WWE Raw Results 2/26 - Cody Rhodes Faces Grayson Waller, Street Fight And More
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE Raw" on February 26, 2024, coming to you live from the SAP Center in San Jose, California!
The fallout from WWE Elimination Chamber kicks off tonight, as Cody Rhodes goes one-on-one with Grayson Waller. Waller hosted Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Seth "Freakin" Rollins on "The Grayson Waller Effect" at the Premium Live Event, which ended in explosive fashion when Rhodes and Waller's ally Austin Theory found themselves involved in a physical encounter. Waller subsequently put out the challenge to Rhodes for a match on WWE's social media accounts.
Speaking of Rollins, he found out who he would be defending his title against at WrestleMania 40 on Saturday when Drew McIntyre won the Men's Elimination Chamber match. Meanwhile, in the Women's Elimination Chamber match, Becky Lynch emerged victorious to earn a shot at Rhea Ripley's Women's World Championship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While any of them have yet to be officially advertised to appear on tonight's show, the effects will surely be felt.
In other news, New Day's Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods will once again be squaring off with Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser of Imperium, but this time, they will be competing in a Street Fight. The four men came face-to-face in a six man tag team match two weeks ago, during which New Day and Jey Uso defeated Vinci, Kaiser, and Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER.
Sami Zayn faced Shinsuke Nakamura two weeks ago, with the latter competitor ultimately coming out on top. Tonight, Zayn has his chance to seek retribution as the two collide in a rematch.
We are live! Michael Cole and Pat McAfee greet audiences at home. We then head over to a video showcasing some highlights from WWE Elimination Chamber.
Back at ringside, Dominik Mysterio is waiting in the ring.
We Hear From Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio
Dominik demands that fans welcome Rhea Ripley, and she makes her way down to the ring.
Ripley welcomes fans to Monday Night Mami, then says she walked into her home country as Women's World Champion and walked out the same. She says Nia Jax might've been the biggest threat to her title reign at WWE Elimination Chamber, but she's still on top.
Becky Lynch's music hits and she makes her way down to the ring. She says "The Man" has come around to San Jose and WrestleMania 40 to fight Ripley. She congratulates Ripley on retaining her title, and says they both had a big night on Saturday. She says Ripley got to share a special moment with her family and friends, and says they now don't have to fly out to WrestleMania to watch her lose. Dominik says no one talks to Ripley that way, and Lynch tells him to pipe down. She tells Dominik she'll put him in his place, and tells Ripley she's been on quite the run. She says while Dominik has been feeding her grapes, she's been the backbone of this company all while writing a book.
Ripley asks Lynch if she's done, then warns her against disrespecting Dominik again and congratulates Lynch on winning the Women's Elimination Chamber. She says it's time Lynch stops disappointing her and get on her level, and says the man always thinks that they're the backbone of everything but in reality, the man is always behind one great woman. She reminds Lynch who's on top and slides out of the ring along with Dominik.
Nia Jax then blindsides Lynch from behind and delivers a leg drop to her. She then stares down Ripley and delivers a second leg drop to Lynch. She drags Lynch into the corner, then ascends to the middle rope and looks to land The A-Nia-Lator. Adam Pearce and other officials run down before she can do so, and Pearce demands that she get down unless she wants to receive a fine. Jax complies.
Sami Zayn then makes his way down to the ring.
Back from the break, we head backstage to Jackie Remond and Jax. Redmond asks Jax why she attacked Lynch, and Jax explains that it should be her going to WrestleMania instead of Lynch. She promises to do everything in her power to make sure Lynch doesn't make it to "The Showcase of the Immortals".
Back at ringside, Shinsuke Nakamura makes his way out.
Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
The bell rings and the two lock up. Zayn executes an arm drag before Nakamura delivers a knee to his midsection. Zayn slides out of the ring, and Nakamura follows. He looks to send Zayn crashing into the barricade, but Zayn stops his own momentum and delivers a moonsault off it.
Back from the break, Nakamura drapes Zayn across the top turnbuckle and delivers a knee to his midsection. Zayn responds with a clothesline, then follows it up with a Michinoku Driver. Nakamura fires off shoulders on Zayn's midsection in the corner, but Zayn responds with a Tornado DDT that sends Nakamura crashing to the outside. He looks to fly out of the ring, but Nakamura catches him with a knee to his midsection inside and sends him crashing into the apron face first.
