2/4 Powell’s WWE Raw TV Review: Becky Lynch and Stephanie McMahon, Kurt Angle addresses his WWE future, Bobby Lashley vs. Finn Balor, Jeff Jarrett vs. Elias, Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Alicia Fox and Nikki Cross in a qualifying match for the Elimination Chamber 

By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

WWE Raw on the USA Network
Aired live on February 4, 2019 from Portland, Oregon at Moda Center

[Hour One] Stephanie McMahon stood in the ring and welcomed viewers to Raw, only to be interrupted by Becky Lynch’s entrance music. Lynch headed to the ring while the broadcast team of Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Renee Young checked in. Stephanie introduced Lynch as the women’s Royal Rumble winner and set up a replay of the Lynch and Ronda Rousey confrontation from last week.

Stephanie said she couldn’t help but notice that Lynch was wearing a knee brace and limped to the ring. Lynch said she’s fine. Stephanie spoke as still shots of Lynch being injured and going on to win the Rumble were shown. Steph noted that Lynch had refused medical attention for the last eight days. She said she understood why Lynch didn’t want to be evaluated and recalled how Lynch wanted to keep fighting when Nia Jax punched her and injured her.

Stephanie said she can’t let Lynch compete if she’s not cleared by the company’s medical staff. Lynch said she knows she is the glitch in the plan, but here she is and she’s not moving for anyone. Lynch asked Stephanie what she would know about struggle and said she hasn’t had to struggle for anything in her entire life. She said Stephanie is a daddy’s girl who is trying to stop her. Lynch said she will fight at WrestleMania and there’s nothing that Stephanie or any doctor can do about it.

Stephanie said Lynch earned the match, but she is a liability and she can’t let her compete if she’s not medically cleared. Steph said Lynch just needs to be cleared. She said Lynch may not believe it, but she cares about her and everyone wants to see Rousey vs. Lynch. Stephanie pleaded with Lynch to go see the doctor and then asked if she would. “You’re not taking my moment away from me,” Lynch said.

Stephanie said that if she doesn’t see the doctor then she would be forced to suspend her until she does. Lynch said that if Stephanie said it again she would not be responsible for her actions. Stephanie asked Lynch not to make her do it. Lynch told her not to do it. Stephanie asked if she would see the doctor. Stephanie suspended Lynch. Stephanie started to leave the ring, but Lynch spun her around and punched her. Lynch set up for the Disarmher move, but she clutched her knee. Referees and producers entered the ring. She fought them off and got her hands on Stephanie briefly, then limped on the bad leg again. Stephanie got out of the ring and headed to the back. Lynch left the ring and limped up the aisle…

Graves hyped Ronda Rousey vs. Liv Morgan for after the break… [C]

Powell’s POV: A good angle. Stephanie played it straight and didn’t come off as condescending. It will be interesting to see if Steph stays in neutral mode or if this will lead to Stone Cold Becky and Ms. McMahon. The crowd was totally behind Lynch and popped big for her attack even though Stephanie didn’t heel it up. The question now is whether Lynch’s storyline injury is the company’s way of adding Charlotte Flair to the match or if this is going in a different direction.

Lynch was being led through the back with the plan of removing her from the building by referees, producers, and security when Ronda Rousey approached her. Rousey said Lynch tests the limits of her professionalism whenever she stands in front of her and she doesn’t implode her face. Rousey said she’s a pro and she has their pay-per-view to sell. She called Lynch unprofessional for getting suspended and putting their main event in jeopardy. She told Lynch to rest up until WrestleMania. Rousey started to storm away. Lynch said something, and Rousey returned and told her, “Ice and Advil, bitch,” and then walked away. The producers started to lead Lynch out of the building…

1. Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Liv Morgan (w/Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan) in a non-title match. Morgan’s entrance was not televised. Rousey handed her gloves to a young fan and was all smiles during her entrance. The bell rang to start the match and Morgan immediately went to ringside, then returned to the ring only to race back to ringside. Logan distracted Rousey, and Morgan tried to attack her from behind. Morgan did the Matrix move to avoid a Rousey punch, but Rousey punched her in the stomach and ended up applying an armbar for a quick win.

