knight crawls to the wrong corner, Theory tagging in. Logan and Jey are tagged in, Jey yeeting some strikes and hip splashing Logan in the corner. Jey gets a spear; Theory breaks the pin. Knight and Theory fight to the outside, Knight hitting a BFT before Reed splashes him through the barricade into the timekeeper’s area. Jey superkicks Logan and Jimmy tags in, Logan taking a 1D and Big Bronson breaking the pin. Reed flies with a suicide dive onto Jey. Logan hits the big right hand on Jimmy, Reed tags in with a Tsunami for the three.

Bronson Reed pins Big Jim Uso, The Vision defeat The Usos & L.A. Knight. There wasn’t much worth seeing until the final segment of the match, but the last part was hot at least. Gonna guess we go with the Vision getting a tag title shot instead of building up some of the other teams.

Logran grabs Cole’s headset and The Masked Man appears to stomp him on the announce table. There really seem to be some security issues in this company.

Next week, we’re in Atlanta. We have Raquel Rodriguez, Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane in a Chamber qualifying match as well as Reed, Jey and Original El Grande Americano.

Pearce finds a large crate backstage labelled “Deliver to WWE, Do Not Open Until 2/28/26.” Adam connects that it’ll be the Chamber. Pearce tells the tech to send it to Nick Aldis on SmackDown. El Grande Americano and Los Americanos come by for a chat, Americano wondering why Original Americano gets a shot and he doesn’t, which is a fair question. Americano wants an Intercontinental Title match instead and Pearce gives him a chance to win a shot tonight.

Here’s a video package on Nattie, Bayley and Asuka with thoughts on their impending Elimmination Chamber qualifying match.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Triple Threat Match: Nattie vs Bayley vs Asuka

Triple threat, you might have heard, means no DQ and no countouts. I’m sure the lack of Kairi and Lyra will not play into any of that. Nattie attacks Bayley and hooks the Mexican surfboard, Asuka dropkicking them both out of it. Nattie and Asuka brawl, Nattie suplexing Asuka across the ring. Bayley Points At Sign and heads out to dropkick Asuka into the barricade and then do the same for Nattie, though Nattie catches her and slingshots her into the post instead to take us to a break.

Back from break, Bayley drops an elbow on Nattie and gets a two count as we are reminded that Ripley, Bliss and Stratton are already qualified for the Chamber. Bayley superplexes Asuka for a two. The three women trade blows for a bit before Nattie tosses Bayley outside again. Bayley returns for a back suplex and the big elbow on Asuka for a two, Nattie with the break. Nattie German Suplexes Bayley on the apron, Asuka pulls Nattie in for an Asuka Lock which Nattie breaks. Nattie powerbombs Asuka and hooks a Sharpshooter. Bayley breaks it, Asuka hip attacks Nattie and walks into a Bayley-to-Belly for a two. Bayley runs into a jumping arm bar which turns into an Asuka Lock, Bayley tapping and Asuka moving onto the Chamber.

Asuka makes Bayley submit to advance to the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. This was hit-or-miss but wasn’t actively bad. I am proud of them for not going for outside interference.

Nattie scowls on the way back and Maxxine Dupri appears to attack, tossing Nattie into the screen as the fans chant “whoop that trick.”

Pearce is with Oba Femi, saying he knows he has made a better offer than Pearce. Oba takes off with it and turns to face Rusev. Remember Rusev? If you only watch Raw, you may remember him from October. If you watch other shows, he’s the man who has won two matches against Joaquin Wilde in 2026 on Main Event in between that Royal Rumble showing.

Let’s go to Michael Cole, having a sit-down chat with Liv Morgan. It’s immediately interrupted by WWE Intercontinental Champion & AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio. Liv has decided on her Mania opponent and is going to take her time to decide. WWE World Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer steps in and says some very stern things in Spanish, Dom translating in Liv’s ear. Liv is very upset by what Dom has translated, crying and leaving. I liked this.

WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk and “Cult of Personality” join us in the area. It is great to be alive on a Monday night in Memphis, Tennessee. He says Finn Balor has earned the ass-beating he will be giving him, partially because Finn ruined the last time he will get to share a ring with AJ Styles. As you’d expect, Finn Balor interrupts. He is using his classic theme once again. He is followed by WWE Intercontinental Champion & AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio and the returning J.D. McDonough. Finn covers learning from the best all around the world, also noting that he beat Roman Reigns on his first Raw. “The best in the world is standing right in front of ya.” He says he will win at Elimination Chamber and make the main event at WrestleMania better. Punk thinks Judgment Day has been an anchor for Finn for a long time and they’ve dragged him down to their level. The fans chant “bobble head” towards JD. Welcome back, JD. The fans chant “whoop that trick” again and Punk dares them to jump him. They do not as Finn holds them back. Punk has woken something up in Finn, Cole notes.

Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet us properly from ringside, reminding us that SmackDown will be on SyFy this week and give us a look back at the Women’s Tag Title action from last week. You can read Niz’s great review of the episode here.

Byron Saxton welcomes the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions RhIyo (Rhea RIpley & Iyo Sky) backstage. Give us Cathy Kelley on the U.S. broadcast, you cowards. Rhea says that Nia Jax & Lash Legend turned up the heat and they will put them out. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) interrupt, Kairi promising to make sure that Asuka is champion. Asuka laughs, saying Rhea isn’t ready for the Chamber. Iyo tries to check on Kairi, but “KAIIIIRIIIII” happens.

