AJ Styles Tribute & RAW Lineup: Lesnar, Elimination Chamber Qualifiers

ATLANTA, GA – Next Monday’s WWE Raw, broadcasting live from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, and now airing on Netflix, is poised to be a pivotal episode as the promotion builds toward Elimination Chamber: Chicago. The card features a tribute to recently retired wrestling icon AJ Styles, a scheduled appearance by Brock Lesnar, and two crucial qualifying matches for the prestigious Elimination Chamber competition.

The announcement of a tribute to Styles has resonated throughout the wrestling world, following his retirement match at the Royal Rumble where he was defeated by Gunther in a bout carrying a retirement stipulation. While the specifics of the tribute remain undisclosed, the gesture acknowledges Styles’ significant contributions to the industry and his enduring popularity with fans. A promotional video honoring Styles aired during the February 16th Raw broadcast in Memphis, Tennessee, hinting at a celebration of his career highlights.

Despite the retirement stipulation, Styles’ long-term future with WWE remains somewhat ambiguous. Reports indicated that contract discussions between Styles and the company were ongoing prior to the match against Gunther. In a recent interview, Styles himself did not definitively rule out a return to the ring, even suggesting the possibility of one day teaming with one of his children.

Adding further star power to the event, Brock Lesnar is scheduled to appear. Lesnar’s presence comes on the heels of his participation in the Royal Rumble earlier this year, signaling his continued intent to remain a dominant force in WWE. His appearance is expected to have significant implications for the Elimination Chamber landscape, potentially setting the stage for a future championship opportunity.

The competitive stakes will be high with two Elimination Chamber qualifying matches confirmed for the broadcast. In the men’s division, Bronson Reed will clash with Jey Uso and Original El Grande Americano, all vying for a coveted spot in the Chamber. The women’s division will see Raquel Rodriguez battle IYO SKY and Kairi Sane in a similar qualifying contest.

The February 16th episode of Raw in Memphis, Tennessee, saw Asuka secure a victory in the women’s Chamber Qualifier, while Je’Von Evans pinned Dominik Mysterio, following interference from Dragon Lee who took Gunther out of the equation, to win in the men’s Chamber Qualifying match. Penta also pinned El Grande Americano to earn the Intercontinental title #1 Contenders match. The show also featured the return of JD McDonagh, a heated promo exchange between CM Punk and Finn Balor, and a confrontation between AJ Lee and Becky Lynch.

During the Memphis broadcast, WWE announced the final two Elimination Chamber Qualifying matches, setting the stage for next week’s showdowns. The impromptu Six-man Tag Team match saw The Vision (Bronson Reed, Logan Paul & Austin Theory) defeat The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) & LA Knight. Following the match, a masked assailant laid out Logan Paul with a brutal stomp on the commentary desk, adding another layer of intrigue to the build towards Elimination Chamber.

With a tribute planned for a recently retired star, key matches scheduled, and major names like Lesnar advertised, next week’s Raw is shaping up to be a significant stop on the road to Elimination Chamber, while simultaneously leaving open questions about AJ Styles’ future in WWE.

Current WWE RAW Lineup for February 23

• A tribute to AJ Styles
• Brock Lesnar appears
• Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Raquel Rodriguez vs. IYO SKY vs. Kairi Sane
• Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Bronson Reed vs. Jey Uso vs. Original El Grande Americano