WWE RAW aired live from the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. Kevin Owens and the Viking Raiders battled Murphy and AOP in the main event.
WWE RAW Results (2/17)
- Aleister Black def. Rowan
- Riddick Moss retained the 24/7 Championship
- Bobby Lashley & Angel Garza def. Rusev & Humberto Carrillo
- Kairi Sane def. Natalya
- Ricochet def. Karl Anderson
- Kevin Owens & Viking Raiders def. Murphy & AOP via DQ
Here are 5 takeaways from the show:
Randy Orton Brutally Attacked Matt Hardy Again
Randy Orton came down to the ring to a chorus of boos from the crowd. Matt Hardy interrupted wearing a neck brace and told Orton to explain why he attacked Edge. Hardy announced that he was not medically cleared to compete tonight but got in the ring with Orton anyways.
Orton told Matt that he has balls and he respects him. Randy added that he respects Edge and loves him like a brother. He claimed that he was sorry and exited the ring. Orton stopped at the top of the ramp and took off his vest. Matt grabbed a steel chair and dared Orton to get into the ring.
Matt shouted at Orton to finish him and swung the chair but Randy got out of the way. Orton bounced Matt’s neck off the top rope and slid into the ring. Orton planted Hardy with an RKO and then crawled towards the chair as the crowd chanted “one more time!”. Orton beat the hell out of Hardy with the chair before bringing another one inside the ring.
Orton took off Hardy’s neck brace and placed his head on top of the chair. He then raised the chair above the head before throwing it out of the ring instead. Randy left the ring for a second before returning and dragging Matt to the outside. Orton placed Matt’s head on the steps and bashed it with the chair. Orton then took a seat and admired his work as a couple of WWE officials checked on Matt. Randy stormed back down and hit him with the chair again before shouting “I’m sorry!”.
Opinion: I thought Matt was written off of television during last week’s attack but apparently the reaction was so positive that WWE decided to do it again. This was still an effective segment though and Orton is so much better as a heel.
Charlotte Vowed To Humble Rhea Ripley At WrestleMania
Charlotte Flair cut a promo tonight about her decision to face Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania. Flair attacked Ripley last night at NXT TakeOver: Portland.
Flair stated her class built the foundation of what is now the third brand in NXT. Charlotte claimed that Rhea Ripley is entitled and didn’t have to scratch and claw like she did.
Charlotte added that she put the NXT Women’s Championship on the map and that she thinks Ripley is very good but pride comes before the fall. Flair vowed to humble Ripley at WrestleMania.
Drew McIntyre Picked Up An Easy Win
Drew McIntyre squared off against MVP tonight on RAW. Before the match, McIntyre said there is only 48 days until WrestleMania and asked the crowd to point at the sign with him. McIntyre added that Suplex City resides in Claymore Country and that he is leaving WrestleMania as WWE Champion.
Paul Heyman interrupted and introduced Brock but he wasn’t there. Heyman claimed that Lesnar was going to defeat Ricochet and Super ShowDown and defeat McIntyre at WrestleMania. Heyman pointed at the WrestleMania sign but McIntyre once again said he was going to defeat Brock. Paul told Drew that he has profound respect for him and he didn’t come here tonight to debate him. Heyman then introduced MVP for the match.
MVP stated that he has a big issue with McIntyre because he didn’t join the VIP Lounge. MVP vowed to whoop McIntyre tonight and hit him with cheap shot.
Match Recap: MVP beat McIntyre down int he corner before the bell rang. Drew got pissed off and hit MVP with a boot to the face. McIntyre quickly hit the Future Shock DDT and followed it up with the Claymore for the pinfall victory.
Shayna Baszler Interrupted Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch came down to the ring with a brown paper bag. She revealed that there was money in the bag and threw it around the ring. Lynch said it was money for the fine she is going to have to pay when she finds Baszler.
Shayna appeared on the jumbrotron and said that she is the Elimination Chamber match and the winner will face Becky at WrestleMania. Baszler pointed out that she is a former cage fighter and joked that she is going to chew through everyone else in the match. Shayna stated that she is going to tare the living shit out of Becky Lynch. Becky stated that she will be watching Elimination Chamber and rooting for Shayna to win.
Opinion: The hype for Becky Lynch as The Man has clearly died down. I hope that the rumors of Lynch taking a break following WrestleMania are true so that her fans will miss her. It seems like WWE is grasping at straws with the deal with it glasses and now a bag of money. Her promos feel forced lately and aren’t generating much reaction from the audience.
The Viking Raiders & Kevin Owens Ruined Rollins’ Sermon
Seth Rollins delivered a sermon to begin the third hour of RAW. Murphy, Akam, and Rezar were in the ring as well. Rollins thanked everyone for making him their Monday Night Messiah.
Rollins stated that the term sermon was not his suggestion but it does seem very appropriate because what he has to say is divine. Seth said that they were all here tonight to celebrate moving forward in his vision.
The crowd loudly chanted “you suck!” as Rollins pleaded with them to show some respect. Seth shouted that it was time to seek out the weak to find the flaws in the system and rehabilitate them if they can or eradicate them. The Viking Raiders interrupted rushed the ring as Murphy and Rollins retreated.
Erik and Ivar beat AOP down as Rollins sent Murphy into the ring. The Viking Raiders beat Murphy down and cleared the ring. Kevin Owens then hit Rollins with a Stunner on the entrance ramp.
Murphy and AOP then battled Kevin Owens and Viking Raiders in the main event.
Match Recap: Erik, Ivar, and Owens took turns beating down Murphy to start off the match. AOP took control and isolated Erik in the corner. Erik finally was able to battle back and tagged in Owens. Kevin hit Murphy with a Senton and followed it up with a Backbreaker as RAW went to a break. When RAW returned, Owens was isolated in the corner as the Viking Raiders pleaded for a tag. Owens escaped and tagged in Ivar. Ivar hit Akam with a Splash and followed it up with a Clothesline. Erik tagged in and connected with a Dropkick to Rezar. Owens quickly tagged in and hit Rezar with a Swanton Bomb for a near fall.
Murphy tagged in and climbed to the top rope. Owens dodged him and hit the Pop-Up Powerbomb but Akam broke up the cover. Viking Raiders leveled AOP with a Suicide Dive and then Owens hit Murphy with a Stunner. Rollins rushed the ring and attacked Owens to end the match in a DQ.
Rollins told Owens that it was time for them to crucify Kevin. Street Profits joined the party and made the save. Seth escaped out of the ring as Street Profits and Viking Raiders beat AOP and Murphy down.
Opinion: I feel like we have seen the main event several times and I was bored out of my mind. The Street Profits were awesome in NXT but have fallen flat on the main roster. I’d like to see one of these teams challenge Rollins and Murphy to a title match instead of the same 6 or 8-man matches every week. I thought this week’s episode of RAW was a completely forgettable show.
