WWE Monday Night Raw 2/17/2025

WWE Monday Night Raw 2/17/2025

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/02/wwe-monday-night-raw-2102025.html

We are in Charlotte, NC. Michael Cole and Pat McAfee are on commentary.

We see various wrestlers arrive.

Sami Zayn comes out to talk. He says it's been a rough couple of weeks. He says no one has had their careers tied together like him and KO and says they did it together. Sami says there's no forgiving as KO tried to end his career. He says his neck isn't 100%, but it's enough for a fight. He says he'll also be in Toronto for Elimination Chamber. He says he wants the fight with KO.

Adam Pearce comes out. He says everyone wants the match but Sami has been told no by him, Pearce, The Board and Medical. He says Sami is not medically cleared to compete. Sami asks how long he has known him and says he knows Sami won't take no for an answer. Sami says he's not leaving until he gets the match. Adam says he can't sanction it. He says he won't be able to stop KO and says  neither he or the officials can help. He says it could be the last match in Sami's career.

Adam asks if he understands. Sami does. He says if he wants to beat KO up, Adam can't stop him. Sami says to give him the match. Adam gives him the match but says it's unsanctioned.

Thoughts: It was a good segment. I thought they got to making this kind of quick without any teases. It should have maybe been dragged out a bit more.

We see The Judgment Day in their hangout. Dom says he heard Bianca and Naomi are looking for revenge on Liv and Raquel. Liv doesn't care. Dom says they should add a new member but Finn jumps down his throat about it when he tries. Finn walks in. He says they will have 3 members of their crew at Elimination Chamber. Finn tells Raquel it would be embarrassing if she loses to Perez. Raquel says she will take care of business and tells Finn to handle his. Finn says they will be back in business at the end of the night. He then says no new members. Raquel says she wants to squash that pipsqueak Finn.

AJ Styles vs Dominik Mysterio

AJ side headlocks him then backdrops him. Dom's head is banged off the buckles. AJ backbreakers him. Dom is thrown hard into the buckles. Dom hits shots and is dropkicked. Patt says that's a total nonstop action dropkick and Cole mentions TNA.

AJ running knees Dom from the apron. AJ goes to springboard and is pulled down by Carlito. Dom then topes AJ. We go to break and return. Dom pulls AJ down by the hair then he slingshot swantons him. Dom hits two of three amigos. Dom 619's him.

Dom misses a top rope splash. Dom hits a strike combo and spinning lariats Dom. Dom sliding forearms him.

AJ hits an ushigoroshi. Carlito tries to interfere but AJ stops him. AJ is distracted and Dom rolls him up for 2. AJ pops up Dom and hits a styles clash for the win.

Thoughts: It was fine. I liked the pop-up into the styles clash finish. The two worked alright together and AJ won as expected.

Bron Breakker comes out and tries to spear AJ after but nails Dom instead. AJ enzugiri's Bron then throws him out.

American Made talk to Ivy Nile and talk about hitting The War Raiders with the titles. Ivy says they didn't win though. Ivy says they promised Gable they'd have gold around their waists when he returned and said that's why she will win tonight. Dakota Kai comes in. Ivy says she will beat her tonight then Kai says she will earn her rematch tonight.

#1 Contenders Women's Intercontinental Title - Dakota Kai vs Ivy Nile

Kai hits armdrags and pulls Ivy out. She pump kicks her. Kai goes for a cutter but is caught and thrown out. Ivy kicks her in the leg outside then bangs her leg off the apron edge. Ivy stomps on the leg inside. Kai is put in tree of woe and Ivy boots her. Ivy flying pumping knees her in the leg.

Kai upkicks her and dropkicks her. Kai facewash kicks her in the corner twice. Kai sunset flip backbreakers her. Ivy goes up top and is kicked. Ivy powerbombs her and Kai rolls her up for 2. Ivy ankle locks her and Kai ropebreaks.

Ivy hits kicks and is pump kicked. Ivy swinging side slams Kai for 2. Kai rolls her up for 2. Kai scorpion kicks her. Ivy ankle locks her again. Ivy gets stuck between the ropes and is curbstomped down. Kai hits a GTK and wins.

Thoughts: I was fine with this. It wasn't great but Ivy worked the leg the whole match and Kai ended up picking up the win. The crowd wasn't too into this one though. I don't understand what they are doing with American Made losing matches when Gable told them to win gold but we will see.

Kai and Lyra meet in the ring after and Lyra holds the title up at her. 

We get ads for WWE Evolve and WWE LFG.