Ronda Rousey defeated Liv Morgan in 1:25.

After the match, Rousey took the mic and asked who else had a problem with her. She said people sit in the safety of their seats and boo her. She called for someone to do something, then called Logan, who entered the ring for a match…

2. Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Sarah Logan (w/Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan) in a non-title match. Logan went right after Rousey, who quickly countered into an armbar attempt. Logan rolled to ringside heading into a break. [C] Rousey applied an armbar shortly after they came back from the break and forced her to submit.

Ronda Rousey defeated Sarah Logan in a non-title match.

After the match, Ruby Riott climbed onto the apron and Rousey invited her to enter. Riott dropped off the apron and headed to the back with Logan and Morgan…

Powell’s POV: An interesting night for Rousey, who was made to look dominant over two members of Riott Squad. I like that they at least saved the Riott match for a later date. Of course, the most interesting part of the segment was Rousey heeling on the fans who booed her. She was still smiling on her way to the ring, nice to the kids, and received mostly cheers, so I can’t say she turned heel as much as it seems like she’s simply responding to her detractors.

Backstage, a backstage interviewer asked Riott why she would run away from Rousey. Riott said she didn’t run away from Rousey, but when she beats her it will be for the Raw Women’s Championship. She said Logan and Morgan needed her and they will do anything for one another regarding the cost…

Cole hyped Kurt Angle addressing his WWE future, Young hyped Bobby Lashley vs. Finn Balor… Heavy Machinery made their entrance for a four-way tag match. They were featured in a pre-taped interview. Tucker Knight said they would use their muscles and smiles to lift spirits and drop all of the tag teams on Raw and Smackdown. Lucha House Party made their entrance for the tag match heading into a break… [C]

Bayley and Sasha Banks were shown talking backstage when Charly Caruso approached them and asked them about their “failures” against Ronda Rousey and how it would play into their match against Alicia Fox and Nikki Cross. Banks got pissed. Bayley calmed her down and spoke about how they are great as a team. Fox and Cross showed up and acted crazy…

3. “Heavy Machinery” Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic vs. “Lucha House Party” Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado (w/Kalisto) vs. “B-Team” Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas and “The Revival” Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder in a four-way for a shot at the Raw Tag Titles. The Revival and B-Team entrances were not televised. Bobby Roode and Chad Gable were shown watching the match on a backstage monitor. LHP performed moonsaults onto B-Team and the Revival. Moments later, Heavy Machinery slammed Dawson onto the pile going into a break. [C]

Late in the match, Otis performed the caterpillar and had the pin on Dallas, but it was broken up by The Revival. Dawson tagged himself into the match and he eventually tagged in Wilder before they hit Shatter Machine on Dallas and pinned him…

The Revival defeated Heavy Machinery, Lucha House Party, and The B-Team in 11:20 to earn a Raw Tag Title match.

Powell’s POV: The babyface teams both came off dorky and are too heavily geared toward kids. The live crowds are reacting to Otis and his caterpillar move for now, but I have a feeling that this will burn out quickly unless some tweaks are made. LHP are presented like three interchangeable masked dudes with completely one dimensional personas. I want to be excited about The Revival winning, but the Raw tag division is a disaster and most of these teams are severely damaged. Are they ever going to decide which brands will be home for the NXT call-ups?

Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins were watching the match on a backstage monitor. Ryder said they would be out there next time. Hawkins questioned why Ryder would want anything to do with him when he’s lost over 250 matches in a row. Ryder said they misspelled his name after he’d been with the company for 13 years. He said he’s a loser like Hawkins, but not for long. Ryder said they were the youngest WWE Tag Champions. Ryder promised that they would end Hawkins’ losing streak together…

Kurt Angle was shown walking through the backstage area. Mickie James approached him and hugged him. Apollo Crews shook Angle’s hand, and No Way Jose greeted him… [C]

Kurt Angle made his entrance dressed in regular clothing. Graves said he hopes this won’t be the last time we see this. Angle said he accomplished everything he wanted to accomplish from winning the European Championship to the WWE Hall of Fame. He said his milk bath segment was on the of the best in Raw history. Angle said he met the son he never knew he had and he always had the fans to remind him how much he sucked. A group of Raw wrestlers were shown watching Angle speak on a backstage monitory.