Back from another break, Zayn connects with a Blue Thunder Bomb on Nakamura. Nakamura delivers a knee to Zayn's head, then connects with a second one to the back of it off the middle rope. The two men end up on the outside, and Nakamura connects with a third knee to the back of Zayn's head off the ring steps. Nakamura slides in the ring, and the referee begins a ten count. Zayn beats it, and Nakamura pins him. Zayn gets his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold, and a frustrated Nakamura fires off stomps on Zayn. He sets up for the Kinshasa, but Zayn sends him colliding with the turnbuckles and delivers the Helluva Kick to the back of Nakamura's head. He then connects with a second one for the win.
Winner: Sami Zayn
Chelsea Green then makes her way down to the ring. Raquel Rodriguez follows.
Chelsea Green vs. Raquel Rodriguez
The bell rings and Green draws a line, warning not Rodriguez to cross. Rodriguez does and Green slaps her. She realizes her mistake and tries running away, but Rodriguez prevents her from doing so and levels her with a clothesline. She follows it up with a Fallaway Slam and a Texana Bomb for the win.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
We then head backstage to Jackie Redmond catching up with Sami Zayn. Imperium walk by Zayn, and GUNTHER momentarily stops to stare him down, laughing as he does so.
Back from the break, Imperium makes their way down to the ring.
We Hear From GUNTHER
GUNTHER says he's standing in the ring as still the greatest and longest reigning Intercontinental Champion following his successful defense against Jey Uso last week. He says Jey almost had him beat and he felt his title slip away from him for the first time throughout his reign. He says he got lucky, and while no one is perfect, he's close to it. He then says before Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser beat New Day in their Street Fight, he needs to address his future.
GUNTHER says he's put his heart, soul, and body into making the Intercontinental Championship prestigious. He says he's beaten everyone and questions who he will defend his title against at WrestleMania. He says he reads and listens to what fans think should happen and who he should face, from Sami Zayn to Chad Gable to The Miz to R-Truth.
Judgment Day's music hits, and Finn Balor, Damian Priest, JD McDonagh, and Dominik Mysterio all make their way down to the ring. Priest tells GUNTHER that while he's been a dominant champion, he's second to Judgment Day's championship reign. He says Elimination Chamber was just a preview of WrestleMania, and says they plan on bringing home more gold to the group. He says that includes GUNTHER's title. GUNTHER asks which Judgment Day will challenge him at WrestleMania since Priest isn't cashing in his Money In The Bank briefcase, and Dominik steps up. He says when he and the rest of Judgment Day say they'll do something, they mean it. He says that means the Intercontinental Championship belongs to them, and GUNTHER shoves Dominik. Priest looks to attack GUNTHER, but the rest of Judgment Day holds him back.
New Day vs. Imperium in a Street Fight
The bell rings and New Day and Imperium begin brawling on the ramp. Vinci tosses Woods into the Titan Tron, and Kaiser fires off right hands on Kingston's head. Vinici joins him, but Woods emerges from backstage with the trombone in hand. He hits Kaiser with it as Kingston and Vinci brawl back down to the ringside area. Woods and Kaiser do the same, and Kingston grabs a table from under the ring. He looks to set it up with Woods, but Vinci and Kaiser attack them from behind before they can. Vinci dumps Woods and Kingston back into the ring, but Woods and Kingston clock them on the apron and fly to level them.
Back from the break, New Day and Imperium are brawling in the crowd. All four men end up back in the ringside area, and Woods delivers a chop to Vinci. Kaiser lands an elbow on Kingston, and Vinci sends Woods crashing into the ring apron spine first. Kaiser then grabs a table from under the ring, but puts it back when he hears fans cheer and instead opts to grab a chair. He hits Woods' midsection with it, then cracks it across his spine.
