
Welcome to WrestleTalk’s live coverage of WWE Raw. It’s the post-Elimination Chamber Raw. We’ve got a new WWE Champion.
Tonight is all about celebrating The Miz. Will he lose the title tonight to Lashley? Will he keep ahold of the title all the way through Fastlane? Whatever happens, WrestleTalk will have it all covered for you tonight.
Here is the advertised card:
- The Miz to present a special WWE Championship celebration episode of “Miz TV”
- John Morrison vs. Matt Riddle
- Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler vs. Charlotte and Asuka
This should be a quick one
The main event entrances are starting at 10:51. There’s no way this match is ending clean. Someone is interfering in this one.
A couple of nice moves early in this one. Lashley can’t lock in the Hurt lock. Strowman’s too big. Strowman hits the powerslam. Lashley kicks out.
Lashley hits a massive spine buster and spear. Lashley pins Strowman clean. After the match, he locks in The Hurt Lock. Strowman passes out.
Miz tries to attack and Lashley counters. He goes for a spear on Miz and hits it.
They are booking Lashley like an absolute beast. Everyone assumes it’s going to be Lashley and Drew at Mania, but it could be a big swerve and we get Lashley vs. Lesnar. Certainly seems like something WWE could do.
😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/XkjD15vi9a
— WWE (@WWE) February 23, 2021
AJ Styles in action
AJ Styles is in the ring and he’s going against Ricochet. Ricochet has a new smoke machine for his entrance.
Ricochet opens up with a quick dropkick and is taking it to AJ early. Ricochet seems to be getting treated different tonight, but I’m not getting my hopes up.
Styles goes for the rebound Styles Clash like a couple of weeks ago. Ricochet gets a couple of near falls with roll-ups. He goes for the 630, but AJ moves. AJ hits a massive knee and Styles Clash.
AJ picks up the win. Speaking of picking something up, after the match, Omos picks up Ricochet and drops him from about 10 feet in the air. Ouch.
It's @KingRicochet vs. @AJStylesOrg on #WWERaw right now! pic.twitter.com/WA2jFY87mj
— WWE (@WWE) February 23, 2021
More Women's Tag action
After Charlotte tells Rick he sees potential in a a lot of blondes, we get 3 blondes in Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke wrestling Lana and Naomi. The match lasted just a couple of minutes and Lana and Naomi squashed Mandy Rose.
Rose deserves a better spot on the card.
The @WWE Women's Tag Team Champions are watching this encounter closely!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/AVkiqMTKji
— WWE (@WWE) February 23, 2021
Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy
Sheamus and Jeff Hardy are going at it. Jeff Hardy has really added nothing new to his character in years.
The match was back and forth. Jeff Hardy went for a Swanton, but instead hits a splash. He can’t put Sheamus away. Instead, Sheamus hits a Brogue Kick and beats Jeff Hardy.
Where does Sheamu go from here? Where does Hardy go?
Backstage, Charlotte and Ric argue about Lacey. Ric says he never said it was his. Ric says he saw a lot in Lacey and wanted to be the man behind the women’s championship. He wants to have tough love on Charlotte or something.
I’m not really sure what they are trying to accomplish with this argument. Charlotte says for him to go home and it’s her time.
"When I'm in the ring, I'm not trying to be Ric Flair's daughter… I'm trying to be CHARLOTTE FLAIR!" – @MsCharlotteWWE#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/tvgStZhD7h
— WWE (@WWE) February 23, 2021
Charlotte/Asuka vs. Baszler/Jax
I feel like this match has happened 1000 times. Although, Baszler and Asuka start us off and trade counters and submissions. That I could watch 1000 times. What I don’t need to see is Jax and Flair.
It’s 10 pm and about this time every Monday, I realize we still have another hour of this show. 3 hours is just too much for a weekly show, even when it’s great, which most of the time is not how I would describe Raw.
Baszler has looked really good in this one. Of course, Asuka gets beat up a lot and Charlotte gets to look like million bucks.
Charlotte locks in a figure 4, but Jax leg drops her. Asuka gets back in and almost wins. She has Baszler locked in a submission, but Charlotte inadvertently kicks Asuka in the face.
Nia drops the massive leg drop. She gets the win.
Hey, at least Asuka seems to be heading towards a storyline. She won’t shake Charlotte’s hand after the match. Charlotte looks upset and disgusted. Charlotte is just not a likeable face.
#TheQueen gets planted by @NiaJaxWWE!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/wmTq83imvZ
— WWE (@WWE) February 23, 2021
Orton addresses Alexa Bliss
Orton talks about Alexa Bliss. He talks about burning The Fiend alive. He wants to know why he’s distracted.
He says he’s distracted by Alexa Bliss. The camera cuts back to her inside her pentagram and she giggles. When the camera cuts back on Randy appears to be choking.
He starts coughing up the black goo Alexa had dripping from her mouth a few weeks ago. Tom Phillips seems very distracted and worried.
This is so stupid. I know some people love this crap, but Alexa Bliss apparently left the coffee pot on too long and is making Orton puke up the reduced coffee.