Gunther is in the concourse and says he wants to feel what the yeet is all about. He then goes into the seats and tries to do his own yeet. He says it's a simple gesture for very simple people. He says Jey is a simple guy himself. Gunther says him performing for the fans is like reading Shakespeare to a dog. He says he's sick of facing people who can't lace his boots. He says the fans forced Jey into digging his own grave and says it stinks in the crowd.

Gunther says the match won't happen in the stands but in the ring. He says Jey's blood will be on the fans' hands.  He asks the crowd if they think Jey really stands a chance. He asks Cole and Pat if they think Jey has a chance to beat him. Gunther throws his mic at Pat. Pat says he hopes Jey can beat Gunther. Gunther goes for Pat then Jey Uso comes out.

Jey is stopped by security but comes out and pounds on Gunther. Jey beats up security and Gunther sleepers him. Pearce and other officials try to stop him. Jey corner splashes Gunther. It is broken up and Pat yeets with Jey.

Thoughts: Some of Gunther's lines in the crowd were pretty funny here.

Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez are interviewed. Liv says all they have done is elevate the competition. She says Raquel beats cute little Roxanne like the bug she is. Cathy asks about them attacking Jade. Liv and Raq say they wouldn't feel about it if it happened as it could happen to anyone who gets in their way.

Thoughts: I don't think this is the best way to solve the mystery of Jade being out. We don't know for sure that Liv and Raquel did it though so maybe it's just a twist.

Penta vs Pete Dunne

Penta goes to do his taunt and is slapped. They trade forearms. Penta spin kicks him in the gut. Penta side headlocks him. Penta hurricanrana's him. Pete dropkicks Penta and twists Penta's fingers. Pete stomps the arm into the mat. Pete hits chops then Penta goes up and over with a backcracker. Pete rams Penta's face into the mat. 

Ludwig Kaiser comes down and we go to break. We return and Penta headscissors Pete down from the buckles. Penta slingblade bulldogs him. Penta hits a spinning F-5 for 2.  Pete blocks a pendulum double knee in the corner then sitout powerbombs him for 2. Pete germans Penta. Penta superkicks him then Pete hits a step up enzugiri. Penta canadian destroyers him.

Kaiser gets on the apron. Penta tries to dive out but is kicked by Pete. Pete rolls him up for 2. Pete yells at Kaiser. Penta sends Pete into Kaiser then Penta hits a made in japan on Pete to win.

Thoughts: It wasn't anything too special. Pete did his usual finger manipulations early on and then it just kind of turned into them trading big moves and getting Kaiser involved.

Kaiser beats up Penta after. Pete and Kaiser fight outside then Penta tope con hilos both.

Cathy interviews Jey in the back. Jey says he feels underestimated. Jey says they doubted him but he's The Royal Rumble winner. He says he will shock the world again when he beats Gunther.

We see Bayley compete at NBA All-Star Weekend.

We get a package on Roxanne Perez. She say all she sees is The Prodigy when she looks in the mirror. She talks about the things she won. She says there's no moment that's too big for her. She says no one is on her level.

The War Raiders do a video on The Creeds. Ivar put s them over as everything they are advertised to be but says they aren't built for war. Ivar says they are still the tag champs. Erik says they made the mistake of their lives and says next time, it's war.

Women's Elimination Chamber Qualifier - Raquel Rodriguez vs Roxanne Perez

RP rolls out of a lock up. RR throws her back then lifts her by the arm and throws her down. RP slaps her. RR clotheslines her. RP is thrown into the corner and takes back elbows. RR throws her. RP slaps her again.

RR chases her around. RP dropkicks her off the apron. RP is caught off a tope and rammed into the post. RR throws her off her shoulders and poses.  RR hits snake eyes.

RR swings her off the guillotine. RP pulls her throat down on the top rope. RP corner euros her. RP rolls her up for 2. RP gets on her back for a sleeper.

RP is caught off the buckles and takes a fallaway slam. RR twisting vader bomb elbow drops her for 2. RR spears the post when RP moves. RP then topes her twice.

RP hits a ddt then double jump asai moonsaults her for 2.  RP hits forearms. RR facekicks her for 2. Bianca and Naomi then come out after Liv. Liv is beaten up by them and thrown into the rails. RP double jump springboard code red's her and wins.

Thoughts: I didn't care about the match going in but they did a good job with it. RP worked as the underdog face here and RR was the bigger monster. The crowd didn't care but the logic was good and Naomi and Bianca coming out protected RR some. I liked this and thought it was good.
Bianca and Naomi go for a double KOD but Liv screams and Raquel saves her.