Kingston delivers an enzuigiri to Kaiser and ascends to the top. He delivers a crossbody to both Kaiser and Vinci, then lands a Side Russian Leg Sweep on Vinci and bodyslams Kaiser on top of him. He connects with the Boom Drop on Vinci and grabs the table on the outside, then sets it up. He looks to suplex Kaiser through it from the apron, but Vinci comes to Kaiser's aid and the pair suplex Kingston back into the ring. Kaiser then hits Woods with a pair of kendo sticks, then hands one over to Vinci. The pair then unload on Woods, and Kaiser charges at him. Kingston catches Kaiser with a jumping knee, but Vinci levels him and delivers a crossbody to Woods back in the ring. He then cracks the kendo stick across his spine, and Kaiser then cracks a chair across it.
Back from another break, Kingston throws one of the desk chairs at Kaiser and sends Vinci crashing into the ring steps. He gets Kaiser back in the ring and picks up one of the kendo sticks as Woods grabs the other. The pair then take turns hitting Kaiser with them, and Kingston grabs a table from under the ring. He and Woods set it up, and Kingston holds Vinci on top of it as Woods flies off the top to send him crashing through it. Kingston gets Vinci in a backbreaker position, and Woods delivers a double stomp off the ropes. He goes for a pin, but Kaiser pulls the referee out of the ring. Kingston delivers a tope suicida to level him, and gets him back inside. Woods then gets Kaiser on one shoulder as Kingston ascends to the top, but Vinci sends him crashing through a table set up on the outside. He hits Woods with a chair, and Kaiser then sends him crashing into a second one set up in the corner before rolling him up (while grabbing onto his jeans) for the win.
Winners: Imperium
We then head over to Adam Pearce's office and see Chad Gable plead his case as to why he should be the one to face GUNTHER for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 40.
Back at ringside, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark make their way down. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae follow.
Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae vs. Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark
LeRae and Baszler begin the action. The bell rings and LeRae delivers an enzuigiri to Baszler. She follows it up with a senton and a Hip Attack in the corner, then flies off the apron to level Stark on the outside. She then delivers a knee to the side of Baszler's head as she's draped through the middle rope, but Baszler responds with a knee of her own back in the ring and tags in Stark. Stark whips LeRae into the corner, then executes a Half Nelson suplex.
Hartwell tags in and delivers a boot to the side of Stark's head. She delivers a pair of clotheslines and a right hand, then follows it up with a spinebuster. Unbeknownst to her, Baszler has made the blind tag. Baszler locks in the Kirifuda Clutch on Hartwell, and Hartwell taps out.
Winners: Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark
Back from the break, we see #DIY and The Miz try cheering up R-Truth, who's sad thinking about the good ol' days with Judgment Day.
Back at ringside, Drew McIntyre makes his way down.
We Hear From Drew McIntyre
McIntyre thanks fans for their support and prayers, and says it's because of them he can say that he's facing Seth "Freakin" Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. He says he's not feeling his best, and says he suffered a blown eardrum in the Men's Elimination Chamber match. He says he was told by doctors that he not make WrestleMania, but he told them that there's no way he's missing the event and says he's not like CM Punk. He takes a seat down in the ring a la Punk, and says he thought about him after the match. He says he wanted to do something special for him and drank twice as much for the both of them on his way back home from Australia. He then calls Rollins out to the ring.
Rollins' music hits and he makes his way down. He welcomes fans to Monday Night Rollins and says McIntyre finally has his opportunity to become a World Champion in front of a capacity crowd at WrestleMania. He says the only thing standing in McIntyre's way is him, and McIntyre tells Rollins to stop what he's doing with Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and The Rock. He says he wants Rollins at 100%, and questions why he's going to fight battles on "WWE SmackDown" when they need him on "Raw". He says his responsibility would be "Raw" and the World Heavyweight Championship if he were the titleholder, and warns him about The Bloodline. He says they'll cost him his title at WrestleMania, and tells him to back off.
Rollins says he respects everything McIntyre just said, but some risks are worth taking. McIntyre shakes his head, and Rollins says McIntyre has known him for a long time. He says McIntyre knows that he's thought about everything he just said, and has thought about every single outcome. He says while McIntyre might be right, and while his injuries or The Bloodline could get in his way of retaining the World Heavyweight Championship, McIntyre could be wrong. He says having his daughter made him realize that not everything is about him. He says some things, including the World Heavyweight Championship and taking down The Bloodline, are bigger than everyone. He says The Bloodline want power, and it's only a matter of time before they come for the title he currently holds.