Angle said the three I’s became the three D’s in doubt, defeat, and depression. He spoke about his recent losses and said he beat them all during his career and even won a gold medal with a broken freaking neck. Angle said he knows the one opponent he can’t beat is Father Time. Angle was interrupted by Baron Corbin. “Blah, blah, blah,” Corbin said. He told Angle to wrap it up already and asked if he wants everyone to feel sorry for him. Corbin said Angle did this to himself and this speech should have been the one he gave at the Hall of Fame and then never appeared again. Corbin said Angle is a broken down shadow of a man. “This broken down old man will break your ankle in two,” Angle said. Angle invited Corbin to come to the ring so he could show him.

Drew McIntyre made his entrance and joined Corbin on the stage. McIntyre pointed out that Angle was ready to retire one moment and then ready to fight a man who beat him just last week. McIntyre said people used to see Angle as a warrior, but he saw fear in his eyes right before he made him submit to an ankle lock.

[Hour Two] McIntyre said Angle would keep showing up until someone did something drastic. McIntyre told the fans to get their cameras ready because he and Corbin would put Angle down for good. Braun Stromwan’s entrance music played and he headed to ringside and fought with McIntyre. Angle clotheslined Corbin to the floor. Corbin and McIntyre ran through the crowd to escape, then Angle’s music played and he and Strowman stood in the ring together. Cole said we’ll never know if Angle was going to retire…

Powell’s POV: I’ll take Strowman and Angle vs. McIntyre and Corbin. It beats the hell out of the Strowman and Nicholas reunion that I was worried about last week.

The broadcast team hyped Lashley vs. Balor, Jeff Jarrett vs. Elias, and Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Alicia Fox and Nikki Cross for later in the show. Cole said Seth Rollins made his choice to face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania, and they would look back at his “career week” momentarily. Cole set up a Black History Month video that featured footage of WWE talent at the National Civil Rights Museum… [C]

Cole recapped the Angle segment and announced Angle and Strowman vs. McIntyre and Corbin for later in the show. Cole set up a video package on Seth Rollins, which focused on him winning the Royal Rumble and then being destroyed by Brock Lesnar the next night on Raw…

Sasha Banks and Bayley were about to make their entrance. Nikki Cross and Alicia Fox attacked Bayley from behind, then dragged Banks out from the backstage area and worked them both over. Bayley fought back before she was outnumbered. Referees ran out as Cross and Fox ran Bayley into the video wall. Cross and Fox started walking to the ring while Cole questioned whether the match would take place… [C]

4. Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Nikki Cross and Alicia Fox in a qualifier for the Elimination Chamber match that will determine the WWE Women’s Tag Champions. The match was joined in progress. Bayley was isolated by the heels for a stretch. Bayley was against the ring post when Cross charged. Banks pulled Bayley out of the way, causing Cross to slam into the post. Fox tagged herself in and prevented Bayley tagging out, but Bayley rolled her up and pinned her. After the match, Banks leapt onto Bayley and hugged her as the broadcast team referred to it as an emotional win for the duo…

Sasha Banks and Bayley beat Nikki Cross and Alicia Fox to qualify for the Elimination Chamber match.

The broadcast team recapped the Elias and Jeff Jarrett angle involving Road Dogg from last week, then hyped Elias vs Jarrett for after the break… [C]

Powell’s POV: The pre-match attack was well done and fit with the personas of Cross and Fox. That said, I hope Cross and Fox are kept away from one another unless changes are made to the Fox character. Cross plays a believable crazy, whereas Fox goes so far over the top that she comes off hokey and unrealistic. They laid it on pretty thick with the emotional post match celebration for Banks and Bayley. I suspect they are winning the tag titles, but I actually hope we get the long awaited Banks heel turn instead.