What … just happened to @RandyOrton?omit_script=1 #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/39gN3EUxHg
— WWE (@WWE) February 23, 2021
Damian Priest vs. Angel Garza
Angel Garza was once said to be thought of as the next Eddie Guerrero. Well, apparently, WWE has nothing for him to do. He seems like the kind of guy who would have been a natural fit to be pair with Bad Bunny, but that went to Priest.
So, now, Garza is getting squashed by Priest. Priest hits a big kick that has Garza out on his feet. Priest hits a big flying elbow and The Broken Arrow.
Shockingly, Garza kicks out. He takes Priest out with a wicked clothesline. He gets in the face of Bad Bunny and invites him into the ring. Priest hits a spinning back kick off the top rope.
Priest Hits The Lights which is the Cross Rhodes. Bad Bunny and Priest celebrate in the ring.
The 24/7 boys hit the ring and Priest and Bunny toss them all aside. Bunny keeps the 24/7 Title.
The POWER of @ArcherofInfamy!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/wo1JKAdtXs
— WWE (@WWE) February 23, 2021
Tornado Tag Team Match
What do you do when a tag team keeps fighting with each other over who tags themselves in? You put them in a tornado tag team match. Cedric and Shelton are dominating Lucha House Party in this match.
Raw’s tag team division is non-existent. I guess you have New Day, RETRIBUTION, The Hurt Business, and Lucha House Party. On SmackDown, you’ve got the Dirty Dawgs, Street Profits, Alpha Academy, and The Mysterios. It’s pretty hard to run competitive divisions on 5 hours of television when you only have 8 teams.
Oh, in spite of getting beat up for the whole match, Lucha House Party get a near fall that I thought was going to be a victory.
Instead, Alexander and Benjamin hit a pump knee and Pay Dirt for the win.
Impressive maneuver from the #WWERaw Tag Team Champions! pic.twitter.com/Jf8R52YjTa
— WWE (@WWE) February 23, 2021
Miz asks for more time
Miz says he needs more time. He wants more time. He needs more time.
Lashley is dressed to wrestle. Miz comes out in his suit. Miz wants to be at his best to give Lashley the caliber of match the title deserves.
Miz says he needs a week. Braun decides to show up and interrupt. Didn’t see that one coming. Braun says he is way more clarified than Lashley for a WWE Championship match.
This brings out Shane McMahon. Maybe they’ll decide the number 1 contender in Raw Underground. Braun says he thinks everyone sucks.
We get Braun vs. Lashley tonight. If Braun wins, next week it’s a Triple Threat. Miz vs. Lashley vs. Braun for the WWE Championship. Braun turns his back on Lashley and Lashley chop blocks him.
𝑩𝑹𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑼𝑵!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/HsCRpAtNeL
— WWE (@WWE) February 23, 2021
The New Day
Backstage, Bad Bunny and Damian Priest are confronted by R-Truth who wants an autograph from Bugs Bunny. Miz is talking to Adam Pearce and he can’t get Pearce to help him with the Lashley situation.
Meanwhile in the ring, The New Day are taking on T-Bar and Mace. T-Bar and Mace have the match won. They hit High Justice and Kofi was out.
Ali wants them to hit the move again, but Kofi gets up and hits the Trouble in Paradise for the win.
Ali loses his crap. Ali wants to know how many times his crew is going to embarrass him. He keeps screaming they keep failing. He walks off with them still in the ring.
Lashley is headed to the ring. Will Miz give him his match or get his head kicked in.
#RETRIBUTION is here on #WWERaw. pic.twitter.com/iJ6E4XDb1H
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 23, 2021
Riddle and Morrison are up next
Riddle is backstage with Lucha House Party. He talks about his new championship and has declared the eagle on the title’s name is now Travis.
He hops on his scooter and is off to face John Morrison. This match was pretty fun.
I really like Riddle’s in-ring action. He’s wild and chaotic. He’s almost sloppy at times, but it works for him.
We get an update on the time for Lashley’s ultimatum. And Rhea Ripley is headed to Raw. Yes.
😲😲😲😲😲😲#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/Sqi3CoLrb2
— WWE (@WWE) February 23, 2021
MizTV
Miz is here after being introduced by John Morrison. Miz certainly has a big budget for fireworks. Morrison is dressed to wrestle. I’m guessing his match with Riddle is coming soon.
I cannot believe Miz is champion in 2021.
Miz talks about how he was going to cash in and that’s exactly what he did. Miz is the only two-time Grand Slam champion. We need the fact checker!
Here comes Lashley. The only guy who dresses better than the Miz is Bobby Lashley.
MVP wants to know why Miz hasn’t thanked them for winning the title. Lashley is here to collect on the championship match that was guaranteed for him taking out Drew last night.
Lashley gives Miz one-hour to come to his senses. Lashley as WWE Champion will be awesome.
"You have ONE HOUR to come to your senses and give me what I want." – @fightbobby #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/RkK4u79LDi
— WWE (@WWE) February 23, 2021
Preview of tonight's show
The NEW #WWEChampion @mikethemiz is set to kick off #WWERaw with a very special Championship Edition of #MizTV! pic.twitter.com/hKk1A8dKqP
— WWE (@WWE) February 22, 2021