It could be a historic night on WWE Raw from Anaheim — but not if the Ring General has anything to say about it.
Gunther has made the Intercontinental Championship his own, holding it for more than 600 days, most of anyone in the title’s history. Wouldn’t it be ironic, then, if he lost it right as he achieved the top spot on the list?
It’s possible. Jey Uso is certainly getting a push as a singles performer, the first big one of his career. Under normal circumstances, it would be unusual for a title change this close to WrestleMania, but with the Elimination Chamber not involved with this championship, there’s certainly a chance.
Two other matches also stand out on tonight’s card. A Last Chance Battle Royal will decide the last contestant in the Women’s Elimination Chamber, and it feels like there could be a surprise or two thrown in.
And in what could be the night’s main event if the IC title match isn’t, Cody Rhodes will clash with Drew McIntyre. Rhodes already has his WrestleMania spot secured, while McIntyre has mostly been playing spoiler and feeling great about it.
We’re set for big things from Anaheim and the final live show before Elimination Chamber. Let’s see what we’ve got.
WWE Raw results from Anaheim:
(please scroll down for more details for any match or segment in bold)
- Drew McIntyre def. Cody Rhodes by pinfall thanks to blatant interference from The Bloodline’s Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa
- A video segment promotes the Intercontinental Championship match later tonight between Gunther and Jey Uso
- Andrade says his destiny is here in WWE, and the era of Andrade El Idolo has begun
- Adam Pearce says the Bloodline members will get hefty fines and checks on Rhodes, who tells the GM “I’m good”; Seth Rollins drops by as well, saying nothing but getting a nod from Cody before leaving
- A video package reviews the five women who have already qualified for Elimination Chamber as we get ready to find out who’s joining them
- Raquel Rodriguez wins the Last Chance Battle Royal for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, last eliminating Chelsea Green
- Michael Cole remotely interviews Rhea Ripley and Nia Jax, which of course turns to insults between them and ends with Ripley storming out
- A “Truthline” segment in the style of investigative TV journalism has Jackie Redmond talking to R-Truth about his experience with The Judgment Day, and you really have to see it to properly appreciate it
- UFC fighter Michael Chandler is shown in the crowd, and he’s given a microphone to call out Conor McGregor
WHOA! 😲😲😲@MikeChandlerMMA just called out @TheNotoriousMMA on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/pUN2dUFW1r
— WWE (@WWE) February 20, 2024
- Both Chad Gable and Ivar cut promos head of their match tonight
- The Judgment Day def. The Miz, R-Truth and #DIY by pinfall, with Damian Priest pinning R-Truth
- Highlights are shown of The Rock officially joining The Bloodline on the most recent episode of SmackDown
- Jackie Redmond catches up with Sami Zayn, who says he doesn’t want to get fixated on McIntyre because he’ll end up getting stuck and potentially miss his path to WrestleMania
- Becky Lynch talks Elimination Chamber before she’s joined by all of her opponents … and a rampaging Nia Jax
- Gunther cuts a promo before his title defense against Jey Uso
- Shinsuke Nakamura makes it clear he’s not done with Sami Zayn, vowing to defeat him again
- Chad Gable def. Ivar by submission
- Cathy Kelley talks with McIntyre, who says his victory over Cody wasn’t tainted by Bloodline interference, claiming that he wanted to attack them on sight but he had to keep his eyes on the big picture, saving WrestleMania … for the fans, of course
- The New Day says Uso will win tonight, but next week it’s their turn, making it clear it’s not over with Imperium until they say it’s over; next week, it’s New Day vs. Imperium in a Street Fight
- Gunther def. Jey Uso by pinfall to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship, in large part due to interference from Jimmy Uso, who lays an extra beating on his twin brother as Raw goes off the air
Drew McIntyre gets Bloodline assistance to defeat Cody Rhodes
The crowd is definitely into this one, cheering enthusiastically for Rhodes and giving him a “let’s go Cody” chant immediately after the bell. He quickly sends the Scottish Warrior to the floor, then is able to apply a Figure Four back in the ring.
McIntyre flips the hold over, forcing Rhodes to the ropes for a break. Cody is selling damage to his right knee as commercials arrive.
Things aren’t going much better for our hero, after the break, but he manages to survive a series of chops before McIntyre puts him back on the canvas. Cody rallies for a Disaster Kick and a two count, drawing on the energy from the crowd.
A Cody Cutter is on target too, good for another two count. McIntyre takes both of them out to the floor, and we break for ads again.
Both men score near falls, including a very close one after a Cody Pedigree. Drew fires back with a Future Shock, but no one can get more than a two count, and Pat McAfee wonders what can possibly end it.
McIntyre looks up at the WrestleMania sign before he climbs the turnbuckles, but Rhodes meets him there for an emphatic superplex. There’s a super Cody Cutter off the top rope, but just as it appears Rhodes can get the win, Jimmy Uso is out to provide a distraction.
Solo Sikoa uses it to full advantage, delivering a Samoan Spike from the apron while the ref is occupied with Jimmy. A Claymore from McIntyre is next, and that’s a big win secured for Drew.
Raquel Rodriguez makes her return a spectacular one, winning the Last Chance Battle Royal
Teammates Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark are the first two women to head to the ring, but the crowd really roars for the return of Raquel Rodriguez, who has been out injured for some time.