Apollo Crews was interviewed backstage and was asked if he’s surprised Angle is competing. He said he didn’t think he was going to, but he’s happy that he is. Crews took exception to the interviewer saying Angle hasn’t had a good showing lately. Drake Maverick and Rezar showed up. Maverick said there’s no chance of Angle winning. Crews asked how Rezar gets his puppet to talk. Maverick said Crews is upset because his Olympic hero keeps letting him down…

Road Dogg made his entrance and did his usual mic schtick in the ring and introduced himself as one half of the tag team champions of the world. Dogg said he’s belly is bigger and his goatee is gray. He said it’s not about him, it’s about Double J. Jeff Jarrett made his entrance and wore his more modern boots, trunks, and kneepads along with a WWE t-shirt. Road Dogg called for their music to play so they could finish singing “With My Baby Tonight”.

Elias finally interrupted them. Elias said that song has been playing for 25 years, no one knows the words, and it hasn’t aged well like Jarrett and Dogg. Elias asked Dogg why he’s not on Smackdown tanking their ratings. He said he’d rather watch another Adam Levine halftime show than watch them. Elias claimed he turned down the halftime show, then took a jab at Portland for not even having a football team. Jarrett eventually called for Elias to bring it and they started their match…

5. Elias vs. Jeff Jarrett (w/Road Dogg). They went to break during the opening minute of the match. [C] Elias cut off Jarrett’s offense with a running knee. Elias applied a sleeper and Jarrett broke it up with a jaw jacker. Elias knocked Road Dogg down with a kick. Jarrett caught Elias with an enzuigiri. Elias punched Dogg off the apron, then performed Drift Away for the win.

Elias beat Jeff Jarrett in 7:20.

After the match, Dogg attacked Elias from behind and threw his punches at him. Jarrett picked up a guitar. Dogg told Elias to suck it. Elias stood up and then Jarrett slammed the guitar into his back, but it didn’t break…

Powell’s POV: What is this? Look, I’m happy that Jarrett was hired as a producer and all, but I don’t really sense any excitement over the return of Double J and Road Dogg all these years later. It was fun for the Royal Rumble and I was fine with them getting another appearance on Raw for the fans who didn’t see the Rumble, but this week felt like overkill. I suspect people in WWE are having more fun with this than the fans are.

Natalya was shown in her normal clothing backstage. Dana Brooke entered the room and apologized for costing them the match last week. Natalya gave her the silent treatment. Brooke said she was just pumping herself up when she said she was better than Natalya and Ember Moon. Brooke said she was going to get one of the McMahons to book her in a match against Natalya for next week so that she could show her that she belongs. Brooke left the room and then Natalya removed earbuds from her ears, meaning she didn’t hear anything Brooke said…

Cole hyped Ric Flair’s 70th birthday party for three weeks from now on Raw…

Footage aired from the Lynch and Stephanie opening segment. Cole spotlighted McMahon kicking the bad knee of Lynch during the brawl. Cole said Lynch doesn’t trust Stephanie or the doctors and she’s afraid they will say she needs some sort of surgery and she will miss WrestleMania…

Caruso interviewed Finn Balor backstage and said she knows he’s been cleared, but asked when he will stop putting pride before his health. Balor said his elbows and ribs were hurting from what Lesnar and Bobby Lashley did to him. He said he won’t be pushed around, held down, or stop pushing forward. Balor said he would take the fight to Lashley just as he took it to Lesnar. Balor said he would take the Intercontinental Championship the first chance he gets…

[Hour Three] Balor made his entrance and then still shots and footage from his match with Lesnar and segment with Lashley were shown. Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush made their entrance and Rush delivered a promo from the stage. Rush said Balor looked like a mummy (he had tape on his ribs and elbow) and questioned if he thought he had a chance against Lashley. Rush said it wasn’t David vs. Goliath, it was mouse vs. mack truck.