Rollins questions what happens if his injuries are healed before WrestleMania and they manage to put an end to The Bloodline, and says if they can do all that, then it's just him, McIntyre, and the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. He tells McIntyre the best man will win, and reiterates that some risks are worth taking.
Nia Jax then makes her way down to the ring. Liv Morgan follows.
Nia Jax vs. Liv Morgan
The bell rings and Morgan dropkicks Jax into the corner. She fires off right and left hands on her, then delivers a step-up knee and looks to land a hurricanrana. Jax catches her and gets her up on her shoulders, then delivers a Samoan Drop. She follows it up with a splash in the corner and a Hip Attack, then sends Morgan's face colliding with the middle turnbuckle and looks to land a leg drop on the apron. Morgan moves out of the way and delivers a tope suicida.
Back from the break, Jax runs over Morgan and looks to land a senton. Morgan rolls out of the way and delivers a codebreaker off the middle rope, then goes for a pin. Jax kicks out and lands a headbutt on Morgan, but Morgan sends her crashing into the ring post shoulder first and colliding with the ring post on the outside. Becky Lynch then appears on the barricade and flies to level Jax with a forearm, causing the disqualification.
Winner: N/A (double disqualification due to outside interference)
Lynch sends Jax repeatedly crashing into the announce desk and continues to beat her down, but Jax escapes and the referee holds her back.
Michael Cole and Pat McAfee then send their condolences to the family of Ole Anderson on behalf of WWE following the news of his death earlier today.
Back from the break, we see Lynch demand a match against Jax from Adam Pearce. Pearce agrees to make it official for next week. Morgan then appears and yells at Lynch for interfering in her match and tells her that not everything is about her.
We then head over to Jey Uso chatting with Jackie Redmond. Drew McIntyre enters and tells Jey he relates to what he's going through. He tells Jey he deserves it, and the pair begin brawling. Officials run in to separate the two men.
Back at ringside, Grayson Waller and Austin Theory make their way down. Cody Rhodes follows.
Cody Rhodes vs. Grayson Waller (w/ Austin Theory)
The bell rings and the two lock up. Waller whips Rhodes into the corner and delivers a pair of knees to his head before Rhodes responds with his signature open palm strike and a delayed vertical suplex. Rhodes then sends Waller crashing out of the ring as Michael Cole announces that Paul Heyman is backstage.
Back from the break, Rhodes delivers a chop to Waller. Waller responds with a boot to Rhodes' midsection, then delivers a scoop powerslam and follows it up with a Disaster Kick. Theory distracts Rhodes, and Waller takes advantage by landing a right hand. Rhodes then sends Theory crashing over the announce desk with a tope suicida, and Waller levels him from behind.
Rhodes delivers the Cody Cutter to Waller once they get back in the ring and follows it up with Cross-Rhodes for the win.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
After the match, Heyman appears on the ramp with three individuals in black suits as Rhodes grabs a chair. Heyman introduces himself, but Rhodes interrupts him and says he doesn't care. He tells The Bloodline to come and get him if it's a set-up, and Heyman insists it's not a set-up. He says he's the only member of The Bloodline in the SAP Center. He formally says the three men behind him are suspended NYPD officers, and tells Rhodes to keep The Rock's name out of his mouth. He pleads with Rhodes to withdraw his challenge for a match against The Rock.
Rhodes says he hasn't spoken about The Rock on the microphone or trashed him in the media because he was a fan. He says no one sold more tickets than him, and he's done being nice. He reiterates to The Bloodline to come and get him if it's a set-up, and Heyman asks him if he can get in the ring. Rhodes tells him he can't, and the officers get inside. He says if one more person takes one step closer to him, he'll drop everyone inside the ring.
Heyman asks if that applies to him, and Rhodes says he's wrong. He then goes after the officers and hits them with a chair, landing a Cross-Rhodes on one of them. Heyman then calls Reigns and The Rocks, and Rhodes tells him to call them because The Bloodline isn't hunting him because he's hunting them. Rhodes then tosses two of the officers out of the ring and stands tall as the show goes off the air.