We won’t try to do play by play for a match this chaotic, but we can say Maxxine Dupri and Valhalla are out early on. Xia Li follows quickly. Rodriguez continues clearing people out, including Isla Dawn.
Natalya eliminates Tegan Nox, a bit of payback for what happened between them in the Royal Rumble. Zelina Vega and Elektra Lopez keep fighting even after they’re eliminated, while Baszler and Stark work together effectively, especially to get rid of Indi Hartwell and Katana Chance.
After Ivy Nile is eliminated, we’re left with four: Baszler, Stark, Rodriguez and Michin. It quickly becomes three as the tag team partners get rid of Michin.
There goes Baszler, leaving Rodriguez and Stark. Though Shayna catches Zoey when she’s first thrown out, a big boot soon sends her to the floor. Chelsea Green was apparently never eliminated properly and tries for a sneak attack, but Raquel sends her out quickly to wrap things up.
The Elimination Chamber contestants have words, but Nia Jax has more than enough power to clear them all out
The Man gives props to the great crowd tonight before musing that she’s been lucky enough to accomplish so much, meaning that there are few “new” things left for her. One thing she hasn’t done is compete in the Elimination Chamber, which she needs to win to face Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania.
Lynch notes that it is inevitable that she and Mami collide, which is appropriate because both of them live for that kind of fight. They’ve been living differently as of late, however, with Rhea riding a once-in-a-lifetime wave, propped up by The Judgment Day.
And then there’s Becky, the biggest threat to the championship and one who’s been hiding in plain sight. Lynch says she’s the best she’s ever been right this moment, strengthened by taking on all kinds of opponents.
On the flip side of that, however, is that everybody else is also the best they’ve ever been — especially the five women in the Elimination Chamber match with her. Becky says she has nothing against any of the women (“though Tiffany’s kind of annoying”), but she’s beaten most of them, just not inside the Chamber.
Liv Morgan arrives to say she’s a big fan of Becky’s hat, but she’s not a big fan of Lynch saying she’s the one to face Ripley. Liv admires Becky wanting to prove she’s the best, but all she cares about is her revenge. She has both professional and personal reasons for wanting to pay Rhea back, and Liv reminds Becky that she was also the last person to defeat Ripley.
That brings out Raquel Rodriguez, who says they’re making great points. But the champ after Elimination Chamber could also be Nia Jax, and only she’s big enough to stand up to either one of them.
You see where this is headed now, as Naomi comes out too. She says it’s time to climb her way back to the top but doesn’t get any further before it’s Tiffy Time. Tiffany Stratton says nobody cares about the past, but that’s all she sees in the ring.
That only leaves one final Chamber contestant, but Bianca Belair quickly makes that number zero. She reminds them all that you can’t spell WrestleMania without “EST,” and when Stratton gets lippy with her, Tiffany decides to smash Liv int he face, and soon all six women are scrapping.
Make that seven as Nia Jax hits the ring as well. Jax crushes Naomi with a Samoan Drop and casually tosses Morgan and Stratton around.
Jax runs over Belair as well, gives Rodriguez a legdrop to the back of the neck and has some left for Lynch as well. Nia is the only woman still standing at the end of the segment, making an emphatic statement.
Jey Uso falls short against Gunther … but only because of Jimmy
Can Uso end Gunther’s 619-day reign? Or will there be hijinks in this one since The Bloodline has already made its presence felt once tonight?
After Jey smacks him in the mouth, The Ring General wastes zero time punishing Uso with chops, both in the center of the ring and on the top rope. The attack continues on the floor, where Gunther drops Jey on the barricade. Commercial break one is here.
Gunther continues his assault when the broadcast returns, punishing Jey with a backbreaker. They head back to the floor, with the champ looking for a piledriver but foiled by a back drop. Gunther is smacked off the announce table with a Samoan Drop, exciting Pat McAfee.
They return to the ring, where Uso hits a back elbow and a superkick, plus an uppercut that sends Gunther into the corner. The champion retaliates with a big dropkick and a powerbomb, stacking Jey for a two count.
Another two count is in Gunther’s favor after a clothesline, and he quickly locks in a Boston Crab. Even after Jey escapes he’s not clear of danger, but he is able to send Gunther to the floor and greet him with a dive that brings the final set of commercials.
More hard chops greet Jey after the ads, and his chest can’t be feeling too good now. Gunther spends some time verbally berating Jey, slapping him around some more and looking for a powerbomb. But Uso slides out the back side and delivers a spear, earning a near fall.
Uso heads up top, where Gunther rushes to meet him with another chop. There’s a release superplex that just flings Jey down, and he hits his own top rope splash but sees Uso kick out again at two.
Another spear for Uso has Gunther looking for a respite on the apron, but Jey spears him there, then out on the floor. The challenger rolls the champ back into the ring for his fifth spear of the bout. Up top goes Jey, dropping the Uso Splash … but the bell rings in mid-count. It’s Jimmy Uso, smirking wildly.
WWE security orders Jimmy to leave, but the damage may already be done, as Gunther is back on his feet. A superkick puts the champ down so Jey can fly to hit his brother with a suicide dive.
Uso climbs again, but this time Gunther gets his knees up on the splash, rolling Jey up and barely surviving with his title intact.
Jimmy gets a chance to beat on Jey some more after the bell, including an Uso Splash of his own. He delivers one more for good measure, raising one finger to the sky as the show goes off the air.