Cathy interviews Seth Rollins. He says he can't get into The Chamber or Mania unless he wins tonight. He says it's as big as it gets and he needs it more than Finn does tonight.

Karrion Kross and Scarlet walk in. Kross says he knows Sami will see this. Kross doesn't buy Jey beating Gunther at Mania or that Seth will win tonight. He says those two lost their minds but he believes Sami knows there is more time to turn things around.

We get a video on Iyo Sky. She says how quickly everything can change. She says she was champ and on top of the world last year headlining at Mania. She says her path isn't clear and she may not have a chance to get there this year. She says the match with Rhea is all the opportunity she needs tonight. She says she knows rhea better than she knows herself. She talks about fighting her in NXT and said she beat her always there. She says she will beat her again in 2 weeks and punch her ticket to Mania. 

The New Day are in the ring. We see more clips of their attack on Rey last week, which we didn't get to see. Dragon Lee came out for the save but got double powerbombed. Rey's leg was chaired against the post. Woods says, "Get well soon, Rey".

The fans boo them and Woods tells them to shut up. Woods says they are mad at them for telling the truth to Big E. Woods says Rey has sucked the lives out of the careers of any fresh faced luchador here. He says everyone has gone insane if you expect them to respect Rey.

Kofi says he has more title wins than Rey. He says he's been here longer than him. Kofi says he never left unlike Rey so he should be locker room leader. Woods says Rey's disrespect forced their hand. Kofi says Rey laid in the ring crying and embarrassed. 

Kofi says we should thank them for showing mercy to Rey. Woods says they should be thankful for not giving Rey the Old Yeller treatment. Kofi says they did it for the fans.

The LWO come out. Dragon Lee says what they did to Rey was unforgivable. Lee says New Day sucks. They attack New Day. Kofi is lariated out and Woods takes a double superkick. Lee goes to dive and New Day runs away.

Naomi and Bianca are interviewed in the back. Naomi says they were counting their days to find out what happened to Jade and now Liv and RR will. Bianca says Liv better bring it on as it will be them vs Liv at The Chamber. They say they aren't afraid to bring the fight to each other.

Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifier - Finn Balor vs Seth Rollins

Finn goes after him before it starts. Finn hits corner spears. Finn hits boots to the gut then pedigrees him for 2. Finn shotgun dropkicks him. Seth hits a flying lariat.  Finn hits chops in the corner then pounds on Seth. Seth boots him out of the corner. Seth stomps on him in the corner.

Seth misses an asai moonsault then topes him into the rails. Finn slingblades him. Seth dropkicks him in the knee. Seth kicks Finn in the leg and sweeps him multiple times. Finn drives Seth's ribs into the apron edge outside. 

Finn stomps Seth's ribs into the apron edge. Seth drops Finn knee first on the commentary table. Seth misses a curbstomp on the steps then he is swept ribs first on the steps.

We go to break and return. Seth hiptosses Finn. Finn knees him in the gut and hits shots on him. Seth step up enzugiri's him. Finn pele kicks him. Seth hits chops on Finn. Seth chops Finn in the knee then ddt's him. Seth pumping knees him for 2. Seth asai moonsaults him for 2.

Seth buckle bombs Finn. Seth goes for a top rope splash but Finn gets his knees up. Finn hits him in the gut and is kicked in the leg. Finn hits him in the gut again. They trade shots. Finn hits a final cut then slingblades him. Seth blocks a dropkick and does a sharpshooter off of it. Seth pedigrees him for 2. He and everyone else thinks Seth has it won.

Seth tells the ref to suck it. Finn kicks him in the gut. Finn is up top, Seth runs up after him and goes down hard. Finn hits a top roe double stomp to the ribs. Finn crossfaces him. Seth rolls out and curbstomps him for the win.

Thoughts: I really liked it though it would have been even better if Seth won with some kind of leg hold. Finn does well at these matches where you work an unusual body part and Finn worked the ribs here. Seth countered with knee work. The finish was neat though.

Overall thoughts: It was a decent Raw here with Perez/Rodriguez and the main being good. I liked the Gunther segment too. I do think they could have gotten more out of Sami trying to get a match with Owens and I don't think this was the best way to finish off the "Who attacked Jade?" storyline, but it may not be done yet. None of the storylines feel real hot at the moment but with The Rumble just happening and The Chamber happening soon, there's only so much time. CM Punk was surprisingly not on the show. I'd give this one a 6 out of 10 and would recommend seeing Finn/Seth and Perez/Rodriguez.