ATLANTA, GA – WWE Raw, broadcast live from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on , delivered a night of wrestling action highlighted by a tribute to the recently retired AJ Styles, the return of Brock Lesnar, and significant developments on the road to Elimination Chamber. The show also saw Jey Uso qualify for the Elimination Chamber, Liv Morgan make a decisive WrestleMania decision, and a volatile confrontation between Gunther and several other stars.
Gunther Disrupts AJ Styles Tribute, Sparks Chaos
The show opened with Michael Cole and Corey Graves in the ring, preparing to honor the career of AJ Styles. However, their tribute was immediately interrupted by Gunther, who stormed to the ring and demanded they focus their attention on him. Gunther derisively dismissed Styles and other wrestling legends like Bill Goldberg and John Cena as “losers,” claiming he was the only one deserving of celebration.
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce attempted to intervene, ordering Gunther to leave the arena, but his microphone malfunctioned initially. As security moved to escort Gunther out, Dragon Lee unexpectedly attacked him from behind. The two were quickly separated, but Lee continued the assault backstage before being ejected from the arena by Pearce. The chaos culminated with the arrival of Cody Rhodes, who entered the ring to address the crowd.
The Vision Attempts to Intimidate Rhodes, Uso Steps Up
Rhodes began to speak about Styles when he was interrupted by The Vision – Bronson Reed, Austin Theory, and Logan Paul, accompanied by Paul Heyman. Heyman, speaking for the group, delivered a dismissive promo, prompting the arrival of Jey Uso. This set the stage for the night’s opening match, a triple-threat Elimination Chamber qualifying bout.
Jey Uso Secures Elimination Chamber Spot
The first qualifying match pitted Jey Uso against OG El Grande Americano and Bronson Reed. The match was a back-and-forth affair, with Uso and Americano initially teaming up against the larger Reed. Reed eventually overpowered both opponents, but a series of reversals and near falls kept the contest competitive. After a hard-fought battle, Uso ultimately secured the victory with The Uso Splash, earning his place in the Elimination Chamber.
Liv Morgan Chooses Cargill, Declares War
Later in the evening, Liv Morgan addressed her WrestleMania decision. After a segment involving Dominik Mysterio, Morgan invited both Stephanie Vaquer and Jade Cargill into the ring. After a tense exchange, Morgan shocked the WWE Universe by attacking Vaquer with a microphone, then continuing the assault with a Codebreaker and Oblivion. Morgan then celebrated with Mysterio, clearly signaling her choice of Cargill as her WrestleMania opponent.
Lesnar Returns, Issues Open Challenge
Brock Lesnar made his return to Raw alongside Paul Heyman, arriving in a race car after performing donuts in the parking lot. Heyman, acting as Lesnar’s mouthpiece, boasted about Lesnar’s WrestleMania record and issued an open challenge to anyone on the roster brave enough to face him. Heyman stated that no one would accept the challenge, emphasizing Lesnar’s dominance.
Evans Defeats Kingston, Dupri Falls Victim to Nattie’s Aggression
Je’Von Evans defeated Kofi Kingston in a match that was briefly interrupted by a confrontation between Offset and Grayson Waller of The New Day. Earlier in the night, Maxxine Dupri was defeated by Nattie via knockout after Nattie relentlessly attacked Dupri before the bell and continued the assault until the referee stopped the match.
Rodriguez Qualifies for Elimination Chamber
Raquel Rodriguez earned her spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber, defeating Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane in a hard-fought match. The contest featured several dramatic moments, including a suicide dive by Sane and a near fall after Rodriguez hit a Tejana Bomb.
AJ Styles Receives Emotional Tribute, Undertaker’s Surprise Appearance
The main event of the evening was a comprehensive tribute to AJ Styles, featuring video packages and heartfelt messages from fellow wrestlers, including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, and John Cena. Styles himself delivered an emotional speech, reflecting on his career and expressing gratitude to his family and fans.
The tribute took an unexpected turn when The Undertaker appeared, riding his motorcycle to the ring. Undertaker presented Styles with a surprise – induction into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The two legends embraced, and Styles celebrated with his family as Raw concluded.