WWE Intercontinental Title #1 Contender’s Match: El Grande Americano (with Rayo & Bravo Americano) vs Penta

We start and head to commercials before returning to Penta dropping boots onto Americano. The men trade chops, Americano is caught and falls into a Penta Driver for a very close pin attempt. Penta signals for the Destroyer, Rayo hops onto the apron for distraction and Americano headbutts for a near fall. Rayo distracts as Bravo tries to give the steel plate to Americano, but is then pulled under the ring. Original El Grande Americano appears for the attack and hiptosses Bravo across the announce table. Americano is distracted by Original Americano, Penta hits a springboard Mexican Destroyer to win.

Penta pins El Grande Americano to become #1 contender to the WWE Intercontinental Title. This was very abbreviated but was good for the little bit we got.

Original Americano does the Penta hand motion with Penta and then attacks Americano, suplexing him and trying to pull his mask off again. He almost gets it, but Rayo and Bravo come for the save.

Judgment Day Clubhouse. Raquel Rodriguez offers to take Liv to touch some grass – a solid thing we should all do – and JD tells Finn that he is playing right into Punk’s hands.

Gunther is putting on his boots.

“Light It Up” brings AJ Lee skipping out to us. One day they’re going to Def Rebel her theme and I’m going to be sad. Shoutout to Alicia Taylor, rocking ring announcements as always. Graves and Cole make jokes about Cole winning one of Becky’s Bexxies Awards earlier today, Cole saying 29 people voted and Graves saying he should run a newsletter. AJ says she loved fighting for the pink sparkly butterfly title because she made that belt. “I know exactly who the hell I am. There is a women’s division before AJ Lee and there is a women’s division after and that is my gift to all of you, you’re welcome.” She names many names she’d like to face but all roads lead to Becky at the moment. She calls out “Becky Boo Boo.”

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch does join us. Becky says this is an opportunity for AJ to gather her friends and family in Chicago to give her the retirement match she never had or deserved. Gunther’s ears just perked up. Becky says AJ’s gift was leaving and that she has been making history while AJ has been making comic books. “If you miraculously make it through Elimination Chamber, you can dictate to your computer about the one time that you went face-to-face with the greatest of all time.” The fans call for AJ to whoop that trick and AJ offers Becky the first swing. AJ yells at Becky to swing, Becky says she doesn’t fight in Memphis and leaves.

Adam Pearce is walking and comes upon The Vision (minus Bron) waiting outside of his locker room. Heyman says the masked man needs to be taken care of. Bronson says he’ll solve the masked man problem and win the Chamber to solve that problem as well.

Je’Von Evans is stretching backstage. He’s up next.

Here’s a video package on AJ Styles. Next week in Atlanta, we pay tribute to AJ Styles.

Elimination Chamber Triple Threat Qualifying Match: Gunther vs Je’Von Evans vs WWE Intercontinental Champion & AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio

The winner joins Orton, Knight and Rhodes in the Chamber. This is Dom’s first match since teaming with El Grande Americano against Rey Mysterio and Rey Fenix in December in AAA. Dom rolls out and lets Gunther and Je’Von battle. Gunther locks Je’Von in a Boston Crab, Dom comes in and chops Gunther. Gunther returns a much larger chop. Evans ranas Mysterio and tries to be bouncy, instead feeling a Gunther chop. Gunther pulls Dom to the outside and slings him into the barricade. Evans flies over the top and knocks Gunther into the timekeeper’s area to send us to break.

We learn that Dom has taken the ring bell hammer but hasn’t used it yet as we see Dom and Je’Von battle in the ring. Corey notes Dom could be the fourth man in WWE history to be a triple champion. Dom tries for a 619, Gunther pops on the apron with a sleeper. Je’Von knocks Gunther down and springs a spinny kick onto Dom. Dom grabs Je’Von out of a pin attempt and back into the sleeper, Evans fights out with as superkick before springing into a chop. Gunther powerbombs Dom on top of Evans and tries to powerbomb Evans who rolls through into a pin. Gunther gets a second powerbomb and Je’Von kicks out, the fans chanting that this is awesome. Evans lands the Red Dot on Dom, Gunther appears with another wild chop.

Gunther and Evans fight to the top rope, Evans leaps into another sleeper but turns it into a jawbreaker before trying for the OG Cutter and falling into another sleeper. Dom frog splashes to break it up and runs into Gunther’s fist. Dom grabs the hammer off the steel steps and gets hooked int he sleeper, Evans coming from behind to put Je’Von into a sleeper. Dom is booted off the apron and Gunther follows him out, grabbing the hammer. Dragon Lee leaps from out of frame with the ring bell, knocking Gunther down. I’m sorry, I refuse to find excitement for Gunther vs Dragon Lee. Dom slides in and sets up the 619, hitting it and missing the frog splash. De’Von nails a huge cutter on Dom and he’s off to the Chamber.

Je’Von Evans pins Dominik Mysterio to advance to the Men’s Elimination Chamber match. This started slowly but became a really hot match. Dom’s really good at this and I’m excited to see what wild stuff they have Evans do in the Chamber. I’m less excited about pretending Dragon Lee has a chance against Gunther but they’re determined we’re going there.

Je’Von, holding his nose, celebrates his victory. He dances on the turnbuckles as we fade to credits.

The men’s Chamber qualifying match was the highlight of the show by a good amount. I’m worn out of Usos/Knight/Vision matches, but we keep on getting them and there look to be more coming. It feels like we are spinning the wheels on Punk/Balor and Lee/Lynch until the Chamber. Tonight’s episode was a bit plodding and felt way more padded out than it needed to be – why did we need an entire segment of the Vision working over Knight or a whole segment of nothing between the Becky/AJ segment and the final match – but started with a bit of a different moment and stuck the landing with Je’Von.