Lashley took the mic and said Balor couldn’t beat Lesnar. “I’m better than Brock Lesnar,” Lashley said. “I can beat Brock Lesnar in a wrestling match, in a ring, in an octagon, I can beat Brock Lesnar in my sleep.” Lashley said Balor needs to fight people his own size. He noted that Balor would not have a title match with him, he’d fight Rush instead. He said that if Balor entertains him enough he might get his title match. Lashley attacked Balor and worked him over before the match.

6. Finn Balor vs. Lio Rush (w/Bobby Lashley). Graves noted that Rush wrestles on 205 Live and called him an amazing competitor. The ref left Balor get to his feet and asked if he could go, then he called for the bell to start the match. Balor went on the offensive and kicked Rush from the apron. Lashley pulled Balor to his side of the ringside area. The referee ejected Lashley. Rush performed a suicide dive on Balor heading into a break. [C]

Rush cut off Balor as he was going up top. Rush performed a huracanrana from the ropes and covered him for a two count. Balor came back, but his injury prevented him from following through on a move. A short time later, Balor caught Rush with a running dropkick in the corner and then performed the Coup De Grace for the win. After the match, Lashley rushed the ring, but Balor rolled out and avoided him…

Finn Balor defeated Lio Rush in 8:00.

Powell’s POV: A decent segment with Balor’s struggles with Rush being explained nicely due to his storyline injuries. That’s two weeks in a row that Lashley or Rush took a jab at Brock Lesnar, so it seems safe to assume it’s leading to something down the road.

Graves hyped Angle and Strowman vs. McIntyre and Corbin as the show’s main event…

Paige made a surprise entrance. She asked the fans if they missed her and she received a favorable response. She hyped the Fighting With My Family movie that focuses on her and her family, then set up a preview that aired on the big screen. [C]

Alexa Bliss hosted the “A Moment of Bliss” talkshow segment on the stage and introduced EC3 as her guest. He walked out in his ring gear and did his entrance schtick. Bliss was flirty with him and asked if he was ready for his moment of bliss. She said he’s young, good looking, and has a very large…bank account.” She said that makes him a hot commodity and he’s playing hard to get in terms of Raw or Smackdown.

Bliss put him on the spot and asked if it would be Raw or Smackdown. Before EC3 could respond, Nia Jax interrupted and walked out with Tamina. Jax said no one cares. Jax said they should be talking about her amazing week in which she competed in the men’s Royal Rumble match and qualified for the women’s tag title Elimination Chamber match. Jax said everyone was wondering what she’ll do next, and she said she might fill in for Lynch at WrestleMania.

Dean Ambrose’s music played. Graves said this would be very interesting. Ambrose said he didn’t want to be out there any more than Bliss wanted him to be out there, but he had something to say to Jax. Ambrose said it was obvious to everyone that she had a huge crush on him and she’s not the first woman to have a problem dealing with his raw sexual magnetism. He said she’s confused by her feelings, but she has to stay away from him.

Ambrose asked Bliss who EC3 was. She told him. EC3 put the mic up to his mouth only for Ambrose to knock the mic out of his hand. EC3 stood up. Ambrose said he was taking over the interview and he had some rapid fire questions. Ambrose asked who EC3 was, where were EC1 and EC2, who does his hair, is he a Creed fan, and why does he hang out in the back like a mute Chippendale dancer instead of getting into the ring. EC3 teased talking and then punched Ambrose. EC3 walked to the ring heading into a break… [C]

Powell’s POV: I groaned when they brought back the Bliss talkshow because I wasn’t a fan of the previous installments, but this was actually a lot of fun.

7. EC3 vs. Dean Ambrose. Cole said the match was made during the break. Cole also spoke about the six-way ladder match that EC3 was in during his NXT run. EC3 performed a couple of running forearms and then performed a move in which he swept the leg of Ambrose. EC3 charged at Ambrose in the corner. Ambrose avoided it and then set up for his finisher, but EC3 tackled him into a pin. EC3 sold left arm pain afterward after Ambrose targeted it early in the match…

EC3 pinned Dean Ambrose in 2:40.

Backstage, Charly Caruso asked Kurt Angle what it would mean to beat two wrestlers who have embarrassed him the past few months. Angle ignored her at first, then said he was close to leaving his gear hanging. He said something told him not to do that. He said he wasn’t in the fight alone. Angle said Strowman never met a porta-potty, an ambulance, or a disrespectful wrestler that he didn’t want to destroy. Strowman said it was an honor to team with Angle and their opponents would “get these hands”… [C]

Powell’s POV: EC3 getting a win over Ambrose must have looked better on paper than in execution. It felt like the type of quick and flukey win you’d give an upstart wrestler more than it was intended to be a star making moment. By the way, there’s something up with the backstage interview. Caruso has asked some questions that come off as rude and the wrestlers are acting a little taken aback.

Mojo Rawley spoke to himself in the mirror again. He mockingly said being part of the team has really worked out for you. “You really make me laugh sometimes,” Rawley said before laughing maniacally. Rawley yelled “forget the team, it’s all about you”…

“Interesting,” Cole said of the Rawley footage, then ring entrances for the main event took place…

8. Kurt Angle and Braun Strowman vs. Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin. Angle performed a German suplex on Corbin to start the match. McIntyre pulled Corbin to ringside. Strowman ran over and plowed into McIntyre. Angle performed another German suplex on Corbin and set up for the ankle lock, but Corbin kicked him off and then McIntyre punched him from the floor. [C]

McIntyre stuffed and Angle Slam, then hoisted up Angle and performed his own move on him. McIntyre looked at Corbin and smiled. McIntyre taunted Angle about reaching out to Strowman and tagging by saying he’s right there. McIntyre put Angle in the ankle lock while Cole spoke of how embarrassing it would be for Angle to tap to his own move again. Angle escaped the hold and ended up tagging in Strowman.

Strowman worked over both opponents and set up for a powerslam, but McIntyre slipped away and shoved him toward the ropes. Corbin pulled the top rope down and Strowman tumbled to the floor where Corbin worked him over. The heels worked over Strowman until he suplexed both of them (kinda, Corbin didn’t really go over).

Angle tagged in and performed German suplexes on both men. Angle had Corbin pinned off an Angle Slam, but McIntyre broke it up. Strowman shoulder blocked McIntyre, who tumble out of the ring. Strowman approached Corbin, who started yelling that Strowman couldn’t touch him as the referee stood nearby. Strowman punched Corbin and tossed him to ringside and was disqualified. Graves explained that Strowman wasn’t the legal man and that led to the DQ.

Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin beat Kurt Angle and Braun Strowman in 12:15.

After the match, McIntyre caught Strowman with a Claymore Kick that knocked him over the barricade. The heels ran Angle into the ring steps. They took the steps apart and slid a piece inside the ring and set up to perform a double team move on Angle, but Strowman returned and ended up chokeslamming McIntyre and then Corbin onto the steps. Angle and Strowman raised their hands to end the show…

Powell’s POV: What kind of a match finish was that? Graves explained it as best as he could, but it’s just not consistent with what we’ve seen in countless matches. Heck, even seconds earlier McIntyre broke up a pin. If nothing else, it was good to see an Angle match end without him taking a humiliating loss, and hopefully they are building up to his big redemption moment. Overall, the show had fewer slow and uneventful moments than usual. It didn’t really set up much for Elimination Chamber, but they filled the three hours in an interesting manner. I will have more to say in my audio review later tonight.

Check below for the new Pro Wrestling Boom with Jason Powell and his guest Rich Bocchini (f/k/a Rich Brennan) discussing his work with Tony Schiavone in MLW, working for Michael Cole in WWE, his trial by fire in NXT, being produced by Vince McMahon, and much more.

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